(4) 4-6 Summer's world falls apart after her brother dies. Hoping for a new start, her dad moves Summer and her sister to Australia, leaving her feeling even sadder since her mother has stayed behind in England. Playing her dead brother's guitar brings Summer comfort--and it seems to make a mysterious boy appear. Despite well-developed characters and vivid prose, the mystery's supernatural element doesn't quite work.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) 1-3 Eliza Boom series. Illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy. In her second outing, junior spy and assistant inventor Eliza Boom uses her super-spy abilities to investigate her new neighbor, Mrs. McNice, after she witnesses some suspicious behavior. Eliza's quirkiness lends authenticity to her voice. The diary format, with its small chunks of text and childlike black-and-white drawings, makes the story accessible to reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 1-3 Eliza Boom series. Illustrated by Joëlle Dreidemy. When Eliza Boom, misunderstood inventor- and spy-in-training, accidentally gives away her spy-gadget-inventor dad's top-secret film strip, Eliza, her dog Einstein, and her friend/"assistant" Amy brainstorm ways to get it back. The childlike black-and-white drawings and sidebar commentary lend believability to the diary format, but the plot of this silly first series entry is a little unfocused.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA In his latest plan to make his daughter a star, Kassidy's unstable father coerces the tone-deaf fifteen-year-old to audition for The X-Factor. But keeping her dad happy is just one issue she's dealing with: her mom's infidelity, her brother's criminality, and her best friends' jealousy all overwhelm her. There's a surplus of subplots, but Kassidy's strong, sarcastic voice is entertaining.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes