Nobody's Secret

by Michaela MacColl

One day, fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a mysterious, handsome young man. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem to know who she or her family is. And even more surprisingly, he playfully refuses to divulge his name. Emily enjoys her secret flirtation with Mr. "Nobody" until he turns up dead in her family's pond. She's stricken with guilt. Only Emily can discover who this enigmatic stranger was before he's condemned to be buried in an anonymous grave. Her investigation takes her deep into town secrets, blossoming romance, and deadly danger. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this novel celebrates Emily Dickinson's intellect and spunk in a page-turner of a book that will excite fans of mystery, romance, and poetry alike.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Young Adult, Mystery, Historical, Romance, Fiction, Poetry

241 pages, Hardcover

First published April 16, 2013

About the author

Prisoners in the Palace is my debut novel. I like to create historical fiction that has a modern appeal to teens and adults.


Regency romance blends enjoyably with historical fiction, with a plucky heroine for each mode. (Kirkus)

This novel is full of historical detail, vivid settings, and richly drawn characters, and themes of friendship and romance give the story teen appeal. (Booklist)

MacColl offers a whip-smart, spunky protagonist and a worthy heroine to root
 for. (Publishers Weekly)

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amherst, Massachusetts, 1845

Fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson is stuck in the house with her overbearing mother, and her sister, Vinny, who’s sympathetic but rather needy, at least from Emily’s perspective. Her dad and her brother Austin are away at the moment, leaving her and Vinny at the mercy of their mother’s irrational worries and need for control.

But on a rare moment away from the house and its problems, Emily meets a young man who wants to disappear as much as she does. They introduce themselves to each other as “nobody”, and begin a strange but cute proto-courtship where they learn all the important things about each other…except their names.

This burgeoning romance is cruelly cut short when Mr. Nobody turns up dead in the pond in Emily’s backyard. At first everyone assumes the mysterious youth drowned, but too much of the evidence is suspicious. Only Emily cares enough to investigate. What she finds leads her into the scandalous secrets of one of the most affluent families in Amherst.

Content Advisory
Violence: someone is poisoned and his death is made to look like a drowning. Neither incident is shown, although one eyewitness character describes them later. Another character later uses the same poison to commit suicide.

Sex: Nothing.

Language: Nothing.

Substance Abuse: A minor character once shows up drunk.

Nightmare Fuel: Finding a corpse in your duck pond is pretty creepy, although this scene isn’t nearly as lurid as it might have been.

Politics and Religion: Mr. Nobody and Emily agree that they feel closer to God out in nature than sitting in one of Amherst’s churches.

Conclusions
Michaela MacColl has a winning formula: famous classic author as a young girl, G-rated romance, and a murder mystery.

This is basically the same story as MacColl’s Always Emily, which I read earlier this year, only starring a different literary oddball named Emily and set on the other side of the Atlantic.

That said, I liked this one a bit better due to its less gothic approach. Em Dickinson proves a more relatable protagonist than Em Brontë, and I liked Mr. Nobody much better than Harry from the other book. I knew his death came early in the book, since it was mentioned right there on the book jacket, but my heart still sank when they found him in the duck pond. He’s an endearing character. I would not have minded a few more short chapters of him and Emily interacting.

The villain was an interesting choice—I confess that that character was not my first suspect.

Nobody’s Secret is a speedy read with a cool heroine and an engaging mystery. Personally, I wish it had been longer, and gone into more depth about Amherst and its denizens. But as is, it’s a clean, well-written whodunit with literary flair. If that sounds like fun, check out this book!

[Anna Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickinson is always looking for a way out of helping with the numerous chores her Mother creates for her and her younger sister Vinnie. On one such afternoon when Emily is hiding in the meadow, she strikes up an acquaintance with a young man who mysteriously refuses to tell her his name. To each other they are Mr. and Miss Nobody. So when she arranges to meet up with him again soon and show him about town, Emily is excited to have a secret. Then Mr. Nobody is found dead in the Dickinson family's pond, with no obvious reason. Everyone except for Emily assumes that he has drowned and they wish to forget him. But she won't rest until they have a name to write on his tombstone. However, more questions come along for each answer Emily does uncover. When it starts to look like Mr. Nobody was murdered, for sinister reasons and probably by his own family Emily becomes even more determined to uncover the truth. But will she walk away from her investigation with her life or will the killer seek to make sure she stays silent, no matter the cost? This book was definitely different, but in a good way. I have never seen another YA book about Emily Dickinson as a teenager. That alone made me anxious to read it and see if the author did her justice. I feel like she captured the right amount of adult Emily, with a necessary mix of teenage qualities and quirks. The headstrong personality and inability to settle for less than the absolute truth made Emily a great detective and a wonderful heroine. The historical details were very well researched and it came across in the descriptions and the life infused into the writing. When the Dickinson sisters were doing chores and bickering, I was right alongside them. The mystery itself was slightly predictable, but the murderer wasn't who I had been expecting throughout the entire book. I was surprised at the end, but I did love that the author made it so realistic. The usage of Emily's poems to highlight plot points throughout the book was pretty genius. Each poem had a well-chosen placement and moved along the story convincingly. I was very pleased and overall, I highly recommend it for anyone who is a fan of Emily Dickinson, or likes to imagine famous people as teenagers. It's an interesting book and probably one of the better ones I've read this year. I'll definitely be looking up other books by this author! :)

VERDICT: 4.5/5 Stars

*I received an Advanced Reading E-book Copy from the publisher, via Edelweiss. No money or favors were exchanged for this review. This book's expected publication date is March 1st, 2013.*

[Barbara · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I first heard about the idea for this book involving the famous poet becoming a sleuth and solving a murder, I dismissed it as rather silly, but once I opened the book and began reading, I was captivated. With Emily Dickinson's curiosity and sense of fair play, it makes sense that she would want to figure out the reasons for someone's unexpected death. The story revolves around the fifteen-year-old poet's encounter with a stranger while she is trying to lure a bee to set down on her. The two chat and find they have a great deal in common, even down to their shared desire not to be known to everyone, which, of course, gives rise to Dickinson's lines about "I'm nobody." When the man is found floating in a pond, Emily persists in trying to discover the reasons for his death. The author does a terrific job of capturing society in Amherst during Emily's lifetime as well as describing her home life and relationship with her mother and sister Lavinia. She even included anecdotes about the family's many cats and the unending chores their mother assigned to them. Most charming of all, though, is the way she threads snippets of Emily's poems throughout the book, offering readers insight into their inspiration as well as a glimpse into this amazing woman. Although she might have become reclusive later in life, she certainly was not so when she was younger, as this book attests. I savored every line so much that I'm inspired to reread her poetry. I'm betting I won't be the only one to do so.

[Sabrina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Short and Sweet:
Nobody's Secret was sweet and wonderful for a murder mystery. I loved the imagination of the author concerning Emily Dickinson and the poetry mixed through out. I felt like I was reading a historical Veronica Mars episode and I want to kiss Michaela MacColl's face for writing this wonderful book. :)

To Elaborate....
The story begins with Emily laying in a field of wildflowers hoping a bee will land on her nose.... just to experience something different. After a few moments she hears footsteps approaching and thinking it is her mother or sister coming to bring her back to her chores she closes her eyes and wills herself to be invisible. However, when she opens her eyes she meets the curious Mr. Nobody who engages in (extremely adorable) conversation with her. He appreciates her quirkiness where everyone else tries to shape her into a 'proper' young lady.

Sadly, after a few days he is found, presumably drowned, in her family's pond. Since Emily had never learned his name, she becomes determined to solve the mystery of who "Mr. Nobody" was. However, along the way she discovers that someone doesn't want Mr. Nobody to be identified. More determined than ever, Emily slowly discovers the many secrets of Mr. Nobody including his identity. :)

Just a cool, cool book through and through. LOVE.
(Originally published @ iheartyafiction.blogspot.com)

[Erica · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

I love Michaela MacColl's books - they are refreshing, well written, and always an intriguing look at history. Additionally, Michaela MacColl picks people in history who aren't commonly featuring in historical fiction, which is always absolutely delightful to read about. And Nobody's Secret is her best yet - a historical murder mystery? How much cooler can you get?

I loved Michaela MacColl's portayal of Emily Dickinson. She is almost a Nancy Drew-type figure and is just way too cool. She writes her clues out in verse, which was too fun. It was a fun way to envision Emily Dickinson!

Parts of the mystery weren't as developed as I would have liked, but overall, I thought it was really well done. I really had no idea who was going to be behind it and many of the pieces I only found out about as Emily did. There was no predictability to it. The suspense just builds as the story progresses.

This is a must read for those who love either historical fiction or a good mystery. The characters are all well developed and Michaela MacColl's prose is just gorgeous. This was my favorite of her books thus far, and I cannot wait to see what she comes up with next!

[Andye.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nobody's Secret is a novel of historical fiction based on 15 year old Emily Dickinson, the famous poet of the 19th century. Emily becomes entangled in the investigation of the death of an unknown young man. She must keep her sleuthing secret from her disapproving mother and nosy sister. The story takes place in puritanical New England where Emily challenges the accepted rules of behavior for young women of that time. The story is very clearly and simply written. The characters are well-developed and believable. There is a build up of suspense as the solution of the mystery begins to become clear, but this is not a nail-biting, edge-of-your-seat, whodunit.

I enjoyed reading this story as I like historical fiction. I did make one big mistake by "Googling Emily Dickinson" before I finished the book. The details of her actual life were not the sequel that I would have hoped to see. I would recommend this book to all readers who like history but feel that it is geared to younger people.

-Janeth
ReadingTeen.net


Content:

Language: Hell -1 time
Sexual Content: None
Violence: A man is murdered but there isn't any graphic descriptions.
Other: A description of and discussion about a dead body.

[Cindy Hudson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A young Emily Dickinson is daydreaming in the woods near her home when a handsome young man interrupts. She’s never seen him before, yet when she asks his name he tells her he’s nobody. The air of mystery deepens when she sees him in town and he still won’t say who he is or why he’s visiting Amherst, but he hints at family crimes. The next day Mr. Nobody ends up dead in her family’s pond, and Emily suspects foul play. She sets out to discover who Mr. Nobody is and why he died.

Nobody’s Secret by Michaela MacColl is part mystery, part historical fiction and entirely enjoyable. MacColl paints a picture of the teen poet as headstrong, always looking for ways to avoid housework, curious and tenacious. She knows what’s expected of girls in her world, yet she’s not afraid to push society’s rules.

MacColl meticulously researches the subjects of her historical fiction—in other books a young Queen Victoria in England and aviatrix Beryl Markham—and the details she discovers about her characters helps her create nuanced portraits that make them human. She weaves facts about Emily and the Dickinson family into her story easily, and helps readers see what everyday life for her may have been like while keeping the mystery moving along.

As Emily works to solve the mystery of Mr. Nobody’s death, she makes poetic notes about her discoveries, and it’s fun for readers to imagine her creating full poems from those notes. She also reads a contemporary poet, Walt Whitman, and focuses on the natural world around her.

Nobody’s Secret is fun to read and can generate discussion and activities for mother-daughter book clubs with girls aged 12 and up. Activities include reading Emily Dickinson’s poetry, learning more about her life in Amherst and writing poetry in her style. Discussions can center around what life was like for women in her times and the mystery itself. I highly recommend it.

The publisher provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

[Kacey Vanderkarr · Rating 4 out of 5]

I won Nobody’s Secret as an ARC on Goodreads.

Nobody’s Secret is a rich step into the past. Following a fictitious version of Emily Dickinson’s life, the reader experiences Amherst in 1845 through young Dickinson’s eyes while she investigates the murder of Mr. Nobody.

The story is as refreshing as Miss Dickinson’s refusal to live by the social norms placed on her by society. She’s feisty, driven, and prefers to spend time exploring nature and writing poetry instead of cooking and doing chores.

The novel boasts “A Story of Intrigue and Romance,” and it doesn’t disappoint. Let me be clear when I say that this is not a bodice ripper. Do not expect pages and pages of salacious sexual encounters—this book is appropriate for the time period as well as Emily’s age, which is fifteen. The romance comes from the mystery of Mr. Nobody, the only person who Emily feels might truly understand her. When he turns up dead in her family’s pond, there’s nothing left for Emily to do but investigate and seek justice, which she does, quite successfully.

Michaela MacColl eases gently into 1845, skipping the drawn out descriptions. There are enough carriages, proper language, and etiquette to satisfy the critical reader, all evidence of MacColl’s careful research. The use of Emily’s work is fantastic; you can hear the gears in her head turning as she transforms her experiences into lines of poetry. MacColl uses facts from Emily’s home life to make the characters relatable as well as believable. The story is well-crafted, the writing easy to follow.

Overall, Nobody’s Secret is a captivating read and a pleasant diversion from the usual angst-riddled young adult novel.

[Paula Patterson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Emily Dickenson is a free spirit with a love of writing. She happens to meet a handsome young man that she refers to as Mr. Nobody. After several unscheduled meetings, Emily becomes friends with Mr. Nobody. But before she can learn his real identity, he is found floating in the Dickenson's pond. Many questions arise from this grisly discovery. Who was he? Why has no one identified him when he told Emily he was in town to handle family business? And why was he dressed in clothes of a farmhand? Emily is determined to solve the mysteries surrounding the death of her Mr. Nobody.

This novel is well written. The story flows very easily. My daughter who is middle school read it after I finished. She loved it. It reminded me of a Nancy Drew mystery of my younger days. The slight hinting of a crush on the mysterious Mr. Nobody made it more fun. The fact that Ms. MacColl used a real person as her main character made it a believable storyline. I would highly recommend this book for middle school aged girls.

My fav line in the book was spoken by Emily to Mr.Nobody at their first encounter. "Sometimes you have to endure unpleasantness to do the right thing."

I was given an ARC of Nobody's Secret by Goodreads giveaway. The review given is my honest opinion of this novel.

[Melissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thought I knew where this book was going, but boy was I wrong. Great mystery with unexpected twists and turns. I also loved how Michaela MacColl uses Emily Dickinson's poetry to tie together the story, making the reader actually believe that she was involved with solving a crime at one time, even though it was a complete fabrication.

Mrs. Dickinson reminded me of a non-silly version of Mrs. Bennet, in the sense that she was always putting the idea that Emily would be marrying someone someday and thus, would need to do things that Emily had no use for, like entertaining guests. Similarly, Emily and Lavinia ("Vinnie") had moments where they laughed about their mother's insistence on economizing, like churning one's own butter, despite the increased efficiency of buying said items at the store ready made.

Questions about a girl's reputation in the 19th century, invisibility/anonymity vs. visibility/being known, education for women, and ethics, among other things.

[demicaractere · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like a 3.5

I liked this book but I didn't love it. There are were so many elements here that I really enjoy in a story and it was well put together but it didn't give me that excited feeling I get when I finish a really good book.

Let me first say that in high school I despised Emily Dickinson's poems. A few titles (her more depressing ones) were required reading and even though reading her poetry was easy, I didn't enjoy it one bit. To be fair, I was going through a major depression at the time and reading "Joy in Death" isn't a great way to lift your spirits. Most of the curriculum in the short unit I studied her poems were about her reclusive life, that she never married, and that she lived in her parents' home until her death.

Also I hate slant rhyme and Miss Dickinson's poems are infested with it.

That all being said, Nobody's Secret was a good, quick read. It gave me a newfound appreciation for Emily Dickinson and her work. I like the way her poetry was integrated into the story. Now I actually want to go back and read some of her poems.

SPOILER ALERT

Maybe what I missed the most in this story was the lack of real romance. Romance was teased multiple times but it was never fulfilled (I realize a story doesn't need to have romance to be good but I felt a bit robbed in this case). Obviously, Mr. Nobody died so he's a no-go. But Henry. There was a flirtation but his character was so wishy washy. One minute he's Emily's friend. The next he feels betrayed. Next he's her friend again. I feel like his character needed to be developed more. My favorite scene was when he came to visit Emily while she was baking. It was such a sweet moment and it left me wanting more. Unfortunately I was left feeling unsatisfied.

Like Emily in the story, I was entranced by Mr. Nobody. I really was sad to see him go, even though that's exactly what I expected from the summary on the dust jacket. He's only alive for a few chapters but I missed him. That is good writing on the author's part. I have only read one other of Michaela MacColl's books, Prisoners in the Palace, and it is one of my very favorite YA reads. This book doesn't really have the same feel, however, you can see the author's attention to detail and the research she put into it. (Prisoners is a much more fun read and I highly recommend it).

[Silver Petticoat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this entire review here: NOBODY’S SECRET — A FUN HISTORICAL MYSTERY ABOUT EMILY DICKINSON!

Review by Clarissa Hadge

Overall Rating = 4; Romance Rating = 4

Emily Dickinson is a well-known poet and has had every aspect of her quiet life chronicled in print and sprinkled throughout pop culture. In Nobody’s Secret, Michaela MacColl uses Emily Dickinson’s “I’m Nobody! Who are you?” poem as the basis for an intriguing plot that follows a fifteen-year-old Emily as she discovers a mystery in her town of Amherst.

Emily is plagued by monotony; all she does day in and day out are chores, that is when she isn’t writing in her secret notebooks. With a worrisome mother and an absent father, Emily’s one companion is her sister, Vinnie.

When Emily Dickinson meets a handsome stranger in the field outside of her home, she wonders if maybe her boring life will take an exciting turn.

The two exchange a few words, with a mild flirtation between them. Knowing almost everyone in town, Emily inquires about who the young man is. He tells her that he is nobody important and asks her the same. Emily, relieved that he is unaware of her family, and feeling mischievous, she responds in a similar manner. Calling each other Mr. Nobody and Miss Nobody, the two talk for a bit, but then Mr. Nobody leaves, saying that he has matters to attend to. Emily notes a few things about his personage – that his hands are calloused, which is paradoxical to his fine clothes, and that though he claims to be nobody important, his handkerchief has the initials J.W. embroidered on it.

Emily Dickinson keeps the interaction with Mr. Nobody to herself though Vinnie wonders where she was all day. Using any excuse to get out of the house, Emily agrees to take one of their family’s horses to get re-shoed the next day. The errand happens to give Emily a chance encounter with Mr. Nobody, and they decide to meet again the day after so that Emily can show him around Amherst. Emily’s plans, unfortunately, are derailed when a man is found dead in the pond on her family’s property...

Read this entire review and others at: THE SILVER PETTICOAT REVIEW

[Mara · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cover Blurb: Yes or No? I really am not a huge fan of the cover art, and I am not entirely certain why. True, there are two character impersonators, and one of them is staring most disconcertingly at me, but "Emily" is turned around, and "Mr. Nobody" doesn't bother me a great deal, surprisingly. So what is it that I don't like? Sadly, I cannot put my finger on it; I just know that it is not entirely to my liking.

Characters: Young Emily Dickinson makes for a spunky, intelligent, and quick-witted protagonist. She doesn't always think things through before acting, but her heart is in the right place, and she has the drive to discover the truth. Her sister, Vinnie, behaved like the older sister, even though she wasn't. I actually liked Vinnie a lot; she covered for Emily when needed, and once Emily involves her in her investigations, Vinnie expresses her own surprising amount of intelligence and spunk. The two sisters make a great detecting team. As little as "Mr. Nobody" is in the book, he made quite an impression on me, which made his impending doom that much more sad. He seemed kind, funny, and friendly without being presumptuous. I was sorry to see him meet such a quick demise.

The Romance: There really isn't any. Emily has something of a crush on "Mr. Nobody," but "Mr. Nobody" exits the tale so swiftly that the romance has positively no time to become aggravating.

Plot: At fifteen, Emily Dickinson is a young woman who ought to be preparing for future life as someone's wife and homemaker. But Emily is too "studentish" for that; she wants to learn, experience new things, and write poetry. She detests household chores with a passion; she would do anything to get out of them. No one in her family understands her, though, so it is a great relief - and a surprise - when she meets a handsome young gentleman who seems to understand her perfectly. But Emily's friendship with him is cut very short when he turns up in her family's pond, quite dead. No one knows who he is, and Emily can't help much, for the gentleman never told her his name - she always fondly called him "Mr. Nobody." While the constable is swift to dismiss Mr. Nobody's death as drowning, Emily cannot help but notice clues that don't quite add up. Why is Mr. Nobody dressed as a common laborer when he's a gentleman? What about the peculiar carriage wheel ruts along the bank? And what of the strange blue tinge to Mr. Nobody's fingers? Feeling a sense of obligation, Emily sets out to solve the mystery of his death, and as she investigates further, Emily becomes convinced that he was murdered. But by whom? And to what purpose? When picking up a novel that stars Emily Dickinson as the heroine, one doesn't expect to read a murder mystery, but that is exactly what Nobody's Secret is. And an intriguing one at that! Emily is very quick to pick up on "what's wrong with the picture," and she acts on her instincts and discoveries immediately. This makes for a very swift-moving plot, which in turn equals a very engaging one. I was eager to see what Emily would discover next, and how it would connect to Mr. Nobody's mysterious demise. At the same time, the Reader gets a glimpse into the life of one of America's most famous female poets.

Believability: I don't know a whole lot about Emily Dickinson or her life - she never fascinated me. But from what I know of the era, the Author portrayed it very well. The events in Nobody's Secret are, of course, entirely fictional; Emily Dickinson never investigated a murder. But the Author notes all of this in her Historical Note.

Writing Style: Third person, past tense. In some ways, I would have liked this novel to be in first person, so that I could have been inside Emily's head more thoroughly. Even so, we Readers still grow to understand young Emily Dickinson's thoughts pretty well. The writing style is simple, but surprisingly detailed and quaint. While the Author does use Emily's dialogue to thoroughly outline to the Reader how all of the threads connect, it actually worked fairly well, and didn't feel clumsy.

Content: None.

Conclusion: As one clue leads to another, Emily knows she's getting closer and closer to discovering not only Mr. Nobody's name, but how he died - and why. It's not a heart-pounding climax, but a story like this isn't meant to have one. Extensive monologing, one-on-one stand-offs, and dragged-out chases would have been completely out of place and absurd. However, to say that Emily doesn't have a satisfying meeting with the villain would be untrue. Emily does get a chance to come face-to-face with the guilty parties, and there is an unexpected twist. Nobody's Secret is a great quick read; good characters, pleasant writing style, and an engaging mystery. At not even 300 pages, I found it to be a relaxing book with which to spend the afternoon.

Recommended Audience: Girl-read, fourteen-and up, great for Emily Dickinson and historical mystery fans!

[Dylena Swann · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was sooo good. Emily would not give up to find Mr. Nobody's killer. Even though that her mother told her to stop her taunting she would not give up. She was very brave to go on all of her adventures.

[Leanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Originally posted on The Selkie Reads Stories (http://selkiereadsstories.blogspot.com)


Nobody's Secret was a nice light read. The writing was fluid and easy to understand, and I especially liked how the dialogue flows between the characters. The historical setting was quite evident in the way the book was written and in how people acted. I enjoyed hearing Emily's opinions about the people and things around her. She was considered "odd" by most people and was depicted in Nobody's Secret as quite a tulip in a bed of roses. I really admired the way she overcome the obstacles blocking her from reaching clues and the bravery she displayed whenever she was threatened to stop sticking her nose into someone else's business.

The plot wasn't exactly what I expected it to be. I thought that it would be based on Emily Dickinson's actual life or one of her poems, but I was wrong. Nobody's Secret is actually a murder mystery based on snippets and lines from the different poems of Emily Dickinson. A specific line from one of her poems is actually written upon starting each chapter, and it was like a clue as to how the story will develop from there. It had the usual factors of a who dun it; it was fast paced and had consistent developments, tackling different relationships but focusing more on the mystery itself.

As a YA murder mystery novel, it was okay and nicely written. The various developments in solving the mystery were masterfully placed in all the perfect circumstances, and Emily and her sister sunk their teeth unto different suspicions while using their brain and never jumping to conclusions. The thing that bothered me was that I never got stumped. I was always a step or two before Emily and I wasn't surprised with the identity of the killer. I don't know if it's just me but I thought that it was extremely predictable, and that, I think, is a bad thing to be when you're a murder mystery book.

I was also a bit disappointed because the blurb described as having "blossoming romance" but I didn't really feel it much. There were hints leading to possible attractions and a bit of flirting, but I wouldn't exactly call it romance. I really shouldn't complain because I guess flirting would be considered steamy in Emily's time where skirts that end above the ankle are considered short, but still. And, in my opinion, Emily didn't want to solve the mystery and give justice to Mr. Nobody because she loved the guy like others are saying, it was more than that. Emily was always under-appreciated and considered odd; boys always preferred flirting with her prettier younger sister and placed Emily in the friendzone. Then here comes Mr. Nobody, someone who understood her and embraced her oddities. Mr. Nobody was the first person to actually accept her for who she is and she owed him so much for that.

All in all, Nobody's Secret was a very enjoyable read. It was well-written, had vivid imagery, and realistic characters. Even though it wasn't based on an actual event in her life, some parts of Emily's life were shown like the actual characteristics of her family and friends, and I appreciate the amount of research made to make the book more realistic. The plot and story was also interesting, albeit a bit too predictable for me. If you're a fan of believable historical fiction and a nice mystery, Nobody's Secret is the book for you.

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I would give this a 3.5, rounded up to a 4.

In “Nobody’s Secret,” Emily Dickinson is a 15-year-old who meets an older boy. Emily is eccentric, and finds that this boy is also strange his own way. She doesn’t know his name, yet he makes a definite impact on her. Before their relationship can progress, he is found dead in the pond outside her house. What starts as a mission to discover his true name becomes a quest to discover not only his name, but who he was, how he’s related to this town, and the true nature of his death.

This novel is unique in that it branches out from the typical female protagonist in young adult books, and creates the story around Emily Dickinson, who is 15 during the story. Very few of Dickinson's poems were published while she was alive, and she became somewhat of a recluse later in her life. However, after her death, her sister discovered hundreds of poems that had never been seen, which were later published. This book provides a look into the younger Emily Dickinson's love of writing, and how her ideas may have come to her - she often jots down lines that come into her mind, and keeps a notebook hidden in her corset at all times, with a pencil around her neck. The author openly admits that she took some literary freedom in her description of Dickinson, yet her description of Dickinson is completely plausible. It is always interesting to read a fictionalized posthumous account of a person's life, especially if the author is an authority on the history of the person, as is the case with MacColl. Her love of Emily Dickinson and her work is clear throughout the novel.

It is also interesting to note that rather than write a fictionalized account of Dickinson’s life as its own topic, the author uses a mystery as a plotline. This part is made up, but is a good way to see how Dickinson’s character was as a young girl, especially as opposed to her reclusiveness as an older adult. As is the case with some novels centered around teenagers, an adult reader can find him- or herself wanting to roll their eyes at the antics of the characters. Emily comes off as stubborn, and often rude and intrusive. I would go so far as to call her a “brat” when it comes to her mother. But as the story goes on, and you gain more and more insight into her life, the reasons for her rebelliousness become more clear. As a final note – it is very important to read the afterword. The author’s notes on Dickinson’s history are essential to the reader’s perception of the story. I would recommend this novel, especially for anyone with an interest in poetry and/or Emily Dickinson.

[QNPoohBear · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson is tired of living in Amherst, Massachusetts where everyone knows her family. She wishes sometimes she could be nobody at all. She also wishes for a friend who will understand her thoughts. Then she meets Mr. Nobody, a handsome stranger who gets her love of nature and her unorthodox views on religion. When Mr. Nobody is found dead in the Dickinson's pond and no one can identify his body, Emily is determined to find out his identity. As she pursues the clues, she learns that Mr. Nobody may have been murdered! Who in Amherst could have done that and why? Can she solve the mystery before her parents put a stop to her activities?

This is a cute introduction to Emily Dickinson. It provides a unique look at her life though the plot is fictional. It's hard to believe Emily Dickinson wasn't always a recluse. At 15 she enjoyed socializing (but not sewing circles or dancing) and being out of doors. She was beginning to jot down the poems in her head that would become the famous poems we all know. She's a great character - bright, inquisitive and loyal. I thought she seemed younger than 15 and younger than her sister. I liked how unique she was and how she felt she didn't fit in with her family. I think most teens will be able to relate to her. Her parents appear very two-dimensional as do the other secondary characters. Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson are hypochondriacs who worry about everything. Mrs. Dickinson doesn't believe in educating her girls to do anything other than run a household. She annoyed me a whole lot. Emily's sister Lavinnia is a bit better. She's lively but more content than Emily and she has a quick mind which gets them out of trouble a lot. Mr. Nobody is an intriguing character. Since he is found dead early on, Emily and the reader don't get to know him well but I really liked what I knew about him and thought he may have been based loosely on Henry David Thoreau.

The plot isn't that spectacular. Though I had a hard time putting the book down, I did figure out what had happened before Emily. That murder device is sooooo overdone. It seems so easy in novels but if it was that easy to get away with murder then I think more murders would have been committed. The confrontation is a bit silly and predictable. The story is fairly light despite being a murder mystery so adults may not enjoy this one as much as younger readers.

[Nancy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is an ARC won through Goodreads First Reads giveaways.

Emily Dickinson the next great Sherlock Holmes! Ms. MacColl's second novel centers around famed American poet Emily Dickinson. In this novel, Emily is 15 and has found herself compelled to investigate the murder of a gentleman she briefly met and who calls himself 'Mr. Nobody'.

A classic who dunnit, the story flows quickly. The author intertweaves between Emily's 'career' as sleuth and her dutiful 'career' as a young lady of the 1800's. Ms. MacColl does a fair job of helping the reader visualize the stifling life Emily presently leads. The life of a young girl at this time was full of chores and strict do's and don'ts, all leading to the inevitable final prize of marriage.

But it's Emily's restlessness also serves a greater good in the story, leading her to do her Christian duty and uncovering the name of the unidentified body of Mr. Nobody.

Prose is simple to read and main characters are developed nicely. Perhaps not on a deep level but enough to give the story substance.

A well written quick read.

[Heidi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I absolutely adore the poetry of Emily Dickinson, and am fascinated by her life. So, when I read that this book was a fictional account of Emily as a teenager, I knew I had to read it. This book did not disappoint. It's a fun little mystery, and even though I pretty much had it figured it out, I still enjoyed reading to see how Emily sleuthed out who the murderer was and what she would do about it.
The author uses Emily's real family, real town, and her own life and hobbies. The only fictionalized parts of her life are the families around which the mystery takes place. The book contains biographical information on Emily at the end of the book, and also offers places to go if you want to learn more about Emily Dickinson.
Overall, a great read that has intrigue and a little romance, too. Highly recommended for younger teens on up.

[Tara Renee · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an Advance Reader's Copy to review. I love reading fan fictions so I was delighted to find this in the mail. Truthfully I loved it. I was only disappointed that there was not more interaction between Mr. Nobody and Miss Dickinson. I would have like to seen a little bit more blossom between them. However the author did such a good job of drawing you in from the moment the two meet. I enjoyed how fearless Emily was. The sisters personalities played off each other very well. The mother was one of my least favorite characters. She reminded me of Ms. Bennet from the Pride and Prejudice movie. I even found my self picturing her.
Fast read, cute and keeps turning the pages.

[Shandy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite charming! The prose is a little uneven, but the author turns many a swell phrase and does a nice job imagining Emily D. as a fifteen-year-old budding-poet-turned-amateur-detective. I also thought the relationship between Emily and her younger, more proper sister Lavinia was rather nicely done. Other supporting characters are drawn with varying degrees of success, but this was an enjoyable afternoon's read. Having lived in Amherst for a year in college, I also quite enjoyed the setting.

[Ms. B · Rating 4 out of 5]

Received an advance copy from the publisher through Goodreads. What a pleasant surprise! Even readers who don't usually enjoy historical fiction could find themselves easily falling into this mystery featuring a young Emily Dickinson and an enigmatic, charming young man. It includes plenty of references to her poetry, but nothing that's alienating for those unfamiliar with her work or life. I would recommend for a middle school library.

[Rayne · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because, even though it is a simple story, seemingly silly in topic and definitely a very light read, Nobody's Secret is nicely written and handles the mystery, Dickinson's poetry and the re-imagining of the poet herself with love, care and intelligence.

[dearlittledeer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fun mystery concerning Emily Dickinson and a foxy young gentleman who turns up dead in her family's pond.

[Aurora · Rating 4 out of 5]

Not as emotional as it could have been, but a good mystery regardless.

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nobody's Secret is an historical fiction in which 15 year-old Emily Dickinson meets a young man who is later killed. Emily becomes embroiled in the investigation of the death of the unknown man, but she must keep her involvement a secret from her mother and her sister. The story takes place in New England at a time when Emily challenges all of the puritanical accepted rules of behavior for young women.

The characters are very well developed, and the story is plainly and straightforwardly written. The suspense builds as the story progresses. I had no idea who was going to be behind the murder, and many of the pieces of the puzzle were not revealed until Emily discovers them herself. There was no predictability to how things were going to occur.

It was a wonderful story and very well written. The characters came to life as you read the book, you couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next, and what Emily was going to get into next. For those who love historical fiction or mysteries, this is a perfect book for you.

[Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5/5 stars)
It wasn't until the last page that I realized that this book was inspired by a poem I studied for class!! That very much so excited me.
This book was very interesting but not great ~mystery~ wise. The ending was quite boring and they basically told you who killed in the first like 50 pages. But that's not really that big of a deal.
I found that this book wasn't really strung together very nicely (much like this review). It was a little all over the place and I think just needed to be pulled together a little more.
Very interesting idea and the kind of writing I really love.

[Jenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved Emily Dickinson poems while in school and thought I would give this a shot. I went in not knowing what to expect and was pleasantly surprised how much I ended up liking this. I liked the little poems that were at the beginning of each chapter. I liked that it was fictional but using real people. I liked how the book portrayed her and how she got her inspiration for her writings. I like the mystery of Mr. Nobody and how Emily was determined to figure things out.

I found this to be easy to follow along and a nice pacing. I found it just great.

[Jill Martin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Michaela MacColl. 241 pages. Emily Dickinson is 15 and meets a young, handsome mysterious man in the meadow near her home who introduces himself as “Mr. Nobody.” She meets up with him one more time in town and just a day before her family finds him floating in their pond in Amherst, Maine. No water was found in his lungs and Emily discovers tracks to carriage wheels that drove into the water. So, Emily sets out to find out who the young man is, who is family is and who may have murdered him. Fun, quick mystery. 7 Stars. (5.9 to 5.17.17 )

[Maddy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this story. I really enjoyed the recreation of Emily Dickenson's girlhood. It was believable and Emily was easy to root for.

In the story, Emily becomes a detective to solve the murder of a stranger "Mr. Nobody" whom she was beginning to befriend and had affections for. The identity of the murderer was surprising to me and I liked the unexpected twist at the ending.

I liked the references to Emily's poems too. Every chapter quoted her poems as the titles.

4.5 stars! Would definitely suggest if you like mystery, YA, or historic fiction. It's a delightful, fast read.