(3) YA Riverman Trilogy series. Starmer here shifts focus from protagonist Alistair (The Riverman; The Whisper) to his older sister, Keri, whose unsettling stories seem intertwined with a fantasy world that Alistair believes is connected to the unsolved disappearances of two of his classmates. The intricate, metaphor-laden plot; externalized personal struggles; and stories within stories give dedicated, intellectual middle-school readers a rich, intriguingly ambiguous world to explore.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) 4-6 Riverman Trilogy series. Twelve-year-old Alistair Cleary dives (literally) into the magical realm of Aquavania. With the help of other swimmers like him, Alistair searches for his missing friend, Fiona, and their villainous neighbor Charlie--known to Aquavania's inhabitants as The Whisper. The second installment in this haunting, sophisticated fantasy series will enthrall middle-school readers ready to tackle its rich language and literary devices.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) 4-6 Riverman Trilogy series. Set in 1989, this thriller follows Alistair Cleary as he records the life story of his neighbor, Fiona Loomis, and her travels to the world of Aquavania. As she tells of the Riverman who steals children's souls, Alistair begins to look for a real-world threat. Both thoughtful and frightening, Starmer's novel explores the nature of reality versus fantasy and the boundaries of storytelling.

Reviewer: Susan Graham