When you think of Revolutionary War heroes, the name Molly Pitcher probably doesn't enter your mind. In fact, if you're like me, you've never even heard of her. If that's the case, do yourself a favor and pick up Linda Grant De Pauw's In Search of Molly Pitcher. You'll be hooked from the first page.

The story follows 12-year-old Peggy McAllister, an overachiever on a mission to win the Rattletop Award. Each year, the prize is given to an eighth grader who shows excellence in social studies. So, when Peggy's teacher announces that each student will be writing a research paper, which can then be entered into the contest, she vows to craft a paper that will wow the judges. Her classmates choose the same old standbys - Thomas Jefferson, Neil Armstrong, Harriet Tubman - but Peggy knows she needs a subject that will stand out. So, against her teacher's recommendation, she chooses Molly Pitcher.

Although the book sometimes feels more like a manual on "How to Write a Research Paper," In Search of Molly Pitcher is an entertaining little mystery. The characters are unique and interesting. Nerds everywhere will love Peggy, an unpopular girl who refuses to submit to the mediocrity her teacher demands. My personal favorite is Greatgramps, a feisty senior citizen who drives (only if his destination is less than 3 miles roundtrip) an old VW decorated with bumper stickers that must always be "balanced" (like his "I Love Jesus" sticker, which is tempered by one that declares "Born Again Pagan"). Molly Pitcher, of course, becomes one of the main characters as well. Her story (or legend) makes her just as fascinating as Peggy and her contemporaries. While the story gets a bit bogged down with research procedures and facts, the characters save it from becoming too dull. You'll be drawn to Peggy & Co. as they play detective to unearth the truth behind one of history's most elusive women.

Grade: B