(3) K-3 Illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler. When a blizzard strands a young boy at home with his parents and little brother (a.k.a. "the scallywag") on the eve of his school report on Antarctic explorer Ernest Shackleton, he reimagines his family as a restless ice-bound crew. Ebbeler's humorous and evocative illustrations complement the pitch-perfect tone of the entertaining log-style text. An author's note and supplementary information about Shackleton are appended. Glos.

Reviewer: Kristy Pasquariello

(4) 4-6 Avid movie-maker Hester struggles to manage her executive function disorder and is perilously close to failing eighth grade. With the support of friends, family, and teachers, Hester is able to direct her own life. Short film-script scenes are interspersed in the first-person narrative. Strong character development and the realistic depiction of EFD compensate for a predictable and issue-based plot.

Reviewer: Amy Seto Forrester

(3) 4-6 Skilled geocacher Ollie, who recently helped his friend recover stolen art in Moxie and the Art of Rule Breaking, is trying to stay out of trouble until the media circus dies down. But at Wilderness Scout camp on the Boston Harbor Islands, a mystery involving lost pirate treasure lands in his lap. A lively adventure with amiable characters and a vivid setting.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Thirteen-year-old Moxie is threatened by gangsters looking for stolen property her ex-criminal (now Alzheimer's-suffering) grandfather hid for them. The goods: art stolen from the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum in 1990. Moxie and her BFF Ollie scour Boston for the art, bad guys hot on their heels. The escapade's far-fetched moments are part of the fun, and Moxie's narration is quirky and distinct.

Reviewer: Katrina Hedeen

(3) YA Ninth-grade French-horn player Elsie, spunky and driven, attends the elite Shining Birches summer music camp. She's aghast to discover marching band is her "ensemble diversity" requirement. Through a string of comical mishaps, Elsie is indoctrinated into the plume-wearing, chicken-clucking band she eventually comes to love. An entertaining story of family, friendship, first crushes, and a marching band.

Reviewer: Carrie Harasimowicz Sullivan

(3) 4-6 As the daughter of quirky Shakespeare scholars, Hamlet Kennedy already has to deal with more embarrassment than the average eighth grader, her name being the least of her concerns. When her genius seven-year-old sister Dezzie--short for Desdemona--joins her class, Hamlet's life becomes even more like a tragicomedy. Readers will enjoy this humorous story and its sympathetic heroine.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(3) 4-6 Eighth grader Celeste is horrified when her aunt enters her in the HuskyPeach modeling contest; if anyone at school finds out, she'll be teased mercilessly. But the challenge allows her to gain friends and self-confidence while losing a few pounds. With her embarrassing mishaps and fondness for Oreos, Celeste is a realistic character who will appeal to readers experiencing similarly awkward times.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Smith