(3) 4-6 In his second story, Jack, a shipwrecked English boy, remains in Japan at Samurai Masamoto’s school learning to protect his father’s guidebook of the world’s oceans. In addition to tackling his classmates' anti-foreigner sentiment, Jack faces imminent danger as a ninja continues to hunt him. Blending historical elements with sword-clashing adventure, the exciting story effectively sets up the next installment. Glos.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA After Madison catches her boyfriend locking lips with another girl, she and her best friends form the Karma Club, "whose sole purpose is to clean up the messes that the universe has been leaving behind." The trio targets their victims' "valued possessions," like college acceptances and reputations. It's hard to ignore that the girls' tactics are life destroying, but it's nonetheless an entertaining story.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA When new-girl Jess is invited into the secret Cinderella Society her life takes a sharp turn. As a "Cindy," Jess has opportunities (e.g., dating her crush) easily within reach. Her new status also brings responsibility: she must balance the Cindys' benevolent interests with those of their enemies, the Wickeds. Cassidy's prose can be purple, but the girl-power message makes this a promising debut.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA Straight-laced cheerleader Isobel is annoyed to be paired with creepy goth classmate Varen for a school project. Her feelings (predictably) turn into attraction; she's then ensnared in Varen's fantasy world that integrates Edgar Allan Poe's dark plots and images. For those unfamiliar with Poe, this text's many twists may be frustratingly confusing; conversely, Poe fans will likely enjoy the copious allusions.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Translated by Anthea Bell. Christopher's brother, Arne, goes missing in Nepal. Christopher is magically transported to his brother's last location, where he teams up with Jumar, the country's (invisible) prince. Together they search for Arne, becoming embroiled in a battle fought by dragons and political factions, which makes the boys grow up fast and solidifies their identities. Lush descriptions of Nepal fuel this engaging fantasy adventure.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA At seventeen, Haven leaves her small town for New York City to join Ethan, a man she has never met but who has visited her in visions since she was little. Once in NYC, Haven learns that her attraction has age-old roots that threaten to entangle her. Miller creates an engaging supernatural romance/thriller with well-developed characters and satisfying plot twists.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Astrid Llewelyn (Rampant) continues in her ancestors' footsteps as a unicorn hunter protecting humankind from the violent beasts. However, when she leaves her circle of fellow huntresses to study science related to the unicorns' magic, she begins questioning the ethics of her calling. Fast paced and filled with well-defined fantastical elements and ethical dilemmas, the text is entertaining and intriguing.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA This twisted text stars Hanna, a seriously disturbed teen. Hanna fights to assimilate to life in Portero, Texas, the strangely warped town where she rejoins her estranged mother. Woven throughout, but often overpowered by strange fantastical elements, is Hanna's obsession to love and be loved by her mother; this angle adds depth and humanity to the story's surreal and violent adventures.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) PS Translated by Ray Baitner. Rubinger's rhyme scheme and illustrations challenge readers to guess an elephant's color. "I dream of an elephant whose color is..." yields, with a page turn, an image of a green, guitar-playing elephant with the text, "The animals all love this rockin' routine!" The story is a good choice for read-aloud time; toddlers will love calling out the answers.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Though it's forbidden, seventeen-year-old Kay continually sneaks over her country's border to dragon territory. There she meets Artegal, a dragon more interested in practicing English than violence. Soon the two friends are pushed into the center of a deadly border war in which allies and enemies blur. Readers will enjoy this transporting fantasy about peace, diplomacy, and standing up for your beliefs.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) 4-6 After his ship is attacked by ninja pirates, Jack finds himself stranded in "the Japans." He's taken in by a powerful warrior family, but as the gaijin (foreigner) son, he must prove himself as a warrior to quell prejudice and be fully accepted. The setting is vivid and the action fast paced; Japanese words are included throughout, making the appended glossary useful.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Bullied by their classmates, outcasts Valerie and Nick compile a "hate list." To Valerie's horror, the list serves as a roster for Nick's school shooting spree. Set post-massacre and powered by flashbacks, the story intimately explores Valerie's struggle to cope with the tragedy, including coming to terms with her complicated feelings for Nick and understanding her role in the violence.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) YA In this fifth House of Night fantasy, High Priestess Zoey Redbird and her friends battle Kalona, a fallen angel determined to claim her for his own evil needs. Although intense and entertaining, this installment drops readers into Zoey's life of vampires, fledglings, and gods with little anchoring; even some returning readers may feel adrift.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) 4-6 In addition to being the best dressmaker in the land and engaged to a prince, Creel is friends with the dragon king and queen. As in Dragon Slippers and Dragon Flight, Creel is pulled into a dragon war; this time, however, she feels pressure to protect her friends and save her wedding. This magical adventure combines imaginative dragon lore with plenty of action.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Bored in Ohio, the story's protagonist joins her parents in Panama, where her father leads the American effort to dig the canal. Privileged, she's separated from danger; however, she soon finds love in the trenches with Federico, an older, politically minded Spaniard who challenges her comfort zone. This passionate coming-of-age story explores social hierarchy, politics, and sexuality.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA After a deadly incident, teenager Luce is sent to reform school. There she meets many offbeat characters, including brooding, attractive Daniel. As Luce falls into the school's quirky rhythms, she's drawn to Daniel despite serious warnings that he's too hot to handle. Intense and well developed, the story boasts intriguing supernatural characters and roller coaster suspense.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) 4-6 Having survived a car crash that claimed her father's and sister's lives, eleven-year-old Aubrey faces many challenges, compounded when her mother abandons her. Fortunately Aubrey is taken in by her grandmother, a no-nonsense New Englander, who connects Aubrey with her extended family and neighbors in order to remind her how to love. A heartwarming story of resiliency, hope, and friendship.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) 4-6 In this sequel to The Night Tourist, Jack finds himself drawn into the underworld once again, this time with a deadly serious mission to get himself and his crush, Cora, out alive. In addition to familiar dangers, Jack and Cora face new challenges and some awkward interpersonal moments. The story skillfully adapts familiar elements of classical mythology to create a unique adventure.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA Chronicles of Faerie series. This fourth series installment finds thirteen-year-old Dana stranded in Canada, her connection to the Utopian Faerie world severed. Determined to reconnect, Dana partners with a host of mystical characters who accompany her on a perilous journey across the country. This fantastical pastiche of cultural myths effectively presents Dana's challenges in facing both adolescence and her enchanted heritage.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(3) YA When sixteen-year-old Astrid witnesses a unicorn attacking her boyfriend, she finally believes her mother's claim that she's part of an ancient family of female unicorn hunters charged with protecting humanity. Joining her fellow hunters in Italy for training, Astrid learns the secrets of her destiny. Balancing ancient mythology with modern teen issues, this tightly written story provides thrills and entertainment.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio