(3) 4-6 In 1852 Newburyport, Massachusetts, twelve-year-old Raymond has saltwater in his veins and seizes a chance to join the crew of his Uncle Thad's ship. Meanwhile, in South Carolina, eleven-year-old Ogun and his mother, escaped slaves, are making the harrowing trip to freedom. The stories of the two boys intersect in this well-written, action-packed story of family and freedom.

Reviewer: Betsy Thomas

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Daniel San Souci. David finds his normally voluble grandfather acting sullen after he sells his dairy farm and moves in with his family on Grosse Ile, Michigan. As David takes him on walks and shows him island highlights, Grandad gradually comes around. This refreshingly unsentimental tale of love's capacity to heal has an admirably light touch, as do the watercolor illustrations depicting the changing seasons.

Reviewer: Nell Beram