(2) 4-6 Ma offers a fresh take on the local fundraiser story by weaving in themes of community, identity, and gentrification. Nerdy, mythology-obsessed Lily Hong, twelve, leads a split life in the Seattle exurbs. At school, Lily competes academically with Max Zhang, the other Chinese American student in her seventh-grade class. After school, Lily reluctantly attends her parents' Mandarin academy at the local community center. She yearns to make a Buffy-style vampire film for the local talent competition, but problems arise when Max's rich parents want to buy the building and replace the community center with a new office building. The Hongs organize a last-minute Chinese dance fundraising show; suddenly Lily is taking fan- and lion-dance lessons alongside her archnemesis and discovers there is more behind his snobby facade. Ma empathetically portrays Lily's conflict between making the film with friends and her family obligations. A little-known phoenix myth is cleverly used as a symbol to show Lily's slow realization of how important the Chinese school and community center are to her and her small town. An enjoyable read, especially for arts-obsessed or community-focused tweens.

Reviewer: Michelle Lee | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2024

(4) 4-6 Six Crowns series. Illustrated by Gary Chalk. In the third installment of the quick-paced series, hedgehogs Trundle and Esmeralda continue to flee from evil Captain Grizzletusk while seeking the next crown in their quest. This time they work to wake up a sleepy phoenix in an attempt to find the Crown of Fire. Exaggerated characters are sometimes more annoying than humorous.

Reviewer: Lauren Aimonette LIang

(4) 4-6 Milly, Michael, Jason, and Jess, the stepsiblings from Be a Genie in Six Easy Steps, have the world's only phoenix roosting in their garden. While collecting magical egg-hatching aids, the children stumble into a sinister trap to sap the phoenix's power. Some flat characterizations and a moralizing tone detract from the adventure, but the plot has good pacing and plenty of suspense.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) 4-6 Looking Glass Library series. Illustrated by H. R. Millar. These sturdily bound editions include the full texts of children's literature classics with their original illustrations. Each title opens with an introduction by a contemporary children's writer; brief "About the Author" notes are appended. The compact trim size makes the font a little hard to read and the pictures a bit small. Otherwise, a decent selection. Review covers these Looking Glass Library titles: The Golden Fleece and the Heroes Who Lived Before Achilles and The Phoenix and the Carpet.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Monsters series. Each book introduces background myths and contemporary examples of the title creature, providing an overview of how stories have changed over time. Despite the volumes' dry writing, fans of Riordan's Percy Jackson books or similar adventures may enjoy learning more about mythical creatures. Photographs and illustrations enliven the texts. All but Pegasus includes website resources. Reading list. Glos., ind. Review covers these Monsters titles: Phoenix, Hydra, Pegasus, and Cerberus.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) 4-6 Nathaniel Fludd, Beastologist series. Illustrated by Kelly Murphy. When his adventurer parents are declared lost at sea, Nathaniel Fludd is sent to live with an unusual relative. He promptly finds himself on a rickety plane to Arabia where he helps birth a phoenix, befriends a gremlin, and finds out exactly what it means to be a Fludd. LeFevers's droll text is accompanied by Murphy's well-textured black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) K-3 Feng Huang wants to draw a phoenix, but she can't capture the essence of the mythical bird until she discovers "the phoenix powers of Wisdom, Clear Sight, Equality, Generosity, and Right Judgment." Demi's dramatic illustrations, with their signature touches of gold, help illuminate the concepts introduced, but the purposeful story remains rather abstract.

Reviewer: Martha Sibert

(3) 4-6 Tess, who has the ability to switch between human and animal forms, tries to free her old friend Kevin from captivity in a zoo while fending off the evil advances of Martin, a fellow switcher assuming the role of a vampire. Although this sequel to Switchers doesn't explain every plot twist satisfactorily, it's still a tighter, faster-paced novel than the first book.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta