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Hallelujah Wonder is an unusual girl, if her name didn't cue you in on that.

Young Hallelujah, or "Lu," lives in Kansas, just before the start of the Civil War. Her father's unexpected death has left her in charge of a cave full of treasures, and not all of them are good. A wicked Naval captain covets one in particular — the Medicine Head. 

Lu must take the object where no one can reach it: Antarctica. Accompanied by a young runaway slave and his cowardly dog, she sets out on a trek to keep the Medicine Head out of evil's hands. 

"Wonder at the Edge of the World" is a novel for young readers from Minnesota author Nicole Helget. Helget joined MPR News' Tom Weber to discuss the book and Lu's wild adventures. 

Helget's last book was a novel for adults called "Stillwater," which centered on the logging boom in Minnesota in the mid-1800s. She has another novel coming out also set in the 1800s, but this time in Wyoming.

"I do spend most of my imagination in about 1850 for some reason," Helget said.

To hear the full interview about "Wonder at the Edge of the World," use the audio player above.

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Minnesota author Nicole Helget's new book for young readers follows a magic quest from Kansas to Antarctica, just before the Civil War.

Helget's new book for young readers dances around in history, imagining a magical quest from Kansas to Antarctica, just before the Civil War.

A new 'Wonder': Magic objects and Antarctica

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