Blue Birds

In this historical novel about the lost colony of Roanoke, set in 1587 and written in free verse, Rose (May B.) weaves two distinct, culturally diverse voices while tracing the developing friendship between Alis, a 12-year-old English settler, and a native girl named Kimi. The narrative immediately establishes a sense of urgency and danger when Alis and her fellow colonists arrive in Roanoke (not their intended destination), where they discover the previous settlers have disappeared; further tension arises as Kimi reflects on the brutality her Roanoke tribe has already suffered at the hands of the British. Rose skillfully paints the abject loneliness that primes both girls for friendship: Alis is the only girl in the settlement, and Kimi’s father was beheaded by colonists, who also brought the disease that killed her sister. Though the poems generally alternate between the girls’ voices, Rose occasionally combines both perspectives into a single poem to powerful effect. An afterword offers more information about the mystery of Roanoke. Rich with detail, it’s a memorable account of a friendship that transcends culture and prejudice. Ages 10–up. Agent: Tracey Adams, Adams Literary. (Mar.)