Books for eight- to 12-year-olds run the gamut of fascinating subjects. These smart, fun books explore such topics as a mysterious art burglary, a magical river, time travel and steering clear of gangs.

"Under the Egg" by Laura Marx Fitzgerald; Dial Books for Young Readers; 256 pages; $16.99.

Author Laura Fitzgerald drew upon her art history studies at Harvard and Cambridge to create this charming read, which blends lots of wit, smarts and history.

13-year-old Theodora Tenpenny is devastated when she spills a bottle of rubbing alcohol on her late grandfather's painting, but she's intrigued when she realizes maybe it's a masterpiece hidden underneath. The plucky young heroine enlists friends and newcomers to help her solve the clues, even while discovering a side to Manhattan, and her grandfather, that she never knew.

Holocaust secrets, forged paintings, and lots of mystery and awe make "Under the Egg" a very smart and ingenious tale.

"The Riverman" by Aaron Starmer; Farrar Straus Giroux; 310 pages; $15.99.

When trustworthy 14-year-old Alistair Cleary meets Fiona Loomis, he's perplexed by her stories of a magical world where "the Riverman" steals the souls of children. Despite his skepticism, Alistair is intrigued and obliges to write her biography as she wishes; and it's a doozy, for sure. Alistair starts to believe in Fiona's stories, and even witnesses some of what she tells.

Penned beautifully, with a gripping nature that makes it hard to put down, "The Riverman" reads like an instant classic, with lots of mystery, intrigue, imagination, and above all, friendship. Aaron Starmer is indeed, like his characters in his tale, a storyteller extraordinaire.

"Summer on the Moon" by Adrian Fogelin; Peachtree Publishers; 234 pages; $7.95.

Any tale that tries to smartly steer kids away from the perils of gang and street life is worth a read.

"Summer on the Moon" stars Socko and his best friend Damien, who find themselves on the wrong side of the local gang leader. But then Socko's mom moves them to a new half-built housing development, called Moon Ridge Estates (referenced in the book's title), and he finds himself skating through new, nearly empty territory.

A Junior Library Guild selection and winner of the International Reading Association's Social Justice Literature award, Fogelin's well-written tale nudges kids in the right direction and provides solid entertainment for reluctant readers.

"Seven Stories Up" by Laurel Snyder; Random House; 230 pages; $16.99.

Like Judy Blume, Snyder writes tales centering on personable characters relatable to young female readers. In the present day, Annie Jaffin knows her curmudgeonly grandmother as an old lady, but then she travels back in time to 1937 and experiences her in a whole new way. Author Snyder has a knack for interweaving reality and magic, and she does a fantastic job whisking kids back in time to think about the puzzles of the past, family mysteries and how cool it would be to meet a beloved grown-up as a kid.

"For the Love of Gelo (Space Rocks!)" by Tom O'Donnell; Razorbill/Penguin; 324 pages; $16.99.

Comedy writer and cartoonist O'Donnell turns his attention to the typical outer space comic tale audience: boys ages eight to 12.

In this otherworldly comedy, life on planet Gelo is fine until the "hair-headed humans" arrive, invading the peaceful asteroid with loud drill machines and lots of greed.

Eventually, the junior humans and five-eyed Chorkle become pals and teach each other how to ride rocket bikes and giant usk-lizards.

Great for the creative Comic-Con set, O'Donnell's "Space Rocks!" series is, as one cover says, "more fun than a deep-fried cave slug!"

To find out more about Lee Littlewood, and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.