A Stranger At Fellsworth By Sarah E. Ladd

Annabelle’s dream life has turned into a nightmare with the rumor that shattered her father’s reputation. Her father was unable to refute the accusation of embezzlement before he died, and now the Thorley children are suffering for it. It has formed her brother into a monster. So when a shot rings out on their property in the middle of the night, Annabelle considers the one thing she never believed she’d do—run away. Seek shelter with her uncle at the middle-of-nowhere Fellsworth School. But she soon finds there are enemies at Fellsworth the same as in London . . .

I picked up this book shortly after reading Sarah Ladd’s The Weaver’s Daughter, an amazing novel.

I love how they showed Annabelle standing up at last and escaping London. Her example will lend courage to many ladies reading the book, no matter what situations they need to stand up to, stay in, or escape from.

Annabelle’s journey becoming a teacher for the first time was depicted very well—the tension and awkwardness as she tries to fit into a new culture. The same goes for her struggles as she tries to determine who she can trust and deal with her feelings of betrayal.

On the same note, other than when she runs away from London, Annabelle was a very weak character. Even when the climax arrives, she basically chooses to wait for someone else to come save her instead of attempting to escape herself. I would have liked to see a stronger lady character at the center of the story.

All the same, this novel isn’t one to keep a stranger.