Rate this book

Clear rating

1 of 5 stars 2 of 5 stars 3 of 5 stars 4 of 5 stars 5 of 5 stars

Fallen Grace

3.63 of 5 stars 3.63 · rating details · 930 ratings · 228 reviews

Grace Parkes has just had to do a terrible thing. Having given birth to an illegitimate child, she has travelled to the famed Brookwood Cemetery to place her small infant's body in a rich lady's coffin. Following the advice of a kindly midwife, this is the only way that Grace can think of to give something at least to the little baby who died at birth, and to avoid the ign...more

Paperback, 320 pages

Published February 1st 2011 by Bloomsbury Publishing (first published June 7th 2010)

more details... edit details

Get a copy:

More…

Friend Reviews

To see what your friends thought of this book, please sign up.

Lists with This Book

A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray

New YA historical fiction in 2010-2011

58th out of 97 books — 392 voters

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

Young Adult fiction by UK authors

93rd out of 222 books — 250 voters

More lists with this book...

Community Reviews

(showing 1-30 of 2,806)

filter | sort: default (?) | rating details

Jul 19, 2011 Nomes rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, 2011

The tale has a Dickensian feel to it: the plot manages to weave it's way through street urchin-type life, to the lives of the incredibly posh upper class folks of the day.

While the story is constantly unravelling (the plot is quite pacy and from one chapter to the next a lot of things seem to go down) it still doesn't read like a tension-filled adventure-y read. It's a story you have to relax and settle yourself into.

It *kind of* reminded me of some of Jeffrey Archer's tales ~ how he weaves cha...more

13 likes · like · see review

May 19, 2011 Cinnamon rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: teensreadtoo, historical-fiction, 2011, young-adult, reviewed, 3-fairly-intriguing

This review may also be found on A Thousand Little Pages.

3.5/5

Orphaned at a young age, Grace and Lily Parkes barely scrape by living off of the revenue from their watercress-selling operation. When Grace -- barely sixteen herself -- gives birth to a stillborn baby boy, she embarks on a train ride that causes her to crash head-on into two individuals who ultimately come to define the sisters’ messy future. And what a messy future it is, for the entirety of legal London is abuzz over Grace and Lil...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 28, 2011 Angelc rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: already-own-read

Poor Grace and Lily have been through so much! Every horrid thing that could possibly happen to them does happen. They are orphans, they are both abused by a benefactor at their workhouse, Grace become pregnant, and her baby dies. And these things all happen at the very beginning of the book, so you can only imagine how hard times become as the story moves on. The story never has a dull moment it hops right along from one scary adventure to the next.

I was most intrigued by Grace's work at the Un...more

2 likes · like · see review

Jul 31, 2011 Aly (Fantasy4eva) rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: All Historical Fiction and mystery fans

Recommended to Aly (Fantasy4eva) by: Instinct

Shelves: pleasantly-surprised, received-for-review, uk-bookish-love

Historical Fiction isn't one of my most favoured genre’s, but it’s books like Fallen Grace that make me more than willing to make the exception. Fallen Grace centres around the not so glamorous streets of Victorian London around the mid 1800s. It's the story of a fifteen year old girl who is struggling to survive alongside her older sister Lily. Her mother is dead and her father long gone before their birth. Meanwhile a promising future is left behind by our MC due to becoming pregnant which lea...more Historical Fiction isn't one of my most favoured genre’s, but it’s books like Fallen Grace that make me more than willing to make the exception. Fallen Grace centres around the not so glamorous streets of Victorian London around the mid 1800s. It's the story of a fifteen year old girl who is struggling to survive alongside her older sister Lily. Her mother is dead and her father long gone before their birth. Meanwhile a promising future is left behind by our MC due to becoming pregnant which leaves her with no other alternative than to momentarily leave Lily to find a suitable place to give birth.

It’s absolutely heartbreaking to see this girl so lost and afraid. Who has clearly been raped and robbed of her innocence and left with a child when she is a mere child herself. Readers in my opinion will adore her instantly. She is: loving, caring, sensible, determined and smart. She is naive, but her past experiences have made her a little more self aware and street smart, something that will come in handy if she and her sister are to survive.

Eventually she comes across a place which tends to “fallen girls” such as her, but unfortunately her baby is pronounced dead, and immediately the midwife urges her that she bury the child at a certain location -- upon where she will meet the charming Mr James Solent and the cunning Unwins. Both, unknown to her, will play a big part in her life in the near future. Upon her return the girls spend their days selling watercress: just about getting by.

There were times when Grace would come face to face with someone who would be described as quite rich e.g. Charlotte: all superior, stuck up and spoilt. You would then look at Grace’s past, how close she and Lily have been to starvation, and alongside her you felt furious and vexed that this spoilt brat didn't realise just how good she had it. What further angered me were the Unwins – Charlotte’s parents. It wasn’t enough that they were frauds, no. They then had to take advantage of two girls who were suffering as it is. However, it is people like Mr James Solent that reminded me that there are good people out there too.

Lily is so naïve, and although she wasn’t given an actual diagnosis it’s clear that she may have some form of special needs. More – so it’s lovely to see the great bond they share. Because of her sister’s condition --Grace has taken the role of the older sister/ protector and looks out for Lily -- which in a way may have just resulted in making Grace more responsible and mature before her time, but then again, it’s also the harsh realities that they face which contribute to this. Which then leads me to my point: I was glad that the author didn’t hold back. I was glad that she verily exposed the cruelty, harshness and brutality of others, and made it clear that life is cruel, especially if you have no money or family. I suppose I know that, but it was just hard to read it at times. It was hard to see the suffering of others and see poverty so vividly.

Particular highlights of the book were not only the brief appearances of Queen Elizabeth and Prince Albert but THE Charles Dickens. The moment was absolutely magical and I found myself repeatedly reading the scene over and over again. I genuinely felt that I was meeting the man himself!

In conclusion I'll admit I had my highs and lows with the book. Particularly when the pace would slow down and eventually pick back up. Also it can be a little hard to get into which is why I can't guarantee that you will all love it. I'll say it right now to be clear. This book will be loved by many and not so much by others: it's not for everyone, but by the end of it, it had completely won me over. I was left pleasantly surprised when I realised just how much I had connected with Grace, and felt for those who had been in her situation and were still going through it. Regardless, what I can promise you is that Fallen Grace is definitely an eye opener.(less)

1 like · like · see review

Mar 04, 2011 JL (An Avid Reader's Musings) rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: arc, mg-ya-books-read-in-2011, reviewed, blog-tour

THE TWEET
Set in Victorian London, FALLEN GRACE is the story of a poor young girl who's exposed to the seedy underbelly of the funeral trade.

WHAT WORKED
What first drew me to FALLEN GRACE was the historical aspect of the story. I love history and historical fiction and FALLEN GRACE had an interesting hook with the exploration of the funeral trade in Victorian London. Mary Hooper must have done extensive research prior to writing FALLEN GRACE and this shows in the detailed scenes she has written. T...more

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 02, 2011 Rebecca rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical-fiction, arc, 2011-ya-hist-fic-challenge

The year is 1861 in London. Fifteen-year-old Grace Parkes and her older sister, Lily, live a life of hardship, struggling every day just to earn enough money to buy food. Their father disappeared long ago and their mother died while they were still very young. Though she is the older sister, Lily has the mind of a child and so Grace must look after her. The two girls were safe in an orphanage for a few years but once they had to leave one misfortune had followed another. As the novel begins, Gra...more The year is 1861 in London. Fifteen-year-old Grace Parkes and her older sister, Lily, live a life of hardship, struggling every day just to earn enough money to buy food. Their father disappeared long ago and their mother died while they were still very young. Though she is the older sister, Lily has the mind of a child and so Grace must look after her. The two girls were safe in an orphanage for a few years but once they had to leave one misfortune had followed another. As the novel begins, Grace has just given birth to a stillborn baby boy. Though the pregnancy was forced upon her she still grieves the baby that never got a chance to live, and so she takes him to Brookwood, a lovely and peaceful cemetary outside London, so that he can have a proper burial.

At Brookwood, Grace meets two people who will change her life in the coming months. One is James Solent, a handsome young lawyer's clerk. He offers to help Grace if she ever needs assistance. The other is Mrs. Unwin, who along with her husband owns one of the largest funeral businesses in London. Mrs. Unwin offers Grace a job as a "mute" - a girl who is paid to stand at funerals wearing black and looking sad. Grace is horrified by the idea, but when she and Lily lose their home she has no other choice. Unknown to Grace, however, is that she and Lily are heirs to a large fortune left behind by their father, who died in America. The Unwins know, however, and have an evil plan to steal the fortune from the two girls. Will Grace discover the truth in time and find a way to save herself and her sister?

Fallen Grace is an excellent young adult historical novel with a unique story that has very Gothic feel to it. I had not known anything about the Victorian funeral trade before reading this book so I learned a lot. I was surprised by how extravagant the funerals of the rich were! Grace was a very likeable main character. She suffered through one terrible hardship after another, far more than many people could endure, yet she managed to stay strong through it all. I would highly recommend this novel to readers who enjoy historical fiction or who have read and enjoyed other books by Mary Hooper.

Disclosure: Review copy provided by publisher.(less)

2 likes · like · see review

Feb 04, 2011 Kimberly rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, historical-fiction, young-adult, arc

Really impressive in the way it gives the reader insight into the time period/setting - the historical setting is a part of the story, and it's fascinating. It's also an engrossing story, although most plot points I could see coming from miles away (hence the 3 and not 4 stars - it was written a bit too simplistically for the targeted age group).

Full review: http://stackedbooks.blogspot.com/2011...

1 like · like · see review

Mar 15, 2013 Kenya Liggons rated it 3 of 5 stars

Good... but wasn't as great as I thought it was... I think it deserves atleat an amount of 3.5 stars.. I don't know, I am kind of iffy about what I should give this book. This book is about a teenager named Grace Parkes. She is fifteen or sixteen years old, and she and her sister Lily are struggling with life itself. The girls parents were gone, so they had nobody. They were at a orphanage for a couple years, but ended up leaving. Grace is mature enough to care of herself and Lily. Lily is the o...more

like · see review

Sep 19, 2012 Beadyjan rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical

I've read and enjoyed most of Mary Hoopers YA historical books and Fallen Grace was no exception.

It wasn't the most original storyline ever written and there were one heck of a lot of coincidences to swallow but the ease with which its written and the charm of our young heroine helped make up for that.

Well researched as this authors works always are it brings home what it must have been like to be a poor orphan living in poverty in one of the most notorious slums of Victorian London.

Orphaned 15...more

like · see review

Jun 24, 2012 Librarymouse rated it 3 of 5 stars

I picked this one up on a whim, as the cover blurb sounded interesting.

I quickly found myself drawn in, as Hooper's writing is quite engaging. I felt that she did a very good job of setting the scene and making the setting feel real, with the same being said of the main characters. I could very easily empathize with Grace and Lily and I found their relationship to be quite interesting, but I felt that the secondary characters could have done with a little more fleshing out. Considering what an i...more

like · see review

Jun 09, 2012 Rea rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: historical, teen

Full review can be found here.

3.5 stars

Though this was shelved in the A section, I think it would have been better in the younger readers’ area. It’s true that the book deals with themes of rape, childbirth, death and the evil that swarmed the Victorian London streets, but I don’t feel that any part of it would have been inappropriate for 12+ readers if parents are willing to sit with them and answer any questions they have. In fact, had I read the book when I was 12-16 I think that I would have...more Full review can be found here.

3.5 stars

Though this was shelved in the A section, I think it would have been better in the younger readers’ area. It’s true that the book deals with themes of rape, childbirth, death and the evil that swarmed the Victorian London streets, but I don’t feel that any part of it would have been inappropriate for 12+ readers if parents are willing to sit with them and answer any questions they have. In fact, had I read the book when I was 12-16 I think that I would have appreciated it a lot more than I did now.

The author goes to considerable lengths to bring the lives of the poor – and how hardened they are towards anyone that they can swindle, even their fellow poor – to life for the reader in a simple but powerful way and she does a very good job of it. The presentation of the “death trade” is also very intricate and obviously well-researched. I did learn a few new things about death in the Victorian period that I hadn’t been fully aware of.

The story itself follows two sisters – Grace and Lily – and the money-grubbing family who want to claim the sisters’ inherited fortune for themselves. Of course, Grace and Lily are unaware that they stand to gain a fortune if they can prove themselves to be their father’s daughters as they are too poor to be able to afford copies of the newspapers where advertisements asking for news of their whereabouts are placed. For a long time they’ve been living the life of the poor, trying to scrounge a living from what they have at their disposal but coming ever-closer to having to go to one of the workhouses.

Grace, the younger of the two, has to look after her older sister as Lily is on the simple side. She means well with her actions but her mental state makes her an easy target for anyone who does not have her best interests at heart and she often makes their situation worse rather than better. I enjoyed observing Grace’s interactions with her sister and how she’d get Lily to admit to the truth in degrees whenever she lied, but also how fiercely protective of her she was. There was a very pure and dynamic sisterly bond between the two of them that made them something special to read about.

The Unwins were the archetypical villains and were a tad too much on the stereotypical side for me to really buy their characters. Of course, there are people out there motivated by greed just as much as these characters are. I think I wanted more layering to their characters rather than greed being their sole motivator for every single action.

As for James, I would have liked to have been given the chance to get to know him better. He had the potential to be an interesting character that could have opened the doors to another side of Victorian life but in the end he wasn’t really developed enough.

I would consider this a very good historical read for younger teen readers but it didn’t really have the power to completely captivate me as an adult reader.(less)

like · see review

May 06, 2012 Luna rated it 5 of 5 stars

Fallen Grace is a beautifully written story of young girl struggling to survive in poverty while mourning the death of child she was forced to have. The details of Grace’s environment are richly described. Lily, her elder sister is sweet, innocent and impossible not to love.

Grace’s story starts with her taking her stillborn baby to the cemetery so she can place the child in a rich lady’s coffin to avoid a pauper’s grave. It is there that she meets the Unwin’s who later offer her and Lily work an...more

like · see review

Mar 16, 2012 ༻☮Miranda☮༺ rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

I thought this book was really amazing. Even though the story was very slow-paced, dark and gloomy, it was incredibly good.
Grace, aged 15 lives in Seven Dials, the poorest part of Victorian London, with her sister, Lily. Even though Grace is younger than Lily, and Lily should take care of her, Grace actually must take care of Lily. One day, Grace gives birth to a child, but the midwife tells her it was stillborn, so Grace must bring her precious baby to Brookwood Gardens, a cemetary. There she m...more

like · see review

Mar 04, 2012 Sarah rated it 4 of 5 stars

I recently read 'Fallen Grace' which is set in London in the late 1800's. The opening scene is of Grace on a train to the cemetery owned by the Unwin family, where she thinks back to the terrible things that have forced her to be on that train. Grace has a tragically beautiful face and is offered a spot as a mute (a person who is paid to look sad at people's funerals.) by Mrs Unwin. She declines it even though she would be provided with food and shelter as well as receiving wages. She knows she...more

like · see review

Jan 30, 2012 Jules rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: historical, youngadult, trauma-narratives

The more of Hooper's books I read, the more I love her. She's got a wonderful talent for heroines, and female characters in general -- there are all kinds of strength in the women in her books, and it's always refreshing not to see someone who feels that the only way the heroine in a historical novel could possibly be interesting is if she hates everything feminine. I appreciated, too, that there was only the slightest hint of a possible romance, and that the male character in question helped Gr...more

like · see review

Dec 10, 2011 Liberty Gilmore rated it 4 of 5 stars

What's Good About It

I picked this up after seeing a friend rave on her blog. It's not the sort of novel I usually reach for. There's a distinct absence of magic and monsters. Despite that, though, I really loved Fallen Grace.

It wasn't the most challenging of plots, and there was never really a sense that things wouldn't turn out all for the best for everyone in the end, even when the situation of Grace and her sister was at its most dire, but it was a beautifully written book, perfect for whilin...more What's Good About It

I picked this up after seeing a friend rave on her blog. It's not the sort of novel I usually reach for. There's a distinct absence of magic and monsters. Despite that, though, I really loved Fallen Grace.

It wasn't the most challenging of plots, and there was never really a sense that things wouldn't turn out all for the best for everyone in the end, even when the situation of Grace and her sister was at its most dire, but it was a beautifully written book, perfect for whiling away a morning.

Victorian London was evoked brilliantly, and within a few pages, I was left really wanting to watch Young Victoria. I love books that make me fascinated with the subject matter and desperate to learn more about it. Victorian England is not a subject that has interested me before. I read Great Expectations for my GCSE and hated it, and that's about the limit of my experience with the topic. But, as I said, I'm now filled with an urge to go out and find more books, films and immerse myself in the culture.

It was very easy to read, too. After working hard to make my way through a few books, it was so refreshing to read something that could just be absorbed and enjoyed. I doubt it will ever win awards for brilliance, but it was exactly what I needed. I devoured it in a few hours.

What's Not So Good

As I said, the plot isn't exactly full of threat. Grace does find herself in some difficult situations, but the overriding feeling was always that a huge pile of money or a forgotten relative was waiting round the corner for our heroine, even in the opening pages, before it becomes completely clear where the plot is heading.

There are a few too many coincidences and cases of 'that's a bit convenient' to make it really elegant writing. Lyrical, yes, but when looking at plot rather than prose, there were one too characters connected to Grace and her plight in increasingly unlikely ways. In fiction you can forgive a couple of coincidences, but after that it just becomes laughable. Not laughable enough to reduce this below four stars, but too much so for it to earn any higher.

Rating: 4/5(less)

like · see review

Oct 19, 2011 Taffy rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011

First line:

"Grace, holding on tightly to her precious burden, found the station entrance without much difficulty."

The good, the bad and the ugly of Victorian London. Poor Grace and her sister Lily are in the gutter of this city. The girls are orphans and rely on Grace to keep a roof over their heads and food in their stomachs.

Grace meets James Solent and Mrs. Emmeline Unwin at a cemetery while taking care of a personal tragedy. Solent and Unwin are opposite ends of the spectrum of humanity.

I wa...more

like · see review

Sep 03, 2011 Jonna Doughty rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

This YA historical novel was a quick & pleasant read, well-written and quite informative. I'd no idea about Victorian mourning customs, but found the details given here just as interesting as the plot.

15-year-old Grace is a "fallen woman" after being molested by a stranger in the training school she'd been sent to with her sister Lily. Lily is older, but "simple," and from the time the girls were orphaned, ten years ago, Grace has been looking out for her. Grace has given birth to a still-b...more

like · see review

Jul 24, 2011 Dornel Cerro rated it 4 of 5 stars

Sixteen year old Grace and her simple minded sister, Lily, 17, struggle to survive in Victorian London after the disappearance of their father and the death of their mother. After they are turned out of their boarding house both believe they will find shelter and employment working for the Unwin family mortuary business. Instead what they find places them in great danger. Overall a compelling and credible story with some shocking turns of events and real attention to details of daily life, Engla...more

like · see review

Jul 06, 2011 Laura rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011, ya-lit, historical-fiction

Fallen Grace is the story of Grace and her simple sister, Lily, and their tough lives in 1861 London.

Its strength is the description of 1861 London and how the very poorest scrambled for their lives. The plot is very predictable and many of the problems are solved too neatly. Almost all of the secondary characters have dual roles -- a kind cook helps locate Lily and then shows Grace an important part of her past.

I was also a little confused about the intended audience. The style and writing it...more

like · see review

Jul 02, 2011 Jade Walker rated it 4 of 5 stars

Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

I found Mary Hooper years ago when I was going through my YA historical stage, I found her 'The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose' which I loved, so I knew when I saw this that I had to read it, unfortunately I forgot about it until I opened up my Bloomsbury package yesterday and found a paperback copy in there. I devoured it in a few hours.

Hooper has an amazing skill when it comes to place and time, she set the book in 1861 and writes s...more Original review at http://inkscratchers.blogspot.com/

I found Mary Hooper years ago when I was going through my YA historical stage, I found her 'The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose' which I loved, so I knew when I saw this that I had to read it, unfortunately I forgot about it until I opened up my Bloomsbury package yesterday and found a paperback copy in there. I devoured it in a few hours.

Hooper has an amazing skill when it comes to place and time, she set the book in 1861 and writes so well that the reader forgets that it's really the 21st century, the writing is that fantastic. I have often found that historical novels have one of two problems with the writing; they either try too hard and the narration sounds forced or the writing doesn't sound historical making the narration seem contemporary. Hooper doesn't have either of these problems as her narration seems completely natural. Hooper also covers the issue of poverty and in my opinion the writing sort of (excuse the corny phrase) brings history to life.

The story is simple and this makes the book pretty easy to understand, everything falls into place very nicely (maybe a little too nicely) and the story is told clearly so there is little chance of becoming confused. Hooper also gives us a fantastic gang of characters, I loved Grace, she is really strong and can stand up for herself against the bad guys, the bad guys are well developed and we can see their motives. I really liked Lily, one of the most likable characters, a simple but lovely girl she has some quirky moments but it's her parts that touch the reader most. There is also a steady romantic development between Grace and a law assistant called James that is established pretty early on, and wile Hooper doesn't actually tell us what happens between them is left on a note of hope which I liked.

My main problem with this book was the point of views, the book is written in third person and doesn't stick to following one character, which made this book a bit jumpy. In my opinion, the way that one moment it was Grace's story, then The Unwin's at one point even James's and Lily's may have given insight into the plot and the characters but it also disrupted the flow a little.

I also had some issues with the pacing, while the story is engrossing the pacing was a little slow which can be a little frustrating at some points, however this is only a very miniscule flaw.

All in all a great book, telling a great story in a very convincing way. Despite some pacing and perspective problems this books gets:

Overall rating: B
(less)

like · see review

Jun 28, 2011 Stephanie rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

This review originally appeared at

like · see review

Jun 25, 2011 TheBookAddictedGirl added it Recommends it for: All Victorian/Oliver Twist Book Lovers!

Shelves: british-fiction, favourites-shelf, for-review, historical-fiction, pre-teen, read-2011, real-to-life-fiction, ya

I have always loved historical novels, and Fallen Grace was one of the best I’ve read. A brilliant story of rags to riches, it tells the story of Grace, a strong, tragic orphaned girl, and her disabled sister Lily. It had me completely hooked: Mary Hooper’s writing, characters and plot were absolutely incredibly, and really made you feel as though you were in early Victorian times. All the tiny details made the entire story come to life and really authentic, and all the hardships of Grace and Li...more I have always loved historical novels, and Fallen Grace was one of the best I’ve read. A brilliant story of rags to riches, it tells the story of Grace, a strong, tragic orphaned girl, and her disabled sister Lily. It had me completely hooked: Mary Hooper’s writing, characters and plot were absolutely incredibly, and really made you feel as though you were in early Victorian times. All the tiny details made the entire story come to life and really authentic, and all the hardships of Grace and Lily were described in a way that shocked me and made me feel so sorry for them it almost hurt.
From the very beginning, I absolutely loved Grace. Pale, fragile and beautiful, her life is so heartrending that she had my sympathy from the word go. Despite her horrible life, she’s strong enough to deal with finding food for her and her elder sister, along with all the difficulties thrown at her. She’s a perfect heroine, and I found myself really feeling sorry for her, and wanting for her whole life to get better: she really deserved for it to.
I loved Lily too, the young girl trapped in a woman’s body, unable to function properly without her little sister and completely incapable of telling a lie. Her completely innocence is so touching and sweet that I could completely understand why Grace felt so desperate to keep her sheltered from the world.
The villains of the book are the Unwin family: deceitful, manipulative, cruel and prepared to do just about anything to get their hands on money. I could feel myself getting angrier and angrier at their immoral business habits, practically praying for someone to expose them for who they were.
The book somehow manages to be sinister and dark without crossing into the truly horrible and terrifying category, which was absolutely perfect. The balance and the details made this book absolutely fascinating, and it taught me absolutely loads about all the etiquettes and little facts about the early 19th century. I honestly dread to think how much research Hooper must have put into this book to get all the tiny snippets that make it unique, but I’m so glad she did. This book’s characters and plots literally jumped straight off of the page, and felt so real it was like I actually knew them.
Perfect for people who love the past but don’t want to have all the heaviness of a classic, this is definitely a historical novel to read. Themes like rape are touched upon, but it all happened before the book started so there are no graphic or gruesome scenes. I loved it and definitely recommend it!(less)

like · see review

Jun 24, 2011 Love YA Lit rated it 4 of 5 stars

Nora's Review (originally posted at: LoveYALit.com):

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper takes place in a Dickensian 1861 London. Grace and her older sister Lily are orphans trying to survive by selling watercress, and it doesn’t help that Lily is mentally impaired. In addition, Grace just suffered through a pregnancy and the birth of a stillborn child. The midwife recommends she bury the child in the casket of a rich lady, and instructs her to go to the necropolis railway and find a suitable corpse. Sh...more Nora's Review (originally posted at: LoveYALit.com):

Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper takes place in a Dickensian 1861 London. Grace and her older sister Lily are orphans trying to survive by selling watercress, and it doesn’t help that Lily is mentally impaired. In addition, Grace just suffered through a pregnancy and the birth of a stillborn child. The midwife recommends she bury the child in the casket of a rich lady, and instructs her to go to the necropolis railway and find a suitable corpse. She meets both a kind lawyer (and brother to the dead woman whose grave Grace secretly hid her bundle in) and an unkind funeral business owner – Mrs. Unwin – at the graveyard. Both give Grace their cards, and this is where the story really takes off.

When Grace and her sister are forced out of their boarding house, Grace is forced to work as a “mute” (a pretty, grim, silent person who attends funerals) for the crooked Unwin family business. Her sister Lily is sent to work as a maid. Little do they know that the Unwins have terrible ulterior motives for employing the girls. In addition, there is more to the birth of Grace’s child than expected.

Fallen Grace is an interesting and well-researched read. The historical period works well, and the book is full of surprises and great details. For example, just the Victorian obsession with death and mourning is fascinating. The clothing rules alone – black for full mourning, purple for half-mourning etc…were complex and surely an example of successful marketing by the funeral business. It was also considered “unlucky” to keep mourning clothes, so they were to be thrown away, and new clothes were to be bought when a new death occurred.

This all sounds much more grim than it is – Grace is strong and smart, and even when faced with terrible circumstances she perseveres. The romance element of the book is good without being a central focus. Grace is an excellent character, and the author manages to tell a tragic story in a way that isn’t melodramatic or overdone.(less)

like · see review

May 30, 2011 Katie Devorah rated it 3 of 5 stars

When searching for a new author to read, I generally find that Amazon.com is pretty good in recommending things to me. My latest find is British author Mary Hooper (apparently if you like Eva Ibbotson, you’ll like Hooper).

In her recent novel “Fallen Grace”, we meet Grace Parkes in 1861 London. Suffering from a tragic life, Grace is burdened with not only her survival but also with the care of her simple older sister Lily. They are orphans who must fend for themselves on the mean streets of Vict...more

like · see review

Apr 10, 2011 Corinne rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: young-adult

Victorian England, it brings to mind horse-drawn coaches, giant hoop skirts and Charles Dickens-esque romantic adventures. In Fallen Grace, we are introduced to another facet of Victorian life, two facets, really. The life of the absolutely downtrodden poor and the culture and customs of mourning and funerals.

When we meet Grace, she is on a miserable errand. She and her older (but clearly disabled) sister Lily are orphaned and very much on their own. Selling whatever they can manage on the stree...more

like · see review

Apr 06, 2011 Barbara rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fallen Grace is a wonderful historical YA story involving a strong heroine, fifteen-year-old Grace. We begin watching her struggles in Victorian London as she tries to find a way to get a decent burial for her stillborn child. Her grandparents disowned the family when her parents married, her father disappeared before her birth, her mother died when she was five-after charging Grace with the care of her sister Lily. Lily is older chronologically, but her mind is forever a child, leaving her prey...more Fallen Grace is a wonderful historical YA story involving a strong heroine, fifteen-year-old Grace. We begin watching her struggles in Victorian London as she tries to find a way to get a decent burial for her stillborn child. Her grandparents disowned the family when her parents married, her father disappeared before her birth, her mother died when she was five-after charging Grace with the care of her sister Lily. Lily is older chronologically, but her mind is forever a child, leaving her prey to everyone and needing Grace's constant care.

Grace's attempt to bury her child puts her into the path of a conspiracy as people pretend to befriend the girls while trying to defraud them. The story shows the stratified London society. History oozes from this novel, and the death of the Prince Consort plays a major role in the story. We see what life is like in Victorian orphanages and workhouses, the sacrifices people have to make just to survive on a daily basis, and gain an in-depth look at the funeral business as Grace becomes desperate enough to accept employment as a Mute - a paid mourner for high-priced funerals.

(view spoiler)

I worried about both Grace and Lily, loved the devotion the sisters had for each other, and appreciated Grace's strength and determination to survive and care for the sister she loved no matter how big the burden was. Most of all, the ending was satisfying, and left me feeling hopeful for all their futures.
(less)

like · see review

Jan 02, 2011 Danna rated it 4 of 5 stars

Fallen Grace is the first book I’ve ever read by Mary Hooper and I must say that I did enjoy it.
The story follows young, poor Grace Parkes who has just given birth to a stillborn baby boy and her older, yet simple-minded, sister Lily as they try to survive. To me, Grace was quite the extraordinary girl because she got raped and then gave birth to a dead baby and yet managed to keep her and her sister fed and sheltered. Lily on the other hand reminded me of my little sister. She was really slow...more

1 like · like · see review

Sep 15, 2010 Rebecca- Books rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

1 like · like · see review

Jun 06, 2010 Larissa rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: own

Grace and her older sister Lily lost their mother at a young age, before that they had lost their father. Alone in the world the girls had been sent to an orphanage and when older to a workhouse, but now they were living on their own making what they could selling watercress in one of the poorest areas in London.

It had always been Grace's responsibility to look after Lily, who now almost seventeen was still as unable to care for herself as she was when a child. Grace and Lily had left the workho...more
Grace and her older sister Lily lost their mother at a young age, before that they had lost their father. Alone in the world the girls had been sent to an orphanage and when older to a workhouse, but now they were living on their own making what they could selling watercress in one of the poorest areas in London.

It had always been Grace's responsibility to look after Lily, who now almost seventeen was still as unable to care for herself as she was when a child. Grace and Lily had left the workhouse and all it's horrors behind them, or so they had thought until Grace could no longer deny what was to be the outcome of her short stay there. And so, grieved and emotional, Grace found herself at Brookwood Cemetery with two business cards placed into her hands.

When the worst came to worst and Grace and Lily were forced from their home, Grace determined not to see her sister or herself resorting to living in the streets. She tried unsuccessfully to contact Mr Solent, the man who had given her the first business card. When that had failed she reluctantly took up the second black edged business card. She had been offered a job once, working for a funeral business.

It was not a position Grace was comfortable with but the Unwin family had agreed to take in Lily also, and although the sisters were to be separated Grace was only pleased they would both have food, clothing and shelter for the quickly approaching winter. However unbeknownst to Grace, the Unwin's had motives of their own for taking in the young girls.

Fallen Grace is a historical novel depicting life in London for both the poor and the wealthy, discriminating against neither as a poor beggar on the streets could be as much a thief as the wealthy in their posh houses, or worse. Amongst death, grief and greed Grace shines as a strong and vulnerable character able to tell a story that is fast paced, well thought out and all her own. A story full of deceptive actions, heartbreaking decisions and, if she's lucky, happy endings.(less)

1 like · like · see review

« previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 … 93 94 next »

new topic
Discuss This Book

topics	posts	views	last activity
Free Book Giveaway: Giveaway: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper (world, ends 14 July)	1	3	Jul 05, 2012 06:22pm
Wild Things: YA G...: Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper	1	3	Sep 25, 2011 09:42am

combine
Other Editions (10)

More editions...

Genres

Historical Fiction

104 users

Young Adult

62 users

Mystery

12 users

Young Adult > Teen

10 users

European Literature > British Literature

7 users

Young Adult > Young Adult Historical Fiction

5 users

Adult

4 users

Realistic Fiction

4 users

Death

2 users

Literature > 19th Century

2 users

See top shelves...

Readers also enjoyed similar books

About Mary Hooper

British children's and young adult author Mary Hooper was born in 1944, in Barnes, South West London. She left school at fifteen, and went to work as a window dresser, and then as a secretary. She eventually returned to school, as an adult student, earning a degree in English from Reading University. Hooper began her writing career with short stories, publishing in women's and teen magazines. Her...more

More about Mary Hooper...

Books by Mary Hooper

The Remarkable Life and Times of Eliza Rose

More…

Share This Book

Facebook Twitter Your website

Trivia About Fallen Grace

1 trivia question
1 quiz

More quizzes & trivia...

Quotes from Fallen Grace

“Prince Albert was gazing out of the window into the dark streets. Grace's eyes locked with Prince Albert's and she immediately sank into curtsey. On rising, she blushed to see that he was nodding in acknowledgment and smiling. Not knowing what else to do, she curtseyed again, and while her knee was still bent, the traffic eased and the royal carriage moved off.” — 4 people liked it

More quotes…

title link	preview: Fallen Grace
avg rating	preview: Fallen Grace Goodreads rating: 3.63 (930 ratings)
small image	preview: click here [close]
med image	preview: click here [close]
BBCode	[url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7575762-fallen-grace?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book][img]http://d.gr-assets.com/books/1327159951l/7575762.jpg[/img][/url] [url=http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7575762-fallen-grace?utm_medium=api&utm_source=blog_book]Fallen Grace by Mary Hooper[/url]

Fallen Grace

Friend Reviews

Community Reviews

Share This Book

Share This Book on Your Website