The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Garcia - OPTIONAL

The Misdirection of Fault Lines by Anna Garcia, 352 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $13 (pb)

Language: R  (75+ swears, 67 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mildly inappropriate interactions with coach, pot smoking, bulimia); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Violetta lives and breathes tennis, following in the footsteps of her mother who had to leave a promising career when she had Violetta. Leylah dropped out of tennis two years ago, but now she is back and ready to prove she is still a rising star. Alice is new to this level of competitive tennis, and is still not really sure how she made it here, especially as she is still mourning her Baba (father), who was her coach. Rooming together at Bastille, the most prestigious tennis academy and site of the tournament to win in order to prove yourself to be worthy tennis elite, each girl has secrets and pains that they are trying to hide from themselves and from everyone around them. 

The three girls are all Asian, an underrepresented group in tennis. Worthwhile to have around in paperback for those few students who are interested in tennis. The girls’ struggles are heartfelt, and I enjoyed the insight behind the scenes in tennis.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden - ADVISABLE

Famous Anonymous by Morgan Baden, 240 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $9 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Four kids, two sets of siblings,  grew up together, but went their separate ways at the beginning of middle school.  Gus is now a star soccer player, Harper is a theater (read drama) queen, Luke’s autism occupies much of his time and attention, and Sophie has her own friends, but lacks the will to commit to anything. When their parents leave them all together one night, they end up making a video that goes viral. Luckily, they were all anonymous, because their parents would be so mad if they found out.  The group realizes that they like making viral videos. But can the pressure of staying viral also tear the group apart?

A very cute book about the toxic culture of life online and about friendships in general. Baden very skillfully weaves our four very different characters together, giving them each ways to shine. Harper is quite over the top, but she is the drama queen. 

The kids default white. One set of siblings has Moms. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

They All Had a Chance by Michele Leathers - OPTIONAL

They All Had a Chance (They All Had a Reason #4) by Michele Leathers, 272 pages. $13 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (beer mentioned, brief kisses); Violence: PG (deaths mentioned, mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY:  HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Jane is about to get kicked out of her aunt and uncle’s house, now that she’s an adult.  She has one last summer as a counselor on Catalina Island to earn some money.  Jane is not very bright, or skillful, or pretty, so she is surprised when her gorgeous roommate, Athena, takes her under her wing, trying to help her be more attractive, at least. What she doesn’t know is that Athena is the renamed Bellany, and her latest target is Shandy, the owner of the summer camp. Well, Shandy has some tricks.  This summer she is having a contest amongst the counselors - and whichever one wins, they also win the whole camp. Athena can work with that - and she has some great ideas for getting rid of her teammates once they help her win Shandy’s contest.

Bellany is up to her old tricks.  She seems to be a very ineffective grifter, though, even though she was willing to kill for what she wants. I don’t know how much longer this series can go on, nor am I particularly interested. Even Bellany is a pretty flat character and she's had four books in which to develop. I would interest students in books like The Inheritance Games instead.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Girls and the Ghost (The Manor Mysteries #2) by Eileen Biltmore - OPTIONAL

The Girls and the Ghost (The Manor Mysteries #2) by Eileen Biltmore, 160 pages. (Simon Spotlight) Simon and Schuster, 2026. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Thea is an heir to a steel fortune and is living on a large estate in Rhode Island. She can hardly wait for her cousin Peggy to arrive from England, just in time for Thea's 12th birthday. The cousins are the recipients of the traditional family necklaces, passed down from their grandmothers, and the two pieces of jewelry haven't been together since their great-grandmothers who were twins,  were separated when Thea's great-grandmother went to America to marry. 

This mystery wasn't quite as engaging as the one in book one - I feel it was setting up for book three, and wasn't much of a mystery. The ghost isn't really a part of the story, except in reference until the last few pages, and there's an oddly convenient 2 day romance. The cliffhanger may propel this series to the next installment, but I'm pretty sure what is going to happen. 

Thea is American. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Void Dragons by Scott Reintgen - ESSENTIAL

The Void Dragons (Dragonships #3) by Scott Reintgen, 455 pages. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (space warfare, some human deaths mentioned, minor blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Before he disappeared, Proteus warned of a great threat to come. Distracted by the quintacentennial meeting of the planetary dragons, 15yo Lunar Jones and the other dragonriders almost miss the beginning of the greatest threat to their universe ever. Maya has been given the task of finding and piecing together the other clues Proteus left behind, but even those hints may not be enough to save them from the most horrific enemy they have ever met.

Oh Reintgen. I am going to have to put you up there with Neal Shusterman as one of the great talents of the current times. I pity those who don’t read science fiction, as they can never understand. For me this series is a definite re-read.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter - OPTIONAL

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter, 410 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $18

Language: R (300+ swears, 60 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (teens drinking and smoking cigars, passionate kissing); Violence: PG (fighting and bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Julia Lowell, high school senior and brand new resident of New York, meets lifetime resident Damion Rutledge and it’s loathe at first sight. Damion believes that the Lowell family swindled his great uncle Remington out of his home. The Lowell family can’t believe that their elderly friend Lou left them his house in his will. There’s confusion and mixed emotions all around as Julia and Damion sort out what’s happening with the house situation. On top of that, Julia is mercilessly bullied by rich teens at her school, since she’s obviously an outsider. Damion ends up tutoring Julia to get her math scores up and he uses that excuse to dig deeper into how the Lowell’s ended up with Uncle Remi’s house. Julia is unsure of Damion because sometimes he’s rude but other times, he sticks up for her when she’s being taunted and she has no idea if he can be trusted.

I love the line from page 136, talking about reading, “Because there was just something about getting lost in another experience, in forgetting all about your life while riding along on someone else’s journey, that was the sweetest escape.” Also, this statement from Damion on page 163, “When it comes to film and books and the arts in general, you’re rewarded when they make you feel…” This is such a fun book! I love the descriptions of New York and Julia’s hometown in Nebraska, as seen through the eyes of the two main characters, Damion and Julia.

The ethnicity cues white.

LynnDell Watson, Delta High Library, Delta, Utah

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow - OPTIONAL

For No Mortal Creature by Keshe Chow, 464 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: R (51 swears, 23 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (minor suggestive content, no overt sexual acts, flashback with underage drinking); Violence: R (numerous and graphic scenes of sword fighting and stabbing and spilt blood on page)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Jia is seemingly powerless in a hidden village where powers are not unusual to have. She wants to save her popo (grandma) from the death realms and to do so she must retrieve a mythical sword that conquers death from the deepest levels of the death realm. However, Jia must overcome many trials, along with managing an angsty love triangle between an old friend and an enemy prince, before she can possibly reunite with her grandmother again.

I’m a dark and spooky loving kind of girl and this book checked off both of those things. It contains elements of death and resurrection as a form of power and includes subtle forms of Chinese mythology with how it describes ghosts and their punishments.

Chow never explicitly says but based off of the setting and description of the characters it makes it feel like Asian ethnicity and architecture (black hair, brown eyes, high cheekbones and pearlescent skin).

Maryn Beddes reviewer

The Adventures of Invisible Boy: Monster Mash by Doogie Horner - OPTIONAL

The Adventures of Invisible Boy: Monster Mash (The Adventures of Invisible Boy #3) by Doogie Horner, 188 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Putnam (Penguin), 2026. $14 

Language: G (1 swear 0 f); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

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

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Stan and Gene are between 8yo and 10yo and they have the unique ability to turn invisible based on Gene's stain remover. When Stan's sister falls in with some scary teens, Stan will do anything to get her away from them. He and Gene challenge the teens to a competition about who can build the scariest haunted house. It's a bet the boys cannot afford to lose. 

The art is bright and colorful and Stan and Gene are likable enough. The premise is totally unbelievable, which is why elementary kids will probably love it. The plot is pretty straightforward, but it's a fast read. The main protagonists are white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique - ADVISABLE

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique, 286 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2026. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (knife and sword fights with minor blood descriptions, ogres eating bad guys alive)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Kyta wants to fulfill his destiny given to him by Deer Mother, so when the guarded egg of the World Turtle is suddenly stolen, he believes his chance at destiny has arrived. He plans to rescue the egg before it’s too late and the world is destroyed.

I enjoyed the world building and inclusion of native american myths and characters (Deer mother). I loved how the atmosphere was described, it made it feel nostalgic beautiful.

Non specific Native American/ First Nations people descriptions (copper skin, black hair)

Maryn Beddes reviewer

House of Horrors by Joe McGee and Teo Skaffa - OPTIONAL

House of Horrors (Night Frights) by Joe McGee and Teo Skaffa. EARLY READER Level 3. Simon Spotlight, 2026. $19 (hc). 9781665984980

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Jessica has a green thumb and her father has built her a greenhouse for her cornucopia of plants. Almost overnight, however, the plants have grown to be gigantic and acting very menacingly.  Except, there is a single spot that they avoid.  Could that spot be connected to the dead, spooky tree on the nearby hilltop?

I’ll be honest - the story doesn’t make total sense to me (yes, I know it is a horror story - but it should still make sense).  Skaffa’s illustrations are great - especially when the plants turn spooky and dangerous. 

The main character is white in the illustrations.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class by Kai Cheng Thom - OPTIONAL

The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class by Kai Cheng Thom, 322 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (discussion of transgender); Violence: 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Maia and her friends live a nice life in the small town of Nor Numinem.  Even if some of them are shapeshifters, all feel welcome and accepted. Then one day one large garden plot withers and dies and some adults around town start talking about The Rot and how shapeshifters are the cause. As the Rot begins to spread, anti-shifter sentiment becomes louder and more violent. And just when they need each other the most, Maia and her friends group split apart.

Thom gives us a thinly veiled look at anti-LGBTQ sentiment in  our modern society. The title is misleading, as very little happens during gym class. I hate to say it, but I was underwhlemed.

Characters on the cover are multi-ethnic, but within the book their actions default white; some are shapechangers. Two characters are transgender, another is mentioned as non-binary

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Don't Wake Up by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez - OPTIONAL

Don't Wake Up (The Doll Island Series #2) by Cassandra Ramos-Gomez, 156  pages. Simon and Schuster, 2026 $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Diego and his friends, Jandro and Itzel, are closer than ever following their horrifying experience on Doll Island near Mexico City. Things seem to be going well until kids at their school begin to fall asleep and lapse into comas. Diego and his friends, the three amigos, determine that they must save their classmates from a demon called El Cucuy, who steals the souls of sleeping children. The only problem is, El Cucuy doesn't want anyone to wake up. 

I like the interplay of English and Spanish and the cultural elements. The plot is fairly simplistic, but just the right amount horror for grades 3-7. It is also not too lengthy, which is refreshing. The ending wraps up okay, but sets up the next book. 

The three amigos are Mexican. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Pushing Hope: An Illustrated Memoir of Survival by Raymond Santana and Keith Henry Brown - ADVISABLE

Pushing Hope: An Illustrated Memoir of Survival by Raymond Santana and Keith Henry Brown. 288 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL. Calkins Creek, 2025. $18

Language: R (1 swear, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (mention of rape and fondling breasts; brief non-sexual rear nudity); Violence: PG-13 (discussions of police violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

In 1989 14yo Raymond Santana moved to Harlem from the Bronx. Harlem's art and fashion scene is fresh and inspiring to Santana. He talks about the change in scenery and hanging out with friends. While hanging out with friends near Central Park on April 19, 1989 where Santana was arrested, underwent a violent and prolonged police interrogation, and eventually received a wrongful conviction of rape and assault. While the events of April 19, 1989 are central to the story, Santana's memoir also looks at his adjustment after being released, subsequent prison visits, the 2002 exoneration, and the launching of his own fashion brand (Park and Madison NYC) with Rasheed Young.

Santana’s memoir is moving and powerful. The book is pretty light on text, occasionally taking up a two-page spread for one sentence or a full illustration. The art style is bright, unique, and punchy - much like Santana’s own clothing line. If a student is unfamiliar with the Exonerated 5, this novel will still be interesting, but it will not provide a comprehensive overview or deep dive into the legal side of the event. The main focus is on using hope and creativity to overcome obstacles. “To never give up. To motivate. To inspire.” (pg 276). I feel it is an important and unique memoir to add to high school collections. 

Raymond Santana is Afro-Latino

E. Powell, Junior High Librarian

https://www.kingsenglish.com/item/MexlWhzwbd94iTAhIVQVQwx

I Am Kylian by Kylian Mbappe and Faro - ADVISABLE

I Am Kylian by Kylian Mbappe, illustrated by Faro, 218 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL Rodale Kids (Random House), 2026. $15 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 f); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

This is a graphic memoir of Kylian Mbappe's rise to pro football (aka soccer in the U.S.). He wasn't always great, but he was always motivated. 

A chance to see what a pro footballer looks like on his way to the top, and the challenging navigation it takes to get there. There is a lot of information in this book, but sometimes the small frames of the pictures and text make it tricky to read. That said, the story is well told, highlighting both the funny and the serious. Soccer fans will find this a compelling read and tear through it. Even non-soccer fans will find it intriguing because of the fun anecdotes and colorful art. Kylian is a black Frenchman. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi - ADVISABLE

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, 336 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Penguin, 2026. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: Peril, near drowning, injuries 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Rama and 11yo Leena are dealing with the recent death of their mother. The family is struggling, and the sisters fight all the time. When their father is out of town during what should have been a school trip, the sisters are trapped by a terrible storm that tears through their town and even their house. No power, barely any food and unable to call or go for help, Rama and Leena must depend on each other for their very survival. 

Dealing with the death of a parent is unimaginable, but the added emotional issues - Leena feels responsible for her mother's death, Rama hears voices telling her she's a monster; the conflict between the sisters, and Rama is having friend issues fills this novel in verse, which is told in alternating - and sometimes split page - perspectives. There's a lot to unpack, the poetry reflects the girls emotions and was a really nice read. The sisters are Muslim. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman, - OPTIONAL

The Secret to Belonging by Megan E. Freeman, 330 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $20 

Language: R (30 swears, 8 f); Mature Content: PG-13 (off page sex, drug use, drinking) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Told in second person by an anonymous junior in high school who simply goes by "you." She struggles with her identity because she is overlooked by her parents as they struggle to deal with her older brother's drug addiction. When her college fund is used by her parents for her brother's rehab, her dreams seem dashed until she is offered a scholarship as an exchange student to Norway where she hopes to find a place to belong. 

Told in free verse, it reads fast. The protagonist's anonymity adds to her story, and even though you will totally dislike her family, you will fall in love with Norway in the 80's. This is a coming of age story where sometimes you have to leave your home to find it. No race is mentioned, but the protagonist is from California. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Formula Fast by Matt Ralphs and Dragan Kordic - ESSENTIAL

Formula Fast by Matt Ralphs and Dragan Kordic, 64 pages. NON-FICTION. Phaidon, 2026. $20. 9781837291243

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Learn many exciting, interesting facts that go into our modern Formula One racing.

Though picture book sized, Ralph’s book is much more in depth and oh so fascinating. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney - OPTIONAL

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney, 304 pages. Random House Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2025. $20.

Language: R (86 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (two separate doses of medical marijuana, intense periods, several references to the female reproductive system but not sexual in nature, a handful of kissing scenes); Violence: G (some bullying & insensitive comments due to a character’s chronic illness);

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Delia Bridges is a senior in high school in Dallas, TX, on the fast track for a prestigious premed mentorship and early acceptance to an Ivy League college, and has debilitating period pain. She has gone to doctor after doctor and no one believes her, so she wants to become a gynecologist herself and finally get some answers. So when she wakes up on one of the significant days of her high school career in a pool of menstrual blood, she panics because she can’t miss this day of all days. In desperation, she takes some medical marijuana that her sister grew & prepared from scratch. She gets caught with it at school and it spectacularly torpedoes her future plans. Can she figure out her next steps and who she is beyond her period?

Oh, how my heart ached for Delia’s plight! The lack of care from her doctors and her schools’ administration was infuriating, but that was the point. I thought it was a compassionate perspective on chronic illnesses, with both the main character’s endometriosis and her friend’s IBS. I loved reading this book and even if you don’t have period pain as bad as Delia’s, learning how to advocate for yourself and your friends is always going to be a positive takeaway.

Kiera, ELA teacher #BookswithBeddes

Hand-Me-Down by Damian Alexander - ADVISABLE

Hand-Me-Down by Damian Alexander, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2026 $16 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 f) Mature Content: PG (depression, grief, foster home) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Damian is going through his middle school years dealing with the loss of a mother he never knew, since she died when he was a baby. His grandmother is the only mother he and his older brother have known, and Damian tries to piece together his mother's life from other people's memories. When Damien feels out of place and alone at school, his grandmother's stories about her childhood in foster care and his daydreams help him cope. He comes to feel closer to the mother he lost and begins to see the mother he found. 

This memoir captures the difficulty of dealing with loss, loneliness, fitting in, and growing up poor. Damian's voice is authentic and readers will be able to either identify with his feelings or gain empathy. There are some nice life lessons here and it's a quick read. The graphic art is laid out well and easy to follow. Damian is white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Wump by Tony Diterlizzi - ADVISABLE

The Wump by Tony Diterlizzi, 316 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2026. $19 

Language: PG-13 (15 swears, 0 f) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Timothy is an 11-12yo boy who loves bugs and all things entomology. He is the resident school nerd and good student. That begins to change when he is faced by bullies and his overbearing mother, who wants him to be a "normal kid," and give up his bug collection. Timothy starts to notice a black shadow in his reflection, and when he gives himself over to it, or the Wump, it takes control of his life and Timothy lashes out in ways he never would have before. With the help of the Wump, Timothy stands up for himself and takes control, but at what cost? 

The black and green illustrations help add to the creepiness of the book and Timothy's involvement with the Wump. For those readers who are dealing with uncontrollable anger, lashing out, or Wumps of their own, this might be a helpful read. Tony has to find a better way to deal with the stresses of his life than merely getting revenge and giving himself over to his dark side. A fun way to deal with the balance self-control and standing up for oneself. Timothy is white. 

Michelle in the Middle