Book Review:  Underground by Gayle O’Brien

The debut novel from a new and fresh historical fiction writer; and she has set her bar high!  The story of two 17 year old girls running in juxtaposition, one living in 1860 and the other in the present day.  A gripping tale of both girls who find themselves fleeing danger, discovering love despite barriers that they face such as class and race.

O’Brien has proven herself to be an astounding amateur historian, integrating monumental events that changed the landscape of American history with fictional story lines and characters. Her writing style is modern and casual, yet she captures the essence of her female protagonists and the personalities in which make them so fascinating.

The epitome of why I love historical fiction so much. A novel that I literally could not put down, I fell in love with the characters and felt deflated upon finishing. It is such a wonderful thing to be moved so much by a book.