Mileford, Kate. The Left Handed Fate.

Mileford, Kate.  The Left Handed Fate.  Macmillan/Henry Holt           2016    372p    $16.99 ISBN 978-0-8050-9800-6      ms/hs  Historical fiction  VG-BN          

Lucy Bluecrowne and Maxwell Ault are on a mission to find the three pieces of an arcane engine. If they are successful, they will stop the war that's raging between their home country of England and Napoleon Bonaparte's France. They set sail on the ship Left-Handed Fate, which is taken by Captain Oliver Dexter, a twelve-year-old American. If Oliver helps Lucy and Max, he will become a traitor to his country. Is there anyone Oliver can trust?

Mileford has created a memorable cast of characters.  Lucy is a masterful leader: brave and intelligent, with a gift for strategy.  Max is loyal and determined; he constantly makes creative connections.  Oliver is honorable and stalwart, yet a little vulnerable.  Liao is wise and artistic.  Together they make an unstoppable team.  With fast-paced action that takes place during the War of 1812, Mileford deftly weaves historical details about the war’s complicated politics into the narration. In the end, savvy readers will want to discuss the impact that the weapon Lucy and Maxwell are striving to recreate will have on the war effort, and the impact that weapons of mass destruction have in the “real world,” as well.                       

Summary: Lucy and Maxwell are on a quest to recover three pieces of an arcane engine. If they are successful, the war raging between England and France will end.         

Weapons-Fiction, War of 1812-Fiction                                                                      —Hilary Welliver