Audacity Jones to the Rescue

Sometimes heroes wear button up boots.

It’s 1910 and Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for an adventure to break up the monotony of life at Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. True, Audie has the best of friends, a clever cat companion, and plenty of books to read. Still, she longs for some excitement, like the characters in the novels she so loves.

When the mysterious Commodore Crutchfield visits the school and whisks Audie off to Washington, DC, she knows she’s in for the journey of a lifetime. But soon, it becomes clear that the Commodore has unsavory plans—plans that involve the president of the United States and a sinister kidnapping plot. Can Audie save the day before it’s too late?

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Awards

  • Amazon Best Historical Fiction for Kids
  • Amazon Best Book of the Year
  • Washington State Book Awards nomination

Introducing Audacity Jones!

Audacity Jones to the Rescue

Sometimes heroes wear button up boots.

It’s 1910 and Audacity Jones is an eleven-year-old orphan who aches for an adventure to break up the monotony of life at Miss Maisie’s School for Wayward Girls. True, Audie has the best of friends, a clever cat companion, and plenty of books to read. Still, she longs for some excitement, like the characters in the novels she so loves.

When the mysterious Commodore Crutchfield visits the school and whisks Audie off to Washington, DC, she knows she’s in for the journey of a lifetime. But soon, it becomes clear that the Commodore has unsavory plans—plans that involve the president of the United States and a sinister kidnapping plot. Can Audie save the day before it’s too late?

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Reviews

★ “It’s 1910, and Audacity Jones is living in a struggling home for “wayward girls” in Swayzee, Ind., when a frequent donor, Commodore Crutchfield, arrives seeking a volunteer for a secret mission. Sharp-witted and well-read, Audie has her doubts about a man “who seemed to have no idea that mainsails were never lashed together with ropes” but she also has a taste for adventure. Larson’s entertaining narration shifts attention among multiple characters amid the unfolding mystery of what, exactly, the Commodore is planning. First in a series, Larson’s thriller deftly mixes humor, heart-pounding moments, and a strongly evoked historical setting-it’s truly a story with something for everyone.” —Publishers Weekly (starred review)

★ “Newbery Honor author Larson’s series starter is just the ticket for readers who crave adventure and mystery as much as 11-year-old Audacity Jones, an intrepid, well-read, positive-minded orphan. . .[the] story’s themes of trust, friendship, and good manners will resonate with many. Audacity’s charm and smarts make this historical adventure a winner.” —Jeanne Fredriksen, (starred review)

“Readers will cheer Audacity’s ingenuity and bravery as they relish every moment of her adventures. Highly recommended.” —School Library Journal

“Larson infuses her romp with plenty of humor, making Audacity, her cat, and friends into lively, likable characters. With characteristic deftness, she weaves her historical material seamlessly into the story; Audacity is a modern girl, but her modern time is 1910. She marvels at the new automobiles that are replacing horses as transportation. The story’s focus on Audacity’s remarkable cat adds just another element of charm. Clever, funny, and sweet in equal measures.” —Kirkus Reviews