Patsy's Discovery (Daughters of Liberty) - Softcover

Grade 3-5. In these series titles set in Philadelphia in 1776, 12-year-old Patsy Black and her family run Black's Tavern. Although some of the events surrounding the Revolution are mentioned in the first book, the story mostly centers around the daily lives of the Black family. Each mishap is quickly corrected and problems are usually resolved immediately. When a grumpy neighbor confiscates their puppy, Patsy and her friend Barbara form a club called the Daughters of Liberty to do "good deeds," beginning with the liberation of the dog. While Patsy's mother is having trouble giving birth, that same neighbor is found motionless on the floor. A doctor is conveniently summoned and both women recover. Even the ending is pat; the two girls find a note, decide that it might be important, deliver it to the Continental Congress meeting at the State House, and after being thanked, stroll away. The strength of this book lies in Massie's vivid descriptions of clothing, buildings, and items used in the late 1700s. Several events that occurred in Discovery are briefly mentioned in Declaration to bring readers up to date. Patsy encounters a mysterious man who appears to be a spy. She sneaks around the tavern and dresses in boy's clothing to find out more about the stranger. References and ties to the Revolution are much stronger here, and solutions to problems are not as facile as in the first book.?Mary M. Hopf, Los Angeles Public Library
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