Starred Review After 11-year-old Nell Warne's family drops dead, one after another, she turns in desperation to her aunt Kate. But Kate Warne isn't in the market for a long-lost niece e believes Nell's father murdered her beloved husband, and besides, as the first female detective at Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, she is too busy working undercover to care for a child. Determined Nell has other ideas, and soon Kate has no choice but to let her do the odd detecting chore to pay for her keep. And she is awfully good at the job. Hannigan keeps a strong narrative hand on the several stories she has going on simultaneously: the mysteries surrounding the deaths of Nell's father and uncle; Nell's correspondence with her best friend, who traveled the Underground Railroad to safety in Canada; and several Pinkerton adventures that involve chicanery, American history, and lots of excitement. An author's note explains that Kate Warne was a real person who did many of the things described in the book, making this a great title for promoting women's history. But even if Kate were purely fictional, Nell rong-willed yet scared, tough but needy kes a solid heroine. The terrific cover will drawn 'em in.

Nell Warne, eleven, is all alone in the world. Aunt Kitty might provide a home, but she's busy being Pinkerton's first female detective. Nell must prove herself an able assistant by going undercover and maybe even saving the president-to-be. Set against the backdrop of the looming Civil War, Nell's spirited first-person narration is juxtaposed with letters to her African American friend Jemma.

Gr 5-8 When 11-year-old Nell is unceremoniously left on her Aunt Kitty's doorstep, she is whisked into a new life of treacherous detective work. Though Aunt Kitty wants to send the girl to a suitable orphanage, Nell has some ingenious ways of tracking down suspects that are great assets to her aunt's detective work. While the child's quick wit helps with securing confessions and truths from suspects (in decidedly unorthodox ways), she encounters difficulty when attempting to solve the mystery of her uncle's murderand how her father was involved. Nell is an irrepressible character: spirited, thoughtful, and intuitive. Horrifying details about American slavery, such as lynchings and kidnappings, are woven into the narrative through letters exchanged between Nell and her African American friend, Jemma. Although there are plenty of madcap adventures, grief and the longing for a home are at the forefront of the story. Although tales of children softening the hard hearts of lonely adults are a dime a dozen, the inevitably changed relationship between Nell and her aunt is remarkably free of mawkish sentiment. An extensive author's note about the real Kate Warne, America's first female detective, and the Pinkerton Detective Agency is included, along with answers to ciphers scattered throughout the book and resources for further information about the era. Letters between Nell and Jemma are written in legible penmanship that can be read by readers unfamiliar with script. VERDICT Recommend to readers who enjoy adventure, history, and stories featuring independent, strong-minded girls. Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA