Rebel with a Cause

November 15, 2015
Grades 2-4 Each book in the Encounter: Narrative Nonfiction Picture Books series follows the life and work of a notable woman in history, framing her story in a way that young readers can understand. Rebel with a Cause elaborates on Dicey Langston, the young girl who spied on British loyalists, gathering valuable information for the rebels during the American Revolution. Though careful not to take too many liberties with a historical text, these read like fiction and will spark the interest of many young readers. Each installment has a different illustrator, giving them all a unique flavor, and all have some sort of back matter that recaps the facts gleaned from the story. They vary somewhat in audience rangesRebel seems to target younger readersbut this is an interesting concept with an effective, highly visual approach.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)

July 1, 2016
This text-heavy picture-book biography relies on lots of fictionalized dialogue to introduce fourteen-year-old Dicey, who worked as an informant during the American Revolution. Sneaking supplies to soldiers and warning of an impending Redcoat attack made Dicey a hero in her South Carolina colony. Digital illustrations with an old-timey oil-paint quality complete the story. An author's note and cornbread recipe are appended. Reading list.

(Copyright 2016 by The Horn Book, Incorporated, Boston. All rights reserved.)