Imogene's Last Stand

I absolutely loved this book. In "Imogene's Last Stand," we see a young girl with a love of history so big she will stop at nothing to preserve it. Imogene lived in the small town of Liddleville, New Hampshire. A town so small it wasn't even on a map. When Imogene and her father purchased a historical house, they could not wait to turn the house into a great history museum. They fix the house up and to Imogene's surprise, no one shows up on grand opening. Because this house was serving this small town no use, they mayor decides to turn it in to a shoe shop. My favorite thing about this book is Imogene's references to famous historical figures. Many times through out the book she quotes famous people through out American history. For show more example, when Imogene finds out the mayor's plan she cries, "But in the immortal words of William Morris, 'Old building do not belong to us; they belonged to our forefathers, and they will belong to our descendants." This was great way to show her character and great conversation starter for students.
The day arrives for the building to be torn down and Imogene is determined to not let that happen. Her and her dad handcuffed their selves to the building boycotting the demolition. At the perfect time the President arrives and demands them to keep the structure because George Washington slept there! It worked out perfectly, Imogene was able to keep the historic building alive, and the Mayor was thrilled because Lidellville was now a famous town.
There were many themes in this story. History is not something to be destroyed. Rather it be small or large, history is something we should cherish and learn from. Also, Imogene is proof that we should never give up and stop fighting for what we believe in. Imogene fought to the end and because of that she succeeded. I love that the setting was based in a small town, it made the significance of winning the battle even greater. show less

Imogene is a young, enthusiastic, history obsessed girl who will stop at nothing to educate people on history and preserve her town's history. Imogene is also inspired by historical figures famous words and she likes to use them when making points. When the town's forgotten Historical Society house is threatened to be destroyed in order to build a shoe lace factory, Imogene will stop at nothing to protect it. Unfortunately, the residents of Imogene's town are not as enthusiastic about history as Imogene is. Just when Imogene is ready to quit, she finds a letter in the house stating that George Washington once slept in the house! With this letter Imogene is finally able to prove to her town, and even the President of the United States, show more that the Historical Society house, and history itself, matters.
Imogene is a very positive role model to all children, especially those who are interested in history. She also shows children that they should never give up on something they believe in.
I also loved that the President in this book was portrayed as an African American woman. show less

Imogene Tripp is from a small town in Liddleville, New Hampshsher. The town was so small that it wasn’t even a speck on the state map. Imogene loved history and searched for new things to learn or tell other people. Upon her love for history Imogene’s new interest was Liddleville Historical Society house. Imogene discovered so much history in the house that she loved. Imogene cleaned the house and had a grand opening to show the town the history in the house. However, no one came and Imogene later found out the house would be demolished to be turned into a shoelace factory. Imogene protested and did everything in her power to stop the mayor from getting the house demolished. To Imogene’s surprise she found a letter that stated how show more George Washington stayed in the house which would make the house an historical landmark. Imogene found a way for the house to not be demolished.

I like the plot of this book. I also like how the book portrays to not give up in what you believe in. Imogene stood up for something she loved and without anyone by her side except for her father she accomplished her goal. show less

Imogene Tripp, a young history bug, lives in Liddleville, New Hampshire, "a town so small it wasn't even a speck on the state map," but this didn't stop her from making her town well-known. After fixing up the abandoned, Liddleville Historical Society house, the mayor of her town sent orders to have it torn down. Determined to stop the mayor, Imogene did everything in her power to get the town to rally and stop the construction. Unfortunately, everyone backed the mayor's decision to put in a shoe factory in order to draw attention to them and put their small town on the map. Then, one day, Imogene found a letter that George Washington had written, stating that he had stayed there. Imogene had more motivation than ever and the next day show more she stood firm in front of the building as the bulldozers arrived to destroy it. Finally, her protest was heard. The President of the United States came and declared the building a national landmark. This put Liddleville on the map and saved their history.
In a place that appears to be a ghost town, nobody is aware of the history there. In fact, outsiders did not even know of the town's whereabouts until little Iogene made her brave stand to save their town's history and finally place them on the map. The author's use of such a small town for the setting made Imogene's bravery that much greater. This sends a message of bravery to readers. It also emphasizes the importance of preserving history. show less

Ever since she was born, Imogene loved history, and her first words were even “Four score and seven years ago.” Growing up, Imogene did not stop trying to educate people on history and often quoted famous historical figures. Imogene decides to clean up and reopen the Liddleville Historical Society, a centuries- old house stuffed with dusty antiques. One day, a workman arrives and puts a sign on the Society’s front yard. The sign says that the house will be torn down in order to build a shoe lace factory. When she visits the mayor, he tells her that the house will be torn down because a shoelace factory will put the town on the map. Imogene will stop at nothing to protect it. She runs up and down the streets saying, “The show more bulldozers are coming,” tapes red-white-and-blue ribbon around every pole and tree in town, and dropped hundreds of handmade flyers out a plane onto the town, but no one pays attention to her. Just when she is about to give up, Imogene finds a letter from George Washington about his experience sleeping at the house. With the letter, Imogene springs into action to prove to the town that the house is historical. On the day the bulldozers arrive, Imogene will not leave the front porch of the house, and soon the President of the United States shows up and declares the house a national landmark. The President in this book is portrayed as an African American woman, which is a nice change to see. This book is a great book to influence students to learn about history. Imogene is a positive role model to all children and shows that you should never give up. The colorful illustrations really bring the story to life. show less

Imogene's Last Stand is about a young, head-strong girl who has a passion for history, and has ever since she was a baby. After all, her first words were "Four score and seven years ago." Imogene completely renovates the Liddleville Historical Society house, only to find out that the mayor wants to tear it down and replace it with a shoe store. Imogene does everything she can to protest, but nobody rallies with her. Then one day, she finds out that George Washington had once stayed the night at the Liddleville Historical Society, making it a national landmark. Imogene took a stand for something and was rewarded in the end. That is a wonderful theme of this book -- always stand up for what you believe in, even if nobody stands with you, show more because you could possibly make a huge difference; which Imogene did in her small town of Liddleville. show less

3.5 stars? I absolutely love Immie's pluck & intelligence. I love the details like the fact that she rides one of the original big wheel style bicycles, and the various reactions of her father to her proposals. But I just can't get over the improbability of the ending.