A Song of Swords and Stuffies by Joshua Pruett, Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate - OPTIONAL

The Last Comics on Earth: A Song of Swords and Stuffies by Joshua Pruett, illustrated by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, 258 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The Last Kids on Earth have to one-up Skaelka, who has written her own comic book. In order to counter her success, they have come up with villains from space who are so dang adorable that they make instant friends. When the cutie-patootie villains spread cuteness throughout Apocalyptia, the super heroes must try and stop them with The Mythic Sword of Destiny. 

Lots of action makes for a fast read. The cuteness factor is off the charts, as is the frenzied storytelling. There is a lot going on. My volunteer 11yo reader told me he thought the jokes were funny but that some of it didn't make sense. He gave it a three out of four ranking. I would concur. The art is fun and bright, but this is a one and done read for me. There are no specified races or cultures, but there are different skin tones on the superheroes. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Last Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains by Joshua Pruett and Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate - OPTIONAL

The Last Comics on Earth: Too Many Villains by Joshua Pruett, illustrated by Jay Cooper & Douglas Holgate, 258 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Viking (Penguin), 2024. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Apocalyptia isn't just end of the world, it's comic books! Jack, Quint, June, and Dirk need to come up with a new comic book stat after their first one was a success. They decide to do a bigger, better comic book with way more villains, but it turns out that even tons of villains have to get their ideas from somewhere. The superheroes are on a frenzied dash to crush villains and the mastermind behind them. 

There is color and humor, but this book had so much going on that it became hard to follow. I felt like I needed ADHD medication. There were way too many villains, even though that was the plot point. I realize I am way older than the target audience, though they might be too young to get some of the comedic references. Younger readers will get pulled in by the art and fast pacing though. Though no races or cultures are specifically mentioned, the superheroes have different skin tones. 

Michelle in the Middle 

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis - ESSENTIAL

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis, 384 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $20.

 

Language: R (85 swears 14 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (bloody fight, police brutality, taunting, football violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Aiden wants to play on his brother's high school football team, and it's finally the year they can do it. 17yo Brandon is a senior and the number one recruit in the nation, but when Aiden, who is a good player, but also has autism, has an episode at tryouts, it looks like the boys won't get to play together after all. When a spot opens and Aiden does gets on the team, some of the other players are unhappy, and resent him because they think he's only playing because his brother is the star quarterback. At a team party after a win, one player picks a fight with Aiden, which turns into chaos, the police are called and several boys on the team are arrested. Including Brandon, who as far as Aiden remembers, wasn't involved. But the police say he assaulted an officer and resisted arrest. Aiden feels this is all his fault, and is desperate to clear his brother's name and save his future prospects. 

There's a lot going on in this engaging, heart wrenching, moving story. Davis hits on racism, social issues, high school football, the legal system, and being a child with autism. At one point he confronts his coach with honest questions and anger about how he has been treated by adults - differently because he's black? because he had autism? because of his brother? Those questions don't have a neat easy answer. A good mix of black and white players on the team, as well as a gay couple. A nice companion to Come Home Safe by Brian Buckmire. 

Aiden and Brandon are black, many of the team is too, most are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc - ADVISABLE

Mint to Be by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, 304 pages. Scholastic, OCTOBER 2025. $11 (pb)

Language: G (2 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: G (light kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Aiden and Emma have been best friends since kindergarten.  Lately they have been having feelings for each other, but neither of them is willing to tell the other - they don;t want to ruin their friendship.  While Aiden is content in their small town, Emma has always wanted to travel.  When Emma is given a spot at a prestigious NYC boarding school for their senior year, she leaves without even saying goodbye to Aiden,  Now it is Christmas - Emma is back in town and she has brought along her boyfriend of the last six months - her first boyfriend ever, who is everything her small town and Aiden are not. And neither of the boys knows about the other.

A sweet, wholesome romance!  We never can have enough of those in our libraries. You can confidently share this with your Jenny Han fans. Cicatelli-Kuc has another romance based in Briar Glen - I am hoping it is as cute as this one.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley - ADVISABLE

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley, 272 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $20

Content: PG (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Back in 2011, a freak tornado hit a trailer park in Centralia, Illinois, killing four. Francis was only a baby at the time - he survived, but not his mother. 12yo Natalie has just moved to Centralia to live with Grandma while her mom is in drug rehab. She wants to keep her head low, but can;t keep quiet when she sees how the others at school relentlessly bully Francis. It is Centralia’s bicentennial, and their class has been ordered to make history projects - Francis and Natalie pair up to research the tornado, but someone has secrets and they don’t want the tornado scrutinized. The enemy will take drastic measures to ensure their secrets stay hidden, but Natalie and Francis also have friends who are willing to help them succeed. 

Foley adds a touch of magical realism to her story, which I am not going to give away. I love Natalie’s bravery and the adults who rallied around to help her.  Francis is not as brave, but also realistic.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Goalkeeper (Tangerine #2) by Edward Bloor - ESSENTIAL

Goalkeeper (Tangerine #2) by Edward Bloor, 192 pages. Harper Collins, OCTOBER 2025. $20

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (physical threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Paul Fisher has finished his 7th grade year at a Catholic school, but is looking forward to going back to Tangerine Middle School for 8th grade and back to his soccer team. His older brother Erik is under house arrest, not for the death he caused, but for the burglaries. A so-called Christian sub shop owner has come to town and Paul’s dad has bought into the patter. Between drama on the soccer field, drama between friends, drama with Erik, and huge drama caused by the subshop, Paul’s life is topsy-turvy once again. 

It has been almost 20 years since Tangerine was published - it has always been a favorite of mine.  Even though it took so long, I am so happy with Bloor’s sequel! He juggles the multiple strands of the story that none of them feeling left out or overwhelming. I also want to point out that Bloor accomplished all of this in under 200 pages - great for reluctant readers.

The characters are mostly white, with some Latinx.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout - ESSENTIAL

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025 $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (war violence, execution of resistance members, blood in graphics) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When Annick's Dutch grandmother needs a bone marrow transplant, and discovers she is not a blood relative of her siblings, Annick begins a search of her grandmother's history to discover what happened to her in German occupied Amsterdam during WWII. Told from 2011 and 1941, we see the answers to Annick's research as events unfold during the war. In 1941, artists and art not approved by the Nazis was forbidden, but Emma, who likes to draw was introduced to the underground art community by a friend, as well as learned how she could help the Resistance from a teacher at her school - smuggling forged paperwork produced by her artist friends and helping foster Jewish babies who have been saved from deportation with their parents. Annick discovers that one of these babies may have been her Oma, and that Oma has a brother. 

A well written, well documented account of the resistance movement in Amsterdam during the war. I especially loved that many of the graphic illustrations were superimposed onto photographs taken by the Resistance. I was especially impressed by the end notes, telling about who the characters were based on the stories behind the events that happened in the book. The Bank Heist was my favorite. As I began reading, I noticed that Song of a Blackbird takes place at the same time and in the same place as Artifice by Sharon Cameron. It had some overlap which was fun. The characters are Dutch 

Lisa Librarian  

The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell - OPTIONAL

The Beanstalk Murder by P.G. Bell, 310 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2024. $10

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Anwen Sedge lives in the small town of Old Stump, when a giant falls from the sky, flattening her village. Anwen discovers that the giant was dead before he hit the ground, which means he must have been murdered. Anwen and her arch rival, Cerys, go up a magic beanstalk to try and get help from the giants' sky kingdom, where they discover the dead giant was the king. Anwen and Cerys have to learn to get along and use their different kinds of magic to figure out the murderer before they too might be victims. 

I was prepared not to like this, because it seemed too trite to me, but there are some marvelous twists and turns. Anwen makes her size work for her as she tries to solve the murder, and both girls discover they may have been wrong about the other. A charming read for preteens who like fairytales. Culture and age are not specified, though the cover art suggests the girls are white Europeans. 

Michelle in the Middle 

What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing - ESSENTIAL

What Happened Then by Erin Soderberg Downing, 240 pages. Scholastic, SEPT 2025. $19

Content: G (death mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Jax’s Dad and Avery’s Mom may be twins, but their parents and the other three siblings have seen little of each other for the last 30 years. This summer, however, they have been summoned to the family’s private island, where the older generation used to spend their summers - Aunt Robbie has a debilitating disease and she wants to spruce up the island and maybe reunite the family at the same time.  Jax and Avery seem to be the only ones interested in ferreting out the truth - even they don’t know what the truth may do to them.

Downing weaves an excellent family mystery - not the murder mystery kind. She manages to keep even the readers in the dark in the right ways until the very end. The family pathos is tender and poignant. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti - ADVISABLE

Outfoxed by Elise McMullen-Ciotti, 256 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $8 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Cherokee Skye is spending the summer with her aunt and uncle. Her older cousin Braeden has just landed her dream job as a Park Ranger.  When Skye finds an injured baby fox, she meets Ivy at the local vet’s office.. Together the two girls are determined to find the poacher, even if it hurts people close to her.

The Wish books are all so good - a variety of stories and characters, well-written, and fun. While the page count seems long, it didn’t read long - the story flowed quickly, with nice moments of tension and mystery.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood - OPTIONAL

Let’s Split Up by Bill Wood, 352 pages. Scholastic, SEPT 2025. $15 (pb)

Language: R (51 swears, 11 ‘f’); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (deaths mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The Carrington mansion has been vacant for 100 years - ever since a fire killed the final occupant.  Now, when the local football star and his cheerleader boyfriend also die within its walls, three friends, Cam, Jonsey, and Amber, along with newcomer Buffy, want to solve the mystery. Someone is watching them, willing to go to any lengths to keep them from getting too close to the truth.

A bit Scooby Gang, a little Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a campy horror romp that is a quick read. It is nice for once to see a murder mystery where it isn’t the friend group trying to kill each other.  

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Cinder House by Freya Marske - ADULTS

Cinder House by Freya Marske, 144 pages. Tor, OCTOBER 2025. $25

Language: G (2 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: R (steamy scenes with vague language, menage a trois mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ella’s father is dead and so is Ella, but somehow she is tied as a ghost to her family home.  And, unfortunately, she is under the control of the stepmother and stepsisters - one of whom, Greta,  delights in torturing Ella with her commands. Then Ella makes a bargain that helps her to be seen and touched for only three nights - the same three nights of the Prince’s ball to choose a wife. 

Marske changes and adds to the Cinderella story in very interesting ways. Without the racy scenes, I would have recommended this to a much wider audience. As an adult reader, I enjoyed Marske’s additions - including a creative curse placed upon the prince and an evil stepsister who is also a magic user. 

The characters default white in a fantasy realm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga, 288 pages. HarperCollins, 2021. $19. 

Language: PG (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (reference to a school shooting, injury in a creek); 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Quinn and her next door neighbor Cora have been best friends their whole lives. Until last November, when Cora's sister Mabel died in a school shooting. Quinn's brother Parker was the shooter. They haven't spoken since, it's been terrible for each of them, but Quinn feels somehow responsible, like she should have known, like she should have stopped him. Actually, Cora does, too. She can't help but blame Quinn. So when Quinn has a plan, and Cora sees that they both need to be involved for it to work, they agree to try. To find a wormhole and go back in time to try to fix things, to stop Parker somehow. 

Told in alternating chapters, both Cora and Quinn are grieving, but differently. Cora is so angry, she has other friends still and visits a therapist every week, but isn't sure it's helping. Quinn's parents won't talk about what happened with Quinn and fight with each other all the time. Quinn has no friends at school - everyone avoids her. She didn't try out for the soccer team and spends lunch every day in the library. A fascinating look at the effect on the family of a school shooting. Quinn is while, Cora's father is from Lebanon. 

Lisa Librarian 

Wolf Club by James Bird - ADVISABLE

Wolf Club by James Bird, 272 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), SEPT 2025. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Okan, the racoon; Sara, the Skunk, and Marcus, the moose may be classmates, but they are certainly not friends. Until, however, a white wolf with antlers is spotted in their Minnesota forest and Okan and Sara feel called to find and save the wolf from rogue hunters. Marcus? He comes along because he demands to be included. The trio will go on a journey of steps and of spirit as each of them wrestle with where their hearts and loyalties lie.

Reminiscent of Touching Spirit Bear, Bird brings us skillfully into Native American lives and customs. I enjoyed the dynamics between the three characters and action and feeling of danger of the story. The resolution was a lovely surprise I wasn’t able to predict, that felt genuine.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Okan and Sara are Native America; Marcus is white.

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel - OPTIONAL

Best of All Worlds by Kenneth Oppel, 256 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $20

Language: R (41  swears, 4  ‘f’); Mature Content:G ; Violence: PG (coyote attack, threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Xavier has reluctantly joined his dad and pregnant stepmom, Nia, on the annual trip to the family cabin, knowing his older brother will come up soon. When they wake in the morning, however, they are no longer at the lake - they are somewhere else. Disaster strikes when Nia goes into early labor, but somehow everything turns out ok.  Now, three years later, the four have figured out who exist where they are - but when a new family appears suddenly, everything is thrown into question again.

I don’t want to say too much - Oppel has done a great job with his new science fiction book - this one in particular reminds me of Will Sleator’s stories. And the length is not too intimidating fora  wide variety of readers.

Characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan - ADVISABLE

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan, 272 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger)

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

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Toasty the goldfish may be Jillian’s only pet, but Ivy is also the beloved houseplant. Toasty has pride of place in a beautiful octagonal fish tank, an antique found by Jillian’s parents, who are antique dealers whose storefront is barely holding on. Then arrives Arthur, a spider with a broken leg, and then Ollie, another houseplant! None of these new housemates realize how special they are - or how special the water from Toasty’s magical fishtank makes them - until they need to band together to save the Tuppers from a mysterious man with nefarious purposes. 

Listening to the plants and animals interact is a hoot. If I taught 2nd or 3rd grade I’d read this aloud to my class for fun. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

After Life by Gayle Forman - OPTIONAL

After Life by Gayle Forman, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20. 

Language: R (63 swears 10 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (sexual activity - talked about not fully described) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Amber arrives home from school, and things at home seem different. She can't find her cat, the TV doesn't work right and when her mom sees her she can't stop screaming. Amber was killed in a hit and run on her way home from school 7 years ago. Her little sister Melissa is now Amber's age! Amber's mother is horrified, her father is elated. Amber is confused. She didn't know she died, but now she's seeing how it affected her family, her friends, even people she barely knew. 

Told from many perspectives and times prior to and after Amber's return. After Life is definitely for a more mature reader who can keep track. A deep examination of grief, and how different people manage it. 

A complicated novel, but a must have in a High School library. Amber and her family are white. Melissa is a lesbian 

Lisa Librarian 

Dream by Barbara O’Connor - OPTIONAL

Dream by Barbara O’Connor, 256 pages. Farrar, Straus, Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $18

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Idalee lives with her Mama in their boarding house in the small Colby, North Carolina.  Mama dreams of being a country-western star and this summer she is going on the road with her band in search of stardom, leaving Idalee and the boarding house in the care of one of their long-term borders. When Idalee hears about a song-writing contest, she badly wants to enter, but she’ll need to find the treasure hidden in the house by her late granddaddy in order to buy the guitar she needs to inspire her.

I am unsure what time period Idalee lives in - though Charlie, from O’Connor’s Wish  appears in the book as a young lady. For fans of gentle realistic fiction.

Characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta - ADVISABLE

The Freedom Seeker by Ruchira Gupta, 320 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Simi lives in India with a loving family, but her parents are a Muslim and a Hindu and a growing faction in India are against such mixed marriages. After her father is badly beaten, he makes his way from India to Mexico and from there to NYC.  When Simi and her mother follow in his footsteps, however, they are abandoned by their coyote in the desert and picked up by American agents and taken to separate detention camps. Will the family ever be reunited?

I found this video about Indians immigrating to America - both legally and illegally (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hh1xgoPHiM8). I had no idea that Indians are a large percentage of those coming from Mexico. Gupta gives a poignant portrayal of the desperation of those sneaking in and of their treatment if captured and detained. 

The main characters are Indian and Mexican.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford, - OPTIONAL

The Loudest Silence by Sydney Langford, 301 pages. Holiday House, 2024. $20

Language: R (89 swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (cyber bulling, punches)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

A few months before making a big move from Oregon to Florida with her family, 16yo Casey, who hoped to one day be a professional singer, woke up to find that she had lost most of her hearing. When Casey's friends find about her hearing loss, they all desert her. Determined not to be hurt again, she plans to hide that she is Deaf-Hard of hearing and make no friends at her new school in Florida. But Lela has other ideas. She brings Casey into her circle of friends anyway: Hayden, Paz, and Cesar.  Soon Casey is bonding with Hayden over a shared love of music. Hayden also has secrets he is keeping. Although his family expects him to be a soccer star like his father and brother before him, he wants to star on Broadway. Hayden is also dealing with generalized anxiety disorder. Casey and Hayden begin to confide in each other. They find love and support with each other as they are both dealing with a disability. When they both decide to be brave and share things with their other friends, they find acceptance and support there as well.

Overall, I enjoyed the book, which is told from the dual perspective of Casey and Hayden. I liked that Casey found a place where she felt at home. I liked that the focus is on two kids dealing with disabilities while still trying to follow their dreams. They both find needed love and support from their friendship. I liked that the book describes when ASL is used and touches on some aspects of Deaf culture and community. The book touches on some aspects of ableism and cyberbullying. Casey describes herself as being bisexual. The relationship between Cesar and Casey is antagonistic until the last few chapters of the book. Then I feel that suddenly, and without any lead-up, there was a change between them.

Casey is white with a Polish father, Hayden is Cuban/Italian-American, Lela and Cesar are Colombian-American, Paz is Ethiopian-American

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian