Fast and funny, with many surprising twists and turns, this short, clever mystery in the Orca Currents series will grab avid and reluctant readers with the contemporary drama of secrets, sleuthing, and romance. Smitten by his classmate Ella, Angus wants to impress her, and when she tells him that her sketchbook has been stolen, he lies and says that he is a mentalist who will use his skills at reading faces to figure out who the thief is. He knows that he is being an idiot; can he prevent Ella from discovering his stupidity? Is the thief their classmate Rachel? Or is it their ponytail-and-caftan-wearing art teacher? What about the guy who set off a stink bomb at school? As anxiety builds, Angus, with a bored friend as a sidekick, knows that he has to confess that he has lied to Ella. Then an e-mail alerts him to the danger in Ella's own home. The tension will hook readers to the last page.

Angus tells Ella, his crush, that he is studying to be a crime-solving mentalist. So, when someone steals Ella's sketchbook, she comes to him for help; he buys some spy gear and begins observing their classmates. The story starts off smack in the middle of the action, but fast-paced plotting and good amounts of tension and comedy will retain interest.

JONES, Kari . Out of Season . 111p. ISBN 978-1-4598-0097-7 ; ISBN 978-1-4598-0096-0 . LC 2011943723. ea vol: (Orca Currents Series). Orca . 2012. PLB $16.95; pap. $9.95. Gr 5-8 Two lighthearted hi/lo tales. In the first book, Angus has a crush on Ella and tells her that he is a mentalist. When her sketchbook goes missing, she enlists him and his best friend to help solve the crime. High jinks ensue along the way as the trio tries to track down the notebook. Out of Season focuses on Maya, a 14-year-old kayaker who loves sea otters. She sneaks out of her house every morning before school to watch them. Soon, she discovers that poachers are killing the otters, putting her life and her family's livelihood in danger. Both tales are suspenseful and filled with red herrings. Lindsay Klemas, JM Rapport School for Career Development, Bronx, NY