IR VERDICT:
Written to coincide with the restoration of the Narcissus, a trolley car (built in New Hampshire, 1912) that, on August 18, 1914, carried U.S. President Theodore Roosevelt while campaigning for the Progressive party during a trip from Lewiston to Portland, Maine, TEDDY ROOSEVELT, MILLIE AND THE ELEGANT RIDE by Jean M. Flahive is the story of a young farm girl whose path entwines with the president – even though she never gets to meet him. The mostly true yet fictionally written story is rich in history and its descriptions of everyday existence in the early 20th century, and it brings the charismatic figure of Roosevelt to life. This delightful and educational tale is sure to please young readers, as the book’s epilogue, afterword and acknowledgements help to put the story in its historical place.