Starred Review Gr. 1-3. In the tradition of Betsy and Tacy, Ginnie and Geneva, come two new friends, Ivy and Bean. Ivy has just moved in across the street from Bean, who wants no part of her. She thinks Ivy looks dull, always with her nose in a book. Bean, on the other hand, is a spark plug; she's full of tricks, especially ones that can be played on her older sister, Nancy. But the day Bean pulls a trick that goes wrong and Ivy comes to her rescue, a friendship is born. The deliciousness here is in the details, with both girls drawn distinctly and with flair. Ivy, who at first seems to be a dud, has aspirations to being a witch, which is dangerously intriguing; Bean's spunky way of talking and acting (there's a classic moment when she wiggles her butt at Nancy) will make readers giggle. Even with all the text's strong points, what takes the book to a higher level is Blackall's artwork, which captures the girls' spirit. A chapter from the second book in the series, to be published in this fall, will whet readers' appetites for more Ivy and Bean.

Ivy and Bean start a neighborhood newspaper, selling subscriptions to afford their own fancy cheese; as Beans mom says, Lowfat Belldeloon cheese in a special just-for-you serving size costs five dollars for six little bitty pieces of cheese, so if you want it, you can pay for it yourself. Barrows and Blackall continue to feed off each others creativity with hilarious results.

BELL, Hilari . The Goblin War . Bk. 3. 314p. (Goblin Trilogy). HarperCollins / HarperTeen . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-165105-2 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209333-2 . LC 2010040322. Gr 5-8 BUCKLEY, Michael . A Very Grimm Guide: Inside the World of The Sisters Grimm, Everafters, Ferryport Landing, and Everything in Between . illus. by Peter Ferguson. 128p. (The Sisters Grimm Series). Abrams / Amulet . Jan. 2012. Tr $15.95. ISBN 978-1-4197-0201-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 46 CAINE, Rachel . Last Breath . Bk. 11. 336p. (The Morganville Vampires). NAL . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-451-23487-2 ; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-1-101-54544-7 . LC 2011020503. Gr 9 Up DELANY, Shannon . Destiny and Deception . Bk. 4. 292p. (A 13 to Life Novel). St. Martin's / Griffin . Feb. 2012. pap. $9.99. ISBN 978-0-312-62446-0 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4299-2556-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 8 Up GIFF, Patricia Reilly . Bears Beware . Bk. 5. illus. by Alasdair Bright. 68p. (Zigzag Kids Series). Random / Wendy Lamb Bks. Apr. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73889-7 ; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90756-9 ; pap. $4.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85913-7 ; ebook $4.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89639-2 . LC 2011003997. Gr 24 HADDIX, Margaret Peterson . Torn . Bk. 4. 346p. (The Missing Series). S &; S. 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-8980-6 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-2645-0 . LC 2010019645. Gr 59 HOLUB, Joan &; Suzanne Williams . Artemis the Loyal . Bk. 7. 272p. (Goddess Girls Series). S &; S / Aladdin . 2011. pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3377-9 ; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3378-6 . LC 2011935558. Gr 36 HUNTER, Erin . The Forgotten Warrior . Bk. 5. 368p. (Warriors: Omen of the Stars). HarperCollins / Harper . 2011. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-155522-0 ; PLB $17.89. ISBN 978-0-06-155524-4 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209352-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 46 Kerns, Ann . I Date Dead People . Bk. 5. illus. by Janina G&6;rrissen. 126p. (My Boyfriend Is a Monster Series). Lerner / Graphic Universe . Apr. 2012. PLB $29.27. ISBN 978-0-7613-6007-0 ; pap. $9.95. ISBN 978-07613-8549-3 ; ebook $21.95. ISBN 978-0-7613-8739-8 . LC 2011021542. Gr 7 Up LASKY, Kathryn . Frost Wolf . Bk. 4. illus. by Richard Cowdrey. 238p. (Wolves of the Beyond Series). Scholastic . 2011. RTE $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-09316-3 . LC 2011028151. Gr 46 LAURIE, Victoria . Quest for the Secret Keeper . Bk. 3. 376p. (Oracles of Delphi Keep Series). Delacorte . Feb. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73861-3 ; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89560-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 57 MILLS, Claudia . Basketball Disasters . Bk. 3. illus. by Guy Francis. 150p. (Mason Dixon Series). Knopf . Jan 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86875-7 ; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96875-4 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89960-7 . LC number unavailable. Gr 36 OSBORNE, Mary Pope . Abe Lincoln at Last! Bk. 47. illus. by Sal Murdocca. 116p. (Magic Tree House Series). Random . 2011. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86825-2 ; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96825-9 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89877-8 . LC 2011017350. Gr 25 PAOLINI, Christopher . Inheritance . Bk. 4. 880p. (Inheritance Cycle). Knopf . 2011. Tr $27.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85611-2 ; PLB $30.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95611-9 ; ebook $13.99. ISBN 978-0-307-97418-1 . LC number unavailable. Gr 5 Up PATTERSON, James &; Jill Dembowski . The Fire . Bk. 3. 328p. (Witch &; Wizard Series). Little, Brown . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-10190-5 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-19464-8 . LC 2011019225. Gr 7–10 PEREZ, Marlene . Dead Is a Battlefield . Bk. 6. 228p. (Dead Is Series). Houghton / Graphia . Mar. 2012. pap. $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-60734-4 ; ebook $7.99. ISBN 978-0-547-82270-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up PHILBIN, Joanna . The Daughters Join the Party . Bk. 4. 270p. (The Daughters Series). Little, Brown / Poppy . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-316-17968-3 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-316-19235-4 . LC 2011019222. Gr 7–10 REGER, Rob &; Jessica Gruner . Piece of Mind . illus. by Rob Reger and Buzz Parker. 270p. (Emily the Strange Series). HarperCollins / Harper . Jan. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-145238-3 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209923-5 . LC number unavailable. Gr 7 Up SHEPARD, Sara . Ruthless . Bk. 10. 338p. (Pretty Little Liars Series). HarperCollins / HarperTeen . 2011. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-208186-5 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-06-208188-9 . LC number unavailable. Gr 9 Up SINDEN, David , Matthew Morgan , &; Guy Macdonald . The Big Beast Sale . Bk. 6. illus. by Jonny Duddle. 178p. (An Awfully Beastly Business Series). S &; S. Feb. 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-1-84738-400-3 . LC number unavailable. Gr 4–7 SMITH, Roland . Eruption . Bk. 3. 156p. (Storm Runners Series). Scholastic . Mar. 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-08174-0 ; ebook $16.99. ISBN 978-0-545-39314-0 . LC unavailable. EMPHASIS TYPE="BO