MIDNIGHT IN LONESOME HOLLOW
A KIT MYSTERY
American Girl Publishing
"Ernst does a fine job of showing not only the poverty of Appalachia during the Depression but also the ingenuity of its people. The mystery element is solid, but this works best as an evocation of time and place."
— Booklist
"This nicely paced mystery integrates historical information from the period into the story line well. Older American Girl and mystery fans will enjoy learning more about [one of] their favorite characters."
— School Library Journal
Midnight In Lonesome Hollow is Kathleen's second Kit mystery for American Girl, and the thirteenth of her twenty-five published books. This mystery is written for readers age 9 and up who enjoy children's historical fiction about the Great Depression.
Story Description
Kit is visiting Aunt Millie in 1934. When a professor arrives to study Kentucky mountain traditions, Kit is thrilled to help with her research--until it becomes clear that somebody doesn't want "outsiders" nosing around. Kit decides to find out who's making trouble...even if it means venturing into Lonesome Hollow in the dark of night.
Girls will enjoy solving the mystery right along with Kit. This book includes an illustrated “Looking Back” section to provide historical context.
Midnight In Lonesome Hollow is available as a 192-page softcover book and in an electronic version for the Barnes and Noble Nook.
What Others Are Saying
"Kit, the Depression-era heroine of the American Girl mystery series, is visiting her aunt in rural Kentucky when Professor Lucy Vanderpool arrives to do research on Appalachian basket weaving. She asks Kit to help her collect information, but it soon becomes clear that someone doesn't want strangers nosing around Lonesome Hollow.
At the same time, Kit is worried about her friend Fern. The county has threatened to send her to an orphanage, and Fern's older brother seems to have come up with a sketchy plan to earn money. Ernst does a fine job of showing not only the poverty of Appalachia during the Depression but also the ingenuity of its people. There is also a good deal about Kentucky's mining companies that used and abused their workers.
The mystery element is solid, but this works best as an evocation of time and place. The historical backdrop is bolstered by the back matter, which gives more detail in words and photos."
— American Library Association Booklist
"This nicely paced mystery integrates historical information from the period into the story line well. This title seamlessly places the well-developed American Girl character in a longer story...
Older American Girl and mystery fans will enjoy learning more about (one of) their favorite characters."picking up the clues, the novel is unlikely to be a first choice among mystery fans. However, those who love "American Girl" will be clamoring for it."
— School Library Journal
About The Author
Bestselling author Kathleen Ernst writes award-winning mysteries and historical fiction for adults and young readers. Her work has earned numerous honors, including multiple Edgar and Agatha mystery award nominations, and an Emmy for children's educational programming.
To date, readers have bought well over 750,000 audio, electronic, and printed copies of Kathleen's 25 published books. more>>
Related Blog Posts
Enjoy the author's insights about the story, characters, and settings.
Midnight In Lonesome Hollow: Story Behind The Story |
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I have always loved the southern Appalachian mountains. Although I’ve lived in Wisconsin for many years now, I went to college in West Virginia, spent many summers in western Maryland, and have enjoyed many hikes and... more>> |
Available From
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PAPERBACK |
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NOOK eBOOK PAPERBACK |
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PAPERBACK LIBRARY BINDING |
Author's Note
I dearly love the southern Appalachian Mountains. I lived in West Virginia for four years, and have wonderful memories of many visits to the region. When my editor and I talked about ideas for my second Kit mystery, it was easy to choose a Kentucky setting!
While doing research I traveled to the area where Kit's Aunt Millie lives. I had a fine time thinking about the many ways people responded to the Great Depression. It was fun to weave those things into a mystery for Kit to solve!
25 In 25 Giveaway
To celebrate the release of my 25th book, Traitor In The Shipyard: A Caroline Mystery, I'm thanking readers with a big 25 BOOKS IN 25 WEEKS GIVEAWAY.
In Week 5 of the giveaway three readers won free, first-edition, hardcover copies of Midnight In Lonesome Hollow, signed and personalized for each of them.
I'm announcing new giveaways almost every Sunday—and you could win! For details, visit my Facebook Author page or my Sites and Stories blog.
Book Goodies
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PREVIEW Get a sneak peak inside this book CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
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TEACHER'S GUIDE For teachers and homeschoolers CLICK TO DOWNLOAD |
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Keywords
Abandoned Mine, Ages 9 and up, American Girl, American Girl Company, Appalachian Mountains, Apple Hollow, Auntie Craig, Aunt Millie, Basketry, Baskets, Billy Zale, Blackberry Cove, Broom Corn, Bullfrogs, Buttermilk Biscuits, Carbide Lamp, Chestnuts, Chicago Illinois, Childrens Historical Fiction, Childrens Mystery, Churn Dasher, Cincinnati Ohio, Clete, Coal Mines, Corn Bread, Cy and Lester, Dictaphone, Dulcimer, Eastern Kentucky, Elmer Crabtree, Farmer's Home Journal, Feeting It, Fern Craig, Fiction, Fireflies, Folklorist, Forester, Fried Apples, Fried Trout, Ginseng, Girl Detective, Girl Reporter, Girl Sleuth, Grades 4 to 6, Great Depression, Harlan Craig, Hickory Nuts, Historical Fiction, Hutchins Sisters, Jodhpurs, Johnny Craig, Juvenile Fiction, Kathleen Ernst, Kentucky, Kentucky Agriculture, Kit, Kit Kittredge, Lonesome Branch, Lonesome Hollow, Lucy Vanderpool, Mamaw, Margaret Mildred Kittredge, Mineral Rights, Miss Lucy, Miss Myrtle, Myrtle Peabody, Mrs Peabody, Moonshine, Moonshiners, Mountain Hollow Coal Mine, Mountain Life, Mountain People, Mrs Skidmore, Mr. Tibbets, Mystery, Notebook, Outsiders, Palings, Parent-Teacher Association, Pawpaws, Peaceable, Peter Vanderpool, Plum Branch, Postmaster Tibbets, Professor Vanderpool, PTA, Robin Hood, Robinson Crusoe, Roy Skidmore, Sorghum Molasses, 'Sang Root, Shucky Beans, Smoked Ham, Talitha Crabtree, The Little Engine That Could, Timber Sales, Traveling Library, Turnip Greens, Typewriter, Vesta Skidmore, Visiting Library, Waste-Not, Want-Not Almanac, Whiskey, 1934
