What if all of the dead rose before the Union's decisive victory at Gettysburg? What if instead of fighting each other, now people were fighting the dead? Dread Nation reimagines history in this action packed historical novel. Jane is the daughter of a wealthy plantation owner, but she is colored and can't rightly be claimed. Due to the Native and Negro Reeducation Act she is forced to leave her Kentucky home to go to a finishing school for Attendants in Baltimore. Attendants are meant to protect the wealthy white families from the dead and are trained in the art of combat. But when families around Baltimore start going missing, Jane gets caught investigating and sent to a frontier town surrounded by the dead. She will need her wits and her strength to survive. Recommended for grades 7 and up. 

This second installment of the Mapmaker's Trilogy is exciting and dangerous. Typically the middle novel of a trilogy falters and languishes in backstories and slow plots, but not this book it forges straight ahead without looking back. 

Sophia sets off on a quest after a series of mysterious sightings, while Shadrack lands himself in jail. In the meantime New Occident is in upheaval and Theo recognizes a dark figure from his past. 

The stories are woven separately, just as our two main characters are separated for most of the book. The new characters Sophia encounters are very interesting and the foreign land of Ausentinia, where they seek to travel is as much a mystery as the people Sophia encounters. 

This second book is darker and more dangerous than the first book and kids will love it. The story is paced well and the world building is really fantastic. 

Adult: 4/5
​Kids: 4.5/5

What would happen if the one day the world became all jumbled up? This is the world that Grove has built. The Papal States, The Baldlands, New Occident and the Closed Empire are but a few of the ages in this new world, much of which is still changing. Enter our heroine Sophia Tims, the whipsmart daughter of missing explorers now living with her uncle Shadrack. 

Shadrack is a world renowned cartologer. But in this fascinating world maps can not only transmit information, but emotions and memories as well. Fascinating! When Shadrack is kidnapped it falls to Sophia to figure out who has kidnapped him and why. We encounter the nefarious Sandmen, and learn about the horrible Lachrima. This is an adventure story as well as being fantastical in nature. The story captures you from the first moment and let's go only when the last page is done.  Luckily is is the first in a trilogy so you can visit the world again in book 2. The characters are truly colorful. The world building will keep you coming back for more, and the story is well paced.
I recommend this book for ages 10 and up.  

Adult: 4/5
Child: 4/5

The book takes place in Alexandria, Egypt in a time that is somewhat futuristic and somewhat historical. The Great Library controls all information and real books are illegal contraband. Jess and his friends have just survived (literally) training and have received their permanent positions within the library. Jess remains tormented by his betrayal of Morgan and the loss of his best friend Thomas. 

When Jess uncovers the truth about Thomas, he and his friends must battle the wicked automatons, and go head to head with the Architect himself. Fast paced and action packed this second book of the Great Library series is filled with chases and close calls. I was a little disappointed with how neatly some things wrapped up, and the characters were not as fully fleshed as I would have liked, but overall it was a good story. I would say due to some of the themes and violence in the story that this book is best for 13 and up.

Adult: 3.5/5
YA:  4/5