• Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

A Field Trip Life

Books, places, and books that take you places

  • Home
  • About
  • Places
  • My Author Site
  • Review Policy
  • Contact Me

Field Trip Friday – book review and a visit to the jail

November 18, 2016 By Claire Annette Noland 4 Comments

 

I normally read and review kid lit but at least once a month I enjoy reading and sharing an adult book with my book club. Carmen, my November co-hostess, and I decided to include a field trip with our selection:

Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt 2015)

jail-1

Based on a true story and set in 1914, Girl Waits with Gun, follows sisters Constance, Norma, and Fleurette Kopp, whose isolated farm life changes drastically when their horse drawn buggy is hit by a reckless driver. When Constance, the eldest sister, attempts to obtain reimbursement for the damages, she finds herself facing a formidable foe, Henry Kaufman, the son of a silk magnate. Instead of payment, Kaufman and his mobster buddies send threatening letters, attempt to burn down their house, and try to kidnap Fleurette, the youngest of the sisters.

jail-2

Six foot, 180 pound Constance is not about to let Kaufman get away.  She enlists the aid of Sheriff Heath who arms Constance, Norma,and Fleurette with revolvers. Constance uncovers more of Kaufman’s schemes and eventually aids in his arrest and conviction.

jail-3

The news media had a field day during the unusual trial and author Amy Stewart came across a number of newspaper articles that were written at the time. She learned that following the trial, Sheriff Heath appointed Constance Kopp as Under Sheriff, making her the first woman to hold such a position and she based her novel on this interesting but little known woman.

jail-constance

Our book club had a lively discussion about the amazing Kopps, their relationship to each other, and the influence that their deceased mother had on them.

Amy Stewart’s website and pinterest page contain great photos and information about the Kopp sisters. The author even developed a cocktail based on the events in the book which she named the New Jersey Automobile.

jail-cocktail

 

As a bonus, you can download paper dolls of the Kopp sisters!

jail-constance

jail-norma-kopp

jail-fleurette-paper-doll

After our delightful lunch at Bella Rosa Bakery and Cafe in Kingsburg, CA, we wandered a few blocks to visit the old Kingsburg Jail which is open every day for a self guided tour. It is located behind the main fire station at the base of the coffee pot tower.

jail-kingsburg-2

We tried to become part of one of the murals:

jail-kingsburg-1

 

There are inhabitants in the cells – check out the creature on the bunk:

 

jail-gambler-and-hayseed

 

The bulletin boards display a number of newspaper articles. I thought this one was interesting:

jail-kingsburg-3

 

 

jail-plaque

The day was a success and we were all happy to learn that Lady Cop Makes Trouble,  the sequel to Girl Waits With Gun, has recently been released.

Do you belong to a book club? If so, do you ever take book related field trips?

Filed Under: Books, Field Trips, Places Tagged With: Constance Kopp, Girl Waits With Gun by Amy Stewart, Kingsburg Jail, Kopp Sisters

« Field Trip – Feeling Fallish
Cybils Time- four reviews »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor says

    November 18, 2016 at 9:47 am

    That book sounds fascinating. I love the cover art and the paper dolls. Takes me back to playing with paper dolls when I was a kid.
    Ellen @ The Cynical Sailor recently posted…Some Secrets Are Dead BoringMy Profile

    Reply
    • Claire Annette Noland says

      November 18, 2016 at 5:33 pm

      I also loved playing with paper dolls as a girl. Aren’t book character paper dolls a great idea?

      Reply
  2. evelyne holingue says

    November 20, 2016 at 8:56 pm

    What a great topic for a book! Love how a true old story can turn into a book for a contemporary kid. Yoru field trip sounds fantastic too.
    evelyne holingue recently posted…Un An Après A Year LaterMy Profile

    Reply
  3. Cynthia says

    January 5, 2017 at 7:01 am

    I like hearing stories about strong women and that this is a true story makes it even sweeter.
    Cynthia recently posted…IWSG: Information Dumping & Clearing Out Office SpaceMy Profile

    Reply

Join the Discussion! Cancel reply

Please submit your comment with a real name.

Thanks for your feedback!

CommentLuv badgeShow more posts

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

Welcome

Hello. I’m Claire Annette - reader, writer, teacher, and field trip planner extraordinaire. Here at A Field Trip Life you will find ideas for adventures large and small and the kids’ books that inspire them. Sign your permission slip. Let's go!

Connect With Me!

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS

Join the Fun, Subscribe to a Field Trip Life Monthly!


(We will never spam you)

Search

Categories

  • 2020 Debut Crew
  • Adoption
  • alphabet books
  • Biographies
  • Blogging A to Z
  • book maps
  • Book Travel
  • Bookish Field Trips
  • Books
  • Celebrate
  • Chapter Books
  • Christmas Books
  • Citizen Science
  • Cybils Awards
  • easy readers
  • Evie's Field Day
  • Family
  • Farm Fresh
  • Field Trips
  • Food
  • Inspirations
  • Library Love
  • Mermaids
  • Multicultural Children's Books
  • picture books
  • Places
  • Uncategorized

MCBookDay-white-21-300x234



clairesfieldtriplife

Look who is still #outandabout! Evie sends ❤️ Look who is still #outandabout! Evie sends ❤️ from Virginia!!!!!! @emilyfroful #eviesfieldday @cardinalrulepress @clairesfieldtriplife
So excited to share the news that my crew mate Ann So excited to share the news that my crew mate Annette Schottenfeld’s debut book is out in the world! NOT SO FAST, MAX is a book filled with ❤️. @thekidlitcrew #debutbook #readaloud #jewishfamily @kalaniotbooks #jewishchildrensbooks
Evie is ready to go home. Sending love from Cayuco Evie is ready to go home.
Sending love from Cayucos, Ca @clairesfieldtriplife @cardinalrulepress #eviesfieldday @garbancita_alicia @grace.sufficient.designs
Evie sends ❤️ from #Kingsburg, CA @booksnheel Evie sends ❤️ from #Kingsburg, CA  @booksnheels #fresnocountylibrary #kingsburglibrary #eviesfieldday @cardinalrulepress @clairesfieldtriplife
Evie is warming up and sending ❤️ from Nicarag Evie is warming up and sending ❤️ from Nicaragua. It’s the final day of the #giveaway. Just grab the printable from my bio (or the book)and post where you are with Evie. Tag @clairesfieldtriplife @cardinalrulepress #eviesfieldday  extra entries for following me and tagging friends.  @yvettehelberg @lily_muir @amyiscreating @garbancita_alicia @christinabeeghly @grace.sufficient.designs @thekidlitcrew
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Copyright © 2020 · FieldTripLife · All Rights Reserved
Designed by: iBoost.co