THE HAUNTING OF GABRIEL ASHE, by Dan Poblocki

The story: Gabe thinks his adventures with Seth in the woods behind his house are just a game. Little does he know that the evil Hunter is more than just an imaginary enemy. Now both boys are running just to keep a step ahead of this monster from the past: trying to keep themselves, their families, and even their town safe. But the Hunter has more tricks up his sleeve than they ever imagined...

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse G; magic and the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (death of the main character!) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments (with spoiler): Poblocki does a good job of ratcheting up the suspense a bit at a time as the kids work to solve the mystery of the Hunter: who he is, and how to fight him. Ain't gonna lie, though--killing off the main character is a pretty extreme move for MS fiction, even if the kid is willing to die to protect his friend.

TUT: THE STORY OF MY IMMORTAL LIFE, by P.J. Hoover

The story: You'd think being immortal would rock--unless you're stuck being 14 years old for the rest of eternity! Tut has sat through 8th grade a couple hundred times over the years--but this round looks to be something way out of the ordinary: his most hated enemy from the past, the evil Horemheb, has managed to get out of the prison where Tut sealed him up 3,000 years ago, and he's out for blood. But not just any blood! Only Tut's will do.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; violence PG-13; sexual content PG; nudity G; substance abuse G; magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder and revenge) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz' comments: This book will appeal to fans of Rick Riordan's books. However, I found it fairly tiresome--Tut spends the entire book focused on revenge, even when it's abundantly obvious that seeking vengeance will just come back and bite you on the butt, and not even in the distant future. Maybe most 14-year-olds will identify with this kind of single-mindedness, but I just thought it made him look too dumb to learn a lesson. Oh well. The kids will like it.

PROXY, by Alex London

The story: Sid is a Proxy. Knoxx is his Patron--but this doesn't make them friends. In fact, since Sid has to take the punishment for every stupid (or criminal) thing rich-boy Knoxx does, they're more like enemies. But when fate brings them crashing into each other in a way neither could ever have imagined, they'll either have to work together--or they'll die together. Either way, what happens next will change their entire world.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language R; Violence R; Sexual content PG; nudity PG; substance abuse PG-13; magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG-13; adult themes (general brutality) PG-13; overall rating R.

Liz's comments: An interesting story indeed, but one that I would have placed squarely in the 9th-grade and up category. A gritty choice for this year's LoneStar list that rather pushes the envelope. Consider the individual ratings carefully.

FIREFIGHT, by Brandon Sanderson

The story: Having overcome Steelheart, the Reckoners are on their way to New York to take down the next High Epic: Regalia, whose power over the waters has flooded Manhattan and turned skyscrapers into islands poking out of the sea. David (just call him Steelslayer), still in love with the Epic known as Firefight (you can call HER Megan) wants to believe that Epics can be brought back from the dark side, but with even Prof being pulled toward the abyss, he's just as likely to be wrong. Problem is: if he's wrong, one of them is bound to kill him.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence R; Sexual content PG; nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult PG; GLBT content PG; adult themes (betrayal) PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: The Reckoners is one of my favorite series at this point. Sanderson's world building is very strong, even in the slimmed-down novels (400 pages instead of 800!) that make up his YA fare. Start with "Steelheart" if you haven't already read that one; if you like this series, also check out Sanderson's "The Rithmatist", and the Alcatraz Smedry books for middle readers.

BUZZ KILL, by Beth Fantaskey

The story: Millie expected her senior year to be a snoozer--but it turns out to be more of a slayer! When the obnoxious football coach everyone hates mysteriously turns up dead in an equipment shed (which wouldn't be so bad except for the part where Millie's dad is the #1 suspect), Millie takes it upon herself to clear her dad using tips and techniques she's gleaned from reading Nancy Drew mysteries over the years. But somehow, Nancy and her boring boyfriend Ned don't have all the info Millie needs when it comes to sleuthing, poking her nose in where it doesn't belong, and maybe even finding a boyfriend of her own--all the while trying to keep one step ahead of someone who'll stop at nothing to keep their secret safe...not even murder. She's on her own! And that could be a real buzz kill.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual Content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG; adult themes (murder, death of a parent, parent in a new relationship) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I'm always a fan of a good mystery, and I really liked this one! It would be fun if Millie could solve at least one more before she graduates...

RETURN TO PLANET TAD, by Tim Carvell

The story: Tad is back! If Tim Carvell's first book, "Planet Tad", made you laugh out loud, grab this one right away!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language: G; Violence G; Sexual Content G; Nudity G; Substance Abuse G; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes G; overall rating G.

Liz's comments: The first book in this series is one of my favorites--five stars! Volume 2 is a typical second book: almost as good, but lacking the novelty. However, MS kids don't seem to mind--just ask Jeff Kinney. Kids who liked Tad the first time around will doubtless be ready for more.

THE GREAT GREENE HEIST, by Varian Johnson

The story: Jackson Greene is a (supposedly) reformed con man--busted for the Mid-Day PDA, and still on the outs with former crush Gaby De La Cruz because of it. But when he hears that rich-kid Keith Sinclair is planning to bribe the principal into letting him steal the Student Council election from Gaby, Jackson knows he has to step in. Just one last con, and it's all for the greater good. Honest.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; violence G; Sexual content G; nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; substance abuse PG; adult themes G; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this one a lot! And Johnson certainly made a point of including someone from every demographic sub-group. Attaboy.

Belzhar by Meg Wolitzer

After all the hype, this was more than a slight disappointment.  I had to ask myself, “If there hadn’t been so much press about it, would I have been disappointed?”  I am not sure, but I will say that there is a big reveal that is akin to the whole “it was all a dream” plot line from the original Dallas series, for those of you old enough to remember it.  Definitely anti-climactic and gimmicky in my opinion.  Here are the basics, without giving away too much (or is it too late?):  Jam (possibly the most ridiculous character name ever) has been sent to a special school for emotionally disturbed teens.  Internet, cell phones, etc.  are not allowed except during designated times.  Students actually use a payphone to call home.  How quaint.  All the students at the school are there because of some personal or family tragedy with which they are having difficulty dealing.  Jam is selected to participate in an elite English class, the members of which receive special journals to use during the semester.  When the students write in the journals, they are transported (it seems just mentally) back to a time before their tragedy.  They decide to call the place they go Belzhar, after The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, which is the major work they are reading for the semester.  The students in the special course become close during their semester and each in turn is able to share his or her tragedy and in some cases learn to get past it.  Jam, however, does not share what has happened to her, and it is with good reason, as the reader will find out.  This reader became more than a little annoyed at her reticence and the reason for it. 

The other thing I find objectionable about this book is the heavy-handedness of the lesson.  There is a part near the end, where the reader is treated to a fairly long didactic passage about the value of literature.  Ahem, but the value of literature is in being able to teach with a good story and engaging characters, not a diatribe. Overall, this is a mediocre offering, which is probably slightly better than the average YA book.  Not exactly the award-winning masterpiece I was expecting.  Is it just me, or is the bar getting lower all the time?

June’s Rating:

Language—R;  Nudity—PG;  Sexual Content—PG13;  GLBT Content—PG 13;  Violence—PG;  Substance Abuse—PG;  Adult Themes—PG for eating disorders

Robin’s Comments:

Though it doesn’t live up to the hype, it is serviceable for readers, primarily girls, who like to read sad books.  For a better treatment of imaginary worlds and a WAY better story, recommend A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray.