Behind the Masks

The Diary of Angeline Reddy
Bodie, California, 1880

Susan Patron
Scholastic
293 p.

Do you wonder what it was like to live in a California desert during the gold rush when maintaining law and order was as troublesome as growing vegetables?   Author Susan Patron has creatively penned an introspective diary set in an historical town using several historical names.

Geared towards pre-teens, the story is full of action, suspense, danger, mystery and even a ghost.  Readers will be intrigued as twelve-year-old Angeline and her new friends unravel the mystery of the alleged death of her father, while a gang of vigilantes threaten their safety. Town secrets, villains, and injustices are uncovered as they stand together for truth and justice.

True to the  Dear America series format, this latest edition  is full of positive life lessons – friendship, trust, loyalty, ethical integrity – and includes the fun and dramatic flair of a group of traveling entertainers, a touch of romance, and a masquerade ball.  Supplemental material includes facts  and photos from the town, recipes from the era, and notes from the author.  Recommended for ages 10-14.