Perfect Enough by Meg Eden Kuyatt - ADVISABLE

Perfect Enough (Good Different #2) by Meg Eden Kuyatt, 352 pages. Scholastic, 2026. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

13yo Selah now has a diagnosis, sensory tools, and a friend who knows about her autism. Now she's trying something new. A sleepaway writers' camp, where she'll room with her friend Rheya, but also Brooklyn, who is loud, impatient and self-centered. Selah has dreamed about becoming a writer, and this camp is a dream come true - but Ezra is also there - her bully from school. But Ezra isn't the only problem - this is Selah's first opportunity to negotiate all this at once and on her own. An understanding camp counselor gets her, but Selah isn't ready to share. 

A great companion to Good Different, Kuyatt does a great job of filling in the background without feeling like you need to read book one. This writers' camp sounds fun, lots of activities, and kids have many opportunities to be creative. As a teacher, I didn't love that Seleh was able to sleep at night in the library without a counselor noticing and figuring out a solution. Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story and Seleh's opportunities to make hard choices. Selah is white, Ezra and Rheya are black. 

Lisa Librarian  

Absent by Rex Ogle and LJ-Baptiste - SEVERAL

Absent by Rex Ogle and LJ-Baptiste, 304 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL, NOVEL IN VERSE Norton YR, September 2026. $18

Language: R (19 swears 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Physical bullying, threats, taunting, menacing)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Liam, Manny and Cal are all in middle school and serving detention together because of attendance problems. Cal is responsible for getting his little brothers to school, but it’s not close to his, and when his bike gets stolen, he just can’t make it on time. Manny just hates school; he feels like it’s a waste of time and that he already knows all he needs to. Manny would rather just write poetry (rap lyrics) - so when he’s caught sluffing at the skate park, he also ends up in detention. And Liam is bullied, Grady and his 2 minions are ruthless, and so he hides in a closet in the library for a few days, but eventually is caught by a teacher he skipped when headed to lunch.

Ogle’s perspectives are brilliant. Liam tells his story in prose, Manny’s story is poetry - mostly rap, but even when it’s not structured like a poem it still reads like poetry somehow (Ogle - what the heck?), and Cal illustrates his story with Cartoon panels. A truly middle grade novel, rated optional because of the singular f bomb. Absenteeism is a big problem in schools today. 

Manny is Hispanic (his interactions with his grandparents are often Spanish) Cal is illustrated black, and Liam defaults white.

Lisa Librarian 

Mexikid Dreams by Pedro Martin - ESSENTIAL

Mexikid Dreams (Mexikid #2) by Pedro Martin, 320 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin, SEPTEMBER 2026. $25

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (sibling fights and pranks, also guard violence at a prison)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

10yo Pedro (who is about 13 by the end of the book) is back from Mexico with his family (8 brothers and sisters) Their restaurant has been damaged by an earthquake and so the family has moved to California where they are sharecroppers, picking strawberries. Everyone helps, all hands are needed to make ends meet. But when the oldest brother gets a job at a lumberyard, Pedro starts making a plan to get out of working too - he wants to draw (and watch cartoons). But when a friend at school encourages Pedro to join the band, he rethinks his plan. Now he wants to plan the trombone!

Pedro Martin is so funny, and this series is delightful. I love how he shows the sibling interactions, funny names for the outhouse and the way they work in the fields. I also loved how he really showed the plight of the share croppers, the difficulty making a profit and a danger experienced by undocumented people (in 1977) who were desperate for work so they could send money home. A great companion which can stand alone to Mexikid. The family is Mexican with some of the children first generation American

Lisa Librarian 

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne - OPTIONAL

A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe by Mahogany L. Browne, 150 pages. Crown (Random), 2025. $20

Language: PG (3 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (COVID deaths - not graphic but talked about, fear, policies unfairly applied, foster parents sell teens medications, teens in prison)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

New York City is in lockdown because of the Corona Virus. Teens are trying to adjust to online learning, caring for elderly grandparents, being responsible for younger siblings because parents have left or died or are unavailable, coming out, and missing the social experiences in-person school provides. Some are continuing to live their regular lives in an irregular way. A Greek chorus comments intermittently, and some characters re-occur.

An accurate and poignant snapshot of life during COVID. My experience was much different, and I feel for these children - many of them of color - who are growing up quickly and parenting themselves and their grown-ups. As we get further removed from the shared trauma of the pandemic, we will need books like A Bird in the Air Means We Can Still Breathe to teach, inform, and remember. Like the city of New York, the characters are a mix of cultures and races.

Lisa Librarian 

The Magic of Someday Soon by Michelle Lee -ADVISABLE

The Magic of Someday Soon by Michelle Lee, 288 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2026. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Zoey and her mother have been traveling the country for eight years, since her father died, watching her mom, The Upcycle Magician, create sculptures from recycled pieces. Zoey has contrived a can’t-pass-it-up job for Mom, which takes them back to her Dad’s hometown, to the grandmother she doesn’t remember. 12yo Teddy meanwhile, is desperate to save her great grandparents’ Fossil Garden, a neglected sculpture garden. Both girls are looking for belonging and closure and they need each other.

The magic in the title is not really literal, though there is a slight touch of wonder. Teddy and Zoey are a good support for each other.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves - OPTIONAL

Medicine Wheels by Byron Groves, 352 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: R (200+ swears, 90 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing, teen drinking); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After 15yo Bryce’s mom walks out on her abusive boyfriend and she then gets arrested for breaking probation, Bryce finds himself back on the Ojibwe Wolf Creek Reservation living with his grandmother. It's been a few years since he was back to a place he considers home. He picks up his dad’s old skateboard and reconnects with old friends. As he struggles to find his own path, he finds solace in riding the board and learning new tricks as he works towards a skate competition with a prize purse that could really help his family and his self esteem.

Groves packs a lot of storylines and problems into Bryce’s summer. I appreciated a modern look into rez life - it felt real in a way most Native stories haven’t felt for me before.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Flip by Ngozi Ukazu - OPTIONAL

Flip by Ngozi Ukazu, 314 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025. $26

Language: R (57 swears, 3 f) Mature Content: PG-13 (sexual references, secondary characters same sex attraction, suicidal thoughts)) Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Chi-Chi Ekeh is in her senior year at a prestigious boarding school. Black, and from Nigeria, Chi-Chi is drawn to white boys, and when her private proposal to ask her crush, Flip Henderson, to prom ends up in a public rejection, she switches bodies with him. Chi-Chi is a shy, nerdy, scholarship student, and Flip is the most popular boy in school. While switching helps them see each other's point of view, the switching episodes are lasting longer, and they need to be able to switch back before graduation.

This is the Freaky Friday version of switching bodies, but a male/female switch is much more complicated. Think periods. The themes of accepting and liking yourself ring true, as well as the need to be seen. I liked that both characters have issues, and that no one's life is easy. The K-pop fanning is fun and art works well. This is an engaging, fast read.

Michelle in the Middle 

Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield - OPTIONAL

Love in 280 Characters or Less by Ravynn K. Stringfield, 320 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $20.

Language: R (25 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (partial nudity and alcohol use, including underage drinking); Violence: PG (harassment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Starting freshman year at a different college from her best friend means that Sydney has to find out how to make new friends on top of figuring out her classes, extracurriculars, and what she wants to major in. Sydney’s online presence is a natural part of her life and a solace when everything else has changed, but she isn’t expecting the spectrum of responses, from love to hate to questioning who she even is anymore.

When I started reading, I expected all the conflict to be about self-discovery, as life goes in college. I loved the anonymous pen pal trope that got sprinkled in, and then I was surprised by the addition of discussing activism and digitalism that exploded into being in the last third of Sydney’s story. Stringfield communicates all of this exclusively through Sydney’s digital content: blog posts, emails, texts, and tweets. While the format was sometimes confusing, the content is worth pondering and discussing.

The majority of characters, including Sydney, are Black. Sydney also describes herself as being queer.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

What If You Fall for Me First? by G.F. Miller - ADVISABLE

What If You Fall for Me First? by G.F. Miller, 368 pages. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster), 2025. $10.

Language: PG (2 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (kissing, mentions of tampons and alcohol, and partial nudity); Violence: PG (mild assault)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Sofia (13yo) has been crushing on Mark for a year, but he hardly ever looks her way. Knowing she needs to change to get his attention, Sofia asks Holden for help to make her fierce. Holden agrees—on the condition that she won’t fall for him in the process.

While the secondhand middle school embarrassment is so real, I enjoyed reading Sofia’s story with all of its She’s All That vibes. Sofia and Holden both have difficulties with being themselves and finding the line between changing to fit in and changing to be better. The beautiful thing about their story is that becoming the best friend they can be to the other is what causes the most positive changes in their lives.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett, Ziggy Hanaor. - OPTIONAL

Everything Amplified by Sarah Lippett, Ziggy Hanaor. 270 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Cicada Books, 2026. $26

Language: R (40 swears, 17 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (drinking, vaping, kissing, joke mentioning "vagina"); Violence: PG-13 (bullying, self-harm)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

15yo Nel feels overshadowed by her twin brother Ludo, but she finds comfort in her passion for music, her friend Kit, and her aunt Jan who plays in a band. Then, Ludo does something Nel hasn’t had the courage to: he forms a band. After an encounter with one of her bullies, Bea, and after Ludo gets in trouble, Nel starts hanging out with a new group of friends. Life seems to be going better, but being a teenager is filled with ups and downs and everything is amplified. 

I applaud this graphic novel for its authentic portrayal of being a teenager. Nel's character development is well-done, but I wish it explored Bea’s character arc more. Because it was originally published in the UK, some of the slang may be unfamiliar to readers, but it's easily understood in context. The $26 price tag makes it a spendy purchase; however, it may be worth it for some libraries serving older teens who enjoy graphic novels. A tale of teenage trials, being yourself, and finding comfort in music. 

Nel and Kit are LGBT+. Secondary characters and background characters are diverse. 

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian

Ollie In Between by Jess Callans - ADVISABLE

Ollie In Between by Jess Callans, 256 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $19. 

Language: PG (4 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (lots of maturation talk, Ollie's period is a big part of the plot, reference to boobs, nipples etc.); Violence: G; 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Ollie does not want to become a woman. She's not afraid of growing up, she's just certain that she's not a girl. But she also doesn't think she's a boy. Ollie is somewhere in between. But this is the age where everything starts happening to your body. The boys won't let her play hockey with them anymore because she's too much of a girl, and her girl friends are embarrassed by her for acting too much like a boy. But when she's invited to join the LGBTQIA book club, she finds a group of friends who understand what she's going through. 

A well-written coming of age story, it's got all the stuff - Ollie's mother has passed away, and sister moved in with her boyfriend, so no one really expects dad to help her navigate puberty, which, because she is questioning her gender, makes this whole thing terrifying and extra awkward. She's seeing the trouble Stella, a trans girl in her book group, is having with parents objecting to which bathroom she uses and feels both fear for herself and guilt for not standing up better for her new friend. A good window or mirror if your library needs more LGBT titles, particularly with a non-binary main character. Ollie is Persian and White and non-binary 

Lisa Librarian 

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi - OPTIONAL

Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi, 188 pages. Kokila (Penguin), 2026. $18. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Mariam is not excited to be starting at a new middle school - a Catholic middle school!  She, a Muslim, is going to a Catholic school!  Full of depictions of Jesus! And her only skill is doing what she thinks the teacher wants her to, so she doesn’t have anything to talk to the other girls about. Slowly she tries to find a place for herself and a couple of friends.  But the Christmas Nativity production is coming up.

Mariam is as judgmental of her family as she thinks other people are of her.  She is sure that she is smarter than every adult around her and her attitude was quite grating. For a sixth grader she is quite self-assured and secretive - about a year ahead of when that behavior really starts happening. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The House No One Sees by Adina King - OPTIONAL

The House No One Sees by Adina King, 304 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $20. 

Language: R (36 swears 21 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (adult substance abuse, opioid addiction, child endangerment and neglect) Violence: PG13 (verbal abuse, disturbing images described) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Penny has lived in her mother's fairy tale her whole life. The house she lives in seems to talk to her, and her mother is more often "asleep" than parenting. Her mother has an opioid addiction, so Penny takes care of herself, avoids the boyfriends and checks on her mom. She dreams about calling 911 but doesn't know what to say. Her teachers, DCFS, and even her grandparents try to help, but somehow she keeps ending up back with her mother. On the night of her 17th birthday, as she waits for a call or a text from her, she remembers being in the house that is hiding and all the terrible things associated with her troubled life. 

A novel in verse, The House No One Sees was a hard read - full of emotional content - I felt so bad for Penny and wished for better outcomes for her all along the way. While I don't think it would be good to teach, this would certainly be a book to talk about in a book club or among friends reading it together. Neither Penny's race nor culture is described, but she doesn't default white, either. Penny is a mirror of the young adult reading the book. 

Lisa Librarian  

One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller - OPTIONAL

One of the Boys by Victoria Zeller, 336 pages. Levine Querido, 2025. $20. 

Language: R (100+ swears, 78 'f') includes coarse language about Grace's body and transition 

Mature Content: R (Making out, intimacy - touching and kissing, reference to sex - not on page, mentions of tucking, also teen drinking, vaping, marijuana, parties) Violence: PG13, (Bullying, both physical and verbal, football injuries (detailed, not gory or graphic), targeted onfield roughness, transphobic slurs.) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Grace is in her senior year of high school, and is a recently out trans girl. Last football season, she was the star kicker of the football team, and has been invited back by team members and one of the coaches as they can't find anyone with her skills. The coach hasn't bought in 100% and hopes that having the first trans girl player in the history of the state doesn't distract the team. But Grace is still navigating her new self, and everything is different, especially her relationship with her ex-girlfriend. 

