(2) 4-6 After her sister Holly's death, Emily is visited by inhabitants of Smockeroon, the fantasyland Emily had created for Holly where toys came to life. This unusual grief narrative excels at re-creating imaginative play with running jokes, silly wordplay, absurdity, and intensity. The story is wise in the ways of loss as Emily discovers that the route through grief lies in engaging with the world.

Reviewer: Sarah Ellis | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) 4-6 Saunders imagines the Pemberton children from E. Nesbit's Psammead stories as young adults during WWI. The Psammead, still curmudgeonly and vain, reappears in 1914 and stays with the siblings for most of the war's duration. With issues of social and gender inequality and a compassionate take on the ruins of war, the book is historically convincing, thought-provoking, and sensitive to Nesbit's interests.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(4) 4-6 Eleven-year-old twins Oz and Lily (The Whizz Pop Chocolate Shop) and their friend Caydon are back to help the Secret Ministry of the Unexplained stop an ancient evil witch from using a magical chocolate phoenix to create time-traveling havoc. Action-packed adventures, likable characters, and tidbits of London history make up for uneven pacing. Readers may note some resemblance to elements from Harry Potter.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 4-6 Twins Oz and Lily move into a house above a former chocolate shop. A talking cat who works for the SMU (Secret Ministry of the Unexplained) enlists the twins in helping capture their evil (and immortal) ancestor who's on the lam. Brimming with magical chocolate spells, underground adventures, goblins, and dangerous twists, this is a treat for light adventure lovers.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(3) 4-6 Demisprite Tom's fairy dad is wanted by the ruling family of the fairy Realm, and his mortal mom is hiding in a jar of sundried tomatoes. It's up to Tom, three eccentric fairy godmothers, and hapless possible cousin Pindar to save Dad and keep Mom safe. This is a whimsical, humorous romp with well-developed characters readers will invest in.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Modern-day girl Flora nods off on her way to boarding school and wakes up in 1935. Initially horrified at life without modern conveniences, Flora grows to appreciate the friends she makes. It is only upon returning home that she understands the significance of those friendships. Saunders crafts a winning combination of British school story and time-travel adventure.

Reviewer: Amanda Mc. MacGregor

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by William Carman. Eleven-year-old Jane is excited to spend summer vacation with her new (and slightly odd) friend Staffa. She never expects to find herself transported to a miniaturized world whose elfin inhabitants are in revolt against their villainous queen, Staffa's mother. Imaginative details abound in this U.K.-set light fantasy. Appropriately mysterious black-and-white chapter-opener illustrations will keep readers guessing.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute