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A review by jayce
Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko
5.0
This book, I loved. A historical story set in San Francisco at the turn of the 20th century, it’s one to add to our Newbery list. There is a plague scare in Chinatown and the area is quarantined, but only if you are Chinese… Lizzie and her friends try to get their beloved cook out of the quarantine. This books discusses racism from that time that is often forgotten and gives a fascinating look at medical practices at the time. A fantastic book.
Genre: historical
AR level: none yet
Grade appropriate: 4th and up
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5-- different take on racism from other things being published right now. Who knew there was a plague outbreak in San Francisco in the early 1900s? A glimpse of a time and place I didn’t know much about.
Characters: 5/5-- definitely felt a kinship to Lizzie and felt you were fighting right alongside her.
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to kids: 4/5-- It’ll be one you have to sell them on. Once they get into it, they will like it.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: mild-- Lizzie’s older brother is earning money as a fighter. There are some drunk men who try to burn down Chinatown. Lizzie also gets attacked by some drunk men when she is out late at night. None of these scenes are graphic.
Drugs/Alcohol: mild-- Lizzie crashes her uncle's work luncheon where they are drinking whiskey. She encounters some drunk men late at night who act violently.
Genre: historical
AR level: none yet
Grade appropriate: 4th and up
RATING BREAKDOWN:
Overall: 5/5
Creativity: 5/5-- different take on racism from other things being published right now. Who knew there was a plague outbreak in San Francisco in the early 1900s? A glimpse of a time and place I didn’t know much about.
Characters: 5/5-- definitely felt a kinship to Lizzie and felt you were fighting right alongside her.
Engrossing: 5/5
Writing: 5/5
Appeal to kids: 4/5-- It’ll be one you have to sell them on. Once they get into it, they will like it.
Appropriate length to tell the story: 5/5
CONTENT:
Language: none
Sexuality: none
Violence: mild-- Lizzie’s older brother is earning money as a fighter. There are some drunk men who try to burn down Chinatown. Lizzie also gets attacked by some drunk men when she is out late at night. None of these scenes are graphic.
Drugs/Alcohol: mild-- Lizzie crashes her uncle's work luncheon where they are drinking whiskey. She encounters some drunk men late at night who act violently.