(3) YA McCutcheon "M.D." Daniels, a teen in the Witness Security Program, is recruited into the FBI once it discovers his mixed-martial-arts skills, only to be subsequently disavowed and abandoned by the Bureau. Reconnecting with his father, M.D. seeks revenge on everyone who has targeted or betrayed his family, government and criminal alike. Gritty and testosterone-driven; the action and violence mark this for mature readers.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Abby Carter. When school-supply shopping with his kids, Daddy strictly enforces the only-if-it's-on-the-list rule. But when Daddy wants something not on the list, the kids remind him of the rule--and then Daddy starts making deals. Shopping carts brimming with nonessential supplies and humorous dialogue (some of which is adult-aimed) inject welcome silliness into what can be a fraught errand.

Reviewer: Rebecca Reed Whidden

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Abby Carter. Unable to satisfy his two children's competing bedtime reading requests, Daddy conjures up a rousing space-adventure story with a heroic princess who battles "evil Space Aliens of Doom" in a flying purple "MONSTER" truck. The zany off-the-cuff tale, illustrated with energetic watercolors, throws in improbable plot twists but accomplishes the goal: two happy children, fast asleep.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) YA "Bam Bam" Daniels's father raised him to be a ferocious MMA fighter. Believing that it's the only way out of poverty, he embraces and dominates Detroit's underground cage-fighting scene. But the opportunity to attend a prestigious school causes him to rethink his choices. Despite a sensationalized portrayal of the inner-city, it is a fast-paced, gritty story told with brutally vivid language.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Abby Carter. "When I leave the house with Mommy, she packs a tasty snack...[Daddy] spends ten minutes trying to find his 'stoopid' car keys." As the book's title, which choruses throughout, makes plain, the narrator's mom-versus-dad observations pertain to all fathers. The joke will be appreciated more by parents; meanwhile, Carter scores with her happy-go-lucky scenes.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA The Nerd Girls--Maureen, Barbara, and Alice-- continue their rivalry with their middle school's mean-girls, the ThreePees. But this time the prank war goes too far, and as punishment the groups must work together to win the annual Academic Septathalon. Believable friendships and quirky (if overly sarcastic) language bolster the narrative, but a subplot involving Maureen's long-absent father mires the humor.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA Three nerdy eighth graders--Maureen, Alice, and Barbara--form an alliance to take down the popular mean-girls of Grover Park Middle School. Their plan: win first prize in the annual talent show and upset the social rankings. What begins as a no-strings-attached pact blossoms into long-lasting friendship. In this self-acceptance story, Maureen's humorous voice (heavy on the sarcasm) helps distract from the caricature-heavy cast.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) 4-6 This middle-grade book about a boy named Bobby who gets “eighteen boners a day” will undoubtedly rub people the wrong way. The penis jokes and euphemisms (some laugh-out-loud funny, others truly tasteless) just keep coming. The only person sympathetic to Bobby’s plight is his potty-mouthed grandfather. A surprisingly sweet romance helps soften the rough edges, but don't say you haven't been warned.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) YA Familia es todo is the Rodriguezes' mantra. For frustrated Sonia this means prioritizing cooking, cleaning, and serving over school and romance. The story, complete with a predatory "drunkle," violence, love at first sight, allusions to sex, and an eye-opening trip to Mexico, veers dangerously close to the telenovelas Sonia loathes, but her sharp commentary keeps it on track.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) YA Teddy is arrested while seeking revenge for the accidental gang-shooting death of his sister. As an alternative to prison, he mentors an at-risk boy. Teddy's plans to manipulate the justice system shift when he learns the police have the wrong suspect and his charge knows the truth. Occasional shifts in perspective are distracting. The violent, gritty setting is vividly portrayed.

Reviewer: David Elzey