Author: Kin Platt
Publisher: Farra Strauss Giroux
Publishing Date: September 30, 2008
Length: 162 pages
Summary: (From book) Sixteen year old Oliver Puckle, news gatherer for the Concord Freeman, has lived his teenage years by his uncle's creed: Avoid alluring company. This makes him all the more vulnerable when he meets an undeniably alluring young lady-the beautiful Miss Margaret Roberts, newly arrived from Boston under questionable circumstances. Oliver hardly has a chance to recover, however, before she just as quickly vanishes. When news arrives of a gruesome murder at Walden Pond, Oliver fears the worst. Suddenly all of Concord is in an uproar, and the only citizen who isn't a suspect is the recluse poet Henry David Thoreau, who spent the night locked in the local jail for refusing to pay his poll tax. Can the man who contemplates pond ripples and pine trees help uncover the true identity of the murderer?
As Oliver leads the charge to unravel the mystery, one thing becomes certain: the summer of 1846 will certainly prove to be his most newsworthy to date.
My Thoughts: This book was a dollar read from my grandma and was actually pretty good. I love the cover and historical novels are always my favorites. I had no idea that Alcott, Emerson, Hawthorne and Thoreau all lived in the same town at the same time.
As for the plot and writing style of the book, I was a little disappointed. I had a hard time getting into it, I've been rather distracted, but Oliver just seemed a little shallow in general. He goes from being uptight to suddenly breaking all rules in a matter of seconds. I would have enjoyed a longer plot with more time to get to know the characters.
I did love the personality for Thoreau though. It really made me want to go pick up some of his work.
Things To Be Cautious Of: Two swear words, mentions being taken advantage of, murder.
What I learned: Thoreau sounds pretty cool.
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