(2) 4-6 Breda didn't believe her single mother would really send her from Chicago to Ireland's Dingle Peninsula for the summer if she got caught stealing again, but her theft of a classmate's gym shorts earns Breda a visit to the grandfather she's never met. Granda is the epitome of the elderly taciturn farmer, and although he at first seems as unenthused as Breda is about the arrangement, he slowly warms up to her. Breda settles in, exploring the village and finding friends on a Gaelic football team, and she wonders if she might also meet the father who's never been part of her life. When a health crisis waylays Granda, Breda is able to both take charge and rely on the community she's developed, putting her newfound confidence to work and expanding her definition of family. She also develops a new appreciation for her mother, an undocumented immigrant who has spent years working for others and is finally able to start her own business. Foley does an excellent job of building the Irish setting--with the help of Granda's role as a traditional storyteller. Foley's forthright approach to puberty and periods, which are among Breda's experiences, is refreshing. This is a quiet book, with an emotionally charged conflict that often simmers beneath the surface of the page, made possible by the authentic and fully realized characters.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2022

(2) 4-6 Eleven-year-old Nolie feels adrift. Her older sister, Linden, who is preparing both to dance the role of Marie in The Nutcracker at Lincoln Center and for her bat mitzvah service, commands the bulk of the family's time and attention. Best friend Jessa's insistence that Nolie change to fit in with their peers leaves Nolie feeling equally isolated, and she begins processing her worries by picking at the skin on her thumb and stealing objects that make her feel better. The third-person narration makes Nolie's sense of loss and rejection palpable but also provides insight into the potential strength of her character. The plot offers revealing glimpses into the situations of the well-drawn and complex supporting characters as well, from Jessa's struggles with the loss of her grandmother to the pressure and antisemitism Linden faces in her high-profile role, which allows readers to feel the empathy that Nolie cannot yet find. Buoyed by the confidence of a new friend and the tough, practical guidance Linden gives upon discovering the stolen objects, Nolie begins to take responsibility for herself and her actions, and that leads her to the help she needs from her family and the confidence to start fresh. This raw story of growing up is also full of the strength, history, and warmth of a close-knit Jewish family living in Manhattan.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2022

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Ross MacDonald. In the third punderful picture book (7 Ate 9, rev. 5/17; The Upper Case) featuring Capital City's dogged detective Private I, clocks and watches are disappearing, the time-strapped letter citizens are increasingly wound up, and Private I is ticked off. The nostalgic palette of the digitally assembled watercolor and colored-pencil illustrations enhances the mood of this not-so-hard-boiled noir spoof. The lively letter characters steal the spotlight with their distinctive features (a goatee on T, an apron on B) and stick-like cartoon arms and legs. Viewers may figure out the culprit before I does, as Z is pictured in plain sight running away with the gumshoe's wristwatch early in the story. The real question remains: why steal time? Thanks to an ingenious, low-tech plan, I nabs the thief in broad daylight, and the clock-napper reveals his motive: by making the other letters late, Z hopes to finally go first. The sympathetic letters explain that life isn't all that perfect earlier in the alphabet (A is sleep-deprived, for example), and the Grammar Police take a remorseful Z away "to serve hard time." This book's wordplay and visual humor are just right for the intended audience; time is sure to fly with Time Flies in the story-hour mix.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2022

(2) 4-6 Pandava series. Aru is accused of stealing the god of love's bow and arrow. She's given ten days to return them or be stripped of her Pandava (reincarnated demigod) memories and banished from the Otherworld. The story moves at a breakneck pace as Aru encounters legendary beings from Hindu mythology, who comically interact with the modern world. The importance of how you see yourself is at the heart of this entertaining second installment. Glos.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2019

(2) 1-3 Illustrated by B Geneva. This Dragons in a Bag sequel alternates between Jaxon, Bag's protagonist, and Kavita, sister of Jaxon's best friend, Vikram. After she steals a dragon from Jaxon, Kavita has a problem: her dragon won't stop growing. She soon learns that there's a gate that will get the dragon back to the realm of magic--but the gate is open for only a short time. Meanwhile, Jaxon and Vikram look for Kavita so they can get the dragon back. Fast-paced, suspenseful, and entertaining.

Reviewer: Nicholl Denice Montgomery | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(4) 4-6 Denver tween Kazu Jones uses her daily paper route to hone her detective skills. A dognapper is on the loose, and Kazu (with the help of her sometimes-reluctant friends) starts building a case against a creepy-seeming neighbor. Then her own beloved pup is snatched, and Kazu's motivation--and the danger--increases. Many exploits strain credulity, but themes of kid-power and animal friendship come through.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(2) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Vita travels from England to New York City with her WWI-widowed mother after her grandfather loses his home (a small, rundown castle) to a real estate developer with criminal ties. Vita teams up with a street-smart pickpocket and two circus performers to launch an elaborate plot to get the castle back--a caper that turns into a fight for survival. Rundell's gift for pithy description brings the personalities and the world of Jazz Age New York to life.

Reviewer: Sarah Rettger | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2019

(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. "When I was a kid, I was a spy... The story you are about to read is true," begins Barnett; he then spins an absurd yarn culminating in young Mac's face-off against a KGB agent. The story blurs fact and fiction, integrating actual history alongside goofy characterizations of real-world leaders and silly action scenes. Quirky situational humor, heartfelt sentiment, and frequent cartoony spot illustrations create a balanced (while still outrageous) early-chapter-book caper.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2018

(2) 1-3 Mac B., Kid Spy series. Illustrated by Mike Lowery. Child spy Mac (Mac Undercover) quickly finds himself in the middle of a "howdunit" when the Queen of England's Crown Jewels are stolen from right under his nose. Barnett's signature dry wit and snappy back-and-forths keep this second offbeat installment steadily moving forward; Lowery's cartoony spot art in black, green, and orange provides additional historical and cultural information and frequently supports the narrative.

Reviewer: Patrick Gall | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2019

(3) K-3 When some sticks of color chalk return to the spot where they had drawn flowers, they find the blooms gone. They draw replacement flowers that even a (chalk) fence can't protect from the poacher. Who keeps "stealing" their drawings? (Answer: An eraser.) The book's concept is ingeniously executed--e.g., multicolored squiggles on black pages show how "the chalks chased the robber."

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(3) 4-6 Five friends in a quiet Irish town investigate an old cabin in the woods, leading to an encounter with a honey badger and the apprehension of criminals. Strong characterization, snappy dialogue, and lots of action define this engaging middle-grade mystery. The characters' backstories are revealed slowly, adding depth to the high jinks and making readers hope for more adventures with the Misfits Club.

Reviewer: Renée Wheeler

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Sara Ogilvie. When the books in Peter's classroom go missing, his dog, "Detective Dog Nell," is on the case. The well-meaning "book thief" simply needed an introduction to the library. With peppy rhyming text (including some wording that reflects the book's UK origins), this action-packed story, illustrated with humorous, colorful vignettes and spreads, is a satisfying celebration of reading, perfect for storytime.

Reviewer: Sheila M. Geraty

(4) YA Sky Hawkins's mother has disappeared and her fellow wyverns (were-dragons), headed by Sky's boyfriend Ryan, have shunned her once-privileged family. Sky is determined to carry out her first heist--a wyvern rite of passage--and to pursue the truth about her mother, but in the process discovers a huge secret in the wyvern community. Ebullient narration and rich world-building offset simplistic characterization in this standalone fantasy.

Reviewer: Ariel Baker-Gibbs

(3) 4-6 Welcome to Wonderland series. Illustrated by Kelly Kennedy. The success of the movie filmed at the Wonderland in Beach Party Surf Monkey turned the previously failing motel into a tourist destination, even drawing royal guests in this third book. When Lady Pettybone's tiara disappears during the Sandapalooza contest, motel-owners' kid P.T. investigates with his friend Gloria. The breezy mystery includes red herrings and misdirected suspicions; black-and-white drawings capture quirky characters and the kitschy beach motel.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Baseball Genius series. Twelve-year-old Jalen DeLuca (Baseball Genius) is desperate to play travel baseball, but his single dad can't afford the fees. When Jalen is caught stealing baseballs signed by Yankee James Yager, he uses his uncanny ability to predict pitches to help save Yager's flagging career. Themes of bullying and perseverance are woven through this second implausible baseball story. Short chapters keep things moving until the abrupt ending.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(3) 4-6 After her stealing compulsion lands twelve-year-old Hush in the Sass, Georgia, sheriff's office, she's offered a second chance working at a plant nursery. Bolstered by a good friend, a compassionate community of quirky characters, and the discovery of her own ability to help others, Hush flourishes. Harkey softens a story of neglect and poverty with a resilient protagonist, distinct voices, and a touch of magical realism.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marek Jagucki. The City Aquarium's rare fish are disappearing, and the head keeper is a suspect. Penguins Jackson and Quigley, aspiring FBI (Frosty Bureau of Investigation) agents, find themselves in the middle of the investigation, giving the bird-boys ample opportunities to prove their crime-solving skills and put Q's spy gadgets to use. This humorous, cozy mystery is peppered with plenty of polar-animal puns and black-and-white illustrations.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Alisa Coburn. A fox sneaks into an unoccupied home ("Hello, door") and proceeds, Grinch-like, to bag up loot: "Hello, necklace. Hello, rings. / HELLO, OTHER SPARKLY THINGS!" He's about to bolt when the irate bear owners return and throw him out ("Hello, window..."). The rhymes are word perfect, and the urbane art gives the wily fox-robber the appeal of a Looney Tunes character.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 When Sami's grandfather's rebab (a traditional Afghan instrument) is stolen, Sami trades and sells items to purchase it back from a hawker. Meanwhile, Sami gradually makes friends over soccer and tells his emotional story of migration from Afghanistan to Boston. Despite its simplistic characters, this earnest, redemptive story about friendship and overcoming loss will appeal to both sports and music fans.

Reviewer: Julie Hakim Azzam

(4) 4-6 Wanting to raise money for needy children with autism, well-off seventh grader Lauren (whose older brother is autistic) begins selling items--even stealing them to do so--and eventually drags her new friend, foster kid Sierra, into the scheme. Readers who can overlook Lauren's contrived descent into lawlessness should enjoy the honest alternating narratives (Lauren's is prose, Sierra's is in verse) about the boundaries of friendship.

Reviewer: Bridget McCaffrey