Summer MacCleary: Virginia, 1749 (American Diaries)

From School Library Journal Grade 4-6-While working as an indentured servant for a wealthy Virginia family, 13-year-old Summer is accused by her master's daughter of stealing a ring. Summer must clear her name and recover the valuable item before her master decides to sell her to another family. The story works as a simple mystery but lacks depth and exploration of characters and motivations behind the theft. There are actually two mysteries going on: the disappearance of the ring and of Summer's precious journal. The protagonist has redeeming qualities of strength and courage, while the secondary players are weak, one-dimensional caricatures. One exception is Paris, a slave who takes an interest in Summer. The story's success lies in Duey's ability to capture the lives of an indentured servant and plantation slave, describing the hardships and turmoil. Readers may become confused by the large number of minor characters and grow exasperated at the lengthiness of plot development, but once the mystery is solved, they will be satisfied. Shortcomings aside, this is a good novel, complete with the usual twists and suspects common to the genre.