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Chasing Secrets
Newbery Honor-winning author Gennifer Choldenko deftly combines humor, tragedy, fascinating historical detail, and a medical mystery in this exuberant new novel.
San Francisco, 1900. The Gilded Age. A fantastic time to be alive for lots of people . . . but not thirteen-year-old Lizzie Kennedy, stuck at Miss Barstow's snobby school for girls. Lizzie's secret passion is science, an unsuitable subject for finishing-school girls. Lizzie lives to go on house calls with her physician father. On those visits to his patients, she discovers a hidden dark side of the city--a side that's full of secrets, rats, and rumors of the plague.
The newspapers, her powerful uncle, and her beloved papa all deny that the plague has reached San Francisco. So why is the heart of the city under quarantine? Why are angry mobs trying to burn Chinatown to the ground? Why is Noah, the Chinese cook's son, suddenly making Lizzie question everything she has known to be true? Ignoring the rules of race and class, Lizzie and Noah must put the pieces together in a heart-stopping race to save the people they love.
San Francisco, 1900. The Gilded Age. A fantastic time to be alive for lots of people . . . but not thirteen-year-old Lizzie Kennedy, stuck at Miss Barstow's snobby school for girls. Lizzie's secret passion is science, an unsuitable subject for finishing-school girls. Lizzie lives to go on house calls with her physician father. On those visits to his patients, she discovers a hidden dark side of the city--a side that's full of secrets, rats, and rumors of the plague.
The newspapers, her powerful uncle, and her beloved papa all deny that the plague has reached San Francisco. So why is the heart of the city under quarantine? Why are angry mobs trying to burn Chinatown to the ground? Why is Noah, the Chinese cook's son, suddenly making Lizzie question everything she has known to be true? Ignoring the rules of race and class, Lizzie and Noah must put the pieces together in a heart-stopping race to save the people they love.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published August 4, 2015
98 people are currently reading
3745 people want to read
About the author
Gennifer Choldenko
42 books741 followersThere’s a Lego in my bum which fits with the Lego in my chair and when I sit down to write, I hear the satisfying snap of the two pieces fitting together. I love words, dictionaries, thesauruses, sharp pencils, the smell of book ink and the delicious art of carving out sentences on clean white paper. I love to slip into another person’s skin and feel what it’s like to live another life. I love when characters come to me out of nowhere and make me cry so hard my mascara runs or laugh until my stomach hurts. I love the crazy fun and infinite possibility of storytelling.
What prepared me for a life of writing fiction? Though I have a BA from Brandeis University in English and American Literature and a BFA in illustration from Rhode Island School of Design, the true answer is probably genes. I come from a long line of Irish storytellers on my father’s side and theatre people on my mother’s. I always knew I loved to write, but it took me a long time to summon the courage to chase the dream. I finally went for it when I realized I would prefer to be a failure at something I wanted to do, then a success at something I didn’t.
While I was pretending I wasn’t a writer, trying to be a nice person with a nice quiet job somewhere, I sold lingerie, lipstick and lamp shades. I wrote junk mail. I taught visually and hearing-impaired kids horseback riding. I held a prestigious job in rubbish removal and I worked in a factory wearing a paper gown while wielding a large mallet on small serving packages of ketchup.
One Third Nerd, my funniest novel yet, is due out in January 2019. My most famous novel, Al Capone Does My Shirts, garnered 20 awards, one of which was the Newbery Honor. The Tales of Alcatraz series has sold more than 2 million copies. What will probably be the last book in the series: Al Capone Throws Me a Curve is the best of the fifteen books I’ve written so far.
I am a fitness fanatic; a book-obsessed, tennis-playing woman who thinks like a twelve-year-old. If I ever get the good fortune to meet you, offer me coffee and I will be your friend for life.
What prepared me for a life of writing fiction? Though I have a BA from Brandeis University in English and American Literature and a BFA in illustration from Rhode Island School of Design, the true answer is probably genes. I come from a long line of Irish storytellers on my father’s side and theatre people on my mother’s. I always knew I loved to write, but it took me a long time to summon the courage to chase the dream. I finally went for it when I realized I would prefer to be a failure at something I wanted to do, then a success at something I didn’t.
While I was pretending I wasn’t a writer, trying to be a nice person with a nice quiet job somewhere, I sold lingerie, lipstick and lamp shades. I wrote junk mail. I taught visually and hearing-impaired kids horseback riding. I held a prestigious job in rubbish removal and I worked in a factory wearing a paper gown while wielding a large mallet on small serving packages of ketchup.
One Third Nerd, my funniest novel yet, is due out in January 2019. My most famous novel, Al Capone Does My Shirts, garnered 20 awards, one of which was the Newbery Honor. The Tales of Alcatraz series has sold more than 2 million copies. What will probably be the last book in the series: Al Capone Throws Me a Curve is the best of the fifteen books I’ve written so far.
I am a fitness fanatic; a book-obsessed, tennis-playing woman who thinks like a twelve-year-old. If I ever get the good fortune to meet you, offer me coffee and I will be your friend for life.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 422 reviews
August 16, 2015
Finally got to finish and loved it. I think YA historical fiction is the best because the history is added in such a way that it is interesting and makes a great story. Full review to come on my blog, Lisa Loves Literature, soon.
August 25, 2017
Recently, there was a Nerdy Book Club blog post entitled, "Pulse-pounding Historical Fiction." This isn't due out till August but would hold its own on that list. Definitely one to give to those kids who claim to hate historical fiction as well as those who love it. Atmospheric, the sights, sounds and smells of San Francisco at the beginning of the 20th century spring vividly to life as do the variety of characters.
ETA: Rereading with my ears 8/18/17. Loved it just as much!
ETA: Rereading with my ears 8/18/17. Loved it just as much!
February 21, 2020
Full Review on The Candid Cover
Chasing Secrets is a book that really has it all! This story is an excellent read that promotes history, while keeping readers on their toes. Choldenko has created another incredible middle grade historical fiction in Chasing Secrets. This time we learn about a deadly plague, a determined main character, and themes of family, friendship and secrets in the fast paced mystery.
Based on actual events, Chasing Secrets tells the story of a plague outbreak in San Fransisco in 1900. The time period of this novel is so elegant and Choldenko depicts the horses, carriages and the dresses with so much detail that it is easy to envision the setting. Also, the history of the treatment of the Chinese during this era is explored and presented to the reader. It is very clear that Gennifer Choldenko has done some extensive research, as every detail seems so accurate and carefully written.
The main character in Chasing Secrets, Lizzie, is one that is so easy to relate to. Lizzie is very intelligent and decides to understand the plague. During this point in history, smart females are disrespected and have difficily fitting in. Lizzie is no exception. Choldenko writes about Lizzie’s struggles and shows the reader the importance of determination and self perseverance through this amazing protagonist.
Chasing Secrets is a book about family and friendship and protecting those you love. It is also about secrets kept from family members. These themes add to the mystery of the book. The secrets add an extra layer that makes reading this story phenomenal and keeps you turning the pages to learn more.
This step back in time is definitely educational and entertaining to read at the same time. It has a clever main character and themes that add to the book’s mystery. Chasing Secrets is a quick and enjoyable read for anyone who is interested in historical fiction.
Chasing Secrets is a book that really has it all! This story is an excellent read that promotes history, while keeping readers on their toes. Choldenko has created another incredible middle grade historical fiction in Chasing Secrets. This time we learn about a deadly plague, a determined main character, and themes of family, friendship and secrets in the fast paced mystery.
Based on actual events, Chasing Secrets tells the story of a plague outbreak in San Fransisco in 1900. The time period of this novel is so elegant and Choldenko depicts the horses, carriages and the dresses with so much detail that it is easy to envision the setting. Also, the history of the treatment of the Chinese during this era is explored and presented to the reader. It is very clear that Gennifer Choldenko has done some extensive research, as every detail seems so accurate and carefully written.
The main character in Chasing Secrets, Lizzie, is one that is so easy to relate to. Lizzie is very intelligent and decides to understand the plague. During this point in history, smart females are disrespected and have difficily fitting in. Lizzie is no exception. Choldenko writes about Lizzie’s struggles and shows the reader the importance of determination and self perseverance through this amazing protagonist.
Chasing Secrets is a book about family and friendship and protecting those you love. It is also about secrets kept from family members. These themes add to the mystery of the book. The secrets add an extra layer that makes reading this story phenomenal and keeps you turning the pages to learn more.
This step back in time is definitely educational and entertaining to read at the same time. It has a clever main character and themes that add to the book’s mystery. Chasing Secrets is a quick and enjoyable read for anyone who is interested in historical fiction.
August 25, 2015
Pros
*A very entertaining historical fiction novel.
*Unusual subjects-A modern recurrence of Bubonic Plague, San Francisco pre-1906 quake, women's rights, and Chinese-American life in the early 20th century.
*Wide Appeal-The story includes hints of romance, action and derring-do, is based on true historical events, and provides readers with a Downton Abbey-esque window into the daily lives of history's ultra-wealthy.
Cons
*Meandering plot-There was a lot going on here--Lizzie+Gus, Lizzie+Noah, Lizzie+friendships, illegal street fighting, Bubonic Plague, early 20th century newspaper wars, racism and genocide, early 20th century medical technique, proper etiquette for women, women's rights, etc... I didn't feel satisfied with the amount of coverage any of these topics got, and I wish the book had been about 100 pages longer so that we could have delved a little deeper into them.
*Lizzie-Not my favorite character. She was a self-important know-it-all who whined about not having any friends, but then didn't reciprocate much when they invited her out. Sometimes, being a brilliant pest can come off as oddly charming, but there just weren't enough things I liked about Lizzie to balance her out.
*
*A very entertaining historical fiction novel.
*Unusual subjects-A modern recurrence of Bubonic Plague, San Francisco pre-1906 quake, women's rights, and Chinese-American life in the early 20th century.
*Wide Appeal-The story includes hints of romance, action and derring-do, is based on true historical events, and provides readers with a Downton Abbey-esque window into the daily lives of history's ultra-wealthy.
Cons
*Meandering plot-There was a lot going on here--Lizzie+Gus, Lizzie+Noah, Lizzie+friendships, illegal street fighting, Bubonic Plague, early 20th century newspaper wars, racism and genocide, early 20th century medical technique, proper etiquette for women, women's rights, etc... I didn't feel satisfied with the amount of coverage any of these topics got, and I wish the book had been about 100 pages longer so that we could have delved a little deeper into them.
*Lizzie-Not my favorite character. She was a self-important know-it-all who whined about not having any friends, but then didn't reciprocate much when they invited her out. Sometimes, being a brilliant pest can come off as oddly charming, but there just weren't enough things I liked about Lizzie to balance her out.
*
October 5, 2015
Back in 2013, I first read Choldenko, having randomly selected the audiobook for Al Capone Does My Shirts as being of possible interest. I was right, though the books were entirely different than I’d expected, coming at history from an angle I didn’t see coming.
Similarly, Chasing Secrets takes on the topic of plague as it’s breaking out, rather than once everyone is already dying. We see this happen through the lens of aspiring scientist, Lizzie. Her favorite thing is joining her dad on his calls to patients, and her least favorite is attending class at finishing school, because she has no interest in marriage and wants to really learn.
When their servant Jing gets stuck in Chinatown due to a quarantine for the plague, she wants to rescue him, especially once she meets the son she never knew he had, Noah. I really love the portrayals of both Jing and Noah, because they resist stereotypes and are super awesome. Yes always to history that focuses on women and people of color. History enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive notes at the end of Chasing Secrets as well.
Choldenko has major talent at writing quiet, intriguing, unique histories about people often ignored by history. Very much worth reading for more than just the beautiful cover.
Similarly, Chasing Secrets takes on the topic of plague as it’s breaking out, rather than once everyone is already dying. We see this happen through the lens of aspiring scientist, Lizzie. Her favorite thing is joining her dad on his calls to patients, and her least favorite is attending class at finishing school, because she has no interest in marriage and wants to really learn.
When their servant Jing gets stuck in Chinatown due to a quarantine for the plague, she wants to rescue him, especially once she meets the son she never knew he had, Noah. I really love the portrayals of both Jing and Noah, because they resist stereotypes and are super awesome. Yes always to history that focuses on women and people of color. History enthusiasts will appreciate the extensive notes at the end of Chasing Secrets as well.
Choldenko has major talent at writing quiet, intriguing, unique histories about people often ignored by history. Very much worth reading for more than just the beautiful cover.
May 17, 2016
I had no idea the bubonic plague was ever in the U.S.! (Have I been living under a rock or what?!?) Choldenko has done it again! A wonderfully written juvenile historical fiction book with so much information, though you don't realize it because the storytelling is so enthralling!! I love Noah, Lizzie, Billy, and all these characters! Such an intriguing exploration of ethics!! Can't wait to write about it on my blog and then will link to this review!!
April 3, 2020
Wowwwwwwwwwwwwwww!!! I really liked this book, and what an appropriate time to read it 😂 (as it's about the plague and we have the coronavirus). I do think the ending was a bit fast, and I would've liked to see more of Gus and Gemma in the last few bits, but other than that, it was a really good book. The rest of the ending I WAS NOT expecting. Another amazing book by Gennifer Choldenko! I had no clue she was the author of the Al-Capone series! I love those books too!!
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February 24, 2015I'm really excited about Gennifer's new release and looking forward to seeing how kids connect with the story!
July 10, 2020
I really enjoyed this story about a headstrong girl living in turn-of-the-century San Francisco. Lizzie loves to help her father tend to his patients, and she longs to become a doctor as well, something that her Aunt Hortense just cannot abide. Girls are meant to be pretty and well-mannered, which is why she is sent to Miss Barstow's School. But when there is suspicion about a possible plague outbreak in Chinatown, no one believes it, but Lizzie knows something is definitely wrong.
This was a very atmospheric read - I could easily visualize the setting. I really enjoyed Lizzie as a character and seeing her and her Aunt learn to understand each other was really heartwarming.
I also thought the commentary about the plague and why so many chose to believe it wasn't happening was very relevant. People never change I suppose.
This was a very atmospheric read - I could easily visualize the setting. I really enjoyed Lizzie as a character and seeing her and her Aunt learn to understand each other was really heartwarming.
I also thought the commentary about the plague and why so many chose to believe it wasn't happening was very relevant. People never change I suppose.
October 22, 2015
Thirteen-year old Lizzie Kennedy doesn't fit in. It's 1900 and girls are not expected to like science or want to be doctors but medicine is Lizzie's passion and she dreams of being a doctor like her father one day. She loves accompanying her father on house calls and the feeling she gets from helping people. Her Aunt Hortense dismisses Lizzie's passion and everyone expects Lizzie to want to get married. As a result of her unusual interest and her older brother Billy's new interest in fighting, Lizzie is alone. Her only friend, if you can call him that, is Jing, the family's Chinese cook. When Jing goes missing, Lizzie fears the worst. She finds an unexpected friend in Jing's son Noah, who must be kept a secret. Noah fears Jing stuck in quarantine in Chinatown where rumors of the plague abound. "The plague in San Francisco? Don't be absurd!" claim all the doctors but Lizzie isn't so sure. She knows one thing though - she has to get Jing out of there and back home where he belongs. When tensions between white Americans and the Chinese population of San Francisco grow stronger, Lizzie must summon all her courage and knowledge to help keep those she loves from harm.
This book doesn't quite live up to the promise of a "heart-stopping race." The action takes too long to get going and starts and stops too often to be really compelling. The plot fell flat for me and I didn't feel moved by the tragedy. I find Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone books a little more compelling. The subject is new to me though. I had no idea there was plague in the 20th century United States or that there was a vaccine against it! The history behind the plot was more interesting than the plot. The author's note had some interesting facts and seemed geared towards teachers and parents.
The characters are good but not all that memorable. Lizzie is a likable, spunky teenage girl who thinks and acts in a very modern way. I liked her a lot though. I felt bad for her for being constrained by her gender and because she was so lonely. I thought some of her actions were totally crazy and I would never be that brave. I liked how she tried to make friends but still be herself. That's an important lesson that often gets lost in teenage novels. At first I wasn't crazy about Noah. I thought he was rather rude and a bit too cocky but he grew on me as Lizzie got to know him better. I wished he would have told Lizzie a little more about his life but the facts he revealed are interesting. He's smart, loyal and loving and that makes him a good friend for Lizzie. Gus, Lizzie's potential love interest, also shares the same qualities as Noah and is also brave. He's quiet but an important part of Lizzie's life so far. I really liked him. Gus's sister Gemma is crazy in a fun way. I'm not sure I'd like to be friends with her because trying to keep up with her would be exhausting! Most importantly to Lizzie is Jing. He's father, mother, friend and cook to Lizzie. She loves him and he seems to care for her yet still part of him is closed off to her because he's Chinese and a servant. Like Lizzie, I'd like to know more about him. Orange Tom, the cat, is another major character in the book. Lizzie discovers she can use him as a messenger but he's a working cat and doesn't like to be held. I wished he did for Lizzie's sake for she really needed the unconditional love of a pet.
The minor characters in this novel include Lizzie's Papa, Dr. Kennedy. He seems indulgent towards Lizzie but I am not positive he takes her seriously. He's a great doctor given the limited medical knowledge even in 1900. He's very honorable. Then there's Aunt Hortense, who has hidden depths that are hinted at but not quite revealed. I expect she is much more like Lizzie than Lizzie realizes. There's also Aunt Hortense's husband, Uncle Karl, a newspaper man who strives to tell the truth. I take it Uncle Karl is based on Joseph Pulitzer since his biggest rival is William Randolph Hearst. Uncle Karl comes across as largely two-dimensional and a man of his time but with a bit more honesty and integrity than many other men. Lizzie's big brother Billy plays an important role in her life. She always looked up to him and now he's moved on from being her pal and trying to become his own person. His struggles were tough to read about and I wish he and his father could have had a heart to heart talk. Finally, there's Maggy Doyle, the maid. She is a little bit slow but sweet and a good worker. I liked her very much.
I would recommend this novel to those who like a quick read and like to learn something new while having fun reading.
This book doesn't quite live up to the promise of a "heart-stopping race." The action takes too long to get going and starts and stops too often to be really compelling. The plot fell flat for me and I didn't feel moved by the tragedy. I find Gennifer Choldenko's Al Capone books a little more compelling. The subject is new to me though. I had no idea there was plague in the 20th century United States or that there was a vaccine against it! The history behind the plot was more interesting than the plot. The author's note had some interesting facts and seemed geared towards teachers and parents.
The characters are good but not all that memorable. Lizzie is a likable, spunky teenage girl who thinks and acts in a very modern way. I liked her a lot though. I felt bad for her for being constrained by her gender and because she was so lonely. I thought some of her actions were totally crazy and I would never be that brave. I liked how she tried to make friends but still be herself. That's an important lesson that often gets lost in teenage novels. At first I wasn't crazy about Noah. I thought he was rather rude and a bit too cocky but he grew on me as Lizzie got to know him better. I wished he would have told Lizzie a little more about his life but the facts he revealed are interesting. He's smart, loyal and loving and that makes him a good friend for Lizzie. Gus, Lizzie's potential love interest, also shares the same qualities as Noah and is also brave. He's quiet but an important part of Lizzie's life so far. I really liked him. Gus's sister Gemma is crazy in a fun way. I'm not sure I'd like to be friends with her because trying to keep up with her would be exhausting! Most importantly to Lizzie is Jing. He's father, mother, friend and cook to Lizzie. She loves him and he seems to care for her yet still part of him is closed off to her because he's Chinese and a servant. Like Lizzie, I'd like to know more about him. Orange Tom, the cat, is another major character in the book. Lizzie discovers she can use him as a messenger but he's a working cat and doesn't like to be held. I wished he did for Lizzie's sake for she really needed the unconditional love of a pet.
The minor characters in this novel include Lizzie's Papa, Dr. Kennedy. He seems indulgent towards Lizzie but I am not positive he takes her seriously. He's a great doctor given the limited medical knowledge even in 1900. He's very honorable. Then there's Aunt Hortense, who has hidden depths that are hinted at but not quite revealed. I expect she is much more like Lizzie than Lizzie realizes. There's also Aunt Hortense's husband, Uncle Karl, a newspaper man who strives to tell the truth. I take it Uncle Karl is based on Joseph Pulitzer since his biggest rival is William Randolph Hearst. Uncle Karl comes across as largely two-dimensional and a man of his time but with a bit more honesty and integrity than many other men. Lizzie's big brother Billy plays an important role in her life. She always looked up to him and now he's moved on from being her pal and trying to become his own person. His struggles were tough to read about and I wish he and his father could have had a heart to heart talk. Finally, there's Maggy Doyle, the maid. She is a little bit slow but sweet and a good worker. I liked her very much.
I would recommend this novel to those who like a quick read and like to learn something new while having fun reading.
February 6, 2017
I love how books can get students interested in history. I wish books like this were around when I was young. This taught me about a time and historical event that I didn't know anything about. I love when a book piques my interest into something new.
November 10, 2015
Newbery Honor-winning author Gennifer Choldenko, known for her Alcatraz trilogy, shifts her focus to Gilded Age San Francisco in CHASING SECRETS. Heroine Lizzie Kennedy is a bright young girl interested in the work of her physician father. When her family's cook Jing goes missing, Lizzie starts paying more attention to what is happening in her city.
I found the facts behind CHASING SECRETS fascinating and appreciated that Choldenko detailed the history and some resources in the back of the novel. I had no idea that there had been a plague outbreak in modern America. Choldenko is known for developing a rich historical setting, and she doesn't fall down on that front. This turbulent time in American history is given its due.
As Lizzie starts digging deeper into San Francisco's secrets with the help of her brother and another friend, she's shocked by how many secrets different people are keeping and their motivation for them. It starts with Noah, Jing's son, who Lizzie finds hiding on the Kennedy property after Jing's disappearance. At first, she can't believe that Jing didn't trust her enough to tell her about Noah. Then she starts to realize how the Chinese are being treated. They are being quarantined in Chinatown, even though white residents are free to enter and leave that quarter - defeating the disease-prevention motive for the quarantine. People are on the edge of rioting.
I liked that Lizzie didn't just listen to her family and others that told her nothing was wrong. As a girl, she's used to people disavowing the medical knowledge she's learned at her father's side and other things she knows. She loves her father and uncle, and trusts them, but she trusts her own curiosity and observations more. She isn't content to just listen to what others tell her, but goes out and investigates.
There is a tragic aspect to the ending, which is fitting in a novel about an epidemic, although I'm not sure how I feel about it. Overall though, I enjoyed CHASING SECRETS. It is a compelling combination of medical thriller and historical fiction. I often find historical fiction dry, but Lizzie's story is a juicy one.
I found the facts behind CHASING SECRETS fascinating and appreciated that Choldenko detailed the history and some resources in the back of the novel. I had no idea that there had been a plague outbreak in modern America. Choldenko is known for developing a rich historical setting, and she doesn't fall down on that front. This turbulent time in American history is given its due.
As Lizzie starts digging deeper into San Francisco's secrets with the help of her brother and another friend, she's shocked by how many secrets different people are keeping and their motivation for them. It starts with Noah, Jing's son, who Lizzie finds hiding on the Kennedy property after Jing's disappearance. At first, she can't believe that Jing didn't trust her enough to tell her about Noah. Then she starts to realize how the Chinese are being treated. They are being quarantined in Chinatown, even though white residents are free to enter and leave that quarter - defeating the disease-prevention motive for the quarantine. People are on the edge of rioting.
I liked that Lizzie didn't just listen to her family and others that told her nothing was wrong. As a girl, she's used to people disavowing the medical knowledge she's learned at her father's side and other things she knows. She loves her father and uncle, and trusts them, but she trusts her own curiosity and observations more. She isn't content to just listen to what others tell her, but goes out and investigates.
There is a tragic aspect to the ending, which is fitting in a novel about an epidemic, although I'm not sure how I feel about it. Overall though, I enjoyed CHASING SECRETS. It is a compelling combination of medical thriller and historical fiction. I often find historical fiction dry, but Lizzie's story is a juicy one.
August 5, 2015
One of the great things about books is that they introduce us to new ideas, possibilities and in this case, history. I never knew there was a plague outbreak in San Francisco in the early 1900s or that Chinatown in Honolulu had been burned down because of a plague outbreak (and my husband is a Hawaii boy and I lived there for several years....not exactly the local history they teach you at Punahou). Choldenko sets her story in San Francisco in the home of a doctor who ministers to all the city's population vs. the upper class doctor who serves the needs of the family's relatives and their friends. Lizzie, very attached to their servant Jing learns he has a 'secret' son and through him learns how much she doesn't know about someone who is close to her but of another race/culture. There's a lot of discovering here through Lizzie's eyes. She is a character of independence, strength, curiosity and heart. And her friends are worthy of her and well developed though they are definitely secondary characters. I rooted for all of them, even the crusty and seemingly superficial Aunt Lizzie. A book that deserves wide reading and discussion.
December 23, 2015
I bought copies of this book for 7th graders in book clubs. I am hoping this book inspires conversation and discussion that goes well beyond the page and into my students' lives.
Other reviewers have covered the unusual setting and the deft weaving of a gentle suspense story into historical fiction. I think my readers will respond to the inter-class and interracial friendship between Lizzie and Noah and Lizzie's growing self-awareness about how her upper class status shapes her worldview.
I found it a slow start but I finished 100 pages earlier today. the story took time to warm on me.
Other reviewers have covered the unusual setting and the deft weaving of a gentle suspense story into historical fiction. I think my readers will respond to the inter-class and interracial friendship between Lizzie and Noah and Lizzie's growing self-awareness about how her upper class status shapes her worldview.
I found it a slow start but I finished 100 pages earlier today. the story took time to warm on me.
July 12, 2016
It took me a bit to warm up to this one. But I don't think Choldenko could have done anything different. Things had to be set up and that takes a bit of time. Once I got into, I was really into it! Lots of interesting historical issues including a quarantine in San Francisco's Chinatown, racism and women's rights (to name a few!). I really liked the main character and the relationships that formed with other characters in the story. I particularly enjoyed the author's historical notes at the end. I highly recommend reading this one!
January 15, 2016
Kindness, compassion, and courage are qualities that characterize Lizzie’s father, the doctor. Lizzie has them too, and is determined to become a doctor, despite the bias that she will face in 1900. Those important qualities are tested as Lizzie seeks the truth about rumors of the plague, and resulting quarantine, in San Francisco’s Chinatown. reviewer #26
June 28, 2015
Another fantastic historical fiction selection from Gennifer Choldenko. Looking forward to getting this one in my students hands next year. Thanks to Net Galley for the opportunity to read in advance. Awesome book. LOVED the characters. Could not put this one down. LOVED it!
April 6, 2021
This book has an interesting backdrop, given the current Pandemic: Chinatown in San Francisco, which has just been infiltrated by rats. But the action takes place in a rich, upper class mansion where servants, both working class whites and Chinese, scurry around serving their masters.
The protagonist is a privileged, spunky young white girl who struggles against social norms and befriends a young Chinese boy. While the author tries to round out the characters of the boy and his father, in the end they remain passive characters without true agency. Things are good in this fictional world as long as the masters and mistresses (and their children) of the house are nice to the servants. Things are bad when ignorant white working class people try to attack Chinese people and burn down Chinatown.
But no where is it explained how things got this way. How did those rich white people come to be living in mansions on Nob Hil--and why should they get to be rich while everyone else is poor? Yes, there was the Gold Rush. But there was much more, like the genocidal wars against Native nations and the wholesale theft of their land. There is a whole lot to this story that is left out, a history full of Native peoples, and Asian, African, Mexican and European immigrants. An essential book to read is "The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America," by Greg Grandin.
The protagonist is a privileged, spunky young white girl who struggles against social norms and befriends a young Chinese boy. While the author tries to round out the characters of the boy and his father, in the end they remain passive characters without true agency. Things are good in this fictional world as long as the masters and mistresses (and their children) of the house are nice to the servants. Things are bad when ignorant white working class people try to attack Chinese people and burn down Chinatown.
But no where is it explained how things got this way. How did those rich white people come to be living in mansions on Nob Hil--and why should they get to be rich while everyone else is poor? Yes, there was the Gold Rush. But there was much more, like the genocidal wars against Native nations and the wholesale theft of their land. There is a whole lot to this story that is left out, a history full of Native peoples, and Asian, African, Mexican and European immigrants. An essential book to read is "The End of the Myth: From the Frontier to the Border Wall in the Mind of America," by Greg Grandin.
May 21, 2017
This book is by the author of one of the best middle grade series that I have ever read - Al Capone Does My Shirts. Like the Capone books, Chasing Secrets takes place in San Francisco. The main character, Lizzie, and her family become involved in the historical and hushed up plague that broke out in San Francisco during the early 1900's. Great historical material for a middle grade book.
What this book lacks that the Al Capone books have are memorable characters that stick with you. The characters are all flat. Also, it lacks the solid plot, humor and depth that I've grown to expect from Choldenko's Al Capone books. There are too many secrets to chase and subplots without depth. The book seemed rushed and partially developed.
My rating: 3 stars
What this book lacks that the Al Capone books have are memorable characters that stick with you. The characters are all flat. Also, it lacks the solid plot, humor and depth that I've grown to expect from Choldenko's Al Capone books. There are too many secrets to chase and subplots without depth. The book seemed rushed and partially developed.
My rating: 3 stars
October 16, 2017
Fantastic historical fiction with a strong, smart female protagonist. Lizzie lives in 1900 San Francisco at the time of a (historically accurate) round of bubonic plague that affected parts of the city, including Chinatown. Her father is a doctor and she helps him, but her older brother resists the family business. The family cook Jing and his son Noah are caught up in a quarantine of Chinatown, and Lizzie goes on a dangerous mission to see if she can get them out. Lots of interesting historical detail is included (with a helpful author's note at the end), this is plenty of action while still being believable.
January 20, 2020
Historical fiction is probably my favorite genre. I always learn stuff. Gennifer Choldenko clearly did a bunch of research and has some good author notes at the end. I was thinking 3 stars at first just because of some of the unrealistic things Lizzie did, but her brother Billy led me to switch it to 4 stars.
January 14, 2018
Battle of the Books review:
Historical fiction. So many possible questions for Battle. Deals with class dynamics, privilege, grief. Female MC is headstrong and determined and smart, wants to become a doctor like her father. Not a “happy” topic: plague. While the SC are Chinese, the focus is definitely on the experience of Lizzie. A secondary choice for Battle where diversity is concerned.
Historical fiction. So many possible questions for Battle. Deals with class dynamics, privilege, grief. Female MC is headstrong and determined and smart, wants to become a doctor like her father. Not a “happy” topic: plague. While the SC are Chinese, the focus is definitely on the experience of Lizzie. A secondary choice for Battle where diversity is concerned.
March 10, 2020
I read this back when it came out. I'm not sure why I didn't review it then, but I can't stop thinking about it now. A deadly disease. Mandatory quarantine. Racism against Chinese immigrants. Sound familiar? This book is set in 1900, but so many aspects of it are relevant today with COVID-19.
February 22, 2021
it was interesting to read and I like books like these
August 27, 2021
Interesting story, likeable characters, good pace. Lizzie, the heroine, was a little too close to lots of other girl heroines in historical fiction -- chaffing against constraints/rough and ready/sciencey, but I liked her. A timely look at vaccines in history.
Who's this book for? Kids 8-14 who like history, adventure, humor, and an exciting finish.
Who's this book for? Kids 8-14 who like history, adventure, humor, and an exciting finish.
December 20, 2021
This should be mandatory reading for all the antivaxxers out there....
Nothing new under the sun, there are scary sinilarities between the plague outbreaks of 1900 and the covid pandemic.
Nothing new under the sun, there are scary sinilarities between the plague outbreaks of 1900 and the covid pandemic.
October 14, 2024
not the kind of book i expected based on the author but very informative
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November 21, 2017Some questions i have are why didnt jing try to break out of quarentine
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October 5, 2025Read for grades 7 & 8 English Festival 2026.
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October 9, 2017SC Junior Book Award Nominee 2017-2018
Engaging text that starts middle graders thinking about classicism and racism in a nonthreatening, nonconfrontational way. As it is set in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, the social divides are obvious, but distanced from our current lives. Of course, there is a little mystery and a little romance that keep things interesting as a more superficial read. Plus, everyone loves a tomboy who has to wear a frilly dress!
Engaging text that starts middle graders thinking about classicism and racism in a nonthreatening, nonconfrontational way. As it is set in turn-of-the-century San Francisco, the social divides are obvious, but distanced from our current lives. Of course, there is a little mystery and a little romance that keep things interesting as a more superficial read. Plus, everyone loves a tomboy who has to wear a frilly dress!
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