BEASTKEEPER, by Cat Hellisen

The story: Sarah doesn't understand why her mother has left them, or the reason her father has dropped her off at the castle/home of a grandmother she's never even met. She's certainly never believed in magic--but here, she can feel magic watching her, wondering what to do with her. And she can't deny that the enormous beast chained up in the shed was once her grandfather. But the real question is: can a girl from a different world do anything to break the curse that rules in this one?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence PG; Sexual content G; Nudity PG; substance abuse PG; magic and the occult PG-13; GLBT content G; adult themes (parental abandonment) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here's another fantasy with a literary bent and a young protagonist, both of which are downsides for MS readers. However, this one at least has the benefit of being short! It also avoid common fantasy tropes and goes off on its own, which in a Harry-Potter-wanna-be world of witches and warlocks can be rather refreshing.

THE WITCH'S BOY, by Kelly Barnhill

The story: Ned's family has kept the magic secret, and safe, for generations. But something beyond his power to control has awakened, and the magic has grown dangerous. It will take Ned--known in his village as the Wrong Boy, or the one who lived when his twin brother died--working together with the daughter of the Bandit King, to outrun the bandits who track them, awaken the Sleeping Stones, and defeat King Ott's army as it mounts an invasion in the Lost Lands. Can the Wrong Boy, along with his wolf, really do all that...AND fulfill the prophecy spoken by Aine's mother?

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 (organized crime) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: Here is a fantasy story with a literary feel that makes it slow going at times. Nonetheless, readers will root for Ned as he struggles both with the unfamiliar magic, and with his own limitations. Aine is a strong female character who learns that she can do what's right despite the personal cost; and what's not to like about having a wolf as a sidekick?

THE COTTAGE IN THE WOODS, by Katherine Coville

The story: A governess goes to teach a young student, and finds there's a mystery in her employers' enormous home. Sound like your typical old-fasioned tale? This one has a twist, though--the governess is Ursula, a young bear fresh out of school, and her employers are the Three Bears. The mystery involves a little girl with golden curls who's looking for something that's Just Right...but this is NOT your standard Goldilocks story!

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 (intolerance) PG; overall rating PG (as much for difficult vocabulary as anything; even good middle school readers will find some of the word choices daunting).

Liz's comments: While I actually really liked this story, I think it will appeal to only a select few MS readers: it's a reboot of the classic Goldilocks tale, true, but that doesn't make it for elementary-level readers. It's told in a very Jane Austen-like manner, with the same rather stuffy style. For me, I found the juxtaposition of an Austen-era heroine's sensibilities on a BEAR very off-putting--especially her religious experiences and singing of hymns, which in a way suggested that these are in the same category of fantasy as all the rest of it.

DROWNED CITY: HURRICANE KATRINA AND NEW ORLEANS, by Don Brown

The story: In August 2005, a gust of wind in Africa turns first into a tropical storm, then into a monster: Hurricane Katrina, which roared over Florida, then the Gulf of Mexico, and became a true killer storm when it made landfall over the city of New Orleans. This is the story of what happened--and what didn't--in the aftermath of the storm that obliterated the Big Easy.

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 (government incompetence; death by natural disaster) PG; overall rating G.

Liz's comments: This is not a "graphic novel" in the usual sense: while it is a story told in cartoons, it's non-fiction and so not a novel at all. Although simply written and illustrated, it's powerful in its presentation of Hurricane Katrina both in terms of the storm and in terms of its social implications. Thankfully, Brown doesn't turn it into a racist rant; rather, the pictures tell their own story of government incompetence on both the local and federal level, and of regular folks reaching out to help one another during a time of great need (although of course, there were other who weren't helpful in the least). Even though I was old enough to be paying attention when this piece of history happened, this book put all the pieces together in a way that random news articles and photographs really didn't (at least for me). For kids looking for basic information on the storm and its fallout, this is a good choice.

PAPER THINGS, by Jennifer Richard Jacobson

The story: When big brother Gage moves Ari out of their foster mother's house, she thinks he's got an apartment all lined up where they can live together. Little does she know they'll spend the coming weeks surfing friends' couches, eating at soup kitchens, and falling further and further down on their luck. Ari doesn't want to admit it--but they're homeless...and how can you work to achieve all your dreams when you're wondering where your next meal is coming from?

June Cleaver's ratings: Language G; Violence G; Sexual content PG; Nudity G; substance abuse PG; magic & the occult G; GLBT content G; adult themes (being orphaned, homelessness) PG; overall rating PG.

Liz's comments: I liked this quiet story a lot, but it is clearly aimed at an ES audience (Ari is a 5th grader hoping to get into a special GT school) and thus, most MS kids--particularly boys--aren't going to touch it with a ten-foot pole. Possibly, however, kids who are in this circumstance themselves will want to read this one to identify with a character in the same situation as theirs, and younger readers will root for Ari and be glad when she makes her way out of a very difficult situation by making her own set of difficult choices.

THE ACCIDENTAL HIGHWAYMAN, by Ben Tripp

The story: Kit Bristol is just a simple servant until the night his master is murdered. Turns out his boss was Whistling Jack, a notorious highwayman (or old-fashioned robber). But Jack was a good master, so Kit sets out to perform his last wishes. Little does he know that walking into the forest to meet a so-called "witch" will set him on the road to adventure, complete with magic, cross-country chases, tightrope walking, and a beautiful princess. (Don't forget the beautiful princess--Jack can't!) And stepping into his dead master's clothes ensures he ends up getting mistaken for him...and becoming a highwayman himself, purely by accident. But that's not the worst thing that happens to our hero: there are magical creatures with big teeth, evil dark-magic fairies, and a close encounter the hangman's noose!

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 robbery) PG; overall rating PG-13.

Liz's comments: This is an action-packed adventure story with a very likeable hero, and there's plenty of good writing, along with lots of British-humoresque LOL moments. The PG-13 rating comes mostly due to the vocabulary: Tripp writes in a Dickensian style and uses words most MS kids--or even HS kids--won't know. Give this one to kids who are either good at guessing the meaning from the context,or who are willing to read the frequent footnotes and/or look up the hard words. Fantasy lovers who are willing to invest some effort will eagerly await the second installment, "The Accidental Giant".

PENNYROYAL ACADEMY, by M.A. Larson

The story: Evie leaves a mysterious family behind to learn the skills needed to fight witches, only to find that doing so could also cause her to betray the ones she loves. At Pennyroyal Academy, boys are trained to become knights and fight dragons; girls become princesses as they learn the skills needed to overcome the witches' dark magic. In this new place, Evie will find friends, a boyfriend...and maybe even herself.

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

Liz's comments: This is a fun fantasy, pretty much aimed at girls. The author has some new ideas, but also a tendency to use pretentious words--which occasionally make him/her sound pompous, and which will cause the target audience (middle school, in my book) to make frequent dives into the dictionary. Not that doing it will hurt them any!