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floorflawless's review against another edition
3.0
I liked the overall story, but some things didn't make sense in this early 1900's setting. Especially when it comes to the people of color, things were waaay different back then, than what the book shows. Although the author did do research, not everything is worked out that well after all. Also, I still don't get why the buzzing ear was there, it wasn't a valuable addition to me. But the story itself was quit exciting and I think I would've loved it as a kid!
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
Really not sure what to think here - at times I admired it, but most of the time I was just confused about what the Big Caper was, why Audacity was part of it and how the other Wayward Girls fit in.
ARC provided by publisher.
ARC provided by publisher.
yapha's review against another edition
3.0
Fun mystery and adventure set right around New Year's Day 1910. Recommended for grades 4 & up.
mckenzierichardson's review against another edition
4.0
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
An engaging story that mixes adventure, mystery, history, and a hint of the fantastical.
This was a nice bit of historical fiction geared toward young readers. Larson admits to taking a lot of liberties with the story of the disappearance, but many elements are inspired by facts and the whole thing comes together in an exciting read. I loved Audie's character and the other girls at Miss. Maisie's, each with their own unique personality. I'm always on the lookout for female characters who don't play by the rules so this was a perfect fit.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-done. The narration was very engaging.
While this is a longer book, the story had a lot of twists and turns, blending suspense with history, setting the scene while also furthering the aspects of mystery and adventure that made the book so engaging.
I will say that while the cast is fairly diverse, I'm not sure how accurate the representations of race were for the time period. There are mentions of racism and being treated differently, but many of the characters seem to exist in the novel without much hinderance. Perhaps not a great representation of the race relations of the time period, but I can understand why it was treated this way. It kind of glosses over the issues of race for the ease of the story. This can be viewed as good or bad, but I did like that there was some diversity in the characters and the important roles they played in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged, following different characters and seeing how they all fit together in the grand scheme.
So glad to learn there is a second book in the series. I really enjoyed joining Audie on her trip to Washington and instantly wanted more. Already have a hold out at the library for the next book.
An engaging story that mixes adventure, mystery, history, and a hint of the fantastical.
This was a nice bit of historical fiction geared toward young readers. Larson admits to taking a lot of liberties with the story of the disappearance, but many elements are inspired by facts and the whole thing comes together in an exciting read. I loved Audie's character and the other girls at Miss. Maisie's, each with their own unique personality. I'm always on the lookout for female characters who don't play by the rules so this was a perfect fit.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-done. The narration was very engaging.
While this is a longer book, the story had a lot of twists and turns, blending suspense with history, setting the scene while also furthering the aspects of mystery and adventure that made the book so engaging.
I will say that while the cast is fairly diverse, I'm not sure how accurate the representations of race were for the time period. There are mentions of racism and being treated differently, but many of the characters seem to exist in the novel without much hinderance. Perhaps not a great representation of the race relations of the time period, but I can understand why it was treated this way. It kind of glosses over the issues of race for the ease of the story. This can be viewed as good or bad, but I did like that there was some diversity in the characters and the important roles they played in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged, following different characters and seeing how they all fit together in the grand scheme.
So glad to learn there is a second book in the series. I really enjoyed joining Audie on her trip to Washington and instantly wanted more. Already have a hold out at the library for the next book.
azajacks's review against another edition
5.0
In addition to being a master of historical fiction, Kirby Larson sure knows how to write spunky girl characters.
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.
I support independent bookstores. You can use this link to find one near you: http://www.indiebound.
britterization's review against another edition
1.0
DNF at 50%
I am REALLY struggling with the middle grade fiction right now. This got awesome reviews, but for me, it was BORING. Main character = boring. Story = boring. Oh, and the main was also meant to be precocious, but I found her to be more precious. Ew.
It wasn't completely bad - the other girls at the home for wayward girls were cute, and I enjoyed those parts along with the parts where the cat narrated (cats should narrate more often).
Anyway, I tried.
Sigh. On to the next middle grade read.
I am REALLY struggling with the middle grade fiction right now. This got awesome reviews, but for me, it was BORING. Main character = boring. Story = boring. Oh, and the main was also meant to be precocious, but I found her to be more precious. Ew.
It wasn't completely bad - the other girls at the home for wayward girls were cute, and I enjoyed those parts along with the parts where the cat narrated (cats should narrate more often).
Anyway, I tried.
Sigh. On to the next middle grade read.
faeriedrumsong's review against another edition
2.0
Ok, there is a LOT I am going to touch on, so bear with me here...
(AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - not sure on the spelling of some names)
THE GOOD
I really enjoyed the writing style. The author is a solid writer with a wonderful grasp of language. She made me laugh out loud at the beginning with turns of phrase like "All was as calm as a Presbyterian Potluck." I am putting this in the GOOD even though I think it is a little advanced for much of the intended audience. Although it would probably fit the bill for young readers who read far above their "level" as it were.
Also good, the main character. Audacity is pretty well thought out and, as every one else says, spunky. Likewise, her friends in the Wayward school have a nice secondary story arc. I thoroughly enjoy books that don't completely forget where the main character comes from.
The voice artist had clear voices for each of her characters. Never once did I confuse one person with another. Easy to listen to and follow.
THE BAD
The magical kitten and the buzzing ear. These devices were used as a way to give Audacity magical knowledge of things. It felt very lazy and unnecessary. Audacity is established as an extremely smart, very well read girl with a seemingly photographic memory. She could have been more of a budding Sherlock Holmes using her observational skills. As her first "case" there would naturally have been a learning curve, and that would have propelled much of the "danger" as written, i.e. Her misjudgment of the Commodore and Cipher.
Also, the parallels to Little Orphan Annie drove me crazy.
Orphan. Adopted by stray pet. Home for girls with an oblivious and selfish head mistress. Taken away from said home by a rich man (who consistently called her Annie). Rich man has an ethnic chauffeur. There is a plot to kidnap a girl for ransom. The other "orphan" girls know something is wrong and do what they can to help. Yup. Little Orphan Annie.
THE VERY VERY UGLY
The dangerous whitewashing of history.
But wait, you say, this book is EXTREMELY diverse! There are non-white characters all OVER the place! Bimi, Juice, Daddy Dub, and Cipher! They are important characters who really have presence and impact the story!
Yes, they are and they do. The HUGE problem with this, is that they interact with their world like white people would have in the early 1900s. NOT AT ALL like people of color in a decidedly racist world.
Cipher is, perhaps, the least problematic in that regards. The author establishes a letter from a Shah (A sheik?). He also does not get into his desired Secret Service position right away, but is given a chauffeur job. Mildly believable. The mistrust of him by the service is glossed over, but it is mentioned.
Bimi. Her ethnicity isn't mentioned at all until late in the book when the girls reflect on how Audacity's friendship has helped each of them. Audi is, apparently, a very 21st century girl at the turn of the 20th century. Living in Indiana (the place where the KKK was strongest in the early 1900s) somehow, this brown girl (Indian?) is dropped off. First, that assumes that her parents trusted a white society woman enough to not...I don't know...press their daughter into servitude or something. Second, Audi is SO progressive, her first comment about the first brown person she sees is that she is a south paw. Very 21st century indeed of Audi, *and* of Miss Maisie to take in a non-white girl as an actual student. I just didn't believe it to be historically plausible. Her ethnicity was NEVER discussed by any other character - only in her own memories.
Juice & Daddy Dub. Wow. These black folks would have been killed, all the stuff they did that was TOTALLY a no-no for black people in the early 1900s. Anti miscegenation laws were being put on the books or reinstated all over the country, Jim Crow laws relating to schools and separate restrooms and other facilities were spreading like wildfire. Taft, as Vice President in 1907, said that even though he upheld the 14th & 15th amendments, the enforcement of said amendments need not "involve the amalgamation of the race - nor involve social association or equality" for black people. He also expressly thought blacks inferior except for a handful that should be fed a real education. All the rest should be given only industrial and vocational training.
All of this is to set the stage. Juice would NEVER have been so familiar with Audi. He is described as a tall black boy (who towered over his grandfather). They would not have been able to walk down the street together without Juice shucking and jiving, acting like her servant. People would have SERIOUSLY questioned the safety of this 11 year old white girl with what would have looked like a black man. Not allowed. He might be trying to rape her! Black boys and men were CONSISTENTLY lynched for looking sideways at white women, much less walking with them. He REALLY would not have touched Dorothy Taft on the arm after saving her.
They would NEVER have had Audi in their barn unsupervised. They didn't know her. She could have accused them of anything and the white folks would believe her.
Daddy Dub would NEVER have been able to just "go down the street and use the telephone" at a business.
And they NEVER NEVER would have taken a hacksaw to a locked building and broken in. Not without white people with them to tell the police that they were not thieves.
These are all HUGE problems.
When writing a historical fiction novel, the author has some responsibility to the era they portray in addition to the facts that inspire their tale. The author acknowledges the changes made to the story of Dorothy Taft in an authors note and she lists basic facts of history and where she got information from. Daddy Dub (W.W. Brown) is acknowledged as a real livery driver who worked at the White House for 50+ years. But the author makes zero mention of the historical realities of race relations. If this were my first exposure to this time period, I would think that it wasn't so bad for black people and what was the fuss all about and why did we even need a civil rights movement sixty years later?
This is the epitome of oblivious white privilege. I do not think the author a bad, mean, racist, or otherwise nefarious person. In fact, based on her pointed inclusion of non white main characters, I believe the author to be the OPPOSITE of those things.
But by not at all addressing the reality of life for people of color during the chosen time period, the author is making a choice to erase the true experiences of people of color - which is a very irresponsible, short sighted, and dangerous thing.
THIS REVIEW IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the also dangerously terrible excuse of "historical accuracy" as a way to keep characters of color out of historically based books, movies, and other stories.
Instead of keeping them out, this author did a GREAT job including the people who REALLY WERE THERE. She acknowledges that Daddy Dub was a real person, although probably not called Daddy Dub. This is great. But by not even *touching* on any of the racial issues surrounding everyday life for these people, it ignores something that is (still) a huge part of race relations.
White people often wonder why POC bring up race so much. It is simply because race has (and continues) to color ever single interaction. But POC *have* to notice it as part of life, while non-POC's do not.
(AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - not sure on the spelling of some names)
THE GOOD
I really enjoyed the writing style. The author is a solid writer with a wonderful grasp of language. She made me laugh out loud at the beginning with turns of phrase like "All was as calm as a Presbyterian Potluck." I am putting this in the GOOD even though I think it is a little advanced for much of the intended audience. Although it would probably fit the bill for young readers who read far above their "level" as it were.
Also good, the main character. Audacity is pretty well thought out and, as every one else says, spunky. Likewise, her friends in the Wayward school have a nice secondary story arc. I thoroughly enjoy books that don't completely forget where the main character comes from.
The voice artist had clear voices for each of her characters. Never once did I confuse one person with another. Easy to listen to and follow.
THE BAD
The magical kitten and the buzzing ear. These devices were used as a way to give Audacity magical knowledge of things. It felt very lazy and unnecessary. Audacity is established as an extremely smart, very well read girl with a seemingly photographic memory. She could have been more of a budding Sherlock Holmes using her observational skills. As her first "case" there would naturally have been a learning curve, and that would have propelled much of the "danger" as written, i.e. Her misjudgment of the Commodore and Cipher.
Also, the parallels to Little Orphan Annie drove me crazy.
Orphan. Adopted by stray pet. Home for girls with an oblivious and selfish head mistress. Taken away from said home by a rich man (who consistently called her Annie). Rich man has an ethnic chauffeur. There is a plot to kidnap a girl for ransom. The other "orphan" girls know something is wrong and do what they can to help. Yup. Little Orphan Annie.
THE VERY VERY UGLY
The dangerous whitewashing of history.
But wait, you say, this book is EXTREMELY diverse! There are non-white characters all OVER the place! Bimi, Juice, Daddy Dub, and Cipher! They are important characters who really have presence and impact the story!
Yes, they are and they do. The HUGE problem with this, is that they interact with their world like white people would have in the early 1900s. NOT AT ALL like people of color in a decidedly racist world.
Cipher is, perhaps, the least problematic in that regards. The author establishes a letter from a Shah (A sheik?). He also does not get into his desired Secret Service position right away, but is given a chauffeur job. Mildly believable. The mistrust of him by the service is glossed over, but it is mentioned.
Bimi. Her ethnicity isn't mentioned at all until late in the book when the girls reflect on how Audacity's friendship has helped each of them. Audi is, apparently, a very 21st century girl at the turn of the 20th century. Living in Indiana (the place where the KKK was strongest in the early 1900s) somehow, this brown girl (Indian?) is dropped off. First, that assumes that her parents trusted a white society woman enough to not...I don't know...press their daughter into servitude or something. Second, Audi is SO progressive, her first comment about the first brown person she sees is that she is a south paw. Very 21st century indeed of Audi, *and* of Miss Maisie to take in a non-white girl as an actual student. I just didn't believe it to be historically plausible. Her ethnicity was NEVER discussed by any other character - only in her own memories.
Juice & Daddy Dub. Wow. These black folks would have been killed, all the stuff they did that was TOTALLY a no-no for black people in the early 1900s. Anti miscegenation laws were being put on the books or reinstated all over the country, Jim Crow laws relating to schools and separate restrooms and other facilities were spreading like wildfire. Taft, as Vice President in 1907, said that even though he upheld the 14th & 15th amendments, the enforcement of said amendments need not "involve the amalgamation of the race - nor involve social association or equality" for black people. He also expressly thought blacks inferior except for a handful that should be fed a real education. All the rest should be given only industrial and vocational training.
All of this is to set the stage. Juice would NEVER have been so familiar with Audi. He is described as a tall black boy (who towered over his grandfather). They would not have been able to walk down the street together without Juice shucking and jiving, acting like her servant. People would have SERIOUSLY questioned the safety of this 11 year old white girl with what would have looked like a black man. Not allowed. He might be trying to rape her! Black boys and men were CONSISTENTLY lynched for looking sideways at white women, much less walking with them. He REALLY would not have touched Dorothy Taft on the arm after saving her.
They would NEVER have had Audi in their barn unsupervised. They didn't know her. She could have accused them of anything and the white folks would believe her.
Daddy Dub would NEVER have been able to just "go down the street and use the telephone" at a business.
And they NEVER NEVER would have taken a hacksaw to a locked building and broken in. Not without white people with them to tell the police that they were not thieves.
These are all HUGE problems.
When writing a historical fiction novel, the author has some responsibility to the era they portray in addition to the facts that inspire their tale. The author acknowledges the changes made to the story of Dorothy Taft in an authors note and she lists basic facts of history and where she got information from. Daddy Dub (W.W. Brown) is acknowledged as a real livery driver who worked at the White House for 50+ years. But the author makes zero mention of the historical realities of race relations. If this were my first exposure to this time period, I would think that it wasn't so bad for black people and what was the fuss all about and why did we even need a civil rights movement sixty years later?
This is the epitome of oblivious white privilege. I do not think the author a bad, mean, racist, or otherwise nefarious person. In fact, based on her pointed inclusion of non white main characters, I believe the author to be the OPPOSITE of those things.
But by not at all addressing the reality of life for people of color during the chosen time period, the author is making a choice to erase the true experiences of people of color - which is a very irresponsible, short sighted, and dangerous thing.
THIS REVIEW IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the also dangerously terrible excuse of "historical accuracy" as a way to keep characters of color out of historically based books, movies, and other stories.
Instead of keeping them out, this author did a GREAT job including the people who REALLY WERE THERE. She acknowledges that Daddy Dub was a real person, although probably not called Daddy Dub. This is great. But by not even *touching* on any of the racial issues surrounding everyday life for these people, it ignores something that is (still) a huge part of race relations.
White people often wonder why POC bring up race so much. It is simply because race has (and continues) to color ever single interaction. But POC *have* to notice it as part of life, while non-POC's do not.
bookbrig's review against another edition
mysterious
I gave up on this pretty quickly because I really dislike when fat is used as a shorthand for bad or greedy or stupid and it felt like the author managed a trifecta. Audacity seemed like a fun character, smart, cheerful, and resourceful. But each description of Miss Maisie's "piggy eyes" or flapping arm skin etc. etc. etc. wore on me a little more until I decided there were better ways to spend my time. I also found (slightly spoilery->) this reader's take on the framing of race relations in the book, and overall I think there are better historical fiction choices out there for me to bring into schools
Content Warnings
Moderate: Fatphobia
raoionna's review against another edition
3.0
Audacity is the kinda girl that you might describe as spunky; an ideal read for strong girls.
elllie's review against another edition
4.0
I'm on board with this new series (probably?) from Kirby Larson. Audacity Jones (Audie to her friends) is a plucky young orphan in Indiana who is loaned out to a gentleman with a dastardly plot. Part Little Orphan Annie, part Nancy Drew, Audie must stop the plot in its tracks. I'm not sure kids will care about President Taft (who has inexplicably himself in at least 2 kids books in the past couple of years), and the language/tone of the story is one that precocious wordsmiths will find appealing, but at the end of the day, you can't help but love Audie and I think kids will connect well with her. 5th to 7th grade. Also, there's some turtle murder.