FEARLESS HEROINE OR FOOL HARDY CHILD?

In Alison Dare and the Arabian Knights, she joins her mother on an archeological dig somewhere in an Arabian dessert. Alison sneaks off to rub a magic lamp that was dug up but ends up regretting making the wishes the genie granted her. In the second adventure, Alison Dare and the Mummy Child, she foils an attempt to steal a mummy at her mother's latest museum exhibition. Alison Dare and the Secret of the Blue Scarab her superhero/librarian father prevents a town from being iced forever by Auntie Freeze.

Three fun adventures of the intrepid school girl in Alison Dare: Little Miss Adventures by J. Torres and . For readers 4th-6th grades and can be found in the graphic novel section of the Children's Room.

THE IMAGINARY PRAGUE

THE CABINET OF WONDERS by Marie Rutkoski begins a new series called The Kronos Chronicles. Set in Prague in an undetermined point in time, Petra lives with her father who has the amazing ability to move and shape metal just by thinking! Unfortunately, when her father's eyes are removed after he builds an astronomical clock of magical proportion for the local prince, Petra sets out to retrieve them. She experiences some great adventures along the way, and learns quite a bit about who she is and her own special powers. Hopefully the rest of the series will be as entertaining and enjoyable as this book. For 6th grade and up.

ADVENTURE, FANTASY AND ROMANCE ALL ROLLED TOGETHER

Julie, grandaughter of a witch, sister to Puss in Boots, and child of Rapunzel and the Prince. Wow! What a load to carry around, especially in this modern world where everyone thinks fairy tales are just that... tales. But Julie just grits her teeth and bear the burden along with her mother to keep The Wild from expanding and taking all the storybook characters back into its fold. But somehow, someone made a magic wish in the wishing well and unleashed The Wild. Her family, friends, and even the townsfolk have been pulled into repeating old tales over and over again and are trapped within the Wild. Julie has no choice but to battle the Wild for control of everyone she loves.

In this second installment, Julie's father, The Prince, suddenly appears at her grandmother's motel. She had not seen him since she had to reluctantly leave him behind at the magic castle. What is the Wild up to? It has never willingly released a fairytale character before. Now it has taken over her town and captured her mother. No matter what she tries, it seems that the Wild is always one step ahead of her. Along the way, crossing the country, she enlists the help of other fairytale characters and a boy like herself until everything converges at the happiest place on earth, Disneyland. And it is anything but a happy ending.

Both books by Sarah Beth Durst are a fantastic and complex adventure woven into a world of fantasy and the modern headed by a spunky heroine who just won't give up. A great, fast, fun read for 6th grade readers and older.

TO BE IMMORTAL...

Kezi accidentally sentences herself to death, right as she begins to fall in love with the immortal god of wind, Olus. Being mortal herself, Kezi only wants her mother to become healthy when she sacrifices her own life. Olus, who has watched her from afar for many months, wonders if he can thwart this from happening by making Kezi immortal herself. An adventure that travels through many mythological worlds is Gail Carson Levine's latest attempt at fairy tale greatness, in this book entitled EVER. For grades 5 and up.

CATCH HER IF YOU CAN, SHERLOCK

Sherlock Holmes' much younger sister is once again entangled in a mystery where she herself is now in danger. In the midst of trying to start a new life for herself, Enola opens up a detective investigation agency using multiple disguises and pretenses, but things prove difficult when she becomes a victim herself while looking for a missing baronet's daughter. All the while trying to dodge her brother Sherlock.

The Case of the Left-Handed Lady: An Enola Holmes Mystery by Nancy Springer is a suspenseful detective novel with a great heroine. For middle school readers and those who enjoy Sherlock Holmes mysteries.