M., Son

Hand this to readers who like their magical fantasy combined with middle school drama.

Just as Sally feels robbed of Halloween, some readers may find themselves deprived of a full, unabridged retelling of this classic. An additional purchase.

A sweet story for animal lovers and emergent readers, too.

Princess and adventure fans alike will clamor for an invite to this not-so-perfect but oh-so-entertaining party.

. The Scotts are forced to live in the St. Louis, MO, jail, and all of the wages they earn are held in escrow by the sheriff. Not much is known about the real-life Eliza, but these authors' depict her as brave, headstrong, and intelligent. She attends a secret school for black children where she has learned to read, and she longs for a different life than that of her parents. But it is her fear of being imprisoned that ultimately puts her freedom in jeopardy. Against her mother's wishes, Eliza takes a job with one of her father's former owners, Charlotte Charless. In the midst of the chaos and fear caused by a cholera outbreak, Eliza crosses paths with the greedy son of Charlotte, Mark Charless, who is desperate for money to fund his Gold Rush dreams. As her family is fighting for their freedom, Eliza's own struggle takes a more dramatic and immediate turn. Not shying away from some of the ugly truths from this part of our country's history, this book addresses slavery, kidnapping, and the overall appalling treatment of black people. While the characterization is well done, the dialogue is a bit stiff. Ultimately, however, this book is a compelling and exciting narrative as well as a window into a possible history. VERDICT A great choice to support school curriculum.

Gr 9 Up—In the first book of Taylor's six-part series, Edmond West has discovered a way to rid the world of its darkest deeds: humanoid robots that will take the brunt of humanity's abuse...

Given the arcadian pace of the journey overall, the lightning-fast conclusion is somewhat anticlimactic, but readers who have engaged with this congenial world may just turn to the first page and begin again.

Despite the novel's initial chill factor and creepily appealing cover, the disappointing ending makes it hard to recommend.

Choldenko's latest novel features a fast-paced plot that will appeal to lovers of both mystery and historical fiction. A first purchase.—Sharon M. Lawler, formerly of Randolph Elementary, Universal City, TX