FICTION

How Kate Warne Saved President Lincoln: The Story Behind the Nation's First Female Detective

by Elizabeth VAN STEENWYK
illus. by Valentina Belloni. 32p. bibliog. notes. Albert Whitman. Mar. 2016. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9780807541173.
COPY ISBN
Gr 2–4—A picture book account of Kate Warne, who in 1856 was hired by Allen Pinkerton, founder of the famous detective agency and a protector of President Lincoln. As a detective, Warne used disguises and deceptions and was very successful in capturing lawbreakers. In 1861, she played a vital role in uncovering a plot to assassinate the president as he passed through Baltimore on his way to Washington, DC. In order to foil the plot, Lincoln followed Pinkerton's advice and slipped unannounced into the city. Warne traveled with the president-elect on the train from Philadelphia to Baltimore and played an essential part in Lincoln's safe arrival in the nation's capital. The pages are filled with colorful drawings, and readers will appreciate the wide-eyed, cartoonlike characters.
VERDICT An interesting story about a woman who played an important role in our nation's history.
Reviewed by Patricia Ann Owens, formerly with Illinois Eastern Community Colleges, Mt. Carmel
Kate Warne, notable for being Pinkerton's (and America's) first female detective, used her ingenuity to foil an assassination attempt against President Lincoln. The straightforward text explains Warne's work and importance, including logistical details that will satisfy young readers' curiosity. Lively graphics use clean lines and patterned elements for an eye-catching collage-like effect. An author's note places Warne within the context of women's rights. Bib.
 , Feb 01, 2016

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