Sapphire Blue

Gr 7–11—In this volume, Gwyneth Shepherd, 16, is trying to reconcile her role as the Ruby, the final member in the Circle of Twelve, a secret time-travel society, with being a normal London teen. Complicating matters are her feelings for handsome Gideon de Villiers, a fellow time traveler who gives Gwyneth mixed signals (he wavers between kissing her and ignoring her), and the secrecy surrounding the Circle, whose distrust of Gwyneth is both unfair and frustrating. And yet, through it all, Gwyneth is adaptable and engaging. As she makes secret trips through time to conspire with her much younger (and living) grandfather or asks a delightful gargoyle ghost to spy for her, Gwyneth uses her intuition and ingenuity to circumvent the Guardians, the controllers of time travel. After all, they're supposed to be looking out for her, but their intentions are murky at best. As Gideon points out to Gwyneth, their lives are dictated by their supernatural genes; they will never be free from the confines of their birth, forced to stay local, so as not to be in constant danger. Hilarious and delightful, this latest entry explores new mysteries and raises new questions-just don't expect any answers yet. A great recommendation for readers looking for adventure, romance, and historical trivia.—Kimberly Garnick Giarratano, Rockaway Township Public Library, NJ