The House Next Door by Ellen Oh - ADVISABLE

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh, 192 pages. HarperCollins, September 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (the children are clawed, and there is talk of eating the youngest, the monster battle is intense, and the kids do have to kill things.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Rory lives next door to a haunted house. Years ago his best friend Joey was seriously injured when he fell down the stairs in the house and his family eventually moved. Now Rory sees ghosts walking around inside, and sinister eyes watching him. His grandfather came for a visit from Japan and showed Rory how to spray holy water around the house to protect himself. Now, a new boy, Jack, and his sister Mira have moved in. Jack doesn't believe in ghosts, but Rory knows someone needs to protect Mira, and he knows just what to do 

First of all, Ellen Oh must be a connoisseur of fine Japanese and Korean food because all the dishes sound fantastic and now I'm craving Korean Fried Chicken. With more adults than kids in the story, I had a lot of names to keep track of, and the main job of the adults seemed to be to cook all the food. Jack is smart, and had some great ideas on defeating what was in the house. Good build as well to the final battle. Keeping some salt near me for the next few nights just in case. Jack and his family are Korean, Rory is Japanese. 

Lisa Librarian 

Spirit Service by Sarena and Sasha Nanua - OPTIONAL

Spirit Service by Sarena and Sasha Nanua, 320 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $18 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

7th grader Raveena wants to save her school’s art program, but she and her three BFFs are having a hard time coming up with a service project to help them win a school-wide contest, which would restore funding to a couple of programs. At a local antiques store, Raveena is literally shocked by a pink rotary phone, which then rings, and the voice on the other end turns out to be an actual ghost. The girls may have the edge they need - help spirits pass on, make money, and win the contest. 

 The four girls on the cover look multi-cultural, but that’s about the extent of their culture. The town they live in is founded by and embraces spiritualism, so that isn’t a big leap for them. I like the reviewers that compare the book to Babysitters Club meets Ghostbusters. Nothing earth-shattering here to read, but reasonably enjoyable. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Speak Up, Santiago by Julio Ata, illustrated by Gabi Mendez - ESSENTIAL

Speak Up, Santiago by Julio Ata, illustrated by Gabi Mendez, 220 pages GRAPHIC NOVEL RH Graphic Random House, 2025. $22 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Santiago is going to visit his grandmother in Hillside Valley to improve his Spanish the summer before he starts 7th grade. His dad is Columbian and speaks Spanish, but his mother is of European descent and only speaks English. Santiago is really self conscious about his accent and ability to keep up with the language. Perhaps the universal language of soccer will help him, but as he prepares for a soccer tournament, his self doubts might be his own worst enemy. 

I loved that a lot of the text is in Spanish. Most of it is translated, but not all. I also liked that some words were inked out, because Santiago couldn't understand them when people talked too fast. This is a great book for Spanish speakers trying to learn English, or English speakers trying to learn Spanish. It is a real empathy builder for second generation kids who are trying to learn their heritage through language and have lost either language or culture. As an English speaker, the book was totally accessible. As someone who wants to learn Spanish, I found it insightful. Positive relationships and message-loved it! 

Michelle in the Middle 

Meet Me at Sunset by Lee Heart - ADVISABLE

Meet Me at Sunset by Lee Heart, 160 pages. Simon Spotlight, 2025. $8 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Julie is looking forward to a summer at the family beach house, but is not excited when her parents invite an acquaintance, Sophia, to come along. Julie had plans to catch the eye of her summer crush, James, and she drags Sophia into them. Cue a bit of relationship drama, changes of plans, and mild hijinks.

Very much a first crush book. Heart does a good job of keeping all of the relationships light - Julie and Sophia have misunderstandings, which do not become drag-out wars; the girls have crushes which do not become major make-out sessions. I applaud showing early relationships which do not need to become soap opera episodes. Plus it is such a great length for a middle grade book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster - ADVISABLE

The Unlikely Heroes Club by Kate Foster, 198 pages. Candlewick, 2023 (US edition 2025) $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Oli has been enrolled in 1 week course for autistic kids and their family called Hero Club. The kids learn about emotions and being friendly while the parents receive training in another room. Although Oli is initially reluctant to participate, the kids soon bond - over a dog they can see hiding in a derelict building near by. Maybe they can be real heroes and rescue the dog. 

I loved seeing Oli and the others grow a bit during the classes - I liked that they had homework and that 

Oli's family was so supportive. There was a parent who seemed impatient, almost embarrassed by their child, and it was good to notice that, while we didn't see what the parents were learning, there was some change there as well. I also loved that each child had an obvious strength, one draws beautifully, another sings and dances. Oli's character was smartly developed - I connected with him right away and cared about his choices. A nice book to build empathy or for an autistic child to see themself and others like them. Oli describes himself as brown. 

Lisa Librarian 

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce - ADVISABLE

Dating and Dragons by Kristy Boyce, 336 pages. Random House, 2024. $13 (pb)

Language: PG-13 (44 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (light kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

After the dramatic break-up with her best friend and D&D group, Quinn is ready for a fresh start when her family moves to be closer to her aging grandmother. While she quickly finds a new group, she also finds a very cute, very enticing boy in that group - which also has a no dating policy. Try as she might, Quinn can’t seem to stay away from Logan.

While also connected to gaming like Dungeons and Drama, Quinn’s story doesn’t have the same emotional power for me. I was irritated by her dithering, which did not read as romantic tension. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Eyes on the Sky by J. Kasper Kramer - OPTIONAL

Eyes on the Sky by J. Kasper Kramer, 256 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2025. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After her parents died, now 12yo Dorothy has been cared for by her older brother, who was recalled from duty in World War II. Dorthy’s fascination with science, especially outer space, has her at odds with her brother, who is trying his best to keep life and limbs, Dorothy’s limbs, together. When her weather balloon experiment gets caught up in a potential crash, Dorothy also becomes entangled with the federal government, who have secrets at nearby Roswell that Dorothy’s antics could expose.

Kramer could have given us an actual historical fiction book about life around Roswell in the 1940’s, but takes things step too far and out of actual historical context and into science fiction. While movies like the Marvel Universe sell well on screen, they do not sell well as middle grade books. I would have a hard time finding an audience for this one.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Framed! Crime Fighting Collection (#1-3) by James Ponti - ADVISABLE

Framed! Crime Fighting Collection (#1-3) by James Ponti. Aladdin (Simon). $30

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Ponti’s original mystery series has been reprinted in paperback with great new covers which help them pair better side by side with the Sherlock Society set. I like all of Ponti’s books - perfect for middle grade readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Study in Secrets (Last Chance Academy #1)by Debbi Michiko Florence - OPTIONAL

A Study in Secrets (Last Chance Academy #1)by Debbi Michiko Florence, 304 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $18

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Since her mom died, 12yo Meg  tried to get her father’s attention by doing worse and worse in school, but this has only landed her in a boarding school that the kids call Last Chance Academy, for troubled but wealthy and smart students. Meg’s not really interested in making friends, but there are only 3 other kids in her age group.  When a mysterious invitation for a treasure hunt arrives, with a prize that Meg really wants, she is determined to be the first to the prize.

I was expecting more intrigue and excitement  - the blurb compares it to Only Murders in the Building.  Instead it is a puzzle-solving book, no blood or death involved. Fans of The Westing Game or Gollywhopper Games could enjoy this.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle - OPTIONAL

This Could Be Forever by Ebony LaDelle, 384 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $20.

Language: R (129 swears, 7 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Needing to see her future college campus before she can accept, Deja (17yo) goes to the University of Maryland over spring break. After she falls in love with the city and the campus, she celebrates her college decision with a tattoo—and feels the first sparks of love with her tattoo artist, Raja (18yo). They come from wildly different family cultures and expectations, but, if their love could be forever, then it’s worth every battle.

LaDelle’s characters are not only dealing with the pressures of staying home versus moving out and decisions about college majors that will impact their future dream careers, they also have to choose whether their relationship is worth clashing with their loved ones over traditions and biases. As readers watch these characters navigate all these difficult decisions, they will see examples of self care and reprioritizing activities, including letting some go until a later time, and the importance of support systems and honesty. Maybe the decisions readers are facing aren’t exactly the same, but we have all felt the chaos of having to make difficult choices now all at once, and Deja’s and Raja’s stories illustrate hope for a happy ending for each of us.

Deja and her family are Black, Raja and his family are Nepali, and there are characters whose families are from Sri Lanka and the Dominican Republic. A couple side characters are mentioned as being part of the LGBT community. The mature content rating is for alcohol use (including underage drinking), kissing, mild innuendo, and mentions of drugs, menstruation, and sex.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The House No One Sees by Adina King - OPTIONAL

The House No One Sees by Adina King, 295 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $20

Language: R (24 swears, 21 ‘f'); Mature Content:  R (mentions of sex for drugs, mention of rape, attempted rape, grooming, drug use); Violence: R (animal killing, abuse, neglect, bullying, death by overdose)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

A trauma narrative in verse and prose. Penny is celebrating her 16th birthday at the carnival with friends. When she gets a desperate text from her estranged mother, it pulls her into the difficult memories of her past. Penny grew up with an opioid addicted mother who could be kind and sweet, emotionally abusive, and neglectful, depending on her state of mind. She often had men of questionable character staying at the house. The story is interwoven with a fairy tale theme as Penny tries to make sense of her past to move forward with her future. 

Beautifully written, but it was hard to read about the difficulties Penny had as a result of her mother's addiction. Luckily, at some point, she was sent to live with her grandparents, who loved and cared for her. I liked the continued theme of fairy tales throughout the narrative. There was also a somewhat creepy metaphor of the house throughout. Some readers will relate to Penny's experiences.  Penny is assumed to be white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

A Home For Unusual Monsters by Shaun David Hutchinson - ADVISABLE

A Home For Unusual Monsters (Kairos Files #2) by Shaun David Hutchinson, 288 pages. Random House, 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

With her ability to make others see her as she wants them too, Sam could be an excellent agent for Kairos - a secret agency that investigates mysterious happenings. Sam has been sent to the Griffin family, where the grandfather, Archie, a former Kairos agent, has recently passed away. Archie supposedly kept of monsters hidden all over the world and Kairos wants that list before someone else finds it. But as Sam looks for the list, she also learns what being part of a family could be, and she wants to investigate the strange family next door, even though she;’s been told not to. 

You don’t need to read the first book in the series to follow number two - I had no idea there was a  book #1. The cover is more appealing to upper elementary than true middle school readers, but the action will be satisfying for those that pick it up. I never caught a definitive age for Sam, but this being middle grade, she’s probably 12.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Give Me Something Good to Eat by D. W. Gillespie - ADVISABLE

Give Me Something Good to Eat by D. W. Gillespie, 259 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2024. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kidnappings) ; Violence: PG (many dastardly creatures and some fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Mason knows there is something wrong with his town, Pearl - ever since his best friend, Marco, went missing on Halloween.  Mason remembers Marco, but no one else, not even Marco’s parents does. This Halloween Mason is determined to figure out what is going on, but his parents have saddled him with taking his younger sister Meg out with him.  Mason is mad that Meg is cramping his style until the moment he realizes that Meg is this year’s victim - how could he be so careless! Mason is determined to rescue Meg and find out the truth about the yearly Halloween-related disappearances, even if he has to find his way into the flip side of Pearl - an underworld ruled by an evil witch who uses the disappeared in a dastardly scheme.

Gillespie’s story is the right amount of dark and disturbing, with hope and sibling determination combined. What the witch does with the souls of the disappeared is downright creepy, but is nicely set off with Mason and his friends' heroics.  I prefer my horror with a positive ending.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Incorruptibles by Lauren Magaziner - OPTIONAL

The Incorruptibles by Lauren Magaziner, 386 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $19

Language: G (4 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (some fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After fighting against the children of the local evil sorcerers who rule their lives in Fiora’s small village, and then tangling with even more powerful sorcerers known as the Radiance, fiora and her uncle are running for their lives with the aid of a group of Incorruptibles - a technology-focused group whose goal is force the sorcerers from power. Fiora is given a chance to become an Incorruptible, or Inc, but because she started late, even her own squad are slow to welcome her. Then it seems that someone is feeding information to the Radiance - and Firoa will go to great lengths to prove her own innocence and catch the culprit.

I only rated Magaziner’s book as OPTIONAL, because it is awfully long, especially as it reads more for upper elementary, rather than middle school. Your voracious fantasy will love it. 

The characters cue white. A trans character mentioned.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan - ADVISABLE

The Lost Queen by Aimee Phan, 356 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $20

Language: R (10 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Jolie has always known that her grandfather was special among the Vietnamese seers in her close knit community. Ever since the bizarre incident at a swim meet a year ago, however, Jolie has been ostracized by her best friends and the larger school community. When she saves the life of Huong, the school It girl, however, things start to look up. Huong reveals to Jolie that her grandfather’s powers are directly related to Jolie’s incident - that the two girls are actually reincarnated Vietnamese dragon goddesses and that this is their chance to reclaim their powers and save the world from their scheming brothers, who have  continued to kill them through the ages. 

Bear with me - I know the summary sounds a bit bizarre, but Phan has done a terrific job of unfolding the story bit by bit and never letting us know more than Jolie does.  Phan weaves the story in a way that keeps you reading - especially as deeper forces are at play in several different ways. It is refreshing to have a book about a cultural history and mythology that doesn’t rely on love triangles to further the story. I found this article that shows the history of the sisters. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto - ADVISABLE

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto, 345 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2024. $19

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

With frequently absent parents, 12yo Lavinia (Vin) Lucas has been going to different magical boarding schools, but has been kicked out of everyone when chaos erupts around her as she loses control of her powers - even though she doesn't know exactly what those powers are.  Her last hope, before she is kicked out of the wizarding community, is the Last Chance Academy. Vin really wants to make this school work: she has made some tentative friendships and she may have found a teacher who understands her powers.  But chaos is still following her - it might be her powers, but some of it may also be a malicious wizard using Vin to his own ends.

I love a good wizard school book - all the way back to Jane Yolen’s Wizard’s Hall - and Pau Preto rises to the challenge. The adventure is fast paced, with early hints for the reader to know and the characters to find out.  Also includes a great epilogue, setting up the sequel. The characters read white, which is a little disappointing - I would have loved to see a little variety from different world magic systems.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Age of Enchantment (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1) by Anna James - ADVISABLE

The Age of Enchantment (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1) by Anna James, 282 pages. Penguin, 2024. $10 (pb)

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Spring Ember Day arrives - time for all 13yo’s to have their enchantment affinity tested - and Juniper shows an affinity for all four seasons - making her an enchanter.  Which means she is off to Thistledown Academy to learn to use her powers responsibly - though it means leaving behind her family, especially her twin, Rafferty. Rafferty follows her, unknowingly putting himself into the path of a secret society which has found a way to steal and use the powers of enchanters like his sister. 

Anna James has started another exciting fantasy series! I was drawn into the story, so I spent more time at each sitting than I originally thought I would - very pleased. I’m happy to add this and recommend it  to my fantasy lovers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

After My Brother Sam (sequel to My Brother Sam is Dead) by James Lincoln Collier - OPTIONAL

After My Brother Sam (sequel to My Brother Sam is Dead) by James Lincoln Collier, 144 pages. Scholastic, APRIL 2026 $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, kidnapped by soldiers, gang violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Continuing almost immediately after Sam is killed, Timmy tries to help his mother keep the Tavern going. But every time he goes to buy supplies, he's waylaid and robbed by British soldiers, American soldiers, even a band of children in New York. It's all they can do not to starve. When soldiers come to the tavern, they even take whatever they want. A girl, Becky, joins Timmy on his journey back from New York, but she becomes more hinderance than help. With both Father and Sam gone, things looks pretty hopeless. 

Wow. I was excited to see a sequel 50 years after the original was published, but surprised to see it was very short, less than 150 pages and was pretty much a description of one problem after another, with no good things happening to balance the misery. Timmy gets captured by soldiers on more then one occasion and always seems to get away, his mother never seems to leave the Tavern and doesn't try very hard to keep him from leaving, too, sending him on fruitless shopping expeditions and letting him "rescue" people, which never turns out well. I honestly didn't see the point in this sequel. Maybe it gave Timmy and his mom some closure? 

Timmy is white and American, but not on either side of the conflict. 

Lisa Librarian 

Pretty Furious by E. K. Johnston - OPTIONAL

Pretty Furious by E. K. Johnston, 206 pages. Dutton Books (Penguin), 2024. $19

Language:  R (41 swears, 14 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (vandalism, destruction of property, bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

It all started on Maddie's 17th birthday. She made a wish, and her four friends helped her fulfill it. Then Jenny, Mags, Louise, and Jen, each in turn on their 17th birthdays, made a wish of their own. In a small town in Ontario, Canada, five girls with good girl social capital decide to right the wrongs they see. Only they choose to hand out justice in their way. they do it secretly to help someone else, and no one finds out who did it. The first wish is property damage to protest the new memorial to the unborn child. The next four wishes include slander, enforced detention, vandalism, and blackmail. The girls feel justified in their actions because the town they grew up in did not protect them as it should have from abuses of power, ignorance, and pain. 

Overall, this was an enjoyable read. It was fun to see how five best friends navigated senior year, family, and friendship. I understand the girls' desire to right wrongs, but destroying property and the lives of others might not be the best way to go about it.

All five girls are assumed to be white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Kid by Jeff Schill - ADVISABLE

The Kid by Jeff Schill, 230 pages. Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2024. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears o 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (outlaws, jailbreak with guards killed, the Kid besting bad guys, shootings, but mostly in the feet or legs - violence is there, but it's not gory or graphic.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

14yo Henry is now the man of the family. Keeping a farm going in the 1880s in Destiny, Colorado is a difficult thing for a grown man, but with Pa and Ma both dead, Henry is desperate to keep himself and his three younger brothers together, and on the farm. Everyone has jobs, and Henry has a plan. His ma taught him to write, and so he invents a gunslinger, called "The Kid" and sends escapades to a magazine in Philadelphia that pays for stories by the word. Soon, everyone thinks The Kid is real, including the outlaw Snake-Eye Sam, who is determined to prove he's a faster gun than the kid and is determine to find him and kill him. Also, his editor from Gunslinger Magazine travels out west to find "The Kid" too. It's been a couple of months since he's received a story, and the managing editor is anxious. 

The Kid was a really fun western with all the frills: poor farmers, an old sheriff, a saloon that mostly sells sarsaparilla, outlaws, a damsel and a city slicker. I was worried because the multiple perspectives aren't happening at the same time but they do eventually come together. I loved the voice, particularly Henry's as his grammar is very Old West and gives the book a nice feel for the time period. Historical Fiction, especially Western themed is a hard sell but I'm willing to give this a try in my library. The main characters are white 

Lisa Librarian