(4) 4-6 This second Mysteries of Cove book brings Trenton and Kallista to dragon-ravaged Seattle in search of Kallista's inventor father. They're imprisoned by the dragon-worshipping Order of the Beast, then freed by the technocratic Whipjacks, led by Fagan-esque Cochrane. Double-crosses, dragon attacks, steampunk flourishes, and emotional reunions bring imaginative detail to a familiar fantasy story line.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(3) 4-6 Case File 13 series. Visiting an archaeological site, "Monsterteers" Nick, Angelo, and Carter hope to uncover evidence that aliens built the Mayan pyramids. Instead, they encounter a power-hungry archaeologist; a series of Indiana Jones–esque tests and traps; and mummies, deities, and demons of Mayan myth. A fast pace, silly humor, and suspenseful problem-solving make this fourth entry another more-wacky-than-scary supernatural adventure. An appended note gives context.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Trenton lives in Cove, an underground city that outlaws creativity, but he yearns to improve the technology his community needs to survive. When Trenton meets feisty Kallista, they begin to build a mysterious machine and learn the truth about Cove's origins. This dystopian novel doesn't go anywhere different, but middle-grade readers new to the genre may enjoy the ride.

Reviewer: Morgan Stewart

(4) 4-6 Case File 13 series. While camping, Angelo, Carter, and Nick (the wise-cracking, monster-obsessed "Monsterteers") discover a homunculus; Carter smuggles it home. Wacky chaos ensues when--thanks to the imbalance caused by the homunculus's absence--doppelgangers escape their forest home, invade the boys' town, and attempt to replace the townspeople. This third book offers more fast-paced paranormal fun, though connections among various folklore influences are rather tenuous.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Case File 13 series. Monster fans Nick, Carter, and Angelo are delighted when a voodoo curse turns Nick into a zombie. But when he begins losing body parts, the friends must travel to another reality to challenge the Zombie King and break the curse. Savage conflates voodoo zombies with the undead-cannibal type; gross-out humor and mildly creepy adventure keep the pages turning.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Case File 13 series. "Monster-teers" Angelo, Nick, and Carter team up with Angie, Tiffany, and Dana to investigate a Dr. Frankenstein type creating superhuman football players. When tagalong Cody is abducted by Dr. Dippel, they must return to the mad scientist's lab to rescue him. Boys-versus-girls banter (eventually developing into camaraderie), mildly gross jokes, and a goofy monster sidekick keep this supernatural adventure on the light side.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(4) 4-6 Farworld series. Marcus and Kyja (Water Keep) continue their quest to save Farworld. They make their way underground, tracking land elementals and participating in a series of tests designed to evaluate their worthiness. The story is slow to start, and info-dumping abounds. An exciting climax features old friends, unexpected traitors, and touching sacrifice.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess

(4) 4-6 Farworld series. Marcus is a wheelchair-using orphan with a mysterious past and a mark on his shoulder. He finds out that evil necromancers from Farworld are after him. The fantasy setting is underdeveloped, with a complicated magical system whose components are introduced randomly as needed; the sections of the book that take place in reality are much more engaging. Discussion questions are appended.

Reviewer: Thom Barthelmess