Napoleon's Young Neighbor

"Napoleon's Young Neighbor" by Helen Leah Reed is a historical tale that unfolds after Napoleon's downfall, when he's sent to St. Helena. We see the drama through the eyes of Betsy Balcombe, a young girl whose peaceful world turns upside down when Napoleon comes to live nearby. Initially scared of the once-powerful Emperor, she begins to see him differently as they become friends, causing her to reconsider everything she thought she knew about heroes and villains during a time filled with conflict. The story looks at how war and politics can change a person's life, especially a child's, and how getting to know someone can change your mind about history.