Kitty & Mary Reviewed by Chloe, Age 14

I hadn’t read Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen before and tried to read the literary classic before I started Kitty & Mary, but I found it really hard going. So, instead, I watched the BBC series which helped me with the background of the story. Without this I would have found it difficult to understand and read this book.

I have never read this type of book before and I found the language more challenging because it wasn’t written in modern English. I found the first chapters were hard going I didn’t find it very interesting in the beginning. However, later on in the book, I started to enjoy it more. I read it quite quickly, as I wasn’t so hesitant, and much more engrossed. It isn’t my favourite story but I’m sure that fans of Pride and Prejudice fan will love it.

I found Kitty’s story more interesting than Mary’s, personally. Kitty stayed home after visiting her sister Lizzy. Mary had an invitation to go abroad to India, and her mother thought it was the perfect idea to go and get a husband. Kitty had new arrivals in town, a poet and his publisher along with his mum and niece. Mr Whittaker (the poet) seems to be the perfect and suitable husband for kitty but she soon realises that he is not the right person for her as his mum had very strict and certain expectations of her. Lucy decides to make Kitty her lead role in the Jane and Mr Bingley were expecting their first child and Kitty went to see them after Bingley broke a bone and before Jane started labour which is when Captain Henderson (the publisher) comes by. He shares his stories which make Kitty really feel and start to like him. He writes a letter but Lucy (Mr Whittaker’s niece) decided to hide it as she thought that Kitty would go well with her Uncle. After a while Captain Henderson leaves and Kitty is really upset but Lucy decides to show her the letter and regrets hiding it away. Kitty has a very happy ending.

Mary has a tough start at first but after travelling abroad for six months on a big ship she made many friends. Her journey was exciting and adventurous and a next step into the world without being stuck at home. She discovers personal growth and a pursuit of independence whilst travelling abroad for so long. With many stops, dances and sea sickness on the journey, she finally made it to India and stayed for a short time but decided to return and live with a friend to run a boarding school. She doesn’t get married but embarks on her own self journey.

Overall, I think this book should be for ages that have watched or read Pride and Prejudice as there isn’t anything bad in it that will affect anyone. I think that the message in Kitty & Mary is centred on self‑determination, the search for personal fulfilment beyond societal expectations, and the idea that happiness can come from choices made in one’s own life rather than from having to live with prescribed roles.