The Indigo Notebook by Laura Resau

Zeeta has spent her whole life traveling the world with her free-spirited mother Layla. Spending no more than one year in each new place, Zeeta lives her cultural education. But Zeeta’s greatest wish is a normal and stable life.

Wendell wishes to find his birth parents and he has come to the Andes of Ecuador to find them. Hopelessly lost and with no real leads, Wendell meets Zeeta and enlists her in his quest. They learn about the area and make new friends in their search, but they stumble into unexpected danger. Both Zeeta and Wendell will need to decide if their greatest wishes are really what is best. The Indigo Notebook provides an adventure-filled story, but it also paints a vivid picture of the culture and people of Ecuador’s mountains. A great accomplishment in storytelling as well as description and characterization.

Recommended ages--13 and up

Greenglass House by Kate Milford

It is pre-Christmas season at Greenglass House and Milo is ready to relax with his parents. This is usually a slow time at the smuggler's inn, but in the midst of a storm, mysterious guests begin to arrive. Each guest has some kind of secret and all the secrets seem to be tied to Greenglass house. With the help of Meddy, the cook's daughter, Milo begins to unravel the mysteries surrounding the guests.

This light mystery will keep readers guessing with its unique characters and mysterious setting. It is a fun Christmas read, but is a interesting tale for any season. Readers who enjoy solving puzzles and exploring new places will find Milo and his adventures very satisfying.

Recommended ages--9 and up

The Secrets of Solace by Jaleigh Johnson

Lina Winterbock loves exploring the hidden caves and tunnels in the mountain stronghold of Solace. Although she loves the mysterious artifacts she is apprenticed to study, Lina doesn’t fit in with the other archivists or apprentices. Instead, she explores by herself and finds a hidden treasure--a lost and forgotten airship buried in a sunken cavern.

With the Iron War currently raging, neutral Solace is filled with refugees seeking safety. In her exploring, Lina meets Ozben, a refugee with a secret of his own. Lina and Ozben become friends and share secrets. Later, those secrets lead them on adventures that may change the tide of the war. The Secrets of Solace is an adventure story set in an exciting new world. Although the story is a fantasy, Lina and Ozben’s friendship is very real. Readers may not relate to their experiences, but they will connect with the life lessons they experience.

Recommended ages--10 and up