Pick the Lock by A. S. King - OPTIONAL

Pick the Lock by A. S. King, 383 pages. Dutton Books for Young Readers (Penguin), 2024. $20

Language: PG-13 (41 swears, 4 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Some physical and emotional abuse, drinking alcohol); Violence: PG-13 (physical abuse)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

Jane 16yo, Henry 10-12yo

16yo Jane Vandermaker-Cook lives in a fancy mansion, but don't be fooled - her dad controls everything.  She's been isolated from the world since the pandemic - homeschooled, watched constantly, and fed a version of reality that just doesn't add up.  Her mom is a punk rock star who travels around the world performing, while Jane is at home with a maze of weird rules, surveillance cameras, and hidden truths, until the day she finds the videos.  They don't match her dad's stories.  They reveal lies, gaslighting, and a past she was never supposed to see.  As Jane begins to piece together the truth, she fights back the only way she knows how, by writing a punk opera, speaking up, and reclaiming her identity.

I really liked how this story was told through songs, letters and video transcripts.  Readers could really connect with this emotionally, especially if they have ever felt stuck or silenced.  But heads up, this is a pretty heavy read and the format can be confusing and the mental abuse can be a lot.  I still really enjoyed the different format of the book. It left me thinking about mental health and the challenges within families.

Jane is presumed to be a white American as well as her dad Vernon and her brother Henry.

Jessica Nelson Librarian CTHS

His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le - ADVISABLE

His Mortal Demise (The Last Bloodcarver #2) by Vanessa Le, 400 pages. Roaring Brook (Macmillan Children's), 2025. $16

Language: PG ( 9 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody gunshot wound)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

How much would you sacrifice for the one you love? When 19yo Nhika gives all of her strength and health to save Kochin from a fatal gunshot wound, she is on the verge of death. Unknown to Nhika, because she’s unconscious, Kochin takes her to her friends to keep her safe while he searches for a cure to bring her back. When Nhika wakes, Kochin is nowhere and the last she remembers is him dying after being shot. While Kochin searches for a way to heal Nhika, she searches for Kochin, retracing his steps. They both realize how much love they have for each other and will do anything to bring their relationship back together, if only war and danger doesn’t get in the way.

The alternating narratives of Nikha in the present and Kochin six months prior create suspense, especially since the last time they saw each other was when Nikha sacrificed her life to save his. Kochin is searching for a way to bring Nikha back and Nikha is trying to find Kochin and this makes a sweet love story. Wonderful character development.

The ethnicity consists of brown, honey and tanned skin tones and is Vietnamese-inspired.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Murder at the Museum (Montgomery Bonbon #1) by Alasdair Beckett-King and Claire Powell - ADVISABLE

Murder at the Museum (Montgomery Bonbon #1) by Alasdair Beckett-King, illustrations by Claire Powell, 288 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (killer on the loose, murder, attempted murder by blowdart) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Bonnie Montgomery is a 10yo detective. But, even though she's good at what she does, no one will take her seriously, so she has created an alter ego. Montgomery Bonbon, a mustached, beret-wearing gentleman investigator. With her sidekick, Banks (her grandfather), Montgomery Bonbon is trying to find the culprit who killed a guard and stole a stuffed eagle from the museum.  

Slapstick and bumbling and very British, Bonnie is a great character, somehow pulling off her disguise and getting information even from the police who have barred her from talking to them. A great cast of characters, including other amateur sleuths. This may be a fun series, book 2, Mystery at the Manor is already on the shelves. 

Lisa Librarian 

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal - OPTIONAL

A Tempest of Tea by Hafsah Faizal, 352 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $10

Language:  PG (11 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody gunshot wounds)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Arthie has been on her own since she was ten. She eventually found another orphan named Jin and took him under her wing. Together they built Spindrift, a tea house by day for proper society and a blood house by night for vampires who want to be civilized and not harm others. When Spindrift is threatened, Arthie tries using her blackmailing skills to keep her place safe. When that doesn’t work, Arthie and Jin recruit other outcasts to pull off a scheme that will knock the threat to its knees!

Arthie is mysterious and keeps to herself but she has fierce loyalty to those she cares about. Jin is a charming, fun character and adds a lot of life to the story. The mystery and scare of the half vampire, the Wolf of White Roaring, is extremely interesting.

The ethnicity is predominantly white with a mix of races as the main characters.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd - ESSENTIAL

How to Stay Invisible by Maggie C. Rudd, 240 pages. Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan), 2023. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (bullying, a fight, some animal violence, injuries, neglect) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Raymond Hurley has been on his own practically his whole life. His parents neglect him, leave him for days on his own, and now they've left town, returned their keys to the trailor park office and abandoned him.  Worried that if anyone finds out he'll be sent back to the children's home, Raymond and his dog Millie set up camp in a hollowed out tree in the woods, but with winter setting in and only a sleeping bag to keep them warm, Raymond must rely on his fishing pole, his wits, and staying invisible, so no one finds out he's alone. 

How to Stay Invisible was recommended to me by a student. She said it was her favorite book. I'm not surprised, and so glad I read it. An edge of my seat story, so worried about Raymond and his terrible situation I could hardly put the book down. Had a good cry, and all the feelings. I highly recommend it too. Raymond defaults white. 

Lisa Librarian 

First Love Language by Stefany Valentine - ADVISABLE

First Love Language by Stefany Valentine, 300 pages. Penguin Workshop, 2020. $20

Language: PG (26 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Catie Carlson feels like she is living between two worlds. Adopted as a baby from Taiwan and raised by white parents in California, she knows almost nothing about where she came from, just that her birth mother left behind a name, a letter, and a whole lot of unanswered questions.

When her summer plans fall apart, Catie finds herself working at a bubble tea shop with Toby, a charming, goofy, slightly chaotic classmate.  He offers to teach her Mandarin so she can finally write to her birth mom.  In exchange, Catie has to teach Toby how to flirt and win back his ex.  What starts off as a deal turns into late-night talks, shared secrets, and maybe something a lot more complicated. As Catie reconnects with her heritage, faces family truths and falls for someone she never expected, she begins to learn that love, in any language, is never simple, but it might just be worth it.

I really enjoyed First Love Language.  It is a very heartfelt and relatable story that I liked because of its mix of humor, romance and real emotional depth.  Catie's journey to reconnect with her culture and figure out who she is could hit hard with readers if they have ever felt caught between identities.  I thought her relationship with Toby was cute and awkward in all the best ways and their fake-dating deal leads to some sweet and funny moments.

Catie is Taiwanese American and Toby is white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Eternal Flame (National Archive Hunters #2) by Matthew Landis - ADVISABLE

Eternal Flame (National Archive Hunters #2) by Matthew Landis, 285 pages. PIxel and Ink, 2025 $19.

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

10yo twins Iris and Ike (Icarus) are fresh off solving their first big mystery for their mother’s museum when the National Archives and the FBI need their help again.  They have six days to track down the location of the original pieces of the flame from the Statue of Liberty, or it could cause an international incident. THey will need the help of Luna, the girl they thwarted in their first case. Can they trust her, though?

I didn’t read the first adventure of the crime fighting twins, but I didn’t need to in order to enjoy adventure #2. The mystery they needed to solve was very interesting and exciting, without necessarily being extremely dangerous.  The only part that I don’t like is that the twins seem to have some super rich, super smart hidden nemesis constantly lurking in the background and pulling their strings - if the adventure is good enough, why do they need this added layer of drama? If the third book, when it comes out, is also all about this mysterious enemy, I will give it a pass.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson - OPTIONAL

The Blossoming Summer by Anna Rose Johnson, 288 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

13yo Rosemary has been separated from her family for 3 years. Her parents, finding it hard to find regular work, have farmed them out to family. Rosemary in London, and each of her two brothers with other family members. It's 1940, and with the threat of war in England, Rosemary's Father is gathering the family back together and taking them to America, to live with the Grandmother Rosemary has never met. 

A very sweet and nostalgic story. The hardships from living in London and enduring the rations, the fear of bombings and the uncertainty of war were realistic and set the stage for the family's leaving. Includes some racism once they get to Wisconsin, some from Rosemary's father which I didn't appreciate, but was explained near the end. Ties up super neatly though and, as a regular fair enterer, I gotta say, it was weird that everything in their garden became ripe at all at the same time. This historical fiction is a slice of life that I'm not entirely sure today's readers will relate to. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Doing Small Things with Great Love by Sharon Eubank - OPTIONAL

Doing Small Things with Great Love by Sharon Eubank, 320 pages. NONFICTION. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $25.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Throughout her life, Sharon Eubank has worked in different careers and capacities to uplift people around the world. Her experiences have led her to write about twelve service principles that act as a guide for every reader with a desire to help people, especially those in their own community.

Eubank uses successful and unsuccessful examples from her own life and other sources to illustrate her principles of service. She writes in a sincere tone that is engaging and feels like a personal conversation and plea for help on behalf of those all around us. Furthermore, Eubank gives readers clear opportunities to apply each principle, ending every chapter with questions to provoke reflection of past experiences and inspire new action.

The mature content rating is for mentions of drugs, alcohol, and sex trafficking. The violence rating is for mentions of bombing, war, and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Julia by Heather B. Moore - ADVISABLE

Julia by Heather B. Moore, 384 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $28.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Before Julia Child took any cooking classes, the bombing of Pearl Harbor spurred her to move to Washington DC to see how she could assist in the war effort. Before she ever set foot in France, Julia worked for the OSS (a US intelligence agency) in Ceylon (modern-day Sri Lanka) and China, falling in love with the abundant flavors of Asian food. Becoming Julia Child was the adventure of her lifetime.

I knew two things about Julia going into this book: that she cooked very well and that her married last name was Child. So when the Julia of the first couple chapters did not know how to cook and when she experienced familiar uncertainties regarding her crush, Paul Child, I was hooked. With every page of her story that did not reveal the Julia Child I thought I knew, my interest only grew. Her life is full of encouragement and hope, even as it is riddled with difficulties and setbacks.

The majority of characters are American and French. The mature content rating is for alcohol use and mentions of drugs. The violence rating is for discussions of war and bombs, mentions of suicide and murder, and a near-death experience.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin - OPTIONAL

Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin, 400 pages. Feiwel & Friends, 2025. $18

Language: R (28 swears 5 'f'); Mature Content: PG (mention of drugs) Violence: PG (deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Spooky and mysterious!  Faith feels at home at Ellery West. She grew up in the Philippines and moved to the island school of magic for her high school years. She loves the school and the island until she ventures into the forest with Sydney but walks out alone after something takes Sydney’s life. Immediately, Faith is pushed into the group of exiled students who are on the verge of losing their magic if they make another misstep. Her new group of friends, known as the Red Stripes, band together and take care of each other. They also want to help Faith find out what took Sydney’s life and put a stop to the continued deaths. They discover a deep, dark secret that, when exposed, will change everything. 

I love how the Red Stripes care about each other and how they help each other. I thoroughly enjoyed the mystery behind the story. This book has several interesting characters. The ethnicity is mixed. 

Lynndell Watson, DHS Librarian

Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth - ADVISABLE

Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth, 368 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025. $20.

Language: PG (13 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (bloody gunshot wound)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Magic, murder and mystery!  17yo Pandora’s childhood was taken from her by a patron that warped her powers into an extremely and extraordinary strength to make her dangerous. Her patron always kept their identity secret and Pandora is determined to discover who the person is that changed her power. Meanwhile, someone with similar powers to Pandora’s is murdering young women the same age as her. Once Pandora arrives at court, she meets a guard named Beacon and immediately feels a connection with him. Pandora is determined to solve the mystery of the murderer and her patron but she will struggle to do it alone and Beacon will struggle with loyalty and doing the right thing.

I enjoyed the prose. Beacon fell for Pandora a bit too quickly. Pandora’s friend Winifred is charming and fun. The rivalry between Pandora and Imogen entertains and surprises. Ethnicity falls to white. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian

The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater - ADVISABLE

The Raven Boys: The Graphic Novel by Maggie Stiefvater, 252 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2025. $18 

Language: PG-13 (41 swears, 0 F); Mature Content: PG (pentagrams); Violence: PG (sacrificial murder, abuse) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Blue is a 16yo girl who comes from a family of psychics. Her gift is to amplify their abilities. She gets swept away in a quest by a group of high school boys from a private boys school which caters to the rich and privileged. They are looking for a long dead Welsh king buried beneath the neighboring mountains in Virginia. They are not the only ones looking, and there are some dark secrets as well. 

This is the first of four books. The Raven Boys will suck you in. It is an intriguing premise. Stiefvager keeps it moving and the characters are strongly written. Fans of the original novels will welcome the graphic novel. The art fits the mood well and adds to the story. There is a lot happening, and while this version is satisfying, I found it helpful to have read the novel first, and now want to revisit the novel again to read her prose. There are plenty of twists to keep you going, though the subject matter can be dark. Race is not specified, though Blue appears to be mixed race. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo and Alice McKinley - ADVISABLE

The Magician Next Door by Rachel Chivers Khoo, illustrated by Alice McKinley, 190 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $17.

Content: G (mild danger)

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

10yo Callie would rather be back in London than in the village where she now lives in Northern Ireland with her dad for his new job. Feeling sorry for herself, she is moping at her window when she sees an eccentric house crashland upside down in her backyard. Winnifred the Magician needs Callie’s help, otherwise Winnifred’s bond with her house will be broken. But Callie is mourning the loss of her mom and of her old home and makes an impetuous decision that puts WInnifred in even more danger. Callie will have to think fast and act bravely in order to make the situation right.

Khoo handles Callie's grief in a delicate way, shocking her out of the wallowing she has been doing and showing her how to regain empathy for those around her. The pages have illustrations in black and white, adding to the magical feel. On a scale of rooted in our world to rooted in magic, the book feels more rooted in our world - WInnifred is more in distress during the whole book than doling out wonder. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Whispers of Shadowbrook House by Rebecca Anderson - OPTIONAL

Whispers of Shadowbrook House by Rebecca Anderson, 272 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Shadowbrook House has never been a happy place for Oliver. He left the crumbling—and possibly haunted—place and his aloof uncle as soon as he could and is only returning now as the heir to convince his uncle to sell it. Oliver (26yo) finds more resistance than expected from not only his uncle but also his dying cousin, a lovely governess, and even an over-the-top spiritualist that comes to visit.

With so many spooky and supernatural touches, Anderson surprised me with an adventurous and tender story. But none of the fun elements take away from the powerful message that healing comes to all kinds of grief—grief for death of loved ones, for illness-ridden bodies, for failed relationships, for unfulfilled dreams. The spiritualist, Madame Genevieve, may be at Shadowbrook House under the pretense of communing with the departed, but she can do a lot of good for the living in the house and for the reader.

The majority of characters are implied British. The mature content rating is for kissing and mild scary elements.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

At Last She Stood by Erin Entrada Kelly - OPTIONAL

At Last She Stood: How Joey Guerrero Spied, Survived, and Fought for Freedom by Erin Entrada Kelly, 208 pages. NON-FICTION HarperCollins, 2025. $20. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild war violence, peril, photoes of people with Hansen's Disease)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

At the beginning of WWII, Joey Guerrero, a Filipino woman was diagnosed with Hansen's Disease (formerly known as leprocy) When Pearl Harbor was attacked, so were the Philippines, which came under Japanese control. Joey joined a guerrilla force in Manila hoping to do her part to help her people. She was a spy, a courier, and a brave woman. 

Not much is known about Guerrero, so Entrada Kelly has filled in the gaps with general info about WWII, the war against the Japanese, an internment camp in Manila, sanitariums, racism, other characters, religion, MacArthur and a lot more. After the war, Joey story shifts to her fight to manage and help learn more about treatments for Hansen's Disease as she emigrates to Louisiana, changes her names and continues her life in the United States. So much content NOT about Josephina Guerrero, and so many sides stories about other people doing the same thing. Not entirely biography, only half WWII, I fear it might be a bit much for middle school readers. Includes index, pictures, a bibliography and further resources. 

Lisa Librarian

Witchkiller by Ashlee Latimer - OPTIONAL

Witchkiller by Ashlee Latimer, 336 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $20 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG (romance); Violence: PG (domestic violence, murder) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Gretel killed a witch to save her brother, Hansel. In gratitude, the kingdom has upgraded her family's status, though it doesn't help Gretel, who lives in fear of her abusive father and her brother, who is becoming more and more like her father. In order to avoid a loveless marriage, Gretel engages in a sham betrothal to the local prince. Things are not as they seem when Gretel discovers the witches are healers and that her family may be part of a dark plot to endanger those she loves. 

I always love a fairytale retelling. This one was really dark because of Gretel's abusive father and brother. It may give some readers PTSD. There was a lot of time spent dwelling on the abuse before getting to the meat of the plot. The same sex attraction was jarring, since Gretel seemed in love with the prince she spent increasing amounts of time with, and then goes off with a girl she hasn't hardly talked to. Gretel is most likely European. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson - ADVISABLE

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson, 272 pages. Scholastic, 2025 $19.00 

Language: PG (10 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: Violence: PG (talk about shark attack, death - offpage, peril) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Kaylani is spending the summer in Martha's Vineyard with family friends. Her father has recently gone to jail and Lani is certain he's innocent. She wants to learn everything she can about the law and hopes to exonerate him. But this unexpected trip, to stay with people she doesn't know - the girl her age, London, is rich, entitled and rude - is curbing her plans to help her dad. But when the body of an ex-boyfriend of London's sister is found in the ocean, and the police suspect he was murdered, Lani wants to prove Cassie didn't do it. But, what if she did?

Tiffany Jackson can certainly write for middle schoolers.  The mystery was great, with a few twists and turns, great clues and some scary situations.  I liked the tie ins to Martha's Vineyard history and its connection with black history. I kept hoping the Obamas would pop into the story.  

Most of the characters are black 

Lisa Librarian 

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina - ADVISABLE

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, 236 pages. Candlewick, 2025 $19.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (scary imagery, deaths, harpooning) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Graciela is a sea spirit, dead for over 100 years, but still young. Her job is making sea glass, her best friend Amina awakens sea ghosts. On shore 12yo Jorge is a blacksmith and an inventor. His family has been cursed for several generations as his ancestor forged an evil thing - a harpoon made to spear sea ghosts and steal their pearly teeth. It caused a calamity and sank the ship of the village's best fishermen. When Jorge discovers the harpoon, he knows he needs to destroy it by any means. 

An exciting fantasy, with scary ghosts as well as kind ones. I loved the story line and the life lessons aren't"in your face". Graciela would appeal to ghost story readers as well as those who love mermaids, AND there's enough fighting and danger and swordplay to keep our adventure readers happy, too. The characters default white 

Lisa Librarian 

When We Ride by Rex Ogle - OPTIONAL

When We Ride by Rex Ogle, 336 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Norton Young Readers, 2025. $19. 

Language: R ( 71 swears 74 f's); Mature Content: PG13 (implied sex, teen alcohol and drug use); Violence: R (gun violence, fights, physical assault) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Benny is a good student, his mother has high expectations for him, he doesn't drink or do drugs, he gets high grades and he has a job washing dishes at a diner. But Benny's best friend Lawson always needs a ride. They've been best friends for 10 years, call each other brother and have each other's backs, but Lawson, is a drug dealer. 

Edge of your seat action that will engage the reader from the very first page. Lawson's choices get him in deeper and deeper trouble, making When We Ride, a novel in verse, a cautionary tale not only about the dangers of using and dealing, but also about what happens to the people on the periphery. Benny is Hispanic, Lawson defaults white. 

Lisa Librarian