In The Fairies of Turtle Creek, Jill K. Sayre has cleverly painted Claire Collins as a little girl on the threshold of something new. She is in the hiatus between girl and womanhood, in that last summer before high school and at her most impressionable....

The Crimson Brand: The Phoenix Girls II by Brian Knight is a superb follow-up to the first Phoenix Girls story, but that is exactly what I expected it to be. In this episode, Penny and Zoe are joined by Katie, with Ellen joining the Phoenix...

The Jack O'Rourke Series - Tricks, But No Treats by Kristi Washbourn is a Nancy Drew-esque mystery adventure for readers ages 8-12. Jacqueline —Jack — O’Rourke, is a magnet for trouble. When her sleepy town is suddenly being vandalized, and the mayor declares that there...

The Family That Wasn't: A Novel by Gene Twaronite is an ideal story for teenagers. John Boggle always wanted a dream family; rich and perfect and a family that appreciated and respected him for what he was. Then he finds his dreams coming true. His...

The burden of achieving social acceptance and outward, physical beauty can be crushing for a teenage girl. But then there are the victories, both small and large; little feats of independence and larger, inward self-acceptance. Jacquelyn Eubanks in The Last Time showcases a sympathetic and...

Katie Dude liked to talk to her grandma because she could understand Grandma better than she could understand her parents and other adults. Even though her grandma had trouble falling around, she still told fun and interesting stories to Katie. In her book Traveling with...

The Magical World of Sebella by Thea Berg is a delightful book about Sebella, a witch who occupies a house once owned by a magician. Strange things happen in that house. A gargoyle's statue in the house comes to life when it is accidentally knocked...

The Escape of Princess Madeline by Kirstin Pulioff is an enthralling adventure story that will leave readers captivated and amused. Princess Madeline celebrates her 16th birthday knowing the inevitable. Her future has already been mapped out. It is going to be boring, a life of...

The Deliverers: Sharky and the Jewel (The Deliverers Series) by Gregory S. Slomba is an adventure story where Stig, a talking owl, calls 12-year-old Eric Scott to help him save a fishing village in another world. Once they reach there, they realize they have many...

The Silver Strand, by L.J. Clarkson, introduces readers to Isabelle Tresdon — an artist and scientist who, while suffering through gym class with a headache, ends up on the floor with pink dust that sparkles around her, then fades away. Minutes later, Isabelle sprouts “granny...