A String of Amber Beads

"A String of Amber Beads" by Martha Everts Holden is a series of thoughtful writings from the late 1800s that speaks to ideas about right and wrong, pointing out the dangers of not caring in how we act, and offering criticism of the ways women and people in general behaved at that time. The author writes with a firm, sure voice, trying to give insight on how important your good name is, the big decisions you make in life, and what makes you who you are. The book starts by showing us the main person's point of view, someone who is all for keeping your honor and good standing, especially for young women. Using strong pictures in the mind and serious warnings, the narrator looks closely at what can happen if you don't think before you act, like the risks that come with flirting. This start doesn't just set a serious and thoughtful mood, but also hints at a bigger message about society, questioning the normal rules and hopes of the time, and suggesting a closer look at how people can make their own choices and how society sees them.