For her newest novel, Martha Brooks draws on her own experiences growing up in a medical family on the grounds of the Manitoba Sanatorium. Nestled in the heart of rural Manitoba, the fictional Pembina Hills Tuberculosis Sanatorium is full of fragile souls struggling against illness. At the same time that Canada is sending out its best and bravest to battle the Nazis, the characters in Queen of Hearts are leaving their homes to begin a fight of their own.

When Marie-Claire Côté arrives at the sanatorium, she feels as though she has been ripped from her former life. As the bedridden teenager chases her cure, she is confronted by the realization that the real world is happening “out there.” For Marie-Claire and the other patients, the outside world is an intangible place, but subtle reminders of its existence pepper the plot: there are letters written to and received from young men fighting in the war, infrequent visits from Marie-Claire’s mother, and dreams of a 16th birthday party that will never happen.

Despite strong depictions of fear, frustration, and heartbreaking grief, Queen of Hearts also resonates with beauty and grace. Relationships drive the story forward, and Brooks maintains excellent control of pace. The friendship between Marie-Claire and her roommate is as complicated as it is soulful. Although their initial interactions are strained and awkward, the girls eventually discover the sense of family that both are missing, giving them a reason to fight back against their situation. Simple girlish dreams about dating, clothes, and life outside buoy their spirits, allowing them to rise above their circumstances. Brooks has sculpted a relationship built on resounding honesty, and this relationship becomes the real heart of her story.

Intuitive storytelling, lilting language, and emotional depth coalesce to make Queen of Hearts a moving portrait of hope.