In San Francisco at the turn of the century, the daughter of a traveling con man faces a moral dilemma when he cheats on a woman who has befriended her.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From School Library Journal
Grade 6-8?Though the times are different, today's young readers will easily identify with Alexia Ellery Finsdale and her family problems. After a short diary entry, the girl's story unfolds. Readers learn that her mother has died and Alexia and her father are living in a boarding house where she is being taught how to sew. However, Mr. Finsdale is not only a con man, but a gambler and drinker as well, who has trouble holding down a job, and he is behind in the rent money. By the end of the novel, Alexia has some serious decisions to make. The setting and conversation give readers a glimpse into life in San Francisco, 1905; the mores and fashions of the times; and the suffragette movement. The opening and closing diary entries give a more in-depth look into Alexia's personal feelings than the rest of the story, which is a bit flat in characterization. Average fare for collections needing additional historical fiction.?Denise Furgione, Franklin Township Public Library, NJ
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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More About the Author
I have published over 80 books for children of all ages and YA/Adult readers. Many have won state and national awards and all of them have brought me the kind of fan mail that writers love to get.
Two from today's email (Jan 27 11)
Dear Ms. Duey,
I am 8 years old and I live in Catalonia (Spain). I just finished reading your book "Moonsilver" with my mom, and I really liked it. I want to ask you, what was your dream in 3rd grade? I'm asking you because at the end of the book, it says that the series of the Unicorn's Secret books is based on a dream you had in 3rd grade. I am in third grade right now, so I'm really curious!!!
Please tell me
(writer's name)
Dear Ms. Duey,
I loved your book the Unicorn's Secret. Me and my mom read it together. I like your books because I like unicorns and your story was very exciting. I like to draw unicorns. They are one of my favorite animals. I have two stuffed animal unicorns. One is named Sparkle. I sleep with her every night. Did you always want to be a writer? Have you ever seen a real unicorn? I am in 1st grade. I love to read. When I grow up I want to be a animal trainer and I want to train unicorns if I can find one.
LOVE , (writer's name)
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YA readers are writing a lot, too. Most say something like this one:
I have been waiting for the third book in Skin Hunger trilogy forever. Ok not forever but it feels like it. When is it coming out? How long will you make me wait? I love these books and am really needing to know what happens to Sadima and Hahp!!!!!
I know, me, too. Please read below.
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If it is later than 6:30am PST, I am probably writing, even if I am on an airplane. I might be working on a faerie book or writing about unicorns for grade school kids, or I could be lost in something dark, detailed, and strange for YA/adult readers. The third book in the Resurrection of Magic Trilogy is dragging me through the woods. I am working on it every day, and am Skying instead of traveling to schools and libraries until I get it DONE. It's taking wild amazing turns and I love it.
If I am not working...I might be answering readers who contact me through my website: http://www.kathleenduey.com Thanks to everyone who gets in touch with me on Facebook, my blog, http://kathleenduey.blogspot.com/, Twitter, and all the other ways to reach me. I can't keep up anymore, but I try to answer questions and I send out signed bookplates when I can. It means so much to know that you like my books.
I appear at schools, bookstores, and teach at writers' conferences nationwide and internationally. There is a schedule on my website and I try to keep it current.
And more and more... I Skype. It's a wonderful way to meet readers in classrooms and at libraries, I love to drop in on book clubs and critique groups, then get back to work!
Book news: The Unicorn's Secret books are getting lovely new covers by Sandara Tang, an amazing artist based in Singapore. The fan mail astounds me.
Sandara is the cover artist for the new kid's series The Faerie's Promise, too. Excerpts from all my books are on http://www.kathleenduey.com
YA NOVEL ONLINE/IN PROGRESS: RUSSET fans: http://russet-one-wing.blogspot.com/
I am accumulating entries and will tag you all when there is more to read. Give me your contact info and I will add you to the alert list. kathleenduey at earthlink dot net
The third book of my YA/adult trilogy is in the works now. I don't have a release date yet because I still writing like MAD. But it will be ASAP, I promise. The story is taking amazing turns and dragging me through the woods the way the first two did. Thanks!!!! to the thousands of people asking when it will come out.
You have no idea how happy that makes me.
Customer Reviews
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alexia Ellery Finsdale (American Diaries) (Paperback)
This is a great book. It is about Alexia Ellery Finsdale. Alexia's father cheats people out of their money. His next target is the widow who runs the boardinghouse Alexia and her father are staying at. Can Alexia stop him from cheating her one true friend?
3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent book.,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alexia Ellery Finsdale (American Diaries) (Paperback)
Another great American Diaries. Alexia, a 12 year old girl lives in 1905 San Francisco in a boarding house with her con-man father. He goes around cheating people out of their money and now his target is Alexia's true friend, Mrs. Tanner, the owner of the boarding house. Alexia has to stop this. But will she have the courage to do so?READ IT!
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Surprisingly good!,
By A Customer
This review is from: Alexia Ellery Finsdale (American Diaries) (Paperback)
As the American Diaries series progressed, I felt as if they were regressing in their style and interest. Then came this one. Reading the back it doesn't seem nearly as exciting as the others and can be mistaken for a sleeper. But it's actually the other way around. It was much better than those hugely descriptive action books in the series (except for Emma, that one was very good). Alexia is a character that you love. You connect with her more than many of the other Kathleen Duey characters. She wants to become a seamstress (ah-ha! Finally one with a dream!) and finally found a companion in the boarding house lady (who is also a seamstress). Her mother had died and she was constantly moving around. She loves her father very much and then faces a moral dilemma when he is going to try to swindle the seamstress. Finally, we come in touch with the character and sit on the edge of our seats... waiting to see what she will do! This is one of the best American Diaries books because of it's moral choices, not because of the so called action.
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