Melmoth

Melmoth is by Sarah Perry. Another beautifully written realistic fiction novel by this author. Melmoth, the Witness is a mythical woman who wanders the Earth witnessing man's inhumanity to man. Helen Franklin lives in Prague, where she works as a translator. When a friend, Karel discovers documents that purportedly give historical accounts of Melmoth, he gives them to Helen and the result brings all of her guilt and fears to the fore where they must be dealt with. This novel is much creepier than The Essex Serpent, but just as beautifully written. It is a dramatic look at what guilt can do to a person unless it's dealt with. 

Ratings: 11th grade - 10 out of 10 - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).