(4) YA Chemical Garden Trilogy series. This sequel to Wither follows Rhine and Gabriel (after they have escaped from the mansion in which they were near-enslaved) as they attempt a new life together. Rhine leads Gabriel to Manhattan in search of her long-lost brother, but complications leave the story with a cliffhanger ending; only die-hard fans will be eager for the third volume in this dystopian trilogy.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) YA Half-human/half-mermaid Tempest adapts to life in the sea. Leaving behind the hot selkie prince Kona to be with her ailing human brother back on land, she runs into Mark, the boy she loved before her transformation. In addition to the love triangle, there's also a war brewing with the sea witch Tiamat. Fans of Tempest Rising will enjoy this lushly written sequel.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) YA Kelsey (Tiger's Curse; Tiger's Quest) must confront five dragons to attain a treasure that will protect the one she loves. Readers will be gripped by the international myths woven throughout and the taut love triangle that emerges amidst high-stakes adventure. Though burdened by overwriting, this third installment is compulsively readable.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) 4-6 Otherworld Chronicles series. Twelve-year-old Artie Kingfisher discovers through his favorite video game that he is a reincarnation of King Arthur. Contacted by Merlin, he joins a quest through a parallel world to find Excalibur. The action is slow to start and video game fans may be put off by the lack of verisimilitude, but fans of myth-inspired adventures will devour this tale.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) YA The twelve stories in this collection vary substantially in length; the majority take place in the world of Marr's Wicked Lovely series, which will attract fans (though may deter the uninitiated). The tales set in "other worlds" are short and insubstantial. Overall, these well-told fairy tales with a gothic patina are engaging.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) K-3 Illustrated by Sue deGennaro. Prince Henrik doesn't want to marry a fussy girly-girl like his sister-in-law. His princess test involves a camping mat, a sleeping bag, and "a whole packet of frozen peas." When his hockey-playing friend Pippa has a good night’s sleep, Henrik knows he's found his match. The collage, gouache, and pencil illustrations verge on unattractive, but they suit this playful fairy tale.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) YA Billi (The Devil's Kiss) faces an ultimate and ancient evil: werewolves. Known as the Polenitsy, the warrior wolf women threaten humankind with a permanent and intense winter. Chadda, incorporating Russian and British folklore, builds a fascinating world of darkness. The novel's well-done pacing and tension create a satisfying adventure.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Elisa Chavarri. "Sticks? Yes. Straw? Yes. Bricks? Yes. Solar panels? NOOOOO!" Codell telegraphs the bare bones of six well-known tales, throwing in an eleventh-hour twist for each one. Though it's framed as a bedtime story, the text is ready-made for gleeful read-aloud participation. Playful digital illustrations alternate between vignettes and double-page spreads that offer much for readers to pore over.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) K-3 Young monkey Milo is called upon to return his grandmother's umbrella. Unfortunately, he meets one roadblock after another (pirates, space aliens, dinosaurs, etc.), delaying his journey. Fortunately, these encounters are extremely entertaining. Vibrant watercolor illustrations reflect Milo's wild adventure from home to Granny's. The fortunately/unfortunately patterned text makes this a great read-aloud.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) YA Seventeen-year-old Esme, a.k.a. MC Ferocious, is part of an all-female hip-hop group called Sister Mischief. The novel begins with Esme's coming out as a lesbian, then follows the ensuing drama as she develops a crush on a group member. The snappy dialogue smacks of trying too hard, but vibrant characterization brings the idiosyncratic subculture to life.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) YA Working at the circus for the summer, seventeen-year-old Kelsey finds herself drawn to a white tiger, who is actually a cursed ancient Indian prince. Despite clunky dialogue and implausible events, these first two volumes in a projected series (originally self-published) manage to work in an engrossing mix of Indian mythology, adventure, and romance. Review covers these titles: Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) YA Working at the circus for the summer, seventeen-year-old Kelsey finds herself drawn to a white tiger, who is actually a cursed ancient Indian prince. Despite clunky dialogue and implausible events, these first two volumes in a projected series (originally self-published) manage to work in an engrossing mix of Indian mythology, adventure, and romance. Review covers these titles: Tiger's Curse and Tiger's Quest.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Lincoln Agnew. In their second adventure, little boy Harry and his stuffed pal Horsie build a robot to help them reach the all-too-distant cookie jar atop the refrigerator. When the robot goes rogue, boy and horse must regain control. The well-paced, gleeful story line is perfectly matched by digital-looking illustrations that evoke Pop Art and retro comics.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Yeats's family is falling apart as his often-depressed father strains his mother's patience. To salvage their relationship, Yeats must travel into a volume of The Arabian Nights to save his father's childhood friend, stuck within its pages for twenty years. An engaging premise, varied characters, and lush setting help overcome the wordy prose and sometimes-plodding action.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) K-3 For his birthday, Scaredy Squirrel plans a little celebration in which nothing could possibly go wrong. Forced to confront the unexpected during his party, he comes to appreciate some spontaneity (a very, very small amount). This book, with its silly text and cheerfully busy illustrations, playfully continues the pattern and humor of the series.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore

(3) K-3 A wide-eyed, insistent rabbit begins the direct-address story on the book's cover, exclaiming to readers: "You're finally here!" The text continues in this vein, with Rabbit asking rhetorical questions ("Do you know how BORED I get when I'm waiting?"), creating a playful read-aloud experience. The digital-looking illustrations are appropriately done in understated carrot-y hues.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore