Through the Looking Glass Children's Book Reviews
Laura Secord’s Brave Walk
Illustrator: June Lawrason
Nonfiction Picture Book
For ages 6 to 9
Second Story Press, 2000 ISBN: 978-1896764344
It was June 1812 and America has just declared war on the British colony in Canada. Laura Secord?s husband James was going to go to war and though she knew it was the right thing to do she was frightened. One day Laura heard the sound of battle. She gathered her children together and took them down to the cellar and then she went to see what was happening. What she saw was horrifying and on the battle field she found her husband James, wounded in two places. Luckily the Americans allowed her to bring James home and to tend to his wounds.
James? recovery was slow and months later he was still unable to get around. The British was losing ground and only one area, Beaver Dams, was left in their hands. One night American soldiers arrived at Laura?s door and demanded that she feed them. Knowing that she had no choice Laura made them food and thinking that perhaps they might say something useful, she gave them hard cider to drink. Laura stood outside the window and listened and sure enough the soldiers talked about an attack that was planned on Beaver Dams in just a few days time. Laura knew that there was only one thing for her to do. She was going to have to walk the nineteen miles through a swamp to warm the British of the coming attack.
This inspiring story serves as a grand tribute to a brave woman who risked a great deal for a cause she believed in. Well written and carefully researched, history comes alive on the pages as we watch Laura struggle through quick sand, face a rattle snake, walk for hours in blazing heat, and brave untold dangers.
