Overview

"Age range 8 to 12 Elsie Mae has long treasured summers with her grandparents in the Okefenokee Swamp, so she is devastated to hear that a shipping company plans to build a canal right through it. What will that mean for the people and animals that call the swamp home? So she writes a letter directly to President Franklin Roosevelt himself and sets off to enjoy what may be her last happy summer there with her new dog, Huck. But when she arrives, she discovers a team of hog bandits who have been stealing from the swamper families. When her cousin Henry James, who dreams of one day becoming a traveling preacher like his daddy, shows up, Elsie doesn't think things could get worse.  But she devises a plan to use Henry and his ""Hallelujahs"" to help stop the thieves—and maybe just make enough noise to gain Roosevelt's attention…"

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9781492640226

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Reviews

Our spunky protagonist takes the reader on countless high-energy adventures through the marsh and eventually learns that there are more important matters than heroism. Set in 1933, this piece of historical fiction gives a perspective of life on the Okefenokee, and the author's note provides context for the real-life events like President Roosevelt's Executive Order that lead to its National Wildlife Refuge status. - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books The period details, unusual setting, light dialect, well developed characters, and the affirming, gradual progression of Elsie Mae and Henry James' friendship makes for an engrossing story. An author's note offers more insight into the real story of FDR's protection of the swamp. - Booklist Cavanagh's sweet and engaging historical fiction style perfectly captures the special quality of life in the Okefenokee, from 'gators to biscuits to good neighbors. Elsie Mae is a strong, complicated heroine, surrounded by complex characters. The novel also does a good job highlighting the complications of federal conservation for those who live in and use a wild place. - School Library Journal Cavanaugh weaves an engaging story with characters you immediately fall in love with. The text offers a poignant window into the customs and lifestyle of the swampers who lived there in the 1930s. Written with humor and sensitivity and reflecting the vernacular of the time, this book would be a great intro to a lesson on the National Wildlife Refuge system, conservation, and preservation. - School Library Connection Gators, huckleberry pie, and sweet tea on the porch are all part of the swamper way of life. Elsie Mae is spunky, headstrong, and kind... Swamp magic. - Kirkus

Gators, huckleberry pie, and sweet tea on the porch are all part of the swamper way of life. Elsie Mae is spunky, headstrong, and kind... Swamp magic. - Kirkus

Author Information

Nancy J. Cavanaugh has a BS in education and an MA in curriculum and instruction with multiple published works. She was a teacher for more than fifteen years and currently works as a Library Media Specialist at an elementary school. Nancy lives in Tarpon Springs, FL with her husband and daughter. Visit www.nancyjcavanaugh.com

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