Synopses & Reviews
Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for adventure, a challenge to break up the monotony of her life at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Life as a wayward girl isn't so bad; Audie has the best of friends, a clever cat companion, and plenty of books to read. Still, she longs for some excitement, like the characters in the novels she so loves encounter.
So when the mysterious Commodore Crutchfield visits the school and whisks Audie off to Washington, DC, she knows she's in for the journey of a lifetime. But soon, it becomes clear that the Commodore has unsavory plans for Audie -- plans that involve the president of the United States and a sinister kidnapping plot. Before she knows it, Audie winds up in the White House kitchens, where she's determined to stop the Commodore dead in his tracks. Can Audie save the day before it's too late?
Review
Praise for
DashWinner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction
"Emotionally satisfying and thought-provoking." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[A] trenchant novel." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Historical fiction at its best." -- School Library Journal
Praise for Duke
"Exceptionally well-crafted and emotionally authentic." -- Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"[An] incisive tale of loyalty, patriotism, sacrifice, and bravery." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"A good example of how bravery comes in all shapes, sizes -- and breeds."
-- Booklist
Praise for Hattie Big Sky
A Newbery Honor Recipient
"[An] engaging historical novel . . . [Larson] creates a richly textured novel full of memorable characters." -- Booklist, starred review
"Larson . . . create[s] a masterful picture of the homesteading experience and the people who persevered." -- School Library Journal, starred review
"Refreshing." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
Synopsis
An irrepressible orphan named Audacity Jones is headed on an adventure of historic proportions The first book in a brand-new series from beloved Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson
Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for adventure, a challenge to break up the monotony of her life at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Life as a wayward girl isn't so bad; Audie has the best of friends, a clever cat companion, and plenty of books to read. Still, she longs for some excitement, like the characters in the novels she so loves encounter.So when the mysterious Commodore Crutchfield visits the school and whisks Audie off to Washington, DC, she knows she's in for the journey of a lifetime. But soon, it becomes clear that the Commodore has unsavory plans for Audie -- plans that involve the president of the United States and a sinister kidnapping plot. Before she knows it, Audie winds up in the White House kitchens, where she's determined to stop the Commodore dead in his tracks. Can Audie save the day before it's too late?
About the Author
Kirby Larson is the acclaimed author of the 2007 Newbery Honor book Hattie Big Sky; its sequel, Hattie Ever After; The Friendship Doll; Dear America: The Fences Between Us; Duke; and Dash. She has also written a number of picture books, including the award-winning Two Bobbies: A True Story of Hurricane Katrina, Friendship, and Survival and Nubs: The True Story of a Mutt, a Marine, and a Miracle. She lives in Washington with her husband.