THE MAGIC HALF by Annie Barrows               
Miri is an 11-year-old girl who believes in magic.  All of her siblings are twins, except her.  One day, her brothers come home with a story about stolen treasure that is supposedly buried on the family's new property. 
In her room, she finds an old eyeglass, and when she looks through it, she is transported through time to 1935, where she meets a young girl named Molly.  Now Miri has to return to the present with Molly, but before she can she witnesses the stolen treasure being hidden.  Then she accidentally looks through her own eyeglass and is transported back to the present day!  How will she get back to Molly?  Will she find the treasure?   This is a wonderful book and I highly recommend it to kids age 10 to 13.
Reviewed by Alexandra Peterson, age 13

THE SWEET FAR THING by Libba Bray               
In a world full of treachery and lies, Gemma Doyle is left with little more than her unpredictable visions and misunderstood friends.  With her debut just around the corner and the        creatures of the realms all grappling for her magic, Gemma is bursting with questions.  What will happen to her friends?  What will become of the realms?  And even more importantly, where is Kartik?
In the last installment of Libba Bray's A Great and Terrible Beauty trilogy, each of the characters is faced with life-changing decisions.  Relationships are tested, promises are broken, and Gemma's two lives collide closer than she ever meant them to.  I highly recommend this for ages 11 and up.
Reviewed by Stephanie Mann, age 15

THE CASTLE CORONA by Sharon Creech               
Enzio and Pia are servants for a wealthy man in their village.  He is cruel to them, but they somehow believe that soon their lives will take a turn for the better.  One day, a kingsman drops a pouch containing mysterious objects.  They are told to give it to a wise hermit named Signora Ferelli.  Unfortunately, she has disappeared!
They travel to the Castle Corona to look for Signora Ferelli and, while there, become the royal food tasters.  With the help of the king's hermit, the two orphans find out who they really are, what the mysterious pouch means, and how they got it in the first place. 
Reviewed by Alexandra Peterson, age 13
P.S.  The "illuminations" in this book are so beautiful and full of hidden meanings!

FOR ENGLAND by Sue Limb               
The first thing that comes to mind when Jess thinks of a French exchange student is simple.  He would have charm, poise, elegance, and -- most importantly -- good looks.  She'd fall for him, and he -- surely -- would fall the same for her, as both walked off into the sunset.  Little does this British girl know that pictures can be deceiving.
In this story filled with wit and funny dialogue, Jess comes to realize that things don't always turn out the way you plan, and that you can't judge a book by its cover.  Limb's writing made me laugh and cringe, and it has a distinct style.  You will enjoy all of the characters and learn, along with Jess, that first impressions can be ever so wrong!
Reviewed by Stephanie Mann, age 15

THE VERY ORDERED EXISTENCE OF MERILEE MARVELOUS                                                   by Suzanne Crowley               
Merilee lives a Very Ordered Existence.  She keeps her life on a tight schedule, from picking up litter and passing out grape Tootsie Pops to visiting her uncle.  That makes her very responsible and people tend to trust her with their secrets.  She never abandons her VOE for anyone or anything. . .but that changes when she meets the new boy in town. 
Biswick is a small kid with protruding ears and some serious family problems.  His dad is an alcoholic, and soon his drinking threatens his own life and Biswick's well-being.  As Merilee tries to help her new friend, her VOE spins out of control.  Can she help Biswick and reestablish her VOE while solving one of the biggest secrets in town?
Reviewed by Alexandra Peterson, age 13
P.S.  The "illuminations" in this book are so beautiful and full of hidden meanings!

GUINEVERE'S GIFT by Nancy McKenzie               
Deep in the myth of King Arthur, Guinevere is assigned a job of wife and assistant to the High King.  But there are things about her that nobody knew, until now.  This is the story of the childhood of the ancient Queen Guinevere.
Born under a great prophecy, Guinevere is handled with great care all through childhood.  The jealous Queen Alyse despises Guinevere for being more beautiful than her own child.  Clad in an unbecoming gray dress, she rides through valleys with her beloved horse.  Riding and writing are her only escapes.  Then one day a visitor arrives, provoking a series of events that reveal the secrets of her past.  This is a truly remarkable tale that will entertain kids for ages!
Reviewed by Yvonne Aberg, age 14

SNOWBONE by Cat Weatherill               
This is a wonderful book about a type of creature called an Ashenpeaker.  Ashenpeakers are pretty much like people, but they are wooden.  They have different personalities and there is something that sets them apart from many of the other creatures.  They seem to never get tired, so they are wanted for slave work.
This group of Ashenpeakers is on a ship until pirates find them and return them to their island.  Three of them discover a cabin in the forest, and Snowbone, the leader of the pack, goes to see who lives there.  It's a tinker named Figgis who lives on his own.  He helps Snowbone figure out their history, drawing them into a wild adventure. This is an edge-of-your-seat fantastic summer read!
Reviewed by Amanda Fransdal, age 11