(3) 1-3 Game for Adventure series. Illustrated by Flávio B. Silva. The third wordless graphic novel in a series about everyday children's games turned fantastical follows Chavo, who's last to be chosen for capture the flag and is ignored by all the players. The moonlit park morphs into an alien landscape split by team colors, and Chavo sneaks under the radar to victory. Bright, high-contrast colors and a fast pace should engage early and reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Jessica Costello

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. The hi-lo series continues with four more facile sports books, these all featuring girl protagonists: rhythmic gymnast Louie Lin (Balancing), softball catcher Rana Parisi (Softball), sports reporter Maya Esposito (Report), and ice-hockey player Alana O'Brien (STEAM). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the activity's anxieties and thrills. Silly, juvenile cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward middle-school sports stories. Review covers these Calico: Game Face titles: Balancing Act, Softball Surprise, Sports Report, and STEAM & Ice.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(3) 1-3 Game for Adventure series. Illustrated by Scott Roberts. Andrew sketches a purple blob; next thing we know the creature's outside his window and a (frustrating) game of hide-and-seek ensues (Seeker). During Belinda's game of musical chairs with classmates (including Andrew), each time the music starts the gymnasium morphs into a candy-colored playland of animate musical notes (Unbeatable). These companion wordless comics both convey volumes through facial expressions, perspective, and dynamic panel progression. Review covers these Game for Adventure titles: Andrew the Seeker and Belinda the Unbeatable.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) 1-3 Game for Adventure series. Illustrated by Scott Roberts. Andrew sketches a purple blob; next thing we know the creature's outside his window and a (frustrating) game of hide-and-seek ensues (Seeker). During Belinda's game of musical chairs with classmates (including Andrew), each time the music starts the gymnasium morphs into a candy-colored playland of animate musical notes (Unbeatable). These companion wordless comics both convey volumes through facial expressions, perspective, and dynamic panel progression. Review covers these Game for Adventure titles: Andrew the Seeker and Belinda the Unbeatable.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Immortal Game series. After Kian's death in Public Enemies, Edie goes back in time hoping to change his fate, but Kian's younger self is off-limits as a boyfriend. Then the Harbinger shows up pretending to be Edie's boyfriend; can she trust the trickster god's feelings for her? High-school social agonies and the danger of a high-stakes supernatural game with humans as pawns combine for a compelling third installment.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Brain Game Treasure Hunts series. Each book contains ten challenging illustrated puzzles (numeric and geometric puzzles, mazes, codes, patterns revealing words, etc.) in the context of a themed adventure. Math skills, logic, and spatial manipulation are required for readers to safely "return" to their starting places. One appended section provides hints to puzzle solutions; a separate section provides the actual solutions. Ind. Review covers the following Brain Game Treasure Hunts titles: Jungle Puzzles, Ocean Puzzles, Pyramid Puzzles, and Space Puzzles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Brain Game Treasure Hunts series. Each book contains ten challenging illustrated puzzles (numeric and geometric puzzles, mazes, codes, patterns revealing words, etc.) in the context of a themed adventure. Math skills, logic, and spatial manipulation are required for readers to safely "return" to their starting places. One appended section provides hints to puzzle solutions; a separate section provides the actual solutions. Ind. Review covers the following Brain Game Treasure Hunts titles: Jungle Puzzles, Ocean Puzzles, Pyramid Puzzles, and Space Puzzles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Brain Game Treasure Hunts series. Each book contains ten challenging illustrated puzzles (numeric and geometric puzzles, mazes, codes, patterns revealing words, etc.) in the context of a themed adventure. Math skills, logic, and spatial manipulation are required for readers to safely "return" to their starting places. One appended section provides hints to puzzle solutions; a separate section provides the actual solutions. Ind. Review covers the following Brain Game Treasure Hunts titles: Jungle Puzzles, Ocean Puzzles, Pyramid Puzzles, and Space Puzzles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Brain Game Treasure Hunts series. Each book contains ten challenging illustrated puzzles (numeric and geometric puzzles, mazes, codes, patterns revealing words, etc.) in the context of a themed adventure. Math skills, logic, and spatial manipulation are required for readers to safely "return" to their starting places. One appended section provides hints to puzzle solutions; a separate section provides the actual solutions. Ind. Review covers the following Brain Game Treasure Hunts titles: Jungle Puzzles, Ocean Puzzles, Pyramid Puzzles, and Space Puzzles.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 4-6 Calico: Game Face series. Illustrated by Tim Heitz. Four seventh graders face athletic challenges: Griffin reluctantly steps in as soccer goalie (Between); Javon feels the heat as a relief pitcher (Relief); Torry becomes the go-to player on the basketball court (Pressure); and Marcus questions his value in the 4x400-meter relay (Baton). Each first-person narrative pulls readers through the anxieties and thrills of the game. Silly cartoons feel mismatched with the straightforward stories. Review covers the following Calico: Game Face titles: Between the Sticks, Chasing the Baton, No Relief, and Pressure Point.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA Immortal Game series. With her life owed to Wedderburn, the winter king, for favors rendered in Mortal Danger, modern teen Edie Kramer searches for a way to release her boyfriend Kian from his bargain with Harbinger the trickster--his death for her safety. Romance and supernatural battles keep the action humming in this much weightier sequel, rife with questions of humanity, sacrifice, and the limits of vengeance.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) YA Game series. In this conclusion to the trilogy, Miki and Jackson continue trying to save the world by fighting the Drau in the Committee's live-action game simulation. An encounter with someone from Jackson's past forces the teens to question why they play (and kill). This action-packed sci-fi/romance's use of a female gamer as its protagonist is refreshing.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(4) YA Immortal Game series. Bullied by classmates, Edie Kramer is on the verge of suicide when a mysterious stranger offers her a chance at revenge--but at what cost? Aguirre builds an intricate world of nightmarish monsters involved in a deadly game with humans as pawns in this paranormal series-starter, but numerous esoteric references and arbitrary rules may frustrate some readers.

Reviewer: LIly Kessinger

(3) YA Game series. Romantically involved teens Miki and Jackson, who both have a mix of human and extraterrestrial DNA, are pulled back into the live-action video game where reality is blurred and danger is real. In this second series book (Rush), battling action takes a welcome back seat to stronger plot and character development, and a cliffhanger ending will leave fans waiting for more.

Reviewer: April Mazza