Yarn is Everything (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown - ESSENTIAL

Yarn is Everything (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown, 104 pages. CHAPTER BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2026. $14 9781665961141 

Content: G 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When 9yo Winona Mole finds a rune inscribed crochet hook in her bag, an identical replica of the storied Spirit Hook, her crochet skills improve dramatically. Soon, Winona could create crocheted yarn versions of almost anything. Maybe she should go on her favorite show "Yarn is Everything"! 

Oh! I loved Yarn is Everything! The story is set up like an episode of Twilight Zone, which will probably be lost on the readers but their grandparents will get it. The pages are printed on black glossy pages, and the color is a neon blue, highlighting her hook and occasionally other focus items. I know the intended audience is familiar with reality competition shows, so Yarn is Everything is an essential purchase for me. Now I need to read the rest of the series. 

Lisa Librarian  

Room to Breathe by Kasie West - ADVISABLE

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

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing, making out); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

High school junior Indy is constantly trying to be the best - she competes for grades against her best friend Beau, she tutors at an education center and is a model citizen. Until, her family begins to implode when her father seems to be in trouble with the FBI, and her mother has forbidden Indy from telling anyone. Suddenly her perfect world isn't spinning right, her studies suffer, her friends are mad and even her relationship with Beau is on the rocks. 

Told in alternating chapters between Now - when Indy is locked in a restroom at school with Beau - and Then - the story of how everything went wrong. West masterfully arranges these chapters so the reader is just barely ahead of the reveals happening in the now. I was thoroughly entertained. I also loved the stress of Indy doubting her father, and how everyone is fighting in her home and it spills into her whole life. Although Indy is in High School, Room to Breathe will appeal to 8th and 9th graders as well. The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian 

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague - ADVISABLE

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague, 215 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Studio, 2026. $22

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Bea has grown up a lot over the last year. She’s wearing a little makeup, and instead of carrying her stuffed animal everywhere, she leaves it behind in her bedroom. She’s excited to reunite with her summer camp bunkmates, but they’re shocked by all the changes they see in her.

Bea is afraid that her friends won’t be able to accept the new Bea and starts to wonder if coming back to camp was a mistake. Will the three friends be able to get along and accept the changes in each other and the changes at camp?" A fun, heartwarming graphic novel about learning to love and accept your friends as they do their best to grow up and figure out who they are. I enjoyed the simple straight forward illustrations.

Bea has brown skin and curly brown hair. Virginia has brown skin and red hair. Roxy has light brown skin with blond hair.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith - OPTIONAL

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith, 80 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025 $23. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The history of, and scientific explanation of poop (and in some cases urine). The reader learns how our bodies make poop, what it says about health, animals and poop, toilets through the ages and much more. 

So, this was fascinating - there is a ton of information about poop, stuff I didn't know I didn't want to know - yes a lot of it is gross, but it's about poop so what do you expect. The reader is told throughout not to touch poop, and not to experiment with it, to leave it to the experts. The illustrations are large and artistic, illustrations of people pooping are discreet, and it's funny at times. What I really think? Kids will pick it up because it's called Poop, but I'm not sure how engaged they'll be in reading it. Also, it's one of the oversized books that won't fit on our shelves anyway. 

Lisa Librarian 

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina - OPTIONAL

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina, 192 pages. Carolrhoda 2026. $19

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (accusations of sex); Violence PG (war violence mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Renata Zamoyska, a Polish countess, has been hauled before a military tribunal, accused of treason and impropriety. Through flashbacks, Renata slowly reveals the events leading to her arrest - her humane treatment of two Russian soldiers who showed up on the threshold of her ruined mansion on the heels of a snowstorm.

Unfortunately McCrina’s writing didn’t draw me into the story - I felt isolated from the action. While that might be the tone the author was going for, I fear few of the target audience will persevere.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight by Blessing Musariri - ADVISABLE

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight by Blessing Musariri, 184 pages. Lerner, 2026. $19

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mental illness); Violence: PG-13 (# of dead bodies mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

One moment 15yo Chianti is only worrying about getting her little sister out of trouble with their parents. The next her mother blurts out that her Baba (dad) is not even Chianti’s. Confused and hurt, Chianti flees to her grandmother’s home, where she is surrounded by the group of loving aunties she grew up with, leaving her younger sisters to fend for themselves. While Chianti is trying to make sense of her new reality, she also delves into her grandmother’s history, when she and her friends were freedom fighters during Zimbabwe's civil war. 

Musariri manages to pack quite an emotional punch into a short, poignant story. Can we hold this up to show that  fabulous writing doesn't need 400+ pages to wander towards the point? She paints vivid settings and complex emotions for almost every character. I also love that her glimpse into an unfamiliar culture still shows human emotions and problems are universal.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett - ADVISABLE

A Trade of Blood (Ana and Din Mysteries #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett, 400 pages. Del Rey (Penguin Random House), 2026. $32.

Language: R (196 swears, 56 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (drug and alcohol use, illegal activity, disturbing elements, innuendo, nudity, and mentions of sex); Violence: R (corpses, assault, blood and gore, animal cruelty, mentions of genocide, suicide, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ana is not happy with their new investigation assignment not only because it appears to be an open-and-shut case to appease the gentry but mostly because that means it’s also going to be uninteresting. Except that when Ana and Dinios arrive, they find evidence that this case is not as easily settled as they anticipated—and that it might not be the perpetrator’s first murder.

As excited as I was to return to this fantasy world and Ana and Din’s investigative duo, I was as put off about the new case as Ana was, due to the case’s cliché Romeo and Juliet angle. Thankfully, the story quickly expanded from there, drawing in all the elements of mystery, awe, and paranoid suspicion for every character that could betray the beloved duo along the way that I have come to expect. With bittersweet feelings about finishing another mind-blowing case, I look forward to many more.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu - OPTIONAL

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu, 352 pages. Harper, 2026. $20

Language: R (18  swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Ivy Yu is on a bonding trip to Japan with her mother. Unfortunately their curated trip is populated mostly by senior citizens - except a boy her age and his dad, who is near Ivy’s mom’s age. Since her parents separated, Ivy has been harboring hope that they will get back together and she is also battling depression on her own, as her mother feels Ivy can just “get over herself". Keith, the other teenager on the trip, agrees with Ivy that their parents shouldn’t get together.  Will the pair be able to sabotage their elders?

Chu focuses mostly on Ivy and her relationships with her parents and gives us beautiful looks around Japan.  And the growing relationship between the two teens will satisfy romance readers.  

Lily is Asian American.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley - OPTIONAL

Murder in Blackfriars (Below Stairs Mystery #9) by Jennifer Ashley, 320 pages. Berkley (Penguin Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (17 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, mentions of drugs, kissing, mild innuendo, and implied mention of prostitution); Violence: PG (corpses, assault, blood and gore, and mentions of bombs and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

In the middle of a picnic, Kat’s fiancé, Daniel, runs off on what is sure to be another dangerous scrape, and Kat can’t go with him because she has to take her daughter, Grace, home to the family that is raising her. And then that family tells Kat about the new job that will move the family—including Grace—to a home in the countryside, away from Kat’s employment in London.

While there were obvious mentions to ongoing relationships and past escapades, I was satisfied with my experience reading this book as a standalone mystery. Besides the murder that is mentioned in the title, Kat and Daniel also take on the overwhelming task of attempting to find out who Daniel’s parents were. One of these mysteries has a more satisfying climax than the other, but I recognize that there needs to be a reason to continue the series. I could see myself reading more about these delightful characters and the happiness they create for themselves despite difficult circumstances. The characters are English.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Dream Thieves: The Graphic Novel (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater, - OPTIONAL

The Dream Thieves: The Graphic Novel (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater, 282 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2026. $18 

Language: R (50 swears, 12 f); Mature Content: PG-13 (sexual references, drug use); Violence: PG-13 (murder, death, abduction) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

This book centers on Ronan Lynch, who is made of secrets, one of which is that he can pull objects out of dreams. His father is murdered because of this ability. The Raven Boys' search for the Ley line to the Glendower, the ancient Welsh king, has run dry. Ronan's dreams may be the key to finding Glendower, but unleashing his power will have far-reaching consequences. 

Stiefvater's writing is very descriptive in prose. Because there is so much going on, the graphic novel doesn't do it justice. The graphic novel is a beautiful back-up to the novel, but it would be really helpful to have read the novel first. I had to Google the book summary and there was a lot that I missed. The plot is dark and nightmarish, but if you're into the Raven Boys cycle, the plot won't disappoint, even though it gets increasingly weird. The Raven Boys are white, privileged, high school boys. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Her America by Heather B. Moore - ADVISABLE

Her America by Heather B. Moore, 304 pages. SHORT STORIES. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $28.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (kissing, mild innuendo, and mentions of alcohol and debauchery); Violence: PG (corpses, assault, blood and gore, physical abuse, gun and bomb use, discussions of slavery and war, and mentions of suicide and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Moore has put together short stories on eight influential women that combine biographical information with enough historical fiction to bring these real women and their situations to life. The women chosen to be highlighted in this book include the first female historian in America, the first woman in US history to both plan and lead a military raid, a First Lady, a cofounder of La Cruz Blanca (The White Cross), and a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist.

While each section focuses on only one woman’s life, there are multiple heroes in every story. These women worked together with both those that came before them and those around them to accomplish great things—great things that allow us to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted. Every voice matters, and these women demonstrated how we can create a better future for our loved ones as we use our voices. All eight women highlighted are American; they are described as White, Black, and Mexican-American.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

My Sister the Werebeast by Alina Tysoe - ADVISABLE

My Sister the Werebeast by Alina Tysoe, 316 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $15

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (0); Violence: PG (some fantasy violence,not graphic)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Something is happening with Peanut, Rosie and Mira's younger sister.  She seems to have magic powers.  But magic doesn't exist anymore in this world, right?  All magicians died out long ago.  Rosie and Mira need to find a way to keep their sister safe from a dark force that wants to steal her power.

My Sister the Werebeast was an enjoyable read!  The plot was interesting and not predictable.  The illustrations were fun and eye catching.  Also, the text font was easy to read.  My Sister the Werebeast will definitely appeal to students who like fantasy graphic novels with some humor thrown in. Rosie and Mira are anywhere from 14-16 yrs old.  Peanut is a preschooler.

One of the daughters and the mother are Hispanic.  The other main characters are presumably white. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis - OPTIONAL

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis, 272 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $20

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Forced child marriages, homophobia, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Off-page sexual abuse, physical abuse, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After the bees died, the military took control. All girls ages 11-16 are forced to pollinate plants by hand using brushes. 13yo Jess postponed that fate for two years thanks to her rebellious mother who lied about her and her brother’s ages. Unlike many of the other girls at the camp, Jess learned stories of the past, how to read, and how to paint. Jess makes friends with 14yo Cass, who is starting to worry. Once they have their periods, they are biologically matched to a husband and forced to marry. With time running out, Jess feels the stirrings of her own rebellious spirit.

With such a heavy subject matter and premise, I appreciate the novel’s focus on hope, the value of art, and the power of community in the face of oppression. The plot itself is not very action-forward, but the characters’ themselves kept me reading. It’s reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale but appropriate for a teenage audience. 

Secondary characters are diverse including LGBT+ (spoiler if reveal who).

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

In the Blood by April Henry - OPTIONAL

In the Blood by April Henry, 304 pages. Hachette Book Group, 2026. $20

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Dead body, sexual references, objectifying women); Violence: PG-13 (Murder, off-page sexual assault of a teenager by an adult) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Tessa has always wondered about her birth parents as she was abandoned at a fire station as an infant. For her birthday, her friend El buys her an ancestry test. With no clear parental matches, Tessa and her friends begin investigating her relatives and uncovering family secrets. At the same time, Keisha, a young cop, is out to prove herself as she tries to find the infamous serial killer the Portland Phantom who just struck again. Quentin is the Portland Phantom, and he is biding his time until makes his next kill.

With all the points of view and plotlines, the novel lacks some depth and character development. I question the inclusion of the serial killer's point of view as he has disparaging views of women, and he is a stereotypical stock character. Nonetheless, the novel does include a positive example of adoptive families and supportive friends. The serial killer storyline, short chapters, and fast-pace may make this novel appealing to reluctant teen readers. 

Keisha is biracial. Tessa's friend Victor has brown skin. Secondary characters are LGBT+.

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

America is Wild! by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie - ADVISABLE

America is Wild! A State-by-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie, 208 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2026. $23

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The United States has a very diverse environment, with lots of plants and animals. From each state, the author highlights 4 or so plants and animals that represent their wildlife; some are iconic (I bet you can guess what Wyoming's mammal is), while others are surprising (I didn't know South Dakota had Cactus!) We learn the common name, the Latin name, and some interesting facts about each one. 

America is Wild was a lot of fun. Nice reference book, with great illustrations. The information is concise and accurate, and there's a variety of entries from each state - a bird, a mammal, a tree, a flower, an insect - 3-4 different plants and 3-4 different animals on a 4-page spread. I loved that there was always a "fun fact", not just the general information. An interesting read that I hope will be enjoyed in my library. 

Lisa Librarian 

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram - ADVISABLE

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram, 224 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $20 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (masturbation talk); Violence: PG (Bullying, referring to queer slurs) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

14yo Dayton shouts a slur at a visiting speaker at the ELA assembly for 9th graders. He was promised $20 for doing it, and he thought it wouldn't be a big deal; it's just a word. But in that moment, everything changes for Dayton. He loses friends, his parents are shocked and disappointed, and he begins to examine his own actions. Nothing he does seems to make it any different. Farshid is also in 9th grade, and knows Dayton but isn't a friend; however, Dayton's actions have affected Farshid too, who is wrestling with his body image and sexual identity. 

Told in alternating perspectives - and also in second person and present tense - so the reader is put into the story, and it unfolds in real time. There was a lot to unpack; Dayton never meant to offend and felt terrible, but couldn't really repair what he'd done. Farshid was angry all the time and taking it out on his mother and himself - making unhealthy decisions about his body. Khorram never says the word, but the reader can piece together what it is. This is one of those important books that I hope will gain some traction and get read by the teens who need the message and the courage to do the right thing. 

Dayton is white, Farshid is Iranian. 

Lisa Librarian  

A Lady’s Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore - OPTIONAL

A Lady’s Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $25.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, illegal activity, kissing, partial nudity, mild innuendo, and mentions of drugs); Violence: PG13 (assault, gun use, blood and gore, and suicide)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lady Annabelle Bradford (20yo) looks forward to summer when her godfather, Court, takes her to the sea on his ship, not that she doesn’t also enjoy the balls of her London society life. She’s surprised when Court sends two members of the crew to pick her up instead of coming himself. But he couldn’t come. Court has been taken hostage by Captain Blackham, and the crew has come to Belle for help.

Swashbuckling adventure, treasure of legend, and, of course, a handsome pirate hero with a tragic backstory all make for a delightful story. I love the crew that would do anything for the noble girl they basically raised together on the seas, though Moore admits how unlikely the scenario would have been and provides sources for nonfiction pirate information in her author’s note. The majority of characters, including Annabelle and Court, are English.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot - ESSENTIAL

Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot, 336 pages. HarperCollins, December 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (37 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (making out, reference to breasts); Violence: PG (fight, accident with injury)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When 16yo Winn is forced to move cross-country from New York to Montana for her mom's job, she finds herself attending her brother's school. An all-boys ranch school "for intellectually gifted boys, with emotional, behavioral or academic challenges." She's the only girl, allowed to attend classes because her mother is teaching there. She's actually delighted (and a bit scared - what if one of them is a serial killer?) and is quickly, literally embraced by the student body. But she has her eye on a couple of them, and she's hoping she doesn't fall in love. As fresh and funny as Princess Diaries,

I couldn't put it down. I loved her displacement, Winn describes her outfits, which are usually terrible for the winter weather in Montana, and true to Meg Cabot gets herself into some awkward situations. I loved this romance; there's some making out that doesn't go too far, and a lot of sexual tension - of course - there are 80 boys at the school! The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian - 

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed - ADVISABLE

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed, 212 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (elephant injury and care issues)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Hafsa wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She's determined to follow that dream despite her father's reluctance to allow his daughter (a girl!) to become a doctor, and the fact that she has been accepted to as prestigious summer camp for pre-med is expensive, and it's in the big city. Fortunately, Hafsa gets her way, and the stars line up in her favor; her married sister lives less than a mile away, and her brother-in-law offers to pay. But when she starts the camp, she sees she's enrolled in the environmental camp instead, but Hafsa is willing to make the best of it.

A companion novel to both Amal Unbound and Omar Rising - Amal returns as best friend, but it's Hafsa's story. I'm not sure how old Hafsa is, she reads to be 12-14, maybe? The story takes place in Pakistan, and the conditions at the zoo are rough - I hope readers understand that things are very different in the US. I loved the environmental connection - kids today are really invested in this subject, so I think this will get read. Saeed is a great writer, and I love her storytelling. The family drama was just right; the medical component - yes, she gets a bit of an opportunity to experience it - was a little surprising, so I think she may be older than 12. Hafsa is Pakistani

Lisa Librarian 

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake - ADVISABLE

Hattie Mae Begins Again (Companion to Once in a Blue Moon) by Sharon G. Flake, 368 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Knopf (Random House), 2026. $18. 

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

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Hattie Mae is allowed to attend Miss Abigail's School for Exceptional Young Ladies in Philadelphia. But in 1938, there are rich black families and poor black families, and Hattie Mae, being from North Carolina, just doesn't fit in with the other girls. And they let her know it. She makes a friend, but Lisa, probably the wealthiest of the girls, is cruel. Hattie wants to be a lawyer someday, or maybe a doctor. 

This is unfair, but Hattie Mae is strong and resilient and won't let mean girls keep her down. I didn't mind that it was a novel in verse - sometimes the poetry breaks up the story because the chapters are so short, but this wasn't the case. I enjoyed the historical look at depression era Philadelphia. I enjoyed Sharon Flake's poetry; I felt the story was gripping without it being just about Hattie Mae dealing with a mean girl. There was a lot more - being courageous, learning to fit in without losing yourself, recognizing change and adapting to it. It's historical fiction, so I'm going to have to hand-sell it, but I think I can easily find some readers in my library. The characters are black. 

 Lisa Librarian