Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy by Karen Abbott

Liar, Temptress, Soldier, Spy: Four Women Undercover in the Civil War, by Karen Abbott

Liar Temptress Soldier Spy follows the involvement of 4 women, 2 confederates and 2 unionists through their daring secrets and bold assertiveness during the Civil War. The title conveys an interesting mix of adjectives and all four women at some point portray each title. 

Abbott opened my eyes to the Civil War. Quickly I became aware of how simultaneously ignorant I was in regards to this American Historical landmark, and fascinated. Similar to The Devil in the White City, everything within quotations comes from original sources, be they letters, journals or court briefings. She does an excellent job portraying that women are capable even when their society tells them they aren't, without being annoyingly feminist. Abbott successfully corrals the sensitive topic of womanhood and declares to the world that females have roles to play. 

Tuck Everlasting, by Natalie Babbit

Tuck Everlasting, Natalie Babbit






Winnie Foster's childhood is suffocating her. Button up boots, tight lace dresses, and the stifling heat of summer makes her yearn for something more. Even just exploring beyond the iron gate enclosing everything she's ever known into a neat little square would suffice. Tampering with the idea of running away, she accidentally finds herself a victim of kidnapping. Her kidnappers, however, don't frighten her; they fascinate her and teach her lessons on life that she will not soon forget.

Tuck Everlasting explores ideas on what it means to actually live. Not merely to be alive, not merely to not have died, but to live. Natalie Babbit's writing style drips with sophistication that will entertain advanced readers, but tells a story that will captivate young audiences as well. Readers will juggle moral dilemmas around in their heads they haven't previously considered and view life through a different lens after having read Tuck Everlasting.