(4) 4-6 In this sequel to Wandmaker, Henry, his sister Brianna, and his friend Serena train with other apprentices to be Wandmakers in a magical castle. They must master tough lessons, dangerous spells, and their own hormones to prepare for the inevitable confrontation with the evil Malachai. This quick-paced magical-school story's cast diversity unfortunately doesn't move far past stereotypes.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) 4-6 Henry has inherited the powers of his wand-making ancestors. His family lineage brings more than he bargained for, though, when his pesky sister becomes collateral damage after a spell gone awry. This entertaining, fast-paced read is occasionally marred by false attribution of "supernatural" powers (e.g., blind people can't really "smell or hear things before others can").

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Matt Myers. Stripping off layers of straw and clothing, a skeleton finishes his workday as a scarecrow and meets up with "ghoulies and ghosties" to "dance under the moon." A large cast of monsters spend all night with the scarecrow, playing games (including hide-and-seek) and fighting mock battles until the sun starts to rise. The rhyming text and playful illustrations make this a festive read-aloud.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2015