My Vicksburg by Ann Rinaldi

Vicksburg is under siege by the Yankees and thirteen-year-old Claire Louise and her family are forced to move into a cave for safety. Her father is a doctor with the Confederate Army and her brother is a doctor in the Union Army. When her brother brings home a Confederate soldier who was responsible for the South’s defeat at Antietam, Claire Louise makes a choice that will prevent the soldier from being tried for treason but goes against her brother’s wishes. As her family endures many hardships and her father falls ill, she deals with the consequences of her actions and tries to regain her brother’s trust. While an interesting story of a well-known Civil War event, the characters are not as well developed as they are in other Rinaldi books and Claire Louise’s motivations are not always clear. However, readers will be intrigued by the descriptions of living in a cave and Civil War stories are always in demand. An author’s note and bibliography are included.

The King's Rose by Alisa M. Libby

When the young Catherine Howard draws the attention of Henry VIII while serving as a lady-in-waiting for his wife, Anne of Cleeves, her ambitious family uses her as a pawn in their schemes to increase their power. After his marriage to Anne of Cleeves is annulled, Henry marries Catherine and she finds herself at the whims of an aging, and often ill, husband and trying to navigate various court intrigues. Under pressure to conceive a child, she undertakes an adulterous and disastrous affair with Thomas Culpeper, the man she loves. Told in first-person, the story reveals what life may have been like for the young, fun-loving Catherine forced into a marriage with a much older man and the constraints placed upon her because of her position. Catherine remains a somewhat passive victim of her situation and those around her but struggles to meet her end with dignity. The story drags a bit in places but will appeal to historical fiction fans, especially those interested in the times of Henry VIII. There are numerous sexual encounters, but they are handled subtly.

Ghostgirl: Homecoming by Tonya Hurley

Charlotte and her classmates have graduated from Dead Ed and are now working at a hotline for living teens with problems. But Charlotte gets no calls and begins to feel alone and isolated from her friends. Her best living friend, Scarlett, puts herself in a self-induced coma in order to find Charlotte to help her rescue her sister, who is in a real coma after suffering a serious infection from a pedicure. The girls race against time to save Scarlett’s sister and get Scarlett back before she permanently joins Charlotte in the afterlife. The characters are extreme examples of teen personalities and the dialog is often funny and acerbic. While the story feels somewhat episodic, it is definitely unique and sure to find an audience. Readers should read the first book before this one as there are numerous references to situations that occurred in Ghostgirl.

Fire by Kristin Cashore

This companion book to Graceling takes place in the Dells, a kingdom filled with monsters that resemble everyday animals, but have feathers and fur in a rainbow of colors which give them a stunning splendor. Fire, the last of the human-shaped monsters and incredibly beautiful, is also able to control the minds of others. She lives a quiet life while trying to live down the legacy of her father, who used his power for cruel and corrupt purposes. But when she travels to King’s City, she is swept up in court intrigue and an impending war with rival kingdoms. Cashore has written another spell-binding story with a strong, courageous female heroine. The setting and characters are well developed and the action is absorbing. Though there is a tie-in to Graceling, readers do not have to read it in order to enjoy this extraordinary story.

Whiteout by Walter Sorrells

In this third book in the Hunted series, Chass and her mom have landed in small town in Minnesota. When Chass stumbles upon the body of her dead music teacher in the middle of a blizzard, she is determined to find the identity of the killer. But as Chass follows the clues, she also discovers that their new home town is not happenstance. Her mother brought them there so she could dig for information about the man who has been hunting them. The white-out conditions provide an eerie backdrop to Chass’ investigation. Though the voice of Chass doesn’t always feel authentic, readers will enjoy this spine-tingling mystery. Readers starting with this volume will find a few gaps but should be able to piece enough of Chass’ history together to comprehend her situation.

Sphinx's Princess by Esther Friesner

Young Nefertiti lives a quiet life with her family, working on her writing and dancing skills. When word of her beauty and talents spreads, her family is summoned to court where her aunt, Queen Tiye plans for Nefertiti to marry her son, the future Pharaoh, who Nefertiti finds cold and distant. Caught up in the intrigues of the court, Nefertiti finds herself in danger and must look to her friends to help her escape. This well-drawn story provides a vivid glimpse into life of the period and includes many unforgettable characters. Nefertiti is a strong heroine who values loyalty and truth even when those around her are lying and scheming. The ending provides the possibility of a sequel.