(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

(4) 4-6 Otherworld Chronicles series. This trilogy-ender sees King Arthur reincarnation Artie and friends search for the Holy Grail amid dragons and other fantastic beasts. The parallel-realm-via-video-game conceit lets them jump back and forth between worlds to learn secrets of their pasts. It adds up to a lot going on, but series fans who love action may find all the threads worth following.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Otherworld Chronicles series. The contemporary science fiction take on Arthurian legend continues as Artie rescues Qwon from Morgaine's clutches, and new information comes to light about his own unusual origins. Omniscient narration provides welcome various perspectives on the scenes, but the heady combination of genetic experimentation, video-game magic, and medieval mythology makes it crucial that the series be read in sequence.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax

(4) 4-6 Otherworld Chronicles series. Twelve-year-old Artie Kingfisher discovers through his favorite video game that he is a reincarnation of King Arthur. Contacted by Merlin, he joins a quest through a parallel world to find Excalibur. The action is slow to start and video game fans may be put off by the lack of verisimilitude, but fans of myth-inspired adventures will devour this tale.

Reviewer: Natasha Gilmore