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"A heart-pounding historical adventure." — Lindsay Currie "Jamie is a character you can root for." — McCall Hoyle In the aftermath of WWII, a young boy is sent to Switzerland to recover from the physical trauma of the war, but he’ll need all his strength to survive the Alpine wilderness. Inspired by true events, this middle-grade novel by USA TODAY bestselling author Jenni L. Walsh is a heart-pounding historical adventure filled with courage, friendship, and growing confidence. It’s 1948, and eleven-year-old Jamie has lived through the air raids and destruction that the Nazis caused throughout Britain. But while the Allies may have won the war, Jamie’s battle is still ongoing: because of the air pollution from the bombings, he has trouble breathing. So when the Red Cross sends him on a three-month health holiday in Switzerland, Jamie hopes the fresh mountain air will cure him, even if he’s terrified to leave everything he’s ever known. On his journey, Jamie discovers a new lifeline—a mysterious ball that answers his questions. Will I like my host family? It is decidedly so. Am I going to be okay? Ask again later. He does end up liking his host family, especially the twins Trudi and Fritz, who love to explore the woods beyond their house. Trudi and Fritz are determined to find a Wilde Frau—a mythical female spirit who legend says will grant your wishes if you help her. Maybe she’d even be able to fix Jamie’s lungs. But when the twins venture on without Jamie one day and don’t return, Jamie must gather what little strength he has and go out after them. But the Alpine mountains are treacherous, even for healthy climbers. Will Jamie and his new friends survive the journey? (Add to Goodreads) Synopsis: Sonora Webster is penniless young woman but plucky, and despite the looming Great Depression, she follows her wanderlust, answering an advert to dive with horses. Little does she know that she is about to be thrust into a world teeming with danger, excitement, and fierce competition.
As Sonora delves into the cutthroat world of show business, complete with trapeze aerial acts and juggling bears, her undeniable talent and unwavering dedication propel her into the limelight, making her a sensation, and after marrying the show runner, her entire life becomes their act and their horses. But she soon learns that a diver (and her horse) are only as good as their last show, a show some are hellbent on shutting down. When a tragic accident changes her life forever, can Sonora muster the courage to climb the forty-five-foot tower and dive again, risking her life to save the show and their horses from falling into the wrong hands? Critique: An original and deftly crafted novel that is based on and inspired by the true story of one of the first women to dive horses as part of an entertainment act, "Sonora" is raised to an impressive level of literary excellence by the effectively engaging storytelling style of author Jenni L. Walsh. With an admirable attention to historical detail, "Sonora" is an especially and unreservedly recommended pick for community library General Fiction collections. It should be noted for personal reading lists that this paperback edition of "Sonora" from Harper Muse is also readily available in a digital book format (Kindle, $9.99). As seen in the November 2025 issue of Midwest Book Review. Issue: October 1, 2025
Sonora. By Jenni L. Walsh Oct. 2025. 400p. Harper Muse, paper, $18.99 (9781400246779) Based on the real-life, death-defying Carver Diving Horses show, Walsh's latest (after Ace, Marvel, Spy, 2025) delivers the excitement, grit, and determination of Sonora Carver and her horse-diving career. During the Great Depression, Sonora answers a newspaper ad and pursues adventure in show business. Leaning in to her love of horses and skills at diving, Sonora trains to become the face of the Carver family’s horse-diving act. Marrying into the family, she is consumed by the show, and when tragedy strikes, she knows the show must go on. Using her keen senses, she delivers a spectacular show that runs for years. Fans who were introduced to Sonora's story in the 1991 film Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken will be pleased to find more detail here, based on Sonora’s own memoir. The novel delves into the Carver family dynamic, the risks of the sport, the family's battle with the SPCA., and the role that women played in the rise of carnival acts. Sonora’s story is about not giving up in the face of setbacks. An inspirational tale. — Emily Borsa by Jenni L. Walsh | Read by Piper GoodeveFiction • 10.25 hrs. • Unabridged • © 2025
Piper Goodeve gives an enthusiastic narration of a novel inspired by the true story of one of the first female horse divers. After answering an ad for a girl who loves horses who can dive and swim, Sonora Webster becomes absorbed in the carnival world of early-twentieth-century America. Harsh instruction for Sonora, gentle training of the horses, and the thrilling moments before and after diving create breathtaking episodes. Goodeve develops a feisty, caring young woman who meets every challenge with clear-eyed commitment. Balancing objectivity and emotion, Goodeve depicts each family member who becomes dear to Sonora. Also well depicted are the horse dives, which are fraught with danger. Close family relationships outweigh business rivalries and, even as tragedy strikes, dedication and love prove strongest. Exciting, heartwarming listening. S.J.H. © AudioFile 2025, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2025] Trade Ed. • Harper Audio • 2025 DD ISBN 9781400246793 $25.19 Gr 4-6–Walsh’s latest novel is an exciting middle grade caper with a unique twist: the adventure centers a potential bug heist. Liberty Jacobs is a young bug enthusiast who lives above her family’s insectarium in Philadelphia. Her love for bugs doesn’t exactly translate into her being the most popular girl in school, and her best—and only—friend has just moved away. The insectarium she loves is also facing financial woes. Still, Liberty remains hopeful about her role in the museum’s next chapter. When an unlikely friend arrives at the insectarium to help freshen up the space for possible investors, the adventure begins. Together, Liberty, her best friend (via FaceTime), and her new friend uncover a plan to rob the insectarium that is set to take place after closing time. The trio works together to figure out who would want to steal their insects. Inspired by the booby traps from the classic movie Home Alone, the trio hatch a plan to catch the crooks. Full of friendship, bug facts, adventure, and fun, this middle grade tale is also based on actual events. The mix of facts and fun will be sure to stick with readers for time to come.
VERDICT A buggy adventure with high jinks and teamwork galore, recommended for middle grade fiction collections.–Kelly Costanza Author of UNSINKABLE Jenni L. Walsh's THE GATSBY GIRLS DO MURDER, a locked-room mystery, pitched as in the vein of KNIVES OUT and CLUE, featuring the real-life socialites from 1920s Chicago who inspired THE GREAT GATSBY's Daisy Buchanan and Jordan Baker, to Jessica Tribble Wells at Thomas & Mercer, in a pre-empt, for publication in June 2026, by Shannon Hassan at Marsal Lyon Literary Agency (world).
Operation; Happy was chosen as a 2025 Children's Book Council Teacher's Favorites Winner!
The Bug Bandits is Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection!
 “Kids join forces to protect the denizens of Philadelphia’s Walnut Street Insectarium from thieves and financial ruin…The trio draws inspiration from Home Alone, and the story offers plenty of suspects to consider…The young crime stoppers’ escapades will hold readers’ interest.” Full review in April 1st edition of Kirkus Reviews |
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