Lydia Barnes is not your typical American 14-year-old. Sure, she plays her iPod nonstop and rolls her eyes at her dad’s dumb jokes; but she also finds herself dodging lion attacks, outwitting drug lords and heading up rescue missions. She is smart, funny and brave—although her tutor would call her naive, quirky and downright foolish. Lydia flunked geometry, but plays a mean corner on the soccer field; she can’t carry a tune, but sings with passion; she can’t remember how to make mac and cheese, but can recite works of Shakespeare by heart.