(4) YA Otherworld series. After Simon's estranged best friend Kat is hospitalized for severe injuries, her mind is sent from her unresponsive body into the virtual reality game Otherworld, where Simon goes in search of her. He soon realizes the breathtaking fantasy world he'd previously visited for fun holds many dangerous secrets. Two-dimensional characters detract from the novel's timely warnings about technology's invasive potential in the not-too-distant future.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Karl Kwasny. As the title suggests, this tongue-in-cheek handbook (companion to the Nightmares! trilogy) gives readers advice on how to conquer different kinds of nightmarish creatures encountered during sleep. Twenty-two sections illustrated in grayscale describe different "species," detail strengths and weaknesses, and offer tips and "fun facts." Occasional stories featuring familiar series characters confronting particular types of nightmares will entertain both established fans and new readers.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Karl Kwasny. Charlie Laird is experiencing someone else's nightmare about sheep, which worries him; as does the reappearance of the Kessog twins, INK and ICK. It's up to Charlie and his friends to save the Waking World and the Netherworld in this entertaining third Nightmares! adventure. Occasional grayscale illustrations once again nicely reinforce the mix of creepiness and humor present throughout the trilogy.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Karl Kwasny. This second Nightmares! book is unsettling, spooky, and silly. With the help of his herbalist stepmother and charming but annoying little brother, Charlie Laird must discover what is causing local folks to act like zombies. And it's up to him to restore balance in the dream realms. Both settings--small-town Cypress Creek and the nightmarish Netherworld--are well realized, as are Charlie's struggles to juggle friendship, family, and heroism.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Karl Kwasny. In actor/debut novelist Segel and veteran writer Miller's imaginative fantasy, the same nightmare has haunted Charlie Laird since he moved into his new stepmother's purple mansion. He journeys to the Netherworld where he and his friends must defeat their nightmares in order to save our world. This trilogy-opener contains scary creatures (tempered by the cartoon illustrations) and plenty of action while also full of emotional resonance.

Reviewer: Cynthia K. Ritter

(4) 4-6 The titular Kiki, well-read sidekick Ananka, and the rest of the aggressively quirky, criminally gifted team of adolescent girls set their sights on Kiki's parents' killers, which takes them from New York to Paris and the underground conspiracies therein. The third caper has girl-power panache, but the characters are cloyingly twee and broadly written. Ananka's snarky chapter-ending etiquette guides remain a highlight.

Reviewer: Claire E. Gross

(3) YA Flick wants revenge on his abusive dad for killing his younger brother. Now Flick attends a top-secret boarding school for budding high-level criminals. Mandel Academy is run by a madman, but he and Flick both want his father punished. Flick's authentic internal struggles blend well with the sometimes grisly nonstop action.

Reviewer: Lisa Catherine Findlay

(3) YA When her best friend is kidnapped, Haven Moore is drawn back into the inner circle of the Ouroboros Society, a group of reincarnated souls led by a man who's been stalking Haven through the centuries. Haven's shifting loyalties may be difficult to follow for those who haven't read The Eternal Ones; however, existing fans will appreciate Miller's take on reincarnation and ancient mythology.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) YA At seventeen, Haven leaves her small town for New York City to join Ethan, a man she has never met but who has visited her in visions since she was little. Once in NYC, Haven learns that her attraction has age-old roots that threaten to entangle her. Miller creates an engaging supernatural romance/thriller with well-developed characters and satisfying plot twists.

Reviewer: Lauren Maggio

(4) 4-6 Watsonesque narrator Ananka, mysterious leader Kiki, and their secret society of outrageously precocious adolescent girls return in this inventive but tortuous detective story of NYC crime fighting and international intrigue. Two members, Oona and Betty, develop larger roles; the rest remain regrettably indistinguishable. Ananka's delightful how-to guides, including "How to Appear Mysterious" and "How to Summon a Poltergeist," sparkle with sass.

Reviewer: Amy Lee Bennett