(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. Professor Fauna's jalopy airplane whisks Uchenna and Elliot (The Creature of the Pines) to Laredo on the Texas-Mexico border to help another elusive mythical creature: the chupacabras. They also discover tension in the city concerning the construction of a border wall. A fast-paced plot, plenty of laughs (including in the black-and-white illustrations), and a serious discussion about the border elevate their latest adventure.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 4-6 Unicorn Rescue Society series. Illustrated by Hatem Aly. Created by Jesse Casey, Adam Gidwitz, and Chris Smith. This collaboratively created series--told through the two newest members of a worldwide society of misfits dedicated to saving mythical creatures--is witty, fast-paced, hilarious, and great fun. Starring upper-elementary-age New Jersey kids Elliot and Uchenna, each book focuses on a different creature in need of protection. Abundant black-and-white drawings spotlight the zany characters and add to the laughs. Review covers these Unicorn Rescue Society titles: The Basque Dragon, The Creature of the Pines, and Sasquatch and the Muckleshoot.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(1) YA Illustrated by Hatem Aly. In thirteenth-century France, peasant Jeanne has visions of the future; William, illegitimate son of a crusader knight and an African "Saracen," has supernatural strength; Jacob, a learned Jewish boy, has healing powers. Together they try to thwart King Louis's plan to burn all the Jewish texts in France. An ambitious mash-up of medieval saints' lives, the Joan of Arc legend, and elements of The Canterbury Tales. Bib.

Reviewer: Deirdre F. Baker | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2016

(3) 4-6 These adaptations--published in advance of the 2015 release of the seventh Star Wars movie--assume readers are familiar with the franchise and the plots of the original trilogy. The authors bring their own unique, fresh takes to elements not explained or mentioned in the movies. The novels include black-and-white halftone illustrations and full-color section-opening paintings by Ralph McQuarrie and Joe Johnston. Review covers these Star Wars titles: Return of the Jedi, A New Hope, and The Empire Strikes Back.

Reviewer: David Elzey

(2) 4-6 From the beginning, when their wicked stepfather tricks Jorinda into thinking she has decapitated Joringal (A Tale Dark & Grimm; In a Glass Grimmly), this is gruesome, grisly fun. It's not until the siblings visit the narrator in his Brooklyn classroom that they learn the importance of telling their stories. Despite the gleeful horror, this is ultimately a warm and empathetic novel.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2014

(2) 4-6 In this A Tale Dark & Grimm companion, Princess Jill joins up with cousin Jack and a frog; they set off on a life-or-death quest to find the "seeing glass," encountering goblins, mermaids, and a monster. A closing note explains sources (Grimm, Andersen, Mother Goose, Christina Rossetti, and the New Testament). This book is gory, hilarious, touching, and lyrical all at once.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(2) 4-6 Gidwitz weaves several Grimms' tales into one darkly humorous book starring Hansel and Gretel. The author interrupts the main text periodically, speaking directly to readers (e.g., "I'm sorry. I wish I could have skipped this part. I really do”). The combination of powerful stories and grade-school humor may do for the popularity of Grimm fairy tales what the Percy Jackson books did for Greek mythology.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2011

(4) 4-6 Turnstone Rain Forest Pilot series. Fossils found on the Isthmus of Panama help paleontologists understand how and when the connection between North and South America was formed and its impact on life on land and in the oceans. Several transitions between general geologic principles and the scientists' work make the narrative hard to follow, though sketches from the scientists' field notes and clear photos and drawings are helpful. Bib., glos., ind.

Reviewer: Danielle J. Ford