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Tales of Young Americans
The Scarlet Stockings Spy
In The Scarlet Stockings Spy Trinka Hakes Noble has masterfully created a heroine who is as brash and idealistic as her young country. Young Maddy Rose teaches the reader that the role of patriot has nothing to do with age and everything to do with heart.
48 pages, Hardcover
First published October 14, 2004
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291 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews
March 20, 2020
Oh. My. Beautiful! The illustrations in this book are gorgeous. You really must pick up the book some time to peruse it's pages. And if you've gotten that far ... I mean, you might as well just read the story. *wink
The story is a drama with some action scenes and touching moments, and follows a brother and sister that have a spy system together.
Ages: 5 - 10
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The story is a drama with some action scenes and touching moments, and follows a brother and sister that have a spy system together.
Ages: 5 - 10
**Like my reviews? Then you should follow me! Because I have hundreds more just like this one. With each review, I provide a Cleanliness Report, mentioning any objectionable content I come across so that parents and/or conscientious readers (like me) can determine beforehand whether they want to read a book or not. Content surprises are super annoying, especially when you’re 100+ pages in, so here’s my attempt to help you avoid that!
So Follow or Friend me here on GoodReads! You’ll see my updates as I’m reading and know which books I’m liking and what I’m not finishing and why. You’ll also be able to utilize my library for looking up titles to see whether the book you’re thinking about reading next has any objectionable content or not. From swear words, to romance, to bad attitudes (in children’s books), I cover it all!
May 30, 2023
This is a bittersweet story of a young girl who passes along information to Washington's army during the American Revolutionary War. Her brother is a soldier, and they have a secret plan to watch the movements of ships in the harbor. Maddy Rose hangs out her washing once a week. Her unmentionables, petticoats, and stockings, hung out in a certain order, will tell her brother which ships in the harbor are friendly, and which are British ships likely carrying weapons. One day her brother doesn't come, and Maddy Rose worries that something may have happened to him. Another soldier spy comes in his place, and gives Maddy Rose the terrible news. Her brother has died fighting for freedom. Maddy Rose uses the scraps of his uniform to sew a new American flag, finding hope in the cause he died defending.
I really loved the rich history in this picture book! It was interesting to learn a little more about the Colonial days of America, and get this snippet of history from the Revolutionary War.
Maddy Rose is so brave and determined. Even when the very worst happens, she does not lose heart. I found her story inspiring!
I loved the beautiful artwork! Every page is full of warm colors and energetic characters.
The text is pretty lengthy for a picture book, and the subject material is not for small children.
I would recommend this book for ages 8-11.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
I really loved the rich history in this picture book! It was interesting to learn a little more about the Colonial days of America, and get this snippet of history from the Revolutionary War.
Maddy Rose is so brave and determined. Even when the very worst happens, she does not lose heart. I found her story inspiring!
I loved the beautiful artwork! Every page is full of warm colors and energetic characters.
The text is pretty lengthy for a picture book, and the subject material is not for small children.
I would recommend this book for ages 8-11.
Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a free and honest review. All the opinions stated here are my own true thoughts, and are not influenced by anyone.
January 26, 2020
As the threat of a British offensive looms over Philadelphia in 1777, young Maddy Rose, whose father had died fighting for the American cause in the Battle of Princeton, does her part for the patriots, keeping watch on the harbor, and "reporting" her findings on her laundry-line. Building upon the game she and her older brother Jonathan, off with General Washington and his troops outside of the city, used to play, she uses a code to alert him to the kind of ships currently docked at the harbor. But after battle is engaged at Brandywine Creek, Jonathan fails to show up at his usual time...
A work of historical fiction for younger picture-book readers, The Scarlet Stockings Spy, part of Sleeping Bear Press's Tales of Young Americans series, seems inspired by the life of author Trinka Hakes Noble's own Revolutionary War-era ancestor, who was with General Washington's army during this period. It is a poignant reminder of the cost of war, and the sacrifices made for American freedom and statehood. The language veers occasionally into the histrionic (Maddy Rose sews "tears of grief and the clenched fist of defiance" into her flag), and the artwork wasn't really to my taste (a little too "photographic" for me), but even so, this was still a solidly engaging work about an important moment in history. Recommended to picture-book readers who are interested in the American Revolution, and enjoy historical fiction.
