A cinematic treatment of derring-do and yet another testament to the importance of women in the historical evolution of the...
Moss tackles an important incident in the life of Kate Carter—aka Kate Warne—the first female professional private detective in the United States.
Accompanied by Chu’s historical-period visuals, Moss begins with Allan Pinkerton’s hiring of Kate Warne, an ambitious, adventurous white woman who talks her way into the job, before getting to the nub of this story: Warne’s undercover work in disentangling the theft of $40,000 from a courier’s secure pouch. The sinuous trap laid by the detectives involved in the case—all Pinkerton men and one Pinkerton woman—is colorful enough to withstand the necessarily telegraphic narrative that Moss employs to fit the story into picture-book format. There is double-dealing and spying and subterfuge, close calls and traps and brain work, melding the story into a thriller and highlighting the talents and qualities that a woman brings to what is misconceived as a man’s job. Moss has picked a special moment in time as well as a special woman, spelled out in an author’s note: Pinkerton’s beginnings marked the turning of detective work to professionals. In Chu’s sepia-toned illustrations, Warne wears a determined expression, matched by the scowls of the villains, which recall such great historical yarns as The Great Train Robbery.
A cinematic treatment of derring-do and yet another testament to the importance of women in the historical evolution of the United States. (bibliography) (Picture book/biography. 6-10)Pub Date: April 1, 2017
ISBN: 978-1-939547-33-0
Page Count: 44
Publisher: Creston
Review Posted Online: March 5, 2017
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 15, 2017
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
Lipman Pike played “Base” every chance he could get in his Brooklyn neighborhood. His parents were not sure it was the right thing for a Jewish boy to be doing, but they also want him to fit in with his peers. This was post–Civil War America, and the game was still in its infancy, at least in terms of organized play. The first leagues were loosely formed and were for amateurs, although several players were secretly paid. When Lip grew up, he was fast and strong and could hit for distance. He played variously for teams in Philadelphia, New Jersey, New York City and Troy, N.Y. He often faced anti-Semitism and distrust, but he won over his teammates and the “cranks” with his outstanding play. He led his league in home runs and even proved he could outrun a racehorse. Michelson adeptly employs fictional conversations interwoven with factual details as he reconstructs a long-forgotten time, managing to bring Pike’s story out of obscurity and relate it to modern young readers. Pullen’s lively, large-scale, brightly colored illustrations vividly capture the action and the time period. Text pages are augmented with sepia drawings of 19th-century newspapers, baseball scenes and equipment. An insight into baseball and America that is at once historical and timeless. (author's note) (Picture book. 6-10)
Pub Date: March 1, 2011
ISBN: 978-1-58536-465-7
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Sleeping Bear Press
Review Posted Online: Feb. 22, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2011
Told in the voice of an old tree at the George Washington Carver National Monument in Diamond, Mo., this fictionalized biography provides a simple—one might even say simplistic—introduction to Carver’s early life. The tree-as-narrator device gets more than a little silly, with the tree proclaiming, “I’m just a tree so I don’t know what a president is,” and, “I don’t know what a computer is,” while it seems to know a lot of other things, like that racial segregation is unjust. Just skimming the surface of Carver’s life and work may have its place in some settings, but most readers will be disappointed in the lack of information provided here as well as by the patronizing tone. Colorful illustrations painted with acrylics brighten the story. Wilson-Max’s folk-art style complements Carver’s life and the period he lived in, giving the book a childlike and rustic appeal. End pages boldly display both the peanut and sweet potato plant complete with labels. Instead of an author’s note there are questions and answers “For Further Discussion.” This section also includes a quote from and photograph of Carver. There are better treatments out there; give this one a miss. (Picture book/biography. 6-10)
Pub Date: April 15, 2011
ISBN: 978-0-8234-2325-5
Page Count: 32
Publisher: Holiday House
Review Posted Online: April 4, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: March 1, 2011
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
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