Night Watch

In the aftermath of the Civil War, ConaLee and her mother, Eliza, seek refuge in a mental asylum in West Virginia, where they encounter the twin horrors of war and race. They are swept up in the life of the facility, where they learn about the mystery behind the man they call the Night Watch, the child called Weed, the fearsome woman who runs the kitchen, and the remarkable doctor at the head of the institution. Night Watch is an epic, enthralling, and meticulously crafted portrait of family endurance against all odds and a stunning chronicle of surviving war and its aftermath.

Format: Hardback
Length: 304 pages
Publication date: 25 January 2024
Publisher: Little, Brown Book Group

In the aftermath of the Civil War, in 1874, the scars of trauma lingered among civilians and veterans, renegades, and wanderers, including freedmen and runaways. Twelve-year-old ConaLee and her mother, Eliza, arrive at the Trans-Allegh­eny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia, accompanied by a war veteran who has forcibly inserted himself into their lives. Far from their familiar surroundings, family, and beloved neighbor, they strive to reclaim a semblance of their former lives within the confines of the asylum. The twin evils of war and race emerge as their history unfolds: their desperate flight to the highest mountain ridges of western Virginia, where ConaLee's father disappeared during the war. Meanwhile, within the asylum, they immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of life. ConaLee assumes the role of her mother's maid, while Eliza responds gradually to the treatment. They become entangled in the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic man known as the Night Watch, the child named Weed, the fearsome woman who oversees the kitchen, and the remarkable doctor at the helm of the institution. Night Watch is an epic tale of unwavering family resilience in the face of insurmountable odds, and it serves as a poignant chronicle of surviving war and its devastating aftermath.

In the aftermath of the Civil War, in 1874, the scars of trauma lingered among civilians and veterans, renegades, and wanderers, including freedmen and runaways. Twelve-year-old ConaLee and her mother, Eliza, arrive at the Trans-Allegh­eny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia, accompanied by a war veteran who has forcibly inserted himself into their lives. Far from their familiar surroundings, family, and beloved neighbor, they strive to reclaim a semblance of their former lives within the confines of the asylum. The twin evils of war and race emerge as their history unfolds: their desperate flight to the highest mountain ridges of western Virginia, where ConaLee's father disappeared during the war. Meanwhile, within the asylum, they immerse themselves in the vibrant tapestry of life. ConaLee assumes the role of her mother's maid, while Eliza responds gradually to the treatment. They become entangled in the mysteries surrounding the enigmatic man known as the Night Watch, the child named Weed, the fearsome woman who oversees the kitchen, and the remarkable doctor at the helm of the institution. Night Watch is an epic tale of unwavering family resilience in the face of insurmountable odds, and it serves as a poignant chronicle of surviving war and its devastating aftermath.

Weight: 532g
Dimension: 162 x 242 x 29 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780349727790