I really liked the premise of One of the Boys. I loved that Grace's experiences weren't all bad, that the team, for the most part, was not only accepting, but encouraging and supportive. Yes, there were also horrible people, no surprise. A lot of football action, games, practices, scouts, all the good stuff. Much too mature for middle grade. 

Grace is white and trans 

Lisa Librarian  

Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman - ADVISABLE

Jawbreaker by Christina Wyman, 306 pages. Scholastic, 2023. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG Bullying; a lot of it, mostly verbal but tripping and bumping etc. as well 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Max Plink has a Class II malocclusion - a pretty significant overbite. She's worn braces for a while, but now the orthodontist wants to try adding headgear to her treatment to hopefully avoid surgery. Max wants to be a journalist, and has looked forward to the annual Journalism Competition, but this year, the submissions have to be submitted by video. It's bad enough that the people at school see her face, she's not ready to make a recording of herself that might go on the internet. The Bullies are terrible right now, the worst of them is her very own sister - what might happen if she makes a video that goes viral? 

Based on the cover illustration, I expected Jawbreaker to be a humorous story about a girl and her braces. It was heartbreaking, more about a family in crisis, school bullies and the trouble kids have fitting in. I loved how Max was able to use her position on the paper to write articles about what she was facing. I didn't love most of the teachers at the school - I feel like bullying that obvious would have been shut down by the teachers quickly, and acknowledged by the administration sooner. Max and her family are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta and Gabi Mendez - ADVISABLE

Speak Up, Santiago!(Hillside Valley #1) by Julio Anta and Gabi Mendez. 244 pages.GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House, 2025. $13

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Santiago is headed to Hillside Valley to spend a month with his Abuela, and he is terrified! Abuela Emma mostly speaks Spanish, and while his mother and father tried raising him in a bilingual home, speaking was difficult for Santi. In HIllside Valley he meets some local kids who invite him to join their secret soccer club and play in the local tournament at the end of the month. Things are starting to look up for Santi until he overhears Abuela Emma and her friends laughing about his broken accent. As his embarrassment turns to anger, Santi starts taking his feelings out on everyone around him. After a particularly aggressive soccer practice, Santi even finds himself kicked off the team. Not only is he upset, but he returns home to find Abuela Emma has fallen and suffered a hairline fracture. Amidst the chaos of the hospital and doctor visits, Santiago learns to speak up and offers to care for his Abuela.

You don’t have to be learning a new language to empathize with Santiago. His experiences with embarrassment, fear, and betrayal are common emotions many of us feel when breaking out of our comfort zones or learning to speak up. The illustration style is brightly colored and the bilingual text is handled in a way that makes the reader feel as if they are learning Spanish along with Santiago. The Spanish word bubbles at the beginning of the novel have blacked out words, indicating Santi is only picking up half a conversation. As his Spanish improves, English translations begin popping up next to the  Spanish word bubbles.There is a special author and illustrator note in the back that talks about their personal insecurities about being a second-generation Latino or learning Spanish. 

Santiago’s father is Colombian and his mother is Irish/French.  

E. Powell - Junior High Librarian

Wanted: Your House by Monique Polak - OPTIONAL

Wanted: Your House by Monique Polak, 263 pages. Kids Can Press, MAY 2026. $20.

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Cyril’s mom is always dragging him to open houses.  She dreams of owning their own home - even on her meager teacher’s salary.  Cyril decided to help - his brilliant plan - offer himself and his mother as companions and caretakers for an elderly person - as long as the person deeds their house over to Cyril’s mom once they pass away.  Crazy- right?  But curmudgeonly Mr. Hartt takes Cyril up on the idea.  They all agree to a one month trial.  Cyril is not sure they will last that long.

 I wanted to like this so much more, but I was not satisfied with the end, and I was not fond of Mr. Hartt at all. Great premise - middling execution.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron - ESSENTIAL

Octopus Moon by Bobbie Pyron, 310 pages. Novel in Verse Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19.

Language: G; Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL,  MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

10yo Pearl should be excited to start 5th grade, but she's not. Her friends Mia and Rosie certainly are, but something is different this year, and Pearl can't tell what's going on. It seems she's not 4th-grade Pearl, who loved to sing in the choir, tell jokes, and was a good student. This year, she pretends to sing, is sad for no reason, and isn't turning in her homework. Her parents talk to her teachers, and soon Pearl (unwillingly) visits a therapist. Pearl has depression. 

A well-written story with age-appropriate situations. I loved Pearl's connection with the Octopus at the aquarium, an animal that is completely connected to its environment, while Pearl struggles to make connections. It was heartbreaking to see Pearl, so young, experiencing depression. 5th graders need to see themselves or build empathy for their classmates in Pearl's shoes. I hope I can get my middle schoolers to read Octopus Moon as there are so many valuable lessons and life connections. Pearl is white. 

Lisa Librarian  

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  

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