America's Founding Myths ... and What Really Happened by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Marta Sevilla, - ADVISABLE

America's Founding Myths ... and What Really Happened by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Marta Sevilla, 40 pages. INTERACTIVE, NON-FICTION Barefoot Books, 2026. $20 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

How much of the history we learn in school is really a myth? Apparently a lot of it. Mihaly looks at 15 myths surrounding the founding of the United States - from the people who lived here before Columbus arrived to the Revolutionary War. Includes the story of Pocahontas and John Smith, the First Thanksgiving, Plymouth Rock and who really warned that "The British are Coming". 

Mihaly's introduction is excellent. She tell how written history is just one perspective, and different points of view make the whole thing messy and complicated. It's interactive; you see the well-known myth, then open a flap to "uncover" the truth (ingenious). There are also some opportunities to lift the flaps for other things. There are also interesting "think about this yourself" questions. A brilliant book that doesn't feel political - it explains why many of our stories turned into myths and shows witnesses' statements of the events. Kids who love history will eat this up. Back matter includes ideas to know or discover if something is true, encouragement to write your own perception of events you witness, a glossary and resources for finding out more. Includes a QR Code to access the bibliography. 

Lisa Librarian 

Yarn is Everything (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown - ESSENTIAL

Yarn is Everything (Jasper Rabbit's Creepy Tales) by Aaron Reynolds and Peter Brown, 104 pages. CHAPTER BOOK Simon and Schuster, 2026. $14 9781665961141 

Content: G 

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When 9yo Winona Mole finds a rune inscribed crochet hook in her bag, an identical replica of the storied Spirit Hook, her crochet skills improve dramatically. Soon, Winona could create crocheted yarn versions of almost anything. Maybe she should go on her favorite show "Yarn is Everything"! 

Oh! I loved Yarn is Everything! The story is set up like an episode of Twilight Zone, which will probably be lost on the readers but their grandparents will get it. The pages are printed on black glossy pages, and the color is a neon blue, highlighting her hook and occasionally other focus items. I know the intended audience is familiar with reality competition shows, so Yarn is Everything is an essential purchase for me. Now I need to read the rest of the series. 

Lisa Librarian  

Room to Breathe by Kasie West - ADVISABLE

Room to Breathe by Kasie West, 272 pages. Random House, 2026. $13 (paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing, making out); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

High school junior Indy is constantly trying to be the best - she competes for grades against her best friend Beau, she tutors at an education center and is a model citizen. Until, her family begins to implode when her father seems to be in trouble with the FBI, and her mother has forbidden Indy from telling anyone. Suddenly her perfect world isn't spinning right, her studies suffer, her friends are mad and even her relationship with Beau is on the rocks. 

Told in alternating chapters between Now - when Indy is locked in a restroom at school with Beau - and Then - the story of how everything went wrong. West masterfully arranges these chapters so the reader is just barely ahead of the reveals happening in the now. I was thoroughly entertained. I also loved the stress of Indy doubting her father, and how everyone is fighting in her home and it spills into her whole life. Although Indy is in High School, Room to Breathe will appeal to 8th and 9th graders as well. The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian 

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague - ADVISABLE

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague, 215 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Studio, 2026. $22

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Bea has grown up a lot over the last year. She’s wearing a little makeup, and instead of carrying her stuffed animal everywhere, she leaves it behind in her bedroom. She’s excited to reunite with her summer camp bunkmates, but they’re shocked by all the changes they see in her.

Bea is afraid that her friends won’t be able to accept the new Bea and starts to wonder if coming back to camp was a mistake. Will the three friends be able to get along and accept the changes in each other and the changes at camp?" A fun, heartwarming graphic novel about learning to love and accept your friends as they do their best to grow up and figure out who they are. I enjoyed the simple straight forward illustrations.

Bea has brown skin and curly brown hair. Virginia has brown skin and red hair. Roxy has light brown skin with blond hair.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith - OPTIONAL

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith, 80 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025 $23. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The history of, and scientific explanation of poop (and in some cases urine). The reader learns how our bodies make poop, what it says about health, animals and poop, toilets through the ages and much more. 

So, this was fascinating - there is a ton of information about poop, stuff I didn't know I didn't want to know - yes a lot of it is gross, but it's about poop so what do you expect. The reader is told throughout not to touch poop, and not to experiment with it, to leave it to the experts. The illustrations are large and artistic, illustrations of people pooping are discreet, and it's funny at times. What I really think? Kids will pick it up because it's called Poop, but I'm not sure how engaged they'll be in reading it. Also, it's one of the oversized books that won't fit on our shelves anyway. 

Lisa Librarian 

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina - OPTIONAL

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina, 192 pages. Carolrhoda 2026. $19

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (accusations of sex); Violence PG (war violence mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Renata Zamoyska, a Polish countess, has been hauled before a military tribunal, accused of treason and impropriety. Through flashbacks, Renata slowly reveals the events leading to her arrest - her humane treatment of two Russian soldiers who showed up on the threshold of her ruined mansion on the heels of a snowstorm.

Unfortunately McCrina’s writing didn’t draw me into the story - I felt isolated from the action. While that might be the tone the author was going for, I fear few of the target audience will persevere.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight by Blessing Musariri - ADVISABLE

When It’s Your Turn for Midnight by Blessing Musariri, 184 pages. Lerner, 2026. $19

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (mental illness); Violence: PG-13 (# of dead bodies mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

One moment 15yo Chianti is only worrying about getting her little sister out of trouble with their parents. The next her mother blurts out that her Baba (dad) is not even Chianti’s. Confused and hurt, Chianti flees to her grandmother’s home, where she is surrounded by the group of loving aunties she grew up with, leaving her younger sisters to fend for themselves. While Chianti is trying to make sense of her new reality, she also delves into her grandmother’s history, when she and her friends were freedom fighters during Zimbabwe's civil war. 

Musariri manages to pack quite an emotional punch into a short, poignant story. Can we hold this up to show that  fabulous writing doesn't need 400+ pages to wander towards the point? She paints vivid settings and complex emotions for almost every character. I also love that her glimpse into an unfamiliar culture still shows human emotions and problems are universal.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Trade of Blood by Robert Jackson Bennett - ADVISABLE

A Trade of Blood (Ana and Din Mysteries #3) by Robert Jackson Bennett, 400 pages. Del Rey (Penguin Random House), 2026. $32.

Language: R (196 swears, 56 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (drug and alcohol use, illegal activity, disturbing elements, innuendo, nudity, and mentions of sex); Violence: R (corpses, assault, blood and gore, animal cruelty, mentions of genocide, suicide, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ana is not happy with their new investigation assignment not only because it appears to be an open-and-shut case to appease the gentry but mostly because that means it’s also going to be uninteresting. Except that when Ana and Dinios arrive, they find evidence that this case is not as easily settled as they anticipated—and that it might not be the perpetrator’s first murder.

As excited as I was to return to this fantasy world and Ana and Din’s investigative duo, I was as put off about the new case as Ana was, due to the case’s cliché Romeo and Juliet angle. Thankfully, the story quickly expanded from there, drawing in all the elements of mystery, awe, and paranoid suspicion for every character that could betray the beloved duo along the way that I have come to expect. With bittersweet feelings about finishing another mind-blowing case, I look forward to many more.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu - OPTIONAL

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu, 352 pages. Harper, 2026. $20

Language: R (18  swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Ivy Yu is on a bonding trip to Japan with her mother. Unfortunately their curated trip is populated mostly by senior citizens - except a boy her age and his dad, who is near Ivy’s mom’s age. Since her parents separated, Ivy has been harboring hope that they will get back together and she is also battling depression on her own, as her mother feels Ivy can just “get over herself". Keith, the other teenager on the trip, agrees with Ivy that their parents shouldn’t get together.  Will the pair be able to sabotage their elders?

Chu focuses mostly on Ivy and her relationships with her parents and gives us beautiful looks around Japan.  And the growing relationship between the two teens will satisfy romance readers.  

Lily is Asian American.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley - OPTIONAL

Murder in Blackfriars (Below Stairs Mystery #9) by Jennifer Ashley, 320 pages. Berkley (Penguin Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (17 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, mentions of drugs, kissing, mild innuendo, and implied mention of prostitution); Violence: PG (corpses, assault, blood and gore, and mentions of bombs and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

In the middle of a picnic, Kat’s fiancé, Daniel, runs off on what is sure to be another dangerous scrape, and Kat can’t go with him because she has to take her daughter, Grace, home to the family that is raising her. And then that family tells Kat about the new job that will move the family—including Grace—to a home in the countryside, away from Kat’s employment in London.

While there were obvious mentions to ongoing relationships and past escapades, I was satisfied with my experience reading this book as a standalone mystery. Besides the murder that is mentioned in the title, Kat and Daniel also take on the overwhelming task of attempting to find out who Daniel’s parents were. One of these mysteries has a more satisfying climax than the other, but I recognize that there needs to be a reason to continue the series. I could see myself reading more about these delightful characters and the happiness they create for themselves despite difficult circumstances. The characters are English.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Dream Thieves: The Graphic Novel (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater, - OPTIONAL

The Dream Thieves: The Graphic Novel (The Raven Cycle #2) by Maggie Stiefvater, 282 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2026. $18 

Language: R (50 swears, 12 f); Mature Content: PG-13 (sexual references, drug use); Violence: PG-13 (murder, death, abduction) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

This book centers on Ronan Lynch, who is made of secrets, one of which is that he can pull objects out of dreams. His father is murdered because of this ability. The Raven Boys' search for the Ley line to the Glendower, the ancient Welsh king, has run dry. Ronan's dreams may be the key to finding Glendower, but unleashing his power will have far-reaching consequences. 

Stiefvater's writing is very descriptive in prose. Because there is so much going on, the graphic novel doesn't do it justice. The graphic novel is a beautiful back-up to the novel, but it would be really helpful to have read the novel first. I had to Google the book summary and there was a lot that I missed. The plot is dark and nightmarish, but if you're into the Raven Boys cycle, the plot won't disappoint, even though it gets increasingly weird. The Raven Boys are white, privileged, high school boys. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Her America by Heather B. Moore - ADVISABLE

Her America by Heather B. Moore, 304 pages. SHORT STORIES. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $28.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (kissing, mild innuendo, and mentions of alcohol and debauchery); Violence: PG (corpses, assault, blood and gore, physical abuse, gun and bomb use, discussions of slavery and war, and mentions of suicide and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Moore has put together short stories on eight influential women that combine biographical information with enough historical fiction to bring these real women and their situations to life. The women chosen to be highlighted in this book include the first female historian in America, the first woman in US history to both plan and lead a military raid, a First Lady, a cofounder of La Cruz Blanca (The White Cross), and a Pulitzer-prize winning journalist.

While each section focuses on only one woman’s life, there are multiple heroes in every story. These women worked together with both those that came before them and those around them to accomplish great things—great things that allow us to enjoy the freedoms we take for granted. Every voice matters, and these women demonstrated how we can create a better future for our loved ones as we use our voices. All eight women highlighted are American; they are described as White, Black, and Mexican-American.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

My Sister the Werebeast by Alina Tysoe - ADVISABLE

My Sister the Werebeast by Alina Tysoe, 316 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $15

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (0); Violence: PG (some fantasy violence,not graphic)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Something is happening with Peanut, Rosie and Mira's younger sister.  She seems to have magic powers.  But magic doesn't exist anymore in this world, right?  All magicians died out long ago.  Rosie and Mira need to find a way to keep their sister safe from a dark force that wants to steal her power.

My Sister the Werebeast was an enjoyable read!  The plot was interesting and not predictable.  The illustrations were fun and eye catching.  Also, the text font was easy to read.  My Sister the Werebeast will definitely appeal to students who like fantasy graphic novels with some humor thrown in. Rosie and Mira are anywhere from 14-16 yrs old.  Peanut is a preschooler.

One of the daughters and the mother are Hispanic.  The other main characters are presumably white. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis - OPTIONAL

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis, 272 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $20

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Forced child marriages, homophobia, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Off-page sexual abuse, physical abuse, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After the bees died, the military took control. All girls ages 11-16 are forced to pollinate plants by hand using brushes. 13yo Jess postponed that fate for two years thanks to her rebellious mother who lied about her and her brother’s ages. Unlike many of the other girls at the camp, Jess learned stories of the past, how to read, and how to paint. Jess makes friends with 14yo Cass, who is starting to worry. Once they have their periods, they are biologically matched to a husband and forced to marry. With time running out, Jess feels the stirrings of her own rebellious spirit.

With such a heavy subject matter and premise, I appreciate the novel’s focus on hope, the value of art, and the power of community in the face of oppression. The plot itself is not very action-forward, but the characters’ themselves kept me reading. It’s reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale but appropriate for a teenage audience. 

Secondary characters are diverse including LGBT+ (spoiler if reveal who).

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

In the Blood by April Henry - OPTIONAL

In the Blood by April Henry, 304 pages. Hachette Book Group, 2026. $20

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Dead body, sexual references, objectifying women); Violence: PG-13 (Murder, off-page sexual assault of a teenager by an adult) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Tessa has always wondered about her birth parents as she was abandoned at a fire station as an infant. For her birthday, her friend El buys her an ancestry test. With no clear parental matches, Tessa and her friends begin investigating her relatives and uncovering family secrets. At the same time, Keisha, a young cop, is out to prove herself as she tries to find the infamous serial killer the Portland Phantom who just struck again. Quentin is the Portland Phantom, and he is biding his time until makes his next kill.

With all the points of view and plotlines, the novel lacks some depth and character development. I question the inclusion of the serial killer's point of view as he has disparaging views of women, and he is a stereotypical stock character. Nonetheless, the novel does include a positive example of adoptive families and supportive friends. The serial killer storyline, short chapters, and fast-pace may make this novel appealing to reluctant teen readers. 

Keisha is biracial. Tessa's friend Victor has brown skin. Secondary characters are LGBT+.

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

America is Wild! by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie - ADVISABLE

America is Wild! A State-by-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie, 208 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2026. $23

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The United States has a very diverse environment, with lots of plants and animals. From each state, the author highlights 4 or so plants and animals that represent their wildlife; some are iconic (I bet you can guess what Wyoming's mammal is), while others are surprising (I didn't know South Dakota had Cactus!) We learn the common name, the Latin name, and some interesting facts about each one. 

America is Wild was a lot of fun. Nice reference book, with great illustrations. The information is concise and accurate, and there's a variety of entries from each state - a bird, a mammal, a tree, a flower, an insect - 3-4 different plants and 3-4 different animals on a 4-page spread. I loved that there was always a "fun fact", not just the general information. An interesting read that I hope will be enjoyed in my library. 

Lisa Librarian 

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram - ADVISABLE

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram, 224 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $20 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (masturbation talk); Violence: PG (Bullying, referring to queer slurs) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

14yo Dayton shouts a slur at a visiting speaker at the ELA assembly for 9th graders. He was promised $20 for doing it, and he thought it wouldn't be a big deal; it's just a word. But in that moment, everything changes for Dayton. He loses friends, his parents are shocked and disappointed, and he begins to examine his own actions. Nothing he does seems to make it any different. Farshid is also in 9th grade, and knows Dayton but isn't a friend; however, Dayton's actions have affected Farshid too, who is wrestling with his body image and sexual identity. 

Told in alternating perspectives - and also in second person and present tense - so the reader is put into the story, and it unfolds in real time. There was a lot to unpack; Dayton never meant to offend and felt terrible, but couldn't really repair what he'd done. Farshid was angry all the time and taking it out on his mother and himself - making unhealthy decisions about his body. Khorram never says the word, but the reader can piece together what it is. This is one of those important books that I hope will gain some traction and get read by the teens who need the message and the courage to do the right thing. 

Dayton is white, Farshid is Iranian. 

Lisa Librarian  

A Lady’s Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore - OPTIONAL

A Lady’s Guide to Love and Pirates by Jennifer Moore, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $25.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, illegal activity, kissing, partial nudity, mild innuendo, and mentions of drugs); Violence: PG13 (assault, gun use, blood and gore, and suicide)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lady Annabelle Bradford (20yo) looks forward to summer when her godfather, Court, takes her to the sea on his ship, not that she doesn’t also enjoy the balls of her London society life. She’s surprised when Court sends two members of the crew to pick her up instead of coming himself. But he couldn’t come. Court has been taken hostage by Captain Blackham, and the crew has come to Belle for help.

Swashbuckling adventure, treasure of legend, and, of course, a handsome pirate hero with a tragic backstory all make for a delightful story. I love the crew that would do anything for the noble girl they basically raised together on the seas, though Moore admits how unlikely the scenario would have been and provides sources for nonfiction pirate information in her author’s note. The majority of characters, including Annabelle and Court, are English.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot - ESSENTIAL

Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot, 336 pages. HarperCollins, December 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (37 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (making out, reference to breasts); Violence: PG (fight, accident with injury)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When 16yo Winn is forced to move cross-country from New York to Montana for her mom's job, she finds herself attending her brother's school. An all-boys ranch school "for intellectually gifted boys, with emotional, behavioral or academic challenges." She's the only girl, allowed to attend classes because her mother is teaching there. She's actually delighted (and a bit scared - what if one of them is a serial killer?) and is quickly, literally embraced by the student body. But she has her eye on a couple of them, and she's hoping she doesn't fall in love. As fresh and funny as Princess Diaries,

I couldn't put it down. I loved her displacement, Winn describes her outfits, which are usually terrible for the winter weather in Montana, and true to Meg Cabot gets herself into some awkward situations. I loved this romance; there's some making out that doesn't go too far, and a lot of sexual tension - of course - there are 80 boys at the school! The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian - 

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed - ADVISABLE

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed, 212 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (elephant injury and care issues)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Hafsa wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She's determined to follow that dream despite her father's reluctance to allow his daughter (a girl!) to become a doctor, and the fact that she has been accepted to as prestigious summer camp for pre-med is expensive, and it's in the big city. Fortunately, Hafsa gets her way, and the stars line up in her favor; her married sister lives less than a mile away, and her brother-in-law offers to pay. But when she starts the camp, she sees she's enrolled in the environmental camp instead, but Hafsa is willing to make the best of it.

A companion novel to both Amal Unbound and Omar Rising - Amal returns as best friend, but it's Hafsa's story. I'm not sure how old Hafsa is, she reads to be 12-14, maybe? The story takes place in Pakistan, and the conditions at the zoo are rough - I hope readers understand that things are very different in the US. I loved the environmental connection - kids today are really invested in this subject, so I think this will get read. Saeed is a great writer, and I love her storytelling. The family drama was just right; the medical component - yes, she gets a bit of an opportunity to experience it - was a little surprising, so I think she may be older than 12. Hafsa is Pakistani

Lisa Librarian 

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake - ADVISABLE

Hattie Mae Begins Again (Companion to Once in a Blue Moon) by Sharon G. Flake, 368 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Knopf (Random House), 2026. $18. 

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

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Hattie Mae is allowed to attend Miss Abigail's School for Exceptional Young Ladies in Philadelphia. But in 1938, there are rich black families and poor black families, and Hattie Mae, being from North Carolina, just doesn't fit in with the other girls. And they let her know it. She makes a friend, but Lisa, probably the wealthiest of the girls, is cruel. Hattie wants to be a lawyer someday, or maybe a doctor. 

This is unfair, but Hattie Mae is strong and resilient and won't let mean girls keep her down. I didn't mind that it was a novel in verse - sometimes the poetry breaks up the story because the chapters are so short, but this wasn't the case. I enjoyed the historical look at depression era Philadelphia. I enjoyed Sharon Flake's poetry; I felt the story was gripping without it being just about Hattie Mae dealing with a mean girl. There was a lot more - being courageous, learning to fit in without losing yourself, recognizing change and adapting to it. It's historical fiction, so I'm going to have to hand-sell it, but I think I can easily find some readers in my library. The characters are black. 

 Lisa Librarian 

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate - ESSENTIAL

Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate, 336 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE HarperCollins, 2026. $20. 

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

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL 

 APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Wombat has been homeless her whole life, and she's a survivor. But something tells her (she calls it "the voice") is trying to direct her to find her person. But when Wombat gets caught up in the Palisades Fire, and becomes dirty and singed, she worries when "The Voice" tells her to go toward the fire, rather than away - until she ends up waiting on a bench near a wildlife rehab center, waiting for someone. 

 What a darling story. The heartache and the grief and the trauma of the fires are all there - there's a story of a family displaced as well, Henry and his moms, one who cares for displaced wildlife. I'm glad it was a short read due to being a novel in verse because I could not put it down. Highly recommended. 

 Lisa Librarian 

Singing Justice Singing Peace by Monica Brown and Molly Mendoza - ADVISABLE

Singing Justice Singing Peace: The Story of Joan Baez by Monica Brown and Molly Mendoza. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2026. $20. 978665926607 

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

Joan Baez knew she wanted to make the world a better place, even when she was young. When her father joined a peace organization, they moved to Iraq, and Joan saw children who were starving and learned that even in California, where she lived, there were starving children. She carried the world on her shoulders and wanted to change things. When she was given a ukulele, she began to sing, discovered folk music, and became an icon, not just for her music, but for her support of justice and peace. 

 Many more illustrations than text, and I love how illustrator Mendoza has represented the music Baez creates. Includes an author's note, which doesn't just repeat the text; it's got more, juicier info about her bravery, some of the times she went to jail, and things that happened while supporting the Civil Rights Movement. A great read, even for a high school class. Joan is Mexican/Scottish/American 

 Lisa Librarian 

The Lionharts by Mike Lawrence - ADVISABLE

The Lionharts (The Lionharts #1) by Mike Lawrence, 233 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Abrams Fanfare, 2026. $25 

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Hand to hand combat, peril, and danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Alder and his younger brother, Flynt, hate nothing more than being stuck running the family shop while their parents are away working as questers for hire. They would much rather be joining their parents on exciting adventures. But when their parents disappear after accepting a mysterious, high-paying job, the brothers have no choice but to set out on a quest of their own to rescue them. Along the way, they encounter trolls, witches, and dangerous magic. As they draw closer to finding their parents, they also uncover long-buried family secrets. With every revelation, Alder and Flynt begin to question everything they thought they knew about their family. Some secrets may hold the key to saving their parents, while others threaten to tear the family apart.

This Dungeons & Dragons inspired graphic novel is full of adventure, magic, and excitement. Along the way, the boys learn that they are capable of doing hard things, just as their parents and grandparents did before them. The story highlights courage, perseverance, and the importance of believing in yourself when facing challenges. Characters cue white. 

 Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by LM Wilkinson and Lavanya Naidu - ADVISABLE

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria (Bravepaw #1) by LM Wilkinson and Lavanya Naidu, 170 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026. $14

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Titch is a young mouse who lives in a community of mice in a magical land called Alluria. Her dream has always been to be like Bravepaw, a mouse who accomplished many great deeds. When out exploring, Twitch and her friend encounter a brave rabbit who is trying to save the world of Alluria from monsters called curse worms. Will Titch be brave enough to help him? 

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria is an excellent book to entice newer readers who are transitioning from leveled readers to chapter books. The plot was very interesting and made me want to read more. The text is similar to the series, Geronimo Stilton with many different fonts being used. There are pictures on most pages but they are black and white. There are three more books in the series after this one. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Friend Group by Lisa Greenwald - ADVISABLE

Friend Group (Friend Group #1) by Lisa Greenwald, 352 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: PG (29 swears - all God, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Olive and Sadie are so excited to start 7th grade at the middle school. One of the things they wish, though, is to be part of the popular group. Those girls don't exclude them; they just aren't invited. But when Sadie is accidentally added to their group chat, she suddenly has inside knowledge of what the popular kids are doing, where they are going, what they are wearing etc. But they don't know they got the wrong Sadie, and she's not telling anyone, not even her best friend Olive.

Knowing she's lurking on someone else's group chat is disconcerting and cringy. That said, there were a lot of discussion-starting things that happened in this novel - it would make a great book club choice. Sadie is Jewish, Olive is Asian, the friends are multi-cultural

Lisa Librarian

Clementine H. Hopeful is not a Hero by Noah Corey - ADVISABLE

Clementine H. Hopeful is not a Hero by Noah Corey, 352 pages. Labyrinth Road (Random House), 2026. $18. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, monsters) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Clementine Hopeful knows he doesn't fit in. He loves spiders, privately wears dresses and sees faces in the forest. The kids at school don't like him, the one girl who will talk to him tells him he's weird. His homeroom teacher refuses to call him Clementine - saying it's a girl's name (It's a boy's name if a boy has it, and Clementine has it). But then, a boy named Beetle - who prefers to be called Bug - throws a rock through Clementine's window and the two become friends. But Bug and the friends he introduces Clementine to are different as well; they seem to have magic. 

I really like the writing style of Noah Corey. Clementine Hopeful has a modern feel with a traditional fantasy telling, including a spider-filled adult looking to eat Clementine, and a pretty sinister villain - although that's Clementine's dream, to be a villain. Includes an underlying queer theme that is well woven into the story. This debut author has written a marvelous adventure. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian

All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel - OPTIONAL

All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel, 272 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Penguin, 2026. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (menstruation, implied infidelity); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Chandni is intent on being a leader, a good friend, and a great student. In order to excel in academics, she wants to attend a prestigious boarding school. Everything is going well for her; she is the leader of her friend group, her parents are doctors so they can pay for her schooling (even though she is a girl), and, best of all, her crush may even like her too. But it seems, when all is good, something always happens, and a devastating family secret threatens to ruin everything, unraveling Chandni's friendships, schoolwork, and family relationships. 

This novel in verse was engaging and heartbreaking. Set in India in 1999 on the eve of the millennium, there is reference to change - friends moving to a bigger city, extended family emigrating to America, and the mirror of changes both at home and at school. I was surprised how similar their culture was to the US - watching sitcoms on TV, Walkmans, and cassette tapes. As it is told in verse, the chapters are very short. While I don't want to spoil the read by disclosing the family secret, it's hard to imagine confronting it as a middle schooler, and I'm torn about including it in my library. All the characters are Indian.

Lisa Librarian 

Flight by Alan Gratz - ADVISABLE

Flight by Alan Gratz, 96 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2026. $10 (hc)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G (mentions girls being dragged away); Violence: PG-13 (beatings, threats, kidnappings, guns and other weapons)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Dani and 9yo Carlos are fleeing for their lives aboard The Beast, the train that can take them all the way to America. Their small Honduran coffee farm used to be prosperous until climate change brought new diseases. Then they had to flee the city when they became the targets of local gangs. Dani disguises herself as a boy to keep attention away and she and Carlos will have to be very careful of whom they befriend on their harrowing journey.

More short story than novella - it needed to be included as part of Gratz’s Two Degrees book. Gratz is honest about the dangers people face as they try to flee violence to a place of safety without roaming in to graphic, mature content. I just wish it had another 50 pages for more depth.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Sugh Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca - ADVISABLE

Such Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca, 384 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: R (12 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

10th grader Siya is ecstatic to make the school’s mock trial team - especially since 12th grader Raj Raghavan is one of the leaders. Siya is also determined to honor the memory of her mother, a lawyer, who died in a car crash when Siya was ten. This year’s mock trial is not sitting well with Siya, however, because it seems to be based on Siya’s family’s own tragedy. She not only wants to do her best, but she also wants to find out if this is coincidence or a plot.

LaRocca includes the Indian story of Rama and Sita woven into the book. While it is supposed to highlight the romance between Siya and Raj, I found that part of the plot to be secondary to Siya searching for the truth about her mother and family. Of course, I’m an old lady, so I am totally missing the romance. I do love LaRocca’s resolution.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Scrap by Guy Bass - ADVISABLE

Scrap by Guy Bass, 320 pages. Penguin< SEPTEMBER 2026. $10 (pb) Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (danger, injury) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Humans were supposed to land and take over the planet Somewhere 513 after the robots prepared it, but when K1-NG and the humans arrived, the robots had rebelled and ordered the humans to leave. Damaged trying to protect the humans, King’s core was transferred to a junk robot and he has been sitting ina scrap pile for the last 10 years. When two young humans, 10yo Paige and 5yo Gnat (Natalie) follow a core detector to him, Scrap (as Gnat names him) has no desire to help them, in fact he actively discourages their presence. But other robots get wind of humans being on the planet and now all of them are running for their lives. 

If younger students are looking for books to read after The Wild Robot, send them in this direction, I enjoyed Scrap’s personality, even though he keeps trying to get rid of Paige and Gnat. The other robots are also interesting - even the Mechanical Mayor, Harmony Highside. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis - OPTIONAL

The Devouring Light by Kat Ellis, 368 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $16 (pb) 

Language: R (100+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (pills, alcohol); Violence: R (decaying bodies, blood, deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME 

17yo Haden is on her way to the hottest music festival with her best friend and band mate Kizi - heading towards what is hopefully their big break. Wouldn’t you know it - in the middle of nowhere, Haden’s car not only breaks down, but their savior is Deacon - her now famous nemesis from her disastrous appearance on Little Stars four years earlier. And who is Deacon’s latest band member? Cairo, the girl Haden liked, but who left them behind. And things only get worse when they realize they are stranded in the middle of even more nowhere and their only refuge is a creepy old house that seems familiar from rumors of a disastrous party decades ago. 

 The set up is complicated and things don’t get any simpler as you read. And they don’t get any safer, either, as we get flashbacks to that long ago soiree that ended in several murders. Kids who want a horror story that ends in more horror will enjoy this. I prefer my horror to get its comeuppance. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Ghost Light by Sara Farizan - ADVISABLE

Ghost Light (The Last Resort #3) by Sara Farizan, 208 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2026. $18 

Content: PG (some danger, evil spirits) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Lisa and Teddy are involved with the Founder’s Day play being produced in honor of their town of Castle Hill, even though past plays have said to be cursed. What they don’t know is that one of the original founders, whose name has been erased from history, lingers as a ghost and gets angry whenever he hears the rewritten narrative. Plus, the kids know that the Fire Maiden has not been completely vanquished. They will not only need Rosteen’s help to conquer her for good, but also of Blight Howler, who they originally banished. It is a delicate balance to save not only themselves, but the whole town, too. 

Farizan skillfully picks up where Kelly and Warga left off. She brings humanity back to Rosteen, whom I only saw as a nuisance in book #2. The danger is nicely creepy without going overboard. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo and Natalia Sylvester - ADVISABLE

No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo and Natalia Sylvester, 276 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2026. $19 

Content: G (mild pranks, family tension) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Sure 12yo Roxy and Meli know each other from school, but they are definitely in different crowds. Roxy is sporty and popular, while Meli is artsy and has her own crown, thank you very much. Now Roxy’s dad and Meli’s mom are getting married? And they are all, including their little brothers, moving into the same house which needs major renovations before the wedding in August! Meli and Roxy need to cooperate and scuttle this relationship pronto, if they want to maintain the lives they already enjoy. Their Disaster Plan has a good chance of succeeding - so what if it hurts everyone around them. 

Acevedo and Sylvester juggle a lot of moving parts, but they do it well. The two younger brothers are the cutest, but different from each other. The girls each have a health problem and the dynamics between each girl and the adults plays out differently. The middle grade crowd is perfect for this. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Unusuals by Gail Carson Levine - NO

The Unusuals by Gail Carson Levine, 336 pages. HarperCollins, SEPTEMBER 2026. $20 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - NOT RECOMMENDED 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Chera and her two best friends enjoy a lot of freedom in 1277 England, going as far to venture into the nearby woods, where outlaws roam and they befriend a thief. When Chera’s grandmother, a Jewish moneylender, is murdered along with her maid, who is Joan’s mother, the trio are caught up in more intrigue than they may be able to handle. Betrayal and double-crossing await them as they investigate the murders. 

Considering the adults in Chera’s life have their name, their relationship moniker, and job titles (and some of these are the same), I found it impossible to keep track of the characters without taking notes. Plus the grandmother and the maid appear as ghosts (no one can see them), adding more confusion. I do’;t think my readers will endure the confusion, especially as the murders are not the main plot of the book. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy - MANY

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy, 352 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2026. $13

Language: R (53 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Teens smoking joints and being drugged unknowingly in their drinks); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

ADULT - SEVERAL - ADVISABLE

17yo Fliss and Izzy are attending an artist retreat to delve deeper into their personal interests. They meet other teens who love different types of artistic expression and enjoy the social interaction until everything comes to a halt, when a murder occurs. Immediately, Fliss uses her sleuthing skills to find the suspect and to understand the connection between now and the 1911 murders that revolved around four paintings the killer created to immortalize his victims. He also created a self portrait that shows up at an estate sale after being lost for decades. Rumors about a curse being released when the painting was found are rampant and causing people to panic. Will Fliss be able to stop the murders before history repeats itself?

Such a fascinating premise! I enjoyed this mystery and I didn’t want the book to end. The writing and background building pulled me in and made this story extremely interesting! Fliss is a natural detective and her friendship with Izzy balances them both out. The debate over whether or not the painting is cursed added a nice touch of supernatural spookiness. Mixed ethnicity includes white, Irish, British-Korean, and Italian. Noah has olive skin and Fliss is white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Manga in Theory and Practice by Hirohiko Araki - OPTIONAL

Manga in Theory and Practice: The Craft of Creating Manga by Hirohiko Araki, 226 pages. NONFICTION. VIZ Media, 2017. $24.

Language: R (11 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use, nudity, and mentions of illegal activity and eroticism); Violence: PG13 (assault, gun use, mentions of suicide, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Hirohiko Araki, the creator of JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, shares his beliefs of what makes great and successful manga, referencing not only his own work but other mangas and even other works outside of manga as examples. Going through what Araki calls the four fundamentals of manga (characters, story, setting, and themes), he illustrates how he develops those aspects in his own work so that readers can do it too.

In the introduction, Araki says that, while he uses them for manga, these principles have universal applications outside of the manga version of storytelling. I found some inspiration in what he shared though I don’t create manga and don’t agree with everything he believes about telling a story. At the end of the day, these four fundamentals and the ways Araki uses them for his work are opinions. Araki’s theories and practice are interesting and make sense, but his way isn’t the only way, and he encourages readers to use this book as a starting point and go beyond his outline.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler - OPTIONAL

Palaces of the Crow by Ray Nayler, 384 pages. MCD (Farrar, Straus and Giroux), 2026. $29.

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (illegal activity, mentions of alcohol and sexual harassment, innuendo, and nudity); Violence: PG13 (corpses, assault, implied sexual assault, gun use, blood and gore, battle scenes, cannibalism, mentions of suicide, genocide, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

During the summer, Neriya and her family live in the shtetl where she spends her time with the local, intelligent crows. One night in June of 1941, her crow Buster leads Neriya into the woods, saving her from the fate of the rest of the Jewish village. The crows also help other teenagers her age, gathering them in the forest as they avoid more threats than just the Germans.

Readers keep track of several points of view that also jump back and forth through time. While war is the driving force behind everything that happens, the story focuses on survival—how do these four kids take care of their needs in the forest and how are they changed by these experiences—rather than on violent action. This focus slows the story down, highlighting how WWII impacted individuals rather than the world at large. Neriya is Jewish, Czeslaw is Polish, and Kezia is Roma.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty - OPTIONAL

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty, 544 pages. Berkley (Penguin Random House), 2026. $28.

Language: R (50 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use and mentions of drugs, nudity, pornography, and sex); Violence: PG (assault, gun use, self harm, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: OPTIONAL - ADULTS

APPEALS TO: SOME

Getting hit by a car on her way to work was just what Anna needed. The incident gave her a legitimate excuse for being late and became the impetus for a career change, leading to a new job at the Time Travel Agency. Which has to be fake. Right?

Despite all the time travel that occurs, Anna’s story reads like a slice of life piece rather than a scifi. The story is told by Anna, Teddy, and Jade as they try to figure out how to be the best parents, siblings, and partners, making mistakes and learning to forgive. I was surprised to realize I like the story as much as I do because there was hardly ever anything going on up until the life-or-death climax, and yet I kept reading and rooting for Anna as she tried so hard to live well. Anna and the majority of characters are Australian.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson - OPTIONAL

Killing Sadie by Rachel Peterson, 304 pages. Simon Pulse (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20.

Language: R (210 swears, 12 "f"); Mature Content: PG13 (drug and alcohol use including underage drinking, illegal activity, kissing, innuendo, and mentions of nudity, STDs, masturbation, and sex); Violence: PG13 (blood and gore and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Authorities bring in Sadie’s twin, best friend, and boyfriend for questioning after Sadie and Mason are found dead at a party. Between the three teenagers with things they want to hide, the police hope to uncover the truth of events that brought about this tragedy.

The whole story is told to readers in a series of biased flashbacks as each of the three high school seniors are interviewed about the day before. Attempting to figure out which version of the truth is the most factual was the most enjoyable part of the book. Unfortunately, while the end included answers, it lacked a satisfying conclusion.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Hardest Ones to Fool by Christina Li - OPTIONAL

The Hardest Ones to Fool by Christina Li, 256 pages. Penguin Workshop (Penguin Random House), 2026. $13.

Language: R (49 swears, 18 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (drug and alcohol use including underage drinking, illegal activity, innuendo, and mentions of nudity and sex); Violence: PG13 (assault and mentions of suicide and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Amelia goes by many names—specifically Amy, Ellie, and Mia, depending on which one of her boyfriends she’s around at the time. Having artfully dealt with all three unexpectedly showing at the same party last night, Amelia is feeling good about how well everything is going. Until she learns that her best friend died last night, and the only person who agrees about the suspicious circumstances is Jackie, the nosy girl on the school newspaper vying for Amelia’s spot as valedictorian.

Just when you think you know it all and are wondering why there are still pages left, Li hits you with another sharp turn. It’s a rollercoaster of lies, betrayal, tragedy, and an irrational need to believe that each new explanation is the actual truth. Amelia’s story is one of those where I still wonder if I have all the answers or if I’m just paranoid enough now to be reading too much into every word choice. Overall, it was a wild ride that I would absolutely do all over again. Amelia is Chinese American. Jackie is lesbian.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson