(4) YA Rebellious, horse-crazy British teen Jay escapes the unloving, shady relatives who've been raising her just to cash in on her horseracing skill. Jay's empathic way with the equine allows her to break into the misogynistic racing world, but not without added complications involving criminal gambling and animal abuse. Though a bit soap opera–ish, this novel offers plenty to keep the attention of horse-loving teens.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Star Wars series. Illustrated by Annie Wu. Fourteen-year-old Mattis joins the Resistance to become a hero fighting the First Order. But first he and his troublemaking fellow recruits will have to become a team. This decent if uneventful new series set in the Star Wars universe focuses on establishing characters rather than on actual adventures, though a climactic encounter with monstrous rancors and a cliffhanger ending nicely set up the next installment.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) YA Timid rat Efren ventures into the human London when his king dies, discovering a doctor's plan to kill all rats. Street kid Dogboy, Dr. Ross-Gibbon's assistant, can talk to animals, which presents him with a unique dilemma: help the doctor with his work or save the rats? Blacker's detailed world-building takes precedence over characterization in this sometimes gruesome, mature animal fantasy.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 1-3 Ms. Wiz series. Illustrated by Tony Ross. In Jail, the Mary Poppins–like title character changes a little girl into a cat in an attempt to foil some local catnappers. In Control, she saves a branch library scheduled to be closed through the use of magical "fish powder." Black-and-white illustrations that owe a debt to Quentin Blake match the stories' madcap (verging on forced hilarity) mood. Review covers these Ms. Wiz titles: In Control, Ms. Wiz? and In Jail, Ms. Wiz?

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(4) 1-3 Ms. Wiz series. Illustrated by Tony Ross. In Jail, the Mary Poppins–like title character changes a little girl into a cat in an attempt to foil some local catnappers. In Control, she saves a branch library scheduled to be closed through the use of magical "fish powder." Black-and-white illustrations that owe a debt to Quentin Blake match the stories' madcap (verging on forced hilarity) mood. Review covers these Ms. Wiz titles: In Control, Ms. Wiz? and In Jail, Ms. Wiz?

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) 1-3 Ms. Wiz series. Illustrated by Tony Ross. These British chapter books originally published in 1988 feature Paranormal Operative Ms. Wisdom. In Trouble, this Mary Poppins–like creature blows into St. Barnabas's and transforms a miserable class into the best group in school. In Stitches, a student needing an emergency appendectomy finds Ms. Wiz standing by as Dr. Wisdom. Funny and eccentric, these short books are light, quick, and diverting. Review covers these Ms. Wiz titles: In Stitches with Ms. Wiz and Ms. Wiz Spells Trouble.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) 1-3 Ms. Wiz series. Illustrated by Tony Ross. These British chapter books originally published in 1988 feature Paranormal Operative Ms. Wisdom. In Trouble, this Mary Poppins–like creature blows into St. Barnabas's and transforms a miserable class into the best group in school. In Stitches, a student needing an emergency appendectomy finds Ms. Wiz standing by as Dr. Wisdom. Funny and eccentric, these short books are light, quick, and diverting. Review covers these Ms. Wiz titles: In Stitches with Ms. Wiz and Ms. Wiz Spells Trouble.

Reviewer: Amy Lois Cohn

(3) YA His home life a wreck, Danny agrees to participate in a program that matches dissatisfied kids with ideal parents. When he discovers the agency is actually a reality television program, Danny schemes to ruin the show and reunite his fractured family. Documentary-style interviews and narrative clues allow readers to stay one step ahead of Danny until a neatly packaged ending.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Thomas is shocked to discover that he was adopted but soon learns his family is keeping even bigger secrets. His seemingly perfect parents, his older sister, and even the family dog are extraterrestrials involved in a mission to "save" planet Earth. Some of the plot twists are unconvincing and lead to a rather facile conclusion, but the story moves swiftly, with many surprises and reversals.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta