Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson

Piper lives in a scavenging town in the outskirts of the kingdom where she makes a living fixing things that she and others find in the Meteor Fields after a shower.  Things arrive in the meteors from other worlds, and the people sell them for money to live on.  Her whole world changes, however, when she finds a strange girl in the wreckage of a caravan and realizes that it is up to her to save the strange girl, who can't remember who she is, from the man who is chasing her.

The Mark of the Dragonfly by Jaleigh Johnson (Lexile: 820; Interest Level: Grades 4-8) engages the reader in a fantastical world in which science and mechanics play a big role.  Piper is sure that helping the strange girl with the Mark of the Dragonfly is very important--the mark is that of the king of the neighboring kingdom, after all--but she is not sure who she can trust to help her.  Stowing away on the train seems like a good idea, until they get caught, and the young boy who works security seems both threatening and helpful.  

This novel has been described as steampunk, science fiction and fantasy, and I will add to that fun, engaging, and worth the read.  I hope all readers enjoy this 2015-2016 Indian Paintbrush Nominee! (400 p.)

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