Heiress of Nowhere

Gr 10 Up–In 1900, an abandoned newborn of unknown ethnicity was discovered on the shores of shipbuilder Dakon Sanders’s remote Washington island estate; named “Lucy Nowhere,” she was raised by Sanders’s Native American cook but educated alongside the privileged children of his family. Now 18 years old and unsure of her place in the world, Lucy feels most at ease studying Orcas Island’s unique ecosystem. When Sanders’s severed head is found along the shoreline and Lucy is unexpectedly named heiress to his fortune, local ­superstitions about the whales fuel a growing belief that Lucy was involved in his death. Uncovering the truth behind Sanders’s murder will not only clear Lucy’s name but also solve the mystery of her heritage. In this well-crafted coming-of-age story, Lucy must quickly adjust to her newfound position as a wealthy “lady of the house” while at the same time find her voice as a young woman navigating an all-male business world. Touching upon issues related to race, class, capitalism, and environmental protection, Lee’s intricate plot establishes a diverse pool of believable suspects and a wide array of possible motives. Equally satisfying is the romance, as Lucy becomes the center of a compelling love triangle with Koa, her protective childhood friend, and Nash, Sanders’s reckless nephew. ­Although the speculative elements of the story are not fully explained and don’t prove necessary for the story, this is a worthy recommendation for fans of mystery, historical fiction, and romance alike.