Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein

Tori's too trapped in her head, too convinced the whole world sucks, to care about Michael's overtures of friendship or the arrival at her school of an old friend, Lucas. When a mysterious blog called Solitaire starts triggering pranks at her school, Tori isn't too interested, even if strange new boy Michael Holden tries to make her be. About the only thing she cares about is her brother Charlie, who's recovering from an eating disorder. Tori Spring is a disaffected teenager: She can almost never finish a film in one sitting, she's smart but can't care about school anymore, and she dislikes her friends but is unwilling to forgo their company. This debut novel evokes a classic to present a girl searching for something true.

There’s not much plot here, but readers will relish the opportunity to climb inside Autumn’s head. Even secondary characters are well-rounded, with their own histories and motivations. Autumn’s coming-of-age is sensitively chronicled, with a wide range of experiences and events shaping her character. But on August 8, everything changes, and Autumn has to rely on all her strength to move on. In the summer after graduation, Autumn and Finny reconnect and are finally ready to be more than friends. Growing up, Autumn and Finny were like peas in a pod despite their differences: Autumn is “quirky and odd,” while Finny is “sweet and shy and everyone like him.” But in eighth grade, Autumn and Finny stop being friends due to an unexpected kiss. They drift apart and find new friends, but their friendship keeps asserting itself at parties, shared holiday gatherings and random encounters. The finely drawn characters capture readers’ attention in this debut.Īutumn and Phineas, nicknamed Finny, were born a week apart their mothers are still best friends. This robust, convincing portrait of the Elizabethan world with complex, rounded characters wraps an intriguingly plausible solution to the “lost colony” mystery inside a compelling love story of subtle thematic depth. As Manteo struggles to help the English and protect his own people, and Cate, growing into leadership, encourages the remaining colonists to reach out to the Croatoans, a powerful attraction develops between the two. Inadequately provisioned and poorly led, riven by internal discord and conflict with the native population, the colony quickly founders. Also on board is a handsome young Croatoan, Manteo, brought to England by an earlier expedition and returning home. Cate returns Ralegh’s feelings, but their dalliance is betrayed, and Cate is sentenced to sail to Roanoke Island with settlers seeking to establish a colony there.

Orphaned at 14, Lady Cate Archer is appointed maid of honor to the queen, whose favorite, Sir Walter Ralegh, becomes infatuated with her. The fate of England’s first American colony is the centerpiece of this engaging romance set during the reign of Elizabeth I.

Cate of the Lost Colony by Lisa M. Klein