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"Queen of the Falls" by Chris Van Allsburg

Van Allsburg, Chris. Queen of the Falls. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010

 Ever wonder who was the first daring individual to go over Niagara Falls in a barrel?  Most of us would be surprised to find out that person was a sixty-two year old ex-charm school teacher, Annie Edson Taylor, from Bay City, Michigan.  This feisty lady had a difficult time convincing the local barrel maker to undertake the building of a vehicle for the great plunge, but perseverance won.  She supervised the building of the barrel “picking out each piece of the thick white oak” and designed it to be “just big enough to hold herself and a large number of pillows” to cushion the ride.  She then added handles to grab on to and a leather belt to strap herself in securely.  With the aid of a manager who “stirred up interest”, Annie made that treacherous and torturous “ride” down Niagara Falls.  Bruised and sore she emerged from the barrel only to find that, despite her appearances at fairs, lecture halls and theaters, the crowds lost interest when they found out that the lady of Niagara was an old woman.  Up until the very end, this courageous lady was unable to convince the public of her death-defying feat.     

Chris Van Allsburg’s photo-like illustrations in black and white capture every wrinkle and emotion of his characters.  In an upside down picture inside the barrel we see the details of Annie’s face from the tightly squeezed eyes to the preparatory gritting of her teeth, and we breathe a sigh of relief when we view, again inside the container, Miss Taylor’s dazed look when the rescuers use a hammer to knock the lid off of the barrel.  Annie’s diminutive size, widening waist and puffy face in the end reminds us that there are so many stories waiting to be shared by our “seniors”, and that daring acts do not solely belong to the young.

Queen of the Falls is a great selection for the older elementary student and for that reluctant middle school reader looking for a biography for a book report.   The subject matter and engaging artwork draws the reader into the true story of a bold act of a woman who was content knowing she was “…the one who did it.”

Gail Navratil

Retired Teacher

Racine, Wisconsin

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