(1) K-3 Summer on the blacktop courts of ­Milwaukee gets infinitely more exciting when a new kid joins the Eagles. From the first time they see him handle a basketball, the team members know that with Gravity on their squad they have a chance to be the best in the city. Palmer's (Mama Africa!, rev. 11/17; A Plan for the People, rev. 7/21) entertaining modern-day tall tale, told in direct-address by teammate Butta, is heavy on both hyperbole and basketball action: "Gravity once jumped so high that we were able to go out for ice cream before he came down." On-point gameplay descriptions bring readers into the action as the awe-inspiring heroics of a mythically great ballplayer take center court. The story's climax is at the city finals where the Eagles realize they can't rely only on Gravity's immense skills and abilities to overcome their opponents. Vivid colors and heavy brushstrokes bring the city, its courts, and the characters to life, with the fluid basketball movements and positioning of the players being exceptionally well rendered. Palmer's author note dedicates the story to "unsung basketball greats who never made it to the NBA but left a lasting impression on those who witnessed their incredible feats and heard their amazing stories." Hand off to fans of Peoples-Riley's I Got Next (rev. 11/19) and Myers's H.O.R.S.E. (rev. 1/13).

Reviewer: Eric Carpenter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2022

(1) 4-6 In this story of coping with loss and change, lonely twelve-year-old Amelia befriends the local clay studio owner's visiting nephew, Casey, during spring-break week. When they encounter a woman resembling Amelia's mother--who died when Amelia was two--the friends begin to imagine the impossible. The week's cheerlessness morphs into something complex and important as new people enter Amelia's world, enabling her to better understand herself and those she loves.

Reviewer: Julie Roach | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2019

(3) YA High-school senior Craig doesn't know much about the world, but he knows he's desperately in love with Amy--enough to keep pursuing her after each of their many breakups (recounted nonsequentially throughout the novel). Everything Craig does to impress Amy ultimately helps him learn about the person he wants to be. This coming-of-age story's 1990s-Wisconsin setting is believably and vividly rendered.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Still grieving her grandmother's recent passing, freshman Abbi hopes that college will provide a fresh start. Waking one morning back in 1983, however, sets her on an unexpected journey--one involving a handsome fellow time-traveler as well as family secrets, including her grandmother's mysterious last words to "find the baby." Despite contrived dialogue, the plot should entertain time-travel fans.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) YA Escaping a tumultuous home life with her mother, Kacey finds stability in Wisconsin with her father and new stepfamily. Kacey even quickly makes friends--but when one of them disappears, Kacey becomes embroiled in the investigation and gains new insights into the friends' motivations. Some narrative choices feel overly flummoxing, but fans of psychological thrillers will nevertheless respond to this dark, twisty mystery.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox JV series. A mixture of fast-paced sports action and interpersonal conflicts plays out in these message-based hi-lo novels about middle schoolers on JV basketball, snowboarding, soccer, and tae kwon do teams. Readers will relate to the characters' emotions in each predictably resolved conflict. The easy-to-read books also include discussion questions, writing prompts, and interesting facts about each sport. Glos. Review covers the following Jake Maddox JV titles: Basketball Breakdown, Snowboard Struggle, Soccer Step-Up, and Tae Kwon Do Clash.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(2) 4-6 In World War II England, best friends Lottie and Kitty are kidnapped to force Lottie's scientist father to reveal the secrets of time travel. Lottie escapes through a time portal--leaving Kitty behind. In 2013 Wisconsin, Lottie searches for answers about her friend's fate. Sales handles time travel lightly, allowing her to explore perspectives on time and aging without getting bogged down in details.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2016

(4) YA Alys Aronson feels defined as the sister of a boy who shot down fifteen people in their suburban-Wisconsin high school before taking his own life, and she's haunted by a girl she witnessed Luke kill. In this timely and engrossing but melodramatic story of a tragedy's aftermath, Alys confronts loss and alienation as she seeks a way to heal.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(4) YA Charbonneau explores the dehumanizing potential of internet anonymity via the mysterious new social network NEED, through which students obtain their needs by performing simple tasks. This soon turns deadly: think Strangers on a Train 2.0. Extremely well-wrought tension in the book's final third rewards patient readers but doesn’t outweigh the glut of hard-to-track rotating perspectives or the strained reveal of NEED's origin.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(2) K-3 Illustrated by Jed Henry. Sam is finally old enough to participate in the fall cranberry harvest on his parents' farm. From the flooding of the cranberry marshes to the booming, corralling, suctioning, cleaning, and delivering, details of the harvest are informative. The illustrations' reds, yellows, and oranges create a vibrant and cozy fall setting. Recipes and an author's note are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Willa Zhang | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2015

(4) 4-6 When a T. rex hatches from the mysterious egg he finds, Martin discovers that keeping Rufus a secret from those with nefarious intentions is even more dangerous than feeding the growing dinosaur. Some characters feel stilted, and the fact that the kids don't immediately recognize Rufus as a dinosaur strains belief. Nevertheless, the premise delivers with action and humor in spades.

Reviewer: Lauren Chambers

(4) YA Suspended series. Fast-paced, slangy first-person narratives focus on the story behind each protagonist's suspension and touch on issues such as bullying, racism, cheating, and coming out. Short chapters and wide margins make this school-centered, high-interest series a good choice for low-reading-level teens, even if the moral messages are heavy-handed. Covers feature edgy photos of a diverse selection of teens. Review covers these Suspended titles: A Cut Too Far, The Confessional, Testing the Truth, Over the Tracks, and High Drama.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(2) K-3 As a girl, Mary Nohl "was happiest when her hands were busy making, building, creating things." Later she returns to the Wisconsin lake house she'd helped her father build and begins a lifelong art project, erecting a menagerie of larger-than-life sculptures inspired by her world travels. Touches of whimsy reflect Mary's outsized imagination; digital collages of scratchy, affectionate paintings mirror this sense of wonder. Bib.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2015

(3) 4-6 Ten-year-old Christa and eleven-year-old Alex lack nothing in imagination when it comes to outdoor summertime fun. When one of their inventive activities turns into a real-life treasure hunt for Al Capone's hidden loot, they also see a chance to stop the sale of Christa's family's beloved lake cabin. This appealing novel capably balances an engaging adventure plot with an emphasis on family and friendship.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez

(4) YA Life isn't proving easy for lovers Lily and Calder: Lily's mermaid-to-human transition is still painful, a family heirloom is giving her nightmares, and Calder's sisters are vying to control the Lake Superior mer-clan. In this jam-packed conclusion (Lies Beneath; Deep Betrayal), the interlocking mermaid relationships are deeply delved into and the world-building is expanded, but this will only resonate with dedicated followers.

Reviewer: Sian Gaetano

(3) YA The grisly murder of homecoming queen Ruth Fried rocks Friendship, Wisconsin, population 688. Ruth's best friend, Kippy, isn't convinced the police have the right suspect and investigates, treading a dangerous path on which she finds that even seemingly trustworthy adults aren't worthy of her trust at all. Kippy's plight is absorbing to the very end of this creepy, compelling mystery.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Horse Diaries series. Illustrated by Ruth Sanderson. Jingle, a Clydesdale working in 1915 Wisconsin, has a special bond with his human girl, Kari. On Christmas Eve, the family's newfangled Model T slides into a snow bank, and it's Jingle and Kari to the rescue. Details about Jul (Norwegian Christmas season) and the transition to cars embellish this sweet horse's-eye-view tale. An appendix includes information on Clydesdales and the setting as well as activities.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam

(3) 4-6 Esther's father loses his job in the midst of the Great Depression and sees moving to the country as the family's only hope. Farm life is far from idyllic, and Esther longs for some show of love from her distant, superstitious Russian-immigrant mother. The family's poverty and hardships are nicely woven into a story of family love lost and found.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(3) YA A soldier serving in Afghanistan recounts the series of complicated events that led to the brutal killing of his estranged friend in their small Wisconsin town. Unable to explain what he saw that night or why he didn't help, Ben covered his tracks before investigating on his own. Ben's story is a tense and tragic exploration of intolerance and the elusiveness of truth.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) YA About to graduate from high school, Lily has a big secret: her dad and boyfriend are mermen. These aren't the creatures of fairy tales but mer-people on the brink of war, a war Lily herself must learn to fight. This installment doesn't stand alone and Lily's narration can be unfocused at times, but fans of Lies Beneath will be pulled right into this sequel.

Reviewer: Margaret Nell Becker