Book Review: The Girl in His Shadow

By John Rodgers

The library’s Summer Learning Program, Oceans of Possibilities, is still going strong with a full calendar of fun events and the annual Fine-Free Summer campaign, which promises no overdue fees on items. With a library card, readers can access eBooks and audiobooks for all ages via services like eRead Kids, SimplyE, eBook Central, and OverDrive/Libby as well as digital magazines with Flipster. These can be found at SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org/elibrary, and all that’s needed to enjoy them is a computer, e-reader, or mobile device. Not a fan of waiting in line to enjoy a new eBook? One title that’s guaranteed to be checked in this month is The Girl in His Shadow by Audrey Blake, which is available as part of the Big Library Read.

In this historical fiction novel, which recalls a time when women were forbidden to practice medicine, Nora Beady serves as the most trusted (and completely secret) assistant to surgeon Horace Croft. The arrival of new surgical resident Daniel Gibson prompts Nora to further hide her medical skills by playing the role of a “proper” girl, but an overwhelming desire to help her patients puts her at a crossroads.

Audiences will have mixed opinions about the romance elements within the plot, but Nora’s journey to find her voice is still one worth taking. Squeamish readers beware: the story’s surgical procedures are depicted in rather graphic detail.

From July 13-27, the eBook and audiobook versions of The Girl in His Shadow will be available to anyone with a library card, without any limits (in other words, no holds or wait lists!). Contact the library by phone, on social media, or by visiting SequoyahRegionalLibrary.org to check the status of a library card, set up a PIN, or ask about checking out titles online. To check out digital books and more, visit Sequoyah.Overdrive.com.