The Mysterious Lopsided Letter

"A trio of friends in 1785 Boston must solve an unsettling mystery.

Joseph is often teased about the exploits of his famous father, Paul Revere; meanwhile, Judah Touro is quick to make clear he’s a Patriot, in large part because his late father had been a Loyalist during the Revolution. Judah and his family live with his cousin Catherine’s family, and the three children find joy, acceptance, and fun in their clubhouse shed. Catherine’s father, Moses Michael Hays, invites Jewish families into his home on the Sabbath, as synagogues aren’t permitted in Boston. When printed flyers circulate stating that Moses Hays has insulted Christianity with his unlawful gatherings of Jewish people, the children are appalled and determined to find the culprit. Incidents involving unlikely red herrings leave them no closer to answers. But Catherine studies the flyers carefully, noting the lopsided, slanted “J’s.” When she remembers where she previously saw them, the suspect is clear, but the children must find a way to catch him. Characters speak with just the right syntax for their 18th-century setting, with Lucas’ detailed black-and-white illustrations bringing scenes to life; Schwartz has crafted a fascinating window into the era. As explained in the backmatter, the young protagonists and their family members are based on actual people, and Boston law did in fact prohibit Jews from building synagogues. All characters present white.

A thought-provoking and insightful historical mystery."

—Kirkus Reviews

"In 1785 Boston, Catherine Hays, her cousin Judah , and their friend Joseph Revere, son of Paul Revere, play together in the clubhouse in the backyard of the Hays’ home. One day flyers are posted all over Boston protesting the Jewish services held in the home of Moses Michael Hays, Boston’s most prominent Jewish citizen who is Catherine’s father and Judah’s uncle. The flyers claim the gatherings are “unlawful” and that Moses Hays has “insulted Christianity.” While the grownups are busy discussing what should be done, Catherine, Joseph, and Judah act, determined to tear down every flyer they can find, discover who is responsible, and confront them.

Book One in the new Liberty Clubhouse series, this transitional chapter book takes readers on a fast-paced mystery though Boston. It is set in a period when Jews lacked full rights as citizens, without the right to vote, hold office, or even build a synagogue in Boston. Schwartz presents the topics of religious prejudice and religious freedom in a digestible story for readers in second to fourth grade. Young readers will recognize themselves in the characters, despite the 240 years that separate them. Black-and-white illustrations add details of the historical setting and clothing. A historic map of Boston, with the sites the children visit on their quest marked, will help ground readers as well as be fun. Backmatter includes “Fact or Fiction?,” “May I pour you some tea?,” “By the Numbers” (which includes the fun fact that Joseph Revere had 15 brothers and sisters!), “What did kids do for fun in 1784?,” and “Learn to Curtsy or Bow.” This is not only a good introduction to the period, but an excellent way to introduce religious tolerance."

—Historical Novel Society