Reviews | Description |
"An historical novel about a young lady sold into servitude in 1828 Connecticut. Escaping, Tagger becomes a female Horatio Alger-type character. The author tells this story in such a delightful way, showing kids what's possible in life."--Bob Spear, Book Barn, Leavenworth, KS (Fall 2002 Children's Booksense 76 List) "Another new water's-edge middle-reader with a Mystic connection is Jan Louthain's Tagger: Alone Along the Mystic River (Alexie Books, $14.95)...Tagger watches as her "fish danced back and forth across the wood planks, flopping with loud 'thunks,' and then bending itself double. It scared her when it snapped its toothy mouth in her direction, apparently trying to bite at her. She mustn't get too close." In addition to sharp bits of description like this (not to mention the free folk-song CD that's bound inside every copy), the lure here is the rarely-written-about revelation that girls can be at least as resourceful and self-reliant as boys. Young readers won't get easy rewards, but many excellent lessons, since Tagger is a book about bravery and making do."--Peter Mandel, Providence Journal "Superbly written by J.A. Louthain and illustrated by Andrea Eberbach, Tagger: Alone Along The Mystic River is an historical novel for young adults which is set in Connecticut in the early 1800s...Well researched, historically accurate, and with a strong message of independence and self-reliance, Tagger: Alone Along The Mystic River is engaging, rewarding, and highly recommended for young readers and enhanced with a charming, original music CD that comes packaged with the trade paperback book."--James A. Cox, Midwest Book Review | Author J. A. Louthain is from the land-locked Midwest, but fell in love with the beautiful seaport village of Mystic, CT on a business trip. It made the perfect setting for the enhancement of a simple bedtime story her father had told her as a child. Tagger: Alone Along the Mystic (nominated for both the Young Hoosier Book Award and Connecticut's Nutmeg Award) is the culmination of Louthain's life-long philosophy that if you work hard for them, your dreams will one day come true. Not only is the story beloved by both adults and children, it subtly teaches many life lessons that inspire and motivate the reader. Target reading level: Ages 9-12, Paperback, 218 pages, Dimensions (in inches): 8.5 x 5.5 x .5, cover illustrations and 4 interior illustrations by artist Andrea Eberbach. |