It’s 1890, and Enola Holmes is no longer hiding from her famous brothers Sherlock and Mycroft. She’s living at a club for working women in London, and taking clients as a finder of lost or missing persons. Her latest case is that of American publishing representative Wolcott Balestier, who has vanished on the late night streets of London while walking from the home he and his sister rent to see the newly opened and electrically lit Savoy Theater. Enola is first approached by Wolcott’s best friend and client, Rudyard Kipling, but Kipling is rude and contemptuous when he finds out the detective ..read more

Cover art by Trina Schart Hyman The fifth and final book of Cameron’s Julia Redfern series, both chronologically and as written, published in 1988 and her last novel for young readers, though she continued to write reviews and essays for a few more years. Julia is now about fifteen, in high school, and her life is full of drama, both as an actress in school, and with her friends and relatives. At home, Julia has still not really accepted her stepfather Phil, though she knows he’s a good man who her mother loves, and that causes tension. She often escapes to spend time with her elderly friend R ..read more

Cover and illustrations by Everett Stahl A sequel to Ticktock and Jim, about a boy and his western horse in middle America in the late 1940s. Jim and Ticktock have a delivery business and a strong friendship. In this book, Jim has a new neighbor, Larry, who moved from the city to the small country town of Springdale. Larry has been ill, and his grandparents think country life will help him regain his strength. Friendship with Jim and Ticktock helps, and soon the boys are on the trail of possible freight hijackers. Playing detective, the pair soon get into serious trouble when they’re caught by ..read more

Keith Robertson’s first novel for young readers, published in 1948, shows writing skill and appeal that would carry through his long career. He was particularly lucky in being paired with illustrator Wesley Dennis, best known for illustrating the books of Marguerite Henry like “Misty of Chincoteague,” out the year before this, as Dennis’s horses and people depictions are excellent. Jim Meadows is sorry to have to stay home on the farm one summer day when his parents and sister Jean go to town for ice cream, but his regret is soon turned to joy. A traveling horse trader comes by, and Jim spots ..read more

Cover art by Geoff Taylor The third book of the Dalemark quartet focuses on a family living in the riverside town of Shelling, and it’s narrated or “woven” by the younger daughter Tanaqui. The family’s mother has passed, and their father works hard to support his children, the eldest son Gull, older daughter Robin, second son Hern, and youngest son Duck. Then news comes of a war with invaders, and father and Gull are conscripted to fight. Father does not return from the war, and Gull comes back broken in mind. Somehow everyone blames Tanaqui’s family for their troubles, and when the river floo ..read more

I think my favorite long series that I worked on after SANDMAN is FABLES, and over the last few years, the band got back together to produce a new 12-issue storyline that I thought was as good as anything that came before it. That story is now out in a deluxe hardcover, which looks great. I don’t think you need to have read all the previous stories to enjoy this one, but that would deepen the experience. Retail price is $39.99, and it’s due for release on May 21, 2024. Check with your comics retailer, or you can order it on Amazon at the link. Fables Deluxe Edition Book 16 The post Incoming ..read more

This is the fourth Julia Redfern book chronologically, but the first published, in 1971. Julia’s childhood is somewhat autobiographical, the author also grew up in Berkeley, CA in the 1910s-1920s, and many characters and incidents are probably based on her own memories. Julia, her mother, and her brother Greg are living in an upstairs apartment that they love. Julia’s room is one she particularly adores. Intended as a sun room, it’s lined with windows, and has a small balcony overlooking the yard and garden. Julia has discovered a passion for writing, perhaps inherited from her deceased fathe ..read more

Perhaps feeling he had more to say on the subject, Brooks continues with the themes of the previous book, Freddy the Cowboy. Freddy’s new friend, Cy the cow pony, who taught him to ride, now gives lessons to other animals on the Bean Farm in this eighteenth book in the series. This time trouble comes from a new rich banker and his family who have moved into a neighboring farm. Mr. Margarine, his wife, and his son Billy are avid fox hunters, and while they’re no match for John, the local fox, they create havoc for the farmers, including Mr. Bean, by riding through crops and farmyards with thei ..read more

While this is a sequel to “The Shy Stegosaurus of Cricket Creek,” it has a different feel because the main viewpoint character is a Native American boy. Huck lives with his grandfather Opalo, a former medicine man of his tribe, in a lonely, run-down shack on their southwest desert reservation. Opalo prefers to live alone and keep the old ways, but age is causing him problems, and Huck is not yet strong enough to do everything needed as well as they would like. Plus, Huck now goes away to school much of the year, so must catch up on all the chores and repairs in summer. At the nearby hot sprin ..read more

I first became a fan of Cameron’s books with her Mushroom Planet series. This later series is more mature and beautifully written, as well as somewhat autobiographical. It follows the childhood of Julia Redfern and her family in Berkeley, California. Here she’s eleven, and the year is about 1920. Julia’s imagination is always working overtime, and on this year’s birthday trip to San Francisco, she imagines what it would be like if another major earthquake struck, just as they arrived. Her Uncle Hugh and Aunt Alex lived through the 1906 quake, and met at that time, so she loves to hear stories ..read more