"New York City middle-schooler Val teams up with a strange boy who lives in an even stranger bookshop to save her best friend who has lost her way in this story about universal friendship"--

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the bestselling author of Before We Were Yours comes a dramatic historical novel of three young women searching for family amid the destruction of the post–Civil War South, and of a modern-day teacher who learns of their story and its vital connection to her students’ lives. “An absorbing historical . . . enthralling.”—Library Journal Bestselling author Lisa Wingate brings to life startling stories from actual “Lost Friends” advertisements that appeared in Southern newspapers after the Civil War, as newly freed slaves desperately searched for loved ones who had been sold away. Louisiana, 1875: In the tumultuous era of Reconstruction, three young women set off as unwilling companions on a perilous quest: Hannie, a freed slave; Lavinia, the pampered heir to a now destitute plantation; and Juneau Jane, Lavinia’s Creole half sister. Each carries private wounds and powerful secrets as they head for Texas, following roads rife with vigilantes and soldiers still fighting a war lost a decade before. For Lavinia and Juneau Jane, the journey is one of stolen inheritance and financial desperation, but for Hannie, torn from her mother and siblings before slavery’s end, the pilgrimage west reignites an agonizing question: Could her long-lost family still be out there? Beyond the swamps lie the limitless frontiers of Texas and, improbably, hope. Louisiana, 1987: For first-year teacher Benedetta Silva, a subsidized job at a poor rural school seems like the ticket to canceling her hefty student debt—until she lands in a tiny, out-of-step Mississippi River town. Augustine, Louisiana, is suspicious of new ideas and new people, and Benny can scarcely comprehend the lives of her poverty-stricken students. But amid the gnarled live oaks and run-down plantation homes lie the century-old history of three young women, a long-ago journey, and a hidden book that could change everything.

"Frederick the Great and His Family: A Historical Novel Book IV" by Luise Muhlbach is a captivating portrayal of 18th-century Europe, offering readers a glimpse into the inner workings of Prussian royalty. Muhlbach, a master of historical fiction, delves into the complexities of Frederick the Great's reign, exploring not only his military strategies and political maneuvers but also the intricate dynamics within his royal family. Set against the backdrop of German history and the Enlightenment era, Muhlbach weaves a tale of court intrigue and European politics, where power struggles and alliances shape the destiny of nations. Through meticulous research and expert storytelling, she brings to life the nobility and their role in shaping the course of history. At the heart of the narrative are the family dynamics of Frederick the Great's household, where personal relationships intertwine with matters of state. Muhlbach skillfully navigates through the complexities of monarchy, revealing the human side of rulers often obscured by their public personas. "Frederick the Great and His Family" stands as a testament to Muhlbach's literary prowess, offering readers a compelling blend of historical accuracy and engaging storytelling in this remarkable work of historical fiction.