(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gerald Kelley. Jacob Tibbs is born the runt of the litter in 1847 on a ship bound for America. Jacob's first-person (first-cat?) account of terrifying ocean squalls, mutiny, and survival on a deserted island has an old-fashioned sensibility, as do the occasional black-and-white facing-page illustrations. This suspenseful, tear-jerking tale will please fans of underdogs, animal stories, and high-seas adventure.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(3) YA Nico's (mean and abusive) older sister Sarah disappeared four years ago. The family has had its hopes dashed countless times by false leads, so when Sarah's finally found, it feels surreal. Sarah, who has amnesia, is much nicer to Nico now, and that's not the only cause for suspicion. Nico's narrative alternates with Sarah's in this fast-paced mystery filled with satisfying twists.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Following a mountain biking accident, West finds himself in a hospital bed, paralyzed and able to communicate only with Olivia, the enigmatic girl in the room next to his. When he recovers, he must redefine everything he thought he knew about Olivia. The slow pace and claustrophobic atmosphere mar an otherwise powerful, spooky, and surreal parapsychological drama.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) YA Policeman John Busby narrates being blasted in the face with a shotgun and the harrowing treatments that save him. Daughter Cylin describes the subsequent security measures that change her life into a kind of prison. Father and daughter have riveting stories to tell in this gritty memoir, but the book's tag-team format ultimately shortchanges each of them.

Reviewer: Christine M. Heppermann | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008

(3) YA Plugged In series. Assuming an informal tone (sucks is a common verb), Busby walks her intended female audience through the grueling process of surviving heartbreak. The narrative, which isn't afraid of absolutes ("If you look better, you will feel better. Guaranteed"), features to-do lists, quizzes, activities, and testimonials from real girls--and boys--who've been there. Bib.

Reviewer: Nell Beram