Category Archives: highly recommend
Golden Hill: A Novel of Old New York – Francis Spufford
The merchants of New York didn’t know what to make of Mr. Smith, a handsome young man who appeared out of the rain and fog at the door or Lovell & Company on Golden Hill Street. He was bearing an … Continue reading
Midnight at the Electric – Jodi Lynn Anderson
Future Earth has been ruined by past generations so a project to create sustainable life on Mars was begun. Adri has been selected for this next group of colonists. She lost her parents in a flood and was raised in … Continue reading
Be Free or Die: The Amazing Story of Robert Smalls’ Escape from Slavery to Union Hero – Cate Lineberry
During the wee hours of the morning, May 13, 1862, the 147-foot sidewheel steamer Planter made its way out of the harbor of Charleston, South Carolina. The Confederate fortifications assumed the ship to be on its usual errands. It never … Continue reading
Orphan Island – Laurel Snyder
“Nine on an island, orphans all, Any more, the sky might fall.” An idyllic island is home to nine orphans, each one year apart in age. Every year, a boat delivers a small child who is about 5 years old. … Continue reading
The Traitor’s Kiss – Erin Beaty
Following the death of Sage’s peasant father, a fowler who taught Sage all he knew, Sage is taken in by her noble uncle. She is a natural teacher and tutors his children until she reaches the age for marriage. Arranged … Continue reading
Count All Her Bones – April Henry
The much craved for sequel to Girl, Stolen (crazy popular on my campus) is everything April Henry fans come to expect. The story opens months after Cheyenne’s escape from her kidnappers. Cheyenne is preparing for her testimony against Roy, the … Continue reading
Defy the Stars – Claudia Gray
Noemi is a fighter pilot for the planet Genesis, colonized by Earth inhabitants after Earth was ruined by pollution. Genesis has rebelled against Earth’s control and has been locked in battle for many decades. Earth’s cybernetics genius, Burton Mansfield, created … Continue reading
The Tea Girl of Hummingbird Lane – Lisa See
Li-yan often helps her mother, the village midwife. As tradition dictates, she will fill the role someday. High in the mountains of Yunnan, the Akha, an ethnic minority, seem to be living in an earlier century, not in 1988. Their … Continue reading
Traitor to the Throne – Alwyn Hamilton
The sequel to Rebel of the Sands picks up with the rebellion somewhat stagnant. For every push forward, the Sultan’s army fights back. Amani, aka the Blue-Eyed Bandit, was gravely injured. When she recovered, Jin was not by her side … Continue reading
Daughter of the Pirate King – Tricia Levenseller
Alosa is part Siren and also the daughter of the pirate king and as such, quite dangerous. Raised by her fierce father to fight, he tortured her to toughen her. She has her own ship and mostly female crew under … Continue reading
Last Day on Mars – Kevin Emerson
Teens Liam and Phoebe are among the last people on Mars when a mass evacuation is underway due to the accelerated supernova of our sun. Earth was evacuated decades before and the Mars settlement was only meant to be temporary … Continue reading
Empress of a Thousand Skies – Rhoda Belleza
In this science fiction political thriller, Crown Princess Rhee’s family is murdered when their space ship is blown up. Rhee is raised an a planet away from the seat of the Empire and is to return when she is sixteen … Continue reading
The Murderer’s Ape – Jakob Wegelius
Sally Jones is an ape. She was captured years before and lived through many trials before the story opens. She is highly intelligent and quite mechanically gifted. Sally does not communicate vocally but can write and this story is her … Continue reading
The Diabolic – S.J. Kincaid
A murderous empire that rules the galaxy uses gruesome atrocities to keep all colonies in line. The wealthiest families secure Diabolics, genetically engineered killers, to serve as ruthless bodyguards. Nemesis is the Diabolic that one galactic senator purchases to protect … Continue reading
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