Kate and Maggie, soon discovered that they could communicate with the spirit that was making these uncannynoises; he told them he had been a traveling peddler who had been murdered. This strange incident, and theones that followed, generated a media frenzy beyond anything the Fox sisters could have imagined. Kate andMaggie, managed (or perhaps manipulated) by their elder sister Leah, became famous spirit mediums, givingpublic exhibitions, and advising other celebrities of their day. But were the Fox sisters legitimate? In the yearsthat followed their rise, the Civil War killed roughly 1 in 4 soldiers, increasing the demand for contacting thedead. However, media campaigns against the sisters gathered steam as well...This thrilling and mysterioustrue story from veteran author Barb Rosenstock (Caldecott Honor winner) will spark teens’ interest in Americanhistory, encourage media literacy, and reveal insights into the Civil War era, fake news, and women's rights.
Ben Franklin loved to swim and, at the age of eleven, he was determined to swim like a fish - fins and all! This fascinating and lively account of young Ben's earliest invention follows the budding scientist's journey as he tests and retests his swim fins. That first big splash led Ben to even more innovations and inventions.
Starred Review. "...The alliterative, sibilant text is a rollicking read to share aloud with young students... The watercolor and ink artwork conveys joy and motion, with young Ben splashing into the water, gleefully trying out his fins... This is a fun introduction to one of the nation's founding fathers and a solid addition to collections needing a different perspective on this American icon." - School Library Journal
