The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen by Geraldine McCaughrean

I listened to the Playaway audio version of The Glorious Adventures of the Sunshine Queen and thoroughly enjoyed it. It's a madcap adventure with a large and varied cast of characters on a paddleboat cruising the Mississippi in the 1800s. I had a long drive after a 28-hour travel day that included three plane rides and was kept awake and engaged by the humor and solid storytelling. Although it is intended for older children/teens, don't let that put you off if you are an adult who enjoys a good story celebrating an America gone by.