FAIREST, by Marissa Meyer

The story: If you've read the "Lunar Chronicles" series, you'll have wondered at least once how Queen Levana got to be so evil. This is Levana's story, and it gives a whole new meaning to the title Wicked Queen.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; LGBT content G; adult themes (murder, political corruption) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: I'm a big fan of the Lunar Chronicles, but I found this book pretty dark. It does contribute a few important pieces of information about the rest of the series, but it isn't entirely necessary to read this one in order to figure out the last book in the series, "Winter". There's quite a bit of sexual content, although it's not graphic (mostly implied) but still, it's a recurrent theme.

THE EDGE, by Roland Smith

The story: Peak and his mom have joined the international Climb for Peace in Afghanistan when things take a distinctly warlike turn: his mom and the other members of the team are kidnapped, and now it's up to Peak and his ex-Marine companion to track them and stage a rescue. One the downside: the bad guys have all the gear, all the radios, and both the getaway boats. On the upside, Peak has Zopa on his team, and very strange things seem to happen when the old Sherpa is in the mix. Add in a mysterious snow leopard, and maybe the good guys aren't as doomed as they seem...

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13 (cutting of throats and other murderous behaviors, but not graphically described); Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; adult themes (terrorism and kidnapping) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: It's not necessary to read the first book, PEAK, before reading this one, but it doesn't hurt either. Roland Smith is a great author of adventure stories, and I like this series all the better because it doesn't have a weird magical subplot (unlike his IQ books).

CALVIN, by Martine Leavitt

The story: The story: Calvin--born on the day the final Calvin & Hobbes comic appeared, and former owner of a stuffed tiger--is a schizophrenic. Convinced that his condition will be cured if he can get Bill Watterson to draw just one more comic panel showing Calvin at age 17, our hero sets out to walk across frozen lake Erie to Watterson's home town in Cleveland--accompanied by a life-sized Hobbes (of course!) and "girlfriend" Susie ....who may or may not be real. Can they make it across that giant frozen lake, or will they come to an untimely end (just like the original Calvin and Hobbes???).

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; adult themes PG-13 (mental illness in teens); overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Calvin is both a sweet and snarky narrator, and Leavitt does a great job keeping up the suspense as to whether Susie is/is not a real person. The info about schizophrenia flows naturally and is never forced--kids who read this will be rooting for the crazy guy by the end, and will absorb quite a bit of information along the way as well.