Always October

Jacob and Lily enter a parallel universe populated by monsters -- some are helpful, some are very threatening. Throughout most of the story, the children navigate suspenseful, frightening situations; many of the monsters are huge, fanged, menacing creatures. In parts of the book, Jacob and Lily have reason to believe that one or more of their friends is dead or trapped by monsters. This novel may be too scary for sensitive kids or to be read at bedtime.

The strongest language used is designed to make kids laugh: One monster calls another a "booger."

Parents need to know that Always October, by prolific children's author Bruce Coville, is about two young friends -- Jacob Doolittle and Lily Harker -- who discover a parallel world of monsters and must rescue a baby. Narrated by the two kids (they alternate chapters), the novel is fundamentally all plot. Challenge follows challenge at a rapid pace, so dangerous situations are resolved fairly quickly, but the monsters -- many of which are huge, fanged, menacing creatures -- can be very frightening. In some parts of the book, Jacob and Lily have reason to believe that one or more of their friends has been killed or trapped by monsters. Coville creates an age-appropriate monster world, but some kids may find this book too scary, or at least too scary for bedtime.