Product Description

In 1925, after witnessing the violent actions of some gangsters, twelve-year-old Emily accompanies her older sister on a trip to a luxurious hotel on the New Jersey shore but worries that the gangsters have come to the same hotel. Includes historical notes on the time period.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #920462 in Books
• Published on: 2003-03
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 176 pages

From Booklist
Gr. 4-6. This adventure story from the History Mysteries series takes place in 1925. After 12-year-old Emily witnesses gangsters beating up a neighborhood store owner, she fears that they will come after her, as they have threatened. She accepts a timely invitation to join her sister for a week at a posh seaside hotel in New Jersey and feels relieved to think that she is leaving her troubles back in Philadelphia. However, a glimpse of one of the gangsters on the boardwalk alerts her to danger and leads her to enlist the help of a new friend. Gwen, who wears braces because of polio, proves a resourceful ally. Together, they spy on the gangster and plot his downfall. Buckey succeeds in telling a suspenseful story with a likable heroine while communicating a great deal about 1920s attitudes, class distinctions, social problems, and dress. Attractive crosshatched drawings appear at chapter heads.The appended nonfiction section, "Looking Back: 1925," offers information about the period, small photos, and a map. Carolyn Phelan
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Customer Reviews

The best history mystery!!
This is one of the best books that I have ever read. It is at least as good as my other favorite in this series, "The Strange Case of Baby H." It is unbelievably good. I love this series, and Sarah Masters Buckley did an excellent job on this book.

A 12-year-old girl named Emily and her 18-year-old sister Dorothy are invited to spend a week at Jersey Shore with Dorothy's friend Bitsy during the Roaring 20's. Beforehand, Emily witnesses the attack of the kindly storekeeper by two thugs, who work for "Mr. M," the evil gangster. She is excited to get away from the danger for a relaxing week at the beach.

But Emily is frightened when she thinks she sees Mr. M. at the humongous Grand Atlantic Hotel where she's staying. With her new friend Gwen, she uncovers a dangerous plot to smuggle illegal liquor into the area - and this plan also puts Dorothy in danger! Emily solves the mystery and prevents Dorothy from being killed by the thugs.

This book is so, so good. Everybody should read it!

great book
My daughter is 15 and mostly reads the books in this series. This book was good and it takes place in an unusual time period. It's about 12-year-old Emily and her older sister who take a vacation to the New Jersey beaches and Emily suspects the gangsters she saw at home have followed her to their hotel. she meets a girl in a wheelchair named Gwen and they become friends.