Karen Autio: 3 books

Ever since 13-year-old Saara returned from caring for her family’s relatives, she’s been so grown-up and focused on her goal of becoming a teacher. Nine-year-old John jokes and plays pranks, but instead of laughs, all he gets is nagging. What really drives him crazy, though, is what his older...

"Saara, this will be a travelling year for you!" Saara wants so much to go to Finland with her family, to see the grandparents she has never met and the places her mother speaks about with such longing. One misfortune after another nibbles at the savings. Still, bit by bit, the coins keep falling...

I picked up my pencil and stared at the blank white space. Setting a few goals should be easy. But I couldn't think of any. All that swirled through my mind was the question I'd been plagued with since I survived the Empress: "What is the purpose of my life?" Saara is trying hard to put her...