Rosewood Secrets

ROSEWOOD SECRETS begins on the morning of Mary Elizabeth Baker's 9th birthday. The date is March 24, 1880. It ends one year later, on the evening of her 10th birthday. March 24 is also Queen Victoria's birthday, and that connection is special for a farmer's daughter. Mary Elizabeth is a thinker and a talker who likes to ask questions and find answers. She enjoys new experiences, especially if they are extraordinary, her favorite new word. From the cottage where she lives, Mary Elizabeth can see Rosewood Manor, high on a hill overlooking Hailey's Village. She would try to imagine what it might be like to be inside the manor. This was difficult, even for a practiced thinker like Mary Elizabeth, who had had no experience with manors. Through a set of unexpected events, Mary Elizabeth finds herself inside Rosewood Manor. It would be a year of extraordinary experiences ranging from new friends named Sam and Sarah, a governess, and a dress-up tea party to an omnibus ride and a mud puddle in London. Being inside Rosewood Manor brings new questions that need answers and secrets that need to be revealed. Would Mary Elizabeth, Sam and Sarah be able to complete the task? Would the results be happy or sad? Rosewood Secrets is written with elementary age readers in mind. There are mysteries to be solved but also a bit of romance and the sadness of a family tragedy. It also provides a historical glimpse into the social structure of 1880's England both in terms of class and gender. It would be a good choice for a class or group reading project. Enjoy unlocking Rosewood Secrets!