The Star-Spangled Secret

by K.M. Kimball

In 1814, as the War of 1812 threatens her Maryland home, thirteen-year-old Caroline sets out to discover the truth about the disappearance of her older brother.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Juvenile, Middle Grade

234 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2001

Reviews

[Dawn]

I realized that I read short passages much too fast when by the time
SPOILERS
Sean came back to life it still hadn't sunk quite in that he wasn't dead. That passage was only two and a half paragraphs long and so I was still thinking "Sean's dead…" when Emma the wackjob scarpered. Fifteen minutes after finishing the book, since it wrapped it all up nicely after that, I was only now feeling elated that he is alive. I suppose I just don't swap sad with happy that fast.
ACTUAL REVIEW (in the stead of comments about dead characters)
What an awesome book. I particularly enjoyed when I found out Charlie's whereabouts and the last passage at the very end of the book. And my favorite character was definitely Sean. He is really awesome. This was just the type of historical fiction I enjoy, albeit at a seventh grade level. It was intriguing, accurate, and wonderfully written. It was and remains one of my favorite books of all time, dating back to when I was eight and i will read it many more times over. Good Night!

[Rebecca]

Thirteen-year-old Caroline Dorsey was devastated when her father and baby sister Rebecca died in a yellow fever epidemic in Philadelphia. Unwilling to spend another summer in Philadelphia, Caroline's mother decided that she would take her two remaining children, Caroline and fourteen-year-old Charlie, and move to her father's Maryland plantation. But Charlie is determined to go to sea, and his mother doesn't have the will to refuse her son's greatest wish. Meanwhile, Caroline returns to boarding school in Philadelphia, where she receives a letter with news that Charlie has fallen off the deck of his ship and drowned. Caroline knows that can't be true. So she returns home, determined to discover the truth. This book is a good middle grade read full of mystery and adventure set against an interesting historical setting - Philadelphia, Baltimore, and Washington D.C. during the War of 1812.

[Shannon Clark]

What a great little chapter book mystery set back during the War of 1812. Caroline is a feisty and stubborn young girl who believes her brother to be dead by falling off of a ship and drowning. Well, that's what she is told, but she believes there's more to the story, and she is determined to find out.

This is an easy read for 4th grade and up. They will especially like it if they are interested in history. There's only one sentence in the book that makes reference to a mature subject-so I'll just mark through it with a black marker and be done with it. I really wish sometimes that authors would think deeply about the audience they are writing to (with the parents in mind!!!). :)

4 of 5 stars to this one, and they are well deserved!

[Kristen]

Historical Fiction, Mystery. War of 1812

[Briana]

Clever period piece that has a tenacious female main character who refuses to believe her brother was dead. Slightly unrealistic about how much main character could do back then, but her fortitude in her thinking does make her fascinating. Book has action. Disappointed author through a threat of the British raping the mother in near the end, as that concept might make the book inaccessible for some students in public school without parental consent or conversations prior -- line wasn't necessary for plot...

[Sydney]

I'd say more like 4.5 stars. I really, really liked this book. The plot was great and kept me very interested. Plus the war of 1812 is a war you don't usually read a lot about, but an important stage in our history nonetheless. So, anyway. Turns out I'm really happy to have bought this book when I did. It's a keeper :D

[Emmi Palenbaum]

Going to read this for my book club and I'm pretty excited.

[Hanna]

I thought it was one of the best books I ever read.

[Megan]

This was 5th grade me's favorite book.

[Ella K]

I think it was a very good book that included mystery and questions and secrets about all of the characters. There was betryal and sadness, and a want for money. In one characters backstory, there was a barging. In another, loss of famliy. There is annoyence and some conflict between characters, too.
In Caroline, our main characters back story she has to move to many places and suffer loss of 2 famliy members. Then a loss of Charlie. But as the story goes on, she finds Charlie is alive. Then she finds out there is betryal and there is reasoning in the truth. And it is a happy ending, for some.