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!