Plan B
by Sharon Lee and Steve Miller
Among the best of the sprawling Liaden series and one of Linda’s favorites, this book sure has its moments. Come for the sentient turtles, stay for the tree-protecting computer that time forgot. Characteristically for this team, this is a family story: the clan is in trouble, we have to pull together against shady outside hostility and perverse mischance, and at the end we hope to find the grownups are still (at least nominally) in charge.