(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. Twelve-year-old Laleena (her name is later changed) unknowingly sells herself into slavery in order to provide for her fatherless family. She ends up in the Sultan's harem in Istanbul, where she works in the gardens and teaches painting. The promising plot lacks tension and aspects of harem life aren't satisfactorily explained, but the intriguing setting and realistic characters will draw in readers. An author's note provides background. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. Twelve-year-old Saba and her older brother, who have been raised by their grandparents in remote, rural Ethiopia, are kidnapped and thrown into the chaos of nineteenth-century court life. Though events sometimes seem a bit contrived, Saba is a compelling character, and the historical details are interesting. A note about Ethiopia, "then and now," is appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(1) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. A light hand, sharp wit, serious social issues, and a hint of subversion are ingredients in this lively story. Times are hard for Kathleen and her family, who live in a crowded tenement in 1930s Dublin. Her opportunity for advancement comes when an unexpectedly kind nun recommends Irish-dance lessons. Well-contextualized Irish words and phrases are further defined in the appended glossary; historical notes and photos are included.

Reviewer: Lauren Adams | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2004

(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. Coincidence enables twelve-year-old Cecile Revel to become caregiver to the dogs of King Louis XIV's sister-in-law. At the Sun King's court in Versailles, Cecile becomes a favorite of the young royals, unravels the secret of her own past, and initiates a stand against blood-letting that saves the life of the heir-apparent. Historical details are accurate, but the sensibility of Cecile's first-person narrative exudes twenty-first-century awareness.

Reviewer: Frieda F. Bostian

(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. When twelve-year-old Elizabethan Isabel embarks on a mini-adventure--she sneaks out with the maid to see a play--she is caught and shipped off to her aunt's in the country. Through a series of improbable events, she is attacked by brigands, joins a theater company, and saves her sister's life during an outbreak of the plague. Details of the period are accurate and interesting.

Reviewer: Jeannine M. Chapman

(4) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. After her sister's wedding, Neela, twelve, is next in line for an arranged marriage. Questioning the restrictions on women in 1939 India, Neela finds herself drawn to the incendiary ideas of those fighting for independence from Britain--and taking action when her father disappears during a protest march. Political and social history are awkwardly grafted on, but Neela's defiant spirit helps move the story forward.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(1) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. Twelve-year-old Minuk, a Yup'ik girl living in 1890 Alaska, is eager to learn about the Hoffs, a family of Christian missionaries, and the wider world they represent. While Minuk struggles to understand their faith and ponders the lower status of women in both cultures, the plot consists mainly of events in the daily life of the village. This story, and the skillful manner in which it is told, should knock the socks off habitual readers of series historical fiction. Glos.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2003

(3) 4-6 Girls of Many Lands series. While the mid-1800s city of Canton endures a British invasion, orphaned Spring Pearl leaves her home to live with her father's friend. Raised to be independent, Spring Pearl is frowned upon by the daughters of her new family. But when trouble occurs, her wisdom and strength help save the family. Yep's prose flows smoothly, and despite some stock characters, the story is enjoyable.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang