The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jose Pimienta - ESSENTIAL

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jose Pimienta, 176 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Candlewick, 2025. $20 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Lake Peigneur was an actual freshwater lake in Louisiana. It was brimming with fish, and had a salt mine and an oil mine on its shores. On November 20, 1980, what began as an ordinary day on the lake, became a life-threatening nightmare. 

This story grabs your attention from the get-go and doesn't let go. There is some great tension built into the story, and it just proves that truth is stranger than fiction. The pictures make the story easy to follow and I couldn't stop till I put it down. I can't believe I haven't heard of this story before, and I had to look up images of the lake when I was done. Well written and researched, this is a fascinating read. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly - ADVISABLE

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly, 288 pages. Random House, 2025. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Everybody knows 12yo Max. Either because his father is a prominent politician, or because he seems to make dumb mistakes, like running the wrong way on the field losing his team the game. This summer, his mom has rented a beach house, and Max would love a fresh start. He wants to be called Milo, and hopes he can be himself, and make some friends. On his first walk on the beach, he discovers an injured octopus, meets a boy who knows a nature center nearby, and offers to help around the place to help care for the octopus.

Much of Three Blue Hearts revolves around caring for Ursula - making engaging enrichments to keep her active (and in her tank - she's an escape artist), and learning about caring for wildlife in general. Max's two friends are a great dynamic - befriending Max right away, but not giving away too much of their stories too quickly.  The family dynamics are also great, Max has grandparents from a former step-parent, and parents with much different expectations for Max. There isn't a whole lot of action which makes for a slow plot, but waiting for an octopus to grow back a leg takes time.  Fans of Lynne Kelly's other books, including Song for a Whale will appreciate Three Blue Hearts as well. 

The characters default white

Lisa Librarian

Mayhem on the Marzipan Express by Rebecca Connolly - OPTIONAL

Mayhem on the Marzipan Express (A Claire Walker Mystery #2) by Rebecca Connolly, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Alan Gables himself asked Claire to assist him during an exclusive event, baking on a train full of Alan-fans on their way to an event honoring his achievements. She is flattered to be working with him, and Claire’s boyfriend, Jonny, is excited about the potential for a little romance on this trip. When a dead body is found in Dining Car 3, priorities shift for everyone.

While the title references Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, the only significant similarity is that this murder mystery takes place on a train. Claire and Jonny are amateur sleuths, and there is as much focus on their romance drama as on the murder. While there was too much self depreciation for my tastes, it is obvious that this is a labor of love for the author. Connolly delivers a fun, light mystery with a generous side helping of ridiculousness that is meant to make readers laugh. If murder mystery can be lighthearted and cozy, this series is it.

The majority of characters are English and Scottish. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, kissing, illegal activity, mild innuendo, and multiple uses of the phrase “sex appeal.” The violence rating is for assault, mild blood and gore, corpses, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Room to Breathe by Kasie West - ADVISABLE

Room to Breathe by Kasie West, 272 pages. Delacorte Romance (Random House), 2026. $13.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Once best friends, Indy and Beau no longer talk to each other. Until they get locked in a bathroom after school on Friday. Avoiding each other is impossible in their new close quarters, and their school supplies can’t distract them the entire night from addressing the mistakes they made.

The short chapters flip from their current predicament to before their falling out and back again, letting readers watch the fallout as the aftermath is discussed. Indy’s story is about making both mistakes and amends. Although every reader’s situation might not turn out as well as Indy’s, there is hope in seeing that devastating changes in a life do not ruin every path forward. Even if an end to a period of difficulty is not ideal, we can choose to change and start a new period.

Indy and Caroline are described as White, Ava is described as Asian, and Beau is depicted as White on the cover. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mentions of drugs, partial nudity, kissing, and illegal activity.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Twin Tides by Hien Nguyen - OPTIONAL

Twin Tides by Hien Nguyen, 352 pages. Random House, 2025. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 5 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG-13 (bullying, drownings)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When their mother’s body is found, 14 years after she disappeared, 18yo Aria and Caliste find out, from first sight, that they are identical twins. Separated when their mother disappeared, Aria was raised poor by her aunt, while Caliste was raised rich by her father, who grew a grocery empire. While the girls get to know each other, they are struggling to deal with their mother’s death - and to connect it to the other mysterious deaths that have been happening in the area. The Hane family, which seems to own the small town of Les Eaux, seem to be intimately involved in everything to do with the girls’ family - even this, somehow.

