Last in a Long Line of Rebels

Gr 4–7—When Lou overhears her parents discussing the fate of the Civil War-era house that is their ancestral home—the ramshackle building is slated for demolition—Lou's devoted friend Benzer joins her in a quest to try to save the historic property. They attempt to get it listed on the historic registry and to find a cache of gold alleged to be hidden on the estate. In their search for the gold and the history of the home, they end up finding clues about Lou's ancestors who turn out to include slave owners, abolitionists, and a thief and murderer. As Lou fights to save her family home, she finds herself embroiled in the racism and injustice that are still prevalent in her small Tennessee town, learning that she is a rebel just like her colorful Mayhew ancestors. This lively mystery and coming-of-age story is told with grace and humor. Narrator Dorothy Dillingham Blue's girlish voice is perfectly suited for young Lou, and she has the Tennessee accent down pat.