The Scarlet Stockings Spy is the touching story of a young girl, Maddy Rose, living through the Revolutionary War. Maddy Rose’s Father died during the Battle of Princeton, and her 15 year-old brother was serving for Washington’s army. Maddy Rose’s most prized position were her scarlet stockings, which she would proudly flaunt through the city. At night she would hang these scarlet stockings on a clothes line outside of her window, in a secret code that her brother Johnathan would sneak by to see. After a day of heavy bombing, Maddy Rose hangs up a secret sign…but Johnathan does not come. He is instead replaced by another young man named Seth, who sadly gives Maddy Rose the tragic news of her brother’s death. That night Maddy takes her brothers blue coat, her scarlet stockings, and a white petticoat, and stitches together an American Flag. The book goes on to describe Washington’s victory, and how the patriots every where flew their American Flags high, including Maddy Rose. It is a great book with beautiful illustrations. It would be perfect to integrate into a Social Studies lesson about the Revolutionary War. It really allows students to see a part of our nation’s history from the eyes of a child, and can really promote some empathy and connections to these different parts of our history. It is a very touching book and I highly recommend it for classroom use.
