(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. Jake--with friends Carly, Matt, and Umberto--is thrilled to be taking an after-school video class taught by a YouTube sensation (and "that doesn't require ANY reading"). Jake secretly features a monkey his family is fostering in his video and learns a hard lesson when Frank is removed from their home. As usual, cartoon marginalia illustrate Jake's vocabulary-learning in this fast-moving, timely seventh story.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Inga Wilmink. With her confidence boosted after more magical stickers come to life, Martina Rivera (Sticker Girl) runs for student council. But when sidekick Craig (a bossy cupcake sticker) pushes her into campaigning for class president, Martina is well out of her comfort zone. Martina's earnest voice expresses friendship challenges and anxiety in a way that's both relatable and refreshing. Inviting grayscale illustrations complement the appealing everyday-fantasy; stickers included.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Aspiring poet and amateur detective Marty Frye belts out couplets as he tracks down a classmate's missing diary, a lost box of action figures, and his sister's bag of flour. While poetry and detective fiction are an interesting mix, Marty's unimaginative rhymes become tiresome fairly quickly. Hip black-and-white drawings add humor.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger

(4) 1-3 Illustrated by Laurie Keller. A theft of nurse's-office tongue depressors, the disappearance of jawbreakers from a candy store, and a missing poodle found binge-watching TV: three slight, predictable mysteries are unlikely to stump anyone but will appeal to kids' sense of the ridiculous. As seven-year-old "poet detective" Marty persistently talks in simple rhymes and the pages are profusely illustrated, the stories should be easy for new readers to decipher.

Reviewer: Miriam Lang Budin

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In the sixth My Life book, Derek's friends' interest in ninjas leads them to martial-arts classes with Sensei Takai, who doesn't show them the "ninja moves" they expect. Abundant subplots--graffiti appears at school, Carly directs the musical, Derek's dad's new job is not what it seems, poison oak sidelines Derek--make for a choppy read; cartoon marginalia and likable characters help compensate for the unfocused plot.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Inga Wilmink. Painfully shy Martina Rivera's only friends are the stickers she collects--until some unusual additions help her overcome her fears. POOF!: these stickers (including a sleepy fairy and a sassy cupcake named Craig) come to life and creatively help "Sticker Girl" show her fun-loving "inner world" to the outer one. An appealing fantasy for young middle graders, especially the bashful; stickers included.

Reviewer: Rebecca Kirshenbaum

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. Twelve-year-old Derek and his friends are thrilled to test a pre-production video game. Competition with mysterious "super-genius" gamer El Cid, looming state-wide tests, struggles with reading, and worry over his jobless father distract Derek; ultimately Derek's love of drawing gives him a tool for conquering the high-stakes tests. A fast-moving plot, cartoon marginalia, and sympathetic characters offer something for everyone.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. Einstein the hamster brainstorms ways to earn enough money to save the school library, which is closing due to budget cuts. This third book starring the class pet is as purposeful as ever, but young readers will enjoy the childlike black-and-white drawings and random trivia pages in between chapters. A quiz and a section of "bloopers and deleted scenes" are appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Julie Bartynski-Fenner

(4) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. When his student friends compete on Kids Know Stuff, class hamster Einstein tags along, hoping for a chance to be a game show host himself. The story is rather didactic, but the simply structured narrative and childlike cartoons are inviting for readers moving on from chapter books. "Einstein's Tasty Tidbits" pages add interesting trivia; a quiz is appended. Reading list, websites.

Reviewer: Hannah Rodgers Barnaby

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In his fourth appearance, twelve-year-old Derek resolves to appear more mature, but he's constantly a laughingstock: he faints in class, lisps in assembly, and the "Monster Truck" he rents is really a bounce house. Derek's concern for a neighbor leads to a selfless, mature act. Fans will enjoy the fast plot, Derek's supportive friends, and cartoon marginalia representing Derek's ever-expanding collection of vocabulary words.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. Derek becomes the target of handicapped new-kid Umberto's bullying, adding to Derek's dislike of school. Even worse, Derek's passion for cartooning plays into the harassment. His parents and friends try to help, but ultimately Derek solves his own problem. A fast-moving plot, sympathetic (human and animal) characters, and cartoon marginalia offer something for everyone in Derek's third likable outing.

Reviewer: Gail Hedges

(4) YA Illustrated by Adam Gustavson. In 1971 Los Angeles, fourteen-year-old Quinn spends his days listening to albums, writing a music column for the school newspaper, and trying to spot his idols around town. But current events--and his first girlfriend--disrupt his comfortable routine. The book offers interesting historical perspective, but its plot is disjointed and the plethora of period musical references may lose some modern readers.

Reviewer: Randy Ribay

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In this sequel to My Life as a Book, Derek still doesn't feel any love for school or reading, but he's having a blast with his athleticism. Noticed by a Hollywood stuntman while skateboarding, Derek's hired as a body double for the latest teen sensation (a girl, no less!). This fast-moving story, with Derek's copious doodles in the margins, is a fine diversionary read.

Reviewer: Betty Carter

(2) 4-6 Illustrated by Jake Tashjian. In twelve-year-old Derek's mind, summer means liberation--until his parents send him to Learning Camp. With a strong, humorous voice, Derek outlines his trials and tribulations. Attempts to solve a mystery divert readers from any hint of didacticism as Derek learns to build on his strengths. Cartoon drawings by the author's teenaged son re-create Derek's illustrated vocabulary lists and make the book approachable.

Reviewer: Betty Carter | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2010

(4) YA While visiting Walden Pond, Josh (The Gospel According to Larry, Vote for Larry) meets a man who offers to be his guru. Readers are by now accustomed to the Larry books' over-the-top situations, but this story lacks the emotional depth of the other two. Nevertheless, the ambiguous ending will leave fans hopeful for a fourth (and more satisfying) book.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2008

(2) YA Fans of The Gospel According to Larry who loved Larry (a.k.a. Josh) for his clear-eyed idealism and his commitment to making the world a better place will rejoice at his return from the pseudo-dead. In this sequel, Tashjian manages to take a fairly unbelievable premise and make it seem more than fairly believable. The fast-paced story and Josh's witty narration will keep readers hooked.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 2004

(2) YA Tashjian's novel shatters any stereotypes young readers may have about people in abusive relationships. Smart and secure, seventeen-year-old Becky is an aspiring comic, as is her new boyfriend Kip, who is sweet and funny. How Kip gradually becomes controlling and abusive--and why Becky continues to stay with him--comes across as frighteningly believable in this gripping story.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: September, 2003

(1) YA Seventeen-year-old Josh Swenson describes a website whose anonymous author is committed "to making the world a better place." Josh reveals that he's the mastermind behind the site, and the novel keeps the reader riveted as Josh describes the website's phenomenal popularity--and terrible consequences. Tashjian fabricates a cleverly constructed scenario and expertly carries it out to the bittersweet end.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: January, 2002

(2) 4-6 Fourteen-year-old Monica invents a game that she hopes will lessen her serious anxiety about making choices: faced with any decision, she makes up four wildly different answers and chooses one at random. Her strange behavior garners some attention--and eventually, some help. Tashjian's story is cleverly constructed, and readers with obsessive tendencies will find it especially absorbing.

Reviewer: Jennifer M. Brabander | Horn Book Magazine Issue: July, 1999

(4) 1-3 Redfeather Chapter Book series. Illustrated by Laurie Keller. Aspiring poet and amateur detective Marty Frye belts out couplets as he tracks down a classmate's missing diary, a lost box of action figures, and his sister's bag of flour. While poetry and detective fiction are an interesting mix, Marty's unimaginative rhymes become tiresome fairly quickly. Hip black-and-white drawings add humor.

Reviewer: Tanya D. Auger