(3) 4-6 A collection of ten short stories that explore the various meanings of hero (and, occasionally, villain). Written by well-known children's authors, including Jack Gantos and Pam Muñoz Ryan, the volume offers historical fiction, nonfiction, fantasy, a comic (by Cathy Camper and Raúl the Third), and more. Another strong and not-exclusively-for-guys addition to the Guys Read series.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Gris Grimly. The sixth volume in the anthology series brings us ten new spine-tingling tales from wide-ranging popular children's authors, including Rita Williams-Garcia, Adam Gidwitz, R. L. Stine, and Dav Pilkey. Many of the stories end with an uneasy twist that might genuinely scare younger or fright-averse readers; those looking for accessible chills will be pleased. Grimly's illustrations add an extra layer of creepiness.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Nine writers for young people (and one wilderness journalist) contribute the selections in this volume of putatively boy-friendly nonfiction accounts. About half the chapters recount historical or personal adventures; other topics include dental history, Jumbo the elephant, and growing up with brothers. The book as a whole won't appeal to any one reader, but every reader (girls, too) will find something to like.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Greg Ruth. This fourth collection contains ten boy-aimed science-fiction and fantasy stories from popular contemporary authors such as Rick Riordan, Rebecca Stead, Neal Shusterman, and Shaun Tan, plus one from Ray Bradbury, an inspiration to editor Scieszka. Though most of the tales here are entertaining and "mind-expandingly fun," Shusterman's and Bradbury's especially stand out as intriguing, suspenseful, and thought-provoking.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) 4-6 This collection of sports-centric short stories by Dan Gutman, Tim Green, Chris Crutcher, and other popular authors spans a variety of sports and addresses such athletics-related struggles as overcoming pressure, high expectations, teamwork, and gaining confidence; there are two brief autobiographical pieces by real athletes. Some stories are less exciting than expected, but most will engage the target boy audience.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) 4-6 Scieszka collects ten thrilling boy-aimed stories (and one comic) from well-known authors including M. T. Anderson, Walter Dean Myers, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Anthony Horowitz. Subjects encompass ghosts and criminals, supernatural monsters and Somali pirates. All of the protagonists star in suspenseful narratives that will keep readers turning pages.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) 4-6 Humorous stories by some of the most well-known contemporary writers for children, such as Eoin Colfer, Christopher Paul Curtis, Kate DiCamillo, Jack Gantos, Jon Scieszka, and others, are here compiled. While most revolve around the exploits of mischievous boys, others feature an incompetent super villain, a homicidal turkey, and alien body snatchers. Most readers will find these quick reads relatable and enjoyable.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(2) YA Almost every guy-writer for kids gets his two-to-three-page say in this fundraising (for guysread.com) collection, and it's to Scieszka's credit that he goes beyond the usual suspects to include illustrators and sports columnists as well as a few educationalists concerned with male literacy. The collection is a mixed bag of, primarily, autobiographical anecdotes that are mostly comic in intent if sometimes desultory in effect.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2005