Zitface (ARC) by Emily Howse

Zitface (ARC) by Emily Howse pub April, 2011 from Marshall Cavendish.
Audience: 5th-7th grade
My Rating: 2.5* of 5
Summary: 13 year old Olivia is already a successful commercial actress, a strong student, and well liked by her classmates. But everything changes when one pimple becomes a serious case of acne.
Comments: Thank you, MC, for this ARC. Howse's debut novel tackles a subject not often covered in tween-lit, but that is relevant for many readers (though this particular book is not boy-friendly). While a bit dry and pedantic overall, Zitface may be just what some girls need at a fragile time.

Monster High by Lisi Harrison (ARC)

Monster High by Lisi Harrison. Poppy, 2010.

**NEXT BIG THING ALERT!** This is gonna be a huge tween hit! It is way voltage!

Audience: Ages 12+ (though younger are going to want to read it bc of the dolls)

My Rating: 4* of 5

Summary: Created just fifteen days ago, Frankie Stein is psyched to trade her father's formaldehyde-smelling basement lab for parties and prom. But with a student body totally freaked out by rumors of monsters stalking the halls, Frankie learns that high school can be rough for a chic freak like her. She thinks she finds a friend in fellow new student Melody Carver-but can a "normie" be trusted with her big secret?

Comments: Leave it to Lisi to make a Clique + Twi-tween mash-up of monstrous proportions! The beauty is that MH offers infinitely more concept, fun, and substance than the girls of OCD ever could. Frankie is exceedingly likable and her "normie" foil, Melody is likewise. "Coming out of the casket" references abound, but rather than elicit zombie groans they crackle with Frankie's enthusiasm toward her cause of monster acceptance. An appealing and quality read that backed by some evil genius marketing (uh-dorable dolls by Mattel, Monsterhigh.com video shorts and games, and stinking cute Halloween costumes rtg) is going to explode by October!
Awards:

Read-alikes: Clique, Alphas

Possessions: Unclean Getaway

Possessions: Unclean Getaway (bk. 1) by Ray Fawkes, 2010.

Meet Gurgazon the Unclean, the cuddliest little pit demon ever trapped in the Llewellyn-Vane House for Captured Spirits and Ghostly Curiosities! This pit demon may look just like a cute little 5-year-old girl, but it isn't interested in playing checkers with other ghosts. The Gurgazon is determined to escape! Will the house contain it? Or will the world of peace and friendly bunnies come to an end as the Gurgazon exacts its revenge?

BB: Fabulous, dark, demonic fun! Cute Pit Demon Gurgazon and Polly the Poltergeist had me giggling at the info desk! Great for graduates of Franny K. Stein, Series of Unfortunate..., or other sardonic stuff for tweens.

"Gurgazon is not entertainment! Gurgazon is your DOOM!"

Mwoo-ha-ha-ha!