The Year We Sailed the Sun

Gr 5–7—Fans of spirited heroines would do well not to judge this book by its cover. Instead, overlook the sweetly dressed girl running through a field on an idyllic day and crack open the book to get right to the feisty goodness on the inside. Julia is the youngest of three recently orphaned children. With no relations, save a heartless aunt not interested in adding three orphans to her financial burden, Julia and her sister Mary are sent off to the Sister's House of Mercy while brother Bill is off to the Priest's house with the rest of the orphan boys. Not one to let the formidable Sisters, or even the local gangsters, deter her, Julia doesn't plan on sticking around. She's hardened her heart against her enemies and even her friends. It's the only way she believes she can survive. She focuses on escaping with Mary, reuniting with Bill, and rebuilding her family. Unfortunately, things don't often turn out the way Julia wants. Multiple foiled escape plans, Mary's forced transfer, Bill's incarceration, a case of the measles, a deadly confrontation with two murderous thugs, and even the weather conspire against her. However, despite it all, things seem to turn out just as they should in the end. A collection of unique, memorable, three-dimensional secondary characters round out the cast and add depth and heart to a story already brimming with both. A warm, emotional tale to recommend to spunky kids everywhere.—Cindy Wall, Southington Library & Museum, CT