Chares and Emma

Charles and Emma by Deborah Heiligman

ISBN: 9780805087215
New York:  Henry Holt and Co., 2009

Subject Matter - Charles and Emma tells the story of Charles Darwin and his first-cousin wife, Emma Wedgewood Darwin as their marriage flourished  and endured in the midst of their deep differences in faith.  She opens the book with Charles's list of pros and cons regarding marriage in general, leading to his conclusion:  "marry, marry, marry!"  Both educated, intelligent, and compassionate people, Charles and Emma marry despite his confession to her that she has critical questions about the Christian faith, about even God.  The book follows the years of their marriage, their 10 children, and their apparent gentle handling of each other's firm beliefs and interests.  Heiligman communicates these pieces of their lives and the resounding theme of their love by way of highlighting letters between the two of them, their journals, and friends' and relatives' memoirs.  She also fills in fascinating information about Victorian English life at the time for well-to-do families such as theirs.  What develops is a picture of the significant impact that Emma's unshakable faith and Charles's respect for her and her beliefs had on his copious research and meticulous logical and scientific backing for his revolutionary theory.

Critical Evaluation -  Heiligman writes in an entertaining and conversational tone that is both engaging and educational without ever straying into a list of events.  The simple, clear writing style is obviously made to be readable by a middle school and high school audience, but it is by no means simplistic.  Rather than pursuing a plot intended to remain mysterious to the reader, Heiligman unfolds each event and each piece of information carefully and colorfully.  The plot is really the revelation of the characters, how they deal with happy and tragic life circumstances, how they negotiate their differences, and what they accomplish together.  At times a bit slow, the story is nevertheless compelling enough to provide an entertaining and surprising look into the life of the man so many of his wife's faith hold in great suspicion.

Reader's annotation - Charles Darwin's wife was a devoted, life-long Christian?  What did this man and woman say to one another to live happily together and raise 10 children with such deep personal differences in belief?
Genre - YA nonfiction
Curriculum Ties - Excellent for religion classes, science classes studying evolution, even health classes discussing ways to communicate and negotiate differences between partners.
Booktalk ideas - 

1. Read the passage where Khosi really notices Little Man for the first time and vows to stand up to an attacker in the future.  Begin on pg. 22 with "Did he hurt you Khosi?" and end with "...I wonder if I'll have the courage to keep it" on pg. 23.
2. Read the passage where Khosi goes to see the sangoma healer.  Begin on pg. 34 with "As I wait in the queue..." and end on pg. "They're saying you're in danger, little Khosi...".

Reading level - 12+  The prose is appropriate for readers down to 12 years old, but the content and the story are entertaining through adult.

Challenge issues - possibly the presentation of evolution

Challenge defense ideas:

• Librarian must read the book carefully and include it as a resource intended for older teens.
• Librarian greets students and regularly discusses their reading choices; she provides individualized, age-appropriate guidance in book choice.
• Explain the ways in which the librarian accompanies and guides younger students looking for books, and knows students well as individuals. 

Why I included this book - The book is a delightful story about balance.  These two individuals found a way to coexist with love and compassion while honoring each other's most cherished thoughts and beliefs, and I include the book as an example for our young people in the very divided world they are growing up in.  It also has been recognized as an excellent piece of literature.  It has won numerous awards, including YALSA's first ever award for excellence in nonfiction.