The Year We Sailed the Sun

Nelson's story of fiery, stubborn Julia Delaney ("She's a biter!" somebody warns early on) is set in St. Louis in the record-breaking cold winter of 1911%E2%80%931912. After the grandmother who has been caring for Julia and her siblings dies, Julia and her older sister, Mary are sent%E2%80%94against Julia's zealous protests%E2%80%94to the House of Mercy, an orphanage run by nuns; older brother Bill goes to the local priest's News Boys Home. While focusing on Julia's determined efforts to run away and reunite with Bill, Nelson (Earthshine) believably recreates the complex, dangerous world of Irish gang wars in St. Louis into which Bill and then Julia are drawn, as well as the era's Irish-Catholic milieu ruled by nuns, priests, and police officers. An endearing and high-spirited mute orphan, a gracious and compassionate society lady, and a fancy doll all play key roles in Julia's climactic adventure during the blizzard of 1912, which leads to an ending that seems too good to be true, until readers learn in a closing note that the story is based on the life of Nelson's mother-in-law. Ages 9%E2%80%9312. (Mar.)