An Acquaintance with Darkness
An Acquaintance with Darkness
Fiction | Novel | Middle Grade | Published in 1997
Book Brief
384
Novel • Fiction
Washington, D.C. • 1860s
1997
Middle grade
10-14 years
Super Short Summary
An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi follows fourteen-year-old Emily Pigbush in the aftermath of the Civil War and Abraham Lincoln's assassination. Emily navigates her life after her mother's death by living with her uncle, Dr. Valentine Bransby. She grapples with the moral complexities of his medical practices, which include secretly using cadavers for research, ultimately challenging her ethical beliefs as she uncovers family secrets. Topics of illness and death are present in this book.
Mysterious
Dark
Emotional
Melancholic
Suspenseful
Reviews & Readership
2,187 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
Review Roundup
Ann Rinaldi's novel, An Acquaintance with Darkness, is commended for its historical accuracy and engaging narrative set during the Civil War. Readers appreciate the well-developed characters and the suspenseful plot. However, some critics note that the pacing can be uneven and find certain historical liberties taken by the author distracting.
Who Should Read An Acquaintance with Darkness?
Readers who enjoy historical fiction with strong female protagonists, such as Fever 1793 by Laurie Halse Anderson or Number the Stars by Lois Lowry, will appreciate An Acquaintance with Darkness by Ann Rinaldi. This novel is ideal for those intrigued by Civil War-era settings, medical history, and themes of resilience and courage.
2,187 ratings
Loved it
Mixed feelings
Not a fan
384
Novel • Fiction
Washington, D.C. • 1860s
1997
Middle grade
10-14 years
We’re just getting started
Add this title to our list of requested Study Guides!