Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer - ADVISABLE

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer, 335 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $18. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Kwame is about to go on a trip to Ghana. His grandmother recently passed away and his family is going to her celebration of life, but he's reluctant. He is choosing to not address his grief and is trying to get out of the trip. But, the night before he is to go, he's staying over at his friend's house when suddenly, they are attacked by an aboatia, a whistling monkey like mythical creature. It steals his dashiki (a shirt his grandmother made him) and he and his friend Amber chase it until they fall into another world - a world where Kwame discovers he is a "shard of mother earth" and a special one - tasked with saving the world. 

Full of adventure, monsters, gods and culture, Kwame Crashes the Underworld was an exciting read. Kwame learns about where he came from, builds a respect for his grandmother's culture and fights a bunch of demons and monsters. Amber is hearing impaired and even with no special powers (Kwame has a cool magical sword) she holds her own against them as well. There are a lot of these mythical books in so many cultures, this one contains a glossary. Kwame is African American Ghanan, Amber is Afro Korean 

Lisa Librarian 

Wicked Darlings by Jordyn Taylor - OPTIONAL

Wicked Darlings by Jordyn Taylor, 271 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 41 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (off page sex, kissing and making out mentioned, some drug use, underage drinking, drunk driving); Violence: PG-13 (car crash, some blood mentioned, attempted assault, fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Noa is getting ready to graduate and can’t believe it’s been a year since her sister, Leah, took her life.  Everyone is still grieving, and it seems impossible to move forward because her feelings for her sister are complicated.  Before she died, Noa was jealous of everything about her.  Now she is gone and Noa is sad, but also relieved.  What kind of person does that make her?  When Noa finds Leah’s cellphone, she starts reading all her texts and is surprised by what she finds.  Things aren’t adding up and Noa begins to wonder if  something happened to Leah.  Noa had plans to visit New York over the summer, but decides to go early to see what she can find out about her sister’s life.  But to do so she has to find a way to meet the people in Leah’s life and get them to trust her.  How else will she find out if one of them killed her sister?

I like a good mystery and I was hoping this one would put me on the edge of my seat, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.  While it had promise, there wasn’t enough depth to the story. It moved fast, but didn’t give the time to get to know and understand the characters and their motivations. Also I was surprised at how easily Noa worked her way into these wealthy, elite circles and how they welcomed her with open arms.  I did appreciate Leah’s death being resolved and that Noa seemed to make a genuine friend. While your mystery lovers will be drawn to the cover, the quick read, and may leave satisfied, I wish it had a little more to it.

The author describes her characters with a variety of skin color, genders and sexual orientation. RB - librarian

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot - ADVISABLE

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Maverick (Mad Cave), 2024. $15. 

Language: PG (13 swears); Mature Content: PG13 (Kissing on a bed); Violence: PG (Manga violence - illustrations) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Gabby and Neesha are both new at the high school. Neesha has Cerebral Palsy which affects her balance and she needs braces on her feet and legs. When she learns the principal has taken her out of her honors classes and placed her in special education classes instead, she bravely threatens to call her mom who will call her lawyer and she gets (many of) the accommodations she needs. Gabby is also having a bad first day, nearly getting sent home for a dress code violation, Neesha steps in and advocates for Gabby too. The two become friends, discovering that in middle school they both enjoyed the same Manga series, and commit to book clubbing the series together. Through the shared readings, and the shared adventures of finding the next in the series, the girls become close. 

I liked this sweet budding romance - the girls become fast friends, even best friends before it turns to romance, and the romance isn't steamy - even when given the opportunity to be alone together, either the authors don't disclose it all, or the romance stops at kissing. I loved strong Neesha ready to take on the world for the under advantaged, she's so sweet with Gabby who is going through some personal problems. Although the girls are in high school, I would purchase a copy for my middle school library, too. My 8th and 9th grade readers who like LGBTQ will enjoy Navigating with You. Neesha is black, Gabby is Cuban. 

Lisa Librarian 

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson, 405 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (scary people, peril; descriptions of smallpox); 

BUYING ADVISORY:MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Elsbeth is a maid for Judge Bellingham, a member of the Royal Governor's Council and a loyalist. It's 1776, and the siege of Boston gave patriots control of the city. Loyalists left Boston and Judge Bellingham with them. Elsbeth's father is missing and she is desperate to find him, she has no secure employment and may end up in an orphanage. Then a wealthy family, the Pikes arrive, and Elsbeth becomes their maid-of-all-things. They have a housekeeper who quickly shows her distaste for Elsbeth, so she doubles down and works even harder. But when smallpox starts spreading, and inoculation is the answer to getting a light case, Elsbeth, who survived smallpox as a child, becomes even more valuable to the family. But her father has some sketchy acquaintances, and his past threatens her future. 

I love Laurie Halse Anderson's histories so very much. On the shelf it seems a huge book, and page wise, yes, but the story is so engaging! I thought it would be about battles and the revolutionary war, but it was more about the lives of the people trapped in Boston, first by the seige, and then by the smallpox. Readers of historical fiction will like this one, it reminded me of Ann Rinaldi's books I read in the 80s. Highly recommended, but I have trouble getting kids to read fat books and historical fiction, I hope the tide turns soon. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor - ADVISABLE

The Otherwhere Post by Emily J. Taylor, 392 pages. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin), 2025. $21 

Language: PG-13 (36 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (A few instances of passionate kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Descriptions of death, blood, and injuries) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Maeve keeps her real name a secret and moves frequently to protect her identity—ever since her father died when she was 11 and she discovered he was responsible for setting lose the Aldervine, causing the deaths of thousands of innocent people and the collapse of the connection between the three magically interconnected worlds Inverly, Leyland, and Barrow. She is content to continue hating her father and living a solitary life until she receives a seven-year-old, delayed letter from an anonymous “old friend” of her father’s who claims her father was innocent. She takes the remainder of her meager savings and is determined to get an Otherwhere Post apprenticeship by any means necessary because it is located at the former College of Scriptomantic Arts where her father worked, so she believes it holds the key to understanding her father’s past and hopefully finding the truth. As Maeve digs into the past, she discovers that uncovering the truth is more dangerous than she ever imagined.

While I found some of the world-building and plot development a little confusing at times, I loved the magical world, the mystery, and the descriptive writing. The dark academia atmosphere was completely captivating. The book had a slow start, but at the end, I couldn’t put it down. Maeve was single-minded almost to a fault and was a prickly character, but she was also courageous and it was powerful when she started learning to trust and found the strength to take charge of her own destiny, rather than remaining a victim of the past. This book had so many good elements: danger, magic, hope, and a slow burn romance with just a bit of spice. With so much potential, I found myself wanting more: more clarity, more depth, more development. These small disappointments aside, the unique world and interesting premise made this an enjoyable read. A couple of side characters are LGBT.

Marinda, librarian 

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough - OPTIONAL

Everything Is Poison by Joy McCullough, 287 pages. Dutton Books (Penguin), 2025. $20 

Language: PG-13 (15 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (references to abortion, description of childbirth, death and grief, discussions of murder and poisoning); Violence: PG-13 (beatings, domestic abuse, emotional abuse, sexual assault, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Carmela is finally old enough to work at her mother’s apothecary in Renaissance Rome. The shop is known in the neighborhood for dispensing the best love potions and treatments for everyday aches and pains, but is also the target of suspicion from the local authorities, due to rumors that they dispense more deadly ‘remedies’ as well. As Giulia, Maria, and Laura teach Carmela how to craft their healing balms, they also share the nature of the care they give their customers. When one of Carmela’s ill-advised decisions endangers her mother and the apothecary’s very existence, these lessons will be vital for Carmela’s survival, as well as that of the apothecary and the women of the neighborhood.

I liked this book for the most part, but it’s a little bit niche so it would likely only appeal to girls interested in history. I liked the Renaissance Rome setting and the atmosphere that leant the story. I loved the relationship between all the women and their dedication to each other and the women who needed them. It painted a picture of the important role women played in society. I didn’t like that all of the male characters were terrible people. Basically, every woman in the book had been abused in some way and all the men were pretty one-dimensional. I’m all for women helping women and female solidarity, but it just wasn’t realistic for all the men to be monsters. 

Andrea R 

The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver #1) by Vanessa Le - ADVISABLE

 

The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver #1) by Vanessa Le, 384 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $20.

Language: PG-13 (17 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody violence - stabbing, gunshot wounds)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Nikha is a heartsooth, a person with abilities to heal themselves and others. When she finishes healing a person as requested, the man turns her in and calls the Butchers. They cage her and take bids from buyers that visit her cage. She’s sold to a young woman, Mimi Congmi,  who offers a huge amount of money for Nikhai. They travel to the Congmi manor where Nikha is asked to heal Hendon, the only witness to Mimi’s father’s death. Mimi and her brother believe he was murdered. When Nikha heals Hendon, the information he offers throws them all into a whirlwind of danger and deception.

The mystery grabbed my full attention. The world building and character development brought the story to life. I enjoyed learning about Nikha’s background.

Nikha has golden brown skin. Nikha’s grandmother has skin a shade darker than hers. The Congmi family has pale, rosy skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Black Sunflowers by Cynthia LeBrun - OPTIONAL

Black Sunflowers by Cynthia LeBrun, 475 pages. Fitzhenry & Whiteside, 2024. $22

Language: PG-13 (18 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (dead bodies, threats of death, overarching fear, alcohol consumption); Violence: PG-13 (beatings, starvation, war related violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: FEW

For the first 6 years of Veronika's life, she lived a quiet life on her family farm surrounded by loving aunts, uncles, and cousins. Unfortunately, her family lived in Ukraine, which is under Soviet control. Stalin's communist policies targeted the Ukrainian people and led to starvation and fear. As she grows up, Veronika experiences the reality of these policies first hand. The tragedy of the oppressive government takes its toll on the people Veronika loves, but she survives and learns to live within that terrifying reality. 

I liked that it's a true story and historically accurate. I learned about what it was like to live during the Holodomor. I also loved the authentic, loving relationship between Veronika and her family. It's more of a memoir than a novel and it definitely reads like that. There's no real plot and it basically just tells Veronkia's life story. I don't see that any kids would read it on their own. It's likely only people who are interested in this historical time period would read it. Veronika is 6 years old when the book starts and 19 at the end. Veronika and her family are Polish Catholics living in Ukraine. 

Andrea R 

What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan - OPTIONAL

What a Desi Girl Wants by Sabina Khan, 276 pages. Scholastic Press, 2023. $19

Language: R (22 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing, lightly described); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Mehar has just found out through social media that her dad is getting married again. Since leaving India with her mom when she was 6 years old, Mehar has had a strained relationship with her dad. But at the request of her grandmother she decides to go to India and attend the wedding with the hope that she might also mend the relationship with her dad. Her father is Indian royalty and the family lives in a palace. Once in India Mehar is reminded of all the things she loved about India. She is also meets Sufiya, her grandmother's assistant. A growing friendship starts to bloom into something more. But things are complicated because Sufiya is not free to come out to her parents and the relationship might put Sufiya's job in jeopardy. Mehar feels that her father's fiancee Naz and her daughter Aleena social climbers just in it for her father's money. She begins to think that putting a stop to the wedding would be best for everyone. But will her actions further damage her relationship with her father?

I enjoyed the glimpse into Indian culture. The descriptions of the food, clothing, culture and surroundings were great. I liked the contrast between Mehar with her American sense of personal freedom and Sufiya who was constrained by her duty to her family and her culture. It was hard for Mehar to understand why Sufiya was not free to do whatever she wanted. I also felt like Mehar got an idea in her head and then refused to see other points of view. Eventually, after nearly destroying a few relationships, she starts to be more open minded but it took her a long time to get there. Mehar and her family are all from India.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park, Colleen AF Venable and Honie Beam - ADVISABLE

Junie B. Jones and the Stupid Smelly Bus: The Graphic Novel by Barbara Park and Colleen AF Venable, illustrated by Honie Beam. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Children's Book, 2025. $21. 9780593706701

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

APPEALS TO: MANY

This is a graphic novel adaptation of Barbara Park's beloved series starter that introduces us to 6 year old Junie B. Jones, brand new kindergartner who has to ride the "stupid smelly bus" to school. Junie B. (don't forget the B!) is precocious and clever, and endearing with her limited vocabulary and typical kindergarten style of speech. In this story we get to go to Junie B.'s first day of kindergarten with her, and discover all the new, fun, scary and "stupid" things she gets to experience.

Confession time - I only read a Junie B. Jones book one time alongside one of my kids when he was young. So the story here was fresh and new for me, even though it was a retelling of a well-known and well-loved book. I thought the story was entertaining, and the graphic novel illustrations will be fun for Junie B. fans revisiting her stories in a new way. When I showed my 17 year old daughter that there was a graphic novel adaptation she actually got so excited and wants to read it herself! I'm know my elementary students will be excited about this book, and we'll all look forward to book 2 in the series coming later in 2025.

Graphic novel illustrations depict characters of different gender, race and ethnicity.

Angie Campbell - EL Librarian

Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson - ADVISABLE

Radiant by Vaunda Micheaux Nelson, 309 pages. Dutton (Penguin), 2025. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Hitting, Reference to a bombing)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

5th grader Cooper Dale lives in 1963 Pittsburgh in a predominately white neighborhood. She wishes she could be white and shine ( shine as in stand out in a good way) and wants to feel good about her black heritage. While she makes some good friendships in her all white class at school, she is bullied by a boy named Wade Carter and she feels picked on by her teacher. She deals with the turmoil of the times like the Birmingham church bombing and the assassination of President Kennedy. She revels in the rise of the Beatles. During the course of the year, Wade's mother falls ill with cancer and leaves school for a time. Cooper struggles with how to treat him when he returns. Cooper grows as she finds her own way to shine. 

Radiant shows how to spread compassion in many directions: for oneself, for friends, and for enemies. It is a sweet coming of age story. Light imagery and Wizard of Oz imagery weave the story together throughout the book. While many significant historical events take place in the book, they are only mentioned in passing. The verse style of the book limits the richness the story could have had if these events would have been elaborated on. Cooper is of white and black heritage. Most of her friends are white. A friend that appears later in the book is Hakim, who is also of black heritage. 

 MOMMAC 

Eve: How the Female Body Shaped Evolution by Cat Bohannon - OPTIONAL

Eve: How the Female Body Shaped Evolution by Cat Bohannon, 416 pages. NON FICTION Bright Matter Books (Random House), 2025. $21

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Nude drawings of the female body); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

The female body, which is much more complicated than the male body, had a greater need to evolve over the millennia due to the many facets of reproduction and survival. Gynecology is the number one tool used to keep the female body alive and advancing. The female body evolved through the following systems: milk production, the womb, perception, the legs, tools, the brain, the voice, menopause, and love. Many advances in female medicine continue to give females an evolutionary edge.

While Bohannon describes interesting information about the female body, she misses the target with this book that has been “adapted for Young Adults”. There are few young adults that would put the time in to read this vast scientific book. She writes clearly, but gets bogged down in the details. Her feminist lens and evolutionary lens are narrow and do not account for intelligent choice.

MOMMAC 

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa - ADVISABLE

Most Ardently: A Pride and Prejudice Remix by Gabe Cole Novoa,  304 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $20. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A queer retelling of Pride and Prejudice. Oliver Bennet has known for a long time that he is a boy, but the family calls him Elizabeth and his mother is desperate to get him married. Only his Sister Jane, his best friends and his father know the truth. But when dashing Mr. Darcy is visiting his friend Mr. Bingley, Oliver wonders if he could ever be himself around Darcy and how he would respond. 

I haven't loved retellings of the classics (Pride and Prejudice and Zombies?) but I must say, Most Ardently was delightful. The queer twist made perfect sense, Gabe Cole Novoa also wrote in the style of Jane Austen, so it felt familiar. Many of the scenes were just like in the original story, but turned a bit to make it work for Oliver - hating that he was dressed like and forced to behave like a girl. Darcy was just as handsome and proud and arrogant, and Jane the best sister ever. However, I think I loved this so much because I'm a huge Jane Austen fan. It's primary appeal may be adults, although I did recommended it for High School. The characters are white and British, Oliver is Trans, Darcy is Gay, Charlotte is Lesbian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White - OPTIONAL

Compound Fracture by Andrew Joseph White, 384 pages. Candlewick, 2024 $20.

Language: R (100+ swears 71 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: R (assaults, murders, killings, animal violence, lots of gore) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Miles Abernathy came out to his parents in an email just before he left to join the seniors at their graduation party. On the way home he is horrifically assaulted by a group of boys - one of them is Noah, the Sheriff's son. There has been a generational blood feud between the Abernathy's and the Davis' family, so the law won't be stepping in. When Miles accidentally kills the boy who filmed the assault, Miles and his friend Cooper decide to finish it, and get rid of the others as well. 

Wow, Compound Fracture caught me off guard. I knew it would be violent, just look at the front cover, but it was also political, exciting, and terrifying. I liked it more than I expected. It was very rural, very Appalachian, although it takes place in present day, they were still living with feuds and memories of injustice from 100 years ago. Very sweary, very violent. The characters are white 

Lisa Librarian 

Radar and the Raft by Jeff Lantos - OPTIONAL

Radar and the Raft: A True Story About a Scientific Marvel, the Lives it Saved, and the World it Changed by Jeff Lantos, 186 NON-FICTION Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2024. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Ethel Bell and her two kids, ages 11 and 13, were lucky to secure passage on steamer to get out of Africa and home to the states when the United States entered World War II. Unfortunately, a German U-boat torpedoes their boat, which sinks in under two minutes, taking the lifeboats with it. Of the 42 souls who made it to the remaining rafts, only 18 lived to tell the story, and 17 of those were on one raft.

Between each story of the raft survivors is a chapter explaining the history of radar and the scientists who developed it. The tech behind radar sounded so far fetched that Hitler turned it down twice. Many of the scientists who worked on the final leg of radar development went to Los Alamos to work on the hydrogen bomb. " The story of the raft was interesting, though the alternating chapters were a bit jarring at first. The book is fairly science heavy. Anyone who is interested in radar would find this fascinating, though it may not be a book teens would pick up on their own. There are nice photos and watercolor prints that add to the read. May work for a science class. The Bell family is white American, and the scientists are from various parts of the world. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho - OPTIONAL

Aisle Nine by Ian X. Cho, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (100+ swears 51 'f'); Mature Content: PG (a couple of kisses); Violence: R (demon and human killings, mention of blood and other bodily fluids) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Jasper works the checkout stand at a "Here for You Mart" that has a Hell Portal in Aisle Nine. The occasional demon gets through but most are destroyed by Security Guards placed in the store for that purpose. Jasper would really like Kyle to notice him, she seems to hate him but he doesn't know why. She's one of the demon fighters, but he's just not himself. He had an accident at work and now has amnesia, could he have known her before? Besides his amnesia, Jasper also has visions of an Apocalypse, set to happen on Black Friday, and it's almost Thanksgiving. 

Pretty good action, Jasper isn't the only underdog - I love the mix of characters who join his team. Full of humor as well as monster violence, this debut novel was quite fun to read. Swear count is really high, do kids really talk like that? The characters are culturally diverse, only Kyle Kuan's ethnicity is mentioned. 

Lisa Librarian 

Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake by Michael Witwer - OPTIONAL

Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake by Michael Witwer, 368 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2023. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo (13yo?) Vivian and her father have returned to Vivian’s mother’s hometown of Midnight Lake to start over. While her father seems to fail at every DIY project he attempts, Vivian is dealing with her anger over the move and life in general. RIght the mean girls at school have it out for her.  The only place she seems to fit is with the Beasts and Battlements group that meets under the stairs in a hidden alcove. Strange happenings are afoot.  As Vivian researches the history of the middle school, which is built in the old sanitorium,  for an assignment, she discovers that whoever created B and B, seems to know all about the mysterious creatures that were described by the inhabitants of the sanitorium.  It may be that Vivian, with some help from her new friends, may be the answer to an old prophecy.

Witwer tries really hard to create a new teen savior character for a  new generation.  In fact, Vivian herself mentions HP as often as she possibly can.  I only found it to be extremely annoying. At least Vivian is more competent than HP! Only purchase if you have a large, steady stream of fantasy readers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow - OPTIONAL

The Cookie Crumbles by Tracy Badua and Alechia Dow, 320 pages. Harper, 2024. $20

Content: G (mild tension)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Rising 8th graders and best friends Laila and Lucy are headed to the prestigious Sunderland Academy for a long weekend.  Laila is hoping to win the Golden Cookie competition and a scholarship to the school, while Lucy is there to add to her writing portfolio, as she has already been accepted to Sunderland for high school. During the first round of judging, however, the acerbic chef judge, Chef Remi, actually passes out right after sampling Laila’s cookie - turning her into the prime suspect, or scapegoat.  Even Lucy seems to suspect her.  Since a late storm has swept in, all of the contestants are stuck together.

I love GBBO, and I enjoyed Knives Out - this is not a sterling combination of the two. If you have kids who like mysteries, or baking contests with intrigue, then by all means, purchase. Laila is way too high strung for my taste. And a contest only based on cookies felt limiting and boring. The book did not need 300+ pages - maybe 200 pages would have made a tighter, more exciting read.

Laila is Black, Lucy, I think, is Indian. 

I listened to the audiobook provided by libro.fm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz - ADVISABLE

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz, 208 pages. Harper, 2024. $19

Content: PG (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Jerry and her mom have just arrived at the latest of a string of temporary homes - this one at a motel right next to a creepy wood with a disturbing past - a lot of people have disappeared over the years within it. Jerry may be confined to a wheelchair, but that doesn’t keep her from doing everything she wants - including investigating a midnight only radio station and diving in when her own mother seems to be the latest victim of the woods. With the help of Chapel, a new friend who also lives at the motel, and with the encouragement, Jerry’s imaginary pocket-sized dragon companion, Jerry will plunge into the woods - for better or worse.

A bit ghost story, a bit evil trolls, and plenty of magic and fortuitous happenings. I like that Jerry;s wheelchair is never ignored - but she is VERY GOOD at maneuvering it as she wants to. Lots of magic creatures and happenings - but the bit of ghosts brings it to another level.

Jerry is white, Chapel is Black. I listened to the audiobook provided by libro.fm, which was narrated by Hope Newhouse.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes - ADVISABLE

Will’s Race for Home by Jewell Parker Rhodes, 208 pages. Little Brown, 2025. $18

Content: PG (mild violence, some dead mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Will, his parents, and his paternal grandfather are barely eking out an existence as Black sharecroppers in Texas in 1889 - 25 years after the Emancipation Proclamation. When his father gets word of an open land rush in Oklahoma, WIll convinces his father to take him along as he will try to stake a 100 acre claim for their Black family where they can work for their own futures. Along the way they will come up against the prejudices and anger still harbored by those who fought for the Confederacy, but also find some kindness. Also, the dangers of trail don’t only come in human form.

I love Rhodes’s look at another dimension of US history, and Black history in particular. A great classroom read aloud choice for elementary schools. If you have any kids who like reading Westerns, point them here! There are so many other details that Rhodes exposits so well - I believe she could easily write a 10 book series a la Louis L’amour touching on Black history in the West. I love that the book is just at 200 pages - room for a story, but Rhodes had to keep the writing tight and interesting.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Coleman - ADVISABLE

Where Only Storms Grow by Alyssa Coleman, 256 pages. Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan), AUGUST 2025. $18

Content: G (some deaths from the dust, one accident)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Joanna has dealt with her scoliosis all her life - a life already made difficult by the degrading conditions on her family farm and Oklahoma in general, as the land around them seems to dry right up.  Her father has headed off to California, hoping to find work to send money back; and when her older brother breaks his leg in an accident, JOanna’s twin, Howe, has to leave school, which he loves, to help his mother keep the farm going. Joana finds purpose in helping the Red Cross nurses who have come to tend the victims of the dust, while Howe struggles to find his own way to happiness, but no one seems to be listening to him.

I love learning about history through novels - I don’t think our students are as eager for historical fiction as I am - especially when it is not war related. I would suggest you show this to a classroom teacher, especially in elementary, as it covers a wide variety of issues of the time, not just the Dust Bowl. I think it would be a great classroom read.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Snow White and the Dragon or Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarves (The Princess Swap) by Kim Bussing - OPTIONAL

Snow White and the Dragon or Sleeping Beauty and the Seven Dwarves (The Princess Swap) by Kim Bussing, 311 pages. Random House, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Snow White was a pampered princess stuck in a castle with an evil stepmother, but now she is in a cottage in the woods. She desperately needs to get back to her kingdom, or the stepmother maybe able to usurp the crown. Meanwhile, Rose now finds herself in the castle after having been raised in a simple woodland cottage.  The girls’ destinies are entwined in a way that they could have never predicted.

The swap only has a little to do with dragons and only a little to do with dwarves - I didn’t find it as successful as the first Swap book I read.  Plus, if you were paying only a tiny bit of attention, the villain is obvious, though the characters in the book seem to have to clue up until the final reveal.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle - ADVISABLE

Wild Dreamers by Margarita Engle. 224 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2024. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing); Violence: PG (animal/predator refer to eating it's kill or dragging a carcass, also surfing accident) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Ana used to be unhoused - living in a car with her mother in a wilderness park just outside LA, where she meets Leandro, a Cuban refugee who came to the US as a boy. Ana's mother gets a better job and they move into a cottage - something permanent, and now she will go to school with Leandro. They are both interested in wildlife preservation, and start a rewilding project at their school. But a young puma who seems to come nightly near Ana's cottage intensifies the rewilding project. 

Engle's novels in verse are always so well written. The romance was sweet and slow moving. I loved that this is a romance, and some of the poems were for two voices. The poems alternated in Ana's voice and Leandros voice, with the occasional poem from the voice of Leandro's therapy dog which was so enjoyable. A quick read, with a nice story and i even learned a thing or two about wildlife bridges. Both Ana and Leandro are Cuban 

Lisa Librarian 

Cinderella and the Beast or Beauty and the Glass Slipper (The Princess Swap) by Kim Bussing - OPTIONAL

Cinderella and the Beast or Beauty and the Glass Slipper (The Princess Swap) by Kim Bussing, 292 pages. Random House, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Once Ella is the prisoner of her evil stepmother - then suddenly she is in a room that is not her own, with a father who is not hers either.  But this father needs help, because his daughter Belle is missing and he is in trouble with a beast who lives in a mysterious castle. Meanwhile, Belle may think she is clever, but she can’t seem to outwit this stepmother who is determined to have Belle be her new slave, since Ella is now missing.

The best thing to do is to completely forget the stories as you know them and buy into the timelines.  When the girls’ stories collide, Bussing varies widely from the original, or even the Disney tales.  Once I surrendered, I enjoyed them much more. Both girls are very resourceful and courageous.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere - OPTIONAL

Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere, 298 pages. Knopf Books (Random House), 2024. $20.

Language: R (30 swears, 10 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Mature dialogue and innuendos and some drinking and smoking); Violence: PG-13 (rioting, death and police raids)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Gigi Durant is just trying to survive senior year in a world where the government has taken over everything—even school plays and music. Her best friend Max is dead (he’s also the ghost narrating the story), her favorite teacher is gone, and everything creative is getting shut down by the SYXTEM, a powerful regime that punishes anyone who speaks out. But Gigi’s not the type to stay quiet. Along with her friends, she plans a secret theater production to fight back using the one thing she still believes in: art.

I really liked this book because it felt real—even in a made-up world. Gigi is the kind of main character who messes up, speaks her mind, and refuses to let anyone silence her. Her best friend Max narrates the story after he dies, which sounds weird, but it totally worked—he’s hilarious, honest, and full of heart. I liked how the book mixed punk music, secret theater, and rebellion in a way that makes you want to stand up and say something too. It was a little hard to get into and a bit confusing with it switching back and forth between the past and present, but once I got into it, I thought it was a fun book to read.

The characters are all white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar - OPTIONAL

Libertad by Bessie Flores Zaldívar, 432 pages. Penguin, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (43 swears 48 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Passionate kissing, reference to sex)); Violence: R (spouse abuse described, political riots) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo high school senior Libertad lives in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. It's 2017 and the country is consumed in a political crisis, complete with college student led riots, military coups and civil unrest. Libertad's older brother Maynor is part of the university resistance, and she writes political poetry which she anonymously posts on Insta. Libertad is having a personal crisis as well - her mother has discovered texts on Libertad's phone talking about a kiss she shared with a girl. The kiss was a one-time thing and both were drunk, but she has a hard time convincing her mother that it's not what she thinks - but, maybe, ultimately it is, things might be over with that girl, but now there's another, a college student who loves her poetry, and may love Libertad too. 

Deep and thoughtful this queer coming of age story about Libertad, finding love she has to hide amidst political chaos has a lot going on. She lives in a generational household, her mother and grandmother are both divorced, her 25yo brother still lives at home, conflicted about his college education. I reflected on our own country's current political situation as I read about Honduras. Does the reader need background to appreciate the political side of Zaldivar's book? I don't think so - so many people talk Libertad through what is happening, I think the readers will understand. A lot of non-translated Spanish, most of which is in context. Although optional because of language, I would recommend purchase if you have students from Central America who might see themselves in Libertad. The characters are Honduran, Libertad, Dani and Cami are Lesbian or Bi-sexual. 

Lisa Librarian 

Don’t Squish a Slug by Yussef Rafik, illustrated by Riley Samels - ADVISABLE

Don’t Squish a Slug by Yussef Rafik, illustrated by Riley Samels. 61 pages. NON-FICTION. Words & Pictures (Quarto), 2025. $17. 9780711293441

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rafil introduces us to many members of the bug family - not just slugs. Using the umbrellas of Disguises, Evolution, Defense, Record Breakers, and Other Relationships, we see the many different ways bugs try so hard to stay out of not just humans’ way, but also from each other. Each page is loaded with information about its bug.  I like Samels’s illustrations rather than photographs, as it allows for some clever interactions and tiny details that might not be caught in a photo.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

 

Under Attack (Kidnapped from Ukraine #1) by Marsha Skrypuch - ESSENTIAL

Under Attack (Kidnapped from Ukraine #1) by Marsha Skrypuch, 320 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $26

Language: G (0 swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (deaths mentioned, blood mentioned, shooting mentioned, bombing mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When Russia attacks Ukraine in 2022, 12yo Rada and her mother are separated from her twin sister and their father. Rada and Mom hide for weeks in an overstuffed basement, with little food and water, with others risking their lives to go scrounging for what they need to survive. When their haven is bombed, they are captured by soldiers and separated.  Rada is taken to a school (kidnapped) where the Russians are trying to re-educate (indoctrinate) the children into good Russian citizens, ready to join decent Russian families.

Skrypuch takes us into the present day with her latest book, ripped from today’s headlines, about life in Ukraine as they are, again, attacked by Russia. The back matter explains that the events are from reports by eyewitnesses who experienced them, though the names are all invented. According to the back matter, more than 700,000 Ukrainian children have been kidnapped by Russia - a number reported by Russia, though they call it rescuing. I have many students who love Skrypuch’s novels - can’t wait to show them the latest. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Holding on for Dear Life by Dusti Bowling - ADVISABLE

Holding on for Dear Life by Dusti Bowling, 240 pages. Bloomsbury, October 2025. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Rodeo injuries, described concussions, violent bullrides, no gore) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Canyon Cress wants to be a bull rider, just like his dad. He wants his dad to be proud of him, to see him. But, since the death of Canyon's mother, his dad has been broken. Canyon keeps the neglect and his dad's drinking from his grandmother. His grandmother takes Canyon to the rodeo to compete, and knows the extent of his injuries, several concussions. But Canyon is good, in fact, he's in the running to make it to the Junior National Championship in Las Vegas. Maybe winning the prize money will change their lives, but maybe bull riding will ruin his life forever. 

Dusti Bowling writes middle grade so well - I love that Can is 13, and acts like a 13 year old. He's got a crush, he wants to be the man of the family, argues with his best friend and takes such good care of his little sister. The rodeo action was exciting and dangerous and the ending had me in legit tears. I hope kids love it as much as I did, I love the cover art. Canyon is white, and his culture is cowboy. 

Lisa Librarian 

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao - OPTIONAL

Ex Marks the Spot by Gloria Chao, 384 pages. Penguin Young Readers Group (Penguin Random House), 2024. $13.

Language: R (40 swears); Mature Content: PG (mild sexual innuendos, two on-page kisses); Violence: G (one maybe Asian slur)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: MANY

The only daughter of a Taiwanese immigrant single mom, 18yo Gemma Sun is used to scraping by and not quite fitting in, in the Boston-area, Massachusetts. However, there is a possibility that might all change, with the appearance of her recently deceased grandfather's will. Thus Gemma starts on a globe-trotting treasure hunt in Taiwan on a student trip in a race against time to solve her grandfather's puzzles before she has to leave and before her college tuition is due.

I really liked this adventure rom-com. At first, Gemma was stringent and a little unlikeable, but she grew on me. I will admit, the puzzles were a little over my head, but I was just happy to be along for the ride. It was fun to see her character grow, to get a taste for a new (to me) place, and to reflect on the lasting impact our family & heritage have on our lives. The biggest problem will be the language, but no glaring issues with any mature content or violence.

Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes 

Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti - OPTIONAL

Lola by Karla Arenas Valenti, 256 pages. Random House, 2024. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

10yo Lola and her 14yo brother Alex live in a magical place with a marvelous tree in a beautiful garden. Lola is the only one who can see all the magic happening in the garden, but when the plants and the beautiful tree start to exhibit signs of some kind of blight, and then her brother gets a rash that is similar, Lola tries to find out what she needs to do. It means traveling with a fairy of sorts to a magical world that only she can save, and save her own world too.

Oh dear, the world building was too much too fast! The narrator kept referencing "The Thing That Happened" as the family event that changed their lives - I was sure it was relevant to the ending, and we would eventually find out what the thing was, but I tired of all the details and "shrouded events" long before the story picked up and became interesting. Just barely recommending because the ending was satisfying and almost made me not regret getting there. The characters are Mexican. 

Lisa Librarian  

Costumes for Time Travelers by A.R. Capetta - OPTIONAL

Costumes for Time Travelers by A.R. Capetta, 224 pages. Candlewick, MAY 2025. $19

Language: G 0 ( swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (final battle against the Time Wardens)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Calisto loves her life in Pocket - a place out of time that time travelers enter before heading off to other times or back to their own time.  As an apprentice to her grandmother, a costumer, she sees almost everyone who enters. When the time savant, a person who can travel to anywhen in the stream arrives, Calisto is immediately drawn to him, but is being chased by the Time Wardens - a group determined to eradicate every time traveler, in order to preserve the sacred timeline.  Plus, another traveler is a danger to all times and Calisto and Fawkes will have to thwart his plans too. 

It all sounds very exciting - but the beginning build up is slow. I was hoping for a book more focusing on costuming - it is - kind of - not as much as I would have liked.  The exciting bits are slow to appear.  Calisto uses they/them pronouns, for no discernable reason - it felt like it was a way to be more inclusive. 

No ethnicities are specified in a memorable way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women's Soccer-and Beyond by Elizabeth Rusch - OPTIONAL

A Greater Goal: The Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women's Soccer-and Beyond by Elizabeth Rusch, 336 pages. NON-FICTION HarperCollins, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (15 swears 7 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (sports injuries) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

From the late 1990's players on the Women's National Soccer team had to fight for pay and treatment worthy or their abilities and skills. They won more games, even more elite games than their male counterparts, but their pay was a fraction of theirs. And the Soccer Federation doesn't seem to care. When some of the key players reach out to the courts, and others to social media, the tables begin to turn, but is it too little too late? 

A complicated historical event in women's rights and equal pay, Rusch gives plenty of background without overloading the reader with too many players. A timely text, it was great to read about something so freshly in the news. Although I'm not a soccer fan, I'd really like to see some games now. I liked how many of the charts were also addressed in the text, so the sidebar was reinforcing the story, rather than just enhancing. Well documented, I read on my Kindle so I don't know if there are pictures of the players, but there are certainly source notes. 

Lisa Librarian

The Midnight Game by Cynthia Murphy - SEVERAL

The Midnight Game by Cynthia Murphy, 311 pages. Delcacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $13

Language: R (9 swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Paranormal horror, reference to past suicide attempt); Violence: PG-13 (Paranormal activity with a few bloody descriptions)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Six teens between 16 and 18 meet through an online forum and decide to play a ritual called “The Midnight Game” in real life. The game, which is an urban legend, is supposed to summon the Midnight Man, who is an entity that exploits each participant’s deepest fears. What starts as a thrill-seeking dare quickly turns into a terrifying reality when strange events begin to unfold. As the group struggles to follow the strict rules and survive the night, personal secrets and unresolved traumas come to light. Each teen must confront their inner demons, while questioning whether the danger is supernatural or something more. 

I liked Murphy’s book because it was creepy with a supernatural vibe, but had real life dangers at the same time.  I liked how parts of the book were written in chat-style messages and forum posts.  It made it feel super real and current.  I also really liked how it switched between different character's perspectives and was definitely not predictable. It was a little hard to keep track of all of the characters and really connect with them, but I thought it made the book a little more suspenseful because of their different perspectives.

The characters are British and white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Black Star (Door of No Return #2) by Kwame Alexander - ESSENTIAL

Black Star (Door of No Return #2) by Kwame Alexander, 384 pages. Little, Brown, 2024. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Charlene (Charley) is good at baseball. She can pitch with both hands and hits well, too. But except for Cool Willie Green and Henry, called Socks, she doesn't have a team. Being black in the segregated south in the 1920s leaves her few options, so when the town bully challenges Charley and her "team" to a baseball game at the church picnic, Charley accepts, even though 3 kids aren't really a team. 

Black Star is the 2nd in Alexander's novel in verse trilogy, The Door of No Return. Kofi from the 1st book is now Charley's wise and beloved grandfather. I was on the edge of my seat for the last half of the book, loved Nana's stories and the glimpses of his history. Alexander now has a Basketball title (Crossover), a Soccer Title (Booked) and now this one about Baseball. An essential purchase, especially if you have The Door of No Return. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald - ESSENTIAL

The Right Call by Tommy Greenwald, 253 pages. Amulet, 2025. $19.

Language:  G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (pushing ends up with umpire in coma)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Something has changed in Cal’s pitching and now he is attracting attention from powerful people. All that changes after his Dad injures the umpire in a fit of anger after a game.  Now, with his Dad in serious trouble, Cal has lost his love of the game.  Plus his coach’s incessant training has injured Cal’s throwing arm.  Cal wants to go back to the games that he has always loved, but doesn’t really see a path forward on his own.

Using police transcripts, text messages, news articles, among others, Greenwald again brings us right into the controversies around a sport culture that exploits children at earlier and earlier ages. He shines the light on the anger and competitiveness among parents of “superstar” athletes. I’m glad Greenwald is writing books that are about sports, but that also address them on a deeper level - 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

At the End of the World by Nadia Mikail - OPTIONAL

At the End of the World by Nadia Mikail, 183 pages. Feiwel (Macmillan), 2023. $20. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Three years ago, Aisha’s sister June walked out. 3 months ago the powers that be announced that the world was ending in a year and that there was no way to avoid it. Aisha decides that it is time to find June and mend fences.  She will need to bring her mother, the one who needs to mend fences.  Plus Walter, Aisha’s boyfriend, won’t let her go without him, which means his parents are coming along. When the group travels through Malaysia, what will happen when they do find June?

Mikail tries to give us a different apocalypse book, one that’s more about families and found families, rather than one focused on the end of the world. Students who enjoy introspective books will enjoy its quiet strength.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Deathly Grimm (Forest Grimm #2) by Kathryn Purdie - OPTIONAL

The Deathly Grimm (Forest Grimm #2) by Kathryn Purdie, 400 pages. St. Martin's Press, 2025. $24

Language:  PG (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); PG-13 (kissing); PG-13 (bloody violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Clara and Axel follow a group of sisters in a trance as they’re being called into the cursed forest. Clara and Axel want to save the sisters from the curse which will cause them to go mad or die. As they follow them, Clara meets Harlan, an enchanted frog, and she frees him with a kiss that turns him back into his human form. Harlan helps Clara have visions which give her clues to the person who murdered a Grimm Hollow villager, causing the curse. Clara and Axel sift through the clues to discover the murderer, which will ultimately break the curse on their village and they need all the help they can get. Harlan seems to be helpful but can he be trusted?

 I enjoyed how the author incorporated fairytales into the story and how she twisted them a bit. I liked unraveling the mystery behind the curse and how the author used Clara’s incomplete visions to create uncertainty about the suspects. Axel is still so kind and caring but he also shows insecurities and frustration.

Clara and Henni have pale skin and Axel has tawny skin. Lila has bronze skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah