Wildwood Creek: Learning from Bonnie Rose’s Strength
Recently, I’ve been trying to read new things. Do you ever get tired of the same easy beach read that has the cliche love story? That was my mentality this summer and still has remained. Whenever I went to pick up a book, I usually never had a specific one in mind. Lately, I’ve been looking some choices up online. Through a quick Google search, I learned of books that were focused on different topics. That’s when I somehow came across “Wildwood Creek.”
Lisa Wingate is an author I had never heard of before. Initially, I was interested in her book because it focused on a young woman working as a production assistant. Since I have previously had that role on a television show, I thought I should give it a read. At first, I wasn’t interested in the book though. I read a few chapters, but couldn’t get myself into it. I put it down for days. The story starts off slow. It builds around Allison’s life, detailing the tension with her mother due to her stepfather and the death of her father. Her father’s role in the movie business has inspired her to work toward her goal of working in the movie business as well. She loves the behind-the-scenes action.
The novel switches point of views back and forth between present day to way back when Wildwood was a community in the 1860s. The present day point of view is coming from Allie, who focuses on her best friend, a love interest and the challenges she faces with her aspiring career. Bonnie Rose’s point of view gives insight into the dangers of life long ago and how a young woman feared for her life constantly. The mysterious demise of Wildwood is the focus of the movie that Allie is working for. How did a whole town of people disappear?
The cast of the movie is immersed into the daily life of an 1860s colony for the whole summer. They wear the traditional garments, consisting of petticoats with multiple layers of garb. They accomplish their daily tasks while living in time appropriate settlements with no running water. Allie’s character, Bonnie Rose, is the town’s teacher. Through the focus on Bonnie’s character, we can truly see the time period of the 1860s and how a young woman was expected to live. We can see how Bonnie Rose did not adhere to the normal standards of a woman during that time period. She had her own thoughts and although she knew she shouldn’t say them, she was not willing to give in to every word that a man said to her.
Bonnie Rose epitomized strength. During today’s time regarding sexual harassment and the MeToo movement, Bonnie’s character would have fought in the midst of this cause. Although she knew she had to obey Mr. Delavan, the town’s founder and controller, she did not fully do so. By turning down Mr. Delavan in conversations and her act of rebellion that saved the children of Wildwood, she took control against a man who thought he owned everything, including her. She showed that he did not own her. Allie’s character could learn a lot from Bonnie Rose and by the end, she did. Finally, Allie was able to do what made her happy without worrying about what others would think. By immersing herself in Bonnie Rose’s character, Allie was able to reach more than happiness. She found peace within herself, with her family and her way of living each day.
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