This was a strong historical fiction book, it had that element that I was looking for and enjoyed in this type of book. It uses the time-period perfectly and had that character development that I wanted and enjoyed in the genre. I thought the use of 1875 Vermont was perfect for this type of book and was engaged from start to finish. The characters were so well written and thought they worked in this universe. I was invested in what was going on and thought the storyline was perfectly done. Jodi Lew-Smith has a strong writing style and was able to weave a strong concept with the characters.

My thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!

Asa … where do I begin? I loved him from page one and fell even more in love with him at the end! I gave this 4 stars. Would read another book by this author again!

This book was a delightful surprise. Asa has had a lonely life, has a scarred face but loves bugs and nature and science. When he's hired to tutor 2 quite difficult boys his life expands and he finds acceptance in a run down manor with a lot of history. The book is touching, sad at some points yet uplifting in others. You will cheer for Asa and wish him.on

An immersive historical fiction by Jodi Lew-Smith set in 1875 Vermont.

Asa grew up as a orphan on the Tolland Town Poor Farm, adopted by Sister Ruth and Reverand Walter. He is a both a mentor and tutor to the younger boys on the farm. Asa dreams of becoming a botanist and naturalist through curating a treatise, much like Charles Darwin. An unfortunate discovery on Tolland Farm, pushes Asa away, leading him to a tutoring position at Mansfield Manor. Asa becomes the tutor of two unruly boys, newphews of Caroline Rockwell, the owner of Mansfield Manor. After eerie happenings in the mansion, Asa and Caroline become closer and a friendshipof sorts is formed.

What I loved about this:
- the cover is incredibly detailed
- well written, immersive prose that pulls you in (this was a binge-worthy read)
- excellent character development with Asa and Reverand Edwards
- the depth Asa's relationship with Jason and Paul
- Asa's friendship with Reverand Edwards
- that plot twist.

What I didn't like:
- miscommunication trope
- using Caroline/Caro interchangeably, often within the same sentence
- Caroline's character in general, at times she was arrogant (?due to her station), exchanges felt flat and there felt like minimal character growth throught the novel.

*Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early*

There were many orphans as a result of the civil war in the United States. The subject of this story, Asa James, is just such a child.
There was a program where industries such as cheese making and various meat products were taught as well as bookkeeping and farm management.

Asa is a self-taught entomologist and biologist who loves everything about the natural world. He gets up early and works until sundown to collect and catalogue every plant and insect that he comes in contact with. His drawings are life-like and meticulously done. He sneaks out whenever possible and works by candlelight when there is no other light.

This is an enlightening story of self-determination and success in the most austere of life’s circumstances. Read and enjoy the adventure! 5 stars – CE Williams

"1875 Vermont. Asa James hasn't exactly sucked on the silver spoon. No one chooses to grow up on a rural poor farm, but a mixed-race orphan with Asa's scarred face has little choice.

Determined to be a naturalist and scientific thinker in the vein of Charles Darwin, instead he finds himself thrust alone into the wider world, taking a tutor's position at a mountaintop mansion. There, the widow Caro Rockwell is glossy and sardonic, someone so far outside Asa's experience that she could well be another species. But soon he glimpses the broken woman inside the shell. Amid a series of eerie events, they form a friendship that grows into a sweet and tender sort of love.

His heart has what it wants. But then, from within the many dark recesses of Mansfield Hall, a shameful secret is discovered that will force Asa into making a terrible choice."

Shades of Angels and Insects.

Having lived in northern Vermont for a few years, I'm a sucker for any books written about the state. I also LOVE historical fiction, but so many of the books seem to be centered on WWII, told from every imaginable perspective.

This book was not. It was such a unique twist to an interesting time in history, with poor farms and poorhouses being the only safety net for orphans and destitute people. I also appreciated how the author wrote about the "one-drop rule", where someone would be discriminated against with even one drop of black blood. So much of this country's ugly history can be forgotten and we shouldn't let that happen.

I loved how Asa's decisions were all based on a strong moral character, and he rarely wavered from that conviction even if his life would have been easier. I wish Caro had been a more likeable character, or had at least demonstrated growth, but I think her personality was realistic for a woman of her station.

I would definitely read another book by this author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Köehler Books for the opportunity to read this early!

Asa is a richly drawn protagonist whose inner world is just as compelling as the events unfolding around him. The author does an excellent job of portraying his emotional landscape — his uncertainty, his longing, and his quiet strength — with subtlety and grace. The prose is lyrical without being overwrought, and there’s a thoughtful, introspective tone that permeates the entire novel.
The pacing is steady and measured, which may feel slow for some readers, but it works well for the kind of emotional depth the story is trying to reach. This is a book that asks you to sit with its characters, to reflect, and to allow their transformations to unfold naturally.
One of the strengths of the novel is how it handles complex relationships — not just romantic or familial ones, but the relationship a person has with themselves and with the truth. Asa’s journey is deeply personal, and while certain moments felt a touch too restrained or could have benefited from a bit more dramatic tension, the emotional payoff is worth it.

Asa James by Jodi Lew-Smith was my first ever Netgalley ARC and I really lucked out because I absolutely loved this book! It's set in the 1870s, following the titular character as he navigated finding his place in the world. Asa grows up on a poor farm, which provides work and shelter for troubled youth, though his status is more as part of the family, since he was 'adopted' by those running the farm as a baby. He eventually leaves and finds a job as a tutor at a large country house in Vermont, where he quickly builds close ties with the inhabitants. There's a lot about societal status, ethnic identity, pursuing dreams and education outside of background circumstances, and where morality fits in with rigid societal expectations and the desire to be happy. The characters were extremely well drawn and engaging, as was the setting. There were a few inconsistencies here and there in the story (and one quite glaring cliche in the central mystery), which detracted a bit from my enjoyment, but the book also took me by surprise with most of its twists and turns, and I thought Asa's overall journey was very satisfying in both physical and mental terms. Highly recommended if you like compelling and immersive historical dramas with layered characters, interesting themes and emotional depth.

Thank you netgalley for the early read of this lovely book. I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel. I have a feeling i'll be thinking fondly of Asa's story for the foreseeable future. Not without some heartache along the way, Asa found his way home and such a lovely ending to the book. Definitely recommend.

This was a new and interesting twist on a classic novel. It makes me want to return to the classic and read it again.

Imagine if the roles were the same but genders were reversed. Instead of a dark and mysterious man living in a fancy house and an orphaned girl who comes to tutor a child, we get a mysterious and wealthy woman and an orphaned boy who comes to tutor the two boys who are wards to the mistress of the house.

Much like the the Classic version, Asa James gives us glimpses into the society and expectation of a time when women were considered property and you were looked down on for being poor or different.