A whimsical little book that winds slowly, and enjoyably, forward much like a riverboat. Much better than her first book, this is a fun little jaunt that ends up in a humorous and surprising place, but not too surprising. It's like turning a gray page to find a sunset behind it. ( )

I picked this up because I was looking for a YA book with a strong female character. The store clerk steered me the right way. It's a darling book, kept me up late to finish it. Megan, the hero of the story, has just the right mixture of confidence and self doubt to be lovable. Plus, I love historical novels, especially ones that take place in the Midwest -- most of the action of this one happens on a riverboat traveling up the Mississippi between Missouri and Minnesota. ( )

I came across this book by accident and was intrigued by the sketched floor plans of the steamboat in the front of the book. The steamboat is compact while still offering the small family everything they need for a happy life. The character of Megan is very refreshing and you can't help to cheer for her through the book. It was very interesting to read the newspaper articles that followed Megan's adventures. Nothing objectionable in the book, just a wonderful story with memorable characters. I would place it in the same annuals of The Little House books. ( )

It is 1896, and teenager Megan Bartlett travels from her family farm in Nebraska to join her sister on her Mississippi River boat for the summer. Megan's adventures help her grow up and clarify her dream of becoming a photographer. ( )