(3) 4-6 NYC girl Nell Dare reluctantly accompanies her botanist mother to North Carolina's Roanoke Island for a summer research trip. There she and local boy Ambrose, a history buff and colonial reenactor, delve into the mystery of the Lost Colony. A well-researched blend of contemporary and historical material, this novel will remind readers that history can be both relevant and exciting.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) 4-6 Abandoned!: Towns Without People series. Despite a rather sensationalized title, this series is genuinely fascinating. Each book traces the history of a now-deserted town, explaining its population boom, possible reasons for decline, and what each abandoned place is like today. With interesting historical and contemporary photos and well-placed sidebars, these are solid places to begin research on some of America's stranger places. Reading list. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Abandoned! titles: Bodie, Cliff Dwellings, Roanoke Island, and Salton Sea Resort.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) 4-6 In alternating verse narratives, Native American Kimi and Roanoke colonist Alis describe their developing friendship. The two girls provide perspective on life in their communities and on how each interacts with the other. This intriguing and fresh look at a sixteenth-century mystery is also an exploration of what it means to be a friend and to belong. An author's note separates facts from speculation. Glos.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn