(4) PS Translated by William Rodarmor. Illustrated by Agnès Domergue. "Mommy's mopping the floor. Everything sparkles. I mop, too, just like Mommy." But Mommy gets mad--"There's water everywhere!" This is just one example of Mommy's capacity to misunderstand her well-intentioned young daughter ("Can't she see?"). While the child's voice is inauthentic, her vulnerability is better conveyed in the illustrations, in which she's a doll-size child in a Mommy-scaled world.

Reviewer: Nell Beram

(4) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. Tara--a powerful spellbinder and secret heir to the Empire of Omois--and her OtherWorld friends must save the universe from evil forces again, this time from a mind-control demon known as the Ravager. The overuse of superficial fantasy tropes weakens this potentially charming sequel to Tara Duncan and the Spellbinders.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(4) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. Twelve-year-old Tara discovers that she is a powerful spellbinder and is whisked away to OtherWorld, a magical planet filled with dragons, demons, and evil sorcerers bent on world domination. This engaging (if occasionally awkward) French import is equal parts Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, and Disney fairy tale--in other words, an addicting read for lovers of middle grade fantasy-adventure stories.

Reviewer: Barratt Miller

(3) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. This trilogy ender sharpens the suspense as Sam jumps through time and around the world to save loved ones from the villainous Arkeos man. Time-traveling becomes increasingly hazardous for Sam with his discovery of his enemy's identity and an invaluable--but dangerous--skill. Prévost nicely balances the story's many elements, culminating in a surprising ending to Sam's mission.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(3) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. Sam's time-traveling adventures plunge on. His quest to find his father hurtles him, along with cousin Lily, from the age of Neanderthals to Depression-era Chicago to Pompeii, all the while tracked by forces both malevolent and benign. Action is Prévost's priority, but he offers enough character development and detail of setting to fully realize both the contemporary and historical scenes.

Reviewer: Katie Bircher

(2) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. This offering operates essentially as a novel-length introduction to a projected series. After Sam's father disappears, Sam finds a secret room, where he's sent back in time. Prévost keeps the plot moving at a breakneck pace, giving both Sam and the reader scant moments to catch their breath between time jumps.

Reviewer: Vicky Smith | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2007

(2) 4-6 Translated by William Rodarmor. This story is told from the perspective of a fictional boy, an assistant to Hokusai, the brilliant and irascible Japanese artist. Included are reproductions of Hokusai prints and drawings along with Place's own illustrations, which, amazingly, stand up to Hokusai's famous vitality of line and dynamic composition. This lovingly made book is an example of fine old-fashioned bookmaking.

Reviewer: Lolly Robinson | Horn Book Magazine Issue: March, 2004

(2) YA Translated by William Rodarmor. Three boys pick up a seemingly innocuous computer game while in London. Edgier than most virtual reality scenarios, this novel throws its characters into realities of historical combat, as the boys find themselves, via the game, in Verdun, Guernica, and Bosnia, enacting desperate battles. The antiwar message is loud and clear but not simplistic; the book is less about the folly of war-gaming than the dangers of hatred.

Reviewer: Roger Sutton | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999