(4) 4-6 A twelve-year-old boy named Furious pieces together events leading to his parents' murders. His mother worked for the CIA; his father wrote spy novels based on his mother's assignments. Guessing he's the next target, Furious devises a plan of revenge based on the clues in his father's last novel. The action-filled plot is fueled by fast-paced twists, leaving little room for depth.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Guy Francis. As winner of the Whizzer Toys invention contest, eleven-year-old Vincent is given a summer internship at the famous toy company. When tragedy strikes and the toy company is suddenly in danger of closing, Vincent races to keep them in business. The quickly moving plot in this sequel to Vincent Shadow: Toy Inventor is bolstered by cheerful pencil illustrations.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Guy Francis & Mike Wohnoutka. Middle-schooler Vincent Shadow creates toy prototypes in his secret lab. The inventor's pastime gets kicked into high gear when a local toymaker announces a once-in-a-lifetime contest. Many of the story's characters are cardboard and the ending is lackluster, but readers may appreciate the creativity of Vincent's inventions, shown in occasional spot-illustration sketches and a removable "top secret" notebook.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes