(3) 4-6 Keepers series. Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. After losing strongholds and allies, Keepers Horace and Chloe and their friends prepare to die guarding the now-weakened Mothergates. Their only hope is a mysterious, magical loom, which must be found and unlocked to save the world. Despite its high page count, series fans will move quickly through this satisfying final chapter in Sanders's Keepers quartet.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Horace J. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. Twelve-year-old Time Keeper Horace (The Secret of the Scarab Beetle) finds a new time portal, landing him and his friends in 1920s Detroit. There they find Horace's mentor, who instructs them to find and protect the powerful Benben Stone to prevent further destruction of portals and save the Time Keepers from a mysterious threat. Unfortunately, this second book's lackluster plot detracts from the historical intrigue.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) 4-6 Creature Keepers series. Illustrated by Rohitash Rao. Jordan Grimsley just wants a simple, fun-filled Mexican vacation free of Creature Keepers responsibilities. But despite being frozen at the end of Creature Keepers and the Burgled Blizzard-Bristles, Jordan's nemesis Chupacabra is again attempting world domination. A host of familiar humans and cryptids feature in this exciting and funny final showdown. Frequent cartoon-style line drawings should help engage reluctant readers.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Keepers series. Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. In the third Keepers book, Chloe and Horace realize their Tan'ji (talismans) may be losing power. Meanwhile, after rescuing April from evil Dr. Jericho, the kids reunite with elder Wardens to unravel the ongoing war between Keepers and the Riven. Sanders's appealing characters and engaging story line keep the middle-grade fantasy series going strong.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. Albert Flynn and his fellow Balance Keepers return to Earth's Core to restore the Realm of Belltroll before its tremors destroy the surface world. While trying to fix the imbalance, Albert must also unmask the traitor bent on stealing his all-powerful Master Tile. Despite the formulaic elements, this finale offers humor and camaraderie, plus some twists for series fans.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(4) 4-6 Horace J. Edwards and the Time Keepers series. After his grandfather unexpectedly dies, Horace's grandmother mysteriously instructs him to "find the key and help the boy." When a stranger gives Horace a stone scarab beetle that allows him to travel to ancient Egypt, Horace discovers that the future King Tut is in trouble. While the time-travel and magical components of this middle-grade adventure are lackluster, the historical elements are fascinating and insightful.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(3) 4-6 Keepers series. Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. New Keepers Horace (who can see the future) and Chloe (who can become incorporeal) are joined by April, who, having found a piece of vine-like jewelry that gives her the ability to understand animals, is being hunted by the Keepers' greatest enemy: the Riven. This hefty second volume further develops the intricately designed fantasy world populated with likable and engaging characters. Glos.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) YA Keepers' Chronicles series. With her family divided and presumed dead, Johanna (The Storyspinner), rightful heir of Santarem, joins love interest Rafi to fight a villainous Keeper from the other side of the Wall, who is enslaving people using magical collars. Complex romance cushions the war-driven momentum, and quickly alternating narrators in the finale accelerates the magical battle to a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. A disturbance in the underground domain of Ponderay is causing great devastation on the surface, so Albert Flynn returns to the Earth's Core with his fellow Balance Keepers. However, as they train to enter the endangered territory, a traitor seems bent on destroying the Core from within. Despite formulaic story elements, the humor, camaraderie, and inventive world-building will satisfy fans.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Creature Keepers series. Bigfoot doesn't like to be called "Bigfoot" or "Sasquatch." He prefers "Syd"--which Jordan and Abbie, grandchildren of a legendary cryptozoologist, learn when they're sent to the Canadian wilderness to protect him. But Syd's not the only cryptid in trouble, as the nefarious Gusto has returned. Aided by cartoon-style line drawings, this second offering is as lively and comical as the first.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Keepers series. Illustrated by Iacopo Bruno. Horace F. Andrews sees a sign on his way home: "Horace F. Andrews." Investigating, Horace is accosted by a tall, skinny man, and he runs toward the sign (which now says "House of Answers") for safety. There begins his adventures involving a box, a warning, and a gift. Fantasy fans should find this hefty novel appealing. Glos.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) YA Keepers' Chronicles series. After her father's death, Johanna spins stories to support her family, unaware that she's the lost princess in her tales (and heir to the throne). Action quickly unfolds from various vantage points, revealing secrets as disparate subplots merge, including magical Keepers from across the wall, an honor-bound duke, and deadly assassins. There's a lot going on, but the fast pace will keep readers engaged.

Reviewer: Andrea Curtis

(4) 4-6 Balance Keepers series. Albert Flynn's boring summer is turned upside down when he discovers he is a Balance Keeper tasked with maintaining three mystical territories hidden beneath the earth. When an imbalance in the Calderon realm wreaks havoc on the surface, Albert and friends must set things right. Subterranean worlds, humor, and magic-school dynamics combine in a quick-paced but formulaic and familiar series-starter.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) 4-6 Creature Keepers series. Twelve-year-old Jordan is stuck cleaning out his dead grandfather's house in a Florida swamp, and he's initially bored stupid. But it turns out that Grandpa Grimsley wasn't just a crazy old man--he protected creatures like the New Jersey Devil and the Loch Ness Monster. Now it's Jordan's turn. The series-starter's energetic plotting is laced with humor; cartoon-style line drawings appear liberally.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) 4-6 Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series. Illustrated by Adam Stower. Ben, Jill, and Robert continue their efforts to save their school from demolition by unsavory corporate forces. Clements deftly weaves setting and plot, but copious series re-capping drags the pacing down, and references to historical battles are almost too subtle. Stower festoons his pen-and-ink drawings with splashes of green, mixing modern characters with an old-fashioned mystery look.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) 4-6 Dragon Keepers series. Illustrated by John Shroades. Book six of the series sees cousins Daisy and Jesse following their dragon, Emmy, to help Santa Claus. But something's fishy at the North Pole, and it turns out that the person they've been helping is actually the legendary hero Beowulf. Younger readers may crave the real-deal Santa, but there's adventure and magic aplenty. Whimsical black-and-white illustrations open each chapter.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Benjamin Pratt and the Keepers of the School series. Illustrated by Adam Stower. This third volume in the series advances the mystery hidden within the old Oakes School; adds a third, unexpected keeper to Ben and Jill's partnership; further develops the kids' personal story lines; and continues their plot to stop greedy developers from turning the valuable seaside parcel into an amusement park. Stower's retro-looking spot illustrations enhance the fast-moving installment.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(4) 4-6 Dragon Keepers series. Illustrated by John Shroades. Cousins Jesse and Daisy are visiting their grandmother (without dragon Emmy). They discover a golden Thunder Egg, containing a baby dragon, and are pulled into the Watery Realms. Mythical characters abound, from selkies to mermages to underwater zombies, in this fifth series entry that will keep fans reading. A (gimmicky) "dragon footnote" feature throughout directs readers to the series' website.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(2) 4-6 Keepers Trilogy series. In the final volume of the trilogy, Goldie, Toadspit, and Bonnie return to the city of Jewel only to find that the villainous Fugleman has made himself Lord High Protector. If the plotting and characterization falter just a little bit, the book's minor stumbles are more than compensated for by an evocative setting, a unique cast of characters, and a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2013

(3) 4-6 Dragon Keepers series. Illustrated by John Shroades. Just when Dragon Keepers Jesse and Daisy think they're getting the hang of taking care of Emmy, the dragon runs away to a volcanic underworld called the Fiery Realm. Fans of the series won't be disappointed by this fourth adventure that features as much tween sass as it does magic. Black-and-white chapter-opening illustrations enhance the story's element of wonder.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay