The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

For the last 4 years 12yo Skye has missed her brother. Her parents are divorced and her dad ran off with then 10yo Finn. Skye and her mom celebrate his MIA birthday every year, taking a picture of Skye beside the cake. She hates it. But then, her mom gets a call. Finn has been located and he's on his way home! Skye is excited, but he's changed a lot. He's more than just older; Finn is different in other ways, too, like a scar Skye remembers is missing, and he doesn't remember games they played before. Skye isn't sure he's really her missing brother. 

Everett has created a well written story with lots of good twists and turns. I kept wondering if The Shape of Lost Things was going to turn into science fiction at some point. Maybe it's my age, but I had a bit of trouble with her using a polaroid camera and taking so many pictures. Are they different today than in the 70s? Seems like an expensive hobby. This is a book about relationships and loss and change. There would be a lot to be able to discuss with a class, particularly the changes in Skye's friend group - one of her best friends has recently become friends with the class bully and now treats Skye differently. A great upper elementary or middle school read. Skye and her family are black. 

Lisa Librarian 

A Song of Swords and Stuffies by Joshua Pruett, Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate - OPTIONAL

The Last Comics on Earth: A Song of Swords and Stuffies by Joshua Pruett, illustrated by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, 258 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The Last Kids on Earth have to one-up Skaelka, who has written her own comic book. In order to counter her success, they have come up with villains from space who are so dang adorable that they make instant friends. When the cutie-patootie villains spread cuteness throughout Apocalyptia, the super heroes must try and stop them with The Mythic Sword of Destiny. 

Lots of action makes for a fast read. The cuteness factor is off the charts, as is the frenzied storytelling. There is a lot going on. My volunteer 11yo reader told me he thought the jokes were funny but that some of it didn't make sense. He gave it a three out of four ranking. I would concur. The art is fun and bright, but this is a one and done read for me. There are no specified races or cultures, but there are different skin tones on the superheroes. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Last Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains by Joshua Pruett and Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate - OPTIONAL

The Last Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains by Joshua Pruett, illustrated by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, 258 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2024. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Apocalyptia isn't just end of the world, it's comic books! Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk need to come up with a new comic book stat after their first one was a success. They decide to do a bigger, better comic book with way more villains, but it turns out that even tons of villains have to get their ideas from somewhere. The superheroes are on a frenzied dash to crush villains and the mastermind behind them. 

There is color and humor, but this book had so much going on that it became hard to follow. I felt like I needed ADHD medication. There were way too many villains, even though that was the plot point. I realize I am way older than the target audience, though they might be too young to get some of the comedic references. Younger readers will get pulled in by the art and fast pacing though. Though no races or cultures are specifically mentioned, the superheroes have different skin tones. 

Michelle in the Middle 

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis - ESSENTIAL

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis, 384 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $20.

 

Language: R (85 swears 14 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (bloody fight, police brutality, taunting, football violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Aiden wants to play on his brother's high school football team, and it's finally the year they can do it. 17yo Brandon is a senior and the number one recruit in the nation, but when Aiden, who is a good player, but also has autism, has an episode at tryouts, it looks like the boys won't get to play together after all. When a spot opens and Aiden does gets on the team, some of the other players are unhappy, and resent him because they think he's only playing because his brother is the star quarterback. At a team party after a win, one player picks a fight with Aiden, which turns into chaos, the police are called and several boys on the team are arrested. Including Brandon, who as far as Aiden remembers, wasn't involved. But the police say he assaulted an officer and resisted arrest. Aiden feels this is all his fault, and is desperate to clear his brother's name and save his future prospects. 

There's a lot going on in this engaging, heart wrenching, moving story. Davis hits on racism, social issues, high school football, the legal system, and being a child with autism. At one point he confronts his coach with honest questions and anger about how he has been treated by adults - differently because he's black? because he had autism? because of his brother? Those questions don't have a neat easy answer. A good mix of black and white players on the team, as well as a gay couple. A nice companion to Come Home Safe by Brian Buckmire. 

Aiden and Brandon are black, many of the team is too, most are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc - ADVISABLE

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, 304 pages. Scholastic, OCTOBER 2025. $11 (pb)

Language: G (2 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G (light kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Aiden and Emma have been best friends since kindergarten.  Lately they have been having feelings for each other, but neither of them is willing to tell the other - they don;t want to ruin their friendship.  While Aiden is content in their small town, Emma has always wanted to travel.  When Emma is given a spot at a prestigious NYC boarding school for their senior year, she leaves without even saying goodbye to Aiden,  Now it is Christmas - Emma is back in town and she has brought along her boyfriend of the last six months - her first boyfriend ever, who is everything her small town and Aiden are not. And neither of the boys knows about the other.

A sweet, wholesome romance!  We never can have enough of those in our libraries. You can confidently share this with your Jenny Han fans. Cicatelli-Kuc has another romance based in Briar Glen - I am hoping it is as cute as this one.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley - ADVISABLE

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley, 272 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $20

Content: PG (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Back in 2011, a freak tornado hit a trailer park in Centralia, Illinois, killing four. Francis was only a baby at the time - he survived, but not his mother. 12yo Natalie has just moved to Centralia to live with Grandma while her mom is in drug rehab. She wants to keep her head low, but can;t keep quiet when she sees how the others at school relentlessly bully Francis. It is Centralia’s bicentennial, and their class has been ordered to make history projects - Francis and Natalie pair up to research the tornado, but someone has secrets and they don’t want the tornado scrutinized. The enemy will take drastic measures to ensure their secrets stay hidden, but Natalie and Francis also have friends who are willing to help them succeed. 

Foley adds a touch of magical realism to her story, which I am not going to give away. I love Natalie’s bravery and the adults who rallied around to help her.  Francis is not as brave, but also realistic.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Goalkeeper (Tangerine #2) by Edward Bloor - ESSENTIAL

Goalkeeper (Tangerine #2) by Edward Bloor, 192 pages. Harper Collins, OCTOBER 2025. $20

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (physical threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Paul Fisher has finished his 7th grade year at a Catholic school, but is looking forward to going back to Tangerine Middle School for 8th grade and back to his soccer team. His older brother Erik is under house arrest, not for the death he caused, but for the burglaries. A so-called Christian sub shop owner has come to town and Paul’s dad has bought into the patter. Between drama on the soccer field, drama between friends, drama with Erik, and huge drama caused by the subshop, Paul’s life is topsy-turvy once again. 

It has been almost 20 years since Tangerine was published - it has always been a favorite of mine.  Even though it took so long, I am so happy with Bloor’s sequel! He juggles the multiple strands of the story that none of them feeling left out or overwhelming. I also want to point out that Bloor accomplished all of this in under 200 pages - great for reluctant readers.

The characters are mostly white, with some Latinx.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout - ESSENTIAL

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025 $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (war violence, execution of resistance members, blood in graphics) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When Annick's Dutch grandmother needs a bone marrow transplant, and discovers she is not a blood relative of her siblings, Annick begins a search of her grandmother's history to discover what happened to her in German occupied Amsterdam during WWII. Told from 2011 and 1941, we see the answers to Annick's research as events unfold during the war. In 1941, artists and art not approved by the Nazis was forbidden, but Emma, who likes to draw was introduced to the underground art community by a friend, as well as learned how she could help the Resistance from a teacher at her school - smuggling forged paperwork produced by her artist friends and helping foster Jewish babies who have been saved from deportation with their parents. Annick discovers that one of these babies may have been her Oma, and that Oma has a brother. 

A well written, well documented account of the resistance movement in Amsterdam during the war. I especially loved that many of the graphic illustrations were superimposed onto photographs taken by the Resistance. I was especially impressed by the end notes, telling about who the characters were based on the stories behind the events that happened in the book. The Bank Heist was my favorite. As I began reading, I noticed that Song of a Blackbird takes place at the same time and in the same place as Artifice by Sharon Cameron. It had some overlap which was fun. The characters are Dutch 

Lisa Librarian  

The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell - OPTIONAL

The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell, 310 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $10

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Anwen Sedge lives in the small town of Old Stump, when a giant falls from the sky, flattening her village. Anwen discovers that the giant was dead before he hit the ground, which means he must have been murdered. Anwen and her arch rival, Cerys, go up a magic beanstalk to try and get help from the giants' sky kingdom, where they discover the dead giant was the king. Anwen and Cerys have to learn to get along and use their different kinds of magic to figure out the murderer before they too might be victims. 

I was prepared not to like this, because it seemed too trite to me, but there are some marvelous twists and turns. Anwen makes her size work for her as she tries to solve the murder, and both girls discover they may have been wrong about the other. A charming read for preteens who like fairytales. Culture and age are not specified, though the cover art suggests the girls are white Europeans. 

Michelle in the Middle 

What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing - ESSENTIAL

What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing, 240 pages. Scholastic, SEPT 2025. $19

Content: G (death mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Jax’s Dad and Avery’s Mom may be twins, but their parents and the other three siblings have seen little of each other for the last 30 years. This summer, however, they have been summoned to the family’s private island, where the older generation used to spend their summers - Aunt Robbie has a debilitating disease and she wants to spruce up the island and maybe reunite the family at the same time.  Jax and Avery seem to be the only ones interested in ferreting out the truth - even they don’t know what the truth may do to them.

Downing weaves an excellent family mystery - not the murder mystery kind. She manages to keep even the readers in the dark in the right ways until the very end. The family pathos is tender and poignant. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti - ADVISABLE

Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti, 256 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $8 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Cherokee Skye is spending the summer with her aunt and uncle. Her older cousin Braeden has just landed her dream job as a Park Ranger.  When Skye finds an injured baby fox, she meets Ivy at the local vet’s office.. Together the two girls are determined to find the poacher, even if it hurts people close to her.

The Wish books are all so good - a variety of stories and characters, well-written, and fun. While the page count seems long, it didn’t read long - the story flowed quickly, with nice moments of tension and mystery.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood - OPTIONAL

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood, 352 pages. Scholastic, SEPT 2025. $15 (pb)

Language: R (51 swears, 11 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (deaths mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Carrington mansion has been vacant for 100 years - ever since a fire killed the final occupant.  Now, when the local football star and his cheerleader boyfriend also die within its walls, three friends, Cam, Jonsey, and Amber, along with newcomer Buffy, want to solve the mystery. Someone is watching them, willing to go to any lengths to keep them from getting too close to the truth.

A bit Scooby Gang, a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a campy horror romp that is a quick read. It is nice for once to see a murder mystery where it isn’t the friend group trying to kill each other.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cinder House by Freya Marske - ADULTS

Cinder House by Freya Marske, 144 pages. Tor, OCTOBER 2025. $25

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (steamy scenes with vague language, menage a trois mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ella’s father is dead and so is Ella, but somehow she is tied as a ghost to her family home.  And, unfortunately, she is under the control of the stepmother and stepsisters - one of whom, Greta,  delights in torturing Ella with her commands. Then Ella makes a bargain that helps her to be seen and touched for only three nights - the same three nights of the Prince’s ball to choose a wife. 

Marske changes and adds to the Cinderella story in very interesting ways. Without the racy scenes, I would have recommended this to a much wider audience. As an adult reader, I enjoyed Marske’s additions - including a creative curse placed upon the prince and an evil stepsister who is also a magic user. 

The characters default white in a fantasy realm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga, 288 pages. HarperCollins, 2021. $19. 

Language: PG (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (reference to a school shooting, injury in a creek); 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Quinn and her next door neighbor Cora have been best friends their whole lives. Until last November, when Cora's sister Mabel died in a school shooting. Quinn's brother Parker was the shooter. They haven't spoken since, it's been terrible for each of them, but Quinn feels somehow responsible, like she should have known, like she should have stopped him. Actually, Cora does, too. She can't help but blame Quinn. So when Quinn has a plan, and Cora sees that they both need to be involved for it to work, they agree to try. To find a wormhole and go back in time to try to fix things, to stop Parker somehow. 

Told in alternating chapters, both Cora and Quinn are grieving, but differently. Cora is so angry, she has other friends still and visits a therapist every week, but isn't sure it's helping. Quinn's parents won't talk about what happened with Quinn and fight with each other all the time. Quinn has no friends at school - everyone avoids her. She didn't try out for the soccer team and spends lunch every day in the library. A fascinating look at the effect on the family of a school shooting. Quinn is while, Cora's father is from Lebanon. 

Lisa Librarian 

Wolf Club by James Bird - ADVISABLE

Wolf Club by James Bird, 272 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), SEPT 2025. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Okan, the racoon; Sara, the Skunk, and Marcus, the moose may be classmates, but they are certainly not friends. Until, however, a white wolf with antlers is spotted in their Minnesota forest and Okan and Sara feel called to find and save the wolf from rogue hunters. Marcus? He comes along because he demands to be included. The trio will go on a journey of steps and of spirit as each of them wrestle with where their hearts and loyalties lie.

Reminiscent of Touching Spirit Bear, Bird brings us skillfully into Native American lives and customs. I enjoyed the dynamics between the three characters and action and feeling of danger of the story. The resolution was a lovely surprise I wasn’t able to predict, that felt genuine.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Okan and Sara are Native America; Marcus is white.

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel - OPTIONAL

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel, 256 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $20

Language: R (41  swears, 4  ‘f’); Mature Content:G ; Violence: PG (coyote attack, threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Xavier has reluctantly joined his dad and pregnant stepmom, Nia, on the annual trip to the family cabin, knowing his older brother will come up soon. When they wake in the morning, however, they are no longer at the lake - they are somewhere else. Disaster strikes when Nia goes into early labor, but somehow everything turns out ok.  Now, three years later, the four have figured out who exist where they are - but when a new family appears suddenly, everything is thrown into question again.

I don’t want to say too much - Oppel has done a great job with his new science fiction book - this one in particular reminds me of Will Sleator’s stories. And the length is not too intimidating fora  wide variety of readers.

Characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan - ADVISABLE

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan, 272 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger)

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Toasty the goldfish may be Jillian’s only pet, but Ivy is also the beloved houseplant. Toasty has pride of place in a beautiful octagonal fish tank, an antique found by Jillian’s parents, who are antique dealers whose storefront is barely holding on. Then arrives Arthur, a spider with a broken leg, and then Ollie, another houseplant! None of these new housemates realize how special they are - or how special the water from Toasty’s magical fishtank makes them - until they need to band together to save the Tuppers from a mysterious man with nefarious purposes. 

Listening to the plants and animals interact is a hoot. If I taught 2nd or 3rd grade I’d read this aloud to my class for fun. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

After Life by Gayle Forman - OPTIONAL

After Life by Gayle Forman, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20. 

Language: R (63 swears 10 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (sexual activity - talked about not fully described) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Amber arrives home from school, and things at home seem different. She can't find her cat, the TV doesn't work right and when her mom sees her she can't stop screaming. Amber was killed in a hit and run on her way home from school 7 years ago. Her little sister Melissa is now Amber's age! Amber's mother is horrified, her father is elated. Amber is confused. She didn't know she died, but now she's seeing how it affected her family, her friends, even people she barely knew. 

Told from many perspectives and times prior to and after Amber's return. After Life is definitely for a more mature reader who can keep track. A deep examination of grief, and how different people manage it. 

A complicated novel, but a must have in a High School library. Amber and her family are white. Melissa is a lesbian 

Lisa Librarian 

Dream by Barbara O’Connor - OPTIONAL

Dream by Barbara O’Connor, 256 pages. Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Idalee lives with her Mama in their boarding house in the small Colby, North Carolina.  Mama dreams of being a country-western star and this summer she is going on the road with her band in search of stardom, leaving Idalee and the boarding house in the care of one of their long-term borders. When Idalee hears about a song-writing contest, she badly wants to enter, but she’ll need to find the treasure hidden in the house by her late granddaddy in order to buy the guitar she needs to inspire her.

I am unsure what time period Idalee lives in - though Charlie, from O’Connor’s Wish  appears in the book as a young lady. For fans of gentle realistic fiction.

Characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta - ADVISABLE

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta, 320 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Simi lives in India with a loving family, but her parents are a Muslim and a Hindu and a growing faction in India are against such mixed marriages. After her father is badly beaten, he makes his way from India to Mexico and from there to NYC.  When Simi and her mother follow in his footsteps, however, they are abandoned by their coyote in the desert and picked up by American agents and taken to separate detention camps. Will the family ever be reunited?

I found this video about Indians immigrating to America - both legally and illegally (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh1xgoPHiM8). I had no idea that Indians are a large percentage of those coming from Mexico. Gupta gives a poignant portrayal of the desperation of those sneaking in and of their treatment if captured and detained. 

The main characters are Indian and Mexican.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford, - OPTIONAL

The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford, 301 pages. Holiday House, 2024. $20

Language: R (89 swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (cyber bulling, punches)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A few months before making a big move from Oregon to Florida with her family, 16yo Casey, who hoped to one day be a professional singer, woke up to find that she had lost most of her hearing. When Casey's friends find about her hearing loss, they all desert her. Determined not to be hurt again, she plans to hide that she is Deaf-Hard of hearing and make no friends at her new school in Florida. But Lela has other ideas. She brings Casey into her circle of friends anyway: Hayden, Paz, and Cesar.  Soon Casey is bonding with Hayden over a shared love of music. Hayden also has secrets he is keeping. Although his family expects him to be a soccer star like his father and brother before him, he wants to star on Broadway. Hayden is also dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. Casey and Hayden begin to confide in each other. They find love and support with each other as they are both dealing with a disability. When they both decide to be brave and share things with their other friends, they find acceptance and support there as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, which is told from the dual perspective of Casey and Hayden. I liked that Casey found a place where she felt at home. I liked that the focus is on two kids dealing with disabilities while still trying to follow their dreams. They both find needed love and support from their friendship. I liked that the book describes when ASL is used and touches on some aspects of Deaf culture and community. The book touches on some aspects of ableism and cyberbullying. Casey describes herself as being bisexual. The relationship between Cesar and Casey is antagonistic until the last few chapters of the book. Then I feel that suddenly, and without any lead-up, there was a change between them.

Casey is white with a Polish father, Hayden is Cuban/Italian-American, Lela and Cesar are Colombian-American, Paz is Ethiopian-American

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog by Joan Holub and Rafael Rosado - ADVISABLE

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog by Joan Holub, illustrated by Rafael Rosado. 133 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $15. 9780593434307

Content: PG (farting is mentioned a lot)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Professor Groovypants and his henchman have come to Earth to steal a renewable source of energy to power their homeworld. Together they create a small baby boy, who creates the most powerful and stinky farts ever. "Will Professor Groovypants, now Perfume Lady, win or will Phartolomew blow his nemesis away?

Fart Boy and Reeky Dog" is a pun-filled graphic novel that takes an irreverent look at the natural body function of passing gas. In the book, Dr. Gastro even gives a song filled explanation of how gas forms in the digestive system before needing to be expelled. The question is posed of whether girls actually fart as well. Joan Holub has filled the story with wordplays that are truly clever, and Rafael Rosado has created graphic storyboards that display action and humor. 

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung - ESSENTIAL

Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025. $23. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Ming wants to meet his parent's expectations. "Get good grades" "Be a good boy" and "Don't cause trouble." But starting middle school is hard. He has the same bowl haircut his mom has always given him, and his clothes have been bought at a thrift store. He knows he has no chance of being popular. Starting the year in an ESL class he doesn't need (he doesn't speak Chinese and was born in the United States), he makes friends in the cafeteria - Marcus and Vikrum. Ming isn't popular, but school is so much better with friends. 

Don't Cause Trouble is a great story about trying to fit in. Ming's parents struggle to make money, his mother's cleaning job includes dealing with a racist who continually calls her bad words (represented in characters). Ming is also desperate to make money, trying to sell his Halloween candy. He's not an immigrant, his parents are, and we learn their back story. I know my middle school population can relate. Ming's family is Chinese. 

Lisa Librarian 

Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates by Cassandra Federman - ADVISABLE

Story Spinners: A Sisterly Tale of Danger, a Princess, and Her Crew of Lady Pirates by Cassandra Federman. 194 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $23. 9781665918237

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Sisters Kennedy and Devon fight all the time, but now must work together to put their baby sister to sleep. Their adventurous fairy tale combines elements from both sisters as they cooperate to earn back the privilege of screen use. Princess Danger Sparklepuff must find true love and face dragons, evil water spiders, the Garbage Kingdom, and even a Shark Prince. Late nights are a good time for sisters to share creative ideas and heartfelt truths.

Kennedy and Devon portray the idea of siblings with opposite interests and habits who still love each other and can find common ground. It's kind of a morality tale about truly looking at our siblings and seeing things from their point of view. The illustrations have a kind of sticker appearance and color codes the word bubbles for the sisters dialogue. I believe this style will appeal to many young readers.

Mom is portrayed as a rounder figure.  Princesses come in all colors, sizes, and appearances. Princess Danger Sparklepuff has a peg leg.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

Talk to Me Nice by Minda Harts - OPTIONAL

Talk to Me Nice by Minda Harts, 240 pages. NONFICTION. Flatiron Books (Macmillan), 2025. $15.

Language: PG13 (16 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: FEW

An employee since her teenage years, Hart’s résumé has given her lots of experience with various managers and coworkers. One thing she has learned is that trust is vital—but different people need trust shown in different ways. Hart introduces the seven trust languages that, when implemented, will make the workplace better for you and everyone else around you.

Admittedly, I only picked this book up because it reminded me of the five love languages, and I was interested to see this new take on the concept. While focused on workplace relationships, these trust languages can be applied to other relationships, though Hart goes into a lot of detail specifically for implementing them at work. Hart offers templates and examples to enable her readers to advocate for themselves and their needs at work—to gain, build, and restore trust with managers and colleagues. A very niche topic, but interesting nonetheless.

The mature content rating is for mentions of sexual harassment, and the violence rating is for mentions of school shootings.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Ain't it Funny by Margaret Gurevich - ADVISABLE

Ain't it Funny by Margaret Gurevich, 240 pages. Penguin, 2024. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Maya is having a hard year. Her dad has moved out to follow his dream of being a stand up comic, and she, her babushka and mother are running the family's Russian deli without him. But Maya is also noticing some changes in herself. She gets a hot-hot-hot feeling when something is germy - like when a boy in class touches her pencils or puts gum on her desk. She's washing her hands all the time but the adults in her home don't see she has a problem. 

I didn't expect the neuro-diversity element and I really enjoyed it. There were plenty of stand up comedy style jokes, I'm really glad Maya and her dad made sure none of them would offend anyone personally. I was sad that Baba was more concerned that people would think her granddaughter was crazy than she was about getting Maya help. I loved the school nurse and the therapist - I hope they are seeing a family therapist as well. Maya and her family are Russian. So are many of her friends. 

Lisa Librarian 

 

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk - ESSENTIAL

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk, 352 pages. Penguin, 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying, peril, dangerous antics) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Lucretia and her mother have just moved to Candle Island in Maine. Her father has recently died and they have moved to a new place for some privacy and to escape memories. But the town isn't very welcoming - during the summer, the population explodes with summer vacationers, and even though they are permanent, Lucretia knows it won't be easy to make friends. Especially as they have moved into Murdock's old house. Murdock is a girl about Lucretia's age, who resents anyone in her former house. And the summer kids, they are the worst, entitled bullies with no consequences. 

Lauren Wolk spins a marvelous story. I have loved her books ever since I read Wolf Hollow,  and reflected back often during my reading of Candle Island. Wolk's books stick with you, and this will too. Kid readers will love the growing friendships, the animals and the island adventure. Adults will recognize the hard decisions parents are faced with, and the consequences of spoiling children. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Kingdom of Without by Andrea Tang - OPTIONAL

Kingdom of Without by Andrea Tang, 275 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2023.  $20

Language:  R (132 swears, 55 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Mentions of sex and one night stands, a couple of kisses, alcohol use, mentions of drug use); Violence: PG-13 (bar fight, man shot in the stomach, attempted murder with poison, violent confrontations)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Older teen Ning'er takes on a burglary job, thinking it will be quick and easy, and provide her with much-needed money. However, she quickly finds she has signed on with a crew of college-age insurgents and vigilantes. Re Zi'an is the explosives expert, Fei fei is the fixer, Zhenyi is the medical expert, and Cheng Yun (also known as the Red Yaksha or Young Marshall) is the leader and provides the funding. To make matters worse, they don't want her to steal an object; they want her to liberate a former rebel leader who has been imprisoned for five years.  Set in futuristic Beijing, where cyborgs keep the peace in a class-divided society that often erupts in protests and riots. The city is divided by walls into six areas. Ning'er comes from the sixth or poorest of the rings. The city is run by an out-of-touch ruling family and elected officials who are in the pocket of the powerful pharmaceutical company Lilium. Many of the residents, regardless of which ring they live in, are addicted to a drug called complacency. Lilium will do whatever it takes to keep the people addicted to their powerful and expensive drug. The deeper Ning'er gets into the job, the more she realizes she has to either remain complacent or take risks and join her new friends as they seek revolution. 

I enjoyed the book overall. It is a story of a girl who must choose between remaining safe with the status quo or taking risks to improve her life and the lives of others. It was confusing at times because each of the characters has a name, a nickname, and in the case of Cheng Yun, two aliases. A few key points of the ending were wrapped up too conveniently, in my opinion. 

All of the characters are Chinese.

A. Snow, Librarian

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

A Strange Thing Happened in Cherry Hall by Jasmine Warga, 224 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Rami is having a rough 6th grade year. His friend group has kicked him off their lunch table, telling him he's weird, and he's feeling like he doesn't fit in anywhere. But when a painting is stolen from the museum, and his mother is considered one of the suspects, Rami rekindles a friendship with Veda, a girl from school who is obsessed with True Crime. Oh, there's also a ghost in the museum that only Veda and 

Remi can see, and she may be the key to solving the crime and clearing Rami's mom's name. 

Rami is a worrying kind of kid, but he sure makes some bad decisions when he's with Veda. The trouble adds to the story though so I'm not complaining. A fun mystery with a lot of suspects - not just Rami's mom. Rami's family is from Lebanon, Veda's is from India. 

Lisa Librarian  

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill & Nilah Magruder - ADVISABLE

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill & Nilah Magruder, 268 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Nora has to move and leave her best friends and her horseback riding team behind. She is their star rider, so the first thing she does when she gets to her new town is to find a barn for her horse, Hay Fever. Nora hates the new barn, called Creaky Acres, because it's so run down and she doesn't like being the only black kid in her school. Nora has to adjust on a lot of levels and find out how to make her new life work. 

The artwork is great and there is interesting information about how to care for a horse. I like Nora's character, because even though she is flawed, she rises to the occasion and helps her new barn friends rise to theirs. Nice messages about friendship and watching out for each other. Even though it's about horse riding, anyone who has had to move can identify with Nora. I had a hard time with Nora being the team coach at age 10, and one of her riders being in a competition at age 8 without a parent there to watch. The ages seem a little young for what they do. Young readers probably won't notice though. Nora is black.

Michelle in the Middle 

Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than - ESSENTIAL

Creature Clinic by Gavin Aung Than, 216 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $20 (paperback). 

Language: G (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (monster injuries being treated) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

When a human arrives at Creature Clinic lodged in the shoe if a very sick giant, Dr. Orc refuses to treat the human and wants him removed from Mythland immediately. But Kara, the senior resident at the clinic (and Dr. Orc's daughter) knows the human needs help and takes matters into her own hands, hiding him and giving some lifesaving treatment. But, once he's feeling better, he won't leave! 

Kids will love this graphic novel. Upper elementary will appreciate the silly puns and and the darling illustrations. I hope they get all the fairytale connections including the Three Billy Goats Gruff, Jack and the Beanstalk and the Three Pigs and many others, some just featured in the illustrations. And, with so many characters in the illustrations, it will lend itself to re-reading so well, as there is much to see and discover each time. 

Lisa Librarian 

Hoops Academy: On the Line by J.B. Duncan - ADVISABLE

Hoops Academy: On the Line by J.B. Duncan, 104 pages. Darby Creek (Lerner), 2025. $12

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Nadia has made the JV basketball team as a freshman and is totally jazzed about that. She would be even more excited if she were doing better in algebra. Hoops Academy demands excellence on and off the court and if her grade drops below a B she can't play. Nadia doesn't seem to be the only one struggling with grades and someone on the team may be cheating, which could also keep Nadia from playing. 

Nice that the books aren't just about basketball. Nadia's situation is relatable and you find yourself rooting for her. Super quick read. Though it becomes fairly predictable, it's satisfying and you won't be sorry you picked it up. Race is not specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Hoops Academy: Numbers Game by J.B. Duncan - ADVISABLE

Hoops Academy: Numbers Game by J.B. Duncan, 104 pages. Darby Creek (Lerner), 2025 $12 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Kaita is in her senior year at Hoops Academy and everything seems to be going her way. She is varsity team captain and finally gets to wear her lucky number on her jersey. Except that her jersey keeps disappearing, and soon, her team mates begin finding things missing from the locker room as well. Mistrust eats at the team, making it difficult to play. Kaita has to find out what's happening before their team implodes. 

Short and to the point. Books in this series alternate between male and female protagonists, and don't have to be read in consecutive order, though it may help a little. The story is quickly paced and has some positive vibes about getting along, teamwork, and seeing others' points of view. No race is specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Hoops Academy: Boxed Out by J.B. Duncan - ADVISABLE

Hoops Academy: Boxed Out by J.B. Duncan, 104 pages. Darby Creek (Lerner), 2025. $12

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Murph and Mike are twins who have played basketball together all their lives. Mike makes the varsity team, while Murph is on the JV team. Murph is completely bugged by this and doesn't take his coach's guidance seriously. When Murph gets an unexpected opportunity to move up to varsity, he has to decide if he really has what it takes to make it. 

Short and sweet and high interest. This is a great hook for reluctant readers who like basketball. Murph is relatable, with his faults and dreams of glory, and the underlying messages of having to work and be a team player are a happy bonus. Race and culture are not specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney Williams and Tyler Smith - ESSENTIAL

Mixed-Up by Kami Garcia, illustrated by Brittney Williams and Tyler Smith. 193  pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $23. 9781250142337

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Stella is excited to start fifth grade with her two best friends. They have a great teacher and their favorite TV show just got a new online game. Stella loves math and art, but is very slow at reading. When fifth grade turns out to be harder than ever and Stella falls behind in her classwork, she can't keep up with her friends or the online game. It turns out that Stella has dyslexia.

Students will be able to see themselves in the characters--from friendship struggles to learning differences. The font is even dyslexia accessible.  This is one of the best books I have read this year! Dan Santat's endorsement on the front cover sums it up well: ""Handles living with dyslexia beautifully, with empathy and compassion. This is a must-read book."" I wish I could get a few select educators to read this book. In the meantime, I will be recommending it to every middle-grade reader and teacher I can! "

The main character is Latina and other characters are ethnically diverse.

Rachel, elementary library specialist

Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr., illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo - ESSENTIAL

Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr., illustrated by Jes & Cin Wibowo, 318 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL, First Second (Macmillan), 2024. $23 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: PG (mention of suicide attempt, no specifics) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Tony Weaver is in the 7th grade. His parents moved him to a new school to challenge him. Instead, his teacher thinks he is cheating with his writing and he is bullied by other students because of his love of comic book heroes. Tony wants desperately to fit in but begins to feel like everyone would be better off if he was gone. A traumatic event forces him to find out who he is and that he can become the hero of his story. 

This is an essential read for anyone who feels like they are not accepted for who they are and strive to conform to fit in, but are still the target of bullying. This is a positive story of healing and self-love and a journey to finding that he can fit in and make a difference. This is the author's story and he tells it well without getting into detail about self-harm. The focus is really about recovery and finding inner strength. Tony is black. 

Michelle in the Middle 

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga, 320 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $10 (paperback) 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Resilience is a Mars rover created in a NASA lab. Although definitely a robot, Res (as one of the scientists nicknamed him) recognizes human emotions and sometimes sees them in his own responses, and hopes to always be rational. He is launched to Mars, and with the help of Fly - an embedded Drone and Guardian, a satellite, Res' primary mission is to find another rover, Courage, who was lost in a dust storm and has gone offline, but Res has a personal mission - to find something so important, they bring him back to Earth. 

What a sweet story! Warga's first science fiction novel was great. I really liked Resilient's voice, and the relationship between Fly the drone and Guardian the satellite. Another character, Sophie, is the child of one of the scientists, who writes letters to Res - more like journal entries, which helps the reader see the passage of time and helps connect with Earth. Perfectly appropriate for upper elementary, with a growing Sophie so there's some friend drama and family problems mentioned as well. 

Lisa Librarian 

Uprooted by Ruth Chan - ADVISABLE

Uprooted by Ruth Chan, 288 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL, Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $15 Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Ruth is moving to Hong Kong from Canada. Her dad got a job in China and she is reluctantly leaving everything she is familiar with. Her mother is excited to be with family, but Ruth feels like she doesn't fit in anywhere. She is not comfortable speaking Cantonese and feels completely uprooted. Her dad tells her his birth story and she learns that both of her parents have felt uprooted as well. 

This is a memoir, so Ruth's voice will resonate with others who don't feel like they fit in. I really like how Ruth ties in the story of her father's birth during the Second Sino-Japanese War. The book is a great message of how courage, perseverance, and patience can help us do hard things. Ruth is Chinese Canadian. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan - OPTIONAL

Summer Girls by Jennifer Dugan, 310 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2025. $20. 

Language: R (104 swears 21 'f's); Mature Content: PG13 (mention of nipples, passionate kissing); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

After crashing her boyfriend's expensive car while live streaming, 17yo Birdie is getting a wake-up call from her father. In order to bring her down to earth, he has hired his friend's daughter Cass, a lifeguard at the beach to "babysit" Birdie for the summer. Birdie has to work a menial labor job - she's now a parking attendant - and has been cut off from her own car, and all her social media. Birdie and Cass were friends when they were children, but are so far apart socially that they basic hate each other now - or do they? 

A sweet slow burn romance, I was afraid it was going to be more like "52 Reasons to Hate my Father" but I really liked that Birdie didn't turn out to be an incompetent rich girl. Cass has some great friends, and supportive parents. Birdie's friends and mother are a hot mess, which kept the story alive. I really enjoyed Summer Girls. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Ice on Fire (Rosie Frost #2) by Geri Halliwell-Horner - OPTIONAL

Ice on Fire (Rosie Frost #2) by Geri Halliwell-Horner,  464 pages. Penguin, 2025. $19. 

Language: PG13 (100+ swears, primarily deity, 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG13 (peril, murders, animal violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

13yo Rosie is determined to find out how her mother died. When her lawyer receives the autopsy information from the police, he agrees to meet her at school to talk to her, but when she arrives at the meeting, he's dead on the floor, Rosie is attacked and locked in Miss Churchill's private bathroom. No one will believe her, Collins body is missing and there's no evidence he was ever there. Science on the island has gone crazy, mutant animals are attacking Rosie and her friends, and a billionaire's experiment in the harbor threatens to destroy the world. 

Rosie is desperate and acting that way, she's easily manipulated, out for revenge, impulsive and making some terrible decisions. No one believes her, and her only witness Ed can't be found either. I loved the action of book 1, the games were fun and exciting, but I felt stuck in Ice on Fire. This school is a hot mess, the headmaster is out to get Rosie because he has some vendetta against her mother, and the rich entitlement of many of the students and their parents is getting old. I'm also not a fan of the premise that if you carry your ancestors' name (like Cromwell for example) you are predisposed to act like them.  Rosie is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Great Influenza by John M. Barry - ADVISABLE

The Great Influenza: The True Story of the Deadliest Pandemic in History, Young Readers Edition by John M. Barry, 230 pages. NON-FICTION Viking (Penguin), 2024. $18 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

World War 1 involved a huge loss of life, but was compounded when history's deadliest outbreak of the influenza virus spread worldwide through troop transports. The virus exploded, killing as many as 100 million people worldwide. 

The Great Influenza looks at the virus, the military camps, and the race to find a cure. It took me awhile to get into this book. I wish there would have been pictures to make it more accessible. The writing is good and the subject matter is compelling, especially since the outbreak of Covid. I found the information about the camps and how the politics of patriotism interfered with getting the truth of the virus out to people and may even have contributed to WWII. It's a cautionary tale that is applicable to today. 

Michelle in the Middle

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman - ESSENTIAL

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman, 400 pages. Random House, 2025. $21.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (death by fire, plague, dragon attacks, bully violence ) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Charl had arranged to meet his bully in the ruins of the old abby on the hill. Arriving there, he witnesses a terrible accident, where 2 boys from the village are killed. Charl realizes it could have been him! Years ago Charl and his mother escaped their abusive father, the Earl of Ucht. Now, 7 years later, he his found them, and has sent bounty hunters to return them to him, including a dragon set on destroying the whole village, and beetles which start a plague. Protected by a former knight, a nun, a doctor friend (who also happens to be a dragon) and an old prioress, Mother Truce, Charl wants to save his mother, but she has taught him to turn away from violence. But Charl thinks he may be more like his father that he wishes to be. 

A slow build to the ghostly content. It takes about 1/2 way through before the ghosts show up but I was not disappointed. Hartman sets up the story so well, and once she brings in the ghosts, this reader was also investing in the boy's story. The setting of Among Ghosts is Goredd, the same world as Hartman's other fantasy novels Serafina, Tess of the Road and others. Among Ghosts can be read on it's own and the novels don't overlap, rather they contain dragons which can take human form.  

Lisa Librarian