(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dave Perillo. Aspiring magician Maxine's father runs a Nazi POW camp in Abilene, Texas. During a magic show to entertain the prisoners, Maxine inadvertently enables eleven POWs to escape during her final act. Based on true events (detailed in the author's note), this entertaining historical mystery will keep readers absorbed while they become budding magicians via the how-to diagrams sprinkled throughout.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Life seems to be returning to normal for Johnny Cannon until a woman--pregnant with his late brother's child--appears and a mob boss puts a bounty on Johnny's head. His troubles, Johnny realizes, are just beginning. While lacking the first book's focus, this sequel to The Troubles of Johnny Cannon is buoyed by Johnny's personable narration, which draws readers immediately into 1960s Alabama.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Johnny supports his disabled father after his Air National Guard brother leaves for a secret mission. When Pa builds a military radio and starts sending messages in Spanish, they're drawn into a dangerous scheme extending far beyond their small town. Despite some far-fetched plot points, Johnny's distinctive narration immerses readers in experiences of racial tension and Cold War paranoia in the Deep South.

Reviewer: Russell Perry