Winterborne Home for Vengeance and Valor, written by Ally Carter, reviewed by Katy Golden

Summary: When April is brought to the Winterborne house - her twelfth group home in ten years - she isn't sure what to think. The other orphans are welcoming and brilliant, the woman in charge is kind and understanding, but April isn't an ordinary orphan - her mother is coming back for her, and left her a mysterious key with the Winterborne crest. The house itself is shrouded in its own share of mystery: Gabriel, the sole remaining Winterborne heir, vanished ten years ago and reappears to save April's life, although he is desperate to keep himself hidden. To help Gabriel and protect the Winterborne legacy, April and her newfound friends have to work together through ingenious inventions, fake accents, and evil family members. 

Straight Talk for Librarians: April's adventures continue at a breakneck pace throughout the novel, creating a thrilling mystery for middle grade readers. The characters create their own intrigue and add humor to the story: April is a plucky, independent heroine, and her new friends bring their own brand of humor, from Sadie's constantly failing inventions to Colin's accents and impersonations. A blend of mystery and thriller, advanced middle grade readers will eat this novel up. The cliffhanger ending will leave readers begging for the sequel.