Queen of the Falls

On the afternoon of October 24th, 1901, seeking fame and fortune to last into her old age, widow Annie Edson Taylor, a 62-year-old charm school teacher, plunged over Niagara Falls nestled inside a carefully crafted oak barrel. Angela Goethals's deliberate yet leisurely narration lets all the aspects of Taylor's exploit resonate--from the design and building of the barrel to Annie's growing apprehension as the falls approach. The meticulous preparation that led up to the day is thoroughly detailed in both Van Allsburg's trademark sepia illustrations and carefully researched text. Goethals's tone and clipped diction present Taylor's life matter-of-factly. This title is best suited to middle grade listeners who will benefit from having the book available to fully appreciate the interplay of story and illustrations. A.R. (c) AudioFile 2011, Portland, Maine

Starred review from January 24, 2011
In 1901, 62-year-old widow Annie Edson Taylor needs "a way to strike it rich" after closing her Michigan charm school. Spying an article about Niagara Falls as a tourist destination, she decides to become a popular attraction, too. She commissions a barrel "big enough to hold herself and a large number of pillows," hires a publicist, calls on reporters, and finds a boatman willing to tow her into the river. In his first book since 2006's Probuditi! Van Allsburg chronicles Taylor's determination along with public surprise (and disappointment) at such an unglamorous daredevil. In sepia-tinted portraits, Van Allsburg pictures her in a ruffled blouse, cameo brooch, and billowing skirt, her white hair swept under a dowdy hat. The book is impeccably designed; Van Allsburg's grainy, closely observed colored-pencil scenes mimic documentary photos and are beautifully balanced by blocks of text. There is one full-bleed spread: the falls after the barrel has disappeared. In this unromantic and bittersweet account, Van Allsburg presents the feat as born as much out of need as of courage, with Taylor portrayed as a hardheaded eccentric and an unlikely queen. Ages 6–9.