Scarlet Stockings Spy

Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous illustrations and clever historical fiction!
Review: Being a children's illustrator myself, I am often pretty critical of children's book illustrations. But the moment I picked up this book I had to have it. Robert Papp's soft, atmospheric oil paintings beautifully depict life in Philadelphia in 1777 with great detail and emotion. Maddy Rose is a believable character, from her red stockings to her adorable chin. Trinka Hakes Noble does a brilliant job of transporting the reader back in time to the tense climate of the Revolutionary War. There is suspense, joy and sorrow equally depicted in text and in pictures. This book would make a perfect gift for a child who has interest in history, but also for a girl who needs a heroine. This book is the kind that is passed down from generation to generation. Congratulations to the writer and illustrator.