(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. Each biography opens with a pivotal moment in the performer's career. The texts then move chronologically from the person's childhood to his untimely death, touching on upbringing, setbacks, and accomplishments along the way. The writing occasionally veers into melodrama. The volumes are enhanced by their many photos and clean design. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: John Lennon, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Geeky Mac Slater faces off against popular-girl Cat DeVrees in a "coolhunters" competition. Each contestant video-blogs for five days about what's cool. Quirky, independent Mac, along with his nerdy friend Paul and Mac's humorously eccentric parents, ultimately outshines shallow Cat in this well-written, inventive underdog story set in Australia.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) YA In this melancholy sequel to The Summer I Turned Pretty, Belly faces a breakup with longtime crush Conrad and the death of Conrad's mother. While appealing Belly remains the central voice, Conrad's kind-hearted brother, Jeremiah, occasionally narrates, revealing his secret feelings for Belly. The heightened emotions surrounding the love triangle keep readers guessing which brother gets the girl until the very end.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. Each biography opens with a pivotal moment in the performer's career. The texts then move chronologically from the person's childhood to his untimely death, touching on upbringing, setbacks, and accomplishments along the way. The writing occasionally veers into melodrama. The volumes are enhanced by their many photos and clean design. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: John Lennon, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA In this sequel to Once Dead, Twice Shy, dark timekeeper Madison--an average, albeit dead, teenager--strives to keep both grim reapers and guardian angels in line without causing human casualties. While the beginning of the book is confusingly cluttered with messy details, the plot eventually straightens itself out and progresses into a satisfying read.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Dragon Keepers series. Illustrated by John Shroades. In their third book, Jesse, Daisy, and dragon Emmy must save the professor from St. George's wicked girlfriend. Imaginative descriptions of the Scriptorium (a dragon library) and Uffington Castle, as well as a growing cast of characters, will keep young readers engaged in the expanding magical realm. The story progresses at a good pace and includes some nods to children's classics.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject's life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered design includes appealing captioned photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Michael Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 In ancient China, Ren, the spoiled son of a military commander, secretly meets with gregarious peasant boy Hu to practice archery. While the two become unlikely friends, tensions rise between the Chinese military--which is poised for a barbarian attack--and the nervous townspeople. Rich cultural details are woven into this boy-friendly adventure, full of fighting, trickery, and difficult escapes.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) YA Illustrated by Matt Phelan. A how-to manual with heart, this guide contains brief sections offering encouragement, advice, and playful exercises for budding writers. Mazer and Potter draw on autobiography as they discuss major writing topics from finding ideas to crafting characters and plot to overcoming nerves and writer's block. Catchy subheadings and Phelan's often-humorous illustrations complement the friendly tone.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Gateway Biography series. These standard biographies offer sanitized facts about each subject's life, beginning with childhood and ending with present day (which in Sotomayor focuses on her Supreme Court achievements, and in Jackson his legacy after death). The simple, uncluttered design includes appealing captioned photos. Reading list, timeline, websites. Bib., ind. Review covers these Gateway Biography titles: Michael Jackson and Sonia Sotomayor.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) YA Modern Music Masters series. This thoroughly researched biography presents the "King of Pop" as a complicated, talented, emotionally damaged, eccentric, and driven person, surrounded by people who both loved and manipulated him. The narrative begins with his childhood, including his difficult, at time abusive stage father, and ends with his 2009 televised memorial service. Attractive color photos and numerous quotes give the volume a nice polish. Timeline, websites. Bib., ind.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Step-Up Art and Design series. These attractive books present art-education lessons along with inspiring art projects. Ogier incorporates information about various artists and their works, offering ways children can observe and appreciate art. While the project instructions are not very detailed, the ideas are innovative. Each loosely themed book contains numerous color photographs and provides further activities for teachers and parents. Glos., ind. Review covers these Step-Up Art and Design titles: Objects and Meanings, People in Action, A Sense of Place, and Talking Textiles.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Step-Up Art and Design series. These attractive books present art-education lessons along with inspiring art projects. Ogier incorporates information about various artists and their works, offering ways children can observe and appreciate art. While the project instructions are not very detailed, the ideas are innovative. Each loosely themed book contains numerous color photographs and provides further activities for teachers and parents. Glos., ind. Review covers these Step-Up Art and Design titles: Objects and Meanings, People in Action, A Sense of Place, and Talking Textiles.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Step-Up Art and Design series. These attractive books present art-education lessons along with inspiring art projects. Ogier incorporates information about various artists and their works, offering ways children can observe and appreciate art. While the project instructions are not very detailed, the ideas are innovative. Each loosely themed book contains numerous color photographs and provides further activities for teachers and parents. Glos., ind. Review covers these Step-Up Art and Design titles: Objects and Meanings, People in Action, A Sense of Place, and Talking Textiles.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Step-Up Art and Design series. These attractive books present art-education lessons along with inspiring art projects. Ogier incorporates information about various artists and their works, offering ways children can observe and appreciate art. While the project instructions are not very detailed, the ideas are innovative. Each loosely themed book contains numerous color photographs and provides further activities for teachers and parents. Glos., ind. Review covers these Step-Up Art and Design titles: Objects and Meanings, People in Action, A Sense of Place, and Talking Textiles.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA Using the butterfly-effect concept, the book takes a pivotal moment in Wade's life--the day his mother dies--and focuses on two different outcomes. In one world, Wade becomes an uptight workaholic; in another, a sarcastic slacker; chapters alternate between the two. While the story initially lacks direction and the premise is never clearly explained, an intriguing tension builds as the worlds start colliding.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA Lives Cut Short series. Each biography opens with a pivotal moment in the performer's career. The texts then move chronologically from the person's childhood to his untimely death, touching on upbringing, setbacks, and accomplishments along the way. The writing occasionally veers into melodrama. The volumes are enhanced by their many photos and clean design. Reading list, timeline. Bib., glos., ind. Review covers these Lives Cut Short titles: John Lennon, Tupac Shakur, Michael Jackson, and Heath Ledger.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(3) 4-6 Girl Crafts series. Illustrated by Nicole in den Bosch. No-frills illustrated instructions explain how to create twenty different homemade stamps using inexpensive, readily available materials includes bottle caps, corks, buttons, and craft foam. Rudimentary craft ideas using the stamps--such as decorating invitations or making stickers--are also provided, as are directions for making an ink pad storage shelf and stamp storage box. A clean design makes the information accessible.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) 4-6 Dork Diaries series. In her second book, self-professed dork Nikki Maxwell must save her middle school's Halloween dance after mean-girl MacKenzie tries to sabotage the party and stick Nikki with the blame. Nikki's social fiascoes--while not the most original or logical--are funny and fast paced. As in the first book, her diary entries are full of exclamation points, smiley faces, and smart illustrations.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey

(4) YA After finding her sister Maya's cell phone next to Jefferson Andrews's dead body, Abby vows to protect Maya from the police. This murder mystery thriller skips along at a fast pace, weaving in some convoluted details and two-dimensional characters who pose as suspects. Once the killer is revealed in the surprise ending, readers will look at the characters in a whole new light.

Reviewer: Marika Jeffrey