Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

Newes from the Dead by Mary Hooper

Hooper, Mary. Newes from the Dead: being a true story of Anne Green, hanged for infanticide at Oxford Assizes in 1650, restored to the world and died again 1665. Roaring Brook Press, 2008. 263 pages. $16.95. ISBN 1596433558

Readers Annotation: After being hanged for murder, Anne Green relives her past while coming to terms with her current state, either being alive or dead. On the outside, the young medical student Robert does what he can to convince the scholars their corpse is in fact alive.

Plot Summary: Anne Green was a kind young woman, but very naïve. Waking up in a dark room, and unable to move, Anne recounts her life of the past year. Working in the house of Lord Thomas she has always done her duty. One day she meets John the apprentice of a local tradesman. After months of walking together, Anne realizes she could be very happy with John. However, when the grandson of Lord Thomas arrives, her life takes a very different course. Geoffrey pays much attention to Anne, getting her to laugh at his jokes and paying her compliments. Finally he seduces her with talk of making her mistress of the household if she only gives him what he wants. After several meetings like this, Anne realizes she must cut ties with John if she is to become mistress of the household. However, Geoffrey goes back to university and Anne finds herself pregnant with no one to turn to. She hides her pregnancy as best she can and waits for Geoffrey’s return so she can tell him the news. But when Geoffrey returns with news of his engagement to another young woman, Anne realizes how foolish she had been. Much too early, Anne goes into labor and gives birth to a stillborn child all alone in the privy. She hides the child in order to give him a proper burial the next day but is found out before she can clean up. Anne is accused of murdering the child and sent to Oxford to be sentenced. Her sentence is to be hanged, and Anne realizes she must be in purgatory, awaiting the fires to cleanse her sins. While Anne recounts her many mistakes, the young scholar Robert is assembled with fellow medical students and doctors preparing to dissect Anne. However, Robert is convinced she is still alive. Soon the rest of the party is convinced and they try everything they can think of to revive her. Will they succeed in reviving poor Anne, whom they recognize as being wrongly accused, or will she remain in the blackness of purgatory forever?

Critical Evaluation: The story of Anne Green is one that everyone should read to gain understanding of the unfair treatment of women in her day, as well as the simple yet effective medical practices they used. Before reading Newes from the Dead, I had never heard of her case. I never thought someone could survive a hanging. Hooper’s portrayal of what I assume to be Anne’s mental state while being in a coma was very creative but yet realistic. The detail Hooper goes into however, involving Anne’s treatment, her birth, and the medical descriptions are quite graphic. There were times I had to stop reading to make the queasiness subside, but then quickly picked the book back up to find out what happened. Even though I thought the book to be very graphic, it needed to be graphic. To tell Anne’s story without going into the details wouldn’t have done it justice. That being said, I don’t think this book would be suitable for teens under fifteen.

Reading Level: This book would best be read by an older teen, sixteen and up, although would be suitable for more mature younger teens.

Book talk ideas: The opening of the book would be the best way to capture the attention of the students. I would discuss that Anne Green’s story is true and deserves to be told because of the wrongs done to her. I would also discuss the relevance to modern times, and that without the studies scholars and doctors of Anne’s time did on cadavers, we wouldn’t be where we are today with modern medicine.

Why it is included: I chose this book because of the interesting point of view, that of Anne who is likely in a coma. Also the fact that it is a true story, and a horrific one at that, was intriguing. In 2009 in was on the Capitol Choices and Outstanding International Books lists.

Challenge Issues: The graphic nature of the sexual references and birth of her still born could cause some controversy. I would argue that it is a true story worthy of being heard, and if they don’t feel comfortable with their teens reading it they shouldn’t let them.