What do you think of when someone tells you that a book is considered historical fiction? Does it make you think about school -- or a homework assignment?

If so, you might just be surprised. Take a look at these stories, all set around the turn of the 20th century, and one word will spring to mind: Delightful!

Your thoughts will be full of fun and adventure after reading Barbara Kerley's picture-book biography, "What to Do About Alice?: How Alice Roosevelt Broke the Rules, Charmed the World, and Drove Her Father Teddy Crazy!" (Scholastic Press, $16.99, ages 6-9).

When boisterous Alice was a child, she enjoyed jumping on the sofa, taking piggyback rides and listening to her father read stories.

As she grew older, she joined an all-boys club and had a pet snake. After her father, Theodore Roosevelt, became president, Alice began traveling around the world, meeting people and enjoying new experiences, like riding a camel and dancing the hula.

Even after she was married, Alice continued to be outgoing and involved in politics. Many conservative women's groups believed her behavior was "outrageous," and at times her father felt Alice was uncontrollable. However, she was a true people person and very much admired by the public.

Kerley combines fun facts with significant historical events that will entertain both children and adults. Illustrator Edwin Fotheringham adds amusement and action to the story through pictures showing Alice sliding down the staircase of the White House, greeting visitors with her pet snake and jumping into a swimming pool with her clothes on!

Not only can historical fiction be fun and adventurous, it can be mysterious, too. Award-winning author Avi takes the reader into the ghostly past in "The Seer of Shadows" (HarperCollins, $16.99, ages 8-12).

Horace Carpetine, 14, is the apprentice of photographer Enoch Middleditch. Wealthy Mrs. Von Macht requests the photographer take her picture, to be placed in the tomb of her recently deceased daughter, Eleanora.

Mrs. Von Macht believes Eleanora is restless. Greedy Mr. Middleditch seeks to profit from this request. He forces Horace to take pictures of a portrait of Eleanora with a hidden camera. Then he alters Mrs. Von Macht's photograph so that it includes the ghostly image of Eleanora.

But by taking the photographs of Eleanora, Horace unknowingly releases her ghost. He befriends Von Macht's servant, Pegg, and discovers that Eleanora died of neglect. Her ghost is angry and seeking revenge.

Can Horace and Pegg figure out a way to make Eleanora's ghost vanish? Through his fascinating characters and creepy plot, Avi creates a suspenseful mood that will keep readers engaged from start to finish.

Both adventure and mystery can be found in "Secrets of the Cirque Medrano" by Elaine Scott (Charlesbridge, $15.95, ages 11-14). After her mother dies, 14-year-old Brigitte Dubrinsky reluctantly travels to Paris from Warsaw to live with her aunt and uncle, who own the Cafe Dominique. As Brigitte rides in an open carriage to the cafe, she sees performers trying to attract an audience to the Cirque Medrano and is instantly drawn to the excitement of the circus.

While working at the cafe, she meets many interesting characters. She works with Henri, the secretive young cook who frequently speaks of revolution and anarchy. She meets Pablo Picasso and his eccentric friends and learns that Picasso is painting the circus performers.

Brigitte also delivers weekly meals to Monsieur Pavlov, who lives in the Russian Imperial Consulate. And wherever she goes, she stops by the Medrano and watches performances.

Brigitte meets an acrobat, Paco, and they discover Monsieur Pavlov is conducting surveillance at the cafe, find out about Henri's involvement with anarchists and partake in a quest to save Picasso's paintings.

Brigitte not only gets the opportunity to be involved in solving a few mysteries, she also learns that the nomadic life of a circus performer is not as exciting as it appears. This makes her grateful she has found a loving home with her aunt and uncle.

Based on Picasso's painting "Family of Saltimbanques" and incorporating real people as well as fictional ones, Scott's own work of art in this historic story is filled with mystery and excitement.