The Romeo and Juliet Code by Phoebe Stone.
Arthur A. Levine Books/Scholastic: NY, 2011.

The title hides a serious historical fiction, mystery. Felicity/Flissy, an English girl, is dropped off in Maine by her parents in 1941. It isn't safe for her to live in England with the war on. Her parents leave, and no one is giving her any information about them as the days drag on, especially not her goofy uncle Gideon. Gideon receives letters that she knows are from her dad, but he isn't sharing the information. She's got to find out what's in them, why they haven't contacted her.

The move takes a bit of adjusting. The house is an old captain's home on a cliff, wind whipping around it in a spooky way. The Gram, Auntie Miami, and Gideon are quirky and secretive. One of the biggest secrets being the Captain Derek who doesn't come out of his room. Flissy writes a note of introduction and pushes it under the door. It is received, and the favor is returned. Before long, Flissy is allowed to meet Captain Derek, who is not what she expects at all. She enlists his help with getting the letters, which it turns out are in code, generating another string of questions.

Flissy shakes up the household, and one by one she pushes the members to deal with the challenges they'd like to avoid. They in turn offer her a loving home with plenty to explore. There is a fair amount of sneaking around to uncover the secrets and a bit of boisterousness.

The pace moves at a fast clip trying to keep up with Flissy's antics. There is intertwining of many secrets and twists making for a packed story. The Bathburn clan of Maine is a lively bunch. The relationships forming are delightful. Everything is not resolved at the end, but at least Flissy learns enough to belong.

related-identity, World War I, 1940s, 20th century, United States history, Maine, families, ciphers, performing arts, theater, music
RL=4th-7th

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December 2011 - The Chronicles of Harris Burdick by 14 authors
November 2011 - Yoga of the Heart by Alice Christensen
October 2011 - Inside the Walls of Troy by Clemence McLaren
September 2011 - Heart of a Samurai by by Margi Preus
August 2011 - The Goldsmith's Daughter by by Tanya Landman
July 2011 - Okay for Now by Gary D. Schmidt
June 2011 - A Long Walk to Water by Linda Sue Park
May 2011 - Mindblind by Jennifer Roy
April 2011 - The Heart of a Chief by Joseph Bruchac
March 2011 - Behemoth by Scott Westerfeld. il Keith Thompson
February 2011 - The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman
January 2011 - The Danger Box by Blue Balliett
December 2010 - The Cardturner by Louis Sachar
November 2010 - The Dreamer by Pam Muñoz Ryan
October 2010 - Dreamhunter by Elizabeth Knox
September 2010 - The Water Seeker by Kimberly Willis Holt
August 2010 - Eli the Good by Silas House
July 2010 - The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate by Jacqueline Kelly
June 2010 - When You Reach Me by Rebecca Stead
May 2010 - The Smile by Donna Jo Napoli
April 2010 - Eva by Peter Dickinson
March 2010 - Elantris by Brandon Sanderson
February 2010 - Fire: Tales of Elemental Spirits by Robin McKinley and Peter Dickinson
January 2010 - Firebirds Soaring ed by Sharyn November
December 2009 - Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld. il Keith Thompson
November 2009 - City of Fire by Laurence Yep
October 2009 - Steinbeck's Ghost by Lewis Buzbee
September 2009 - Flygirl by Sherri L. Smith
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May 2009 - Starclimber by Kenneth Oppel
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February 2009 - The Westing Game by Ellen Raskin
January 2009 - The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary E. Pearson
December 2008 - Something Rotten by Alan Gratz
November 2008 - Paint the Wind by Pam Munoz Ryan
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January 2008 - Firebirds Rising ed by Sharyn November
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March 2007 - A Bone From A Dry Sea by Peter Dickinson
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January 2007 - Chasing Vermeer by Blue Balliett
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