FACING STIGMA IN NINETEENTH-CENTURY WISCASSET
FINEST KIND
By Lea Wait
246 pp.
Margaret K. McElderry Books. $16.95.
Reviewed by Beth Clark
In Finest Kind, the
deprivation of financial loss and the shame of a stigmatizing family illness
create a framework around which a twelve-year-old boy is forced to assume
the role of an adult. If one word could be chosen to describe the book, that
word would be “contrasts.” The situations that Lea Wait portrays create a
striking contrast between urban and rural life during the early 1800s. The
reader is introduced to people who are strong and vital versus those who are
defenseless, the able-bodied versus those with disabilities, and those who
belong to the mainstream culture versus those who are marginalized.
Disparities within society become the theme for the novel’s subplots.
The story begins with Jake, the
twelve-year-old boy, on his way from Boston to his new home in Wiscasset,
Maine. In the city, Jake’s father worked for a bank, and Jake enjoyed the
comforts of a privileged life. When the bank fails during the panic of 1837,
the family is forced to leave the city and find whatever subsistence they
can. In Wiscasset, Jake is faced with a ramshackle, one-room house that is
the “best available” in that area. His father must leave home and board away
in order to keep his job at the mill. With no money, limited skills, and no
support system, Jake must find his way in a new culture and lifestyle.
Jake’s load is made heavier by a brother who has cerebral palsy and a
seizure disorder. His mother is immersed in the brother’s care and
contributes little to the family’s survival. The reader is pulled
emotionally into the plot and can quickly relate to Jake’s sense of
desperation.
In facing these obstacles, Jake
becomes the archetype for the courage and resilience of youth. He develops
relationships with people who can assist him in his quest for family
survival. With few previous skills in his repertoire, he must learn how to
gather and store oysters, apples, nuts, and pumpkins. To earn extra money,
he acquires a job cleaning the local jail where he is exposed to human
excrement and contagious diseases. In taking on these responsibilities, Jake
makes many mistakes, but through his courage and resourcefulness, he ensures
that the family will survive. He connects with people who can assist him and
is receptive to the diversity of what they have to offer.
It is said that the purpose of
history is to inform the present. As in any good historical fiction, Wait
weaves her narrative through the fabric of actual people, places, and
events. The historical notes in the appendix connect the plot to events in
Wiscasset during the early 1800s and attest to Wait’s care in researching
and developing the narrative. The folkways of a seacoast town come to life
through the visual images that Wait creates. Readers learn of how criminals,
contagious disease, and people with developmental disabilities were handled.
The fine line between the poorhouse and jail is clearly depicted. Farm and
shore life come to life as the characters gather food to keep them through
the winter. Although it is a historical novel, Finest Kind portrays
many social issues affecting today’s families.
The themes of stigma and shame are
threaded throughout the book via a diversity of characters. Age,
developmental disability, alcoholism, physical disability, and the stigma of
being “different” are all handled well. Through the character of Granny
McPherson, the reader experiences ageism and the stigma of being “a witch.”
Jake’s brother Frankie has what would now be termed cerebral palsy. In the
1800s there was little understanding of this brain disease. Feeling
responsible and ashamed of their child’s disability, the family goes to
great lengths to keep the family secret. Jake’s friend Nabby has a mother
who is alcoholic. With the double stigma of being a woman with a “social”
disease, she remains a hidden character throughout the story. Through the
various characters seen at the jail, the reader is further introduced to
people who are developmentally disabled, immigrant, and suspected of having
communicable diseases. Each situation carried a stigma of its own, yet the
parallels of shame and stereotyping are clear.
It is heartening to see these issues
addressed in a book for young adults. The young adult period is a time when
values related to disability are being solidified and have a good chance of
being influenced. In reading Finest Kind, young adults will be
prompted to examine their values, and many will see their own personal
struggles reflected in the plot. Youths of today face challenges similar to
Jake’s. They take on adult responsibilities too early, care for younger
children while their parents are away, and enter the workforce while still
attending school. Although these themes play out differently in today’s
world, they carry great meaning. This makes the content an excellent choice
for a book discussion group or for a school social studies class. The plot
is deep enough for adults to enjoy and could prompt discussion between
parents and their children.
The strengths of the book lie in
Wait’s dialogue and development of characters, the historical accuracy,
thought-provoking contrasts, and the clear depiction of everyday life during
that period. The dialogue is natural and allows the unique personality of
each character to emerge. One criticism is that the book tries to cover too
much. The many subplots and twists in the story line prevent each of the
ideas from being covered in-depth. This may be an effective way of engaging
today’s youth, who are used to experiencing things in sound bites. Although
those who would prefer greater depth might be disappointed, the strength of
this approach is that it encourages the reader to further research the
diverse ideas and events. It also provides many questions for further
classroom or book-group discussion.
Beth Clark lives in Hartland, Maine, with her husband John, where she enjoys
swimming, boating, and anything else that connects her with nature. She
teaches nursing at Husson College.
