Academy Street

The story focuses on Tess, an average woman as we see her grow from girlhood to old age. We see her life unfold, and significant historical events are written throughout the book.

Tess is any woman we may encounter in the store or see walking in the park. The story made me think more about all of the people we encounter through our lives and how insignificant they are to us, but they still have lives of their own with love, loss, faith, and so much more that we never see. The writing was lyrical and heartbreaking as I watched Tess go through life.

The book was short enough to read quickly but that also meant I never felt connected to Tess in just 120 pages.