THE APPLE TART OF HOPE, by Sarah Moore Fitzgerald

The story: Meg has come home for her friend's funeral, unable to believe that Oscar is dead. Oscar's brother Stevie doesn't believe his brother committed suicide, either. And strangely--they're both right. But Meg is wrong about a lot of things, and knows she was wrong to treat Oscar the way she did. But as days go by and there's still no sign of Oscar, she slowly starts to learn the truth about her friend...and she wonders--if Oscar is still alive--whether he'd ever be able to forgive her anyway.

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 (bullying, ostracism, adolescent angst) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Even though the story, above, makes this book sound like a downer, it really wasn't. Oscar and Meg are two teens dealing with adolescent problems the best they can, and they learn that keeping things all bottled up inside is generally not a good thing. I thought this book was both charming and insightful. I liked it a lot.

Webster: Tale of an Outlaw, by Ellen Emerson White

The story: Webster (formerly called Beast, now known to his friends as Bad Hat) has had it with humans. They love you, then they leave you--most likely at a nasty animal shelter. Or even worse, they're mean and then they leave you. When Webster ends up at Green Meadows Rescue Home, he's determined not to make friends, not to like the great food, not to trust the humans. Instead, he's got a plan: run away and have adventures. Who knew that all those adventures would just keep cycling him right back to Green Meadows? Any maybe even turn him into a hero?

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 (cruelty to animals is discussed, nothing graphic) PG; overall rating G.

Liz's comments: This is a charming read. Webster is a fun, funny character. Animal lovers and kids who like a sassy narrator will both eat this one up! The discussion of cruelty to animals, while not graphic, will help readers think about the topic. Give this one to kids grades 4-7.

THE LAST BOY AT ST. EDITH'S, by Lee Gjertsen Malone

The story: Jeremy is used to standing out, but this is the worst: he's now officially the only boy left at his formerly coed school, St. Edith's. Determined to get kicked out so he can attend a regular school with regular guys, he and gal-pal Claudia engage in a series of pranks that should be just enough to get him kicked out without anyone getting hurt. Until...the school roof caves in, and it's their fault. Now it seems the only way out is one final, massive prank. What (else) could go wrong?

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

Liz's comments: Like many middle-school kids, Jeremy is convinced everyone is looking at him, and he's desperate to change his situation, one he's known all his life. His need to re-invent himself, and the realization that people change over time, really ring true. This is a fun story, great for fans of Gordon Korman's "Schooled" and other stories.

THE RAVEN KING, by Maggie Stiefvater

The story: All loose ends are tied up in the stories of Blue, Gansey, Ronan, Adam, and Noah. If you haven't already read the other three books, don't start here! Go back to The Raven Boys, put all the other volumes on hold, and enjoy.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language R; Violence R; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance abuse PG-13; Magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content PG-13; adult themes (demonic activity, possession by demons) PG-13; overall rating R.

Liz's comments: Probably not for middle school, really, even though I have it in my MS library. The language continues troubling in this final volume (Book 1 was reviewed for grades 8-up; the others, for 9-up). While there's no sex to speak of, there's quite a lot of gruesome violence and explicit language in all of them, and a gay bromance in Book 4. But Stiefvater's story and characters are magical, and the last volume doesn't disappoint.

UNDER THEIR SKINS, by Margaret Peterson Haddix

The story: (Spoiler alert!) Nick and Eryn are just two middle school kids...until the day they find out that their parents are robots, and that the entire human race has gone extinct except for a few kids now growing up under the care of androids. As they search for the cause of the extinction, a mysterious message in a cave leads them to realize they can't trust anybody--not even the "people" they've always called their parents.

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 G; overall rating G. Best for grade 4-7.

Liz's comments: Haddix does a great job of ratcheting up the suspense as the kids try to figure out what their parents are hiding. A cliff-hanger ending is pretty much taken for granted, but rumor is that this is a 2-part series, which is almost as good as a stand-alone. :)

GREAT FALLS, by Steve Watkins

The story: A boy and his brother go on a camping trip--but not just any trip, and not just any brother. Jeremy has done three tours in Afghanistan, and it's definitely done something to him. When he grabs Shane for an unexpected canoe adventure, it sounds harmless enough - but Jeremy keeps cleaning that assault rifle, keeps avoiding the doctor for a wound gone septic, keeps pretending that everything is fine at home..and by the time Shane wises up enough to make a stand, it's way too late for a happy ending.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language R; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Substance Abuse R; Magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (PTSD, emotionally abusive parenting, drug abuse, mental illness) R; overall rating R - best for grades 9-up.

Liz's comments: A commentary on how the country treats (or doesn't treat) those with PTSD, there's also enough blame to go around for our love of football despite the damage it does. Watkins ratchets up the suspense steadily, and all the portents of impending doom don't go to waste. A difficult, timely, important read--but not for MS. Keep it for the older kids.

SHADOW MAGIC, by Joshua Khan

The story: Three teens, separated from their families by distance or death. All three with their own kind of magic, but unable to use it to save themselves--and one necromancer determined to raise the dead to create a zombie army and take over the kingdom. No one can stand against him...but three working together? Might work--as long as you also include the giant bat!

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 (death of a parent/being orphaned, treachery by a close family member, the undead) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked it. All three characters - Thorn, Lily, and K'leef - desperately miss their families, and that's refreshing for a book about this age of kid. Hand this one to your fantasy readers, and to kids who like Rick Riordan's books. Be advised, though - the "undead" factor here might make some parents fussy.