Marci and her friend are determined to have dates for the spring fling, determined enough to use magic to transform two rats into dream dates. Trouble ensues.

THE SEA OF TROLLS: Nancy Farmer. Grades 5-9.

Here's a meaty and exciting fantasy placed in 793 A.D. that draws on Norse and Celtic mythologies for a rip-roaring adventure. Not for the faint of heart.

I, CORIANDER: Sally Gardner. Grades 5-9.

Coriander's father is a royalist, and her beautiful mother has a gift for healing — both dangerous attributes in 1643 London with Cromwell in power. Coriander is saved from death by a magical heritage she didn't know she possessed.

THE OLD WILLIS PLACE: Mary Downing Hahn. Grades 5-8.

Dianna and her brother live in the woods. The new caretaker has a daughter Dianna is determined to befriend, but Georgie reminds her there is danger if people see them.

PRINCESS ACADEMY: Shannon Hale. Grades 5 and up.

The stone quarry workers on Mount Eskel live isolated lives until their village is selected for the next Princess Academy. All the girls from 13-17 must learn the ways of a princess (reading and writing included) so the Prince can choose his bride from among them.

HOOT: Carl Hiaasen. Grades 5-9.

Though Roy is picked on by the biggest, meanest bully at the school, he doesn't let it get him down in this ecology/mystery book.

IDA B AND HER PLANS TO MAXIMIZE FUN, AVOID DISASTER AND (POSSIBLY) SAVE THE WORLD: Katherine Hannigan. Grades 4-7.

Ida B, an exuberant fourth-grader, has been happily home-schooled but now has to go to public school. She is determined to be miserable, but you can't keep a good kid down.

EVERYTHING ON A WAFFLE: Polly Horvath. Grades 4-8.

When Primrose Squarp's parents are lost at sea, only Primrose keeps her optimism. A cook who serves everything on a waffle befriends Primrose. (Each chapter ends with a recipe.)

WORTH: A. LaFaye. Grades 5-8.

John Worth is taken from an orphan train by a farmer to help with chores. The farmer's wife and disabled son are determined to ignore John, but wounds heal when they become a family.

SAFFY'S ANGEL, INDIGO'S STAR, PERMANENT ROSE, CADDY EVERY AFTER: Hilary McKay. Grades 6 and up.