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Katharine Tulman is used to doing her snooty aunt's dirty work—literally and figuratively.  Without Aunt Alice's charity, the 17-year-old would be on the streets, so she keeps her head down and does what has to be done, whether it's reprimanding one of the servants, pawning jewelry to keep the widow's estate running or cleaning up after her spoiled younger cousin, Robert.  Katharine's newest assignment, though, has to be the most repugnant of all.  Aunt Alice is convinced her brother, Frederick, is squandering the family fortune, of which Robert is the sole heir.  Katharine's task?  To assess the situation—meaning she must find evidence of Frederick's insanity and ensure that he's locked away in a lunatic asylum, thus freeing up funds for Robert and his greedy mother.  It won't be a pleasant task—which is why Aunt Alice refuses to do it herself—so Katharine must grit her teeth and be done with it.  She can't risk losing her guardian's favor.  

One look at Stranwyne Keep, her uncle's crumbling old mansion, and Katharine's ready to bolt.  Roaming its strange interior, which is cluttered with ticking clocks and creepy automatons, does nothing to soothe her anxiety.  Something is not right at her uncle's residence.  Not right at all.  It's clear Stranwyne Keep's tiny staff—only a stiff housekeeper, a mute boy, and a mysterious young man about her age—can't wait to be rid of Katharine.  She's glad to leave, but not before she sees her uncle, a meeting the staff continues to delay.  

When the secret of Stranwyne Keep is finally revealed to Katharine, she doesn't know what to do.  Can she rat out the gentle "Mr. Tully," thus endangering every single person at the Keep?  Or does she risk her own livelihood by lying to Aunt Alice?  The longer she stays with her uncle, the more she wants to shield him and Stranwyne Keep from the outside world.  But how does she protect the mysteries of her uncle's estate, especially when she doesn't know them all?  With her heart and head both in a whirl, Katharine must make an impossible decision, one that could bring destruction down on a whole group of innocent people.  And destroy the only happiness Katharine's ever known.  

The Dark Unwinding, the first book in Sharon Cameron's steampunk YA series, is as intricately wound as one of Mr. Tully's clocks.  With engaging characters, an intriguing mystery and a plot that keeps you guessing, it's one of those novels that appeals from its first word to its last.  I love how the story moves quickly when it matters, but not so fast that it skimps on world and relationship-building.  Cameron's slow, steady story-sculpting guaranteed that I cared—about the characters, about their world, and about how Katharine's choices would affect them all.  In case you can't tell, I adored this clean, compelling story.  I'm pretty sure you will, too.  

(Readalikes:  A Spark Unseen by Sharon Cameron)

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When a worker's ticket for R.M.S. Titanic falls into the hands of young Patrick Waters, the dishwasher seizes the opportunity to board the magnificent ship.  If only he can pass himself off as much older than his 12 years, he can join Titanic's "Black Gang," like his older brother James.  Although he manages to pull off the charade, it's soon clear that Patrick's too delicate to labor in the oppressive heat of the boiler rooms.  Instead, he trains to be a waiter.  As he serves passengers under the direction of the exacting Mr. Webb, he makes a shocking discovery—strange things are afoot on the luxury liner.   

John Francis Berryman, a book lover and thief, is also on board under false pretenses.  He's keeping a close eye on Harry Elkins Widener, a wealthy rare book collector.  The First Class passenger has something Berryman would kill to get his hands on, a treasure that could make him (and his boss) rich beyond his wildest dreams.  The only trouble is finding it.  Berryman can't exactly stroll into Widener's stateroom, especially now that the meddling Patrick Waters has become Widener's personal attendant.  The thief can't risk blowing his cover, but he must get the treasure he seeks.  How can he complete the task, especially when it becomes readily apparent that the R.M.S. Titanic is sinking?  It's time to risk it all for the treasure Berryman wants more than anything else in the world.  So what if it requires the elimination of a young Irish waiter? 

Dangerous Waters, a new middle grade novel by Gregory Mone, offers a quick, rollicking adventure that will tickle the fancy of both Titanic enthusiasts and mystery lovers.  The story's a little dry (*groan*), especially for its intended audience, but it's still entertaining.  Bibliophiles will be especially interested in the large role books play in the plot, leading to gems like this one:

So, yeah, young readers might find that Dangerous Waters drags too much for their tastes.  I'd still recommend it, however, as it's a fun adventure story that explores the fate of a real treasure that disappeared along with many others when Titanic sunk into the sea.  

(Readalikes:  Reminded me of Distant Waves by Suzanne Weyn and Gordon Korman's Titanic series (Unsinkable; Collision Course; S.O.S.)

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Lynn knows survival in her harsh, drought-plagued world depends on one thing: water.  If she and her mother want to live—and they do—they must protect their pond with everything they've got.  The 16-year-old has been taught to show no mercy to trespassers; if someone edges too close to their precious supply, Lynn shoots to kill.

It's not until tragedy strikes and the teen finds herself defending the pond alone that she begins to question her mother's extreme caution.  Is it possible that some strangers can be trusted?  With danger lurking on the horizon, does Lynn dare ask for help in defending her water?  Or will showing even an ounce of weakness make her a bigger target?  Lynn's mother taught her to trust no one, depend on no one, help no one, but now she's got to make her own choices—can she risk putting her life in someone else's hands?  What about her heart?  As threats to her priceless pond creep closer and closer, Lynn must learn to defend more than just her property.  Only one question remains:  Will she survive?

Describing Not a Drop to Drink, a debut novel by Mindy McGinnis, well enough to do it justice is pretty much impossible.  At least for me.  Suffice it to say that the post-apocalyptic YA story is a grim, gripping tour-de-force made all the more horrifying by its utter believability.  No other tale of this type has spooked me quite as much as this one.  Harsh as it is, though, Not a Drop to Drink has plenty of heart.  Surprised? It's true that Lynn can be a difficult character to like, but as she opens up, she reminds us what it really means to be human.  While I won't go so far as to label this novel "hopeful," I will give it a few other adjectives: strong, mesmerizing, thrilling and, yes, lovely (in a bleak, brutal kind of way).  If you read only one YA dystopian this year, make sure it's this one.  I can pretty much guarantee you won't be disappointed.

(Readalikes:  Hm, I can't think of any that are really similar.)

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To the FTC, with love:  I received a finished copy of Not a Drop to Drink from the generous folks at Harper Collins.  Thank you!