Salvación by Sandra Proudman - ADVISABLE

Salvación by Sandra Proudman, 336 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martins Griffin), 2025, $21. 

Language: PG (8 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG; (kissing); Violence: PG13 (knife fight, death, torture, magical violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Lola wears a mask and dresses like a man when she takes on the persona of Salvación - an angel who rids their town of bad men. Lola's mother is a healer - helping the people of their town with Sal Negra, a magic healing salt. But when Hernandez, leading a small army, comes to their town, promising to win back Alta California from the Yankees, Lola and her brother discover he has an alter-magic, Sal Roja, which may cause the death of everyone and everything. 

A high-stakes fantasy with a nice love story in the background. I was cheering for Lola from the first page. Taking place just after the Mexican-American War and the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, I loved this story of the displacement of the Mexicans who lived in what is now California. A great Latinx Western, with adventure, magic, danger, and even an environmental message. Most of the characters are Mexican. 

Lisa Librarian 

A Sea Monster Conundrum (The Misfits #3) by Lisa Yee, art by Dan Santat - ADVISABLE

A Sea Monster Conundrum (The Misfits #3) by Lisa Yee, art by Dan Santat, 272 pages. Random House, 2026. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The RASCH gang is at it again. There's been a ghost sighting at the school and crowds are coming to see, even unexpected visitors. Could that be a Sea Monster? Our clever group of sleuths and spies are out to solve another mystery. 

Similar to the other two - gadgets and friend drama and a fun case to work on. I'm not tired of the characters yet - sometimes with such quirky personalities the characters can get silly, but Dan Santat's illustrations keep them fresh and funny. The group is a mix of races and cultures 

Lisa Librarian 

The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker - ADVISABLE

The Lion's Run by Sara Pennypacker, 288 pages. Balzer/Bray (HarperCollins), 2026. $19.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (reference to unwed mothers, Nazi baby breeding); Violence: PG (peril, military police violence on citizens, animal cruelty) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

13yo Lucas has lived at the Abbey all his life. He was found as a baby abandoned in a nearby forest. Now, he goes to school and has a job delivering for the green grocer. But, there's not much to deliver. Chantilly, like other cities in France, is occupied by Germans, and the French people are starving and afraid. Except the girls at the Lebensborn, the maternity hospital, who are well fed and healthy. Soon their babies will be taken away from them and given to good German families. Lucas meets Claire, one of the mothers, who believes she will find her baby and be reunited one day. No one can convince her otherwise. And when he sees what the Germans do to a family who may have been hiding Jewish children, Lucas decides to do something about them. 

I really enjoyed this gripping story of a French community during WWII. Action packed throughout - does this boy sleep much? - this coming of age historical fiction was a real page turner. I loved the themes of found family, bravery, perseverance, and courage. With so many great historical fiction books of late, I'm praying for a resurgence in interest, as kids will love this if they'll pick it up. The characters are French 

Lisa Librarian  

Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon by Van Hoang - ADVISABLE

Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon by Van Hoang, 272 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2026. $19

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: EL - SEVERAL; MS - SOME

12yo Domi has made a costly mistake, and instead of spending summer with her friends and going to art class, her parents are sending her to to stay with her aunt in New Mexico to work at her nail salon. Domi feels out of place with Auntie Q and her employees at the nail salon. They are all older than her and mostly speak Vietnamese, and some of them are not happy that Domi is there. Domi must earn money to pay back her parents if she wants to get home before summer is over, but the more time she spends at the salon, the more she is learning about the business and herself, the more she wants to stay and find ways to help her Aunt's struggling salon, as well as discover why her aunt and mom aren't close anymore.

Hoang gives us  a fun read that explores family dynamics, making friends in a new situation, and learning how to be yourself when there are a lot of parental expectations. Domi must navigate her cultural expectations of filial respect while wanting to do her own thing and develop her own talents. The look behind the scenes of a nail salon will be fun for tween girls as well as Domi being a relatable character who sometimes makes mistakes.

Main character is 2nd generation Vietnamese, but many of the salon employees have recently arrived from Vietnam and speak no English.

Heather Robinson

Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington - OPTIONAL

Girls Who Play Dead by Joelle Wellington, 416 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $22

Language: R (100+ swears, 91 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Vaping, drinking, sexual references, passionate kissing. mental health discussion;) Violence: PG-13 (Murder, bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17 yo Mikky left home after struggling with his mental health freshman year, but now he  returns to Prophets Lake to support his younger sister Kyla after her best friend Erin is murdered. Meanwhile Kyla, who works at their family’s struggling funeral home, has to prepare for her best friend's funeral. After they both return to school, Mikky questions how much he knows his sister as he watches her take up Erin’s mean girl mantle. Trying to help his sister, Mikky begins investigating who killed Erin. But underneath the typical small town atmosphere, the Cook Cosmetic company has a major influence. Plus, Erin’s mom is a director, and Erin was a brand ambassador. As he investigates, Mikky knows that Kayla is keeping secrets, and he wonders how much she knows about the night that Erin was murdered.

Most of the novel is from Mikky’s point of view, but the occasional chapters from Kyla’s point of view adds nice tension. I struggled to like Kyla’s character and her bullying even though the novel does well describing her struggles and grief. The overall pacing was good, and it kept me reading. More than just a murder mystery, the novel explores a range of themes including being yourself in a small town, the bonds of friendship, wealth inequality, mental health and therapy, and issues with the beauty industry.

Mikky and Kyla are Black. Mikky and his friends Rowan and Nasim are LGBT+. Nasim is Iranian.

Ms. Megan, High School Librarian

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi - ADVISABLE

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi, 208 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Mariam has her period); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Mariam has recently transferred from public school to a private Catholic school. Mariam is the only Muslim child there. Although she has always done well in school - in fact she's often the "teacher's sunshine" she's finding it more difficult at the new school, because math is harder and nice handwriting wasn't an expectation in public school. She makes a couple of friends right away and by Christmas is even given the role of Mary in the class Nativity play (her teacher thought it would be nice to have a middle eastern child in the role). But when Mariam's 8yo sister becomes ill, she starts to worry if prayers won't be answered because of her perceived conflicts with religion. 

Mariam is a great example of a good kid, she tries so hard and is shocked when she does get in trouble for something. Her parents' high expectations aren't unrealistic. I loved that her friends were supportive and that there weren't bullies to contend with. I also loved how Al-Marashi continued to connect the religious communities, rather than always showing the differences. Not just for Muslim kids, I enjoyed Hail Mariam very much. 

Lisa Librarian 

Diamond Fever! A True Crime Story in the Wild West by Steve Sheinkin, comics and art by Jon Chad - ADVISABLE

Diamond Fever! A True Crime Story in the Wild West by Steve Sheinkin, comics and art by Jon Chad, 256 pages. NON-FICTION Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2026. $19. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In 1872 Philip Arnold and John Slack started an interest in a supposed diamond mine somewhere in the old west. Some of the richest men in America get involved and want to become investors, but is the promise of unbelievable wealth blinding them to the fact that this mine may become The Great Diamond Hoax? 

A real true crime adventure! I loved the added comics to bridge some of the sections, providing movement and a fresh voice - or rather the voices of the characters rather than just the narrator, I especially loved the comic about how diamonds are made. I loved how Sheinkin added context chapters, talking about what was happening back East at the same time, like who the president was and what happened with his buggy race. There's an author's note which shouldn't be missed, as well as source notes, a bibliography and an index. 

The main characters are white 

Lisa Librarian 

Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn - ADVISABLE

Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn, 277 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Dial Books (Penguin), 2025. $15

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo James is so tired of all of the robots in his life, his robot babysitter, dogbots at the park and even drones that look like bugs.  It is the last straw when robots are introduced as teachers at his school.  Can James and an unlikely ally save the school from being taken over by robot teachers?

Schoolbot 9000 is a graphic novel with a very interesting premise.  What would happen if robots started showing up in your everyday life?  I think that students who are fans of graphic novels will like this silly but interesting book!  Hepburn takes an idea that could possibly happen in our future and makes a good story of it.

James is presumably white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Eyes Like Stars by Ashley Poston - ADVISABLE

Eyes Like Stars by Ashley Poston, 400 pages. Random House, 2026. $14.

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use, illegal activity, mentions of smut, mild innuendo, kissing, and partial nudity); Violence: PG13 (assault, gun use, mentions of torture, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ardent (18yo) only left the spaceship to buy the last volume of her book series. Returning to the ship should have been easy, but she somehow got into the middle of a blaster fight and had to run for her life with a stranger—a stranger that convinces her to let him stowaway on their cruise ship until the next stop. Hiding one boy shouldn’t be too hard among the passengers and crew, especially since the ship practically belongs to Ardent, whether she wants it or not.

Poston sets this Star Wars story between episodes six and seven, according to the timeline and characters Disney introduced to the universe (rather than the storylines Disney decanonized). While a couple familiar characters are discussed and make an appearance, Poston introduces a bunch of new characters to fall in love with. Seeing another side of the Star Wars universe where normal lives continue, have troubles, and resolve them without Jedi popping up to save the day every time is refreshing—but it still includes plenty of space travel, droids, and action. Even in this exciting galaxy far, far away, there are people wondering what they want to do and how to navigate difficult relationships, just like us earthling, human readers. Ardent is described as pale.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Limelight by Andrew Keenan Bolger - OPTIONAL

Limelight by Andrew Keenan Bolger, 344 pages. Penguin, 2026. $20.

Language: R (161 swears, 36 'f'); Mature Content: R (sexual activity - clothing removed, heavy petting, mention of prostitutes, gay and straight kissing); Violence: PG13 (domestic violence described, verbal sexual harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Danny's life has recently changed dramatically. It's 1996, and he and his mother have run away from Danny's abusive father, and they are living in a seedy apartment in Staten Island. The apartment belonged to Danny's uncle, who has died, and who left behind a large collection of Broadway cast albums on cassette. Danny is bullied at the Catholic school he attends, and with his new interest in Broadway, he auditions for the LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts in New York City and gets in! He meets Christian, a dance major who is learning to perform drag. Christian welcomes Danny into his friend group, and the two become best friends. But Danny is worried when his feelings for Christian change to something more. Based on New York in the 90s when author Andrew Keenan-Bolger first arrived there and the city was gritty and sleazy. Although Danny only lives a ferry ride away, his life experience is very different from the kids he meets at theater school.

I loved it when they took him to all the places they loved in New York City. I loved all the show references and nods to really old Broadway songs and composers like Irving Berlin and Cole Porter, but Keenan-Bolger also referenced contemporary shows like Rent and Les Misérables. Much too mature for a middle grade audience, I think high school theater kids will enjoy this LGBT coming of age story set right around the corner from Lincoln Center and Broadway.

Danny is white, and Christian is Asian.

Lisa Librarian h

RV There Yet? by Suzanne Nelson - ADVISABLE

RV There Yet? by Suzanne Nelson, 338 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2026. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Merrivale and Buckfort kids are on a surprise "familymoon" when the Merrivale mom and the Buckfort dad marry, and their families become blended. The parents borrow a dodgy RV, load five brand-new siblings into it, and head to Yellowstone, along with a dog and an escaped pet snake. The two girls and three boys range in age from 8-12, and face an array of adventures as they try to come together as a family.

I thought this book would be superficial and trite, but it turned out to be a really heartwarming ride, loosely based on the author's blended family Yellowstone trip. The family drama rang true and anyone with siblings will identify with at least one character. The book addresses fallout from divorce and blending families in a realistic yet upbeat way. Families can be annoying, fun, and messy, and you will get all of it here in this insightful read.

The characters are drawn white on the cover.

Michelle in the Middle 

Europa (City Spies #7) by James Ponti, - ADVISABLE

Europa (City Spies #7) by James Ponti, 378 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $19

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The City Spies are trying to stop bombs from targeting high level targets in Europe. Their key suspect is behind bars, but insists that he can stop the threats if he is released from prison. Clementine's name appears in secret communications, implying her involvement. The team has to pool its resources to figure out clues to where the next bomb sites might be.

City Spies always has a lot of action and fast-thinking kids. Outguessing the clues is like outguessing a Jeopardy champion, so that's not going to happen much. While the story is good, I'm getting ready for some closure before the kids start shaving and paying taxes. If you like the City Spies, you'll know what you're in for, though the storyline doesn't advance the Clementine thread much. The City Spies come from a variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Michelle in the Middle 

Absent by Rex Ogle and LJ-Baptiste - SEVERAL

Absent by Rex Ogle and LJ-Baptiste, 304 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL, NOVEL IN VERSE Norton YR, September 2026. $18

Language: R (19 swears 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Physical bullying, threats, taunting, menacing)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Liam, Manny and Cal are all in middle school and serving detention together because of attendance problems. Cal is responsible for getting his little brothers to school, but it’s not close to his, and when his bike gets stolen, he just can’t make it on time. Manny just hates school; he feels like it’s a waste of time and that he already knows all he needs to. Manny would rather just write poetry (rap lyrics) - so when he’s caught sluffing at the skate park, he also ends up in detention. And Liam is bullied, Grady and his 2 minions are ruthless, and so he hides in a closet in the library for a few days, but eventually is caught by a teacher he skipped when headed to lunch.

Ogle’s perspectives are brilliant. Liam tells his story in prose, Manny’s story is poetry - mostly rap, but even when it’s not structured like a poem it still reads like poetry somehow (Ogle - what the heck?), and Cal illustrates his story with Cartoon panels. A truly middle grade novel, rated optional because of the singular f bomb. Absenteeism is a big problem in schools today. 

Manny is Hispanic (his interactions with his grandparents are often Spanish) Cal is illustrated black, and Liam defaults white.

Lisa Librarian 

When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller - ADVISABLE

When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller, 266 pages. Random House, 2026. $18

Language: G (0 swears ) 'f's'); Mature Content: PG (Sexting picture shared, in bra); Violence: PG (classroom altercation)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Arthur, Violet and Nomi found a book they think contains prophecies - vague things that, if you are looking for them, you will see them come true. But the final prophecy seems to predict a fire and the destruction - of what? Their town, their friendship, something else? Now that they are in 7th grade and more mature than when they originally found the book, they've changed. Is it still OK for girls to be friends with boys? Arthur is worried that his feelings for Nomi might change everything, so he steps away from the friend group, and Vi has troubles of her own with her mom and a boy on Arthur's track team, while Nomi is frantic, hoping to find a sequel to their book and maybe prevent prophecy from happening, but it might be happening already.

The kids each tell their stories in alternating chapters, which I liked. A nice perspective, especially as the friends were keeping secrets from each other. The multiple perspectives and the tree narrated sections (commentary? something else, I wasn't sure about this) gave a lot to unpack. This is a book about unraveling friendships, growing up, and social media. There's a lot that can be discussed in a class or in a book club. Arthur has 2 dads, Vi and Nomi are Asian.

Lisa Librarian 

The Totally Awesome World of MrBeast by Neal E. Fischer - MANY

The Totally Awesome World of MrBeast by Neal E. Fischer, 128 pages. BIOGRAPHY Quarto, 2025. $15

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Facts and statistics about MrBeast, the man who went from a disinterested student and college dropout to one of the most viral YouTube stars on the planet.

The layout is bright and colorful and makes the text engaging. There are not only facts about Mr. Beast, but interesting side notes, like how the term computer bug was coined after a moth got into a main frame and caused it to fritz. MrBeast's story may inspire wanna-be YouTubers and his work ethic is impressive, which is important for aspiring YouTubers to understand.

Mr. Beast is white.

Michelle in the Middle 

10 Ways to Fight Misinformation by Gregor Craigie and Bithi Sutradhar - ADVISABLE

10 Ways to Fight Misinformation (Sticking to the Facts) by Gregor Craigie and Bithi Sutradhar, 52 pages. NON-FICTION Orca, 2026. $20

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

In an age of misinformation, especially on the internet, this book is a handy reference tool. This is a short, well laid-out book that has short, easy to read chapters covering various topics, such as checking sources and authors. There are also great side bars about real incidents of fake news.

I only intended to skim through this, but read it cover to cover. This would be a great resource for teachers and students as they begin navigating source material for reports, and also for anyone who is wondering whether or not to share a story on social media.

Michelle in the Middle 

Real Life Disasters (Danger Files) by Anna Crowley Redding and Robbie Cathro - ESSENTIAL

Real Life Disasters (Danger Files) by Anna Crowley Redding and Robbie Cathro, 208 pages. NON-FICTION Candlewick, 2025. $18

Language: G (0 swears 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, death counts)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

5 real life disasters told from the perspective of a child (in most cases). Includes The Great Chicago Fire, The Titanic, The Spanish Flu, The Great Molasses Flood and The Hindenburg. 

There is so much to like about this book (series). Information is presented referencing primary sources, each story contains a “try this yourself” experiment relative to the story and the telling is engaging and quick with illustrations, and side bars. I’m getting the whole series.

Most of the characters are presumed white

Lisa Librarian 

Mexikid Dreams by Pedro Martin - ESSENTIAL

Mexikid Dreams (Mexikid #2) by Pedro Martin, 320 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin, SEPTEMBER 2026. $25

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (sibling fights and pranks, also guard violence at a prison)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

10yo Pedro (who is about 13 by the end of the book) is back from Mexico with his family (8 brothers and sisters) Their restaurant has been damaged by an earthquake and so the family has moved to California where they are sharecroppers, picking strawberries. Everyone helps, all hands are needed to make ends meet. But when the oldest brother gets a job at a lumberyard, Pedro starts making a plan to get out of working too - he wants to draw (and watch cartoons). But when a friend at school encourages Pedro to join the band, he rethinks his plan. Now he wants to plan the trombone!

Pedro Martin is so funny, and this series is delightful. I love how he shows the sibling interactions, funny names for the outhouse and the way they work in the fields. I also loved how he really showed the plight of the share croppers, the difficulty making a profit and a danger experienced by undocumented people (in 1977) who were desperate for work so they could send money home. A great companion which can stand alone to Mexikid. The family is Mexican with some of the children first generation American

Lisa Librarian 

Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith - SEVERAL

Midsummer Sisters by Niki Smith, 270 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Scholastic, 2026. $15

Language: PG (14 swears, 0 f); Mature Content: PG (divorce, same sex crush, contention); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Stepsisters, Kenzie and Quinn have never known life without each other, but that may change as their home life begins to crumble. They spend the summer with their grandmother on the marshy coastal islands where they discover a herd of wild ponies and a new foal, and try and navigate the uncertainties the futures might bring.

The girls are between 9yo and 12yo, though age is never specified. The girls' problems are legitimate and difficult, and there are no easy answers when parents fall out of love. There is a lot of arguing and angst in the book, which made me slightly anxious, but it rings true. This might be a good way to build empathy or an opportunity to explore troubled feelings and relationships. I like that the sisters are so different, yet love each other. The girls are drawn white, though no culture is specified. 

Michelle in the Middle  

A Glimmer of Change by Elle McNicoll - ADVISABLE

A Glimmer of Change (A Kind of Spark - prequel) by Elle McNicoll, 207 pages. Random House, 2025. $18

Language: G (0 swears 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Keedie is neurodivergent. Her twin sister is not, and unfortunately, lately has become one of the leaders of a peer group who bullies kids who may be different, or shy, or poor, or whatever they want to pick on them for. Keedie isn’t having it, and after standing up for a friend at a party, she’s asked by another classmate to be their champion as well. Keedie starts an anti-bullying agency and takes on clients, for a fee. But when the bullies claim Keedie is targeting them, her plan begins to unravel.

Elle McNicoll writes neurodiversity so well, and in this story Keedie, who I loved in A Kind of Spark a year or two ago, really shines. I love that she isn’t afraid to speak her mind and stand up for what she believes, even when she’s standing up to teachers and the headmaster. A definite recommend, stands alone although it’s a prequel.

Keedie is Scottish as are all the characters

Lisa Librarian