The Lost Book: An Allen House Mystery

By Jean Parvin Bordewich, illustrated by Seren Llunet. Palmetto Publishing, 2024. 38 pages. $19.99/hardcover; $12.99/paperback. Recommended for ages 3–12.

Long before the Allen House (a typical log cabin in the backcountry of North Carolina) was moved by preservationists in 1966 to its current location on the grounds of Alamance Battleground State Historic Site, it was home—ironically enough—to one of the country’s oldest Quaker families. In the community of Snow Camp, N.C., John Allen built the one-room cabin with a loft around 1780. Marjorie Allen, the narrator of this “Allen House mystery” (as told to her daughter, Jean Parvin Bordewich), was the last child born in the cabin.

Handed down over the years, the family story in The Lost Book takes place in the 1930s in a rural and predominantly Quaker village in Southern Alamance County. The cabin is introduced by young Marjorie, who also introduces her family (she is the youngest of ten children) and, most importantly, her love for reading. One day Marjorie checks out a book titled A Day with Susan from the school library. She becomes fascinated by Susan’s life as an only child in faraway New York City. What shocks Marjorie most is that Susan does “not even [have] a cat to keep away mice!”

Marjorie wants to finish the book, but she is interrupted by her sister Olive Mae who wants her to play basketball. (I learned from a local historian that basketball was equally popular among girls and boys during that time.) The mystery begins on a Sunday, the day before the book is due, when Marjorie discovers the book is missing. The family quickly becomes involved as the siblings help the youngest sister find her book. This shared mission allows the reader to see how a family of 12 occupied such a small dwelling. The search takes the family outside as they explore all of the possibilities. Through text and illustrations, the reader sees “mama’s beautiful garden,” various animal pens, and even the smokehouse.

As the search continues, Marjorie becomes distraught and on the verge of tears. When her father arrives home, he joins the hunt too. I won’t give away how it all unfolds, but the library book is eventually found, Olive Mae finally gets to play basketball, and the siblings grow closer together. There are plenty of opportunities for readers to look for clues and predict the ending.

Beautifully illustrated by Seren Llunet, this book is a delightful way for children to learn about rural life and the impact of both sports and books in the 1930s. We recognize the magic of A Day with Susan in how it transports Marjorie all the way to New York, showing her how people live differently there. The book also includes a brief history of the Allen House and Marjorie Allen’s family. It is a great read for Quaker families as it shares a history of one of North Carolina’s oldest Quaker villages that continues to thrive today.

---

Shelia Bumgarner is a member of Charlotte (N.C.) Meeting. She recently retired from the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library after 35 years of service. She grew up near the setting for this book.