Operation Clean Sweep

by Darleen Bailey Beard

Mom for mayor! Election day is fast approaching, and twelve-year-old Cornelius Sanwick discovers a his mom is running for mayor! That would be pretty neat, except that his dad is the incumbent. Corn feels torn -- surely he should warn his father. But if he does, his mother won't stand a chance. In 1916, Oregon is one of only eleven states in which women can vote, and they have to take office by stealth. Corn wonders what kind of mayor his mom would make. Would she be able to get the streetlights turned back on? Would she corral the chickens and keep their poop off the streets? And what would she do if the pickpocket Sticky Fingers Fred showed up in Umatilla? Friendship, first love, and above all filial devotion play their parts in this charming story set during the Great War and based on a true episode in the history of Umatilla, Oregon -- the female takeover of the town's government.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Childrens, Historical

160 pages, Hardcover

First published September 9, 2004

Reviews

[Kelani · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a great book based on a true event in 1916, just 4 years after getting the right to vote, the women of Umatilla Oregon, band together to throw the mayor and other City councils out of office, replacing them with women.

[Stacy Ford · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cornelius, Corn and his best friend Otis discover the women of Umatilla, Oregon, including their own mothers, plans to make a "clean sweep" of the upcoming elections. Corn's dad is currently the mayor and his mom is planning on running for mayor. Add to that a blossoming crush on the strong willed Birdine and Corn's life is a mess. Together he and Otis struggle with telling or not telling their fathers about Operation Clean Sweep. Add to all this the threat of a notorious pickpocket, "Sticky Fingers Fred," possibly coming to town and the tale of these two boys friendship and overcoming bias and you have one good story.

[Partridge Public]

Beard, Darleen

[Krista the Krazy Kataloguer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A woman runs for public office in 1916 Umatilla, Oregon. This is a good book to describe the process by which one becomes elected to an office.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

We have just started reading this for the competition, looks good