Another excellent nonfiction title that will inspire youth to get involved in resisting unjust actions, hopefully with better results.

Eh. It's an interesting play on Jack and the Beanstalk, but it's not my favorite book.

As a Maine resident, I spent most of the time trying to figure out where the story was set. Based on the time it takes to get to Houlton, I would set it in the Bristol/Damariscotta area, and I can't imagine a town that tiny in that part of Maine. Downeast, past Machais? Sure. But it wouldn't be four hours away from Houlton. If it were an island, such as Matinicus, definitely, but it wasn't. I recognize that, for some readers, who cares? It's based on the author's Maine memories. Well, for this reader, I want a believable setting, and for me, as a Mainer who has spent a fair amount of time in the midcoast, southern and central parts of the state, that's not a believable setting.

Okay, so let's say you are a person who can ignore the setting. How's the plot? Characters? Well, I did like Quinn, who works hard to convince the adults in her life that her teacher really is missing. I also enjoyed watching the town solve the mystery, and how interconnected everyone's lives were. And, of course, I was always wondering what those nuns were up to. It wrapped up a little too quickly for me, but overall, the story part was fine. It's the setting that really didn't click for me.

This was a pretty enjoyable mystery, with great WWII facts thrown in. The only thing I didn't like about it was Isabel. I felt like she was sort of inserted into the story so the author would have a female character, and she wasn't very likable or believable.

I really enjoyed this mystery until the twist. Then, I may have thrown my book. Some people would say that's a good sign. For me, it isn't.

I enjoyed this one. I hoped that maybe P.T. would get in a little bit of trouble for one of his outlandish stories (and maybe, in a way, he did). Overall, I loved this story of two plucky kids figuring out how to save a place they love.

It was cute. I love animal stories and it hit all my buttons.

I really liked this one. Normally dialects, or improperly written English, drives me nuts, but Berg does it in a way that doesn't bother me. I should have known this, because I love Berg's other books.

Grace is being sent to the Big House to work. She's told to leave her questions about rightiness in her mind: why do some people get to eat more but work less? why do some people own others? what's happening in the smokehouse? When she accidentally says one thing too far, she and her family go on the run.

I had no idea that there were communities of ex-slaves living in the swamps in western Virginia. I assumed they all went north. Berg has written a beautiful story that will teach children about that. She also shows the way slavery dehumanizes people, but never in a way that's too graphic for her middle grade audience.

I really enjoyed this spy thriller. It was quick and easy to read, and the plot moved along steadily. I think kids will gobble this one up.

Two caveats: the kids in this story do not act like they are thirteen. When I remembered that, I was thrown out of the story. Also, there are a fair number of exclamation points. I love exclamation points. I use them often. When I start noticing them in a published book, I tend to get a little irritated.

I loved Zomorod's (Cindy's) story about growing up in California in the late 1970s. (Hard to believe that it's historical fiction though!) It combines the best of stories about kids that move around a lot with humor, historical fiction, and a look at another culture. I especially love that it shines light on a land that is often vilified in America. Zomorod and her friends will stay with me for a while.