The absorbing subject matter will carry readers past design hiccups.
A Scottish immigrant who came to America on the run from the law established the agency that stopped an early plot against Abraham Lincoln and became the best known detective of his era.
Allan Pinkerton honed his detective skills working for the Chicago police force until political corruption led him to leave and begin his own agency. He soon developed a reputation for honesty and relentless determination and notably thwarted a plot to sabotage the railroad lines while Lincoln was en route to his inauguration. Pinkerton’s connections to Lincoln and Gen. George B. McClellan and his proven skills opened a role for him: heading up the Union Intelligence Service. Pinkerton and his cohorts, including the first female agent, provided much information for the Union effort. Following the war, Pinkerton became famous for pursuit of criminals such as Jesse James and controversial efforts against strikers. As the agency grew and changed, it became synonymous with security well into the 21st century. The detailed stories of thwarted plots, gambits behind enemy lines, and efforts to bring outlaws to justice will appeal to readers. The prose is serviceable for the subject; the design is dominated by static portraits of the mentioned historic figures for an overall stuffy effect, although a list of important players in the beginning of the text is helpful.
The absorbing subject matter will carry readers past design hiccups. (source notes, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)Pub Date: Sept. 29, 2015
ISBN: 978-0-545-70897-5
Page Count: 224
Publisher: Scholastic
Review Posted Online: June 22, 2015
Kirkus Reviews Issue: July 15, 2015
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
In her first book for young readers, personal-finance expert Chatzky offers straight talk on all things related to money—where it came from, how it’s made, how to earn it and how to save it, everything from gross domestic product to gross viruses on paper money. Having spent three months traveling the country and talking with kids, the author presents questions and answers in a volume attractively designed in a kid-friendly manner, with plenty of illustrations, charts, lists and sidebars for fun facts and kids’ questions. One thing not learned on the trip, apparently, was not to take all middle-school students’ answers at face value, as readers will see wise-guy responses, illogical explanations and self-centered comments mixed in with the mostly thoughtful and sincere questions and statements. Still, the clear and conversational text, coupled with the inviting format, will appeal to young readers, who should enjoy learning about a subject important to them. (appendices, map, glossary, web resources, index) (Nonfiction. 10-14)
Pub Date: Sept. 14, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-4169-9472-5
Page Count: 176
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Review Posted Online: July 15, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 1, 2010
BOOK REVIEW
If only Benedict Arnold had died sooner. Had he been killed at the Battle of Saratoga, he’d be one of the greatest heroes of American history, and “we’d celebrate his life as one of the best action stories we have.” Instead, he survived and went on to betray the colonies and die in shame. Sheinkin sees Arnold as America’s “original action hero” and succeeds in writing a brilliant, fast-paced biography that reads like an adventure novel. Opening with the hanging of Major Andre, the British officer who plotted with Arnold to turn West Point over to the British, the story sticks to the exciting illustrative scenes of Arnold’s career—the invasion of Canada, assembling America’s first naval fleet, the Battle of Valcour Island, the Battle of Saratoga and the plot with Andre, whose parallel narrative ends in a bungled mission, his execution and Arnold’s dishonor. The author’s obvious mastery of his material, lively prose and abundant use of eyewitness accounts make this one of the most exciting biographies young readers will find. (source notes, quotation notes, maps [not seen]) (Biography. 11-14)
Pub Date: Nov. 9, 2010
ISBN: 978-1-59643-486-8
Page Count: 352
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Review Posted Online: Oct. 1, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Oct. 1, 2010
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