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Elsie Mae Has Something to Say Paperback – September 4, 2018

4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

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Elsie Mae Has Something to Say is the perfect book for middle school girls and summer reading book for kids.

From the award-winning author of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet, comes a sweet and uplifting coming of age tale about friendship, sensitivity, and the importance of protecting our planet, making this the perfect growing up book for girls.

Elsie Mae is pretty sure this'll be the best summer ever.

She gets to explore the cool, quiet waters of the Okefenokee Swamp around her grandparents' house with her new dog, Huck, and she's written a letter to President Roosevelt that she's confident will save the swamp from a shipping company and make her a major hometown hero. Then, news reaches Elsie Mae of some hog bandits stealing from swamper families, and she sees another opportunity to make her family proud while waiting to hear back from the White House.

But when her cousin Henry James, who dreams of one day becoming a traveling preacher like his daddy, shows up and just about ruins her investigation with his "Hallelujahs," Elsie Mae will learn the hard way what it really means to be a hero.

Praise for Elsie Mae Has Something to Say:

"Swamp magic."―Kirkus Reviews

"An engrossing story."―Booklist

Also by Nancy J. Cavanaugh:

This Journal Belongs to Ratchet

Always, Abigail

Just Like Me

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nancy J. Cavanaugh is the award-winning author of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet and Always, Abigail, which was a Texas Bluebonnet Award nominee. She has a bachelor of science in education and a master’s in curriculum and instruction. She was an elementary school teacher for more than fifteen years as well as a library media specialist. She lives in Chicago.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Sourcebooks Young Readers; Reprint edition (September 4, 2018)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 320 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1492668184
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1492668183
  • Reading age ‏ : ‎ 8 - 12 years
  • Lexile measure ‏ : ‎ 950L
  • Grade level ‏ : ‎ 3 - 7
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 11.6 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.8 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.7 4.7 out of 5 stars 40 ratings

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Nancy J. Cavanaugh
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Nancy J. Cavanaugh lives in the Chicago area with her husband, her daughter, and their five-pound Cockapoo. One of Nancy's favorite pastimes is eating Chicago pizza, in fact, she's kind of a pizza snob. After all, Chicago pizza is the best! A second favorite pastime is reading middle grade novels. After all, middle grade books are the best! Nancy hasn't read an adult book in years.

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4.7 out of 5 stars
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Top reviews from the United States

  • Reviewed in the United States on September 6, 2017
    Elsie Mae Has Something to Say is a middle grade novel written by Nancy J. Cavanaugh. I was excited about the opportunity to read this book because we’ve read Cavanaugh’s last book- Just Like Me.

    This book takes us back to the 1930s, and we are immediately introduced to Elsie Mae, a young girl living near the Okefenokee Swamp. The swamp is very dear to her heart; not only do her grandparents and uncles live there, but Elsie has spent the last several summers with her grandparents. As the story begins, Elsie Mae is mailing a letter to the White House because she has heard about a canal project that would cut right through her beloved swamp. Elsie Mae is determined to do something about this, and fervently hopes that her letter will reach President Roosevelt’s desk.

    The summer starts out well enough- Elsie’s Uncle Owen presents her with a dog, something she has always wanted. Elsie is looking forward to spending the summer becoming acquainted with the dog, but she faces two obstacles: the arrival of her cousin Henry James (who wants to be a preacher when he grows up) and the news that there are no good hog bandits on the loose in the Okefenokee.

    Elsie Mae sees a new opportunity; if she can catch the hog bandits, then that might attract enough attention to stop the canal from being built. She will not be alone in her efforts- she’ll have her trusty dog Huck to help, and Henry James might prove useful as well- as long as he can stop preaching and shouting Hallelujah for a minute to listen to her.

    I read this book with my three girls who are ten, eight, and eight. They looked forward to reading every night, and laughed at the funny parts and gasped with shock at the surprises. They especially enjoyed Henry’s tendency to say, “Lord have mercy!”

    As a parent, I appreciated the lessons conveyed in this book about what it means to be a hero and the motivations of our actions. At first, Elsie Mae is annoyed by Henry James’s warnings about being prideful and that “pride goeth before the fall”, but she reluctantly sees his point. On that note, it’s wonderful that Elsie Mae also learns acceptance; at first she is annoyed by her cousin, but she learns to value him for who he is, and she encourages him to pursue his own goals.

    I would absolutely recommend Elsie Mae Has Something to Say to middle grade readers. Elsie is very much a real child- she doesn’t always do what she is supposed to, and Henry is a nice foil for her- the voice of reason, so to speak. This is an adventure story, and there is also an element of mystery as well. As an adult reader, I noticed some clues fairly early, but my girls didn’t figure it out until some of the more obvious clues.
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  • Reviewed in the United States on January 30, 2018
    This might be my new favorite book.

    Okay, so favorite book is more of an entire bookshelf than, like, one title, but seriously. Elsie Mae Has Something to Say blew me away.

    I immediately fell in love with the earthy swamp folk and the relationship they have with the Okefenokee Swamp. Elsie’s the kind of character who takes you along with her, sharing her big vision for catching the hog thieves and saving the swamp. I loved watching the development of her relationship with other characters, especially Henry James. At first, she resents him taking up space in her summer, but she comes to value him as a friend and confidant. It reminded me a lot of the kind of relationship Scout and Dell had in To Kill a Mockingbird.

    The Deep South setting comes through the page so rich and vibrantly you’d almost feel like you can hear the buzz of mosquitos and the slosh of the water. Every dinner scene made me crave good southern food and long for the combination of sweet tea on a hot afternoon.

    If you like southern fiction, you seriously need to put this book on your list. There’s definitely a strong Christian theme running through the book, but it’s much more the way Peace Like a River has that sense of spiritualism but without any preachiness. It felt very genuine and personal to the characters.

    Fans of Three Times Lucky or A Snicker of Magic need to get a copy of this book quick. It’s technically a middle grade book, but just like Three Times Lucky, I think it has huge crossover appeal to other age groups. Check it out and let me know how much you like it!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Reviewed in the United States on October 6, 2020
    I was searching through amazon with my daughters name in hopes of finding something cute. I never imagined I would find a book with her first and middle name! I haven’t read it yet but I’m so excited to read it to my own Elsie Mae
  • Reviewed in the United States on September 28, 2017
    I received a complimentary copy of Elsie Mae Has Something To Say from SOURCEBOOKS Jabberwocky through NetGalley.

    Elsie Mae Has Something To Say is a book that touches the heart of all its readers. It is packed with adventure, family, love, friendship, and a little mystery. It reminds me of A Year Down Yonder and A Long Way From Chicago.
    This book will be a favorite of middle school readers because it is a story about a little girl in a setting that few middle schoolers have ever visited and are only exposed to it through television shows like Swamp People. The Okefenokee Swamp is filled with gators and quick sand, but it is also filled with Elsie Mae’s family, swamp traditions and culture. The swamp offers adventures that are only possible in its murky, still waters. Children will relate to the possibility of Okefenokee Swamp being destroyed for a shipping company to build a canal because they are bombarded with scenarios like this in today’s news. They will cheer for Elise Mae as she fights to save a place she loves and treasures. Elsie Mae is a heroine and proves even children can make a difference in the world.
    Readers will also fall in love with the characters. The perspective of Elsie Mae allows the reader to view the characters through the eyes of a young girl. All readers will be able to relate to Elsie Mae when she thinks that her summer will be ruined when cousin Henry James comes to stay in the swamp. Of course the adults love him because he is such a sweet Bible quoting want-to-be preacher, but Elsie Mae sees none of that. She only finds him annoying, as will the readers. Everyone has had a cousin Henry James! Huck, Grandma, Grandpa, Uncle Owen and Uncle Lone will also find very special places in the reader’s heart.
  • Reviewed in the United States on January 12, 2018
    So realistic and believable! Great read for young teens!