HIDDEN by Marianne Curley.  New York:  Bloomsbury Children’s Books., 2013.  325p.  978-1-59990-840-3;  hc.,  $17.99.    Gr.6 & up   YAF

      For as long as she can remember, Ebony has had the uncomfortable feeling that her overprotective parents are strangers. Now sixteen, she often looks in the mirror and feels that she is a stranger to herself. Bewildering changes have begun to occur on her body and her hair changes color with her emotions. Frightened by the weird growths with feathers poking out which have suddenly appeared on her shoulders, she looks to her parents for answers to the questions swirling in her head and finally, the answers to her true identity.  Instead of giving her assurance and answers, they become frightened and warn her not to ask questions.
      When there is fire and explosion at the family farmhouse, Ebony’s parents are presumed dead and she is offered a home with her close friend Amber’s family, who welcome her with kindness and caring.  Unfortunately  Ebony soon discovers that there is no safe haven for her. Luca, the dark prince wants Ebony’s soul, confusing her with his lies and trickery. Her friend Jordan feels a strong attraction to Ebony, and handsome magnetic Nathaneal comes to protect her and fight the dark forces as she falls in love with him. Readers will be on alert for a sequel of this satisfying, if somewhat intricate story. Curley has created characters and a story that teens will enjoy.

Barbara Ward, Retired Children’s Librarian, Dickinson County Library

EXCLAMATION MARK by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. Illustrated by Tom Lichtenheld. 2013

Look beyond the minimalist book cover to Tom Lichtenheld's brilliant chacterization of the exclamation mark, all illustrated on elementary school penmanship paper.  With the help of question mark (also very noticeable on the page) and clever dialogue, exclamation mark finds purpose on the page and joins in the conversation.  Educators will enjoy reading this story aloud and spinning off into a mini-lesson on punctuation.
Lynette Suckow, Peter White Public Library, Marquette, MI

CODE BUSTERS CLUB 2 by Penny Warner.  New York:  Egmont, 2012.  195p.  978-1-60684-163-1;  hc.,  $15.99.    Gr.2-3    JF

Mystery fans will enjoy the interactive elements in this new series. Solving the mystery with codes, and puzzles will keep readers eagerly turning the pages as Cody and her friends try to break the codes and puzzles that they hope will lead them to find the answers to an old mystery on the creepy, infamous Alcatraz Island prison while on a class trip. Librarians can happily suggest this series to youngsters looking for new mysteries.

Barbara Ward, Retired Children’s Librarian, Dickinson County Library

THE GHOST IN THE GLASS HOUSE by Carey Wallace. New York: Clarion Books, 2013. 229 p. 0978-0-544-02291-1; $16.99.   Juvenile Fiction

The Ghost in The Glass House is a 1920's coming of age story about Clare, a young girl who travels the world with her mother after the death of her father. Her grieving mother, unable to return to their home, ventures to one exotic place after another while Clare dreams of returning home. She learns to read people and anticipate their reactions and responses to the point of knowing what will happen next. Until they land in a seaside summer home on the coast where they are joined by friends for the summer. Clare finds a mysterious glass house on the property of their summer house and resolves to find out why it is locked and off limits. When she gains entry she finds and befriends a ghost boy and falls in love. She finds comfort and safety from her friends visiting for the summer and their cruel pranks in the glass house. They as well are dealing with teenage growing pains and irresponsible parents on vacation.  I found the text a bit wordy at times and the ending left too many questions. I hope there is a sequel coming ......
Charlotte Dugas, retired Munising School Public Library Director

I'M A FROG by Mo Willems (2013)
When Piggie pretends to be a frog, she has to explain to her friend, Gerald the elephant, what pretending is and why its fun to act like you're someone else.  Herald is very literal and takes some convincing, but finally decides he can also pretend.  He lets out a "Mooooooo" that takes over the whole page.  Young readers love Elephant & Piggie books because the vocabulary, along with the conversation, is basic and repetitive and always clever.  Willems also authored A BIG GUY TOOK MY BALL! (another Elephant & Piggie book) in 2013.
Lynette Suckow, Peter White Public Library

LIVES OF PRESIDENTS: FAME, SHAME AND WHAT THE NEIGHBORS THOUGHT by Kathleen Krull. Illustrated by Kathryn Hewitt. Harcourt Children's Books: New York, 2011. 104p.
ISBN: 978-0-547-49809-6 hb. $21.00.  

Krull highlights the private lives and unique habits of the presidents and their wives, featuring every executive officer from George Washington to Bill Clinton.  Most presidents have a brief overview of 2-3 pages for each of their terms, but some presidents rate only a paragraph.  The illustrator includes realistic cartoon drawings of Presidents and First Ladies -  or women who acted as First Lady.  Readers get more than the political picture of presidential lives. 
Joanne Weber, Volunteer, Munising School Public Library

SHOWTIME by Sheryl Berk. Illustrated by Mark Donna. Dance Divas series. Bloomsbury, New York: 2013 151p. ISBN: 978-1-61963-182-3 hb. $15.99.  Gr. 2-4  Juv.

From what I can tell, this book is probably pretty accurate with how things are for young girls hrough their teens in the dance world.  The moms, the friends, the not so friendly girls and the dance instructor all come alive in "Showtime!"  I will be recommending this book to all little dancers that come through our doors at our library.  They are sure to enjoy the friendships between the girls.  They might even hold their breath a few times like I did cause you want your favorite to win.  This is sure to be the start of a new series that will have all it's readers waiting for the next in the series to come
out. 
Mary @ Spies Public Library