(4) 4-6 Hiding her aspiration to be a baseball pitcher, thirteen-year-old Laura is mocked by her classmates because she is overweight. Furthermore, the slave shack on her grandmother's property is embarrassing; it represents dark days in history. When both gorgeous Troy and her teacher take an interest in the shack, Laura confronts her weaknesses and family history. The story line is predictable, but Laura's transformation is believable.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Stanley watches his beloved brother go off to war and then suffers from his father's angry bouts with grief. Determined Stanley vows to protect his puppy, Soldier, from his father, and to reconnect with his brother. Stanley secures a spot in the military's messenger dog service where he and the unit's clever canines provide readers with a unique perspective on the Great War.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Dear America series. After the death of their parents, her aunt plots to institutionalize Pringle Rose's mentally handicapped brother Gideon, so the siblings escape to Chicago where Pringle takes a job as a nursemaid. But soon the 1871 Great Fire of Chicago begins. With a backdrop of unearthed secrets, union struggles, and raging flames, the brave, likable protagonist vividly recounts this dark time in Chicago history.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) YA Jessie Pearl is tangled up in emotions--her sister's tuberculosis death leaves Jessie with an infant nephew to raise, and, after giving her her first kiss, J.T. left for city work. At the heart of this not-so-fresh 1922 North Carolina–set story is Jessie's relatable quandary: should she stay to help her family or pursue her own dreams? The print is unfortunately tiny.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Rabid mechanical dogs and action-packed duels permeate this engaging novel set in a steampunk Victorian London. Charlotte and her sword-fighting friends repel the metal beasts, but, predictably, her father, surgeon to the Queen, ignores his daughter's allegations. Eventually Charlotte's spirited character wins her father over as she battles gender roles and a devilish plot to kill the Queen.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA When Ingrid arrives in Paris, she discovers that her home is an abbey guarded by gargoyles and her twin brother is missing. These mysteries are connected, and their unveiling will determine her future. Through twisted characters and dark caves, readers connect with Ingrid as she searches for the secret that will free her brother and prevent her being lost to the underworld.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Fifteen-year-old Faten wants to become a nurse--one day. But her toils promise no such future. Arranged by her father to be a maid for a wealthy family in war-torn Beirut, Faten longs to return to her Lebanese village; she takes on another dream when blond Marwan captures her interest. Faten's quiet resolve is satisfying in this unusual story.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 With Paul Mantell. In their final junior-high season, identical twins Tiki and Ronde dream of winning the championship, but overconfident teammates and a quarterback with a concussion threaten their success. Meanwhile, the twins' mom, who works two jobs to support them, stresses the importance of schoolwork. Awkward dialogue hampers the NFL players' sixth book, which, as usual, is packed with game details.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 From an autistic high school senior setting a school record for three-pointers to the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team's "miracle on ice," this collection of true stories focuses on unlikely heroes in the sports arena. Play-by-play media reports, action photos, and "Fast Fact" sidebars add colorful commentary to sportscaster Berman's informative, readable overview. An audio CD contains the actual broadcasts.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Katerina Trilogy series. Vampires, wolves, and a protagonist with supernatural powers provide the tension for this mystery set in 1880s St. Petersburg, Russia. There are lots of period details (and many characters to keep straight); the narrative gives readers insight into a czarist Russian culture that promotes proper aristocratic marriages and forbids Duchess Katerina (the book's protagonist) from studying medicine.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Katerina Trilogy series. Katerina's (The Gathering Storm) power as a necromancer is proving to be harmful to herself and others. When her love, tsar's son George Alexandrovich, insists she stay at her finishing school where she will be safe, she reluctantly obeys--only to find herself threatened by a sinister ghost. Bridges convincingly weaves 1880s Russian aristocracy with the supernatural in this dark, complex second volume.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Merman Calder and his sisters can dive deep to investigate sunken ships in Lake Superior or change into human form and meander the streets of Bayfield, Wisconsin. Charged with luring human Lily's father (who they think killed their mother) to the water, Calder grapples with his sisters' cruel intentions and Lily's lovely aura. Readers will appreciate the unique twists on relationships and acceptance.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Numerous challenges faced by four sixth-grade friends threaten their basketball season. When Gig's father is injured in Afghanistan, Gig goes missing. Narrator Jackson must figure out how to get Gig back in the game. Plus, the big dance is only days away, and Jackson is without a date. Middle-school angst combined with contemporary events heighten the appeal of this winning read.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Lisa K. Weber. When tough guy Tyler tells nerdy Charlie to meet him after school in an alley, Charlie assumes the worst. But it turns out Ty needs Charlie's help--mysterious things have been happening at a hotel for retired magicians where Ty lives with his parents. Charlie's photographic memory and Ty's inside knowledge lead the two on this enjoyable romp through mirrored hallways and spooky basements.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Travel Team series. The Roadrunners travel baseball team encounters daunting opponents on the field while tensions off the field threaten the team's solidarity. Dustin's father blackmails the coach; Sammy loses his power hitting when forced to switch from aluminum to wood bats; Trip alienates his father when he considers pursuing music instead of the major leagues. Crisp dialogue and personal challenges keep this series alive for baseball fans. Review covers these Travel Team titles: Forced Out, Power Hitter, and Out of Control.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Playmakers series. This series presents athlete biographies for middle-grade readers. Hometowns, family lives, and charitable work are briefly noted, but the dry text mostly highlights players' careers. "Fun Facts and Quotes" offer more personal information: Nowitzki refuses to endorse products to earn extra money; Brady almost always signs autographs when asked. Captioned color photographs add interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playmakers titles: Dirk Nowitzki, Tom Brady, Carmelo Anthony, and Roy Halladay.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(4) 4-6 Playmakers series. This series presents athlete biographies for middle-grade readers. Hometowns, family lives, and charitable work are briefly noted, but the dry text mostly highlights players' careers. "Fun Facts and Quotes" offer more personal information: Nowitzki refuses to endorse products to earn extra money; Brady almost always signs autographs when asked. Captioned color photographs add interest. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Playmakers titles: Dirk Nowitzki, Tom Brady, Carmelo Anthony, and Roy Halladay.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) 4-6 Harrison's mother died an addict and his foster father is abusive. Then he's rescued by a caseworker and placed in a new family. Harrison finds his calling on the football field, but his glory is cut short when he must battle cancer, his toughest obstacle yet. This book offers Green's signature sports action as well as a thoughtful outlook on illness and recovery.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Orca Currents series. After their father's death, their mom becomes depressed, and twelve-year-old Max finds himself taking care of his older brother Duncan, who has some unspecified special needs. Reluctant readers will be drawn to the sports story (Max plays hockey) and will easily engage with the family's difficulties and the believable bullying conflict in this well-written novel.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull

(3) YA Josh must decide: does he go back in time and alter history to save his father, or does he remain in the present to rescue his kidnapped mother and best friends from the Sect of Huracan? The mysterious Bracelet of Itzamna may provide the means for time travel, but time is running out in this taut end-of-the-world series entry.

Reviewer: Nancy Hull