Repeated misunderstandings send a quirky little guy through the Museum of Modern Art (MOMA) in New York City in search of his friend named Art. “Have you seen Art?” he asks a woman on the corner of Fifty-Third and Fifth, where he was supposed to meet his friend. “You can’t miss it,” she replies, pointing down the block to the museum. Figuring Art must be inside, he enters, making his way through one gallery after another. There’s a lot of art, and a lot of people eager to comment on the art, but no one knows where Art is. “Look at that red! Look at that box of crayons inviting us in,” a man standing in front of Matisse’s The Red Studio exclaims. “I see that. No kidding. That is a lot of red. But . . . is ART here?” Jon Scieszka and Lane Smith offer a lighthearted yet informative look at the world of contemporary art in a picture book that features reproductions of more than 50 MOMA paintings and sculptures. (Ages 8–12)

Themes: Truth & lies¾

Marta is an outsider at school. Partly because she chooses to be. With parents who were once farmworkers, she was used to moving a lot. It was hard to make friends. Though now the family is settled, trouble seems to follow her. To escape, she draws. Her art teacher thinks she has a gift. He signs her up for a program in another city. As she leaves behind the drama back home, she encounters other places, people, and events that are just as dramatic and even dangerous. Her drawings seem to be responsible.¾

This series of books was designed specifically for struggling teen readers. The contemporary fiction is written at accessible levels and provides substantive content without being edgy. The relatable plots appeal to teens, especially those who are reluctant to read. Books in the series quickly grab their interest with fast-paced storylines that feature realistic, sometimes larger-than-life teen characters readers can identify with or would like to know. Then there is an unexpected twist. The charactersê lives are suddenly on the edge„of fame, fear, or even sanity. What starts out as fun or routine becomes a nightmare, real or imagined. As characters are tested in mind, body, and spirit, readers have a sense of being there to experience the adventure.