THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID, by Sharon Biggs Waller

The story: Elodie's father is a rare plant hunter, and she longs to be able to go adventuring with him. When Papa fails to fulfill his contract to bring home a rare orchid, his employer threatens debtors' prison unless he makes good. But Papa refuses to take her with him, although he's too sick to go alone--so she stows away on that slow boat to China, where she masquerades as a boy, and then as a wife, and finally finds true love in the rainforests of the Far East. (And orchids too!)

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic and the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes PG; overall rating PG (although its historical fiction setting and sort of Regency romance tone render it better for older readers--strong 8th grade readers and up).

Liz's comments: Historical fiction is always a tough sell in middle school, but if older girls are looking for a romance in an exotic location, with a heroine who bucks the helpless female stereotype of the time, this is an excellent choice.