I think at the end of the first book she decides to stay. It's in the second book that she goes back. That's also where the Bad Things happen.

Okay. I think I read the first three all together, and I might have a fourth (or even fifth), but it's been so long.

I never had luck finding good book recaps online. I know they must exist, but all I find is short summaries.

There's five, right?

I loved the first, liked the second, enjoyed the third even though it was a bit over the top, was kind of eh on the fourth, and haven't read the last one. I think.

Per here, [link] it looks like there's a sixth one coming out in late September.

I think I have them all then. I have never read The Fiery Cross. I can't remember if I finished Drums of Autumn.

The first three are smooshed together in my head.

Thanks for the tips! I'll reread the last few chapters and check out smonster's LJ.

I don't think she summarized it, but she mentioned it, and she'd probably talk about it. I left her a heads up that you'd been looking for summaries, just in case.

But I'm invested in children reading books that they can understand, and building their reading skills.

Eh. Depends on the kid, I guess. I read lots of books I didn't completely understand when I was a kid. I continue to do so now. I find that part of the fun, really. But not all kids are me. Just as well, really.

As for Gabaldon, I got through to the one where there's a whole mistaken-identity thing and the daughter's boyfriend gets handed off to the Indians, and it all just became too much for me. I won't read any more, although I enjoyed the first two, and the way that Claire came back.

But really, there's far too much sturm and drang for me. (And yes, I know that's hypocritical coming from a Farscape fan.)

Alicia, smonster said she just found an Outlander synopsis that seems pretty comprehensive, here: [link]

She said to pop by her lj or her profile address is good (she said to say she'd posted in Minearverse recently) if you have any questions.

That one kind of lost me. But I loved the first book, and Claire's return, and Jamie and Claire are still some of my favorite fictional characters.

FWIW, I read the Outlander series all out of order and with big gaps in between them and never really felt the lack. I probably missed some subtleties, but there was certainly enough non-subtle stuff going on to keep me from wondering what I'd missed.