A work of historical fiction for younger picture-book readers, The Scarlet Stockings Spy, part of Sleeping Bear Press's Tales of Young Americans series, seems inspired by the life of author Trinka Hakes Noble's own Revolutionary War-era ancestor, who was with General Washington's army during this period. It is a poignant reminder of the cost of war, and the sacrifices made for American freedom and statehood. The language veers occasionally into the histrionic (Maddy Rose sews "tears of grief and the clenched fist of defiance" into her flag), and the artwork wasn't really to my taste (a little too "photographic" for me), but even so, this was still a solidly engaging work about an important moment in history. Recommended to picture-book readers who are interested in the American Revolution, and enjoy historical fiction.
April 3, 2018
Beautiful book. My girls loved the main character. But I 😭😭😭
June 6, 2020
“Even the smallest of citizens can play the largest of parts when the birth of a nation is at stake.” I normally do not read many children’s history stories, but this book was a fantastic read. The story is a somber tale of the modest contribution to the cause of freedom from one young girl in red stockings. The lesson here is that even children have big things to offer, if we take the time to look!
August 7, 2020
This is a beautifully illustrated historical picture book. It is well-written and keeps a reader's attention all the way to the end. The suspense is great and accurately portrays the feeling of what it must have been like for the colonists during the British occupation. The author weaves a beautiful story and the ending will really stick with you. Be sure to read the page before the story begins, for it tells where the author derives her ideas and the connection with her own American heritage. I think teachers and students will have lots of enjoyable discussions about this well-crafted literary treasure. I am surprised I have not come across this one before. It would be a wonderful addition to any library or lesson on the American Revolution. Highly recommended for 4th graders.
September 14, 2017
I stumbled upon this title while searching for a historical fiction picture book that took place during the American Revolutionary War. I was in search of a title similar to Pink and Say by Patricia Polacco to introduce my fourth graders to both the historical fiction genre, as well as give them a taste of our upcoming social studies curriculum. With some front-loading and content vocabulary, my students thoroughly enjoyed this read aloud, especially because they were able to connect with the age of Maddy Rose playing a crucial role of a Patriot rebel spy. I also intend to reread this with guided reading groups later in the year once we delve deeper into the Revolutionary War to discuss specific battles, locations, and tactics.
April 17, 2022
I'd give this book a three-and-a-half star rating. It was pretty interesting how this little spy carried secret messages to the Patriots, and the illustrations were absolutely beautiful! This book is really fun to read with the family.
February 10, 2017
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October 20, 2015
Meh, it's a mildly exciting story with a secret code that's briefly captivating. However, this book is sorely lacking any sort of source notes, bibliography, or suggested further readings.
December 3, 2019
Book Title: The Scarlet Stockings Spy (Tales of Young Americans)
Author/Illustrator: Trinka Hakes Noble
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 5.6
Book Summary:
Maddy Rose is a young girl, in Philadelphia in 1777, who uses a secret code to communicate with her brother the soldier as a spy for George Washington’s Army.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Voice- This book was written from the perspective of a colonist who risked their life to spy on the British and help the Patriot Army. I would read this book aloud and then encourage students to write their own historical fiction story by researching a new perspective on a historical event and then write their own story about the challenges the person faced and the risks they took. For instance: Pretend you are a Pioneer during Westward expansion, write a journal for three days on your journey to the West. It gives students a way to connect to history and put themselves in the shoes of their character in a way that gives their character a voice. I would encourage students to really help their reader to understand who their character is and what it's like for them as they are traveling west. I would help students to connect to the idea that our characters have their own voice and that voice may be very different from your own, but they still can represent real events, feelings, and problems.
Other suggestions:
This book helps students to connect to life in the colonies during this time period, as well as, provides examples of figurative language with literary devices to help mentor students in their writing using similes and metaphors. This book would be a great way to encourage students to edit their writing to include similes and metaphors.
This book would be used in conjunction with Katie’s Trunk and Samuel’s Choice to teach multiple perspectives of the American Revolution for different types of people.
Author/Illustrator: Trinka Hakes Noble
Reading Level: LG
Book Level: 5.6
Book Summary:
Maddy Rose is a young girl, in Philadelphia in 1777, who uses a secret code to communicate with her brother the soldier as a spy for George Washington’s Army.
Bookshelf Mentor Writing Trait:
Voice- This book was written from the perspective of a colonist who risked their life to spy on the British and help the Patriot Army. I would read this book aloud and then encourage students to write their own historical fiction story by researching a new perspective on a historical event and then write their own story about the challenges the person faced and the risks they took. For instance: Pretend you are a Pioneer during Westward expansion, write a journal for three days on your journey to the West. It gives students a way to connect to history and put themselves in the shoes of their character in a way that gives their character a voice. I would encourage students to really help their reader to understand who their character is and what it's like for them as they are traveling west. I would help students to connect to the idea that our characters have their own voice and that voice may be very different from your own, but they still can represent real events, feelings, and problems.
Other suggestions:
This book helps students to connect to life in the colonies during this time period, as well as, provides examples of figurative language with literary devices to help mentor students in their writing using similes and metaphors. This book would be a great way to encourage students to edit their writing to include similes and metaphors.
This book would be used in conjunction with Katie’s Trunk and Samuel’s Choice to teach multiple perspectives of the American Revolution for different types of people.
September 4, 2024
It's 1777 in Philadelphia, and young Maddy Rose is helping the Patriot's cause in a way that no passing redcoat would ever think of. By hanging laundry. She would hang her laundry in a certain pattern, warning militiamen of any suspicious activity at the British port. A scarlet stocking hanging toe up meant a foreign merchant ship was at port. When the toe was down, it meant that the ship was suspicious, and needed to be watched. Join her as she sends signals with her wash and helps the minutemen and Patriot military with her clothesline.
This book was absolutely amazing! I felt engulfed in the story from the first page. I totally felt for Maddy throughout the story as plot twists came and went.
To top all of the wonderful things about this book off, the icing on the cake is definitely the art! The illustrations are so so gorgeous! The paintings are so beautiful and capture light and shadows so well!
Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!
This book was absolutely amazing! I felt engulfed in the story from the first page. I totally felt for Maddy throughout the story as plot twists came and went.
To top all of the wonderful things about this book off, the icing on the cake is definitely the art! The illustrations are so so gorgeous! The paintings are so beautiful and capture light and shadows so well!
Thank you for reading my review! Follow @bronteandwilder on Instagram for fun book recommendations!
September 14, 2021
4.5 stars
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the artwork and the way the story was told. It's for a little more advanced of a reader, but one that's not ready for chapter books yet. I was actually surprised at how advanced some of the vocabulary was, and some of the sentences were quite fun.
My only complaint is that it makes a big deal about the spy stuff, but then that never ends up important. Even if it had just been a minor help, that would have been enough. I mean, it does imply what she's doing is helpful, but nothing ever happens with her intel.
I enjoyed everything else about the book. Like I said, the artwork is gorgeous and fits well the serious nature of the book. The writing is both fun but also isn't afraid to reflect the harsh realities of life at this time. I just wish there had been even one line about how Maddy Rose's spying was helpful, even in a minor sense. That's the only thing holding this book back from being five stars.
I really enjoyed this book. I loved the artwork and the way the story was told. It's for a little more advanced of a reader, but one that's not ready for chapter books yet. I was actually surprised at how advanced some of the vocabulary was, and some of the sentences were quite fun.
My only complaint is that it makes a big deal about the spy stuff, but then that never ends up important. Even if it had just been a minor help, that would have been enough. I mean, it does imply what she's doing is helpful, but nothing ever happens with her intel.
I enjoyed everything else about the book. Like I said, the artwork is gorgeous and fits well the serious nature of the book. The writing is both fun but also isn't afraid to reflect the harsh realities of life at this time. I just wish there had been even one line about how Maddy Rose's spying was helpful, even in a minor sense. That's the only thing holding this book back from being five stars.
March 31, 2019
I read this book for the ATY 2019 Reading Challenge Week 52: an intriguing title.
It is great that author Trinka Hakes Noble pursues history from her families historical roots. This makes it even more alive for her readers. Again, the story is beautifully illustrated by Robert Papp. Maddie Rose lives in Philadelphia with her widowed mother. She develops a code with her brother, who is serving under George Washington, to let the troops know what is happening in the harbor. Cleverly, how she hangs her laundry can be a real help to the war effort for the Patriots. Could you use your laundry to save to day or the nation?
It is great that author Trinka Hakes Noble pursues history from her families historical roots. This makes it even more alive for her readers. Again, the story is beautifully illustrated by Robert Papp. Maddie Rose lives in Philadelphia with her widowed mother. She develops a code with her brother, who is serving under George Washington, to let the troops know what is happening in the harbor. Cleverly, how she hangs her laundry can be a real help to the war effort for the Patriots. Could you use your laundry to save to day or the nation?
May 31, 2020
The pictures are pretty, but they distract me from the text. How the girl communicates what she knows is almost clear, but how the soldiers gather and use the information is very unclear to me. I don't feel the girl's individuality much... though I'm sure other readers will say that's one of the best aspects of the book. It's not real history, either. I just can't recommend it.
(I do, however, have to alert you to a different wonderful book by the author, Apple Tree Christmas... I've loved that for decades. And I will consider more by the author.)
(I do, however, have to alert you to a different wonderful book by the author, Apple Tree Christmas... I've loved that for decades. And I will consider more by the author.)
July 24, 2018
This is a wonderful historical fiction picture book. The language is marvelous, filled with great vocabulary and sentence fluency. The illustrations are paintings that are all beautiful to look at on their own. The story is poignant and heroic. Yes, I really like this book. It shows that life can be hard but we all can play an important and courageous part. I think this would be a great introduction to historical fiction for my students and a great book to read about war when we do WWII. Even though this is about the Revolutionary War, some themes sadly connect them all.
October 15, 2021
My trio of 8-year-olds rated this as high as they could. It captivated them from the first page to the last. I'm sure that is partially due to the high visual quality of the book with its full-bleed, colorful, and realistic paintings. The realism helped them feel more connected to this faraway time period than many of the other books we have read.
We have been slowly reading through the Tales of Young Americans series and so far have found them to be juvenile historical fiction of superior quality.
We have been slowly reading through the Tales of Young Americans series and so far have found them to be juvenile historical fiction of superior quality.
April 18, 2021
Historical Fiction
Grades
I find the Revolutionary War so fascinating, so I was very eager to read this book! I was not disappointed, this book was inspiring! I loved the book because it features a girl who is a Patriot spy, and it proves that just because someone is young doesn't mean that they cannot have big and important roles in society and history!
Grades
I find the Revolutionary War so fascinating, so I was very eager to read this book! I was not disappointed, this book was inspiring! I loved the book because it features a girl who is a Patriot spy, and it proves that just because someone is young doesn't mean that they cannot have big and important roles in society and history!
December 9, 2020
I enjoyed the illustrations of Robert Papp so much I did a search for books that he had illustrated. While doing so, I found this one. It had a special appeal for me. I liked the story, but I especially enjoyed the illustrations. I'm looking forward to finding more books illustrated by Papp.
July 2, 2021
Great book for American Revolution study
This book is sweet and sad we homeschool and are studying the American Revolution and love living history fiction and non fiction books. this book is great my kids wanted me to read ovee and over
This book is sweet and sad we homeschool and are studying the American Revolution and love living history fiction and non fiction books. this book is great my kids wanted me to read ovee and over
July 20, 2021
Stories about times of war are hard to tell and stories for children about war times are even harder to tell. Trinka Hakes Noble did a wonderful job in telling this story of a little girl during the Revolutionary War.
March 1, 2025
A tale of courage and sacrifice during the Revolutionary War ad a brother and sister team develop a series of coded messages right under the British noses to send and receive information to help in the victory over the British.
August 14, 2017
We really enjoyed the artwork. Beautifully done!!!! The story was surprisingly sad for a children's book.
December 12, 2018
“Even the smallest of citizens can play the largest of parts when the birth of a nation is at stake.” Devotion, sacrifice, patriotism, during the American Revolution.
February 21, 2019
A well-told story of a young girls' bravery and creative support for the Patriots during the American Revolution. The pictures are beautiful and realistic with vibrant color.
February 14, 2020
My 3rd graders enjoyed this read aloud! Beautifully illustrated! Ignited a desire to learn more about the Culper Spy Ring.
April 16, 2020
i read three of THN's reads in this KU time ... great read. love the illustrations. well done. creative and fun. i wanna read more. very cool.
May 17, 2020
Looking forward to sharing this book as a jumping off spot this summer for our Founding Fathers unit!
February 4, 2022
I love when you can feel the impact of lives affected by war in just a few pages. Love this book.
March 6, 2022
This is a great book for middle school history class. My kids enjoyed the book and the STEM project we did with it.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 54 reviews