Such a believable quirky child, with a lovely supporting cast. I adore the consent baked into the romance, so steadily always there. I also live Mary's clarity of mind that the abuse she suffers is no one's fault but her father's, even tho it isn't that true to life I think it's worth it for the benefit of the reader. Also, I mean, who can resist a book where the queer librarian aunt saves the day? Not this queer librarian.

That said, I gave it 4 instead of 5 stars because I really wish I knew more about submarines after reading a book where the kid obsessively builds submarines. Why no technicalities? I know so much now about Joan of Arc, why not similar riffs on the character's other primary interest? I also felt the ending was a bit too neat, even tho I appreciated the happiness.