The Grandest Game (The Grandest Game #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - OPTIONAL

The Grandest Game (The Grandest Game #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 384 pages. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2024. $11

Language: R (47 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (gentle kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Avery and three Hawthorne brothers, Nash, Jameson and Xander, create a game together with seven players. The winner gets a million dollars. The players are forced into teams as they are locked into different escape rooms, securing teammates. Gigi, Knox and Brady become a team; Savannah and Rohan are a team; Grayson, Lyra and Odette are a team. They must work together to escape their rooms and make it to the dock by dawn the next morning. Avery and the Hawthornes know how to figure out riddles and they know how to create difficult ones. Who will make it to the dock first?

 I thoroughly enjoyed the riddles that the contestants had to solve. The mysterious watcher creates suspense and an added tension! Wonderful character development.

Rohan has light brown skin. Knox is white. Brady has ebony skin.  Lyra has golden tan skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi, - ADVISABLE

The Strongest Heart by Saadia Faruqi,  384 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20. 

Language: PG (11 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Bullying, threats) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Mo has recently moved to Texas with his father to live with his aunt and cousin. Mo's mom is working in Greece, and Mo's dad is, according to Mo, a monster. In reality, Mo's dad has paranoid schizophrenia, doesn't regularly take his medication, and is more than difficult to live with. Mo and his cousin Rayyan are the same age and in most of their classes together, and when Rayyan is a bully's target, Mo becomes his champion. But Rayyan doesn't want Mo interfering, and it's Mo who needs someone. Someone to interfere with his dad, as his dad needs help, and he won't help himself. 

Reading The Strongest Heart, I couldn't help but wonder if there are kids at my school in a similar situation to Mo. This is a great book to show them they are not alone. The author grew up in a similar situation in Pakistan, where there were few mental illness resources, and has managed to write a book that is hopeful and supportive. I would like to have seen back matter with resources for readers to get help or learn more. Mo is complicated, mixed race, attends an Islamic center with his cousin.

Lisa Librarian  

Monster Tree by Sarah Allen - ADVISABLE

Monster Tree by Sarah Allen, 258 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (attacks from tree monster, animals brutally killed, kidnapping, peril, danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: EL - SEVERAL; MS - SOME

Following the death of his father, 11yo Linus and his mother move across town for a fresh start. Almost immediately, Linus becomes fixated on a strange, sinister tree in his neighbor’s backyard. When pets begin to go missing and he finds deep scratch marks on the back of his bedroom door, he knows something is terribly wrong.

Teaming up with his best friend Spencer and a new friend, Abby, Linus sets out to uncover why his neighbor seems to have a vendetta against the town—and how she may be using terrifying tree monsters to carry out her plans. Can the three friends stop her before she goes too far?

We see a young boy trying to process the grief and anger of losing his father. Linus, like his father, is an artist, but since his dad’s death he has struggled to return to his art. He also lives with asthma and color blindness, while Abby wears hearing aids. The three friends are kind, loyal, and supportive of one another. I enjoyed both the story and the writing style. Although the book has some scary moments, it’s an overall strong and satisfying read.

Linus and Abby are white and Spencer is black.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour, Emmanuel Valtierra, and Carlos Rodrigues Cortez - OPTIONAL

Pilgrim Codex by Vivian Mansour, Emmanuel Valtierra, and Carlos Rodrigues Cortez. Levine Querido, 2025. $19. 9781646145157 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The Vargas family embarks on a dangerous journey from their home across a desert. Aided by their own wits and bravery, and Coyotes to get them past the hardest part - the family is desperate to leave their situation and come to a land where they can dream. 

Told from the perspective of a young boy and written as a nod to the ancient Mesoamerican codex - the illustrations are reminiscent of the art of the Aztec and Mayan people. The initial pages read as though partially in code, like a poetic beginning of an odyssey. I was afraid I wouldn't connect, but soon the story made itself clear, and I joined the family on their journey. Although the size of a child's picture book, the intended audience is more appropriately set at upper elementary. The characters are from Central America or Mexico 

Lisa Librarian 

The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith - NO

The Peach Thief by Linda Joan Smith, 356 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

13yo Scilla wants one of the peaches she can smell behind the earl’s impressive stone fence.  Instead, mistaken for a boy, she is caught and made to work off the cost of her damages by scrubbing massive amounts of clay pots for the head gardener.  After her penance, Scilla, or Seth as she is known, is taken on as a lowly gardener’s apprentice and finds that she really enjoys the work.  She also enjoys the friendship of Phin, another apprentice.

Unfortunately a perfectly pleasant tale is marred by Scilla’s constant mooning over Phin. I got sick and tired of it very quickly but still had to endure more. While I might have recommended this as an optional choice for those that enjoy historical fiction, it is best just to pass on this one. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - OPTIONAL

The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 280 pages. Little Brown, 2026. $21

Language: R (100+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (sex implied); Violence: murders and deaths mentioned, man thrown to dogs mentioned

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

20yo Hannah is waiting for the day that her sister Kaylie turns 18 and the two of them can leave their hometown forever. Before that day, however, Tobias Hawthorne and his entourage sweep into town and now Kaylie and the entourage are dead from the fire that also destroyed the Hawthorne island mansion.  Hannah is summoned by her friend Jackson, a hermit fisherman.  Jackson has rescued Tobias and Hannah is determined to nurse him back to health if only to make him live with his guilt the rest of his life. Tobias wakes up with amnesia and only knows what Hannah tells him - which includes a new name. As “Henry” and Hannah spend more time together, they are drawn closer.  But what will happen to their intimacy when “Henry” regains his memories?

Barnes gives as part of the story from Hannah’s point of view and then the reader flips the book over to get the same story, plus more, from Tobias’s point of view.  You should definitely read them in that order. While I am an un-fan of enemies to lovers, I did like the backstory about Henry and about Avery’s mother - and the events leading up to Avery inheriting the Hawthorne fortune.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turne - NO

Tidespeaker by Sadie Turner, 372 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $20

Language: G (5 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

A month ago 18yo Corith’s best friend, Zennia, was given a prestigious position on the coast as the Floodmouth to a wealthy family.  Now Zennia is dead and Corith is headed to take her pace, having barely passed her own examination.  Intrigue abounds on the remote island and Corith’s lfe may hang in the balance.

I am 222 pages into this book and I am absolutely bored! Corith is wishy-washy and weak, having leaned on Zennia her whole life. The supposed intrigues of the book are not interesting and the family members are not either. The only positive thing I can say is - great cover.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Three Weeks in the Rainforest by Jennifer Swanson - ADVISABLE

Three Weeks in the Rainforest by Jennifer Swanson. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $21. 9781623543167

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Three Weeks in the Rainforest follows the Field Museum's Rapid Inventory 30 team in Columbia as they race to gather data over three short weeks in the field.  Biologists trek through mud and rain, counting every animal and plant they see.  Social scientists visit villages, speaking with people about their goals for the land.  Based on this evidence, the team makes a case of conservation.  So far their teams have helped conserve almost 30 million acres of Amazon rainforest.

Swanson gives us a glimpse into real-life fieldwork in the rainforest.  This is not a detailed book about animals and plants that live in the rainforest. I liked the pictures of the scenery and the animals they were able to capture.

PGPowers

Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman, - OPTIONAL

Shiny Happy People by Clay McLeod Chapman, 368 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $20.

Language:  R (99 swears, 12 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (repeated drug usage, drinking, smoking, passionate kissing); Violence: PG-13 (child neglect, fighting, body horror)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

16yo Kyra lives with the shadows of her past. Her birth mother was addicted to drugs and lost custody of Kyra when she was a child. Kyra is now in a stable household, but she is afraid of becoming like her mother so she avoids the town's prevalent party scene. Then, a new drug challenge called Sporing goes viral. Simultaneously, she notices that the people around her seem to change: her brother is saying the right things to her for once but seems emotionally dulled; her best friend is no longer her edgy self and won’t respond to Kyra’s messages. And they keep repeating similar phrases. Kyra and new student Logan wonder what’s going on in the background of this seemingly shiny small town where drug company BoTanic has fully integrated itself.

I wish there was more to this novel as there are missing scenes that could have had some strong impacts. At the same time, the explanation for the mystery felt off and muddled the plotline, genre, and theming. The secondary characters including Logan are not well-developed and fall flat. However, the depictions of Kyra’s struggles with anxiety are strong, and the social commentary regarding big pharma was interesting. 

Kyra’s friend Cody is LGBT+, and her friend Sean is South Asian. 

Megan, HS Librarian 

Running Back to You by Sarah Henning - ADVISABLE

Running Back to You by Sarah Henning, 354 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $20 

Content: PG (mild kissing)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: HS - MANY; MS - SEVERAL

9th grader Millie hates lying, but she gets caught by surprise in a study hall conversation in front of EVERYONE and lies... telling Logan and all her friends that she has already had her first kiss. Now Millie has to make it right, because she CANNOT be a liar and she is caught in the worst social nightmare because it was so obvious that she was lying. So Millie and her best friend set out to make her statement retroactively true... but Logan is there at every step, always in the way, making everything twice as hard. What is going on? Why can't Millie just get her first kiss like everyone else in the world? And why won't Logan go away?

I loved this book! Middle school romances that feel genuine and real are hard to find and this one fits the bill. Millie struggles with fitting in at school, but is also struggling with real problems at home- namely a Mom who had an affair and hid it from her family- which is why Millie hates lying so much. The language is clean, the emotions are confusing and genuine just like middle school and the book is a delight.

The main characters present as white.

Jen VanHaaften, Middle School Teacher-Librarian

The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E Y Stemple - ADVISABLE

The Poetry of Car Mechanics by Heidi E Y Stemple, 256 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Astra, 2025. $20. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f')); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (bully, nature violence (a hawk)); 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

15yo Dylan lives with his grandfather in a room near the autoshop. Dylan's world is poetry, birds, and cars. His mother struggles with her mental health and is in and out of Dylan's life, and it's been years since he's seen her. So he spends a lot of time watching birds and writing poetry. He doesn't fit in at school - it's complicated. But when he finds an injured hawk, his quest to help the hawk might be helpful for Dylan, too. 

Dylan's grandfather is full of hate and places signs at his auto shop and a flag on his truck that make Dylan uncomfortable. He doesn't like that Dylan likes "girl things" like poetry and birds. This causes some uncomfortable interactions, as there's no other person there to mediate for Dylan. The Poetry of Car Mechanics is a Novel in Verse. I enjoyed the poetry; the short pieces of the story worked well in this book. Dylan is named for Dylan Thomas, the poet, and this novel, told from Dylan's point of view, feels like we are reading his journal. I really enjoyed the Poetry of Car Mechanics. It's a novel you keep thinking about after you've finished reading. Includes resources for readers struggling with their own or love one's mental health. Dylan is white. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Season of Flames (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #2) by Anna James - Essential

The Season of Flames (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #2) by Anna James, 272 pages. Penguin, APRIL 2026. $19

Content: G (slight danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Elio has led a pleasant life as part of the Circus Astra, handling Tangles and Knots for his father. Then when inspectors for the queen, including Oleander Young, come in search of an amber pendant, Elio must flee, along with his new friend Pom, finding their way to Thistledown Academy, where they are hoping that Juniper can help them read the map that his father gave him and figure out how to thwart the queen’s grasp for power.

At first I was surprised that James chose to jump 13 years into the future, but I ended up liking the book immensely. Juniper has just enough importance to satisfy readers who consume the books one after another. Hints of more to come are at the end, too.  Okay, I can wait another year.

One character is non-binary; also has a same-sex relationship.

Characters cue white, though the illustrations seem to indicate a variety of races.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood - OPTIONAL

Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood, 352 pages. Scholastic, MARCH 2026. $15 (pb)

Language: R (71 swears, 4  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (four deaths by various means, a good amount of blood mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It has been almost a year since the kids defeated the “ghoul” of Carrington Manor and they are returning to town for an exclusive interview.  They want to set the record straight in light of Rick Field’s new book, where he takes credit for much that happened. Cam, who never left town, though is creeped out, because he has been seeing the ghoul. Then the whole group discovers a dead body in that infamous alley and everyone becomes worried.  While the original “ghoul” can’t come back, a copycat seems to be in town - someone with even more murderous intentions.

Wood tries hard to distract us from who the murderer might be and on some level he succeeds with his red herrings. The action is a little bloodier thai time around. It seems as though there are hints of a third book at the end.  We’ll see.

Cam and Jonesy are an official LGBT couple now.  The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sonnets and Serpents by Elizabeth Lowham - OPTIONAL

Sonnets and Serpents (Casters and Crowns #2) by Elizabeth Lowham, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $25.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Princess Eliza (17yo) runs away from the castle and country of Leogria when her beloved Henry is banished, determined to join him in exile. She soon finds herself lost and unable to communicate in Pravusat, where the only Loegrian she can find is also a monster—a magical shapeshifter—and rude besides. Desperate for help, Eliza traps the shapeshifter to convince him to be her translator, not knowing that she is trapping herself in the process.

While the first book gives context to the world and some of the characters’ backstories, Eliza and Silas’s adventures can be enjoyed independently of the first book, which focuses on Eliza’s sister. The magic in this world is unique in its division of magic classes, and, though they are not unique aspects to this story alone, love and betrayal abound in the lives of the protagonists. Eliza is the romantic chasing after a love story to make it into something real, and Silas is the academic who has been hurt too many times to believe in love. I enjoyed watching these characters grow as Lowham showed how these two opposites could come together as a complementary pair.

Eliza is described as “pale,” and Silas is described as “honey brown.” The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and nudity, mild innuendo, and kissing. The violence rating is for assault, blood, fantasy violence, mentions of human trafficking, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice - ADVISABLE

Stuck Up and Stupid by Angourie Rice and Kate Rice, 374 pages. Candlewick 2025. $19

Language: PG (48  swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (summer/winter relationship); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Lily loves her life on Pippa Beach, a tiny town in Australia, even though her mother is flighty and unreliable. Then one day a gorgeous Hollywood star, Dorian Khan, and his friends descend upon the town upending everything. While Dorian’s friend Casey seems smitten with Juliet, Lily’s cousin, Dorian is aloof - sure that everyone wants him around only for his fame. And Lily’s starstruck mother and younger sister don’t help matters.  No matter how much she tries to stay away from Dorian, even after his summer visit is over, Lily’s path continues to cross his - even in California - where Lily gets a hard introduction to life in the Hollywood spotlight.

The Rice’s take on Pride and Prejudice is pretty fun.  I think that students who don’t know the source material won’t be bothered by that - they will just enjoy the antics of the characters. I enjoyed the places where the authors strayed far from Austen’s plot the best. 

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Skin of the Sea by Natasha Bowen - ADVISABLE

Skin of the Sea (Skin of the Sea #1) by Natasha Bowen, 325 pages. Random House, 2021. $13.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Chosen to help gather the souls of those who die in the sea, Simi is supposed to let the ocean take the memories of her life on land. But she holds onto the image of brown eyes. Eyes she is reminded of when she finds a boy in the sea, and, instead of just saving the human boy’s soul, she also saves his body.

While there are elements of Simi’s story reminiscent of The Little Mermaid, her story is more fully occupied with telling the African mythology version of mermaids, fairies, pantheon of gods, and more. The language Bowen uses to paint Simi’s story is resplendent, making the pages pass quickly despite the feeling that there wasn’t much going on in the first half of the book. An abrupt ending draws readers into needing the sequel right away.

Simi is described as having “dark brown” skin, and Kola and his siblings are described as having “reddish dark brown” skin. The òyìnbó are White and everyone else who isn’t explicitly described in shades of tan, brown, and onyx are implied Black. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and kidnapping for enslavement. The violence rating is for corpses, assault, gun use, blood and gore, fantasy violence, and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Uninvited by Nancy Banks - ADVISABLE

The Uninvited by Nancy Banks, 288 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $20

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (smoking); Violence: PG-13 (vampires killing people, violent attacks on people, attempted suicide, sexual abuse, emotional abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Tosh has moved from Portland, Oregon to Paris with her father.  She is excited about school, learning a new language and embracing all the sights and sounds of Paris. It’s a dream come true! Shortly after arriving, she meets another neighbor and student, Nick, who becomes her tour guide and her romantic partner.  Together they explore the street-life, beautiful architecture and creepy underground catacombs where vampires are known to roam.  Are vampires real? Can a vampire be cured and become human once again? Will love and friendship survive the city of Paris’ darkest and deepest secrets?

The Uninvited was interesting and full of twists and turns.  The friendships that formed were strong and relatable.  Tosh’s relationship with her father was troubling.  He was unkind and unsupportive of her experiences and her emotions- especially when she tried to explain a traumatic event in her past.  There is an attempted suicide and some mention of the pro’s of cigarette smoking- which was really odd and unusual.  Aside from those disturbing events, I really enjoyed the book and can see YA readers enjoying it as well. 

S. Lewis

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch - OPTIONAL

If You’ll Have Me by Esther Hatch, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2026. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULT - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Eight years ago, Anna and her family spent the summer of her seventeenth year in Breckenridge. Anna loved it there and didn’t know they would be the last happy memories she made. Now Anna (25yo) and her mother return in desperation of their circumstances and find help from the unlikely place of the boy that followed Anna around that summer—a boy who is now a man.

Anna and David dither about, changing their minds frequently about their unusual situation—one that they brought upon themselves. They make an adorable couple when they allow themselves to be and are eyeroll inducing when the pitfall of unclear communication further tangles things. Tragic backstories make the happily ever after feel that much sweeter, and it’s an overall cute story.

The majority of characters are English. The mature content rating is for kissing, partial nudity, mentions of alcohol and brothels, and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault; mentions of child abuse, animal cruelty, and self harm; and gun use.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson 

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila - ESSENTIAL

A Sea of Lemon Trees by Maria Dolores Aguila, 294 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Roberto Alvarez loves school. He is a good student and loves his grammar school. However, this is 1931, and work is hard to find. Many American-born Mexicans are being repatriated to Mexico, and Roberto's school has decided to send all the Mexican children to a separate school, a retrofitted old barn. The Mexican community bands together to enlist the help of the Mexican Consulate, and Roberto becomes the lead plaintiff in a lawsuit against the school board.  

Told in free verse, this story is based on an actual event. There is a lot of Spanish thrown in, and even though it is not translated, it adds to the story. This is a fast read, and young readers will be able to identify with Roberto and his courage to represent his people in a foreign environment. Roberto is Mexican American. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean - ADVISABLE

Love Me Tomorrow by Emiko Jean, 352 pages. Sarah Barley Books (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20.

Language: R (34 swears, 3 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Emma (17yo) knows what her future looks like: going to college nearby with a practical degree to take care of her family. Because it’s better to play it safe than to risk anyone—especially herself—getting hurt. But Emma lets herself wish for proof that love is real, and, in return, she gets an anonymous pen pal from the future.

Okay, I admit, I absolutely rolled my eyes when the pen pal said he was from the future, and I nearly threw the book down to punish it. But I am so happy that I kept reading. I felt all of Emma’s highs and lows, I celebrated and cried with her, and I love how Jean brilliantly brought everything together in the end. Emma’s story is about how much more important it is to choose our lives over and over again than to try and cheat happiness by sitting it out.

Emma is Japanese-American, and the majority of other characters are implied White. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, partial nudity, groping, and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for a joke about murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman - ESSENTIAL

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman, 320 pages. Little, Brown, 2025. $18.

 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Clare is an undead fox, used by the afterlife to usher souls who don't know which door to pass through. He can tell by touching them or talking to them which portal they would be most comfortable in - Pleasure, Peace, Progress, or Pain. But one evening, close to All Hallows Eve, a dead Badger appears, but none of the portals accept her. Clare is at a loss. But in an effort to help Gingersnipes, Clare leaves the forest to seek out Hesterfowl, a bird who prophesied a catastrophic event about Clare, and the visit may just set her prophesy in motion. 

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest was one of my favorite reads this year. Mercin Minor's illustrations, at the anticipation of each chapter, add context and expression to this already exciting and thoughtful story. I love that the characters approaching their afterlife assess their lives and reflect on relationships (or the lack thereof). Most of the characters are animals, with a brief but important encounter with humans. 

 Lisa Librarian 

A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds - OPTIONAL

A Practical Guide to Dating a Demon by Hannah Reynolds, 352 pages. G. P. Putnam’s Sons (Penguin Random House), 2026. $13.

Language: R (25 swears, 4 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Sick of the government-track boys asking her out to get an introduction to her aunt, Naomi (18yo) deters them by saying she’s betrothed. To a demon. When one spurned suitor asks what her betrothed’s name is, Naomi makes one up: Daziel. Then a demon claiming to be Daziel shows up in her rooms, and he stubbornly refuses to be banished.

The story, the magic, and the budding romance were all fun, though I was confused about the world where it all took place. There is obvious Jewish influence, with Naomi’s aunt as a political leader part of the “Sanhedrin” and mentions of “rabbis,” but no one is described as Jewish and there is no mention of Judaism by name. Further complicating matters are the presence of French boulangeries and the use of British terms. These vocabulary choices without a clear explanation of the world I was supposed to be imagining were distracting, though in the end they weren’t important details to the story. And I even learned a couple of new words.

Naomi is depicted as White on the cover, and Daziel is described as having “bronze” skin. Also, Jelan and Gilli are implied to be gay. The mature content rating is for drug and alcohol use, kissing, innuendo, partial nudity, and mentions of sex. The violence rating is for mentions of murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

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