Nguyen spends too much time setting up the girls’ lives - getting to their meeting more than 100 pages in. Once the book hits the town of Les Eaux, it picks up and starts really running. That first 100 pages, though , is why I can only rate it optional. The girls’ mother has her own story to tell as a Vietnamese Ma Da - a vengeful water spirit created when someone is drowned.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay - SEVERAL

Seven All Alone by Kirsty McKay, 352 pages. Sourcebooks, 2025. $12 (pb)

Language: R (100+ swears, 1 ‘‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (multiple deaths, some descriptions)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ten years ago, Maggie and six others were kidnapped and held hostage in a cave in the woods. THe others escaped, leaving Maggie behind. Now sixteen, Maggie is going on a school trip - back into those same hills for a river-rafting trip, with five of the other kids and a new girl. Unfortunately she is also with her estranged father. When disaster strikes, Maggie’s father is swept with the boat downstream, along with her best friend, Ant. As the Scottish night falls and the weather turns rough, those left behind struggle to find a way to survive - even though it feels like someone might be trying to kill them.

McKay does a great job of confusing the trail to the killer. I very much enjoyed the ride.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

They All Had a Secret by Michele Leathers - OPTIONAL

They All Had a Secret by Michele Leathers, 243 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $13 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (deaths mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Her name was Bellany, but she is on the run and reinvented herself as Charity, a lowly barista and a maid at a local hotel. She has her eye on Roy - the grandson of the holtelier. So what if he already has a girlfriend. “Charity” is beautiful and manipulative -sure she can get whatever she wants. She is even willing to leave a few bodies to get her way.

From the very start you can tell that Bellany is rotten to the core - selfish and self-serving. But no one comes out untainted here - just like the title says. Great twist right near the end. Glad it is in paperback - it might be worth a purchase.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Lady or the Tiger by Heather M. Herrman - OPTIONAL

Lady or the Tiger by Heather M. Herrman, 336 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sexual references and discussion, sex vaguely described, underage drinking); Violence: R (Murder, abuse, sexual abuse, graphic imagery, animal cruelty)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Infamous outlaw 19yo Belle King enchants audiences with performances that embrace her dark, shadow side. Nicknamed the Seamstress, Belle is known for murdering men, removing their hearts, and replacing them with diamonds. Then in Kansas during the summer of 1886, she lets herself be arrested. As she awaits trial and the noose, her abusive husband whom she left for dead appears and attempts to get her released on the grounds of her prior institutionalization for insanity. However, Belle does not want him to have power over her again, even if it means her death. In a series of flashbacks, Belle reveals her past as Alice Springer, her escape from the asylum, her time with a troupe who performs before hangings, and her experiences with a tiger.

I was initially drawn to this novel because of its unique subversion of a classic Western. I was not let down as Belle is a complex, dynamic antihero. The novel also does not shy away from the mistreatment and abuse women faced during this time period. That being said, the beginning of the novel is a bit choppy with the nonlinear timeline which may discourage readers, and some of the later plot points seem far-fetched. Readers who stick with it will be rewarded with action, violence, and a surprising twist. Overall, it's much more than a Western; it’s an exploration of female autonomy, power, and accepting the dark within us.

A secondary character, Mary Darker, is Black.

Megan, HS Librarian 

Braided by Leah Cypess - ESSENTIAL

Braided (Sisters Ever After) by Leah Cypess, 280 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2024. $18 

Content: G (Possible poisoning, attack by a fae queen)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Cinna has longed for her older sister, Rapunzel, to return home from the fairy realm where she was taken captive as a child and placed in a tower by the fae queen. The day finally arrives when Rapunzel is rescued and returned home. Cinna is so happy to have her sister back. But, Rapunzel had learned a few things while away in her tower. Rapunzel feels more like a prisoner in her own home than in her fairy tower. The queen mother is very demanding and expects Rapunzel to obey all her wishes. Rapunzel leaves of her own accord but Cinna is determined to bring her back.

The twist on the old story of Rapunzel creates fun tension between sisters. While they struggled to understand each other at first, things worked out in the end. This delightful story will keep readers of all ages entranced. 

MOMMAC 

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell - ADVISABLE

I, Rock: a Geology Tale by Katie Slivensky and Steph Stilwell. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Beach Lane (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665940368

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rock teaches us not just about the different kinds of rocks and crystals, but also takes us through his own millenial long journey - through earth’s mantle to the crust and through different phases of its existence. 

90% of Slivensky’s book is excellent - it is 100% interesting to look at and very clear and engaging. My Earth Science teachers (7th grade) did have a couple of little problems - early on (1.8 billion years) it shows the continents and the plates as we know them today. Several pages later (325 million years) it shows a supercontinent, which we assume is Pangea; we feel it would have been clearer if those two things were reversed. The other detail was the page showing, as it said, erosion - the little rock rolling down the hill. The teachers had a great debate about whether the definition is actual for weathering, not erosion - but the rock bouncing is showing erosion. That’s my teachers’ two cents. Otherwise, they still want to the book so that they can use it in their teaching.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Can You Find Taylor? Seek-and-Find Board Book - ADVISABLE

Can You Find Taylor? Seek-and-Find BOARD BOOK. Tiger Tales, 2025. $10. 9781664351851

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, ADULT - GIFT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Enjoy nine pages of Taylor Swift hunting. Lots of pages also have 13 other things to find. Swifties young and old will have a fun time searching on each page. Even after searching, you can still spend time enjoying each scene.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew - ADVISABLE

An Ocean Apart by Jill Tew, 339 pages. Joy Revolution (Random), 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (28 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Eden loves her Miami, which is falling apart and is easy prey for the Ministers, who are corporate overlords, billionaires, who rule the world through their “government”. Cruisers are the wealthy, who live permanently on luxury liners, taking from those stuck on land. Eden is determined to help her people survive, so when a contest is announced to pick the wife of Theo, the son of the Minister of Water, Eden is easily convinced to remake herself as Skye - a candidate perfect for Theo - and one more than willing to steal the Aquadictum fortune for redistribution to the people of the Marshes.

Think Selection series, but this protagonist has more skin in the game and is much more willing to manipulate what she has to in her desperate bid to save her people. Love triangle? Check. The characters cue white, though it does mention locs in “Skye’s” hair.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Beasts We Bury by D. L. Taylor - ESSENTIAL

The Beasts We Bury by D. L. Taylor, 368 pages. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (animal killings); Violence: PG-13 (main character must fight and kill animals to inherit their strength and power; emotional and physical abuse by parent; animal abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Although just a child herself, Mancella Cliff- an heir to the throne, must participate in horrifying acts to prove her worthiness of the crown. Forced by an abusive father, "Mance" finds no way out of her yearly obligations to kill animals in order to obtain their powers/traits to make herself stronger. Her father's end goal is to use 16yo Mance and these powers to ultimately gain control of all 6 realms. Silver, a charming thief struggling to survive, enters the castle under the guise of a servant but has his own agenda against the King. His attempts to get what he needs at any cost cause him to question his motives as his feelings for Mance develop into something he can no longer deny. "Will he steal her heart... or her chance at the throne?

Full of twists and turns, this YA fantasy will be loved by many. I really enjoyed this book. The subject matter is a little jarring at times, but very well written. The romantic tug of war between Silver and Mance starts strong and ends beautifully. I raced through this book in order to see how it ended. Switching between Mance and Silver's points of view was a perfect balance. The characters were well developed. D.L. Taylor is a fantastic author and I look forward to reading more.

The characters cue white.

SLewis 

The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach - SEVERAL

The Silenced by Diana Rodriguez Wallach, 384 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (40 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (Physical and emotional abuse by parent and at the school for troubled teens; death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Hazel feels like a loner in her school. She’s placed with Becca and her popular friends for a group homework assignment. They decide to research the local condemned school for troubled teens that closed about thirty years ago when it caught on fire; the school is supposedly haunted. Becca, Amber and Simon play a prank on Hazel and then she falls off a roof and breaks her arm. Before she fell, she heard whispers and followed them out onto the roof. Once Hazel is home, she feels different and notices that she’s acting strangely and doesn’t like the same colors or foods that she did before the visit to the school. She also feels angry all the time. Hazel decides to investigate the history of the school and what she finds shakes her to the core.

I was pulled right into the story and didn’t want to put it down. I love the character development and Hazel’s, Quint’s, and Deidre’s stories. Hazel’s life is hopeful, Quint deals with abuse from his family and Deidre’s life is tragic. I appreciate the content warnings the author put in the front of the book. I enjoyed the added supernatural elements tremendously.

The author provides her research notes about the real schools for troubled teens that she based this story on. Hazel is from Puerto Rican and Polish descent, Becca and Quint are white. The others are a mix of ethnicities.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Night Chef by Mika Song, - ADVISABLE

Night Chef by Mika Song, 154 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $13. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence Rating: PG (Peril, hunting, crazy owl) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Night Chef (a raccoon) hides during the day in the kitchen of a restaurant. One night, after closing, while making ramen, an egg he was going to use hatches into a crow. Night Chef is determined to return the baby bird to its parents. 

Fun situations, the bit with the owl and the frogs was unexpected and scary. I loved that Night Chef has learned the rules of being a good chef and adapts those rules to different situations. All in all, a cute story with darling illustrations. 

Lisa Librarian 

Starstrike by Yoon Ha Lee - OPTIONAL

Starstrike (Moonstorm #2) by Yoon Ha Lee, 368 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (70 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (none); Violence: PG (frequent Sci-Fi battles, gunfights and death with moderate detail. Some intense combat scenes)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SOME

Starstrike follows Hwa Young, a 16yo Korean girl whose life is torn apart by a devastating alien strike.  Driven by grief and anger, she joins an underground resistance with her best friend Geum.  As battles escalate, Hwa must navigate fractured alliances, internal doubts, and the ever-present threat of death.  With Earth's fate hanging in the balance, she discovers the strength to lead, but is torn between who she should trust.

I liked this book because it was very fast-paced and captured my attention from the beginning.  I was eager to find out what was happening with Hwa Young after reading the first book. Although the book can be very emotional and dark at times, I felt like some students would be able to connect with this.  The world seems frighteningly realistic and I enjoyed the character development for the most part.  Some of the characters remained flat and I longed to know more about them.  Overall this was an exciting read with a lot of action.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

365 Amazing True Things To Read in Bed by Edward Brooke-Hitching and Oksana Drachkovska - ADVISABLE

365 Amazing True Things To Read in Bed by Edward Brooke-Hitching, illustrated by Oksana Drachkovska, 96 pages. NON-FICTION. Words & Pictures (Quarto), 2025. $25. 9781836004561

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

365 Amazing True Things to Read in Bed is filled with a year's worth of fascinating, bite-sized facts, anecdotes, and true stories.  Curious readers will enjoy the wild facts like diamond rain or tree dwelling fish and other weird wonders and unbelievable-but -true stories.

Brooke-Hitchings facts and stories are quite fun and interesting to read.  A reader would definitely want to take it slow by reading one or more facts over time.  

PGPowers

I am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins - OPTIONAL

I am the Swarm by Hayley Chewins, 336 pages. Penguin, 2025. $20

Language: R (8 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (self-harm, attempted suicide, sexual harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

15 yo Nell Strand feels numb and invisible. Her mom is busy with her older sister Mora who is institutionalized for her mental health, and her dad avoids addressing issues by focusing on work. To make matters more complex, her family line is cursed as each family member's magic is revealed when they turn 15. After her birthday, Nell’s own magic appears: her emotions are released from her as insects. When the insects appear, she feels the emotions vividly until the insects die. Then, she returns to numbness. As she struggles through school, a crush, and sexual harassment, she is forced to face her swarm and all its forms from angry wasps to hopeful dragonflies.

This novel in verse hooks you from the first page. The prose is rich with figurative language, which is fitting for the book’s overall metaphor of mental health tied into physical iterations of magic. The novel covers a range of mental health topics, perhaps too many as I wonder if they each get enough of a focus and resolution. Nonetheless, it’s a stunning work with the powerful message of facing your emotions. 

Nell’s mother is Afrikaans, and her dad is English. The setting is Cape Town, South Africa.

Megan, High School Librarian

This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore - OPTIONAL

This Is Why We Lie by Gabriella Lepore, 320 pages. Inkyard Press (HarperCollins), 2021. $11.

Language: R (112 swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

The beach is a nice place to take pictures in the mornings, which is why Jenna, a high school senior preparing a portfolio for college, is there. And then she sees Adam going into the water in his clothes. Adam starts to call for help, and Jenna responds. He found a body in the water—one of Jenna’s classmates.

This mystery thriller is told in narrative, text messages, newspaper articles, and police investigation interviews, which makes for a fun variety for the reader. However, the skips in time from past to present could be disorienting. Lepore does a good job of making the antagonist present without giving them away for a satisfying conclusion and an overall entertaining read.

The majority of characters are implied White, and there is an LGBT character, but saying who is a spoiler. The mature content rating is for kissing, drug and alcohol use (including underage drinking), illegal activity, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for assault, corpses, and mentions of suicide and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton - ESSENTIAL

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, 512 pages. Penguin, 2025. $23

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Healthy competition between cousins )

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

In a world filled with magic, family politics, history, power, betrayal, and lack of love, Nora is supposed to be an heiress since childhood. When her mother is murdered, Nora’s future is in question. A complicated competition, the Veritas, will determine who is the future heiress. Unfortunately, a cousin no one knew existed, Lotte, enters the scene. Lotte has an equal chance at becoming the next heir but first has to win this trial to get the love and attention of her family. Add to the mix, Theo, a knight, and  August, a young journalist, and you have the “perfect storm” of love and honor intertwined with excitement and competition.

Notorious Virtues was easy to read and kept my attention throughout the book.  Instead of most “slow burns”, Notorious Virtures pulled me in right from the beginning.  The book is intriguing, entertaining, and fun to read.  It was easy to connect with all the characters, especially the underdog, Lotte. The author develops each character very well. I loved that it was written with multiple points of view. Very well written!

Reviewer: sl