(4) YA Lacy wakes to find herself an inhabitant of a cemetery populated by ghosts that rise each night (arbitrary rules make the afterlife oppressive). As she struggles to help the dead express themselves in an open mic night, Lacy awakens the ghost of Edgar Allan Poe, forges new relationships, and comes to terms with her own demise. The darkly comedic novel is structured as a play, with varying degrees of success.

Reviewer: Megan Lynn Isaac

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Jessica Meserve. Lucy really wants to join Songwriting Club but instead goes to self-centered neighbor Scarlett's Craft Club. Scarlett tricks Lucy into doing all the work and blames Lucy when things go wrong. Eventually, Lucy learns her lesson--and also how to play the ukulele. This charming story of a kid who still loves being a silly, messy kid has spot illustrations that support readers transitioning to longer chapter books.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Ethan Long. When Alexander shares a secret notebook with his classmates that claims their teacher is a vampire, the notebook becomes a crowd-sourced chronicle of everyone's curiosity and concern, recorded alongside typical elementary-school kerfuffles. The silly premise turns heartfelt when the class learns the truth behind their teacher's behavior. Though the frequent shifts in perspective can be dizzying, the narrative voices are impressively distinct.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Twins Billy and Jillian secretly love doing good deeds, even though their parents are crooks. They're beginning to suspect they are adopted and head to the hospital to investigate. Along the way, the twins try to help a skunk who can't make a stink. Black-and-white cartoons complement the potty humor and silly hijinks. Lyrics to a "Stinky Style Song" (available online) are appended.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Billy and Jillian have frightening urges--to do good deeds! This isn't great since crime is their family's business. Hijinks abound in the first two adventures of this chapter book series as the twins try to return a stolen zoo monkey forced into pickpocketing and then a pilfered, high-ransom TV-star pooch. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations pair perfectly with the twins' harebrained schemes. Review covers these Good Crooks titles: Dog Gone! and Missing Monkey!.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Good Crooks series. Illustrated by Ward Jenkins. Billy and Jillian have frightening urges--to do good deeds! This isn't great since crime is their family's business. Hijinks abound in the first two adventures of this chapter book series as the twins try to return a stolen zoo monkey forced into pickpocketing and then a pilfered, high-ransom TV-star pooch. Cartoonlike black-and-white illustrations pair perfectly with the twins' harebrained schemes. Review covers these Good Crooks titles: Dog Gone! and Missing Monkey!.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(4) YA Her mom doesn't get her and she's never known her dad, but Minerva has always found refuge in songwriting and in her best friend, Fin. Eager to buy a new ukulele, Minerva and Fin become children's party entertainers and Minerva falls for their coworker, Hayes; meanwhile, Minerva discovers that her father has moved back to town. Though well written, the story can be melodramatic.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(4) YA Slacker guitarist Tripp and "perfect" cellist Lyla are completely different people. When they begin sharing a band practice room on alternating days they start communicating through (initially) passive aggressive notes. They eventually become friends and combine their talents to make music together. The deus ex machina ending circumvents real resolution, but the interesting premise will likely appeal to musicians.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) 4-6 Ms. Herschel's class goldfish has been stolen. Even stranger, the fishnapper is leaving behind poems as clues. Fifth-grader Edgar Allan has never been particularly good at anything, but he's sure he can find the culprit--with a little help from his new friends. This amusing, accessible book is a good introduction to both mystery stories and poetry for younger intermediate-level readers.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Ethan Long. Rambunctious, fun-loving brothers Orville and Wilbur meet their match in cousin Amelia, who loves rubber snakes, secret missions, and crazy games as much as they do. Three stories introduce separate adventures: a mystery, a museum trip, and a water park outing. Each is full of activity, Riot Brother rules, and improvised songs. The kids remain kooky, with cartoon illustrations to match.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Antonio Caparo. Trevor's family has just moved to the Hedley (a.k.a. "Deadly") Gardens apartment complex. As he seeks his place at a new school, among new friends, on a soccer team, and in an advanced science class, Trevor tries to navigate the "invisible lines" that govern his world. His frank, affable voice delivers a memorable narrative.

Reviewer: Rebecca Hachmyer

(3) K-3 Illustrated by Delphine Durand. Using a strategically placed egg and two feathers, Henrietta's big sisters convince her that she is a chicken, not a girl. Unable to face her human family, Henrietta escapes to the neighbor's farm where she finds comfort in the hen house--and leaves her sisters to deal with the parental fall-out. Clean-lined illustrations capture the silly and satisfying twist of a quirky sibling prank that backfires.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Ethan Long. In the tradition of Captain Underpants come more adventures of Orville and Wilbur Riot. The brothers continue to add to their lists of Riot Brothers rules, sayings, and games as they try to trick their mom on April Fool's Day, cook macaroni in their mouths, and expand their repertoire of sock games. Goofy cartoons echo the relentless chaos.

Reviewer: Susan Halperin

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Eric Brace. Challenged to collectively fill a notebook with anything they choose, Ms. Wurtz's students happily enter poems, drawings, and stories both factual and made-up, until they begin arguing about the notebook's rules. Presented as rotating entries with varied handwriting and funky black-and-white illustrations, the notebook highlights each student's personality as the classmates debate the rules and finally learn to work together.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Ethan Long. Wilbur and Orville, a.k.a. the Riot Brothers, decide to catch a bank robber, hunt for treasure, and "overthrow a king." In each bland escapade, the boys get sidetracked en route to the story's not-quite-expected conclusion. The tales meander, but Amato clearly understands the silly games and jokes that kids enjoy.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Christopher Ryniak. Lerner finds a magic worm--when it eats a printed word, that thing disappears--and discovers she has the power to delete what she doesn't like about her new school, most of all the oppressive popular clique. But she also learns about the dangerous seduction of power. Despite one too many subplots, humorous story-related news and Internet clippings add to the offbeat flavor of this undeniably (and unapologetically) outlandish tale.

Reviewer: Emma Loy-Santelli