• Booklist Reviews : Booklist Reviews 2020 May #2
  *Starred Review* Darleen Darling's beloved papa has always told her to keep her feet on the ground. It's a task that's easier said than done, as 12-year-old Darleen spends most of her time dangling off cliffs, escaping villains, and performing other daring stunts that befit a 1914 silent-movie star. But she's determined to do as her father asks so she doesn't break his heart, like her adventurous movie-star mother did when she died of a lung disease. So Darleen's a little uncertain when her manager-uncles plan a fake kidnapping to drum up some publicity . . . and even more uncertain when their plans go awry and she ends up being actually kidnapped, alongside heiress Victorine Berryman. But though her stunts in the movies may be all smoke and mirrors, Darleen is far from helpless, and she soon learns that Victorine is a steadfast and able companion. As the two plan their escape, they find themselves caught up in dastardly plots, embarking on incredible adventures, and consorting with some truly remarkable people, including pioneer filmmaker Madame Alice Guy Blaché. Nesbet's (The Orphan Band of Springdale, 2018) deftly researched historical novel, set against a seldom-featured backdrop, has a comforting, old-fashioned feel. Spunky Darleen's story is buoyed by lively prose and crisp characterizations, and readers will be thrilled to join the adventure. Grades 4-7. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.

Anne Nesbet is the author of the historical middle-grade novels Cloud and Wallfish and The Orphan Band of Springdale, as well as three fantasy novels for middle-graders. Her books have received numerous accolades, including multiple starred reviews and appearances on many best book and notables lists. A professor at the University of California, Berkeley, Anne Nesbet lives with her family in the San Francisco Bay Area.