Radical Red

School Library Journal

Gr 5-8-A gripping story of women's rights, set in Albany, New York in 1894. A chance encounter between Connor O'Shea, 12, and Miss Bertha Hall, one of ``Aunt Susan's girls,'' changes the lives of the girl and her mother forever. Susan B. Anthony is in town to convince the state constitutional convention that women are entitled to vote. Connor (and her mother's) feminist sympathies grow as her father, the sergeant of the capitol police, becomes increasingly antagonistic. He isn't able to vote, either, since he can't read; but he is happy to rely on his friend Senator Phelan to guide him, and gets abusive when his wife and daughter disagree. By focusing on this one small episode in the history of women's suffrage, Duffy not only shows the dedication and hard work involved but also the contributions made by hundreds of humble, now-forgotten people. Radical Red is a well-crafted story, with strong characters and the kind of detail that bring the events to life. And, while it is an excellent addition to historical fiction collections, the subplot of family conflict makes it universal in appeal. Its major flaw is the puzzling absence of an author's note; readers deserve to know who is real and who is not, what Duffy's sources were, and what happened afterward.-Ann W. Moore, Schenectady County Public Library, NY