ELLEN SCHWARTZ

A trio of friends must solve an unsettling mystery in this historical chapter book set in Boston in 1785, just after the American Revolutionary War. At a time when Jews were not allowed to have synagogues, flyers appear accusing the Hays family—a prominent Jewish family in Boston—of breaking the law because they invite people into their home for Sabbath services. Cousins Catherine Hays and Judah Touro and their friend Joseph Revere—son of the famous Paul Revere—have to find out who posted the flyers and strike a blow for religious freedom. Catherine is a budding artist, and her keen eye helps to identify the culprit. The young protagonists and their families are based on actual people who lived in Boston at the time.

 

"Characters speak with just the right syntax for their 18th-century setting, with Lucas’ detailed black-and-white illustrations bringing scenes to life; Schwartz has crafted a fascinating window into the era. A thought-provoking and insightful historical mystery."

—Kirkus Reviews

 

Apples and Honey Press, 2026

ISBN 9781681157207, 78 pages, hardcover, ages 7 to 9