(3) 4-6 Zombie Chasers series. Illustrated by Steve Wolfhard. In this third installment, the Zombie Chasers now have the antidote to the zombie virus, and they embark on a cross-country trip to save everyone. Fans of the series encounter plenty of decomposing zombies as Zack and his fellow middle-school Zombie Chasers face zombie Elvis impersonators and the Mall of America. Humorous, globby, gross illustrations ooze throughout the book.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) YA "Here's the thing": after high school graduation, Amanda (nicknamed Zero) is at loose ends, struggling with her art, relationships, and low self-esteem. Enter Mike, a musician attracted to her sardonic wit and passion for her work. Can Mike help Zero get out of her own way and follow her dreams? Authentic-sounding characters keep this self-actualization story from feeling stale.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) 4-6 Zombie Chasers series. Illustrated by Steve Wolfhard. Zack and his crew (The Zombie Chasers) may have the zombie antidote. They're trying to save the nation while also looking for Zack's possibly-zombified parents. This book isn't as funny or creative as the first one, but there are still plenty of goofily gross, flesh-hungry zombies and enough adventure to keep readers coming back for more.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Steve Wolfhard. The night starts off badly for Zack: he's wrapped in duct tape, made up like a girl, and filmed for the Internet. And it only gets worse from there: fast-food eaters turned zombies are taking over, lurching, smashing, and biting their way around town. This fast-moving undead adventure will delight readers. Goofy, gory drawings, including zombie-shaped chapter numbers, add to the horror-hilarity.

Reviewer: Betsy Murray

(4) YA Girlie-girl detective Sherry Holmes Baldwin (I So Don't Do Mysteries)--think Nancy Drew meets Elle Woods, for the middle school set--has a mega-crazy life: her mom is a ghost, her stepmom has a stalker, and an eighth grader is after her "überwonderful" boyfriend. Throw in psychics and robotics clubs and...yep, the plot's over-the-top, but fans of mystery-flavored chick-lit-lite will zip through.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(2) 4-6 Photographs by Richela Renkun. The author's rich, distinctive voice infuses this "book of memories" about growing up Indian under severe U.S. government restrictions in the early 1900s. In spite of the obvious hardships, Weber describes her experiences with warmth and affection in this unusually compelling memoir. Striking black-and-white photos illustrate each chapter and add to the book's appeal.

Reviewer: Kathleen Isaacs | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2005

(4) YA As Jaime struggles through the summer after high school graduation, she's determined to leave behind her life as a girl as she takes a double waitressing shift to earn back the college tuition her father stole from her. Her attempt to start fresh is hindered by a passionate romance with bad-boy Buddy. The action sometimes feels surreal, but Mosier's prose is rich with detail, and her honest tone gives this bittersweet coming-of-age novel a feeling of authenticity.

Reviewer: Alvina Ling