Maelstrom A Prince of Evil by Lorian Merriman - OPTIONAL

Maelstrom A Prince of Evil by Lorian Merriman, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2024. $18 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (gender fluidity); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Half-demon prince, Maelstrom, is bored. His all-powerful, and super evil mother, is ruling the kingdom with a cruelly iron fist. Maelstrom decides to befriend Twigs, the prophesied Hero of Virtue, planning on double-crossing Twigs and the rebellion, and building his own legend in the process. 

The art is bright and colorful. Maelstrom is both an immature, scrawny youth and a misunderstood being trying to discover how to fit in. Themes of family, friendship, and trust, give it more depth, even if it is a bit predictable. It's a fast read. There are multiple races, cultures, and beings portrayed. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen by Geri Halliwell-Horner - ADVISABLE

Rosie Frost and the Falcon Queen by Geri Halliwell-Horner, 464 pages. Penguin, 2023. $19. 

Language: PG13 (69 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, wild animals) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Rosie Frost finds herself enrolled in the exclusive boarding school located on Bloodstone Island. Originally built as a tribute to her mother Anne Boleyn by Elizabeth I, now the school boasts an endangered animal reserve. The ghost of Queen Anne is haunting Rosie, encouraging her. She arrives the day before and immediately enters the annual school games, is trying to navigate a pretty horrible bully who seems to have it out for Rosie because she's there on scholarship, and the headmaster, Mr. Hemlock is certainly up to something. Thank heavens she makes a couple of friends in the first few days. 

Oh! I was pulled in right away. I love that it takes place in a non-magical world and involves an environmental concern. The historical connections were fun - I learned a lot about Anne Boleyn and loved that there are Aragons and Cromwells at the school too - so much intrigue. Rosie is trying to deal with the sudden death of her mother, but isn't given tools or counseling to help her - which I felt was pretty irresponsible for a modern day school even if it's in a 400 year old castle of sorts. There's a sequel which I'm excited to read, but this book 1 stands on its own. Rosie is white, some of the other characters are described as brown. 

Lisa Librarian 

An Unexpected Journey (Ticket to Ride #1) by Adrienne Kress and David Miles - OPTIONAL

An Unexpected Journey (Ticket to Ride #1) by Adrienne Kress and David Miles, 208 pages. Andrew McMeel Publishing. 2025. $13. (paperback) 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Teddy is easily distracted and has a hard time keeping his train of thought. But an electric model train received as a birthday gift changes everything. Soon Teddy can focus, as long as it's about trains. When he enters an essay contest he wins a cross country train ride from Toronto to Los Angeles. Along the route, he meets Olivia, and together they try to figure out why a set of blueprints of the special train are so very important to a grumpy old man and a strange woman. 

I was super uncomfortable that 12yo Teddy (who seems like he's actually 9) would be offered a 1 way ticket, with no accompanying adult on a train that shifts routes along the way. The fact that his grandparents live in LA did not make this journey any less crazy. Also, the narrator talks directly to the reader which I hate. I love the game "Ticket to Ride" and while some of the illustrations, like his ticket, mirror the game, it wasn't really connected. Also, this is book 1 and it doesn't end, you've got to read book 2 to find out if Teddy gets home. I'm just barely this side of not recommending, as the action does pick up at the end. Teddy is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Take a Chance on Me by Elizabeth Eulbergh - ADVISABLE

Take a Chance on Me by Elizabeth Eulbergh, 304 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $13 (Paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing, teen drinking - legal because they are in England); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Evie left Chicago on the last day of school, blocked her friends and stopped using social media. What happened at lunch felt like a betrayal and she was done. She started her annual summer vacation in London immediately. But there's issues with her dad, who abandoned her and her mom years ago and the London trip is really just a custody agreement thing. He's controlling and food obsessed - Evie sneaks crisps into the apartment, and he's judgemental if he catches her. But on her first day in the city, she meets a handsome busker about her age named Aiden. Maybe her promise to give up boys can be set aside, after all, she's only in London for the summer. 

Eulbergh is so great at writing clean romance, lots of smoldering and "just friends" with a satisfying ending. The body image, exercise and eating issues were well handled with a trigger warning at the beginning. I loved Evie and was on her team from the beginning. I like that she's honest with herself, I love that she's a lot and embraces it. Evie is white, so is Aiden - their friends are multi cultural, Dev seem to be culturally Indian, not sure about Fiona.

Lisa Librarian 

Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg and Sophie Blackall - ADVISABLE

Force of Nature: A Novel of Rachel Carson by Ann E. Burg, illustrated by Sophie Blackall, 304 page. BIOGRAPHY, Scholastic, 2024. $20.  

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Rachel Carson was always interested in nature. She loved the forest outside her home near Pittsburgh and worried about the effects of the pollution the coal mines were causing on the ecology. She also loved writing, as a young girl, she sold several stories to St. Nick magazine, and helped support her family in the 1920s. Attending college, she planned to be a writer, but being introduced to the study of biology, Rachel realized she could make a difference, but many factors including the fact that she was a woman would come into play as she tried to follow a career in science. 

Ann E. Burg's novel in verse is wonderful. I was immediately immersed in Rachel's story. I loved that she spent a lot of time with Rachel as a child - this will certainly invest the middle school readers in both her causes and her life. Sophie Blackall's illustrations are great - like they were carefully drawn in a scientific notebook. I loved the - were you paying attention and can you identify these things - at the end of the book. While not exactly non-fiction as Burg has combined characters, changed some names and there aren't the typical end materials like a bibliography or links to other sources, I think Force of Nature will be a great historical fiction about a real person and readers will want to find out more. Rachel is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Misfits: A Copycat Conundrum by Lisa Yee and Dan Santat - ADVISABLE

The Misfits: A Copycat Conundrum (Misfits #2) by Lisa Yee, illustrated by Dan Santat, 280 pages. Random House, 2025. $15. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

The Misfits, undercover agents for NOCK (No One Can Know), find themselves working on a bank robbery job. While in San Francisco, isolated earthquakes are causing disruptions to the power grid, and someone is using the anomaly to empty bank tellers cash drawers. Also, Olive's friend Zeke is receiving threatening letters - he has recently become quite interested in the history of his great-great-uncle Ezekiel, and his research is making someone nervous. Is this a job for the the Misfits? 

Another fun adventure/mystery. The kids don't seem as young as in the last book - and I liked that. The Old West/ Gold Mining / Chinese Art arc was fun. I love their gadgets. This is building into a really fun series. I'll be recommending The Misfits. The group is a mix of races and cultures. 

Lisa Librarian 

Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs Companion) by Kathryn Ormsee and Molly Brooks - ADVISABLE

Turning Twelve (Growing Pangs Companion) by Kathryn Ormsee and Molly Brooks, 236 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2024. $22. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

For 12yo Katie, things are changing a lot. She's starting 7th grade, her best friends have just moved away and she's anticipating the things that happen as she grows up, like maturing, and crushes and stuff. She's been cast as an orphan in the community production of Annie. While she wanted the lead, being a supporting part is fun, too, and she makes a new friend: Grace. But this friendship feels different, could Katie have a crush on a girl? 

I really like this series. Coming on the heels of Growing Pangs, it's billed as "from the universe of". It can totally stand on it's own. I liked the nods to Baby Sitters Club and hope it can reach that same audience. Besides Katie's struggle liking a girl, there's some church issues going on, a youth group with a mean clique, modesty expectations and the church's stand on same sex attraction. All in all, Ormsbee and Brooks tell a story about being true to oneself. Katie is white, the friends are multi cultural. 

Lisa Librarian 

Mindful Nature- Connecting with our Great Green World by Paige Towler and Chris Gaugler - ESSENTIAL

Mindful Nature- Connecting with our Great Green World by Paige Towler, illusterated by Chris Gaugler. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Magination Press, 2025. $32 9781433845185

BUYING ADVISORY: Pre-K, EL (K-3), HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Imagine what an animal is doing and feeling. Act like you think they would. Ask yourself questions about their experience and yours. Spending time in nature can improve our health in many ways. 

Children can learn to be mindful in nature as we teach them how to do so. Children will engage with this photo story. This book is a great resource for preschool activity time, thus I included the level of High School in this review. Gaugler formatted the photography and words creatively. The first 2 pages uses personification to grab the child's attention. Then, Towler moves the prose to simile and third person form.  

MOMMAC 

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman - ESSENTIAL

On Guard! by Cassidy Wasserman, 252 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 

Grace is going in to 7th grade alone. Her best friend dropped her at the end of the last school year. Grace is unsure of herself and wants to hide from her old friend. Plus, her parents have gotten a divorce and her relationship with her mother is difficult. Grace signs up for the fencing club, hoping to gain a friend and perhaps a more sure footing. 

This book brings up a lot of issues: losing a friend in middle school when friends go different direction, mother-daughter relations, divorce, trying something new, and trying not to look foolish in front of peers. This is a great book that addresses all of that. The biggest focus may be on imperfect family relations and how to work on them and that it's ok to advocate for yourself. The fencing is only a side bar, really. Great way to spark discussion and realize you're not alone. The art is bright and well done. Grace appears white, but has friends from multiple backgrounds. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet - MANY

Beth is Dead by Katie Bernet, 400 pages. Simon and Schuster, JANUARY 2026. $20 

Language: R (47 swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (steamy makeout mentioned, off-page sex, drinking, drunkenness mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (death, blood mentioned) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Beth March is dead. Who killed her? The police aren’t letting anyone off the hook - including her three sisters. Meg, Jo, or Amy might have motives - but sisters can argue without wanting each other dead, right? Jo is sure this is somehow related to the best-selling book their author father wrote based on the girls’ lives. But they haven’t heard from him in six months now. The surviving sisters will have to figure out who Beth's murderer is before someone they love is irrevocably charged.

I had to separate what I know from reading Little Women many times from the characters in Bernet’s modern murder mystery reweaving. I don’t think many of my students have read the original nor seen any of the movies - so how will they enjoy this? I think they will like it alot. Bernet gives us plenty of suspects with motive and added sisterly and high school drama. The addition of their own father being the author of the book that compels them to insta-fame was great. So don’t hesitate to buy this because it is “just another rewrite”. And recommend it to your adult friends who love the original - I had a great time seeing how Bernet used the characters - both main, secondary, and tertiary - in familiar ways and how she deviated from their origins and storylines. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman - ADVISABLE

When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea by Karen Cushman, 230 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2025 $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, attempted hold-up) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Sally was raised in an orphanage in the late 1800s, and things have never worked out for her. So, when she loses her latest job at a hotel in Oregon, she decides to leave on her own and head west. She's heard the sea is something to see. She has some tips from her job at the hotel, and buys a pair a dungarees so she can rip off the torn hem of her dress. When a delivery wagon comes by, and a woman named Major offers Sally a ride, she takes it, despite her promise to herself to trust nobody. But when Major gets an unusual shipment - a spoiled 7yo boy named Lafayette, Sally wonders if walking would have been a better plan. 

I was so excited to see another book by Karen Cushman! Sally is funny and smart and independent. Lafayette was perfectly irritating, and Major the kindest. Cushman's character development was spot on. Because they are traveling, there are a lot of side characters, but even they are fleshed out a bit - the Saloon girl who brings Sally and Lafayette sandwiches to the drunk robber on the road - tiny pieces of the stock characters of the west. Marvelous. It was hard to pinpoint the time period - Sally mentions once having to wait for something until 1899, so we know it takes place before then. I adored When Sally O'Malley Discovered the Sea and am so happy to add it to my Karen Cushman collection. Sally and her companions are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Survive This Safari by Natalie D. Richards - ESSENTIAL

Survive This Safari by Natalie D. Richards, 384 pages. Random House, 2025. $18 

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Lucy has earned a place on a team to try out a new escape room style game set in her favorite safari park - Wildlands - where her older sister works. Paired with three others, she is spending the night and solving puzzles - and one of their team has the chance to become a student ambassador for the park. Lucy is anxious to prove her worth; she loves animals, but on her previous tryout, she froze on the viewing platform and had to be rescued. She is hoping that she can overcome her anxiety issues and win the spot. 

Richards creates great tension between the group members without resorting to melodrama. The addition of a real crisis in the park ups the stakes in a way that works well. While I am not a fan of anxiety as a plot point, I did enjoy how Lucy receives encouragement and sound advice from her teammates along the way. Fans of Stuart Gibbs’s funjungle books will also enjoy Lucy’s story. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Penny Draws a Team Sport by Sara Shepard - ADVISABLE

Penny Draws a Team Sport by Sara Shepard, 218 pages DOODLE FICTION Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Penny Lowry is a fifth-grader who is an artist, not an athlete. Her PE teacher has proposed a pickleball tournament to raise money for an animal shelter. Penny reluctantly signs up with the rest of her class and her buddy Rocco. They make a pact not to take the game too seriously, which works out fine until Rocco discovers he's really good at pickleball. Now Penny is worried she'll let down Rocco and the whole school with her playing. 

There is some nice humor and Shepard captures elementary school angst well. I wish the art and the captions were bigger so I could read them easier. That said, this is along the lines of "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" format but with more text, making it a deeper read. Students should be able to relate to Penny's anxiety and nervousness about not being good at something as well as studying for end of year testing. Race isn't mentioned, and it's difficult to tell what anyone's ethnicity is from the line drawings. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson - SEVERAL

Murder Between Friends by Liz Lawson, 384 pages. Random House, 2025. $20 

Language: R (73 swears, 11 ‘f’); Mature Content:PG-13 (smoking weed mentioned, pantless mentioned, romantic entanglements mentioned) ; Violence:PG (murder and dead body mentioned) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Henry’s brother Jake was incarcerated for murder based on the testimony of Grace - not only one of his BFFs, but also the girl he had secretly started dating. Now Jake has been released on a technicality, but a new trial will be coming soon. Ally, the other member of the BFFs, is determined to prove Jake’s innocence before it is too late. And Grace is beginning to question her own memories of that night. But the murderer is out there and they do not want their secrets to be exposed. 

Lawson tells the story from the alternating POVs of the BFFs. Lawson has them vacillating between a variety of suspects. The tension between the former best friends is nicely handled - Lawson avoids the mean girl trope trope and also avoids having everything be drugs and alcohol related. The relationships that are implied to be sex related are between adults. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

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 

Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta - ADVISABLE

Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta, 254 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL RH Graphic Random House, 2025. $22 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Ave is 12yo when they and their 9yo brother move from Mexicali to Kansas with their mom. Ave has only half a family, since her father and older sister are staying in Mexico. Ave also feels like they only have half a language, since their English isn't the best. A new school, a new country, and new family dynamics make it hard for Ave to find a place to fit in. 

Even though Ave is nonbinary, the focus is on fitting into a new culture without losing your own. The author drew a lot from conversations about people's Mexican heritage, so the dialogue rings true. This would be a good jumping off book to discuss how students from other cultures feel about assimilation or preserving traditions.There are non-translated Spanish phrases that the reader is left to figure out through context clues that adds to the cultural authenticity. Though Ave's parents divorce, the ending is positive and Ave shows what it's like to work through difficult situations. A good companion book to Pimienta's book, "Twin Cities." Ave is a nonbinary Mexican. 

Michelle in the Middle 

On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim - ADVISABLE

On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim, 228 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2025 $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Phoebe and Dax are twins. Both are skaters. Phoebe is a competitive figure skater, but when her partner tears his ACL, she will miss her final qualifying event. Dax has been on the same hockey team for the past 5 years. But at tryouts for the all-star elite team, Dax plays a practical joke on some teammates. A new kid is picked for goalie, and Dax doesn't make the team. Desperate to improve his skills and get back on the team, as well as earn some fancy skates the rest of the team wears, Dax agrees to be Phoebe's new partner. 

I love that On Thin Ice is told in alternating perspectives - Phoebe's and Dax's. Although there isn't hockey action, boys will enjoy this as much as girls. The cover picture makes it look like a romance, and while there is a little bit of match making and a crush, it's a family story, about grieving for their father who died and learning to help each other. Jessica Kim seems to make her characters 12 when they could easily be 13 or 14. I hope the suggested readership of 9-12 doesn't turn off the older readers, or prevent Jr. high librarians from purchasing. The Bae family is Korean. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Flip Side by Jason Walz - ADVISABLE

The Flip Side by Jason Walz, 298 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Rocky Pond Penguin, 2025. $18. 

Language: PG (8 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (death, cutting); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Theo loses his best friend to cancer and his his world turns upside down. Literally. In this Flip Side, houses are upside down and he has to navigate this foreign place alone, excpept that there is a presence there that he has to escape. This presence tells him all the the horrible things he's thinking, but it threatens to destroy him unless he can get away. Theo finds help with a snarky but troubled girl named Emma, who has been there longer than he has. Together they try to find a way out. 

The art is well done and in dark tones, reflecting the grief and despair of the book. The thoughts the monster in the book sends to Theo and Emma are the despairing thoughts that teens experience all too often, so it will resonate with many. The book explores the death of a friend and how to take on grief and depression, if only a baby step at a time. Intriguing plot premise that the author draws from his own loss for. If you haven't gone through loss, it will build empathy, and if you have, you can relate. Theo is Latino, his friend Black, and Emma, White. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham - OPTIONAL

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham, 432 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2024. $20. 

Language: R (83 swears 10 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (kissing, some violent kissing, intimacy on bed sans clothing); Violence: PG (monsters, battles, hunting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Delilah is an untested witch. Her family has been cursed for generations and Delilah wants to try to break the curse. So when the Witch's Council come to assign Delilah, before she can propose her calling, 17yo Kieran interrupts and invokes "The Rite of Mortality" asking that Delilah's calling be to break HIS family curse. Thus starts a quest, avoiding city guards tasked with capturing them, discovering many curses, and trying to break a centuries old curse put on the Pelumbra family. 

A marvelous quest, with lots of interesting sub characters, some only in the story for a chapter or two. The setting is steam punk, as they are traveling in an airship. I liked that witches were both male and female, and that the society was OK with same sex attraction. The romances are sweet. There's lots of action and danger, and the manifestations of all the different curses and magics is great. 

Delilah, Keiran and Briar are white, as well as LGBTQ+. 

Lisa Librarian 

Sweet Valley Twins: The New Girl by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Knack Whittle - ADVISABLE

Sweet Valley Twins: The New Girl by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Knack Whittle, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $22 

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

A new girl has moved in down the street and she just might be the meanest person the twins have ever met. Jessica and Elizabeth struggle to give her a chance, and decide to bring her down a peg. Their plan involves deception and public humiliation. 

If you are fans, you will not be disappointed. The art work complements the book completely, and is easy to follow. The plot is engaging, and who hasn't met a "mean girl" they dream about getting even with? Nice moral that judging people prematurely is unkind without being up in your face about it. The latest installment doesn't disappoint. The twins are white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre - ADVISABLE

Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre, 204 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $22 

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Johnny Buck, the hottest band in town is coming to Sweet Valley and it seems everyone is going except for Jessica and Elizabeth. Jessica is determined to go, even if her parents say no, so she hatches a plan to get money and sneak her way into the concert without anyone knowing. Elizabeth ends up taking the brunt of her sister's self-serving methods, especially when things start to go wrong. 

The twins are relatable, and their problems fairly universal. It is refreshing to see both parents in the picture, that are both intelligent and loving. The art work is engaging and just right for this series, helping to tell the story and capture the twins' different personalities. There is just enough tension to keep the reader engaged and this will be a one sitting book for most. For fans of the series, this is a must read. Jessica and Elizabeth are both white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco - OPTIONAL

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco, 368 pages. Random House, 2025 $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Hurricane is living with her rich Aunt Claire as her parents have passed (her father during WWI and her mother in 1930 from Tuberculosis), her older sister Bronte also has TB and is being treated. Hurricane is very shy, and Aunt Clair isn't having it. She insists Hurricane improve herself, become better educated, speak properly and behave more like a young lady. But Hurricane's sweetness, and quiet strength, as well as a kind butler - Mr. Keats, helps Aunt Claire soften, and soon Hurricane is finding her voice. 

A dear story, I would have loved it as a child, I'm just not sure today's readers will feel the same. They are far from the great depression and even further from WWI. There's a boy who befriends Hurricane, he's pretty much on his own selling things from door to door, and soon even rich Aunt Claire finds herself selling prized possessions to support herself. It's mostly a slice of life - no adventure, not much trouble (taming a feral cat), worrying about her sick sister, but there's not enough information about how sick Bronte is for the reader to care. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian