The Riddle of Penncroft Farm

Children's Books

synopsis

Synopsis

2014 Purple Dragonfly 1st Prize Winner, Historical Fiction; International Reading Association Teachers' Choices Selection. ". . .a wonderful book that melds both past and present together... This novel is a perfect example of historical fiction.” - Monroe County Library System. Young Lars Olafson moves from Minnesota with his parents to Penncroft Farm, the old family farm near Valley Forge, Pennsylvania. Lars is miserable until he meets Geordie, a boy whose stories of the Revolutionary War are as exciting as those of an eyewitness. Then Lars is faced with a mystery linked to the Revolution, and Geordie’s ghostly tales are his only chance of solving it. One reviewer said: ". . . two terrific stories are intertwined nicely and come together in a satisfying conclusion. Not only is the history presented in an interesting and painless manner, but also readers should come away eager to read more about this period. Middle graders are in store for a real treat with this offering." –School Library Journal, Elizabeth Mellett, Brookline Public Library, MA (THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM is available in paperback and e-book editions.)

bio

Author Biography

Dorothea Jensen is proud to be one of a very few people who has boarded a pirate ship and attacked a Viking vessel manned by real Vikings wearing horns and furs. She was born in Boston, but grew up in Chillicothe, Illinois, site of the Viking adventure. She then earned a BA in English from Carleton College and an MA in Secondary Education from the University of New Mexico. She has served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in South America, taught middle and high school English, tutored refugees in ESL, written grant proposals for various arts organizations, written a play performed in Noh style, and raised three children. Her first historical novel for young readers, THE RIDDLE OF PENNCROFT FARM, has been used in classrooms for many years as an enrichment resource for kids studying the American Revolution. Her next novel, A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, is set in 1825 in the small town in New Hampshire where she has lived since 1991. Dorothea also writes modern Christmas stories in verse. Modeled on the 19th century classic poem, "A Visit from St. Nicholas", these award-winning Santa's Izzy Elves story poems feature decidedly 21st century elves savvy in modern technology.

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Author Insight

True Confession!

When I started researching for this story, I found the apple variety "Seek-No-Further" in an old book called PENNSYLVANIA AGRICULTURE AND COUNTRY LIFE, 1640-1840 (where I also found the farm implement called a RIDDLE). It was listed with varieties of apples raised in early Pennsylvania. Recently I searched the internet for more information about this kind of fruit. I found that its origin in America was not until 1796 in Westfield, Massachusetts, and it was mainly grown in New England. Hmmm. Then I discovered that Seek-No-Further apples were raised in Wales (UK) since the 1700s.There it was called Seek-No-Further by English speakers. Welsh speakers called it Gwell Na Mil (Better Than A Thousand). OK. Apparently there were a number of Welsh settlers in Pennsylvania, hence the town names like Bala Cynwyd and Bryn Mawr. I choose to believe that one of these Welshmen (or women) brought Seek-No-Further apple seeds to PA in the early 18th century. Therefore, Geordie's family could raise them at the time of the Revolution, and a road could be called Seek-No-Further Pike. Whew! Now I can sleep nights.

Book Excerpt

The Riddle of Penncroft Farm

Dad replied, “Yeah, and it’s easy to get lost out here. Instead of coming to nice, square corners like in the Midwest, these little country roads snake all over the place. And they’ve got screwy names, like Seek-No-Further Pike.”

I perked up at the mention of pike. Catching walleyed and northern pike was my specialty. So were puns. “Seek-No-Further Pike? Is that what they called Zebulon when he retired from exploring, or does it mean the fishing season’s over?”

My double pun got double the usual groan from my parents.

“Seek-no-further was the name of an apple grown around here a couple of centuries ago,” Mom explained.

“And it’s pike as in turnpike, Lars. Seek-No-Further Pike is the road that goes past Penncroft Farm,” Dad went on. “It runs all the way to Valley Forge. By the way, Cass says there are bike paths and picnic places up there now. Seems ironic to go to Valley Forge for fun, though.”

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Dorothea Graham Jensen

The Riddle of Penncroft Farm

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

True Confession!

Book Excerpt

The Riddle of Penncroft Farm

Comment on this Bubble