(3) YA In this novel based on John Allison's graphic-novel series, three unlikely friends--naive, homeschooled Daisy; jaded, sarcastic Susan; and privileged, goth-y Esther--lean on one another while navigating homesickness, past relationships, and fitting in during their freshman year at a British college. Humor and crazy antics (many involving a cult-like campus yoga club) blend with mystery and adventure to create a hilarious, heartwarming original story in the Giant Days universe.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 4-6 Searchlight Books: What Can We Do about Pollution? series. Though standard (and somewhat choppy) in describing the types of pollution or waste in each category and the problems they create, these texts may extend kids' outlooks and interest in the subjects. Illustrated with appropriate color photos and infographics, the books conclude with ways in which adults and kids can help, including writing to their representatives in government. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers the following Searchlight Books: What Can We Do About Pollution titles: Transportation Pollution, Nuclear Pollution, Agricultural Pollution, Manufacturing Pollution, Household Waste, and Fossil Fuel Pollution.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey

(3) 4-6 Cause-and-Effect Disasters series. Five disastrous events in American history are explored from a cause-and-effect perspective. Each volume includes four succinct chapters, first establishing setting before relating the major events and their aftermath/results (e.g., the Chicago Fire and 1888 Blizzard precipitated future building codes and public warning systems). Numerous photographs/illustrations, diagrams, sidebars, and a clear appended flow chart round out the presentations. Reading list, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers the following Cause-and-Effect Disasters titles: The Jamestown Colony Disaster, Death in the Donner Party, Hurricane Katrina and the Flooding of New Orleans, The Great Chicago Fire, and The Children's Blizzard of 1888.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) YA In this breezy contemporary novel, wild child Ruby and straight-laced Kaz are best friends recovering from recent break-ups. In alternating narration, Kaz and Ruby detail their trip to a music festival, where sex, drinking, and exes stir up trouble. Although the ensuing drama threatens the British teens' tight bond, their conflicts are wrapped up a bit too neatly by the end of the long weekend.

Reviewer: Jessica Tackett MacDonald

(4) 4-6 Timeline Trackers: America's Beginnings series. Using brief narratives, illustrations, and inserts, this series presents an overview of early American history from the formation of the original thirteen colonies to Washington's election in 1789. A timeline along the bottom of each page highlights important dates. Although information is cursory, the texts are accessible and appropriate for the intended audience. Suggestions for writing activities are included. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Timeline Trackers: America's Beginnings titles: A Timeline History of the Declaration of Independence, A Timeline History of the Early American Republic, and A Timeline History of the Thirteen Colonies.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(3) YA Essential Library of the US Military series. Each military branch's profile begins with a description of recent successful military initiatives to illustrate the group's mission and scope. Successive chapters effectively trace history, contemporary roles, equipment, and weapons. Career opportunities and basic training are also discussed; a final chapter describes life on the job. Color photos, charts, maps, and informative sidebars enhance the texts. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these US Military titles: The US Air Force, The US National Guard, The Us Coast Guard, and The Us Army.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) YA When fifteen-year-old Hannah finds herself pregnant, presumably by her unrequited love, secretive new classmate Aaron volunteers to pose as the baby's father. First-person narration seamlessly alternates between Hannah and Aaron, as newfound friendships and newly learned trust empower the teens to confront their pasts. The narrators' unwillingness to disclose secrets adds tension but makes it hard to emotionally invest in the characters.

Reviewer: Rebecca Fox

(3) YA Illustrated by Charles Vess. Ten authors--well-known names in speculative fiction--and both editors share unexpected takes on fairy/folktales and classic literature. A few standouts: Marr's selkie-centric "Awakened" (inspired by Chopin's The Awakening), Rick Yancey's dystopian "When First We Were Gods" (inspired by Hawthorne's "The Birthmark"), and Neil Gaiman's sinister "The Sleeper and the Spindle" (inspired by "Sleeping Beauty"). Charles Vess contributes six delicate line drawings.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Dianne Eastman. Nicolson asks and answers twenty-three questions (e.g., "Why do your eyes face forward?" "Why do you love pets?"), exploring human quirks such as hiccupping, yawning, farting, vomiting, laughing, and crying. A brief scenario engages readers and focuses each explanation. Computer-generated illustrations, often combining human and animal features (e.g., a girl with a bunny-rabbit head), reflect the volume's humor and subtly underscore evolutionary science. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Essential Lives series. These series entries, with straightforward writing and frequent sidebars and photos, are uneven in quality and interest level. Elizabeth I is particularly dry and requires background knowledge. Lucille Ball's colorful personality barely comes through in her volume (the pictures help), and the subtitle for Freud is odd (content is fine). Assange is current through 2011. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Lives titles: Sigmund Freud, Lucille Ball, Julian Assange, and Elizabeth I.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) YA Essential Critiques series. From a clear definition of critical theory and its purpose to practical applications, this series is a worthy introduction to film analysis, critical thinking, and thesis development. Each volume begins with the biographical sketch of the title artist followed by discussion of his work through four different critical lenses (e.g., feminism, historical criticism). "You Critique It" assignments provide additional guidance. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Essential Critiques titles: How to Analyze the Films of Quentin Tarantino, How to Analyze the Films of Spike Lee, and How to Analyze the Roles of Paul Newman.

Reviewer: Tamara DePasquale

(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. Each biography opens with a pivotal moment in the performer's career. The texts then move chronologically from the person's childhood to his untimely death, touching on upbringing, setbacks, and accomplishments along the way. The writing occasionally veers into melodrama. The volumes are enhanced by their many photos and clean design. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: John Lennon, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Adrian Tans. Borrowing from Clement C. Moore's classic poem, Bannatyne offers readers a glimpse of the work witches put into preparing for Halloween. A coven of witches calls up skeletons, carves pumpkins, and drapes spiderwebs. The text features some clever turns-of-phrase and some tired clichés. The illustrations are similarly mixed in visual interest: some are appropriately spooky while others are too tentative.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(4) 4-6 Disaster series. Large newspaper-style headlines introduce each topic in a standard series entry about earth's most violent storms. Photographs are well chosen for dramatic effect, and very simple science activities are included. Designed primarily for browsers, there is an index but no further reading suggestions. Glos.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Disaster series. Basic hurricane facts, anecdotes from famous hurricanes, and suggested related projects form the basis of this elementary but engaging look at the earth's most powerful storms. Although coverage is similar to that found in other volumes on the topic, the double-page spread "Interview with a Hurricane Hunter" is unique. The book is illustrated with color photos of hurricanes and their effects. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: CHristine Sarrazin

(4) K-3 Sharing Nature with Children series. Megan's family has just moved to the Arizona desert, where she keeps a journal of the new knowledge she learns from observing the plant and animal life of her surroundings. Colorful and creative full-page paintings and collages and interesting bordered fact-bytes overshadow the stilted, didactic journal entries. The book ends with "So What Can I Do?" activities directing readers to a few books and a couple of websites.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Disaster series. Accounts of recent and historic volcanic eruptions include information on the processes that create these events, and the work of scientists attempting to predict their occurrences. The featured volcanoes include classic examples from Pompeii, Hawaii, Iceland, and the western United States. The two-page layouts are somewhat crowded, though good information can be found in the captions of the color photos. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford

(3) 4-6 Mysterious You series. Illustrated by Rose Cowles. Facts about genes and cloning are loosely grouped into four chapters covering what effect genes have on heredity, the structure and analysis of DNA, genetic mutations, and cloning. Three "Science Detective" sections cover important researchers in the field. The exaggerated collage cartoons match the breezy anecdotal style of the short chapters and text boxes. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Starting with Space series. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. By answering basic questions ("How do rockets work?"), this book offers a cursory history of space exploration from ancient legends to the invention of the telescope, space flight, and the possibility of space dwelling. Factual asides are provided by a cartoonish observatory and on "space data" pages. The busy pages also include photographs and watercolor spot art. A number of activities and a time line are provided. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs

(4) 4-6 Starting with Space series. Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Both books combine brief introductions to stars and to the planets in our solar system, along with related mythology and simple activities that illustrate concepts discussed in the texts. Readers may have to supplement the information with other sources (such as Seymour Simon's astronomy series), but these volumes are as up-to-date as the Martian fossil controversy. Adequate color illustrations and some photographs are included. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Harry Clement Stubbs