Love by the Morning Star

Reviewed by: Cidney Mayes - Wells Public Library, Wells, Southern Maine Library District

Review Date: November 6, 2014

Review

On the brink of World War II, two girls from very different backgrounds are sent to the grand Starkers estate in England. Anna Morgan has been sent by her father to spy for the National Facist Front and pose as a kitchen maid, while half-Jewish Hannah Morgenstern will seek refuge with her distant relatives and wait for her parents to join her. However, the two girls are mistaken for one another, and a comedy of errors ensues. Both fall for Teddy, the handsome heir of the estate, and stuggle to fit into their newfound roles. Almost everything that could go wrong for the girls does. The playful and quirky storyline loses momentum halfway through the story, and the constant barrage of misfortune becomes tiresome. If readers are willing to muddle through the romantic misadventures, they will be satisfied with the book's conclusion. "Love by the Morning Star" is best suited to grades 6-10, as there are some mature allusions and subject matter.

Overall Book Score: good