Sixteen-year-old Mattie, determined to attend college and be a writer against the wishes of her father and boyfriend, takes a job at a hotel in 1906 where the death of a guest renews her determination to live her own life.

Liz says:

“Based on a real murder (the same murder that Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy is based on) is compelling as a murder mystery but is much more. This is also a glimpse of life at the turn of the century in upstate New York. Mattie is an incredibly intelligent and determined young lady whose decisions and relationships are inspiring. Moms will enjoy reading this along with their teens.”

Jane, a plain and penniless orphan in nineteenth-century England, accepts employment as a governess at Thornfield Hall and soon finds herself in love with her melancholy employer, Mr. Edward Rochester, a man with a terrible secret.

Liz says:

“This is one of my all time favorites. It can be read from young adulthood and on. Moms who have not yet read this or who read it so long ago they don’t remember much will want to reread this along with their teens. I just reread it and I love it more than ever.”

At Spence Academy, sixteen-year-old Gemma Doyle continues preparing for her London debut while struggling to determine how best to use magic to resolve a power struggle in the enchanted world of the realms, and to protect her own world and loved ones.

Cara says:

“Dead poets society meets Harry Potter in this fantasy series based at a proper English boarding school. Masterful storytelling will keep you turning pages until the very end.”

Gemma and her friends from the Spence Academy return to the realms to defeat her foe, Circe, and to bind the magic that has been released.

Cara says:

“Dead poets society meets Harry Potter in this fantasy series based at a proper English boarding school. Masterful storytelling will keep you turning pages until the very end.”

After the suspicious death of her mother in 1895, sixteen-year-old Gemma returns to England, after many years in India, to attend a finishing school where she becomes aware of her magical powers and ability to see into the spirit world.

Cara says:

“Dead poets society meets Harry Potter in this fantasy series based at a proper English boarding school. Masterful storytelling will keep you turning pages until the very end.”

An epistolary novel about a teenager named Elizabeth, made up of notes and letters from her best friend, a runaway named Celia; Christina, the new pen pal Elizabeth reluctantly takes on for a school assignment; her busy mother; and Elizabeth’s own angst-ridden mind.

Liz says:

“This book has the perfect combination of teenage angst along with a great sense of humor. The format of the book will be appealing to most girls.”

Feeling like she does not fit in with the other members of her family, who are all thin, brilliant, and good-looking, fifteen-year-old Virginia tries to deal with her self-image, her physical relationship, and her disillusionment with some of the people closest to her.

Liz says:

“Virginia is funny but more importantly she’s unhappy. This is a realistic look into the life of a girl who’s got a lot of complicated stuff going. She triumphs in the end as she discovers her inner strength and sense of self. I highly recommend this!”