Each summer the girls of Deck Five come back to Marshall Naval School. They sail on jewel-blue waters; they march on green drill-fields; they earn sunburns and honors. They push until they break apart and heal again, stronger. Each summer Margaret and Rose and Flor and Nisreen come back to the place where they are girls, safe away from the world: sisters bound by something more than blood. But this summer everything has changed. Girls are missing and a boy is dead. It’s because of Margaret Moore, the boys say. It’s because of what happened that night in the storm.
Plot
I Am Margaret Moore is told in a poetic style similar to a narrative poem. It makes for a unique storytelling technique that I personally loved. It reminded me of reading Shakespear, but others may find it disorienting. Because of this, the story does not unfold at a typical pace but has a haunting quality that keeps those who love mysteries turning the page. Also, this is a paranormal novel but it’s not as obvious as many other novels in the genre.
Characters
The main character, Margaret, is the narrator of the novel and is in the middle of processing a lot of trauma at the beginning of the story. So while she’s a compelling storyteller, she is difficult to connect to. However, there are many characters around her that are easy to identify with and through their love of Margaret, the reader grows to love her too. The four girls the book focuses on have beautiful chemistry and one of the best group friendships I’ve seen in a book.
Setting
This story is set entirely within the grounds of Marshall, a naval summer program that Margaret and her friends have spent every summer at since they were children. It was interesting learning the rules for this very specific corner of what would have otherwise been a familiar world. There are also some small paranormal elements thrown in that absolutely loved stumbling upon.
My Recommendation
I Am Margaret Moore is the most recent novel by Hannah Capin. While the book is a paranormal thriller, it’ll appeal more to fans of subtle fantasy elements and mysteries. The plot’s pacing and story-telling style, as well as the main character, are different than what many fans of the Young Adult fantasy genre may expect, but I personally loved the pace. I’d recommend this book to fans of subversive storylines and powerful female friendships.
