(2) YA Thirteen-year-old Liv lives with her parents in England. When she's tasked with a family history assignment for school, she decides to investigate her ninety-two-year-old grandmother. While helping Bubbe move into an assisted living facility, Liv discovers a secret chest from her grandmother's past and learns more than she bargained for. A second story unfolds in alternating chapters: twelve-year-old Mila and her older sister, Hannie, live in Holland in 1942, but since they are Jewish and the Nazis have taken over the country, they do not live with their parents. Rather, they have assumed different identities, hiding in plain sight with a non-Jewish foster family in Amsterdam. Hannie gets drawn into the Dutch resistance with grave consequences; she is the titular Kingfisher. It's quickly revealed that Mila is, in fact, Liv's grandmother, but Kessler makes readers wait to learn the entire story, using lots of dialogue, a notably fast pace, four viewpoint characters, and several dozen short chapters to further develop suspense. An engrossing read, one that provides depth to the Dutch experience during the Holocaust beyond Anne Frank and her famous diary.

Reviewer: Jonathan Hunt | Horn Book Magazine Issue: May, 2024

(4) YA Crippled by anxiety after experiencing severe bullying, Erin moves to a new town and home, where her bedroom is inhabited by the ghost of Joe; a romance ensues, but Erin also meets--and connects with--Joe's surviving, guilt-ridden brother Olly. When Erin is bullied again, a climactic scene involves all three teens saving one another. Despite the story's emotional depths, both romantic entanglements feel superficial.

Reviewer: Martha V. Parravano

(4) YA Sophomore Ashleigh is inspired by (and soon, infatuated with) her English teacher Miss Murray, who sparks Ashleigh's sexuality crisis but is nevertheless a bright point in a year fraught with boyfriend pressures, best friend troubles, a pregnancy scare, and divorcing parents. Well-drawn characters and a contemplative tone that suits the subject matter help offset the preponderance of teen angst tropes.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(4) 4-6 Emily Windsnap series. Illustrated by Sarah Gibb & Natacha Ledwidge. The sixth book features half-mermaid Emily on an island field trip when a ghostly ship appears. Caught between this world and mystical Atlantis, only Emily can rescue the passengers from disappearing forever. Imaginative details of human and mer worlds coexist with simplistic characterization and other narrative turnoffs that fans of the light series may overlook. Black-and-white spot art opens each chapter.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Phillips. Mom's birthday present and the next-door neighbors' turtle go missing, and Poppy has injured her eye. But not even the cone of shame can stop the frisky Dalmatian from saving the day when she uses her pirate skills. In her third early chapter book, Poppy's personality takes center stage in both the internal dialogue and the loose ink and watercolor spot art.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Jessica can clear her mind and become invisible--a cool trick for any teen, but what's causing the power? The investigation involves Jessica's best friends and two classmates pulled in by their own "slightly superhero" powers; the mystery centers on a secret serum, crystals, and a money-hungry bad guy. An enjoyable romp, even if the science fiction is thin.

Reviewer: Pam Yosca

(3) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Phillips. With summer over, everyone in the family is busy, and Poppy the Pirate Dog is lonely. But when her family brings home a kitten, Poppy isn't happy. George couldn't possibly make a good shipmate--or will he? The second very-early chapter book offers a more cohesive plot than its predecessor. Loose-lined ink and watercolor illustrations afford the domestic swashbucklers much personality.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Natacha Ledwidge. In her fifth book, Emily is recruited by Neptune for a secret mission. According to Neptune's nightmares, "the land of the midnight sun" contains a threat to the survival of all creatures, and Emily and fellow half-merperson Aaron are charged with eliminating it. The setting is vividly depicted, but the pace of this adventure is slow and character development is flat.

Reviewer:

(4) 4-6 Mia's grandfather disappears, she starts exchanging notes with a strange girl, and it soon becomes clear to the reader that it all has something to do with time travel. Though the story feels over-explained at first, the intergenerational solution turns out to be fairly complicated. A good choice for readers who enjoy some family drama with their fantasy.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Mike Phillips. Dalmatian Poppy becomes a pirate dog when she gets a skull-and-crossbones bandana on a seaside vacation. But none of the boats the family encounters make the right pirate ship. Poppy finally finds one: "exactly the right size, it's not too fast, and there are no big scary sea monsters." Phillips's expressive, loose ink and watercolor illustrations outshine the simplistic plot.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(4) 4-6 A mysterious elevator brings Jenni a year into the future. As she travels back and forth in time, she glimpses what her world would be like if a tragic accident occurs, including how her relationship with her best friend could change. The space/time musings are repetitive and the story line is predictable, but some thoughtful issues are raised.

Reviewer: Kari Allen

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Katie May. In their third story, human Philippa and her "fairy godsister," Daisy, join forces to locate a missing fairy. Soon Philippa finds herself having to pretend she is a fairy while going through a series of tests to prove the strength of her bond with Daisy. Fans of the Philippa Fisher books are sure to enjoy this latest installment.

Reviewer: Aimee Chevrette Bear

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Katie May. While on vacation, Philippa (Philippa Fisher's Fairy Godsister) befriends Robyn and reconnects with her "fairy godsister" Daisy. The story takes a while to get moving, and the amusing personality clash between Daisy and Philippa is missing here. What's left is a tale with lots of Kessler's fairy lore, a little bit of mystery, and some New Age psychologizing about grief.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Katie May. Philippa's sorrow over her friend moving away attracts the fairies' attention. They send Daisy, a fairy with a bad attitude, who comes offering three wishes. Kessler's light tone, imaginative fairy-world details, and gentle development of the theme of empathy work well together in this realistic school story with a magical twist.

Reviewer: Susan Dove Lempke | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2008