Audacity Jones to the Rescue

What a treat to enjoy this middle grade historical fiction! The author brings the reader to the adventure. Audacity is a delightful character. But, Min upstages her.I loved the author’s style. I am going to get Book 2 of this series right now!

“Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” is one of the funniest, most engaging books that has been targeted at the 8 to 12-year old group; it may be even more enjoyable for adults. This historical action-adventure brings the period and the characters to life and maintains the reader’s interest from start to finish. Kirby Larson’s novel is a real pleasure to read and an even greater one to recommend.Eleven-year old “Audacity Jones” – Audie – is a resident of Miss Maisie Witherton’s School for Wayward girls. She is the lynchpin that holds things together as she has assumed many responsibilities that Miss Witherton neglects. Audie’s spunk often results in her banishment to “The Punishment Room” – the Witherton library – where she reads voraciously. The appearance of Commodore Crutchfield, a wealthy businessman, and his desire to “adopt” an orphan change the course of Audie’s life. As the pair travel by chauffeured car from Indiana to Washington, D.C., Audie wonders what may be in store for her. When she must assist Mrs. Finch, a coconspirator of the Commodore’s in a plan to kidnap the President’s niece Dorothy, the real action begins.Set in the early part of the 20th century, “Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” highlights the times as well as the social issues and the technological changes occurring during the period. Descriptions of clothing and of items such as buttoned boots and “…a sturdy hat of brown beaver …” allow the reader to visualize the characters as they would have looked during that era. Following her parents’ deaths and as a single woman, Miss Maisie Witherton had few options to generate income – her School for Wayward Girls, taking in orphans, provided a solution. The transition from horses to the “horseless carriage” and the resulting disruption is highlighted through the focus on Juice Johnson’s grandfather Daddy Dub. Because of their color, both Juice and the Commodore’s driver Cypher found employment opportunities limited and often encountered suspicion with respect to their motives and character.Pithy comments and some veiled humor make “Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” as much a pleasure to read for adults as it is for the target audience. For example, the School for Wayward Girls uses only “…Professor Teachtest’s Apple Core Method …” of instruction. The Professor was using his profits to purchase his third villa in Tuscany. Miss Maisie’s mind is compared to a steel trap – “…One that was rusted shut …” Mirroring more recent issues with security, one member of Taft’s Secret Service detail gives “…the man from the desert …” a private phone number and clandestine access to the White House.Although Kirby Larson uses the third person narrative, the anonymous speaker draws readers into the story through his own commentary on developments. Additionally, he occasionally solicits the reader’s thoughts on the narrative or the characters’ motives. These methods create an intimacy between the reader and “Audacity Jones” that is often missing in less skillfully crafted novels. The writing in “Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” is complex and varied. A sophisticated, rich vocabulary may require both young readers and their parents to reach for a dictionary. If you love words, this makes the book a joy to read.“Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” reminded me of so many other works of literature or theater. Like Astrid Lindgren’s “Pippi Longstocking”, Audacity is a vibrant, independent, resourceful, and mischievous girl. Similar to the story in “Annie” a seemingly wealthy benefactor – Commodore Crutchfield - plucks Audacity, whom he repeatedly calls “Annie” from an orphanage for his own purposes. Like Daddy Warbucks, the Commodore becomes quite fond of his charge. Audacity, like Annie, is able to turn the situation to her benefit. The wit and the tone of the narrative were reminiscent of Lemony Snickett’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books. Like O. Henry’s “Ransom of Red Chief”, a child thwarts two miscreants’ nefarious plans. In contrast to “Paper Moon”, in which a young girl acts as the foil for her con man partner, in “Audacity Jones” the child is initially unaware of the planned schemes.I loved “Audacity Jones: To The Rescue” and look forward to additional books in the series. I do wish this book had been available for the holiday season – it would have been a perfect gift for anyone who loves reading and enjoys a rollicking good story.

Young readers may find the start of the book a bit slow. The editor might have suggested tightening the opening scenes to move readers to the heart of the action sooner. Basically, the book is set during President Taft's time in office. Audacity is plucked out of a home "for wayward girls" (they aren't) and set on a secret (even to her) mission. You don't find out the fake or true purpose of the mission until the book is nearly over, at which point characters and events hurtle to the finish at a speed that's so out of alignment with the rest of the book, it feels like a sudden collision.Pros: Plucky heroine who cares about others and constantly stretches her mind. Reading for knowledge plays a big role in this book; it's hard to say anything negative about that. Her sidekick in D.C. ends up being a young black boy with big dreams. Also admirable. I believe her sidekick at the home for girls is also black.Cons: The slow pace. Really, just tell us what's going on already. It wasn't edge-of-your-seat suspense; it was enough-already-get-on-with-it suspense. In contrast, the hasty ending. I don't want to give too much away, but the Commodore's plans for her final departure don't seem to ring true; I never figured out what the block print on the postcard was supposed to represent or what the chauffeur was really up to in the background. Why was he tampering with her postcards, and who was he sending the message to? Every now and then, the author/narrator says things like "we can only tell you so much" or "we can only reveal so much" or "really, you had to be there," which is a hard call: clever or cop-out? Also, if Audacity was orphaned after age 3 but she raised the triplets from the time they were babies, are they really old enough to be useful friends in the book?I can't say that all girls WON'T like this book. (Although I don't think boys will really go for it at all.) There's a cat with sort of magical powers, Audacity has a sixth sense that heightens her awareness to danger, and even a few circus characters turn up. But it does feel a bit like a circus---too much going on at once to be really cohesive. My daughter is going to stick with Kitt Kittredge---maybe not quite so much going on, but definitely more well developed.

Audacity Jones ("Audie") adjusted well to life at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Miss Maisie founded the school after being left orphaned and with a large fortune and her unorthodox method of raising girls includes a lack of emphasis on academics. Audie regularly finds herself subject to discipline and is locked in the Punishment Room reg . But Miss Maisie's Punishment Room is her father's former library and a place of sanctuary and escape for Audie.When the Commodore, a public official and donor to Miss Maisie's School, comes seeking a volunteer for a dangerous mission, he ends up leaving with eleven-year-old Audacity Jones. Her assignment takes her to the White House.during President William Howard Taft's tenure.Audacity Jones ("Audie") adjusted well to life at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward Girls. Miss Maisie founded the school after being left orphaned and with a large fortune and her unorthodox method of raising girls includes a lack of emphasis on academics. Audie regularly finds herself subject to discipline and is locked in the Punishment Room regularly. But Miss Maisie's Punishment Room is her father's former library and a place of sanctuary and escape for Audie.When the Commodore, a public official and donor to Miss Maisie's School, comes seeking a volunteer for a dangerous mission, he ends up leaving with eleven-year-old Audacity Jones. Her assignment takes her to the White House under President William Howard Taft. While Audie finds some suspicious behavior, she's not sure what might be afoot. During the time of her White House visit, there are two Taft children at the White House: Taft's niece Dorothy and Charlie Taft. Audie makes an impression on the two youngsters but it's her old friends from Miss Maisie's Home for Wayward Girls that come forward to help Audie save the day.An adventure story and historical fiction, Kirby Larson gives us a fun new series with Audacity Jones to the Rescue.

This is the cute story of an orphan girl who dreams of adventure from her place in a small town in Indiana at a home for "Wayward Girls" and how adventure finds her in the form a fiendish plot but she manages to save the day.Audacity Jones, Audie for short, constantly breaks the rules at Miss Maisie's School for Wayward girls so she can be sent to the Punishment Room, which is actually a library. There Audie reads all sorts of books, some for knowledge (there is a law book and an etiquette book she mentions) as well as fiction and expands her mind. Soon she finds herself dreaming of her own adventure when lo and behold it shows up on Miss Maisie's doorstep. Commodore Crutchfeld shows up in search of an orphan under false pretenses. From his description I rather pictured a man who looks like Colonel Sanders. He is attended by a driver by the name of Cypher. This book takes place quite a while ago, when automobiles were newly discovered and horse and buggies were still common. President William Taft is in the White House.Audie is swept away into a life of luxury with the Commodore with promises of a secret mission only Audie can take on. Audie becomes suspicious of Cypher for holding odd hushed late night phone calls but the Commodore is not interested in her findings. At last they reach Washington DC where Audie has been recruited into the kitchen to help an English cook make the president's favorite, Terrapin soup (turtle soup... ick). Except this is no ordinary Englishwoman and she is a terrible cook. There is mischief afoot but Audie finds out too late about the woman and Colonel's dastardly plot. However, with the help of friends new and old, she is able to save the day.I really liked this book. Audie is a very fun character and the author did a good job of making you feel like you were back in time when Taft was president. The descriptions of some of the settings and characters really made you feel like you were part of the story. I saw this might be #1 in a series and I certainly hope we get to see more of Audie and her friends. Great story for bedtime!