The United States of America in the late 1840s - a nation torn by the crime of slavery and a war of conquest in Mexico. Fourteen-year-old Anna Coburn doesn't want to grapple with such terrible issues. Just growing up seems awful enough. Forced from her home and away from her beloved father, Anna is sent to live among the stern people called Shakers. Their strange ways and strict lifestyle are both appealing and difficult for the bright, headstrong Anna. When reunited with her father, Anna is plunged into upper-class Boston life, where she faces a troubling mystery, new responsibilities, deadly danger, and events that will affect not just herself and her loved ones, but a country about to come apart at the seams.

A novel for ages 12-up, also loved by many adults. With a cast that includes Henry David Thoreau, a perceptive Shaker schoolmistress, and a murderous false friend, Anna's World is a powerful coming of age story, widely praised for its vivid characters, gripping plot, and moral stature.

Awards in national competitions: Moonbeam Children's Books Awards; U.S.A. Book News "Best Book" Awards; Reader Views Literary Awards; Eric Hoffer Book Awards. Included in the Renaissance Learning Accelerated Reader quiz program. A Study Guide and Author Notes are free downloads at www.chironbooks.com.