The Spark: St. Louis, Missouri, Winter 1861

In the volatile political atmosphere of Missouri during the mid-1800s, a young girl from Corning, New York, and her nanny find themselves in a state where the nanny's papers don't count. Kidnapped by rogue slave traders, Annie, the girl's best friend and companion, is swept away, leaving the twelve-year-old Clara to fend for herself in a rough city full of lead miners, mine bosses, and unscrupulous people.A painted lady from the Sweet Vine Saloon rescues Clara and brings her to work at the saloon, cleaning, working in the kitchen, and polishing boots. All the while, Clara plots Annie's rescue.Can one small girl rescue a woman being held by a cruel plantation owner?Read more