School Library Journal (Thu Apr 28 00:00:00 CDT 2022)

ANDERSON, M.T . Zombie Mommy . Bk. 5. illus. by Kurt Cyrus. 240p. (A Pals in Peril Tale). S &; S. Oct. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8641-6 ; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4391-5610-0 . LC number unavailable. Gr 4-7 APPELBAUM, Susannah . The Shepherd of Weeds . Bk. 3. illus. by Andrea Offermann. 464p. (The Poisons of Caux Series). Knopf . Oct. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85175-9 ; PLB $19.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95175-6 ; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89897-6 . LC number unavailable. Gr 47 BARKER, Clive . Absolute Midnight . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 592p. (Abarat Series). HarperCollins . Oct. 2011. Tr $24.99. ISBN 978-0-06-029171-6 . LC 2010042665. Gr 710 BEMIS, John Claude . The White City . Bk. 3. 400p. (The Clockwork Dark Series). Random . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85568-9 ; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95568-6 ; ebook $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89312-4 . LC 2010014252. Gr 69 BIRNEY, Betty G. School Days According to Humphrey . Bk. 7. 160p. Putnam . 2011. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-0-399-25413-0 . LC 2010014792. Gr 24 BRIAN, Kate . Vengeance . Bk. 14. 240p. (Private Series). S &; S. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8473-3 ; ebook $8.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1289-7 . LC 2011930749. Gr 9 Up BUCKLEY, Michael . The Cheerleaders of Doom . Bk. 3. illus. by Ethen Beavers. 288p. (NERDS series). Abrams / Amulet . 2011. Tr $14.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0024-8 . LC number unavailable. Gr 57 CAMMUSO, Frank . The Battling Bands . Bk. 3. 128p. (Knights of the Lunch Table Series). Scholastic / Graphix . 2011. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-439-90318-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 48 CHESHIRE, Simon . The Pirate's Blood and Other Case Files . Bk. 3. illus. by R.W. Alley. 240p. (Saxby Smart, Private Detective Series). Roaring Brook . 2011. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-59643-476-9 . LC 2010029240. Gr 35 CHIMA, Cinda Williams . The Gray Wolf Throne . Bk. 3. 528p. (Seven Realms Series). Hyperion . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1825-1 . LC 2011008663. Gr 8 Up DAVIS, Bryan . Diviner . Bk. 3. 432p. (Dragons of Starlight Series). Zondervan . 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-310-71838-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 710 FUSSELL, Sandy . Shaolin Tiger . Bk. 3. illus. by Rhian Nest James. 272p. (Samurai Kids Series). Candlewick . 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-7636-5702-4 . LC 2010052614. Gr 57 GODBERSEN, Anna . Beautiful Days . Bk. 2. 368p. (Bright Young Things Series). HarperCollins . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-1962684 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up HARDY, Janice . Darkfall . Bk. 3. 432p. (The Healing Wars Series). HarperCollins . Oct. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-174750-2 . LC number unavailable. Gr 8–10 IGNATOW, Amy . The Popularity Papers: Words of (Questionable) Wisdom from Lydia Goldblatt and Julie Graham-Chang . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 208p. Abrams / Amulet . Oct. 2011. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0063-7 . LC 2010930192. Gr 4–6 KAGAWA, Julie . The Iron Knight . Bk. 4. 304p. (The Iron Fey Series). Harlequin Teen. Oct. 2011. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-373-21036-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7–10 KIBUISHI, Kazu . The Last Council . Bk. 4. illus. by author. 224p. (Amulet Series). Scholastic / Graphix . 2011. pap. $10.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20887-1 . LC 2011925167. Gr 4 Up LEWIS, Josh . Super Chicken Nugget Boy and the Massive Meatloaf Man Manhunt . illus. by Stephen Gilpin. 144p. (Super Chicken Nugget Boy Series). Disney . 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1501-4 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-1536-6 . LC 2011014195. Gr 2–4 MCMULLAN, Kate . Nice Shot, Cupid! Bk. 4. illus. by Denis Zilber. 208p. (Myth-O-Mania Series). Stone Arch . 2011. PLB $23.99. ISBN 978-1-4342-1985-5 ; pap. $5.95. ISBN 978-1-4342-3435-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 4–7 MEYER, L.A . The Mark of the Golden Dragon: Being an Account of the Further Adventures of Jacky Faber, Jewel of the East, Vexation of the West, and Pearl of the South China Sea . 384p. (A Bloody Jack Adventure). Houghton Harcourt . Oct. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-547-51764-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up MOFFITT, Debra . Girls in Charge . Bk. 4. 192p. (The Pink Locker Society Series). St. Martin's / Griffin . 2011. pap. $6.99. ISBN 978-0-312-64506-9 ; ebook $6.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-8459-1 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5–8 PEACOCK, Shane . The Dragon Turn . Bk. 5. 264p. (The Boy Sherlock Holmes Series). Tundra Books . Oct. 2011. Tr $19.95. ISBN 978-1-77049-231-8 . LC 2011922892. Gr 5–9 RUSSELL, Rachel Ren&3;e . Tales from a Not-So-Talented Pop Star . Bk. 3. illus. by author. 320p. (Dork Diaries). S &; S / Aladdin . 2011. PLB $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1190-6 ; ebook $12.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-1191-3 . LC 2010048088. Gr 5–8 RUTKOSKI, Marie . The Jewel of the Kalderash . Bk. 3. 336p. (The Kronos Chronicles). Farrar . Oct. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-37433678-3 . LC 2010037716. Gr 5–8 SLADE, Arthur . Empire of

Kirkus Reviews

Seventh-graders Julie and Lydia return for their third funny, angst-ridden outing that navigates the perils of middle school. In e-mails, back-and-forth notes and an occasional bit of graffiti, Julie and Lydia explore all of the emotional hardships of being non-populars in middle school. After their friend Sukie's mother dies, the pair decides to dedicate their lives to something more substantial than worrying about where they stand in the school pecking order. Consequently, they reach out to very badly dressed loner Jen, who turns out to be perfectly happy in her independent ways; Lydia gets a bit part in the school musical and angers the rest of the performers; Julie does all of the work on a class-assignment comic book for Jonathan—but the populars think they recognize themselves in it, and the girls visit the boys' bathroom to look for graffiti. Humorous illustrations in ink, colored pencil, markers and yarn featuring clearly differentiated characters add to the fizzy realism of the effort. While those new to the series may face a brief learning curve, given the total absence of introductory material, the quality of this almost-a-graphic novel will make the effort worthwhile. "Outcast" middle-schoolers everywhere will recognize the situations depicted, and while some of them may seem heartbreaking at the time, this comic relief will add some much-needed perspective. (Graphic novel. 9-14)

ALA Booklist

While it's no doubt usually true that "nothing good ever comes from a story that starts: you will never believe what I just saw in the bathroom,'" many good things come from this novel, the third entry in the Wimpy Kid like yet distinctive series. As sixth grade winds down, best friends Lydia and Julie deal with issues such as a friend's mother's death, plagiarism, and the afore-referenced restroom graffiti in affecting and funny back-and-forth journal entries. Awareness of previous volumes will help, but anyone who goes to school will recognize the girls' struggles and successes and cheer them on.

Horn Book (Sun Apr 01 00:00:00 CDT 2012)

This third book about sixth-grade friends Lydia and Julie is told in the same lively handwritten journal/letter format. This time, however, the plot is a little more convoluted, and the messages about popularity are a bit muddled. Readers new to the series may be put off, but Lydia and Julie's fans will persevere.