Review: Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm
Title: Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink
Paperback, 204 pages
Author: Stephanie Kate Strohm
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Publication Date: May 8, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Buy: Amazon
Add to: Goodreads
Book Summary:
A story of crushes, corsets, and conspiracy
Libby Kelting had always felt herself born out of time. No wonder the historical romance-reading, Jane Austen-adaptation-watching, all-around history nerd jumped at the chance to intern at Camden Harbor, Maine’s Oldest Living History Museum. But at Camden Harbor Libby’s just plain out of place, no matter how cute she looks in a corset. Her cat-loving coworker wants her dead, the too-smart-for-his-own-good local reporter keeps pushing her buttons, her gorgeous sailor may be more shipwreck than dreamboat — plus Camden Harbor’s haunted. Over the course of one unforgettable summer, Libby learns that boys, like ghosts, aren’t always what they seem.
Review:
While I do not enjoy reading historical fiction, I have found that I do quite enjoy reading about current teenagers/people in fake historical situations. Which is kind of a specific topic, but nonetheless.
My first experience with historical reenactments was with Past Perfect by Leila Sales, which is about a girl who works at a historical reenactment place (Colony? Now it’s obvious I don’t do the history thing) for the summer. I loved that one, and for all of you who loved it too – GOOD NEWS! Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink by Stephanie Kate Strohm has a similar basic storyline! YAYAY!
There are differences, of course, so you’re not reading the exact same book. Strohm’s voice is quite delightful, and while at times I was thinking “boy, is this protagonist a crazy girl” I still was enjoying myself.
Past Perfect kind of focuses on a war between two reenactment camps (colonies) and has a protagonist that loves history, while Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink has a protagonist that is horrified at the way she has to live (the cover shows how she chooses to secretly carry around her cell phone) and is also associated with a reporter investigating a possible haunting.
Sidenote: scaredy cats are a-ok reading this one – I was never too scared to read, so no worries with the ghost theme!
Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink is a great, fun contemporary, and is great for fans of Past Perfect!
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The second that I read the blurb for this one, I was thinking Past Perfect. Which has me super excited to check this one out! Glad that you enjoyed it so much, and that I know it’ll fit that similar craving without being a total repeat. Have you read Shannon Hale’s Austenland? It fits that contemporary people in fake historical situations as well. Also the guys in Chuck Palahniuk’s Choke work at a historical Williamsburg-type place, though that’s in no way a main plot point.
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I have not read either of those, thanks for the recs! Kind of an odd little sub genre that seems to pop up from time to time.
The title and the cover both made me laugh :) I can’t think of any books I’ve read that were contemporary in a fake historical setting… Maybe it’s a whole new genre! Thanks for a fun review.
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I really liked Past Perfect, so I’m adding Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink to my wishlist! I hopped over to Amazon expecting to see one of those “X meets Y” advertising taglines and was met with disappointment. Want to help me create a mash-up? ______ + _______ = Pilgrims Don’t Wear Pink
I still need to read Mostly Good Girls by Leila Sales (because it’s her debut novle) and Austenland (because I’ve never read any Shannon Hale). Did you know that Stephenie Meyer is producing the upcoming Austenland movie? I am definitely reading the book before I see the film!
Hmmmmmmmmm I need to think of a girly protagonist book to fit in the other blank! I’m not sure I read many books like that. I’m going to have to brainstorm…