Palace Beautiful
“Palace Beautiful” by Sarah DeFord Williams, published by Penguin Young Readers Group on January 6, 2011, is a reprint edition comprising 240 pages. This middle-grade book presents the story of sisters Sadie and Zuzu, who, upon moving to Salt Lake City, uncover an old journal in a secret room of their new home. The journal, written during the 1918 flu pandemic, reveals the life of a girl named Helen, drawing the sisters into a narrative that intertwines with their own experiences and fears.
Readers will find an emotional journey as Sadie, Zuzu, and their neighbor Bella explore Helen’s story, which resonates with themes of family and historical challenges. The girls grapple with questions about survival and the possibility of Helen’s lingering presence, creating a blend of mystery and reflection. This book addresses topics such as health and daily living, as well as the impact of diseases and illnesses, set against the backdrop of early 20th-century America.
Official synopsis Publisher
A secret room plus a hidden journal written during the Flu Pandemic of 1918 make for an emotional, magical middle-grade read.
When sisters Sadie and Zuzu move to Salt Lake City, they discover an old journal in a secret room in their new house. Along with their neighbor, Bella, the girls take turns reading the story of a girl named Helen who lived during the flu epidemic of 1918. They soon become wrapped up in Helen’s tale, which ends with a tragedy that has a scary parallel to Sadie and Zuzu’s lives. Did Helen survive the flu? Is she still alive somewhere? Or could her ghost be watching them?
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