National Network for Equitable Library Service

Henry "Hal" Courtney, son of pirate and merchant Sir Frances Courtney, was raised at sea. When Sir Francis was executed during the war between the English and the Dutch empires, his heartbroken son dedicated his life to avenging his father's name. Now, twenty years later, it is 1784 and Hal has become the captain of his own ship, the Golden Bough. But though the war is over, the final battle has not been won. Soon, Hal will learn that the more a man achieves, the more he has to lose.

In 1835, London is awash with new ingredients, but no one knows how to use them. Eliza Acton hires young Ann Kirby to help her write a cookbook. They break class boundaries while creating new ways of writing recipes.

On a sweltering day in August 1942, Frankie Washburn returns to his family's rustic Minnesota resort for one last visit before he joins the war as a bombardier. But before the homecoming can be celebrated, the search for an escaped German soldier explodes in a shocking act of violence.

In 1927, seventeen-year-old Elsie and three other teenage girls compete for the heart of a boy who will be president. But Elsie starts to wonder what would happen if the name on that future ballot was hers.

As the daughter of immigrants who came to America for a better life, Annie Inoue was raised to dream big. And at the start of seventh grade, she's channeling that hope into becoming the lead in her school play.

Though her name is synonymous with elegance and chic, the iconic Coco Chanel had a complicated dark side, and in late August 1944, she was arrested and interrogated on charges of treason to France.

It's 1959 and a new killer dubbed The Florist haunts the streets of London. The police have turned yet again to the Inquirers at Miss Brickett's for assistance, and second year Marion Lane is assigned the case.

Hannah Elias is one of the richest black women in America in the early 1900's, but an unsolved murder reveals her real identity and thousands accuse her of stealing her fortune from whites.

During the reign of Louis XV, impoverished teenage girls are sent to a villa to be trained as potential courtesans for the King. Beautiful and canny Veronique arrives at the school of mirrors and quickly becomes a favorite of the King. But when she discovers her lover's true identity, she is whisked away, sent to give birth to a daughter in secret.

After an entire young life of enslavement, twelve-year-old Homer escapes Southerland Plantation with his little sister Ada, leaving his beloved mother behind. Much as he adores her and fears for her life, Homer knows there's no turning back.