A family of dolls and their dollhouse is purchased by a man who packs them up and sends them by ship to his niece. However, the ship wrecks in a storm, and the dolls and the dollhouse are washed onto an island and are separated from each other. The family goes through charming trials to reunite, including dealing with some friendly and unfriendly animals. A well done adventure story on par with The Voyages of Doctor Dolittle.

A collection of fourteen connected stories about the Gubbaun Saor, a mythic figure in Irish culture, who is the titular “wonder smith,” being able to quickly build amazing buildings and sculptures. This was a quick read, but the legendary world filled with magical creatures and the story logic of mythology was more engaging than I had expected.

Molly is a 12-year-old girl who lives with her family on a farm in colonial Pennsylvania. The family is taken captive by a group of Seneca warriors, forced to march quickly over a long distance away from their home, and is eventually separated, as Molly is adopted by a Seneca family. Based on a true story, Indian Captive has an odd narrative arc that not pleasant to read.

Minli is a young girl who lives near Fruitless Mountain with her parents. Her mother wishes the family had more money, while her father loves to tell stories, including ones about the Old Man of the Moon. Minli decides to leave her village to find the Old Man and ask him how to change her family’s fortune, and has adventures along the way. The book is interspersed with short folk tales that are related to each other and eventually with the main narrative. A fun book that straddles the line between fantasy and mythology.