Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

It's 1849 and a small group of young cowboys are on the Oregon trail heading to the gold fields. They encounter all the terrors and trials you would expect, but two of them are also keeping a huge secret and they're on the run from the law. It's not often you find a YA western, even less often when the protagonists are two female outlaws. This is a fast, fun read packed with historical detail and adventure with a touch of romance to keep you guessing.

Published by G P Putnams March 17, 2015

The Wollstonecraft Detective Agency #1 The Case of the Missing Moonstone by Jordan Stratford

A historical mystery set in an alternative 1826 where Ada Lovelace (the first computer programmer) and Mary Shelley (the author of Frankenstein) meet as girls and form a detective agency. Their first case is the theft of a valuable moonstone, the maid has already confessed, but both girls think that smells a little fishy. This book is so much fun, action, adventure, thrills and intrigue, not to mention a cast of historical characters who pop in and out to aid the young ladies in their adventures. For ages 8-10.

Published by Alfred A Knopf Books January 6, 2015

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry

The seven young ladies of St Ethelreda's School are somewhat dysfunctional. Nevertheless, none of them is responsible for the murder of their headmistress and her odious brother. The girls are not eager to be separated and return to their families, so they concoct a plan to cover up the deaths. A plan which unravels with hilarious consequences. 

Julie Berry creates a Victorian whodunit with plenty of surprises, twists, slapstick, thwarted love and social niceties. The ensemble cast of characters is really brought to life, by their appropriate nicknames, such as Dour Elinor, Smooth Kitty and Disgraceful Mary Jane. The Scandalous Sisterhood is very silly and a lot of fun.

Published by Roaring Book Press September 23, 2014
Review first published in meetYA@DIESEL newsletter, September, 2014.