(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. A message that seems to be from Jack Starbright, who Alex thought was dead, sets the ostensibly retired young spy on another high-stakes international adventure, one that ultimately involves a (disturbing) threat on the lives of a group of children. This is the sort of whirlwind, adrenaline-driven mission that fans have come to expect from the series.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Gatekeepers series. After being sent forward in time and scattered across the globe, the five Gatekeepers must reunite in Antarctica to prevent the Old Ones from destroying the world. Perspective-switching third-person narration and clumsy exposition turn what should be a fast-paced adventure into a predictable, overly long book, but fans of the series will enjoy this fifth installment in the Five's adventures.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. The life story of Yassen Gregorovich, teen spy Alex Rider's archenemy, humanizes the assassin as it details his courage through the (sometimes unbelievable) hardships leading to his murderous career. Alex appears only in the frame story, but series fans will welcome the flipped perspective. This page-turner can stand alone and will likely make any new readers curious about the main series.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Horowitz first adapted most of these stories thirty years ago, but the culturally varied myths resonate well in their new packaging. Balancing the heroic and the macabre, these dryly humorous, sometimes gory retellings hold particular appeal for reluctant readers. The conversational language also lends itself well to reading aloud. Black-and-white illustrations provide occasional breaks in the text while adding visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Death and the Underworld and Heroes and Villains.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Horowitz first adapted most of these stories thirty years ago, but the culturally varied myths resonate well in their new packaging. Balancing the heroic and the macabre, these dryly humorous, sometimes gory retellings hold particular appeal for reluctant readers. The conversational language also lends itself well to reading aloud. Black-and-white illustrations provide occasional breaks in the text while adding visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Death and the Underworld and Heroes and Villains.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(4) YA This volume presents a collection of horror stories, with an emphasis on the gory; the characters' unfortunate demises are related in intricate, bloody detail. Though not all of the stories are particularly inspired, a few feature some refreshing humor amidst all of the entrails ("Why Horror Has No Place in Children's Books," "The Man Who Killed Darren Shan").

Reviewer: Antonio Trujillo

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Stories from Horowitz's previously published Kingfisher Book of Myths and Legends are presented in these two volumes, modestly re-edited and with new illustrations. Under Horowitz's hand, the tales from around the world have a casual tone, accessible language, dry humor, and just enough gore to keep reluctant readers going. Black-and-white illustrations add some excitement and visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Battles and Quests and Beasts and Monsters.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) 4-6 Legends series. Illustrated by Thomas Yeates. Stories from Horowitz's previously published Kingfisher Book of Myths and Legends are presented in these two volumes, modestly re-edited and with new illustrations. Under Horowitz's hand, the tales from around the world have a casual tone, accessible language, dry humor, and just enough gore to keep reluctant readers going. Black-and-white illustrations add some excitement and visual interest. Review covers these Legends titles: Battles and Quests and Beasts and Monsters.

Reviewer: Bethany Templeton Klem

(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. In his eighth appearance, teen spy Alex Rider agrees to just one more small task for MI6. But that mission makes the crafters of murderous botanical schemes interested in what he knows...enough to warrant a bi-continental kidnapping; the titular reptiles play a frightening role. Readers who like their action with no holds barred will race through this well-paced thriller.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Gatekeepers series. A British teen of Chinese descent, Scarlett is the fifth Gatekeeper destined to save the world from the Old Ones. Traveling to Hong Kong, she finds a city full of shape-changers and corpses. In a race against time, the other Gatekeepers try to save her. Despite some unfortunate stereotypes, this gory, well-paced adventure will keep series fans engaged.

Reviewer: Deborah Kaplan

(3) YA In his second year at Groosham Grange, a school for dark magicians, David Eliot has gotten used to the unusual teachers and classes. He's determined to win the Unholy Grail, the top student prize, but first he has to rescue the school itself from destruction. Horowitz's blend of horror, humor, and exaggerated characters makes for an exciting and involving read.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) 4-6 Wealthy Tad Spencer switches bodies with transient carnival kid Bob Snarby and becomes embroiled in Oliver Twist-like adventures. Eventually, Tad (as Bob) uncovers an evil plot involving his own parents experimenting on children while manufacturing beauty products. Told entirely from Tad's perspective, Horowitz's dramatic take on a Freaky Friday-ish theme is enjoyably suspenseful.

Reviewer: T. Borregaard

(3) YA After being expelled, David Eliot enrolls at Groosham Grange, an exclusive and remote boarding school, and he finds that he is expected to join its teachers and students in a magical conspiracy. The level of violence may put off some readers, but horror fans will revel in the dark atmosphere and creepy mystery as David slowly unravels the secrets of Groosham Grange.

Reviewer: Beth L. Meister

(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. The Australian Secret Service wants Alex to investigate a people-smuggling ring. Working with a godfather he never knew about, Alex agrees to help but steps into more danger than he expected, including chasing down a bomb for his old friends at MI6. Written tightly and with a bit more character development than other titles in the series, this is a suspenseful addition.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) 4-6 This second collection of slightly frightening horror stories threatens the characters (mostly evil ones) with mystical dangers. A hearing aid broadcasts the thoughts of a murderer, an abusive husband is broiled alive, a small-time thug goes to hell. There's not much depth to these stories, but there's plenty of quick amusement.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(4) 4-6 Gatekeepers series. Telepathic Jamie is one of five gatekeepers destined to save the world from the evil Old Ones. When his twin brother is captured, Jamie goes back in time ten thousand years to fight the Old Ones there. The plot will have series fans turning pages. The book's parallels between indescribable evil and the current state of American politics are not subtle.

Reviewer: Dorrie Karlin

(3) 4-6 Gatekeepers series. After a failed burglary attempt, fourteen-year-old Matt is sent to the country under an experimental government-sponsored reform program. He's pursued by witches and learns of his predestined role as a gatekeeper to hold back an ancient impending evil. Matt's character is just beginning to develop in this first book in a planned series.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. In this fifth book of the series, Alex must confront more ghosts from his past, following leads that he hopes will take him to the truth about his father. With fast pacing and some tough choices for Alex, Scorpia lives up to the reputation for adventure and suspense that Horowitz has built for himself.

Reviewer: Becky Levine

(4) YA Alex Rider Adventure series. When teenage spy Alex encounters the man who killed his uncle, he embarks on a very personal mission that ends with the launch of nuclear missiles and a shootout aboard Airforce One. The plot's preposterous, but the action is nonstop and Alex is as brave and resourceful as ever. Fans will be thrilled that the conclusion virtually assures a sequel.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Fourteen-year-old spy Alex Rider is once again called upon to assist Great Britain's intelligence agency. Alex is sent to an island near Cuba to observe a former Russian general who plans to detonate a nuclear device in order to restore communism to the world. As in previous episodes, the plot is intentionally preposterous, but the novel offers nonstop action, pulse-pounding suspense, and a playfully entertaining twist ending.

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta