Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy - ADVISABLE

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy, 256 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Finn and Ezra don't know each other (yet) but their Bar Mitzvah weekend is about to bring the boys together. They are having their events at the same time at the same hotel, but both boys seem to be trapped in a time loop, repeating Friday through Sunday, endlessly. Finn eventually figures out how to contact Ezra and the two work together to try figure out how to end their Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. 

I loved the crazy schemes they came up with, and how naive 13 year old boys can be. Joshua Levy looks at themes of family relationships, religious practices, friend drama, and coming of age in such a clever book. Of course it's far fetched, but a delightful read - I grew to love these guys. Finn and Ezra and their families are Jewish.

Lisa Librarian 

A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill - ADVISABLE

A Song for You and I by K. O'Neill, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $22. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE

  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Rosie, who eventually wants to be called Rowan, is training to become a ranger, someone who is dedicated to protecting others. However, when one of Rowan’s decisions hurts their flying horse companion and as part of their restitution they have to go on a long journey by foot with laidback shepherd Leone, they are forced to reevaluate their life goals and even their identity. 

I actually really liked this graphic novel. It’s very slow, but for a reason. I loved seeing the wide landscapes and just the space for reflection that the author/artist creates for Rowan and Leone to think about things. It's a very cozy fantasy, but also just a sweet coming of age story.  

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes

Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy - ADVISABLE

Murray Out of Water by Taylor Tracy, 400 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $20 

Language: PG (0 swears 0 'f' however, pervert and groomer are used to describe a character); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (mild bullying). 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Murray has a special relationship with the ocean. She lives near the beach on the Jersey shore and has a magical power - she can manipulate the water, bringing toys back for children or make the perfect wave for surfing. But when a hurricane hits, her family must relocate to Goshen to stay with her Aunt and Uncle.  Murray is no longer near the ocean and worries she will lose her powers. Murray and her siblings have a difficult relationship with their parents. Her oldest brother Patrick went away to college and didn't return. Murray suspects she may be non-binary and fears her parents will have a similar reaction to her. 

Murray out of Water is a magical novel in verse. I was grateful she could find support at the home of her aunt and uncle. The magical realism was just right, and I liked how the right person could seem to amplify their powers. Murray and her family default white 

Lisa Librarian 

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith - OPTIONAL

Our Wicked Histories by Amy Goldsmith, 367 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2024. $20

Language: R (23 swears, 30 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sex is off the page, but a lot of talk about it); Violence: PG (Fighting, death and paranormal activity)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

This story follows Meg, a 16yo who joins her old friends for a Halloween weekend at a crumbling estate full of secrets, tension and eerie local legends.  Things start to get weird fast.  The townspeople say there is a haunted lake, Meg has some disturbing visions, and her chilling past refuses to stay buried.  The twin siblings, Lottie and Seb, are rich, intense and totally unpredictable, keeping both Meg and readers guessing.  As friendships crack and the supernatural creeps in, the line between what is real and imagined starts to blur.  It is suspenseful, mysterious and full of drama in the best ways.  This book is perfect for fans of ghost stories, elite schools, and slow-burn thrillers that mess with your head.

My favorite part about this book was the setting, with the crumbling mansion, creepy woods and an eerie lake.  It was a little bit of a slow start but as the tension built between characters and the supernatural, I was hooked. I liked the dynamic between Meg, Lottie and Seb.  I just couldn't decide who was deceiving who, and I was a little frustrated with Meg's passive behaviors.  If you are wanting a fast-paced horror with a lot of twists, you may be disappointed.  But if you are up for a gothic, moody story with unsettling secrets, you will enjoy this book.

The characters in this story are all assumed to be white.  This book focuses more on class than ethnicity.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Joined at the Joints by Marissa Eller - OPTIONAL

Joined at the Joints by Marissa Eller, 330 pages. Holiday House, 2024. $20. 

Language: R (45 swears 8 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing, talk of birth control and a sexually active character); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

17yo Ivy was diagnosed with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis at the end of her freshman year. She struggles with chronic pain and the effects of the medication, she also has social anxiety. Her mother has Lupus and her older sister Caroline has celiac's disease so the family talks about feeling bad regularly, however, Ivy hasn't told anyone outside her family, not even her best friend. When her mom sees a support group for teens with chronic illness, she encourages the sisters to join. Ivy tries to avoid it, because of her social anxiety, but there's a boy there, Grant, he also has RA and he is cute, and nice and understanding. Maybe it's time Ivy faced this a different way. 

Much of Ivy's behavior in the first few chapters was so irritating - not admitting, even to her mother and sister, what her pain levels were like; wearing heels to a dance because she didn't want to not look normal and then spending most of the night on the floor in the girl's restroom because she could hardly walk. I would say it's more of a disability book than a romance. She and Grant click right away and there's not a lot of tension in their relationship - he's her voice of reason because he understands. I suppose it would be a good empathy read, if you have someone who needs to look at chronic illness. The characters are white 

Lisa Librarian 

Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy - ADVISABLE

Last One to Die by Cynthia Murphy, 275 pages. Delacorte Press (Random), 2021. $13

Language: PG-13 (12 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing); Violence: PG-13 (girls are violently attacked, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

16yo Niamh has just arrived in London from Ireland for a summer drama course. She is excited to be out of her small town and in the big city. But the first two girls she befriends are attacked, and one of them dies. She is beginning to wonder if she made the right decision to come to London. She decides to stay. She starts a volunteer job at a museum, meets a gorgeous guy, and makes some new friends. She begins to feel that she is being followed, and girls that look like her keep getting attacked. She and her friend start to realize the attacks are similar to those from Victorian times by a serial killer named Spring-Heeled Jack. Niamh will have to learn to trust herself and her new friends to stay alive and figure out who is after her.

The book was the right amount of horror and suspense. A little of the supernatural is worked into the storyline as well. I liked the spunky character of Niamh. The plot is a little predictable but overall a very enjoyable read.

Niamh is from Ireland.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

What if You Fall For Me First? by G.F. Miller - ESSENTIAL

What if You Fall For Me First? by G.F. Miller, 368 pages. Aladdin (Simon), JUNE 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

All Sophia ever wants is for Mark Chen to notice her - to see her and like her as much as she likes him. While is hiding herself behind the coats at the school Glow Night, who does notice her -- Holden! The school rich kid bad boy, who loves and leaves girls all over the place. But Holden sees something in Sophia that no one has noticed and gradually Sophia sees something in Holden, too. Even if her friends warn her to stay far away.

I admit it - I didn’t think Miller could continue with a second book that is as heartfelt and lovely as the first.  I was SO WRONG! Not only does she start off where the first book ends, but she weaves a new story that is as good (maybe better) than Not if You Break Up With Me First. Like Not If, What if shows us both Sophia’s point of view and Holden’s.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood 1) by Elly Blake - ADVISABLE

The Forest King's Daughter (Thirstwood 1) by Elly Blake, 382 pages. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2025. $18

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (gentle kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody hitting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Zeru is from the underground.  17yo Cassia is a princess from the forest.  Their kingdoms are enemies. When Zeru and Cassia were seven, they accidentally found each other in the forest and became friends. Zeru took a ring from a family jewelry box and gave it to his new friend Cassia, inadvertently creating a bond between the two of them. He also unknowingly started a war between their kingdoms. Ten years later, the battles continue and Cassia is captured by Zeru, so he can recover the ring for the queen of the Cryptlands.

I like how the author placed mythological statements at the beginning of each chapter, giving insight into what would happen during that chapter. I love Cassia with her gentle personality and loving kindness. The realm of Welkincaster was fun to “see” change and grow into a beautiful sanctuary. The ethnicity is full of fantasy creatures.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno - ADVISABLE

Prince of Fortune by Lisa Tirreno, 416 pages. Atheneum (Simon), 2024. $20

Language: PG (11 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (fade to black intimate scenes); Violence: PG-13 (many people dead in battle scenes and murders)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lord Aubrey Ainsley had no idea that it would be love at first sight when he first met Prince Edmund, the future king of Saban.  When Saban is attacked by their neighbors, who wield dark magic and evil to control their world, both Aubrey and Edmund know that their desires take second place to the needs of the kingdom. Aubrey’s foresight as a Seer could be what is needed to turn this war in Saban’s favor.

You should know that I dislike romance books disguising themselves as fantasy. Tirreno has managed to avoid that trap all together.  You will definitely be rooting for Aubrey and Edmond, but their romance takes second place to saving their country.  I hope this book performs so well that other first fantasy writers will follow her lead - if I never hear the word “romantasy” again, it will be too soon!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne - OPTIONAL

The Bitter End by Alexa Donne, 352 pages. Random House, 2024. $20

Language: R (100+ swears,  49 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (off page sex, drinking, drugs); Violence: R (multiple deaths, dead bodies sometimes described)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Eight students have a history - eight students are trapped during their senior trip in a luxury cabin high in the mountains during a snowstorm. Their chaperone heads down the mountain to contact help - then the bodies start piling up. Is there one murderer? A conspiracy? A dangerous stranger? The body count won’t wait for them to unmask the secrets.

Donne takes twisted ulterior motives and then twists them again, leaving the reader breathless - and still highly suspicious at the end. I listened to the audiobook and couldn’t stop listening. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Zero: the number that almost wasn’t by Sarah Albee and Chris Hsu - ESSENTIAL

Zero: the number that almost wasn’t by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chris Hsu. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $18. 9781623544324

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Follow the timeline and take a trip around the world as you explore the history of the number zero.

Albee does a great job of simplifying zero’s history, letting us see the scope of the concept throughout history and at many different places around the world - including the time when CHristian leaders said that zero was the work of the devil. I showed this to my math teachers and they love it. This might convince a middle school or high school math teacher that picture books are worth reading to their students.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The House No One Sees by Adina King - OPTIONAL

The House No One Sees by Adina King, 304 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $19

Language: R (53 swears, 21 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (mother using drugs); Violence: PG (death by drug overdose)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When 16yo Penny arrives at her mother’s place and finds her overdosed, she’s thrown back to when her mother was a good parent, before her accident and the opioid addiction that followed. Penny remembers the teasing from classmates when she didn’t have clean clothes or a decent lunch from home. She remembers being taken from her mother and living with her loving grandparents and seeing them giving her mother a chance to do better. Penny’s mother didn’t kick the addiction; it took over her life and Penny’s. Penny learned that she has a light inside that has helped her throughout her life and she meets a kind teen boy and makes good friends. She is finally seen.

Emotionally cleansing. Hotlines for help of many kinds at the end of the book. Words of affirmation, hope and encouragement.

Ethnicity includes white and brown skin characters.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Forest Grimm (#1) by Kathryn Purdie - ADVISABLE

The Forest Grimm (#1) by Kathryn Purdie, 352 pages. St. Martin's Press, 2023. $15

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Clara is determined to save her lost mother from the Forest Grimm where she wandered into three years ago. Her best friends Axel and Henni join Clara and they want to save Henni’s lost sister also. The Forest Grimm changed when a curse happened in Grimm Hollow and twisted the magic that used to be helpful to the villagers. The three are in danger of becoming lost themselves because the Forest moves and changes. They are surrounded by creatures who want to cause them harm. They can only trust each other and hope that trust is enough to save them.

Axel’s gift for finding silver linings in any situation is charming. I enjoyed the story of the young ghost, Ollie. It adds a bit of spookiness and melancholy. The author wove a creepy tale of twisted magic.

Ethnicity cues white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Smash, Crash, Topple, Roll! The Inventive Rube Goldberg by Catherine Thimmesh and Shanda McCloskey - ADVISABLE

Smash, Crash, Topple, Roll! The Inventive Rube Goldberg by Catherine Thimmesh, illustrated by Shanda McCloskey. 50 pages. NON-FICTION., Chronicle, MAY 2025. $20. 9781452144221

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

While formatted to look like a picture book, Thimmesh has actually written a very dense book that is not a book you will want to read aloud - at least not in one sitting. Any teacher who covers simple machines will find plenty of information within to support teaching and illustrating the concepts. I learned a lot - i had no idea that a broom is a lever, for example! While there is biographical info about Goldberg interspersed, I wouldn’t call this a biography. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman - OPTIONAL

The Meadowbrook Murders by Jessica Goodman, 336 pages. Penguin Young Readers, 2025. $17

Language: R (66 swears, 19 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (implied sex and underage drinking); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

At the Meadowbrook Boarding School, 17yo Amy is enjoying the senior week before the underclasses arrive on campus. She’s looking forward to spending time with her best friend Sarah and her boyfriend Joseph, who attends school in town. After a party the night before, Amy wakes up and knocks on Sarah’s door. When there’s no answer, Amy opens up the door to find Sarah and her boyfriend Ryan dead in a bloody bed. The school is shocked to the core and every student is terrified that they’re going to be the next victim. Amy is moved to room with Liz, the school newspaper journalist, who has high ambitions for reporting the news, on and off campus. Will the killer be found? Will the killer be stopped?

I like how the characters each found a true friend when they didn’t expect to at all. It just shows that you never know where you’ll find a friend. Liz meets her journalistic hero and she learns quite a lot from her. Great character development.

The ethnicity includes Jewish, Black and white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Me?! Interviewed?!

 

I was privileged recently to interviewed by Ellen Myrick of Publisher's Spotlight.  She has interviewed many authors over the years, so I was very surprised and pleased when she asked to interview me about what we do at Kiss the Book. I hope you get a chance to listen/watch and learn more about our history and background. Let me know what you think!

Rising from the Ashes Los Angeles, 1992 by Paula Yoo - OPTIONAL

Rising from the Ashes Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire by Paula Yoo, 368 pages. NON-FICTION Norton Young Readers. 2024. $20. 

Language: R (11 swears 3 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (shootings, people killed, photos of dead people) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In Los Angeles in 1992, Rodney Glen King was filmed as he was beaten by police officers, Latasha Harlins was shot and killed buy a store owner who thought she was stealing orange juice, and Edward Jae Song Lee was killed as he came to help fellow Koreans protect their shops during the civil unrest and fires that were a response to the not guilty verdict of the police officers, and the light sentence of the store owner. 

Told through the voices of dozens of witnesses, family members, police officers, reporters and others involved in what was a violent 5 days. Yoo narrates the events through the stories of the three victims and their families, and through the eyes of the Korean American community. I was an adult in 1992 and remember listening to the radio and watching the violence and fires on tv, but was not aware of the impact on the Korean Community, and the racism that let to the eruption of the city of LA. Full of first hand accounts, and lots of photographs City on Fire was an engaging read, and a well documented account. Includes a list of the names of all those killed, the numbers of individuals involved as well as the number of fires and buildings destroyed. A fantastic read. 

Lisa Librarian

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman - ESSENTIAL

Not Nothing by Gayle Forman, 282 pages. Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2024. $18. 

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (boobs mentioned twice, one sexual referrence); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Alex is twelve and he is in big trouble. A judge has sentenced him to spend his summer volunteering at the Shady Glen retirement home. Alex thinks the geriatric residents are like zombies, and he doesn't like the bossy other teen he works with. But his home life isn't any better. Alex is living with his aunt and uncle who don't want him because his mother has abandoned him.

Josey is a 107 year old resident of the home and hasn't spoken in years. He is a Holocaust survivor, thanks to his ability to sew and an intrepid woman named Olka. He is waiting to die until he meets Alex and the two form an unlikely bond. Alex keeps coming back to hear Josey's story because at times, they both feel like nothing. " This is a multi-generational story of hope, compassion, and forgiveness. The characters explore how they can rise to the occasion of their lives, which is a great concept to contemplate. The characters are believable and endearing, and the writing is beautifully crafted. There is a level of tension to find out what will happen to Alex and what really bad thing he did. I got emotional while reading because I was totally invested. This is a must read. Josey is Jewish, and Alex's race is not specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Forest Grimm by Kathryn Purdie - ADVISABLE

The Forest Grimm (The Forest Grimm #1) by Kathryn Purdie, 352 pages. Wednesday Books (St. Martin’s Press), 2025. $14.

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Three years ago, Clara’s mother went missing in the Forest Grimm and became the first of the Lost. Clara (17yo) has known that she and her mother are fated to die young, but Clara is determined to be a changer of fate—to use her early death to save her mother from an early death. Armed with a red hooded cape her mother made and a map she’s spent years drawing, Clara enters the forest knowing she will not return home alive.

Purdie weaves together several fairy tales—some more subtly than others—that harken back to the Grimms’ versions of the fairy tales. Rather than princesses looking for happily ever after, they are monsters setting traps to regain what they have lost. The darker tales raise the stakes for Clara who tests whether fate can be changed and who must decide whether she is as willing to live as she is to die.

Clara is of implied French descent, and the majority of characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, scary elements, kissing, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for corpses, blood and gore, mentions of cannibalism, assault, fantasy violence, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass - ADVISABLE

Just Shy of Ordinary by A J Sass, 384 pages. Little, Brown, 2024. $17. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild self harm - Shai picks at her arms, and she witnesses vandalism against her grandparent's synagogue) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Shai is looking for a new normal. She has been home schooled, and is great at research. She has decided that she wants to try public school. But she's full of worries - she's come out to her family and best friend, but how and when will she let people at school know she is gender fluid and pan sexual? Her Language Arts teacher has assigned a term-long research project, and Shai, who has not been raised religious, chooses to learn about her grandparent's religion, they are Jewish, and visit them over the high holidays, which causes some drama with her single mom. 

Shai is a smart kid, but feels like she needs to solve all her own problems without asking for help. Her anxiety has caused her to pick at her arms which causes sores that she keeps covered. Even her mom doesn't know. Shai explains to the reader how it feels when people don't use her preferred name or pronouns, one of her friends is a lesbian who hasn't yet come out to her parents, another friend has 2 dads and one of the boys she lives with uses "gay" to mean something is stupid. I'm not sure why the publisher recommends Just Shy of Ordinary for 8-12 year olds. It's a clean read with no violence, but it's still High School, homecoming, who to ask to the dance and the social and academic community of 9th grade. Shai is Jewish, her best friend Mille is indigenous Canadian, other characters are culturally diverse. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Prince Without Sorrow by Maithree Wijesekara - OPTIONAL

The Prince Without Sorrow (Obsidian Throne #1) by Maithree Wijesekara, 384 pages. Harper Voyager (HarperCollins), 2025. $19.

Language: R (10 swears, 13 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A woman in mourning of her pacifist people, Shakti (22yo) wants to fight back against the emperor for vengeance more than anything. Meanwhile, Prince Ashoka (22yo) wants to stand firm as a pacifist himself, despite being a son of the tyrant emperor raising his children on the path of conquest—making Ashoka the weakest and least listened to of the lot. When the emperor dies, Shakti and Ashoka move forward on paths that will change the empire—and themselves.

Both Shakti and Ashoka have firm goals, but they lack clear plans to achieve those goals. They struggle not only with outside opposition to their goals but also with their own moral standards—facing the age-old question of whether the ends justify the means. At the end of book one, nothing has gone as expected; everything has changed through crazy twists in both the protagonists and antagonists.

The majority of characters are implied Indian and described as having brown skin. Jaya is lesbian, and there are a couple other lgbt characters. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, drugs, and brothels and for innuendo. The violence rating is for blood and gore, corpses, assault, mentions of genocide and suicide, self harm, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, - OPTIONAL

Night Owls by A.R. Vishny, 368 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $20. 

Language: R (22 swears 6 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (vampires luring men and the ensuing "kisses) Violence: R (bloody fighting, vampire violence, demons) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo (sort of) Clara and Molly run an historic movie theater in Manhattan. Boaz is one of their employees, he runs the ticket booth. Clara and Molly are Estries - undead, vampire-like girls who can turn into owls and feed on Jewish men. Boaz has a family curse - he can see and communicate with ghosts. His Aunt has a ring, passed down through the family that helps focus the ghost sightings, and she has a successful cable tv show where she is a medium. Clara has a lot of rules to keep she and Molly safe - they've "lived" together like this for over 100 years. One of the rules is no romance. But when Molly finds a girlfriend, who disappears, they blame Boaz. And even though he denies it, and is infuriating, Clara finds herself falling for him. 

Who knew that Jewish theater had an underground in New York City full of demons and monsters and the Prince of Demons himself? This stand alone horror, romance, mystery was spine tingling with some good scares, and a great plot. Written for a Jewish reader, there's not a glossary or pronunciation guide for the yiddish, but context was well developed so I had no trouble because of my lack of background knowledge. I especially loved all the nods to early (1910-1930s) motion pictures. Boaz, like me, was a real film nerd, so I totally connected as he geeked out about certain movies. Highly recommended as a great thriller. The characters are Jewish and monsters. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos - ADVISABLE

The Girl Who Sang by Estelle Nadel and Sammy Savos, 272 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $26. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Soldiers shooting prisoners, injury, peril death) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Living with her family in Poland in 1939 seemed idyllic to 4yo Enia, but by 1942 the German soldiers had invaded Poland and it was not safe for Jews, so she went into hiding with her mother and brothers. Dependent upon neighbors to hide them, her mother and eventually her brother found food to help them survive. 

I know graphic novels read quickly, so it's no surprise I finished "The Girl Who Sang" in one sitting, but I've got to say it was mostly because I just couldn't put it down. As Enia's family disappeared a little at a time, I worried that she would be left completely alone. Sammy Savos' illustrations are wonderful! The violence was represented effectively without being too graphic, I loved the peeking out views of her world through the thatched roofs. Includes a nice afterword with "what happened" to many of the characters, including photographs, and a letter from Estelle (Enia's American name). 

Lisa Librarian 

Solving for the Unknown by Loan Le - OPTIONAL

Solving for the Unknown by Loan Le, 324 pages. Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2025, $20. 

Language: R (40 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (College drinking); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

College freshman Viet initially struggles to fit in at UC Davis, but he joins the running club, which opens the door to him becoming friends with a group of juniors, including Evie, who is the older sister of Viet’s friend from home. They make an instant connection as the children of Vietnamese immigrants who are both from the same hometown, and Viet starts to have feelings for Evie, who is already in a relationship with Jake. In this alternating perspective book about college life, Viet joins the forensic science club and finds friends, while balancing his challenges with depression and his worries over his parents’ volatile relationship. Meanwhile, Evie pursues a competitive volunteer position at a clinic and struggles as distance grows between her and her boyfriend. Evie and Viet’s friendship continues to blossom as they support each other through their challenges, but could their relationship ever turn into more?

This book’s sweet and not-at-all-spicy romance, the focus on good friends watching out for each other, the lovable characters, the thoughtful portrayal of depression, and the discussion of relationship dynamics and challenges hit all the right notes for me. Yes, you can immediately predict the outcome, but the journey was delightful, with drama-free friendships and relatable characters. It is an overall lighthearted read, but it includes realistic and moving descriptions of real challenges. I especially liked the interspersing of Vietnamese words as a window into the immigrant experience. There is plenty of context to understand what they’re saying, but I worry that students may get frustrated by not understanding every word. While I didn't love the fact that the friends are almost too sympathetic and unrealistically always know the right thing to say, the characters were so lovable that it was easy to overlook. Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed the book!

The main characters, Viet and Evie, are Vietnamese. Others are unspecified Asian. Two characters are LGBTQ+.

Marinda, librarian

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - ESSENTIAL

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, 400 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $28

Language: G (0 swears,  0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (undescribed naked mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (many deaths mentioned, decapitation, spilled guts, bones,)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Haymitch’s birthday and reaping day - a potent combination. It is the day of the Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games, and 4 tributes will be chosen from each District to fight to the death in the Capitol’s arena of choice.

What more do you need to know?  Collins has written a tear-jerker, a heart-breaking look at Haymitch and the Games he “won”. The level of violence is similar to all of the other books in the series. You will not be sorry you read it - and you will hate President Snow even more than you already did before the end. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar - ADVISABLE

Across So Many Seas by Ruth Behar, 272 pages. Penguin, 2024 $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (threats of violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

In 1492, Benvenida and her family are forced out of Spain during the Spanish Inquisition because they are Jewish. Benvenida wrote poetry some of which she left behind, and sang songs, all of which she brought with her. Eventually her family finds their way to Turkey. 

In 1923, Reina meets a boy to watch fireworks on the celebration of Turkish Independence. Her father says she has embarrassed the family and ruined her reputation. She is sent to Cuba with an Aunt, the family's oud and the songs her mother taught her. 

In 1961, 12yo Alegra, Reina's daughter volunteers to be a Brigadista and teach literacy to the uneducated people out in the country, but her father, fearing the family's safety as he has spoken out again Fidel Castro sends Alegra to Miami with a Jewish Rescue organization. 

In 2003, Paloma, wanting to learn more about her family history is excited to go on a family trip to Toledo Spain. 

I was worried that the multiple perspectives were going to be a problem, however, Behar ties the stories together with a particular song passed down through the generations and I loved how beautifully that worked to foster continuity. I loved that the girls were related, it helped make each additional perspective not as new, more of a continuation - although I was worried how many jumps between each generation when it started in 1492! Readers who like Ryan's Echo or Gratz's Refugee will enjoy Across So Many Seas as well. Includes extensive author's notes with links to her research. The characters are Sephardic Jews.

 Lisa Librarian

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim - OPTIONAL

The Love Match by Priyanka Taslim, 400 pages. Salaam Reads (Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers), 2023. $20.  

Language: R (65 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Zahra Khan is a recently graduated 18yo Bangladeshi girl without a plan. Her friends are getting ready to go to college, but Zahra has deferred because she can't afford it. Ever since her father passed away, her family is barely scraping by. Her mother is convinced that the perfect match is the solution to all of Zahra's problems. Enter Harun Emon - handsome, wealthy, going places, etc. But Zahra kind of likes the new shop boy at her job, Nayim. But boys and future plans are more difficult to handle than Zahra anticipated. What is a good Bangladeshi girl to do?!

I know it sounds a little silly, a love triangle worthy of Bollywood, but there was a lot of depth built into the storyline with Zahra's relationship with her family, her friends, and community. I loved the representation of the Bangladeshi and Pakistani community in Paterson, NJ, which I didn't know was the largest community in the US! Other than the language, I thought it was a great rom-com read with a lot of authentic AAPI representation.

Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia Cole - OPTIONAL

Ariel Crashes a Train by Olivia Cole, 464 pages. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2024. $20.

Language: R (72 swears, 27 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (some examples of underage drinking, quite a bit of sexual content - most of it imagined as part of the main character’s OCD, but some mentions masturbation in public places by background characters); Violence: PG 13 (not real, but frequent pervasive violent intrusive thoughts)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

17-year-old Ariel finds herself struggling with isolation in a small Midwestern town. Her older sister has left for college, and her best friend is away for a summer internship in DC, leaving Ariel feeling alone. Her mind becomes a maze of endless, violent "what if" scenarios that trap her in a cycle of fear and anxiety. Before she reaches a breaking point, Ariel finds solace in two new friends she meets at her summer job at the local carnival: Ruth, a Black girl, and Rex, a teenage trans man. Through their friendship, Ariel begins to navigate her mental health challenges and discover her own identity.

Fascinating first person depiction of living with Harm OCD and intrusive thoughts. A novel written in verse, it was beautiful and painful at the same time. I was impressed with the breadth of topics it was able to address - mental health, religious trauma, police violence, gender identity, feminism, & queerness. It shows how intersectional our world is and yet how strikingly singular our individual lived experience is. I’m not sure how much use it could be in a school setting, considering some of the language and mature content, however, I do think it could be valuable purely for its honest representation of OCD and how it affects Ariel’s life.

Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

Heart-Shaped Lies by Elizabeth Agyemang - OPTIONAL

Heart-Shaped Lies by Elizabeth Agyemang, 384 pages. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2024. $20.

Language: R (43 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (several instances of underage drinking and drug use); Violence: PG 13 (several instances of physical intimidation or violence, and one on-page death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

During a senior trip to Sunny World (a Walt Disney World dupe) in modern-day Florida, three students - Kiara (18yo, Black, 4.0 student), Priscilla (18yo, Black, beauty queen influencer), and Nevaeh (17yo, Black, pastor’s daughter) find out that they are all involved with the same social media prank star & classmate Tommy Harding (18yo, white, truly awful human). When a senior prank he is planning goes awry and Tommy ends up dead, internet sleuths are quick to point out how each of the girls had motive. How are they going to find out what really happened that night?

With lots of twists and turns, this is a murder mystery for the social media age that teenage students will eat up with a spoon. Since Tommy was awful, I couldn’t really muster up a lot of sympathy for his demise, and thus, wasn’t terribly interested in the outcome. However, the book moved at a pretty quick pace and I loved seeing the diversity in the main characters, as a majority of the characters are BIPOC.

Kiera Beddes, #bookswithbeddes

On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino - OPTIONAL

On the Bright Side by Anna Sortino, 305 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2024. $20.

Language: R (33 swears 1 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (Making out, some clothing removal); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo Ellie has been at a boarding school for deaf students since middle school. But at the end of her junior year, it shuts down and she has to attend a regular high school and live at home. Ellie's parents never embraced her deafness, they didn't learn sign language, insist she wears her hearing aid and cochlear implant all the time, and have made no accommodations for her. Living at home, and being the only deaf student at the high school is really hard. 18yo Jackson is one of the best players on his soccer team, but his body is acting strangely, his legs feel numb, and he's so tired. When he misses an important goal and loses the state championship, he becomes the team outcast. One of the guidance counselors asks Jackson to show the new girl (Ellie) around changes his focus. Maybe these two need each other more than they know. 

This is the cutest romance! Both kids are full of self doubt and anger because of their past experiences, have difficult parents (opposites - Jackson's parents are over involved and over protective.) but are smart and resilient. I love the community Ellie gets involved in, as well as the group Jackson turns to after his diagnosis. A Schneider Award teen honor book, Sortino's depiction of the disability experience is spot on, as she is deaf. I finished On the Bright Side wanting to take up sign language lessons again. Both Jackson and Ellie are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen - ESSENTIAL

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 336 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After 14yo Atlas’s mother dies while he and his father are climbing a peak in Utah,  Atlas and his father throw themselves into mountain climbing and end up in Nepal to climb Mt. Everest. They join a team set to reach the unreachable, the Summit of Mt. Everest. Atlas will face the fight of his live and must make the toughest of choices.

I like how the author includes a definition at the beginning of each chapter. The setting is extremely interesting with the threat of World War II hanging over the story. The characters are believable.

The ethnicity is predominantly white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Warrior of Legend (Heromaker #2) by Kendare Blake - ADVISABLE

Warrior of Legend (Heromaker #2) by Kendare Blake, 512 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $11

Language: PG-13 (15 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (off page sex and implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (attempted sexual assault, off page murder, bloody violence and bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After losing her hero, 16yo Reed has thrown herself head first into serving the Aristene. She has sent three heroes to their glorious death in less than a year. When her fellow Aristene, Lyonene, is called to help a hero, she begs Reed to take her place. Lyonene wants to stay with her hero, prince, and husband Alsander. What Reed and Lyonene don’t know is how much this one decision will change their lives.

I liked the dynamic between Reed, her mentor, her hero and her fellow Aristene. This series will have more than two books. The story doesn’t end on a cliffhanger but it left me wanting to know what’s to come.

The ethnicity mentions white, tan, and olive skintones.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah