(4) YA High School Horror series. Returning to Hollow Pines, Texas (Teen Frankenstein), Baker's new Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde–inspired protagonist, Cassidy, balances the devastation she experiences following a sexual assault with the terror she inspires as Marcy, a drug-fueled murderer exacting vengeance upon her attackers. The painful reality of Cassidy's situation sometimes pairs awkwardly with the campy presentation of high-school friendships, cheerleading rivalries, and horror-flick violence.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) YA While Juliet Moreau (The Madman's Daughter)--back in London after escaping her father's island--struggles to find a cure for herself and the other victims of her father's work, she discovers a shocking conspiracy amongst London's most powerful men. Shepherd hybridizes famous horror stories by H. G. Wells and Robert Louis Stevenson to create her own romance-tinged tale of monsters and murder.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(4) 4-6 Calico Chapter Books: Adventures in Extreme Reading series. Illustrated by Scott Altmann. When Uncle Dan's virtual-reality computer program that immerses readers in books is hacked, cousins Carter and Izzy head into the stories to stop the violator. Each title in this tech-savvy series focuses on a different classic novel; some may be confusing to readers unfamiliar with the original, but overall these books could serve as gateways to classic literature for children. Review covers these Adventures in Extreme Reading titles: The Calm Before the Storm, Hack Attack, Lightning Strikes Twice, and Trapped in Stormy Seas.

Reviewer: Lana Barnes

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Elementary science teacher Miss Clevis accidentally ingests chemicals and is transformed into a Jekyll/Hyde character--nasty substitute Ms. Hyde and sweet sixth grader Jackie. The pressing dilemma: how to counteract the chemical reaction before the normally well-liked teacher remains in this dual role-reversal forever. This is an entertainingly creepy story with a good-prevails-over-evil theme and intermittent black-and-white drawings.

Reviewer: Rita Soltan

(4) 4-6 Classics Illustrated series. Adapted by Mike Vosburg. Condensed graphic-novel versions of Stevenson's novel and two of Dickens's works (including the less well-known Mugby Junction) give reluctant readers an entryway into classic literature. The retellings are only adequate, but the illustrations and pacing of the graphic novels serve the material well. While not a substitute for the originals, these books retain some of the tone and flavor. Review covers these Classic Illustrated titles: Scrooge and Kidnapped.

Reviewer: Maeve Visser Knoth

(3) YA High school science geek Jill Jekel is enamored of her handsome, moody classmate Tristen Hyde; she's thrilled when he agrees to partner up for a science contest. However, their project results in the exposure of devastating secrets stemming from their families' shared lurid history. The contemporary-set tale, told from Jill and Tristen's alternating perspectives, is an effectively eerie, romantic horror story.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island series. These volumes are the first of six installments of a graphic novel version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Though the richness of language is lost in the bland prose, the multivolume format allows for a detailed retelling of Jim Hawkins's adventures. Cartoon-panel illustrations, though crowded, effectively convey variations in mood through changes in the color palette. Review covers these Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island titles: Mutiny on the [cf4]Hispanola[cf3], Treasure Island, and Treasure Island Part 2.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island series. These volumes are the first of six installments of a graphic novel version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Though the richness of language is lost in the bland prose, the multivolume format allows for a detailed retelling of Jim Hawkins's adventures. Cartoon-panel illustrations, though crowded, effectively convey variations in mood through changes in the color palette. Review covers these Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island titles: Mutiny on the [cf4]Hispanola[cf3], Treasure Island, and Treasure Island Part 2.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island series. These volumes are the first of six installments of a graphic novel version of Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island. Though the richness of language is lost in the bland prose, the multivolume format allows for a detailed retelling of Jim Hawkins's adventures. Cartoon-panel illustrations, though crowded, effectively convey variations in mood through changes in the color palette. Review covers these Marvel Illustrated: Treasure Island titles: Mutiny on the [cf4]Hispanola[cf3], Treasure Island, and Treasure Island Part 2.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Graphic Planet: Graphic Horror series. Illustrated by Jason Ho. These comic-book versions of classic and original horror tales are generally well served by the format (though the font is tiny). The dark-toned illustrations help build suspense, and characters are clearly delineated as good or evil. Readers unfamiliar with the originals may be inspired to seek them out. Most stories feature violence but not an abundance of gore. Review covers these Graphic Planet: Graphic Horror titles: Frankenstein, Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde, The Creature from the Depths, Mummy, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and Werewolf.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(4) K-3 Poetry for Young People series. Illustrated by Lucy Corvino. A rushed and perfunctory four-page biographical introduction heads this volume of poems. Although the text doesn't mention it, most of the poems can be found in A Child's Garden of Verses. Nearby definitions help with unfamiliar words, and light-toned, gently cartoonish illustrations reinforce the child-centered themes. Ind.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam