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Audacity Jones #1
Audacity Jones to the Rescue (Audacity Jones #1)
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 pines for adventure, something to break up the monotony of her days at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Being a Wayward Girl isn't so awful -- even if Audie is condemned to the Punishment Room almost daily. Audie has the dearest of friends at the School, as well as a terribly clever feline companion named Miniver and plenty of books to read there. Still, she longs for an escapade to rival those of the characters in the swashbuckling novels she so adores.But 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. Soon, though, it becomes clear that someone has unsavory plans for Audie -- plans that involve the President of the United States and a very sinister plot. Can Audie save the day before it's too late?From Newbery Honor author Kirby Larson comes a rollicking adventure starring a plucky and charming orphan readers won't soon forget.
224 pages, Paperback
First published January 26, 2016
12 people are currently reading
597 people want to read
About the author
Kirby Larson
48 books440 followersKirby Larson went from history-phobe to history fanatic while writing the 2007 Newbery Honor Book, HATTIE BIG SKY. Her passion for historical fiction is reflected in titles such as THE FENCES BETWEEN US, THE FRIENDSHIP DOLL, as well as the sequel to HATTIE BIG SKY, HATTIE EVER AFTER, and her two latest titles, DUKE--which was nominated for 5 state Young Reader Choice awards as well as being a finalist for the Washington State Book Award-- and DASH--which has garnered two starred reviews, a NAPPA Gold Award and a Capitol Choices nomination. She will have two new books out in 2016 -- watch for them!
In 2006, Kirby began a collaboration with her good friend Mary Nethery resulting in two award-winning nonfiction picture books: TWO BOBBIES: A TRUE STORY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL, and NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE AND A MIRACLE.
Kirby lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, Neil, and Winston the Wonder Dog. When she’s not reading or writing Kirby enjoys beach combing, bird watching, and traveling. She owns a tiara and is not afraid to use it.
In 2006, Kirby began a collaboration with her good friend Mary Nethery resulting in two award-winning nonfiction picture books: TWO BOBBIES: A TRUE STORY OF HURRICANE KATRINA, FRIENDSHIP AND SURVIVAL, and NUBS: THE TRUE STORY OF A MUTT, A MARINE AND A MIRACLE.
Kirby lives in Kenmore, Washington with her husband, Neil, and Winston the Wonder Dog. When she’s not reading or writing Kirby enjoys beach combing, bird watching, and traveling. She owns a tiara and is not afraid to use it.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
August 22, 2016
Ok, there is a LOT I am going to touch on, so bear with me here...
(AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - not sure on the spelling of some names)
THE GOOD
I really enjoyed the writing style. The author is a solid writer with a wonderful grasp of language. She made me laugh out loud at the beginning with turns of phrase like "All was as calm as a Presbyterian Potluck." I am putting this in the GOOD even though I think it is a little advanced for much of the intended audience. Although it would probably fit the bill for young readers who read far above their "level" as it were.
Also good, the main character. Audacity is pretty well thought out and, as every one else says, spunky. Likewise, her friends in the Wayward school have a nice secondary story arc. I thoroughly enjoy books that don't completely forget where the main character comes from.
The voice artist had clear voices for each of her characters. Never once did I confuse one person with another. Easy to listen to and follow.
THE BAD
The magical kitten and the buzzing ear. These devices were used as a way to give Audacity magical knowledge of things. It felt very lazy and unnecessary. Audacity is established as an extremely smart, very well read girl with a seemingly photographic memory. She could have been more of a budding Sherlock Holmes using her observational skills. As her first "case" there would naturally have been a learning curve, and that would have propelled much of the "danger" as written, i.e. Her misjudgment of the Commodore and Cipher.
Also, the parallels to Little Orphan Annie drove me crazy.
Orphan. Adopted by stray pet. Home for girls with an oblivious and selfish head mistress. Taken away from said home by a rich man (who consistently called her Annie). Rich man has an ethnic chauffeur. There is a plot to kidnap a girl for ransom. The other "orphan" girls know something is wrong and do what they can to help. Yup. Little Orphan Annie.
THE VERY VERY UGLY
The dangerous whitewashing of history.
But wait, you say, this book is EXTREMELY diverse! There are non-white characters all OVER the place! Bimi, Juice, Daddy Dub, and Cipher! They are important characters who really have presence and impact the story!
Yes, they are and they do. The HUGE problem with this, is that they interact with their world like white people would have in the early 1900s. NOT AT ALL like people of color in a decidedly racist world.
Cipher is, perhaps, the least problematic in that regards. The author establishes a letter from a Shah (A sheik?). He also does not get into his desired Secret Service position right away, but is given a chauffeur job. Mildly believable. The mistrust of him by the service is glossed over, but it is mentioned.
Bimi. Her ethnicity isn't mentioned at all until late in the book when the girls reflect on how Audacity's friendship has helped each of them. Audi is, apparently, a very 21st century girl at the turn of the 20th century. Living in Indiana (the place where the KKK was strongest in the early 1900s) somehow, this brown girl (Indian?) is dropped off. First, that assumes that her parents trusted a white society woman enough to not...I don't know...press their daughter into servitude or something. Second, Audi is SO progressive, her first comment about the first brown person she sees is that she is a south paw. Very 21st century indeed of Audi, *and* of Miss Maisie to take in a non-white girl as an actual student. I just didn't believe it to be historically plausible. Her ethnicity was NEVER discussed by any other character - only in her own memories.
Juice & Daddy Dub. Wow. These black folks would have been killed, all the stuff they did that was TOTALLY a no-no for black people in the early 1900s. Anti miscegenation laws were being put on the books or reinstated all over the country, Jim Crow laws relating to schools and separate restrooms and other facilities were spreading like wildfire. Taft, as Vice President in 1907, said that even though he upheld the 14th & 15th amendments, the enforcement of said amendments need not "involve the amalgamation of the race - nor involve social association or equality" for black people. He also expressly thought blacks inferior except for a handful that should be fed a real education. All the rest should be given only industrial and vocational training.
All of this is to set the stage. Juice would NEVER have been so familiar with Audi. He is described as a tall black boy (who towered over his grandfather). They would not have been able to walk down the street together without Juice shucking and jiving, acting like her servant. People would have SERIOUSLY questioned the safety of this 11 year old white girl with what would have looked like a black man. Not allowed. He might be trying to rape her! Black boys and men were CONSISTENTLY lynched for looking sideways at white women, much less walking with them. He REALLY would not have touched Dorothy Taft on the arm after saving her.
They would NEVER have had Audi in their barn unsupervised. They didn't know her. She could have accused them of anything and the white folks would believe her.
Daddy Dub would NEVER have been able to just "go down the street and use the telephone" at a business.
And they NEVER NEVER would have taken a hacksaw to a locked building and broken in. Not without white people with them to tell the police that they were not thieves.
These are all HUGE problems.
When writing a historical fiction novel, the author has some responsibility to the era they portray in addition to the facts that inspire their tale. The author acknowledges the changes made to the story of Dorothy Taft in an authors note and she lists basic facts of history and where she got information from. Daddy Dub (W.W. Brown) is acknowledged as a real livery driver who worked at the White House for 50+ years. But the author makes zero mention of the historical realities of race relations. If this were my first exposure to this time period, I would think that it wasn't so bad for black people and what was the fuss all about and why did we even need a civil rights movement sixty years later?
This is the epitome of oblivious white privilege. I do not think the author a bad, mean, racist, or otherwise nefarious person. In fact, based on her pointed inclusion of non white main characters, I believe the author to be the OPPOSITE of those things.
But by not at all addressing the reality of life for people of color during the chosen time period, the author is making a choice to erase the true experiences of people of color - which is a very irresponsible, short sighted, and dangerous thing.
THIS REVIEW IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the also dangerously terrible excuse of "historical accuracy" as a way to keep characters of color out of historically based books, movies, and other stories.
Instead of keeping them out, this author did a GREAT job including the people who REALLY WERE THERE. She acknowledges that Daddy Dub was a real person, although probably not called Daddy Dub. This is great. But by not even *touching* on any of the racial issues surrounding everyday life for these people, it ignores something that is (still) a huge part of race relations.
White people often wonder why POC bring up race so much. It is simply because race has (and continues) to color ever single interaction. But POC *have* to notice it as part of life, while non-POC's do not.
(AUDIOBOOK REVIEW - not sure on the spelling of some names)
THE GOOD
I really enjoyed the writing style. The author is a solid writer with a wonderful grasp of language. She made me laugh out loud at the beginning with turns of phrase like "All was as calm as a Presbyterian Potluck." I am putting this in the GOOD even though I think it is a little advanced for much of the intended audience. Although it would probably fit the bill for young readers who read far above their "level" as it were.
Also good, the main character. Audacity is pretty well thought out and, as every one else says, spunky. Likewise, her friends in the Wayward school have a nice secondary story arc. I thoroughly enjoy books that don't completely forget where the main character comes from.
The voice artist had clear voices for each of her characters. Never once did I confuse one person with another. Easy to listen to and follow.
THE BAD
The magical kitten and the buzzing ear. These devices were used as a way to give Audacity magical knowledge of things. It felt very lazy and unnecessary. Audacity is established as an extremely smart, very well read girl with a seemingly photographic memory. She could have been more of a budding Sherlock Holmes using her observational skills. As her first "case" there would naturally have been a learning curve, and that would have propelled much of the "danger" as written, i.e. Her misjudgment of the Commodore and Cipher.
Also, the parallels to Little Orphan Annie drove me crazy.
Orphan. Adopted by stray pet. Home for girls with an oblivious and selfish head mistress. Taken away from said home by a rich man (who consistently called her Annie). Rich man has an ethnic chauffeur. There is a plot to kidnap a girl for ransom. The other "orphan" girls know something is wrong and do what they can to help. Yup. Little Orphan Annie.
THE VERY VERY UGLY
The dangerous whitewashing of history.
But wait, you say, this book is EXTREMELY diverse! There are non-white characters all OVER the place! Bimi, Juice, Daddy Dub, and Cipher! They are important characters who really have presence and impact the story!
Yes, they are and they do. The HUGE problem with this, is that they interact with their world like white people would have in the early 1900s. NOT AT ALL like people of color in a decidedly racist world.
Cipher is, perhaps, the least problematic in that regards. The author establishes a letter from a Shah (A sheik?). He also does not get into his desired Secret Service position right away, but is given a chauffeur job. Mildly believable. The mistrust of him by the service is glossed over, but it is mentioned.
Bimi. Her ethnicity isn't mentioned at all until late in the book when the girls reflect on how Audacity's friendship has helped each of them. Audi is, apparently, a very 21st century girl at the turn of the 20th century. Living in Indiana (the place where the KKK was strongest in the early 1900s) somehow, this brown girl (Indian?) is dropped off. First, that assumes that her parents trusted a white society woman enough to not...I don't know...press their daughter into servitude or something. Second, Audi is SO progressive, her first comment about the first brown person she sees is that she is a south paw. Very 21st century indeed of Audi, *and* of Miss Maisie to take in a non-white girl as an actual student. I just didn't believe it to be historically plausible. Her ethnicity was NEVER discussed by any other character - only in her own memories.
Juice & Daddy Dub. Wow. These black folks would have been killed, all the stuff they did that was TOTALLY a no-no for black people in the early 1900s. Anti miscegenation laws were being put on the books or reinstated all over the country, Jim Crow laws relating to schools and separate restrooms and other facilities were spreading like wildfire. Taft, as Vice President in 1907, said that even though he upheld the 14th & 15th amendments, the enforcement of said amendments need not "involve the amalgamation of the race - nor involve social association or equality" for black people. He also expressly thought blacks inferior except for a handful that should be fed a real education. All the rest should be given only industrial and vocational training.
All of this is to set the stage. Juice would NEVER have been so familiar with Audi. He is described as a tall black boy (who towered over his grandfather). They would not have been able to walk down the street together without Juice shucking and jiving, acting like her servant. People would have SERIOUSLY questioned the safety of this 11 year old white girl with what would have looked like a black man. Not allowed. He might be trying to rape her! Black boys and men were CONSISTENTLY lynched for looking sideways at white women, much less walking with them. He REALLY would not have touched Dorothy Taft on the arm after saving her.
They would NEVER have had Audi in their barn unsupervised. They didn't know her. She could have accused them of anything and the white folks would believe her.
Daddy Dub would NEVER have been able to just "go down the street and use the telephone" at a business.
And they NEVER NEVER would have taken a hacksaw to a locked building and broken in. Not without white people with them to tell the police that they were not thieves.
These are all HUGE problems.
When writing a historical fiction novel, the author has some responsibility to the era they portray in addition to the facts that inspire their tale. The author acknowledges the changes made to the story of Dorothy Taft in an authors note and she lists basic facts of history and where she got information from. Daddy Dub (W.W. Brown) is acknowledged as a real livery driver who worked at the White House for 50+ years. But the author makes zero mention of the historical realities of race relations. If this were my first exposure to this time period, I would think that it wasn't so bad for black people and what was the fuss all about and why did we even need a civil rights movement sixty years later?
This is the epitome of oblivious white privilege. I do not think the author a bad, mean, racist, or otherwise nefarious person. In fact, based on her pointed inclusion of non white main characters, I believe the author to be the OPPOSITE of those things.
But by not at all addressing the reality of life for people of color during the chosen time period, the author is making a choice to erase the true experiences of people of color - which is a very irresponsible, short sighted, and dangerous thing.
THIS REVIEW IS NOT TO BE CONFUSED with the also dangerously terrible excuse of "historical accuracy" as a way to keep characters of color out of historically based books, movies, and other stories.
Instead of keeping them out, this author did a GREAT job including the people who REALLY WERE THERE. She acknowledges that Daddy Dub was a real person, although probably not called Daddy Dub. This is great. But by not even *touching* on any of the racial issues surrounding everyday life for these people, it ignores something that is (still) a huge part of race relations.
White people often wonder why POC bring up race so much. It is simply because race has (and continues) to color ever single interaction. But POC *have* to notice it as part of life, while non-POC's do not.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 27, 2016
Audacity Jones is a fabulous character--I love her bravery and intelligence and...well...her audacity! I like that Larson has taken a genre that is hard to get my students excited about (historical fiction) and has combined it with a genre they love (mystery). Unfortunately, the slow pace of the story and the rather high vocabulary may make many of my students disinclined to finish. It was even hard for me to engage at first--setting up Audie's life and recruitment into a "misson" seemed particularly drawn out--but once I reached the midway point I found myself sucked into the adventure.
May 29, 2019
11-year-old Audacity "Audie" Jones is the lone orphan among the girls at Miss Maisey's Home for Wayward Girls. Audie is not wayward she does her homework and eats her vegetables and serves as a big sister to the younger girls. Still, she is continually punished. Audie secretly enjoys being punished because it means being sent to the Punishment Room aka the library where she can read to her heart's content, cuddle with her stray cat companion Min and dream of adventure. When a wealthy man calling himself The Commodore arrives at Miss Maisie's looking for an orphan to help him out, Audie volunteers. She soon finds herself riding in a Robin's egg blue touring car with The Commodore and his mysterious and unfriendly chauffeur, Cypher. Soon Audie finds herself living in the lap of luxury but something's not quite right. Audie overhears Cypher holding whispered conversations on phone and her left ear keeps buzzing, usually a warning sign. Audie tries to tell The Commodore but he ignores her warnings and whisks her off to Washington, D.C. where Audie makes new friends and finds an adventure she never dreamed of.
The tone of this book starts off like a Roald Dahl story or Lemony Snicket but Miss Maisie's is the opposite of that. Miss Maisie is selfish yes but she doesn't bother to teach the girls or force them to eat unpleasant food like veggies. She has her pet, Divinity, who is the typical mean girl but Divinity isn't in the story much. Cook dotes on the girls and spoils them. The plot is pretty typical for an adventure novel for this age group.
I classify this as fantasy because there's a sort-of magical cat, Audie's ear buzzing and also because the story really isn't very historically accurate. While some of the small details are correct, the overall general setting and some of the language isn't period correct. It's almost as if President Taft and the characters of the novel were transplanted to today with LOTS of discussion about how the rise of the automobile signaled the downfall of horses. (I'm not sure that's entirely true and there are still horse races and other industries that could use The Commodore's rosettes). The plot is rather far-fetched. It takes a long time to discover what the plan for Audie is and it was a lot more simplistic than I would have planned if I were a villain. Even so, I still kept reading because I had to know what the plan was and how Audie came to the rescue.
I like Audie. She's plucky without being bratty. Audie is kind, resourceful and honest. She accepts everyone at face value and doesn't perceive danger and wouldn't understand it or understand unkindness. She's a great friend to the other Wayward girls, especially Bimmy, who apparently is a girl of color. Since Bimmy was in the circus, I'm guessing she might be Gypsy and/or Italian or Spanish. Bimmy is kind too but she's more selfish than Audie. Bimmy enjoys her alone time and doesn't always want to share secret knowledge with the others. She is intelligent and resourceful. The flower triplets really need to buck up. Their constant sniffling, crying and whining was too much for me. Juice and Daddy Dub are great characters. Daddy Dub has some amazing stories. He's wise and actually listens and believes when children tell him a wild tale of misadventure. Juice is a good friend for Audie. Like her, he's kind and caring. His adventurous spirit and faith in his grandfather really help Audie. I didn't care for Min very much. Animal companions are great but this one seems to have ESP and does some extraordinary things. I didn't like the chapters from her point-of-view. They are strange, boring and reveal too much of the plot.
The trio of adults involved in Audie's adventure all rang warning bells for me as is typical of this sort of story. The Commodore is a fool and not very bright. He would never have the brains to pull of a nefarious scheme but it's obvious he's up to no good. Miss Finch is truly awful. She's selfish, cold, mean and cruel. She's much smarter than The Commodore. Cypher, like his name, is a bit of a mystery. He supposedly has a letter of introduction from the Shah of Persia (modern day Iran). How did he get that and does it count for anything in 1908 America? His mysterious phone calls and unfriendliness towards Audie make her think he's a villain. He's certainly an accessory to whatever nefarious scheme is planned but how much he knows and is involved, I won't say.
This isn't my favorite Kirby Larson novel or even a favorite middle grades read. I would recommend it for tween girls 8-11. I prefer Kirby Larson's young adult novels.
The tone of this book starts off like a Roald Dahl story or Lemony Snicket but Miss Maisie's is the opposite of that. Miss Maisie is selfish yes but she doesn't bother to teach the girls or force them to eat unpleasant food like veggies. She has her pet, Divinity, who is the typical mean girl but Divinity isn't in the story much. Cook dotes on the girls and spoils them. The plot is pretty typical for an adventure novel for this age group.
I classify this as fantasy because there's a sort-of magical cat, Audie's ear buzzing and also because the story really isn't very historically accurate. While some of the small details are correct, the overall general setting and some of the language isn't period correct. It's almost as if President Taft and the characters of the novel were transplanted to today with LOTS of discussion about how the rise of the automobile signaled the downfall of horses. (I'm not sure that's entirely true and there are still horse races and other industries that could use The Commodore's rosettes). The plot is rather far-fetched. It takes a long time to discover what the plan for Audie is and it was a lot more simplistic than I would have planned if I were a villain. Even so, I still kept reading because I had to know what the plan was and how Audie came to the rescue.
I like Audie. She's plucky without being bratty. Audie is kind, resourceful and honest. She accepts everyone at face value and doesn't perceive danger and wouldn't understand it or understand unkindness. She's a great friend to the other Wayward girls, especially Bimmy, who apparently is a girl of color. Since Bimmy was in the circus, I'm guessing she might be Gypsy and/or Italian or Spanish. Bimmy is kind too but she's more selfish than Audie. Bimmy enjoys her alone time and doesn't always want to share secret knowledge with the others. She is intelligent and resourceful. The flower triplets really need to buck up. Their constant sniffling, crying and whining was too much for me. Juice and Daddy Dub are great characters. Daddy Dub has some amazing stories. He's wise and actually listens and believes when children tell him a wild tale of misadventure. Juice is a good friend for Audie. Like her, he's kind and caring. His adventurous spirit and faith in his grandfather really help Audie. I didn't care for Min very much. Animal companions are great but this one seems to have ESP and does some extraordinary things. I didn't like the chapters from her point-of-view. They are strange, boring and reveal too much of the plot.
The trio of adults involved in Audie's adventure all rang warning bells for me as is typical of this sort of story. The Commodore is a fool and not very bright. He would never have the brains to pull of a nefarious scheme but it's obvious he's up to no good. Miss Finch is truly awful. She's selfish, cold, mean and cruel. She's much smarter than The Commodore. Cypher, like his name, is a bit of a mystery. He supposedly has a letter of introduction from the Shah of Persia (modern day Iran). How did he get that and does it count for anything in 1908 America? His mysterious phone calls and unfriendliness towards Audie make her think he's a villain. He's certainly an accessory to whatever nefarious scheme is planned but how much he knows and is involved, I won't say.
This isn't my favorite Kirby Larson novel or even a favorite middle grades read. I would recommend it for tween girls 8-11. I prefer Kirby Larson's young adult novels.
September 27, 2021
It was really boring and hard to follow and not that interesting.
June 25, 2024
What a fun middle-grade introduction to historical fiction. Audacity is a delight.
February 1, 2017
One thing I will say is that this cover does this story a disservice. I loved the story, but wouldn't pick it up for the longest time because from the cover, I judged that it took place in the 60's (I'm not interested in recent history). Nope. I shouldn't be surprised because Scholastic has been disappointing me a lot lately.
January 22, 2018
I loved Audie and her adventures. The interweaving of period phrases (bees and bonnets!) and vocabulary reminded me a bit of Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events, and the fact that Audie is an orphan lent to the connection as well. It was fun and entertaining, and I recommend it highly to anyone who is in the mood for a fun read.
February 3, 2021
Hm. Just not for me. The suspense triggered my anxiety, and I just never got invested in the characters. Audacity was spunky, but the wits of other characters really resolved the conflict. A lot of it was too outlandish and fanciful for a mystery. I liked the historical elements, but would young readers? I just can’t figure out who the target audience of this book is supposed to be.
February 20, 2016
AUDACITY JONES TO THE RESCUE by Kirby Larson is the first book in a new historical mystery series.
Set in the early 1900s, Audacity is a witty orphan who enjoys reading and adventure. She yearns to explore life outside the Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. When Commodore Crutchfield shows up at the school looking for an orphan, she immediately volunteers. However Audie soon realizes that Crutchfield and his colleagues are up to no good and she must save the day.
Although there are many middle grade books about orphans and boarding schools, librarians will find that the combination of adventure and mystery will be appeal to a broad cross section of readers. The historical context, particularly the White House setting make the book even more fun
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.kirbylarson.com/.
Published by Scholastic on January 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
Set in the early 1900s, Audacity is a witty orphan who enjoys reading and adventure. She yearns to explore life outside the Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. When Commodore Crutchfield shows up at the school looking for an orphan, she immediately volunteers. However Audie soon realizes that Crutchfield and his colleagues are up to no good and she must save the day.
Although there are many middle grade books about orphans and boarding schools, librarians will find that the combination of adventure and mystery will be appeal to a broad cross section of readers. The historical context, particularly the White House setting make the book even more fun
To learn more about the author, go to http://www.kirbylarson.com/.
Published by Scholastic on January 26, 2016. ARC courtesy of the publisher.
December 8, 2016
I enjoyed this light-hearted adventure story set in 1910. Audacity wanted an adventure, so she agrees to help a long-time donor to the school with a mission. Only he isn't telling her what it is, and something smells fishy. While she notices when things are off, she doesn't discover what's going on until she's already fully in the middle of it. Luckily, she has friends to help her when she needs it.
Her philosophy is, "Everything will turn out splendid in the end. If it's not splendid, it's not the end." She also tends to say simple, true things like, "A friend makes life so much easier to bear."
There were historical tidbits throughout the story, but it's not heavy on the history aspects. There was no bad language. Overall, Audacity, her cat, and her friends were great fun to read about.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
Her philosophy is, "Everything will turn out splendid in the end. If it's not splendid, it's not the end." She also tends to say simple, true things like, "A friend makes life so much easier to bear."
There were historical tidbits throughout the story, but it's not heavy on the history aspects. There was no bad language. Overall, Audacity, her cat, and her friends were great fun to read about.
I received this review copy from the publisher through Amazon Vine.
July 29, 2015
"Everything will turn out splendid in the end. If it's not splendid, it's not the end." Kirby Larson is a master storyteller and this book proves that point. Audacity or "Audie" is a precocious young girl who reads and is always ready for adventure. As she is residing at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls, someone stops by and a great mystery begins.
I was taken in by this story from the very beginning and couldn't put it down in the end. Nobody writes better historical fiction than Kirby. This is a great book with an authentic strong female lead that will capture your attention and your heart. Put this on your calendar for January 26, 2016
*Review based on a uncorrected proof*
I was taken in by this story from the very beginning and couldn't put it down in the end. Nobody writes better historical fiction than Kirby. This is a great book with an authentic strong female lead that will capture your attention and your heart. Put this on your calendar for January 26, 2016
*Review based on a uncorrected proof*
May 9, 2019
Listened to the audiobook.
I liked the overall story, but some things didn't make sense in this early 1900's setting. Especially when it comes to the people of color, things were waaay different back then, than what the book shows. Although the author did do research, not everything is worked out that well after all. Also, I still don't get why the buzzing ear was there, it wasn't a valuable addition to me. But the story itself was quit exciting and I think I would've loved it as a kid!
I liked the overall story, but some things didn't make sense in this early 1900's setting. Especially when it comes to the people of color, things were waaay different back then, than what the book shows. Although the author did do research, not everything is worked out that well after all. Also, I still don't get why the buzzing ear was there, it wasn't a valuable addition to me. But the story itself was quit exciting and I think I would've loved it as a kid!
July 4, 2021
For more reviews, check out my blog: Craft-Cycle
An engaging story that mixes adventure, mystery, history, and a hint of the fantastical.
This was a nice bit of historical fiction geared toward young readers. Larson admits to taking a lot of liberties with the story of the disappearance, but many elements are inspired by facts and the whole thing comes together in an exciting read. I loved Audie's character and the other girls at Miss. Maisie's, each with their own unique personality. I'm always on the lookout for female characters who don't play by the rules so this was a perfect fit.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-done. The narration was very engaging.
While this is a longer book, the story had a lot of twists and turns, blending suspense with history, setting the scene while also furthering the aspects of mystery and adventure that made the book so engaging.
I will say that while the cast is fairly diverse, I'm not sure how accurate the representations of race were for the time period. There are mentions of racism and being treated differently, but many of the characters seem to exist in the novel without much hinderance. Perhaps not a great representation of the race relations of the time period, but I can understand why it was treated this way. It kind of glosses over the issues of race for the ease of the story. This can be viewed as good or bad, but I did like that there was some diversity in the characters and the important roles they played in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged, following different characters and seeing how they all fit together in the grand scheme.
So glad to learn there is a second book in the series. I really enjoyed joining Audie on her trip to Washington and instantly wanted more. Already have a hold out at the library for the next book.
An engaging story that mixes adventure, mystery, history, and a hint of the fantastical.
This was a nice bit of historical fiction geared toward young readers. Larson admits to taking a lot of liberties with the story of the disappearance, but many elements are inspired by facts and the whole thing comes together in an exciting read. I loved Audie's character and the other girls at Miss. Maisie's, each with their own unique personality. I'm always on the lookout for female characters who don't play by the rules so this was a perfect fit.
I listened to the audiobook, which was well-done. The narration was very engaging.
While this is a longer book, the story had a lot of twists and turns, blending suspense with history, setting the scene while also furthering the aspects of mystery and adventure that made the book so engaging.
I will say that while the cast is fairly diverse, I'm not sure how accurate the representations of race were for the time period. There are mentions of racism and being treated differently, but many of the characters seem to exist in the novel without much hinderance. Perhaps not a great representation of the race relations of the time period, but I can understand why it was treated this way. It kind of glosses over the issues of race for the ease of the story. This can be viewed as good or bad, but I did like that there was some diversity in the characters and the important roles they played in the story.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book and it kept me engaged, following different characters and seeing how they all fit together in the grand scheme.
So glad to learn there is a second book in the series. I really enjoyed joining Audie on her trip to Washington and instantly wanted more. Already have a hold out at the library for the next book.
August 8, 2018
This is a tough one for me to review. The writing is solid, I love the main character, and I love that it's historical fiction. The vocabulary used is very high level...it was a read aloud with my 11-year-old daughter, who I think has a good vocabulary, but she often had to stop me to ask what a word meant. That's not a bad thing, necessarily, but it did slow down the reading of it.
Speaking of slow...the plot was extremely slow in progressing. My daughter would have willingly stopped with the book multiple times along the way because it was taking too long for anything much to happen or to figure out what exactly Audie was doing. We stuck with it, and it finally paid off when the pace picked up significantly in the last third or so of the book.
I'm hoping that since this appears to be the first book in a series, there was extra work required to set up the concept, and maybe in future books the pace will be a little more captivating.
Speaking of slow...the plot was extremely slow in progressing. My daughter would have willingly stopped with the book multiple times along the way because it was taking too long for anything much to happen or to figure out what exactly Audie was doing. We stuck with it, and it finally paid off when the pace picked up significantly in the last third or so of the book.
I'm hoping that since this appears to be the first book in a series, there was extra work required to set up the concept, and maybe in future books the pace will be a little more captivating.
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September 13, 2017I gave up on this pretty quickly because I really dislike when fat is used as a shorthand for bad or greedy or stupid and it felt like the author managed a trifecta. Audacity seemed like a fun character, smart, cheerful, and resourceful. But each description of Miss Maisie's "piggy eyes" or flapping arm skin etc. etc. etc. wore on me a little more until I decided there were better ways to spend my time. I also found (slightly spoilery->) this reader's take on the framing of race relations in the book, and overall I think there are better historical fiction choices out there for me to bring into schools.
July 26, 2020
This book was a fun read. I hadn’t been expecting much when I first picked it up because of the cover, but it was pleasant and easy.
It’s about a girl named Audie (Audacity) who is an orphan. She loves reading and adventures, so when the chance comes to go on one, she snaps it up. She goes on a trip throughout the country, ending right at the White House. She gets more than she came for when she realizes the people she’s been riding with are not who they appear.
I do like how the author adds in sections with other’s perspectives, so that was a plus. The story was written well, but the plot did have some fails. The mystery of the story is a kidnapping, but it comes to far in the end for it to be smooth. Ages 10+.
It’s about a girl named Audie (Audacity) who is an orphan. She loves reading and adventures, so when the chance comes to go on one, she snaps it up. She goes on a trip throughout the country, ending right at the White House. She gets more than she came for when she realizes the people she’s been riding with are not who they appear.
I do like how the author adds in sections with other’s perspectives, so that was a plus. The story was written well, but the plot did have some fails. The mystery of the story is a kidnapping, but it comes to far in the end for it to be smooth. Ages 10+.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 26, 2021
Frequent references to the sizes of people, their arms, and their thumbs, plus the use of the 'N' word and describing a character as "desert-smelling" made this story frustrating to read. This cannot be made up for in the descriptive writing style that made 1910 seem like I was really there and the inclusion of black people who were referenced as black or PoC (but don't get your hopes up: this author doesn't actually represent black/PoC people as well as we would expect). Historical research is not the only research authors should be doing; racially-aware research would have made this book better, and all authors should be doing this for all books. I hope the sequel is better because the premise of this series is really cool.
January 29, 2020
This story of historical takes place in the year 1910, when President Taft is in the White House. The main character, Audacious, known to her friends at the 'Wayward School' for girls, as Audie is loyal, adventurous and definitely lives up to her name. She almost invites her headmistress to discipline her for minor rule breaking so she can get time in the 'Punishment Room' which is actually the well-stocked library. She gets entangled in a scheme, that takes her to Washington D.C., but calls on her smarts and her friends to save the day. Quite the vocabulary; quite the story.
Quote from Audie: "Everything will turn out splendid in the end. And if it's not splendid, it's not the end."
Quote from Audie: "Everything will turn out splendid in the end. And if it's not splendid, it's not the end."
March 19, 2017
Audacity Jones is a historical fiction novel written by Kirby Larson. Larson has received a Newbery Honor and the Scott O’Dell award for her historical fiction books. I found this book in my library.
The story beings in 1910 with Audacity Jones, or Audi. an orphan living in Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. As a smart and clever 11 year old girl, she craves for an adventure that will take her away from her simple, boring life with Miss Maisie. Her dream comes true when mysterious Commodore Crutchfield appears at Audi’s school and declares that he needs her for a secret mission. As the story unfolds, Audi figures out the Commodore’s sinister plot against the president of the United States, President William Howard Taft.
This book is very interesting and suspenseful. It keeps the reader on their toes and turning the page at cliff hangers. The language used to tell the story is filled with idioms and language used in the early 1900s that many students may find difficult to understand. Therefore, I recommend this book for guided reading groups where the teacher can provide some background information about the historical events as well as guidance in understanding the literary devices used.
The story beings in 1910 with Audacity Jones, or Audi. an orphan living in Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. As a smart and clever 11 year old girl, she craves for an adventure that will take her away from her simple, boring life with Miss Maisie. Her dream comes true when mysterious Commodore Crutchfield appears at Audi’s school and declares that he needs her for a secret mission. As the story unfolds, Audi figures out the Commodore’s sinister plot against the president of the United States, President William Howard Taft.
This book is very interesting and suspenseful. It keeps the reader on their toes and turning the page at cliff hangers. The language used to tell the story is filled with idioms and language used in the early 1900s that many students may find difficult to understand. Therefore, I recommend this book for guided reading groups where the teacher can provide some background information about the historical events as well as guidance in understanding the literary devices used.
May 28, 2018
Audacity's stuck in an orphanage (or home for wayward girls) until a mysterious man offers her a way out--and she jumps at it. She and her magical cat drive across the States to be part of the 1910 presidential inauguration, where she will make the president's favorite turtle/terrapin soup. But maybe those adults in charge of her aren't quite as virtuous as they claim to be??
This book combines adventure, mystery, and history in a pretty fun way.
This book combines adventure, mystery, and history in a pretty fun way.
September 12, 2018
I liked this book, but I'm not sure the diction and rhythm would appeal to younger readers. I will have some of my school kids try it and see what they think.
Audacity is an orphan with dreams of changing the world. The opportunity comes to her and involves the President of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt! Audacity doesn't always see through deception, but with the help of the twisting of her insides, her devoted cat, and a new friend, she might just come out on top.
Audacity is an orphan with dreams of changing the world. The opportunity comes to her and involves the President of the United States, Teddy Roosevelt! Audacity doesn't always see through deception, but with the help of the twisting of her insides, her devoted cat, and a new friend, she might just come out on top.
December 9, 2020
Audacity has all the makings of a great mid-grade chapter book: fast-paced, adventurous, relatable, with a happy ending!
I listened to this story with the carpool kids on the way to and from school. It was engaging for everyone (myself included), and even kept the 3-year-old content. We enjoyed following Audy on her adventures to The White House!
The narrator also did a fabulous job with all of the different voices.
I listened to this story with the carpool kids on the way to and from school. It was engaging for everyone (myself included), and even kept the 3-year-old content. We enjoyed following Audy on her adventures to The White House!
The narrator also did a fabulous job with all of the different voices.
March 10, 2017
Audacity Jones was a fun, character driven spy-ish novel with historical fiction tie-ins. There were so many fantastic characters in this book, including the most remarkable cat. I can't wait to recommend this book to my third graders.
September 4, 2017
What a fun historical fiction novel from Kirby Larson! Audacity is, of course, spunky. But she's also smart, and kind, and loyal. In this mix of mystery and adventure, presidents and imposters and kidnappings and cats mix it up for an exciting read with a satisfying ending.
September 5, 2017
I listened to most of this as an audiobook with my girls, but I just couldn't finish it. The pace dragged and the author used a lot of big words. I have no problem with big words, but she used complicated ones too many times when simpler ones would do.
October 19, 2017
Though historical fiction, the characters in this book would be delightful in any time period. Every single character in this book is well developed, especially Audacity. More stories about Audacity and her friends please!
September 28, 2019
Delightful!
What a treat to enjoy this middle grade historical fiction! The author brings the reader to the adventure. Audacity is a delightful character. But, Min upstages her.
I loved the author’s style. I am going to get Book 2 of this series right now!
What a treat to enjoy this middle grade historical fiction! The author brings the reader to the adventure. Audacity is a delightful character. But, Min upstages her.
I loved the author’s style. I am going to get Book 2 of this series right now!
September 4, 2017
I don't know if I wasn't crazy about this one because of the audio reader or the book itself....I would recommend it to a child that likes 'cozy' type mysteries, and the main character is spunky.
September 11, 2017
Battle of the Books 2017-18
November 15, 2017
I liked this, but I confess that I found the evil plot to be confusing. I was just as in the dark as Audie. And even by the end, it wasn't 100% clear.
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