The Ginghams by T.C. Kemper, - ADVISABLE

The Ginghams by T.C. Kemper, 227 pages. Henry Holt, 2026. $19

Content: G (earring ripped out of ear)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Joni and Tyler are eager to see their best friend May after eight weeks away at summer camp.  May, however, is acting a little bit different; her usual punk rock style has been replaced by a more conservative look.  And May isn’t the only one - many of the moms around town are also looking and acting very differently.  It has to be something to do with May’s new neighbors - the Ginghams. Whatever the Ginghams are doing, it seems to be spreading all over town - far too quickly! Tyler and Joni seem to be the only ones who can stop it, but they are going to need a little inside help from an unexpected source. 

Adults may remember the Stepford Wives movies - Kemper uses more modern technology for her ace in the hole.  The idea is the same but even more insidious, I felt. Loved it.

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

Outside by Jennifer L. Holm - OPTIONAL

Outside by Jennifer L. Holm, 240 pages. Scholastic, OCTOBER 2025. $18

Content: G (death mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Razzi and the kids have a huge mansion to run around in, but they are rarely allowed to go Outside. Ollie wanted so badly to be Outside and he died because of it. Razzi has always been the Oldest, the leader, the rule follower.  But ever since she had her heart transplant, she has been a bit different. 

While I had some fun with Holm’s latest, I was personally put off by the heart transplant and its source being the impetus behind Razzi’s changes.  At 12, Razzi is moving into teenhood, which should be enough to inspire her changes and actions. You should point your readers towards Running Out of Time by Haddix or Bodeen’s The Compound series 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

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

Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere - OPTIONAL

Riot Act by Sarah Lariviere, 298 pages. Knopf Books (Random House), 2024. $20.

Language: R (30 swears, 10 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Mature dialogue and innuendos and some drinking and smoking); Violence: PG-13 (rioting, death and police raids)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Gigi Durant is just trying to survive senior year in a world where the government has taken over everything—even school plays and music. Her best friend Max is dead (he’s also the ghost narrating the story), her favorite teacher is gone, and everything creative is getting shut down by the SYXTEM, a powerful regime that punishes anyone who speaks out. But Gigi’s not the type to stay quiet. Along with her friends, she plans a secret theater production to fight back using the one thing she still believes in: art.

I really liked this book because it felt real—even in a made-up world. Gigi is the kind of main character who messes up, speaks her mind, and refuses to let anyone silence her. Her best friend Max narrates the story after he dies, which sounds weird, but it totally worked—he’s hilarious, honest, and full of heart. I liked how the book mixed punk music, secret theater, and rebellion in a way that makes you want to stand up and say something too. It was a little hard to get into and a bit confusing with it switching back and forth between the past and present, but once I got into it, I thought it was a fun book to read.

The characters are all white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Flashtide by Jenny Moyer - OPTIONAL

Flashtide (Flashfall #2) by Jenny Moyer, 368 pages. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2017. $18.

Language: PG13 (17 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

19yo Dram and 17yo Orion made it past the flash curtain, but it only compounded their problems. They are still on the run from the Congress, and they can’t escape the effects of the curtain. The pair set out to save their people, and yet it looks like everything they do only puts their people in more peril.

Moyer’s style of writing was choppy, which often made it difficult to follow what Orion was doing; sometimes it felt like I was missing parts of the story, and I know some of the science and magic of their world went over my head. The path that Dram and Orion forged to freedom included tragedy and heart-wrenching consequences, hope and trust that the other still had the same end goal—even when their paths weren’t the expected ones. I loved watching them repair the cracks in their relationship over and over, making each other more important than their mistakes.

Characters with shades of skin from pale to brown are described. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol, kissing, innuendo, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for blood and gore, gun use, assault, mentions of cannibals, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde - ADVISABLE

Paige Not Found by Jen Wilde, 256 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $19.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Paige already struggles to deal with the world through the lens of her autism.  When she finds out that her parents enrolled her in a study that implanted a device (The Dot) into her brain in order to assess her and control her, she is livid. Along with her best friend, she needs to track down the other kids from the study - because their data is about to be sold to a company that has a very poor track record about data privacy.

The near-future setting doesn’t feel that far down the road, but does put this into science fiction. Paige is queer (possibly non-binary, but she hasn’t changed her pronouns yet), which she just is - it is not a plot point. A decent book about body autonomy, data privacy, and consent. The action is just enough to keep some students interested once they catch on to the plot.

Paige cues white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Powerless by Lauren Roberts - MANY

Powerless by Lauren Roberts, 528 pages. Simon & Schuster BFYR, 2023. $15 

Language: R (154 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G (kissing); Language: PG-13 (bloody fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The sixth Purging Trials are set to take place. 18yo Paedyn is placed in the competition unknowingly and feels out of her depth against the others since she has no powers and is secretly an Ordinary. 19yo Prince Kai is the king’s Enforcer and the trials have been planned for Kai to win. Paedyn and Kai decide to work together to win the trials. What they discover along the way will either make or break them.

The story has many similarities with The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins. Some parts feel rushed or forced, such as the relationship between Kai and Paedyn. I like the concept and it’s an enjoyable read. The ethnicity is predominantly white with olive, brown and black skin mentioned. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian

Prodigy by Marie Lu - ESSENTIAL

 

Prodigy (Legend, #2) by Marie Lu, 374 pages. Speak (Penguin), 2013.  $11.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (21 swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Day and June decide to join the rebel group known as the Patriots.  June officially left the Republic when she helped Day escape his capture, and now the two of them are avoiding the Republic’s clutches.  But the more time they spend with the Patriots, it starts to become clear that there may not be a “good” side to the war, and this Rebel group seems to have a connection to someone with money.  June and Day try to stay loyal to each other while piecing together the true story.  

I’m totally hooked on this dystopian series.  I love Day and June and the twists and turns throughout the plot kept me reading. The world building is clear, and the bad guys are easy to “boo” and the good guys are easy to cheer on.  The content includes war violence and death.  There is also a heavy make-out scene. I will read this whole series and recommend that if you have one book, that you buy the whole series.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

This Vicious Cure by Emily Suvada - HIGH

This Vicious Cure (Mortal Coil, #3) by Emily Suvada, 404 pages. Simon Pulse, 2020. $20. 

Content: Language: R (100+ swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: R.  

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Cat exists without her body and is trapped in a computerized loop.  With hope of gaining a body and helping her friends finally rid the world of Cartaxus and it’s confusing mission, Cat has to find a way to exist in the real world.  Working with her friends, Cat fights against time and technology to try and save humanity.  

I enjoy this series and was highly satisfied with the ending.  Cat is easy to cheer for and her friends are just as likable as Cat.  The dystopian setting is well built and intense.  The violence includes gore and creative violence that is upsetting.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson       

Between Burning Worlds by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell - ESSENTIAL

Between Burning Worlds (System Divine, #2) by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell, 670 pages.  Aladdin (Simon and Schuster), 2020.  $20.  

Content: PG-13 (14 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Three different characters are linked to the revolution brewing in Laterre.  Chatine is now a prisoner on Bastille but sees signs of revolt and a chance to escape her prison. Marcellus tries to help the resistance by spying on his grandfather, the general, but is found out and loses his position of government power, narrowly escaping death to later join up with the revolutionaries.  Alouette is hunting for the truth of who her mother was and who the women were who raised her, and the answers lead her to the resistance and to the knowledge of her father.  As all the characters find themselves joined in a common cause against the regime, they strengthen friendships and find romance.  

I adore this series.  If your readers liked the Cinder series by Marissa Myer they will eat this series up too.  I love all the characters, and the twists. This book has an open ending and I can’t see when the next book is going to be released, but I can’t wait.  The violence does include dead bodies, a beheading and people being manipulated to fight to the death.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson   

The Hidden Girl and Other Short Stories by Ken Liu - OPTIONAL

The Hidden Girl and Other Short Stories by Ken Liu, 432 pages. SHORT STORIES. Saga Press, 2020. $26. 9781982134037

Language: R (17 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The future is uncertain. Will we end up destroying our planet? Will we continue to progress and evolve until we no longer recognize where we came from? How involved will technology be? In these 19 short stories, Lui explores avenues of a future that might be and highlights problems that we will face if we aren’t careful with our present.

These scifi and fantasy stories filled my mind with food for thought, and the element of tragedy that permeates most of them only made them feel more realistic and relatable. I found that I could not sit down to read several of the stories in one sitting because of the thought I wanted to give them, and I enjoyed reading most of the stories. Stories later in the book became more exciting to read as I started to notice connecting threads and wanted to know what came first in these imagined futures. The mature content rating is for nudity, mentions of pornography and rape, and implied sex; the violence rating is for war, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Toll by Neal Shusterman - ESSENTIAL

The Toll (Arc of the Scythe #3) by Neal Shusterman, 622 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2019. $20

Language: PG (12 swears, 0 ‘f’) ; Mature Content: PG (implied sex); Violence: PG-13 (mass gleanings)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

After the destruction of Endura, Thunderhead declared all humans unsavory, except for Grayson Tolliver. Scythe Goddard has declared himself High Blade of MidMerica, with an eye to taking controlling the entire world.  While Scythes Citra and Rowan may have gone down with Endura, someone is attempting to rescue the vault, which contains all of the diamonds for the Scythe’s rings — and a couple of unexpected passengers. 

Suffice it to say, there are many little threads in the third and final book of the Arc of the Scythes, and Shusterman has woven each of them into a masterful tapestry.  Be ready to read the entire set again, if just to enjoy the artistry at play. There is an interesting gender fluid character among all of the new friends we meet along the way.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Synapse by Steven James - ADVISABLE

Synapse by Steven James, 384 pages. Thomas Nelson, 2019. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Kestrel and her brother, Trevor, haven’t spoken in a very long time, but the tragic events unfolding lead them to start reaching out again. Jordan is an Artificial—a machine with AI capabilities—who just wants to experience being human. Nick, tracking down the perpetrators of the most recent terrorist attack, isn’t sure if he wants to let himself love another woman after his last wife left him. All thrown together by unpredictable circumstances, these people will find they need each other through the difficult week ahead of them.

Honestly, reading this book was kind of an odd experience because of all the issues and contradictions of different points of view brought up. If you want a book to make you think, this one is for you. I had to put the book down several times to ponder my own views on questions about technology and emotions, belief in God, the origin of justice, hope and lies, ethics and integrity dedicated to various forms of belief, and more. I can’t imagine the time and skill it took James to craft so many varying viewpoints and beliefs for his various characters, and I thoroughly enjoyed each new perspective and how the perspectives complemented and contradicted the others. The story itself, too, kept building and becoming more complex until I was sure it couldn’t all be resolved together. Reading this book was mentally, emotionally, and spiritually exhausting—and it was worth every page. The violence rating is for terrorism, murder, and gore.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Sky Without Stars by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell - ESSENTIAL

Sky Without Stars (System Divine, #1) by Jessica Brody and Joanne Rendell, 582 pages.  Simon Pulse, 2019.  $20.  

Content: Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ESSENTIAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Chatine is a thief, who tries to collect items so she can one day escape the bleak planet of Laterre.  Chatine dresses like a boy and once while stealing from the dead, she runs into a wealthy ruling-class boy named Marcellus.  Their chance meeting later turns into Chatine spying on Marcellus for his grandfather.  Marcellus is trying to be brave and carry out his government position in a manner pleasing to his grandfather who is the general, but he receives an encrypted message from the rebellion the night he visits his father’s dead body, and Marcellus begins to doubt the system of government he has been trained to guard.  One night, Marcellus is caught in the rebellion's crossfire and injured, so a sweet girl named Alouette, who Marcellus learns is a defector, tends to his wounds and helps him translate his encrypted message. These three characters’ lives become critical to each other’s salvation and the future of their planet.  

I could not put this book down.  I loved all the characters and the setting.  The plot is a reimagining of Les Miserables and moves quickly with lots of action.  The ending isn’t complete, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next book.  If you liked the Cinder series by Marissa Meyer, then you will enjoy this.  The violence includes dead bodies and a beheading.

Reviewer, C. Peterson.      

This Cruel Design by Emily Suvada - OPTIONAL

This Cruel Design (Mortal Coil, #2) by Emily Suvada, 392 pages.  Simon Pulse, 2018.  $20.  

Content: Language: R (100+ swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Cat is still trying to come to terms with who she really is and with the understanding of her own past comes memories and knowledge that might help her save humanity.  As the virus continues to threaten all of humanity, different organizations have varying solutions, but Cat believes that humanity can still be saved.  Working with Cole and new people that she meets in a place called Entropia, Cat tries to fight against past enemies and hopelessness.  

I think this world is creative and interesting.  I really like Cat’s character and can’t wait to see how this story ends.  That said, this book is slower than the first with a lot of explanations and not as much action.  The content includes heavy make-out, a hand being severed which was upsetting and a high death count. 

Reviewer, C. Peterson.   

This Mortal Coil by Emily Suvada - HIGH

This Mortal Coil (Mortal Coil, #1) by Emily Suvada, 419 pages.  Simon Pulse, 2017.  $19.  

Content: Language: R (100+ swears); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: R.  

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH  

Cat lives in a remote hidden location, far from big populations where she might contract the plague.  Cat is a hacker and works at decoding and manipulating DNA.  She has lived by herself for two years, ever since her father was taken by Cartaxus.  Cat has been taught that Cartaxus is evil and to avoid them at all costs, but when a Cartaxus soldier named Cole shows up to tell Cat her father is dead, her world starts to shift. 

I couldn’t put this book down.  I got caught up in the dystopian world that had the same feel as The Fifth Wave by Rick Yancy.  I enjoyed all the plot twists, the chemistry between the characters and the quick moving storyline.  There is a lot of gory and gruesome violent content and a heavy make-out session.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson

The Waning Age by S.E. Grove - OPTIONAL

The Waning Age by S.E. Grove, 333 pages.  Viking (Penguin), 2019.  $19

Language: R (12 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG (sexual harassment); Violence: PG-13 (described suicide, bloody fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW

Natalia lives with her little brother, Cal, in a world where most everyone loses their emotions as they mature.  Except that Cal is still the same exuberant young man he has always been.  One day Cal is called in for extra testing at school and then he is whisked away – adopted even – by a corporation which wants to understand what makes him tick. With the help of a few concerned friends and a new (love?) interest Natalia is still not sure that she will succeed.

Grove mimics the feel of the world in her writing – conveying the dull feel of an emotionless world at the beginning and then ramping up the emotion as Cal becomes imperiled and Natalia rises to the occasion.  Most readers will have a hard time with the duller start., though, and I am not sure that they will persist with reading. 

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

OtherEarth by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller - HIGH

OtherEarth by Jason Segel and Kirsten Miller, 310 pages.  Delacorte (Random), 2018.  $19

Language: R (100+ swears, 7 “f”); Mature Content: PG (naked mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (lots of VR deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Simon and Kat have escaped from OtherWorld, but their problems are not over.  They need to track down the home of OtherWorld’s now dead creator, hoping to find a safer way back in, because the disk interface is corrupt and the Company has been killing people in order to debug the system. Simon and Kat know that the Children inside OtherWorld are sentient beings, but the only players still allowed inside are hellbent on killing as many of them as possible for sport. If he goes in wearing a disk, Simon risks death. But he has more than one world to save

I’m still not happy with the throwaway swears in Segel’s series, but kids who are into Ready Player One and other VR-based novels will want another.  They are all very similar to each other.  This quote is the best thing about this book:

“People get so excited that we have all this fun new technology.  They never sit back ad consider how dangerous it might be. We’re just a bunch of monkeys playing with a box of matches”.

Cindy, Library Teacher, MLS

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe - ADVISABLE

The Last Voyage of Poe Blythe by Ally Condie, 324 pages.  Dutton Books, 2019.  $19.  

Content: Language: PG-13 (8 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13.  

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS – ADVISABLE  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE  

Poe lives in a dystopian society and works on a drudge that pulls gold nuggets off the river floor.  One day river raiders board the ship and kill Poe’s best friend and boyfriend, Call.  Poe is so upset by his death that she vows revenge on the river raiders and spends the next two years building a ship that is impervious to the raiders.  Although Poe has mostly been the inventor for the ship, the Admiral assigns Poe to a mission to go up the river Serpentine on the next voyage.  As Poe captains the ship she starts to suspect that there is a traitor on board.  

I enjoyed the story and the fast-moving plot.  I liked the minor characters and the dystopian society was interesting.  My one complaint about this book is that it felt one-dimensional, so I had a hard time feeling like the setting was realistic and a hard time connecting with the main character.  The content includes blood and killings.  

Reviewer, C. Peterson