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

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

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

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

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

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

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

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

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

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

Lisa Librarian 

Pretty Furious by E. K. Johnston - OPTIONAL

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

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

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

All five girls are assumed to be white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Kid by Jeff Schill - ADVISABLE

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

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

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

Lisa Librarian 

Halfway to Somewhere by Jose Pimienta - ADVISABLE

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

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

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

Michelle in the Middle 

On Thin Ice by Jessica Kim - ADVISABLE

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

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

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

Lisa Librarian 

The Flip Side by Jason Walz - ADVISABLE

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

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

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

Michelle in the Middle 

Practical Rules for Cursed Witches by Kayla Cottingham - OPTIONAL

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

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

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

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

Lisa Librarian 

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

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

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

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

Michelle in the Middle 

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

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

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

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

Michelle in the Middle 

The Secret of Honeycake by Kimberly Newton Fusco - OPTIONAL

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

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

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

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

Lisa Librarian 

Karate Prom by Kyle Starks - OPTIONAL

Karate Prom by Kyle Starks, 170 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2024. $18.

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (alludes to sex after prom); Violence: PG (total fightfest) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Don "TheDragonWilson" Jones, is a karate fighter. A really good one, until he gets knocked out of the ring by Sam Steadman, a girl whom he falls madly in love with at first sight. She has a super mean ex boyfriend, and he has a psycho drug cartel ex girlfriend, so the prom they attend together becomes a slugfest for survival. 

I liked the book more than I thought. While the plot is mostly kicking butt at a prom and trying to survive, the art is fun and engaging. The story moves along at a breakneck pace (literally) and the author must love drawing fight scenes. If there really was this much violence at a prom, dances would be banned in all 50 states. This is a fast read you will finish in one sitting. While race is not specifically spelled out, Don and Sam seem to be an interracial couple and there are many ethnicities drawn. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan - ADVISABLE

Buffalo Dreamer by Violet Duncan, 110 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2024. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Summer and her family are spending the summer on the Cree reservation in Canada with extended family. While there, she begins to have troubling dreams about a runaway girl from the old residential school near their reservation. The Indian residential schools cover are a dark time, where Indian children were often forcibly taken or kidnapped from families so that their heritage could be erased and they could be better assimilated into society. Summer and her cousin, Autumn, learn from their tribal community and survivors about their past and how to move on. 

Violet Duncan is Cree and has based her story on family history. The story covers a dark chapter in Native American history, but one that is important to understand. Culture and heritage come through in the writing, helping the reader better understand what Summer's family and others have gone through. This is a fast and engaging read that mostly focuses on discovery and healing. A great read for anyone who wants to learn more about history or Indian culture. 

Michelle in the Middle

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee, art by Dan Santat - ADVISABLE

A Royal Conundrum (The Misfits #1) by Lisa Yee, art by Dan Santat, 276 pages. Random House, 2024. $15. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY:, EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When 12yo Olive is enrolled in "Reforming Arts School" a boarding school near San Francisco, she finds herself in a class of elite Misfits - a group of 5 preteens who secretly work for NOCK (No One Can Know), whose mission is "ensuring the safety of the community, guarding the possessions of the citizens, and preventing civil disorder." Each of the kids have exceptional talents, but Olive hasn't discovered hers yet. 

Dan Santat's illustrations are great! I really liked the storyline, and although, sending children after dangerous jewel thieves seems like a really bad idea, this group of misfits is up to it. The beginning of a 3 part series, I felt The Royal Conundrum stood on it's own, and wasn't bogged down with character building. A perfect adventure spy novel for upper elementary, and although the characters are young (one of them is still 10) the cool cover illustration will appeal to middle school and once they start reading will be hooked. The kids are mixed races and cultures. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Mythmakers by John Hendrix - OPTIONAL

The Mythmakers: The Remarkable Fellowship of C.S. Lewis & J.R.R. Tolkien by John Hendrix, 224 pages. NON-FICTION Abrams Amulet, 2024. $25. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

A walk with a Wizard (for Tolkien) and a Lion (for Lewis) through the life stories of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien. From their difficult childhoods, their WWI experiencesand to their eventual fellowship at Oxford and their shared love of Norse mythology. It also reflects on the events that shaped their ideas and the worlds of Narnia and Lord of the Rings. 

Much like "The Faithful Spy" The Mythmakers is also a mashup of text, illustrations and graphic style storytelling. It has "choose your own adventure" elements where the reader can jump to another section of the book to get more information about literary subjects like Myth and Fairy Tale. Rated by the publisher as 10-14yo the vocabulary is difficult, the text tiny and it is a review of things I learned in college, including references to classical literature like The Canterbury Tales and Beowulf, and long discussions of Theology. This is going to go over their heads. I understood it, but I have a lot of background knowledge. Tolkien and Lewis are white. 

Lisa Librarian

Extra Large by Tyler Page - ADVISABLE

Extra Large by Tyler Page, 204 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Tyler is beginning 7th grade. As he does, he realizes he is bigger than his friends. To compensate, he changes last in P.E. and is first in and out of the pool. His friends are bullies, and Tyler goes along to fit in. Though he is afraid of being made fun of, he is sometimes cruel to others. Tyler's dad has the family eating more healthy and dieting, though they don't seem to be getting any more fit. 

Based on the author's experiences, Tyler's experiences are cringey. The bullying makes me sad. This may be a good book to show that being funny sometimes comes at a cost to others. Tyler discovers how to be comfortable with himself and not worry so much about what others think, which is a good message for middle school readers. The art is colorful and adds to the story, which is a fast read. Tyler is white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti - ADVISABLE

The Sherlock Society: Hurricane Heist by James Ponti, 320 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2025. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

In book two, Alex Sherlock and his friends, who are members of the Sherlock Society, are days away from beginning another school year, when Hurricane Clyde puts down. While it causes some damage, it unearths the body of a suspected criminal mastermind who disappeared during a hurricane 61 years ago, when Alex's grandpa was a kid. Determined to find out what really happened, Alex and friends, together with Grandpa, join forces to solve the mystery of a robbery and possible murder. 

You don't have to read this series in order, although it may help. The characters are well written and I like that they team up with Grandpa, who can help make mystery solving possible, with his connections and ability to drive. Too often adults are left out of YA lit, so this makes the story more credible and charming. We get part of the story from the first hurricane in 1964, and then it picks up 61 years later. Anyone who has ever dreamed of solving a mystery will wish they had a crime solving grandpa to adventure with. The plot will keep you guessing and the ending satisfying. Alex may be white, but his friends come from diverse backgrounds. 

Michelle in the Middle 

How it All Ends by Emma Hunsinger - ADVISABLE

How it All Ends by Emma Hunsinger, 295 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Greenwillow Books, (HarperCollins), 2024. $26.

Language: PG (12 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (illustration of a classroom full of shirtless 9th grade boys) Violence: PG (sister fight involving pushing and kicking) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Tara learns at the end of 7th grade that she is skipping 8th grade and going straight to High School. Even though her older sister reassures her, Tara doesn't feel like she fits in, and worried the other students think she's a baby. The others who moved up with her are adapting better. Tara just wants to be in middle school again. High School is weird and scary. 

Tara has a great imagination, I love the games she plays with her baby brother, and Graphic 

Illustrations are a terrific way to present it. As a middle school librarian, I see a big difference between 8th and 9th graders, and I worried about Tara. There's so much more going on socially in High School - although she and her sister rode the bus together, they didn't connect at all during the day. I thought that was strange. All in all, a recommended middle grade read! Characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Faker by Gordon Korman - ADVISABLE

Faker by Gordon Korman, 214 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Trey is a 7th grader. He and his sister jump from school to school around the country as their father is a con-artist, swindling Trey's friend's rich fathers into investing into non-existant schemes. When the "marks" catch on, the family disappears like Houdini. Trey has recently become a "full partner" so he feels more responsibility at his job of making friends with rich kids, but his 5th grade sister is jealous and thinks she's a partner too. Might her zeal and excitement ruin the family business? 

Gordon Korman writes another winner. Faker is a lot of fun, and seems to be a stand alone (which is rare these days). I loved the characters, especially Mr. Novak, the social studies teacher, and his lessons on ethics. Nice twists, too. No wonder it's always checked out at my library Characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Earhart: The Incredible Flight of a Field Mouse Around the World by Torben Kuhlmann - ADVISABLE

Earhart: The Incredible Flight of a Field Mouse Around the World by Torben Kuhlmann, 128 pages PICTURE BOOK North South, 2025. $22. 9780735845794  

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

A little field mouse discovers that there is so much more to the world beyond her garden and the limited view of her fellow field mice. She wants to fly around the world! She finds a learned old mouse aviator who helps her with her dream, and maybe, the little mouse can inspire Amelia Earhart's aviation career. 

The size of the book makes it a picture book, though the text can be dense at times, so not a picture book in the traditional sense. The cover art is so realistic, I neglected to see the small mouse, and thought it was nonfiction at first. That said, the artwork is breathtaking. The artwork tells a lot of the story. This is the fifth book in a mouse series that has been published in 30 languages. It's worth a look-see if only for the art and the theme of following your dream no matter how unlikely. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Looking for Smoke by K. A. Cobell - ADVISABLE

Looking for Smoke by K. A. Cobell, 402 pages. Heartdrum, 2024. $20

Language:  PG (21 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (some kissing, attempted sexual assault, death, grief, a fully clothed overnight stay with only kissing, sexual innuendo, drug use and addiction mentioned, on page underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (murder by strangulation and gunshot, physical fights, animal hunting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The summer before senior year four kids become suspects in the murder and disappearance of two classmates from the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana. Mara is new to the community. She did not grow up on the reservation and is considered an outsider. Loren is the sister of the missing girl. Eli and Brody are friends with both the missing and murdered girls. The four will need to work together to solve things. Each of the suspects is dealing with complicated family dynamics, including neglect, drug use, and trauma. 

Cobell’s murder mystery/thriller is told from the alternating points of view of each of the four suspects, Mara, Brody, Loren, and Eli. The story highlights the Blackfeet people and their culture. It also brings attention to the issues of missing and murdered Indigenous women. Although some tough subjects are covered, it does not get bogged down. The story is a fast-moving, interesting murder mystery told from multiple points of view.

Mara, Brody, Loren and Eli are Blackfeet.

A. Snow, Librarian

 

Happy & Sad & Everything True by Alex Thayer - NO

Happy & Sad & Everything True by Alex Thayer, 255 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2024. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: NO

APPEALS TO: FEW

Sixth grader Dee is having  a hard year because she and her best friend Juniper are no longer in the same classroom and Juniper has been drawing away from her. Also, her mother came to parents day and accidentally, but without shame, exposes her underwear to the entire 6th grade. Dee has taken to hiding in the bathroom during snack time and one time a voice from the boys’ bathroom talks back to her and Dee doles out a bit of friendly advice. Then a couple of other kids ask for advice the same way. And then a couple more kids ask for advice in different places. But someone is out to sabotage Dee - in school and personally.  

I found so many of the premises of this book to be unbelievable - starting with communicating through the vents between the bathrooms - this means anyone could hear anything said in either bathroom. Then there is Dee absenting herself every snack period - without any questions from her teacher. Then there is the fact that Dee doesn’t seem to notice whether someone is absent or not from her own classroom, or whether that person has proceeded her to the bathroom. Please don’t waste your time or your students’ time.  The only thing redeeming about this book is the final confrontation in the principal’s office, which is handled very well.  But just start reading from chapter 29 to the end and call it good. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Hungry Bones by Louise Hung - ADVISABLE

Hungry Bones by Louise Hung, 328 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $20. 

Content: G (ghost present, but not the death and destruction indicated on the cover)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Molly has been getting “the zaps” since she was a little girl. “The zaps” meant that she could read bits of history in objects and feel ghostly presences. She and her mother have moved around the country, leaving when people start looking at Molly with suspicion. Their latest move is to her mother’s home town - unfortunately their home has  a resident ghost - Jade. Jade has been dead for over 100 years, and she needs human food to stay sane - or she turns into a hungry ghost - an evil spirit. Though Molly ignores Jade at first, Molly gets drawn into Jade’s story and decides she will do what she can to help her.

Jade’s story is not as evil as the cover would indicate. Besides the ghost story, Hung touches on the Chinese after life, reconciling with family, and getting a parent to listen to a child who deserves a voice and answers. Also includes information about how the Chinese were treated in the American West during and after the joining of the Transcontinental Railroad. I do think 50-75 pages could be trimmed from the story, which would make this more appealing to a wider variety of readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Rachel Carson's Wonder-Filled World by Kate Hannigan and Katie Hickey - OPTIONAL

Rachel Carson's Wonder-Filled World: How the Scientist, Writer, and Nature Lover Changed the Environmental Movement by Kate Hannigan, illustrated by Katie Hickey. NON-FICTION, BIOGRAPHY PICTURE BOOK. Calkins Creek, 2025. $25. 9781662680571

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Rachel Carson always loved nature. Her whole life, she wrote about what she saw, heard, and felt in the outdoors. As a child, she explored the woods. As a student, she loved the Atlantic coast. When she got older, she combined her love of science, nature, and writing and published a book to try to protect nature and warn people about pesticides. 

The end pages include an author's note, biographical timeline, glossary, and information about how to be a naturalist like Carson. " The best part of this book is the pictures. The illustrations are colorful and dynamic. Every few pages there is a quote from Carson. I thought they took away from the narrative, and the language would be hard to understand for children.

Rachel Carson and her family are white.

Rachel, Elementary Library Specialist

Seasick by Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn - OPTIONAL

Seasick by Kristin Cast and Pintip Dunn, 328 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2023. $19

Language: R (32 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (a few kisses); Violence: PG-13 (bloody murder, fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A few kids from Yatesville High School were selected to go on a yacht trip following their  senior year of high school. Once on the yacht, the murders start.. The kids are trying to stay safe, survive and figure out the murderer’s identity. The story is told from two perspectives alternating between Naya and Yana. They were childhood best friends who had fallen out. Over the course of the difficult trip, they regain their friendship.

Overall I really enjoyed the murder mystery. It was well written and interesting to see it told from two points of view. There are several bloody murders. The book addresses some class issues: most of the students are wealthy, while Naya and Yana are scholarship students. There was a regular gossip social media post that usually had unkind things to say about some of the kids.

Naya is biracial and Yana is Thai-American.

Claire S., 11th grade student

Deep Water by Jamie Sumner - ESSENTIAL

Deep Water by Jamie Sumner, 213 pages. Atheneum BYR (Simon), 2024. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (some peril)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Tully's life revolves around swimming. She wants to break the record for the youngest person to complete the "Godfather" swim, a 12 miles swim across Lake Tahoe. So with her best friend Arch as her support crew, she sets out early one morning without telling her father. She hopes her mother will hear of her accomplishment and it will be enough for her to want to come home. The swim starts off well. But alone with her thoughts Tully begins to think about all that she has lost recently.   One of the greatest risks in a long distant swim is allowing your thoughts to bring you down. Tully must confront her feelings about her mother leaving and keep pace in order to reach the shore before her father notices she is not at home. But when a storm rolls in, Tully has to decide if she will risk both her life and Arch's or call it quits.

A beautifully written novel in verse told through flash backs of memories alongside descriptions of the current conditions of the swim. I liked the perspective of a child struggling to cope with and understand a parent's mental health issues. Tully still loves her mother. But she is also struggling with how her mother's choices are affecting her. Fast paced. I had a hard time putting it down.

Tully and Arch present white.

A. Snow, Librarian

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan - ADVISABLE

Safiyyah's War by Hiba Noor Khan, 336 pages. Allida, HarperCollins, 2023. $20. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Nazi soldiers, threats, arrests, children in peril) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Safiyyah lives with her family in Paris. Her father is one of the leaders of the Grand Mosque. When Hitler's army invades the city and Jews are arrested, abused and sent away, Safiyyah's father and other leaders help provide identification and safe passage for Jewish people fleeing Paris. But when the Nazi's suspect the men might be up to something, Safiyyah volunteers to help the Resistance. Afterall, who would suspect a little girl? 

Oh, historical fiction is such a hard sell these days, but Safiyyah's War is a beautiful story and I hope it's Beehive Book Award consideration helps boost readership. I love that she's aware of how dangerous her deliveries are, and understands the intensity of her interactions with soldiers. I was often on the edge of my seat. Based on real events during WWII, I'm sure there were children who, like their parents resisted the occupations and helped where they could. The characters are Muslim. 

Lisa Librarian 

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce - ADVISABLE

Dungeons and Drama by Kristy Boyce. 293 pages. Penguin, 2024. $12 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Riley is in trouble with her parents, she took her mom's car without asking and drove - without a license - out of town to see Waitress with her best friend Hoshiko. Now she's grounded for 8 weeks and must work at her dad's gaming store after school. Nathan also works there, she knows him from school, but he's not a theater kid, he's a D&D player, so they aren't friends. But when her ex suggests she's unable to find a new boyfriend, and the girl Nathan likes doesn't seem interested, the 2 decide to fake-date to make Sophie and Paul jealous. 

I think guys would like this darling romance, too. There's a bunch of Dungeons and Dragons play, and Boyce doesn't make the boys hopeless nerds. Riley's love of theater is fun with tons of Broadway references. The romance is slow and, while predictable, builds to a great ending. The main characters are white, their friends are multi cultural and include a gay couple. 

Lisa Librarian 

Wires Crossed by Beth Fantaskey - ADVISABLE

Wires Crossed by Beth Fantaskey, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Clarion, 2024. $25. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

For the last few summers, 12yo Mia went to a robotics camp. She has made a friend their, Tariq, and the two are amazing scientists together. Then, when Mia learns that Tariq is moving from San Diego to where she lives (their moms will work at the same place) she is so excited to see him year round and go to school with him. But when he arrives, he looks different - school year Tariq is cooler and cuter, and since camp Mia has changed too. Their chemistry at camp might be gone forever 

A fun graphic novel - the crowd who likes the Click series will also enjoy Wires Crossed. I felt like the dialogue was forced and awkward as Fantaskey was setting up the story and introducing characters, but once the story got rolling, that was no longer an issue. I loved the illustrations, The drama was perfect without anyone being mean. Mia and her friends are a mix of races and cultures. 

Lisa Librarian 

Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex Combs & Andrew Eakett - OPTIONAL

Trans History: From Ancient Times to the Present Day by Alex Combs & Andrew Eakett, 384 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Candlewick Press, 2025. $25.

Language: R (2 swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (repeated objective references to sexual anatomy, repeated references to sex work & sexual abuse, repeated references to different types of body modifications throughout history, one trans man portrayed without a shirt); Violence: PG-13 (repeated references to physical violence & abuse towards trans people throughout history, but nothing graphic or on-page, and two specific references to suicide of a trans person).

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Trans History is a graphic nonfiction book that offers an engaging and deeply researched introduction to trans history, spanning from ancient times to the present. The five chapters of the book highlights stories, historical profiles, and conversations with modern activists, to explore the diversity of trans experiences and tracks the evolution of the concepts of gender and sexuality across cultures and eras.

As someone who has studied and taught world history, I found this text incredibly helpful for illustrating how history is shaped and how voices are often excluded from the historical record based on past and present cultural norms and values. Even though I have read a lot of LGBTQIA+ literature, there is still so much that I didn’t know about the trans experience. I felt like this book taught me a lot and gave me more to think about every time I stepped away from it. It is not a “how-to become trans” book, merely a well-researched and easily digestible history of trans people. I don’t see it as something that will be widely circulated, but for those that need it, it will be incredibly valuable.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Love on Paper by Danielle Parker - OPTIONAL

Love on Paper by Danielle Parker, 320 pages. Penguin, 2025. $20

Language: R (56 swears, 11 ’f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (References to underage drug and alcohol use; 23 mentions of kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Macy wants to be a writer--well, maybe. But her own kind of writer, not the same as her famous novelist mom or picture book author dad. Even though her mom might have pulled some strings to get her in, Macy is determined to find her voice at Berkeley’s prestigious Penovation writing retreat. This summer’s focus: Romance. While searching for inspiration, Macy finds a few other things: the swoon-worthy son of her family’s enemies and a tantalizing mystery left behind by a famous romance writer. As the story progresses, Macy and boyfrienemy Caleb try to figure out their feelings in the face of their families’ ancient grudge and their own complicated relationships with their parents. Everyone at the retreat, Macy and Caleb included, is trying to write a story to win a spot in a published anthology. And when introspection, budding love, and writing sprints fail to inspire, the clues leading to Betty Quinn’s unfinished manuscript are the perfect distraction. This is a lot of ground to cover in four weeks--but of course, Macy is about to discover that all of these paths are connected.

This was a fun, sweet, swoon-worthy read, but the characters still had complexity and depth. The writing was engaging and full of current lingo and pop culture references, and the story had a satisfying ending. While I wish the language were cleaner, the profanity use felt natural and was used with humor.

Main character Macy is mixed race Black and Korean, love interest Caleb is Black, and roommate Fern is nonbinary and Latinx.

Lindsay Blowers, ELA Teacher

The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry (Sunderworld #1) by Ransom Riggs - OPTIONAL

The Extraordinary Disappointments of Leopold Berry (Sunderworld #1) by Ransom Riggs, 336 pages. Dutton BYR (Penguin), 2024. $12

Language: R (100+ swears, 15+ f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (brief underage drinking); Violence: PG (Fantasy violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Since his mom died, 17yo Larry’s life hasn’t been easy. He’s nothing but a disappointment to his motivational-speaker father--”average in every way”--and he keeps having “episodes” where he sees things from his favorite childhood TV series about a fantasy land called Sunderworld. The only one who kind of gets Larry is his best friend, Emmett--but they’re seniors in high school now, and while Emmett has become popular and well-adjusted, Larry has... not. Finally Larry can no longer ignore the visions, and it turns out Sunderland was real all along. He and Emmett find a way in together, and they realize Sunderland is in trouble. Their efforts to help, however, cause more harm than good, leaving Emmett with a damaged memory. Eventually, Larry forces his way back into Sunderworld and, with a little help from a girl named Isabel and her hippie-genius uncle, makes a plan to help Emmett get back to normal. Of course, larger forces are at work, including the plans laid in place by Leopold’s late mother, who knew a lot more about Sunderland than Leopold ever guessed.

Fans of Ransom Riggs and gritty fantasy will enjoy this book if they are prepared for a more mature read. It was a fun page-turner with a well-developed fantasy world, but it's for a more mature audience than Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children--the main characters are 17 and sweary. There are some cheesy tropes, but they're mostly tongue-in-cheek--Riggs knows what he's doing.

Larry reads white, Emmett is Black, and love interest Isabel is Latinx.

Lindsay Blowers, ELA Teacher

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall - OPTIONAL

The No-Girlfriend Rule by Christen Randall, 324 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2024. $20

Language: R (85 swears,  1 ‘f');  Mature Content: PG (some kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Hollis is just starting her senior year. She knows that there are a lot of changes on the horizon, but she does not want her boyfriend Chris to be one of those changes. She would like to be able to connect more by playing the RPG Secrets and Sorcery with him, but his friends have a no-girlfriend rule. So Hollis finds her own game to play with a group of all girls. She is nervous about stepping outside of her comfort zone. However, the group is welcoming, and she is able to keep her anxiety in check. Over time, the girls become close friends. But when a crush begins to develop between Hollis and one of the other girls, Hollis is confused, unsure, and maybe a little excited. Is this a change that she would be willing to accept?

I enjoyed this coming-of-age book, with a message about having a good friend group that supports and encourages you to be yourself. Hollis found that with her new friends, there was a place for her, and she was a valued part of the group. This support helped Hollis find the confidence she needed to gain self-acceptance and start doing things for herself. The slowly developed love story between Hollis and Aini is gently handled. Hollis struggles with both her weight and anxiety, and both are addressed inclusively. The book dragged at times and ran a little long.

Hollis is white; her friends are a variety of races.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

This Close to Home by Beth Turley - ADVISABLE

This Close to Home by Beth Turley, 212 pages. Simon & Schuster BYR, 2023. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (one brief kiss); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Brooke and her family are struggling to move forward following the accidental death of their mother. They are each working through their grief in different ways. The dad is working a lot. Brooke's older sister Calla (17) is busy with multiple clubs and school work and trying to fill in the gaps at home by cooking, cleaning, and shopping. Brooke is distracted. She is making mistakes in her favorite sport, softball, and is forgetting to do her homework. Then Brooke comes up with a plan to help everyone. With the help of her best friend Derek (whom she is also starting to have romantic feelings towards) and her new friend Marley, they decide to bring back the annual town picnic, Lakefest, something her mother used to put on every year. Brooke is certain that Lakefest will bring joy back to her family, help them heal, and make new memories. Can she and her friends pull it off in less than two weeks?

I enjoyed this sweet story of a girl trying to work through her grief and help her family to heal. She is not perfect; she procrastinates. She tries to be perfect at softball but ends up making mistakes instead. But in the end, she finds ways to honor the memory of her mother while still moving forward with her family. She also learns that people are not who they appear to be on the surface, once you get to know them.

Brooke and her family present white. Derek is Hispanic.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Sky's End (Above the Black 1) by Marc J. Gregson - OPTIONAL

Sky's End (Above the Black 1) by Marc J. Gregson, 416 pages. Candlewick, 2024 $19.00 

Language: R (193 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Innuendo, insults); Violence: R (Physical violence, fights to the death, murder, attempted murder, monster violence, monster hunting, lots of gore, many injuries) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Conrad spent his childhood in luxury. His father was the Archduke. But when his Uncle takes the throne, and exiles Conrad and his mother to the Low, Conrad spends his early teens fighting for his life, and trying to earn enough money for his mother's medicine. At 16 he joins the Selection, and is accepted as a Hunter; Sky warriors who fight giant steel armored monsters called gorgantauns. But when Pound, his archenemy is put on the same ship, and Conrad find himself in the worst job possible - the Scabbie - he is desperate to rise to the position of Captain, and maybe win the chance of commanding his own airship. 

I gotta say - I had a hard time enjoying Sky's End. The Riches to Rags to Riches plot wasn't helped by Conrad's sullen and "trust no one" and "I can do this all myself" attitude. I don't love books where children kill each other and there is a lot of this - everyone is taught to fight, there are some senseless killings and the gore is a lot. Conrad gets beat up by Pound just before an important duel and fights with broken ribs. There are no adults directly supervising these kids. 16 is too young to be sent into the skies on a death mission to hunt monsters. An optional read, certainly because of the violence and swears, and the last 100 pages would have been better as the first 100 pages of the next book. The characters are humans. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Bard and the Book by Ann Bausum, illustrated by Marta Sevilla - ADVISABLE

The Bard and the Book: How the First Folio Saved the Plays of William Shakespeare From Oblivion by Ann Bausum, illustrated by Marta Sevilla, 103 pages. NON-FICTION Peachtree, 2024. $20.

Content: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Shakespeare didn't publish his plays - that wasn't a thing in the 1600's, yet. But after his death, various printings of his works appeared - some better than others. Then, the First Folio was published. A carefully curated and researched collection of his plays. 

Not what I expected but so much better! There's some brief biography of William Shakespeare, but this book is about everything that went into the publication of the folio, including the source gathering, the research and the actual printing - down to the type setting even. I learned so many things I never knew. 

Larger type on the pages and great illustrations make this non-fiction very accessible. I'm showing my copies to my ELA teachers as well as my drama teacher. I'm sure I enjoyed it more than the average middle schooler, but the right kid picking it up will find it a fun read. 

Lisa Librarian

Escape From the USS Indianapolis by Andy Marino - ESSENTIAL

Escape From the USS Indianapolis by Andy Marino, 192 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2025. $9 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (many deaths mentioned, some described shark attack deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12 yo Albie was supposed to wait in Guam for his older brother Joe to return from his tour on the USS Indianapolis during World War II.  Instead, Albie sneaks aboard and is discovered just before a Japanese submarine splits two holes in their side - sending the ship to the depths.  Now Albie and Joe are clinging to a potato crate - hoping they can still survive this nightmare. 

Marino dumps us right into the middle of the Pacific Ocean near the Japanese battleground. THen he dumps into the water to battle dehydration madness, and multiple, persistent shark attacks, among other dangers. You will barely have time to breathe before the next danger arrives.  All of it is very plausible - you can tell Marino was careful with his research and found the right experts to guide on the historical events. And I like these because they are just a little longer than the I Survived series.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Secret Stories of Lost Beasts by Sashia Gwinn and Vasilisa Romanenko - ADVISABLE

Secret Stories of Lost Beasts: A Field Guide to Uncover Earth's Ancient Animals by Sashia Gwinn, illustrated by Vasilisa Romanenko. 63 pages. NON-FICTION CHAPTER BOOK. Wide Eyed Editions  (Quarto Group), 2025. $25. 9780711296978

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Secret lives and amazing adaptations of past creatures are revealed in this beautifully illustrated collection of long gone beasts.  Lost in time, but not forgotten are stories about dinosaurs, sea beasts, giant bugs, birds, and ice age mammals.  It also touches on animals once thought to be extinct that have been rediscovered, and how to help protect creatures that are critically endangered.

Secret Stories of Lost Beasts is fascinating, and I really enjoyed the gorgeously detailed, vintage-style artwork.

PGPowers

Standoff (Kidnapped from Ukraine #2) by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch - ESSENTIAL

Standoff (Kidnapped from Ukraine #2) by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch, 288 pages. OCTOBER 2025. $26

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (single and mass war deaths, some described, mentions people forced to strip)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When Russia starts the war with Ukraine by bombing the major cities, Rada and her Dad are separated from Rada’s twin Dariia and their Mom. While Rada and Dad make it to the safety of the Azovstal steel plant, Rada huddles in a bunker while Dad is off fighting for Ukraine’s freedom.  As bombing continues for months, life in the bunker goes from desperate to dire.  Rada has formed a family of sorts, but she won’t find happiness until she can find Dariia and Mom and a new life.

Skrypuch brings us the other side of a family caught in Russia’s most recent war against Ukraine.  Reading this book is better than any news story you could see, especially as the war continues today. And remember - Russia started it.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Callela - ESSENTIAL

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Callela, 384 pages. Page Street, 2025. $19.

Language: PG-13 (31  swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kisses); Violence: PG (2 deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE; HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ell is on her way to the palace to wed the prince after he appears at her home and she fits the glass slipper.  She is so happy to be out from under her evil stepmother’s iron-fisted rule that she doesn’t even care that she wasn’t even at the ball. But someone knows that she is not the girl who danced at the ball.  And her stepmother is not ready to give up Ell so easily.  And the king is a volatile tyrant who wants to eliminate every fairy from existence. Turns out that Ell was only in the pan - the fires raging around her are oh so worse.

The ferocity of Callela’s Cinderella reminds me of Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - the Cinderella is going to have to save herself. Readers who enjoy complex fairy tale reworks will have a great time.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS