Retrato do autor

Helen Pierce Jacob

Autor(a) de The Diary of the Strawbridge Place

3+ Works 43 Membros 3 Críticas

Séries

Obras por Helen Pierce Jacob

Garland for Gandhi (1968) 10 exemplares

Associated Works

Cricket Magazine, Vol. 3, No. 8, April 1976 (1976) — Contribuidor — 3 exemplares

Etiquetado

Conhecimento Comum

Sexo
female

Membros

Críticas

A prequel to Jacob's The Secret of the Strawbridge Place, in which two Depression-era children investigate the legend that the Strawbridge Place was a stop on the Underground Railroad, this novel relates the story of the Quaker family who originally owned the farm, and who used its secret cave as a hiding place for runaway slaves. Narrated by Victory Strawbridge, who, together with her twin sister Faith, is almost thirteen years old, it opens in 1852, and follows the family for a few months, as they shelter a number of "shipments" of fugitives.

Although I enjoyed The Diary of the Strawbridge Place, I did not find it quite as involving as the first title. I appreciated Jacob's sensitive depiction of the ambiguous feelings of the Strawbridge children, who were proud of their family's courageous activities, but also tired of always being different, and set apart from the other people of Ashtabula. It may be that the fact that this was a prequel, and the reader therefore already knows that the "Secret" will remain undisclosed, robs the story of some suspense. Or it may be that the distance of the narrative from the slaves themselves - who seem to appear and disappear - lessens the emotional impact.

Whatever its flaws, this was still an enjoyable read, and well worth the time of young readers interested in the Underground Railroad, or anyone who liked the original.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
AbigailAdams26 | Jul 15, 2013 |
When Kate Cummings breaks her arm on the very first day of vacation, she's convinced that her summer has been ruined. Then the Witherspoon children, visiting with their grandfather in Ashtabula, come over to play, and Oscar Witherspoon breaks his ankle. Determined to do something to pass the time and keep entertained, Kate and Oscar form 'Cripples Incorporated," and set out to solve 'The Secret' of Kate's home, rumored to have been a stop on the Underground Railroad.

I enjoyed this story of two creative, inquisitive children immensely. With natural and man-made caves to explore, a historical mystery to solve, and some clever coded messages to exchange, Kate and Oscar have more than enough to keep themselves (and the reader) occupied. The Secret of the Strawbridge Place is set during the Great Depression, and I appreciated the very real sense of pathos that Jacob created in her story. Some of the scenes were quite heart-breaking, particularly the lunch with Mr. Lord of Brooklyn, and I found myself wondering if hobos really did have a system of secret signs to communicate with one another. Clearly I will need to do a little more research...

I have a great fondness for the state of Ohio, where I was born, and a keen appreciation of its rich history. My college town was a major stop on the Underground Railroad, and many of the older buildings have secret passages and compartments where runaway slaves were hidden. I once house-sat for a professor whose basement contained a small earthen chamber, hidden behind a massive bureau, and can easily understand and enter into the fascination with such secret places. So too, apparently, can Jacob.
… (mais)
 
Assinalado
AbigailAdams26 | 1 outra crítica | Jul 15, 2013 |
One of my absolute favorite books growing up. This is the story of Kate and Oscar, friends who devote a summer to discovering the Secret. Legend has it that the Strawbridge Place was a stop on the Underground Railroad, but nobody has ever found the hidden rooms or spaces that would have made this possible. But when Kate and Oscar work together, they discover more than they ever imagined. Set in 1930s rural Ohio, this book also offers a glimpse at farm life at the time.
 
Assinalado
asauer | 1 outra crítica | Mar 10, 2011 |

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Estatísticas

Obras
3
Also by
1
Membros
43
Popularidade
#352,016
Avaliação
3.8
Críticas
3
ISBN
3