(3) 4-6 Jenny's father is out of work, which means goodbye to Eden, Jenny's New Zealand hometown. But Jenny remembers the legend of Doc Magee, who found a huge gold nugget and then disappeared. With friends and a mysterious skeleton that's actually a map, Jenny searches for Magee's gold. Clues and puzzles abound to keep readers engaged throughout this fast-paced historical adventure, told by a colorful intrusive narrator.

Reviewer: Mariko Turk

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ben Whitehouse. Seeking a new home away from death, John and his younger sister Page flee ruthless Great-aunt Beauregard and the family coffin business. Reminiscent of The Phantom Tollbooth, this offbeat (if sometimes exhaustingly eccentric) quest features colorful secondary characters, odd inventions, and no shortage of humor as the siblings realize that home is less a place you find than a place you make.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum