1840s Scotland comes vividly to life in this novel about two young girls (“almost-sisters”) who grow up in this time and place. Margaret and Jessie both live in the same small town but in somewhat different economic circumstances. Margaret’s father, a tailor, and her mother, a seamstress, can afford to send Margaret to school. Jessie, on the other hand, lives with her single mother and grandmother on the very edge of dire poverty. After Jessie suffers family losses, she becomes a servant to a wealthy family in Edinburgh. Margaret then comes to join her when this family needs a tutor for their daughter. Years working together in this environment pull the girls even closer as changes in their employers’ family intersect with growing knowledge about their own personal family histories. The prescribed roles for women in Victorian Scotland are writ large in this novel. Expectations for marriage and children are paramount, yet financial needs dictate which paths a woman may travel. Many young women worked in the local mills due to few other choices for employment for money needed to support a family. Seamstress skills in sewing clothes appear to accompany all the possible paths that a girl could choose or be forced into as well. In following Margaret and Jessie in gaining needed employment through domestic service and tutoring beyond the mills, the reader is drawn into this world of need and expectations. Readers curious about how people lived in the mid-19th century in Scotland will find much to relish in this engaging novel.

Nothing has ever excited young Margaret Law as much as her first day of school, if only Jessie Morison, her best friend in the whole world, was with her! Her determination to teach Jessie everything she is taught is a true testament to what best friends do for each other. Unfortunately, circumstances tear the best friends apart. Jessie would have been left without any means if not for a mysterious person who helped her secure a job as a scullery maid in a respected Edinburgh household, following her grandmother’s passing. Although Jessie hasn’t fully mastered her lettering and grammar, Margaret cherishes every letter she receives from her best friend. Margaret aspires to become a teacher, but her parents can no longer finance her education due to changing circumstances. Despite still being a child, Margaret, like Jessie, must assume adult responsibilities. She has to find work. Thankfully, Jessie’s employer is seeking a tutor for their daughter. Margaret jumps at the chance to be united with her childhood friend, and her parents seem pleased with her being employed. However, things are not quite what they seem in the Duncan household and tragedy is just a heartbeat away. Yarde Right from the start, I was mesmerized by the enthralling plot and the intricately crafted characters. This is a book that demands to be read in one sitting. The historical backdrop of this novel has been meticulously studied. The first part of the novel is set in Milnathort, where there is seemingly little opportunity for its inhabitants. The textile mills, where certain characters are employed, paid little attention to health and safety. The poverty depicted is a sombre reminder of the time the book is set in, and the landlords’ treatment of their tenants is abhorrent. Empathy and common decency seem to go out the window when money is involved. The story later moves to Edinburgh, where once again the author has demonstrated her skill at creating a realistic historical backdrop for her novel. I thought the depiction of both Milnathort and Edinburgh were masterfully portrayed. From a modern standpoint, it’s hard to understand the immense difficulty of sending your child into service. It was the only opportunity for Jessie to escape destitution after her grandmother died, but she had to work excessively long hours and playtime is now a thing of the past. Likewise, Margaret is still very much a child when she starts work, but her situation is better than Jessies, for she has the necessary education skills to care for her charge. Before sending Margaret off to Edinburgh, her mother tells her to be cautious of strangers in the street who may use charm to exploit her. At first, Margaret is unsure of what it means, but eventually, she comprehends her mother’s cautionary words. Margaret has always had a hunger for learning, even as a child, and fortunately, her parents can financially support her education unlike other children her age. The contagious excitement Margaret displayed on the first day of school brought back memories of my first day of school excitement. As the narrative develops and her situation alters, her passion for learning remains unwavering. Margaret was a beautifully crafted character that I grew to care deeply for. Oh, Jessie — how I adored her, and what heartrending choices she is forced to face. She’s a young girl who must quickly adapt to the responsibilities of being a grown-up. Jessie’s lovable nature has captured my heart completely. She doesn’t easily get angry; she gracefully accepts whatever comes her way, hiding the true extent of her emotional turmoil behind her sunny smile. Jardine has depicted a poignant portrayal of a young woman on a journey of self-discovery. All the secondary characters in this book play a crucial role in driving the narrative forward. Witnessing Mistress Duncan’s mental health decline was truly sad, and her violent mood swings affected everyone in the Duncan house, including the servants. Her gradual decline coincides with that of the health of her daughter, Rachel. Although she is painted in a negative light, I couldn’t help but feel some compassion for Mistress Duncan because back then there was a lack of understanding about mental health conditions and her obvious guilt over Rachel’s accident was very evident throughout this story As her delirium intensifies, her moods become even more erratic, and she is seemingly oblivious to Rachael’s declining health. Her story is a truly tragic one. Rachel is the darling of this story. A tragic accident left her paralyzed, necessitating constant care, but she still craves an education. Rachel is a determined young girl with a thirst for knowledge and a desire to explore the world. While her health declines and her world becomes smaller, Jessie and Margaret are the two constants in her life. Despite being young, Rachel’s intuition is so strong that she deduces Jessie’s heritage before Jessie does. Rachel, with her ever-present smile, was an extremely likeable character whom I grew to adore. From the very first sentence to the final full stop, Novice Threads by Nancy Jardine captivated me with its emotionally charged storytelling. With a realistic historical backdrop, Jardine has created a story that is as impossible to put down as it is to forget. This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. I cannot wait to read the next book in what promises to be an enthralling series.