When 17-year-old Benson Fisher receives a scholarship to Maxfield Academy, he's thrilled. Nervous, but thrilled. After being bumped from foster home to foster home for most of his life, he hopes the private high school might provide the kind of haven he's never experienced before. Maybe he'll make friends for once. Maybe living with a bunch of other kids at a secluded boarding school will make them all super close. Like a family.

The knots in Benson's stomach pretzel even tighter when he sees the school. Housed in a sprawling mansion, Maxfield Academy looks like the kind of rich-kid prep school you see on t.v. Only it's stranded in the middle of the New Mexico desert, not in some quaint New England town. It's remote, exclusive and ... sinister. Benson can't quite put his finger on it, but he knows something's not quite right at his new school.

It doesn't take him long to discover there are no adults at Maxfield Academy. Divided into three gangs, the students run the school - as much as they can while taking orders from a nameless source that watches their every move and doles out punishments to make sure the rules are always followed. Constantly monitored by security cameras, the kids at Maxfield are forced to attend class, wear their uniforms, keep the school clean and orderly, play brutal war games, and get along. Small infractions result in demerits. Breaking the Big Four - No Sex, No Violent Fights, No refusing punishments, and No escaping - equals death.

Disturbed by his classmates' calm acceptance of the way Maxfield runs, Benson's determined to escape. He doesn't care if no one's ever done it before. Foster care has made him both tough and street smart; if anyone can get out of the place, he can. Only, the longer he stays, the more connected he feels to his new friends. He can't leave them all behind, but he can't get them to abandon Maxfield either. None of the kids at the school, including Benson, have anything to go home to - whoever runs Maxfield made sure of that - so maybe everyone else is right, maybe staying at the creepy institution is better than the alternative. Or not. When Benson stumbles on the terrifying secret behind Maxfield's elegant facade, he knows he has to get himself and every one of his classmates out. Now. But, how? Maxfield might as well be Alcatraz. And trying to get a whole pack of teenagers over an impenetrable wall feels a lot like suicide. Running out of time and options, Benson has to act - before it's too late for them all.

Variant, a new YA dystopian by Robison Wells (available October 4), feels so familiar it could have been subtitled The Maze Runner Goes to School. Although the story's got a twist toward the end that differentiates it from James Dashner's popular series, I still wanted more originality from this debut novel. Also subtlety and complexity and just more depth overall. That being said, I'm intrigued by the possibilities suggested by the ending of Variant. While I didn't love this first book in the series, I'll give the second one a chance, if only to see how Wells explains everything that's happened thus far. Despite my hang-ups with Variant, it's still got me asking that most ancient and compelling of questions: "What happens next?" In spite of myself, I need to know. So, yeah, I'm lukewarm about this one, but still willing to give the series a chance. I'm hoping Wells will surprise me. And good.

(Readalikes: Reminded me a lot of The Maze Runner and The Scorch Trials by James Dashner; also a little like the Hunger Games trilogy [The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, and Mockingjay] by Suzanne Collins)

Grade: C

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for mild language (no F-bombs), violence, and mild sexual innuendo

To the FTC, with love: I received an ARC of Variant from the generous folks at Harper Teen. Thank you!

I usually write my own book summaries, but occasionally, I come across one that recounts a difficult-to-describe story so well, I just have to use it. Case in point:

Of especially naughty children, it is sometimes said: "They must have been raised by wolves." The Incorrigible children actually were.

Discovered in the forests of Ashton Place, the Incorrigibles are no ordinary children: Alexander keeps his siblings in line with gentle nips; Cassiopeia has a bark that is (usually) worse than her bite; and Beowulf is alarmingly adept at chasing squirrels.

Luckily, Miss Penelope Lumley is no ordinary governess. Only fifteen years old and a graduate of the Swanburne Academy for Poor Bright Females, Penelope embraces the challenge of her new position. Though she is eager to instruct the children in Latin verbs and the proper use of globes, first she must eliminate their canine tendencies.

But mysteries abound at Ashton Place: Who are these three wild creatures? Why does Old Timothy, the coachman, lurk around every corner? Will Penelope be able to civilize the Incorrigibles in time for Lady Constance's holiday ball? And what on earth is a schottische?

Penelope is no stranger to mystery, as her own origins are also cloaked in secrecy. But as Agatha Swanburne herself once said, "Things may happen for a reason, but that doesn't mean we know what the reason is - at least not yet."

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, the first book in a series by Maryrose Wood, is just as quirky as the summary makes it sound. Penelope's adventures with her infectious charges, her fussy mistress, and the inscrutable Mr. Ashton, make for a funny, warmhearted romp that's as charming as it is engaging. I enjoyed it so much I would have read the next book anyway, but the plot twist at the end of this one clinched the deal. Now, I have to see where the story goes. I'm pretty sure I've already got the mystery of the children's origin solved - now I just have to find out if I'm right. See you soon, Incorrigibles!

(Readalikes: The book's tone reminded me a little of Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events books, although the story's much different.)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG

To the FTC, with love: I received a finished copy of The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling from the generous folks at Harper Collins. Thank you!

I don't review tons of picture books, but I do read a lot of them to my younger kids. My 2-year-old generally prefers stories involving at least one Disney princess and my 6-year-old usually gravitates toward non-fiction books on boy topics (cars, boats, construction vehicles, etc.). However, when I asked my little critics who wanted to listen to a story, three of them piled onto the couch with me (my 12-year-old has the flu, otherwise I'm *sure* he would have joined us :]). Surrounded by a trio of warm bodies, I opened up Cows Can't Jump by Dave Reisman. Giggles ensued. When we got to the end of the story, all three agreed it was a keeper. I didn't love it quite as much as the kids did, but I truly believe that when it comes to picture books, children know best.

The story follows a simple pattern - it shows something an animal can't do (i.e. jump), then something it can (i.e. swim). Not all of the verbs used in the book are that self-explanatory, however. Some of the animals scurry or glide or wallow, which leads to questions and, thus, vocabulary development. By focusing on things the animals can do, the book also helps kids practice positive thinking about others and themselves. The bright, colorful illustrations (by Jason A. Mass) keep children interested, prompting smiles when an unexpected animal shows up. All in all, it's a fun, informative book that doesn't feel educational. My 2-year-old summed it up pretty well when she proclaimed, "I wike dat stowy."

My favorite picture books usually have a memorable rhythm (The Cat in the Hat by Dr. Seuss; Chicka Chicka Boom Boom by Bill Martin, Jr. and John Archambault; Brown Bear, Brown Bear by Bill Martin, Jr.), stunning pictures (On The Night You Were Born by Nancy Tillman) or a theme that's surprising/touching/funny/unique (Love You Forever by Robert Munsch; Julius, the Baby of the World by Kevin Henkes; The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle). This one didn't have any of these elements or anything that really made it stick out for me. Still, it's a fun, warmhearted story that's short enough to keep kids' attention, even after many readings. I appreciate its message, its subtle teaching, and the fact that my kids enjoyed it. Really, I'm not sure there is a better endorsement out there than this, so I'll repeat my toddler's enthusiastic, "I wike dat story" and weave it at dat.

(Readalikes: Um, I can't think of anything, can you?)

Grade: B

If this were a movie, it would be rated: G

To the FTC, with love: I received two signed, finished copies of Cows Can't Jump from the generous folks at Jumping Cow Press. Thank you!