(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Redworld series. Illustrated by Tomislav Tikulin. By 2335, Earth's resources have dwindled, so Belle Song and her family immigrate to the newest frontier: Mars. People, homes, weather, and school are strange, but Belle's spunk earns her new friends. Collins superficially touches on timely issues such as refugees, diversity, and natural resource conservation in these facile but quick-paced sci-fi novellas. Full-page illustrations and diary entries appear occasionally. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Redworld titles: Asylum, Homestead, Legacy, Outcry, Raiders, and Tharsis City.

Reviewer: Jenn Matters

(3) 4-6 The last thing twelve-year-old Jack wants for his holiday is to visit mysterious and ancient Aunt Gee Gee in the English countryside...with no cellphone service! But things turn out worse than he imagined when Jack is suddenly the target of a real fairy-tale curse. Wry, fun, and suspenseful, Easson's story exposes the dark side of classic tales through the eyes of a contemporary reluctant hero.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Katie Wood. These sports-themed stories starring girls highlight important skills necessary for success at a skate park (Longboard), a ranch (Cowgirl), on the ice (Ice Rink), and with the cheer squad (Squad). Fast pacing and black-and-white digital illustrations keep the predictable plots focused and easy to follow. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and facts about the sports are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories titles: Cowgirl Grit, Ice Rink Rookie, Longboard Letdown, and Squad Struggles.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Aburtov. Black-and-white full-page illustrations accompany these hi-lo stories involving talented athletes in tennis (Doubles), football (Punter's), bull-riding (Rodeo), and golf (Secondhand). The message-laden texts highlight the importance of focus and fair play to achieve team victory and accomplish personal goals. The engaging, action-packed stories should appeal to sports enthusiasts. Each book is supplemented by background on the sport, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Sports Stories titles: Double Trouble, Punter's Pride, Rodeo Challenge, and Secondhand Slice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox JV Girls series. Figure skating, gymnastics, volleyball, and softball action (and stereotypical girl-drama) dominate these message-driven short novels about middle-school girls who learn lessons concerning the importance of doing the right thing for your friends and yourself while seeking the glory of winning. The easy-to-read, engaging hi-lo books also include discussion questions, writing prompts, and interesting facts about each sport. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox JV Girls titles: Aerials and Envy, Back Row Dynamo, Catching Confidence, and Spinning Away.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox JV Girls series. Figure skating, gymnastics, volleyball, and softball action (and stereotypical girl-drama) dominate these message-driven short novels about middle-school girls who learn lessons concerning the importance of doing the right thing for your friends and yourself while seeking the glory of winning. The easy-to-read, engaging hi-lo books also include discussion questions, writing prompts, and interesting facts about each sport. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox JV Girls titles: Aerials and Envy, Back Row Dynamo, Catching Confidence, and Spinning Away.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Katie Wood. These sports-themed stories starring girls highlight important skills necessary for success at a skate park (Longboard), a ranch (Cowgirl), on the ice (Ice Rink), and with the cheer squad (Squad). Fast pacing and black-and-white digital illustrations keep the predictable plots focused and easy to follow. Discussion questions, writing prompts, and facts about the sports are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Girl Sports Stories titles: Cowgirl Grit, Ice Rink Rookie, Longboard Letdown, and Squad Struggles.

Reviewer: The Horn Book, Inc.

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox JV series. Breakneck soccer, football, basketball, and baseball action dominate these message-driven short novels about middle-school boys who learn lessons concerning the importance of doing the right thing for your friends and yourself while seeking the glory of winning. The easy-to-read, engaging hi-lo books also include discussion questions, writing prompts, and interesting facts about each sport. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox JV titles: Block and Rock, Free Throw Fail, Home Safe Home, and Soccer Sabotage.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Sports Stories series. Illustrated by Aburtov. Black-and-white full-page illustrations accompany these hi-lo stories involving talented athletes in tennis (Doubles), football (Punter's), bull-riding (Rodeo), and golf (Secondhand). The message-laden texts highlight the importance of focus and fair play to achieve team victory and accomplish personal goals. The engaging, action-packed stories should appeal to sports enthusiasts. Each book is supplemented by background on the sport, discussion questions, and writing prompts. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Sports Stories titles: Double Trouble, Punter's Pride, Rodeo Challenge, and Secondhand Slice.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox JV series. Breakneck soccer, football, basketball, and baseball action dominate these message-driven short novels about middle-school boys who learn lessons concerning the importance of doing the right thing for your friends and yourself while seeking the glory of winning. The easy-to-read, engaging hi-lo books also include discussion questions, writing prompts, and interesting facts about each sport. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox JV titles: Block and Rock, Free Throw Fail, Home Safe Home, and Soccer Sabotage.

Reviewer: Jack Forman

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Graphic Novels series. Illustrated by Berenice Muñiz & Nephtali A. Leal. In Half-Pipe, snowboarder Payton is humiliated after his wipe-out on the slopes goes viral. Faceoff finds ice hockey player Jax facing off against his former BFF. The texts are message-y ("There's no shame in trying your best and not coming out on top"), but the graphic novel format and sports action may draw reluctant readers. "Visual Questions" of varying interest are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Graphic Novels titles: Faceoff Fall Out and Half-Pipe Panic.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Jake Maddox Graphic Novels series. Illustrated by Eduardo Garcia & Benny Fuentes. In Half-Pipe, snowboarder Payton is humiliated after his wipe-out on the slopes goes viral. Faceoff finds ice hockey player Jax facing off against his former BFF. The texts are message-y ("There's no shame in trying your best and not coming out on top"), but the graphic novel format and sports action may draw reluctant readers. "Visual Questions" of varying interest are appended. Glos. Review covers these Jake Maddox Graphic Novels titles: Faceoff Fall Out and Half-Pipe Panic.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Justice League series. Illustrated by Tim Levins. These slim books find Justice League members working together to battle villains Gorilla Grodd, Darkseid, and Amazo, and to help Bizarro (who was tricked into cloning himself by Lex Luthor). The adventures are action-packed if convoluted; the same "Justice League Roll Call" begins each volume, and "JL Database: Villains" sections are appended, helping differentiate the many characters. "Think" and "Write" prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Justice League titles: Darkseid and the Fires of Apokolips, Amazo and the Planetary Reboot, Bizarro and the Doppelgangers of Doom, and Gorilla Grodd and the Primate Protocol.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Justice League series. Illustrated by Tim Levins. These slim books find Justice League members working together to battle villains Gorilla Grodd, Darkseid, and Amazo, and to help Bizarro (who was tricked into cloning himself by Lex Luthor). The adventures are action-packed if convoluted; the same "Justice League Roll Call" begins each volume, and "JL Database: Villains" sections are appended, helping differentiate the many characters. "Think" and "Write" prompts are included. Glos. Review covers these Justice League titles: Darkseid and the Fires of Apokolips, Amazo and the Planetary Reboot, Bizarro and the Doppelgangers of Doom, and Gorilla Grodd and the Primate Protocol.

Reviewer: Elissa Gershowitz

(4) 4-6 Sci-Finity: Bug Team Alpha series. Illustrated by Patricio Clarey. An elite Earth-based Special Ops force, each member's genes grafted with different insect DNA, patrols the galaxy. The books feature a racially diverse rotating roster of lieutenants under Commander Dragonfly. Heavy on adventure, if light on character depth, this Star Trek–meets–G.I. Joe series is a good bet for reluctant or struggling middle-grade readers. Each volume includes discussion questions and writing prompts. There are three other fall 2017 books in this series. Glos. Review covers these Sci-Finity: Bug Team Alpha titles: The Dig, Juggernaut, and Stranded.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) 4-6 Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series. Wren's reluctance to tell her classmates about her parents' divorce leads to lie after lie, and her deception complicates new and old friendships. Nine-year-old Wren's juvenile understanding and frequent questions, along with her parents' realistic and palatably mild imperfections, make this quiet, often funny story an accessible look at divorce for early-middle-grade readers. Simple black-and-white spot art introduces each chapter.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average series. The latest installments find "unfortunately average" sixth grader Vicka joining the softball team, despite a lack of talent (Curveball), and helping organize a Wild West–themed school dance, adding an element of prospective romance to the story arc (Dance). The series is run-of-the-mill, but, as ever, Vicka makes up in creativity and warmth what she perceives she lacks in brilliance or distinction. Activities appended. Glos. Review covers these Victoria Torres, Unfortunately Average titles: Curveball and Dance Fever.

Reviewer: Norah Piehl

(4) 4-6 Norse Myths series. Illustrated by Tod Smith & Rex Lokus. Thor decides to travel to Utgard, the land of the giants, but his father, Odin, commands he must take his brother, Loki, with him. Amusing mishaps at their destination prove that Loki isn't the only trickster in this straightforward Norse myth retelling. The graphic novel's old-fashioned illustration style is reminiscent of 1980s adventure comics, heavily inked in basic panel layouts. Glos.

Reviewer: Jeannie Coutant

(4) 4-6 You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries series. Illustrated by Marcos Calo. Readers get to co-construct each story and help solve thin mysteries in this interactive spinoff of Brezenoff's Field Trip Mysteries. Sixth-grade detectives Sam, Egg, Gum, and Cat investigate a missing rare fruit from a botanical garden (Fruit) and stolen electronic tickets from a carnival (Caper). Each case offers twelve possible endings for readers to pursue. Full-bleed color illustrations bring important scenes to life. Glos. Review covers these You Choose Stories: Field Trip Mysteries titles: The Carnival Caper and The Disappearing Fruit.

Reviewer: Grace Enriquez