Zoe

"Zoe" by Evelyn Whitaker is a historical fiction book that tells the story of Zoe, a baby girl who was left alone in a garden and found by a very kind working man, named Gray. The book shows how families can be made in different ways, how people in society can be judgmental, and how parents can love in complicated ways as we follow Zoe's life and the connections she forges with her adopted family and the small town where they live. Early in the story, Zoe's christening introduces the villagers and shows that she was found alone in a garden. The clergyman, the organist Mr. Robins, and the other villagers are all curious about this child and where she came from. As the pages turn, we get to know the Grays, understand that they don't have much money, and see how they are very loving towards Zoe despite their own hardships. The initial chapters create a picture of life in a small, rural community and the good and bad things that come with raising a child with a mysterious beginning.