From School Library Journal
Grade 4-7-Set amid the rubble and confusion of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, this story is full of suspense and action. Clara, 12, and her family are awakened in the early morning to a damaged home, but one that, miraculously, remains standing. In the aftermath of chaos and fire, she finds an abandoned baby on her doorstep. The mystery deepens when she discovers that the infant is really a girl who has been disguised as a boy. As Clara and her family care for her, they soon discover that the child had been kidnapped and is in danger. The plot unfolds smoothly and builds to a satisfying conclusion. Mystery fans will be hooked by the daring rescues, escapes, and sinister criminals. Details about the earthquake are seamlessly incorporated into the narrative, giving it a real context. A well-done afterword gives more information about the period.
Kristen Oravec, Cuyahoga County Public Library, Strongsville, OHCopyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Gr. 4-7. This new adventure in the popular History Mysteries series follows 12-year-old Clara Curfman as she and her family endure the devastating earthquake that rocked San Francisco in 1906. The quake is the history part; the mystery involves an abandoned baby, left on the Curfmans' doorstep, whom Clara believes is the victim of a kidnapping. In the aftermath of the quake, with the city crumbling and on fire, Clara sets out to discover the truth about the baby's identity and ensure that the child is safely returned to its parents. Reiss does a great job of weaving the mystery story line into the historical setting, effectively using the chaotic situation created by the quake to crank up the excitement of Clara's search for answers. The book ends with a six-page section of earthquake history, including old black-and-white photographs of people, places, and memorabilia. Entertaining recreational reading for historical fiction fans as well as a good choice for complementing a unit on the time period or on natural disasters.
Lauren PetersonCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
