(3) K-3 Illustrated by Mike Yamada. The narrator torments his sister Alice with his "bad guy" tactics (chasing her; dumping spaghetti on her head to eat her "brain"). He enjoys this identity and resents being told to "play nice." The surprise ending upends gender stereotypes and shows there's a fellow bad guy around. The entertaining digital illustrations bounce from typical family scenes to imaginative depictions of the narrator's wild schemes.

Reviewer: Miriam Steinberg-Egeth

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Andrew Joyner. Rabbit Garcia and fox Colette can't agree whether to explore space or the sea. After Garcia builds a rocket and Colette a submarine, the friends embark on separate journeys but quickly grow lonely. They eventually agree that exploring the desert together satisfies both their interests. Simplistic text draws parallels between Garcia and Colette's divergent trips, elevated by mixed-media illustrations that evoke a playful, retro style.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(2) YA Tallie McGovern lost her brother in a car accident; she's since been wracked with guilt for having insisted that she drive. When Tallie discovers that Nate was an organ donor, she attempts to make contact with potential recipients. The book's emotional quality and lyrical writing will resonate with teens looking for that delectable--and popular--combination of romance and tearjerker.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016

(2) YA After her only friend kills herself, fourteen-year-old Portia runs away from the McGreavey Home for Wayward Girls and uses her storytelling ability to get a job with Mosco's Traveling Wonder Show. Through detailed description, the dreariness of the Home and the fantastical nature of the carnival world come vividly to life in this atmospheric Depression-era tale of self-discovery.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2012