Wednesday, July 9, 2025
The Misfits: A Copycat Conundrum by Lisa Yee and Dan Santat - ADVISABLE
Tuesday, July 8, 2025
Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs Companion) by Kathryn Ormsee and Molly Brooks - ADVISABLE
Monday, July 7, 2025
Mindful Nature- Connecting with our Great Green World by Paige Towler and Chris Gaugler - ESSENTIAL
Sunday, July 6, 2025
On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman - ESSENTIAL
Saturday, July 5, 2025
Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet - MANY
Friday, July 4, 2025
When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman - ADVISABLE
Survive This Safari by Natalie D. Richards - ESSENTIAL
Thursday, July 3, 2025
Penny Draws a Team Sport by Sara Shepard - ADVISABLE
Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson - SEVERAL
Wednesday, July 2, 2025
The House Next Door by Ellen Oh - ADVISABLE
Spirit Service by Sarena and Sasha Nanua - OPTIONAL
Tuesday, July 1, 2025
Speak Up, Santiago by Julio Ata, illustrated by Gabi Mendez - ESSENTIAL
Meet Me at Sunset by Lee Heart - ADVISABLE
Monday, June 30, 2025
The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster - ADVISABLE
Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce - ADVISABLE
Sunday, June 29, 2025
Eyes on the Sky by J. Kasper Kramer - OPTIONAL
Framed! Crime Fighting Collection (#1-3) by James Ponti - ADVISABLE
Framed! Crime Fighting Collection (#1-3) by James Ponti. Aladdin (Simon). $30
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE
APPEALS TO: MANY
Ponti’s original mystery series has been reprinted in paperback with great new covers which help them pair better side by side with the Sherlock Society set. I like all of Ponti’s books - perfect for middle grade readers.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
Saturday, June 28, 2025
A Study in Secrets (Last Chance Academy #1)by Debbi Michiko Florence - OPTIONAL
A Study in Secrets (Last Chance Academy #1)by Debbi Michiko Florence, 304 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $18
Content: G
BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
Since her mom died, 12yo Meg tried to get her father’s attention by doing worse and worse in school, but this has only landed her in a boarding school that the kids call Last Chance Academy, for troubled but wealthy and smart students. Meg’s not really interested in making friends, but there are only 3 other kids in her age group. When a mysterious invitation for a treasure hunt arrives, with a prize that Meg really wants, she is determined to be the first to the prize.
I was expecting more intrigue and excitement - the blurb compares it to Only Murders in the Building. Instead it is a puzzle-solving book, no blood or death involved. Fans of The Westing Game or Gollywhopper Games could enjoy this.
Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS
This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle - OPTIONAL
Language: R (129 swears, 7 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SEVERAL
Needing to see her future college campus before she can accept, Deja (17yo) goes to the University of Maryland over spring break. After she falls in love with the city and the campus, she celebrates her college decision with a tattoo—and feels the first sparks of love with her tattoo artist, Raja (18yo). They come from wildly different family cultures and expectations, but, if their love could be forever, then it’s worth every battle.
LaDelle’s characters are not only dealing with the pressures of staying home versus moving out and decisions about college majors that will impact their future dream careers, they also have to choose whether their relationship is worth clashing with their loved ones over traditions and biases. As readers watch these characters navigate all these difficult decisions, they will see examples of self care and reprioritizing activities, including letting some go until a later time, and the importance of support systems and honesty. Maybe the decisions readers are facing aren’t exactly the same, but we have all felt the chaos of having to make difficult choices now all at once, and Deja’s and Raja’s stories illustrate hope for a happy ending for each of us.
Deja and her family are Black, Raja and his family are Nepali, and there are characters whose families are from Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic. A couple side characters are mentioned as being part of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for alcohol use (including underage drinking), kissing, mild innuendo, and mentions of drugs, menstruation, and sex.
Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen
Friday, June 27, 2025
The House No One Sees by Adina King - OPTIONAL
The House No One Sees by Adina King, 295 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $20
Language: R (24 swears, 21 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (mentions of sex for drugs, mention of rape, attempted rape, grooming, drug use); Violence: R (animal killing, abuse, neglect, bullying, death by overdose)
BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL
APPEALS TO: SOME
A trauma narrative in verse and prose. Penny is celebrating her 16th birthday at the carnival with friends. When she gets a desperate text from her estranged mother, it pulls her into the difficult memories of her past. Penny grew up with an opioid addicted mother who could be kind and sweet, emotionally abusive, and neglectful, depending on her state of mind. She often had men of questionable character staying at the house. The story is interwoven with a fairy tale theme as Penny tries to make sense of her past to move forward with her future.
Beautifully written, but it was hard to read about the difficulties Penny had as a result of her mother's addiction. Luckily, at some point, she was sent to live with her grandparents, who loved and cared for her. I liked the continued theme of fairy tales throughout the narrative. There was also a somewhat creepy metaphor of the house throughout. Some readers will relate to Penny's experiences. Penny is assumed to be white.
Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian