Rogue Princess

 Delia isn't ready to get married.  She knows it's her duty as the future ruler of Astor, but she's just not ready.  Potential suitors are everywhere she looks, and she's struggling to figure out which one would be the best asset to the planet.  She's not naive enough to even consider her marriage will be about love, but the pressure of choosing is getting to her.  That's why she made the plan to escape.

Aiden works as a servant in the palace saving and stealing to buy passage to another world where he can escape the cruelty of his stepfather and his life in the dark district.  When he finds a valuable dagger, he knows he needs to get out of the palace quickly or he'll be caught.  When he sees a ship powering up for takeoff, he can't believe his luck.

When Delia discovers a stowaway on her ship, she can't wait to be rid of him, but leaving him to be a victim to pirates doesn't seem right either.  In her efforts to get rid of this man, who won't even tell her his name, it's "classified" is all he will say, Delia is caught and returned to the palace.

But her journey to the dark district has opened her eyes to the truth about life on Astor.  She has lived a privileged life with a full bully while families in the dark district are desperate for food and employment.  As future queen, she is shocked her mother and advisors would hide the truth from her and vows to change things.

Aiden still plans to leave Astor for a better life somewhere else, but he can't get the idea of Princess Delia out of his mind.  He's never met anyone like her, and he feels drawn to her after only one meeting.  She's more than just a princess.  She can fly a spaceship and hold her own in a fight, and he wonders if there is a way to see her again.

The more time Delia spends with Aiden, the more she realizes her heart is at risk.  How can she marry one of the princes when the best she can hope for is bland indifference?  But there is something more than a courtship ritual at play here, and dangerous forces are plotting against the royal family and Astor itself.  

Even though her feelings for Aiden grow each day, she doesn't know the truth about his identity, and he knows he will have to confess eventually even if it means never seeing her again.

B.R. Myers's Cinderella in space has potential, and it is an enjoyable read.  Unfortunately, I love The Lunar Chronicles, and this treads similar ground, but it just doesn't have the same spark.  Had this book come first, I probably would have liked it more.  There are a couple of issues with plot and character development that don't really make sense.  For example, why did Delia plot an elaborate escape if she never really meant to leave?  It just seemed like a contrived way for Delia and Aiden to meet.  But if you read it with a less critical eye, I'm sure you will enjoy it more.  I will definitely include it in the library and book talk it kids.

Paola Santiago and the River of Tears

 Paola and her two best friends, Emma and Dante, know they can never tell anyone about their hangout spot by the Gila River.  Stay away from the river has been the number one rule as long as they can remember, but since a girl drowned there, it's been worse.  Paola's mother is the worst, though.  She believes in all kinds of superstitious stuff and is always warning Paola that La Llorona haunts the riverbanks.  

Paola believes in science, and while she loves her mother, she's embarrassed by her mom's obsession with tarot cards, candles, and folktales.  When Emma disappears one day, Paola's frustrations with her mother come to a head.  The police won't even listen to what she and Dante have to say and mock them by mimicking the people who are afraid of La Llorona and chupacabras.  

But then strange things start happening, and suddenly Pao and Dante find themselves on a journey through a magical land where chupacabras and every other monster they can think of, are coming after them.  How is it possible, that all her mother's crazy superstitions are real?  Not even the laws of physics seem to work correctly in this place!

But she will have to get over her disbelief quickly if she and Dante will have any chance of saving Emma.  And what about the nightmares she's had her whole life?  Are they somehow connected to this supernatural world?

The newest addition to the Rick Riordan Presents world is this reimaging of La Llorona by Tehlor Kay Mejia, and it is definitely worth the read.  Pao is a great balanced of flaws and loyalty, and Mejia describes the awkwardness of boy/girl relationships in middle school perfectly.  La Llorona is always popular with my students, and I anticipate this one will fly off the shelves!  Highly recommended.

Echo Mountain

 After the financial crash, Ellie's family has to give up their life in town and move to the mountain to survive on what they can grow.  Ellie quickly acclimates to life on the mountain and becomes a keen observer and budding naturalist, but her mother and her old sister, Esther, don't take to mountain life as quickly.  They miss their clean orderly life in town.  

Everything gets worse when her father is injured in an accident that leaves him in a coma.  It's been months with no sign of recovery.  They feed him, shave him, and read to him, and Ellie's mother believes he needs peace and calm to recover.  But Ellie is starting to think her mother is wrong.  Why would he wake up surrounded by peace and quiet?  Maybe he needs to be startled awake.

So Ellie begins her own experiments.  Esther and their mother are furious believing she will somehow hurt her father and make the situation worse.  Her little brother Samuel is just curious about everything.  It's no secret everyone blames her for the accident, and their resentment is often near the surface, but the truth is much worse.  The accident wasn't Ellie's fault, but she is willing to accept the blame to protect someone else.  

Her frustrations come to a head when her mother promises their dog's entire litter of puppies in exchange for a milk cow from one of their neighbors.  One of those puppies was born seemingly dead and would have remained so if Ellie hadn't listened to the instinct telling her to dunk him into a bucket of cold water.  The shock started his breathing, and Ellie's mother promised the puppy to her.  His name is Quiet, and Ellie loves him dearly.

When she learns Quiet is to be turned into a hunting dog, she decides she needs to take matters into her own hands.  She will do whatever she can to try and save her father.  She loves her mother, but she knows in her heart they can't just keep doing nothing.

One day on her travels around the mountain, she meets a scruffy dog who leads her to the top of the mountain and "the hag" everyone whispers about.  Instead of a frightening witch, Ellie discovers a sick old woman in need of help.  Now she has two patients to care for and a new source for information on healing.  Who is this woman who looks like a witch and lives in a cabin filled with books?  And what about the boy Ellie meets there who is strangely familiar?

Lauren Wolk's newest book is a beautiful and quiet tale about listening to yourself and exploring the power of nature.  This will not be a book for everyone, but for some, it will be a gift.  There are messages here about grief, prejudice, and family, and Ellie is a perfect blend of gentleness and strength.  Highly recommended.

War Stories

Trevor is obsessed with WWII.  He spends most of his time playing video games about the big battles, and his walls are covered with posters of explosions and battle equipment.  It's no surprise his great grandfather, GG, is his favorite person.  Jacob Firestone is a WWII vet who loves nothing more than telling stories about his time in the war, and Trevor is a willing audience.  

Jacob was part of the force that liberated the French village of Sainte Regine 75 years ago, and he's been invited back to be honored on the anniversary.  But he won't be going alone.  Trevor and his father, Daniel, will accompany him as he retraces his steps from basic training in Fort Benning to the D Day invasion and finally to Sainte Regine.  

Trevor has never been more excited about anything in his life, but his father has concerns.  He's been monitoring the Sainte Regine Facebook page.  While most of the posts are celebratory, some of them are threatening.  They allege that Jacob Firestone is no hero, and warn him against returning to the village.  

GG brushes off the warnings and revels in telling all his old war stories as they retread his path, but as they get closer to Sainte Regine, he becomes sullen and withdrawn.  Trevor has always believed in a simplified version of WWII with clear lines of distinction where his GG was a hero, but the more he learns about the realities of war, he starts to realize maybe his dad is right, and war is horrible even if you are fighting for the right reasons.  Is it possible GG isn't the uncomplicated hero Trevor has always believed him to be?

Gordon Korman's new book is different from his usual humorous school story fare.  This book switches back and forth between the present and Jacob's experiences in the past exploring some of the complicated nature of war, and the thread of mystery adds a page-turner element to the story.  I will say, even though Jacob's war experiences are supposedly told in real-time, they do seem a bit far-fetched.  Out of all the people in his unit, it is always Jacob who notices the one vital detail or somehow ends up saving the day.  Gordon Korman fans will pick this up and perhaps broaden their reading horizons, and those who enjoy war fiction will eat this one up.  Recommended.

Tweet Cute

 

Pepper is a perfectionist.  She's the captain of the swim team, vying for the valedictorian spot, and managing relationships with her divorced parents and frustrated older sister.  Plus, Big League Burger, her family's chain of fast-food restaurants is growing like crazy in large part thanks to Pepper's Twitter skills.  She doesn't really want to manage the corporate Twitter account, but she definitely has a talent for snarky comebacks and well-placed memes.  

Jack is more concerned with a good joke than competing for the top spot.  He also has to deal with his ridiculously popular twin brother's fallout.  He's really good at starting things but not so good at following through.  It works out fine if you have an identical twin who can fill in for you.  He spends most of his free time helping out in his family's deli.  When Big League Burger steals his grandmother's recipes for its new grilled cheese sandwiches, he takes to Twitter to sound off.

Pepper and Jack have never really been friends, even though she is one of the few people who can tell him and his twin apart.  In the midst of a Twitter war that has grabbed national attention, they have also been messaging each other anonymously on an app Jack created.  Are they destined to be enemies, or could this be true love?

Emma Lord's YA rom-com is good fun with a social media twist.  While the romance plot is fairly light, both characters are well developed with their own family issues to deal with.  Pepper doesn't actually want to be on the corporate Twitter account, but her mother constantly pressures her to keep up with it even during school hours.  Jack feels like the less successful twin, and he loves the family business as much as he feels trapped by it.  This is a romance novel that could appeal to female and male readers.  Recommended for grades 8 and up.

Song of the Crimson Flower

 Lan is lucky.  As the daughter of a wealthy nobleman, she has no say in who she will marry, but she actually knows Tam from when they were children, and he often stands below her window at night reciting love poetry.  She is looking forward to her marriage until the truth is revealed.  Bao, an orphan and a former servant, was paid to take Tam's place and continue wooing her by Tam's parents.  Lan is humiliated and heartbroken.  She thought she knew the path her life would take, but now everything is in upheaval.

Bao does feel guilty for tricking Lan, but the truth is, he is actually in love with Lan.  He also played with Tam and Lan when they were children, and Lan's grandmother always encouraged her to treat him as a friend instead of a servant.  When the truth is revealed, Lan's harsh words break his heart.  He had hoped she would see beyond his station in life to understand the hard work he has put into training as a doctor and the love in his heart.  

In despair, he takes his boat down the river hoping the river witch will guide him to the truth about his family.  Instead, she curses him so his soul is bound to the wooden flute he carries.  

Lan is relieved to see Bao again because she regrets her harsh words, and they soon discover her presence is the only thing that will mitigate the curse.  In a flash, she decides to join Bao on his quest to find his real family.  Together they will journey through war zones and learn the truth about blood magic and the powerful hold it has on the people and on Bao through the curse.

As they journey, Lan's heart softens toward Bao and she begins to realize he is a good man, but all this time also binds her closer to the curse, and they could both be lost if they don't find a way to break it.

This is technically the third book in Julie C. Dao's Rise of the Empress series, but it definitely reads like a stand-alone.  I didn't even realize it was part of a series until after I had read it.  This book has a slower pace even though most of the action takes place during a war.  I really appreciated the gentle characters who were not afraid to express their true emotions.  The Vietnamese setting is also a bit unusual and welcome.  I have a large population of students with Vietnamese ancestry who will be excited to see this addition to the fantasy collection.  Recommended for fantasy fans who like a story with a gentler more emotional story.

We Dream of Space

 Cash, Fitch, and Bird don't really have much in common except that they are siblings.  Cash loves basketball, but he's just OK as a player, and he's in danger of failing 7th grade again.  It's hard to find the motivation to do anything, especially after he breaks his arm and gets benched long term.  The only thing he has to look forward to is the beautiful Penny who sits beside him one of his classes.  He just wants her to notice him.

Fitch spends all his free time and quarters playing Major Havoc at the arcade.  He's always angry, and people just seem like obstacles to him most of the time.  He tries to fly below the radar so people will leave him alone, but he always has a simmering reservoir of rage just below the surface.

Bird is Fitch's twin sister, but they never really had a twin bond or any kind of bond for that matter.  The siblings live separate lives in the same house while their parents bicker and fight every time they are in the same room.  Bird is obsessed with space; she wants to be NASA's first female shuttle commander.  Her science teacher is also obsessed with space.  In fact, Ms. Salonga applied to be the teacher on the Challenger space shuttle, but Christ McAuliffe won in the end.  Even so, Bird and the rest of the 7th grade students are studying the Challenger in detail and even taking on the roles of the mission members in the weeks leading up the launch.  

Bird tries to be the glue in her fragmented family, but it seems like no one wants to be connected.  Then the unthinkable happens, and the tragedy of the Challenger shakes her to her core.  Will Bird be able to put the pieces of her life back together?

This new book by Erin Entrada Kelly is a bittersweet tale about a family under the pressure of everyday life.  They may live under the same roof, but they are not really functioning as a unit with the parents unaware of the impact their fighting has on their children.  Kelly also weaves the tale of the Challenger disaster deftly into the story capturing the excitement and the heartbreak.  I was one of many kids all over the country who felt we had a particular stake in Challenger because there was a teacher on board.  Highly recommended.

Mañanaland

 Max loves his grandfather's stories about the legend of the gatekeeper who guides people to safety.  Everyone knows the rumors about the hidden ones who passed through Santa Maria on their escape from neighboring Abismo.  People say they are criminals, but Max isn't so sure.

His father refuses to talk about the legends, so Max doesn't know what to believe.  His father also refuses to talk about Max's mother, who left when he was a baby.  He also likes to keep Max safe at home, but as Max grows older, this feels more restrictive.

When a friend from the village offers Max and his friends the opportunity to train with the new futbol coach, all the boys are excited, but he knows what his father will say.  So while the rest of the boys train, Max is stuck at home.  At least he gets to explore the old tower near the village.  The legends say this tower was a stop on the trail to freedom for the hidden ones.

While his father is out of town, Max discovers some shocking secrets about his family, and he jumps at the opportunity to have an adventure of his own.  Not only will he use the clues from Buelo's stories to guide someone to safety, but he also hopes he will find his mother at the end of the journey as well.

Pam Munoz Ryan's new book reads like a fable about immigrants fleeing from oppressive circumstances.  Max's frustration with his father's secretive and overprotective nature makes sense until the final revelation at the end.  If definitely has fable-like qualities from Max's ability to lead someone on a dangerous journey with only the words of a story to guide him to his father's quick acceptance of his decision to even undertake the journey on his own.  Suspend your disbelief and go on this journey with Max.

Cog

 

Cog looks like a normal 12-year-old boy, but he is actually an android who was built to learn.  He has always lived with Gina, one of the scientists who helped to create him, in a home where he spends his days learning.  After he makes a mistake, Gina tells him it's ok because mistakes lead to learning.  In an attempt to make a big mistake and do some serious learning, he is involved in an accident. 

When he wakes up, he is not at home, and Gina is gone.  He is at a uniMind lab where they want to remove his brain to get to something called an X module.  Cog doesn't know what that is, but he does know he doesn't want anyone to remove his brain!  He decides to escape with a trashbot, a robotic dog, and ADA, his "sister."  Of course, they will need a means of transportation, so they convince a self-driving car to be their getaway vehicle.

Cog wants to find Gina because he know she won't let uniMind remove his brain, but the uniMind scientists have other plans.  Will they be able to escape the cruel scientists in time?

This novel by Greg Van Eekhout surprised me with its humor and heart.  Cog and his robotic friends are endearing characters, and the questions about free will and cruelty to those with less power will stay with readers after the last page.  Recommended.

Dress Coded

 Molly Frost is sick of the way the dress code at her middle school is enforced.  All the girls hate the dress code, but the principal takes things too far when he ties an 8th grade campout to dress code violations. 

At first, everyone blames Olivia.  She was wearing a tank top, and she did refuse to take her sweatshirt from her waist and put it on, but that's not the whole story.  She had to leave that sweatshirt around her waist!  Any girl who's lived through middle school knows the embarrassment of getting your period unprepared at school.  When Molly learns the truth, she decides to start a podcast exploring the dress code at school.

At first, people are reluctant to contribute, but slowly they begin to speak out about the humiliation they've felt at being publicly berated for having exposed shoulders or shorts higher than their fingertips.  Some people seem to be targeted, the curvier or more physically mature girls.  Other girls, like Molly, get ignored.  She and one of her best friends even got matching outfits for the first day of school, and her friend got "pulled over" while no one noticed Molly.

This is about more than humiliation though.  Jessica failed a math quiz because she missed class for a dress code violation.  Why is the fear of a boy being distracted more important than a girl's education?

Molly isn't just invisible at school.  Her older brother's vaping addiction takes all her parents' energy.  Danny is too busy vaping and selling pods to care about anyone else, and his behavior toward Molly gets worse every day.  

Molly is tired of being invisible.  She wants to stand up and let her voice be heard at home and at school.

Carrie Firestone's debut novel is a story of girl power and enlightenment.  While the circumstances in Molly's school may be exaggerated, dress codes are clearly aimed at girls and underpinned by the idea that female bodies are inherently sexual.  The book also highlights how inappropriate it is for an adult male to scrutinize female students' bodies and clothing.  It is interesting that the boys in the novel are not "distracted" by the normal clothing the girls want to wear; it is the adults who are causing the problem.  The teacher part of me doesn't want dress codes banished completely, but I do think the book highlights an important issue in a relatable way.  Readers will cheer for Molly and her friends as they stand up to injustice and strengthen their female friendships.  Recommended!

I'll Be the One

 

Skye Shin has heard the same message from her mother her entire life.  She should lose weight.  Fat girls don't dance.  She should just stick to singing.  Skye is sick of it!  She accepts herself the way she is, and her mother's constant negativity is a serious wall between them.  

That's why she hasn't even told her mother about Your Shining Star, the K-pop competition she entered.  She already made it through round one, and now she's getting ready for the real competition when she will go before the judges for a chance at her big break.  This is the first reality talent competition for a new K-pop star ever in the U.S, and Skye is determined to win.  She wants to be the first plus-size K-pop queen.

She's used to the way people look at her, but she also loves the way she can change their minds once she starts dancing.  She blows away two of the three judges and her competition at her audition, and her life becomes a whirlwind of school and rehearsals.

She's used to flying under the radar, but now people are starting to pay attention especially when she starts spending time with Henry Cho, the son of a wealthy Korean family who also happens to be a male model.  He is good looking, and, to her surprise, a talented dancer.

Lyla Lee's YA debut is a fun read.  K-pop fans, reality competition fans, and anyone looking for a sweet romance will love it.  The romance is between Skye and Henry, but Skye is clear she is bisexual, and this is part of her internal struggle trying to live up to her mother's expectations.  I don't want to spoil too much, but the ending of the book is realistic in that Skye realizes her mother may never change and she will have to stop seeking acceptance in order to be happy.  My only complaint is the one-dimensional secondary characters, but this is a clean romance perfectly appropriate for older tweens and teens.  Recommended.

Rick

 

Rick has always been a go with the flow kind of kid.  That's how he accidentally got his best friend, Jeff, and it's easier to just stick with the status quo.  Life is also easier with Jeff because he makes all the decisions.  all Rick has to do is relax and go with it.  

But lately, Rick has really been noticing Jeff's negative qualities.  Sometimes it is nice to be a follower, but there have been times when Jeff vetoed activities Rick was really interested in, like the school play.  Jeff is also kind of a jerk and a bully, and Rick is noticing it more every day.  

Jeff's constant comments about girls' bodies make Rick uncomfortable, but he isn't sure what to do about it.  He doesn't really see girls that way...or boys either to be honest.  Jeff and Rick's dad seem to think he should be thinking about the way girls look, but he just isn't.

When he hears about the Rainbow Spectrum club at school, he's interested.  There he meets a whole variety of kids who identify in different ways, and he learns the word, asexual.  He does a little research and begins to wonder if maybe he is asexual.  He knows he could never mention this to Jeff, though.

Will Rick have the courage to confront Jeff and take control of his own life and identity?

Alex Gino's new book is definitely one that should be included in middle grade collections.  It covers new ground for middle grade and will be a perfect fit for some students.  It does feel didactic at times, and the plot and characterization suffer for that.  

Freaky in Fresno

 Ricki loves the Starlight Drive-in.  It's been around for years and regularly shows classic horror films, Ricki's favorite.  When the Starlight is in trouble, Ricki jumps in to save it.  She's been working all summer to help refurbish everything, and they even managed to get a new projector.  She is also crushing hard on her partner in crime, Jake.  Their relationship has been going from friends to something more all summer.  Ricki wants to have her first kiss on the night of the grand reopening.  Legend has it that a first kiss under the stars at the Starlight leads to a lasting relationship.

The only problem is her cousin Lana who is the star of Lookie Lana, a beauty channel on a popular streaming service.  Lana and Ricki used to be best friends, but now they have nothing in common.  It doesn't help that Ricki's mom gets along better with Lana than she does her own daughter.  Even her mom's dog likes Lana better!

Then their aunt gives them a vintage cotton candy pink convertible...to share!  How will they ever get along with each other long enough to share a vehicle?  Ricki knows the convertible will be perfect for the drive-in's reopening and draw in classic car fans.  Lana, however, wants to drive on stage at her Digifest appearance to boost her views and increase fan engagement.  The problem?  Both events are on the same night.  

As the two girls are struggling over the keys to the car, something...freaky...happens, and Ricki wakes up the next morning in Lana's body!  It's the day of the biggest event in both girl's lives, and they are the victims of some kind of strange cosmic accident.  Will they be able to work out their issues and figure out how to switch back in time?  What about Lana's supposedly fake boyfriend whose attention doesn't seem like it's just for the camera?  What about Ricki's first kiss?  Will the switch ruin things with Jake before they even get started?

Laurie Boyle Crompton's new book is inspired by the two Disney movies and original book, Freaky Friday, and it is the same kind of silly fun with a lesson about learning to see things from another person's perspective thrown in.  This is cute and light with Ricki's horror obsession and Lana's YouTube style fame to draw in readers.  I did go back and watch the 2003 remake because Ricki is right, Jamie Lee Curtis is pretty amazing.  But Lindsay Lohan's hair though!?  The early 2000's were not a good time for hair trends! Recommended.

By the Book

 

Mary Porter-Malcolm is the daughter of two professors who has spent her school years attending a university school with only a handful of students and a relaxed curriculum.  She's focused a lot of attention on classic literature and knows the heroines and love interests as if they were her real friends.  They sort of are her only friends since she's never really been close to the only other girl her age at the school.

When the school closes and Mary has to attend a regular public school for the first time, she is definitely a fish out of water.  Her various siblings adapt quickly, but bookish Mary struggles until a chance encounter at a coffee shop gives her a way in.  She overhears a group of girls talking about the very handsome Alex Ritter and feels compelled to save them from a known cad.  The girls are entranced by Mary's rarified upbringing and quickly adopt her into their group.  Not only that, but Mary's extensive knowledge of classic literature has given her an interesting perspective on human nature and all the types of boys who must be avoided at all costs.  

The new friends set out to introduce Mary to all the aspects of regular teen life she's been missing and to create a list of bad boys in their school.  The only problem is, Mary begins to realize Alex might not be the cad she imagined.  In fact, she might be developing a tiny crush on him herself.  Maybe real life doesn't always work out by the book.

Amanda Sellet's romance novel is sweet, charming, and perfect for fans of classic literature.  Mary's new friends never turn into mean girls, and the relationships with her family are funny and endearing.  Recommended.

King and the Dragonflies

 King's family has been in a grief spiral since his older brother unexpectedly died.  His parents aren't talking to each other or to him, and he's left to work things out on his own.  He believes Khalid has been reincarnated as a dragonfly, so he makes his way out to the bayou as often as possible to try to find his brother again.  

King is also missing his best friend Sandy.  Even though they shouldn't be friends, the two boys bonded over anime.  King is black, and Sandy's father is an openly racist Sherrif.  Despite this, they had a close relationship until the day they didn't.  They were camping in the tent in King's backyard when Sandy confessed his biggest secret.  Sandy is gay.  Khalid overheard this conversation and told King to stop being friends with Sandy because, "What if people think you're gay, too?"

Unfortunately, this is one of the last things Khalid said to King, so it carries extra weight.  Now King is struggling with grief and guilt.  He knows he hurt Sandy, but Khalid hurt him, too.  What if he is gay?  He's not sure, but he does know he doesn't like girls the way his friends do.  

When Sandy disappears, King is worried but afraid to get too involved.  What if Sandy's father thinks King is somehow involved?  Plus, he feels guilty for dropping their friendship after Sandy's confession.  

Then he finds Sandy hiding in that same backyard tent.  When Sandy confesses the truth about his abusive father, King agrees to help him.  Their friendship is rekindled, but this new life can't go on forever.  What will happen when someone discovers the truth about Sandy?

Kacen Callendar's new book is a sweet story about a black queer boy living in small-town Louisiana.  Callendar handles the subject matter deftly, and readers will feel King's struggle to just be himself especially when the person he loves most makes a homophobic statement.  The struggles of King's family as they process their grief and the ever-present pressure of racism are realistically portrayed. There are readers who will see themselves reflected in King's story and others who will build empathy by experiencing the story with him. Highly recommended.  

The June Boys

Every year the Gemini Thief kidnaps three new boys, keeps them captive for a year, and then releases them without ever revealing his/her identity.  This has been going on for nearly a decade, and the thief has successfully kidnapped twelve boys.

Thea believes the thief took a thirteenth boy, her cousin Aulus.  She knows Aulus's disappearance doesn't really fit the patter since he's not one of the original three, but she can't shake the feeling the Gemini Thief has him.  Together with her boyfriend Nick (who is also one of Aulus's close friends) and her two best childhood friends, she's been investigating his disappearance for a year.  

The annual return date is coming up soon, and Thea hopes she will see Aulus soon, but the game changes when one of the missing boys is found dead.  What happened to change the kidnapper's process?  Will the other boys be returned alive, or are they already dead, too?  

Thea is more determined than ever to uncover the identity of the kidnapper and save the other boys, but the more she investigates, the more she starts to see a painful possibility.  She doesn't want to believe it's possible, and it would tear her world apart, but what if her father is the Gemini Thief?

The new mystery thriller from Court Stevens is a page-turner!  I was hooked from the beginning, and this one kept me guessing until the end.  I loved the "podcast" epilogue and its message about faith and adversity.  The book alternates between Thea's perspective and the June boys, but this doesn't ease the tension since the boys are in a life and death struggle, and the kidnapper's identity isn't revealed until the end.  This one is perfect for April Henry fans.  Highly recommended for grades 7 and up!

Camp Murderface

It's 1983, and Camp Sweetwater is finally reopening after mysterious circumstances shut it down years ago.  Tez can't believe he finally convinced his parents to let him do something fun.  He has Marfan's Syndrome which will send his heart rate out of control if he does anything too strenuous, but he is determined to have fun even if he can't participate in some activities.  Corryn does not want to be at summer camp because she's convinced her parents are getting a divorce while she's gone, and she'll go home to find her life uprooted.

The two form an instant connection on the first day that only strengthens when they seem to be the only ones who notice the strange things happening at Camp Sweetwater.  First, it's an invasion of insects, then ghostly faces in a fire.  Also, what about that strange presence in the lake?  Something weird is going on, and Corryn and Tez seem to be the only ones who can figure it out.

Is Camp Sweetwater haunted?  Cursed?  Will they live to discover the truth?

Josh Berk and Saundra Mitchell have created a world that is equal parts humor and horror--perfect for Goosebumps fans. Is it silly?  Yes, but it is right in that middle grade sweet spot.  Be warned, though, not all questions are answered by the end, so young readers will immediately start asking for a sequel!