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Description
In 1903, eleven-year-old immigrant Maureen Stevenson dreams of becoming a U.S. citizen. When valuable artwork starts disappearing from her wealthy employer's mansion, she takes on the role of detective to solve the mystery. This middle-grade historical fiction follows Maureen as she navigates her new American life while tracking down the thief.
Quick Summary
If you know a kid who loves mysteries but might also enjoy learning about history, this one's for them. Set in 1903, the story follows Maureen, an eleven-year-old immigrant girl who's working as a servant in a fancy mansion while also trying to solve who's been stealing artwork. What makes this book really memorable is that it combines an exciting detective mystery with actual details about what immigration was like back then kids will learn about the citizenship process and what life was like for young immigrants without it feeling like homework. It's especially good for readers who want a smart, determined girl protagonist who doesn't wait around for adults to fix problems. Parents will appreciate that it's heartfelt and educational without being preachy, though there's some mild tension when the mystery gets a little spooky. If your kid enjoyed "The Mysterious Benedict Society" or historical mysteries like that, they'd probably really like this. At around 35,000 words, it's substantial enough to keep a strong reader interested but not overwhelming.