First published 1988
Ellen is seventeen when she arrives at Woods Hole to care for twelve-year-old Jane. The Cape Cod village bustles with scientists and researchers in the 1920s, creating an unusual backdrop for what Ellen expects to be ordinary childcare work. She quickly discovers the pleasures of coastal living and finds herself drawn into the rhythms of Jane's family. But Woods Hole holds secrets alongside its scientific pursuits. When a mystery surfaces in their quiet community, Ellen and Jane find themselves working together to uncover the truth. Ellen must balance her responsibilities as Jane's caretaker with her growing curiosity about the puzzle that has emerged in their seaside world. The investigation brings the two girls closer together and helps Ellen understand her place in this new environment. Through solving the mystery, Ellen discovers that caring for Jane means more than simple supervision.
Genres: family-life, 20th-century, coming-of-age, mystery, young-adult
Vibes: emotional, intimate, suspenseful
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Cape Cod, Woods Hole
Period: 1920s
236 pages · Hardcover · Woods Hole Historical College