(4) 4-6 Lonely deaf boy Max spends most of his time making miniature models with boarding school custodian Mr. Darrow. When Darrow disappears, Max discovers an entire minuscule civilization in the man's quarters--and Max's hearing aids allow him to hear that world's warring populace. Despite Montgomery's snappy humor and clever world-building, this high-concept tale stumbles into middle-grade-fantasy clichés: orphaned hero, evil headmaster, magic serum, etc.

Reviewer: Robyn Bahr

(4) 1-3 Classroom 13 series. Illustrated by Joelle Dreidemy. Ms. Linda's Hollywood-agent cousin comes to Classroom 13 to make the students stars. Like previous series books, each student stars in his or her own short chapter. As the students explore their talent (or lack thereof), most realize that fame is not all it's cracked up to be. Much of the humor feels forced, but the many-perspectives format is interesting and fast-moving.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) YA Nerdy model Harriet (Geek Girl; Model Misfit), now Nick's "proper girlfriend," is looking forward to the MRSE: Most Romantic Summer Ever. But when she and her parents move to New York, it doesn't turn out as Harriet hoped. While still slight stuff, it's gratifying to see Harriet (who here turns sixteen) and her idea of romance mature. Returning characters and some new zany sidekicks will please fans.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) YA Fifteen-year-old Alex, who is intersex, has been raised as a boy but wants to identify as female, which unhinges her self-absorbed mother. There's a lot packed into this Australian import: challenging family dynamics, bullying, gender identity, and sexuality. The narrative doesn't explore anything in depth and character development is uneven, but the novel offers an unusual perspective on society's influence on identity.

Reviewer: Kitty Flynn

(4) YA Messy, gawky, and still very clueless, Harriet continues her unexpected modeling career--this time working for a famous designer in Japan--with the same colorful cast of characters and several equally odd new ones. This installment (thankfully) focuses less on the value of physical beauty than its predecessor, though fans will find the same slight, over-the-top humor in Harriet's entertaining escapade.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Cupcake Diaries series. Each book (and the themed cupcakes within) are centered on a holiday--Halloween, Christmas, and Valentine's Day--with the Cupcake Club friends strongly supporting one another through crises of varying degrees: the stress of a fashion contest (Mia's), the embarrassment of a facial injury (Emma's), and a non-reciprocated valentine (Alexis's). Tween readers will relate to the rampant emotions of middle-school life. Review covers the following Cupcake Diaries titles: Alexis's Cupcake Cupid, Emma's Not-So-Sweet Dilemma, and Mia's Recipe for Disaster.

Reviewer: Sophie Williamson

(2) YA Fifteen-year-old Ted (Edwina) is tall, awkward, and clueless about clothes but has nevertheless been scouted by a top London modeling agency. Meanwhile, her gorgeous older sister, Ava, is diagnosed with lymphoma. Readers get an inside look at the modeling industry through Ted's earnest eyes, but equally compelling is Bennett's portrait of a family using love and humor to cope with serious illness.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2013

(4) YA Opportunity series. Each book in this hi/lo series features an inner-city teen who's just landed a dream summer internship thanks to mysterious mogul Harmon Holt. Fashion designing, moviemaking, songwriting, or football management, each protagonist must learn to navigate the business side of his or her field while overcoming other personal obstacles along the way. Though the stories are mostly formulaic wish fulfillment, they are quick, entertaining reads. Review covers these Opportunity titles: The Franchise, Box Office Smash, Chart Topper, and Size 0.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) YA After her mother's death, trailer-dwelling, average-looking Becky meets iconic fashion designer Tom Kelly, who magically transforms her into Rebecca, the most beautiful woman who ever lived. Becky-as-Rebecca becomes a model, actress, and international woman of mystery, and falls for the prince of England. The humor occasionally feels forced, but the satire's sheer outrageousness--and dependence on profanity--makes it wickedly entertaining.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Monster High series. The supernatural gang at Merston High has some new challenges, such as vampire Lala's attempts to win a sponsorship contest for the school. There's the usual, often grating, cutesy wordplay and of-the-moment celebrity references (e.g., Frankie's "approval rating was in the Obama-got-Osama range"), but this fourth series entry wraps up the school year in a satisfying, and apparently series-ending, conclusion.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA When fashion-minded Nonie meets Crow, she recognizes the twelve-year-old Ugandan girl's gift for design. With aid from family and friends--including a supermodel and a famous actress--Nonie helps Crow showcase her talent with a collection at London's Fashion Week. This wish-fulfillment fantasy is a little dull (except for descriptions of the wild outfits), but the altruistic message adds heart.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) YA Three young people--Freya, Khadija, and Abdi--narrate their tale of conflicting cultures and intersecting identities in this story set in contemporary London and Somalia. Somalian refugee Khadija, to pay ransom on her kidnapped brother, models for Freya's fashion designer mother. Abdi, a young man of Somali descent, comes to terms with his identity. The trio's lives are entangled in unexpected and thought-provoking ways.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) YA Melody and Frankie (Monster High) are working on a film to encourage tolerance of the monster community among human "normies." Jealous of their spotlight, Cleo, a mummy, tries to attract attention to her Teen Vogue shoot instead. The teenage monsters motif (not to mention overdone similes and pop-culture references) feels tired, but fans of the first book may enjoy this one.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA A year after her fashion model mother died in an accident, privileged fifteen-year-old Manhattanite Luna finds Mom's cell containing seven unplayed voicemails. Startling details about her mom's life (and death) are revealed, prompting further investigation. The plot is furthered by credulity-stretching details (e.g., Luna's wildly successful photography hobby), but romance and glitzy setting add allure.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(4) YA Emerson's in the body of supermodel Nikki (Airhead), and Nikki's in the body of someone else (Being Nikki). In the trilogy's final volume, Em, Nikki, and company work to expose the nefarious Stark Enterprises, the corporation responsible for their brain transplants. The story drags--due to Em's stream-of-consciousness waffling--until the teens bring down Stark in an entirely satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA People in the News series. These series entries provide a portrait of each subject's childhood, career, and influences. The texts, though superficial, are informative. Sidebars touch on related topics (e.g., Tibet in Dalai Lama, diabetes in Jonas Brothers), controversies (e.g., Fey's portrayal of Sarah Palin, DeGeneres's coming out), and trivia. There are five other spring 2010 books in this series. Reading list, timeline, websites. Ind. Review covers these People in the News titles: Tyra Banks, Hillary Clinton, Tina Fey, The Dalai Lama, Jonas Brothers, and Ellen DeGeneres.

Reviewer: Cyrisse Jaffee

(3) YA In the late 1970s, sixteen-year-old Kelle fled an abusive home life for New York to become a model. Men took advantage of her naiveté, she endured horrible living conditions (and homelessness), and she was a witness in an infamous murder trial. James's gritty memoir is hard to put down; readers will cringe at her many tribulations and cheer her eventual successes.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(4) YA Major Competitive Reality Shows series. Fans will find some behind-the-scenes tidbits from their favorite shows (e.g, America's Got Talent judge Howie Mandel shaves his head because of germs), but they're somewhat difficult to locate among the dry descriptions of each show's history and format and short biographies of judges and notable contestants. Stock photos, sidebars, and "Fast Facts" liven up the layout. Reading list, timeline, websites. Glos., ind. Review covers these Major Competitive Reality Shows titles: The Biggest Loser, Dancing with the Stars, America's Next Top Model, Project Runway, and America's Got Talent.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith

(3) 4-6 Rumblewick's Diary series. Illustrated by Sarah Warburton. In this fourth series installment, disobedient witch Haggy Aggy commands her exasperated cat sidekick Rumblewick to find the "best makeover artist in the galaxy" so she can become a supermodel. But first Rumblewick must face the High Hags about HA's overspending (due to an all-pink shopping spree). Humorous black-and-white illustrations complement Rumblewick's comical inner thoughts.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(4) YA Fourteen-year-old Lizzie feels overshadowed by her supermodel mom. When she's offered a chance to be a model herself, she finds that she enjoys the spotlight. Lizzie and her friends, also daughters of celebrities, are so privileged that sympathy for them is difficult, but Philbin (Regis's daughter) provides lots of details about the realities of growing up in the public eye.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith