(3) YA Riverman Trilogy series. Starmer here shifts focus from protagonist Alistair (The Riverman; The Whisper) to his older sister, Keri, whose unsettling stories seem intertwined with a fantasy world that Alistair believes is connected to the unsolved disappearances of two of his classmates. The intricate, metaphor-laden plot; externalized personal struggles; and stories within stories give dedicated, intellectual middle-school readers a rich, intriguingly ambiguous world to explore.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(2) YA Mara Carlyle offers gruesomely funny commentary as an epidemic of spontaneous combustion sweeps her senior class. Mara's connections to best friend Tess, boyfriend Dylan, and their classmates are both strained and deepened as the senseless reality of losing any of them at any moment takes its toll. Bursting with heartache and gore, Mara's narration appeals directly to readers' senses of horror and humor.

Reviewer: Anastasia M. Collins | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2016

(3) 4-6 Riverman Trilogy series. Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary dives (literally) into the magical realm of Aquavania. With the help of other swimmers like him, Alistair searches for his missing friend, Fiona, and their villainous neighbor Charlie--known to Aquavania's inhabitants as The Whisper. The second installment in this haunting, sophisticated fantasy series will enthrall middle-school readers ready to tackle its rich language and literary devices.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) 4-6 Riverman Trilogy series. Set in 1989, this thriller follows Alistair Cleary as he records the life story of his neighbor, Fiona Loomis, and her travels to the world of Aquavania. As she tells of the Riverman who steals children's souls, Alistair begins to look for a real-world threat. Both thoughtful and frightening, Starmer's novel explores the nature of reality versus fantasy and the boundaries of storytelling.

Reviewer: Susan Graham

(3) 4-6 During one afternoon, everyone in the world disappears--except for a small group of children. Martin believes his father's unfinished machine is connected to the event, but he needs the help of the other kids to complete it. With a colorful cast of characters and a unique setting, the story will appeal to sci-fi fans on their way to Robert Heinlein.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) 4-6 Five boys secreted away into the basement of Ho-Ho-Kus Junior High are forced to practice for upcoming state exams while their vice principal hatches an evil plan to use their DNA for a mind-control drug. The characters are paper-thin, but readers may appreciate the humorous ways the kids use their brains to free themselves and their classmates.

Reviewer: David Elzey