TERROR AT BOTTLE CREEK, by Watt Key

The story: Cort's life is kind of a mess: his parents have split up, and he can't figure why his dad keeps trying to win back his no-account wife. Cort and his dad are slumming it, living in a houseboat so his dad can work the river as a guide--but this just means Cort can't play school ball, can't hang out with the guys, can't even ask his next-door neighbor, Liza out on a date. It's only when Igor, a monster hurricane with an apt name, shows up that Cort finally realizes what's important after all: getting out alive, and making sure Liza and Francie make it too. They're on their own, and it's all on him.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG (unless you count violent natural disasters!); Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (lackluster parenting, poor parental choices) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's a high-octane adventure story that will really appeal to boys who like the man-versus-nature genre of book. Fast storytelling, simple structure--perfect for MS readers, reluctant or not.

CATCH YOU LATER, TRAITOR, by Avi

The story: When his teacher says that Pete's dad is a Communist, Pete hardly even knows what that means. But as his friends drop him like a hot potato, Pete decides to figure out if it's true--and if it is, how did the FBI find out about it? And can they really come around and bug you until you rat out your own father? Pete knows he didn't do it, but he also knows someone close to them did...now he has to find out who, even as he's finding out the truth about his family's past, and how it just might mess up his very own present.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG (chain smoking); Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (political blackballing, McCarthyism) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Pete's favorite books are mysteries, and part of the fun here is when he turns a Sam-Spade-like hand to his descriptions. Avi does a good job of describing the weirdness of the time, the exuberance of baseball in New York, and Pete's determination to find out the truth. The only drawback is the truly terrible cover--Pete looks like an alien. Change it out for the new PB cover if you can!

SUMMERLOST, by Ally Condie

The story: Cedar's family has just moved to Iron Creek, but no matter how far they go, they can't get away from the terrible truth: Dad and Ben were killed in a car accident last year, and it feels like the hole in their universe will never close. But as Cedar gets to know a quirky new friend, Leo, and helps him solve a mystery that lurks around the Summerlost Theatre Festival, she comes to realize that just possibly, maybe, she'll be able to move on.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic and the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes PG (grief; death of a parent, death of a sibling) PG; overall rating G. Good for grades 4-7.

Liz's comments: Hand this one to kids dealing with grief, or kids who like stories of other kids living through difficult things, or kids who like mysteries, or kids who like coming-of-age novels....okay, you can hand this to just about any girl, and certain boys who don't mind stories about girls, and you'll find an appreciative audience. (As a many-time attendee at the Utah Shakespearean Festival, upon which the Summerlost Festival is modeled, I especially liked this one!)

THE SCORPION RULES, by Erin Bow

The story: The Children of Peace are really hostages, held by the Artificial Intelligence known as Talis. They'll be killed if their individual countries declare war--thus helping preserve the peace. When handsome, wild Elian comes to the Precepture, he just can't/won't keep the rules and the results are torture. Greta, another hostage who's about to age out of the system, finally comes to realize there's more to living than just staying alive. She and Elian will most likely both be killed when his country declares war on hers--but maybe there's something she can do to change the way things turn out.

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

Liz's comments: Everyone else seemed to love this story, except for me--I found it adequate but not great. No matter how you feel about the content, it appears that everyone agrees it's definitely for high school.

INTO THE DIM, by Janet B. Taylor

The story: For more than a hundred years, Hope's family has hidden a secret: they're the Viators, able to travel through time--entering The Dim via ancient ley lines in places of power. Her mother has kept all this a secret from her, but when Sarah (supposedly killed in an earthquake overseas) turns up missing, Aunt Lucinda brings Hope to the family castle in Scotland and tells her the truth: that her mother is being held captive in the 12th century, and it's up to Hope to rescue her. Hope has a photographic memory, but does she have what it takes to succeed?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG-13; Nudity PG; Substance abuse PG; Magic & the occult (this sci-fi feels more like fantasy) PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder to get gain) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. Definitely for 8th grade and up.

Liz's comments: Two thumbs up! Boys who are good readers will be able to stand the mushy stuff because of the robust story line, and girls will put up with the sci-fi aspects because of the romance. Well plotted and researched and strongly written.