Now the other series American Girl spun off was the Girls from Many lands series for older middle schoolers tackling historical periods from eight different lands and more intense in some senses. What I mean is that half of the series tackles serious topics like court intrigue, colonization and genocide. The other half is more typical coming of age adventures with cross-dressing as a boy to gain some independence or winning Irish dancing contests. So it feels a bit uneven. Noentheless, it’s an underrated series that delivers

1. Layla: The Black Tulip: Leyla has much to learn when she is sold into the Emperor’s harem far away in the Topkapei Paace. Don’t worry, she may be 12 but she’s chosen more as a maid and companion than anything disgusting. A good thing too because Leyla’s interest in botony is an asset in the Tulip fever spreading through Europe and Turkey. This one got number one because the imagery is lush, the culture intricately meaningful yet open to different relationships for Leyla to cultivate in her lonely position.
2. Saba: Under the Hyena’s Foot: Saba is an ordinary village girl or so she thought when she and her brother are kidnapped and taken the royal court of Gondor. All too quickly, she realizes why her grandmother kept her close to their hut. It wasn’t the wild hyenas she was protecting them from but the court hyenas who are in a fierce battle for control of Emperor Yohannes III’s throne and are willing to do whatever it takes to eliminate the extra competition Saba represents. I love a good court intrigue novel and this infused with Ethiopa’s mythology and history adds to its richness.
3. Neela: Victory Song: This thrilling novel has Neela taking a thousand mile journey from her rural village to the capital, New Dehli to rescue her father who’s been imprisoned for fighting against British colonial rule. The book is uplifting yet immersive in showing the different aspects of Indian life at the edge of independence.
4. Cecile: Gates of Gold: Cecile is the daughter of a disgraced royal doctor yet she is content with her simple life. Until a chance rescue has her swept away with the once in a lifetime chance to live in the Palace of the Sun King-Versailles! But her father’s mysterious past has guaranteed her a fair share of enemies. Cecile is trying to fit in but a choice has her at the crossroads between a life of luxary and saving a life.
5. Spring Pearl: The Last Flower: Taking place during the Opium War in China, Spring Pearl’s stay at her wealthy benefactor’s home turns into a dangerous escape when the Western troops and Boxers take to the streets. A nice mix of adventure and coming of age, it gets fifth place because Yep uses similar scenes to his Royal Diaries book that it feels like a copy and paste.
6. Minuk: Ashes in the Pathway: This is a very good book from a Inuit author on an Inuit girl’s, Minuk, first contact with Christian missionaries who attempt to colonize and civilize her tribe. It’s near the bottom because if you know anything about indigenous history, it gets worse from there. The book doesn’t shy away from the harm that will befall the community and the subsequent diasphora. It gets a bottom spot because it’s just sad in its realism.
7. Kathleen: The Celtic Knot: Kathleen is living during tough times in Ireland. Not the ‘Troubles exactly but money is tight with Kathleen’s da out of work. So no money for Irish dancing lessons even though Kathleen is sure it is the path that will lead her to sucess. It’s a feel-good story centering aorund family and following your dreams. But like I said, feels less meaningful compared to the other topics the series covers.
8. Isabel: Taking Wing: Isabel is sent to live with her forboding aunt after her father dies from the Black Plague sweeping over England. But Isabel is unwilling to live under her aunt’s staid lifestyle and fakes her own kidnapping to run away with a traveling troupe of actors. And none know she’s a female! While it fits the middle grade fare, it is a common plot and doesn’t bring anything new besides the historical setting.