(4) YA After getting caught in her latest Robin Hood–style theft, Kass Black is expelled and Columbia revokes her acceptance. Kass's last hope for college is assisting her professor uncle on his program, Henley Engineering Anomalies Research. But instead of clerical work, she finds herself training previously untapped psychic abilities. While Epstein's novel has mystery and danger, the plot drags at times.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. These browsable guides shouldn't be taken too seriously. The armchair adventurer/fantasy volumes (Extreme; Weird) are more (mildly) entertaining than useful. The self-help guides (Junior; Gross; School) do contain practical information on tween-friendly topics. The books' jokey tone grows tiring, however: "Bare your teeth and make some noise, y'all." The accessible design and cartoon illustrations add to the volumes' appeal. Review covers these Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook titles: Junior Edition, Extreme Junior Edition, Weird Junior Edition, Gross Junior Edition, and Middle School.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Chuck Gonzales. This guide for "how to survive the grossest of the gross situations that life poops out at you" lives up to its goal. Boogers, barf, spit, gas, and warts are just the tip of the yuck. Amidst the not-for-the-squeamish topics, the book also offers helpful (and even hygienic) tips. Crisp book design and uniform black-blue-gray color palette help clean up the subject matter.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA As Grace struggles with her parents' divorce, as well as feelings for her best friend, her world is again changed when she befriends an elderly man stricken with ALS. She is then faced with an impossible decision about whether or not to help him die on his own terms. This poignant story with doses of humor is touching and thought-provoking.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear