I Don't Wish You Well - OPTIONAL

I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill. Delacorte Press, 2026. $20

Language: R (89 swears, 16 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (Off-page underage drinking and drugs, Off-page consensual sex); Violence: R (Historic child sexual abuse, Off-page sexual assault and rape, Off-page murder with descriptions, Off-page murder-suicide)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Five years ago in the small town of Moss Pointe, Louisiana, four members of the local high school team were murdered. One of their teammates is believed to have committed the horrific crimes, but there are those who believe that the authorities got it wrong. Freshman in college and resident of Moss Pointe, Pryce Cummings, is a journalist in training and decides to spend his summer break creating a podcast to investigate if, in fact, the murderer is still roaming the streets of his hometown. As he starts to ask questions, there are those who do not want buried secrets revealed or the truth to come out and will do anything to stop him.

Using the creation of a true crime podcast as the plot for a contemporary thriller works well as it plays into what is incredibly popular for many readers. As the story unfolds, readers should be aware that there are triggering plot points throughout in regard to LGBTQIA+ issues and sexual abuse, assault, and rape. At times, the social issues can become a bit much as the reader has to keep straight numerous characters and the ways in which they fit into the story and how they are affected by one or many of the topics. The plot twist at the end is clever and well paced moments of suspense will leave thriller fans satisfied.

Reviewer–AEB

The Dance of the Dolls - OPTIONAL

The Dance of the Dolls by Lucy Ashe. Union Square & Co., 2023. $28

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG-13 (On page sex act); Violence: PG-13 (Stalking, Kidnapping, Threat of Death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

London, 1933. Identical twin sisters, Olivia and Clara both dance for the acclaimed ballet company, Sadler’s Wells. Olivia is talented and dedicated to dance and works hard to rise in the company. However, Clara, also supremely talented, is less interested in the intense competition of the company and dreams of leaving to see the world. Both young women will come into contact with men who become obsessed with their beauty and talent. One of those obsessions could turn deadly.

For readers interested in ballet and what it means to be part of a competitive company, this book will intrigue them until about three quarters through. At that point, the “thriller” aspect of the synopsis kicks in leading to a rushed and unbelievable ending that seems incongruous with the beginnings of the story. Too often the unrealistic aspects of the plot take the reader out of the story as they find themselves questioning how certain situations have come about and why the characters are making typical thriller trope choices that don’t fit with the overall book.

Reviewer–AEB

The Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles - OPTIONAL

The Fangirl Project by Beth Reekles, 350 pages. Delecorte (Random House), 2025. $13 (pb)

Language: R (39  swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (kiss, some drinking); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Cerys has never watched the tv shows, hasn’t read the books, done none of the fan stuff, but she is determined to stay best friends with Jake, who moved to a new school and has way less time for her now. Plus, she’d like to unfriend-zone herself and move to girlfriend status.  Thus here she is on  sSaturday, headed to Worlds Beyond fantasy con to join Jake in his love of the Of Wrath and Ruin sphere. But she also has to put up with his new friend and soccer teammate, Max, who is way into all of this fandom stuff.  But Cerys is determined to persevere and joins an online chat group where she and Jake really seem to be connecting, or should she say @runicrascal, his online name. 

I don’t want to give things away here - you’ll have to figure out the truth I did.  There is some great interplay between Cerys and her new group of friends also - very much kicking against the stereotypes. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey - ESSENTIAL

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey, 387 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Random House, 2026. $ 18

Language: G (1 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (ghost story about a drowning, mild threats of violence, gun and knife threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Anna-Jane always looks forward to her summer sleepaway camp.  Even though she and her mother can’t afford the tuition, a camp scholarship helps. As she settles in, something strange happens in the outside world - a trip to the nearby town is derailed because almost no one is around and almost nothing is open.  Back at camp they discover that a country wide emergency has been declared. A mysterious illness is spreading rapidly.  Some kids' parents come to take them home, but a lot of campers are stuck there.  Then the director leaves in the middle of the night.  The camp nurse is now the only adult and a few counselors also remain. Otherwise, the whole group is on their own. As fall comes and winter approaches, food is getting short, and so are tempers. 

While I normally am not a novel in verse fan, Classy paints vivid pictures with her words. And the book is long enough that I never felt cheated. However, if you listened to this as an audiobook, you would never know that it is written in verse. If your students enjoy Alone by Freeman, they will be ready to devour this next. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sleepless by Gordon Korman - ESSENTIAL

Sleepless by Gordon Korman, 240 pages. Scholastic JULY 2026. $19

Content: G (mild threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

They are all 12yo and all five of them don’t need any sleep.  None. Instead, each of the five is using that extra time to perfect talents and interests - until they start discovering each other.  Now there’s a bigger mystery for them to solve.  Why are they all sleepless? They have an idea of what has happened to them and who did it, but do they want this sleeplessness turned off? Maybe they won’t be so special any more. 

Korman has such a knack for taking these little ideas and making them so compelling to read all the way to the end.  It would be great to read aloud and then discuss what kids would pursue in those extra hours and would they be willing to give them up or not.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford - ADVISABLE

Werewolf Hamlet by Kerry Madden-Lunsford, 248 pages. Charlesbridge, 2025. $19

Language:  G (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (mentions of underage drug and alcohol use); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Angus is a quirky fifth grader who loves Shakespeare, costumes, and stage makeup. There is a lot going on in Angus’s life. His family is struggling financially and may lose their home, and Angus also needs to come up with a fifth-grade Legacy Project. Angus has a brilliant idea: stage Hamlet with werewolves as his project. First, though, he has to convince his teacher that it’s actually a good idea. To make matters worse, Angus’s older brother Liam is not acting like himself. In fact, Angus thinks he is about as unpredictable as a werewolf. Angus hopes that if Liam watches the play, he might understand that acting like a werewolf all the time is not the best way to handle things.

The story is fun and engaging while also dealing with the difficult topic of how a teenager’s addiction to alcohol can affect an entire family. I liked the way Angus’s friends supported him and how his family worked together to help one another through their struggles. Angus and Connor cue white. Zora is black

A. Snow, Librarian

Escape From Nuggetville by Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson - ADVISABLE

Escape From Nuggetville (The Adventures of Tubby Nugget #1) by Jenine Pastores and Josh Jackson. 105 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin Workshop, 2026.$12

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL; EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Tubby is a soft, nugget shaped creature who lives on the planet Nug.  He has great friends and wonderful parents.  It is almost time for him to participate in the Dunking Ceremony where he will be dipped in gold.  After he becomes golden, he has to act more like an adult.  He can only eat gold and can't have fun like he used to.  Is Tubby ready to be golden?

The Adventures of Tubby Nugget will appeal to students who enjoy graphic novels that are a little silly and not full of intense content. I would compare it to the Hilo series.  I think that students will like reading about Tubby's internal struggle to grow up. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Neil Gorsuch, Janie Nitze and Chris Ellison - ADVISABLE

Heroes of 1776: The Story of the Declaration of Independence by Neil Gorsuch, Janie Nitze and Chris Ellison. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Harper, 2026. $22. 9780063473973

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Gorsuch (the Supreme Court Justice) gives us a new look at the events leading up to, during, and after the creation of the Declaration of Independence. The book is quite text heavy - I can’t see a teacher reading all of it aloud in one sitting. My personal favorite part is looking into what happened to some of the signers during the revolution and a bit afterwards - stories I don’t remember hearing before. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Piper at the Gates of Dusk (New World #1) by Patrick Ness - OPTIONAL

Piper at the Gates of Dusk (New World #1) by Patrick Ness, 352 pages. Candlewick, 2026. $20

Language: R (71 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some deaths, some blood, shootings)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When the flaming god bursts through the forest and almost kills them, Ben and Max have a hard time getting anyone to believe them. It has been twenty years since the final war almost ended the “New World” before it had a chance to get started. While Todd, the boys’ father, still  has his connection to the Noise, even the Spackle only have legends to help them navigate and interpret what is being heralded by the god’s appearance and disappearance. As the situation becomes more urgent and dangerous, the boys will need to figure out how to make their voices heard and hopefully prevent more tragedy. 

I will admit it - I have never read the original Chaos Walking trilogy, but Ness is so good at weaving in enough backstory that I didn’t feel I needed to read them in order to understand this new series. More intellectual than your standard YA adventure novel - fans of Scott Reintgen will definitely enjoy it. I am looking forward to seeing how Ness moves forward with what information he lets drop. Fans of the original will enjoy this on a different level as old faces are reintroduced.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley - ADVISABLE

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley, 428 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $20

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing and implied sex, drinking tea with drug-like properties); Violence: PG-13 (gruesome deaths, descriptions of dead bodies, attempted sexual assault)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Indira has always been content to be the younger sister, peacefully growing the bagrava that's essential to her people's survival. But, when her older sister's body is returned after only a year of marriage to the Vanzadorian prince, Indira is sent to take her place. Her plan to avenge her sister's death and destroy Vanzador starts to fall apart when she discovers that there's more to Vanzador than meets the eye. Nothing Indira sees in Vanzador adds up to what she had been told. As Indira digs deeper into Vanzador's secrets, she discovers her own abilities to lead and becomes the queen her new country needs. 

Overall, I liked the book and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Both Indira and Prince Alaric's character arcs are well done. I also liked the love story because it was authentic and wasn't the primary focus of the story. The magic system was a little strange and could have used a little more explanation. The ages of the characters are only implied - but I feel they are between 18 and 21.

There isn't a specific race or ethnicity for any of the main characters, but Indira is described as having golden skin and freckles, while many of the Vanzadorians have blond hair. 

Andrea R

Trust No One by Karen Bass - OPTIONAL

Trust No One by Karen Bass, 124 pages. Orca, 2026. $11 

Language: R (45 swears, 6 f); Mature Content: PG (abandonment, incarcerated father); Violence: PG (attacks) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Ben Hamer is harassed by the local police just because his father is in prison. His luck seems about to change when a cute girl named Abigail asks him out. The date goes from great to a nightmare when he inadvertently becomes an accomplice to robbery and Abigail frames him for it, causing Ben to go on the run. 

Fast paced with an intriguing plot. The language was rough. I couldn't figure out why Ben still thought Abigail was cute after what she did. The language was rough, but the storyline should still suck in reluctant readers . No culture or race is mentioned. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya - OPTIONAL

Carnival Fantastico by Angela Montoya, 432 pages. Joy Revolution (Random House), 2026. $20

Language: R (79 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, flashbacks to past sexual relations - on page, but not descriptive); Violence: PG-13 (references to past abuse, both physical and verbal; violent and gory accidents/deaths; references to war violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Esmeralda and Ignacio are both 18yo, almost 19yo Esmeralda and Ignacio used to be best friends and lovers, but circumstances forced them apart. Now a year later, Esmeralda has joined the circus, looking for a chance to escape her life as a fugitive and Ignacio has deserted the army to try to figure out the reason why his father, the Commandant of the Army, is waging war under false pretenses. Esmeralda hopes to become the lead attraction at the carnival, but dangerous accidents to the others vying for the spot make her quest even more important. After Ignacio's search for answers leads him to the circus, the two struggle to resolve their painful feelings from the past. Once they do, they're able to join forces to solve the mystery of the Carnival Fantastico.

I liked the alternating chapter format that gave insight into both of the main characters and their motivations. I also liked the premise of the magical carnival, but I felt like it was underdeveloped. It was obvious from the beginning that the main characters were going to get back together, but they wasted 300 pages miscommunicating instead of developing the other aspects of the story. The magic system was also not very well explained. 

All of the characters are Hispanic/Latino coded, but the setting is imaginary. 

Andrea R.

Ghost Army: The Troop of Artists Who Helped Win WWII by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Becca Stadtlander. - ADVISABLE

Ghost Army: The Troop of Artists Who Helped Win WWII by Sarah Glenn Marsh and Becca Stadtlander. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Viking (Penguin), JUNE 2026. $19. 9780593691717

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

During WWII a small group of artists and musicians played a critical role throughout the war - convincing the enemy that they were real troops of hundreds or thousands of men backed by tanks and artillery. In truth their tanks were rubber and the thousands of troops were rumors and sound recordings!

It wasn’t until 1996 when the efforts and successes of The Ghost army, a troop of artists and sound technicians during WWII, were finally recognized and acknowledged. My grades don’t cover WWII, but any school that does should have this on the shelf.  You could also show this to a theater teacher or art teacher. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Busted by Jean Mills - OPTIONAL

Busted by Jean Mills, 92 pages. Orca, 2026. $11 

Language: PG (11 swears, 0 f); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (locker room beating) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Jonah's hockey team is getting ready to play in a tournament when there is a fight in the locker room and a player gets seriously injured. Jonah accidentally records the fight on his phone and when it leaks, he has to try and field the consequences between his teammates. 

Super fast read, which will appeal to anyone who has been in an uncomfortable situation with friends, teammates, or unintended consequences. Though there isn't a lot of character development, the book gets right to the plot. Good for reluctant readers. 

Characters default white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Most Likely To Murder by Lish McBride - OPTIONAL

Most Likely To Murder by Lish McBride, 308 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2026. $13 (pb)

Language: R (100+ swears, 24 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mild sexual allusion, condoms mentioned, kisses); Violence: PG-13 (corpses)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Rick and Martina (Teeny) are ready to wait out their senior year.  When last year’s yearbooks get distributed, however, someone has relabeled some of the pictures with death predictions. And Rick and Teeny are on the list. The situation is easy to ignore as a joke - but then one of the predictions comes true - and then another one. The best friends decide they’d better get together with the other proclaimed victims and find the person behind the prank - and the deaths - before they are all on the wrong side of life.

Authors have not run out of macabre ways to turn teenage life into a murder mystery. McBride has made the murderer hard to spot - I’m not sure that anyone can pick up on who it is until she lays down a very obvious clue.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Royal Summer by Kass Morgan - NO

Royal Summer by Kass Morgan, 288 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $16

Language: R (54 swears, 6  ‘f’); Mature Content: R (described sex); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

Hannah has landed her dream internship for a famous writer in the heart of Edinburgh - but the writer flakes on Hannah as soon as she arrives, leaving her in a lurch.  Drowning her sorrows at a local bar, Hannah encounters a group of young locals who take her under their wing - one of them, the handsome, but irritating one, knows he can get Hannah a job in the guest shop of the local castle - but Hannah will have to live full time on the grounds. Little does she know that my savior has several secrets he is keeping from her.  Like he might be related to the Queen?

Such a cute book that I am not recommending to anyone under 21. At one, they are in NYC in the summer, mind you, and they are ice skating at Rockefeller Square. HUH? Not possible, even if you are royalty and rich.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - ESSENTIAL

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst. Delacorte Books, 2026. $15

Language: PG-13 (9 swears; no ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Nursing a broken heart, 16-year-old Calisa leaves Brooklyn behind for the summer as she goes to Vermont to help her great aunt at the Faraway Inn. Excited by the prospect of escape from her troubles and the opportunity to work at a cozy bed and breakfast, Calisa is shocked to find the inn is run down and in desperate need of rehabilitation. Add to that, Auntie Zee doesn’t seem to want Calisa around, and strange whisperings of possible magic mean this will be a summer Calisa never forgets.

This cozy fantasy has a slow beginning, however, if readers stick with it, Calisa’s story develops into a charming tale of loss, love, and the power of family. Younger readers will appreciate Calisa’s struggle with her first heartbreak and adjustment to being away from home for the first time while the magical side of the plot will charm them. The world building is well-developed and entertaining, leading the reader to hope that this is the first in a series as so many worlds were introduced that the opportunity for exploration of people and places is endless. 

Reviewer: AEB

The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly - ADVISABLE

The Second Life of Snap by Erin Entrada Kelly, 176 pages. HarperCollins, MAY 2026. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Zuzu’s dad has been fired and as compensation, his bosses gave him a SNAP (Secure Network Android Processor) - a robot.  Skeptical at first, because robots are also spies for the government, Zuzu’s friends do something to the robot which seems to reboot its system and its personality.  Eking out life in a dusty Subsidized Camp becomes more interesting now that the kids have a robot on their side. But SNAP needs a new battery, as his charger is broken. 

If you students enjoyed The Wild Robot (https://kissthebook.blogspot.com/2016/06/the-wild-robot-by-peter-brown-essential.html) and its sequels, they will enjoy being directed towards Kelly’s offering. The ending is a little more melancholy, but very realistic in a dystopian community, without being harsh.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Faeries Never Lie edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker - OPTIONAL

Faeries Never Lie edited by Zoraida Córdova and Natalie C. Parker, 336 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan Publishing Group), 2024. $20.

Language: R (48 swears, 10 “f”); Mature Content: PG (several on-page kisses, one instance of underage drinking, some stories deal with death, body dysmorphia, and a range of LGBTQIA characters); Violence: PG13 (implied sexual assault, child abuse, a couple of on-page violent & bloody attacks)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Within this anthology, fourteen distinct voices weave a tapestry of magic and mystery, exploring the complicated nature of the Fair Folk. From the good, the bad, and the ugly, these tales prove that while faeries may not lie, the truth is often just as dangerous.

I didn’t love this book. The biggest problem for me was the very format of it. Having the different short stories together in compilation was confusing. Some of the stories I liked, but most of them felt disjointed and incomplete. I did appreciate that the short stories featured a variety of protagonists - different genders, sexualities, and ethnicities. I also liked that there were a variety of different settings around the world and in different time periods. So I could see a teacher using a short story or two in class as supplemental material, but I don’t think you’d see them use it from cover-to-cover.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher #bookswithbeddes

Three's a Crowd (Sweet Valley Twins #7) by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre - ADVISABLE

Three's a Crowd (Sweet Valley Twins #7) by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre, 204 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2026. $22 

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 f);  Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Twins, Elizabeth and Jessica, are both stressed out with schoolwork involving typing, so when their friend, Mary, offers to help, they quickly take her up on it. Jessica starts to get suspicious though, when Mary seems to want to hang around their mom more than them. 

Great art and easy to follow. The twins make good literary foils for each other, but manage to resolve their differences and make those differences work. Though the endings are no big surprises, it's always an enjoyable ride. Fans of the series won't be disappointed. The twins are white. 

Michelle in the Middle