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The life of a slave is one of unimaginable hardship, humiliation, and fear. Zarite was born a slave on the island of Saint-Domingue (now Haiti). Her life is spent taking care of her master’s wife and as his forced concubine. When a violent revolution occurs, Zarite is able to help her master and his children escape and in exchange she demands her freedom. They travel to the New World and settle in New Orleans. While there Zarite continues to work toward gaining her freedom and freedom for her daughter. Filled with historical information, Island Beneath the Sea is a fascinating look at one woman’s fight for freedom.

Reviewed by Jessica B., University City Regional

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Rachel Weinstein wants to be popular. Going to the best parties and hanging out with the "A-List" is her dream. So when Rachel finds out her little sister Miri is a witch, she thinks there must be a spell that could help her! Rachel really wishes she was the witch! On the other hand, Miri is unsure about using her magical powers; that is, until she can't take her future step-mother anymore! Miri decides (with a little help from Rachel of course) that casting a spell to stop their father from marrying Jennifer is worth practicing magic. What could it hurt? Bras and Broomsticks is a riot as Rachel and Miri navigate the world of magic and discover that maybe magic isn't the answer after all.

Reviewed by Carrie M., Myers Park Branch

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Zara and her friends knew their solution to the pixie problem wasn’t permanent. They just didn’t realize the problems it would cause. When they keep discovering new pixies in town, they capture them and put them in the pixie house. That is until Zara sees one tied and bleeding and decides to save him. Now she is turning blue whenever he is around. What can Zara and her friends do now? They can’t hold off all the pixies of the world, especially the new kings in town. Who knew there were so many of them? Where did they come from? Maybe this new somewhat friendly pixie can tell her, after all, she did save his life and he has warned her of new problems.

Reviewed by Linda K., North County Regional

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When Sophie saw the strange men in heavy coats enter the bookstore where her twin brother Josh worked, she didn’t realize what kind of trouble it would get them into. Who knew the nice little old man, Nick and his wife, Perry could do magic? Josh and Sophie didn’t even believe in magic. Well, not until now. They had just seen books fly and creatures made of mud. Nick ran with them when Perry got captured. He explained some of the danger they were now in from Dr. John Dee. Nick thinks they are the twins of destiny because they helped him fight off his attackers. Is he right? Are they the twins written about in the Book of Abraham the Mage?

Reviewed by Linda K., North County Regional

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Stephanie is about to put all of her bounty hunter skills to work. She needs to find Vinnie, her cousin who owns the Bail Bonds office where she works. It seems Vinnie has scammed the wrong person. Now Stephanie, Lulu and Connie must pull all of their resources to find Vinnie and raise the money to pay back Bobby Sunflower. Finding Vinnie isn’t as hard to do; keeping him out of trouble is another problem. To raise the money needed, the girls decide to have a yard sale! Through it all, Stephanie will rely on her wits, her friends and her lucky bottle.

Reviewed by Angela A., Cornelius Branch

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