The Perilous Journey of the Not-So-Innocuous Girl

Gr 7–10—Set during Louis XIV's reign in France, this steampunk tale features headstrong 16-year-old Lady Marguerite. A daughter of nobility, she is paraded around to prospective noble husbands. However, Marguerite's heart belongs to Claude, a smithy on her father's land. Claude breaks Marguerite's heart when he reveals he is leaving for a new life in New France (Canada). Her future appears even bleaker when given the choice between a forced marriage or boarding school for difficult ladies. Marguerite decides to run away to New France, find Claude, and convince him to marry her. She books herself and her best friend passage on the dashing Captain Laviolette's ship carrying single women to Montreal in search of husbands. When the ship is invaded by pirates, the heroine follows her instincts to fight back and help Laviolette save lives, if not the ship. Arrival in New France involves more heartache and disappointment, leaving her to find her own path and open her heart to new love. Marguerite's unconventional interests and independent spirit balance her stereotypical pining and running after "true love." Older teens may feel unsatisfied with the surface-level relationships, but the action will keep younger and reluctant readers turning the pages. Marguerite's ability to overcome loss and surmount obstacles while staying true to her nature creates a heroine worth admiring.