Most Popular Books by Caroline Starr Rose

In this riveting coming-of-age survival story in verse perfect for fans of Alan Gratz, a fire lookout-in-training must find her courage when a wildfire breaks out on her watch. Twelve-year-old Opal has a secret: she’s deathly afraid of fire. Still Opal is preparing to become a fourth-generation lookout on Wolf Mountain, deep in the New Mexico wilderness. She, Mom, and Gran live at ten thousand feet in a single room at the top of a fire tower. They are responsible for spotting any hint of smoke before it becomes an uncontrollable blaze. Instead of training for the lonely life of a lookout, Opal wishes she could be starting seventh grade in Silver City, attending real classes with kids her own age and even going to afterschool clubs like FFA. But Wolf Mountain has other ideas. When Mom makes the long trek to town for supplies and Gran goes missing, Opal is the only one to spot a tell-tale spiral of smoke moving up the mountainside. She’ll have to be braver than she’s ever been as she heads into the woods, beyond Wolf Ridge’s old blackened burn scar, to face down a fire on her own. But when a fire is what took her father away, and Opal herself knows the sting of smoke and lick of flames, how can she be brave enough when it really counts?

"If May is a brave, stubborn fighter, the short, free-verse lines are one-two punches in this Laura Ingalls Wilder-inspired ode to the human spirit." — Kirkus Reviews, Starred I''ve known it since last night: It''s been too long to expect them to return. Something''s happened. May is helping out on a neighbor''s Kansas prairie homestead—just until Christmas, says Pa. She wants to contribute, but it''s hard to be separated from her family by 15 long, unfamiliar miles. Then the unthinkable happens: May is abandoned. Trapped in a tiny snow-covered sod house, isolated from family and neighbors, May must prepare for the oncoming winter. While fighting to survive, May''s memories of her struggles with reading at school come back to haunt her. But she''s determined to find her way home again. Caroline Starr Rose''s fast-paced novel, written in beautiful and riveting verse, gives readers a strong new heroine to love.

A traveling medicine show promises to cure all, but two kids learn it takes more than faith in the miraculous to fix things that are broken. Thirteen-year-old Jack knows what cured his baby sister when his family thought she might never get well—Dr. Kingsbury’s “Miraculous Tonic.” Guaranteed to relieve maladies known to man or beast, Dr. Kingsbury’s potion can cure everything from pimples to hearing loss to a broken heart, and Jack himself is a witness to the miraculous results and the doctor’s kindness. When he had no money, the doctor didn’t turn him away but gave him the tonic for free along with a job—to travel with him from city to city selling his cure-all elixir. When Dr. Kingsbury and Jack arrive in Oakdale, the town at first feels like any other they’ve been to. But it’s clear Oakdale is a town with secrets, and its citizens are slow to trust strangers. Then Jack meets Cora, and a friendship neither expected starts to bloom. Together they uncover something else they didn’t expect—not only secrets about the town but also Dr. Kingsbury. As they race to discover the truth, they’ll have to decide who and what to believe before it’s too late.

According to legend, Will Cody (later known as America’s greatest showman, Buffalo Bill) rode for the Pony Express at the age of fourteen. His most famous ride, recounted in this lyrical verse story, covered 322 miles, required 21 horses, and took over 21 hours to complete.

"As tensions rise between the English settlers and the Native peoples on Roanoke Island, twelve-year-old Alis forms an impossible friendship with a native girl named Kimi"--

Hoping to strike it rich, two brothers escape an abusive father and set out on a treacherous journey to Alaska during the Klondike Gold Rush. Desperate to get away from their drunkard of a father, eleven-year-old Jasper and his older brother Melvin often talk of running away, of heading north to Alaska to chase riches beyond their wildest dreams. The Klondike Gold Rush is calling, and Melvin has finally decided the time to go is now—even if that means leaving Jasper behind. But Jasper has other plans, and follows his brother aboard a steamer as a stowaway. Onboard the ship, Jasper overhears a rumor about One-Eyed Riley, an old coot who''s long since gone, but is said to have left clues to the location of his stake, which still has plenty of gold left. The first person to unravel the clues and find the mine can stake the claim and become filthy rich. Jasper is quick to catch gold fever and knows he and Melvin can find the mine—all they have to do is survive the rough Alaskan terrain, along with the steep competition from the unscrupulous and dangerous people they encounter along the way. In an endearing, funny, pitch-perfect middle grade voice, Caroline Starr Rose tells another stellar historical adventure young readers will long remember.

Best Picture Books of 2019, The Christian Science Monitor A Mighty Girl''s 2019 Books of the Year Kirkus Reviews'' Best Indie Picture Books of 2020 The true story of two women who raced against time—and each other! In 1889, New York reporter Nellie Bly—inspired by Jules Verne''s Around the World in 80 Days—began a circumnavigation she hoped to complete in less time. Her trip was sponsored by her employer, The World. Just hours after her ship set out across the Atlantic, another New York publication put writer Elizabeth Bisland on a westbound train. Bisland was headed around the world in the opposite direction, thinking she could beat Bly''s time. Only one woman could win the race, but both completed their journeys in record time.

Publishing in time for the tenth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, here is a beautiful read-aloud about animal families preparing for an impending storm in their bayou habitat. Journey to the Louisiana wetlands and watch as all the animals of the bayou experience one of nature’s most dramatic and awe-inspiring events: a hurricane. The animals prepare—swimming for safer seas, finding cover in dens, and nestling their young close to protect them. During the height of the storm, even the trees react, cracking and moaning in the wind. At last, the hurricane yawns and rests, and animals come out to explore their world anew.

"A tale of courage, commitment and the transformative power of stories, Books Up the Mountain: A Packhorse Librarian Story is a compelling tribute to the brave women who served the people of the Appalachian mountains during the Great Depression. Before the birds begin to sing or the sun makes plans to rise, Book Woman mounts her surefooted mule to traverse the rugged Appalachian terrain and deliver books to isolated mountain readers. She carries something for everyone--books and pamphlets, magazines, and scrapbooks. Old and young eagerly await her visit. Blowing blizzards, swelling streams and slippery slopes can''t keep the faithful Book Woman from her route. She knows she carries more than just books--she bears words to bring the world to readers in these mountains. Historical fiction written by Caroline Starr Rose and illustrated by Gabrielle Grimard, this picture book will capture young readers with its lyrical text, substantial back matter, and gorgeous illustrations. She carries something for everyone--books and pamphlets, magazines and scrapbooks. Old and young eagerly await her visit. Blowing blizzards, swelling streams and slippery slopes can''t keep the faithful Book Woman from her route. She knows she carries more than just books--she bears words to bring the world to readers in these mountains. "