Macaria

"Macaria" by Augusta J. Evans is a story set in the late 1800s about two cousins facing tough times. Russell carries the shame of old family mistakes while trying to escape from being poor. His cousin, Electra, has dreams of being an artist while looking after her blind aunt. They both have to deal with what other people think of them and the problems life throws their way. The book starts with Russell up late, working hard to take care of his family, even though things are really hard. You can see how much he loves his mom and how responsible he feels because of their difficult past. Electra shares some of these same problems, as she battles illness and poverty while following her dreams. When Russell is wrongly accused of something, it puts his honor in danger, which makes way for a story about sticking it out and trying to find fairness when the world is against you. Quickly we see they are ready for whatever struggles lie ahead.