Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood - OPTIONAL

Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood, 352 pages. Scholastic, MARCH 2026. $15 (pb)

Language: R (71 swears, 4  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (four deaths by various means, a good amount of blood mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It has been almost a year since the kids defeated the “ghoul” of Carrington Manor and they are returning to town for an exclusive interview.  They want to set the record straight in light of Rick Field’s new book, where he takes credit for much that happened. Cam, who never left town, though is creeped out, because he has been seeing the ghoul. Then the whole group discovers a dead body in that infamous alley and everyone becomes worried.  While the original “ghoul” can’t come back, a copycat seems to be in town - someone with even more murderous intentions.

Wood tries hard to distract us from who the murderer might be and on some level he succeeds with his red herrings. The action is a little bloodier thai time around. It seems as though there are hints of a third book at the end.  We’ll see.

Cam and Jonesy are an official LGBT couple now.  The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham - OPTIONAL

Sonnets and Serpents (Casters and Crowns #2) by Elizabeth Lowham, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $25.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Princess Eliza (17yo) runs away from the castle and country of Leogria when her beloved Henry is banished, determined to join him in exile. She soon finds herself lost and unable to communicate in Pravusat, where the only Loegrian she can find is also a monster—a magical shapeshifter—and rude besides. Desperate for help, Eliza traps the shapeshifter to convince him to be her translator, not knowing that she is trapping herself in the process.

While the first book gives context to the world and some of the characters’ backstories, Eliza and Silas’s adventures can be enjoyed independently of the first book, which focuses on Eliza’s sister. The magic in this world is unique in its division of magic classes, and, though they are not unique aspects to this story alone, love and betrayal abound in the lives of the protagonists. Eliza is the romantic chasing after a love story to make it into something real, and Silas is the academic who has been hurt too many times to believe in love. I enjoyed watching these characters grow as Lowham showed how these two opposites could come together as a complementary pair.

Eliza is described as “pale,” and Silas is described as “honey brown.” The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and nudity, mild innuendo, and kissing. The violence rating is for assault, blood, fantasy violence, mentions of human trafficking, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice - ADVISABLE

Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice, 374 pages. Candlewick 2025. $19

Language: PG (48  swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (summer/winter relationship); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Lily loves her life on Pippa Beach, a tiny town in Australia, even though her mother is flighty and unreliable. Then one day a gorgeous Hollywood star, Dorian Khan, and his friends descend upon the town upending everything. While Dorian’s friend Casey seems smitten with Juliet, Lily’s cousin, Dorian is aloof - sure that everyone wants him around only for his fame. And Lily’s starstruck mother and younger sister don’t help matters.  No matter how much she tries to stay away from Dorian, even after his summer visit is over, Lily’s path continues to cross his - even in California - where Lily gets a hard introduction to life in the Hollywood spotlight.

The Rice’s take on Pride and Prejudice is pretty fun.  I think that students who don’t know the source material won’t be bothered by that - they will just enjoy the antics of the characters. I enjoyed the places where the authors strayed far from Austen’s plot the best. 

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - ADVISABLE

Skin of the Sea (Skin of the Sea #1) by Natasha Bowen, 325 pages. Random House, 2021. $13.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Chosen to help gather the souls of those who die in the sea, Simi is supposed to let the ocean take the memories of her life on land. But she holds onto the image of brown eyes. Eyes she is reminded of when she finds a boy in the sea, and, instead of just saving the human boy’s soul, she also saves his body.

While there are elements of Simi’s story reminiscent of The Little Mermaid, her story is more fully occupied with telling the African mythology version of mermaids, fairies, pantheon of gods, and more. The language Bowen uses to paint Simi’s story is resplendent, making the pages pass quickly despite the feeling that there wasn’t much going on in the first half of the book. An abrupt ending draws readers into needing the sequel right away.

Simi is described as having “dark brown” skin, and Kola and his siblings are described as having “reddish dark brown” skin. The òyìnbó are White and everyone else who isn’t explicitly described in shades of tan, brown, and onyx are implied Black. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and kidnapping for enslavement. The violence rating is for corpses, assault, gun use, blood and gore, fantasy violence, and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Uninvited by Nancy Banks - ADVISABLE

The Uninvited by Nancy Banks, 288 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (smoking); Violence: PG-13 (vampires killing people, violent attacks on people, attempted suicide, sexual abuse, emotional abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Tosh has moved from Portland, Oregon to Paris with her father.  She is excited about school, learning a new language and embracing all the sights and sounds of Paris. It’s a dream come true! Shortly after arriving, she meets another neighbor and student, Nick, who becomes her tour guide and her romantic partner.  Together they explore the street-life, beautiful architecture and creepy underground catacombs where vampires are known to roam.  Are vampires real? Can a vampire be cured and become human once again? Will love and friendship survive the city of Paris’ darkest and deepest secrets?

The Uninvited was interesting and full of twists and turns.  The friendships that formed were strong and relatable.  Tosh’s relationship with her father was troubling.  He was unkind and unsupportive of her experiences and her emotions- especially when she tried to explain a traumatic event in her past.  There is an attempted suicide and some mention of the pro’s of cigarette smoking- which was really odd and unusual.  Aside from those disturbing events, I really enjoyed the book and can see YA readers enjoying it as well. 

S. Lewis

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch - OPTIONAL

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $19.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Eight years ago, Anna and her family spent the summer of her seventeenth year in Breckenridge. Anna loved it there and didn’t know they would be the last happy memories she made. Now Anna (25yo) and her mother return in desperation of their circumstances and find help from the unlikely place of the boy that followed Anna around that summer—a boy who is now a man.

Anna and David dither about, changing their minds frequently about their unusual situation—one that they brought upon themselves. They make an adorable couple when they allow themselves to be and are eyeroll inducing when the pitfall of unclear communication further tangles things. Tragic backstories make the happily ever after feel that much sweeter, and it’s an overall cute story.

The majority of characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing, partial nudity, mentions of alcohol and brothels, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault; mentions of child abuse, animal cruelty, and self harm; and gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson 

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila - ESSENTIAL

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila, 294 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Roberto Alvarez loves school. He is a good student and loves his grammar school. However, this is 1931, and work is hard to find. Many American-born Mexicans are being repatriated to Mexico, and Roberto's school has decided to send all the Mexican children to a separate school, a retrofitted old barn. The Mexican community bands together to enlist the help of the Mexican Consulate, and Roberto becomes the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board.  

Told in free verse, this story is based on an actual event. There is a lot of Spanish thrown in, and even though it is not translated, it adds to the story. This is a fast read, and young readers will be able to identify with Roberto and his courage to represent his people in a foreign environment. Roberto is Mexican American. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean - ADVISABLE

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean, 352 pages. Sarah Barley Books (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20.

Language: R (34 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Emma (17yo) knows what her future looks like: going to college nearby with a practical degree to take care of her family. Because it’s better to play it safe than to risk anyone—especially herself—getting hurt. But Emma lets herself wish for proof that love is real, and, in return, she gets an anonymous pen pal from the future.

Okay, I admit, I absolutely rolled my eyes when the pen pal said he was from the future, and I nearly threw the book down to punish it. But I am so happy that I kept reading. I felt all of Emma’s highs and lows, I celebrated and cried with her, and I love how Jean brilliantly brought everything together in the end. Emma’s story is about how much more important it is to choose our lives over and over again than to try and cheat happiness by sitting it out.

Emma is Japanese-American, and the majority of other characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, partial nudity, groping, and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for a joke about murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman - ESSENTIAL

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman, 320 pages. Little, Brown, 2025. $18.

 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, monster description) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Clare is an undead fox, used by the afterlife to usher souls who don't know which door to pass through. He can tell by touching them or talking to them which portal they would be most comfortable in - Pleasure, Peace, Progress, or Pain. But one evening, close to All Hallows Eve, a dead Badger appears, but none of the portals accept her. Clare is at a loss. But in an effort to help Gingersnipes, Clare leaves the forest to seek out Hesterfowl, a bird who prophesied a catastrophic event about Clare, and the visit may just set her prophesy in motion. 

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest was one of my favorite reads this year. Mercin Minor's illustrations, at the anticipation of each chapter, add context and expression to this already exciting and thoughtful story. I love that the characters approaching their afterlife assess their lives and reflect on relationships (or the lack thereof). Most of the characters are animals, with a brief but important encounter with humans. 

 Lisa Librarian 

A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds - OPTIONAL

A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds, 352 pages. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House), 2026. $13.

Language: R (25 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Sick of the government-track boys asking her out to get an introduction to her aunt, Naomi (18yo) deters them by saying she’s betrothed. To a demon. When one spurned suitor asks what her betrothed’s name is, Naomi makes one up: Daziel. Then a demon claiming to be Daziel shows up in her rooms, and he stubbornly refuses to be banished.

The story, the magic, and the budding romance were all fun, though I was confused about the world where it all took place. There is obvious Jewish influence, with Naomi’s aunt as a political leader part of the “Sanhedrin” and mentions of “rabbis,” but no one is described as Jewish and there is no mention of Judaism by name. Further complicating matters are the presence of French boulangeries and the use of British terms. These vocabulary choices without a clear explanation of the world I was supposed to be imagining were distracting, though in the end they weren’t important details to the story. And I even learned a couple of new words.

Naomi is depicted as White on the cover, and Daziel is described as having “bronze” skin. Also, Jelan and Gilli are implied to be gay. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, partial nudity, and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz - ADVISABLE

The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz, 400 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19.

Language: PG (13 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Tiph is enamored with the dollhouse shop near her house, but the owner has forbidden her to come inside until an incident with a tiny cuckoo clock is resolved. But when she meets a Hungarian woman who also has an interest in dollhouses and a need for a dog walker and litterbox cleaner, Tiph finds more than employer; Néni Szilvia is a good listener, a kind soul, and a much-needed friend, and she has a beautiful dollhouse! But when Tiph discovers that the doll of her dreams is much more expensive than she could ever afford, she makes a choice that could change everything, including her relationship with Néni Szilvia. 

I loved this story so much - told in alternating perspectives, the dolls are sentient when no one can see them, and they play together, particularly Gretel and Red Riding Hood. There is also a dog and a cat who can talk to the dolls and interact with them. It was like pieces of magic interspersed through a story about a girl making friends, fixing mistakes, growing up and discovering she's a pretty good actress. I could totally relate. There's a lot of nostalgia for readers of my (advanced) age which certainly added to my enjoyment. I hope young readers also find the magic engaging, and love The Winter of the Dollhouse as much as I did. Tiph and her family are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff - ESSENTIAL

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff, 434 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2026. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Penelope has been looking forward to her entrance to Anaximander’s Academy her whole life.  Her goal has been to become an Athena like all her family before her. Entrance to the academy was much more difficult than she was led to believe. And while her twin brother is admitted to Athena Hall, Penelope is housed in Aphrodite Hall. What! Her roommate, an effusive, typical Aphrodite, renames her Ellie, and tries to show Ellie why Aphrodite’s are so much more fun than Athenas.  While Ellie resists, she is drawn in to the challenge and drama of the school, including Ellie’s remote-feeling muse, Calliope; her mysterious 12 labors that she is supposed to finish before she graduates; and the thrill of the school-wide myth challenge - this year based on Pandora’s box. 

Your first impulse will be to dismiss this as a “magical school” ripoff and your second impulse will be to compare it to another series based on Greek mythology. Get over yourself and dive in!  Wolff has created something completely unique and so much fun.  I’m actually miffed that I am going to have to wait year after year for the next installments!  I had so much fun meeting Ellie and her new friends and I can’t wait to see what the next volume brings.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares - ESSENTIAL

 

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $22. 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Peril, Police holding family at gunpoint) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Carlos is living a pretty sweet life. His family lives in Cuba near his abuelo's farm, his best friend lives nearby and he spends weekends at the beach hunting for shark teeth. But when Fidel Castro and his Revolutionaries overthrow the government, Carlos life drastically changes. His father is in danger and the family business is taken. Then his father disappears. 

I loved this perspective on the Cuban Revolution. Based on the author's father's experiences, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, really shows the impact political turmoil can have on the residents of a country, especially the children. I loved the author's note at the end with photos of his father and grandfather. I think this will be an important book and rate it an essential purchase. Carlos and his family are Cuban 

Lisa Librarian 

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard, - ESSENTIAL

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard, 368 pages. Aladdin 2026. $11. 9781665984126

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The story of the honey-loving, bumbling bear Winnie-the-Pooh will touch the hearts of those who grew up reading these adventures and will become a favorite of first time readers/ listeners. Each chapter explores a new adventure, from searching for honey or celebrating birthdays to hunting Heffalumps. 

This 100 year Anniversary Edition of the classic ""Winnie-The-Pooh"" is produced with a flocked cover (the exact color of Winnie himself)  that’s soft to the touch. Readers of all ages will relish in this beloved story in its unique form.  This edition includes both Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.  What a joy to be able to read this beloved book once again.  I remember reading it as a child, reading it to my first graders as a teacher, and to my own children.  It was so much fun being reintroduced to the main characters and reliving the excitement of their fun and unique adventures.  I love this new soft cover edition and can't wait to read it to my future grandchildren. What a treasure! 

S. Lewis

The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson - OPTIONAL

The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson, 220 pages. Kids Can Press, JUNE 2026. $20

Content: PG (threats of danger, imprisonment, death implied)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Ara has lived on Jupiter Station all of her life. Jupiter, her “father” is teaching the ways for all of them to Ascend and become stardust. Things start changing for Ara when Jupiter gives her sole responsibility for baby Nova.  Then one night Ara’s brother, Leo, tells Ara about his doubts about Jupiter; the next day Ara learns that Leo has Ascended.  But how could Leo Ascend if he had doubts? Now Ara is having doubts of her own. But what can she do with a baby to care for and the possibility of disappearing like her brother?

It’s different to have a book about a cult without the story revolving around sex exploitation. Because Ara grew up in a cult, she feels more like 11 than 13 - but I don’t think a book about a cult is a good fit for an elementary school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie - ADVISABLE

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie, 285 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (ouija board used); Violence: G (mild bullying, ghostly blood, haunting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Only his best friend, Stash, knows that 12yo Will’s mom is the head caretaker of the local cemetery, Graceland. Except now everyone will know, because his class is there for a fieldtrip. The school bully convinces - threatens - Will into helping him break into a crypt late at night for some social media cred, but something goes terribly wrong.  Now Will is hearing his name in a ghostly whisper, and blood is bubbling up from the ground.  Will and Stash need more help to solve this mystery before its influence spreads. 

Currie is great at writing spooky mysteries that don’t rely on gore to further the story. I personally like the nod to old-fashioned research skills as the group works on the mystery, how they skillfully handle the bully (with some supernatural help), and the byplay between the best friends as they widen their friend group. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid - OPTIONAL

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid, 384 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (0 swears, 15 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (fighting, use of weapons, injury and death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Inesa lives with her brother in a flooded town where they struggle to make ends meet by running a taxidermy shop, until she discovers her mother has put her forward as payment for a massive debt. That choice forces Inesa into the Lamb’s Gauntlet, a deadly, livestreamed hunt run by the powerful Caerus corporation. Melinoe is the assassin sent to hunt her, a girl trained and altered to kill without hesitation. As the chase unfolds across a harsh wasteland, both Inesa and Melinoe begin to question the roles they’ve been forced into. What starts as a fight for survival becomes a story about choice, identity, and whether love and resistance are possible in a world built on cruelty.

Reid kept me entertained and kept my interest until the end.  It definitely gave me Hunger Games vibes with the two girls on full display in the Lamb's Gauntlet.  I did like both of the characters and found it interesting how they mentally and physically modified Melinoe.  I always enjoy a slow-burn and enemies to lovers romance and this one did not disappoint. My only complaint was the world building was more implied than actually explained, but I liked the size of the book so that is not too big of a complaint.  Overall, it was action packed and romantic which I think students will enjoy. The ethnicity of the characters cues white; the women seem to be older than 18

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, - OPTIONAL

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, 254 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $8 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (kids see dead body)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Geraldine is the most hated woman in town.  Her pet project seems to be making everyone around her miserable.  But helping her polish furniture for a morning will get 13yo Tucker the rowboat that he wants, then he is willing to brave her disdain. When Tucker goes back the next morning with his friends Sadie and Clemmie, though, they did not expect to see Geraldine dead in her hallway.  Tucker knows something is wrong about the scene; his dad is the chief of police in their little town and Tucker has trained himself to see details. When he finally remembers that elusive detail, however, he may put his own life in danger. 

A solid murder mystery with a little friendship drama thrown in. I like that the kids are not cocky or obnoxious and there isn't a bully picking on them. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania - ADVISABLE

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania, 409 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $19

Content: G (threats only)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

When the Vietnam War ends and the communists take over Laos, 11yo Goa Sheng and her family must flee their beautiful home in Laos.  If their father is captured by the new government, he will probably be executed for working with the Americans. The group misses the last plane out of Laos and instead shuffle from refugee camp to refugee camp for the next year - first in hope that they will be able to return to Laos, and then hoping that they will be able to immigrate to safety and a new home.

PLEASE STOP WRITING NOVELS IN VERSE.  They are not poetic; they do not give the story the depth it deserves.  That being said, I loved seeing another side of the Vietnam war from the point of view of Laotian people. Gao Sheng, who is based on Bidania’s oldest sister, is a character worth meeting.  Both historical fiction and large-looking fiction are hard to sell to middle school students, but it is worth taking your time to find readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley - ADVISABLE

Sugar Shack (Peapod Farm #3) by Lucy Knisley,  230 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025 $22 

Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

6th grader, Jen, is spending time with her mom and stepsisters at Peapod Farm. Jen is learning to tap trees for maple syrup and how to haul an inordinate amount of firewood. Jen is also trying to fit in with her stepsisters. Just when she thinks she is making headway, Andy reminds her that Reese is HER sister, not Jen's. 

Loved the farm life. It's refreshing to have a rural setting. The art is nicely done, and the story is a delightful commentary on family life, fitting in, and adjusting to new situations. The characters are based on the author's childhood, which makes it feel genuine and comfortable. The characters are likable, even the flawed ones. This is a quick read that will make you want to visit the country. Jen is white, and her stepfamily is Jewish. 

Michelle in the Middle