The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz - ADVISABLE

The Winter of the Dollhouse by Laura Amy Schlitz, 400 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19.

Language: PG (13 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Tiph is enamored with the dollhouse shop near her house, but the owner has forbidden her to come inside until an incident with a tiny cuckoo clock is resolved. But when she meets a Hungarian woman who also has an interest in dollhouses and a need for a dog walker and litterbox cleaner, Tiph finds more than employer; Néni Szilvia is a good listener, a kind soul, and a much-needed friend, and she has a beautiful dollhouse! But when Tiph discovers that the doll of her dreams is much more expensive than she could ever afford, she makes a choice that could change everything, including her relationship with Néni Szilvia. 

I loved this story so much - told in alternating perspectives, the dolls are sentient when no one can see them, and they play together, particularly Gretel and Red Riding Hood. There is also a dog and a cat who can talk to the dolls and interact with them. It was like pieces of magic interspersed through a story about a girl making friends, fixing mistakes, growing up and discovering she's a pretty good actress. I could totally relate. There's a lot of nostalgia for readers of my (advanced) age which certainly added to my enjoyment. I hope young readers also find the magic engaging, and love The Winter of the Dollhouse as much as I did. Tiph and her family are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff - ESSENTIAL

The Aftermyth by Tracy Wolff, 434 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2026. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Penelope has been looking forward to her entrance to Anaximander’s Academy her whole life.  Her goal has been to become an Athena like all her family before her. Entrance to the academy was much more difficult than she was led to believe. And while her twin brother is admitted to Athena Hall, Penelope is housed in Aphrodite Hall. What! Her roommate, an effusive, typical Aphrodite, renames her Ellie, and tries to show Ellie why Aphrodite’s are so much more fun than Athenas.  While Ellie resists, she is drawn in to the challenge and drama of the school, including Ellie’s remote-feeling muse, Calliope; her mysterious 12 labors that she is supposed to finish before she graduates; and the thrill of the school-wide myth challenge - this year based on Pandora’s box. 

Your first impulse will be to dismiss this as a “magical school” ripoff and your second impulse will be to compare it to another series based on Greek mythology. Get over yourself and dive in!  Wolff has created something completely unique and so much fun.  I’m actually miffed that I am going to have to wait year after year for the next installments!  I had so much fun meeting Ellie and her new friends and I can’t wait to see what the next volume brings.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares - ESSENTIAL

 

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $22. 

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Peril, Police holding family at gunpoint) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Carlos is living a pretty sweet life. His family lives in Cuba near his abuelo's farm, his best friend lives nearby and he spends weekends at the beach hunting for shark teeth. But when Fidel Castro and his Revolutionaries overthrow the government, Carlos life drastically changes. His father is in danger and the family business is taken. Then his father disappears. 

I loved this perspective on the Cuban Revolution. Based on the author's father's experiences, How to Say Goodbye in Cuban, really shows the impact political turmoil can have on the residents of a country, especially the children. I loved the author's note at the end with photos of his father and grandfather. I think this will be an important book and rate it an essential purchase. Carlos and his family are Cuban 

Lisa Librarian 

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard, - ESSENTIAL

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard, 368 pages. Aladdin 2026. $11. 9781665984126

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The story of the honey-loving, bumbling bear Winnie-the-Pooh will touch the hearts of those who grew up reading these adventures and will become a favorite of first time readers/ listeners. Each chapter explores a new adventure, from searching for honey or celebrating birthdays to hunting Heffalumps. 

This 100 year Anniversary Edition of the classic ""Winnie-The-Pooh"" is produced with a flocked cover (the exact color of Winnie himself)  that’s soft to the touch. Readers of all ages will relish in this beloved story in its unique form.  This edition includes both Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.  What a joy to be able to read this beloved book once again.  I remember reading it as a child, reading it to my first graders as a teacher, and to my own children.  It was so much fun being reintroduced to the main characters and reliving the excitement of their fun and unique adventures.  I love this new soft cover edition and can't wait to read it to my future grandchildren. What a treasure! 

S. Lewis

The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson - OPTIONAL

The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson, 220 pages. Kids Can Press, JUNE 2026. $20

Content: PG (threats of danger, imprisonment, death implied)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Ara has lived on Jupiter Station all of her life. Jupiter, her “father” is teaching the ways for all of them to Ascend and become stardust. Things start changing for Ara when Jupiter gives her sole responsibility for baby Nova.  Then one night Ara’s brother, Leo, tells Ara about his doubts about Jupiter; the next day Ara learns that Leo has Ascended.  But how could Leo Ascend if he had doubts? Now Ara is having doubts of her own. But what can she do with a baby to care for and the possibility of disappearing like her brother?

It’s different to have a book about a cult without the story revolving around sex exploitation. Because Ara grew up in a cult, she feels more like 11 than 13 - but I don’t think a book about a cult is a good fit for an elementary school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie - ADVISABLE

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie, 285 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (ouija board used); Violence: G (mild bullying, ghostly blood, haunting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Only his best friend, Stash, knows that 12yo Will’s mom is the head caretaker of the local cemetery, Graceland. Except now everyone will know, because his class is there for a fieldtrip. The school bully convinces - threatens - Will into helping him break into a crypt late at night for some social media cred, but something goes terribly wrong.  Now Will is hearing his name in a ghostly whisper, and blood is bubbling up from the ground.  Will and Stash need more help to solve this mystery before its influence spreads. 

Currie is great at writing spooky mysteries that don’t rely on gore to further the story. I personally like the nod to old-fashioned research skills as the group works on the mystery, how they skillfully handle the bully (with some supernatural help), and the byplay between the best friends as they widen their friend group. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid - OPTIONAL

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid, 384 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (0 swears, 15 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (fighting, use of weapons, injury and death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Inesa lives with her brother in a flooded town where they struggle to make ends meet by running a taxidermy shop, until she discovers her mother has put her forward as payment for a massive debt. That choice forces Inesa into the Lamb’s Gauntlet, a deadly, livestreamed hunt run by the powerful Caerus corporation. Melinoe is the assassin sent to hunt her, a girl trained and altered to kill without hesitation. As the chase unfolds across a harsh wasteland, both Inesa and Melinoe begin to question the roles they’ve been forced into. What starts as a fight for survival becomes a story about choice, identity, and whether love and resistance are possible in a world built on cruelty.

Reid kept me entertained and kept my interest until the end.  It definitely gave me Hunger Games vibes with the two girls on full display in the Lamb's Gauntlet.  I did like both of the characters and found it interesting how they mentally and physically modified Melinoe.  I always enjoy a slow-burn and enemies to lovers romance and this one did not disappoint. My only complaint was the world building was more implied than actually explained, but I liked the size of the book so that is not too big of a complaint.  Overall, it was action packed and romantic which I think students will enjoy. The ethnicity of the characters cues white; the women seem to be older than 18

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, - OPTIONAL

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, 254 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $8 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (kids see dead body)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Geraldine is the most hated woman in town.  Her pet project seems to be making everyone around her miserable.  But helping her polish furniture for a morning will get 13yo Tucker the rowboat that he wants, then he is willing to brave her disdain. When Tucker goes back the next morning with his friends Sadie and Clemmie, though, they did not expect to see Geraldine dead in her hallway.  Tucker knows something is wrong about the scene; his dad is the chief of police in their little town and Tucker has trained himself to see details. When he finally remembers that elusive detail, however, he may put his own life in danger. 

A solid murder mystery with a little friendship drama thrown in. I like that the kids are not cocky or obnoxious and there isn't a bully picking on them. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania - ADVISABLE

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania, 409 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $19

Content: G (threats only)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

When the Vietnam War ends and the communists take over Laos, 11yo Goa Sheng and her family must flee their beautiful home in Laos.  If their father is captured by the new government, he will probably be executed for working with the Americans. The group misses the last plane out of Laos and instead shuffle from refugee camp to refugee camp for the next year - first in hope that they will be able to return to Laos, and then hoping that they will be able to immigrate to safety and a new home.

PLEASE STOP WRITING NOVELS IN VERSE.  They are not poetic; they do not give the story the depth it deserves.  That being said, I loved seeing another side of the Vietnam war from the point of view of Laotian people. Gao Sheng, who is based on Bidania’s oldest sister, is a character worth meeting.  Both historical fiction and large-looking fiction are hard to sell to middle school students, but it is worth taking your time to find readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley - ADVISABLE

Sugar Shack (Peapod Farm #3) by Lucy Knisley,  230 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025 $22 

Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

6th grader, Jen, is spending time with her mom and stepsisters at Peapod Farm. Jen is learning to tap trees for maple syrup and how to haul an inordinate amount of firewood. Jen is also trying to fit in with her stepsisters. Just when she thinks she is making headway, Andy reminds her that Reese is HER sister, not Jen's. 

Loved the farm life. It's refreshing to have a rural setting. The art is nicely done, and the story is a delightful commentary on family life, fitting in, and adjusting to new situations. The characters are based on the author's childhood, which makes it feel genuine and comfortable. The characters are likable, even the flawed ones. This is a quick read that will make you want to visit the country. Jen is white, and her stepfamily is Jewish. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Princess Mononoke Film Comic by Hayao Miyazaki - OPTIONAL

Princess Mononoke Film Comic: All-in-One Edition by Hayao Miyazaki, 856 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. VIZ Media, 2026. $35.

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After being cursed by the demon he saved his village from, Prince Ashitaka leaves it all behind in search for a cure. Ashitaka finds the humans who are disturbing the nature gods—and both sides are gearing up for war!

Reading this graphic novel is simply a faster way to watch the film. The panels come right from the movie, right down to multiple pages of the credits (in Japanese) at the end. I found the Japanese sound effects text throughout the book to be confusing until I found that they included a guide at the back of the book to translate the Japanese characters into the English equivalent. Overall, the story is fun, and all the good feelings I have about this and other Miyazaki movies translated into good feelings for the book, but I ultimately believe the story is told better on the screen.

The characters are depicted with light skin. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and for mentions of alcohol and brothels. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, blood and gore, fantasy violence, battle scenes, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen - ADVISABLE

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen, 224 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $18. 

Language: R ( 18 swears 1 'f'): Mature Content: PG (cheating boyfriend, kiss) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Angelica was so busy with all her high school activities that she burned out last year. She had to stop all her extracurricular activities and started seeing a counselor. Now, she's decided she can take on one thing - so she's starting an internship at a local community theater. During her recovery, she started a virtual relationship with "Per the Bear" the mascot of the theater company - hence the interest in the internship. Maybe if she's working, she'll meet the bear IRL. 

This story has many layers, tension with parents, best friend issues and grief. Jelly is still grieving her grandmother, who died 10 years ago, and other characters are feeling it as well. I think this is the driving action of the plot - she's not dealing well with her grief, and it's messing with everything else. Nguyen's illustrations are marvelous; some of the faces are perfect and made me laugh out loud. A slice of life, a cute story. One character is transgender. Angelica's family is Vietnamese. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Road From Nowhere by Avi - OPTIONAL

The Road From Nowhere by Avi, 288 pages. Scholastic, 2026. $20

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

14yo Ollie lives with his mother in a tiny (population 45) silver mining town in COlorado. Since his father died because of the mine, Ollie has been trying to help his mother as best he can.  But the town is owned and controlled by a ruthless man and his minions, who are ready to destroy anyone who even thinks to escape his control. WHen a state geologist comes to town, Ollie starts to learn about his rights to his own claim.  Maybe with his friend Alys he can find a way and the money for both of their families to escape.

Avi dives back into history, showing us a time period of evil men who would stop at nothing to get their way. My only worry is that historical fiction is a hard sell. The action and danger is not exciting enough to sell the book on its own. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton - NO

Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton, 293 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $20

Language: R (100+ swears,  10  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, over clothes touching); Violence: R (hangings, fire deaths, lynchings, drownings all mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NOT RECOMMENDED

Kidnapped as a toddler, 16yo Camryn (or Naomi, as she thinks of herself) has been restored to her birth family for 18 months.  She still, however, yearns for the life and the woman that she calls Mom - the woman who kidnapped and raised her. In an effort of family bonding, the Stoakes family heads to a winter cabin vacation outside a small Virginia town. THe town, however, has a recent history of being a “sundown” town - where black people like Naomi and her family were not allowed to stay after dark - found within the town limits and you will get what is coming to you. Naomi has started seeing a ghost and she is sure it is of a girl who was killed by a townsman.  Plus, two other girls have disappeared recently. Naomi has already been kidnapped once.

I was unimpressed for many reasons. Camryn is an unsympathetic character. She has had 18 months to realize that her kidnapper is not the benevolent mom that they posed as, but she refuses to work with her therapist to sort this all out.  Camryn even writes in her journal to her absent Mom. Plus she insists on throwing herself into increasingly dangerous confrontations, even willfully involving a boy she met on the trip without his consent. I sympathize more with Camryn’s  birth family, who have been nothing but kind to her. It shouldn’t take a near death experience for anyone to realize when they are being shown love. There are other problems that I won’t continue to detail.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic - ADVISABLE

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic, 480 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $22

Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sexual innuendos, drinking, smoking, implied sex off-page, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (mysterious deaths, fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

For 18yo Lovett Tamerlane, being a silkwitch is both an honor and a curse. Those few girls born as silkwitches have a magical ability or wit, and their coveted hair can be woven into magesilk which will magically imbue objects. But silkwitches must find a Weaver husband to contain them and their magic before they are 21, or they will be sent to the cloisters from which no silkwitch has ever left. And there are even fewer Weavers, who are descendants of a sorcerer’s line, than silkwitches. Lovett, whose lowborn origins means she doesn't stand much of a chance of catching a Weaver husband, uses her wit to open any door and steal. In a theft gone wrong,  she meets Elliott who proposes a deal. If she can figure out who killed his sister, he will ensure that she finds a husband and avoids the cloisters. Lovett agrees and must pretend to be a highborn lady and compete against 9 other silkwitches in the Vainglory, a contest to wed one of the most eligible bachelor Weavers, all while attempting to solve a murder. 

The novel's beginning is a little clunky and has a lot of background information to take in. Nonetheless, the concept and world-building is fresh and creative, which makes up for some of its common Romantasy tropes. The underlying dynamic of silkwitches being treated as possessions and the political undertones make for a well-rounded story. I’m looking forward to picking up the next book in the series to see where it goes!  Romantasy is a popular genre right now, and coupled with a gorgeous cover, readers are likely to pick up this novel.

Minor characters are LGBT+ (spoiler if names are revealed) 

Megan, HS Librarian

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino - ADVISABLE

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino, 288 pages. Bloomsbury, 2025. $19

Content: PG (some danger, some deaths - bones picked clean mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Yumi hates slogging through the rice fields with her parents every day, especially because her Cricket powers are so weak, the crickets don’t bother listening to her.  When all of the mambabarang are summoned to the capitol city to witness the crowning of the rajah’s daughter as the new Hara, the only person with enough power to wield the Firefly Crown to hold off the murderous Ghost Swarms, Yumi stows away. Yumi just wants to explore the city and find a metalwork apprenticeship, but her bravery and quick-thinking may be all that stands in the path of total disaster.

Yumi’s talent to save the day is quite exaggerated, as the action takes place over such a short time - her meteoric rise from lowly, inept Cricket to Savior of the Country is a bit clunky at times.  As the story progresses, the action and danger start to feel more realistic. I think this is a stand alone fantasy - it is always nice to have one-offs to balance out the long series. 

I listened to the book narrated by Jensen Olaya, provided by libro.fm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game by Kerry Duglas Dye - NO

Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game by Kerry Duglas Dye, 320 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $18

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

12yo Grady is desperate to be great at something, even though he doesn’t take the time to build the skills to be great at anything.  However, Detective-ing is his latest greatness of choice and a murder mystery lands in his lap - he will inherit a large sum of money if Grady Jones can solve the mystery. hen another Grady Jones shows up to also try to solve the murder, Grady #1 will have to really step up.

The only way Grady can get anyone to help him is because the author wrote the other characters that way.  Grady’s personality is so grating, I was excited to see a second Grady show up - because I wanted Grady #1 to lose.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland - NO

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland, 261 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

12yo twin Pearl is so proud of having built a time machine, even though she and her brother Patrick risked their lives to break into the British Museum to retrieve the final piece she needed for her machine.  Imagine her surprise when both children are arrested by TIME (The Interdimensional Misconduct Enquiry) for their crimes against history. AS Pearl fights against her new time restrictions she only continues to make things, including the timeline, worse.

Pearl is absolutely annoying and only gets more annoying as the book continues. Instead of being confident and helpful, she comes off as self-righteous and obnoxious. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu - ADVISABLE

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu, 309 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rising 8th grader Derrick Chan is disappointed when he can’t go to basketball camp like he was supposed to - he is a middle school basketball superstar and he wants to keep his skills sharp. Instead, his dad is sending to his grandmother’s (Dad’s mom) for the summer - the grandmother he hardly ever sees, especially ever since his mom died of cancer. As Derrick helps his  grandmother with the local beauty pageant, he finds a side of himself that he had buried - the side of him that loves shiny fabric, fabulous makeup, and swishy skirts. He makes a plan with his new friend Ro, to trade places with her in the pageant - but how will his at-home best friend AND his own father react if they see him?

Chu tackles racism, family problems, homophobia, friendship drama, and acknowledging your own sexuality.  It may seem like a lot, but she does it so well. And she does it in a way that the only way could be offended is if you deny that drag queens and LGBT people exist. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway by Sarenaz Tash - OPTIONAL

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway (Queen of Ocean Parkway #2) by Sarenaz Tash, 227 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2025. $18

Content: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Since they solved their first mystery together, 12yo Roya and Amin have been collaborating on a mystery podcast. Then Thea, another kid in their building approaches them to help her solve a mystery left behind by her grandfather. The mystery involves both Thea’s great-grandfather and Thea’s dad, who has a very rocky relationship with Thea’s grandfather, who has been beset with Alzheimer's related memory loss. As the kids follow the clues all over the building and the city, they are also learning to trust each other and how to open up to accepting new people in their lives.

#2 doesn’t have the magical realism of #1. I liked it much more than the first. Adding a third character made the dynamics between people more interesting and I didn’t miss the magical realism.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao and Srindhi Srinivasan - ADVISABLE

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Srindhi Srinivasan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. McElderry (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665949965

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Subramanyan Chandrasekhar was only 19 in the 1930’s when he did the math and wrote the paper that proved the existence of black holes.  It took more than 30 years for the rest of the science community to take him seriously - and 50 years after that first paper, Chandra was awarded a Nobel prize. 

Rao does an excellent job of succinctly giving us Chadra’s story in a way that captures our attention and keeps us reading. I am excited to show this to my middle school science teachers to support their curriculum. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Kamala Harris (She Persisted) by Raakhee Mirchandani - ADVISABLE

Kamala Harris (She Persisted) by Raakhee Mirchandani, 68 pages. BIOGRAPHY. Philomel (Penguin), 2025. $7 (pb). 9798217039593

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

From her earliest days, with her parents’ activism, Kamala Harris has been involved in working to make people’s lives better. This passion drove her through college and into a career first as a lawyer, and then into politics, where she was the first female vice president and the first female presidential candidate by one of the two major parties. 

Mirchandani gives as a simplified, but well detailed look at Harris’s inspirations, her drive, and her poise. There are at least 3 dozen books in this series now - well-known and little-known names - to enjoy. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian MLS

We Fell Apart (We Were Liars #3) by E. Lockhart - ADVISABLE

We Fell Apart (We Were Liars #3) by E. Lockhart, 320 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $23

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Matilda has been raised by a mother who is frequently running off to find love.  Her father is unknown to her. Her mother never talks about her father and Matilda has lived her life without knowing him or anything about his life.  Unexpectedly, upon graduation, she receives an email from her father that turns her world into one mystery after another.  

Based on a hidden beach, tangled with webs of lies and a little romance, readers will be thrilled to find one surprise after another until the very end. This is a sweet book of a young woman trying to find her identity, a true love, and whether or not she can be “whole” in spite of her father’s lack of love and attention.  The plot is fun, fast moving and interesting.  We Fell Apart is well written in a very clean and classy way.  I loved that strong emotions were experienced and explored without the use of violence, swearing, or sexual content.  The book runs the gambit of love, loss and triumph without worrisome content. 

S. Lewis

Glory Be by Jamie Sumner - ADVISABLE

Glory Be by Jamie Sumner, 208 pages. Novel in Verse Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), March 2026. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

9yo Glory's dog Roux is missing. It is all she can think about. Her father has a drinking and gambling problem, and she is worried that he is somehow involved in Roux's disappearance. 

This novel in verse is very dog forward. A child with a dog, or who has ever lost a dog, can easily relate to Glory's misguided plan to find Roux. Sumner's poetry is free verse, and at many times is visually expressive. I really enjoyed Glory Be. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill - OPTIONAL

I Don’t Wish You Well by Jumata Emill, 400 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: R (81 swears, 16 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Five years ago, the case of the Trojan Mask Murders was closed when Deuce was found dead with a gun in his hand, assumedly having killed himself over the guilt of what he had done. But at the death of Deuce’s uncle, Sampson, someone posts about knowing Deuce was innocent—the only person other than Sampson to suggest it. Pryce, having just finished his first year at university majoring in journalism, starts his own investigation based on that statement and follows the story.

Pryce makes mistakes as he chases down the truth, and those are my favorite parts of his story. The twists and turns and mess of secrets Pryce unveils feels like so many other books in this genre, and Pryce stands out because Emill lets him feel like the amateur journalist sleuthing around that he is. Everything else was still enjoyable to read, and readers will scoot to the edge of their seats as they get sucked in with every page, all those feelings typical of this genre.

The majority of characters are Black, and several significant characters, including Pryce and Isaiah, are gay. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, including mentions of underage drinking; kissing; illegal activity; mentions of nudity, pornography, pedophiles, and sex; and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, and for mentions of domestic violence, child and sexual abuse, rape, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

It's All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango - ADVISABLE

It's All or Nothing, Vale by Andrea Beatriz Arango, 254 pages. Random House, 2025. $18 

Language: G (2 swears); Mature Content: PG (protagonist has feelings for another girl); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Vale's life is fencing and she can't imagine life without it. As she returns to 7th grade after a devastating accident, Vale tires to hide that she has difficulty some days moving her leg. Vale is determined to return to her pre-accident fencing position despite her pain. Determined to succeed, Vale has to figure out how to define herself if she can no longer be at the top of her game. 

Vale is a strong character who has to come to terms with what could be a long term disability instead of a quick fix. She is a flawed character, which makes her relatable. Nice message of how damaging it can be to have all your identity defined by one thing. Vale's crush on another girl, Myrka is subtle, without hitting you over the head with same sex attraction. The free verse didn't feel very much like poetry, more like prose, but the format may appeal to reluctant readers. Vale is Puerto Rican and Myrka is Cuban. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Neshama by Marcella Pixley - ESSENTIAL

Neshama by Marcella Pixley, 358 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Anna doesn't fit in in 6th grade because Anna sees ghosts. Ghosts that make her want to dance and twirl with them and play games with them. No one seems to understand Anna, not her classmates who bully her, or even her father. Her grandmother, Bubbe, has always treasured Anna's shayna neshama, her beautiful soul. When one particular ghost attaches herself to Anna, Anna begins to learn some of the heavy truths of her family's past. 

This book is beautifully written. Not all free verse books are poetry, but this one truly is. The words are rich and warm and envelope you in a world of ancestors and the healing power of religious traditions. The truths Anna learns are universal and the lessons she learns about forgiveness are quotable. Anna seems much older than a sixth grader. Once you start this book, you will have to see it through. Anna and her family are Jewish. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Limelight: Curtain up on Poetry Comics! by Renee M. LaTulippe and Chuck Gonzales - OPTIONAL

Limelight: Curtain up on Poetry Comics! by Renee M. LaTulippe, illustrated by Chuck Gonzales, 138 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Charlesbridge/Imagine, 2025. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Poems set to comics, these poems cover the theater world. Beginning with the theater's welcome and going through aspects of theater, many of the poems are told from aspects in the theater, like the curtain, the script, or the seat in the auditorium. 

It's an interesting premise, and the different points of view, as well as the poetry, could be used as a jumping off tool for teaching those elements in the classroom. The poems are included without the graphic art interpretations at the back of the book. Students could try and make graphic art out of their own poems and this could make a fun class assignment. If not used as a teaching tool, it would only appeal to readers who love poetry about theater. Many races are depicted in the graphic art. 

Michelle in the Middle

The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen - ESSENTIAL

The Free State of Jax by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 352 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Jax is having a rough go. His parents died when he was three, and his grandmother has Alzheimers, so he has been sent to live with his aunt and uncle and their six kids, all bullies, in Walkonby, Kansas. Jax has decided he has no other recourse than to run away on the night of his 12th birthday. He floats a raft out on the neighbor's hot springs lake and declared it the Free State of Jax, a micronation. Jax has to avoid his bullying cousins and their lawyer, while also delving into a local mystery and possible murder, that could threaten his freedom. 

Jax's story hits all the right notes. There is humor, and the characters are delightful, if a bit intimidating. There is a lot of tension, as Jax's freedom, safety, and country recognition are challenged. The book brings up legitimate issues, like grief, loss, and forgiveness in a non-preachy way, as well as addressing the loss of choice that kids without parents often have. You will find yourself cheering for Jax, who is wiser than his years, and hoping for a dip in a hot springs. 

Culture and/or race is not specified, though Jax appears white on the cover. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Friedel and Gina by Jeremy Dronfield - OPTIONAL

Friedel and Gina by Jeremy Dronfield, 368 pages. NON-FICTION. Harper Collins, MARCH 2026. $19

Language: PG (11 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (many Holocaust related shootings, gassing mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Follow Friedel and her fraternal twin Gina from the beginnings of WWII in 1930’s Dusseldorf Germany and through their liberation at the end of the war when they escape during a death march as the Nazis try to kill off the few survivors of the concentration camps.

Dronfield takes on a heavy load as he tries to include every twist and turn of the Rosenthal family’s lives as Hitler joins German politics and the family gets caught up in his Final Solution.  He would have been better served to choose a few key highlights to emphasize.  Were I a family member, I would be proud of all that was included.  As an outsider looking in, however, I would prefer not to hear about every single move - it made the book drag. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Alice with a Why by Anna James, illustrated by Matthew Land - ADVISABLE

Alice with a Why by Anna James, illustrated by Matthew Land. 240 pages. Penguin, 2026. $19

Content: G (adventure only)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

As a child, Alyce loved the stories her grandmother told about her adventures, but a bit older now and she believes the stories much less. The Great War (WWI) has ended and Alyce is living with her grandmother.  One day at the pond she finds an invitation in the picture book she was ripping up for paper boats.  The mysterious invite whisks Alyce away and she finds herself in that same whacky world that her grandmother told her about. The land needs an Alice’s help, Alyce with a Y is all they have.  Can Alyce navigate the strange world and settle the dispute between the Sun King and the Queen of the Moon and restore regularity to Wonderland’s days?

Students will enjoy this most if they have read (or maybe watched) Alice in Wonderland and also have some knowledge of nursery rhymes. It is hard for me to judge whether they’d enjoy it without that background knowledge.  I do think it would be fun for an elementary teacher to read aloud (it is only about 2.5 hours long) and discuss the characters and symbolism with the class as they go. Lots of illustrations dot the pages. 

Alyce is white.  I listened to the book narrated by Kristen Atherton courtesy by libro.fm

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Lightyears Between Us by Shannon K. English - OPTIONAL

The Lightyears Between Us by Shannon K. English, 314 pages. Tiny Ghost Press, 2025. $24

Language: R (0 swears, 6  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, implied sex) ; Violence: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Will and Paige have been rivals since they first set eyes on each other in grade school. Will, as the heir apparent to her noble father, is most concerned with keeping the Eden Space Station of 3000 humans running safely and smoothly. This year is a fateful 25th year - the year 36 teens are chosen by lottery to pilot the Laika spaceships to check on the terraforming projects Earth started around the galaxy before everything went south. As a noble, Will might be exempt, but her rivalry with Paige spurs her to enter her name anyway.  Now she, with Paige as her co-sojourner, are one of the pairs being sent out on what most likely be a one-way mission. 

So hard to know what I can talk about without spoiling the book. English gives us a good mix of science fiction content and an enemies-to-lovers romance between the girls. I am not  a fan of that trope, but this mostly involves un-acknowledged yearnings on Will’s part (you never see the romance from Paige’s point of view).  I would hope there is going to be a sequel, as English leaves us on a giant cliff-hanger - giant enough that it made me angry.  But now I’m invested in the science fiction part of the plot. BTW - each one of the “f-words” was perfectly placed. 

According to the cover, Will is white and Paige is brown, but the only thing ethnic about Paige is her hair, which is constantly mentioned. 

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sophie Roberts courtesy of libro.fm

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff - ESSENTIAL

A Scar Like a River by Lisa Graff, 386 pages. Little Brown, FEB 2026. $18

Language: G (10 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (see Violence); Violence: PG-13 (sexual assault vaguely described, “night games” and unwanted touching mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Back when she was 5yo, Fallon was attacked by a knife-wielding assailant and left with many surgeries and a prominent scar across her face. No one else knows, but it was her own uncle who did it. That is not the only secret about her uncle that Fallon is hiding, either.  And why Fallon hates her aunt, her mother’s beloved sister, so much.  When Fallon, now 13yo, learns that her uncle has died, going to the funeral stirs everything up. Then her aunt moves in and Fallon is headed on a crash course with revelations. 

Graff includes a sub-plot about the school musical and Fallon is helped when she comes to understand a girl who Fallon thought was her enemy. The sexual assault is mentioned, but as vaguely described as Hester Prynne’s encounter with Arthur Dimmesdale in A Scarlet Letter (none of us in my high school senior English class caught it - our teacher had to point it out to us). Fallon also starts attending Survivors of Sexual Assault meetings. Graff includes some other complicated subplots, but handles all of them deftly, and gives Fallon loving people around her and a big heart.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter - ADVISABLE

The Wish Switch by Lynn Painter, 310 pages. Little Brown, 2025. $9 (pb)

Language: G (1 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G (none); Violence: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Near the end of 6th grade, Emma and her BFFs retreated to a special place in the woods for their chance at getting their wishes granted. Unfortunately for Emma, her new nextdoor neighbor almost ruins everything. When 7th grade starts, Emma’s friends show signs of their wishes being granted - but where are Emma’s wishes? Could Jackson have stolen them?  Emma needs to know - not just so that she can reclaim her wishes, but because her fourth wish could be a catastrophe for Jackson’s family. The pair will have to cooperate in order to avert disaster, and their deadline is fast approaching.

Painter has entered middle grade fiction with a cute non-romantic fantasy. The plot is a little complicated (I bookmarked Emma’s wishes to help me follow along), but lots of fun. 

SPOILER:  I like that the pair are friends - not romantically entangled.

The characters are white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd - ADVISABLE

The Last Ember (Aerimander Chronicles #1) by Lily Berlin Dodd, 352 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Eva thought she was just acting out of spite when she chose the egg-shaped object as this year’s birthday gift from her absentee father.  Turns out, however, that egg-shaped object was really an egg - for an aerimander - a dragon-like creature thought to be extinct.  A creature that is supposed to be extinct.  Now Eva is on the run; the Thieves Guild is on her tail, even if her pursuer is the youngest guild member. Eva wants to protect the egg and perhaps protect herself from the egg - because no one living has seen an aerimander and no one knows how to handle one.

Personally I was hoping for a little more aerimander as the focus, but Eva occupies most of the space. Her escape has a great comical twist and the cover is sure to capture some readers.

The characters cue white.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sid Sagar, courtesy of libro.fm

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Experiment by Rebecca Stead - OPTIONAL

The Experiment by Rebecca Stead, 288 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger, psychological abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

6th grader Nathan loves his ordinary life with his parents and his human best friend, VIctor, but Nathan knows his life is actually anything but normal. He has always known that he and his parents are from another planet.  And when he starts growing a sentient tail, Nathan knows something new is about to happen.  More than the tail however, Nathan is worried when his alien best friend, Izzy, disappears.  He knows answers are to be found at the homeship. 

I suspected, but was still surprised by some of the revelation of the true origin of Nathan’s and the others' supposed alien-ness.  The scope of gaslighting and lying by the perpetrator of the hoax is astounding. My only problem is that my students rarely choose to read science fiction. 

The characters cue white. I listened to the book narrated by Mark Sanderlin, courtesy of libro.fm

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Tournament by Rebecca Barrow - NO

The Tournament by Rebecca Barrow, 416 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $22

Language: R (100+ swears, 100+ ‘f'); Mature Content: R (Underage drinking, described sex); Violence: PG-13 (violence, butchering animals)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NOT RECOMMENDED

Max, Nora, and Teddy are finally seniors at Gardner School for Girls, a private school whose mission is to prepare students for college, while also teaching them survival skills. Now, they can compete for the prized Tierney Cup. The three students enter for their own reasons. Max, a scholarship student, is competitive and confident that she will prove she is the best. Nora is Max’s ex-best friend who was rejected by Max after she admitted her romantic feelings to her. Nora enters to prove that she can succeed now that she is out of Max’s shadow. Teddy, a legacy transfer student kicked out of her last three schools, wants to prove that she can overcome her dark thoughts and be a “good” student. Plus winning the affection of Nora and the ire of Max wouldn’t hurt either.

I liked the concept of a private girls’ school that teaches the regular subjects alongside wilderness survival. However, readers interested in the advertised tournament will be disappointed as the book focuses more on the girls’ relationships than the actual competition. The characters themselves are static, flawed “mean girls." It may appeal to some readers, but the misleading summary and frequent swearing makes it a book that I don't recommend to most.

Max, Nora, and Teddy are LGBT+ and are cued Black.

Megan, HS Librarian

The Steps by Wendelin Van Draanen - ADVISABLE

The Steps by Wendelin Van Draanen, 256 pages. Holiday House, 2025. $20.

Language: G (6 swears; 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage smoking, teenage pregnancy mentioned); Violence: PG-13  (mention of animal cruelty, attempted murder) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

14yo Ruby Vossen loves chess, Twinkies, and refusing to be like the rest of her dysfunctional family. Wealth has always made the Vossen family cutthroat, but after her mother and aunt die in a tragic car accident, family relationships go from bad to worse. Ruby’s uncle forbids her from contacting her cousin and best friend, Sterling, and her dad remarries a possible gold-digging murderer. Now Ruby has to share her home with “the steps” –  her stepsister and brother. When a call from her cousin sends Ruby digging deeper into family secrets, she is convinced someone is after her family’s fortune. Now, everyone’s life, including her own, might be on the line. 

VanDraanen’s mystery/thriller contains a lot of what makes Wendelin Van Draanen’s Sammy Keyes series so successful while appealing to an older audience. The chapters are short and action-packed, perfect for reluctant readers wanting something that will keep them turning pages. Most of the characters are well-written, but almost comically terrible people. Some of their schemes and neglectful behavior are so over-the-top it makes some events or reveals feel unrealistic. Ruby and her chess club friends are by far the most likable characters. You’ll spend the whole book rooting for them. While perhaps not for every school, this is a great book to fill that young-adult-mystery-with-little-to-no mature-content-or-language gap some schools might have.

All of the characters cue as white.

Emily Powell, junior high librarian

The Art of Exile by Andrea Max - ADVISABLE

The Art of Exile by Andrea Max, 448 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon), 2025. $22

Language: PG (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (light romance, kidnapping); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ada Castle, a teenager, finds herself attending the Genesis Institute, where descendants of exiled Renaissance masters practice long-lost arts and sciences. This school is advanced in technology and medicine, yet are unwilling to share with the rest of society.  When a friend goes missing, Ada and a fellow (and good-looking) classmate must search for her friend all the while forcing her to choose between the family she loves or the school that has helped her figure out life and who she really is deep down. 

This was much better than I expected. It was definitely a slow burn for me. At one point I wondered if I was still reading the same book? The last part was fast paced and very intriguing.  This was a great fantasy novel that teen readers will love and list as one of their favorites. 

Reviewer: sl

All My Bests by Britnee Meiser - ADVISABLE

All My Bests by Britnee Meiser, 372 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2024. $19

Language: PG (8 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (some kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

14yo Immie  and Jack  have been best friends since they were seven years old. But as freshman year begins, everything starts to change. Jack is consumed by soccer, while Immie makes new friends and sets out to uncover the truth about her father’s identity. As their lives pull them in different directions, unexpected feelings begin to grow between them—feelings neither of them knows how to talk about. With so much changing at once, will their friendship survive… or will they grow apart?

Overall, this is an enjoyable story about two kids trying to figure out life and their feelings—sometimes successfully, sometimes not. I especially liked how the book is told from Immie’s perspective in the first half and then shifts to Jack’s point of view in the second. Music plays a big role throughout the story, with each chapter tied to a favorite song of either Jack or Immie. Freshman year is a challenging time full of growth and firsts, and I appreciated how authentically the book captures that experience.

Both Jack and Immie are white. 

A. Snow, Librarian

Fifth Grade Top Dogs by Jerry Spinelli - OPTIONAL

Fifth Grade Top Dogs by Jerry Spinelli, 192 pages. Scholastic, June 2026. $16. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Suds Morton is finally in 5th grade! The recess rhyme everyone has been chanting called them 5th grade monkeys, but Suds and his friend Joey decide to call themselves Top Dogs instead. Now the oldest kids in the school, they perfect their walk, their attitudes and their coolness. Suds may even try to get a girlfriend, he's had a crush on Julia since forever. 

This is a family that uses nicknames, and his little sister, a fourth grader is called Zip, short for Zippernose. I didn't  love that her mom called her Zip too, or the extreme rivalry/mean dynamics of the children. I think their tricks on each other are meant to be funny, but I think they go too far. I read it because I love many of Spinelli’s  other books, not sure I'd recommend this one. Read Maniac Magee or Stargirl instead. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Truth about Maura by Melinda Di Lorenzo, - ADVISABLE

The Truth about Maura by Melinda Di Lorenzo, 128 pages. Orca, August 2026. $11.

Language: PG (15 swears 0 fs); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

17yo Maura was seen leaving an abortion clinic and by Monday at school everyone knows; or thinks they do. At first there's a lot of stares and whispers, she's confronted by her ex, and ignored by her best friend. By the next day though, the rumors have changed to assumptions of an assault. Maura's choice is personal and no one, not even her parents deserve an explanation. 

Orca Publishers are so good at finding authors who can nail these hard topics in hi-lo texts. While most likely intended for a high school audience, Maura's story is more about social media's role in spreading rumors and allowing anonymous comments and how people get hurt than it is about abortion. Minimum swearing and no mature content despite the subject matter. Maura defaults white 

Lisa Librarian