(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Commander in Cheese series. Illustrated by AG Ford. When the "country mice" living in Mount Rushmore are robbed, Ava and Dean Squeakerton (the White House's mouse inhabitants) head to South Dakota to set things right. Leavitt incorporates facts from American history in the tame mystery, even addressing Mount Rushmore's problematic placement on American Indian land. Friendly grayscale illustrations highlight key moments. Additional historical facts and a map are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) 4-6 Pages Between Us series. Bookish Olivia hopes to save her school's Battle of the Books team; amateur filmmaker Piper feels invisible in her large family. The friends' pro-book video goes viral, turning the team into a big deal. Their shared secret notebook and occasional other documents chronicle the experience in this sequel to The Pages Between Us. Once again, both girls' lively humor makes for a lighthearted, enjoyable read.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Stepping Stone: Commander in Cheese series. Illustrated by A. G. Ford. Mouse siblings Ava and Dean Squeakerton take advantage of moving day at the White House to embark on a quest to sneak a Lego from the new president's son's bedroom. This gentle tale, with grayscale illustrations to match, is packed with references to past presidents. Readers looking for a low-key read may forgive the too-conveniently-averted crises. Presidential facts are appended.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) 4-6 Via a shared secret notebook as well as other notes, chats, and texts, overdramatic Piper and brainy Olivia (and occasionally others) tell the story of their transition into middle school and their discovery of diverging interests. The humor in both girls' voices makes for a breezy read, and tweens will likely relate to the evolving-friendship conflict.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(2) YA Late Grandpa Jim bequeathed to Holly his financially insolvent Las Vegas wedding chapel. He also asked her to deliver a letter to Dax Cranston--grandson of Jim's nemesis and "not the ugliest guy I had ever seen." With all its quirkiness, Holly's story could almost be a sitcom. But the hilarity is tempered by moments of genuine feeling, whether it's grief or romance.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2014

(2) YA Convinced that modern conveniences are responsible for her romantic misery, Mallory decides to go on a technology fast. A to-do list her grandmother made at age sixteen, in 1962, provides the perfect inspiration for a simpler life, with such items as "Run for pep squad secretary." Mallory's experiences will undoubtedly make readers think about their own tethers to smartphones and social media.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(4) 4-6 Desi, a princess substitute, is excited that the elite Façade agency has promoted her, but she can't ignore her employer's shady practice of stealing magic from non-hired substitutes. Likable Desi struggles to do the right thing, knowing she'll be fired, and also gets closer to prince substitute Reed (whom her best friend also likes) in this disjointed but enjoyable series conclusion.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Payton feels betrayed after learning her father has kept his multiple sclerosis hidden from her. When a guidance counselor suggests Payton redirect her attention, she chooses the back of her classmate's head as a "focus spot." Over the course of the story, she loses her attitude, drops her guard, and falls in love. Payton's chatty narration and growing self-awareness drive the story.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Desi (Princess for Hire) has been promoted to a Level Two princess substitute for the elite Façade agency. Besides sub jobs, she's playing Titania in a school production of A Midsummer Night's Dream (alongside cute Reed) and figuring out what triggers her magic. While her adventures are unsurprising, lively Desi navigates them with a sense of humor and a strong moral compass.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) 4-6 Being the ex-best friend of Sproutville's reigning Spud Princess and the daughter of a former Miss Idaho isn't easy. When a "princess agent" magically appears and offers the sympathetic narrator a job as a substitute princess, Desi's own powers are revealed. Her growing confidence carries over to real life in this entertaining wish-fulfillment fantasy.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson