Esme has grown up around words – her father was one of the instrumental men behind the original publication of the Oxford English Dictionary. She grows up collecting discarded words – the ones that don’t make it into the dictionary because they aren’t written down. As she matures, she realizes that women are grossly underrepresented in the words included in the dictionary. Can she save the words from disappearing altogether?

I loved loved this book. I thought it was so well-written, and such a poignant commentary on the importance of words and language, whether it is written or unwritten. Esme was such a smart character, with so many highs and lows. I could feel her internal struggle while she made decisions on morality, love, and what is important. I thought the ending a little bit abrupt, but everything tied together nicely.

This book touches on feminism, women’s suffrage, classism, motherhood, faith, and so many other deep topics. But it does it in a way that feels natural. It’s not a light read by any means, but definitely a good and worthwhile one.

xoxo

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