Katie's Trunk

Title: Katie's Trunk
Author: Ann Turner
Illustrated: Ron Himler
Published: Macmillan Publishing Company, New York
Date: 1992
Summary: Katie, whose family is not sympathetic to the rebel soldiers during the American Revolution, hides under the clothes in her mother's wedding trunk when they invade her home.
Age Level:Elementary (3-4)
Strengths: Exquisite water colo that makes the images look very real (like a masterpiece). The language in the story was very good because it almost sounds as if it was voices of the past speaking in its original form. I like how the author showed the view point of a daughter whose family was a Tory and how they felt being the "outsiders." It escalated from her neighbors hissing "Tory!" at her to a a bunch of Patriots ransacking her house, that she most loved. When she heard them near, she hid in her mother's wedding trunk, and she almost got caught. However, her neighbor knew she was there and saved her by saying someone was coming. You could feel the tension and the fear that she would be discovered. It would be horrifying to think that if she was caught, what would have happened to her. You see, Katie didn't really understand why the Patriots hated her. She thought she was like everyone else. This shows not only a historical view point, but a message against judging someone for their race, gender and especially their beliefs. Beneath all the bad things in the world, there is some goodness (Katie's neighbor proved it when he said someone was coming."
Concerns: I think this is for older students because it does involve hatred and judgements against different groups (Tories and Patriots) and there is a lot of tension which is good for older students. Also, the students need to know the basic background of the American Revolution, otherwise, they will be confused and they will not know what a Tory or a Patriot is or what is going on.
Comments: This would be a great book if a teacher is doing American History with her students. As stated before, the students will get a sense of what the American Revolution was, who was involved and why it happened.