Dorothy gets her comeuppance. Young book addicts share their love for Harper Lee’s classic. And Robert Louis Stevensons’s thrilling novel is reimagined as a gothic romance. The following works will entice readers and point them toward their literary origins.

Acampora, Paul. I Kill the Mockingbird. 176p. Roaring Brook. May 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781596437425.

Gr 5-8 –The past year had been an emotional one for 13-year-old Lucy: her favorite English teacher collapsed and died next to her in line at the school cafeteria, and her mother almost died from cancer and is slowly recovering. Through it all, Lucy’s friends Elena and Michael have stood by her. Now it’s time for summer break and the new English teacher hands out a list of required summer reading. Lucy’s favorite, To Kill a Mockingbird, is on the list. Lucy wants everyone to read this great book, and hatches a plan with her friends that will “go viral” in a way far beyond what she could imagine. Meanwhile, Lucy tries not to worry about her mother—it’s hard for the teen to believe that her mother, who was once told she had only a few weeks to live, is actually well. Lucy’s also coming to the realization that Michael may be more than a friend, and wonders if she’s ready for all the challenges that high school will bring. Funny, poignant, and quirky, I Kill the Mockingbird will appeal to today’s middle schoolers who are tech-savvy, literate, and idealistic. Acampora has developed likable characters that readers will relate to; they will cheer as Lucy, Elena, and Michael work together and amaze even themselves with their courage and conviction.–Kathy Kirchoefer, Henderson County Public Library, NC

Benincasa, Sara. Great. 272p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. Apr. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062222695; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062222718. LC 2013008047.

Gr 9 Up –A reimagined, gender-bending The Great Gatsby set in modern times. Narrator Naomi Rye lives in Chicago with her dad but spends every summer with her mother, a Food Network star, in East Hampton. Usually, Naomi’s summer social life is limited to a few parties that she attends with her mom. This time, the teen arrives to find that a new neighbor, Jacinta Trimalchio, has moved in by herself next door. Jacinta is known among rich Hamptons denizens as an infamous fashion blogger. She hopes to reconnect with Delilah Fairweather through her new friendship with Naomi. The fashionista hosts fabulous parties and eventually ignites a close relationship with Delilah. This is a story of indulgence, with teenagers consuming alcohol and drugs and driving while under the influence. A car accident in the climax scene closely parallels the original. Lies, gossip, and intrigue figure prominently in the plot. No new ground has been forged in this work, so stick with F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic.–Elizabeth Kahn, Patrick F. Taylor Science & Technology Academy, Jefferson, LA

Fantaskey, Beth. Buzz Kill. 368p. Houghton Harcourt. May 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780547393100. LC 2013011423.

Gr 7-10 –Millie Ostermeyer writes for her school newspaper, hangs out with her friends, worries about her widowed father, and wonders about the new guy at school. She’s a lot like her literary heroine, Nancy Drew. Millie and her mother would read the mysteries together, while the latter was dying of cancer, and now the books have a special meaning as the teen tries to deal with her grief. When the head football coach at her school is found dead, Millie’s detective skills kick into high gear. The list of possible suspects is long, since Coach Killdare was not everyone’s favorite person. Unfortunately, the number one suspect is Millie’s father, Killdare’s assistant coach—who often very publicly disagreed with the victim. As Millie investigates, she uncovers some surprising facts about all of the suspects, including her own dad. As Chase helps her look for clues, they soon become friends, taking tentative steps toward a romance. The mystery climaxes with the sudden revelation of the murderer, a character no one had even considered. The narrative emulates the “Nancy Drew” series (Penguin) formula: short chapters with cliff-hangers endings. This novel is more character driven, as the heroine works through her feelings about her mother’s illness and death. For readers who want a solid mystery with a dollop of romance.–Diana Pierce, formerly at Leander High School, TX

Gatti, Alessandro. Sherlock, Lupin & Me: The Dark Lady. tr. from Italian by Chris Turner. illus. by Iacopo Bruno. 240p. Capstone. 2014. RTE $18.99. ISBN 9781434265234; pap. $9.25. ISBN 9781434265265.

