Reviewed by E. Mankowski, May 2021
Alias Grace, written by Margaret Atwood, depicts the story of Grace Marks. Grace is plagued by amnesia, unable to remember events surrounding the murders of her employer and his mistress. Her narration is from the first person, juxtaposed with a third person narration by Dr. Simon Jordan; a man who seeks to learn if Grace is lying about having no memory in the incident, and to determine her guilt or innocence of the crime. The novel debates the truth behind Grace’s story, as well as whether Grace is truly sane, or has fallen into the clutches of insanity. The novel is based upon an 1843 murder case, which was initially documented by Susanna Moodie. High school readers who enjoy works of historical fiction, mystery, and theorizing will thoroughly enjoy this novel.