Profiles in Fashion: Jimmy Choo

Profiles in Fashion: Jimmy Choo is by Kerrily Sapet. A wonderful biography series for young readers. This volume focuses on the life and career of the famous shoe designer. Girls will especially enjoy the Profiles in Fashion series.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

The Golden One

The Golden One is by Elizabeth Peters. It's 1917 and as WWI continues, the Emersons decide to move to Egypt and stay for the duration since travel between Egypt and England is made dangerous by German submarines. Once they arrive events conspire to lure Ramses back into the espionage business. He and the family must travel to the besieged city of Gaza to rescue Sethos, who may or may not be a double agent. Fans of the series will love this installment as well. The ending is especially touching and sets up the next crises nicely.

Ratings: 9th grade - 9 of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (some mature thematic content).

Kira-Kira

Kira-Kira is by Cynthia Kadohata. Set in Georgia in the 1950s, this is the story of a Japanese family trying to better themselves. While both parents work in chicken processing plants, Katie and her younger brother Sam are cared for by their older sister Lynn. When Lynn becomes severely ill the family begins to disintegrate. Katie must find a way to remind her family that there are always bright spots in life as long as they have each other. A touching coming-of-age story.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10 - P (profanity)

15 Seconds

15 Seconds is by Andrew Gross. Dr. Henry Steadman is a successful plastic surgeon. On his way to speak at a Doctors Without Borders conference he is pulled over by a cop who is then killed in a drive by shooting. Events quickly take a turn for the worse and Henry finds himself the subject of a manhunt for a crime he didn't commit. He not only must figure out who is framing him, but avoid the police while doing so. A fast paced crime novel.

Ratings: Adult - 4 out of 10 - P (profanity) - V (violence) - AC (mature thematic content).

Lord of the Silent

Lord of the Silent is by Elizabeth Peters. The thirteenth installment in the Amelia Peabody series. It is 1915, and WWI is in full swing. The Emerson's return to Egypt and are determined to focus on archeology and keep Ramses out of the spy business. Of course, as fans of this series can probably predict, Amelia and Emerson find another dead body in their assigned excavation. Ramses and Nefret are married and travel to another location to check on tomb robbers, and keep Ramses away from those who want him to return to his work for the government. Then there is the question of whether the Master Criminal has returned from the dead. Fans of this series will enjoy this book as well.

Ratings: 9th grade - 8 out of 10 - AC (some mature thematic content) - V (violence).

Syren

Syren is by Angie Sage. The fifth book in the Septimus Heap series. Septimus, Jenna, and Beetle end up stranded on a beautiful island and discover themselves in the middle of a struggle to prevent the invasion of the castle by an army of warrior jinn. To save the castle and his family he must face a Syren, a traitorous ghost, and evil pirates. Another great installment in this charming series.

Ratings: 6th grade - 8 out of 10.

Go Saddle the Sea

Go Saddle the Sea is by Joan Aiken. The first book in a new trilogy. Felix is the orphan son of a Spanish aristocrat and an English soldier. When he discovers a clue to the location of his father's family in England he decides to secretly leave his grandfather's home in Spain and travel to England to locate his father's family. Boys will enjoy this story.

Ratings: 6th grade - 7 out of 10.