Jennifer Robin Barr will be visiting
St. Philip Neri School on October 15, 2026 with
Thunder and Mercy
About Jennifer Robin Barr
Jennifer Robin Barr grew up in the Philadelphia area during the 1970s and ’80s, spending her summers immersed in imaginative play with neighborhood friends, whether diving into games like home free or acting out scenes from Charlie’s Angels. Her writing focuses on weaving fictional stories around historical events, especially those lesser-known stories from Philadelphia’s past. She finds inspiration in the city’s historic neighborhoods and old cemeteries. Jennifer’s debut novel, Goodbye, Mr. Spalding, was named a 2019 Booklist Top 10 Sports Book for Youth.
Visit her at jenniferrobinbarr.com.
This offer is only available to students of St. Philip Neri School.
Please order by October 1, 2026 to ensure personalization and event-day availability.
Books will be delivered to your school for distribution, so please be sure to fill out the student name, grade, and teacher fields.
About Thunder and Mercy
Is a hidden diary the key to an unsolved secret from the American Revolution?
It’s 1979 and twelve-year-old Theodora “Thunder” Underwood is dreading her summer vacation once again. Every year, her scientist parents disappear on far-flung scientific expeditions, leaving her with relatives who clearly don’t want her around.
But this summer, Thunder is sent to Mount Pleasant, her aunt’s historic yet crumbling old mansion outside of Philadelphia once owned by Revolutionary War traitor Benedict Arnold. When Thunder discovers a mysterious diary written by Mercy, a girl her age who lived through the American Revolution, Thunder is plunged into a mystery that involves a shadowy prowler, a hidden ring, and mysterious spies–making her summer far more exciting than she ever expected.
Fast-paced and full of twists, this suspenseful middle grade novel transports young readers between the 1770s and 1970s as Thunder uncovers the truth behind a Revolutionary-era spy network–and discovers the importance of friendship, family, and her own voice along the way.
Praise for Thunder and Mercy:
“A lively, genre-blending mystery that will appeal to readers who enjoy historical intrigue, clever puzzles, and a strong-willed heroine.”
— School Library Journal, starred review
“A dazzling plot with characters who are rich and real and unforgettable.”
— Lynda Mullaly Hunt, New York Times best-selling author of Fish in a Tree