(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jon Cannell. Now a freshman, Wyatt--who foiled a terrorist plot in eighth grade (The Worst Class Trip Ever)--inadvertently uncovers illegal animal trafficking by the powerful family of the bullying Bevin brothers, which leads to a Halloween night of typical Barry shenanigans. The stakes, and therefore the tension, are lower than in Wyatt's first adventure, but comical first-person narration makes him easy to root for.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 After an in-flight run-in with suspicious fellow passengers from fictional Gadakistan on their eighth-grade field trip to Washington, DC, Wyatt and his friends become embroiled in an international incident, the particulars of which they don't quite understand. Their over-the-top antics--combined with Barry's witty commentary through Wyatt's first-person narration--make for a zany story crafted more for outrageous humor than for believability.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 In 1905, all the starstuff--a magical flying powder--was moved to Never Land. More than a century later, siblings Sarah, seventeen, and Aidan, fifteen, discover a hidden stash and race to protect the powerful dust from evil Ombra. This spin-off of the Starcatchers series is rooted in the modern world, but with dated references.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Greg Call. Barry and Pearson deliver a snappy adventure in this fourth Peter book. Wendy, Peter, and the Starcatchers fight to keep a cache of starstuff from the hands of the evil Skeleton and Baron von Schatten (possessed by Ombra). Though there's too much going on and the book is way too long, the story's unflagging pace makes quick work for fans.

Reviewer: Becca Schaffner

(4) 4-6 When Hubble Middle School student Toby Harbinger becomes aware of cheating going on before the science fair begins, he tries to expose the culprits. This leads to his involvement in an international terrorist plot. Though the plot is far-fetched, there's plenty of situational and verbal humor that will appeal to reluctant readers and the authors' fans.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister