Keeping Secrets (Orphan Train Adventures) [Mass Market Paperback]

Joan Lowery Nixon (Author)

Book Description

Age Level: 9 and up | Series: Orphan Train Adventures

Offering refuge to stranger Violet Hennessey during the Civil War, eleven-year-old Peg Kelly learns that Violet is fleeing Confederate raiders and holds information that may save the Union. Reprint. AB.

Editorial Reviews

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-8-A continuation of the Kelly family saga. In the autumn of 1863, Violet Hennessey, a seemingly nervous young woman, seeks refuge from rampaging bushwhackers with 11-year-old Peg Kelly's family in their St. Joseph, Missouri, home. Peg is preoccupied with trying to be as brave as her brothers and sisters and is drawn to the visitor who treats her as an adult. However, Peg finds many of Violet's actions puzzling, and begins to wonder if she is a Confederate spy. Violet is, in fact, a Union spy, and by the end of this tale, Peg has helped her transmit information vital to breaking the siege of Chattanooga; Violet's brother-in-law has been shot by bushwhackers; and Peg's brother Danny is dead of a fever, which worsened after he left his sickbed to save his sister and Violet from violence at the hands of Confederate sympathizers. Unfortunately, the characters are all one-dimensional. Although Peg professes an ardent desire to grow up, in these pages she does not grow but simply and automatically reacts to the situations in which she is placed. The writing is serviceable, the historical references are wooden, and the plotting is contrived.
Anne Scott, Johnston Public Library, IA
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Booklist

Gr. 5-8. In Nixon's latest Orphan Train adventure, which is set in Missouri during the Civil War, 11-year-old Peg Kelly finds herself unwittingly involved with a Union spy, Miss Violet Hennessey, who has been using Peg as a cover when visiting her "sister" to pass on information about Confederate troop movements. When Peg and her brother Danny unravel the mystery surrounding Miss Hennessey, Peg agrees to continue helping her, knowing she faces danger from both unscrupulous Union patrols and Confederate bushwhackers. The tension and danger are palpable in Nixon's exciting mystery-adventure, and readers won't be able to put this one down. The suspense builds steadily to a dramatic but startling conclusion that may require a hanky or two. As always, Nixon provides a clue to the next adventure, which will take place on the Kansas plains. Chris Sherman --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 9 and up
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Laurel Leaf (February 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0440219922
• ISBN-13: 978-0440219927
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 0.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #345,298 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars it was the saddest book in the series!, September 12, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping Secrets (Orphan Train Adventures) (Mass Market Paperback)

it was so sad! peggy has to help her new friend,violet, deliver messages and they have lots of adventures,but thats not the sad part.the author kills off my favorite character! (don't worry-i won't give it away) and the character is so brave and probably would have done great things.the person was sensitive,nice,and loved their family.i think you definetly have to read this,but be prepared! your heart will break in two when the character says his/her last goodbye.

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Edition to the Series, March 28, 2010

By 

Nicole Rega (New York, United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Keeping Secrets (Orphan Train Adventures) (Library Binding)

Three years have passed since the Kelly children moved out west from New York City. This part of the tale is placed in the hands of Peg, now 11 years old. Peg's desperate to be like her older siblings and longs to be treated like an adult. She is granted the chance when the mysterious Violet comes to stay with Peg,and her mother and stepfather. Unlike in A Place to Belong, the action builds naturally as Peg and Danny suspect that Violet is really a spy for the Confederate cause. Unfortunately their quest for answers yields tragic results. Peg is a likable narrator, however the characterizations of her, her mother, stepfather, and Danny are much too one-dimensional. Historically, Nixon is not at her best nor is the writing as good as it was in A Dangerous Promise and In the Face of Danger still Keeping Secrets is a book worth reading if only because it add to the overall arch of the series. You will find yourself wanting more about the Kellys after reaching the final page.

5.0 out of 5 stars Keeping secrets!, July 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Keeping Secrets (Sweet Valley Twins, No 12) (Paperback)

It difficult for me to read this book. But I enjoyed to read it. I'm interesed in a word "ithig". Jessica lays bare the secret. It was just as I thought. Twin's father tells them the secret. Jessica and Elizabeth promise to keep the secret to their father, but...