Emily Edelman really wants her very own cell phone for her twelfth birthday. Instead she gets a family trip to the ocean where her little brother fills her sandwich with sand when she isn’t looking and her big sister spends her tme sulking due to the confiscation of her mobile device.  Emily’s parents are a bit distracted and somehow end up with a cake that’s celebrating Emily’s eleventh birthday. Everyone, except Emily, has a good laugh about the bakery’s mistake. As Emily takes a break from family time, she strolls along the beach where she discovers an unusual beach rock. Later that night, she discovers that the beach rock isn’t quite what it appears to be.  The rock is a magical spell stone and Emily is a Stonemaster. Emily’s discovery lands her loved ones in danger and only Emily can save them. This humorous tale of adventure, fantasy, and friendship will have readers laughing out loud. A recommended purchase where you have fans of fantastic and humorous adventures.

Sherlock Holmes and the Disappearing Diamond by Sam Hearn is a combination mystery and graphic novel. John Watson starts school at the Baker Street Academy where he meets his new best friends, Martha Hudson and Sherlock Holmes. He also becomes acquainted with Baskerville, the academy’s trusty dog. Watson loves to write and Martha is a skilled social organizer. Sherlock can be counted on to use deductive reasoning to ferret out ordinary intrigues as well as solve the case of the disappearing diamond and make connections between the case and his school nemesis, James Moriarty This light mystery will have young super sleuths observing their surroundings with a critical eye. The art work adds to the story by revealing key details and by being fun and fresh. Recommended for young mystery readers who enjoy the graphic novel format.

The Force Oversleeps by Jarrett J. Krosoczka is sure to satisfy Star Wars Jedi Academy fans.  Victor Starspeeder returns to Jedi Academy for year two. He’s excited about the new year, but he gets off on the wrong foot.  Victor can’t seem to get up on time and he’s constantly running late. There’s a new kid at the academy, too. Victory is experiencing jealousy and envy – not exactly two qualities young Jedi should have. Meanwhile, there’s a rumor that there is Sith activity on the campus and a traitor in the midst. Christina, Victor’s big sister, is somehow mixed up in the rumor.  With a balance of action and humor, Jedi Academy fans will rush to check out this latest installment in the series.

The Backstagers And The Ghost Light by Andy Mientus is a phenomenal book about the backstage crew of St. Genesius. The backstage is a mysterious and magical world that connects all the theaters of the world, and it is easy to get lost or hurt in the backstage. After disappearing for a prolonged amount of time, they are left without a stage manager, and have to face the new production on their own. The schools production of Phantasm is set in motion, and supernatural occurrences come along with it. The five backstagers: Jory, Hunter, Beckett, Aziz, and Sasha, have to figure out who or what is sabotaging their play. With falling lights, failed auditions, and the stage’s ghost light exploding during the use of an Ouija board, things are going to get harder and harder. And what will they do when a charismatic new lead actress shows up and has deeper intentions than performing? I highly recommend this book for it’s mysterious charm, along with it’s casual LGBT representation. The relationship between Jory and Hunter is casual and realistic, and shows how relationships can be affected by new responsibilities. It also shows how the loss of a loved one can negatively affect a family, and that someone who cared about them deeply would do anything to get them back. This book would be great for anyone who likes theater, supernatural themes, ghosts, and friendship.

Review by Allison

An adventurous young girl sets out for her first trip by herself to visit her great-grandma on her birthday. Her mother shares the red cape she used to wear when she was a child visiting her grandma. The little girl decided she also wants to be called Little Red Riding Hood. Not far into the woods Little Red Riding Hood meets a wolf. The wolf assures her that he’s a big friendly wolf, not the big bad wolf. When the wolf finds out that he hasn’t been invited to Granny’s party, he sets off with a growl. Along her journey, Little Red Riding Hood gathers friends; beaver, bear, mountain goat, and fox to join the birthday party. Granny is thrilled with the visitors and they had a lovely party until the wolf crashes through the door. All the partygoers fear for their lives, but wolf is just in a hurry to share the beautiful blueberry birthday cake he made for Granny. While his Great-granddaddy Wolf was good at swallowing old ladies, he prefers making sweet treats.

A unique version of the classic Little Red Riding Hood that incorporates the animals and geography of the Pacific Northwest. Also available in the series, Three Bears of the Pacific Northwest.

Isaveth continues on her adventure to solve the murder for which her father was accused in the companion book, A Pocket Full of Murder. Isaveth finds herself the recipient of a scholarship to attend the most prestigious magic school, Tarreton College.  While learning sagery, she continues to gather information to clear her father’s name. The mystery takes many twist and turns. This who-done-it story is full of political intrigue, social inequity, and prejudice, friendship and loyalties. Readers of book one will look forward to the conclusion of the murder mystery which is wrapped up in book two.

Dazzle Ships by Chris Barton tells the story of how the Allied forces during WWI attempted to thwart the German U-Boat attacks on naval ships by using the concept of camouflage. After failed attempts to maneuver ships carrying munitions, food, military personnel, civilians and other supplies, a new, creative and outlandish idea was concocted. In this book, the reader will learn the brief history that lead to paining ships in dazzling designs and colors. The illustrations appropriate use of color, design, and pattern to fill the pages with camouflage to depict the story. Complete with timeline, author/illustrator notes and additional resources, this book is a great reference for students of history, art and the research process.

This graphic nonfiction work explores how the earth came to be, specifically the Big Bang theory and geologic activity.  It is rich in scientific vocabulary, concepts and history. The illustrations are cartoon strip style with two unlikely narrators: a groundhog and an earthworm.  The narrative is engaging as it is informative, explaining scientific concepts in an easy to understand manner. An added bonus is the use of figurative language and humor to propel the reader through the multi-layered story of the earth’s creation and explains many aspects of earth science. Rich with comparisons, diagrams, and facts, this is a fun addition to graphic nonfiction collections.  Additional purchase.

Director’s Cut by Vanessa Acton creates a story filled with paranormal activity, adventure, and mystery. Four friends set off on an adventure to explore an abandoned and rumored to be cursed country and western movie set. Unconvinced that the set is cursed, the friends disagree about the causes of the odd and unexpected events that transpire during their adventure and the days that follow. Ultimately, the friends decide that they must solve the mystery and right a wrong in order to lift the curse. Cover art will draw in reluctant readers and the approachable text will keep them turning the pages. Stronger readers will be disappointed by the simplicity of the plot and character development. Additional purchase.

Klawde: Evil Alien Warlord Cat by Johnny Marciano and Emily Chenoweth is a fun-filled feline adventure.  Klawde, the overthrown alien warlord, is banished to the planet earth where he must find shelter, devise a plan to return to planet Lyttyrboks, and plot his revenge. Enter Raj, the human boy who, new to town, must endure survival camp and wants to adopt the stray cat, Klawde. With fun wordplay and interesting plotline, Marciano and Chenoweth create a fantastically unfriendly and devious feline villain juxtaposed with a vulnerable and likable  human boy. Will Klawde find a way to return home and reclaim his omniscient rule? Will Raj stand up to the mean campers and build lasting friendships in his new home town? Readers will laugh out loud as they discover the answers to these questions and many more. Monochromatic drawings are sprinkled throughout the text capturing the emotion and propelling action forward. A fantastically fun read!