(4) YA After her school's queen bee moves in next door, Sam discovers, then steals, the secret to popularity: a magical "Skin." When half the school starts aping her frizzy hair and Lands End fashion, Sam leaves her old friends in the dust. The book's premise is intriguing, but Sam is such a shallow character that readers may find themselves rooting for her comeuppance.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Molly and her friend find a machine that can identify the name of anyone's past, present, or future spouse. News of the "Who-Meter" spreads throughout school; at the same time, Molly's father is planning his wedding to "the Claw." The story nails the relationship between Molly and her dad and also the funny, awkward interactions between sixth-grade boys and girls.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA Brainy sixteen-year-old housecleaner Laura is stunned to discover that Willa, the daughter of a new client, looks just like her. The girls hatch a plan for Laura to attend Willa's swanky boarding school while Willa takes a break from the pressures of being an heiress to become "the help." Though the premise is far-fetched and hardly original, the girls are charismatic.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Vivi Escriva. Andrew the young fox gets his older brother's hand-me-down soccer T-shirt and ends up wearing the favorite blue top every day for months. When Andrew nearly outgrows the shirt, he impresses his brother with a powerful kick of a soccer ball, and Andrew realizes he's become too big and muscular for the tired togs. The narrative and color illustrations adequately convey a child's attachment to special clothing.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty