In time to commemorate the bicentennial of the War of 1812, Geoffrey Bilson Award finalist Connie Brummel Crook has written a fictionalized biography of Laura Secord, who risked her life to warn the British of an impending American attack on Beaver Dams (now Thorold, Ontario).

This is familiar territory for Crook, author of the picture book Laura Secord’s Brave Walk (2000). Intended for an older audience,  Acts of Courage covers Secord’s life from her teenage years in Massachusetts through her settlement in Queenston, Ontario, with her husband, James. The book includes hand-drawn maps of Secord’s journey to Canada with her family and the 32-kilometre route she walked to Beaver Dams, as well as historical notes and references.

Given her knowledge of the subject, it’s not surprising that Crook’s attention to detail and setting is excellent, providing the reader with insight into the social and political situations of the time. The use of primary resources – such as weaving the testimony of Secord’s granddaughter into a character’s dialogue – is a nice touch that highlights Secord’s bravery.

However, the story stumbles in balancing the historical figure with the fictional narrative. An invented relationship between a teenaged Secord (then still known as Laura Ingersoll) and a rebel-turned-soldier named Red exemplifies her compassion for those in need, but feels superficial. It also clouds the later heroic action she’s known for, when, in a bizarre plot twist, Lieutenant FitzGibbon, the soldier in charge of Beaver Dams whom she rushes to warn, turns out to be Red. 

Despite this flaw, the story provides an opportunity to see Secord’s resourcefulness, compassion, and independent spirit on full display.