Thornbird by E. Kennedy - OPTIONAL

Thornbird by E. Kennedy, 448 pages. Random House, 2026. $12

Language: R (170 swears, 25 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kiss, off page sex, and teens drinking and smoking) ; Violence: PG-13 (buried alive; suicide; mention of Ryan’s father killing women; Ryan’s dad shot her mother, blood mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Ryan’s moving in with her cousins who reside in Starling, Tennessee. Her true identity is Gabriel Thorn but she hides who she is to protect her family from the media and community anger over what her father was arrested for a decade ago, killing six women. He’s known as the Starling Slayer. Ryan has lived out of the area since the arrest but needs a place to live and complete her high school education since her grandmother can no longer care for her. Things start to implode when Ryan receives anonymous notes from someone claiming to know who she really is. She’s also being followed. The Starling Slayer isn’t the only one hiding dark secrets.

Thornbird is the author’s debut in the young adult thriller genre and I thoroughly enjoyed this book! Flowing prose and a great character-driven story. A shocking past event left me chilled.

Predominantly falls to white with an Asian student office aide, and a dark skinned friend of Connor’s. Ryan and her family are white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Anger is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo - OPTIONAL

Anger is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo, 336 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20. 

Language: R (41 swears 25 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (teen drinking, mild drug use (gummies) pot mentioned, kissing) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Lil is in trouble again. At her court appearance - where her extended family showed their support, the judge scolded her for repeated offences and made her wear an ankle monitor until her sentencing in about a month. She's got some specific limits, and a curfew and her lawyer has cautioned that she needs to be responsible. But Lil isn't sure she can be that kind of good person; she's loyal, especially to her older brother, who is going through a rough time of his own right now. 

Elizabeth Acevedo is a really good writer. I love how she mixes poetry with prose to tell an engaging, heartbreaking story. I couldn't put it down. I loved the family dynamics - supportive parents who acknowledge they are still learning. I liked how she was challenged to make new friends (her old friends are unavailable), and that it wasn't easy. A great empathy builder as well as a mirror. 

Lil's family is from El Salvador, one of the new friends is transgender. 

Lisa Librarian  

Bigfoot (Is it Real?) by Candace Fleming - ADVISABLE

Bigfoot (Is it Real?) by Candace Fleming, 192 pages. NON-FICTION Scholastic, May 2027. $9. (paperback) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

You are an investigator and have been given the assignment to see if Bigfoot is real! Your case study includes all the information we know up to this point, including the first sighting of footprints by a construction crew in California, the famous Gimlin/Patterson footage, and even information obtained in a 2026 documentary about Bigfoot. As you work your way through the resources, your handbook reminds you about good investigative tools including the different kinds of evidence, the reliability of witness statements, and Occam's razor - a rule used by scientists to help find the truth. What do you think? Is Bigfoot real? 

Oh wow! I learned so much about this Cryptid, and also about investigative processes. Fleming's info is right up to date - there's so much more than we knew in the 1950's and 60's - a whole Cryptid society and modern testing to examine evidence collected decades ago. Now I want to read Is it Real? The Loch Ness Monster. Kids who like real-life mysteries will devour this book. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace - OPTIONAL

The Haunted Librarian by Auralee Wallace, 368 pages. Ace (Penguin Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: PG (10 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (mild scary elements); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Landing this job as a night librarian in town is a dream come true for Amelia; everything about it is perfect. Except for the ghosts. All her life, Amelia has told herself to ignore the ghosts that only she can see, but these ones will not be ignored. So now they have to go.

The story is cheesy and predictable in a way that you know the author had fun writing it, which was endearing. While there is some romance, it’s just a sprinkling in the background of Amelia learning more about ghosts and more about herself. I was distracted throughout the book by wondering what exactly Amelia’s schedule is supposed to be because it seemed like she just went to and left from work whenever she wanted. The resolution was satisfying in a bittersweet way, though of course the book ends on a happily ever after note.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Disappearance and the Diary (The Manor Mysteries #1) by Eileen Biltmore - ADVISABLE

The Disappearance and the Diary (The Manor Mysteries #1) by Eileen Biltmore, 160 pages. (Simon Spotlight) Simon and Schuster, 2026. $19 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Peggy was born into a titled British family and is Lady Margaret; she has a lady's maid and there is a whole staff of servants at the Manor. But on the eve of her 12th birthday, a series of circumstances occurs when her entitled cousin arrives from France with her family, and Peggy's lady's maid is fired. Peggy knows Sarah is innocent, but no one cares, so Peggy investigates. 

Oh, this was a great mystery, perfect for the 10-12yo sleuths. Well-placed clues, a secret passageway, and a turn-of-the-century manor. It felt like Downton Abby with the downstairs servants' quarters. I'm so glad this is a series; I've already lined up book 2. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe - ADVISABLE

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe, 240 pages. Bloomsbury, 2026. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL (11yo main character)

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lyra is an Unremarkable in an Empire that only cares about Remarkables. In fact, if Lyra isn’t accepted into a  Guild by her 12th birthday, she will be sent into the mists. Rejected by the latest guild, she finds a surprise in the forest - the Guild of Scholars. Lyra is in love with the guild and she has been given one of the hardest quests ever to prove her worth. If she can restore the Library before her 12th birthday, she will avoid the mists and possibly find a new family.

I listened to the book courtesy of libro.fm and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  It reminded me of Dianne Wynne Jones’s Chrestomanci series. I am hoping for another installment.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Hick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt's Heart by Sarah Miller - OPTIONAL

Hick: The Trailblazing Journalist Who Captured Eleanor Roosevelt's Heart by Sarah Miller, 374 pages. NON FICTION BIOGRAPHY Random House Studio, 2025. $21

Language: PG (47 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing, mention of sexual assault); Violence: PG (brief mentions of child abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Lorena Hickok overcame a difficult childhood to become a successful journalist in the early 1900s. Just as she was gaining confidence in her career, she received an assignment she didn’t want: covering Eleanor Roosevelt during Franklin D. Roosevelt’s presidential campaign. As the two women spent time together on the campaign trail, their relationship grew into a deep romantic love. What began as an unexpected connection developed into a nearly 30-year relationship that would shape much of the rest of their lives.

I learned a great deal from this book, which takes place primarily during the 1920s through the 1940s. The author clearly did extensive research and stayed close to primary sources. Lorena Hickok led a fascinating life and was a trailblazer for women in journalism. Her experiences offered an interesting glimpse into both the challenges women faced in the profession and the historical events of the era.

Eleanor Roosevelt and Lorena Hickok are white. 

Amy Snow, Librarian

The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng - OPTIONAL

The Fast Track by Angelica Cheng, 325 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $21.

Language: R (20 swears, 3 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (under age drinking, hickey mentioned, passionate kissing) ; Violence: PG (non-fatal car collisions)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Justine Kwong dreams of being the first female to win a Formula 1 championship. Her new contract as a Formula 3 driver for Orbital racing makes that dream feel closer than ever. However, as the only female driver she feels like a diversity hire and the constant need to prove she is just as good as “one of the boys” is starting to wear down her nerves. Not to mention her adorable, British, pain-in-the-neck teammate – Cameron Evans – seems to think she is way out of her league. Before she can beat her “reckless rookie” allegations and prove she belongs, Justine will have to dig deep and decide how much she is willing to let go to achieve her dreams. 

The Fast Track will satisfy the specific desire to read an enemies-to-lovers, Formula 1 themed romance. I found Justine to be rash and a bit annoying at the beginning of the book. However, she becomes more likeable as she learns to listen to others and develops into a stronger, more fully-developed female character. The romance plot is predictable but sweet. I felt Cheng does a great job writing the racing chapters in particular. The action was fast and engaging. Short chapters at the beginning draw you in and help you sit through the longer ones in the middle.

Justine Kwong is Asian American   

E. Powell, South Ogden Junior High Librarian

Survival Show by Juno Dawson - OPTIONAL

Survival Show by Juno Dawson, 368 pages. Simon and Schuster 2026. $21

Language: R (88 swears, 4 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (deaths mentioned, shots)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Taryn is desperate to get her little brother the medication he needs to survive.  The only skill she has to sell is her voice. If she can earn a spot on the StarMaker singing and performance show, she has a chance to become an international star and save her family.  If she makes the Top Ten and then loses, however, she must surrender to the Population Project - where people volunteer for euthanasia to help Earth’s precarious existence. 

American Idol with a life and death twist. Dawson manages to add more depth than I expected (my shortsightedness) to Taryn’s story. Taryn is from England, but the Top Ten come from all over the world. Dawson also gives us tension and drama without being gratuitous. I think my Hunger Games fans or murder mystery readers will have fun.

Taryn is white, one of the other contestants is a transwoman. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

She Drinks the Light by Yasmin Angoe - OPTIONAL

She Drinks the Light by Yasmin Angoe, 336 pages. Macmillan, 2026. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 5 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Drinking, kissing, racism); Violence: PG-13 (Fighting, graphic descriptions of blood/injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Recently graduated high school senior Addae is next in line to lead Golden Isle, where her ancestors once fled to for safety.  Her grandmother is the current matriarch and a healer who makes elixirs that keep the islanders strong. Addae is waiting to Light, or to take full control of her abilities. But then her friend Nara goes missing in a boat accident. Everyone else presumes her dead, but Addae refuses to give up. Addae also knows that something more must be going on, especially after a body washes up on the beach drained of blood and her grandmother has a strange trance.

This novel is wonderfully rich in West African mythology and Akan folktales.  Nonetheless, I wish the novel would have explored Addae’s powers a bit more throughout, and the ending felt rushed.  Overall, it’s a unique and memorable take on a vampire tale.

Addae is Black and LGBT+.  Nara and most of the islanders are Black.

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

The House of Gardenias by Isabel Canas - OPTIONAL

The House of Gardenias by Isabel Canas, 288 pages. Dutton (Penguin), 2026. $17

Language: R (14 swears, 8 ‘f');  Mature Content: PG (off page trysts); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When teenager Minerva’s brothers left her behind with their abusive father and hateful stepmother, Minerva knows she has to save herself. She finds a job with a rich older woman, Senora Encarcion, who grumbles about the president and current politics. After the president is killed in the rebellion, Minerva and her employer move to a manor called the House of Gardenias. Minerva doesn’t feel safe though.  She feels something ominous around her and knows in her heart that something dark has happened in this huge house. After she sees a dark figure take the life from Senora, Minerva is terrified. 

The prose flows beautifully through its descriptions of the background of Minerva’s daily life. Senora Encarnacion imparts wisdom on Minerva with patience and kindness to help her become stronger and smarter in the ways of life. Ygnacio’s story intrigued me and I enjoyed reading about his background. Told in two points of view by Minerva and Ygnacio. I enjoyed the spooky atmosphere the author created.

The ethnicity is of two main categories; Minerva and the poor people have brown skin. The viceroy and the rich family Minerva works for have pale skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Illuminature: A Spotting Game - ADVISABLE

Illuminature: A Spotting Game. GAME. Kaddo (Quarto), 2026. $25. 9781805702764

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - GIFT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Young players set up a board of 16 cards and 20 tokens to race to find the animals on the tokens using the colored “magic” lenses provided. The back matter includes more information about each creature in the game. 

I leant this game to a teacher who has kids the right ages and he said they loved it and played it several times that weekend. A good purchase if your school checks out games to students.  Otherwise, think of it as a potential gift.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Hungry Forest by Kaela Rivera - ADVISABLE

The Hungry Forest by Kaela Rivera, 256 pages. Bloomsbury, 2026. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (danger, scary scenes)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ryan has been angry, ever since his father died, and ever since he blamed it all on his 8yo brother Teddy, especially since Teddy is childish and reckless, and obsessed with going into the Hungry Forest to find their dad. One day Teddy gets his wish and Ryan follows him - if he doesn’t, their mother will blame Ryan for losing Teddy. Inside the forest, it lives up to every rumor about it. Hungry, most of all. Luckily the boys are befriended by Perdida, a ruby encrusted statue that becomes a young girl. WHen Ryan’s anger gets Teddy snatched by one of the cursed creatures within the forest, Perdida and Ryan pursue. Ryan will have to acknowledge the source of his anger and his shame in order to have any chance of saving his brother. 

Whew! Rivera packs in a lot of danger. Her creatures are unique and while they are blood-thirsty, very little actual blood is spilled. That doesn’t make the danger any less scary.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Garcia - OPTIONAL

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Garcia, 352 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $13 (pb)

Language: R  (75+ swears, 67 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mildly inappropriate interactions with coach, pot smoking, bulimia); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Violetta lives and breathes tennis, following in the footsteps of her mother who had to leave a promising career when she had Violetta. Leylah dropped out of tennis two years ago, but now she is back and ready to prove she is still a rising star. Alice is new to this level of competitive tennis, and is still not really sure how she made it here, especially as she is still mourning her Baba (father), who was her coach. Rooming together at Bastille, the most prestigious tennis academy and site of the tournament to win in order to prove yourself to be worthy tennis elite, each girl has secrets and pains that they are trying to hide from themselves and from everyone around them. 

The three girls are all Asian, an underrepresented group in tennis. Worthwhile to have around in paperback for those few students who are interested in tennis. The girls’ struggles are heartfelt, and I enjoyed the insight behind the scenes in tennis.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden - ADVISABLE

Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden, 240 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $9 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Four kids, two sets of siblings,  grew up together, but went their separate ways at the beginning of middle school.  Gus is now a star soccer player, Harper is a theater (read drama) queen, Luke’s autism occupies much of his time and attention, and Sophie has her own friends, but lacks the will to commit to anything. When their parents leave them all together one night, they end up making a video that goes viral. Luckily, they were all anonymous, because their parents would be so mad if they found out.  The group realizes that they like making viral videos. But can the pressure of staying viral also tear the group apart?

A very cute book about the toxic culture of life online and about friendships in general. Baden very skillfully weaves our four very different characters together, giving them each ways to shine. Harper is quite over the top, but she is the drama queen. 

The kids default white. One set of siblings has Moms. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

They All Had a Chance by Michele Leathers - OPTIONAL

They All Had a Chance (They All Had a Reason #4) by Michele Leathers, 272 pages. $13 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (beer mentioned, brief kisses); Violence: PG (deaths mentioned, mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Jane is about to get kicked out of her aunt and uncle’s house, now that she’s an adult.  She has one last summer as a counselor on Catalina Island to earn some money.  Jane is not very bright, or skillful, or pretty, so she is surprised when her gorgeous roommate, Athena, takes her under her wing, trying to help her be more attractive, at least. What she doesn’t know is that Athena is the renamed Bellany, and her latest target is Shandy, the owner of the summer camp. Well, Shandy has some tricks.  This summer she is having a contest amongst the counselors - and whichever one wins, they also win the whole camp. Athena can work with that - and she has some great ideas for getting rid of her teammates once they help her win Shandy’s contest.

Bellany is up to her old tricks.  She seems to be a very ineffective grifter, though, even though she was willing to kill for what she wants. I don’t know how much longer this series can go on, nor am I particularly interested. Even Bellany is a pretty flat character and she's had four books in which to develop. I would interest students in books like The Inheritance Games instead.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Girls and the Ghost (The Manor Mysteries #2) by Eileen Biltmore - OPTIONAL

The Girls and the Ghost (The Manor Mysteries #2) by Eileen Biltmore, 160 pages. (Simon Spotlight) Simon and Schuster, 2026. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Thea is an heir to a steel fortune and is living on a large estate in Rhode Island. She can hardly wait for her cousin Peggy to arrive from England, just in time for Thea's 12th birthday. The cousins are the recipients of the traditional family necklaces, passed down from their grandmothers, and the two pieces of jewelry haven't been together since their great-grandmothers who were twins,  were separated when Thea's great-grandmother went to America to marry. 

This mystery wasn't quite as engaging as the one in book one - I feel it was setting up for book three, and wasn't much of a mystery. The ghost isn't really a part of the story, except in reference until the last few pages, and there's an oddly convenient 2 day romance. The cliffhanger may propel this series to the next installment, but I'm pretty sure what is going to happen. 

Thea is American. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Void Dragons by Scott Reintgen - ESSENTIAL

The Void Dragons (Dragonships #3) by Scott Reintgen, 455 pages. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (space warfare, some human deaths mentioned, minor blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Before he disappeared, Proteus warned of a great threat to come. Distracted by the quintacentennial meeting of the planetary dragons, 15yo Lunar Jones and the other dragonriders almost miss the beginning of the greatest threat to their universe ever. Maya has been given the task of finding and piecing together the other clues Proteus left behind, but even those hints may not be enough to save them from the most horrific enemy they have ever met.

Oh Reintgen. I am going to have to put you up there with Neal Shusterman as one of the great talents of the current times. I pity those who don’t read science fiction, as they can never understand. For me this series is a definite re-read.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter - OPTIONAL

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter, 410 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $18

Language: R (300+ swears, 60 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (teens drinking and smoking cigars, passionate kissing); Violence: PG (fighting and bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Julia Lowell, high school senior and brand new resident of New York, meets lifetime resident Damion Rutledge and it’s loathe at first sight. Damion believes that the Lowell family swindled his great uncle Remington out of his home. The Lowell family can’t believe that their elderly friend Lou left them his house in his will. There’s confusion and mixed emotions all around as Julia and Damion sort out what’s happening with the house situation. On top of that, Julia is mercilessly bullied by rich teens at her school, since she’s obviously an outsider. Damion ends up tutoring Julia to get her math scores up and he uses that excuse to dig deeper into how the Lowell’s ended up with Uncle Remi’s house. Julia is unsure of Damion because sometimes he’s rude but other times, he sticks up for her when she’s being taunted and she has no idea if he can be trusted.

I love the line from page 136, talking about reading, “Because there was just something about getting lost in another experience, in forgetting all about your life while riding along on someone else’s journey, that was the sweetest escape.” Also, this statement from Damion on page 163, “When it comes to film and books and the arts in general, you’re rewarded when they make you feel…” This is such a fun book! I love the descriptions of New York and Julia’s hometown in Nebraska, as seen through the eyes of the two main characters, Damion and Julia.

The ethnicity cues white.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High Library, Delta, Utah

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow - OPTIONAL

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow, 464 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: R (51 swears, 23 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (minor suggestive content, no overt sexual acts, flashback with underage drinking); Violence: R (numerous and graphic scenes of sword fighting and stabbing and spilt blood on page)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Jia is seemingly powerless in a hidden village where powers are not unusual to have. She wants to save her popo (grandma) from the death realms and to do so she must retrieve a mythical sword that conquers death from the deepest levels of the death realm. However, Jia must overcome many trials, along with managing an angsty love triangle between an old friend and an enemy prince, before she can possibly reunite with her grandmother again.

I’m a dark and spooky loving kind of girl and this book checked off both of those things. It contains elements of death and resurrection as a form of power and includes subtle forms of Chinese mythology with how it describes ghosts and their punishments.

Chow never explicitly says but based off of the setting and description of the characters it makes it feel like Asian ethnicity and architecture (black hair, brown eyes, high cheekbones and pearlescent skin).

Maryn Beddes reviewer