The Moon and the Sun

McIntyre's sumptuous exploration of humanism and reason in the age of enlightenment raises the spirit with her celebration of freedom and feminism. She highlights the many ways human efforts that start off reasonably can end up being painted into corners, and suggests that the way out of those traps is courageous compassion. Marie-Josephe's coming of age story is both a good read and a tonic from the tropes of black-and-white villains and violence that can permeate American culture.