Frances O'Roark Dowell

The children's book Dovey Coe by Frances O'Roark Dowell was published in 2000 and focuses on the 1920s. It is a first person narrative from the viewpoint of a mountain girl who wants to clear up confusion about a recent murder.

Phineas L. MacGuire—a.k.a. Mac—aims to be the best fourth-grade scientist ever. It’s a tall order, but he’s confident that he can achieve his goal, especially since Aretha has asked him to help her earn a Girl Scout badge by creating the mold that produces penicillin. How many fourth graders can say they’ve reproduced …