The Stand-In features Brooks, a kid from a working class family with a dead beat dad, who is desperate to get out of town and attend an Ivy league school. Having no money, he volunteers to be a stand-in for a schoolmate’s cousin who got stood up for Homecoming. He planned to do this for free, as a favor, but when he receives a $300 tip, he decides he can earn college money escorting other rich 1% girls in the area. With the potential to earn this kind of money, he’ll be able to hire a tutor to help raise his SAT scores. Columbia University might be within range, after all. His escort business booms, but to keep up the momentum, he makes some minor deceptions, and cuts a few moral corners. And then he meets the unhinged Celia, and the captivating Shelby.
The Stand-In has a young male as the protagonist, which is unusual for many YA novels., and this male POV may appeal to male students.
This fast-faced, hilarious story is a fun read.

Two Summers tells two stories of one summer. In one story, Summer Everett fails to answer a phone call from her father as she prepares to catch a plane to France, where her dad is living the artist life. Upon arrival, she discovers that he’s gone to Berlin and she is left with his friends who are house sitting.
In the other story, Summer answers the phone before getting on the plane, and realizes her summer is Paris is off. Disappointed, she resigns herself to a summer at home.

We see two perspectives: Summer in the French countryside, among sun-kissed fields of lavender. And another Summer in upstate New York, amid familiar settings, but facing a real surprise.

In each version of her summer, she falls in love and discovers new things about herself, including a terrible family secret.

This is a fun read.

Crash is the story of a girl, Gloria, who on her flight home from losing an important music competition, crashes in the middle of the Arizona desert. Some of her fellow passengers are dead; others injured. Some head across the dessert looking for help. Faced with the realization that all of her technical ability at violin will not help her in this desperate situation, she must rely on her survival instincts, as the chance of rescue is remote.
While this is not the best written novella (there are some awkward sentences and some mildly unrealistic plot turns), the story is action packed. There is a certain amount of gore, a bit of romance, and the story will appeal to readers who enjoy adventure. The reading level is such that it is an appropriate book for both middle and high school students.
Crash is part of the Survive series, but the titles are stand alone.

Stolen Secrets is a contemporary story of a teen girl, Livvy, and her alcoholic mother who has that has kept a Holocaust secret from Livvy. What is the family secret? Is grandmother a Holocaust survivor? Is she from a Nazi family? This book has multiple plot lines and themes, and switches point of view repeatedly from the memory of grandmother as a young girl decades ago in Nazi controlled Germany, to Livvy in current day San Francisco. Topics addressed are what it’s like for Livvy to be a new girl at school; homesickness for friends; alcoholism; family secrets, neo-Nazis; predatory elder care; armed robbery; and a romance.
This novel is a page turner. You won’t be able to put it down.

Ranger Red Fox takes the reader on a tour of the Grand Tetons National Park in Wyoming.  Information includes the basic history of the park, including the geology of how the areas were formed, as well as Native American original inhabitants and early explorers. Ranger Red Fox then describes the scenic sites and activities, and flora and fauna in the parks.  At the end of the text, there is a field guide of animals, wildlife by the numbers, a map and map challenge, wildflower tracker, glossary and index.

Stunning photographs support the text.  Animated Ranger Red Fox livens up the telling. A fun engaging read.

This title in the Strange and Wonderful series is a VERY detailed nonfiction book about spiders.  Information includes species classification, anatomy, different habitats, webs, reproduction, hunting techniques.  Specific details are provided about different species, highlighting the diversity of spiders.  The tone comes across as somewhat conversational, including suggestions on overcoming arachnophobia. While using scientific terms and detailed illustrations, the lack of a table of contents or index makes it less useful for research.  Recommendations in the “To Learn More” section include materials that range in interest level from preschool to adult.

A sure hit with kids interested in spiders and other creepy crawlies.

An in depth history of the Cassini satellite launched in 1997 to study Saturn and its moons. Begins with the basics of the planet, then describes the satellites long 7 year journey.  Cassini satellite provided the most detailed images of Saturn ever seen.  It then  observed Saturn’s rings and moons for more than a decade. Includes details on the Titan Huygens Probe, the first landing on a moon in the outer solar system.  In 2017, as its nuclear fuel was running out, scientists gave it Cassini one last mission; send as much data as possible as it plunged into Saturn’s atmosphere. 

Highlighted ‘extreme facts’ on each page are high interest. Colorful photographs and diagrams

Memorial Day is explained in simple text with both historical and current photographs. The book focuses on the origins and traditions associated with the celebration of Memorial Day. Concepts are covered at a developmental level that corresponds with the target audience.  Vocabulary words found in the glossary are in bold.

Included are directions on how to make a tissue paper poppy to honor fallen soldiers.

With simple text and colorful pictures, this title provides young readers an introduction to President’s Day.  The book starts by describing President’s Day and who celebrates it.  Also included is information on the origins and traditions of President’s Day as well as directions on how to make George Washington’s wig.

Dry, sparse information and complex concepts without adequate explanation makes this title less appealing for young readers.