Aunt Jane's Nieces Abroad

L. Frank Baum, the creator of Oz, turns his gaze on three very different American girls on the trip of a lifetime. Patsy brings warmth and generosity to every situation, Louise schemes with sharp cunning, and Beth carries a quiet melancholy across the map of Europe. Their steady uncle John Merrick guides them through foreign streets and strange encounters, but not everything in their path is as it seems. A mysterious man named Victor Valdi and his daughter Tato cross their journey, along with a Count who fancies himself above his true station. When shadows gather and one of the girls disappears, what began as a grand tour becomes a desperate race through the capitals of Europe. This sequel to the Aunt Jane's Nieces series delivers the thrills Baum perfected: quick dialogue, bold characters, and a sense that danger might lurk behind any gilded ballroom door. It's adventure fiction for young readers who love a bit of mystery with their geography lesson, capturing an era when a European trip could still feel like stepping into the unknown.