Genre: Historical Fiction

Time Cat

Gareth doesn’t have nine lives, but he is definitely not an ordinary cat. For one thing, he can talk. For another, he has magical powers that Jason never dreamed of. Gareth tells Jason he can take them traveling through time, “Anywhere, any time, any country, any century.” And in the wink of a very special cat’s eye, they’re off. From ancient Egypt to Japan, from the land of young Leonardo da Vinci to the town of a woman accused of witchcraft, Jason and Gareth are whisked from place to place and friend to foe. This fantastic tale grabs the imagination and takes it far and wide, on the adventure of not one, but nine, amazing lifetimes. 

The first country Jason and Gareth visit is Egypt in 2700 B.C., where King Neter-Khet becomes angry when he cannot command Gareth to “purr and make himself agreeable to pharaoh.” Neter-Khet’s attempts add humor, especially since he doesn’t understand why cats don’t listen to his commands. In the end, the king learns that even he cannot command a cat. This trip reinforces the idea that “you should be you.” 

The second time jump sends them to Rome and Britain in 55 B.C., when Julius Caesar was fighting in Gaul. Although Caesar does not appear, Jason is taken in by Caesar’s legions, and Gareth becomes their mascot. During a battle, Jason and Gareth flee and end up in Cerdic Longtooth’s village. At first, Cerdic is afraid of Gareth, but soon he appreciates that the cat keeps mice away from their winter stores. The section ends with Cerdic’s new understanding of cats. 

The next time-travel adventures share the same pattern. Jason and Gareth jump to a new historical location where locals often have false ideas about cats. However, Gareth shows how cats benefit humans. This story often lacks details about each time period. For example, Jason visits Ireland in 411 A.D., where he meets Patrick. While the story hints that this is Saint Patrick, readers who do not have knowledge of the man’s history will not understand Patrick’s statement: “Underneath it all there is some purpose, some reason I should be here. What it may be is hidden from me now.”  

Jason travels to Japan in 998 A.D., where he meets the emperor, and then to Italy in 1468, where he meets Leonardo da Vinci. The next time jump takes them to Peru in 1555, where Jason meets Dom Diego, a prominent Spanish conquistador, who briefly mentions the conquerors’ thirst for gold. However, Dom Diego is portrayed as an honorable man who was more interested in knowledge than wealth. The next jump takes the protagonist to a small fishing village on the Isle of Man in 1588, followed by Germany in 1600, where Jason learns about the witch trials. The final time jump sends them to America in 1775, where Jason meets a peddler who is spreading word of the revolution.  

On each leg of the trip, Jason learns a valuable lesson, including the following:  

  • Beauty is on the inside, not on the face.  
  • Practicing essential skills is important.  
  • You should only worry about what’s happening right now.  
  • “Trying to make someone do what they aren’t really good at is foolish.”  
  • Greed can be dangerous, especially if you try to snatch wealth without putting effort into honest work.  
  • It is important to take time to think and watch. “Just because you’ve seen something, it doesn’t mean you stop looking. There’s always something you didn’t see before.” 

Time Cat will appeal to a wide range of readers, from history buffs to cat-lovers. The story takes readers on an action-packed journey through time. Along the way, Jason meets many historical figures. While readers may not recognize all of them, this doesn’t detract from the book’s enjoyment. Each stop is brief, so it doesn’t offer readers an in-depth view of the period. This keeps the action moving while still weaving in important lessons. At the end of the trip, Gareth tells Jason, “If you think back, everybody we met had something to tell you—about themselves, and about yourself. It’s a way of finding out a part of what you have to know to be a grown-up.” But the book doesn’t just look to the past; it ends on a hopeful note, with Jason excited about making his own adventures in his time. Best of all, Time Cat introduces fun facts about cats, historical figures, and significant events in history that will inspire readers to explore these topics further. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • Jason was sent to his room because he “punched his younger brother in the ribs for laughing at him” and talked back to his mother. 
  • In Egypt, the king orders Jason to be fed to the crocodiles.  
  • Caesar’s legions land on “Britannia’s chalky cliffs” and are immediately welcomed with arrows. As Jason tries to keep pace with the legion, “arrows sang through the air. The legionaries hurled their spears. Howling and shrieking, the Britons poured across the beach.”  
  • Jason falls behind and is chased by a charioteer. Jason runs “plunging into the woods, running blindly, going deeper and deeper.”  
  • While in the woods, an animal attacks Gareth. “Gareth grappled with the animal in mid-air. Two bodies thrashed on the ground and turned into a spinning, spitting ball. One screamed.” Jason was so intent on watching Gareth that Cedric Longtooth is able to approach unnoticed. “In front of [Jason] stood a bearded man dressed in skins. He held a long, ugly spear pointed at Jason’s throat.” The man’s wife scolds him and welcomes Jason as a guest.  
  • According to Cedric Longtooth, “when we catch somebody from beyond the woods, we simply chop them up. But you’re an invader, and some of us have suggested it might be more correct to burn you in a basket.” 
  • A girl finds a snake in her room. To protect her, Gareth attacks. “Before the serpent could strike, Gareth caught it behind its flat skull. The serpent’s tail lashed out and wound around Gareth’s body. Over and over, the fighters rolled across the floor.” The fight is described over two pages. The serpent dies. 
  • Patrick talks about how he came to be in Ireland. King Niall of the Nine Hostages kidnapped Patrick and his two sisters. He says, “They took us all, to sell as slaves. . . They tied us up, carried us to the boat, and sailed away.” 
  • Ichigo, the Emperor of Japan, had been allowing his uncle Fujiwara to make all of the decisions. When Ichigo begins to issue commands, Fujiwara blames Jason and “seized Jason by the hair.” Ichigo saves Jason and tells his uncle, “You dare threaten your Emperor? I could have you boiled in oil! Humble yourself in the Celestial Presence!” 
  • While in Peru, Jason is walking when he runs into Inca warriors. “One of the warriors whirled a three-stranded rope with heavy metal balls at the ends. An instant later, Jason and Gareth lay on the ground, tangled in the weighted cords. Lances leveled, the Incas moved forward.” The Incas demand a ransom, which Dom Diego pays by promising to try to show the Conquerors that the Incas are men of peace. 
  • On the Isle of Man, the protagonists meet a cat named Dulcinea and her kittens. Dulcinea was aboard a ship when it sank. Luckily, a sailor had put the cats in a barrel that floated to the island.   
  • In a small village in 1600s Germany, people thought cats had devils hiding in them. “Two days ago, the witch hunters drowned fifty and burned another fifty. Poor suffering animals.”  
  • In order to steal a woman’s land, Master Speckfresser says, “The town council takes over the property of a witch—after she has been duly roasted, of course.”  
  • After Master Speckfresser accuses a woman of witchcraft, Jason reveals that Speckfresser was using spells to call demons. Speckfresser threatens Jason with a “sickle-shaped knife. Jason dodged the sweeping blade. . . Jason leaped from one side to the other, as the knife whistled around his ears.” The guards appear at the door, accompanied by a miller named Johannes, who has been placed under arrest.  
  • Johannes, Master Speckfresser, Jason, and another woman are taken to the judge. “Johannes jumped up. With one motion of his powerful arms, he tipped over the judges’ table. The sheets of parchment went flying. . . Seizing a chair in one hand, the burly miller laid out [a guard]. A window smashed. One of the miller’s fists sent a guard sprawling to the wall.” All of the accused witches escape and leave town. 
  • In 1775 America, Jason and Gareth witness a battle between the British and the Americans. “Jason saw the Regulars level their rifles. The farmers hesitated, then moved forward. The sword of the British officer flashed downward. . . The Minutemen raced through the drifting smoke towards the Regulars, firing, reloading, crouching behind hillocks and large clumps of grass. . .  There was a second volley of musket fire. Jason heard a man cry out and saw another slump to the ground.”  
  • During the attack, Jason is with a peddler, who is called Professor Parker. “Another volley came from the Regulars. Professor Parker staggered against the wagon. Jason leaped down. The professor was pressing his hands against his chest. His face had gone gray.” The book implies that the professor dies. Jason takes a horse and goes for reinforcements. The battle is described over three pages.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None

Language  

  • When Gareth purrs at Cedric Longtooth, he exclaims, “By the Druid’s beard. I believe he does like me!” 
  • A girl calls Jason a “stupid boy.” Later someone calls him a “foolish boy.”  
  • In Ireland, a man calls someone a “porridge-headed fool.” 
  • Jason and Gareth are called “two unworthy and totally useless specks of dust.” 
  • A woman calls a suitor a “black-haired lummox.” 
  • Several times, Master Speckfresser is called a “greedy gobbler.” 
  • A man calls the townspeople who believe in witches “stupid fools.” 
  • In 1775 America, the British soldiers are referred to as Lobsterbacks.  

Supernatural 

  • Gareth can take Jason on trips through time. The magic isn’t explained, other than that the two jump in time when Gareth blinks. 
  • In Ireland, they meet a magician named Lugad. “All he needs to do is cast a spell, and the rats and all the creepy, crawly things go away.” Lugad tells people that he has killed all the snakes. When a snake is in the girl’s room, Lugad says, “An evil spirit. An evil spirit if I ever saw one. . . This is the ghost of a serpent.” 
  • Patrick tells a girl, “There are no magic beasts, only God’s creatures as you see them, and no spells worth the saying of them.  
  • In 998 A.D. Japan, a trader says cats can tell the time of day and predict the weather. 
  • Sailors used to believe having a cat on the boat was good luck.  
  • Jason peeks into a house and sees a German man “wearing what looked like a nightshirt painted with strange designs. . . He dropped a pinch of something on the glowing coals, and a cloud of smoke puffed up.” The man is performing a ritual, trying to call forth a spirit. During the ritual, he exclaims, “By the spirit of Zazamonkh. . . Asmodeus! Ahriman! Beelzebub! Appear! I command you!” Nothing happens. 
  • In a small village in 1600s Germany, many people are accused of being witches. A woman explains, “Somebody—I don’t even know who—started the idea that there were witches here. Since then, we’ve had no peace. If anyone stubs his toe or gets sick, if anyone’s garden doesn’t grow right—there’s a witch to blame!” 
  • A woman explains why there aren’t many cats in the village. “There’s no kind of worriment or wickedness they won’t put on a cat. Cats have the evil eye to bewitch whatever they look at. They can turn themselves invisible or fly through the air. They take the shape of a witch, and a witch takes the shape of a cat.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Jason and Gareth travel to Egypt when cats are worshiped. Gareth explained, “[The Egyptians] have all kinds of sacred animals, but the cat—ah, the cat is most important. We’re sacred to the great goddess Ubaste of the Sun and Moon.” 
  • Jason and Gareth arrive in Egypt 2700 B.C. during a festival for the cat goddess. The priest chants the Hymn of the Cat. “Thy head is the head of the Sun-God, / Thy nose is the nose of Thoth. . . The whiskers are the rays of the Sun; Thine eyes hold the Sun and Moon.” The chant is nine lines long.  
  • The Egyptian priests believe Gareth’s white marking is “the mark of the sacred ankh, symbol of life.”  
  • King Neter-Khet believes he is a god whom everyone, including cats, should worship.  
  • According to one of Caesar’s legions, when one isn’t sure what to do, they should “ask for an omen.” When Petronius asks Jason and Gareth to travel with the legion, Jason is reluctant to join. Petronius prays, “O Mars, god of battles, mighty Jupiter, father of the gods, or whatever it is the regimental augur says. Shall this boy and this cat march with us? Give us a sign.” Gareth leaps onto the center of a shield, and Petronius takes that as a signal that Jason and Gareth should join the group.  
  • Cedric Longtooth asks a Druid if Gareth is good or bad luck. The Druid replies, “Some of our best families. . . pray to the spirit of the catamountain.” The Druid believes the cat is good luck.  

Journey of the Pale Bear

The polar bear is a royal bear, a gift from the King of Norway to the King of England. The first time Arthur encounters the bear, she terrifies him. Yet, strangely, she doesn’t harm him—though she has attacked anyone else who comes near. So, Arthur finds himself taking care of a polar bear on a ship to England. 

Tasked with feeding and cleaning up after the bear, Arthur’s fears slowly lessen as he begins to feel a connection to this bear, who, like him, has been cut off from her family. But the journey holds many dangers, and Arthur knows his own freedom—perhaps even his life—depends on keeping the bear from harm. When pirates attack, Arthur must make a choice—does he do everything he can to save himself, or does he help the bear to find freedom? 

Told from Arthur’s point of view, Journey of the Pale Bear takes readers on an exciting adventure that forces Arthur to decide what is most important in life. When Arthur runs away from home, he plans to travel to Wales, where he will be given his father’s land. However, with no food or money, Arthur steals from a sailor. This action leads to Arthur meeting the doctor, who notices the boy’s special connection with the bear. While on a ship heading towards England, Arthur must contend with the sailor’s cruel behavior as well as his own fears and insecurities. 

Even though the primary story focuses on Arthur’s relationship with the bear, many readers will still relate to the boy’s problems. Arthur misses his dead father, deals with bullying from multiple people, and hopes for a better future. Throughout the story, readers will come to love the bear and admire Arthur’s devotion. With every hardship, Arthur learns more about friendship, found family, and sacrifice, while showing the importance of following your heart. 

Journey of the Pale Bear features many tense, exciting scenes interspersed with Arthur’s thoughts, which allows readers to understand his emotions and reasoning. However, Arthur’s inner thoughts and lengthy descriptions sometimes slow the pacing. Additionally, some readers may be confused by the book’s advanced vocabulary, such as scrim, converged, rouse, and potentate. Nevertheless, the story does an excellent job of showing what life was like in the 1200s and knowing that it is based on true events makes it even more interesting. 

Throughout his journey, Arthur meets several interesting people, including sailors, the doctor, and the English King. However, none of the supporting characters are well-developed. At the beginning of the story, the doctor promises to care for Arthur throughout the journey. Even though the doctor is an important character who shows how essential the father-son relationship is, he doesn’t appear enough for readers to get a picture of his relationship with Arthur. When the doctor offers to care for Arthur, teach him a trade, and give the boy stability, the moment lacks emotional impact. Likewise, when one of the sailors apologizes for mistreating Arthur, the reasons for his apology are unclear, leaving the reader confused. 

Journey of the Pale Bear will appeal to strong readers who love animals and adventure. Arthur is a likable character who is admirable because of his dedication to the bear. This coming-of-age story illustrates how everyone—Arthur, the bear, and the King of England—can never be truly free. However, the heartwarming conclusion highlights that friendship and love create the moments that make life wonderful. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • After stealing food from a sailor named Hauk, Arthur runs off. Hauk and his friend follow Arthur. Hauk grabs the boy and Arthur “kick[s] Hauk’s shin—twice—but then he belly-punched me, and I doubled over from the pain.” 
  • After stealing food, Arthur wonders what will happen. Would a constabulary “put me in the stocks? Blind me in one eye? Draw and quarter me?”  
  • A man takes Arthur to a tavern where “the drink had had its effect, for now there was singing, there was dancing, there was stomping. . .” Two men were fighting, “biting, poking at eyes, grabbing for hair and ears.” 
  • When a sailor named Hauk calls Arthur “Dung Boy,” Arthur “put down my head like a bull and plowed into Hauk’s belly. . . he staggered backward. I laid about him with fist and foot, and felt a satisfying thump as one fist landed squarely on his ribs and then another. . . I fell upon him again, kicking and swinging, but now his hand was on my face.” Another sailor breaks up the fight, but not before “a river of blood was gushing down my chin.” Arthur’s eye is swollen shut, he has cuts on his lip and cheeks, and bruised ribs. 
  • Pirates attack the ship that Arthur is on. One of the pirates captures Arthur and demands to see the king’s treasure, not knowing that it is a bear.  “A flash of steel—and then the bear was upon him. The man spat out a curse; then his body rose into the air and seemed to hang there in the thinning fog before it plummeted to the boards and bounced with a sickening thud.” Two men try to stop the bear, “but then a slash of the bear’s great claws had both of them on their backs and one of them spurting blood.” Someone shoots the bear with arrows.  
  • After pirates attack, Arthur sees a “body still and broken-looking, lying in a pool of blood. Not far from him lay two other bodies; I saw bloody claw marks where one man’s tunic had been torn.” It is unclear how many people die.  
  • After calling Arthur “Dung Boy,” Hauk pushes Arthur into him. “I was on top of him, raising my fist to cuff him hard. He cried out and covered his head with his arms. I checked my punch and flung myself at Hauk, tackling him about the knees.” Hauk grabs a knife, but another sailor breaks up the fight. 
  • A group of villagers shoots arrows at the bear. One of the arrows hits Arthur’s ear. “I touched a finger to my wounded ear. It came away wet. . . A hand’s length to the left, and I would have been dead.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Several times, Arthur goes to a tavern where men are drinking.  
  • When the bear is injured, the doctor puts sleeping herbs in fish.  

Language  

  • A captain of a ship calls Arthur a “rapscallion,” a “little scoundrel,” a “little weasel,” and a “useless boy.” 
  • A sailor calls Arthur a “clumsy oaf.” 
  • Because Arthur has to clean the bear’s cage, two of the sailors call him “Dung Boy.” 
  • Sailors load the bear onto a ship, but they are not careful. The doctor says, “Fools. She’s a living creature, not a tun of ale.” 
  • The captain calls the bear a “blasted beast.”  
  • After being given to the king, the bear refuses to eat. Arthur tells the bear, “Don’t be a dunderhead—eat!”  

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • After going days without eating, Arthur steals food from a tavern. He runs off “praying that the sailors behind me would be too lazy or too drunk to follow.” 
  • After agreeing to take the bear to England, the captain says, “God only knows what that creature will do in heavy seas. God only knows if the boy will be able to soothe it then.” 
  • After pirates attack, Arthur sees a sailor lying on the ground and wonders if he’s dead. “I could feel him breathing beneath me, praise be to God.” 
  • Before presenting the bear to the king, Arthur has to change his clothes in front of “God and everyone.”  
  • A man tells Arthur to tell “God’s truth,” meaning not to lie. 

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson

It is January 1947, the Year of the Boar in China. As the Wong family prepares to celebrate the Chinese New Year, they receive a letter in the mail. Sixth Cousin, a young girl, realizes it is from her father, who has been living in the United States for some time. The contents of the letter make her mother smile, her grandmother cry, and her grandfather angry. She learns that this is because her father had decided to stay in America permanently, and she and her mother would be joining him. Sixth Cousin adopts the American name Shirley Temple after the famous actress, and soon she and her mother embark on a ten-thousand-mile sea journey to New York City, where her father is waiting at their apartment in Brooklyn. 

In the Year of the Boar and Jackie Robinson, author Bette Bao Lord tells a wholesome, feel-good story about a girl who learns to balance her Chinese heritage with her new American life. The story is informed by Lord’s own experiences as a Chinese immigrant in the late 1940s, making the book feel authentic. It is divided into twelve chapters, one for each month of the Year of the Boar—a format that effectively shows the progression of Shirley’s adjustment to a new language, school, and culture.  

Although Shirley is extremely excited to explore her new home, adjusting to life in a new country proves challenging. She starts a new school in the middle of the year, not knowing English, and must navigate her way home through the busy, often hectic streets of New York. These challenges make her victories—improving her English, making new friends, and succeeding at school—all the more satisfying to read about as Shirley becomes more acquainted with life in America. 

One of the most compelling aspects of the story is Shirley’s growing fascination with baseball and her admiration for her hero, Jackie Robinson. What began as a game of stickball with her classmates soon developed into a passion for America’s pastime. Shirley becomes a huge fan of her hometown team, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and its star player, Jackie Robinson. Shirley feels inspired not only by Robinson’s triumphs on the baseball diamond but also by his triumphs breaking the color barrier as the first African American to play in Major League Baseball. Shirley often listens to the games on the radio with her classmates—celebrating every win, lamenting every loss, and finding baseball to be an effective way to bond with her new friends over a common interest. 

 As Lord writes, “Suddenly, Shirley understood why her father brought her ten thousand miles to live among strangers. Here, she did not have to wait for gray hair to be considered wise. Here, she could speak up, question even the conduct of the President. Here, Shirley Temple Wong was somebody. She felt as if she had the power of ten tigers, as if she had grown as tall as the Statue of Liberty.” 

Sexual Content 

  • None 

Violence 

  • One day at school, Shirley accidentally ran into her classmate Mabel, causing them both to fall. Mabel is described as “the tallest and strongest and scariest girl in all of the fifth grade.” After a verbal confrontation full of profanities, Mabel “drew back her fist and punched Shirley square in the eye.” Then she punched Shirley a second time. The incident left Shirley with two black eyes.  

Language 

  • After colliding with Shirley, Mabel screamed: “Who the **** do you think you are? You ********”” She would also say, “You ********. Why don’t you **********?” Shirley would curse back at Mabel in Chinese, though the exact language she used isn’t stated. The expletives are censored with stars in the quoted text.  

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • None 

Supernatural Content 

  • None 

Spiritual Content 

  • Throughout the book, Shirley refers to the Chinese Goddess Kwan Yim. For instance, “Then, muttering thanks to the Goddess Kwan Yim, she flung her weary self into the armchair to seek solace in the uninterrupted enjoyment of the last inning.” 

by Nicholas Paragano 

Seeds of Hope: The Gold Rush Diary of Susanna Fairchild

Seeds of Hope presents a diary account of fourteen-year-old Susanna Fairchild’s life in 1849. After losing his wife and money during their steamship journey from New York, Susanna’s father succumbs to gold fever and abandons his plan to establish a medical practice in Oregon. Instead, he takes his two daughters to a mining camp, where they face danger from untrustworthy men and wild animals. 

Susanna and her sister Clara are devastated by their father’s decision, but after losing their mother, they want to stay close to him. The sisters are often left alone as their father searches for a more productive claim. Though afraid, they spend their time transforming their cabin into a home. Susanna’s diary chronicles both her fears and her grief over her mother’s death. 

Despite difficult circumstances, the Fairchilds find friendship within the camp. The girls occasionally visit Rosita and her family, who are from Peru. This friendship allows the book to illuminate the era’s discrimination. When people from other countries began arriving in California, Americans complained “that the foreigners are taking up space and if allowed to step on Californian soil, they will be trespassing. Since the gold belongs to the United States, they will be thieves, plundering what is not theirs.” Greed drove some miners to steal from, beat, and sometimes kill minorities. These harsh realities may be upsetting to some readers. 

Few women lived in California during the Gold Rush, which gives Seeds of Hope a unique perspective and highlights the daily dangers they faced. Death from accidents, gunfights, and murder occurred frequently. Despite this violence, Susanna and Clara show kindness to others. When a family friend steals from the Fairchilds, this saddens them, but it also demonstrates that “true character often isn’t revealed until a person is faced with temptation.” 

Seeds of Hope reveals the bleak reality for many individuals who hoped to improve their circumstances through sudden wealth. This creates a depressing tone, especially as Susanna’s father becomes increasingly obsessed with gold and neglects his daughters. Despite the dangers, he leaves the girls alone for long stretches while he searches for gold. Eventually, he realizes that wealth cannot bring happiness. He abandons mining, returns to practicing medicine, and decides to move to Oregon as originally planned. 

Although Seeds of Hope features fictional characters, it depicts significant events in American history and helps readers imagine the daily lives of young girls during the Gold Rush. While Susanna is a likable protagonist, she frequently writes about mundane tasks such as food preparation, laundry, and household chores. Even though Seeds of Hope is not full of action and adventure, Susanna’s diary allows readers to peek into the past and see how gold fever affected one family. True to history, the story highlights the difficulty and sometimes deadly nature of searching for gold. The story’s slow pacing and depressing atmosphere make Seeds of Hope best suited for readers already interested in the Gold Rush. Despite these limitations, the book conveys a meaningful message: when given a choice, always prioritize family and friendship over money. Readers seeking more information about this era should consult the non-fiction book Sutter’s Mill and the California Gold Rush. 

Sexual Content  

  • One of the minor characters is a lady who works at a dance hall. “Her dress was satin, her cheeks and lips were painted red. Papa wouldn’t look at her, and he told us to never go near that place.” 
  • Clara stops wearing a corset because “she didn’t like so many men staring at her womanly figure.” 
  • While on a ship, Susanna tripped and “fell against Sam. But before I could gather myself, he enfolded me in his arms and bent down to kiss me. . . I burst out laughing. I don’t know why.” Later, Sam and Susanna get married. 

Violence  

  • While sailing to California, Susanna’s mother died when “a wave broke over the bow, sending such a flood of water on deck that we were all swept off our feet. . . She threw up her arms in surprise, and passed us swiftly in green water. . . she was swept away.” 
  • Clara mentions several gunfights but doesn’t describe them all.  
  • Boys were kicking a baby donkey. When Susanna and Clara see them, Susanna picks up “some stones and threw them at the boys’ feet, not to hurt, but to let them know we meant business. Clara peeled a thin branch from a tree and began whipping their legs.” The boys ran away. 
  • Susanna mentions that “three men were killed last week when the mine they were digging caved in on top of them.” 
  • In a mine, there was an explosion. “Three boys were killed right away, but Sam was rescued from underneath some rocks.” Sam’s leg and ribs are broken. “Because the broken bone is exposed to the air, Sam is in so much pain he keeps slipping in and out of consciousness.” 
  • Sam’s leg has to be amputated. “Clara and I prayed with the boy and gave him a good swig of laudanum.” Susanna, Clara, and another man hold Sam down. Later, “Papa’s clean shirt was spattered with blood. So were the bed and floor. . . The friend dug a hole beyond the cabin to bury the damaged leg.” Sam recovers. 
  • Foreigners were often beaten and robbed. “Chinese especially.” Rosita, one of Susanna’s friends who is from Peru, had all of her cooking things stolen. Rosita describes how two Chinese men were robbed and a “Yankee cut their hair off. To shame those poor boys.” 
  • Susanna’s father is a doctor. In the past, he “cut off a man’s broken foot that had turned black with gangrene.” 
  • There are several murders in the gold camps. A storekeeper says, “A young blacksmith had been murdered last night behind one of the saloons.” Later, a dance-hall lady finds the body of a man who “was shot. He bled all over the stairs.” 
  • There is a shoot-out at a Saloon that “landed four men in the hoosegow and four full of bullet holes. Their bodies were displayed on Main Street. . . Their faces were purple and bloated. Flies swarmed over the wounds.”  
  • Susanna and her sister are in the river when a man floats by them. “He was on his back with dead staring eyes.” He has a knife in his chest. 
  • Men ran off “foreigners” who were panning for gold. “When some of them put up a fight, vigilantes found a tree and hanged five of them! Then they jumped their claims and stole their gold.”  
  • A bear attacks two sleeping men. One dies. “The other lost his right ear and right eye and most of his scalp. Papa was able to stitch up his cheek where the bear had clawed him.” The dead man’s “face was completely gone and one shoulder had been eaten.” 
  • Two kids are playing with a gun when they “accidentally shot off three fingers of [a miner’s] left hand.” 
  • After a palm reader’s prediction, a young man is hanged for murder, even though there was no proof. Afterwards, the dance hall lady is so upset that she confesses, saying, “I am guilty of one death, not three. He was a thief, a man without integrity.” She apologizes for not admitting the deed earlier. “Suddenly, the thick rope was put around her neck, like a brown collar that came up to her chin. . . [Papa said] the woman died instantly.” 
  • After the dance hall lady dies, Papa explains how he had to treat cuts on her hands. “Someone had stolen her money, then tried to stab her. When she held up her hands to stop the blows, the knife made deep wounds.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Susanna’s father smokes a pipe. 
  • When Sam is injured, his friends give him whiskey for the pain. He is also given laudanum, which is “opium mixed with alcohol.”  
  • The town is setting up a fight between a bear and a bull. Susanna and Clara cannot watch because Papa “did not want us to be around men guzzling whiskey or eating the spoils of a bear fight.”  

Language  

  • “My god” is used as an exclamation twice.
  • The Peruvians working on a ship are often referred to as “Tar Heads.”   
  • Someone says a murderer is a “no-good Mexican.” 

Supernatural 

  • When three murders take place, “the palm reader studied tea leaves to help the vigilantes catch the killer of those men. She said he would be a foreigner who lives alone.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • Susanna and her sister pray before they go to sleep. 
  • When someone needs medical help, Susanna and her sister go to find their father. “We are praying that God will guide us to him.” 
  • When Susanna and Clara find gold, they do not file a claim, and others take it. “Papa said that some injustices we must leave up to God to make right.” 
  • After a friend named Jesse Blue steals Papa’s money, Susanna thinks, “I know anything is possible with God, but I don’t know if Jesse Blue cares.” Later, Susanna writes to Jesse Blue’s wife, telling her about his thieving ways. “I pray that his heart will change. . .” 
  • Susanna wonders why “thieves and vigilantes run free,” but her mother died. “When I get to heaven, I’m going to ask God about all this.” 
  • Susanna and her sister boil a fish for dinner. Afterwards, they find gold in their cooking pot. Papa “thanked God for providing the fish with gold in its belly.” He prays, “Lord, please grant us enough money so we won’t have to steal to eat, but not so much that we’ll forget you. Thank you, amen.” 
  • While the house is empty, a man steals the family’s money. Afterward, Papa keeps his gun by the cabin’s door. “He said he will trust God to deal with the thief, but he must still be ready to protect us from him.” 

Rebellion 1776

In the spring of 1776, thirteen-year-old Elsbeth Culpepper wakes to the sound of cannons. It’s the Siege of Boston, the Patriots’ massive drive to push the Loyalists out that turns the city into a chaotic war zone. Elsbeth’s father—her only living relative—has gone missing, leaving her alone and adrift in a broken town while desperately seeking employment to avoid the orphanage.

Just when things couldn’t feel worse, the smallpox epidemic sweeps across Boston. Now, Bostonians must fight for their lives against an invisible enemy in addition to the visible one. While a treatment is being frantically fine-tuned, thousands of people rush in from the countryside begging for inoculation. At the same time, others refuse protection, for the treatment is crude at best and at times more dangerous than the disease itself.

Elsbeth, who had smallpox as a small child and is now immune, finds work taking care of a large, wealthy family with discord of their own as they await a turn at inoculation. But as the epidemic and the revolution rage on, will she find her father? 

Rebellion 1776 gives readers a unique perspective on how the revolution affected ordinary people’s lives. Readers will sympathize with many characters, especially those thrust into difficult situations through no fault of their own. Since the book is told from Elsbeth’s point of view, it reveals how perilous her life is as a parentless, penniless girl. Though smart and strong, Elsbeth’s fear drives her to dishonesty and manipulation. She knows that without employment, she will lose both food and shelter—with no one to turn to for help. 

The story thrusts readers into revolutionary Boston, showing what life was like for women, children, and servants. After the Patriots surround Boston, Elsbeth believes her life will return to normal. However, her father disappears, and her master leaves the city. To survive, Elsbeth agrees to work for the Pike family, where she milks cows, scrubs floors, cares for children, and performs endless chores before collapsing into bed each night. Elsbeth’s mundane existence is reflected in the book’s slow pace, leaving both her and the reader anticipating what crisis will strike next. 

Since the book centers on both Elsbeth and the Pike family, a large cast of characters appears, many only briefly. This prevents readers from connecting with most supporting characters. However, the Pikes’ ward, Hannah, befriends Elsbeth, and their friendship provides perspective on women’s treatment during the period. Mrs. Pike and her long-term servant similarly highlight how women lacked control over their lives. Despite these constraints, Elsbeth and Hannah dream of making their own choices, a desire readers will empathize with. 

Smallpox drives much of the story, and Elsbeth often reflects on losing her mother and siblings to the disease. When the Pike family is inoculated, Elsbeth cares for them during their recovery. Hannah, believing she had survived smallpox as a child, discovers she was misinformed and contracts the disease. The progression of her illness and subsequent death may be traumatic for some readers. 

Rebellion 1776 will captivate readers who enjoy historical fiction or want to learn more about the American Revolution. The story’s slow pace and large cast make it best suited for strong readers already interested in the period. Elsbeth’s story shows how smallpox destroys families but ends hopefully—Elsbeth reunites with her father and receives the opportunity to fulfill her dream of becoming a seamstress. 

Sexual Content  

  • Elsbeth’s closest friend Shubel joins the military. Before he leaves, the two say goodbye. “I looked deep into the turnip’s eyes, and he looked into mine. . . and by the time we blinked, we’d become close in such a dazzling manner that I swear sparks were shooting from our fingertips.” Later, the two get married. 

Violence  

  • Elsbeth hides under a table when the Patriot cannons begin bombarding Boston. 
  • The Boston Massacre is mentioned. “British soldiers had fired into a crowd of ordinary folks, killing some and wounding more.” 
  • Elsbeth receives a letter from her father. It reads: “I was attacked by a group of sailors who kidnapped me—pressed me into service for the King. . . I fought hard—broken arm still healing. . . My knee is better.” He later returns to Boston. 
  • Elsbeth is milking a cow when a scoundrel named Billy Rawdon shows up and threatens her with a knife. He grabs her, and when she tries to get free, Billy “painfully pressed the blade against my neck, cutting me. I shuddered in pain and stilled myself. . . A drop of blood trickled down my neck from the cut.” Billy soon leaves.  
  • Thomas, one of the Pikes’ children, runs away and joins Captain Hunter, who was a privateer trying to capture a ship. The man was “shot in the heart, Captain Hunter died shortly before the Defiance sank to the bottom of the sea.” Thomas survives and makes it home. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • An older gentleman drinks from a flask of wine. 
  • Mr. Pike takes “powder from the megrim” for headaches and “drinks decoction for his sour stomach.” 
  • Elsbeth goes to Sign of the Wolf tavern to meet a man who claims to know her father. The inn smells like sour ale. 
  • When the Pike family has smallpox, Elsbeth goes to the apothecary, who gives her “bark from a willow tree, Peruvian bark, yellow moss from an ash tree, juniper berries, nutmeg, and a vial of castoreum oil.” 
  • Hannah, a young girl who is living with the Pikes, gets smallpox. The doctor gives her laudanum for her pain. Afterwards, Elsbeth puts red silk around Hannah because “the color red helped fight the pox.” 

Language  

  • Often, the characters call each other names and refer to others in a mean way. Because of the frequency and number, the list is incomplete.  
  • A girl calls her brother “a warty-faced whale” and “a slimy weasel.” 
  • Elsbeth works for an older gentleman who often calls her names, such as “a blockhead kitchen maid,” “sniveling featherbrain,” “idle dolt,” and “a pockmarked, slothful wench best suited for farmwork.” 
  • When Elsbeth goes to see her father at work, another worker calls her a “rebel brat.” 
  • Elsbeth thinks her father is a “dunderhead.” 
  • A man calls someone a “blasted devil.” 
  • Elsbeth often calls others names such as “muttonhead,” “nincompoop,” “foggy-brained numbskull,” and “a snake-bellied son-of-the-devil.” 
  • Pissed is used twice. 
  • Creative explanations are often used, and not all are included. These include “tarnal maggots and lice,” “blast and tarnation,” “drat,” and many, many more.  
  • A young woman refers to her guardian as “Captain Fizzlefart, but not to his face.”

Supernatural 

  • A woman mentions that when it thunders during a snowstorm, it’s a good omen.

Spiritual Content  

  • When Mr. Pike’s family arrives, he says, “Praise God’s mercy.” 
  • Hannah believes “owls take messages to the dead. . . When Grandmamma hears one, she always opens a window and whispers a few words for the owl to take to the ghost of my grandfather.” Later, she dies, and Elsbeth sees two owls and whispers a message for them to take Hannah.” 
  • When one of Mr. Pike’s children runs off, Elsbeth “prayed only for his safety.” 
  • When the Pike family heard about the smallpox inoculations, they “went to church for a special prayer service.” 
  • Mrs. Pike doesn’t want to have her children vaccinated against smallpox. She asks, “What about faith? Smallpox is God’s will, so we ought not tamper with it.” His daughter argues, saying that Mr. Pike takes other medication for headaches and a “sour stomach.” In the end, the Pike family is inoculated against smallpox. 
  • Part of the Declaration of Independence is read. “. . . and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitled them. . . all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. . .”
  • After reading the Declaration of Independence, a man says, “God save our American States!” 
  • Elsbeth writes a letter that ends with “I pray to our Lord to preserve you, body & spirit.” 
  • Hannah gets smallpox. As Elsbeth cares for her, she prays, “Please don’t let her die, please give her strength, please take away the pain.”

Rescue on the Oregon Trail

Meet Ranger! He’s a time-traveling golden retriever who has a nose for trouble. . . and he always saves the day! 

Ranger has been trained as a search-and-rescue dog, but he can’t officially pass the test because he’s always getting distracted by squirrels during exercises. One day, he finds a mysterious first aid kit in the garden and is transported to the year 1850, where he meets a young boy named Sam Abbott. Sam’s family is migrating west on the Oregon Trail and, soon after Ranger arrives, he helps the boy save his little sister. Ranger thinks his job is done, but the Oregon Trail can be dangerous, and the Abbotts need Ranger’s help more than they realize! 

When Ranger is transported to a different time, he is understandably confused, but this doesn’t stop him from using his search and rescue training to help the Abbott family find their missing child, Amelia. Unsure of how to get back home, Ranger follows the Abbott family on their journey, where they face many dangers, including a buffalo stampede, raging rivers, and deadly illnesses. Through it all, Ranger saves the day. Along the way, he stays devoted to keeping Amelia from wandering off, and he learns to love Sam. However, Ranger misses his forever family, and he’s constantly looking for a way to return home. 

Readers will instantly fall in love with Ranger, who is dedicated to helping others while still acting very much like a typical dog who likes to chase squirrels and eat bacon. During his travels, he learns about the difficulties and dangers of the Oregon Trail. However, Ranger can’t solve every problem. One couple dies, leaving their daughter, Sarah, an orphan. Sarah’s story thread ends on a hopeful note as she reunites with her uncle, who provides her with a home. The wagon train’s difficulties add suspense and keep the story moving at a quick pace while weaving in accurate facts about the Oregon Trail. 

Rescue on the Oregon Trail is printed in a format that will appeal to even the most reluctant readers. Each chapter begins with an attention-grabbing title, and the text is printed in a large font. Each chapter has one full-page black-and-white illustration that helps readers visualize the journey. The illustrations also include information about the time period by showing how people dressed, what life on a wagon train was like, and the dangers posed by animals such as buffalo and rattlesnakes.

Rescue on the Oregon Trail is the first book in the Ranger in Time Series, and it sets up the plot structure for the other books in the series. Despite this, the books do not have to be read in order because Ranger visits a different time period in each book. 

The book will appeal to a wide variety of readers because it’s told from Ranger’s point of view, which gives it a unique perspective. The history of the Oregon Trail is presented in an interesting story that revolves around a young boy and his family. While it’s clear that the hardships they faced could be deadly, the descriptions are not graphic, and Ranger almost always finds a way to help. Rescue on the Oregon Trail is the perfect book to start readers on an adventure through time. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Two men get in a fight. “One shoved the other so hard he flew backward into one of the horses. It neighed and reared up. . . The man who had fallen got up and ran at the other man. . .” The men’s fighting caused a yoke of oxen to stampede. No one is injured. 
  • While traveling, a herd of buffalo stampeded. The men shoot at the animals. “Pa fired his rifle again and again. Finally, one of the buffalo stumbled and sank to the ground.” The herd changes course. “Ranger followed Sam up to the collapsed buffalo. Its legs were crumpled underneath its great body. Its fur was matted with dust and blood.” 
  • Sam’s father butchers the buffalo. “Pa slit the buffalo’s hide from its throat all the way to its tail. Sam had to turn away.” 
  • While fording a river, Sam’s father falls into the water. Ranger jumps into the river. “Ranger caught the scent of death, too, rising up from the water. There were bodies down there. But Pa was still alive.” Sam’s father is rescued. 
  • When Sam is sick, the doctor checks on him daily. “He cut Sam’s arm so the bad blood could drain out.” Sam recovers. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • After two men fight, an adult says, “They got gold fever, and it’s turned them into a pack of fools.” 
  • When Ranger starts barking, someone asks him, “What in heaven’s name is the matter, Dog?” 
  • Sam’s mother uses “Oh Lord” as an exclamation once. 

Supernatural 

  • Ranger finds a first aid kit. The metal box began to vibrate. “The box felt warm at Ranger’s throat. Bright light spilled from cracks in the old metal and seemed to swallow up the whole yard. . . The light spread and grew. There was a blinding flash, and Ranger felt as if he were being squeezed through a hole in the sky.” He is transported to the Oregon Trail. 
  • Ranger knows it’s time to return home when he hears “a high-pitched humming. . . The metal box was humming so loud it seemed to be shaking the whole earth.” Then, Ranger is transported back to his time.  

Spiritual Content  

  • One family is traveling to Salt Lake because “there was a much bigger community of Mormon families” there. 
  • When Sam’s mother is worried, she hums a hymn from church. Sam thinks, “With such a long list of bad things that could happen out on the trail, she was humming a lot these days.” Sam’s mother does this often throughout the book. 
  • Before crossing a river, “Sam could hear her [his mother] whispering prayers.” 
  • When buffalo stampede, Sam’s mother prays, “Oh, Lord, keep us safe.” 
  • While eating buffalo steak, Sam’s mother says, “This is a little bit of heaven.” 
  • A man and his wife die, leaving their daughter alone. The daughter “watched as they laid her mother and father down in the prairie, said some prayers, and shoveled all the dirt back in.” 
  • When Sam is sick, the doctor says, “All we can do is pray.” 

The Stowaway: A Tale of California Pirates

The year is 1818, and the coastal village of Monterey, California, is a peaceful home for 11-year-old Carlito and his family. . . until pirate ships appear on the horizon. Carlito and his friends are excited at first. They can’t wait to see what real pirates look like. But once the ships drop anchor, they attack. And on one terrible night, Carlito witnesses a murder—his father’s. When Carlito climbs onto the pirate ship in search of revenge, the ship sets sail, and he becomes a stowaway. Can Carlito bring his father’s murderer to justice? Or will he suffer the same horrendous fate? 

The stakes are high in this action-packed adventure when Carlito inadvertently becomes a stowaway on Captain Bouchard’s ship. The book opens with historical information about the Argentine privateer known for his cruelty, which immediately raises the suspense by forewarning readers that Carlito’s death could come at any moment. Being trapped on a ship with a cruel captain and manipulative pirates creates an atmosphere of fear and highlights the perils everyone on board faces. 

Despite Captain Bouchard’s cruelty, Carlito finds solace when the ship’s navigator, Montague, shows him kindness and protects him from the other pirates’ abuse. Montague isn’t the only person trapped by circumstances—Billy, another young boy forced into labor, befriends Carlito, and the two bond over their similar situations. Unlike Carlito, however, Billy’s father is still alive but imprisoned in a cage in the ship’s hull. Despite his harsh circumstances, the enslaved man remains kind. When Carlito has an opportunity to escape, he chooses to stay because he doesn’t want to endanger Billy or his father. Despite his fear and difficulties, Carlito demonstrates bravery by prioritizing others’ needs over his own. 

The Stowaway chronicles the events of Captain Bouchard’s Raid of 1818, offering an engaging story that will entertain anyone who loves pirate adventures while also teaching California history and showing the destruction Captain Bouchard left in his wake. The book focuses on a young protagonist with whom readers will easily connect. At one point, Carlito is given an opportunity to let Parvo, a cruel pirate, die, but sets aside his hatred and refrains from taking revenge. As Carlito says, “This pirate needs to be brought to justice for his terrible crimes. That is something Governor Sola can do.” Ultimately, Carlito learns the dangers of making rash decisions and the importance of relying on others for guidance. Readers who want to get lost in another pirate adventure should also read The Very Nearly Honorable League of Pirates Series and The 13th Floor: A Ghost Story.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The book begins with a note about the story’s historical pirate, Hippolyte de Bouchard, who tracked down mutineers on Kaua’i, Hawaii. “[One mutineer] was dragged from the jungle to the beach, blindfolded, then shot by four marines. . . Other mutineers were found on the island of Maui and flogged until their backs split open.” 
  • After leaving Hawaii, Bouchard went to California and attacked the port of Monterey. During the attack, one of the pirate ships was hit. “Carlito peeked over the tower ledge to see flames on the ship’s deck, a mast snapped in two, and spars torn through the rigging.” The ship does not sink.  
  • As the townsmen were retreating, an officer “raised a musket and fired. One of the fishermen threw his arms in the air, then fell to the sand. Another shot hit a man in the shoulder, but he kept running.” The man was on the wet sand, “Blood staining the water’s edge. When Carlito focused on the man’s face, the open eyes that no longer held life, he gave an anguished cry.” The dead man was Carlito’s father. Two other people had been killed during the pirates’ attack. 
  • After the attack, Carlito sees “a screaming soldier about to have both hands amputated. The floor was sticky with blood.” Five pirates were killed during the fight. 
  • When Bouchard found a stowaway aboard his ship, the stowaway’s “lips [were] sewn shut, then he was dangled over the side until the sharks found him. . .” 
  • Billy, a boy forced to work on a pirate ship, was disfigured by a pirate. “The eye socket was empty and red. The knife that had cut Billy’s face and throat had also taken out the eye.” Billy obeys the pirates because his father is being held captive in a cage. 
  • A pirate is upset that two boys don’t have his boat ready. “He shoved one of the older boys into the water and kicked sand into the other’s face.”  
  • A pirate grabs Carlito and another boy, Little Edward, to punish them for not following orders. “He grabbed the boys by the arms and dragged them across the deck. As the boys struggled, he lashed their wrists to an overhead ratline and pulled out a whip that had been soaked in a bucket of salt water. . . [Carlito] could hear Little Edward crying.” A woman stops the pirate before he can hurt them further. 
  • One of the pirates, Red Cap, “was too drunk to know he was being rolled out the window. Down he went like a stone. His arms and legs flew up in a splash.” The man sank to his death. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • A captain smokes a pipe.  
  • After a meal, Carlito’s mother and aunt “lit their cigars.” 
  • After the pirates attacked the port of Monterey, “there was drunken laughter as the thieves ransacked each home and shop.”  
  • A pirate who was taunting Carlito “reeked of rum.” 
  • The cook sends a jug of rum to a prisoner.  
  • After attacking another town, “pirates began stumbling down the path. Some were so drunk their mates dragged them by their hair along the rocky beach.” The men had raided “the fiery home-brew whiskey” hidden in a bodega. As punishment, “twenty men were strung up, stripped to the waist, then bloodied with twelve lashes each.” 
  • After Captain Bouchard maroons Carlito and others on an island, Carlito imagines Captain Bouchard and Captain Corney “raising their goblets of wine in a victory toast.” 
  • The epilogue explains how Captain Corney and his men had a “shore party” and accidentally ate a poisonous root. Twelve men “suffered agonizing deaths.” 
  • After retiring from piracy, Bouchard “treated his slaves with such cruelty, however, they staged a revolt in 1837 and killed him.” 

Language  

  • Bouchard often calls Carlito and others names, such as “stupid pig farmer,” “vermin,” and “worms.” 
  • A woman calls a pirate a “piece of bait” and “scum.” 
  • A pirate calls Carlito and the other boys “scum. Pig farmers.” 
  • The ship’s navigator, Montague, has scars on her face. A pirate says, “Everyone knows women are bad luck at sea, especially those with the face of a dog and a big. . .” Montague throws the pirate into the ocean. 

 Supernatural 

  • Women are thought to be bad luck at sea. 

Spiritual Content  

  • In a letter warning the governor to surrender, Bouchard writes, “May God keep you many years.” 
  • Carlito disobeys his father and sneaks back into the mission. “Papa put his arm around his son and nodded toward the altar where a carving of Jesus looked down at them. He began to pray. ‘The Lord is my shepherd. . .’” Carlito and his family were baptized Catholics and are Spanish citizens. 
  • Bouchard yells at the ship’s navigator, Montague. She replies, “When the Spaniards’ guns killed seven of your buffoons, you blamed me. Now God chooses to send no wind, and you blame me again.” 
  • Captain Bouchard maroons Carlito and others on an island. Carlito and another boy find a canoe and prepare to go for help. A man prays, “Dear Lord, watch over these brave boys. We ask for Your mercy on all of us. Amen.” 
  • Carlito and the other boy’s canoe gets caught in a current. Carlito’s uncle finds them and says, “Thank God your boat floated into the channel or we would not have found you in time.” 

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie: The Diary of Hattie Campbell

After the death of her two sisters, thirteen-year-old Hattie and her family make a fresh start. They sell their farm in Missouri and journey across the Oregon Trail toward Oregon City. At first, the adventure is exciting, but as the days, weeks, and months pass, Hattie realizes what a dangerous and tedious trip it is. As they cross the prairies, news of the fate of the Donner Party reaches them, and death, disease, weather, and the terrain take a terrible toll on their traveling party. The Campbells lose neighbors and friends until they can hardly bear to continue. But Hattie and her family must persevere or risk the same misfortune. Hattie’s diary chronicles the hardships of such a harrowing journey, but also captures the small moments, friendships, and celebrations of life that keep hope alive. 

Hattie and her family’s adventure is filled with danger—perilous rivers to cross, deadly animals, unpredictable weather, and accidents. Despite these daily perils, Hattie focuses on conflicts that today’s readers will relate to. She is sad to leave her friends behind but becomes excited when she meets fourteen-year-old Pepper. When a boy begins courting Pepper, Hattie worries about losing her newfound friend and wonders when she will fall in love. While Hattie doesn’t find romance, she does meet many interesting people along the trail. 

Like many thirteen-year-olds, Hattie’s life revolves around her friends and those she cares about, which often makes her seem self-centered and uncaring when others face problems. For example, when Hattie discovers that Mrs. Kenker, a member of their wagon train, is a thief, she struggles to treat the woman kindly. While this reaction is understandable, Hattie is repeatedly rebuked for her lack of compassion. Her mother provides wise counsel: “In order to move on we must forgive the past. Sometimes that means forgiving someone who hasn’t apologized and probably never will.” Through these trials, Hattie learns to show greater kindness to others. 

Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie is told in diary format, which limits the development of other characters but still allows readers to understand the importance of Hattie’s relationships with friends, family, and adults. The characters draw readers into the story while the narrative teaches fascinating facts about the Oregon Trail, including landmarks, dangers, and the various reasons people traveled 2,000 miles to start new lives. Although there is no direct interaction between the wagon train and Indigenous peoples, Hattie writes: “I have decided Indians are like white folks in that some are honest and kind, others are liars and thieves.” This observation reinforces a theme woven throughout the story: making assumptions based on appearance is not only wrong but can harm both yourself and others. 

If you’re interested in learning about the Oregon Trail, Across the Wide and Lonesome Prairie offers a compelling glimpse into this historic period and will spark your curiosity to explore the people and landmarks along the trail. However, like the pioneers themselves, you may wish you could stop to explore these places in greater depth. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • While in Independence, Missouri, a group of “boys yell and wave their rifles around. One of them accidentally shot a nine-year-old in the neck. He died quickly, right where he fell.”  
  • Tall Joe, the leader of the wagon train, shows off “what looks like two short brushes hanging with a string of beads. . . Tall Joe said proudly, ‘Them is scalps, ma’am. . . Pawnee.” Tall Joe said he shot the men. 
  • Tall Joe and Mr. Kenker, another member of the wagon train, get into an argument. Mr. Kenker points a gun at Tall Joe. Tall Joe says, “And the next time you point a gun at me, mister, I’ll slice your ears off — don’t you forget!” When Mr. Kenker’s wife defends him, Tall Joe “grabbed Mr. Kenker’s pistol and aimed it at their wagon seat where a pie was cooling. The first shot made the pan spin, the second splattered it.”  
  • Tall Joe and Mr. Kenker get into another fight. Mr. Kenker “walked to the edge of the cliff, stepped into midair, and dropped out of sight. For a moment there was silence, then the piercing scream of Mrs. Kenker.” It is implied that Mr. Kenker died. 
  • While on the trail, “a boy playing with his father’s gun accidentally shot our front ox in the head. It dropped dead so quick the ones behind stumbled onto it.” 
  • Hattie’s little brother Ben fell off the wagon. “The wheels rolled over his left arm so that it hung like a broken stick. He cried and cried, while Pa set it in a splint.” He eventually recovers. 
  • A boy fell off the wagon and “was trampled by the mules behind. There was so much dust that it wasn’t until three wagons passed did they find him.” 
  • While crossing a river, a family’s mule panicked, and the animals began to drown. They sank so fast they pulled the wagons underwater before anyone had a chance to jump out. Two families disappeared just like that. I’m sick at heart. The screams of their friends on shore I will never forget as long as I live.” 
  • Mrs. Bigg, a kind woman whom Hattie admires, falls off her wagon. “Mrs. Bigg had fallen in the water and was trying to grab her husband’s hand. . . Each time she managed to grab a wheel or harness, the wagon tipped deeper toward her. . . In an instant, Mrs. Bigg and her rescuer disappeared under the tongue of the wagon. . . then they were gone.” 
  • A woman on the wagon train receives news that her friend has died. “It seems there was a measles epidemic. When some of the Indian children died, the Cayuse thought Dr. Whitman was a sorcerer. So they burned down the mission.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • A couple who were traveling with Hattie’s group has “two crystal wine goblets, for she and the mister tip back a few each night.” 
  • Hattie’s friend Wade is accidentally poisoned. While he’s sick, his parents “gave him a sip of rum” to help him relax. 
  • When Hattie’s brother is injured, he is given whiskey to help him with the pain. 

Language  

  • Brigham Young has “three nigras, servants look like.” 
  • “Lordy” is used as an exclamation once.  

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Several people from the wagon train eat water hemlock, which is poison. When they get sick, Hattie’s father says, “God help us.” Several people die, and Hattie’s friend Wade “is breathing hard and fast through clenched jaws so it sounds like he’s hissing. Blood is at the corners of his mouth.” Hattie and others pray for Wade’s recovery. 
  • Hattie’s mother and Wade’s mother pray, “Asking God, that if it be His will, to please heal Wade.” Wade eventually recovers. His mother “cries and cries she is so thankful to God for healing her son.” Wade’s healing was attributed to God. 
  • When a wagon flips over and crashes, Hattie thinks, “Thank God, Mrs. Anderson and her daughters were watching from the top of the hill.” 
  • Along the way, Wade sings a hymn: “May our good Lord watch over you always.” 
  • When Mrs. Bigg dies, Hattie wonders, “Why did someone as generous and loving and honest as Mrs. Bigg have to die while Mrs. Kenker gets to live?” 
  • Hattie continues to mourn Mrs. Bigg’s death. Hattie’s mom says, “I know two things for sure. God loves us and he has a plan for our lives. I wish I knew why He took Mrs. Bigg and Cassia and the other children, but this I do not know.” 
  • Brigham Young, American religious leader and second president of the Mormon church, was traveling close to Hattie’s wagon train. She writes, “I think something’s wrong with a religion that says men get to have as many wives as they please all at once.” 
  • Hattie thinks Brigham Young is “very religious because he makes his people rest on the Sabbath—no traveling.” 
  • Brigham Young’s group travels alone, which makes some of the people on Hattie’s wagon train dislike them. Some say he is acting “high and mighty.” However, Hattie’s father says, “Brigham Young’s people are trying to start a new life, just like us. And I’ll tell you something else. . . we ain’t their judge, God Almighty is, so let’s get going and not be so mad about everything.” 
  • While trying to ford a dangerous river, Hattie’s aunt goes into labor. Hattie writes, “Why God sends babies into the world at times like this I’ll never understand, but he does.”

Sarah Journeys West: An Oregon Trail Survival Story

In the midst of the California Gold Rush, twelve-year-old Sarah and her family are living in the North as free Black people. Seeking a better life, Sarah’s parents decide they will venture west on the Oregon Trail. On the trail, Sarah and her family face all kinds of hardship, including racism, extreme weather, difficult terrain, and disease. But the journey will be worth it if they can find fortune in California. Will Sarah and her family endure the trail and make a new life out west?  

Sarah Journeys West gives a broad view of the Oregon Trail, allowing readers to understand the dangers of going west by following Sarah’s family. Although the trip was difficult, most of the dangers that are discussed aren’t directly related to the wagon train that Sarah’s family is traveling with. This decreases the story’s suspense and, similar to traveling on the Oregon Trail, the book sometimes goes at a very slow pace. 

Since Sarah’s family is the only Black family in their wagon train, the story offers a unique perspective that highlights the additional difficulties they faced, including discrimination from other members of the wagon train. However, they were not alone in facing prejudice. Many travelers feared Native Americans and harbored discriminatory attitudes toward them. For example, when a member of the wagon train, Mr. Adams, first encounters Indians, he wants to shoot them on sight, but Sarah’s father intervenes to stop him. Sarah’s mother provides insight into their shared struggles, explaining, “They aren’t that different from us. Our people got stolen from home, and their home got stolen from them.” 

The book’s structure makes it easy to follow, with each chapter beginning by noting Sarah’s location and the time. Black-and-white illustrations appear every 10 to 17 pages, including one that shows a family grieving over a grave. The back of the book includes nonfiction material on the Oregon Trail, a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts that provide brief explanations of African American and Native American perspectives. 

Throughout the journey, Sarah’s family encounters several historical landmarks along the trail and discusses the Hastings Cutoff and the Donner Party. While the book provides limited information about these topics, curious readers can learn more by reading Koda by Patricia Hermes. 

Sarah Journeys West focuses on a caring family that dreams of a better life. Although the story occasionally lacks action, Sarah is a likable protagonist who worries about what her new life in California will look like. Despite the difficult trip, the book reinforces the message that “a woman can do anything a man can do.” The story concludes on a hopeful note—Sarah and her family safely arrive in California, where Sarah has found a best friend, and the two girls plan to help their families become prosperous. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • As Sarah’s family prepares to go to Oregon, one of their companions, Mr. Adams, says that Indians had killed “a lot of people heading west.” The man promises to “shoot an Indian on sight if I have to.” 
  • The wagon train approaches a river and sees Indians. Mr. Adams plans to shoot the Indians, even though they have done nothing to provoke him. “Daddy lunged at him, which made the gun aim into the sky, and a shot went off. . . Mr. Lee grabbed the gun from Mr. Adams, and Daddy wrestled him to the ground.” No one is injured, and the Indians help them cross the river. 
  • A man mentions the Donner Party, saying, “They got stuck in these mountains in the middle of winter. Almost all of them died.” 
  • The author’s note explains that “American Indians suffered greatly because of Europeans and the California Gold Rush. Native Americans across the country were forced off their homelands and killed in battles over the land. . . Their way of life completely disrupted.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Sarah sees women who were preparing to leave for Oregon carrying medicine bags. 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • Before leaving to head west, James’ granddaddy gave him a gun and said, “James you’re going to need this to hunt. I pray that’s all you need it for.” 
  • Sarah’s friend, Maddie, gets lost in the woods. At first, no one realizes she is missing. A group of men goes looking for Maddie, and Sarah sneaks off after them. When Maddie is found, her father says, “Thank God.”

Rebel Spirits

Lori Chase doesn’t know what to think about ghosts. She may have seen a few in the past, but those were just childish imaginings. . . right? Only now that she is living in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, spirits seem to be on everyone’s mind. The town is obsessed with its bloody Civil War history, and the old inn that Lori’s parents run is supposedly haunted by the souls of dead soldiers. Then Lori meets one such soldier—the devastatingly handsome Nathaniel Pierce. Nathaniel’s soul cannot rest, and he desperately needs Lori’s help. Nathaniel was not killed in the famous battle. He was murdered. Lori begins to investigate the age-old mystery, stumbling upon shocking clues and secrets. At the same time, she can’t help falling for Nathaniel, just as he is falling for her. 

Though Lori knows she can see ghosts, she isn’t expecting to meet the ghost of a handsome soldier. Nathaniel’s mysterious death, haunting good looks, and introspective nature quickly captivate her. As Lori investigates his death, she learns more about the Civil War that claimed his life. She makes a compelling narrator that teenagers will relate to—like most teens, she struggles to understand her romantic feelings, is reluctant to confide in her parents, and isn’t sure who to trust with her innermost thoughts. 

To solve his murder, Nathaniel retells his involvement in a Civil War battle, including brief but gruesome descriptions of soldiers who died from their injuries. Though he has only three days to solve his murder, he doesn’t seem eager to pursue the mystery and lacks essential clues that would lead Lori to the answer. Despite this, his heartrending story, empathy for others, and affection for Lori make him a worthy love interest. 

Evan, a young man who works at Lori’s family’s bed and breakfast, helps her understand Gettysburg’s history and also becomes a love interest. At times, his cheerful personality and obvious affection for Lori overshadow Nathaniel. When he learns about Lori’s quest, Evan offers his help in a kind and respectful manner. The story feels like a weak love triangle since Nathaniel will disappear in three days, while Evan has time on his side. 

After Lori nearly dies, she asks Nathaniel, “Would you allow me to be dead so we could stay together?” He acknowledges that he doesn’t belong in her world, nor she in his, saying, “Some things are timeless, and one of them is this: Love is not selfish.” He explains how he helped save her life, then adds, “Evan Maxwell. He’s a good man, and he cares for you. Give him a corner of your heart.” This moment highlights the importance of selfless love. However, their romance develops too quickly and feels shallow—especially since Lori plans to go to dinner with Evan the day after Nathaniel leaves. 

Rebel Spirits will entertain teenagers seeking romance mixed with mystery and ghosts. However, the story lacks historical depth and could have taken place anywhere in the United States, missing opportunities to explore the Civil War and Gettysburg in detail. The spirit world’s rules are also inconsistent—Nathaniel has only three days with Lori yet afterward remains in contact with another person who sees ghosts. The conclusion feels rushed, like a puzzle whose pieces don’t quite fit. However, readers who enjoy character-driven novels will appreciate its positive message about selfless love and find it an easy, enjoyable read.   

Sexual Content  

  • Nathaniel unexpectedly kisses Lori. “Not a quick kiss on the cheek like I gave Evan, but a full kiss on the lips. My first kiss, actually. . . It’s sweet and delicious and I want it to go on and on. I close my eyes and kiss him back, and feel my insides turn to Jell-O.” 
  • Lori and Nathaniel are on a bench talking when, “He pulls me toward him, locks me in his arms, and his lips on mine are warm and firm. They taste of ginger, and I can’t get enough.” 
  • Lori is at a creek near her home when Nathaniel materializes. “He greets me with a long kiss. I want to enjoy it even more than I already do, but my mind is elsewhere. I pull back.” 
  • Lori seeks the help of Evan. As they’re talking, “he leans forward, and without much warning plants his lips on mine.” Lori thinks, “It was pretty nice, considering that he’s the second guy to kiss me today.” 
  • Lori and Nathaniel meet to say goodbye. “His arms are around me, mine around him, as if nothing could ever come between us. . . Our lips eagerly find each other, and for that brief moment, I forget that we’ll soon be torn apart.” 

Violence  

  • Nathaniel Pierce, who is a ghost, was murdered. Nathaniel turns around, and “that’s when [Lori] see[s] the torn fabric and dried blood of a gaping hole in the middle of his back.” 
  • Nathaniel talks about the war. Even though the battle had ended, “It was not the end of misery in this town where bodies of men and horses were strewn everywhere. Even more tragic were the wounded who waited for help. . . Imagine four wounded soldiers writhing in agony. They’re waiting for rescue to a field hospital, too weak, too torn apart to get there on their own.” A storm fills the creek and floods. The four soldiers die. 
  • One of the workers at the bed and breakfast won’t stay in the house after dark. She says, “. . . on quiet nights, you can still hear the screams of the soldiers having their arms and legs cut off. Without an anesthetic.” 
  • Nathaniel’s best friend’s father, Mr. Larch, worked in a mine. The man took a lantern into the mine. “He no sooner stepped off the elevator when he heard the roof rumbling. The wooden stakes. . . started buckling. . . The roof collapsed, most likely knocking the lantern out of Mr. Larch’s hand, which set off an explosion with the trapped gases.” Mr. Larch dies. 
  • After a battle, Nathaniel helps a “drummer boy, maybe fourteen, and he was a Reb. Entrails spilled out of the jagged hole in the boy’s gut. His eyes were glazed over, but when my face came close, they filled with fear.” Nathaniel took the boy to the field hospital. Soon after, another man, Henry, brought a patient to the hospital and got angry that the doctor wouldn’t help him immediately. “Henry went berserk and started throwing wild punches. Landed one on the side of the doctor’s head. I wrestled Henry to the ground.” Both patients died. 
  • During the war, people could tell the houses that were being used as hospitals “by the trail of blood up the front steps, and the arms and legs tossed out the back window. Kept dozens of civilians busy just burying the pile of limbs.” 
  • Lori’s friend Charlotte can also see ghosts. Charlotte has seen Nathaniel before. She tells Lori, “He shows up every year at this time, but he only stays until the Battle Days are over. . . It surprised me to see him. He’s usually just spirit, not flesh. You must be special for him to appear in bodily form and give you his name. Once a spirit offers his name, he’s vulnerable. He’s yours.”  
  • Lori asks Nathaniel about his family. He says, “They’re waiting to know how all this turns out. I can feel them hovering near sometimes, but they’re quiet, just waiting.” 
  • Lori finds a letter that explains how Nathaniel died. Nathaniel’s friend snuck up behind him with the intent to shoot him. The letter reads: “The wrongdoer, even in the darkest crevice of his soul, professed to be a faithful friend as he pointed his pistol. God save us from such acts of friendship.” The letter writer tries to stop the man, but “God help me, my fingers were on the trigger when the gun fired, and [Nathaniel] Pierce gasped his final, labored breath.” The letter writer accidentally shot Nathaniel. 
  • A group of people who have been looking for the ring are digging in a shed close to the bed and breakfast. The people discover Lori spying on them. Lori’s hands and legs are bound, and then one of the men, Cadmus, “gruffly tosses me onto the seat of the riding mower. The impact shoots a pain up my spine, which is already bruised. . .” Cadmus uses Chloroform to knock Lori out. 
  • Nathaniel’s gravestone is next to Jenny Wade. Jenny “was the only civilian killed during the Battle when a random bullet found her inside her sister’s house.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The Civil War doctors used Chloroform as an anesthetic. 

Language  

  • OMG, Oh God, and Oh my God are all used once.   
  • A woman says, “Lord-a-mercy.” 

Supernatural 

  • Several characters can see ghosts, and Lori has a relationship with one. When Lori gets to Gettysburg, a young man appears before her. “The dense air shimmers. Right in front of my eyes, the molecules—or whatever—form themselves into a shadowy image.” Lori and her friend have a Ouija board and a “genuine fake” crystal ball. “We charge everyone fifty cents for a glimpse into their future, a dollar if they want to hear actual knocks and squeals from the dead.” It was all fake, but then one day Lori actually saw something in the crystal ball. “A child falling out of a tree. He was twisted and motionless on the hard ground, with his glasses unbroken next to him.” The next day, she read a newspaper article about the boy’s death.  
  • Lori tells her brother about seeing a ghost. He tells her about “a tradition among the Kikongo people here in West Africa. It means the threshold between worlds. . . People here believe that after death the soul travels the path of the sun as it sets in the west. . . West Africans kidnapped as slaves believed that the kalunga line was under the Atlantic Ocean, because the living became dead when they got to the US as slaves.” 
  • A woman tells Lori that strange things happen at the bed and breakfast. “Sometimes you got to watch for dishes and such floating through the air. . . unless they’re weighed down good, and even then. Ghosts are powerful things, even if they’re all just puffs of air.” 
  • A doctor had a ring that belonged to Abe Lincoln’s son. He believed it was a lucky charm. The doctor says, “Pray to God it’ll see me through this bloody war.” On the day the doctor loses the ring, he dies. 
  • After the doctor dies, a man finds Abe Lincoln’s son’s ring. The man decides the ring is a blessing and a curse because it is “a reminder of a dear friend and of my son’s brief life. . . My prayer is that no other father or mother will be blinded by its glitter and suffer the loss of a child who wears it.” 
  • A woman finds a concealed shoe at the bed-and-breakfast. “Folks around here always used to put a well-loved child’s shoe in the wall when they built it. Supposed to hold the spirit of the child and bring good luck to the family.” 
  • Lori goes to a battleground to wait for Nathaniel. While she’s there, she hears a multitude of voices from ghosts. Lori wonders, “What part did [Nathanial] have in sharing those haunting, comforting voices with me?”  

Spiritual Content  

  • When a woman throws a lit match on the floor of the shed, Lori worries it will ignite the flammable fertilizer bags and cause them to explode. Lori prays, “Don’t let the embers ignite the whole shed.” 
  • When Cadmus orders a woman to Chloroform Lori, Lori is “praying she’ll toss the bottle out the window.” 

Noelle at Sea: A Titanic Story

Thirteen-year-old Noelle feels like the luckiest girl in the world to be cruising the Atlantic aboard the famed Titanic. The trip is made even better by her new friend, Pauline, a girl who is traveling with her father to live in America. The girls spend the first days of the journey exploring, but on the fifth night, Noelle awakens to a sinking ship. Women and children will be rescued first, and Noelle realizes motherless Pauline will be left all alone. Despite her parents’ wishes, Noelle breaks away from her family to find and help her friend.  

Noelle, who is half Haitian and half French, has led a sheltered life and is unprepared for the discrimination she faces aboard the Titanic. One first-class passenger shows hostility toward Noelle because of her mixed heritage, even telling another passenger to let Noelle sink with the ship when disaster strikes. While most discrimination is implied, it becomes explicitly clear that Noelle’s Haitian father lacks the same opportunities as others. 

When boarding the ship, Noelle meets Pauline, a third-class passenger who also faces discrimination because of her lower social status. Through her friendship with Pauline, Noelle witnesses how people are often prejudged based on both class and race. While these scenes may upset some readers, Pauline’s relationship with her father proves to be even more disturbing. After Pauline’s mother died, her father lost all interest in life and refused to leave the sinking ship. Noelle wonders, “What type of father asked his daughter to leave him to die? What kind of father refused to save his child’s life?” 

From the beginning, Noelle and Pauline’s friendship is built on deception. Since Pauline is a third-class passenger, she should not be on the same deck as Noelle, but Noelle allows others, including her parents, to believe that Pauline is a second-class passenger. This seemingly harmless lie leads to other rule-breaking when Pauline and her friend Albert convince Noelle to sneak into the first-class section and disobey her father’s orders. As Albert says, “My dad thinks a man should challenge authority.” 

Noelle at Sea addresses several sensitive topics that may be disturbing to young readers. However, the story is told from Noelle’s perspective and avoids detailed descriptions of the Titanic’s sinking. The book’s structure makes it easy to follow, with each chapter beginning by noting Noelle’s location and the time. Black-and-white illustrations appear every 10 to 17 pages, including one that depicts the silhouette of a lifeboat against the backdrop of the Titanic. The back includes nonfiction material on the Titanic, a glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts. 

Anyone interested in learning more about the Titanic will find Noelle at Sea an engaging book that offers a unique perspective through its half-Haitian, half-French protagonist. The fast-paced story also provides readers with insight into the prejudices of the era. Readers captivated by the tragedy of the Titanic should also read Disaster on the Titanic by Kate Messner or Survival Tails: The Titanic by Katrina Charman. 

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • When the ship begins to tip, Noelle is worried about her friend Pauline, who is in steerage. Noelle “pictured Pauline among hundreds of other passengers screaming for help down in third class. They would be running down the halls trying to find an unlocked gate.” 
  • While on the lifeboat, Noelle watches the Titanic. “The people on board were more frantic than they had been earlier. Bodies began falling from the ship. Some of their silhouettes seemed to be diving gracefully. Others tumbled through the air.” 
  • Some of the people on the lifeboats “froze to death.” 
  • When the passengers on the lifeboats were rescued, they “looked like they’d been through a war. Several passengers had cuts and broken bones. Nearby, Noelle watched a doctor tend to a man whose feet were frostbitten.” The doctor hopes the man’s feet do not need to be removed. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • A woman on a lifeboat “prayed through her sobs.” 
  • As Noelle watches the Titanic sink, “she prayed that [her father] was swimming towards them at this very moment.” Later, she says a second prayer.

Rebel Witch

Rune Winters is on the run. Ever since the boy she loved, Gideon Sharpe, revealed who she was and delivered her into enemy hands, everyone wants her dead. Now, Rune is working for Cressida, who is forcing Rune to marry Soren, a prince from the mainland. In exchange for Rune’s hand in marriage, Soren promises to provide Cressida with an army with which to take back the Republic. Gideon has been sent to kill Rune and stop this union from happening.

After discovering Cressida’s plan to locate her missing siblings and sacrifice them to resurrect her dead sisters, Rune and Gideon forge an alliance. Gideon agrees to help Rune return to the Republic and rescue a witch soothsayer. In exchange, Rune will break her engagement to Soren, which would prevent Cressida from gaining access to the army she needs for her planned invasion of the Republic. On the surface, this arrangement appears mutually beneficial. However, both Rune and Gideon harbor secret intentions to double-cross the other. To successfully protect their homeland, they must overcome their mistrust and learn to rely on each other once more. Ultimately, their partnership may prove to be the key to restoring peace to their fractured world.

Rune returns with unwavering determination to save the witches and protect her homeland. The traumatic events from the previous book have left their mark—Alex’s death and Gideon’s betrayal have left her more emotionally vulnerable than before. Despite these wounds, Rune remains brilliant and consistently strives to do what’s right and protect those she cares about. Her perseverance will continue to inspire and embolden readers.

In this installment, readers will find Rune even more relatable as Cressida’s ruthlessness instills a fear in her unlike anything she’s experienced. At one crucial moment, terror drives Rune to attempt an escape, seeking safety far from Cressida’s influence. However, Rune cannot deny her heart or abandon the people of the Republic who desperately hope for freedom and a better future, so she turns back to fight for them.

The shared struggle against Cressida and the scheming of the Republic’s new Commander bring together many characters who were previously enemies. Ciccarelli showcases these unique individuals, giving each distinct motivations and compelling moments despite their limited page time. The unity of these previously at-odds individuals strengthens the hopeful message of the book and shows that there is indeed a better world to be founded.

Gideon undergoes a profound transformation through his relationship with Rune. He becomes more accepting of witches and increasingly critical of his society’s prejudices. Yet Gideon is unable to deny his growing love for Rune despite his ongoing internal resistance. When Rune becomes too terrified to keep fighting, Gideon steps forward to lead the fight for their survival and their world.

Ciccarelli brews a powerful storm for the conclusion of her duology. Rebel Witch features numerous unexpected twists that, upon reflection, clearly stem from seeds planted in the first book’s opening pages. Rebel Witch will evoke a whirlwind of emotions as the novel follows Rune and Gideon as they finally learn to trust each other, despite their painful history.

Though hate and suffering dominate their world, Ciccarelli weaves a poignant message of love and acceptance. The characters’ hateful actions only perpetuate cycles of violence and pain. Ultimately, it is the love between a witch and a witch hunter—two enemies who choose unity over division—that enables everyone to fight for a brighter future.

The book’s conclusion is duly earned through significant sacrifice. Rune dies to secure the future and is resurrected through Cressida’s death. After cycles of hatred and revenge, Rune, Gideon, and their allies choose to build a new world founded on love. They establish a united council with elected representatives from all parts of the island, including both witches and non-witches. Ciccarelli delivers the classic message that love conquers all and that love is more powerful than hate. Rune’s journey to right past wrongs ultimately becomes a journey to find herself. Through accepting herself—flaws and all—she learns to love others as well.

Sexual Content

  • Rune is engaged to Prince Soren of the mainland. Rune flirts with Soren and teases him about a special surprise implied to be sex. “When Soren’s free hand settled on her hip, admiring its curve, she added: ‘Later tonight, when the recital is over and the guests are gone, I have something special planned for you.’”
  • While Gideon threatens Rune, he can’t help but be drawn to her. “The basest part of him wanted to tilt her head back and kiss her until she told him why she was crying.”
  • To save Gideon, Rune flirts with Soren, encouraging him and distracting Cressida. “Soren’s hands roamed freely now. Up her thighs. Under her dress.”
  • While Cressida is torturing Gideon, she means to take advantage of him. “When her eyes dropped to his trousers, she found every button undone.” Cressida is interrupted.
  • Rune and Gideon pretend to be newlyweds and flirt. “Before Rune could rail against the injustice, he cupped her legs above the knees. The warmth of his palms penetrated her dress, seeping into her skin. Rune’s grip tightened on her seat as his thumbs stroked her. Tenderly, and a little possessively.”
  • While she is sleeping in their shared cabin, Gideon sees Rune’s magic scars. “He had the strangest urge to take her leg in his hands and trace the silver lines. Memorize them with his fingers.”
  • Rune has a sex dream about Gideon. “They were arguing again—only not with words. His mouth was on hers, hot and insistent. Hers was hungry, insatiable, devouring.”
  • To shield Rune from the Blood Guard, Gideon makes out with her. “Hooking her arms around his neck, Rune arched against him. . . Gideon used the crowd as cover to guide her backward, kissing her as he moved through the dancers, toward that dark corner, and pressing her up against the wall. . . he tipped her head back and kissed her harder.”
  • When Cressida tortures Gideon, she activates a curse that prevents him from being with his true love. Gideon kisses Rune to show her that the curse exists. “His hand pressed against her lower back, pulling her closer. Burning a hungry fire through her. . . Their kisses turned desperate. . . Rune’s pulse hammered as his palms settled firmly around her waist and he lifted her onto the desk. When he stepped between her legs, pulling her flush against him, Rune hummed deep in her throat.”
  • Gideon and Rune kiss each other before Rune plans to escape to the mainland. “His free hand slid into her hair, pulling her closer, lips parting hers. His kiss made her ache in all the usual places. . . She dropped her knife and kissed him back. Gideon’s mouth turned devouring. Rune untucked his shirt from his trousers and slid her hands up his bare chest. . . He shivered and grabbed hold of her thighs, lifting her onto his hips, pulling her securely against him.”
  • Soren tries to assault Rune after she breaks off her engagement to him. “She felt his free hand pawing at her bodice. Felt the fabric tear and the dress loosen around her chest. ‘I always get what I’m owed,’ he said.”
  • When Rune and Gideon break into a house, they meet two old acquaintances. “Two young men entered the room—both in the midst of undressing, their hair messy, their lips swollen from kissing.”
  • Gideon and Rune profess their love, promise to get married, and then have sex. “The fire in her belly grew hotter and brighter with every rocking thrust. Grabbing hold of the bunk overhead, Rune rolled her hips to meet him.” This scene lasts seven pages.

Violence

  • Gideon has orders to kill Rune to prevent her marriage to Prince Soren, so he threatens her with a gun. “Keeping her wrists pinned with one hand, he pressed the barrel of his gun to her temple.” Gideon doesn’t shoot Rune because he still has feelings for her.
  • After he fails to kill Rune, Cressida captures Gideon and activates a painful curse in his body. “Pain flooded Gideon like lightning. Scorching hot. Bright white. As if she were branding him all over again.” Nothing physically happens to Gideon, but he still feels pain internally.
  • While Gideon and Rune are kissing, Cressida’s curse activates and tortures Gideon. “PAIN exploded inside him. Hot and sharp and excruciating. Starting in his scar, it ricocheted outward like a detonated bomb.”
  • While being controlled by a witch’s spell, Gideon tries to kill Rune. “Whipping her around to face him, he locked his hands around her throat and slammed her against the mirror.” Rune hits her head and gets a bit dizzy but recovers quickly.
  • While being choked by Gideon, Rune manages to grab a pistol and shoot the witch controlling him. “One shot. Make it count. Rune lifted the gun and fired.” The witch dies.
  • When Gideon comes to kill Rune, she has a gun ready. “Rune was inside, wearing a white lace dress. Gideon didn’t have time to pull his gun on her, because she already had one of her own. It was aimed straight at his forehead.” Rune uses the gun to threaten Gideon into making a deal with her.
  • Right after Rune and Gideon come to an agreement, Soren discovers them. To keep their deal a secret, Gideon threatens Rune. “‘Do exactly as I say,’ Gideon snarled. ‘Or I’ll put a bullet in your darling’s tiny head.’”
  • A spy for the Republic catches Rune. The spy says, “‘Turn around, witch, or I’ll shoot.’ Rune let out a slow breath and did as he said. The barrel of his gun was pointed at her head.” Gideon stops the spy.
  • The new Commander of the Republic, Noah, has a witch in his custody that can see the future. To make her comply and tell him her visions, Noah threatens to harm the witch’s daughter. “As Noah gripped the sword in two hands, the child tried to back away. One guard grabbed her arms while the other seized her wrist, pinning her little hand to the desk.” The girl remains uninjured, but very terrified.
  • Gideon and Rune kiss to see if the curse will activate; it does. “Gideon wrenched himself out of her embrace and stumbled back, his brand glowing ember-red through the white of his shirt. As if a scorching-hot iron were searing his skin.”
  • While trying to rescue a child, guards shoot at Gideon and Rune. “With the arrival of reinforcements, the gunfire intensified. Gideon’s gloved hand cupped Rune’s head, pressing her face into his shoulder. . . they sheltered the child between their two bodies.” No one gets injured.
  • The child’s mother, Aurelia, threatens Gideon, but no one is hurt. “The witch drew the missing gun and pressed the barrel under Gideon’s chin. He froze as she cocked it.”
  • Rune threatens Aurelia, who is threatening Gideon. “So before Aurelia fired, Rune reached for the second gun, still on the table, and aimed it straight at the witch.”
  • Rune has a dream that Gideon kills her. “Before she could, Gideon raised his gun. Rune froze, her pulse pounding. . . He cocked the gun, aiming it at her chest.”
  • Witches cut off Gideon’s friend Harrow’s ear and then throw her in the dungeon. Harrow “pointed to the spot where an ear should be, [and says,] ‘I stayed alive by catching drops of water from a leaking pipe, waiting to die of starvation.’”
  • Gideon gets beaten up for helping Rune escape. “It was the third time Noah hit him across the face with the butt of a revolver, and his ears rang from the pain of the blows.”
  • Cressida whips Rune. “Another lash caught Rune across the shoulder. She clenched her teeth to stop the agonized sounds escaping her. As fresh blood gushed from the wounds, soaking her shirt, two more lashes sliced open her back.” Rune is severely injured.
  • Cressida invades the Republic. She kills all those who oppose her. “Those who refused to talk were tortured. If they still refused, they were executed.”
  • Rune kills Soren when he tries to assault her. “Lifting the gun to Soren’s head, Rune fired.”
  • Trying to escape, Rune injures Noah. “Rune raised both hands, as if to surrender. But instead of dropping the knife, she threw it. Straight at Noah. . . The blade sank into his shoulder and he screamed.” Noah is slightly injured.
  • Gideon and Rune escape, but Gideon is shot. “The first time she stumbled, Gideon helped her up and a bullet lodged in his shoulder. He bit down on a growl as the pain seared through him.” Gideon is mildly injured but gets treatment and recovers.
  • Cressida’s guard corners Gideon and is about to kill him. “[Gideon] expected [the guard] to step back, preferring to put a bullet in his head. But she drew her casting knife and pressed its sharp edge to his throat.”
  • Rune saves Gideon from Cressida’s guard by shooting and killing her. “The witch dropped her knife. A second later, she toppled, hitting the ground beside him with a thump.”
  • Gideon kills Rune to prevent Cressida from using Rune to resurrect her sisters. “Gideon let out a soft cry, but he didn’t fail her. Pulling the trigger, he sent a bullet straight into her heart.”
  • Seraphine, the witch Rune saved in the first book, kills Cressida and uses her blood for a spell. “She plunged the knife straight into Cressida’s heart.”

Drugs and Alcohol

  • Rune is eating with Gideon and is too nervous so she “took another sip of wine. The familiar fog of intoxication was creeping in, blurring everything beyond their booth and muddying her thoughts.”
  • Gideon’s friend, Antonio, offers to make him a sleeping drug. Antonio says, “Perhaps a sleeping draught, then? We have the ingredients in the kitchen. I can make one for you. It will help ease the pain, at least for tonight.”

Language

  • Profanity is used rarely. Language includes damn, fuck, and hell.

Supernatural

  • Cressida plans to resurrect her sisters, Analise and Elowyn, with forbidden magic. “Analise and Elowyn were long dead, and resurrection spells required the sacrifice of someone closely related to the deceased—like a parent, sibling, or child.”
  • Seraphine, the witch Rune saved in the first book, uses a spell to kill Cressida and transfer her life force to Rune, thereby resurrecting Rune. “The witch queen gasped and the symbols on Rune’s skin glowed moonwhite. As if joining in with the breath she took, coming alive as Wisdom’s magic stole Cressida’s life force and poured it into Rune.”
  • Rune finds the curse Cressida used on Gideon. “TRUE LOVE’S CURSE is an Arcana spell. It prevents a victim from being with his true love by inflicting pain whenever he touches her skin to skin. . . Once cast, TRUE LOVE’S CURSE cannot wear off. Only the blood of the victim’s true love, spilled in a sacrificial act, can break it.”

Spiritual Content

  • This world believes in seven sisters who created the world and magic, called the Ancients. “In the beginning, there was darkness. Until the Seven Sisters laughed and a world burst into being. . . Before moving on, they chose a select few to watch over the world in their absence. To help these guardians love and protect their creation, the Seven Sisters gave them a gift. The gift of magic.”
  • Rune has a prophetic vision. “At that thought, a strange thing happened. An image flared before her eyes, like a waking dream.” The vision was of an older Gideon running around with three children, presumably his own.
  • One of the Ancients is summoned, takes human form, and becomes the queen’s advisor. “But Wisdom took pity on Althea and allowed herself to be summoned.”
  • In the first book, Rune attempted to rescue Seraphine, a witch and an Ancient.
  • Right after saving Rune, Seraphine leaves to rejoin her sisters. “Six figures appeared at the water’s edge. Each one shaped like a woman, glowing faintly. As if they were made of moonlight. . . And then she was gone. Turning away to join her ancient sisters.”

by Annamaria Lund

The Bletchley Riddle

Summer, 1940. Nineteen-year-old Jakob Novis and his quirky younger sister Lizzie share a love of riddles and puzzles. And now they’re living inside of one. The quarrelsome siblings find themselves amidst one of the greatest secrets of World War II—Britain’s eccentric codebreaking factory at Bletchley Park. As Jakob joins Bletchley’s top minds to crack the Nazi’s Enigma cipher, fourteen-year-old Lizzie embarks on a mission to solve the mysterious disappearance of their mother.

The Battle of Britain rages and Hitler’s invasion creeps closer. And at the same time, baffling messages and codes arrive on their doorstep while a menacing inspector lurks outside the gates of the Bletchley mansion. Are the messages truly for them, or are they a trap? Could the riddles of Enigma and their mother’s disappearance be somehow connected? Jakob and Lizzie must find a way to work together as they race to decipher clues that unravel a shocking puzzle that presents the ultimate challenge: How long must a secret be kept? 

The Bletchley Riddle alternates between the perspectives of two engaging siblings, Lizzie and Jakob. Fourteen-year-old Lizzie is reminiscent of Enola Holmes—spunky, intelligent, independent, and resourceful. Readers will quickly fall in love with this “half-American” character who approaches problems with refreshing directness. Determined to find her mother, Lizzie enlists the help of two loyal friends, Colin and Marion. Together, the trio embarks on fact-finding adventures that lead them into surprising situations filled with suspense and excitement.  

Jakob, meanwhile, is an awkward mathematician who resorts to terrible jokes when under stress. This serious young man is determined to help defeat the Germans through his code-breaking abilities, but cracking the Enigma machine proves more challenging than anticipated. Complications arise when a mysterious figure appears, intent on proving that both Jakob and his mother are enemy spies. Focused on his crucial work, Jakob becomes frustrated by Lizzie’s unwavering insistence that their mother remains alive. Though Jakob rarely ventures beyond Bletchley Park’s boundaries, he experiences his own share of adventures. 

The Bletchley Riddle contains all the elements of compelling fiction: well-developed characters with distinct voices, an intriguing mystery, and high stakes throughout. The story features memorable individuals with realistic flaws and antagonists who pose genuine threats to the siblings. However, the primary danger stems from the ongoing war with Germany, which Jakob and his fellow Bletchley Park colleagues are determined to help win. The various plot threads converge satisfyingly in the conclusion, and while the story doesn’t end with Germany’s defeat, readers will finish with a sense of satisfaction.  

As historical fiction, the novel incorporates fascinating details about Bletchley Park and the vital work of codebreakers during World War II. Six pages of black-and-white photographs showcase code-breaking machinery, wartime scenes, and newspaper headlines. Unfortunately, these photographs lack captions, leaving readers to interpret their significance independently. Nevertheless, readers will absorb numerous interesting facts about the war, codebreaking techniques, and the individuals who played crucial roles in the Allied effort. Readers interested in learning more about Bletchley Park should also consider reading The Enigma Girls by Candace Fleming. 

The Bletchley Riddle appeals to more than just history enthusiasts. The captivating narrative will keep readers engaged as the they attempt to solve the mystery surrounding Lizzie and Jakob’s mother’s disappearance while following the characters’ efforts to crack the Enigma code. The novel effectively highlights the courage and intelligence of the British people who refused to capitulate to German forces.  

Sexual Content  

  • As Lizzie delivers messages at Bletchley Park, she sees, “Couples kissing behind trees.” 
  • Lizzie tells the commander, “Well, the light in the ladies’ loo isn’t broken. The light bulb is intentionally unscrewed, as that location is a preferred spot for snogging. . . That is to say, kissing.” 
  • Collin admits to having a crush on Lizzie. He says, “I just knew that every time I was around you, I felt so odd.” When Lizzie admits to having a crush on Collin, she asks, “What happens now?” Collin replies, “I imagine we’ll just be better friends now.” They decide to hold hands.  

Violence  

  • Lizzie’s mother, Willa, is missing. She was “killed in a bomb blast. . . A falsity I refuse to accept.” Lizzie was told, “Willa went to Poland, the Germans attacked, and she was killed.” 
  • Later, Lizzie learns that Willa “stuck to her post, even as German bombers targeted the train. . . The station was destroyed. The Poles thought she was probably killed.” However, Willa is not dead. 
  • A newspaper article describes the Luftwaffe air raid. “[The Germans] hit factories and airfields up and down the coast. And some nearby houses as well.”  
  • Collin’s brother, a pilot, “was shot down over the Channel. He hasn’t been found.” Collin’s brother is presumed dead. Pilots had a life expectancy of four weeks. 
  • Lizzie and her brother are in London when the Germans attack. “Jakob grabs my hand as pulverized stone and glass rain down upon us. . . Flames rise in the distance, licking the sides of buildings.” They hide in an air raid shelter where, “the stairs rumble with tremors beneath our feet as we make it to the bottom.” 
  • When it’s safe to go outside, Lizzie and her brother see a changed London. “The morning air is sharp with the tang of burning wood, rubber, paint, sugar—whatever was in those warehouses along the river.” A German plane has crashed on the street, “or pieces of a plane, hunks of metal wreckage scattered along the road and sidewalk.” The pilot survived. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Lizzie knows that “Mr. Fleetwood enjoys too many nips of Old Schenley.” 
  • Lizzie’s grandmother tells her, “Nicknames such as ‘Lizzie’ are reserved for barmaids and axe murderers, of which you are neither.”  
  • A mysterious man Lizzie sees several times smokes cigarettes. 
  • While at a theater, someone buys Lizzie a “fizzy drink,” not realizing it was a gin and tonic. 
  • At an embassy party, champagne is served. 
  • As part of her plan not to go to America, Lizzie and her friends get Mr. Fleetwood “well oiled.”  

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • None 

The Bicycle Spy

Marcel loves riding his bicycle, whether he’s racing through the streets of his small town in France or making bread deliveries for his parents’ bakery. He dreams of someday competing in the Tour de France, the greatest bicycle race. But ever since Germany’s occupation of France began two years ago, in 1940, the race has been canceled. Now there are soldiers everywhere, interrupting Marcel’s rides with checkpoints and questioning.  

Then Marcel learns two big secrets, and he realizes there are worse things about the war than a canceled race. When he later discovers that his friend’s entire family is in imminent danger, Marcel knows he can help — but it will involve taking a risky bicycle ride to pass along covert information. And when nothing ends up going according to plan, it’s up to him to keep pedaling and think quickly. . . because his friend, her family, and his own future hang in the balance. 

Told from Marcel’s point of view, The Bicycle Spy shows the effect of World War II by focusing on Marcel’s parents and classmates. Marcel’s love of the Tour de France gives the story a unique perspective and allows him to become friends with Delphine, who shares his passion for the event. Marcel and Delphine also connect because they both have a secret: Delphine is Jewish, and Marcel’s parents are part of the French Resistance. When Delphine’s true identity is revealed, Marcel and his family show bravery and don’t hesitate to help Delphine’s family escape France.  

Marcel is an extremely likable protagonist who worries about everyday things, such as completing his homework, winning a bike race against his friends, and avoiding trouble at school. When he discovers that his parents are helping the French Resistance, Marcel is determined to help the cause. However, he often feels pangs of guilt when he has to lie, even though he realizes that dishonesty is the only way to keep people safe from the Germans. Even though Marcel fears the German soldiers, he doesn’t let this stop him from delivering messages for the Resistance.  

When Delphine’s family is in danger, Marcel is trusted to deliver a message that will help them escape. Even though this means riding his bike a long distance in freezing weather, Marcel is determined to save his friend. “The ride to Porte-Vendres was punishing. He was exhausted, and very, very cold. But then he thought of the riders in the Tour de France. Surely they got tired, hungry, and cold, too.” Marcel gains the strength to continue by thinking about the men who have competed in the Tour de France, as well as the danger that Delphine’s family faces. Marcel’s journey is full of danger and suspense, which makes the book difficult to put down. 

The Bicycle Spy shows how ordinary people helped the Jews escape Hitler’s clutches. Since the story is told from Marcel’s point of view, readers gain insight from a child’s perspective. This allows readers to understand Marcel’s fears and concerns without having graphic descriptions of violence. Reading The Bicycle Spy will encourage children to do the right thing, whether it’s standing up to a bully, helping a friend, or supporting their family.  

Sexual Content  

  • None 

Violence  

  • The German soldiers appear in Marcel’s classroom. “Two officers had come into the room, their shiny black boots heavy on the floorboards, their armbands with the thick black swastikas threatening. Even more threatening were the enormous black guns they carried so casually looped over their shoulders.” An officer talks to the teacher, who shows him the list of students in the class. Then the men leave. 
  • When Marcel encounters German soldiers, he wonders, “What would they do if they knew about his parents being in the Resistance? Drag them from the bakery? Force them to answer questions? Shoot them?” 
  • One of Marcel’s classmates, Thierry, dumped the contents of Delphine’s satchel. When she went to pick up her pen, “Thierry’s big foot got there first. There was an ugly crunch as he ground it under his heel.” Thierry saw a picture of Delphine and her brother and said, “You’re a Jew. . .  A dirty, stinking Jew!” Delphine is so upset that she leaves school and never comes back. 
  • Thierry accuses Marcel of helping “‘a Jew hide. Or maybe even escape and you know what that means.’ He made his hand into the shape of a pistol and pointed it to [Marcel’s] head.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Marcel saw a German soldier who “pulled out a cigarette and lit it.” 
  • When Marcel goes into town, he sees a man at a café smoking a cigarette. 

Language  

  • Some of the kids call each other names, such as shrimp, loser, jerk, idiot, dope, and liar. 
  • Marcel is riding a bike when a cat runs in front of him. Marcel exclaims, “zut alors,” which means “damn then.”  
  • When Delphine moves to town, one of her classmates asks, “Is your family rich or something? Like all those Jews who are wrecking the country?” Marcel didn’t understand why the comment upset Delphine. 
  • Marcel’s classmate, Thierry, calls Delphine a “dirty Jew” several times. 
  • Marcel’s mother refers to the Germans as “devils.” Later, Marcel’s father refers to Hitler as the devil. 
  • When returning home after a “punishing” bike ride, Marcel “races like the devil.” 

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual Content  

  • When Marcel learns that Delphine is Jewish, he thinks, “Everyone he knew was Catholic and went to the church of St. Vincent de Paul on Sundays and saints’ days, or holidays like Easter and Christmas.” 
  • Delphine and her parents pretend to be Protestants because her father “thought that would be easier” than pretending to be Catholic. 
  • Marcel needs to take a hidden note to someone working for the Resistance. He prays, “no one had spotted him and wondered where he was going and why.” 
  • The school closes so the town can celebrate Saint Francois-Xavier. “Everyone would be in church” to honor the saint. 
  • After Delphine and her family flee, Marcel’s mom says, “I am praying that they are [safe].” 
  • When Marcel’s father doesn’t come home, Marcel goes to search for him. Marcel’s mother says, “Go with God.” 

Zane and the Hurricane

I never thought a mutt like Bandit could get me in so much trouble. Don’t get me wrong, he’s the best dog in the world, what happened wasn’t his fault, even if it nearly got me killed. Bandit didn’t cause the hurricane, okay? And it wasn’t his idea for us to go all the way from our home in New Hampshire to the heat and smells of New Orleans. 

It was supposed to be a vacation, a chance to meet family in a city I’d barely heard of. And then disaster struck. The world turned upside down and inside out—and that was before the flood. 

I need to warn you right now, there’s some really gross stuff in this book, stuff so awful it made a dog hide his nose. And things so terrible I wanted to close my eyes. But we saw it all, me and Bandy. The good and the bad, the dark and the light. Acts of astonishing courage. Acts of cowardice and cruelty, of generosity and greed. Acts of terror and tragedy, tears and laughter.  

My name is Zane Dupree, and this is my story. 

Zane’s story focuses on the effects of Hurricane Katrina, but it is also a story about family. When Zane travels to meet his grandmother for the first time, he doesn’t think it’s important for him to learn about his father, who died before Zane was born. However, as his grandmother shares stories, Zane comes to realize that knowing your family history is important. When the hurricane separates Zane and his grandmother, Zane meets other people who talk about Zane’s father when he was a teenager. While Zane’s story highlights the importance of family and community connections, the hurricane overshadows this theme. 

While traveling away from the hurricane, Bandy jumps out of the car, and Zane follows him. This leaves Zane alone when the hurricane hits. Afterward, Zane is rescued by Tru, an African American man, and Malvina, a young Black girl. The three canoe through New Orleans’ wreckage and along the way, they face danger from a drug boss as well as the security for a rich area of town. These dangers reveal the discrimination and hardships that Black people faced during Hurricane Katrina. The story examines the disparities between the poor and the wealthy, as well as the differences between people of color and white individuals.   

Zane and the Hurricane lacks a cohesive story. Instead, Zane’s travels through New Orleans give quick flashes of how different people were affected by the destruction. However, each person has such short scenes that readers will be unable to connect with them. Likewise, when Zane discovers his father’s secret, the moment is anticlimactic because the father’s personality is never developed. The lack of character development and numerous dull moments make Zane and the Hurricane a story best suited for readers interested in Hurricane Katrina. Although the story is fictional, it incorporates many facts and ends with four pages of “interesting facts about New Orleans and the Great Flood.” Readers interested in the destructive nature of hurricanes can be swept away in the pages of Hurricane Rescue by Jennifer Li Shotz and Carrie and The Great Storm by Jessica Gunderson. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Zane never met his father before he died. Zane is upset that “he did something stupid like get himself run over by some old gumby before [he was] born.” 
  • Tru, an African American man, and Malvina, a young Black girl, rescue Zane from a flooded house. They canoe to a rich part of town that isn’t flooded. Men with guns swarm them. “The guns swing in our direction, until all you can see is the black holes at the end of the barrels.” When Tru doesn’t get down fast enough, “one of the shotgun men plants a shiny black combat boot on his chest and shoves him to the ground.” 
  • Malvina screams at the man and grabs him. “He pulls her off the way you’d flick at a bothersome bug, and hands her to me. I can feel her heart slamming in her chest, and the tightness of her anger.” 
  • Before questioning Zane, the man with the gun “smiles an evil kind of smile, touches the end of the shotgun barrel to my chin, and says, very softly, ‘Bang. You lied.’” 
  • Zane and Malvina are pushing the injured Tru on an office chair. They come to an overpass where police officers are telling everyone to turn back. “Malvina keeps going. . . with the dog following close behind. . . And then cops in armored vests swarm from behind one of the cars, taking aim. . . Malvina shoves the chair forward, as if she’s trying to ram through the barricade. . .” 
  • Zane’s dog, Bandit or Bandy for short, jumps at “the men with guns as if he’s a big bad wolf instead of a twenty-pound mutt. A shotgun explodes. . . And then Bandy is slammed to the pavement like he’s been hit by a shovel, and he isn’t moving. Because they shot him, there on the bridge.” A vet takes the group, including Bandy, to her house. Everyone survives. 
  • A woman who knew Zane’s father, Gerald, tells Zane a story. Gerald’s brother James “found a paper bag on the playground, and inside the paper bag was a gun. Stashed there by a drug dealer. . . James showed off the gun to his big brother, fooling around.” Gerald takes the gun and accidentally kills his brother, James. 
  • Dylan, a “drug boss,” is “killed by one of the underage kids who worked for him selling drugs.” When Zane’s grandmother finds out, she says, “The wages of sin is when people do unta you wahat yoa did unta them.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Dylan, a known “drug boss,” tries to kidnap Malvina so she can sell drugs for him. Dylan says Malvina’s mom owes him. Tru says, “He done Malvina’s momma a few favors, if givin’ her drugs is a favor.” 
  • Dylan wants to add Malvina to his crew. Dylan “own[s] a bunch of fourteen-year-old boys, dealing his dope on the corners.” 
  • After Bandy is shot, a vet gives Bandy a sedative so she can clean his wounds. 
  • The vet also gives Tru antibiotics. “The medicine is for large dogs, but she says it will work just as well on humans.” 

Language  

  • Various characters rarely call others names, including fool, stupid, hellion, and jerk. 
  • Several times, Zane calls himself names, including moron, crud bucket, rotten crud, and dumb-butt dipstick doodlebrain. 
  • Bandy jumps out of the car, and Zane follows him into the path of the hurricane. Zane berates himself, thinking, “There’s no way to stop my brain from going over it again and again, every mistake, every stupid thing I’ve ever done or said.” His brain says, “Zane Dupree you are a fool, you are the dumbest human being on Planet Earth. . . [you] ran away to save your stupid dog.” 
  • Zane’s grandmother uses “Lawd have mercy” and “Oh my Lawdy” as exclamations once. 

Supernatural 

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • When Zane meets his grandmother for the first time, she says, “The Good Lawd has given me a great gift. Thank you Lawrd! Praise be!” 
  • When Zane asks his grandmother how old she is, she says, “I’m zactly older than dirt.” Then she tells Zane, “It’s bad luck to brag about her age because the Good Lawd might be listening and have cause to remember that she’s long past her sell-by date.” 
  • The news says that a hurricane might be heading for New Orleans. Zane’s grandmother says, “We can’t know that, child. Nobody knows but the Lawrd, and He’s not sayin’. . . Here’s what we gone do. Tomorrow morning we go to church and see what da Lawd provide.” The next day, they go to New Mission Zion Baptist Church. 
  • While at church, the pastor says the Lord’s Prayer and then he says, “I pray we will be in attendance next Sunday, and that the sun will be shining and that no harm will have come to us, or this ward, or our little church. . .” Then the congregation prays. The church scene is described over one page.  
  • A young girl sings “Jesus loves me.” 
  • Tru is injured and has a fever, but they can’t find help. A cop gives him a bottle of water and tells Zane and Malvina, “Might better pray.”  

Book of a Thousand Days

Dashti is not afraid of being locked in a tower for seven years. As a mucker and member of the lower class, she is simply content to have a stable food supply. Besides, Dashti swore an oath to serve Lady Saren, the youngest daughter of the Lord of Titor’s Garden (the name of their realm). So, when Lady Saren refused the proposal of Lord Khasar, leader of Thoughts of Under, and was imprisoned by her father for treachery, Dashti had no choice but to follow her.

But being trapped in a sunless, rat-infested, and highly guarded tower takes its toll on Dashti and Lady Saren. Dashti tries to use mucker healing songs to soothe her lady, but nothing seems to help Saren.

Khan Tegus of Song for Evela, Lady Saren’s chosen betrothed, visits the pair, but Saren cannot bring herself to speak to him through the small hatch in the tower. Instead, she calls upon her maid, Dashti, to speak in her place, and Dashti is forced to commit the grave sin of impersonating a member of the gentry. Her talks with Khan Tegus are soothing, but he soon stops visiting. Instead, Lord Khasar visits the tower and threatens Saren and Dashti. He says that Saren can either agree to marry him and be rescued, or she can wait out the seven years of imprisonment. Saren chooses the tower.

Thanks to Dashti’s resourcefulness as a mucker, the pair eventually escapes. However, the world they return to is not the one they left behind: Lord Khasar has completely destroyed Titor’s Garden. Dashti must find a way to save Lady Saren from Lord Khasar’s dark intentions and reunite her with her love, Khan Tegus. The two of them hide their identities and work as servants in Khan Tegus’ castle. Dashti’s healing songs soon earn her a higher position as the Khan’s scribe. As she takes control of their desperate situation, Dashti begins to understand her own astonishing talents and comes to believe that even a low-born maid can find true love.

Book of a Thousand Days is based on the Grimm fairy tale, Maid Maleen, and is loosely inspired by the culture and customs of medieval Mongolia.  Told through Dashti’s diary entries, the book is filled with reflections on her time as a maid, which makes the story immersive and realistic. Dashti’s voice is strong, unique, and exemplifies her era and class. Her narration offers just enough explanation of her world’s rules and customs to keep readers informed while omitting enough to prevent the diary entries from becoming too expositional. Readers will learn a lot about the muckers, the gentry, Ancestors, and the traditions that connect all three.

 One of the most interesting elements is Dashti’s character growth. She begins as a meek and obedient member of the lower class who wholeheartedly believes in the superiority of the “gentry.” However, as she spends more time with Lady Saren, Dashti gains confidence and self-respect. Since Dashti is a compassionate, determined, and very likable narrator, readers will find her growth deeply rewarding.

Book of a Thousand Days also includes small illustrations of Dashti’s doodles. Not only are the illustrations well-crafted, but they also allow readers to see the world more closely through Dashti’s eyes. Additionally, a hand-drawn map of “The Eight Realms” is included to help with worldbuilding.

Split into two parts – life during the tower and after – Book of a Thousand Days teaches about resilience, resourcefulness, and the strength of the human will. True power comes not from being born rich but from having the determination to survive.

Sexual Content

  • Dashti is not conventionally attractive due to birthmarks on her face, and her mother raised her to believe that her ugliness kept her safe from men. Her mother told her the story of Bayar, a beautiful woman from her village: “A lord fell for her beauty, got her with child, then left both girl and baby in the mud and never returned.”
  • While in the tower with Saren, Dashti says that they often hear voices outside, “shouting saucy things at [them].”
  • Dashti and Lady Saren hear men’s voices from outside their tower talking about Lady Saren. One stranger says that the imprisoned lady is, “Just ripe for the picking,” and they begin trying to break in. Dashti and Saren remain silent in fear, hoping the men will leave, and they eventually do.
  • After leaving the tower, Dashti leads Lady Saren away from Titor’s Garden and into Song for Evela. In the streets of Song for Evela, Dashti comments, “There were people everywhere. . . fighting and kissing and eating and just talk, talk, talking.”
  • When Khan Tegus is wounded in battle, Dashti is called in to sing healing songs for him, and the two of them have a tense moment. “He watched me while I sang. He looked at my eyes. My heart felt so big, it hurt against my ribs. At last I felt some shame and started to pull away, but he put his hand over mine on his chest to hold me there longer.” This romantic scene lasts for about two pages.
  • To ensure Lady Saren’s continued safety, Dashti tells Khan Tegus and other leaders that she is the lost Lady Saren. After she “reveals” her identity, Dashti and Khan Tegus share a tender moment. “And all the while, Tegus held my hands to his face. I didn’t mean to stroke his cheek—my thumb moved of its own accord, I swear. He smiled up at me, and my face felt hot.”
  • Nudity is mentioned multiple times as the most extreme act of vulnerability. To convince Lord Khasar to trust her, Dashti approaches him on the battlefield completely nude.
  • While Dashti is pretending to be Lady Saren, Khan Tegus proposes to her. “His cheek was next to mine. He pulled me closer, his warmth so wonderful, my skin stung against his touch. And he kissed my neck, behind my ear.” In a lovestruck daze, Dashti agrees to marry him.
  • Khan Tegus clandestinely kisses Dashti (whom he still believes is Lady Saren) after they are engaged. “He looked to see if we were alone, picked me up, hurried around a corner, and kissed me. Kissed me long.” This scene ends with them kissing once more and lasts for a page and a half.
  • Khan Tegus and Dashti are wed. They kiss before their vows: “Then he kissed me on the mouth, though there were five chiefs in the room. . . I put my arms around his neck and kissed him back.” Later, after the ceremony, Dashti excitedly thinks of the rest of the night and the future of their marriage. “I plan to laugh and laugh and dance and maybe I’ll kiss him again, kiss my khan, right in front of the whole world.”

Violence

  • When Lady Saren’s father locks her and Dashti in the tower for seven years, he tells them, “And if you try to break your way out, I’ve told the guards to kill you on sight.”
  • Dashti’s old literacy teacher used to throw candlesticks at his students “when his back pinched him sour.”
  • Dashti ritually cut her finger while taking “the oath of a lady’s maid,” a ceremony that certified her to serve Lady Saren.
  • The day that Dashti met Lady Saren and learned that she would be locked in a tower, she witnessed Lady Saren’s father slapping her. The lord slapped his daughter twice unprovoked, and when Dashti agreed to join Saren in the tower, Saren’s father slapped Dashti, too. Reflections on this event last for five and a half pages.
  • In the tower, Dashti makes a rat trap using cheese, paper, and nails. The next morning, she finds a rat’s “body stuck inside the spikes with one nail up through its chin.”
  • Lady Saren expresses her terror towards Lord Khasar, the man her father wants her to marry: “In this tower, I’m a tethered goat left out for the wolf, and now he’ll take me and marry me and kill me.”
  • When Lord Khasar visits the tower, Dashti does not pretend to be Lady Saren. Lord Khasar takes Dashti’s hand through the small hatch and slaps it against the wall three times. Dashti describes, “It stung like a log full of hornets.”
  • Dashti speaks to a tower guard, and he tells her, “You’re not coming out of that tower, miss, not unless that lord from Thoughts of Under breaks you out, and then he’d snap a maid’s neck and toss her to the dogs, more than like.”
  • Lord Khasar decides to “burn” Lady Saren out of the tower, and he sends burning chips of fire into her prison. Over two pages, Dashti and Saren frightfully stomp out the fires that Lord Khasar gleefully sets. Saren is eventually reduced to “hysterics,” and Dashti is left to fight the fires on her own.
  • As vengeance for the fires, Lady Saren dumps her and Dashti’s full chamber pot down the hatch and onto Lord Khasar.
  • A giant wolf attacks Dashti through the tower’s hatch. Its mouth is “smeared with blood,” and it snaps at her from the opening. My Lord, Dashti’s pet cat, jumps at the wolf and attacks it. Dashti hears “horrible growls from the beast, and a yelp from the cat,” but she does not see what happens. She later learns that the wolf was Lord Khasar himself, and she sees “three thin white scars down his cheek, like the marks a cat might leave.”
  • After My Lord the cat leaves the tower, Dashti reflects on his hunting abilities. “When he attacked a rat, he was deadly fast, going straight for a fatal bite on the back of the neck.”
  • Dashti and Lady Saren hear men outside the tower plotting to break in and assault Saren. Dashti makes a plan to defend her lady and herself against the men using a broken shard of a kitchen knife: “I will find their pig parts and cut them out before they touch me!”
  • Dashti and Lady Saren walk through desolate villages, and they later learn that Lord Khasar is responsible for murdering many citizens of Titor’s Garden and causing others to flee. Traders tell them that Lord Khasar “[w]iped [Titor’s Garden] out entirely” and is advancing on other kingdoms.
  • Qacha, a mucker who is employed in Khan Tegus’ kitchen alongside Saren and Dashti, “laughs when Cook knocks her head with a spoon.”
  • Khan Tegus called Dashti into his chambers to help his chief of war survive a fatal wound. “The first thing I noticed was a man lying on the floor and bleeding, bleeding fast.” The man, Batu, was wounded by an assassin, sent by Lord Khasar, who was trying to kill Khan Tegus. Batu loses a lot of blood over multiple days, but Dashti manages to save him with her healing songs.
  • Saren asks Dashti to kill her. She says, “Please, I can’t do it myself, I’ve tried. I’m too afraid and I’ll do it wrong.” Dashti refuses.
  • A servant named Osol gets angry at the chief of animals, pushes her to the ground, and kicks her. For this, he is hanged.
  • Khan Tegus leaves the palace and returns “wounded, a tenth of his warriors dead.” Dashti is able to help him with her songs.
  • Lady Vachir, ruler of Beloved of Ris, who becomes Khan Tegus’ betrothed in Saren’s absence, asks Dashti to use her songs to help with her back pain. When it does not work, Dashti blames Lady Vachir, and the lady slaps her.
  • Saren discusses her father’s abuse with Dashti. She says, “He might slap me, just for show. He never slapped me when we were alone, only in front of people.”
  • When Saren first visited Lord Khasar as a child, he shapeshifted into a wolf in front of her and killed a goat. “[Lord Khasar’s war chief] held my head and made me watch while the wolf devoured the animal.”
  • Dashti’s “song of the wolf” forces Lord Khasar to shapeshift in broad daylight, and the wolf attacks her. “He pounced, landing on my leg, and I heard a crunch before I felt pain. . . I turned my head as he lunged. The sides of our skulls collided. I could taste blood.” Her ankle is broken.
  • Lord Khasar’s warriors turn against him when he becomes the wolf. They shoot him with arrows, and he begins “tearing out the throats” of the soldiers. Several men die trying to stop the wolf, but Lord Khasar eventually sustains enough arrow injuries to kill him. His corpse falls on Dashti and further wounds her broken ankle. This fight scene lasts for two pages.
  • Dashti is caught attempting to escape the castle, and she is arrested for impersonating Lady Saren. “Hands were on my arms and legs, pulling me to a chopping block in the center of the yard, and they were none too gentle with my broken ankle.”
  • Lady Vachir declares, “By the ancient law of the Ancestors. . . it’s my right to take the life of anyone who interferes with my lawful betrothal.” She later yells, “I demand [Dashti’s] blood!”

Drugs and Alcohol

  • In the tower, Dashti and Lady Saren consume bad grain and begin seeing things that aren’t there, like wolves and orange fire. Dashti reflects, “My mama warned me once that if eating stored grain makes you see things that aren’t really there, then it’s gone bad, touched by Under, god of tricks.”
  • On their journey towards Song for Evela, her surroundings make Dashti homesick for her life as a mucker, and she calls herself “drunk with wishes.”
  • Dashti explores a market in Song for Evela and sees “skins of wine.”

Language

  • The word hell is used once. Lady Saren’s father tells Dashti, “What a hell you walked into, though it can’t be worse than your own home.”
  • Rather than referring to a god, people refer to Ancestors, either as a whole or individually. Dashti does this frequently in her writing. For example, Dashti blesses Lady Saren for protecting her from Lord Khasar, saying, “the Ancestors bless her.” Dashti also writes, “He watched her for a moment, and I swear by Titor and his dogs. . .”
  • When Dashti walks into Khan Tegus’ chambers, he exclaims, “Lord Under but you startled me.” This phrasing is used frequently.
  • After slapping his daughter, Lady Saren’s father calls her a “wench.”

Supernatural

  • Muckers like Dashti sing “healing songs” and other mystical tunes that can affect the people around them. Songs exist for nearly any ailment, and even Dashti, said to be especially effective with them, does not know every song. Whatever impact the songs have relies on the singer’s ability to visualize the songs working and the recipients’ willingness to be affected. Healing songs for specific body parts often require physical contact.
  • Dashti sings a healing song for Khan Tegus that alleviates the pain from an old leg injury. She thinks afterwards, “Some say hearing the songs makes them tickle inside, some say they feel as if they’ve suddenly gone hot to cold or cold to hot. Some say it’s like dreaming while awake, or swimming while dry.”
  • Dashti remembers when a “travelling shaman” visited her family. Shamans are religious and mystical beings who sometimes serve as healers. Dashti writes, “If he turned into a fox, as I’d always heard shamans can, I was determined not to miss the sight.”
  • Dashti sings “the song for stone hearts” to encourage the tower guards to have some kindness towards her and Lady Saren.
  • Unsure of what makes Lady Saren so depressed in the tower, Dashti continuously tries many healing songs on her. She records, “I try new songs on her, I combine songs.”
  • While listening to a storyteller in Song for Evela, Dashti recalls “the story of the skinwalkers” that she had heard during her time as a mucker on the steppes. She writes, “First, a skinwalker offers his spirit as barter to a desert shaman, then he must kill a close relative—the more he loves the person he kills, the greater his power will be.” After the murder, the skinwalker obtains a “predator spirit” from the shaman and is granted the ability to shapeshift into that predator/animal.
  • Dashti uses her songs on Cook, her superior in Khan Tegus’ kitchen, to ease the pain that she can sense within her. Dashti combines “the tune for body aches” and “the words for common pain,” and she eventually adds in “the song for heartache” as well. Cook is deeply calmed by Dashti’s abilities.
  • After Dashti helps Cook, her fellow servants and she talk about the mucker songs. Qacha, another mucker, tells her friend Gal, “The songs nudge things to be what they really are—a healthy body, a heart as calm as a baby’s in the womb.” Dashti says that there is no real power in the songs, but Qacha disagrees.
  • Not knowing she is the servant from the tower, Khan Tegus calls upon Dashti to use her mucker songs on his wounded leg. While working, Dashti can “sense the pain lifting from him fast.” She writes, “The more I work his leg, the better it remembers what it felt like to be whole and uninjured.” She heals him again later when he is wounded in battle.
  • Qacha tells Dashti about when an assassin threatened the life of Khan Tegus and a shaman “took fox form and leaped between the khan and the assassin.”
  • Khan Tegus calls Dashti into his chambers to encourage his injured chief of war’s soul to keep living. Dashti does not sing a healing song but rather “a play song, one the mucker children sing in the spring, racing in a circle.” She sings more happy songs to remind the chief of war of joyous life, and the man gradually gets better.
  • Lady Saren tells Dashti that Lord Khasar is a skinwalker who can shapeshift into a wolf. Lord Khasar’s chief of war, Chinua, once told Saren that Lord Khasar “had made quite a bargain with the desert shamans and now was the greatest hunter in all the realms.” Khasar keeps his shapeshifting a secret and only does it at night.
  • Dashti decides to bring forth Lord Khasar’s wolf persona during the day to reveal his secret powers to his troops. On the battlefield, she sings to him “the song of the wolf,” which can encourage the wolf within him to emerge. Dashti touches his boots to make the song more powerful, and it works. As Dashti is singing, Khasar is slowly forced into his wolf form. “I can say that his face thrust out, his back hunched with fur, his clothing tore, his armor bent and groaned before popping off. He dropped down on all fours, and where Khasar had stood, a wolf now growled.”

Spiritual Content

  • People of the Eight Realms worship the “eight Ancestors” and the “Eternal Blue Sky.” This group is called “the sacred nine.” Each of The Eight Realms is named to honor an Ancestor, and each Ancestor is a god/goddess of a different physical thing or concept. Each of the Eight Realms has eight chiefs for the eight Ancestors, though one ancestor, Under’s, has chiefs that are invisible and never seen.
  • The realm “Vera’s Blessing” is named for Vera, goddess of food. Dashti prays to Vera to thank her for their tower’s food storage and to help keep them fed.
  • The realm “Beloved of Ris” is named for Ris, god of roads and towns. Dashti prays to him to help her and Lady Saren “find home.”
  • The realm “Song for Evela” is named for Evela, goddess of sunlight. Dashti prays to her while in the sunless tower to return her to the sunlight.
  • The realm “Carthen’s Prayer” is named for Carthen, goddess of strength. Dashti prays for Carthen to make her and Lady Saren strong enough to break down the walls of their tower.
  • The realm “Pride of Nibus” is named for Nibus, god of order. Dashti appeals to Nibus regarding her status as Lady Saren’s loyal maid.
  • The realm “Goda’s Second Gift” is named for Goda, goddess of sleep. Dashti prays that Goda will keep Under asleep so that he does not threaten their chances of survival in the tower.
  • The realm “Titor’s Garden” is named for Titor, god of animals. Dashti remarks that even Titor “can’t force a cat to change his mind.”
  • The realm “Thoughts of Under” is named for Under, god of tricks. Dashti blames Under for their rat infestation in the tower.
  • When Dashti and Lady Saren are locked in the tower, Dashti quickly works her prayers into her morning routine. “First thing, I splash a drop of milk in the north corner, facing the direction of the Sacred Mountain, and say my prayers. By tradition, I should dribble the milk on the soil, not stones, but it’ll have to do since the metal flap faces south.” Dashti also prays to her mother at night.
  • Dashti believes that, when a person dies, their “soul climbs the Sacred Mountain.” They join the “Ancestors’ Realm,” a version of heaven.
  • Dashti has been taught that the power imbalance between the gentry and the common folk is sacred. The gentry themselves are said to be descendants of “divine ancestors” and favorable in the eyes of the gods. Dashti closely follows the rules laid out for her as a lady’s maid so that she can appease the Ancestors.
  • When Dashti and Lady Saren find other people for the first time since leaving the tower, Dashti calls it a “heavenly sight.”
  • Certain sins make one unable to join the Ancestors’ Realm. When Lady Saren asks Dashti to kill her, Dashti responds, “If I did such a thing, there’d be no place for me in the Ancestors’ Realm, nor for you either. We’d wander in the gray beyond the borders forever, with nowhere to sit and no milk to drink, and I’d never see my mama again.”
  • Lord Khasar lays siege to Titor’s Garden and Goda’s Second Gift, and he changes the name of Thoughts of Under to “Carthen’s Glory” to appeal to the goddess of strength. Lord Khasar’s indiscretions against the Ancestors lead Dashti to think that, “Animals, sleep, and trickery will not be his friends” on the battlefield.
  • When Lord Khasar “offered his soul to the desert shamans” to obtain the powers of a shapeshifter, he barred himself from the Realm of the Ancestors. Dashti writes that his soul “can never climb the Sacred Mountain.”
  • When Dashti is in prison for impersonating a gentry, she thinks of the Eternal Blue Sky instead of praying. She reflects, “How can a body be too sad with the highest sky blue?”

by Gabrielle Barke

Most Ardently: A Pride & Prejudice Remix

Between tight corsets, expectations of marriage, and the crushing weight of being misunderstood, Oliver Bennet feels trapped in his 1813 London life. While the rest of the world believes he is a young woman by the name of Elizabeth, he is actually a boy who wants nothing more than to be accepted as himself. To make matters worse, his mother pressures Oliver to find a husband and become the perfect wife—a prospect that makes Oliver’s stomach churn. When he meets Mr. Darcy, a harsh but intriguing young man who is rude to “Elizabeth” yet charmed by Oliver, he develops confusing feelings that may be the push he needs to live as his authentic self.  

Oliver begins to get to know Darcy by living a double life. As his true self, Oliver feels a growing attraction to Darcy and the world of men, which he is finally able to enter. While playing the part of “Elizabeth,” Oliver increasingly worries that his identity will be discovered, particularly with the mounting aggression of his male suitors. As the two young men grow closer, Oliver considers the complexities of two men falling in love and begins to imagine something beyond his wildest dreams: could he find love not as an obedient wife, but as himself?  

In this thought-provoking twist on Jane Austen’s classic novel Pride & Prejudice, the character of Lizzie Bennet is filled by a young transgender man fighting for freedom from the constraints of being labeled a woman. Oliver’s two identities make for a fascinating and complicated dynamic between him and Darcy, particularly because Darcy does not know the two are one and the same. Oliver and Darcy form an endearing bond based on respect and admiration, which soon grows into something deeper and more passionate.  

Oliver’s friend Charlotte and sister Jane, two of the few people who know about his true self, become important confidantes, along with Oliver’s father. As a woman who loves women, Charlotte is able to relate to Oliver’s difficulty fitting into the rest of society. Oliver’s close relationships with his sister and father mirror the close relationships from Austen’s original novel. The two are able to help support Oliver in his difficult journey of revealing himself to his family, and especially his mother, who puts a lot of pressure on him to be a proper lady. Fans of Pride & Prejudice will find these background characters familiar enough to be comforting, yet different enough to be interesting.  

Novoa certainly takes liberties with the story in terms of adaptation. The way he writes a trans character in a Victorian setting feels rather contemporary, particularly knowing there are so few records of real transgender people from the time period. What the story lacks in faithfulness, though, it makes up for in queer representation and joy. Reading about Oliver’s experience is a great way for readers to gain a deeper understanding of the trans experience. His struggles with gender dysphoria, fear of coming out, and leading a double life are struggles that are also relevant in today’s world. This gives an already romantic and delightful read a deeper layer of importance.  

Sexual Content  

  • Though not explicitly sexual in nature, there are several references to parts of Oliver’s body that make him feel dysphoric—particularly his chest. For example, “Mrs. Bennet yanked on the lacing of the stay pressed tight beneath his breasts” and Oliver “gritted his teeth as the cinching fabric pushed his chest up and forward—accentuating a shape that made him utterly nauseous.”  
  • There are a few references to Molly Houses, or places for non-traditional people like Oliver to gather and be authentic. Though they are harmless in reality, Oliver says they have a reputation of being “scandalous sex dens.”  
  • While dancing together at a Molly House, Darcy kisses Oliver, “a taste at first, then again with slightly more pressure.”  
  • A later kiss is described as follows: “Oliver pulled away, just slightly, the warmth of Darcy’s breath spreading over his nose and mouth. Darcy opened his eyes, his heated gaze searching Oliver’s.”  

Violence  

  • While considering having to marry a man who would treat him as a wife, Oliver makes a vague reference to harming himself. He thinks that “he would prefer far darker ends” to marrying Mr. Collins, one of his suitors.  

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • None 

Language  

  • Occasional profanity is used. Profanity includes arse, bastard, and hell.  
  • Oh God and similar phrases are used as exclamations occasionally.  

Supernatural  

  • None 

Spiritual Content  

  • While walking through thick mud, Oliver “swore at the heavens above and hells below.” 

by Edie Meehan 

The Samurai’s Assassin

Trapped in their great-grandfather’s museum and visited by restless ghosts of the past, Arthur and Finn must travel back in time and rewrite history to set the ghosts free. Travel back in time with brothers Arthur and Finn to prevent Tatsushi, a brave Samurai warrior, from making a fatal mistake. After warlord Kenji Kuroda kills Tatsushi’s father, Tatsushi is determined to get revenge. Will the boys convince Tatsushi to choose a different path in life and escape the clutches of the deadly tyrant Kuroda in time to make it back to the present?   

In this installment of the Warrior Heroes Series, Finn and Arthur meet the siblings Mayuko and Tatsushi. After witnessing his father’s murder and his sister’s kidnapping, Tatsushi vows to save his sister and kill Lord Kuroda. The three boys follow the enemy samurai on a perilous journey. Along the way, they are joined by a mysterious monk. The monk, Finn, and Arthur are determined to keep Tatsushi from reacting in anger. Tatsushi is reminded often: “We should only kill them if it will help us achieve what we are here for. . . You may desire revenge but you must never act on it.”   

The Samurai’s Assassin is an action-packed adventure that teaches about the samurai’s ways. Most of the book focuses on the journey to Lord Kuroda’s castle. As they travel, the group faces numerous dangers, making the story fast-paced. However, there is very little character development. Instead, the focus is on Tatsushi’s desire for revenge and everyone’s desire to keep Tatsushi’s anger under control.   

Even though The Samurai’s Assassin is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each book focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and wraps up the storyline. Each book in the series follows a familiar pattern, but there are enough differences to make each story unique and exciting.  

The historical facts of The Samurai Assassin highlight the samurai’s hope to solve problems peacefully and dispel any falsehoods portrayed in modern media. The brothers face dangers but engage in battle only when necessary. The appearance of a monk adds a mysterious element to the story. However, the monk often takes over, leaving the boys to follow his lead; this makes the victory hollow. In addition, Arthur and Finn do little to help Tatsushi other than shoot arrows at the enemy. Given the brothers’ insignificant role, readers may wonder whether their presence was necessary. 

Even though the character development is lacking, readers will still enjoy stepping into the world of the samurai. Readers will appreciate Finn’s role in helping Tatsushi as well as his knowledge of the samurai’s ways. The story emphasizes the importance of avoiding hasty decisions made out of anger, as well as the value of using nonlethal force when possible. Even though Lord Kuroda is killed, his men are allowed to retreat without the threat of retaliation. The Samurai’s Assassin delivers an entertaining story that reflects the samurai’s beliefs and culture. 

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Samurai believed ritual suicide was honorable. “They’d slit their own bellies open rather than face dishonor.”  
  • During a ritual suicide, “you sit down in front of a crowd, take a dagger, grit your teeth and cut your own belly open. . . If it hurts too much the samurai has someone standing behind them ready to chop off their head and put them out of their misery.” 
  • The samurai Hanzo Uchida died an unjust death. His son “wanted to avenge [his] death, but he acted rashly,” causing the villagers to be massacred. Hanzo Uchida wants Finn and Arthur to go back in time and keep his son from killing in anger. 
  • Finn befriends Mayuko and Tatsushi, two Japanese teens. When the three friends get to the village, they find Mayuko and Tatsushi’s father dead. “Face down in the mud lay a simply-dressed samurai, his long hair streaking out into a growing pool of blood.” 
  • Samurai used many weapons, including a sword, spear, bow, and kusari-fundo. The book explains the weapons and their use. For example, “you can use the weight on one of the ends of the [kusari-fundo] chain to crush your enemy’s skull.”  
  • Mayuko is kidnapped. Finn, Arthur, and Tatsushi follow the enemy. Tatsushi frees Mayuko. Afterwards, “at Tatsushi’s feet lay two bodies.”  
  • The enemies attack the four friends. “Two of [the enemy samurai] fell as they ran, Finn and Arthur both finding their mark. The larger mob of Kuroda. . . bellowed in rage and began running towards them, brandishing swords and spears. . .” The four friends run as “spears hissed into the ground around them.” The teens escape without injury.  
  • The four teens, a servant named Ryu, and a monk are traveling when Ryu sat bolt upright. His eyes rolled up in his head and he fell forward to reveal the shaft of an arrow thrusting up from his back.” The teens hide, but Ryu is dead. 
  • The monk confronts the men who killed Ryu. “Then in a flash of impossibly quick motion he crouched down, grabbed the end of his staff and drove the other end up in the air to connect with one of the horsemen’s faces. . . He gave two more swift thrusts and all three men toppled to the ground.” The men are knocked unconscious.   
  • While scaling a castle wall, a man looks out the window. The monk “brought his staff down off the roof and jabbed the tip down. It connected with the base of the man’s neck, and the immediate danger was over.” 
  • Finn and five others scale the castle. When they reach the top, a man comes out of a roof hatch. Tatsushi “sprinted across the roof towards the guard, parrying the man’s vicious spear-thrust and charging into his chest. The guard stumbled backwards, tripping. . . and with a terrified shriek, toppled sideways over the edge of the castle.” 
  • Another man comes out of the roof hatch. “Finn’s arrow was lodged in his chest before he could move any further.” 
  • The enemy, Lord Kuroda, agrees to fight the monk, Akira. Akira “crouched, twisted his staff to vertical and thrust powerfully upwards into Kuroda’s chest. The warlord grunted, his eyes wide with shock as he was propelled backwards through the air, and with a final roar of rage, soared over the edge of the roof and down into the darkness below.” Lord Kuroda’s men flee.  
  • One page describes the clever ways an enemy would be killed if they attacked a castle. For example, “pouring hot sand out of windows onto your attackers.”

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Mayuko and Tatsushi’s father, Lord Kuruyama, was killed by poison.  
  • While outside a village, Finn and his companions hear “raucous laughter of drunk men.” 

Language  

  • None

Supernatural 

  • Arthur and Finn’s grandfather created a museum about warriors throughout history. The museum is haunted, and when the grandfather died, “he started haunting the place too. He felt guilty about the trapped ghost warriors and vowed he would not rest in peace until all the other ghosts were laid to rest first.” 
  • When one of the ghost warriors touches the boys, we get transported to the time and place where the ghost lived and died. And we can’t get back until we’ve fixed whatever it is that keeps the ghost from resting in peace.”

Spiritual Content  

  • When Finn time-travels, he ends up in the ocean. He prays “he would see some way out of this nightmare that he had swapped for the Professor’s study.”  
  • While talking about avenging the death of Tatsushi’s father, Finn “prayed that his brother had something that would keep their friend in check.” 
  • When Tatsushi frees is sister, five men give chase. Finn and Arthur prepare to help. Finn prays “that their enemies would have all eyes on Tatsushi’s band.” 
  • While Finn is scaling a castle wall, a man looks out the window. Finn “looked up at the roof above, praying that one of the others would see the predicament he was in.”  

Heartless Hunter

Two years ago, the Republic was founded when rebels killed the witch queens. Thus ended the tyranny of the Reign of Witches and began the dawn of a “better” world. However, not much has changed since the cruelty of the witches has been replaced by the ruthlessness of the Blood Guard. Now, all witches are condemned and executed. Those who sympathize with or harbor witches also suffer a grim fate.  

Rune Winters is the perfect aristocrat: shallow, fashionable, and arrogant. After turning in her witch grandmother, Rune Winters is the darling of the Republic. But what the Republic doesn’t realize is that this image is an act, put on to protect Rune’s secret identity as a witch vigilante, the Crimson Moth. 

Rune, as the Crimson Moth, is focused on protecting and saving girls from being purged. She was on her way to save her grandmother’s friend, Seraphine, but got there too late. Now to save Seraphine, Rune will need insider intel, and her target is the captain of the Blood Guard and witch hunter, Gideon Sharpe. Gideon has been locked in a deadly game with the Crimson Moth, as every witch he captures is magically spirited away by her. New intel has led him to suspect Rune Winters, and so his current objective is to get close to Rune and figure out her secrets. As the two of them flirt, scheme, and manipulate to reach their goals, they find themselves betrayed by the thing they least expected, their own hearts.  

Rune has never forgotten the day she had to turn in her Nan and channels her pain into saving others. She couldn’t save her grandmother, but she can save the next innocent girl taken by the Blood Guard. Readers will be absolutely captivated by Rune’s strength of will and heart, as she continues to risk herself in order to save just one more girl. As an aristocrat and beloved by the Republic, Rune doesn’t need to endanger herself, but she does. She uses her privilege to help witches and witch sympathizers who are looked down upon by society. Rune’s stubbornness and determination make her likeable and admirable because she refuses to compromise or give up when things become difficult. Rune is a role model for audiences because even as she struggles with conflicting emotions and harrowing circumstances, she always tries to do the right thing. 

Rune is not alone in her quest. She can rely on her friends Alex Sharpe and Verity de Wilde. Alex is the genuine heart of this book with his steadfast loyalty and caring nature. While everyone is consumed by hatred, he alone sees a future where witches and non-witches can live together in peace. When he discovers that Rune is a witch, Alex accepts Rune as she is and continues to love her. While Alex helps Rune because she is his friend, Verity assists Rune because she is just as committed to saving witches. Verity is smart and dedicated to Rune’s cause because of her love for her dead sisters, who were witches.  

Rune even captivates Gideon Sharpe, Alex’s brother, with whom she falls in love. Gideon is a tortured soul and absolutely committed to the cause of hunting witches. He thinks that witches are all ultimately evil, but this belief comes from a place of hurt and trauma. His beliefs are ultimately tested when he starts to fall for Rune. Like his brother, Gideon is loyal to a fault and compassionate. He cares about everyone so much that he will do whatever it takes to protect them from the suffering he endured. Readers will find Rune and Gideon’s romance hopeful, but heartbreaking, as they find acceptance in each other for their scars, but must separate because of their competing allegiances. 

Ciccarelli creates an incredibly suspenseful story where one wrong move will cause Rune’s doom. The pace is perfectly timed as the buildup of Rune and Gideon’s romance is believable and heart-wrenching. Ciccarelli plays with her audience as Rune and Gideon’s burgeoning feelings give readers hope, only for it to be ripped away by lies, secrets, and brutal circumstances. This is a great first half of Ciccarelli’s duology where emotions are heightened to a fever pitch and the stakes seem insurmountable. Heartless Hunter’s characters are flawed and therefore relatable, just like their rich and deeply divided world.  

The characters’ differences lead to conflict, which also sets up unity that will be explored further in the next book, Rebel Witch. 

The novel reaches its climactic peak through a series of devastating revelations and sacrifices that fundamentally alter the story’s trajectory. The witch queen Cressida’s unexpected survival delivers a shocking twist, while Alex’s ultimate sacrifice to save Gideon casts a shadow of despair over the conclusion and simultaneously lays crucial groundwork for future installments. The story’s most painful element emerges in the final schism between Rune and Gideon, whose relationship fractures under the weight of competing loyalties and unresolved emotions. Despite sharing the fundamental desire to protect others, their divergent approaches—shaped by personal trauma and mistrust—create an irreparable rift that leaves readers with a sense of tragic inevitability rather than resolution.  

Sexual Content  

  • While in Rune’s room, she flirts with Gideon. When things get heated and they are about to kiss, Rune suddenly spills her wine. “He’s going to kiss me, she realized. And the scariest thing was, Rune wanted him to… in this moment, she wanted to know how his mouth would feel against hers… if he’d give in to that ravenous hunger, taking his fill of her.” 
  • Gideon measures Rune for a dress he’s going to make her, so Rune undresses. “Rune was already undressing. His gaze dropped to her lace bralette and remained there for a beat, before quickly shooting back to her face, his cheeks burning with color.” 
  • Gideon says he’s going to start measuring at the top and move down, but he and Rune immediately think of a sexual innuendo. “She knew what he meant, but the way he said it made her imagine him working his way down her in a… less vertical way. Apparently, she wasn’t the only one. Gideon froze, opened his mouth to clarify what he meant, and coughed instead.” 
  • Gideon is still measuring Rune, but gets distracted. “From here, he had a perfect view of the low scoop of her bralette, the delicate lace leaving little to the imagination. He had just measured her bust, so why it suddenly mattered, he wasn’t sure. He kept his gaze on the line of her throat instead.” 
  • When Gideon worked for the witch queen Cressida, he would “fulfill her [sexual] needs.” He would be “punished… for neglecting [his] duties.” 
  • Gideon thinks about when he and Cressida “traded kisses in empty palace rooms, hands wandering over each other.” 
  • Gideon tells Rune how Cressida blackmailed him into sleeping with her. “When I told Cressida we were done, that I wanted nothing more to do with her, she warned that if I refused her advances my little sister would suffer my mother’s fate.” 
  • Gideon discusses the abuse he suffered. “Sometimes, it felt like Cressida preferred Gideon unwilling. Like it brought her more pleasure to force him.” 
  • Rune and Gideon go skinny-dipping in the ocean. “She pulled in a sharp breath, her blood running a little hotter at the sight of his muscled shoulders and arms. She coiled her fingers into her palms, pressing the nails into the skin, trying to stop herself from tracing him with her eyes: the rigid lines of his collarbones, abdomen, hips.” 
  • Gideon gets fully undressed before going in the ocean, and “Rune wanted to drop her hands and look at him. Desperately…” But she does not. 
  • Rune and Gideon are swimming when she thinks, “What would it feel like to have his body flush against hers? It was perverse, the way she wanted to find out.” 
  • Rune follows her impulses and kisses Gideon, “dragging her fingers through his hair and pulling his mouth down to hers.” 
  • Gideon is not immune to her charms, as he also wants Rune. “When her teeth grazed his bottom lip, a wicked heat surged through him, and he reached for her waist. So soft. He wanted to sink into her softness. To bury himself in her.” 
  • Gideon and Rune continue to make out on land. “He moved lower, pressing his lips to a more sensitive place on her neck… Gideon moved lower still, to the base of her throat… When his teeth grazed her collarbone, Rune inhaled sharply, fisting her hands… She pushed her hands into his hair, cradling his head.” They eventually stop without going further. 
  • One of Rune’s rejected suitors insults her, saying, “If the rumors are true, she’s as loose as a whore.”  
  • After Gideon’s brush with death, Rune goes to see if he’s okay. They profess their love for each other and have sex. “He wanted her, and she clearly wanted him… The breath shuddered out of him. His hands tightened on her thighs, pulling her closer… It made the warm ache between her legs sharpen and grow… Gideon continued, moving against her. Deeper, harder, insistent.” This scene lasts for eight pages. 
  • After Gideon betrays Rune, she seeks out Alex. He asks her to marry him because he has always loved her. “When his kisses turned hungry, she leaned in, open to the possibility of him. He backed her toward the desk and lifted her onto it. When he stepped between her legs, pulling her flush against him…” They stop when Rune accepts his proposal.  

Violence  

  • The Red Peace was born after witches were massacred: “Two years had passed since these streets ran with the blood of witches and the Republic of the Red Peace was born.” This event began Rune’s quest to save persecuted witches.  
  • The government marks the foreheads of children who are “descendants of witch sympathizers.” 
  • A dangerous witch has been killing guards for months. “Three nights ago, another mutilated body had been found dragged under a bridge. Chest ripped open. Blood drained out.” 
  • Gideon is talking with his colleague about the young witches he captured and put in jail. “He could picture them huddled behind the bars of the cell he’d locked them in: wide-eyed and trembling as they clung to each other.” 
  • In order to save her life, Rune had to turn in her witch grandmother to be purged. “Blood Guard officer smashed his pistol into [her grandmother’s] face… they stripped the old woman down, found her scars, and dragged her off to be executed.” 
  • Gideon became a hero of the Republic and a highly respected officer because “[he] risked his life leading revolutionaries into the palace and single-handedly killing two witch queens.” 
  • Rune falls into a trap set by Gideon and fights to escape. She stabs Gideon. “With the weight of him gone, Rune was free to reach for the knife strapped to her thigh… Rune drew the knife from its sheath and stabbed hard, not caring where the blade went in, so long as it went in deep.” Gideon is slightly injured as he rushes to attend a ball after this fight. 
  • Rune eventually escapes but is shot at and receives a minor injury. “A third shot rang out. This time, Rune felt the sharp sting of a bullet as it sliced her forearm. Warm, sticky blood seeped out.” 
  • Gideon meets the leader of the new Republic in a boxing ring, where “Gideon was getting the shit kicked out of him nightly. Those matches always ended the same way: with Gideon hauling his bruised body from the floor of the ring, dragging himself to a table.” 
  • Gideon’s parents were designers employed by the three witch queens. The two eldest cast magic on Gideon’s mother and drove her mad. “His mother accused them of worse things, too: her husband, of being unfaithful to her; Tessa, of poisoning her; Gideon, of abusing Tessa… And always, he could smell it on her: the coppery scent of a witch’s spells.” 
  • While Gideon is telling Rune about his past, he remembers the worst of what the witch queens did. “He walked in on [Cressida] and her sisters standing over a body in a pool of blood.” It is implied that Cressida and the other queens killed this person and collected the blood for magic. 
  • Cressida cast a spell on Gideon’s little sister, Tessa, to infect her with a disease. Then she barred people from treating her. “Tessa wept and begged from the other side, delirious with fever, calling for their mother. He screamed at Cressida, who only smirked. So he lunged and pinned her down. He had his hands around her throat, prepared to stop squeezing only when she went limp beneath him, but the guards dragged him off and chained him to the floor of a cell.” 
  • Gideon explains that his parents committed suicide. “My mother drowned herself a day [after Tessa died]. My father hung himself a few days after that.” 
  • Cressida branded Gideon with her crest. “He recalled the night she branded him. She’d pinned him to the wall with a spell so he’d be helpless to stop her from searing his flesh. He remembered his body spasming beneath the glowing iron, every muscle tightening at the lightning-hot pain.” 
  • In retaliation, Gideon helped the new ruler of the Republic and “the other rebels take the palace, shooting [Cressida’s sister witch queens] in their beds.” Gideon killed those two witch queens, but he did not kill Cressida because Alex “had found and dealt with her so Gideon didn’t have to.” 
  • Rune remembers when her Nan was taken and executed. “The chains raised her grandmother skyward, by the ankles. There she dangled, upside down… One of the Blood Guard stepped forward with a knife and sliced her grandmother’s throat. The blood splattered and gushed. Nan choked, gasping for a breath she couldn’t take, her body writhing like a worm on a hook.” 
  • Verity tells Rune about her dead witch sisters, who their stepfather abused. “He would lock them up for days. Beat their bare backs with belts. Force them to kneel for hours on broken glass.” 
  • Gideon and his officers find bodies with their blood drained, and this time, it’s soldiers in his squad. “[Gideon’s] gaze descending to the Blood Guard’s neck, which was hacked open like a second gaping mouth. White bone shone in the mess of torn skin, tendons, and congealed blood. James’s spine appeared to be the only thing keeping his head attached to his body.” 
  • Alex found his brother getting beaten up every night in the boxing ring. Cressida was also abusing him. “That the young man getting beaten in the ring was Gideon. His face was so bruised and bloody, I didn’t recognize him.” 
  • Gideon asks Alex if Cressida is still alive, but Alex assures him, “I shot her three times. ” 
  • Alex tells Rune the truth about what happened when he confronted Cressida. “She woke to the barrel of my pistol pressed against her head.” Alex threatens Cressida, but ultimately spares her. 
  • Cressida sets a trap for Gideon and his guards. “But before he could grab her arm and pull her back into the room, a loud BOOM! shook the walls and floors. The red-hot force of an explosion threw him backward, slamming his body into solid brick.” Gideon is only slightly injured, and some others go to the hospital for injuries. 
  • Cressida sets a second blast at the guard headquarters. “Twenty-seven are confirmed dead and many more are injured.” 
  • Rune is captured and learns that Cressida “killed Verity and stole her identity.” 
  • In a bid to save Rune and the other witches from execution, Cressida finally reveals who she is.  She then kills a bystander to get blood for her magic. “As her victim screamed and fought, trying to get away, Cressida bared the girl’s pale throat to her knife’s crescent edge, and slit it.” 
  • Cressida shoots and kills the leader of the Republic. “Silence bled through the square as the Commander’s body tipped slowly forward, collapsing in a heap. His eyes were blank as they stared at Gideon.” Cressida then aims for Gideon, but Alex is killed instead. “When the gun went off, [Alex] stepped in front of it.” 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • When Rune is flirting with Gideon and trying to get information, she orders some wine. “Lifting the decanter, she poured wine into both cups.” 
  • After his parents and sister died, Gideon started drinking heavily. “He’d started drinking after that. Every day. Sometimes, as soon as waking up.” Alcohol was the only thing that would numb his pain.   
  • While being abused, Gideon went to get beaten up at a boxing ring. “Like he came there every night, drunk or high, and let them beat him half to death. Like he thought he deserved it.” 
  • Alex helped Gideon as best he could. “After the revolution, it was Alex who stayed by Gideon for weeks, helping him fight off his laudanum addiction. Alex didn’t leave Gideon’s side until he no longer shook with the cravings.” 

Language  

  • Language is used rarely. Language includes fuck, shit, hell, and whore. 

Supernatural  

  • The world of Heartless Hunter involves witches who are able to cast magic spells by using their blood and the blood of others. The blood is used to write magic symbols and activate the magic. The scars made from drawing blood turn silver. “Mirage Spells are simple illusions held for short periods that require little blood. The fresher the blood, the stronger the magic, and the easier casting will be.” 
  • A witch can’t take blood without consent. “Blood must be taken with consent or given freely, as blood taken from an unwilling person will corrupt a witch and their magic… if a witch took someone’s blood against their will, the spell using that blood would corrupt the witch. She would crave the power it gave her, and resort to more coercive bloodletting, often killing her sources.” 
  • Rune casts her signature magic spell, Ghost Walker, to conceal herself. This magic is made possible through symbols written in blood. “Summoned into being by the magic in Rune’s blood and held together by the symbols drawn on her wrist, binding the spell to her.” 
  • Rune describes how she collects blood for her magic without cutting herself. “Rune had developed her blood storage system shortly after learning she was a witch… It was how Rune kept her body free of casting scars: by collecting her blood at every monthly cycle.” 
  • Witches are not magical at birth, but come into their power at a certain age. “It was the initial sign of a witch: at the onset of your first bleeding, you didn’t bleed red, but black.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The people of this world believe in seven “Ancients.” These beings created the world and gifted magic to the people. “And each entry was named after one of the seven Ancients. Mercy, Liberty, Wisdom, Justice, Amity, Patience, Fortitude.” 

The Pharaoh’s Charioteer

Visited by the restless ghosts of warriors past, Arthur and Finn must travel back in time and rewrite history to set the ghosts free. Will the boys be able to gain the trust of a prince and princess caught up in dangerous rivalries? Even if they do, will they be able to prevent a war? 

Join Arthur and Finn as they travel back to ancient Egypt and find out if the boys have what it takes to survive a kidnapping and make it home alive. 

In The Pharaoh’s Charioteer, Arthur and Finn arrive in Ancient Egypt in separate parts of the city. Arthur finds himself in the Nile River, where the pharaoh’s son, Thami, fishes him out of the water. The two arrive on the edges of a city just in time to see Finn and Thami’s sister, Nefi, running from a group of men. Thami and Nefi take the two brothers to their home, allowing the reader to understand the life of a pharaoh’s child who was born from one of his secondary wives. While the pharaoh’s children’s lives are luxurious, they are also dangerous.  

Filled with adventure and suspense, the story has many exciting scenes—a lion hunt, a kidnapping, and a cunning high priest—that propel the plot forward. Suspense is created because Thami’s and Nefi’s lives are always in danger. Their mother explains some of the dangers facing a pharaoh’s child, “The palace is full of plotting between the queens, all of whom secretly hope that a son of theirs will be pharaoh one day. All I want is for Thami and Nefi to make it out of the palace, grown up and alive.” In this adventure, Arthur and Finn get an intimate view of the dangers of palace life, which makes the surprising conclusion satisfying. 

Even though The Pharaoh’s Charioteer is part of a series, the books do not have to be read in order because each focuses on Arthur and Finn going back to a different time period and wraps up the storyline. Each book in the series follows a familiar pattern, but there are enough differences to make each story unique and exciting.  

The Pharaoh’s Charioteer is a wonderfully engaging adventure that uses a unique angle to showcase the lives of the children of the pharaoh’s secondary wives. Neither Thami nor Nefi dreams of one day being the pharaoh, which allows them to have a caring sibling relationship. Even though Thami and Arthur are kidnapped, The Pharaoh’s Charioteer feels like a daring adventure with interesting characters, power-hungry villains, and unexpected developments that will keep readers reading late into the night. Readers can learn more about Ancient Egypt by reading these fast-paced adventures: Kid Detective Zet Series by Scott Peters, and TombQuest Series by Michael Northrop.   

Sexual Content  

  • None

Violence  

  • Finn goes into a tavern where a girl cheats at a game. When the men discover the con, Finn grabs the girl, and they flee. The girl disappears into a courtyard with multiple exits. “But before he could begin to think about which route to take, he felt cold metal at his throat.” The men find the two kids and begin shouting at them. 
  • Finn’s brother, Arthur, and the girl’s brother, Thami, hear the commotion and come to their aid. Thami throws a fishnet over some of the men. “Two of the men went down, cursing in the tangle. . . Arthur swung the boathook through the air and knocked [one of the men] out with a blow to the head.” 
  • Arthur and Thami are kidnapped. “When he and Thami cried out for help, they were swiftly knocked unconscious.” The two kids are bound, blindfolded, and taken to the enemy’s country.  
  • Finn and Nefi help Arthur and Thami escape prison and return to Thebes. Finn and Thami are hiding when soldiers find them and give chase. “The first guards grabbed each boy by the shoulders, and the next thing Finn knew was the nasty sensation of a hood being pulled over his eyes, followed by a sharp blow to the head, and complete darkness.” 
  • The high priest finds two men he claims are spies. The high priest says, “And when we had tortured them, only yesterday, before we made them swim with Sobek, the great crocodile god, did they not reveal that the queen, also, is a spy?” 
  • Thami’s father, the pharaoh, realizes the high priest is plotting against him. The pharaoh decides they will let the crocodile god decide if the high priest is innocent or guilty. The high priest is taken to the pool. “Two guards brought forward a long, thin beam. . . they placed on either side of the pool so that it spanned the middle of the water. . .” The high priest is ordered to walk across the board. 
  • When the high priest refuses to walk across the plank, “the pharaoh brought his wipe down again, causing the priest to lurch forwards. . . The crocodiles’ head emerged from the water. . . With a sudden surge, the crocodile powered up and thrust the upper part of its body out of the water, huge jaws gaping. . . The priest screamed. The crocodile’s jaws snapped closed and there was a loud splash.” The crocodile kills the high priest.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The Nile River allowed the Egyptians to grow “a lot of barley, which they used/ to make beer.” 

Language  

  • None 

Supernatural 

  • Arthur and Finn’s grandfather created a museum about warriors throughout history. The museum is haunted, and when the grandfather died, “he started haunting the place too. He felt guilty about the trapped ghost warriors and vowed he would not rest in peace until all the other ghosts were laid to rest first.” 
  • When one of the ghost warriors touches the boys, “we get transported to the time and place where the ghost lived and died. And we can’t get back until we’ve fixed whatever keeps the ghost from resting in peace.” 
  • When the boys travel through time, “the room began to spin, and the firelight turned into a belt of light acceleration around them, until it vanished completely.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • In Egypt, the pharaoh “was believed to be a living god, in touch with the other gods who controlled the universe and who decided when the Nile would flood. . .” 
  • After being kidnapped, Arthur and Thami are imprisoned. They hear footsteps, and “Arthur prayed that it would be the prince returning with a plan. . .” 
  • Before going to war, the high priest “would conduct sacred rites in the palace temple in Thebes before blessing the pharaoh and his army.” 
  • Before giving the pharaoh his blessing, the high priest gives a speech saying, “The gods have spoken to me of VICTORY! VICTORY! VICTORY!. . .And the gods have decreed that your pharaoh will lead the army himself!” 
  • The high priest was plotting against the pharaoh. During the high priest’s blessing ceremony, the pharaoh and Thami discuss who is the messenger of the gods. Thami says, “No, Father, YOU are their messenger, just as YOU and not the high priest will one day become a god yourself.” 
  • When the high priest begs for mercy, the pharaoh says, “Pray to Sobek for mercy!” 
  • Two and a half pages explain who some of the Egyptian Gods were. For example, Amen-Ra “was really a combination of two gods—Ra, the great sun god, and Amen, the local god of Themes.”  

I Must Betray You

Seventeen-year-old Cristian Florescu and his family are merely trying to survive in 1989 Romania, a country ruled by a communist regime. He lives with his parents, his sister, and his terminally ill grandfather, Bunu. All Romanians live under constant surveillance and are censored by the communist dictatorship. They cannot speak freely, openly trust others, and have limited access to information about the world beyond Romania. Cristian dreams of becoming a writer and exploring the world beyond Romania, but he must keep this dream a secret for his protection.  

Inspired by his terminally ill grandfather, who openly opposes the regime, Cristian documents his thoughts and experiences, hoping to share them with the world one day. Cristian’s character is admirable because he values the importance of writing freely in a society that strongly disapproves of it. However, when Cristian is blackmailed by the secret police for possessing illegal American currency, he is forced to become an informant. Cristian cannot tell anyone, not even the one person he trusts—his sister. He is initially tasked with spying on an American diplomat’s family residing in Romania. However, his orders go beyond this, and he is forced to spy on his classmates and loved ones.  

Frustrated and guilty, Cristian takes matters into his own hands. He bravely leaves his notebook filled with documentation and observations of life in Romania on the American diplomat’s desk. A risk like this could land him in prison and put his family in danger, but he seeks to expose the truth about life in Romania. As citizens grow increasingly frustrated with the current regime, a revolution rises. Cristian’s decision to join exposes him to strong violence and the loss of those he loves. However, he is determined to unveil the government’s treatment of Romanians and help his family survive. Through all of this, he never forgets his dream of becoming a writer and engaging with the world. Will he be able to expose Romania’s oppressive conditions and escape the web of lies he finds himself entangled in?  

Lilliana Pavel, a quiet yet curious girl who lives across the street from Cristian, becomes a romantic interest. She engages in intricate acts of resistance, such as listening to American music, reading literature, and sneaking foreign snacks. Although subtle, these actions reflect her exploratory spirit and her willingness to challenge the regime. When her family gets into trouble with the police, she accuses Cristian of informing on them, and their relationship suffers. However, as the story unfolds, Lilliana’s affection for Cristian leads her to join the revolution as well, proving not only how courageous she truly is, but also how much Cristian means to her.  

I Must Betray You captures the bleak realities of those living in a communist society, as well as how restricted their lives are. Filled with tension, gritty content, and resilience, the novel will most definitely appeal to fans of historical fiction. Readers will undoubtedly remain in suspense throughout the story, wondering what lies ahead and how it will impact the characters’ lives. Additionally, the reader will be emotionally invested in the characters’ circumstances and the trajectory of their journeys.  

The story combines themes of betrayal, oppression, courage, and hope to create a powerful narrative. The idea that change can begin with one single voice is prevalent throughout. In this case, Cristian’s actions brought about immense change, and in the wise words of his Bunu, “Wisdom [is]… something [a] country can’t take from you.” Although the story contains graphic scenes, including multiple deaths, they play a crucial role in the overall effect on the reader. This is a must-read for readers interested in stories of liberation and bravery. Readers who want to read more stories based on communism should also read Breaking Stalin’s Nose and Spy Runner by Eugene Yelchin. 

Sexual Content   

  • Liliana and Cristian share their first kiss, not knowing if it will be the last time they see each other. “I kissed her. And kissed her again… More gently each time. I kissed her nose, her jaw, her neck.” A guard came into the room, and the kissing stopped.  
  • Liliana visited Cristian at his family’s apartment, and the two cuddled. Liliana “leaned in to make the point and kissed me. I scooted over on the bed, making room. I wrapped my arms around her and we lay there, sharing the pillow.” Eventually, they fell asleep.  
  • After the revolution ends, Liliana and Cristian share a flirtatious kiss on Christmas Day. “A dot of vanilla fluff lingered on the side of Liliana’s mouth. I leaned in and kissed it away, hovering close to her.”  

Violence   

  • Cristian feels betrayed by his best friend Luca, who informed on him and his family. He is so angry that he punches Luca. “I whirled around and threw my fist. I punched my very best friend.” Luca fell and did not fight back.  
  • Individuals were sent to beat Cristian’s grandfather, who voiced opposition to the regime. “Bunu’s hands lay like broken birds. Their color, a purple so dark, nearly black. The bones above his palms were snapped, smashed. . . Bunu’s bare feet had been clubbed beyond recognition.” Cristian’s mother says, “His chest. The same. All ribs broken. They beat him to death.” 
  • Soldiers capture Cristian and beat him because of his involvement in the revolution, as well as his failure to comply with his Securitate [secret police] handler. “The first blow was to the top of my spine, between my shoulder blades… Then they sat me up and clubbed my ribs . . . They took turns punching my face. . . Then they kicked me below the waist. I lost breath and all track of what was happening.” Finally, they stopped beating him and became distracted by something. The beating is described over several pages. Cristian was badly beaten and in a lot of pain.  
  • Cristian and Liliana discuss their experiences with the state’s soldiers. Liliana tells Cristian that, “They beat us with canes, kicked us, punched us . . . A man was on a special list. . . They scalped him.” 
  • Cristian, Liliana, and a few small children were taken into custody for their role in the revolution and taken to a prison. They are led to a small, interrogation-like room in the prison, and out of frustration, Cristian destroys a picture frame hanging on the wall. When a soldier enters the room and sees what Cristian has done, he punishes Cristian. “He smacked my back and legs with his club.” Although Cristian is already in pain from his prior beating, he acts brave for Liliana and the children.  
  • Cristian’s best friend, Luca, is shot while participating in a revolutionary protest. It is unknown who shot him, but it is clear that there were many bullets in the air. “A bullet tore through Luca’s right shoulder, another ripped through his arm. Blood burst like fireworks in front of me. Multiple rounds flew nearby . . . Luca swayed, staggered, and buckled to the ground.” Luca disappears into the crowd. Later, it is revealed that Luca is in critical condition. 

Drugs and Alcohol   

  • None 

Language   

  None 

Supernatural   

  • None  

Spiritual Content   

  • None  

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love: A Novel

Gwendoline and Arthur are the worst of enemies and, unfortunately for them, unhappily betrothed. It’s been centuries since King Arthur Pendragon ruled England and passed away, the legend being that one day he will return to reunite the country and bring peace to all. Nowadays, England is split between cultists, those who believe in King Arthur’s return, and Catholics, who don’t. His descendant, the reckless and witty Arthur (“Art”) Delacey, has grown up hating the stubborn and confident princess Gwen. When Art’s father forces him to spend the summer with Gwen, neither of them can imagine a worse fate until they both learn a secret about the other that changes everything.  

Gwen’s in love with the first-ever female knight, and Art kisses boys in dimly lit back alleys. So, they make a deal. If they fake liking each other, then maybe they could have the very thing neither thought they could have: true love. As the annual royal tournament unfolds, Art encourages Gwen into Lady Bridget’s arms. Unbeknownst to Gwen, Art takes an interest in her older brother, heir to the throne, Gabriel. Both are brave, optimistic characters anyone would want to root for, though things soon become more complicated as unrest stirs in the North and political conspiracy threads its way through the castle of Camelot. Gwen, Art, and their new group of friends must find the source of this new mystery before it’s too late.  

Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is immersed in Arthurian legend and English lore. While the history and details of many key figures and events are explained, they aren’t explained thoroughly, so it would be helpful for readers to have some knowledge of the Arthurian legend. At first, the novel gives the impression that the story is a retelling of King Arthur and Guinevere, which is not the case. Overall, the story is very endearing and well thought out, but there is an excessive reliance on the original stories of Arthur and Camelot.  

The novel playfully explores what queer teenage life would look like in medieval times, complete with fun characters that deliver powerful themes of acceptance and found family, in between petty feuds, stolen kisses, and witty repartees. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love sandwiches moments of relatable stupidity with the hope of true love beautifully and successfully. 

Readers who enjoyed Imogen, Obviously, What If It’s Us, and Cemetery Boys will love this queer adventure set in a post-Arthurian England, where swordfights, romantic antics, and growing to accept familial bonds abound. This novel is a feel-good story about embracing all kinds of love and learning to lead by gaining more confidence in oneself, even in the face of criticism. Gwen matures and teaches herself to take risks and find her voice. Art is a self-possessed character who knows who he loves but learns that he can be loved himself. Gwen & Art Are Not in Love is overwhelmingly positive and loving, re-imagining a world where everyone belongs, even among the knights and monarchs of Camelot itself.  

Sexual Content  

  • During the description of the tournament, when Lady Bridget is first introduced, Gwen thinks about a dream she’d had, where Bridget “reached over with one gauntleted hand to tilt Gwen’s chin toward her, and then kissed her so hard.” 
  • During one of the feasts, Gwen catches Art “pressing his mouth to Mark or Michael’s jaw while sliding one hand inside the other man’s tunic. The dog-boy closed his eyes and allowed his neck to be kissed, tilting his head back so that his hair fell away from his face, looking completely at ease.” Gwen is unsure who he’s kissing, but she recognizes him as someone who works in the palace. 
  • In one of Gwen’s old diary entries, she writes, “I don’t know why, but I would like to kiss [Lady Bridget].” 
  • Strolling in Camelot’s gardens, Art asks a statue, “Shagged any of your sisters lately?” 
  • Talking about birds, one of Gabriel’s passions, Art “tilt[s] his head and look[s] quizzically at Gabriel, then [gives] a little shrug, leaned forward, and kiss[es] him.” 
  • When Gabriel finds out about Art and Gwen’s arrangement, he confronts Art and kisses him. Art describes it as “extremely clumsy—he had approached with far too much speed, and practically knocked their heads together—but Arthur pressed a hand to Gabriel’s neck to steady him, feeling Gabriel’s curls brush against the tips of his fingers as he held him in place. Gabriel had the element of surprise this time, but if there was one thing Arthur knew he was good at, it was kissing; his eyes fluttered closed as Gabriel tentatively put a hand to his chest, and then Gabriel was moving more insistently, surprising Arthur with the urgent press of his mouth and the fact that his fingers were fisting in Arthur’s tunic.” 
  • In a conversation with his friend, Art remembers his ex, “kissing him with spiced wine on his tongue at a Christmas feast and then throwing him out into the snow ten minutes later when they were almost discovered.” 
  • To test whether they could feel anything for each other, Gwen and Art try kissing, though it doesn’t work for either of them. “So, Arthur rolled his eyes and grabbed her by the back of the head, pressing a kiss to her closed lips. Instinct took over as she opened her mouth; he leaned in, deepening the kiss, his hand slipping through her lightly perfumed hair.” 
  • Art confronts Gabriel about running away from their relationship, and Gabriel “just kissed him back. It was gentle and uncertain at first, but then he seemed to relax into it, sighing into Arthur’s mouth in a way that made Arthur’s nerves sing.” 
  • Bridget kills someone for the first time. To calm Bridget down, Gwen kissed her. “She followed through by leaning forward and kissing Gwen so fiercely that Gwen made a noise of surprise into her mouth. She had just recovered enough to reciprocate—to close her eyes and let her hand fall to clutch at Bridget’s shoulder, to taste salt on her tongue and go in search of more.” 
  • When Art finds out that Gwen kissed Bridget, he tries to confirm by asking Gwen through innuendo, saying, “You—you got your lance wet, didn’t you? You gave her the green gown! You ground her corn!” Later, he thinks, “behold, kissing hath recently taken place betwixt this lusty knight and this passing good woman.” 
  • During Gwen’s birthday party, Bridget kisses her again, and Gwen thinks that “she liked the way that Bridget seemed to smile into her mouth as she kissed, as if she were pleased to have discovered something; she liked the feeling of strong arms and sure hands pulling her closer; she especially liked the small, frustrated noise Bridget made in her throat when she reached for Gwen’s hair, which was carefully plaited away under her hat.” 
  • After Art is severely beaten, he dreams “of golden-haired boys who kissed him hard and left him bleeding.” 
  • To distract a guard, Art’s bodyguard Sidney asks “what sort of rash do you get if you have a lover’s disease?…oh, God, it’s gone such an unnatural color, I think it might be about to fall off—” 
  • When Sidney survives the final, grand battle, Gwen observes that “Sidney had been kissing Agnes quite enthusiastically, both of them in tears.” 

Violence  

  • Thrown out of a tavern by the owner, Arthur is on the ground with the owner about “to kick Arthur’s skull in if he didn’t move in the next few seconds.” 
  • During the first tournament, two knights fight. One of them, a vicious and bloodthirsty knight, has earned the nickname, the Knife. “The victorious knight had his sword at his competitor’s throat; he looked, for a moment, as if he might be considering using it to lethal effect.” When Bridget competed, she “tried to land a hit, the Knife stepped neatly to one side, hooked her leg, and sent her sprawling. She struggled to get up; he let her try for a few seconds before raising his sword and bringing it down on her helm with such force that many of the people in the crowd groaned.” 
  • Later, as Gwen and Bridget watch another duel, one of the competitors almost kills another in cold blood. The knight, Sir Woolcott, “deliberately unsheath[s] his sword” and brings it down quickly. Bridget steps in to stop him, “her weapon [was] held above her head, Sir Woolcott’s pressing down against it and eliciting a tortuous, shrill squeal as steel met steel.” No one is hurt. 
  • Gabriel describes an Arthurian legend at a feast, he mentions a landmark, saying, “it’s a stone block where Arthur Pendragon apparently beheaded one of his enemies. Cultists treat it as a sacred site.” 
  • When Gwen’s pet bird attacks Bridget due to a lack of training and supervision, “there [is a] large scratch on Bridget’s right cheek, oozing a slow trail of blood down to her chin.” 
  • Art is speaking to Gabriel in his bedroom when they hear a noise outside and find “Lady Bridget Leclair [standing] in the corridor, sword raised, shoulders heaving. On the floor at her feet lay a man who seemed to have recently been clutching a dagger. He had dropped it, largely due to the fact that he was dead.” 
  • After Bridget kills the intruder, she copes with it by practicing her fighting skills. Concerned, Gwen “put herself squarely between Bridget and her target and clumsily raised the sword. The blow she caught seemed to vibrate all the way down to the base of her spine, but she managed to hold her ground.” 
  • During the jousting part of the tourney, “Bridget’s aim [doesn’t] waver; her lance splinter[s], and the crowd roar[s]. The man she [is] competing against [hasn’t] even managed to strike a blow.” Then, later, Bridget has “to duck to avoid the risk of decapitation as the end of her competitor’s lance snap[s] almost completely in half against her shield.” 
  • After a night out, Gwen finds Art severely beaten. “She had assumed Arthur drunk, but as his hat fell from his head, she saw in the torchlight that he was hurt. There were dark bruises blooming on his face, gashes where the skin had split open, and there was a terrifying amount of blood splattered down the front of his shirt under his jacket.” 
  • Several guards try to kidnap Art. “One of the men toward the back of the group let[s] out an extremely loud grunt as something in his body [makes] the sort of cracking noise that healthy bodies shouldn’t, on the whole—and then he [is] toppling sideways; another manage[s] to turn and raise his sword just in time as Lady Leclair, wielding only a dagger, [brings] her arm up to meet him.” 
  • During another tournament, someone tries to kill the king. At one point, a “knife that had been thrown with deadly precision from the arena [strikes] the wooden post just above the throne—and chaos [is] unleashed from all directions.” 
  • After being kidnapped, Art wakes up near horses, worried that “the horses with the very large hoofs were going to kick Arthur’s skull in if he didn’t move in the next few seconds.” 
  • At the end of the novel, there’s a very graphic, eight-chapter-long battle. Among these bloody moments, the king dies. One of the tournament contestants’ “sword slipped up under the king’s armor almost casually, as if he hadn’t quite made up his mind to do it until the last second.”  
  • When trying to save Gabriel, “a spray of mud and blood hit Arthur full in the face as [a] man toppled heavily down beside him.” He later finds Gabriel, and “one of [his] arms was so mangled beneath his crumpled armor that it barely looked like a limb at all. The other was theoretically still clutching his sword, but his grip had gone slack around the pommel.” 
  • The heroes finally win when “Lady Bridget Leclair, caked in mud from head to toe, [launches] herself at Lord Willard, with [a sword] raised high above her head.” She kills Lord Willard, the man who initiated a coup against the king, and his armies soon lose organization, allowing the good forces to overtake them and win. 

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • Before leaving for Camelot, Arthur asks his bodyguard, Sidney, to “Bring as much wine as [he] can carry.” And later, while they’re traveling, they both drink some of the wine.  
  • When touring the castle, Art inquires about the wine cellar. When Gwen asks him why, he responds, “It’s where the wine lives.” 
  • Visiting Gwen’s room, Arthur greets Gwen by saying, “Evening. Wine?” and offering her some.  
  • While visiting Camelot’s drinking establishment, Art observes that “Sidney kept fetching him drinks, and he kept knocking them back.” 
  • Art describes his hangover, thinking about how “a night of drinking, for example, usually precipitated an extremely gloomy morning, punctuated by roiling nausea and waves of self-hatred that left him dour and sullen and utterly useless to absolutely everybody, himself included.” 
  • Climbing into Gwen’s room after a late night out, Art claims that he’s “over. [He’s] done. And [he’s] drunk—[he’s] drunk all the wine.” 
  • Gwen describes Art as “the man with the suspected alcohol problem.” Later, Art finds “himself looking at an unattended cup of wine” and hesitates while thinking about Gwen’s disapproval of his drinking. He abstains for part of the night but succumbs eventually.  

Language  

  • Foul language such as shit, hell, and damn are used very frequently. 
  • Bitch and fuck are used infrequently. 
  • Since the main characters are British, they also say bloody and arse frequently. 

Supernatural  

  • Art describes that the cultists in England “believe wholeheartedly in real magic—the type that could turn back armies, transform people into birds, and heal the sick.” However, they had their limits, as “even they had to admit that nobody had exhibited that sort of power since the days of Merlin and Morgana (and that was if you believed the legends, which Arthur decidedly did not).” 
  • Gwen attends a pagan celebration for the witch, Morgana. Gabriel explains: “The more progressive Arthurians celebrate the duality of her spirit. Her capacity for kindness and evil,” and calls the birthday party “a sort of ritual.” 
  • One of Bridget’s friends makes necklaces that are implied to have supernatural healing powers. Bridget says, “Elaine gave [one] to [her]. For protection. Apparently, it’s magic.” Bridget’s friend says that “it’s a spell. Or—[she] think[s] it is, anyway.” 

Spiritual Content  

  • The story describes a religious conflict between Catholics and those who believe in King Arthur instead, implying that people are either one or the other. The book eventually attempts to convey that religious beliefs are distinct from the relevant political power struggles. 
  • During a tournament, Gwen thinks that her father’s cousin “Willard had been bolstered by the backing of many Arthurian cultists—those who believed wholeheartedly in the magic of King Arthur and his enchanted sidekicks, the stories that good Christians had long decided were simply fables and legends.” 
  • Art mentions to Gwen that his “mother was Muslim, and [Gwen’s] father is Catholic.” Arthur says, “that spiritually, [England’s] cup overflowth.”  
  • Contextualizing the history of religion in their version of England, Gabriel explains that “after the Saxons invaded, there was a bit of a muddle with lots of old gods in the mix, and then the country was Catholicized very rapidly.” 

by Kate Schuyler

My Survival: A Girl on Schindler’s List

The Nazis forced eleven-year-old Rena Finder and her family into the ghetto in Krakow, Poland. Rena worked as a slave laborer with scarcely any food and watched as friends and her father were sent away. A Girl on Schindler’s List details Rena’s experience as a young Jewish girl during the time of Nazi rule.  

Rena’s time in the ghetto was miserable, but things were going to get worse. Rena and her mother were marched to the Plaszów concentration camp, where they experienced Nazi terror firsthand. Near the end of the war, Rena and her mother were relocated to Auschwitz, where they met Oskar Schindler. In Auschwitz, they were put on Schindler’s list, which allowed Jewish prisoners to work in Schindler’s subcamp. Rena was one of the lucky few because the individuals on Schindler’s list were treated better than other camp members. They were given food, water, and Schindler’s factory also provided them with shelter from harsh winter conditions and death marches.  

Young readers will relate to Rena’s confusion about the world around her and empathize with her as she loses her childhood innocence and the rights she once had, such as the ability to play and learn like the non-Jewish children around her. She feels lost and scared when she is called a “dirty Jew,” and she wonders, “Why did that girl call me dirty? I’m not dirty, I took a shower just this morning.” Many of the chapters end in a question, which solidifies the feeling of confusion. She loses so much at such a young age, and young readers may feel the weight of this loss. As Rena matures, she begins to understand the harsh truths about the world and how much hurt hate can cause. 

Joshua M. Greene works to paint an accurate picture of the horrors Rena faced, making A Girl on Schindler’s List a quick and eye-opening read for young readers. The book includes depictions of murder and death, but the descriptions are handled with tact and grace. The descriptions are from Rena’s point of view, which provides a more innocent perspective on World War II. Each chapter flows smoothly into the next, advancing the story at a steady pace. However, the ending speeds up significantly, making the conclusion feel rushed.  

A Girl on Schindler’s List serves as an accurate first-person account of the horrors of the Holocaust. This novel serves as a tool to enlighten younger readers on the realities of World War II and Nazi Germany. A basic level of background knowledge about World War II is required to understand the context of this novel. The book is worth reading due to its accurate and nuanced perspective on the Nazi regime during World War II. It is narrated by a young girl, which lends it a unique perspective that few other Holocaust books possess. Readers who want to learn more about World War II should read Survival Tails: World War II by Katrina Charman and I Survived the Nazi Invasion, 1944 by Lauren Tarshis. 

Sexual Content 

  • None

Violence 

  • Rena hears about the torture in camps from adults. “In some camps, prisoners were worked to death. In other camps, prisoners were suffocated in gas chambers and their bodies burned to ashes in crematorium ovens.” 
  • Rena’s grandparents were taken away as punishment for hiding from Nazi guards. “I will never forget the expression on my mother’s face watching her parents walking away to be murdered.” Rena never sees her grandparents again. 
  • Amon Goeth, a Nazi guard at Auschwitz, finds pleasure in torturing Jews. “Each morning, he aimed his rifle at people coming and going and killed people at random.”  
  • As Rena and her mother are taken to Auschwitz, Rena hears gunshots outside the orphanage. She hears someone sharing the fate of the children: “Someone came up and whispered that the children in the orphanage were being murdered.” 

Drugs and Alcohol 

  • Vodka is used as a bartering tool once Rena and her mother are freed from the camp. 

Language 

  • The word “Jew” is occasionally used in a derogatory way. For example, a girl yells, “Go home, you dirty Jew,” to Rena.  

Supernatural 

  • None

Spiritual 

  • Rena and her parents practice the Jewish religion. “We secretly held religious services at our apartment.” Religion is only mentioned once because the story is from Rena’s perspective, and being Jewish is just another part of her everyday life.   

The Triumphant

In the wake of their victorious fight to win back the Ludus Achillea, Fallon and her gladiatrix sisters have become the toast of the Republic. However, as a consequence of his actions during the Ludus uprising, Fallon’s love Cai has been stripped of his Decurion rank and cast down to serve as one of Caesar’s gladiators.

Amid fighting for Cai’s freedom, Fallon soon learns that Caesar’s enemies are plotting against him and planning to get revenge on his fearsome gladiatrices. When Caesar is murdered by these conspirators, Fallon and the girls lose any sort of protection they once had. Fallon also realizes that the foreign queen Cleopatra is now in grave danger.

Fallon rallies her war band and Cai’s friends to get Cleopatra out of the city, and the group heads to the safety of Cleo’s homeland, Alexandria, Egypt. Once there, the gladiatrices are promised a place of honor in the queen’s elite guard, but is that what any of them really want? 

The Triumphant begins with Julius Caesar’s death, giving readers a glimpse of Rome in chaos. Fallon and her warrior sisters help Cleopatra flee Rome and return to Alexandria, Egypt. Along the way, several of Fallon’s companions die, and Fallon blames herself for their death. While each death is a terrible loss, Fallon learns that her guilt is misplaced for several reasons. First, Fallon’s fellow warriors chose to stay in Rome or travel to Egypt. In addition, only one person can be blamed for another’s death—the person who killed them. In The Triumphant, Fallon mourns the death of her friends, but death is portrayed as another part of life. Cleopatra tells Fallon, “Caesar once told me that he didn’t understand those who feared death. It will come when it comes, he said. To everyone. Even to him.” 

Fallon and her warrior sisters take an epic journey from the corrupt Roman Republic to the wonder of the ancient world: Alexandria, Egypt. While on this journey, Fallon isn’t the only strong woman who shines. Fallon’s friend Elka plays a more significant role in the story, allowing readers to appreciate Elka’s strength and loyalty to Fallon. Cleopatra also has a starring role that highlights the belief that Cleopatra was the daughter of gods and, as such, she possessed both brains and bravery. In the end, The Triumphant shows that women are capable of choosing their own path. However, Cleopatra says, “Destiny is not something that is given. It’s something you prove yourself worthy of taking.” 

Anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories full of action and political intrigue will enjoy The Valiant Series. Fallon’s determination to give her sister warriors freedom is admirable. Caesar and Cleopatra give the story a historical element and added intrigue. Each installment of The Valiant Series highlights the importance of choosing your own destiny. If you’re ready to take another epic adventure, read A Court of Thorns and Roses Series by Sarah J. Maas and the Dust Lands Series by Moira Young. 

Sexual Content  

  • A slave was sold to a brothel.  
  • Fallon goes to visit Cai, who is locked in a cell. When he is allowed out, Fallon kisses him. “I reached up to pull his bruised, beautiful face gently down toward mine. It was strange, being able to tangle my fingers in Cai’s hair. . . [his lips were] firm and soft at once, pressed hungrily against mine as if we could make up all the lost months. . .” 
  • One night, Cai and Fallon were keeping watch for trouble when “Cai’s head dipped beneath mine as his mouth moved from my wrist to the inside of my elbow. . . My fingers traced up the twin columns of muscle along his spine until I reached the collar of his tunic, and I could slip my hand underneath. . .” They are interrupted before things can go further. The scene is described over two and a half pages. 

Violence  

  • Cai is sent to be a gladiator. During his first fight, Cai’s “sica had still hit the mark early on and more than once. The man’s shield-arm shoulder and biceps were running blood from several long, shallow cuts. . . As Cai scrambled past his adversary, the points of his curved blades tagged the murmillo again—this time on the back of his legs, below his armored kilt. Blood splashed from the wound.” 
  • After Cai beats the murmillo, a group of gladiators surround him. One man steps up to help Cai. Cai and his ally “rushed forward, swords cutting the air before them, flashing sunlight like fire. . . Together, they swept through the line of their opponents, and the man unlucky enough to find himself at the center of that line dropped to the ground. . . bleeding from wounds on both sides of his body.”  
  • During the battle, “Cai’s left blade caught one of the attackers on the side of his neck. The ground gasped. . . as the man dropped to the ground. Blood sputtered in a fountain from between his fingers as he clutched at his throat. . . and then he was still.” The scene is described over six pages. One man dies, and others are seriously wounded.  
  • Fallon hears a story of a group that is “burning whole villages” and “killing most of the men and carrying off the women.”  
  • Other members of the Roman senate stab Caesar. Afterwards, “Caesar reached out, grasping handfuls of air. . . and then a group of men charged him like a pack of jackals on a wounded lion. . . blood flew, splattering the gleaming marble columns of the theatre portico.” The murder is described over a page.  
  • A gladiatrix was injured and later drowned herself. 
  • One of Fallon’s companions, Charon, is shot with an arrow. His “face was rigid with pain. He had one hand pressed to his flank—blood seeping between his fingers. . .” Fallon throws a knife and “was rewarded with a grunt of pain.” The attacker flees. Later, Charon dies from his wound.  
  • Fallon and her companions are traveling in a caravan when a man on a horse grabs someone. “[One of the gladiatrices] lurched to her feet and smashed the rider over the head with the short curved bow she carried, wielding it like a club. The man tumbled instantly from the back of his horse, dead or unconscious. . .”  
  • Another rider grabbed the gladiatrix Vorya. “He clutched at her tunic as Vorya raised her sword to strike, but she couldn’t get any solid footing. . . She fell forward, and there was nothing to stop her. . . Nothing but the rider’s blade, thrust to the hilt between Vorya’s ribs.” 
  • Nephele, Vorya’s companion, “lunged for the man who’d killed Vorya and, with a cry of pure rage, thrust her dagger straight through his eye. The man screamed and fell, arms and legs bent and twisting.”  
  • While being attacked, someone began shooting arrows at Fallon. “The first missed. The second laid a fiery kiss along the top of my shoulder, the razor-sharp point slicing through the fabric. . . carving a searing gash in my flesh.” The attack is described over seven pages, and several people die. 
  • After being chased by an enemy, Cleopatra says, “Then tell your dark god when you meet him that it was I who sent you to his realm.” Then she slit his throat “from ear to ear.”  
  • A woman named Tanis was trying to kill Cleopatra. Fallon shadows Tanis, waiting for the right time to kill her. Tanis “pulled the bowstring taunt beside her ear. And I hurled myself at her, hitting her with my shoulder, hard in the center of her back.” The two women fall off the roof, and Fallon “delivered a swift kick to her ribs . . . I hauled her to her feet and drove my fist into her face. Her head snapped back, and blood flew in a thin arc from her mouth.” Fallon calms down and lets Tanis escape. 
  • While Fallon is in a temple, she sees a reflection of a blade descending. “I heard the scuff of a sandal and spun around in time to see the jackal god Anubis himself swinging a sword at my head. . . He had the Aegyptian god of the dead with him!” The villain lifted a “bloodstained blade high above me. . . I lunged upward, the Tartarus key clutched in my fist like a dagger. And I drove it straight through his eye. . . [The villain] clutched weakly for the key, jutting obscenely out from his eye socket before toppling backward and hitting the surface of the reflection pool.” He sinks to the bottom of the pool, dead. 
  • Another man moves toward Fallon. The villain’s “second stop faltered. And as a sword’s point seemed to suddenly sprout like a flower from the center of his naked chest, he fell to his knees in front of me.” Cai killed the man to save Fallon. The scene is described over nine pages. 
  • In the final battle, Fallon’s friends and her father’s warriors battle the Romans. A Roman, Yoreth, attacks Fallon with a spear. “His first thrust tagged my thigh. . . a long, shallow cut. . .I blocked the next blow with my shield. . . he lunged forward with a long dagger drawn from his belt.” 
  • To save Fallon, someone shoots Yoreth with an arrow. Fallon “recoiled as he gagged once, a horrid, harrowing sound, and blood poured from his mouth.” 
  • Fallon attacks a warrior. “I threw my sword at him. It spun between his neck and shoulder. . . enough to make him scream and drop his own sword.” 
  • When a Roman threatens Fallon’s father, she “thrust my sword up under the polished black scales of his pristine ceremonial armor, stabbing him through the heart while he ranted.” The man and many others die. The final battle is described over five pages.

Drugs and Alcohol  

  • The adults often drink wine. Fallon goes to the gravesite of a dead gladiatrix. She had beer and “two cups. . . and poured out two measures of good dark Briton beer.” Fallon drinks her beer and “poured half of Nyx’s measure out onto her grave.”  
  • Fallon remembers when she drank wine spiked with mandrake. 
  • Fallon goes to a party where many are drunk.  
  • After Cleopatra discovers Ceasar has been killed, she is given “two measures” of wine.  
  • Fallon’s sister is given “potions to ease the searing headaches that made even the dimmest light unbearable.” Later, she is given “poppy draughts.”  

Language  

  • Profanity is used occasionally. Profanity includes ass, bastard, bitch, and damn.
  • “Ye gods,” “Jupiter’s beard,” and “Morrigan’s teeth” are each used as exclamations once.  
  • Some people call Cleopatra an “Aegyptina whore.”  

Supernatural 

  • A soothsayer warns of Caesar’s demise. She says, “Mars comes for you, great lord!”  
  • According to legend, Kassandra was a soothsayer. “Only she was cursed by the gods so that no one ever believed her. She could see the future but remained powerless to change it.”  
  • Fallon goes to the temple of Sekhmet to mediate. She has a vision of Julius Caesar, who is dead. They have a three-page discussion on why Caesar invaded Fallon’s island.  

Spiritual Content  

  • Fallon often refers to Morrigan, the goddess she worships. For example, Fallon believes Morrigan “had in her wisdom seen fit to send me so far from home to seek my density.” 
  • Fallon thinks about the Roman gods. “I knew the Romans worshipped virtually the same pantheon, only with different names. Were they interchangeable? The divine beings who, in spite of their own wars and ruins and tangled relationships, did their best to guide us mortals through our muddled and messy lives?” The passage continues for half a page.  
  • Some people believed that Caesar was a god. Likewise, some believe Cleopatra is the daughter of a god. Cleopatra said, “I’m the daughter of the gods. Isis and Osiris protect me.”  
  • A group worships the god Dis. After Caesar is killed, one man dips a sword in Caesar’s blood. It is implied that the man eats the blood.  
  • As Fallon and her companions try to get Cleopatra back to Egypt, Fallon is thankful that she is joined by others who know how to fight. “Even as I prayed to the Morrigan that we would have no opportunity to call upon those skills.” 
  • Some believe that earthquakes happen “when Hades gets angry.” 
  • While being pursued by an attacker, Fallon prays, “Hear me, my goddess. . . Help me save my friends. Send me your strength. . . Send me help! Take my blood, take anything you want from me . . . Raven of Battles. . . help me!” 
  • After the above prayer, Fallon’s friend, Hestia, is murdered. Fallon wonders, “Was Hestia’s sacrifice part of the price the Morrigan demanded of my prayer?” 
  • While trying to protect Cleopatra, Fallon “sent up silent prayers to the Morrigan and Minerva and Sekhmet that we could just get her aboard a ship without incident.”  
  • The Varnini tribe believes that after a person dies, they go to “drink the All-Father’s finest mead in his hall of heroes.” 
  • Fallon’s sister tells her, “The gods give and take life as it pleases them.” 
  • When Fallon returns to her home, she buries the ashes of a dead friend. Then she asks the Morrigan, “Is it enough? Will it ever be enough? Was Sorcha not even enough for you? Or will you take my friends and my father too?” The prayer is a half-page long. 
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