(4) YA Sensitive fifteen-year-old Connor is reluctantly drawn into a game of Russian roulette, which ends in the death of his best friend. The story is told in brief chapters that alternate between Connor's life after the shooting, stray flashbacks, and odd fantasy scenes involving a dragon. Though the characters are well realized, the writing--choppy sentences interspersed with flowery descriptions--is self-conscious.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) YA When Deet's beloved stepfather is arrested for drug possession, Deet is mortified. He gradually overcomes his anger and shame to visit the jail and learns that small-town prison life isn't as bad as he'd assumed. Set in Alaska, this slow, character-driven story has an unsubtle message ("Jail wasn't the end of the world"), but Hill tackles the subject with class.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by True Kelley. Banned from sword fighting indoors, Arthur and Lance take their jousting outside. It's a good solution, but Arthur's steed (the neighbor's cow) tramples Mom's daffodils--right before "Daffodil Days." Though the brothers can't fix the mess, Mom wins for "most room for improvement." It's all a bit random, but both text and art have some entertaining moments.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 In this retelling, a hungry old wolf is drawn to a boy "crying wolf." The wolf convinces the boy to give him a goat but ends up sparing the goat's life (and, presumably, becomes a vegetarian) when the goat eats the weeds in his garden. The generically Asian-themed illustrations add some atmosphere to this inventive (though abstruse) version.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Rhode Montijo. Satch, Mo, and Ella (whose uncles are the Three Pigs) compose the Three Swingin' Pigs jazz trio. Big Bad Wolfie pursues them but instead discovers a love of music and joins the band. In a text accompanied by quirky, angular acrylic illustrations, the improvisational rhythm is appropriate to the jazzy theme but makes the story hard to follow, and the hepcat wordplay is overdone.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Edge Chronicles series. When the leader of the floating city of Sanctaphrax dies, his daughter is taken by scheming relatives, and his apprentice, Quint, is enrolled in the famed Knights Academy. Meanwhile, a harsh snowstorm threatens the existence of Sanctaphrax and a power struggle ensues, partially masterminded by one of Quint's conniving squire-mates. Though this epic story is slow to unfold, it is richly detailed.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. This overview of skateboarding gives the sport's history and highlights some standout athletes, and it will probably appeal more to new fans than hardcore skateboarding enthusiasts. The many exciting, up-to-date photographs and abundance of interesting sidebars will draw in reluctant readers, although the busy design and diagonally set text may prove distracting for some. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Bill Slavin. Each year Farmer Stolski's animals compete against the nasty Bush League Bandits in ice hockey, and each year they lose. This time around, despite the Bandits' cheating, the Farm Team triumphs--thanks to young chicken Mariette's quick pass and piglet Little Pete's winning goal. The story is somewhat drawn-out, but the dynamic textured illustrations capture the on-ice action.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Boris Kulikov. Inspired by his brothers' stamp and coin collections, which neither of them will share, Max decides to start his own collection of words. He cuts out words from newspapers and magazines until he can create sentences and stories that inspire his brothers. The quirky illustrations, with their exaggerated proportions and perspectives, bring this simple story to life.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 1-3 Franny K. Stein, Mad Scientist series. When going to bagpipe lessons, soccer practice, and gourmet cooking class becomes too much, young mad scientist Franny K. Stein builds three Franbots--robot replicas of herself. But something goes awry, and the Franbots are determined to destroy anyone (including Franny) who interferes with their mission. The cartoon illustrations tend to crowd the pages, but they do add humor and personality.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Mickey Moonbeam lives on "a little moon far out in space." When the alien pen pal he's never met, Quiggle, gets stranded on a nearby asteroid, Mickey hops into his spaceship and flies to the rescue. They both get a big surprise: Mickey thinks Quiggle is "gigantic" and Quiggle calls Mickey a "teeny-weeny little spaceman." This slight story is enhanced by richly textured illustrations.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Sally Wern Comport. The psychopathic kidnapper known as Skeleton Man reappears in this fast-paced sequel, along with his victims, Molly and her parents. He follows them to an isolated mountain resort, and this time he has murderous revenge on his mind. Though the villain is flat and the plot includes a lot of filler, Bruchac adds atmosphere with details from Native American and Mayan folklore.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) 4-6 Robin Plotnik begins a stint as a junior spacecraft mechanic on a giant space station, where fighter squads compete in battle simulations to prepare for a possible war with hostile aliens. Robin's quasi-coming-of-age story focuses on his relationship with his sentient gorilla boss and on a failed romance. Though episodic, this surreal black-and-white sci-fi graphic novel is full of humor, angst, and memorable characters.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Translated by Charise Myngheer. Illustrated by Alexandra Junge. Tired of his young owner's messy, smelly room, Carlos the cat sets out to find a better home. He ends up in a tidy apartment with a luxurious bed, warm milk, and expensive treats. But the good life gets old, and Carlos starts to miss his former owner. The textured, painterly illustrations add humor to this somewhat preachy story.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Kevan Atteberry. A basset hound named Lunchbox is abducted by aliens. He is accidentally made smart(er) and enlisted to help replenish their food supply--technologically processed garbage called froonga. Lunchbox's owner, Nate, helps, but their froonga production is hindered by a corrupt politician. Readers who hang in through the slow beginning (accompanied by simplistic spot illustrations) will be rewarded with a fast-paced, suspenseful ending.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 A piglet spills his milk, setting off a mildly amusing Rube Goldberg–style chain reaction (a buffer tool catches a clothesline that snags a table saw that cuts through a major support beam) that ends up demolishing his family's hillside home. Amazingly, the pigs survive unscathed. Precise architectural etchings tell the story--though sometimes not very clearly--in this wordless picture book.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) K-3 Rabbit goes to the library to read a book about wolves and unknowingly calls forth a wolf from the pages. The story includes two endings, one in which the wolf eats Rabbit and another (for "sensitive readers") where they become best friends. The mixed-media art is creative and enticing, but this sly story seems more for adults than children.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 This collection of short fiction, memoir, poems, and mini-plays is a mixed bag, ranging from the bland and disappointing to the humorous and suspenseful. Standouts feature a record breaking home-run baseball that lands in a hotel room, a stutterer who wins a big role in the school musical, and a musically challenged boy's comical experience learning the accordion.

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Gris Grimly. This story of two young monsters preparing for a visit from Santa Claws is best for those who like their Christmas creepy, as the monsters hang oozing "blistertoe" and smelly stockings, decorate a dead pine tree, and help make disgusting holiday treats. This irreverent rhyming send-up is accompanied by cheerfully spooky, spidery-lined illustrations, including imaginative mock advertisement endpapers (mail-order witch, anyone?).

Reviewer: Mark Adam

(4) 4-6 Atomic series. Animals briefly describes twelve of the deadliest creatures on earth. Places focuses on extreme weather, natural events, and dangerous animals in hazardous locales. The busy layouts include eye-catching photos and interesting informational text boxes. The slanted text design may be difficult for struggling readers. Though light on substantial information, the slim books are highly engaging. Reading list, websites. Glos., ind. Review includes these Atomic titles: The World's Most Dangerous Animals and The World's Most Dangerous Places.

Reviewer: Mark Adam