(3) YA In Battlesaurus: Rampage at Waterloo, Napoléon claimed victory at Waterloo with his terrifying battlesaurs; now he is determined to invade England. Brave Willem and his friends must find a way to stop the French using guile, new weapons, and even other dinosaurs. This action-packed, satisfying conclusion to Falkner's alternate-history duology again successfully combines magic, fantasy, and historical elements.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) YA This novel is set in an alternate-reality 1815 during the Battle of Waterloo. Dinosaurs are still alive, and Willem, a Flemish teen, plays a key role in protecting his village from these rampaging beasts. Political intrigue (from village to nation-state level), magic, fantasy, and historical battles blend together in an exciting, thrilling adventure.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Donovan Bixley. The ability to speak every world language makes nine-year-old Maddy quite valuable as a translator for an evil witch posing as linguist Professor Coateloch. On a wild, perilous journey Maddy outwits her enemy with help from fellow captives--a ninja, a Bulgarian wrestler, and a mischievous monkey. Magic, adventure, and intrigue combine for an entertaining fantasy. Full-page black-and-white illustrations appear in neat frames.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) YA Recon Team Angel series. In this suspense-filled third novel (The Assault; Task Force), six teens from Recon Team Angel try to prevent a suspected invasion of America by the archenemy Bzadians, who aim to attack the American mainland by crossing the Bering Strait. This fast-paced, involving science-fiction thriller will keep readers on the edges of their seats.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(3) YA With the massive Bzadian army in Russia poised to invade the Americas at first freeze, the six teens of Recon Team Angel (The Assault) must infiltrate in order to take out the fuel-processing plant that will power the alien force's way. Staccato dialogue and taut pacing puts readers on the shoulders of the realistic characters--both Angel and enemy.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) YA Six human teenagers disguised as alien soldiers infiltrate a military base in the Australian Outback in a last-ditch effort to save mankind from extinction. Fans of classic science fiction (such as Ender's Game) and of video games like Call of Duty will find much to love here. The witty dialogue, realistic characters, and engaging writing style will also appeal to general readers.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) YA In an effort to evade a book report, friends Luke and Tommy do some research on the most boring book in the world. When the only remaining copy of that self-same book turns up in their local library, the boys embark on an adventure involving kidnapping, henchmen, and space- and time-travel to Nazi-era Germany. Falkner presents a complex, inventive, and well-crafted escapade.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) YA Sam Wilson can hack his way into any computer, and with the new neuro-headsets he can do it at the speed of thought. Working for the cyberdefense industry, Sam realizes that the headsets make his--and everyone else's--thoughts easy prey for hacking. What's more, Internet users' collective unconsciousness becomes a threat to society at large. Falkner's pulse-pounding story is rich in futuristic details.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) YA New Zealand teens Tane and Rebecca hit upon a way to decode transmissions from the future and begin receiving messages--from themselves. The cryptic messages hint at an ecological global catastrophe, and the pair needs to decipher them before it's too late. The apocalyptic novel starts slowly but gathers momentum as the peril advances.

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo