(2) 4-6 The British take control of New York City in 1776; several years later, Sophia Calderwood takes a job surreptitiously as a spy and discovers Benedict Arnold's plot to turn West Point over to the British. Avi's setting is impeccable; the intrigue on the home front, real; and the tension of living in enemy territory, intense. An author's note distinguishes fact from fiction. Bib., glos.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: November, 2012

(4) YA Headline Court Cases series. Five noted trials--two from the nineteenth century and three from the twentieth--are recounted in formulaic fashion. The utilitarian texts provide background on the accused and their alleged offenses, describe arguments on each side of the case, examine the verdict, and explain the aftermath and its impact. The books are illustrated with sometimes overly dark black-and-white photos and reproductions. Bib., glos., ind. [Review covers these Headline Court Cases titles: The Alger Hiss Communist Spy Trial, The Mary Surratt "Lincoln Assassination" Trial, The Court-Martial Trial of West Point Cadet Johnson Whittaker, The O.J. Simpson Murder Trial, The Trial of Gangster Al Capone.]

Reviewer: Peter D. Sieruta

(3) YA Written by a graduate, this novel describes "Beast," West Point's tough orientation summer, as New Cadet Andi Davis struggles to prove herself among the guys. The portrayal of military culture, especially the intense relationships between squad mates and squad leaders, is engrossing, and the picture is broad enough to intrigue--or warn off--potential applicants. Glos.

Reviewer: Anita L. Burkam