GENIUS: THE GAME, by Leopoldo Gout

The story: Two hundred of the best--geniuses--have been chosen to compete in teen tech billionaire Kiran Biswas's Game. Rex, Cai, and Tunde all have a reason to need to be there: Rex is desperately searching for his lost brother, Cai is trying to find who's corrupted her Chinese businessman father, and Tunde is trying to keep his family and village out of the hands of an African warlord. Working desperately to solve the puzzle and stay in the Game, they come to realize that they've been maneuvered right into a trap and that to stay alive, solving the puzzle is no longer enough. Now they'd better stay one step ahead of The Game...or it may be their last step ever.

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 (complex conspiracies; misuse of technology in order to take over the world) PG-13; overall rating PG-13--mostly due to the very tech-dense narrative that is simply too hard for most MS readers...unless they're GT types like the kids in the story.

Liz's comments: This is a Dan-Brown type thriller featuring super-smart kids doing what they do best. There's the occasional moment of inability to suspend disbelief that kids could perform this kind of technological wizardry...but maybe that's where the "Genius" part of the title comes in. If you're wanting to believe that kids are going to save the world someday, you'll enjoy this one.

MARK OF THE PLAGUE (Blackthorn Key #2), by Kevin Sands

The story: It's 1665, and the black plague has hit London with a vengeance. A unexpected message from Christopher's dead master, apothecary Blackthorn, reveals that there's a treasure hidden somewhere in the house...but Christopher can't seem to find it, and money is getting tight. Even worse, friends are falling victim to the plague, and a mysterious plague "prophet" has predicted that Christopher's best friend, Tom, will be among the next to die...

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (manipulation of public fear for gain) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I'm a big fan of "The Blackthorn Key", and thought this one was really good as well--although a little less like a Dan Brown book for kids, and a little more like the historical fiction that it is. Even so, there are puzzles to crack and mysteries to solve, and fans of book 1 will like book 2 also.

FUZZY, by Tom Angleberger

The story: When Maxine is assigned to befriend robot-in-training Fuzzy as part of integrated him into her school, she's thrilled. But it turns out to be a lot less exciting than she thought--the other kids make fun of her, her anti-robot mom isn't happy about it, and worst of all, she seems to have run afoul of the other AI presence in the school: evil robotic Vice Principal Barbara. Can Max keep one step ahead of Barbara, the military, AND the Russian baddies who want to kidnap Fuzzy?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (artificial intelligence overstepping its programmed bounds); overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: A fun read for sci-fi lovers. Too bad the main character isn't a boy...that way, more guys (the usual audience for this kind of book) would be willing to give it a go.

THE SEVENTH WISH, by Kate Messner

The story: When Charlie catches a magic fish that grants wishes, it's not long before she's back at the fishing hole again...and again. Her wishes seem to help at first--but then they go sideways, and somehow they've made things even worse than when she started. Can Charlie figure out how to solve her problems without magic? It doesn't seem very likely...

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

Liz's comments: I liked this story a lot, but found it to be a very strange juxtaposition of whimsical magic fish/wish granting and the difficulties of dealing with an older sibling's addiction. Messner does a good job of showing the neglected child's anger as parents deal with putting out the older sister's fires, and she also shows that wishing for life to get better--and having those wishes granted--just leads to more complications. I'd say the audience here is grades 5-7; Charlie is a 6th grader, but her older sister's problems would resonate with older readers...if they can get past the magic, wish-granting fish.

TEN DAYS A MADWOMAN, by Deborah Noyes

The story: Nellie Bly took on the newspaper establishment in a time when reporting was not seen as a fit occupation for women, and turned the world on its ear by spending ten days in a madhouse to do a report on the terrible conditions there. She followed it up by traveling around the world in LESS than 80 days--72 days, to be precise. Read the true story of this intrepid girl reporter to see just how far women have come in the 100 years since then!

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 (treatment of the insane; women's rights) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz' comments: Good for MS and up, wherever there's a strong interest in female-centered nonfiction.

THE BITTER SIDE OF SWEET, by Tara Sullivan

The story: Amadou and Seydou are essentially slaves on a cacao plantation in Ivory Coast. If they don't pick enough pods every day, they're beaten; they've finally figured out they're never going to be able to earn enough to pay off their "debt" to the bosses. It's not until kidnapped Kahdija is dropped off at camp that the situation spirals out of control, and Amadou realizes that unless he does something desperate, his brother is going to die. Can Amadou find the courage to face nearly insurmountable odds and stage a getaway?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13 (a rape, which although graphic is nonetheless there); nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; Adult themes (human trafficking, unfair-trade chocolate practices) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This was a very eye-opening book about a substance, chocolate, that kids in the US take for granted while kids in Africa die to produce it. The astute, socially-conscious secondary reader will find this book fascinating, although the lack-luster cover makes it unlikely the rest will ever give it a second glance.

SOPHIE QUIRE AND THE LAST STORYGUARD, by Jonathan Auxier

The story: Sophie Quire is a book mender is a city that not only doesn't value books--it's about to gather every work of fiction to be found and burn it. When a strange boy and his seemingly mutant cat appear with an equally strange book in need of mending, Sophie is astounded to find that it contains information about her mother's death--the event that has made Sophie the Last Storyguard. When the book is stolen, Sophie joins the quest to recover it...and in so doing, finds out the truth about her life, her mother, and all the magic in the world.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult: PG-13; GLBT content G; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This is a truly imaginative piece of fantasy fiction, reminiscent of last year's "The Map to Everywhere" and "Story Thieves." Probably good for strong readers 4th grade and up, and suitable as a read aloud for younger audiences. Recommended!

THE FORBIDDEN ORCHID, by Sharon Biggs Waller

The story: Elodie's father is a rare plant hunter, and she longs to be able to go adventuring with him. When Papa fails to fulfill his contract to bring home a rare orchid, his employer threatens debtors' prison unless he makes good. But Papa refuses to take her with him, although he's too sick to go alone--so she stows away on that slow boat to China, where she masquerades as a boy, and then as a wife, and finally finds true love in the rainforests of the Far East. (And orchids too!)

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic and the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes PG; overall rating PG (although its historical fiction setting and sort of Regency romance tone render it better for older readers--strong 8th grade readers and up).

Liz's comments: Historical fiction is always a tough sell in middle school, but if older girls are looking for a romance in an exotic location, with a heroine who bucks the helpless female stereotype of the time, this is an excellent choice.

GOLDFISH, by Nat Luurtsema

The story: When Lou misses out on her chance to train as an Olympic swimmer, she feels that life as she knows it is about to end (and she's right). What she never saw coming was the chance to coach a boys' synchronized swimming team starring three of the hottest guys at her school. She also never foresaw that she'd be breaking into an aquarium, busting her friend out of training camp, or ending up swimming on the guys' team herself. Or making up friends. Or getting a boyfriend. Stuff like that just sneaks up on you sometimes.

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

Liz's comments: This laugh-out-loud story not only has some hilarious moments, but Lou really grows as a character, learning that things generally aren't as bad as they seem, and that good luck can come in strange packages. I just wish I could actually watch the YouTube video of those guys doing their routine!

SPEED OF LIFE, by Carol Weston

The story: Sofia's mother died last year, and now her dad is dating again. She's got all these hard questions and no one to ask--so she turns to Dear Kate, the advice columnist at "Fifteen" magazine. When Kate gives her good answers and solid advice, Sofia emails more and more--until she finds out that the advice columnist is the Mystery Woman her dad is dating! Now what!?!?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG; adult themes (death of a parent, sex, grief and loss) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Weston's background as a teen advice columnist is evident here--parts of this book read like she lifted them straight from the source. Sofia asks questions that MS girls certainly wonder about, but would frequently be too embarrassed to ask their mothers, so there's some value to the book in that way. I thought it was fairly plot-free, but it certainly raised and resolved a lot of issues--death of a parent, the other parent dating again, grief, moving, going to a new school, step-sibling drama, wondering why you can't get a boyfriend (and when you do, wondering how far to go)--there's a little of everything! Girls who are willing to put up with the slow pace and wade through teen angst to see whether Sofia gets the guy will be happy with the outcome.

TIME TRAVELING WITH A HAMSTER, by Ross Welford

The story: On his 12th birthday, Al Chaudhury receives a letter from his dead father, challenging him to find and use a time machine that dad invented to go back in time and prevent the accident that will cause his father to die way too young. But time travel is a tricky thing, and of all the possible outcomes, there's only one that would actually be better. All the rest would be much, much worse...

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 (death of a parent) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I did like this story, but I'm not sure MS readers will stick with it through all the variations of his life caused by time travel. The story just seemed to take too much...time. Still, both Booklist and Kirkus gave it starred reviews, so there's that.

THE MINISTRY OF S.U.I.T.S, by Paul Gamble

The story: Jack's curiosity is going to get him killed, Mom warns. But our hero never thought it would get him a job at the Ministry of S.U.I.T.s (Strange, Unusual & Impossible Things)...and yet, here he is. Operatives use The Speed--and other arcane techniques--to keep one step ahead of the world's biggest cache of pirates, all the dinosaurs that didn't go extinct, and a steampunk monster. And if you think THAT sounds funny, check out the narrator's footnotes!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (megalomaniac trying to take over the world); overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I thought this book was hilarious--it had a bunch of laugh-out-loud moments, and I'm a grown up! Plus, there's the best use of footnotes since Jonathan Stroud's Bartimaeus series. Simply because of its size, it's better for good 5th grade readers, and up.

WHAT LIGHT, by Jay Asher

The story: Sierra's family grows Christmas trees in Oregon, then makes the 900-mile trek to central California to sell them each year. But sales are down, and she knows that this might be their last year. Even more upsetting, she meets and falls for Caleb, all the while knowing she'll have to say goodbye to him when the lot closes on Christmas morning--and even worse, there's something weird and scary in Caleb's past. How could something that could turn out so wrong feel so right?

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 (domestic violence) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This is a sweet little holiday love story, just fine for readers of Kasie West or Jennifer E. Smith. What's weird is that this is the same author who wrote "Thirteen Reasons Why", about a girl who commits suicide and her reasons for doing it. The books are complete opposites--except for a message that people can (and should be allowed to) change, there's no kind of social commentary here. So don't buy this book thinking it'll be the same kind of novel as 13 Reasons. It's a lot more like Asher/Mackler's "The Future of Us", but without the sci-fi twist. (Too bad. I kinda liked that.)

FLAMECASTER, by Cinda Williams Chima

The story: When Ash (Adrian sul'Han, son of Raisa and Han of 7 Realms fame) witnessed his father's murder, he goes into hiding--and into training. Four years later, he's a healer...and an assassin. Self-assigned to deal with the evil Gerard Montaigne, king of Arden, he meets prisoner Jenna Bandelow: a girl with a strange magemark, who's being hunted by the mysterious Empress Celestine. Together, they can either deal with Montaigne and make their getaway--or slip up, and bring the Seven Realms crumbling down with them.

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

Liz's comments: So happy for another entry in the world of the 7 Realms (truly, my all-time favorite YA series ever). Flamecaster doesn't disappoint, although realistically, it's better for grades 9 and up. The complex world building is a little easier to understand when you;re already familiar with the earlier volumes, but that's not required. There's plenty of heavy-duty making out here that will no doubt lead to something else later in the series, so be aware of that too, especially if purchasing for MS readers. Oh, and spoiler alert: there's a dragon! Sweet!

FALLING OVER SIDEWAYS, by Jordan Sonnenblick

The story: 8th grade--mean girls, dorky boys, friends drifting apart--is bad enough before Claire's dad has a stroke. But the stroke changes everything. Can she make it to high school without losing her friends, her seat in band, her place in dance class, and worst of all--her dad?

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

Liz's comments: I liked this book all right, just not as much as I've liked Sonnenblick's other books in the past. And strangely, I'm not even sure why. Possibly it's because the "say it like it is" semi-snarky narrator approach seems to work better for me when it's coming from a boy??? (That would be weird, but maybe.) Anyway, definitely hand it to Sonnenblick fans--but this one's girl narrator won't appeal nearly as much to boys as his boy narrators appeal to girls. Sad fact, just saying.

LOVE AND GELATO, by Jenna Evans Welch

The story: When her mother dies, Lina is sent to Italy to meet the father she's never known. Little does she realize she'll meet far more than that--there's also the hottest guy she's ever seen, a really creepy Italian photographer, and the sweet soccer player who lives in a gingerbread house. Italy really IS full of magical surprises!

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 (children born out of wedlock, death of a parent) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Aside from the book-length premise of her mother's affair with a secret lover that led to her birth, there is little to object to here. Lina's attraction to Thomas is always kind of anemic, and any girl with half a brain would know what it takes Lina half the book to discover--that she's falling for Ren. But that's okay! The two go on to solve the not very deep mystery of who's her father, and chances are good for a happily ever after. Which is all MS girls care about, anyway.

THE GALLERY, by Laura Marx Fitzgerald

The story: When she's kicked out of school, her mother gets Martha a job in the mansion where she works. But no matter how rich, Mr. Sewell and his house are also mysterious. Why does he keep his wife locked up in the attic? Where did her fabulous collection of art go? And why is the brother of a notorious anarchist opening doors for the rich and famous? Martha is determined to get to the bottom of it, but to succeed, she'll have to brush up on mind-reading, plotting, and the art of riding unnoticed in dumbwaiters.

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 (fraud and fraudulent schemes) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's a fun mystery wrapped up in a Roaring 20s historical novel. Martha is a smart, funny narrator, and the book offers young readers an intriguing glimpse into Prohibition and the stock market run-up to the great Depression, as well as a chance to look up some first-rate works of art in Google Images.

THIS IS MY BRAIN ON BOYS, by Sarah Strohmeyer

The story: Addie wants to put together the perfect experiment to nail down her scholarship to Harvard. Messing around with other peoples' brain chemicals in order to trigger a romantic attachment doesn't seem like such a big deal when she comes up with the idea, but when SHE ends up falling for bad boy Kris, all of a sudden it's a VERY big deal. Who knew?

NOT FOR THE BIG BOOK

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content PG; adult themes G; overall rating PG-13 (not so much because of content but because of an abundance of scientific talk that's totally over the heads of MS readers).

Liz's comments: Meh. I like a good YA romance as much as the next person, but Addie's character was so stiff, humorless and clueless that I mostly felt bad for the boy who falls for her. (Although why he would makes it more of a mystery than a romance, in my book.) :P

WHEN FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED ME HOME, by Paul Griffin

The story: Ben Coffin has had a really tough life, but for the first time ever, he's got a best friend who's a girl and another one who's a dog. Can they teach him to trust life, even when it's been throwing its worst at Ben as long as he can remember?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG (foster parent hits a kid--maybe PG-13?); Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; adult themes (death of a parent; abandonment, terminal illness, bullying) PG-13; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This book will find a home with the kind of tween/teen reader who likes a good cry at the end. Ben is a funny narrator who struggles valiantly with more awful stuff than most people have to put up with in an entire lifetime. Put it in your Difficult Lives section and let those kids have at it!

FALLING OVER SIDEWAYS, by Jordan Sonnenblick

The story: 8th grade--mean girls, dorky boys, friends drifting apart--is bad enough before Claire's dad has a stroke. But the stroke changes everything. Can she make it to high school without losing her friends, her seat in band, her place in dance class, and worst of all--her dad?

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

Liz's comments: I liked this book all right, just not as much as I've liked Sonnenblick's other books in the past. And strangely, I'm not even sure why. Possibly it's because the "say it like it is" semi-snarky narrator approach seems to work better for me when it's coming from a boy??? (That would be weird, but maybe.) Anyway, definitely hand it to Sonnenblick fans--but this one's girl narrator won't appeal nearly as much to boys as his boy narrators appeal to girls. Sad fact, just saying.

WOLF BY WOLF, by Ryan Graudin

The story: After Hitler and the Germans win World War 2, the resistance goes deeper underground. Ten years later, one of Himmler's successful (but forgotten) science experiments--a shapeshifter--sets out to gain revenge by winning a race and assassinating der Fuhrer. Does Yael have what it takes to beat 19 hardened racers and come out in front?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13 (swearing in German); Violence R; Sexual content PG; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (genocide, evil science experiments, political assassination, murder) R; overall rating R (all right for really good 8th grade readers; otherwise best for 9th-up).

Liz's comments: This one had a fascinating concept--what if the Nazis had won the war? The action takes place in 1956, with Yael, a survivor of an evil experiment in a death camp, biding her time until it's right to make her move against Hitler to find revenge for all the people in her life who died because of him. A major twist at the end means you'll have to buy the sequel, "Blood for Blood" to see how the story really ends.

WHEN FRIENDSHIP FOLLOWED ME HOME, by Paul Griffin

The story: Ben Coffin has had a really tough life, but for the first time ever, he's got a best friend who's a girl and another one who's a dog. Can they teach him to trust life, even when it's been throwing its worst at Ben as long as he can remember?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG (foster parent hits a kid--maybe PG-13?); Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; adult themes (death of a parent; abandonment, terminal illness, bullying) PG-13; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This book will find a home with the kind of tween/teen reader who likes a good cry at the end. Ben is a funny narrator who struggles valiantly with more awful stuff than most people have to put up with in an entire lifetime. Put it in your Difficult Lives section and let those kids have at it!

WARNING: recent School Library Journal recommendations of Adult books for teens are WAY off the mark...

I have long thought that School Library Journal often does a disservice to librarians by not really being honest or forthcoming in its reviews.  One of the reasons we started writing this blog was to give you more information than what the journals typically include.  I was reading this month's SLJ and I almost dropped it when I saw a couple of the recommendations they made of adult books for teens.  I can only write about two of the titles, because I have read them, but neither of them would I recommend for teens.  The others I cannot speak about, but I felt obligated to share what I know to save you from wasting scarce book money.

The Madwoman Upstairs by Catherine Lowell

I loved this enjoyable Jane Eyre fan fiction romp. It is smart and sassy and though it pays homage to the Brontes, it never stoops to the level of worshipping them. A fun protagonist, a wicked sense of humor, what more could you ask for? If you enjoy modern literary writing that does more then nod toward classics, this book is great fun.

June's Rating:  Language PG-13;  Nudity--PG;  Sexual Content--R;  GLBT Content--PG;  Violence--PG;  Substance Abuse--R, Adult Themes--PG-13

Robin's comments:  As you can see, it isn't that I didn't like the book. I really liked it quite a lot.  However, I cannot see it having much appeal for teenagers except for the .5% who actually enjoy Bronte.  Also, there is a somewhat inappropriate relationship between a professor and a student.  It contains WAY  too many literary allusions and assumptions that the reader knows certain things for this to be enjoyable for anything resembling your average teen reader, or your average reader period.  It is definitely a niche book, and not one that I would give to a high school student unless they were extremely unique.

Now for the one that really made me cringe...  

Eligible: a Modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice 

by Curtis Sittenfield

(From my GoodReads review)

Sadly disappointing, this book is just trying to cash in on the popularity of Jane Austen's characters. This supposed to be a modern retelling of Pride and Prejudice, but it fails on all fronts. The main characters, with the possible exception of Fitzwilliam Darcy, and I am not even sure about that, are all unlikeable. Even Jane is aimless and low-achieving. Lizzy has been carrying on an affair with a married man for years. All the Bennett girls are unmarried and over 25--what are the odds? Besides Mary, they are slutty and foul-mouthed. Bingley is portrayed as a near idiot. I only finished reading it so that I could write a review that would prevent anyone from spending any money on this book. Janeites beware!
The premise is that Charles Bingley is a reality television star from a show called Eligible who comes to Cincinatti to work at a hospital, because despite the fact that he is pushing 40, handsome, charming and a doctor, he cannot find love. Unfortunately, he also failed to find it on Eligible and now has to earn his keep as an ER doctor. Darcy is a neurosurgeon working at the same hospital. Jane and Lizzy (40 and 38 respectively) have come to town to help care for their father, who has had a heart attack and ruined the family finances by being lazy and stupid. Kitty and Lydia are twenty-something exercise addicts and Mary is a serial college student, completing degree after degree online. Have I convinced you not to pick it up yet? It is insipid, the characters are broadly drawn caricatures and it is the worst kind of opportunism. There is none of the cleverness, none of the social commentary, none of the sparkling dialogue of a real Jane Austen book.
I wouldn't give this book to my worst enemy.

June's Rating:  Language--X;  Nudity-R;  Sexual Content--X; GLBT Content-R (Lydia marries a transgender Male)  Adult Themes-R

Robin's comments:  I have never given an "X" rating, but I really do not think this book is suitable for teens.  I wouldn't have finished it, except that I wanted to review it and I didn't feel like it would be fair to review it without reading the whole thing, so I slogged through.  Besides the fact that it is unsuitable, it is a terrible book.  Really.

ZERO DAY, by Jan Gangsei

The story: Addie was kidnapped 8 years ago, long before her father was President. When she "escapes" her captors, everyone is overjoyed. But something happened to Addie during those 8 years, and it's about to change the fate of the United States forever.

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

Liz's comments: Hand this one to kids who liked Michelle Gagnon's "Don't Look Now" series, or Harlan Coben's Mickey Bolitar books (but not to kids who are offended by bad words, cuz there are plenty of those!).

THE COURAGE TEST, by James Preller

The story: Will's dad whisks him away to follow Lewis and Clark's 200-year-old trail--what's up with that? Along the way, Will figures out that his did isn't as bad as he thought...right at the same time that they help an illegal immigrant, shoot the rapids, adopt a dog, and turn blue in the Pacific Ocean. Just like Lewis and Clark! Right!?!?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental illness, parent-child friction, divorce) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Two thumbs up for this one by James Preller (of Jigsaw Jones fame--who would have guessed?). Will is a funny, honest narrator, and although he grows as a character while his understanding of life's complications increases, it's never heavy-handed or preachy. Good stuff.

HOW TO AVOID EXTINCTION, by Paul Acampora

The story: Leo's job is keeping an eye on his grandmother, who tends to wander off. So when she jumps in her old Buick and heads off to see the dinosaurs in Utah, Leo HAS to go with her. Right!?!? Here's a funny story about growing up, getting old, and getting there.

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 (death of a family member, dementia) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I really liked this one! Acampora's style is a lot like Richard Peck's, and his treatment of family problems and strengths is reminiscent too. Hand this to a kid looking for an easy read, and he/she will end up with even more than they bargained for.

THE NIGHT PARADE, by Kathryn Tanqueray

The story: When Saki messes up the Obon ceremony because she's too lazy to get it right, and when she disrespects the graveyard of her ancestors, a death curse is placed upon her family and it's up to her to follow the path to the Midlight Prince to get him to dissolve the curse. She has three nights to do it, and who knows if the spirits, ogres, and other beings of the Night Parade will help her, or try to get their revenge by getting in her way and causing her to fail?

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

Liz's comments: This was an unusual fantasy, its animal beings very much unfamiliar to Western readers (Google images was helpful in seeing what they all were). Saki, despite being pretty unlikable at the beginning, grows a lot as a character and learns her lesson well. Give this one to fantasy likers who are willing to dip their toe in the pool of foreign cultures.

LONGBOW GIRL, by Linda Davies

The story: Merry and James are best friends, though their families have been feuding for 800 years--since the day Henry VIII declared that one of Merry's family had to be ready to serve as a longbowman in his army forever. When Merry finds an ancient manuscript that seems to promise treasure, she follows its directions to try to help her family. She never expected that the door would lead her through time, and that treasure isn't always something you can count in dollars.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG: Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (financial duress, feuds) PG; overall rating PG-13 (mostly because I think younger kids won't read it--it requires too much Paying Attention.)

Liz's comments: A well-written story, unusually set in Wales. Hand to any kid who likes historical fiction or time travel.

PYRAMID HUNTERS: THE IRON TOMB, by Peter Vegas

The story: What starts out as a school-break visit to his uncle in Egypt turns crazy and dangerous as Sam Force finds out that his mild-mannered archaeologist uncle Jasper is on the trail of Akhenaton (who might just be MOSES in disguise!) and the lost Ark of the Covenant. And of course, there are plenty of evil-doers following him to try to steal the treasure. Can Sam find Jasper, and the Ark, before the bad guys do?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (being orphaned, scary situations) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: If you think the summary sounds strangely akin to "Raiders of the Lost Ark", you're right! This story is just as much fun as the movie, without the "wink-wink" moments.

SIMON THORN & THE WOLF'S DEN, by Aimee Carter

The story: Simon thought being bullied--and being abandoned by his mom--was bad...but that was before he was attacked by rats, seized by pigeons, and chased by wolves. All in one day. On the bright side, he's made some new friends: Animalgams--kids who have the unusual ability to turn into animals. But of course there's always a drawback: some of those kids might turn out to be enemies, and one of them might even betray him to his grandmother who (incidentally) wants to kill him. Life can be so messed up.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G: Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult (shapeshifting) PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental abandonment, inter-family violence) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This one is quite reminiscent of the Michael Vey series (although it's kids who turn into animals, rather than kids imbued with electrical powers). If you have fans of the first, steer them to this one next.

GHOST, by Jason Reynolds

The story: Ghost comes out of nowhere to challenge the fastest runner on the team. Everyone's amazed when he turns out to be fast--really fast. Coach wants him on the track team, but there's more chasing Ghost than just the other runners: mostly, his own bad choices. Can he outrun his past and find a better path to the kid he wants to be?

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 (parental violence and incarceration, bullying) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Jason Reynolds is on a hot streak right now. It's nice to have him move over to middle grade fiction. Hand this one to boys who want sports stories, or any kid who wants to believe that poverty and bad choices don't have to define who you are forever.

LOVE, LIES, AND SPIES, by Cindy Anstey

The story: Juliana Telford is a scientifically-minded young woman. Spencer Northam is a young gentleman who just happens to work undercover for the War Office in Regency England, 1813. Neither one is looking for someone to marry--Juliana wants to get her research published, and Spencer wants to catch a spy. But sometimes, in life as well as in love, you get what you weren't expecting!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (kidnapping) PG; overall rating PG (although the Jane Austen-esque language makes it better for older readers, probably 8th-up).

Liz's comments: This was a fun read, clean and decent (and better than Swoon Reads' "These Vicious Masks"). Hand it to any girl who likes Jane Austen or historical fiction with a healthy dollop of romance. And then give her Garth Nix's "Newt's Emerald", too.

HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD, by J.K. Rowling

The story: Harry Potter is now a middle-aged man with a 15-year-old son, Albus. When Albus and best friend Scorpius Malfoy try to change history for the better by bringing Cedric Diggory back from the dead, they find that the ripples in time are more than they control, magic wand or not.

