Mercury in Mock Printz 2026

Jan 17, 2011 Jan rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: teenbooks, graphicnovels

Although I am a fan of Hope Larson, I was a bit disappointed by Mercury. The story, which travels back and forth between 1859 and 2009, links two teenage girls who have both grown up in the same house in French Hill, Nova Scotia. In the present day, Tara Fraser is now living with an aunt, as her childhood home, which has been in the Fraser family for generations, has burned down. Tara’s mother is in northern Alberta, trying to earn enough money to reunite with Tara. Tara is trying to cope with a Although I am a fan of Hope Larson, I was a bit disappointed by Mercury. The story, which travels back and forth between 1859 and 2009, links two teenage girls who have both grown up in the same house in French Hill, Nova Scotia. In the present day, Tara Fraser is now living with an aunt, as her childhood home, which has been in the Fraser family for generations, has burned down. Tara’s mother is in northern Alberta, trying to earn enough money to reunite with Tara. Tara is trying to cope with all this change and with having to go back to school and feeling a bit of an outcast. In 1859, Tara’s teenage ancestor, Josey, has just met a young mysterious stranger, who turns up at the Frasier farm, proposing to Josey’s father that they prospect for gold. Josey’s mother is suspicious of this strange man, but Josey begins to feel romantically inclined towards him. Tara also begins to have romantic feelings for a young man on her track team. As their stories, separated by 100 years, begin to dovetail, Tara uses a divining pendant that she has found in the ruins of her house to search for a missing cache of gold that was never found after the murder of Josey’s father.

I found this story, although fascinating in parts, to be rather muddled with the back and forth between time periods. The addition of supernatural elements made it even more so. It just did not come together for me. The black and white art was gorgeous, up to Larson’s usual standard. I did like how she developed Tara’s character, who begins the story as a rather confused and passive teen but then becomes empowered by her determination to take control of her destiny by finding the gold. I also liked the rural Canadian setting. I can now say that I know what “donair” is. The ending does not tie up all the loose threads, but leaves us wondering how Tara will use the gold to bring her mother back and rebuild their lives together.

Although Mercury is a distinctive story and Larson is a very talented artist, I did not find this graphic novel an overwhelming triumph. I enjoyed it, but was somewhat exasperated by having to yank myself back and forth between 1859 and 2009.

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Dec 27, 2010 Christina Getrost rated it liked it

Shelves: graphicnovels, fantasy, historical-fiction

Two stories intertwine in this graphic novel: one, set in 1859, follows a young woman named Josey who is intrigued by a young man, Asa, who appears out of nowhere to help her father by finding in his previously unsuccessful mine. The other story is set in modern day, but in the same small Nova Scotia town as the mining story, where Tara is living with her aunt and cousin after her house burned down. Tara is negotiating high school, encountering a cute guy there, and then she finds a mysterious p ...more

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Mar 12, 2012 Mark rated it liked it

Shelves: graphic-novels, coming-of-age, death-and-dying, historical-fiction, young-adult-literature, mystery

This graphic novel follows two intersecting stories, both occurring in Nova Scotia. One is set in current day NS, and follows Tara, a high schooler who has recently lost her farmhouse to fire, and is living with relatives while her mother has left town to find work. Tara's been homeschooled by her mother for the past several years, so entering high school is somewhat rocky for her. The second story takes place in 1859 NS, on the same plot of farmland, and follows Josey, the same age as Tara, bac This graphic novel follows two intersecting stories, both occurring in Nova Scotia. One is set in current day NS, and follows Tara, a high schooler who has recently lost her farmhouse to fire, and is living with relatives while her mother has left town to find work. Tara's been homeschooled by her mother for the past several years, so entering high school is somewhat rocky for her. The second story takes place in 1859 NS, on the same plot of farmland, and follows Josey, the same age as Tara, back when the area was much more wild and unsettled. Josey's family receives a visit from an entrepreneur/prospector, who convinces Josey's father that there is gold waiting to be plucked from their land, and they can share the profits. Josey's mother, gifted with visions, is sure that no good can come of this mine, but her pleas fall on deaf ears. The gold, discovered, stolen and hidden, becomes a link between Josey and Tara, once Tara discovers an old locket that had been hidden in the farmhouse, and her talent for dowsing reveals itself.

This book is probably closer to 4 stars, but I know I'm still in the midst of my Cameron Post hangover, so the next few books I read will probably suffer from being held up (unfairly though it may be) against that incredible novel. But, since I had enjoyed Larson's previous work, I thought this would be a good read. It didn't disappoint at all, but I found the stories a little unevenly developed. Tara's story takes some time to establish, while Josey's doesn't, but I found myself much more intrigued by the 1859 events, and wanting to know more about that family, than Tara's. And beyond those two characters, there really weren't any others in whom I felt any investment - they're just there in the background.

The artwork here is excellent, with black and white strongly expressing the dark, foreboding wilderness of 19th century Nova Scotia. Larson also transitions well between the two stories, sometimes using just a small item/image to establish the link, like a dinner plate. But the stories are well-integrated, and graphic novel fans will find a lot to like in this one. ...more

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Mar 15, 2010 Donalyn rated it it was amazing

Shelves: graphic-novels, ncbla-committee-2011-books

When Tara Fraser's house burns down--a house that has been in her family for generations--she discovers a secret lost to history. Alternating between Tara and her ancestor Josey, this graphic novel reveals the story of Josey's tragic love affair, which now influences Tara's future.

Black and white illustrations add suspense and foreshadowing as both girls' stories meet in a powerful climax. ...more

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Nov 06, 2010 Emily Rozmus rated it liked it

I am too much a reviewer in my reading these days. It comes all too naturally for me now. This is a great story and I love a graphic novel that can be read in one sitting. It is a timeless story - a split one- of love and loss across the generations. It is set in Nova Scotia and I enjoyed the brief explanations of what some of the Gaelic words meant, or the Acadian influences that appeared. But, as a school librarian, my first thought is always, "What will the kids think of this?" And in our nec ...more

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Nov 11, 2011 Samantha rated it really liked it

Set in Nova Scotia in both 1859 and present day this book tells two girls' stories on the same land. In 1859, Josey meets handsome Asa, a mysterious man with many secrets, including the secret ability to find gold on her family's farm. In present day, Tara is living with her cousin after her own house burns down. She discovers an heriloom necklace among her mother's old jewelry and finds that it has secret powers. She puts these powers to good use when she starts digging around her old farm for ...more

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Feb 23, 2010 elissa rated it liked it

Shelves: youngadult, my_10s_reads, graphicnovels

More like 3 1/2 stars. I definitely liked this, but there's something about it that didn't completely work for me. Maybe I'll figure out exactly what it is as I think about it more. I'd also be open to reading again to see if it works better for me on a 2nd reading. Usually a combination of historical fiction and magical realism really does it for me, so maybe it has something to do with the characters. It was certainly readable, though, as I gobbled it up in one sitting. I love the art, which r ...more

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