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panda_incognito's review
5.0
This Kit mystery is marvelous. I remember enjoying it when it originally released in 2014, but I liked it even better after rereading it. The multiple different story threads fit together in a deeply satisfying way, and the story has a strong emotional core. I love how the author introduced and explored new parts of Kit's world while connecting this book so well with canonical people, places, and experiences, and appreciate the Black history angle that comes in related to the Underground Railroad.
I gasped when I read the historical note at the end, which said that the Civil War era was approximately seventy years prior to Kit's time. That's the difference between World War II and now. Kit's era is further away from me, in 2022, than the Civil War was to her. It's so surreal to think about that, and to consider the ways that my perception of time gets skewed by how I mentally block things together in terms of technological developments and social norms.
Of course, it seems quite natural to have all of these revelations after a book that focuses on science fiction and the possibility of time travel. I love that this author brought science fiction into Kit's world near the end of her run. The historical note shares some vivid illustrations from popular pulp magazines of the time, and shares context for when and why this genre became popular. Kit would definitely like science fiction, and it's fun to imagine her having this interest later in life, when science fiction and fantasy properties I'm familiar with came out.
Overall, I found this book tremendously entertaining and satisfying. I had forgotten many of the details, so I got to be surprised again, and I really loved this. I believe that this was the last American Girl mystery that released before the BeForever reboot, and it is a beautiful, pitch-perfect farewell to that era of American Girl.
I gasped when I read the historical note at the end, which said that the Civil War era was approximately seventy years prior to Kit's time. That's the difference between World War II and now. Kit's era is further away from me, in 2022, than the Civil War was to her. It's so surreal to think about that, and to consider the ways that my perception of time gets skewed by how I mentally block things together in terms of technological developments and social norms.
Of course, it seems quite natural to have all of these revelations after a book that focuses on science fiction and the possibility of time travel. I love that this author brought science fiction into Kit's world near the end of her run. The historical note shares some vivid illustrations from popular pulp magazines of the time, and shares context for when and why this genre became popular. Kit would definitely like science fiction, and it's fun to imagine her having this interest later in life, when science fiction and fantasy properties I'm familiar with came out.
Overall, I found this book tremendously entertaining and satisfying. I had forgotten many of the details, so I got to be surprised again, and I really loved this. I believe that this was the last American Girl mystery that released before the BeForever reboot, and it is a beautiful, pitch-perfect farewell to that era of American Girl.
thepurplegiraffe's review
4.0
a very fun walk down memory lane for me, AG mysteries were my absolute faves growing up
snowdrowsey's review
5.0
The second time I've read this story. I feel that I got more out of it this time around than the last. The last time I read it, I had to check it out from the library and this time I'd bought a copy because I'd really enjoyed reading it and wanted to read it again. It made a bit more sense to me. Also, this time around since I've done some research on Cincinnati, I thought there was a mistake in the book, but as the story went on I realized I was reading more into it than what the author was intending. At first I thought the author was trying to imply that schools in Cincinnati were segregated and knew from research I've done on my grandfather's growing up in the city that they weren't at least the city schools were not segregated. In the story the author seems to be implying that a black friend of Kit's doesn't go to her school and also only goes to school with black children because of segregation. However, I think the author was actually referring to the race relations in Cincinnati at that time and in the 1930s and that it wasn't the norm for blacks and whites to socialize with each other.
yeahdeadslow's review
3.0
Here's what happens whenever I go into the children's section at a library: I want to get all the books because they either look interesting or appeal to my nostalgia factor. As a lot of books fall into those categories it's probably good that I don't go into the children's section very often. (Mainly because the shelves are so tiny and I feel like a creeper.)
Anyway, I was visiting a new library branch with my family, and I walked past this book and felt the strong pull of nostalgia and I had to grab it. It's funny because I can still remember when Kit was brand new, so part of me was still like "OOH, SHINY." when I saw this book.
I've realized I'm still very much drawn to the American Girl franchise. This makes me want to go add all the other American Girl books to my goodreads shelf...
Anyway, I was visiting a new library branch with my family, and I walked past this book and felt the strong pull of nostalgia and I had to grab it. It's funny because I can still remember when Kit was brand new, so part of me was still like "OOH, SHINY." when I saw this book.
I've realized I'm still very much drawn to the American Girl franchise. This makes me want to go add all the other American Girl books to my goodreads shelf...
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