BEASTKEEPER, by Cat Hellisen

The story: Sarah doesn't understand why her mother has left them, or the reason her father has dropped her off at the castle/home of a grandmother she's never even met. She's certainly never believed in magic--but here, she can feel magic watching her, wondering what to do with her. And she can't deny that the enormous beast chained up in the shed was once her grandfather. But the real question is: can a girl from a different world do anything to break the curse that rules in this one?

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

Liz's comments: Here's another fantasy with a literary bent and a young protagonist, both of which are downsides for MS readers. However, this one at least has the benefit of being short! It also avoid common fantasy tropes and goes off on its own, which in a Harry-Potter-wanna-be world of witches and warlocks can be rather refreshing.

THE WITCH'S BOY, by Kelly Barnhill

The story: Ned's family has kept the magic secret, and safe, for generations. But something beyond his power to control has awakened, and the magic has grown dangerous. It will take Ned--known in his village as the Wrong Boy, or the one who lived when his twin brother died--working together with the daughter of the Bandit King, to outrun the bandits who track them, awaken the Sleeping Stones, and defeat King Ott's army as it mounts an invasion in the Lost Lands. Can the Wrong Boy, along with his wolf, really do all that...AND fulfill the prophecy spoken by Aine's mother?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (organized crime) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here is a fantasy story with a literary feel that makes it slow going at times. Nonetheless, readers will root for Ned as he struggles both with the unfamiliar magic, and with his own limitations. Aine is a strong female character who learns that she can do what's right despite the personal cost; and what's not to like about having a wolf as a sidekick?

THE COTTAGE IN THE WOODS, by Katherine Coville

The story: A governess goes to teach a young student, and finds there's a mystery in her employers' enormous home. Sound like your typical old-fasioned tale? This one has a twist, though--the governess is Ursula, a young bear fresh out of school, and her employers are the Three Bears. The mystery involves a little girl with golden curls who's looking for something that's Just Right...but this is NOT your standard Goldilocks story!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (intolerance) PG; overall rating PG (as much for difficult vocabulary as anything; even good middle school readers will find some of the word choices daunting).

Liz's comments: While I actually really liked this story, I think it will appeal to only a select few MS readers: it's a reboot of the classic Goldilocks tale, true, but that doesn't make it for elementary-level readers. It's told in a very Jane Austen-like manner, with the same rather stuffy style. For me, I found the juxtaposition of an Austen-era heroine's sensibilities on a BEAR very off-putting--especially her religious experiences and singing of hymns, which in a way suggested that these are in the same category of fantasy as all the rest of it.

DROWNED CITY: HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS, by Don Brown

The story: In August 2005, a gust of wind in Africa turns first into a tropical storm, then into a monster: Hurricane Katrina, which roared over Florida, then the Gulf of Mexico, and became a true killer storm when it made landfall over the city of New Orleans. This is the story of what happened--and what didn't--in the aftermath of the storm that obliterated the Big Easy.

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 (government incompetence; death by natural disaster) PG; overall rating G.

Liz's comments: This is not a "graphic novel" in the usual sense: while it is a story told in cartoons, it's non-fiction and so not a novel at all. Although simply written and illustrated, it's powerful in its presentation of Hurricane Katrina both in terms of the storm and in terms of its social implications. Thankfully, Brown doesn't turn it into a racist rant; rather, the pictures tell their own story of government incompetence on both the local and federal level, and of regular folks reaching out to help one another during a time of great need (although of course, there were other who weren't helpful in the least). Even though I was old enough to be paying attention when this piece of history happened, this book put all the pieces together in a way that random news articles and photographs really didn't (at least for me). For kids looking for basic information on the storm and its fallout, this is a good choice.

PAPER THINGS, by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

The story: When big brother Gage moves Ari out of their foster mother's house, she thinks he's got an apartment all lined up where they can live together. Little does she know they'll spend the coming weeks surfing friends' couches, eating at soup kitchens, and falling further and further down on their luck. Ari doesn't want to admit it--but they're homeless...and how can you work to achieve all your dreams when you're wondering where your next meal is coming from?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (being orphaned, homelessness) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this quiet story a lot, but it is clearly aimed at an ES audience (Ari is a 5th grader hoping to get into a special GT school) and thus, most MS kids--particularly boys--aren't going to touch it with a ten-foot pole. Possibly, however, kids who are in this circumstance themselves will want to read this one to identify with a character in the same situation as theirs, and younger readers will root for Ari and be glad when she makes her way out of a very difficult situation by making her own set of difficult choices.

THE ACCIDENTAL HIGHWAYMAN, by Ben Tripp

The story: Kit Bristol is just a simple servant until the night his master is murdered. Turns out his boss was Whistling Jack, a notorious highwayman (or old-fashioned robber). But Jack was a good master, so Kit sets out to perform his last wishes. Little does he know that walking into the forest to meet a so-called "witch" will set him on the road to adventure, complete with magic, cross-country chases, tightrope walking, and a beautiful princess. (Don't forget the beautiful princess--Jack can't!) And stepping into his dead master's clothes ensures he ends up getting mistaken for him...and becoming a highwayman himself, purely by accident. But that's not the worst thing that happens to our hero: there are magical creatures with big teeth, evil dark-magic fairies, and a close encounter the hangman's noose!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder and robbery) PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is an action-packed adventure story with a very likeable hero, and there's plenty of good writing, along with lots of British-humoresque LOL moments. The PG-13 rating comes mostly due to the vocabulary: Tripp writes in a Dickensian style and uses words most MS kids--or even HS kids--won't know. Give this one to kids who are either good at guessing the meaning from the context,or who are willing to read the frequent footnotes and/or look up the hard words. Fantasy lovers who are willing to invest some effort will eagerly await the second installment, "The Accidental Giant".

PENNYROYAL ACADEMY, by M.A. Larson

The story: Evie leaves a mysterious family behind to learn the skills needed to fight witches, only to find that doing so could also cause her to betray the ones she loves. At Pennyroyal Academy, boys are trained to become knights and fight dragons; girls become princesses as they learn the skills needed to overcome the witches' dark magic. In this new place, Evie will find friends, a boyfriend...and maybe even herself.

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

Liz's comments: This is a fun fantasy, pretty much aimed at girls. The author has some new ideas, but also a tendency to use pretentious words--which occasionally make him/her sound pompous, and which will cause the target audience (middle school, in my book) to make frequent dives into the dictionary. Not that doing it will hurt them any!

I HAVE A BAD FEELING ABOUT THIS, by Jeff Strand

The story: It's bad enough Henry's family thinks he's such a wuss that they send him to wilderness camp to make a man out of him. It's even worse that they're right! But worst of all--when the bad guys come to camp and Henry and his fellow campers are forced to use the skills they've worked so hard to acquire--it still looks like they're all gonna die. Which really sucks.

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

Liz's comments: Strangely, despite the R rating for violence (a cold-blooded murder comes as kind of a jarring note midway through), and the occasional PG-13 language, this is a funny, action-packed story that just about any boy will like, except possibly the occasional muscle-bound athlete who just won't be able to relate to the general nerdiness. Anyone who's ever felt like a geek, or ever confused a video game with real life, will like this one!

THE SECRETS OF TREE TAYLOR, by Dandi Daley Mackall

The story: Tree Taylor isn't really looking for secrets--it's more like the secrets are looking for her. She knows that Butch is two-timing her sister Eileen. She knows there's something creepy about the way Chuck treats his step-sister Penny. And worst of all, she knows there's more to the story about Mr. Kinney being shot with his own rifle than other people in their small town might think. Tree's determined to get all the information and write a story about the Kinney shooting that will earn her a spot on the school paper...but as she finds out more and more, it gets harder and harder to tell the truth about the Kinneys (and about Penny and even Butch) when she knows how much trouble the truth can cause. When is someone else's secret yours to tell?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (implied spousal abuse; implied sexual abuse between step-siblings) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Tree's small-town experiences during the summer of 1963 contrast nicely with the tumult of what's going on in the larger world. Tree, a truth hunter, finds out that sometimes knowing what really happened can be harder than not knowing, and that figuring out what to do about what you know can be the hardest thing of all.

THE BOY IN THE BLACK SUIT, by Jason Reynolds

The story: Matt Miller's mother is dead, his dad is using the bottle to drown his sorrows, and Matt can't seem to care about school even though it's his senior year. But then he stumbles into a job at the local funeral home, and somehow, sharing other peoples' pain seems to lessen his own. Maybe he'll be able to get his dad up and running again. Maybe he'll learn to let his mom go. Maybe...he'll even be able to find a little happiness of his own with the cute girl who works at the Cluck Bucket. Maybe.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language: PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (alcoholism, parental death, the general unfairness of life) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is a quiet story about a black kid living in Brooklyn in a neighborhood where things aren't great but could certainly be worse. Matt is trying to deal with the grief of losing his mother as his father descends into alcoholism; best friend Chris tries to help, but it's only when he meets Lovey at her grandmother's funeral that his life seems to rebound in the right direction. Matt is an everyday hero you can root for, dealing with things that are terrible at any age; by the end of the story, he's only a couple of months older, but a whole lifetime wiser with the discovery that as you let people in and share their sorrow, your own pain grows less. Recommended.

TRUST ME, I'M LYING, by Mary Elizabeth Summer

The story: When Julep's father, who's been teaching her the business of the con for years, goes missing, he leaves a trail of clues that will explain the reasons and help her find him. Julep has to use all her grifting skills to follow the trail--and has to involve several friends at her exclusive private school to help her. But when the trail leads straight into the arms of the Ukrainian mob, even best friend Sam's hacking skills and hottie-boyfriend-wannabe Tyler's family political connections may not be enough to keep her from following her dad's example...right into the same set of cement shoes.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence R; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping, murder, organized crime, political corruption) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. (I notice that SLJ and Booklist both rate this 9-12, but I would have said 8-up.)

Liz's comments: It's interesting how many books feature the children of con men this year--I'm thinking specifically of "Loot" by Jude Watson and "Con Academy" by Joe Schreiber, although Julep is different by virtue of being a girl grifter. If you can get over the idea that it's okay to steal and cheat simply because the other guy is either dumb or corrupt, then this is an enjoyable read. Julep is smart and capable--you just have to hope she'll go through with her plan to get out of "the life"--although the fact that they've already bestowed a series name on this (Trust Me, Book 1) makes that not too likely.

NEED, by Joelle Charbonneau

The story: NEED looks innocent enough at first: get five of your friends to sign up, and you'll get something you need, like an iPad. Or a new dress for the dance. Sweet! Then, once you've completed the task and gotten your reward, you can sign up for a new task. It'll be a little harder...or maybe a lot harder. Maybe it'll ask you to do something illegal. Maybe it'll even be deadly. But as the kids at Nottowa High School are sucked into completing assignments for this mysterious website, only Kaylee asks for something she truly needs--and maybe that's why she's the only one who can see it for what it's turning out to be. But NEED has ways of keeping tabs on you--and of shutting you down if you talk. What Kaylee really needs right now? A way out.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder, parental abandonment, childhood cancer, peer pressure) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is a thriller in the real sense of the word: you can't put it down as you wait to see how horribly the next person will act, and how it will all end. It is, however, incredibly Lord of the Flies-ish, and very down on humans in general (and teens in particular). The adults are all clueless; the kids are greedy and self-absorbed, and only Kaylee has pure motives. It's difficult to consider the teens I know and think any of them would go this far--so on this one, the Suspension-of-Disbelief-o-Meter gets strained beyond the breaking point. If you have a more generous breaking point, go ahead and give this one a try. And if you like it, it's wide open for a sequel.

WHIPPOORWILL, by Joseph Monninger

The story: Clair has always ignored her white-trash "whippoorwill" neighbors the Stewarts until she notices Wally, a neglected dog in a down-at-heel backyard. When she finally reaches out to befriend Wally, she unexpectedly finds herself becoming friends with Danny, son of out-of-control Mr. Stewart--and she learns that training a dog to be great is a lot like training a boy to be great. Only question is: when is it too late for either of them?

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

Liz's comments: Here's a deceptively quiet story about what happens to animals--and to people--when they're neglected. Both Danny and Wally are painfully needy; both are worthy of Clair's attention. But when Old Man Stewart's lifetime of abusing his son goes in a direction neither of them expects, there's nothing Clair can do to stop the fallout...except do whatever she can to save Wally, the most innocent victim of all. Hand this one to older MS readers, or anyone who's ever loved a dog.

MARK OF THE THIEF, by Jennifer A. Nielsen

The story: When an encounter in the lost treasure cave of Julius Caesar unexpectedly endows mining slave Nic with magic powers, he doesn't realize his life is about to change forever. And as hard and dangerous as life was under the whip, it suddenly becomes more treacherous than ever before as everyone he meets tries to lay claim to his magic to further their own causes. And since Nic doesn't yet know how to use it, it seems just as likely to end up killing him as any other outcome. Can he learn to use it well enough to secure his own freedom, and then find and free his sister? Not if evil General Radulf has anything to say about it!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (being orphaned/sold into slavery; betrayal) PG; overall rating PG (this is a content rating; the historical setting and mentions of Roman mythology might render it better for grades 7-up).

Liz's comments: Although its historical setting makes it a little different from Nielsen's Ascendance Trilogy, readers who liked "The False Prince" will like her new series as well.

WE SHOULD HANG OUT SOMETIME, by Josh Sundquist

The story: 25 years old and STILL without a girlfriend, author Josh Sundquist goes back over every relationship he's ever had with a girl to try to figure out what took so stinkin' long to even get his first kiss. What he finally figures out surprises him--and it might surprise you, too. A true story!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG-13; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (social difficulties of an amputee; references to what's going on "down there" while thinking about girls) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This is a thoughtful, funny, poignant look back at the painful process of growing up. It will ring bells with a lot of guys, but mostly, I think that would be guys of high school age and up. It's not that the content is mature; rather, that you have to have reached a certain level of maturity to appreciate it, and I don't think most MS kids are there.

WOOF, by Spencer Quinn

The story: For Bowser and Birdie, it's love at first sight. He's a dog, she's a kid, and together they tackle the mystery Big Jack, a stuffed fish stolen in broad daylight from Grammy Gaux's fishing and tackle store. Good thing Birdie is a stubborn investigator, and good thing Bowser has a "nose" for clues--really! Bad thing? The bad guys are on the trail of something big, and they have no intention of letting a kid and a dog get in the way. But they're about to find out that it's never a good idea to underestimate your opponent because of their size--or their fur!

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

Liz's comments: Anyone who likes dogs will love this one! Bowser will remind you of Dug in the Disney movie "UP"--his life is mostly about food, smells, running around...and Birdie. It's the last thing that makes him a great partner in Birdie's detective efforts, and it's those great big teeth (used only as a last resort) that makes him the muscle while Birdie provides the brain. A really fun read for both dog and mystery lovers! (Even though it's rated for ages 9-12, MS kids in those two categories will also like it.)

MARK OF THE THIEF, by Jennifer E. Nielsen

The story: When an encounter in the lost treasure cave of Julius Caesar unexpectedly endows mining slave Nic with magic powers, he doesn't realize that his life is about to change forever. And as hard and dangerous as life was under the whip, it suddenly becomes more treacherous than ever before as everyone he meets tries to lay claim to his magic to further their own causes. And since Nic doesn't yet know how to use it, it seems just as likely to end up killing him as any other outcome. Can he learn to use it well enough to secure his own freedom, and then find and free his sister? Not if evil General Radulf has anything to say about it!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (being orphaned/sold into slavery; betrayal) PG; overall rating PG (this is a content rating; the historical setting and mentions of Roman mythology might render it better for grades 7-up).

Liz's comments: Although its historical setting makes it a little different from Nielsen's Ascendance Trilogy, readers who liked "The False Prince" will also like her new. This one has magic, war, evil slave-drivers and a girl Nic can never quite figure out--all in one place!