The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick

The Girls With No Names by Serena Burdick

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

I haven't read a story before about anyone with the same heart condition as me. I was instantly interested in Effie's story after I learned that. VSD, the heart condition we share, was not operable or curable in Effie's time and the corrective surgery was very new when I had it in 1990. It was an experience that was almost mine in that regard. 

The book at it's center is about two close knit sisters and their family. Effie, the youngest, is coddled a bit by her parents because of her heart defect that often leads to "blue fits" that put Effie into an almost cardiac arrest type event. Luella is the oldest, outspoken and headstrong, a bit rebellious. They find a Romanian camp near their house and begin visiting regularly. Luella is infatuated with the Gypsy lifestyle and one night leaves home to travel with them. The girls' parents decide against telling Effie fearing that her sister and best friend leaving her will cause a dangerous blue fit. Effie believes her father sent Luella away to the House of Mercy, a home for wayward girls, because of his own infidelity that Luella both knew about and was threatening to tell about.

Effie gets herself secretly committed to the House of Mercy as an act of devotion to her sister. Banking on her parents taking both girls home when they realize that Effie has stowed away there. Effie soon realizes the dangers that await her at the House of Mercy. Not only is Luella not there, but her parents don't know where she's gone. To survive, Effie must beat the odds against the other girls, the Sisters in charge, and her own defective heart.

I loved the time frame, I love that the historical truths in the story, including the Asch building fire that was the biggest tragedy to happen in Manhattan at that time.

I also believe there's a bit of magical realism to this story in the aspect of the gypsies and some of Effie's point of view. I love that it's so subtle it's very much so believable to the story.

Favorite Quotes:
"But life's a blind business, none of us can see up ahead, and none of us would move forward if we could."

"I viewed the world through the small, damaged portal. It was a weakness I sharpened my strength upon."

Genre:

Historical Fiction, Magical Realism