The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

The Dark Unwinding by Sharon Cameron

Review

The Dark Unwinding
Author: Sharon Cameron
Book length: 341 pages
Content note: YA recommended for 12 and up

 “Warm sun and robin’s-egg skies were inappropriate conditions for sending one’s uncle to a lunatic asylum.”

In this story which takes place in in 1852 England, Katherine Tulman is under strict orders from her unkind Aunt Alice to travel to her uncle's estate to promptly have him committed to a "lunatic asylum." Katherine, who feels herself dependent upon her aunt plans to follow orders. However, when Katherine meets her uncle, sees the surprising estate, and realizes the far-reaching hurt that committing her uncle could cause she finds herself in quite a moral dilemma. Katherine is a strong and likable heroine, and her uncle, who most likely has autism, truly can not care for himself even though he is a scientific inventor genius. Coming to this estate, meeting her uncle, and facing this moral dilemma helps Katherine to grow and become a caring and compassionate person. I don’t want to give away any more of the plot because I want readers to discover everything else on their own. But, I will say this. Aunt Alice is not Katherine’s only enemy. Also, the setting and the characters in this book are interesting and enjoyable. The plot all happens from Katherine’s point of view, but characters like Mary, a girl from the estate who decides to become Katherine's personal maid, let the reader know so much about what is going on as events unfold. I really enjoyed this book of interesting characters.