A war between humans and elves that has been brewing for more than 50 years is coming to the city of Cielis, and Emily, her brother, Navin, and the people and creatures around them must face the past in order to survive the future. Anchored by dazzlingly lush art and a complex, character-laden plot, Kibuishi's Amulet series remains a must-have for all elementary- and middle-school graphic-novel collections. Devoted fans will appreciate that this volume begins to flesh-out the backstory of two characters while starting to tie together a few of the many plot elements.

In this popular series' latest episode, an ambush by the masked elf king's ally Max Griffin leads Emily to a disturbing revelation about the mysterious voice that speaks through her own amulet. Having set the stage with a flashback that illuminates Max's troubled past, Kibuishi positively channels the first Star Wars film by turning Emily's brother Navin and other friends into hotshot fighter pilots for a climactic dogfight replete with sizzling bolts of energy and massive explosions. This is followed by a long collective fall through the air during which Emily makes a desperate lifesaving venture into the "void." There, times and memories mingle, and the dark entity that had guided her before challenges her to an ominous chess match. Expertly framing his clearly drawn figures in diversely arranged sequential panels, the author continues to tell his tale at a breakneck pace. Though his cast of humans, elves, robots, talking animals and monsters is now so large that even confirmed fans may have trouble keeping track, no one will soon forget the demonic new flying giant spider creature that Max rides into battle. Fine worldbuilding, with high adventure aplenty and characters and plotlines that continue to develop intriguing twists. (Graphic fantasy. 10-12)

ARNOLD, Tedd . There's a Fly Guy in My Soup . Bk. 12. illus. by author. 32p. (Fly Guy Series). Scholastic / Cartwheel . 2012. Tr $6.99. ISBN 978-0-545-31284-4 . LC 201200801. K-Gr 2- BACCALARIO, P. D. Dragon of Seas . Bk. 4. tr. from Italian by Leah D. Janeczko. 302p. (Century Quartet Series). Random . 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-85898-7 ; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-95898-4 ; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89229-5 . LC 2011031018. Gr 59 BEIL, Michael D. The Secret Cellar . 274p. (The Red Blazer Girls Series). Knopf. Oct. 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-375-86741-5 ; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-375-96741-2 ; ebook $10.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89790-0 . Gr 58 BLACK, Kat . A Templar's Destiny . Bk. 3. 256p. (The Book of Tormod Series). Scholastic . 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-545-05677-9 . Gr 69 COVEN, Wanda . Heidi Heckelbeck in Disguise . Bk. 4. illus. by Priscilla Burris. 128p. (Heidi Heckelbeck Series). S &; S / Little Simon . 2012. Tr $14.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4169-9 . LC 201102032. Gr 13 COWELL, Cressida . How to Steal a Dragon's Sword . Bk. 9. 342p. (How to Train Your Dragon Series). Little, Brown . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-316-20571-9 . Gr 35 DELANEY, Joseph . Lure of the Dead . Bk. 10. illus. by Patrick Arrasmith. 432p. (The Last Apprentice Series). HarperCollins / Greenwillow . 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-06-202760-3 . LC 2012017728. Gr 58 GIFF, Patricia Reilly . Super Surprise . Bk. 6. illus. by Alasdair Bright. 80p. (Zigzag Kids Series). Random / Wendy Lamb Bks . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73890-3 . LC 2011034342. Gr 24 GRANT, Michael . The Key . Bk. 3. 288p. (The Magnificent 12 Series). HarperCollins / Katherine Tegen Bks . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-183370-1 . LC 2012012715. Gr 47 HARRIS, M.G. Zero Moment . 368p. (The Joshua Files Series). Walker . 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-8027-2835-7 . LC 2011038058. Gr 58 KIBUISHI, Kazu . Prince of the Elves . Bk. 5. illus. by author. 208p. (Amulet Series). Scholastic / Graphix . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-545-20889-5 . LC 2012935527. Gr 4 Up LEWMAN, David . The Case of the Disappearing Dogs . Bk. 3. 160p. (Club CSI Series). S &; S / Simon Spotlight . 2012. Tr $15.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-4671-7 ; pap. $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-3396-0 ; ebook $5.99. ISBN 978-1-4424-6689-0 . LC 2012931484. Gr 47 MCNAMEE, Eoin . The Ghost Roads . 336p. (The Ring of Five Series). Random / Wendy Lamb Bks . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73821-7 . LC 2012001197. Gr 5–9 MYKLUSCH, Matt . The End of Infinity . Bk. 3. 416p. (A Jack Blank Adventure). S &; S / Aladdin . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-4169-9567-8 . LC 2012000861. Gr 5–8 OSBORNE, Mary Pope . A Perfect Time for Pandas . Bk. 48. illus. by Sal Murdocca. 128p. (Magic Tree House Series). Random . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-375-8626-9 . Gr 2–4 PARISH, Herman . Amelia Bedelia Sleeps Over . illus. by Lynne Avril. 32p. (Amelia Bedelia Series). HarperCollins / Greenwillow . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209524-4 ; pap. $3.99. ISBN 978-0-06-209523-7 . LC 2012006186. Gr 1–3 RIORDAN, Rick . The Serpent's Shadow . Bk. 3. 416p. (The Kane Chronicles). Hyperion / Disney . 2012. Tr $19.99. ISBN 978-1-4231-4057-3 . Gr 4–9 SALISBURY, Graham . Calvin Coconut: Rocket Ride . illus. by Jacqueline Rogers. 150p. Random / Wendy Lamb Bks . 2012. Tr $12.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73965-8 ; PLB $15.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90799-6 ; ebook $9.99. ISBN 978-0-375-89798-6 . Gr 3–4 SOBOL, Donald J. Encyclopedia Brown and the Case of the Soccer Scheme . illus. by James Bernardin. 128p. (Encyclopedia Brown Series). Dutton . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-0-525-42582-3 . LC 2011049551. Gr 3–5 SOUP, Cuthbert . No Other Story . Bk. 3. illus. by Jeffrey Stewart Timmins. 304p. Bloomsbury . 2012. Tr $16.99. ISBN 978-1-59990-824-3 . Gr 4–7 TANNER, Lian . Path of Beasts . Bk. 3. 288p. (The Keepers Trilogy). Delacorte . 2012. Tr $17.99. ISBN 978-0-385-73907-8 ; PLB $20.99. ISBN 978-0-385-90770-5 . Gr 4–8