Age 08-12. 5 Stars. Jerry and Rachel Pye make a companionable team, from their cheerful “Boombernickles” word game and outdoor explorations, to their acquisition of their family’s new puppy, Ginger… Ginger Pye combines a warmly written, empathetic, and often funny portrayal of a loving family with an engaging mystery to be solved, and concludes with a quite satisfying resolution.

Age 08-12. 2 Stars. Sara Louise Bradshaw is an awkward, pretentious young woman consumed with envy and bitterness against her twin sister Caroline… This book… has been enjoyed by many readers because of its masterful writing and the genuine pathos of its protagonist. But Louise’s faults unfortunately permeate this compelling story. I’m willing to be challenged, but I believe that while Paterson has done a great job of describing adolescent struggles, her protagonist is never allowed to fully transcend them. This, combined with the truly poisonous nature of Sara Louise’s family, makes this a story that may do more harm than good.

Age 08-12. 3 Stars. The Westing Game is a sophisticated mystery with a lively plot and many funny moments. The multimillionare Sam Westing names sixteen heirs in his will, which turns out to be a complex riddle, and the one who solves it inherits his estate…. [It is] The Westing Game is a good yarn — a page-turning, entertaining read with a satisfying conclusion. The plot, characters, and riddle are perfectly suited to its 8-12 reading level, but its cynical portrayal of religion and its temporal focus on status and money may unduly influence immature readers. If you’re looking for a story with an ultimate theme, better look elsewhere.

Age 08-12. 4 Stars. Mafatu, the ten-year-old son of a Polynesian chieftan, has always feared the sea…. As he approaches the edge of manhood, his fear prevents him from winning a place in his community. Realizing their indifference to him, he sets out to sea alone in his canoe, taking only his dog and a few tools…. At the end of his journey he returns to his village having proved himself a man…. No one having read this book should believe they have learned anything about the real Polynesia… [but] if a reader can accept that Call it Courage is a lesson not in history but in moral courage, they may benefit from the moral example this hero represents.

Age 08-12. 5 Stars. A beautiful story of a “girl Robinson Crusoe”…. This is a quiet, memorable story of survival and persistence in the face of difficult conditions and profound grief. Karana’s practical means of surviving against the elements and predators are interesting in themselves, but her courage in facing hunger and danger, and living alone year after year, make her a heroine worth emulating.