Daria Solves A Mystery

“Tell me, Daria, what would you have us do while Papa is away?”

Daria took a deep breath. “I was…” she hadn’t planned to tell anyone her own idea, but Jenny had asked. “I sorta thought about quitting school and going to work.”

Jenny put her arm around Daria’s shoulders. “Mama is being strong and courageous. Can we do any less?”

Unable to speak Daria stood and quickly left the room. Jenny was right. But how Daria hated this terrible war!

Book: Daria Solves a Mystery: The Civil War in Ohio (1862) (Sisters in Time #12) by Norma Jean Lutz, Barbour Publishers, 2004

Genre: Historical Fiction

Target Audience: Girls 9-15

Subjects: Civil War, Trust, Friendship, Betray, Family Relationships, Hope

Summary: This horrid war is messing up everything! First it took Jenny’s husband, then it took Daria’s friend and now even her dad is off working as a physician! And in the meantime, those at home have to work extra hard since their men are no longer providing an income for their families. Daria’s mother decides to turn their home into a boarding house to bring in the money they need. All the extra chores this means for Daria would be bad enough, but having boarders that are cranky and complain about everything makes it even worse. She thinks things are getting better when Corporal Harnden comes to board at their home. He helps Andrew with his reading, he encourages and helps the family and he keeps the other boarders from complaining too much. But then Daria catches him in a lie and discovers a terrible secret. Maybe things are worse than she thought!

Notes: Daria Solves A Mystery is the twelfth in the Sisters-In-Time series. This series features young girls living at various key points in American history, particularly around the wars. It always places the girls right at the edge of the teen years, coming of age.  The concept of the series it to not only show a glimpse of history, but to help young girls feel that the people back then weren’t that different than the people today.

Daria Solves A Mystery takes place in 1862 and focuses on the historical event of the Civil War. Daria is an adventurous young girl, keeping up with her twin brother and friend as they play baseball or spy on the soldiers. When her loved ones start going off to fight in the war her life moves from simple childhood adventures to truly working to help support her family. She also deals with the issue of not knowing who to trust when someone who seemed to be a very good friend turns out to be a spy for the enemy. She has to learn how to not let hate fill her heart as she gets upset at the betrayal.

Spiritual Content Recommendation Scale: 5/5

Reviewer: J:-)mi

Ephesians 4:31 – Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.