1. Dodge gained great attention as the editor of St. Nicholas magazine from 1873 to 1905. Find a bound volume or look at an issue from this period on microfilm and determine how authors then portrayed young adults. What similarities to and differences from today's portrayals do you note?

2. Dodge, who had not visited Holland when she wrote the novel, drew heavily on the work of John Lothrop Motley for historical background. Find one of Motley's books and see what parts she used to write Hans Brinker. Does Dodge give clues to other sources from which she drew?

3. Many Dutch painters are mentioned as the group of boys led by Peter van Holp skate from Amsterdam to The Hague. Prepare a list from the novel and see how many works by them you can find in books on Dutch art. Then prepare a...