Elizabeth Van Steenwyk

Recommended Ages: Gr. 3-5

Plot Summary:

Setting: Kate approached Allan Pinkerton, a detective in Chicago, asking to be hired. She claimed that a woman could get answers very easily because no one would suspect. She was hired and proved herself important when she quickly got a couple to admit where they were hiding their stolen money. Eventually, she was asked to work on keeping Abraham Lincoln safe as he traveled from Illinois to DC. She heard rumors of threats in Baltimore, so Kate and her boss worked together to secretly get Lincoln out of Baltimore and to DC safely. This type of work is essentially what the secret service do now.

Characters:

Recurring Themes: detective, women in the field, women at work, lying, undercover, secrets, deception

Controversial Issues: none

Personal Thoughts: The part that is super intriguing to me is that we don't actually know much about Kate as a person. She died at 38 yo, likely from pneumonia, and there isn't much real information about her. However, her role as a precursor to the secret service is fascinating and has potential to bring about interesting discussion about whether it's okay to deceive someone in order to get the truth. The writing is engaging and tells the story without speaking down to the reader. Larger vocabulary is used: obtaining, widow, society parties, assumed, befriend -- and that's just on the first few pages.

Genre: picture book biography

Pacing: fast, about 5-8 sentences per double page spread
Characters:
Frame:
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Activity:… (more)

It is before daylight Christmas morning, 1880. Emma and her mother are awaken by a knock at the door. They have to hurry because Mrs. Van Der Meer is about to give birth and mama is the only nurse around...for miles.
They hitch up Old Dan, their horse, to the wagon and get to gettin'. Mama finds Mrs. Van Der Meer in agony; so is Emma. After all, Christmas wasn't supposed to be like this. The Van Der Meer's children are afraid and look to Emma for comfort. They stroke Old Dan's mane and pull out silver hairs that they use to decorate the naked Christmas tree. Others from nearby bring gifts- a lamb for wool and a goat for milk. Everyone stays until the baby is born. When he comes, everyone dances and cheers and laughs. Emma tells mama that she will always remember this Christmas. After all, it wasn't supposed to be like this.… (more)