(4) 4-6 Resisters series. Twelve-year-old Ethan is leading a group of young squadron members to find a new base for Earth's fight against the occupying alien, Ch'zar. Action-packed scenes and video game–style battles overshadow character development and plot, but this third Resisters book will please established fans--and get them excited for more, as the series is poised to continue.

Reviewer: April Mazza

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Domenico Gnoli. Three stories leave readers wondering: What happened next? The first tells of Alberic, who spent his life searching without knowing what for. In the second a modern boy steps into a Renaissance painting. The third tells of two kings who briefly exchange kingdoms. Juster's smooth storytelling weaves together action and characterization. Gnoli's striking illustrations have a medieval feeling and are in perfect harmony.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc. | Horn Book Magazine Issue: February, 1966

(4) 4-6 Saddle Club series. In Hoof, Lisa, one of three horse-crazy friends, shares her love of riding in a weekly newspaper column, but her articles inadvertently hurt her friends. In Riding, the girls attend sleep-away camp, where they save horses from a fire and change the overly competitive attitude of other campers. The plots are shallow, but horse-lovers will gallop through these fast-paced stories. Review covers these Saddle Club titles: Hoof Beat and Riding Camp.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Saddle Club series. In Hoof, Lisa, one of three horse-crazy friends, shares her love of riding in a weekly newspaper column, but her articles inadvertently hurt her friends. In Riding, the girls attend sleep-away camp, where they save horses from a fire and change the overly competitive attitude of other campers. The plots are shallow, but horse-lovers will gallop through these fast-paced stories. Review covers these Saddle Club titles: Hoof Beat and Riding Camp.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lydia Monks. Precocious Indie Kidd, back for her fourth installment, is determined to cheer up her friend Fee whose fierce but precious cat has been run over. Fee's sadness and Indie's confusion and missteps while trying to help are accurately portrayed; playful black-and-white illustrations help diffuse the situation. Indie and her friends' numerous "Cheer-Up-Fee" plans are funny and inventive.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Eric Powell. Billy transforms into comic superhero Owlboy and returns to his underworld haven. There, he finds the town menaced by a monster called Zis-Boom-Bah. As Billy figures out how to rid his fantasy world of this creature, he learns lessons about his real world, though the story takes a protracted route to convey them. Occasional sketchlike black-and-white drawings illustrate Billy's adventures.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Saddle Club series. Three best friends are totally horse crazy. In Ranch they visit another friend at her family's ranch out west; in Play they try to save their riding stable, fearing it is about to close; and in Show they travel to New York City to see the American Horse Show. The plots are thin, but fellow horse-lovers may enjoy these breezy tales. Review covers these Saddle Club titles: Dude Ranch, Horse Play, and Horse Show.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Saddle Club series. Three best friends are totally horse crazy. In Ranch they visit another friend at her family's ranch out west; in Play they try to save their riding stable, fearing it is about to close; and in Show they travel to New York City to see the American Horse Show. The plots are thin, but fellow horse-lovers may enjoy these breezy tales. Review covers these Saddle Club titles: Dude Ranch, Horse Play, and Horse Show.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(4) 4-6 Saddle Club series. Three best friends are totally horse crazy. In Ranch they visit another friend at her family's ranch out west; in Play they try to save their riding stable, fearing it is about to close; and in Show they travel to New York City to see the American Horse Show. The plots are thin, but fellow horse-lovers may enjoy these breezy tales. Review covers these Saddle Club titles: Dude Ranch, Horse Play, and Horse Show.

Reviewer: Patricia Riley

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lydia Monks. If only Indie were a grown-up! She could take care of herself and not be treated like a kid. When her mom starts acting weird, Indie grows to realize that the adults in her life have troubles of their own. Indie's bubbly narrative and precocious spirit bring humor and an authentic voice to the story. Amusing black-and-white drawings illustrate the action.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lydia Monks. Indie Kidd means well and is only trying to help (finding a dog a home in Good and turning her stepbrother cool in Friends), but things don't work out as she planned. Indie's Briticisms may confound some readers, though most will likely be able to figure out meaning from context. Playful black-and-white illustrations add to the fun. Review covers these titles: Indie Kidd: How to be Good(ish) and Indie Kidd: Oops, I Lost My Best(est) Friends.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lydia Monks. Indie Kidd means well and is only trying to help (finding a dog a home in Good and turning her stepbrother cool in Friends), but things don't work out as she planned. Indie's Briticisms may confound some readers, though most will likely be able to figure out meaning from context. Playful black-and-white illustrations add to the fun. Review covers these titles: Indie Kidd: How to be Good(ish) and Indie Kidd: Oops, I Lost My Best(est) Friends.

Reviewer: Elizabeth Shaver

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Brie Spangler. In this fourth installment in the series, Zoe's off to camp. This isn't just any summer camp, though--it's Camp Courageous, "the premier camp for up-and-coming superheroes!" There are some surprises among the other campers, who include an old friend and a long-lost cousin. The kids' superpowers punch up this otherwise conventional summer camp story.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Eric Powell. Quiet, unassuming Billy discovers an underworld brimming with monsters awaiting the return of their superhero savior, Owlboy. The first book describes Owlboy's origins and Billy's initiation into his new role. In the second, Billy battles his bratty neighbor, whose personality makes her a formidable foe underground. Both books suffer from Billy's belabored introspection, but he's a likable unlikely hero. Review covers these titles: Billy Hooten, Owlboy and Billy Hooten, Owlboy: The Girl with the Destructo Touch.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Eric Powell. Quiet, unassuming Billy discovers an underworld brimming with monsters awaiting the return of their superhero savior, Owlboy. The first book describes Owlboy's origins and Billy's initiation into his new role. In the second, Billy battles his bratty neighbor, whose personality makes her a formidable foe underground. Both books suffer from Billy's belabored introspection, but he's a likable unlikely hero. Review covers these titles: Billy Hooten, Owlboy and Billy Hooten, Owlboy: The Girl with the Destructo Touch.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(3) 4-6 Three silly short novels (Blue Moose [1975], Return of the Moose [1979], and The Moosepire [1986]) are shoehorned into this volume, which includes a short introductory note from "The Moose." They all feature the same main character: an astute blue moose that waits tables, writes a wacky novel, and solves mysteries. The tongue-in-cheek writing style is occasionally supplemented by simple black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Brie Spangler. How can newly minted preteen superhero Zoe concentrate on passing her Superhero Federation exams when she's distracted by her brand-new supersuit? Zoe can get in trouble for using her superpowers without permission, but when she gets involved in her mother's environmental crusade, she might not have a choice. Humorous situations, exuberant narration, and comic-book-style illustrations rescue a fairly formulaic plot.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl