[BWF] Arabella of Mars by David D. Levine 3.5 stars rounded up

[Karin]

This is a delightful book that fully fits steampunk but is also a fun adventure story--no fairies, no magic, no paranormal stuff, just steampunk. One thing that is especially fun is that not only is it set in 1812 and 1813, but Levine sets the space travel up to suit how books might have written it at that time; the cover shows a clipper that travels to and from Mars.

Arabella is, as you might expect, an intelligent, feisty teen. There are many clever things put into this that might not meet the eye as Arabella endures being forced to go to earth with her mother and sisters, then has to find a way back to Mars to save her brother (the blurb tells you more about this, so why repeat it all here.) The story is basic, but there are enough good things about it that I've opted to round my rating up.