Is creepy back in vogue? All of the featured titles have an eerie element: the ghost of Bloody Mary, an addicted teen set on revenge, and a riff on Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. And the covers are all knock-outs. Monahan, Hillary. Mary: The Summoning. (Bloody Mary: Bk. 1). Disney/Hyperion. Sept. 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781423185192. Gr 7 Up—Jess, Kitty, Anna, and Shauna attempt to summon the ghost of Bloody Mary when things don't go quite as planned. Salt becomes their best friend when trying to fend off the attacking spirit, bloodthirsty and having no mercy. This book was fantastic! There were twists in the plot my mind never thought of. I've never seen a take on Bloody Mary quite like this. Monahan does a really good job of letting you get a little too attached to the good characters and very cross with the bad characters. I never saw the ending coming! I really expected Shauna to sacrifice herself or for Kitty to get taken and the book be left at a cliff-hanger. Monahan made me really want Jess to get hurt, and that's what makes a good writer, a good writer. Recommended for anyone who enjoys a good scare every now and then, as well as fans of Katie Alender's "Bad Girls Don't Die" series (Disney-Hyperion) or Paranormal Activity.—Kim, age 14 Roberts, Jeyn. The Bodies We Wear. Knopf. Sept. 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9780385754125. Gr 9 Up—When Faye was just 11 years old, a group of men destroyed her life with a powerful drug called Heam, and she has been out for revenge ever since. However, as new people appear in her life and her careful plans begin to dissolve, Faye is forced to reconsider what she really wants. I absolutely tore through this book, and I'm not entirely sure why. The main plot of revenge wasn't terribly attention-grabbing for me. I never gained interest in whether Faye would be able to "overcome her desires." In addition, I felt that some of the plot and character development was far too rushed. A lot of important events could have been given more time. At the end, Faye killed a man and lost all thirst for what she had been chasing for years. The petition inexplicably worked—didn't Gazer (her adoptive father) say that they signed papers that prevented it from doing so? Faye's mom accepted her again, seemingly for no reason at all. Rufus just died. Faye suddenly realized a lot of things that should have taken her longer to understand, especially given her past. In short, the ending was too happy to fit the novel. This sounds demented, but I would have liked to see Faye struggle. I think it was the little things that kept me reading her story. Faye was a beautiful character, both relatable and likable. Arnold Bozer provided an interesting subplot. The premise of Heam was what first caught my attention and is definitely one of the most intriguing elements of the book. The Bodies We Wear had just enough to keep me hooked, but I left wanting a little bit more. The most compelling aspects of the book were Heam and Paige. The description of the drug Heam and the fates of its users laid the groundwork for the book, and I enjoyed reading about something from a world entirely different from my own. As for Faye, it was nice to see a fighter.—Lucy L., age 15 Salisbury, Graham. Hunt For the Bamboo Rat. (Prisoners of the Empire: Bk. 4). Random/Wendy Lamb Bks. Sept. 2014. Tr $14.99. ISBN 9780375842665.                            Gr 7 Up—Zenji is a Japanese American teen who is hired by the military to be a spy in the Philippines during WW2. He is captured during the Japanese invasion of the Philippines, and this is his story. This book kept me on the edge of my seat and wanting more and more. The suspense and action that this book creates totally amazed and fascinated me. I can't imagine this book being any better than it already is. People who like historical fiction books will love this book. If you enjoy reading about POWs, fighting, and spying, this is also a great book.—Saketh D., age 13 Verday, Jessica. Of Monsters and Madness. Egmont USA. Sept. 2014. Tr $15.99. ISBN 9781606844632. Gr 7 Up—Annabel Lee has been summoned to Philadelphia by her father from her home in Asia. Unaccustomed to the rich life, Annabel makes friends with her maid Maddie. She soon starts to hear about murders and the dangers of going out at night. She falls in love with her father's assistant Allan Poe; at night, she finds his cousin Edgar, another assistant who seems to know too much about the murders. I thought the book was good, because it had notable characters like Edgar Allan Poe, and had a good sense of historical fiction. I liked the change from Edgar to Allan; it was a cool idea and gets you thinking about what happens when he drinks the serum. I think fans of Margaret Peterson Haddix would enjoy this book, as well as fans of R. L. Stine.—Prid C., age 13