The Detective's Assistant

February 9, 2015
In the summer of 1859, a recently orphaned girl named Nell is left with her Aunt Kitty in Chicago, her sole living relative. Less than keen on caring for a “gangly urchin,” Kitty immediately begins looking for other living arrangements for 11-year-old Nell (she also blames Nell’s father for her own husband’s death). But Aunt Kitty relents after Nell foils a pickpocket, and Nell begins to help out at the boardinghouse where Aunt Kitty lives, as well as with Aunt Kitty’s work. And what a job it is: Kitty is a detective for Pinkerton’s National Detective Agency (the character is based on Kate Warne, the first female detective in the U.S.). As Kitty and Nell root out thieves and murderers, Nell exchanges letters with her best friend Jessa, whose family used the Underground Railroad to escape slave hunters. Hannigan (Cupcake Cousins) makes skillful use of period details, bringing the novel’s threads together in a nail-biting conclusion. Nell is a fearless, no-nonsense heroine, and her dry-witted narration drives this rollicking historical escapade. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer Mattson, Andrea Brown Literary Agency.

February 1, 2015

Gr 5-8-When 11-year-old Nell is unceremoniously left on her Aunt Kitty's doorstep, she is whisked into a new life of treacherous detective work. Though Aunt Kitty wants to send the girl to a suitable orphanage, Nell has some ingenious ways of tracking down suspects that are great assets to her aunt's detective work. While the child's quick wit helps with securing confessions and truths from suspects (in decidedly unorthodox ways), she encounters difficulty when attempting to solve the mystery of her uncle's murder-and how her father was involved. Nell is an irrepressible character: spirited, thoughtful, and intuitive. Horrifying details about American slavery, such as lynchings and kidnappings, are woven into the narrative through letters exchanged between Nell and her African American friend, Jemma. Although there are plenty of madcap adventures, grief and the longing for a home are at the forefront of the story. Although tales of children softening the hard hearts of lonely adults are a dime a dozen, the inevitably changed relationship between Nell and her aunt is remarkably free of mawkish sentiment. An extensive author's note about the real Kate Warne, America's first female detective, and the Pinkerton Detective Agency is included, along with answers to ciphers scattered throughout the book and resources for further information about the era. Letters between Nell and Jemma are written in legible penmanship that can be read by readers unfamiliar with script. VERDICT Recommend to readers who enjoy adventure, history, and stories featuring independent, strong-minded girls.-Jennifer Schultz, Fauquier County Public Library, Warrenton, VA

Copyright 2015 School Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

February 1, 2015
In 1859 Chicago, 11-year-old orphaned Nell strives to make herself indispensable to her mysterious aunt. How else can she avoid being sent to an orphanage? But Aunt Kitty seems eager to be rid of her unexpected charge, and Nell soon discovers why: Aunt Kitty is actually Kate Warne, the first female private eye employed by the Pinkerton National Detective Agency. A series of mishaps keeps Nell firmly at her aunt's side, until Nell herself becomes a key player in madcap investigations involving disguises and false identities. Nell and Kate solve one mystery after another, even successfully protecting the new president, Abraham Lincoln, from an early assassination attempt. Meanwhile, Nell's correspondence with her best friend, Jemma, helps her to uncover the mystery of her own family, their involvement with the Underground Railroad, and the tragedies that estranged Aunt Kitty and orphaned Nell. As unlikely as all these scenarios are, Hannigan's quick pace and Nell's spunky voice successfully suspend readers' disbelief, and the author manages to pack an amazing amount of historical tidbits in along the way. A key to the playful ciphers embedded in Nell's letters follows the story. A rousing fictional account of the remarkable career of a pioneering woman. (author's note, sources, further reading) (Historical fiction. 9-12)

COPYRIGHT(2015) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

Starred review from May 1, 2015
Grades 4-7 *Starred Review* After 11-year-old Nell Warne's family drops dead, one after another, she turns in desperation to her aunt Kate. But Kate Warne isn't in the market for a long-lost nieceshe believes Nell's father murdered her beloved husband, and besides, as the first female detective at Pinkerton's National Detective Agency, she is too busy working undercover to care for a child. Determined Nell has other ideas, and soon Kate has no choice but to let her do the odd detecting chore to pay for her keep. And she is awfully good at the job. Hannigan keeps a strong narrative hand on the several stories she has going on simultaneously: the mysteries surrounding the deaths of Nell's father and uncle; Nell's correspondence with her best friend, who traveled the Underground Railroad to safety in Canada; and several Pinkerton adventures that involve chicanery, American history, and lots of excitement. An author's note explains that Kate Warne was a real person who did many of the things described in the book, making this a great title for promoting women's history. But even if Kate were purely fictional, Nellstrong-willed yet scared, tough but needymakes a solid heroine. The terrific cover will drawn 'em in.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)