Farewell Caroline

American Girl has announced that Caroline Abbott, the 1812 character I created, will be archived.

While I am, of course, disappointed with the decision to retire Caroline, I am grateful to have amazing and wonderful memories.

The Caroline books led me to many historic sites in the United States and Canada. Visiting Sackets Harbor, New York, has been extra special because it is Caroline’s home town.

I’ve also visited American Girl stores from coast to coast. The store associates are consistently awesome.

But the very best part of the experience has been meeting, and hearing from, so many incredible girls (and boys) and their families. I’ve had the privilege of meeting hundreds of young readers who are smart, kind, and excited about reading and history.

From the bottom of my heart, I thank you.

 

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When American Girl shares more details about their plans, I’ll pass them on.

I do have several Caroline programs on my schedule, including my final visit to Sackets Harbor in July! As always, you can find details on the Calendar page of my website.

Caroline’s Battle

THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY

People often ask why Sackets Harbor, NY, was chosen as Caroline Abbott’s home town. When I was invited to create an 1812 character for American Girl, I explored several possibilities. In the end, though, I recommended that we locate the new character on the shore of Lake Ontario. Once my editors had agreed, I considered options and decided to focus on the village of Sackets Harbor.

First, it seemed that few people outside the region knew how important the Great Lakes were during the War of 1812. I certainly hadn’t understood that.

Second, a number of 1812-era buildings are still standing in Sackets Harbor. New York has also preserved important ground in the village as an historic site. I knew that readers would be able to visit Sackets Harbor and easily imagine Caroline there.

Although no single house was used as the basis for the Abbott home in the Caroline books, a number of period homes—like this one—provided inspiration.

Finally, a lot of exciting things happened there during the war, giving me fantastic plot possibilities. American military leaders chose Sackets Harbor as its base for the Great Lakes, and established a navy shipyard there. The British, just 30 miles away, wanted badly to take the town and seize or destroy  supplies and ships.

The hardest part was picking and choosing from all the wonderful plot possibilities. I couldn’t fit everything into six books!

The British sailed across Lake Ontario soon after the war began in 1812, and a brief bombardment took place.

That bombardment became part of the first book in the series, Meet Caroline.

The Second Battle of Sackets Harbor took place on May 29th, 1813. This time a British force landed and tried to capture the town.

This map shows the protected harbor, where the shipyards were located. The ship shown at the mouth of the harbor, General Pike, had not yet been launched. The British wanted to destroy the Pike.  (Lossing’s Pictorial Field Book of the War of 1812)

The 1813 attack forms the heart of Caroline’s Battle.

Farmers and craftsmen hurried from their homes to help defend Sackets Harbor.

American naval officers decided that they would burn their shipyard if the British broke through the ring of defenses.

Caroline and Mama, left alone to defend Abbott’s Shipyard, get the same order.  Caroline isn’t sure it’s an order she can obey.

When the battle begins, the shipyard workers are ordered to join the defensive lines. This fellow reminded me of Mr. Tate.

I always try to incorporate real historical events into my fiction. In this case, I couldn’t have made up anything more dramatic or poignant than what really happened in Sackets Harbor that day.

When I first visited Sackets Harbor to explore and do research, I timed my visit to coincide with a reenactment. Watching, and talking with the participants, helped me imagine the chaos Caroline faced.

Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site is a wonderful place to explore.  The reenactment takes place every year, and during summer months interpreters can help visitors imagine what happened on that very ground in 1813.

I hope that Caroline’s Battle is an exciting and satisfying read.  I also hope it helps remind us all that war affects not just soldiers and sailors, but civilians too.