(3) 4-6 This companion to The Dragon with a Chocolate Heart focuses on dragon-turned-human chocolatier Aventurine's (human) friend Silke. Silke catches the attention of the princess, who assigns Silke spy duty over devious elves visiting the palace. But Silke has her own agenda: the elves took her parents years ago, and she's determined to find out what happened. Plucky Silke's first-person narrative reflects her strong, independent spirit.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Aventurine is a young dragon with a brave--and impulsive--spirit. She escapes her suffocating family cave only to drink magic hot chocolate that turns her human. As a girl, Aventurine finds her true passion apprenticing for a chocolatier. The sensory elements of this unique fantasy are well realized, from what it feels like to develop human muscles to the lush richness of hot chocolate.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) 4-6 Kat, Incorrigible series. Spirited protagonist Kat's upcoming induction into the magical Order of the Guardians is at risk thanks to missing portals and a "mysterious follower." Her witch sister, Angeline, is getting married, if her future mother-in-law and a gunman don't stop the wedding. This latest enjoyable series entry, set in an alternate 1804 Devon, England, is filled with hijinks and secrets.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Kat, Incorrigible series. In this second book (set in an alternate Regency England) Kat and her family visit Bath to avoid a scandal, but not before the enigmatic Lord Ravenscroft expels her from the Order of the Guardians. Devastated, Kat uses the little magic she knows to save relatives from wild magic, solve a mystery, and protect her sister's reputation. Fantasy and history mesh well in this fast-paced sequel.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Unladylike Adventures of Kat Stephenson series. Katherine Ann Stephenson is a plucky twelve-year-old heroine with a stubborn streak--and newly inherited magical talents. To save her nineteenth-century English family from financial ruin, unwanted betrothals, and witchcraft scandal, Kat must quickly learn what her powers are, how to use them, and whom to trust. Burgis accessibly blends fantasy elements with an introduction to Victorian society in this enjoyable series-starter.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 To save the family from financial ruin, one of Kat's sisters contemplates a loveless marriage while the other casts spells to summon a beau for herself. Tomboy Kat comes up with her own plans for her sisters' suitors after discovering that her late mother’s mirror admits her to a society of magic Guardians. A spunky heroine, lots of magic, and Regency romance conventions give this story plenty of zest.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam