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Laura Secord: A Story of Courage
Laura Secord never thought of herself as brave. She was gentle, shy, and soft spoken. But Laura was brave, and Janet Lunn tells her compelling story. A war between Great Britain and the United States was raging. The American political leaders were sure they would win the war. “It will be a mere matter of marching,” they said. For two years, from the summer of 1812 to the winter of 1814, fierce and bloody battles were fought.
One day in the spring of 1813, American officers took over the Secord home, demanding food. Laura heard them boasting about a plan that would give them an easy victory over the British Lieutenant FitzGibbon. It fell to the gentle Laura to make the grueling trip that would alert FitzGibbon of the impending danger.
Laura Secord’s dreadful journey has been long celebrated in story. Janet Lunn, one of the country’s finest writers of historical fiction, recounts the tale with fresh detail and masterly prose. Her writing is perfectly complemented by Maxwell Newhouse’s delightful naive paintings.
One day in the spring of 1813, American officers took over the Secord home, demanding food. Laura heard them boasting about a plan that would give them an easy victory over the British Lieutenant FitzGibbon. It fell to the gentle Laura to make the grueling trip that would alert FitzGibbon of the impending danger.
Laura Secord’s dreadful journey has been long celebrated in story. Janet Lunn, one of the country’s finest writers of historical fiction, recounts the tale with fresh detail and masterly prose. Her writing is perfectly complemented by Maxwell Newhouse’s delightful naive paintings.
32 pages, Hardcover
First published September 11, 2001
42 people want to read
About the author
Janet Lunn
30 books35 followersJanet was born Janet Louise Swoboda on December 28, 1928 in Dallas, Texas, U.S.A, moved to Vermont when she was two and lived there until she was ten when the family moved to the outskirts of New York City. She came to Canada in 1946 to go to Notre Dame College in Ottawa and then to Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario. There she met and married Richard Lunn, a fellow student. She has lived in Canada ever since. Janet has five children, ten grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Her husband died in 1987.
"Those," she says, "are the bare bones of my life story. The part that's interesting to readers has to do with reading, writing and daydreaming which are all, in my case, one and the same." She calls herself a dedicated daydreamer and says she has been that, "almost from the moment I was born. Even before I could read I was dreaming up stories. The sound of the wind in the ancient pine tree outside my window in our old farmhouse accompanied all my childhood imaginings. When I was in my teens and living far from that beloved home, I began writing stories with the sound of that tree still singing in my head."
Years later, in Canada, when her children were in their school years, the Lunn family went to live in an old farmhouse at the edge of a bay on the north shore of Lake Ontario. "I loved that house, too, she says, "and I began writing stories about it and the people who might once have lived in it. The stories I made up about the Vermont house have long since vanished but the ones I wrote about the Ontario-house families are The Root Cellar, Shadow in Hawthorn Bay and The Hollow Tree."
Janet lives in Ottawa now in a small city house but, chances are, her stories will still reflect her love of the countryside and those old farmhouses.
"Those," she says, "are the bare bones of my life story. The part that's interesting to readers has to do with reading, writing and daydreaming which are all, in my case, one and the same." She calls herself a dedicated daydreamer and says she has been that, "almost from the moment I was born. Even before I could read I was dreaming up stories. The sound of the wind in the ancient pine tree outside my window in our old farmhouse accompanied all my childhood imaginings. When I was in my teens and living far from that beloved home, I began writing stories with the sound of that tree still singing in my head."
Years later, in Canada, when her children were in their school years, the Lunn family went to live in an old farmhouse at the edge of a bay on the north shore of Lake Ontario. "I loved that house, too, she says, "and I began writing stories about it and the people who might once have lived in it. The stories I made up about the Vermont house have long since vanished but the ones I wrote about the Ontario-house families are The Root Cellar, Shadow in Hawthorn Bay and The Hollow Tree."
Janet lives in Ottawa now in a small city house but, chances are, her stories will still reflect her love of the countryside and those old farmhouses.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2024
Now before I read Janet Lunn’s 2001 picture book Laura Secord: A Story of Courage, I decided to do a bit of supplemental online research (because I kind of wanted to know what the general attitude towards Laura Secord as a Canadian/British heroine of the War of 1812 is). And yes, I am indeed more than a bit frustrated and in fact rather HUGELY rolling my eyes aghastly and angrily that on some American websites, Laura Secord is actually being portrayed not only as someone on the “wrong” side of the conflict (which I can albeit rather majorly, rather massively grudgingly accept from a United States perspective) but also as an individual supposedly needing to be considered as a seditious traitor (and this simply because Laura Secord just happened to have been born in Massachusetts).
But sorry, you FRIGGING ignoramuses par excellence, considering that Laura Secord during the War of 1812 had been living in Upper Canada (in what is now the province of Ontario) for more than thirty years, was happily married to a Loyalist, was considered to be British and even more importantly also now totally saw herself as a British subject, her, Laura Secord listening in on a group of opinionated and bullying American soldiers who had callously taken over (in other words INVADED) the Secords' Upper Canada Niagara area home and then walking many miles to let the British know of an upcoming secretive American raid, this ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT TREASON IN ANY WAY but in my not at all humble opinion rather the heroic actions of an oppressed and illegally taken hostage by the enemy resident of Upper Canada doing what she could to thwart the Americans trying to subjugate and control (to annex) what is now Canada. For honestly, Laura Secord should only be considered a traitor if she had still been still living in the USA during the War of 1812 (which she clearly was not) or if she was in 1812 still considered to be American (which she obviously also was not). And thus, those (mostly American and obviously hugely stupid and ignorant) online posts etc. which are trying to portray Laura Secord and her hard and dangerous walk to alert the British of a surprise USA attack (and of which she heard in her own callously taken over by United States soldiers Niagara region home) as being traitorous are at best naively and putridly dangerously nationalistic and majorly, annoyingly historically wrong, wrong, wrong.
And with regard to the actual book itself, as an introduction to Laura Secord’s life and times for the so-called picture book crowd Laura Secord: A Story of Courage is definitely quite textually dense and might also be a bit overwhelming if read aloud in one session (and not to mention that Maxwell Newhouse’s accompanying artwork often shows so much visual detail that it in my opinion might possibly distract from Janet Lunn’s printed words). So yes, I do in fact think that Laura Secord: A Story of Courage would likely work better if divided into smaller chunks, and this of course also for independent reading if the potential reader is younger than nine or so. But that having been said, Janet Lunn’s writing is descriptively delightful and that she is thankfully with Laura Secord: A Story of Courage showing exactly how very much heroic Laura Secord was, that she was brave, resourceful and also more than willing to court the many dangers she would be facing warning the British about the plans she had overheard from the mouths of the belligerent American soldiers who had occupied her family’s home, and indeed, this both warms my heart and has definitely made Laura Secord: A Story of Courage into very much an enjoyable personal reading experience, with the only reason why Laura Secord: A Story of Courage is a four and not a five star rating for me being that considering how Laura Secord’s story is historical reality, I do think that Janet Lunn should be including a bibliography with suggestions for further reading and research in Laura Secord: A Story of Courage.
But sorry, you FRIGGING ignoramuses par excellence, considering that Laura Secord during the War of 1812 had been living in Upper Canada (in what is now the province of Ontario) for more than thirty years, was happily married to a Loyalist, was considered to be British and even more importantly also now totally saw herself as a British subject, her, Laura Secord listening in on a group of opinionated and bullying American soldiers who had callously taken over (in other words INVADED) the Secords' Upper Canada Niagara area home and then walking many miles to let the British know of an upcoming secretive American raid, this ABSOLUTELY WAS NOT TREASON IN ANY WAY but in my not at all humble opinion rather the heroic actions of an oppressed and illegally taken hostage by the enemy resident of Upper Canada doing what she could to thwart the Americans trying to subjugate and control (to annex) what is now Canada. For honestly, Laura Secord should only be considered a traitor if she had still been still living in the USA during the War of 1812 (which she clearly was not) or if she was in 1812 still considered to be American (which she obviously also was not). And thus, those (mostly American and obviously hugely stupid and ignorant) online posts etc. which are trying to portray Laura Secord and her hard and dangerous walk to alert the British of a surprise USA attack (and of which she heard in her own callously taken over by United States soldiers Niagara region home) as being traitorous are at best naively and putridly dangerously nationalistic and majorly, annoyingly historically wrong, wrong, wrong.
And with regard to the actual book itself, as an introduction to Laura Secord’s life and times for the so-called picture book crowd Laura Secord: A Story of Courage is definitely quite textually dense and might also be a bit overwhelming if read aloud in one session (and not to mention that Maxwell Newhouse’s accompanying artwork often shows so much visual detail that it in my opinion might possibly distract from Janet Lunn’s printed words). So yes, I do in fact think that Laura Secord: A Story of Courage would likely work better if divided into smaller chunks, and this of course also for independent reading if the potential reader is younger than nine or so. But that having been said, Janet Lunn’s writing is descriptively delightful and that she is thankfully with Laura Secord: A Story of Courage showing exactly how very much heroic Laura Secord was, that she was brave, resourceful and also more than willing to court the many dangers she would be facing warning the British about the plans she had overheard from the mouths of the belligerent American soldiers who had occupied her family’s home, and indeed, this both warms my heart and has definitely made Laura Secord: A Story of Courage into very much an enjoyable personal reading experience, with the only reason why Laura Secord: A Story of Courage is a four and not a five star rating for me being that considering how Laura Secord’s story is historical reality, I do think that Janet Lunn should be including a bibliography with suggestions for further reading and research in Laura Secord: A Story of Courage.
July 29, 2018
When Laura Secord's husband is injured in the War of 1812 fighting against the Americans his war service ends. Laura's then began. After overhearing secrets of the American army, Laura races through the countryside in the excessive heat to warn the British-Canadian forces of a surprise attack.
I read about Laura Secord as a brief mention in historical notes in other novels. I didn't really know anything about her so I can't say whether this story is accurate or not. I liked Laura despite the fact she's on the wrong side. She is strong, resourceful and brave. She never dreamed of being a heroine but to her countrymen and women she is. I don't see it that way being American but I appreciated her daring to leave her home to do something so important.
The folk art style illustrations are really nice. The people don't look super realistic but they don't like super cartoony either. I liked looking at what was going on around Laura and seeing the historical details the illustrator chose to put in. The War of 1812 is a rather complicated subject for a children's picture book and I'm not sure that target age can understand it.
I read about Laura Secord as a brief mention in historical notes in other novels. I didn't really know anything about her so I can't say whether this story is accurate or not. I liked Laura despite the fact she's on the wrong side. She is strong, resourceful and brave. She never dreamed of being a heroine but to her countrymen and women she is. I don't see it that way being American but I appreciated her daring to leave her home to do something so important.
The folk art style illustrations are really nice. The people don't look super realistic but they don't like super cartoony either. I liked looking at what was going on around Laura and seeing the historical details the illustrator chose to put in. The War of 1812 is a rather complicated subject for a children's picture book and I'm not sure that target age can understand it.
January 5, 2013
Reason for Reading: Janet Lunn is one of the best children's Canadian history/historical fiction writers and I always enjoy her work. I also have had an interest in Laura Secord since I was a child which has only grown since we now live in her stomping grounds and visit her house-turned-museum once a year.
A short book that nonetheless is very well-written and detailed concerning Laura's famed trek to warn the British troops of the planned American attack. Though the entire book focuses on this pivotal event in Secord's life it also manages, at the beginning more fully and throughout in snippets, to show what Laura was like as a person, what her life was like as a pioneer and who she was besides the hero we know her as today.
The publishers recommended age is 8-12. Picture books with an historical theme seem to always get this age group, however this is not a typical picture book. It is text heavy, even though each two page spread is one page text, one page illustration. My recommendation would be for ages 10+. The illustrations are gorgeous! I do not like the cover illustration though; it is the only one in the book I do not like. The artist's folk art style makes for wonderful paintings as he does landscapes and long-shots of groups of people where they are painted more as outlines without any distinct features. His style is not particularly suited to close-ups of people but otherwise it is rich and folksy being a great accompaniment to the text. A lovely book, with a good dose of information for an introduction to Laura Secord or a quick overview of her life.
A short book that nonetheless is very well-written and detailed concerning Laura's famed trek to warn the British troops of the planned American attack. Though the entire book focuses on this pivotal event in Secord's life it also manages, at the beginning more fully and throughout in snippets, to show what Laura was like as a person, what her life was like as a pioneer and who she was besides the hero we know her as today.
The publishers recommended age is 8-12. Picture books with an historical theme seem to always get this age group, however this is not a typical picture book. It is text heavy, even though each two page spread is one page text, one page illustration. My recommendation would be for ages 10+. The illustrations are gorgeous! I do not like the cover illustration though; it is the only one in the book I do not like. The artist's folk art style makes for wonderful paintings as he does landscapes and long-shots of groups of people where they are painted more as outlines without any distinct features. His style is not particularly suited to close-ups of people but otherwise it is rich and folksy being a great accompaniment to the text. A lovely book, with a good dose of information for an introduction to Laura Secord or a quick overview of her life.
December 27, 2014
When American troops commandeer her home during the War of 1812, Laura Secord overhears them planning a surprise attack on Lieutenant Fitzgibbon's troops. Some one must warn them. With her husband injured, and her brother too sick to make the journey, it is left to Laura to make the eighteen-mile trek to Fitzgibbon's headquarters.
October 4, 2015
We picked this one up on vacation in Canada near Niagra Falls this summer. The people we met at Secord's museum were not surprised that we Americans had never heard of her...apparently our history lessons lack the Canadian perspective. I love having a book as a souvenir...and it reminds our family how different the Canadian perspective is on the War of 1812. Love reading about a strong woman named Laura who bravely helped her country back then. Also, this book would make a great resource for a child writing a book about Laura Secord.
February 10, 2016
This was a very good book. I love to read books about women who had important roles and who were brave. We don't hear about women being brave very often. Usually we hear of men who were brave but people seem to forget about how women can be just as brave. The author did a good job telling the story of Laura's bravery and it was very interesting.
June 6, 2016
This is a picture book about Canadian hero Laura Secord and her walk to warn FitzGibbon and his men of the attack she had overheard some American soldiers discussing.
In a similar writing style to her Story of Canada Janet Lunn has succinctly told the story. However she is so sparing in her words that the story failed to come to life for me. Although the book is effective in the telling of the history, it failed to move me on an emotional level. With such an exciting story line to work with I would have liked to be emotionally invested in Laura's success.
I disliked the art work. I found it distracted me from the story, rather than enhancing it.
In a similar writing style to her Story of Canada Janet Lunn has succinctly told the story. However she is so sparing in her words that the story failed to come to life for me. Although the book is effective in the telling of the history, it failed to move me on an emotional level. With such an exciting story line to work with I would have liked to be emotionally invested in Laura's success.
I disliked the art work. I found it distracted me from the story, rather than enhancing it.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews