Under Copp's Hill

American Girl History Mysteries #8

by Katherine Ayres

Things are disappearing from the Boston settlement house where Innie goes for her library club in 1908. As she tries to unravel the mystery, she starts looking guilty herself!

Genres: Historical Fiction, Mystery, Middle Grade, Historical, Childrens, Fiction, Young Adult

163 pages, Paperback

First published September 28, 2000

About the author

Katherine Ayres is the author of ten books for children and teenagers. She lives in Pittsburgh, PA where she teaches writing to graduate students and Chatham University.

At age 19 she appeared on the TV show, To Tell the Truth--as a liar. "It was good practice for becoming a fiction writer," she says. "These days I have to make up stuff all the time. And I like it!"

Then, as now, Ayres was a convincing story spinner--members of the panel believed her impersonation as young readers believe and enjoy her characters today.

To get to know Katherine better, visit her website (www.katherineayres.com) and her blog (katherineayres.blogspot.com).

Reviews

[Chloe]

The American Girl History Mysteries helped to make me who I am today. These books (along with the Magic Tree House series) instilled in me a deep curiosity about how people lived in different historical time periods - they're the reason I majored in history in college, and why I work in the field that I do today. I didn't read every one of the American Girl History Mysteries as a kid, but I came pretty close! Today, as an adult, I work in Boston's North End, and I recently came to the realization that one of the History Mysteries I read as a kid was set in this neighborhood, and I decided to take a brief jaunt into my past by revisiting Under Copp's Hill. To my surprise, I found that I recognized the names in the dedication page - they're the names of my boss and his family, who are related to that author! Since it was my job in the neighborhood that caused me to pick up this book again in the first place, I thought it was a funny coincidence that they were linked.

My personal reminisces about the series and my tenuous links to the author aside, I was really pleasantly surprised to rediscover how well written this book was! It had a compelling narrative and packed in a lot of information about Italian and Jewish immigrants of the North End in the early 1900s while still feeling pretty natural. I was had a really lovely time learning about the Saturday Evening Girls and the work of the settlement house, and I'll have a new appreciation for the history of the neighborhood the next time I stroll down Hull Street!

[Rose]

Was already getting lesbian vibes from Miss Guerrier and Miss Brown in the story and then when the A Peek into the Past section said they were real people I looked them up and sure enough they were in a “Boston Marriage.” I know not necessarily every Boston marriage was romantic but like…c’mon.

[Bulk Reviews]

Five stars for the excellent character arc.

There are many children who believe themselves to be “bad” because they’re always screwing up and have been marked by others as troublemakers. So, they become “bad” on purpose so that they don’t suffer rejection by actually trying and failing to be good.

Innie comes to terms with this inner conflict by the end of the story, and you feel both her resignation and relief when she realizes being good is a burden we must take up. And it also wove in with an interesting subplot about her being promised as a nun since birth, which fleshed out her Catholic heritage without being preachy.

The author also made use of real people, places, and events in teaching children about settlement houses. Though I wish we’d learned more about the purpose of such institutions, it was interesting to see how they functioned - I caught a glimpse of them in Nellie’s Promise, and it was nice to have a book that focused on them directly.

Though the pacing was very good and sufficiently spooky at times, one thing that frustrated me was that there was no communication between the adults and children, and purely for plot convenience. If Innie had simply explained everything she’d found and all her theories, she never would’ve been blamed for the thefts. She just convinced herself that she had to do everything on her own, because apparently unless she caught the thief herself, her story would have no credence.

It kind of reminded me of the one Rebecca mystery in the garden, where the protagonist keeps messing up while trying to solve the mystery, and implicates her well-meaning friends in the process. It was less aggravating than that one, though.

The culprit was someone entirely random we’d never met before, just like in this author’s previous book, but it worked better here because it was tied into the Chelsea fire. (Once I leaned about the extent of this fire from the Looking Back section, I wished the author had covered the devastation a bit more thoroughly.) The characters we did meet were all interesting and had a lot of funny interactions with the protagonist.

[Sophie Spruce]

Innie is my favorite! Feeling like an outsider in her home because she is raised by a grandmother and aunt and uncle, she often turns to mischief. However her grief is perfectly balanced with a strong sense of curiosity and moral code. I loved seeing a Catholic Italian and Russian Jew become friends. It was nice that the book approached this and showed that differences don’t stop people from being friends.

[Caitlin Edwards]

I first read this book in elementary school, but always remembered the spooky mystery, the historical setting, and the stubborn, torn between “good” and “bad” Innocenza. I’m so glad I re-read this on a whim. As I child, I always put myself in Innie’s shoes, and two decades later (and after a lot of therapy, haha) I see even more similarities between Little Caitlin and Innie.

Am I about to re-read this whole series? Maybe, just maybe.

[Lilian]

This is quite a heart warming book. The main character Innie reminded me of Anne of Green Gables in a way. The author really tried to address the issue of diversity in a digestable way that I think the actual target audience (10-12year-olds) will appreciate it.

[SFrick]

what I always like about the Americal Girl History Mysteries is the "Peek Into the Past".

There is a wealth of information to be found about the period.
For this one, it was Boston in 1908.

The Illustrators for all of these books do an excellent job.

[Caitlin]

If I were reading as a 10 year old, I’d have loved the book. And, I really appreciated the history at the end.

[Annie Eichman]

One of my favorites in the series.

[DaniPhantom]

Might be one of my favorites out of the whole series, I just love learning about this historical era!

[Cee]

Reading a book from my childhood that stating my love for reading.

[Kelly]

I like this one. Very good on the cultural info and settlement info. Not as great of a mystery, but still a very good read!

[Danae]

2.75*

[Kymberli Briggs]

It has been many, many years since I have read an American Girl History Mysteries book. Reading “Under Copp’s Hill” brought all the nostalgia back. I enjoyed the blend of mystery and bits of history that I hadn’t known before. Overall, it was a fun read and I will be checking out more books from the series.

*What I have expressed are entirely my own thoughts. I was not compensated in any monetary way.*

[James Crawford]

This adventure takes place in 1908 in Boston and concerns a young girl of Italian ancestry, her sisters, and a place called a Settlement House which is based on places that actually existed (as covered in the historical section), that were built to help immigrants adjust to the U.S. culture. The one Innie goes to is one for girls only, but generally they were for people of either gender.

There are several threads running through this story. For one, there's the thread dealing with Innie and her family adjusting to American ways and her eldest sister studying to take the test to become an American citizen.

Then there's the thread about the settlement house itself, and the types of work it does and how it helps the girls.

A third thread deals with the major problem in the book. Innie is suspected of being a thief at the house, stealing food, clothing, etc. She eventually gets banned from attending the place which is really bad, especially since it will lend out books and she loves to read.

So it's up to Innie not only to prove that she is not the one that is stealing things, but to actually catch the crook, and this involves a secret tunnel and Innie and two other girls working together to sneak up on the thief late at night.

It's a really good story and another very good entry in this, apparently discontinued, series of books.

[aem]

entertaining

[Rebecca]

Every since her Italian immigrant parents died in a fire when she was just two, Innie Moretti has lived with her grandmother in a tenament in Boston's North End. The year is 1908, and Innie is now twelve. When a settlement house for girls opens in her neighborhood, Innie is eager to attend, and join the library club. However, soon things start to dissapear from the house. Because she is thought of as a troublemaker due to several incidents that were not really her fault, Innie immediatley falls under suspicion for the thefts. If she doesn't prove that she is innocent, Innie will no longer be able to attend the library club, and reading is one of the few joys in her dreary, tedious, and difficult life. So she determines to solve the mystery and catch the real thief. While not the best from the series, this was still a good read that I recommend to girls who enjoy historical fiction.

[jenn]

Innie (like the belly button, not like "Cenza", a much more likely nickname for Innocenza) is so plucky and curious that she gets thrown out of a settlement house library.

A settlement house, by the way, is like the Athenaeum with no membership fee and free classes on things like how to paint some seriously righteous pottery. (Google "Paul Revere Pottery" real quick. Your eyes will thank you.) So of course I was like, GET IT TOGETHER, INNIE.

This is a kid's book, though, so there's only so much blackballing before the whole wacky mess sorts itself out. And the North End is awesome. I wish I didn't have to share it with every tourist, ever.

[Madeline Henricksen]

Trouble arises when an Italian girl named Innie and her cousin Teresa go to book club. Suddenly, a silver teapot goes missing, food goes missing, money goes missing, and Innie is blamed. Innie investigates and tries to prove to the teachers that she is innocent. Will Innie find the culprit before she is thrown out of book club?

I liked this book because it was a very interesting mystery and I am crazy over mysteries.

[Katt Hansen]

I wasn't sure about this one at first - a different girl, a different historical period. Trying to get into the story with no basis (no doll) to guide one felt strange after reading so many other American Girl books. But then I came to really like Innie - and to wish that she had a doll of her own. I loved meeting her family and her world as she solved the puzzle of thefts at the Settlement House.

[H.R.H. Carpathia]

If Amrican Girl released more in this series I would read every book. Excellent for people of all ages that enjoy history and mystery. These books always have something new to teach and in the most wonderful of ways. This one is by far one of my favorites with a cast of interesting characters in a setting I enjoyed learning about. And who would not enjoy a group of girls sneaking beneath a graveyard to solve a mystery. Also a round of applause for the artist(s) of these wonderful books.

[Holly Green]

Really great book. Very adventurous and scary at moments. Author was very descriptive. Probably the 2nd best of the series so far (The Smuggler’s Treasure being the best). Very unique book. I don’t know how to describe it, but I know whoever reads this will enjoy it.

[Evelynn]

3.5 stars.

I guess one thing kept getting my goat with this book was the repeated Catholic theme (no offense to my Catholic friends!). But it was mostly the writing style. It drove me a little nuts. And the ending felt slightly anticlimactic.

[Renee]

One of my favorites in the American Girl History Mystery series! The time period is interesting, but I also like how the author wrote this book. It's believable and fun to read. This is a very well-written and great book!

[Marissa]

I love mystery books so this one was a good one to read. It kept me in and wasn't boring at all.

[Leo]

AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!

[Beka]

Though there were a ton of cringe-worthy moments, I still enjoyed this story. I liked the Innie and Matela characters especially.

[Meghan]

There were some inconsistencies with character development.

[Kristen Luppino]

I love American Girl stories. This was a fun mystery set in Boston with immigrants in the early 1900s.

[Kali Adams]

the boston marriage of it all… (edith guerrier and edith brown)