(4) 4-6 Seventh graders Henry, his twin sister, and their two best friends investigate the disappearance of a bully by way of "subtle travel," a kind of out-of-body experience that renders their "subtle forms" invisible and invincible. Though the supernatural mystery is a tad far-fetched, the setting--1963 Iowa--is well realized and the relationships among the characters well drawn.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) YA Gabriela will be collected by her Death, Hercule, next Wednesday. For her pre-departure Wrap-Up List, she scrambles to arrange first kisses for her friends (and herself) while trying to find Hercule's one weakness to get herself a Pardon; the truth about her grandfather's WWII death ultimately holds the key. This darkly humorous, creative supernatural tale also has interesting spiritual undertones.

Reviewer: Ariel Baker-Gibbs

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Daniela J. Terrazzini. Arntson's novel defies classification--it is a bestiary and a dystopia, a horror novel and a time-slip tale. At its heart, however, it is the story of three unlikely but compelling friends--Henrietta, Gary, and Rose--who circumvent the strictures of their society with the help of old books, a few eccentric adults, and a good dose of gumption. Terrazzini's silhouette art adds layers of interest.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac