Crown Phoenix

Lizzie and her sister are forced to work in a huge manor and on a steamship to support their family. They are caught up in several mysteries: The squire's oldest son cannot leave the attic An old typewriter seems to move time and space A passenger hides in a secret room A beautiful visitor is plotting against them And Lizzie discovers that she has a strange, new ability. She and her sister must discover the secrets of The Lamplighter's Special before their enemy catches up with them. "DeLuca writes in an enjoyable faux-Victorian voice, capturing the 'prim and proper' spirit of the times while simultaneously subtly critiquing conventions (for example, the Marchpane's treatment of Mana, a black governess). Mostly, the style gives the novel both a lightness of touch and, when the voice is at its strongest, an authenticity."