The Last Dragon House by Liv Mae Morris, - OPTIONAL

The Last Dragon House by Liv Mae Morris, 336 pages. Amulet Books, 2026. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Dragons have been driven almost to extinction, except for the few who find a safe place in the Dragon House. Olly was looking for a job that wasn’t in the local factory, and instead finds himself working for Dr. Lady Abernathy at the house. When Dr. Lady is poisoned, Olly has to take off ona desperate journey to save her.

While the book was a lot of fun to read, I didn't like all of the different forms and kinds of dragons that Morris creates - like the magical creatures we know aren’t good enough, they all actually have to be dragons. The edition the publisher sent to me has beautiful sprayed edges.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Destiny of the Diamond Princess by Sherri Winston - OPTIONAL

The Destiny of the Diamond Princess by Sherri Winston, 240 pages. Bloomsbury, 2026. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Zahara-Grace has always known that she’s adopted. For her 12yo birthday, her mother and G-Pop give her a DNA kit. Surprise! She is the granddaughter of the king of a small African nation, Maliwanda. As Zahara-Grace reunites with her former best friend Persephone, she is also excited about a Maliwand exhibit that includes a rare diamond, the Tear of Amun. Someone has dire plans for Zahara-Grace, however, plans that involve an ancient curse.

I found the villain in the story to be fairly obvious. Even accounting for the young age of the intended readers, I don’t find it compelling. Our young readers probably have not read The Princess Diaries nor seen the movies, so that easy comparison won’t interfere with their enjoyment.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Elvis & Romeo Go to Dog School by Jacky Davis and David Soman - ADVISABLE

Elvis & Romeo Go to Dog School (Ready to Read, level one) by Jacky Davis and David Soman. EARLY READER. Simon Spotlight, 2025. $19. 9781665947978

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

Elvis and Romeo are back, and it's their first day of dog school! The playful Romeo already knows how to "stay," but is nervous about learning how to catch a ball. Now, it's up to Elvis to help his young friend learn something new. This is a great addition to the original Elvis and Romeo picture book. The text is a mix of speech bubbles and traditional narration. I wish there was a bit more of the dogs' fun personalities, but that would be hard to do with a low-level early reader.

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

The Magic of Someday Soon by Michelle Lee -ADVISABLE

The Magic of Someday Soon by Michelle Lee, 288 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2026. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Zoey and her mother have been traveling the country for eight years, since her father died, watching her mom, The Upcycle Magician, create sculptures from recycled pieces. Zoey has contrived a can’t-pass-it-up job for Mom, which takes them back to her Dad’s hometown, to the grandmother she doesn’t remember. 12yo Teddy meanwhile, is desperate to save her great grandparents’ Fossil Garden, a neglected sculpture garden. Both girls are looking for belonging and closure and they need each other.

The magic in the title is not really literal, though there is a slight touch of wonder. Teddy and Zoey are a good support for each other.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Loss of the Burying Ground by J Anderson Coats - OPTIONAL

The Loss of the Burying Ground by J Anderson Coats, 288 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $19

Language: PG (24 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When the Burying Ground ship goes down, so do the hopes of two nations to forge peace. The only survivors are Vivienne, the lady’s maid to the princess of Ariminthia, and Cora, the daughter of a reporter who was randomly picked to join the voyage. When the two girls discover each other, sparks fly and they reluctantly work together when pirates are attracted by Cora’s signals, instead of the rescue she was hoping for.

There are more complications in the narrative, but I don’t want to give too much away. Suffice it to say the best parts of the book are when the girls are on the island, not caught up in the political drama on land. Looks to be the first in a series, as we are left hanging. I am mystified by the name of the boat - I found it off-putting.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister by Lucas Turnbloom - ADVISABLE

Steve L. McEvil and the Twisted Sister (Steve L. McEvil #3) by Lucas Turnbloom. 237 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Crown Books (Random House), 2025. $15

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Some fantasy violence, mild fighting, name calling)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Steve and his friends are trapped on an alien planet with no portal to get back to Earth. Now, it's up to his sister, Eve and Gramps to rescue them. Will Eve, her cat Mrs. Cuddles, and Gramps be able to build another portal and rescue Steve and his crew? Will Steve and his friends find a way to rescue themselves and save a planet from the evil Perses before Perses finds a way to destroy Earth?

This book would have made more sense if I'd have read the previous two books. I didn't love it, but I'm not the intended audience. Middle grade readers who love funny sci-fi graphic novels will enjoy this series. To me, it read like a Cartoon Network show.

Steve and his family are white; Steve's friends are illustrated with various skin tones

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Anne Hadu - OPTIONAL

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Anne Hadu, 336 pages. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

About to turn 12yo, Denny is being dropped by her former best friend, Runa, with whom she spent years creating the magical, fictional world of Sorrowfield. Auden is the princess of Sorrowfield, about to turn 12yo. Her parents and sister were stolen by dragons and when she does turn 12yo, the whole kingdom depends on her to defeat the dragons and make things right and safe. When the two girls exchange lives and lands, they each learn strengths they never had.

Both girls are in situations where they are being manipulated by more than one person. Denny’s parents treat her like the adult, with her dad burdening her with her mom’s alcoholism. Auden is isolated by her guardian and his daughter. It was fine. For over 300 pages, I didn’t feel invested.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves - OPTIONAL

Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves, 352 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: R (200+ swears, 90 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing, teen drinking); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After 15yo Bryce’s mom walks out on her abusive boyfriend and she then gets arrested for breaking probation, Bryce finds himself back on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek Reservation living with his grandmother. It's been a few years since he was back to a place he considers home. He picks up his dad’s old skateboard and reconnects with old friends. As he struggles to find his own path, he finds solace in riding the board and learning new tricks as he works towards a skate competition with a prize purse that could really help his family and his self esteem.

Groves packs a lot of storylines and problems into Bryce’s summer. I appreciated a modern look into rez life - it felt real in a way most Native stories haven’t felt for me before.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner - ADVISABLE

Last Day Pool Party by Emma Steinkellner, 170 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Labyrinth Road, 2026. $22

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

It's the day of 8th grade graduation. Dustin is throwing a pool part that he is pretty sure nobody wants to come to. Rose just wants to make a friend before she starts high school. Juhi has to tell her best friend, Liv that she is moving to London in three weeks. Maya, the popular girl, is being forced to go to Dustin's party when she'd really rather be with her friends. And Paul, Maya's cousin, is just along for the ride; he'd rather be gaming with his online friends. When all the characters come together at Dustin's house, will they be able to put aside their differences and see that what they really need is each other?

I love realistic middle-grade graphic novels, and this was no exception. Pre-teens will relate to the struggles each of the characters face. I liked that the characters each had their own arc, and each learned how to be a friend. This would be great for upper elementary and middle school. Dustin and Liv are white; Paul, Maya, Rose, and Juhi are BIPOC. Characters have diverse body types and families (Maya has a single mom and Rose has two moms).

Rachel, elementary school librarian 

Rising Thunder by Neal Shusterman - ESSENTIAL

Rising Thunder (Scythe prequel, First Blades #1) by Neal Shusterman, 560 pages. Simon and Schuster, DECEMBER 2026. $25

Language: PG-13 (55 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (deaths mentioned, some bloody)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Who created Thunderhead? Who were the first Scythes and why did they start their gruesome business? How did humankind create immortality?

Welcome back to the beginnings of the world of Scythes where you will find as many questions as you do answers and love every minute of it. Shusterman crafts interesting, complicated, and thoughtful narratives and he does not disappoint as he unveils the first scythes and how they “got the job”. I can’t wait for others to read this so that I have people to talk to about it!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Romance Rewind by Sarah Everett - OPTIONAL

The Romance Rewind by Sarah Everett, 304 pages. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books (Penguin Random House), 2026. $13.

Language: R (120 swears, 24 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use including underage drinking, kissing, innuendo, and mentions of drugs and sex); Violence: PG (assault and mentions of murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When Jason (18yo) takes Zadie (18yo) out to dinner for their one-year anniversary, she is expecting a promise—not a break up. To make matters worse, they get into a car accident on the drive home that leaves Jason in a coma before he can explain what she did wrong! Now Zadie has more questions than ever and little idea how to find the answers in her past.

Struggling under the weight of the expectations of those around her, Zadie has a difficult time knowing herself, her wants, her loves. It takes a drastic change for her to step back and gain a new perspective—admitting that she was right about some things and wrong about others. Goals and working hard to become your best self are good things to do in life, but making sure that you love fully—familially, platonically, and/or romantically—are great things. Zadie is Black, and Jason is White.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Flip by Ngozi Ukazu - OPTIONAL

Flip by Ngozi Ukazu, 314 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $26

Language: R (57 swears, 3 f) Mature Content: PG-13 (sexual references, secondary characters same sex attraction, suicidal thoughts)) Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Chi-Chi Ekeh is in her senior year at a prestigious boarding school. Black, and from Nigeria, Chi-Chi is drawn to white boys, and when her private proposal to ask her crush, Flip Henderson, to prom ends up in a public rejection, she switches bodies with him. Chi-Chi is a shy, nerdy, scholarship student, and Flip is the most popular boy in school. While switching helps them see each other's point of view, the switching episodes are lasting longer, and they need to be able to switch back before graduation.

This is the Freaky Friday version of switching bodies, but a male/female switch is much more complicated. Think periods. The themes of accepting and liking yourself ring true, as well as the need to be seen. I liked that both characters have issues, and that no one's life is easy. The K-pop fanning is fun and art works well. This is an engaging, fast read.

Michelle in the Middle 

Last to Leave by Teresa Richards - ADVISABLE

Last to Leave by Teresa Richards, 331 pages. Charlesbridge, 2026. $19

Content: PG (fake murders mentioned, adult gets drunk)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Fallon is ecstatic; she has the chance of a lifetime to participate in a live-streamed 1920’s themed murder mystery with a million dollar prize. What she didn’t bank on was her best friend, fellow influencer, Dante, also taking part. In the race for answers and the money, can Fallon trust Dante to have her back or will this ruin their friendship before it has a chance to blossom into something more? Ulterior motives, backstabbing, and shady business abound.

Richards gives us a romp of a mystery that doesn’t rely upon blood or sensationalism to make it interesting. I was surprised by the end to realize the lack of content issues. I breezed through this one in the very best way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen - OPTIONAL

Checking You Out by Jennifer Chen, 320 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2026. $15.

Language: R (55 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (kissing, mentions of alcohol, partial nudity, and mild innuendo); Violence: PG (discussions of bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When Lizzie finds a book receipt at the library showing that someone else has checked out her three favorite fantasy books, she and her friends set out to discover the identity of her new book crush. Dylan left the nerdy book part of his personality back at his old school, determined not to let the teasing follow him to the end of senior year and his last summer before college. Becoming closer through anonymous notes but resistant to each other in person, Lizzie and Dylan wonder if they should even bother figuring out their complicated relationship when they’re both about to leave LA for different colleges.

The characters are over-the-top in their love for books and cats in mostly endearing ways. By making them obsessed with their passions, Chen drives home the point that no one should be afraid to be themselves and shows the beauty of friends that accept you and your quirks as is. You are not alone; there are people out there who are like you and will love you for being yourself. Lizzie and Dylan are Asian American.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield - OPTIONAL

Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield, 320 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $20.

Language: R (25 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (partial nudity and alcohol use, including underage drinking); Violence: PG (harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Starting freshman year at a different college from her best friend means that Sydney has to find out how to make new friends on top of figuring out her classes, extracurriculars, and what she wants to major in. Sydney’s online presence is a natural part of her life and a solace when everything else has changed, but she isn’t expecting the spectrum of responses, from love to hate to questioning who she even is anymore.

When I started reading, I expected all the conflict to be about self-discovery, as life goes in college. I loved the anonymous pen pal trope that got sprinkled in, and then I was surprised by the addition of discussing activism and digitalism that exploded into being in the last third of Sydney’s story. Stringfield communicates all of this exclusively through Sydney’s digital content: blog posts, emails, texts, and tweets. While the format was sometimes confusing, the content is worth pondering and discussing.

The majority of characters, including Sydney, are Black. Sydney also describes herself as being queer.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Drowning Game by Dusti Bowling - OPTIONAL

The Drowning Game by Dusti Bowling, 288 pages. Union Square, October 2026 $19

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (kissing; girls stop Christian from taking it further, teen alcohol use); Violence: PG13 (drownings off-page, description of dead body, talk of forensics, self harm, description of murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

It's the end of Christian's summer before his senior year, and his best friend James, invites him to come back to Arizona for a river rafting trip. When he gets there, he finds James has two other friends and a girlfriend there. Christian does not approve of the amount of alcohol the boys are consuming, and he gets on the river despite James "forgetting" to bring life jackets. When the inevitable happens, and Freya - the girlfriend drowns, the police rule it an accident and Christian returns to Minnesota. But he can't get Freya out of his mind, and the drowning becomes an obsession.

Usually Bowling's books are middle school appropriate; this one is solidly YA even though the content is mild (no swearing, no sex other than kissing) but James is a bad dude, and Christian is messed up by all of this and is making some really bad choices. About midway through the book, I didn't even like Christian anymore. The twists were unexpected, and the suspense was maintained, so it's a good mystery. I prefer her books for the younger readers, I guess. 

Christian is white.

Lisa Librarian 

The Cartoonist's Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud - ADVISABLE

The Cartoonist's Club by Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud, 288 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Scholastic, 2025. $15

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Middle schoolers Makayla and Howard find a common interest. She likes making up stories, and he loves drawing pictures. Maybe they should start an afternoon Cartoonists Club! Lynda sits on the outside for a bit, she loves to draw but feels it's personal and worries it's not good enough, and Art joins too - he's clever and inventive - and his dad is an animator, so he has lots of good advice. The Librarian, Ms. Fatima, has some cartoon experience as well. This club has a lot to teach each other, about being brave, creative, and putting yourself and your art out there for others to enjoy as well.

Not your typical Reina Telgemeier graphic novel. It's definitely a how-to for someone wanting to try their hand at drawing or writing comics. I loved how supportive the kids were, and how the librarian didn't overreach, letting the kids learn from their own experience. I'm not sure the best place to shelve it - while it's a fictional story about a group of kids in an after-school activity, it's more a guide to drawing comics. The children and librarian are a mix of races and cultures.

Lisa Librarian 

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin - ESSENTIAL

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, 400 pages. Penguin, 2024. $19

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, civilian war violence - bombs, injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It's 1940, and Germany's invasion of England is imminent. 14yo Lizzie is being evacuated by her grandmother to the United States, and she's not going. She evades her grandmother's agent and sets out to find her 19yo brother Collin. Their mother was working for the US embassy and is missing (and presumed dead) in Poland. Lizzie can't believe her mother is dead. There's no body, no one saw her die; she just disappeared. All Lizzie has is hope, and she's going to find out the truth. Collin is working in the town of Bletchley, and can't talk about what he does. He's a mathematician and has signed the Secrets Act. When Lizzie joins him, she signs the Act too. Now they are both very busy, trying to stop Hitler - and looking for clues to find out what happened to their mother.

These two powerhouse authors are the perfect team! Told in alternating chapters (more or less), the two teens' stories are exciting, suspenseful, and age-appropriate both for the characters and the intended readers. I know Historical Fiction is a hard sell, but I'll be recommending The Bletchley Riddle whenever it's back on the shelf. Collin and Lizzie are English; their mother is American.

Lisa Librarian 

Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio - ADVISABLE

Isabel in Bloom by Mae Respicio, 364 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Random House, 2024. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Isabel has recently moved to California from the Philippines to finally live with her mother. To provide a better life, Isabel's mom has been working in the States for the last 6 years and sending money back to Isabel and her grandparents. When she left, her grandfather told her to look for things in America that are familiar, but even her mother is no longer familiar. Joining a cooking club at school and helping revive the school garden may be just the thing Isabel needs to finally feel at home and make some friends. 

Isabel is a darling girl with grit - her grandparents have prepared her well for her move to America, including a bottle full of the smell of home. While I enjoy novels in verse, sometimes they tell a story that lacks depth; I felt that with this one. There was so much I didn't know, relationships that could have been better developed with more text, particularly Isabel's relationship with her mother.

Lisa Librarian 

Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf - ADVISABLE

Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf, 522 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Junius Leak, who is almost 13yo, is being exiled to stay with his Uncle Spot on his rickety houseboat while his parents work on their marriage. Junius has a love-hate relationship with water: he is writing his own book about water bodies, but he is terrified of being in the water. Junius discovers that he comes from a long line of Junius Leaks, who are tied to pirate treasure, and that there are a lot of surprises in Delcambre, Louisiana, where he was born. Junius wants to learn why his mother left town when he was just a baby and how to overcome his fear of water, all before an impending real-life disaster waits in the wings.

The narrative alternates between Junius and the lake. The lake has a great voice and the story spans 100's of years, involving pirate treasure, family feuds, and a mysterious and cursed Siren's Flute. I loved this book. The only thing keeping it from an essential rating is its length. I didn't pick it up at first because it looked like a huge investment of my time. However, it was an investment I was happy to make once I got going. This a fictionalized story around the real-life bizarre lake disaster in 1980, where an entire lake disappeared. Junius is a great character who is highly sensitive and he is both likable and relatable. The writing style makes every character seem real, even the lake. Indeed, the lake makes a great metaphor for "the way life can stir us up, disorient us, and leave us forever changed." Readers will want to read Wolf's graphic novel, "The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur," for more of the facts behind the story. They make a great companion set. The culture is white with plenty of Creole thrown in.

Michelle in the Middle