The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls

* “Anderson brings lots of threads together with skill, telling a cohesive story that has as much to say about the present … as about its historical setting. Sylvia has an effective balance of naiveté and worldliness, making her an easy protagonist to root for, and her quest for independence is resolved in a gratifying but not overly neat way. This is historical fiction at its best, fusing period details with a compelling narrative and challenging assumptions of then and now.” – Horn Book, STARRED REVIEW
“Brisk chapters, strong character development in the protagonist, nuanced themes related to immigrant identity, and the notion of living in a library will engage young readers, including those who may not generally gravitate to historical fiction. A fresh, feminist addition to historical fiction collections.” – School Library Journal
“Sylvia is an appealing lead: Her conflicted feelings about her background, combined with her sophisticated understanding of subtle and overt prejudice, cultural differences, and her parents’ sacrifices, have contemporary relevance. Readers will also admire her sense of adventure, yearning for education, feminist sentiments, and tenacity in living independently. A nuanced and inspiring adventure centering on a valiant tween.” – Kirkus Reviews
“An engaging, well-paced plot that also introduces thoughtful themes of Sylvia’s immigrant experience as she comes of age in an unfamiliar environment… . This will find a charmed audience in any kid who enjoys historical fiction or those who love the library so much they secretly wouldn’t mind living there (at least for a while).” – The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books
“Stanislava is an inspiring, relatable narrator who steadily matures in thoughtfulness and compassion … Coats portrays the challenging family dynamics that immigrant children sometimes navigate while celebrating free-thinking librarians, teachers, and other women who support Stanislava in following her dreams.” – Publishers Weekly

J. Anderson Coats has master’s degrees in history and library science and has published short stories in numerous literary magazines and anthologies. She is the author of the acclaimed novels The Wicked and the Just, The Many Reflections of Miss Jane Deming, R Is for Rebel, The Green Children of Woolpit, and The Night Ride, as well as A Season Most Unfair and The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls. She lives with her family in Washington State.

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