The Hangman in the Mirror

Gr 9 Up—Françoise Laurent struggles for survival in 18th-century New France (Montreal). When her alcoholic parents die in a measles epidemic, she obtains work as a maid in an affluent household for an unhappy, but kind mistress. Grappling with her own unhappiness and consumed by thoughts of class structure and the barriers between her own poverty and a life of privilege, the 15-year-old steals a pair of gloves and as a result is condemned to be hanged. Her imprisonment is prolonged for lack of a hangman. Françoise then somehow manages to convince her neighboring cellmate, a boy nearly her own age, to assume the unpopular and unsavory job of hangman and then by marrying her, absolve her of the crime and save her life. Despite the interesting premise, which is based on actual events, and the hint of romance, the pace of the story is slow, the writing awkward, and Françoise's internal dialogue doesn't ring true to character. A grim setting, mild language, and references to prostitution make this a book for only the most dedicated historical fiction readers.—Madeline J. Bryant, Los Angeles Public Library