At a glance
Secrets on 26th Street
Children's Historical Mystery
Secrets on 26th Street
Book 5 of the American Girl History Mysteries series
144 pages · First published 1999
In 1914 New York City, eleven-year-old Susan O'Neal struggles with the responsibilities of helping care for her two younger sisters after her father's death. When her hardworking mother takes in an English boarder named Beatrice Rutherford to help pay the rent, Susan is delighted by the woman's independence and fascinating stories. But after discovering a mysterious note, Susan begins to suspect that Beatrice is hiding something important—and perhaps drawing her mother into a dangerous secret. When Susan's mother disappears amid a tumultuous women's suffrage demonstration, Susan must uncover the truth about their boarder and navigate a city divided over women's right to vote. Blending family hardship, historical intrigue, and a young girl's growing understanding of justice and independence, this American Girl mystery is ideal for readers who enjoy courageous heroines, early twentieth-century history, and mysteries rooted in real historical events.
Paired for this story
Jump to the pours ↓Banford Breakfast Tea + Gin and Tonic
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No surprises at chapter twelve
Content notes
Death of a parent from illness and related grief; Poverty and threatened eviction; Fear and uncertainty surrounding a missing parent; Riot and crowd violence at a suffrage demonstration; Political arrests and imprisonment
Alcohol-Free Pour
Banford Breakfast Tea
Strong black tea softened with honey offers a comforting taste of Beatrice's English heritage and the unexpected friendship that helps Susan find courage amid the mysteries of 1914 New York.
What you'll need
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases.How to mix it
- Steep the tea for 3–5 minutes. Stir in honey, then add either milk or lemon to taste.
- Garnish: Lemon wheel if using lemon.
- Glassware: Mug.
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Mug ↗Cocktail Pour · 21+
Gin and Tonic
For adults of legal drinking age. Please drink responsibly.
A crisp Gin and Tonic nods to Beatrice's British roots, while its bittersweet character reflects the secrets and sacrifices behind the fight for women's voting rights.
What you'll need
- 2 oz gin
- 4 oz tonic water ↗
- 1 lime wedge ↗
- Ice
Alcohol-shopping links are not shown on children's or young-adult book pages.
How to mix it
- Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the gin, then gently pour in the tonic water. Stir briefly to combine. Squeeze the lime wedge over the drink and add it to the glass.
- Garnish: Lime wedge.
- Glassware: Highball glass.
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Highball glass ↗Set up the bar cart
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