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Description
The story of Laura Ingersoll Secord, from her early days in Massachusetts and her family's immigration to Upper Canada to her part in the War of 1812, when she rescued her injured husband on the field of battle and undertook a dangerous 20 mile trek to warn the British commander of an impending American attack on the British outpost at Beaver Dams.
In Acts of Courage, Connie Brummel Crook dramatizes the life of one of Canada's most enduring heroines, Laura Secord. From young Laura Ingersoll's early days in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, amidst the turmoil that followed the American Revolutionary War, the story outlines her father's difficult decision to move his family to Upper Canada. Laura's subsequent meeting and courtship with James Secord is described against the backdrop of homesteading in the Niagara Peninsula and of enduring the imminent threat of American invasion.
These first sections of the book provide the background for Laura's courageous rescue of her husband from the battlefield at Queenston Heights, and her even more amazing trek to warn Col. FitzGibbon of the American's secret plans to attack the British outpost at Beaver Dams.
Laura's extraordinary life, peopled with characters like Joseph Brant and Col. FitzGibbon, is given even more poignancy and interest by the author's inventive and surprising characterization of the young FitzGibbon, by her acute eye for historical detail, and through her insights into the character of a young woman whose acts of courage have captured the imagination of generations of young Canadians.
Recommended Age, Grade, and Reading Levels
- Age:
- 10 to 12
- Grade:
- 5 to 9
Awards
- Short-listed, Word Guild Historical Fiction Award
- Short-listed, Word Guild Young Adult Award
- Commended, Resource Links "The Year's Best"
Editorial Review
About Acts of Courage
2013 Word Guild Historical Fiction Award finalist
2013 Word Guild Young Adult Award nominee
2012 Resource Links "The Year's Best" selection
"In this novel, Laura Ingersoll Secord grows from a curious 12-year-old in Massachusetts to a fearless heroine in Upper Canada...Secord's story is a great way for students to learn about the politics of the period and the relationship between the United States and Canada during post-Revolutionary War times."—School Library Journal
"[T]his well-researched and documented historical novel offers young readers a fascinating perspective on the events following the American Revolution and leading up to the War of 1812...An opportunity for American children to see a little-known war through a rarely considered lens."—Kirkus Reviews
"Given her knowledge of the subject, it's not surprising that Crook's attention to detail and setting is excellent, providing the reader with insight into the social and political situations of the time. The use of primary resources - such as weaving the testimony of Secord's granddaughter into a character's dialogue - is a nice touch that highlights Secord's bravery."—Quill & Quire
"Acts of Courage, an accurate, accessible novel, is timely for the bicentennial anniversary of the War of 1812...Readers of all ages like to learn new things while they are being entertained and will appreciate Crook's care and skill in painting a detailed, fascinating picture of Laura's times."—CM Magazine
"Connie Brummel Crook has created an exceptional account of what would or could have been Laura Secord's life. She depicts vivid landscapes and interiors of the 19th century with exquisite imagery...A love story, with war, passion, humanity; it is a dynamic and fascinating story that demonstrates the implacable resolve of women in that period. It is something that can be admired by all."—Resource Links Magazine
