July's roundup of New in Paperback titles includes CHECKMATE, a follow-up to THE CRUISERS, in which Walter Dean Myers explores the world of competitive chess as seen through the eyes of a group of middle school misfits; THE TRAP, book two in Michael Grant's The Magnificent 12 series, which finds Mack MacAvoy challenged by his spectral mentor, Grimluk --- who only appears in the shiny chrome pipes of bathrooms; NOAH BARLEYWATER RUNS AWAY by John Boyne, in which a runaway child discovers a mysterious toyshop in an enchanted forest and meets a toymaker with secrets and stories to tell; and THE TALENT SHOW, Dan Gutman's funny, action-packed account of a community that decides to put on a talent show in order to raise money to rebuild  their town following a devastating tornado.