Gr 4-7 –The three title characters meet up as adolescents and embark on a friendship fostered by a love of solving crimes. When Sherlock, Lupin, and Irene discover a body on the beach, they decide to solve the mystery of the man’s death themselves. The plot moves along quickly, and the way in which the quirky friends use witty banter to communicate will hold the interest of reluctant readers. The French setting of 1870s Saint-Malo comes alive as the young sleuths visit deserted mansions, seaside hotels, and a hidden gambling house. Fitting pen-and-ink etchings kick off each short, briskly paced chapter. Fans of Nancy Springer’s “Enola Holmes” books (Philomel) will be excited about this promising new series, and it’s a solid choice for readers looking for an engaging mystery.–Carrie Shaurette, Dwight-Englewood School, Englewood, NJ

LaZebnik, Claire. The Last Best Kiss. 384p. HarperCollins/HarperTeen. May 2014. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9780062252289; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062252296.

Gr 9 Up –Anna Eliot has had the past three years to regret her treatment of Finn Westbrook, at the time a fellow freshman, geek, and Anna’s secret boyfriend. When confronted with her friends’ opinions of Finn, she pretended not to know him and broke his heart. Now he’s back, and Anna hopes to get a second chance to apologize and maybe something more, but her former beau is no longer interested. The protagonist has more to worry about besides her romance troubles, however. Her sisters Lizzie and Molly are both off to college, and she is left living with her narcissistic father, who may or may not be dating one of Lizzie’s friends. Then a weekend musical festival changes everything for Anna and Finn. A modern retelling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, Anna’s first-person narrative is filled with humor and honesty. While the pair’s love story is the main focus, plotlines involving secondary characters are woven together well. References to drugs, alcohol, and sex make this suitable for teens looking for a realistic YA romance novel with relatable characters—especially fans of LaZebnik’s previous Austen updates.–Natalie Struecker, Rock Island Public Library, IL

Meyer, Marissa. Cress. 560p. (The Lunar Chronicles: Bk. 3). Feiwel & Friends. 2014. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9780312642976; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9781250053183.

Gr 8 Up –Cress is locked away in a floating satellite. She dreams of visiting Earth, the planet she has been forced to spy on, and meeting Carswell Thorne, the handsome ship captain who teamed up with Cinder in Scarlet (Feiwel & Friends, 2013). Her wish comes true after an attempted rescue from Cinder and her crew is intercepted, leaving Cress and Thorne stranded on Earth. At the same time, Scarlet is kidnapped, and Queen Levana, frustrated with Cinder’s escape, begins to attack Earth. Cinder has her hands full with finding her missing comrades, dealing with an out-of-control Wolf, preventing Levana and Kai’s marriage, and accepting her own royal heritage. At the end of the book, Cinder realizes that she can no longer hide from her destiny and begins preparations to head to Luna for a revolution. Cress fills in more historical details about Earth and Luna’s relationship—most of which will be of no surprise to the reader—and Cinder’s rebirth as a cyborg. Fans of Scarlet and Wolf may be disappointed that their relationship takes a backseat to the newly introduced pairing. As always, Meyer excels at interweaving new characters that extend beyond the archetypes of their fairy tale into the main story. Readers will eagerly await the final installment of this highly appealing and well-constructed series.–Marissa Lieberman, East Orange Public Library, NJ

Paige, Danielle. Dorothy Must Die. 464p. HarperCollins. Apr. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062280671; ebk. $9.99. ISBN 9780062280695.

Gr 9 Up –In this edgy update of Frank L. Baum’s Wizard of Oz, Kansas teen Amy Gumm gets sucked into a complex assassination plot to dethrone the megalomaniac and magic addict Dorothy. Oz is no longer the cheerful Technicolor world made popular by the Judy Garland–starring film, and it has been drained of its fairy-tale glimmer by the red shoe–wearing despot and her crew of twisted friends. The Scarecrow, the Tin Man, Glinda, and the Lion all make horrific appearances, and characters from Baum’s original are also highlighted in this grim and gory take. Roles are reversed as good and evil witches band together in the revolutionary group of the Wicked to train Amy to kill Dorothy. Debut author Paige doesn’t hold back in this fast-paced action novel, and the body count mounts as the tale progresses. Leaps of logic distract from the overall story, and choppy language overwhelms at times, but teens will identify with the heroine’s insecurities and feelings of abandonment caused by her parents’ divorce and her mother’s subsequent drug abuse. The tentative relationship that begins with one of her tutors seems a bit tacked on but will hopefully be developed more in future installments. Plot twists will keep readers guessing, and Amy’s affinity to her pet mouse Star will garner some chuckles. Give this cinematic upper-YA novel to fans of A. G. Howard’s Splintered (Abrams, 2012), Frank Beddor’s Looking Glass Wars (Dial, 2006), and TV shows such as Once Upon a Time and Grimm.–Shelley Diaz, School Library Journal

Shepherd, Megan. Her Dark Curiosity. 432p. (Madman’s Daughter Series: Bk. 2). ebook available. HarperCollins/Balzer & Bray. 2014. Tr $17.99. ISBN 9780062128058.

Gr 8 Up –Megan Shepherd’s deliciously dark and exciting sequel to The Madman’s Daughter (HarperCollins, 2013) continues with Juliet’s return to London after her escape from her father’s island. Life is somewhat easier for Juliet now that she is back—a former colleague of her father’s has taken her under his wing so that she does not want for anything, she has a job developing grafted rose bushes, and her friend Lucy has welcomed her with open arms. But not all is well. The serum her father, the infamous Dr. Moreau, developed to keep her symptoms at bay is no longer working and she cannot seem to perfect a new and stronger dose; she misses Montgomery, her old friend and new lover; and one of her father’s monsters, Edward Prince, now known as Dr. Jekyll, has also returned to London. To make it worse, a serial killer, dubbed the Wolf of Whitechapel, is murdering people who have wronged her, and a Scotland Yard inspector keeps questioning her about her father. Somehow, Juliet holds the key but can she survive long enough to save the ones she loves and unmask the conspirators who are behind the terror? Shepherd masterfully blends yet another classic horror story into a new setting, and the continuing echoes of H. G. Wells’s The Island of Dr. Moreau combined with Robert Louis Stevenson’s The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde result in a book that resonates with evil and suspense. While the novel can be read independently of the first title, as enough of the backstory is given to make what is happening clear, readers will have a more satisfying experience if familiar with the previous installment. The psychological questions that Prince/Jekyll raises as to evil, desire, and nature vs. nurture add a depth of richness not often seen in young adult literature.–Janet Hilbun, University of North Texas

Serle, Rebecca. The Edge of Falling. 304p. S. & S./Simon Pulse. 2014. Tr $16.99. ISBN 9781442433168; ebk. $10.99. ISBN 9781442433199.

Gr 9 Up –Caggie Caulfield’s life changed forever the night her little sister died. How could Caggie be expected to ever return to normal after Hayley’s death? But time presses on, and she is now starting a new school year at Kensington Prep. Life amongst Manhattan’s posh elite seems emptier than normal as she drifts apart from her BFF Claire and is forced to see ex-boyfriend Trevor in class. No one knows what it’s like—or what really happened on the rooftop last spring. When Caggie meets Astor, she feels like she can escape her family, her friends, and herself whenever she spends time with him. If Caggie could just drift through life, maybe she’d never really have to feel anything again or ever tell the truth about what she’s really done. Serle explores grief and depression while paying homage to The Catcher in the Rye (Holden Caulfield is the protagonist’s grandfather). The teen is closed to everyone in her life but slowly opens up about what really happened and how she actually feels. The pacing crawls at times, and Caggie is not as compelling as her grandfather when it comes to relatability. Still, the emotional focus and Salinger references may be enough to grab attention. A possible recommendation for fans of Jay Asher’s Thirteen Reasons Why (Penguin, 2007) and other books that tackle suicide and depression.–Emily Moore, Camden County Library System, NJ