Hannah's Winter by Kierin Meehan. Loved it! A 12 year old girl from Australia ends up spending the winter in Japan with friends of her mother. She and her friends turn out to be part of an "old story" that belongs to Kai, an 8 year old boy who died during the Edo period. I loved the imagery, the culture, the Japanese words scattered here and there. Such a fun story/adventure. Loved it. And, while finding this picture I found a great site www.commonsensemedia.org where they have great reviews. Feeling super lucky right now. :)

The Reluctant Heiress by Eva Ibbotson. We all know I love Eva Ibbotson's books. This used to be called Magic Flutes, a name that suites it very well. Like all of her books it includes opera, art, music... it is fun for me to imagine that life. It is set in Vienna after WWI when the city is barely recovering. The main character is a Princess that loves art and hides her identity to "work" for a sinking opera company (she works, but they don't pay her). There is plenty of beautiful homes and clothes and a snobby English lady... and I am always a sucker for happy endings. :)