(4) 4-6 Norse Myths series. Illustrated by Tod Smith & Rex Lokus. Thor decides to travel to Utgard, the land of the giants, but his father, Odin, commands he must take his brother, Loki, with him. Amusing mishaps at their destination prove that Loki isn't the only trickster in this straightforward Norse myth retelling. The graphic novel's old-fashioned illustration style is reminiscent of 1980s adventure comics, heavily inked in basic panel layouts. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) 4-6 Far Out Fairy Tales series. Illustrated by Omar Lozano. Sixth grader Victoria Torres's aspirations and her reality don't usually align. In these volumes, she's cast as Friar Laurence, not Juliet, in Romeo and Juliet (Drama); and she refuses to engage in dirty politics during class elections and might have to accept a lesser office (President). Believable ethical situations and a thoughtful heroine add appeal to otherwise pat middle-school fare. Activities appended. Glos. Review covers the following Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average titles: So Much Drama and Vicka for President.

Reviewer: Amy Bennett-Zendzian

(4) 4-6 Firestormers series. This new series centers on the skill, tenacity, and bravery of elite firestormers, who use technology to battle destructive forest fires; this volume is set in Klamath National Forest (a profile of the setting and a map precede the text). The narrative feels formulaic, but lots of action will hook reluctant readers. Refreshingly, strong female characters play key roles.

Reviewer: Luther B. Clegg

(4) 4-6 Shadow Squadron series. Illustrated by Wilson Tortosa & Benny Fuentes. In two fast-paced, easy-to-read episodes, a special ops military unit attempts to infiltrate enemy territory in Afghanistan and Iran to apprehend terrorist suspects threatening U.S. security. Tense computer-game-style illustrations show the Shadow Squadron fighting off enemy attacks; glossaries precede each chapter to define key words. There's no character development, but the high-energy, non-stop action will appeal to the series' fans. Review covers these Shadow Squadron titles: Dragon Teeth and Long Shadow.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Shadow Squadron series. Illustrated by Wilson Tortosa & Benny Fuentes. In two fast-paced, easy-to-read episodes, a special ops military unit attempts to infiltrate enemy territory in Afghanistan and Iran to apprehend terrorist suspects threatening U.S. security. Tense computer-game-style illustrations show the Shadow Squadron fighting off enemy attacks; glossaries precede each chapter to define key words. There's no character development, but the high-energy, non-stop action will appeal to the series' fans. Review covers these Shadow Squadron titles: Dragon Teeth and Long Shadow.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Shadow Squadron series. Illustrated by Wilson Tortosa & Benny Fuentes. Lt. Commander Cross's elite special forces team travels to Yemen to capture an Iraqi bomb-maker (Dark). In Sand, they're charged with rescuing a senator's kidnapped son in Mali. Illustrated with dark, tense artwork, these military adventures are designed to resemble classified military reports, including dossiers on the stock characters, mission briefings/debriefings, and an author interview. Short glossaries ("Com Chatter") precede each action-heavy chapter. Review covers these Shadow Squadron titles: Dark Agent and Sand Spider

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 1-3 Sports Illustrated Kids: Graphic Novels series. Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia. These graphic novels for younger readers have a similar premise: a star athlete with great physical gifts must overcome a mental block in order to realize his full potential and lead his team to victory. The comic-panel art is easy to follow; the formulaic story lines celebrate hard work, grit, and determination. Writing and discussion prompts are appended. Glos. Review includes these Sports Illustrated Kids titles: Quarterback Rush[cf1 and 8-Bit Baseball