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(4)
4-6
Fizzopolis series.
Illustrated by
Brian Sheesley.
Harold Fuzzwonker returns in this third book about Fizzopolis, the plant where Fuzzwonker Fizz is made (The Trouble with Fuzzwonker Fizz; Floozombies). Bottles of the soda are disappearing, and Harold, along with pals Sammy and Fizzy Floyd, must outsmart his family's archrivals, the candy-making Snoods. The wild antics continue for series fans, though the over-the-top black-and-white cartoon art can be too chaotic.
(3)
4-6
Since Stanley's stay-at-home father died, his family (and their home) has been in shambles. The unexpected arrival of Mr. Gedrick, whose quirks recall those of Mary Poppins, inspires tidiness but also familial affection and fun. Although Stanley suspects magic is involved, Mr. Gedrick ultimately reveals a different kind of secret. With warmth and humor, Carman updates Travers's classic to the modern day.
171 pp.
| Random
| January, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-385-38664-7$12.99
|
LibraryISBN 978-0-385-38666-1$15.99
|
EbookISBN 978-0-385-38665-4
(3)
4-6
Voyagers series.
In books three and four of the multi-platform collaborative series, Team Alpha continues its dangerous interplanetary mission to save humankind from extinction, facing off against alien pirates and sea monsters (Omega Rising), giant eels (Infinity Riders), and the rival Omega team. Tense, action-packed scenes will sustain readers as they connect and sympathize with the admirable and selfless members of Team Alpha. Review covers the following Voyagers titles: Omega Rising and Infinity Riders.
125 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen
| March, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-239390-6$12.99
(3)
4-6
Fizzopolis series.
Illustrated by
Brian Sheesley.
In this series-starter, ten-year-old Harold Fuzzwonker is as effervescent as Fuzzwonker Fizz, the soda (created by his scientist dad) known for its drinkers' record-breaking burps. When Harold meets the "Fizzies," his father's accidental living creations, he brings one to school; the ensuing trouble threatens to expose the family secret. Energetic spot illustrations and fast-paced silliness will hook young readers.
145 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen
| October, 2016
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-239392-0$12.99
(4)
4-6
Fizzopolis series.
Illustrated by
Brian Sheesley.
In book one, Harold discovered the "Fizzies," his father Dr. Fuzzwonker's accidental living creations. Here, a glob of Snood's Flooze ("the yuckiest candy in the world") gets shoved into the Fizzomatic, and gloopy Floozombies take shape--and take over. Harold, Sammy, and Fizzy Floyd work together to squelch the Floozombie invasion. Goofy-gross spot illustrations complement the frenetic hijinks.
276 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen
| February, 2015
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-208590-0$17.99
(4)
YA
In the dystopian trilogy's conclusion, Faith and Dylan (Pulse; Tremor) learn that villainous Hotspur is planning to devastate the States. But to reach him they will have to finally defeat their telekinetic rivals and Hotspur's protectors, Clara and Wade. A predictable plot, superficial characters, and a neatly wrapped-up ending don't detract from the intense action series fans have come to expect.
(4)
YA
In the second dystopian installment (Pulse), telekinetic-powered Dylan infiltrates the enemies' camp after learning a shocking secret about his parentage. Acting as backup, fellow pulse Faith, still enraged over her best friend's death, has to decide whether revenge is worth risking the entire rebellion. Uneven plotting and continuity issues don't slow down the action enough to prevent readers from racing to the end.
371 pp.
| HarperCollins/Tegen
| March, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-06-208576-4$17.99
(4)
YA
In a disturbingly graspable 2051 America torn in two, Faith learns she has a "pulse," the power to move things with her mind. She is forced to choose between two powerful warring groups and two boys on opposite sides. Though the conceit is promising and will have wide appeal, flat characters and plot holes kill some of this dystopian trilogy starter's tension.
218 pp.
| Scholastic
| October, 2013
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-25521-9$16.99
(3)
4-6
Leo and Remi's third and final adventure begins when the top of the "famously weird" Whippet Hotel breaks off and floats away. Upon landing in the field of wacky inventions, they must solve a series of zany puzzles or lose their beloved hotel forever. Delightfully odd elements (a tiny dinosaur zoo, an anti-gravity chamber, etc.) will charm series followers.
234 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2012
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-25520-2$16.99
(3)
4-6
Eleven-year-old Leo lives in the mysterious Whippet Hotel with his best friend and stepbrother Remi. The boys receive a message that they will be going on an adventure to find $700,000 to save the hotel. Carman's descriptions of the hotel's colorful patrons and grounds are wonderfully weird, and the mysteries are built up at a quick pace in this sequel to Floors.
233 pp.
| Scholastic
| May, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-24995-9$14.99
(4)
YA
Skeleton Creek series.
Having uncovered a secret society called the Crossbones, Ryan and Sarah continue to unravel a mystery about Edgar Allan Poe that the Crossbones has been protecting for years. As things unfold, the torch is passed to a new generation of Crossbones protectors. Ryan's journal includes links to online videos with additional clues; astute readers won't need them to solve the tepid mystery.
261 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-25519-6$16.99
(4)
4-6
Ten-year-old Leo Fillmore lives in the basement of the Whippet Hotel with his father, the building's maintenance man. When the duck-obsessed hotel owner disappears, Leo takes it upon himself to find the man before the hotel falls into the wrong hands. The plot is action-filled but convoluted, with an ending that sets up another volume.
169 pp.
| Scholastic
| January, 2011
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-16501-3$14.99
(4)
4-6
Trackers series.
In this second Trackers book, four tech junkies continue their cat-and-mouse game. This time über-hacker Shantorian joins forces with adversaries from the previous volume. The novel includes passwords granting access to online videos that advance the story's plot (appendices include scripts for readers without internet access). The characters remain flat, and there's less interactive content this time, but fans may not care.
210 pp.
| Scholastic
| September, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-24994-2$14.99
(4)
YA
Skeleton Creek series.
Following the mystery of Skeleton Creek, Ryan and Sarah investigate the Crossbones secret society. Unraveling the clues (including videos that readers can access online) leads Ryan and Sarah around the country to discover long-lost volumes from Thomas Jefferson's library. That a mystery this big could be hidden for so long, much less solved by a pair of teens, stretches credulity.
214 pp.
| Scholastic
| May, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-16500-6$14.99
(4)
4-6
Four tech junkies find themselves in a dangerous cat-and-mouse game against a duo of mysterious hackers. The novel includes directions to a website where readers can view supplementary videos and solve puzzles alongside the characters; appendices provide scripts for readers without Internet access. Although it's an interesting concept, shallow characterizations detract from the story.
296 pp.
| Little
| April, 2010
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-00403-9$16.99
(4)
YA
"You are indestructible," whispers Jacob's foster father before dying. This phrase creates a passing of invulnerability, which Jacob can also pass to--and then retrieve from--others. Jacob shares his power with two friends; in using it they discover its seductive and sinister side. Overlong deliberations about the ethics of taking and giving life dilute the intriguing premise, but the overall suspense survives.
188 pp.
| Scholastic
| February, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-07566-4$14.99
(4)
YA
Friends Ryan and Sarah explore an old gold dredge in their town and discover a dark mystery surrounding a string of accidents. Ryan's journal recounts their adventure and includes passwords to Sarah's videos. The videos (which are posted on the Internet for readers to watch) capture the serialized feel of online storytelling and are more compelling than the book itself, which can ramble.
350 pp.
| Little
| May, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-316-16674-4$16.99
(3)
4-6
In this Atherton trilogy conclusion, the scope of Dr. Maximus Harding's vision is revealed when his creations--the boy named Edgar, the dragonlike creature Gossamer, and the world of Atherton itself--come together to save a future Earth from environmental destruction. Carman presents a strong message about caring for the environment through the actions of his compelling group of young heroes.
(4)
4-6
39 Clues series.
Good-hearted siblings Amy and Dan continue their globetrotting quest for the clues that will unlock the power of their historically über-powerful family. The series still pushes credulity past the tipping point, but these installments introduce new developments (heretofore cartoonish competitors reveal hints of humanity; the sibs' stalwart nanny becomes suspicious; clues to their parents' death surface) that rejuvenate the foundering plots. Review covers these 39 Clues titles: The Black Circle and In Too Deep.
206 pp.
| Scholastic
| October, 2009
|
TradeISBN 978-0-545-07570-1$14.99
(4)
YA
Skeleton Creek series.
Ryan and Sarah are back at Skeleton Creek to solve the mystery of Dredge #42. While Sarah continues to take videos of their explorations (viewable on the Internet with provided passwords), Ryan records everything in his journal. The interactive element creates a layer of suspense above and beyond Ryan's overly self-aware narrative voice.