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Dorothea Graham Jensen
a book bubble about
The Riddle of Penncroft Farm
Children's Books
Author Insight
A Big Surprise in the Reel
When I was in grade school, everyone had to learn to dance the Virginia Reel. I remember the boys grumbling about this. I loved this dance, however, because our family used to dance it at celebratory family gathering while my mother played the piano. When I was trying to decide how to end my story, the Virginia Reel popped into my head. If you would like to try this dance, you will find instructions posted on both dorotheajensen.com (via website link on this page). (It is on the "Music, Songs, and Dances" page on both sites. (We danced this at the launch party for A BUSS FROM LAFAYETTE, by the way. Such fun!
Book Excerpt
The Riddle of Penncroft Farm
I made an awkward little bow in front of her, as we were supposed to when asking someone to dance the Virginia reel.
“Hullo, uh, Geordie,” she said self-consciously.
“Hullo, Patience,” I said, nodding at her name tag. “It’s a nice name, Patience. You shouldn’t be ashamed of it.”
“I guess I’m not anymore.” Smiling, she held out her hand.
As we took our places for the dance, the girls in the opposite line fluttered like a row of butterflies. I had to admit to myself that they looked . . . well, at least interesting in their long skirts and mobcaps. Curious to see if the line of boys was equally impressive, I glanced down to my right.
Yes, I thought, we boys look pretty authentic, too. Like me, they all had pants tucked into kneesocks to resemble breeches, neatly tied neck cloths, and black three-cornered hats made of construction paper. One boy had even managed to get a real tricorne, I noticed. Then he turned and I saw his face.
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