ICEBREAKER, by Lian Tanner

The story: The Oyster has been cutting through the Antarctic ice for 300 years--so long that her crew can hardly remember why the ship sailed in the first place. But the Devouts remember, and they've sworn to destroy her. The mythical Sleeping Captain will remember, if somehow Petrel can find and awaken him. Only problem is--she's an invisible girl on a ship where everyone has a place. And when Fin, an undercover member of the Devouts, arrives to find and kill the Captain, Petrel knows Fin is the only chance she's ever had to find a friend. But can she help him destroy the only home she's ever known?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG-13; Sexual content G; Nudity G; Substance abuse G; Magic & the occult (sci-fi & steampunk elements, hard to know where to put them) PG; GLBT content G; adult themes (murder, class warfare, neglect) PG-13; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Petrel and Fin are 12-year-old characters in a PG-13 book. Kids who might be good enough readers to be interested in the story to wait for the explanations of the world building will probably have to read down somewhat.

THE FIXER, by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

The story: Tess never knew what her sister Ivy did for a living until she ran headlong into it: kids at her new school, fancy Hardwicke Academy in DC, expect Tess to "fix" things--that is, make their problems go away, just like Ivy does for people in the government...even the president. When a classmate's grandfather dies suddenly, Tess comes face to face with the discovery that he was murdered. So--how do you "fix" that? It's harder than she ever imagined, and dangerous enough that it could cost her life.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG-13; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; Magic & the occult G; Substance abuse PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (advanced political wrangling; murder, suicide) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. (However, there's so much of a political nature in this story that it's probably better suited for high school readers--younger kids will feel like someone's trying to pull a civics lesson over on them.)

Liz's comments: Anyone who like Ally Carter's books will want to give this one a look. Not only was it an interesting mystery, but the dynamic between the two sisters kept evolving along with the rest of the story--which makes the inevitable sequel something to look forward to!

SCHOOL FOR SIDEKICKS, by Kelly McCullough

The story: Evan Quick has always wanted to have super powers: so much that he checks himself every day when he wakes up, just in case something has turned super overnight. But, no luck--right up until he turns 13, when he somehow survives an super villain's death ray and winds up at the Academy for Metahuman Operatives, learning how to use his powers for the greater good. He never realized that Captain Commanding, his lifelong hero, would turn out to be a real jerk, and that Foxman, a washed-up has-been, might actually hold the key to solving the biggest puzzle of all: WHO EXACTLY ARE THE BAD GUYS?!?!?

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

Liz's comments: This was a lot like "Steelheart" for a younger crowd (and with a few more funny moments). Any kid--especially boys--who like some super-hero action will be sure to like this one!

MOTHMAN'S CURSE, by Christine Hayes

The story: Josie and her brothers know all about junk: their father is an auctioneer, and they're always on the lookout for something "haunted". They get way more than they bargained for when her brother Fox discovers an old Polaroid camera an an estate sale. The upside is that it takes photos without film; the downside--the images include what appears to be the ghost of a neighborhood recluse who committed suicide last week. Even worse, by acquiring an old piece of jewelry from his estate, Josie has unwittingly signed up to become the next victim of Motorman's Curse. If she saves herself, a whole bunch of innocent people are going to die. And if she doesn't...she'll be the one to end up dead. That's a pretty tough choice for someone who's barely thirteen...

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity G; substance abuse G; magic & the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (dealing with the death of a parent; supernatural occurrences) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Don't let the grade-school illustration on the cover fool you--this book is great for MS readers who are looking for action, adventure, and some creepy moments. Josie learns that she can rely on her younger brothers, Fox and Mason, as well as family and neighbors, when things get really awful. Although not graphic in any way, kids grades 4-7 who want to believe in ghosts and things that go bump in the night will eat this one up.

THE UNLIKELY HERO OF ROOM 13B, by Teresa Toten

The story: Adam has OCD (obsessive-compulsive disorder), which makes the life of a 15-year-old teen--already complicated enough--even tougher. When Robyn walks into his support group one afternoon, Adam falls instantly in love with her, and vows that he's going to make himself better so he can help her...but that's a pretty tall order, especially as his own life is getting ready to spiral out of control. Half the people around him are "disordered" too, and the other half, though meaning well, just can't help. But if Adam counts odd numbers, walks in circles, and performs all the other rituals correctly, things will work out. Right?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG-13; Violence PG; Sexual content PG-13 (plenty of implied erections here, although younger readers might not get it); Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; Adult themes (mental illness, parental neglect and mental health issues) PG-13; overall rating PG-13. (The reader is asked to figure things out, and this takes a higher level of thinking, making the book overall better for HS readers than for MS.)

Liz's comments: I originally passed this one by, but once I got going on it, I thought it was fascinating, disturbing, and sad. Adam has so many issues, and so many people pressing on him for so many different things, that it's amazing he's able to do anything about any of it. As mentioned above, readers are asked to puzzle out what's going on inside Adam's head, and those who make the effort are rewarded with a much greater insight into how a disorder like this can take over a person's life--but that kind of interest in someone else's problems is fairly rare among MS readers. This will appeal to a limited audience--but is an important book when it comes to that specific group. Recommended.

I WILL ALWAYS WRITE BACK, by Alifirenka, Ganda, and Welch

The story: Caitlin lives in the US and life is good. Martin lives in Zimbabwe, and life stinks (although he doesn't exactly know it--it's just the way things are). A pen-pal letter from Caitlin changes both of their lives in ways they could never have foreseen, proving that one small action really can have far-reaching consequences, and that one small person really can make a huge difference.

June Cleaver's ratings: Language PG; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity PG; substance abuse PG-13; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (extreme poverty, racial and political unrest) PG-13; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: This book has a truly powerful message--that one person, trying to do the right thing, can make a huge difference--as well as shedding light on how people live in other places. The only drawback is its length: most MS readers aren't going to be willing to spend three months reading a book where there's no kissing (for girls) or explosions (for boys). Nonetheless, sold to the right reader, this true story could have a real impact on the social consciousness of an up-and-coming NGO operative.

SEKRET, by Lindsay Smith

The story: It's 1963, and the USSR is determined to get ahead of the Americans any way they can--even if it means kidnapping teens with psychic abilities and putting them to work spying on their targets' minds. Yulia can read the memories attached to an object; Sergei is a remote viewer, able to see what's going on in other locations--each must learn to use their own gift. What they don't know is that someone even more powerful on the other side is looking for THEM--and plans to scrub their brains before they can track him down. Who will get there first to plant a mental flag for their country?

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

Liz's comments: I found this to be a really interesting read, and a fascinating look at Cold War Russia. However, although there really isn't anything content-wise that would make it objectionable for MS readers, the fact that it's historical fiction and requires quite a bit of thought make it a better title for high school. Booklist and SLJ both rate it for 9-up.