Chasing Secrets by Gennifer Choldenko

Lizzie Kennedy wants to be a doctor like her father, but in San Francisco in 1900 Lizzie is stuck at Miss Barstow's finishing school for girls. When Lizzie does go on house calls with her father, she realizes that something in San Francisco is not right. Mysterious deaths are occurring and Chinatown is on quarantine. Then the family's cook gets caught in the quarantine and Lizzie is determined to free him.

Working with her friend Noah, the cook's son, Lizzie begins to uncover the secrets that all the most powerful people in San Francisco are trying to hide. In Chasing Secrets, Gennifer Choldenko introduces endearing characters that will capture readers hearts. She also sheds light on a fascinating and little known time in America's history. Lizzie's story is perfect for readers who enjoy mystery, adventure and history.

Recommended ages--10 and up

Skink No Surrender by Carl Hiassen

Richard loves his cousin Malley, even though she is a spoiled, impulsive teen who has run away from home several times. However, when Malley runs off with a guy she met online, Richard knows this time she might not come home. The police lose Malley's trail and Richard turns to Skink, a one-eyed, ragged old war veteran who seems mentally unstable. Luckily, Skink is just crazy enough to search through the Florida swamps for a missing girl and her kidnapper.

Together, Skink and Richard face the dangerous swamps, violent storms, and angry alligators to bring Malley home. Carl Hiassen's Skink No Surrender is a wild adventure filled with tall tale-like characters and events. In the middle of outrageous circumstances, there are also valuable lessons about loyalty, justice, and even environmental conservation. This adventure is great for tweens who like adventure with a moral to the story.

Recommended ages--11 and up

Rebel Belle by Rachel Hawkins

For Harper Price, a true Southern belle, the purpose of life is organizing school activities and preparing for Cotillion. But Harper's priorities shift drastically when she is made a Paladin, a guardian with super strength and lethal fighting skills. Although she enjoys her new skills, Harper is horrified to learn the person she must protect is David Stark, her sworn enemy since Kindergarten. Chaos ensues as Harper tries to juggle her new responsibilities with her respectable and flawless Southern girl life. With clever characters and continuous conflict, Rachel Hawkins writes a fun story she describes as "Legally Blonde meets The Terminator." Hawkins manages to combine classic Southern culture with Greek Oracles, Paladins, and Mages. The humor and action are nicely balanced for readers who enjoy fantasy with some serious girl power. Recommended ages--12 and up