Mysterious Signal (28 page)

The Freedom Seekers series weaves together fictional characters with carefully researched people who lived or were known in 1857. Each novel stands alone but is best read in sequence to see the growth of characters and relationships. Peter, a new character who is deaf—joins the
Christina
family in the fourth novel,
The Swindler’s Treasure
. Annika, a new character, joins the
Christina
family in this book.

Prepare students for reading a novel by talking about the cover. With
Mysterious Signal
you might want to ask, Why is Libby in the water? What do you think has happened? What possible dangers could there be? Then encourage your students to just enjoy reading the story. If needed, they can take random notes to help them find details for later use, but ask them to wait
with answering questions or doing activities. After reading a book through, students can return to it and glean added information to answer study questions or do other activities.

Each study guide gives you the ability to move through the questions and activities at a pace that is right for your students. For
Mysterious Signal
topics are organized in sections such as talking about the story, making choices, building dreams, forgiving others, and being a never-give-up family. The
Let’s Write About Freedom
section gives student the opportunity to write about how characters have changed during the series. The
Digging Deeper: Wise words from a Freedom Seeker
section provides a way to learn more about President Lincoln. That section also suggests starting a collection of helpful thoughts.

Your own love of reading may be one of your strongest motivators for encouraging others to read. That love and the discernment that follows will become an important gift you offer the children and young people you influence.

Whether you read these novels aloud, as a group, or your students read them individually, I hope that all of you enjoy them. May each of you also be blessed by growing deeper in your walk as a Freedom Seeker.

With warm regards,
Lois Walfrid Johnson

FICTIONAL CHARACTERS

L
IBBY NORSTAD:
As she faces a big decision, Libby discovers how much it means to her to be a girl. What choice will she make about cutting her hair? Wearing scruffy boys’ clothing? And why does she consider that choice in spite of all the ways her heart says no? Can this truly be part of what it means to be a never-give-up family?

CAPTAIN NATHANIEL NORSTAD:
As owner of the
Christina
, Captain Norstad faces a deadline. Can he possibly pay off a loan that is due on August 15th? Because of ice damage, he had no choice but to take a loan to repair his steamboat. Then, because he stood firm and opposed a swindler’s threat to an immigrant farmer, Captain Norstad faces the possible loss of all he has. Can Libby, Caleb, Jordan, and Peter overcome the obstacles in their path to bring the money to Galena and repay the loan before it’s too late?

CALEB WHITNEY:
Always thinking, Caleb tries to find a way to solve the problems he and the others face. When a train conductor refuses to correct a gambler’s behavior, what can Caleb do? How can he protect Jordan and Peter from a cruel
man who would harm both of them? And what steps will Caleb take toward reaching his goal of becoming a newspaper reporter?

RACHEL (GRAN) WHITNEY:
As the chief pastry cook on the
Christina
, Gran is the call-on person to supply food to hungry fugitives. But how can this spunky, caring person do even more to give much-needed help to a young woman—a fugitive in hiding who will soon give birth?

JORDAN PARKER:
Born into slavery and a much-sought-after fugitive, Jordan doesn’t know his exact age, nor his birthday, but
does
know he has value and often wears a proud look. Humbled by the loss of money entrusted to him, Jordan longs to restore the faith of people in his church. Can he bring that money to the man who helps runaway slaves cross into Canada? And will Jordan be able to celebrate his birthday on the day he knows his father is free?

MICAH PARKER:
Merciful, caring, tall, and strong, Micah has taught his son Jordan all that he knows about horses. With both of them having a big price on their heads, can they possibly reach Chicago safely?

HATTIE PARKER:
Micah’s wife, Jordan’s mother, and a strong pray-er for her family.

PETER JAMES CHRISTOPHERSON:
Blond and blue-eyed, he looks surprisingly like a younger Caleb. Because he lost his hearing at the age of seven, Peter is able to speak. He explains: “I had brain fever when I was seven. My parents had it too. That’s how they died. And that’s why I’m deaf.” But Peter not only knows sign language that he learned as a student at what is now called the Illinois School for the Deaf (Jacksonville), he’s also quick to teach sign language to the others. But is Peter really a strong swimmer? And why does it become important that he can feel the vibrations of a piano?

ANNIKA BERG:
Teacher in Bloomington, Illinois, for two years, formerly in Kentucky for a year, and Philadelphia before that. Blue eyes, black hair, tall, warm, compassionate, twenty-six years old. In spite of the dangers involved, she puts out a safe quilt. How does she become important to everyone who knows her, and especially to Libby?

VI THORNTON:
Better known to Libby as her Auntie Vi. Will the terrible telegram announcing her dreaded visit give Libby an even more terrible day?

EDWARD DEXTER:
A bitter, revengeful thief, always managing to do his worst. About five feet, ten inches tall, brown hair, blue eyes, wears expensive clothing. But according to both Peter and Libby, Dexter does not know how to dress. At the same time, he holds an important secret in Peter’s life.

SLICK:
A gambler with long, slender fingers and an illegal business, Slick has a wide mustache that curls up at both ends. His dark hair is parted nearly in the middle and slicked down againt his head with perfumed hair oil. He walks with a heavy thud because of higher than usual boot heels.

UNNAMED WALK-ONS:
Springfield Underground Railroad conductor, Springfield police officer, conductor on the train to North Bloomington, shopkeeper, Galena policemen.

MARK CROON:
Bloomington city marshal who is kinder than expected when questioning Libby.

SADIE:
Young fugitive woman who responds to Libby’s Underground Railroad quilt.

MR. FLETCHER:
Capable, caring, long-time pilot on the
Christina
.

CAPTAIN JENKS:
Stubborn, hard-headed captain of the
James Mason
who put others in danger by always refusing to pay the eight-dollar fee for a rapids pilot.

MR. THOMPSON:
Galena man to whom Pa owes money.

SAMSON:
Libby’s Newfoundland dog who has not only proven to be a good rescue dog in water, but also offers comfort to Peter. Black coat with white patches on nose, muzzle, chest, and tips of toes.

HISTORIC CHARACTERS

This series is a place where you can bump into all kinds of famous people …

ABRAHAM LINCOLN:
Remembered by Peter for his kindness and because of the way Mr. Lincoln carried important papers in his hat. Known by Annika for the excellent speech he gave in Bloomington, the city where the Illinois Republican party was organized. Known also as the city where Mr. Lincoln gave such a spellbinding speech that even reporters forgot to write it down. According to Annika, “People are calling it Mr. Lincoln’s Lost Speech.”

ALLAN PINKERTON:
First American private eye, active in the Underground Railroad, and Irish founder of the Pinkerton Detective Agency. During this time he often rode the trains under contract by railroad companies to protect passengers from crime. A former cooper (barrel maker), Mr. Pinkerton is also a contact person for getting barrels.

JOHN JONES:
A tailor and wealthy free black who used his home and abundance to provide for fugitives. He later wrote the paper that was largely responsible for getting the Black Laws of Illinois rescinded in 1865 and was one of the first elected officials of the city of Chicago. John Jones and Allan Pinkerton were friends.

JESSE FELL:
Planted 12,000 trees in the Illinois city he valued.

HARRIET BISHOP:
Early teacher in St. Paul, Minnesota, and friend of Annika’s.

JOHN K. VAN DOORN:
Owner of a large sawmill located on the bank of the Mississippi River, John Van Doorn provided an Underground Railroad link between Missouri and Illinois. When runaway slaves started swimming across the river, his sawmill was in their path. Unwilling to ignore what he believed, Van Doorn made a choice to help them.

ASA TURNER:
Minister in Denmark, Iowa, who encouraged pastors coming to the frontier to marry women who were proud of wearing a jean dress.

AVERY TURNER:
Asa Turner’s brother. Farmer living five miles north of Quincy, Illinois, who put barrels along the Mississippi River to give fugitive swimmers a place to hide until it was safe to take the road to the Turner farm.

FREDERICK DOUGLASS:
Former slave, gifted international speaker; the kind of person Jordan wants to become.

LT. ROBERT E. LEE:
As General of the Confederate Army in the Civil War, General Lee ranks among the nation’s greatest heroes. In this book he is known as the person who surveyed and charted the map of the Lower Rapids that hangs in Captain Norstad’s office.

CAPTAIN PHILIP SUITER, LeClaire, Iowa:
Pa’s favorite licensed pilot for the Upper Rapids of the Mississippi River. Two
of Captain Suiter’s Indian friends taught him about crosscurrents and where the chutes were so that he could navigate the rapids safely.