Overview

""A thought-provoking and insightful historical mystery."" -Kirkus Reviews It's 1785 and flyers are showing up all around Boston complaining that the Hays family is holding Jewish religious services in their home. Armed only with courage, conviction, and some amateur sleuthing skills, cousins Catherine Hays and Judah Truro set out to investigate, joined by their friend Joseph, Paul Revere's son. Can the three friends find the culprit and get him to stop? This historical fiction transitional chapter book for ages 6-8 features real-life American heroes, focuses attention on the principle of religious freedom in the early days of the United States, and introduces young readers to Moses Michael Hays, Boston's most prominent Jewish citizen of that time.

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9781681157207

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Reviews

""A trio of friends in 1785 Boston must solve an unsettling mystery. Joseph is often teased about the exploits of his famous father, Paul Revere; meanwhile, Judah Touro is quick to make clear he’s a Patriot, in large part because his late father had been a Loyalist during the Revolution. Judah and his family live with his cousin Catherine’s family, and the three children find joy, acceptance, and fun in their clubhouse shed. Catherine’s father, Moses Michael Hays, invites Jewish families into his home on the Sabbath, as synagogues aren’t permitted in Boston. When printed flyers circulate stating that Moses Hays has insulted Christianity with his unlawful gatherings of Jewish people, the children are appalled and determined to find the culprit. Incidents involving unlikely red herrings leave them no closer to answers. But Catherine studies the flyers carefully, noting the lopsided, slanted “J’s.” When she remembers where she previously saw them, the suspect is clear, but the children must find a way to catch him. Characters speak with just the right syntax for their 18th-century setting, with Lucas’ detailed black-and-white illustrations bringing scenes to life; Schwartz has crafted a fascinating window into the era. As explained in the backmatter, the young protagonists and their family members are based on actual people, and Boston law did in fact prohibit Jews from building synagogues. All characters present white. A thought-provoking and insightful historical mystery."" —Kirkus Reviews

Author Information

Ellen Schwartz is the author of 19 award-winning books for children, including a Western Canada Jewish Book Award for Friends to the Rescue. Ellen’s children’s books range from picture books through middle-grade novels and young adult fiction and information books. In addition to writing books, Ellen works as a corporate writer and editor and as a freelance magazine writer. She has published hundreds of magazine articles. Ellen has taught creative writing classes for many years at the college and university levels. She lives in Burnaby, British Columbia. Margeaux began drawing constantly from age four, amazing her friends with pictures of people and animals. Her love of picture books came from the many hours she spent before bedtime reading from the collection at her grandmother's house. She studied Graphic Design in school, but is largely self-taught as an illustrator. She lives in New York, New York.

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