Jocelyn, Marthe. Earthly Astonishments: A Novel. Dutton, 2000. ISBN 0-525-46263-5. $15.99. 179 pp. A 9-12 FI Reviewed by Janet O. Francis The lot of a physically challenged girl is not an easy one in the 1800s. Josephine’s challenge is her size twenty-two inches tall at full growth. Her solutions, stemming from her courage, quick wit, and brass, are anything but small. Although she does find friendship in her hard circumstances, more frequently she meets with graspers seeking to make a fast fortune from her extraordinary size and intelligence. Her parents exhibit her to gawkers for a penny; she endures a bitter stint serving in a young ladies’ boarding school; and she has a successful run in a seaside museum of curiosities. Josephine is not a victim, but the inhumane social climate of the Victorian Age almost does her in before she learns how to strike first. This is a fascinating picture of the life of a young woman who seems very real in a time not long ago. It will particularly appeal to girls, who will appreciate Josephine’s chutzpa.
