Wait 'Til Helen Comes

Wait 'Til Helen Comes by Mary Downing Hahn, 1986 Harper Collins

     Molly is twelve, along with her ten-year-old brother, Michael, she aims to avoid their new seven-year-old step-sister Heather. Molly and Michael's mom married Heather's dad and the new family moves to a creepy old house - which used to be a church.
     Heather makes Molly and Michael's lives miserable, especially when she insists on playing in the cemetary in the back yard and Molly becomes responsible for looking after her step-sister.
     Young Heather starts talking to a ghost named Helen. She tells her step-siblings Helen will come for them and Molly begins to worry something is wrong. Every time she tries to say something to their parents, Heather twists the story around to get Molly in trouble.
     Molly's worries seem to be unfounded, until Helen comes and Heather is in bigger trouble than anyone could have guessed.
     Readers who enjoyed The Dollhouse Murders and other children's ghost stories will find a continued trend in Wait 'Til Helen Comes. With some concerning themes, including a homicidal history the story is aimed at elementary readers. Most young readers discount the darker elements of Hahn's writing, but when in doubt, please read the story before suggesting it.

Frogkisser

Frogkisser by Garth Nix, 2017 Scholastic

     Anya is a second daughter: the younger princess behind her sister Morven. The two girls lost their mother quite young, and their father remarried. Their stepmother had little to do with the girls leaving much of their education to the Royal Dogs. When the king died their stepmother remarried Duke Rickard. Neither their stepmother nor their stepstepfather could hold the throne and have been waiting for Morven's birthday.
     Morven is soon to come of age, but the Duke has plans for the little kingdom which preclude her coronation. Duke Rickard is a sorcerer of wicked intent. He has been biding his time and building his power until he can take over Trallonia. When it looks like Morven may fall in love with a visiting prince Denholm, the duke transforms her suitor into a frog.
     Anya, though young, has been studying sorcery and Morgen turns to her sister when Denholm is turned. Anya makes a sister-promise to turn the frog back into a prince. Thus begins her quest. Anya takes Ardent, an overexcitable new member of the Royal Dogs, and prince Denholm in his frog cage and they go searching for ingredients to create a transmogrification lip balm. Along the way, they encounter a boy-turned salamander thief-in-training, a Good Wizard, a band of brigands who steal from the rich and give to the poor, and an otter-turned-girl.
     As her quest becomes more and more complex Anya's patience and desire to take on more responsibility are tested. When the band of brigands introduces the concept of an All-Encompassing Bill of Rights and Wrongs, Anya challenges the idea that a second sister can make policy changes and considers what it could mean.
     Duke Rickard announces his plans to take over the small kingdom and Anya must hurry her quest to a quick conclusion, find the ingredients for Denholm's transmogrification lip balm, and return to Trallonia to save Morven and the rest of her subjects.
     Frogkisser is meant for middle-aged readers and is a twist on traditional fairy tales. Readers who enjoyed The Wizard of Oz and the Percy Jackson books will enjoy this upbeat tale.

Rascal

Rascal by Sterling North, 1963 E.P. Dutton

   Eleven-year-old Sterling North and his good friend Oscar manage to capture a raccoon cub and Sterling raises Rascal. The boy has no idea of the chaos a baby raccoon can cause.
     Sterling lives with his widowed father after his mother's death and his sisters' marriages. During World War I Sterling's older brother serves and fights in Europe. Along with the rest of the town, Sterling helps with the war effort but misses and worries for his brother.
     Rascal and Sterling adventure through their Wisconsin town participating in everything from pie eating contest and fishing. The raccoon is charming and curious, but like other wild creatures Rascal has no boundaries. After several unexpected incidents Sterling is forced to allow Rascal to return to the wilderness.
     Following Rascal's first year and Sterling's adventures through their small town, Rascal looks at loss through embracing life. In autobiographical style, Sterling examines his past and the changing times he grew up in. Middle-grade readers will enjoy the raccoon's antics and easily follow North's narrative.

Eclipse

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer, 2007 Little, Brown & Company

    In the third episode of Bella and Edward's story, they are applying to colleges together. They've reconciled and decided to maintain a relationship. The strain between Bella and Jacob Black reflects the strain between vampires and werewolves as the tribe worries that Bella's relationship with Edward.
     The werewolves worry the vampires will break their truce and turn Bella. Edward continues to refuse her requests to change her; Bella still cannot bear the idea of life without Edward and continues to ask Edward to bite her. When Edward proposes Bella takes the chance to extract a promise that he'll take the need to step while she's still human - Rosalie gives Bella a new perspective on humanity.
     Alice has a vision that a vampire army is moving toward the family in Forks. They are led by Victoria who, again, is after Bella, this time for James's death. Victoria creates an army of newborn vampires who cannot control the hunger and are murdering innocents in Seattle.
     The Cullens call on their longtime allies to assist as Victoria's army moves on Forks. When they declined the LaPush werewolves stand with the Cullens. Jacob, Edward, Bella and a young wolf are sent into the mountains to wait out the battle.
     In the mountains Jacob overhears Bella and Edward discussing their engagement. He threatens to join the battle leading to his death; Bella fears for her friendship - but when Victoria tracks them to their mountain hideout the question of who will fight for her becomes null.
     Bella and Edward continue to plan their future while her relationship with Jacob collapses. Victoria's attack draws the Volturi's attention yet again as their demands are renewed.
     Eclipse introduces the idea that not all the vampires wanted their conversion and sets monstrosity against humanity. As Bella makes her choice between the two love interests clear the fallout is similar to many teen romances. Teens who enjoyed the first two novels will understand the drama of Eclipse.

Firewalker

Firewalker by Josephine Angelini, 2015 Fiewel & Friends

     Lilly and Rowan made a successful journey across worlds to Lilly's homeworld. Rowan helped her family put Lilly's broken and burnt body back together. Though she still has her magic, Lilly must hide her power to protect her family.
     The government is investigating Lilly's months-long disappearance. The FBI agent in charge of the investigation isn't the only one fascinated and compelled by Lilly's return. Tristan is angry and upset at how their relationship left off. Rowan is interested in Lilly's Tristan compared to the Tristan from his world - but even better, the information he can access through the internet.
     When Lillian calls across the divide between worlds Lilly responds. Lilly is angry and hurt at the extent of pain her alter-self has inflicted and refuses to return. At home, Lilly begins to recruit a new group of mechanics who help her manage her magic and prevent her from becoming ill.
     Lillian attempts to force Lilly back to the world ruled by witches and imparts revelations which Lilly fights. The romance between Lilly and Rowan grows in the less tense environment of Lilly's world. But when Lillian broadcasts her story Lilly distances herself from her friends and tension grows in the gap. The coven begins to question whether staying safe at home really is the best course of action.
     Following what she believes is right leads Lilly to the great conflict of Firewalker: Lilly's friends clash with their parallel selves in Lillian's world and the expanded team suffers a devastating loss to the coven. This second installment in the Worldwalker Trilogy shows Lilly's growth from fish-out-of-water to the strong and confident leader of her coven which she will need in the ensuing events of Witch's Pyre.