(4) 4-6 Twelve-year-old Sebastian Kostantinov, the untalented son of a traveling circus's ringmaster, plans to save his family's livelihood by attending the prestigious Bonaventure Circus School in Montreal. But Seb and his new friends discover that the school, like his family's circus, is near financial ruin. The circus plot is appealing, but the story never quite soars, despite likable characters.

Reviewer: Carolyn Shute

(4) 4-6 Sports Illustrated Kids: Time Machine Magazine series. Thirteen-year-old cousins Nate and Rachel discover that their grandfather's old Sports Illustrated magazines can transport them to famous moments in Olympic history, where they learn lessons about self-confidence and teamwork. While the heroes' awareness of the ultimate outcomes dampens the impact, sports fans should enjoy the front-row seats to spectacular Olympic triumphs. Dull black-and-white illustrations and appended facts are included. Glos. Review covers the following Sports Illustrated Kids: Time Machine Magazine titles: Grit and Gold, Harmony and Hoops, Pluck and Perfection, and Valor and Victory.

Reviewer: Russell Perry

(3) YA After discovering, in a particularly brutal fashion, that both her father and her boyfriend are murderers, Valentina flees Miami and heads to Montreal, where she tries to make a fresh start under an assumed name. But it's not so easy to escape the past. Readers willing to suspend disbelief will enjoy this thriller's frequent twists and brisk plotting.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(3) YA Sloane Emily Jacobs, a figure skater, and Sloane Devon Jacobs, an ice hockey player, meet en route to different skating camps in Montreal. Both girls have had major setbacks on the ice and are dreading their summers--so they pull the old switcheroo. The far-fetched but compelling story features likable characters whose conflicts involving family, boys, and sports provide ample interest.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander

(2) 4-6 Times are a little hard this year, so sixth-grader Charlie and his younger brother Max will have a "stay-cation," making their own fun in their hometown of Montreal. With energy and enthusiasm, spelled out with many an exclamation point and with added illustrations for visual appeal, this book continues the adventures related in Travels with My Family and On the Road Again!

Reviewer: Dean Schneider | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2012

(3) YA Renée (Dead Beautiful) continues her training as a Monitor of the Undead while secretly searching for a way to keep herself and Dante--her Undead soulmate--from dying for good. As dangers and mysterious deaths increase, Renée becomes distrustful of Dante. An original take on the undead, this series continues to offer plenty of both spine-tingling suspense and romantic tension.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher