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A review by pwbalto
Imogene's Last Stand by Candace Fleming
2.0
That Imogene, she's going to grow up Geek Like Me. She loves history and she loves her country, and in the process of saving her beloved local historical society from the wrecking ball, she demonstrates all the best protest strategies - gradually raising community awareness of her issue via public speech, canvassing, leafletting, a rally, and finally a sit-in. All the while she spouts her favorite quotes from American history, from "Balderdash" (Teddy Roosevelt) to "Ain't nobody comin'" (Davy Crockett).
Unfortunately, all her efforts come to naught. Despite the public attention garnered by her passive resistance on demolition day, the mayor is set to let the bulldozers roll as soon as Imogene leaves the porch of the historical society. It is only through the intervention of the local (adult) historian, as well as the President of the United States (!), who arrives with a plaque, that the society is saved. Granted, the historian had been contacted by Imogene when she discovered evidence that George Washington had slept at the house, but... no. Instead of showing kids that they themselves, through hard work, perseverence and peaceful dissent, can effect change in their communities, the book is saying that if you really want to get something done, you're going to have to call in a grownup, and the most highly-ranked grownup you can find. What a waste.
Unfortunately, all her efforts come to naught. Despite the public attention garnered by her passive resistance on demolition day, the mayor is set to let the bulldozers roll as soon as Imogene leaves the porch of the historical society. It is only through the intervention of the local (adult) historian, as well as the President of the United States (!), who arrives with a plaque, that the society is saved. Granted, the historian had been contacted by Imogene when she discovered evidence that George Washington had slept at the house, but... no. Instead of showing kids that they themselves, through hard work, perseverence and peaceful dissent, can effect change in their communities, the book is saying that if you really want to get something done, you're going to have to call in a grownup, and the most highly-ranked grownup you can find. What a waste.