Steve (with a passion for baseball) and Kendra (a sassy Sherlock Holmes wannabe) were friends before they knew they were not supposed to be. 'They discover flowers on the lonely grave,' an isolated headstone in the corner of an old graveyard they pass walking home from the school bus. Their investigation literally tunnels through the history of Kentucky, the Civil War, slavery and the Underground Railroad and discovers secrets even their parents would prefer remain hidden. Steve and Kendra investigate an 150-year-old murder case and discover secrets that put their own lives in danger. Steve has a passion for baseball, and Kendra enjoys nothing more than a good mystery. Once they spot flowers on the lonely grave, the excitement begins! Kentucky history, the Civil War, slavery, the Underground Railroad and a 150-year-old murder case enliven this mystery for 9 to 12 year olds.
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More About the Author
I was born in South Carolina but for over thirty years have lived in Michigan, on what my extended family refers to as "the wrong side of the Ohio." My wife is a psychologist and we have four adult children and a grandson. I began writing in high school and sold my first magazine article in 1972. My first novel, Daughter of Lazarus, was published in 1988. Since the late 1990s I've had eight books published. The second novel in my series about Pliny the Younger, The Blood of Caesar, was named one of the 5 Best Mysteries of 2008 by Library Journal. The Secret of the Lonely Grave won the Evelyn Thurman Young Readers' Award in 2008. Mysteries are my favorite type of reading (and writing), but I also enjoy baseball and college basketball, and anything that has to do with ancient Rome.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
award-winning book,
By petronius (asheville NC) - See all my reviews
This review is from: The Secret of the Lonely Grave (Paperback)
This superb book has won the Evelyn Thurman Young Readers' Award, given by Western Kentucky University. It features two strong protagonists, a boy and a girl, giving it a wide appeal. As the youngsters solve a mystery that links their small town to the Underground Railroad and the Civil War, they also learn how to stand up to a school bully. In age-appropriate ways, the story confronts a number of issues that kids must deal with these days.
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Meaningful & Entertaining,
By
This review is from: The Secret of the Lonely Grave (Paperback)
The Secret of The Lonely Grave
By Albert Bell, Jr. ISBN: 1932158790 Ingalls Publishing Group Trade Paper July 2007 Although middle schoolers are the primary target audience, The Secret of The Lonely Grave is a strong, thought provoking read, that easily grabs the attention of book lovers of all ages. Set in Western Kentucky this is an entertaining story that tackles controversial, difficult and painful topics in meaningful, age appropriate ways. While the characters are dealing with contemporary issues such as child abuse, single parent homes and school bullies, there's a valuable history lesson at the heart of the book, that shines the light of truth on racism, slavery, bigotry and the indelible human spirit. Walking to and from the bus stop, best friends, Steve Patterson and Kendra Jordan pass the old cemetery where Kendra's sister Moniqa is buried. They have visited the cemetery many times and have always been curious about one particular grave, that of six year old, Amanda, buried in the mid 1800's. The grave was set off by itself, some distance from all the others, for that reason they nicknamed it "the lonely grave." When they notice flowers on the forgotten grave, they decide to stake out the cemetery. Thinking if they identify who is visiting the grave they can solve the mystery. The friends soon discover the identity of the mysterious visitor-- a recently widowed college professor, named Doc. Intelligent and kind, he too had been intrigued by the "lonely grave." Doc guides the two friends as they spend the summer researching church and historical society records and talking with local residents. When they find evidence that suggests the infamous Underground Railroad may have passed through their small town, they realize this mystery goes far beyond the little girl's grave. Steve's grandparents are anything but enthusiastic about his detective exploits and demonstrate a hush-hush attitude. It now seemed entirely possible that his family had taken part in the betrayal of a local family that had assisted many escaped slaves well over a hundred years ago. Confronting difficult topics with a stylistic flair that educates and entertains, Bell utilizes modern themes and incorporates present day challenges into the lives of the characters. The story provides a forum for open discussions about the impact of slavery, equality and the power of the human spirit. An informative, entertaining and thought provoking read, I recommend this book to all young readers. It would be beneficial for middle school history classes to add this book to their reading lists.
5.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent Read Aloud,
This review is from: The Secret of the Lonely Grave (Paperback)
I have read this book aloud to my fifth grade students for several years. Although our grade level content expectations do not include the Civil War era, my students have always found the subject of the Underground Railroad to be extremely fascinating. Besides, the inter-relationships of characters provide outstanding lessons for the reader. It is well-written and the story is a powerful one worthy of serious attention. This is an outstanding addition to your personal or classroom book stack.
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