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

Liz's comments: Appropriate for MS libraries, because even though it's about Harry as an adult, it's more focused on Albus and Scorpius. MS readers might have a bit of difficulty with the fact that this isn't a novel but rather a script for the play, but if they're fans of the world of Harry and Hogwarts, that won't prove a deterrent. Good times!

THE CLOCKWORK SCARAB, by Colleen Gleason

The story: Sherlock Holmes's niece meets Bram Stoker's vampire-fighting sister in this kick-butt mystery set in steampunk London, 1889. The mysterious Ankh is trying to bring the ancient goddess Sekhmet back to life, and is killing bored young noblewomen to do it. Irene Adler, working for the Crown, has recruited the two very different young women to work as a team--so they'd better learn how to hang together, or they might both end up hanging separately!

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, kidnapping) PG; overall rating PG-13 (Victorian writing style makes is a little more challenging for the MS set; good 8th-grade readers and up).

Liz's comments: I thought this one had it all: an interesting mystery, good character development, and strong, spunky female characters who still have to work to overcome their several weaknesses. There are two sequels to date: "The Spiritglass Charade", and "The Chess Queen Enigma"--and I will definitely be taking a look at those as well!

LIFERS, by M.A. Griffin

The story: Preston's best friend Alice has disappeared. Using clues from her notebook, he follows her trail to MIST, a secretive technology corporation development a "correctional system" for the government. Preston soon becomes The Valve's next victim, and if he and his friends don't act fast, every teen who's been jailed in this alternative reality is going to die. He's up against a powerful government minister and his scientific minions, and he's just a kid--and it's possible that no one will even notice they're all gone.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (cruel & unusual punishment, government corruption) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Hand this one to fans of James Dashner's "Maze Runner" books, or Alexander Gordon Smith's "Escape From Furnace" series. Although "Lifers" isn't dystopian in the same way that these are, it will appeal to the same group of readers.

THE BOY AT THE TOP OF THE MOUNTAIN, by John Boyle

The story: Orphaned French boy Pierrot is sent to live with his aunt, who just happens to be the housekeeper at the Berghof, Adolf Hitler's country home. As he comes into repeated contact with Der Fuhrer, "Pieter" gradually loses his innocence and become a mini Hitler himself. What will it take for him to regain his humanity?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13 (a foiled assault attempt); Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (exposure to barbaric acts; Nazism) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: While a 5th grader could read the text of this story, its underlying themes are really for older audiences--at least 7th grade and up. Pierrot starts out as a likeable child but changes into a monster teen--showing that anyone can be corrupted if influenced by respected adults over the course of time. This was not a jolly story, although it was thought-provoking. However, don't expect MS kids to pick it up and read it for fun. Cuz. Not fun.

THE BIG DARK, by Rodman Philbrick

The story: Everyone in town is out watching the aurora borealis on New Year's Eve when a massive solar event causes power failures everywhere--and this time, the power never comes back on. A crazy survivalist tries to rule the town, food and firewood run short...and Charlie's mom is about to run out of medicine. Charlie hatches a daring plan to cross-country sky to the nearest town to find help. Will he make it? And will there by any help to be found?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (survivalists turned dictator; death related to natural disaster) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: An interesting boy-against-nature story that might encourage a wide variety of readers to store a little food and fuel in the pantry just in case the lights go out!

MS. BIXBY'S LAST DAY, by John David Anderson

The story: When their teacher disappears unexpectedly, three 6th grade boys don't get a chance to say goodbye. And when they find out she has cancer, Steve, Topher, and Brand set out to visit Ms. Bixby one last time, determined to re-create the exact conditions their teacher had once described as how she'd spend her last day on earth. Of course, circumstances combine to get in the way. Will the boys ever actually make it to the hospital, much less bust their teacher out?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG, Violence G; Sexual context G; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; LGBT content G; adult themes (death of a teacher, parental disability, pressure to perform, difficult lives) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: A great story for boys, 4th-6th. (Girls and older would like it too if they were willing to give it a chance.) Here's a story that's full of heart, with three boys trying to find their place in an increasingly demanding world where one of their mentors is going out of it. Funny, sad, and encouraging all at the same time--good stuff, as long as you're not put off by talk of farts and boogers. Cuz, sixth grade boys.

A WEEK OF MONDAYS, by Jessica Brody

The story: It was the worst Monday ever--school pictures were terrible, she bombed her election speech and softball tryouts, and her rocker boyfriend Tristan broke up with her. Ellie just wishes there was a chance for a do-over. Little does she know that she'll get the do-over...and she'll have to keep on repeating that awful Monday until she gets it right.

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

Liz's comments: Here's a really fun go-back to "Groundhog's Day". Perfectly acceptable for MS readers.

ROCKS FALL, EVERYONE DIES, by Lindsey Ribar

The story: Aspen Quick's family uses their Magic to keep the Cliff from falling and destroying the town--but they have to steal to do it. Oh, nothing big--maybe just your love of the water, or your fear of flying. Aspen uses the magic to help himself out too...what's the harm? It's not until he finds out how it feels to have someone else sneak into your soul without permission that he realizes this is wrong. But if he doesn't do his part, everyone in the town will die... Right?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content R, Nudity PG-13; Substance abuse R; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content PG; adult themes (violation of privacy, extended sexual content and scenes of underage drinking) R; overall rating R.

Liz's comments: Not for MS readers. SLJ got it wrong on this one. :(

MAX HELSING AND THE 13TH CURSE, by Curtis Jobling

The story: Max Helsing is the last in the line of (Van) Helsings, famed monster hunters. He feels like he's got things down pretty well...but what Max doesn't realize is that a long-dormant curse is about to fall on the 13th descendant of Liesbeth Van Helsing on his/her 13th birthday. It's the 13th Curse--and it just so happens that Max is the 13th descendant. Oh well. How bad could it be? Max is about to find out.

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

Liz's comments: Max is a funny, snarky character, and there's plenty of action here to lure in anyone who likes monsters with a side of butt-kicking. A sure hit with boys!

MOSQUITOLAND, by David Arnold

The story: Convinced that her mother has a terminal illness, Mim runs away from her dad and stepmother and hops a Greyhound bus for Cleveland. Over the next 947 miles, she meets a creepy pervert, an amazing old lady, a gas-station owner named Ahab, and the guy of her dreams. She makes new friends, goes off her meds, rescues Walt from a homeless life shared with a mentally ill slasher, and makes peace with the voices in her head. She also finds out that things (and people) are never quite what you expect, either bad or good.

June Cleaver's ratings: Langauge R; Violence PG; Sexual content PG; Nudity G: Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (mental illness and corresponding societal misbehavior) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Mim is a strong, quirky narrator, but not always completely reliable. (Could be those meds.) Additionally, the language is graphic throughout, rendering this read better for the high school crowd than for MS.

THE PASSION OF DOLSSA, by Julie Berry

The story: This is the tale of two girls: Catholic mystic Dolssa de Stigata, who barely escapes being burned as a heretic in 1241 Toulouse, France; and 17-year-old Botille, a matchmaker from a tiny fishing village who rescues Dolssa from starvation and detection, and by so doing puts herself and her village in mortal danger.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence R; Sexual content PG; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (the Catholic church's persecution of heretics; Christian mysticism) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: I found this book to be fascinating, but it certainly isn't for middle school readers. Not that they couldn't understand it if they put their minds to it, but I can't think of a single girl at my middle school who would slog through a story like this just to come up against an unhappy ending. Save this one for the high school crowd.

THE KEY TO EXTRAORDINARY, by Natalie Lloyd

The story: Emma is afraid Granny Blue will sell their cafe next to the Graveyard. She's also waiting for the Destiny Dream, which comes to girls in their family to point them to their life's most important task. Could it be possible that saving the Boneyard Cafe will be her life's greatest challenge? She could also figure out a way to get Earl Chance to talk...or fix her brother's broken romance...or even just figure out a way to deal with mean girl Beretta Simmons. Just about any of those things would appear to require some kind of magic--but luckily, in this part of Tennessee, there's magic and to spare: enough to help Emma figure out how to become extraordinary.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult PG; adult themes (death of a parent, mild bullying scenes) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I thought this one was charming--but too young for most MS readers, as Emma is just going into 6th grade. Give it girls in grades 4-5.

THE LOONEY EXPERIMENT, by Luke Reynolds

The story: Seems like Atticus's life couldn't get much worse: he's routinely bullied by Danny Mills, his father has just left the family, and he's got the worst name in the world. But when Mr. Looney, a 77-year-old substitute teacher, appears in ILA class, things subtly begin to change. Atticus begins to gain the courage he'll need to stand up for Mr. Looney when things get really, really bad.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G: adult themes (bullying, parental separation, unwarranted feelings of guilt) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Atticus is a likeable dork, and many kids will relate (although when he starts out in his capital-I "Imagination" on page 2, you initially wonder if this is about a fourth grader, rather than an older kid). Nonetheless, as Atticus learns to move out of the shadows and stand up, he makes a notable journey. And the idea that a really senior senior citizen could be part of such a journey was one a lot of MS kids may not have had before. There are no magical endings here, but there are believable ones.

KALAHARI, by Jessica Khoury

The story: Six teens, stranded in the Kalahari desert, must fight to stay alive, to avoid the poachers who killed Sarah's Bushman friend Theo, and stay clear of the freakish silver lion that seems to be stalking them. But even as they draw closer to a stunning answer to their questions, they're just as far as ever from being rescued. The secrets of the Corpus company may just die with them.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; adult themes (death of a parent, corporate evil-doing) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: I read this one because I'd just finished Khoury's "The Forbidden Wish" and really liked it. This was completely different, but I thought this one was really good, too. And strangely, I didn't realize it was the third in the Corpus series (after "Origin" and "Vitro") until I started this review--it totally stands alone. Even though the main character is a girl, I think boys would like this book too: there's plenty of adventure, shooting, running and hiding, and lots of weird sci-fi type science.

THE FORBIDDEN WISH, by Jessica Khoury

The story: Aladdin, in search of revenge, has found the lamp. He plans to use the jinni's power and his three wishes to get revenge for his parents' deaths. Instead, he finds Zahra: jinni of the lamp, doomed to grant wishes to humans, yet forbidden to love them. But she must accompany Aladdin to the palace in order to find and free another Shaitan jinni, or the jinn overlord will destroy her. Thirty days seems like plenty of time...but she never expected all these complications--especially the one that comes when she really does fall in love with a human.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG, Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult PG-13; adult themes PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: Here's a new take on the Aladdin story with a genie as unlike Robin Williams as possible, and a romantic, hunky Aladdin that will have every girl wishing she were the jinni in his lamp! Any girl who likes fantasy along with her romance will like this one, as long as she's a strong reader. Booklist rates it for grades 7-10. First in a series.

THE MAGIC MIRROR, by Susan Hill Long

The story: Margaret has always been the orphan girl with a crippled foot. Her future isn't exactly rosy, but it takes a turn for the worse on the day her caregiver, Minka, makes a deal to marry her off to the local hunchback. But that's also the day Margaret trades her crutch for a magic mirror and gets far more than she bargained for: what she sees in the mirror sends her on a journey that helps her find adventure, love, and even a most unexpected family--as well as a squirrel that picks pockets. She certainly never saw that coming!

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 (general evil-doing) PG; overall rating PG (but too hard for ES readers--I disagree with the review sources on this one. I'd say grades 6-9).

Liz's comments: Here's a charming story, probably good for girls 7th grade and up. Long does a good job of weaving together all the story threads, and although there are never any real surprises, there are a few twists before the happy ending--and I'm always in favor of that!

WOLF HOLLOW, by Lauren Wolk

The story: New girl in town Betty is a bully, and Annabelle is her chosen victim. Annabelle and--when blame starts to circle around for Betty's almost criminal meanness--the shell-shocked vagabond everyone calls Toby. No matter how Annabelle tries, she can't convince the people around her of the truth...not even when Betty goes missing, and Toby is blamed. If she tries to help Toby, does she really become an accessory to a crie?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (mental illness/PTSD, bullying, mistaken blame) PG, overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this story a lot, and I think the comparisons of it to Harper Lee's "To Kill A Mockingbird" are apt. However, I think getting kids to read it will be extremely hard work--it's not fun, and the good guys don't win. I think most kids who make it all the way through will be reading it as an assignment for English class--which is certainly not the worst fate a book could enjoy. It could easily end up on this year's Newbery short list.

RANDOMS, by David Liss

The story: Zeke Reynolds, sci-fi dork extraordinaire, is chosen as one of four teens in a delegation that will compete with kids from three other planets to see which homeworlds will be admitted into the Confederation of United Planets. The other three have amazing skills, but not Zeke--he's a Random. It's only when he teams up with the other Randoms to outwit the system that they discover there's a much bigger plan at work here...one that could end up destroying the earth, and even worse--let the bad guys win. Not if the Randoms have anything to say about it!

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (betrayal, intergalactic warfare, fighting) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I have to confess that I'm a dork--obvious, when I admit I got all the Star Trek, Stars Wars, and Firefly references in this book. But even if MS readers (especially boys) don't get all the in jokes, they'll still enjoy Zeke's funny, snarky voice and the non-stop action. This book gets a "live long and prosper" nod from me! (If you like this one, you should also take a look at "The Improbable Theory of Zak & Ana" by Brian Katchner. Equally fun, just more bad words.)

KALIFUS RISING (Legends of Orkney #2), by Alane Adams

The story: Stranded in the mythical world of Orkney, Sam is alone in his fight against the witch Catriona. Little does he know that his friends Howie, Keely, and Leo have been brought back to Orkney too, and given an assignment that they must complete, even if it means the death of Odin. A prophecy tells Sam that he must give in to the darkness in order to overcome it, but when has THAT ever worked out well?

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 mayhem) PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This story is the sequel to Adams's "The Red Sun" (Legends of Orkney #1) and draws heavily on Norse mythology for its magical characters. Kids who have read through Rick Riordan's books will like this one, especially if they've been following Thor's adventures with Loki in the Avengers movies.

HALF A WORLD AWAY, by Cynthia Kadohata

The story: Jaden's family is traveling to Kazakhstan to adopt another baby, and Jaden knows why: it's because he's such a failure as a son. He's got a whole bunch of terrible habits, but the worst of them is that he can't bring himself to love his adoptive parents, even after all these years. It's only after he meets toddler Dimash at the orphanage, and realizes he's the only one who cares enough to ever make a difference in the boy's life, that Jaden suddenly learns what it's like to care about someone else. Problem is, it doesn't look like it's going to make any difference, which is the worst feeling of all.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G: GLBT content G: adult themes (parental abandonment, disability, third-world conditions) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's a story that will give kids a look into several different worlds: what's it like in a crummy third-world country; what it's like to be adopted from a country like that, and what it's like to be a mystery to yourself and others. This is the kind of story that adults tend to like better than the target audience of kids, but given to the right readers, it will resonate.

HOLD ME LIKE A BREATH, by Tiffany Schmidt

The story: Penelope Landlow is the daughter of a crime family that deals in black-market organ sales. Need a heart? A new liver? No problem if you have the cash. She also has a disease that keeps her locked up at home. But when a rival "Family" in the business apparently brutally murders her parents and brothers, she stages a disappearance into the night. When she accidentally bumps into the son of one of the other organ-dealing families, she falls in love with him without realizing his true identity. Can Char keep her safe--or is he part of the plot that left her an orphan?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence R; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder, being orphaned, organized crime) PG-13; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is, at heart, a fairy tale mash-up complete with romance and happy ending. However, it's not a fairy tale for the younger crowd: the gangland-style murder of Penelope's family is too chilling, and her being able to fall in love with a mystery guy so soon after such a terrible occurrence kind of pushes the limits on my Suspension-of-Disbelief-O-Meter. Not sure where a sequel would go, either--but for volume 1, go ahead and hand it to 7th or 8th grade girls. Astute reader will guess who Char is long before Penelope does, but romance lovers will find the love-at-first-sight part to be just right.