The Hope Chest

The Hope Chest by Karen Schwabach tells the story of the final vote that passed the Susan B. Anthony Amendment, giving women the right to vote.

Violet Mayhew lives in Susquehanna, Pennsylvania with her parents. She misses her older sister Chloe and has not heard from her since she left three years ago - until today. When looking in her mother's desk for a postage stamp, Violet found a stack of letters from Chloe.

After reading the letters and deciding that it was unfair of her parents for keeping them from her, Violet runs away to New York to find her sister.

What follows is an adventure across the country - New York to Washington, DC to Tennessee. Violet meets interesting people, learns about politics and racism, and plays a part in getting women the right to vote.

Schwabach is a great author of historical fiction featuring young characters. She explains difficult concepts in our past with ease and excitement. I would recommend any of her books.

Schwabach, Karen. (2008). The Hope Chest. New York: Random House.

A Pickpocket's Tale

A Pickpocket's Tale by Karen Schwabach is the story of Molly Simon.

Molly, born in London, is a pickpocket. She has been since her mother died. She is good at what she does and never gets caught. But when a fellow thief turns her in for a reward, she is sentenced to be sold as an indentured servant in the American colonies.

Luckily for Molly, she is Jewish. The Jewish communities of London and New York have been watching who is shipped to the colonies. They make sure Jews are bought by Jewish families, giving the criminals a chance to reform and learn more about Judaism. Besides, it is a mitzvah to give them a second chance.

Although Molly is bought by a caring family, her only thought is to get back to London. As she grows throughout the book, she denies that she is changing until one selfless act makes her realize that she is where she belongs.

Schwabach has captured the 1730s in this novel, written partly in the slang of London, Flash-cant. Her description are so detailed you can taste the smelly air of New York.

Schwabach, Karen. (2006). A Pickpocket's Tale. New York: Random House.

*Can you imagine that there was ever a time when NYC had a population of only 8,000?!? I think that many people ride the train with me every morning!