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The Caged Graves

by Dianne Salerni (Goodreads Author)

4.17 of 5 stars 4.17 · rating details · 54 ratings · 22 reviews

17-year-old Verity Boone expects a warm homecoming when she returns to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, in 1867, pledged to marry a man she has never met. Instead, she finds a father she barely knows and a future husband with whom she apparently has nothing in common. One truly horrifying surprise awaits her: the graves of her mother and aunt are enclosed in iron cages outside the...more

Hardcover, 336 pages

Published May 14th 2013 by Clarion Books

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May 16, 2013 Alyssa (Books Take You Places) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss, wishlist

Originally reviewed on Books Take You Places

Verity is forced to leave the family she loves to marry a man she has never met, and live with a father she barely knows. What is a girl to do when she is the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons? Not only is she snatching up the most eligible bachelor in Catawissa, she is related to two women who were believed to partake in the devil’s work, and who were buried outside the graveyard, on unconsecrated ground. Bow her head and take it, I suppose?...more Originally reviewed on Books Take You Places

Verity is forced to leave the family she loves to marry a man she has never met, and live with a father she barely knows. What is a girl to do when she is the talk of the town for all the wrong reasons? Not only is she snatching up the most eligible bachelor in Catawissa, she is related to two women who were believed to partake in the devil’s work, and who were buried outside the graveyard, on unconsecrated ground. Bow her head and take it, I suppose? Not Verity Boone. Verity is determined to be in love with the man she marries, but she is even more determined to get to the bottom of the mystery surrounding her mother and aunt’s deaths, and Hell hath no fury like a woman who is told to “just let it go.”

The characters in The Caged Graves were wonderfully layered and personable, I found them all to be rather spirited and above all, believable. Verity is strong willed and brave, she has mastered that southern charm and when the ladies in town disrespect her she gives them an “oh bless your heart” right back. She’s not a fainter and it’s pointed out on quite a few occasions that she is “not a boy,” meaning, she doesn’t act properly all of the time and that means that she is a girl right after my own heart. Verity’s intended, Nate, is the man of the town, every lady had their sights set on him before Verity showed up, thus being the reason she needs to school quite a few of them in manners. In a nutshell, Nate is dark haired, devoted, sweet, and protective in a very tender manner. Where the ahem, other gentleman in Verity’s life, Hadley is a light eyed, ginger haired doctor who won’t hesitate to tell you what he wants and when he wants it. I’ll be honest, I didn’t like Nate at first, but I don’t think we are meant to. In fact, the first few meetings of Nate in comparison to the first few meetings of Hadley really show their differences and I wasn’t sure where my heart was headed for a while.

You may have heard a little something about a love triangle going on in The Caged Graves and readers, I can’t lie to you, it’s there. I can’t tell you how incredibly scared I was while reading (no seriously, ask my friends, it’s all I kept talking about) because I was so worried that this possible love triangle would turn into a SERIOUS PROBLEM, and my feelings would become conflicted with Verity’s and then at the conclusion I would be completely messed up wondering if I she made the right choice. Let me tell you, there were a few close calls, a few times I was wavering in my loyalties, but in the end I am thrilled with my Verity’s decision. So yes, there is a love triangle of sorts, but no, I don’t think that it controls the story at all. In fact, I think the relationships in the novel sit side by side with the mystery and they weave together quite nicely.

“You’re beautiful,” he said bluntly, “and I didn’t expect you to be.”

Ms. Salerni definitely has a knack for writing relationships of all kinds. I enjoyed the way Verity got to know Nate’s sisters, and her relationship with Beulah was rather fun and endearing. One thing I have to say is that I love, love, LOVE the way the author portrays the relationship between Verity and her father. The best thing about it is how much it grows through the novel, though her father seems a bit awkward and standoffish at first, the reader is really able to glimpse how much he loves his daughter under his hard exterior. It honestly reminded me a bit of my own father and melted my heart quite a bit.

The setting and plot of The Caged Graves was completely enthralling. As we gain glimpses into the past through Verity’s mother’s diaries we are able to work out the mystery as Verity does, little by little. The action was continuous and intriguing and though I may have figured out small bits of the mystery as we’re meant to, the ending really caught me off guard. I love when that happens.

On the whole, this novel was just right. It had just enough history that I didn’t feel overwhelmed by incessant facts, just enough paranormal elements that made it still completely believable, just enough mystery that had my mind constantly working trying to figure out what was going to happen next, and most importantly, it contained the perfect amount of stolen glances, tender kisses, and undeniable swoons.

The Caged Graves is a different novel than I am used to reading, and it is hard to place it in one category as it encompasses so many wonderful elements. If you’re looking for an immensely atmospheric, mysterious, and romantic read, I highly recommend that you pick this one up immediately.(less)

10 likes · like · see review

May 02, 2013 Bonnie rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, mystery-thriller, netgalley, ya, the-love-triangle-of-doom, arcs-read, read-in-2013

"In Catawissa sometimes the dead don't stay where you put them."

Verity Boone is returning to her hometown in small town Catawissa after fifteen long years. When her mother became ill and died unexpectedly when Verity was just two years old, her father sent her away to relatives fearing he would not be able to care for her properly. She's returning home after agreeing to marry Nathaniel McClure, a man she's only met in letters. Upon arriving, she's shocked to discover that not only is her mothers...more "In Catawissa sometimes the dead don't stay where you put them."

Verity Boone is returning to her hometown in small town Catawissa after fifteen long years. When her mother became ill and died unexpectedly when Verity was just two years old, her father sent her away to relatives fearing he would not be able to care for her properly. She's returning home after agreeing to marry Nathaniel McClure, a man she's only met in letters. Upon arriving, she's shocked to discover that not only is her mothers grave buried on unconsecrated ground but there's a strange mystery cage on top of it. No one is forthcoming with information and Verity is determined to find out what her mother did in life to deserve such treatment in death.

I really loved the mysterious gothic-like element of the caged graves and was extremely eager to read more about them. I loved hearing that the author actually based this story off real-life caged graves that she discovered in the Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. You can read more (and see the actual pictures) here. It was quite mysterious and in the beginning reminded me a lot of Long Lankin but wasn't quite as paranormal as I had originally thought (and hoped) it would be.

In addition to the caged grave topic of the book, the romance took up an exceptionally large portion, or to be more specific the love-triangle. *cue groans of agony* Yes, unfortunately I wasn't a fan of that addition to the story considering it took up such a huge portion of the story. To me, it felt like she had a good idea going with the caged grave bit, but didn't have ENOUGH to make that the center of the entire story. So instead, a romance that caused much raging (from me) was inserted as filler.

"There was something seductive about his transparent feelings for her - feelings he scarcely tried to hide even in front of Nate. He was like a bright, flickering flame, and she was a brainless moth, wanting to fly closer and burn herself." - Verity

I get it. She's young, she's in an arranged marriage and barely knows the guy (although the more she learns about him the more there is to love), so I understand the normality behind her being torn between two guys. But the comment about it being seductive that he's flirting with her in front of her fiance? That's a bit uncouth don't you think? Or maybe just brainless, like she said.

It was really difficult to get a good grasp on whether or not I liked any of the love interests either. Her intended, Nate, was so wishy-washy and one moment he'd do something terribly cute like bring her a baby kitten he saved and next minute he's talking about their upcoming marriage like a business arrangement. It was very off-putting. I could have liked the other love interest, Hadley, a lot except for the fact that he was so obviously being disrespectful and trying to steal her away from Nate by flirting with her constantly, even in front of him. There are better ways to show you care and being an outright ass isn't one of them.

Bottom line, the caged grave story line had huge potential but fell flat when that became less the focus of the story. Regardless, this was a well-written historical fiction novel with an intriguing story line that just happened to be saddled with a bad romance.

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Nov 26, 2012 Karina Halle rated it 4 of 5 stars

4.5 stars - Full review closer to publication date next year

What an interesting little book. Reading this brought me back to a simpler time...say, being ten years old and indulging over and over again in the Little House series and Bronte and the Witch of Blackbird Pond. This is definitely NOT a children's book - some scenes are fairly heavy and gruesome - but there was something so refreshing and compelling about this 1800's mystery that it felt like it could have been assigned reading in schoo...more

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Jan 20, 2013 Richie Partington rated it 5 of 5 stars

Richie's Picks: THE CAGED GRAVES by Dianne K. Salerni, Clarion, May 2013, 336p., ISBN: 978-0-547-86853-0

"How will I know if he really loves me
I say a prayer with every heartbeat"
-- Whitney Houston

"'Sonnets from the Portugese?' Nate asked. It sounded as if he wasn't sure they were talking about the same book.
"She wanted to change the subject, but if she dropped it now, she might offend him more. 'She only pretended she was translating poems from another language,' Verity explained, 'because they...more

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Apr 20, 2013 Jaclyn rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, historical, net-galley, teen-fiction, gothic, mystery

The Caged Graves was an excellent gothic, historical mystery that was beautifully written. Set in 1867 Pennsylvania, seventeen-year-old Verity Boone returns to home to Catawissa after being sent to live with her aunt following the death of her mother. Verity has returned home to marry her prosperous neighbour, Nate McClure, after a courtship based on letters. However, Verity’s homecoming is not all that she expected. Her father is a stranger to her, only visiting her in the city a few times over...more The Caged Graves was an excellent gothic, historical mystery that was beautifully written. Set in 1867 Pennsylvania, seventeen-year-old Verity Boone returns to home to Catawissa after being sent to live with her aunt following the death of her mother. Verity has returned home to marry her prosperous neighbour, Nate McClure, after a courtship based on letters. However, Verity’s homecoming is not all that she expected. Her father is a stranger to her, only visiting her in the city a few times over the years. Her first meeting with her suitor leaves much to be desired. And to complicate matter’s Verity learns some disturbing tales about her late mother and the reason her grave is covered by a cage.

I loved The Caged Graves! This one had everything a historical mystery should have: a great setting and characters, an intriguing death and missing gold, and a love triangle. I loved the rich, historical detail that was evident in the story and it’s characters, and the writing brought the landscape into vivid detail without overshadowing the mystery that was being unfolded. And the mystery! The gothic feeling surrounding Verity’s mother’s death was well done; we got hints of a greater conspiracy and the unraveling of the truth brought forth a truly satisfying conclusion to the chilling motivation that brought death to Catawissa.

Verity Boone was also a great character and I loved how conflicted she was about her return home, her impending marriage, her relationship with her father and the animosity she encountered from the other villagers. While Verity was a city girl, it didn’t stop her from stepping up to the challenge of living in the country and the danger she was confronted with due to the circumstances of her mother's death.

Ultimately, if you’re looking for a highly atmospheric young adult historical mystery I would recommend The Caged Graves. I’m so glad to have discovered Salerni’s work and I can’t wait to read her other historical young adult book, We Hear the Dead.

Review copy was provided by the publisher via NetGalley.

Similar Titles: The Sweetest Spell; Born Of Illusion; Folly; A Spy in the House. (less)

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Apr 09, 2013 Danielle rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine-books

*Received ARC through the Amazon Vine Program*

"The Caged Graves" is about a seventeen year old girl named Verity Boone who returns to her hometown of Catawissa, Pennsylvania after being sent to live with her aunt and uncle after her mother died. She lives with her father, who she barely knows, and is engaged to a man that she only knows through letters. When Verity sees that her mother and aunt have cages over their graves and no one will tell her why, Verity makes it her mission to find out why...more

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May 09, 2013 The Twins Read rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: earc, michelle-s-shelf, nicole-s-shelf

This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

As fans of historical fiction, it was imperative that we must read this one, thanks to the oh-so-intriguing summary and most importantly, the very idea of caged graves being used in a story! The thought of seeing iron cages around the cemetery is disturbing, but also very, very intriguing. In fact, we were so tickled by the idea that we featured this book before in one of our Waiting on Wednesday posts.

After fifteen years away from Catawiss...more This review can originally be found at The Twins Read.

As fans of historical fiction, it was imperative that we must read this one, thanks to the oh-so-intriguing summary and most importantly, the very idea of caged graves being used in a story! The thought of seeing iron cages around the cemetery is disturbing, but also very, very intriguing. In fact, we were so tickled by the idea that we featured this book before in one of our Waiting on Wednesday posts.

After fifteen years away from Catawissa, Verity Boone finally returns home to meet her estranged father and the fiance she corresponded letters with. It just so happens that her father is standoffish and unsure about how to act around his grown daughter and Nathaniel is not at all how he seemed like in the letters he sent. But then she comes across her mother's grave with an iron-wrought cage above it and rumor has it that those iron cages have something to do with witchcraft and buried treasure. Verity won't stand for those snide comments and nasty looks , and so she tries to get to the bottom of it all only to find out that her trust may very well lie with the wrong people after all.

Verity Boone is a very likable heroine, the likes of which Catawissa has never seen before. She's a right proper lady but she's no simpering damsel in distress. She's stubborn and determined and trying to get settled into her new life at Catawissa all the while juggling her growing attraction to the town doctor's apprentice, her feelings for her fiance and the whole mystery surrounding the caged graves. Nathaniel, Verity's fiance is an adorable boy. His awkwardness around Verity had us cooing at his preciousness! Verity is very much unlike the other girls in town so he has no idea how to deal with her and his jealous fits. Their romance was undeniably sweet and squeal-worthy, and ultimately had us begging for more scenes.

Admittedly, the love triangle detracted our attention from the actual mystery, but Salerni has managed to fuse the two elements together without either one coming off as too strong. The intrigue unraveling the caged graves was measured out in careful doses, so there was no information overload of sorts. Salerni's descriptions were enough, but not overly done as we are still given the freedom to let our imagination run wild.

Dianne Salerni's writing is impeccable and engrossing; from the probability of witchcraft and curses, to the sweet love story that creeps up, and the mystery that surrounds the caged graves, this is an engrossing read and we wouldn't mind picking up our own personal copies.
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May 03, 2013 Elizabeth rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical-fiction, teen-ya-books

It's 1867 and Verity Boone (what a great name!) is coming home to Catawissa, Pennsylvania after spending most of her childhood back East being raised by relatives following the death of her mother. She is looking forward to reconnecting with her father and getting to know the fiance whose proposal she accepted after a courtship conducted entirely by mail. (Yes teenagers that is a thing that used to happen. It's the 19th century precursor to online dating.)

However when she gets there, all is not...more It's 1867 and Verity Boone (what a great name!) is coming home to Catawissa, Pennsylvania after spending most of her childhood back East being raised by relatives following the death of her mother. She is looking forward to reconnecting with her father and getting to know the fiance whose proposal she accepted after a courtship conducted entirely by mail. (Yes teenagers that is a thing that used to happen. It's the 19th century precursor to online dating.)

However when she gets there, all is not as expected. She finds it hard to reconnect to her father and even harder to reconcile the charming man in the letters with the somewhat stiff young farmer she meets. A handsome young doctor tries to claim her attention. Amidst all this relationship drama, she finds that the graves of her mother and aunt are outside the consecrated church yard and encased in iron cages. Trying to sort out rumor, malicious townsfolk, conflicting feelings, and hints of a long lost treasure will make her return more than a little problematic.

Bottom Line: Highly recommended for all libraries. Will appeal to teens who enjoyed last year's The Wicked and the Just or historical fiction/light romance in general.

This is one of those books that I stayed up late to finish. The caged graves aren't about what you think they're about. The rival suitors aren't what you think either though I am happy to say I got that one right. Salerni perfectly manages those hints that could lead you on multiple paths without so littering the ground with red herrings that you get disgusted with the entire effort. It's a beautifully crafted plot.

Post-Civil War life in America is richly portrayed here. The book is sprinkled with lovely little details (such as the lingering resentment of some townspeople over the richer citizens who were able to pay another to go to war in their place) that bring the time to life without drowning you in the author's research.

Sometimes in books, especially those aimed at teen girls, if there is a love triangle (and isn't there always?), the only characters that are fully developed are the triangular three. That is not the case here. There are complexities and surprising depth to many of the secondary characters. And that is what distinguishes this from being a good book into a great book.

I received a free ebook advanced copy of this title for the purposes of review. Review also published here (less)

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Apr 17, 2013 Susan Flett rated it 5 of 5 stars

Verity leaves the safety and comfort of life in a modern (by mid-1800 standards, anyway) city to move to a podunk town to live with a father she barely knows and marry a man she's never met. There, she discovers the graves of her mother and aunt, inexplicably covered by metal cages, and placed beyond the boundaries of the church's consecrated burial grounds. She wants answers.

In a skillfully woven tale, Salerni delivers those answers. Verity encounters ugly rumors, malice, and danger, but she a...more

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Apr 19, 2013 Emma rated it 5 of 5 stars

With the Civil War just recently ended and life returning to normal, Verity Boone leaves behind the only family she has ever known in Worcester, Pennsylvania to return to her birthplace of Catawissa in 1867. While she is leaving behind urban convenience and dear relatives, Verity is eager to see her father and her old family home.

She is also keen to meet Nate, the man who courted her and proposed through letters, for the first time face-to-face.

When Verity arrives in Catawissa nothing is quite w...more With the Civil War just recently ended and life returning to normal, Verity Boone leaves behind the only family she has ever known in Worcester, Pennsylvania to return to her birthplace of Catawissa in 1867. While she is leaving behind urban convenience and dear relatives, Verity is eager to see her father and her old family home.

She is also keen to meet Nate, the man who courted her and proposed through letters, for the first time face-to-face.

When Verity arrives in Catawissa nothing is quite what she expected. The Boone house is rundown and neglected. Her father is unsure how to reconcile the two-year-old daughter he sent away upon his wife's death with the seventeen-year-old woman who returned from Worcester. Even her father's housekeeper is distant.

Worse, Nate is not what Verity expected from his letters. Faced with the reality of agreeing to marry a practical stranger, Verity wonders if coming back to Catawissa was a terrible mistake.

Verity's misgivings multiply when she first visits the Catawissa cemetery. There she finds two graves encased in iron cages just outside the cemetery walls--buried in unconsecrated ground. Locals have any number of explanations: witchcraft, grave robbers, even rumors of hidden treasure. Verity knows these outlandish stories must be hiding a darker truth and she is determined to discover Catawissa's secrets. As Verity tries to unearth the truth about the caged graves and Catawissa's troubled past, she also begins to understand her own place in the town and among her own family in The Caged Graves (2013) by Dianne K. Salerni.

The Caged Graves was inspired by two real caged graves the author saw in Catawissa. Nothing is known about the purpose of the cages but their presence inspired this novel.

The Caged Graves is a spooky, gripping read. It does not, however, include any supernatural or paranormal elements despite what the jacket summary might suggest. This book is a straightforward historical mystery. And it's delightful.

Verity is a determined, likable heroine in a thoroughly engrossing story. Salerni's writing is evocative of the period and well-paced as tension builds throughout the story. All of the characters in the story are well-developed and add to the story in their own way. Verity and Nate's uneasy courtship was a particularly nice story element. I was also thrilled to see Verity's reconnecting with her father become such a large part of the story.

With so many (lovely) historical fantasies hitting the market it was nice to find The Caged Graves was a purer historical read. The mystery element sneaks into the story as the focus shifts from Verity adjusting to Catawissa life to Verity investigating the graves. Although the resolution was a bit rushed, the ending the of the story came together logically with a very gratifying twist. The Caged Graves is a pleasant read sure to leave readers happy and eager to research the era (and the real caged graves) as soon as the story is finished.

Possible Pairings: Frost by Marianna Baer, Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly, The Physick Book of Deliverance Dane by Katherine Howe, Jellicoe Road by Melina Marchetta, The Witch of Blackbird Pond by Elizabeth George Speare(less)

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May 14, 2013 Book Preview Review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: ya

Book Description:

“The year is 1867, and seventeen-year-old Verity Boone is excited to return from Worcester, Massachusetts, to Catawissa, Pennsylvania, the hometown she left when she was just a baby. Now she will finally meet the fiancé she knows only through letters. Soon, however, she discovers two strangely caged graves . . . and learns that one of them is her own mother’s. Verity swears she’ll get to the bottom of why her mother was buried in “unhallowed ground” in this suspenseful teen myst...more

7 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2013 Patricia Kemp Blackmon rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: young-adult, netgalley-copy, personal-choice, mystery-suspense-thriller, historical-fiction

Verity Boone at age two years, was taken from her father, shortly after her mothers unforeseen death, in order to have the chance to have a normal life while being raised with her cousins in her Aunt's home. Now Verity is 17 years old and has promised to marry a respectable young man from her home town of Catawissa, Pennsylvania. When she arrives at her father's home nothing is familiar to her. She did not receive a very warm welcome from anyone including her father. Something was not right, may...more

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Apr 21, 2013 April rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: vine, historical-fiction, ya, for-review

Set in Catawissa, Pennsylvania during the post Civil War era, The Caged Graves by Dianne K. Salerni is an intense historical fiction young adult read. With a spitfire main character, dark secrets, and a slow to develop romance, The Caged Graves hearkens back to the historical fiction of my childhood, similar in feel to The Witch Of Blackbird Pond, if not in eras. Salerni’s latest is utterly engrossing and exactly what I want to read in historical book. Mainly, it has a strong plot and fantastic...more

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Apr 28, 2013 Jessica rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, a-z-challenge-2013

Wow. This was a unique and enthralling novel if I've ever read one. There is so much to say about this novel that I can't possibly fit it all into this review, or even, necessarily, into words. I was actually taken aback by how much I truly enjoyed it.

One of the most captivating aspects of THE CAGED GRAVES is the atmosphere. There is something very unsettling about the graves from the first mention of them and Verity's mother, and this unsettling feeling is only amplified by the various reaction...more Wow. This was a unique and enthralling novel if I've ever read one. There is so much to say about this novel that I can't possibly fit it all into this review, or even, necessarily, into words. I was actually taken aback by how much I truly enjoyed it.

One of the most captivating aspects of THE CAGED GRAVES is the atmosphere. There is something very unsettling about the graves from the first mention of them and Verity's mother, and this unsettling feeling is only amplified by the various reactions by everyone whenever they are brought up. This was not a fast-paced, plot driven novel, though it absolutely had its exciting scenes, but I really enjoyed how that allowed the setting and the atmosphere to take over, as well as putting character relationships center stage.

I absolutely loved the way the relationships overall were dealt with, but I want to touch specifically on a few. First, Verity almost expects her meeting with Nate, her betrothed, to bring love at first sight, as their only contact since Verity had moved away from Catawissa as a child was in the last year through romantic and endearing letters. It was interesting seeing a trope so commonly complained about in YA like "insta-love" turned right on its head, with the main character expecting it and it not turning out that way at all. The depth of the relationship that develops between them is genuine in its uncertainty and its rockiness, which made them a lovable couple even when they fought.

Another well-hated trope, the love triangle, is used exactly as it should be in this novel. When Verity feels distanced from Nate, she finds herself falling for Jones, an apprentice to the local doctor and completely unforgiving in his feelings for Verity, an engaged woman. The reason this was done so well is in the way Verity struggles not only to determine who she has true feelings for and who she simply enjoys flirting with, but also with the entire concept of love, which, at 17, is possibly the most realistic and honest way she could feel. Of all the relationships, though, Verity's awkward one with her father was probably the most touching. He has to adjust to having a teenage daughter thrust into his life after not having lived with her since she was a toddler. He clearly has no idea what to do with her, nor she with him, but the way they grow on and begin to understand each other is really heart-warming in its small but significant moments.

While the plot of the novel was not, as I mentioned above, fast-moving, because of the significant focus on characters and atmosphere, it was certainly not boring or underdeveloped. The mystery surrounding the graves, Verity's mother, and the circumstances of her death, along with the ongoing strange occurrences in Catawissa make for an extremely intriguing plot with a surprising conclusion (in more ways than one)!
I thought this was a really wonderful novel, in all., where each element mixed with the others perfectly to create a story I could not mentally pull myself away from.
5 stars!

*I received an advance review copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Clarion!*(less)

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May 11, 2013 Kara rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: annoying-protagonist, arc, didn-t-live-up-to-expectations, dreaded-love-triangle, for-review, net-galley, pennsylvania, romance, young-adult, zzzzzzzzz

I'll confess. I probably should have reviewed this right after I finished reading it. Because honestly, I remember very little of what I read. And that's probably because it's not a very memorable book. There are a lot of things you THINK this book will be before you begin reading it, but it actually lives up to very few of those expectations. I appreciate that some of this book is rooted in fact (like there really are caged graves in Catawissa), but the main problem is that this book is pretty...more I'll confess. I probably should have reviewed this right after I finished reading it. Because honestly, I remember very little of what I read. And that's probably because it's not a very memorable book. There are a lot of things you THINK this book will be before you begin reading it, but it actually lives up to very few of those expectations. I appreciate that some of this book is rooted in fact (like there really are caged graves in Catawissa), but the main problem is that this book is pretty boring. I think that maybe readers that read historical fiction more than me may enjoy this one, but for me, this is a period in history that doesn't really interest me. I was going into it expecting the creep factor and a paranormal plot line and it is neither of those. I suppose you could call that a spoiler but I really think it's an important fact that readers should know before picking this one up. It's much more historical than paranormal, and if you are reading it for that, I do think you will be genuinely disappointed.

I also had problems with Verity. She was a fairly unlikable character and I had a hard time rooting or caring for her. She was a snob. Bratty and entitled, she constantly judged those around her and the fact that they weren't from a city and they didn't have all the experiences she had. Of course characters go through growth, and so does Verity, and I liked her more by the end of the book, but she is simply not a character I would have cared for in real life and so why should I care for her in a book?

Also? A love triangle. I feel that it's a decently written triangle and I did care for both love interests, and I was conflicted over who Verity should choose, and that tugged at my heart strings a little, so for me that was a positive. I'm not usually a fan of love triangles. But if they are done well, I can deal, and in this case I did because I felt both characters were developed well and the triangle felt realistic and the interactions between the characters worked for me. So I wouldn't immediately write it off because of that element but I did feel it was something that should be stated. There is a largely romantic element to this book though and I almost feel as if the plot took a backseat. It was at least 50/50. So if you love the romance in your YA novels, I am sure you will enjoy this more than I did. Personally, I can do without romance completely. I don't MIND romance, but I certainly don't need it to enjoy a book.

Good things? The prose is lovely. A lot of the side characters were developed well, particularly Verity's father and the housekeeper. The mystery is fun to solve and go along with but it's hard to focus on that when we are being constantly interrupted by a sappy romance. The plot is slow moving and I never felt fully invested in what I was reading until around page 180, and that is FAR too long. I liked the book enough to call it average but I was not won over in the end. Bottom line here: interesting premise with only an average execution. I wan't impressed and so I move on to the next.(less)

3 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2013 marcy rated it 4 of 5 stars

I very much enjoyed The Caged Graves and thought Verity was a fun character from the moment I met her on the train. The historical details read true as did the entire mystery, which I didn't figure out until i read it! Can't wait for Dianne's next book :)

4 likes · like · see review

May 05, 2013 Nance rated it 5 of 5 stars

Mystery, love story, historical fiction....

This YA novel explores themes of morality, love and trust. Each turn of the page brings with it anticipation to see what comes next!

5 likes · like · see review

Apr 09, 2013 Carol rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: fiction, historical, mystery, young-adult

Picked this one up because it takes place pretty close to the northeastern PA town where I grew up. I was pleasantly surprised. Nicely written, good historical story, engaging characters.

5 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Jenn rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: library, young-adult

Oh, book, why did you have to feature the dreaded love triangle within your pages? Don't you know that's the surest way to make me want to throw you across the room?

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Feb 01, 2013 Dara marked it as to-read

I have a fascination with old cemeteries and to see that this is based on some graves that actually have cages built around them...well, I'm intrigued!

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Feb 02, 2013 Kaye rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2013-debuts, review-pending, arc, buy-someday, creepy-covers, historical, houghton-mifflin

Review will be posted closer to the publication date...

but let me tell you RIGHT NOW that this book is worth waiting for.

5 likes · like · see review

Sep 08, 2011 Aine marked it as to-read

Shelves: historical

Beta read an early draft. Can't wait to read the published version.

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Apr 03, 2013 The Holy Terror marked it as to-read

Shelves: future-releases, month-of-may, historical, historical-fiction, young-adult, arc, next-up, next-up-ya, needs-review, with-lucy

Just got approved for this from NetGalley! I really loved her first book, We Hear the Dead (5 stars from me!) but it came out in 2010 and I've been waiting for more from her since. She did a really good job weaving in little-known history into a compelling story and this one sounds just as good. Excited to find out if that's the case!

1 like · like · see review

May 08, 2013 Twisty J rated it 5 of 5 stars

What an amazing book. Atmospheric, gripping, gothic, creepy, spooky, haunting, and lovely in its mysteriousness. There is so much to say, but I do not want to give anything away. This is not a paranormal or fantasy novel. It is pure historical mystery- and achieves all it set out to be. If the description intrigues you at all, just pick it up and read it. You are sure to fall in love.

7 likes · like · see review

May 15, 2013 Janice (the_red1) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: friends-to-lovers, good-girl, good-guy-hero, love-triangle, historical, romance, ya

Really liked this historical mystery. It's a smooth read and has some nice twists and turns I didn't see coming. I could have done without the love triangle but it was handled well and I approved wholeheartedly of Verity's final choice :)

2 likes · like · see review

May 07, 2013 Jenny Q rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: amazon-vine, pending-review

I'm wavering on which side of 4.5 to go here. Couldn't put it down. Full review to come...

7 likes · like · see review

May 20, 2013 Samantha marked it as to-read

May 20, 2013 Joy marked it as to-read

May 20, 2013 Marwah Al Zarouni marked it as to-read

May 20, 2013 Amanda marked it as to-read

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About Dianne Salerni

Dianne K. Salerni is the author of YA historical novels We Hear the Dead (Sourcebooks 2010) and The Caged Graves (Clarion Books 2013), and the forthcoming MG fantasy series THE EIGHTH DAY (HarperCollins). Salerni lives in Chester County, Pennsylvania with her husband and two daughters, where she teaches fifth grade.

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