FREAKLING by Lana Krumwiede
Taemon lives with his parents and power-craving brother Yens in the city of Deliverance where those who have types of pyschic powers live, but after a dangerous incident with Yens, Taemon loses his psi and is banished to the colony where he learns of an impending war where his brother will be a pawn. A good MG novel with sequel potential, a lovable MC, and a look at "disabilities." (Candlewick, 2012)
THE LOST TREASURE OF TUCKERNUCK by Emily Fairlie
Laurie and Doug, sixth-graders at Tuckernuck Hall, are driven to find the Tutweiler Treasure, said to be hidden in the school, for different reasons, but if no one finds it, the school will be torn down. Interspersed with clever notes, emails, and clues, this MG novel is a fun treasure hunt for fans of school stories, mansions, and gerbils. (Katherine Tegen, 2012)
THE SINISTER SWEETNESS OF SPENDID ACADEMY by Nikki Loftin
After her middle school mysteriously burns down, Lorelei and her brother start attending the brand new Splendid Academy where delicious food is prepared and served many times a day, but when a new friend convinces Lorelei there may be underhanded reasons for the schools feedings, she sets out to save her classmates, family, and herself. Some yicky and creepy elements take place in this MG novel, but added to the atmosphere. I liked how Lorelei's motivations and background were clear, and the way she saved the day. (Razorbill, 2012)
ISLAND OF THIEVES by Josh Lacey
After burning down his parents' shed, Tom is sent to live with his Uncle Harvey in NYC for a week while they go on a Caribbean vacation, but Tom ends up on a treasure hunting adventure in Peru where he and Harvey must outrun and outwit a Peruvian gangster and decipher an old explorer's diary. I enjoyed the super fast pace of this upper-MG novel and its international flair. The plot is both implausible and entertaining in an Indiana Jones type of way, which is probably why I enjoyed it. (HMH, 2012)