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

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 Philipino woman was diagnosed with Hansen's Disease (formerly known as leprocy) When Pearl Harbor was attacked, so were the Phillippines, 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 courrier, 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 Lousinana, 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

Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung - ADVISABLE

Don't Cause Trouble by Arree Chung, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Henry Holt Books for Young Readers (Macmillan), 2025. $15

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Ming Lee hopes to make a fresh start in middle school. But with the haircut his mom insists on and the thrift-store clothes he wears, things aren’t looking promising. His dad is also constantly reminding him to get good grades and stay out of trouble. Middle school may have started off awkward and painful, but Ming already has ideas for turning things around.

A warmhearted story about a boy growing up with immigrant parents. The story captures the challenges of fitting in while honoring family. Ming tries his best to make his parents proud, stumbling at times but never giving up. I really enjoyed both the story and the illustrations. Ming is Chinese-American

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez - ESSENTIAL

Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers by Angela Dominguez, 145 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Roaring Book Press, 2025. $20.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

9yo Gabby Torres is a 4th grade girl who wants to be the hero of the Sea Musketeers club. But she is the youngest member and struggles to feel like she is taken seriously. Her parents agree to help her create and manage a social media account for the club, but things turn mean when a negative comment is posted. Gabby suspects her friends and club members of trying to troll her which leads to hurt feelings and disciplinary actions. Gabby has a lot of growing up to do as she finds her strengths and learns how to be kind to others.

"Gabby Torres Gets a Billion Followers" is a wonderful story for elementary students showing how to be a good friend, stand up for what we value, and be a wise user of social media.

Gabby's dad has Mexican parents, so Gabby speaks Spanish and interacts with her abuelos, tias, and primos throughout the book.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

Silverborn by Jessica Townsend, - ADVISABLE

Silverborn (Nevermoor #4) by Jessica Townsend, 588 pages. Little Brown, 2025. $19

Content: G (mild violence)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Did you know that Morrigan has family in the richest district in Nevermoor - that her mother was actually from Nevermoor?  Neither did she. And when she discovers this truth, she is so mad at her guardian Jupiter, that she takes off to live with her newly discovered family. And Morrigan is still continuing her lessons with Squall, even though she hasn’t told anyone about that. Her new family, though, has problems and secrets of their own. 

I love Jessica Townsend and I love Morrigan Crow. I do wish that the page count would stop creeping up from book to book - especially because there doesn’t seem to be an end to the series any time soon. I wish Townsend would go for a tighter narrative.  Only my most avid fantasy readers are going to pick this series up.  They will love it, but I think she could pack the same power into fewer pages.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner - ESSENTIAL

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner, 368 pages. Bloomsbury, 2025 $18.00 Language: PG (1 swear, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (injuries, animal attack)

BUYING ADVISORY:, EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

13yo Finn is in big trouble. He kicked over a large headstone in the cemetery, and it was caught on security cameras. The grave belonged to a woman who was a celebrated mountain climber. Her daughter wants to honor her mother's memory by dropping the charges if Finn will climb all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks over the course of the summer, and bring along the old woman's dog. 

The Trouble with Heroes is a special book. Written in verse in Finn's voice - he's also doing makeup work for both PE and ELA - we see an angry, grieving boy trying to come to terms with the loss of his father. I loved the connections he made and the how the mountains touched him. I was crying within the first several pages, and also crying again by the end! There was so much to love in between, and I'm going to try some of those cookie recipes. Finn is white 

Lisa Librarian  

Benny on the Case by Wesley King - OPTIONAL

Benny on the Case by Wesley King, 288 pages. Paula Wiseman (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Benny has been in special education classes his whole school career. He has Mosaic Down Syndrome, which affects his features, but he doesn't have learning disabilities or the health concerns of other Down Syndrome children. His first day in general education classes is also Salma's first day at the school, she has just moved to Newfoundland from Seattle. Salma's heritage is Arabic, and she becomes another target of the bullies Benny is already avoiding. Benny's mom runs a Senior Living Center, and when some of the resident's belongings disappear and the police think it's the residents themselves (because they may have dementia) Benny and Salma - who loves true crime - decide they can figure out what's happening. 

Benny's Mosaic Down Syndrome seemed like a plot point, rather than it being a story about a neurodiverse kid. It felt convenient that his syndrome only manifest itself in his features, without the health issues, or learning or maturity challenges. Benny looked different so the bullies could prey on him. Also, Salma having cultural Arabic ties, including a name so many characters get wrong was also convenient to provide a target for the racist bully. The mystery was fun, I was so worried about Benny's mom and the old people, but I'm really troubled by the representation and wonder if I can recommend this title with these concerns. Benny is white, Salma is Arabic. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Phantom Academy by Christine Virnig - ADVISABLE

The Phantom Academy by Christine Virnig, 261 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $20. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Finn is dead. When he reaches the fork in the road, he chooses the lonely path through the woods and finds himself at the Phantom Academy - a school for new ghosts to learn how to navigate the afterlife. Finn is desperate to get back to his family.  When he learns that most ghosts hang out on the not-dead side, Finn convinces some of his classmates to help find the way.

Sometimes it is nice to have a ghost story that isn’t about the scares and hauntings. Virnig brings another dimension to afterlife stories and I hope she will explore further.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner - ADVISABLE

Please Pay Attention by Jamie Sumner, 240 pages. Atheneum BYR (Simon), 2025. $18.

Content: PG (school shooting mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

6th grader Bea has cerebral palsy. She enjoys school and life with her adoptive mom. All of this is threatened when a shooting occurs at her school killing a few students and her teacher.

The portrayal of Bea’s trauma is honest and compassionate. Readers will like to see Bea’s personality shine through the pages. There are unflinching portrayals of physical handicap difficulties, and other students dealing with anxiety or Neurodiverse challenges. A gay couple lives next door to Bea and she interacts with them frequently.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

Wild Bird by Diane Zahler, - OPTIONAL

Wild Bird by Diane Zahler, 320 pages. Square Fish (Macmillan), 2024. $9 (pb)

Content: PG (many plague deaths, imprisonment, burning at the stake lightly described)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Rype is what she is known as now.  The only survivor of the plague in a Norwegian village, she is now on a trader’s boat on its way to England.  When the plague comes on board and kills the captain, though, Rype and the captain’s son escape to a random shore, rather than waiting to be murdered by the mutinous first mate. Now they must walk their way through a Europe savaged by the plague, hoping to find kind souls to help them along the way.

Rype’s age is not specified, but she is probably 11? 12? Zahler has masterfully tackled a subject that is hard to get students interested in - historical fiction is not an easy sell.  I personally loved this and I know other adult readers will also empathize - but you will only have a handful of students who will read it on their own. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Earth’s Biggest Show-offs by Andy Seed and Sam Caldwell - ADVISABLE

Earth’s Biggest Show-offs by Andy Seed, illustrated by Sam Caldwell, 63 pages. NON-FICTION. Happy Yak (Quarto), 2025. $20. 9781836000105

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Seed and Caldwell take us on a journey around the world discovering natural wonders. Each one or two page spread has fun facts supported by lovely illustrations. Kids who love non-fiction will have a great time browsing the pages. Or a teacher could assign one page to each student for further research.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert - ADVISABLE

Let’s Get Together by Brandy Colbert, 304 pages. Harper Collins, SEPTEMBER 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

6th grader Kenya is all set for a fantastic school year.  She lives with her dad and her grandmother and has the best friends. 6th grader Liberty, is not excited about starting another new school.  As a foster kid since she was little, she has been in and out of many homes and schools her whole life.  She loves being with her new foster mom, Joey, but school is always a challenge. When the two girls meet face-to-face, they understand why their schoolmates mistake them for each other - how can they have the same face?!

Colbert gives us a wonderful reimagining of The Parent Trap! No evil stepmother-to-be this time, which I heartily approve of, but we do get a camping trip. Colbert does a great job of updating the original - including a tender look at why the parents separated and that the lives wrecked by drug abuse. Only downfall - that cover does not do the book justice - I hope you can get kids to see past it!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox - ADVISABLE

The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox. 274 pages. Simon & Schuster BYR, 2024. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Becca and her mom meant to go to a spa resort but mistakenly made reservations at a dude ranch in rugged Montana. Her parents are struggling in their marriage, while Becca is struggling to navigate friend groups and self identity. She meets Jon who is struggling with the death of his mom by trying to find the lost treasure of outlaw Pearlhandle Pete. They form a team and set out to solve the riddles left by Pete, but find themselves challenged by a visiting YouTube star.

“The Mystery of Mystic Mountain” shows young teens dealing with heartbreak and trying to find their place in the world. However, the serious questions are balanced by true treasure hunting adventure. Becca is shown to be smart and kind as she learns to be true to herself. Outlaws, ghosts, and long lost relatives make for a good read. Becca has a best friend, Ameerah, who is told by other girls to, “ Stay in her own country,” even though she and her parents are citizens.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh - ESSENTIAL

The House Next Door by Ellen Oh, 192 pages. HarperCollins, SEPTEMBER 2025. $19

Content: PG (fighting against  evil supernatural creatures)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Something bad lives in the house next door to 12yo Rory - something that hurt his friend Joey years ago. Admonished and guided by his Japanese grandfather, Rory has never stepped foot in that house again - and anyone who does move in, moves out fast! Then 12yo Jack and his little sister Mina move in and Rory feels compelled to help them avoid the fate of the others. With the help of the ghosts of Hazel and her brother Timothy, they may just have a chance.

Ellen Oh has given us a well-crafted, intense ghost story with hardy and creative characters. I love the page count - at under 200 pages, you can get a lot of readers. The Japanese (Rory) and Korean (Jack) cultures are well-represented, not just thrown in. But I wouldn’t expect less from Oh. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by Jose Pablo Iriarte - ESSENTIAL

AJ Torres and the Treasure of Captain Grayshark by Jose Pablo Iriarte, 190 pages. Random House, 2025. $18

Content: G (ghost pirates arguing)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

11yo AJ and his best friend Jayden have found a mysterious gold coin washed up on their Florida beach. Could this be part of the rumored treasure of Captain Grayshark? AJ hopes it si and that they can find the rest, because his parent’s diving business isn’t doing so well and Jayden’ may be moving because his mother has lost her job because of the economy. When the ghost of the actual Captain Grayshark also shows up in pursuit of his treasure, the boys enlist Andrea’s help - she is their own age and considers herself a ghost expert.

What a fun adventure! Amongst all of the pirates, ghosts, and treasure hunting, AJ and Jayden have a some very honest moments, where AJ learns that Jayden’s life is not about making AJ happy - a hard life lesson, but very well rendered. I haven’t read the companion novel, Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed, but I didn’t need to. Now I am looking forward to, I hope, more Iriarte ghost novels!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes - ESSENTIAL

The House at the Edge of Magic by Amy Sparkes, 222 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books (Simon), 2021. $19. 9781665971874

BUYING ADVISORY:  EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Young Nine is a pickpocket in a setting that feels like Victorian London. Nine steals a tiny house ornament that proves to be the cursed home of the wizard, Flabberghast. Nine brings in a letter that was sent by the witch who cursed the house, setting off a countdown to their destruction, unless they can find the missing magic words. Nine survives every challenge, solves every riddle, and discovers a home for herself. 

The House at the Edge of Magic is a child pleasing magical adventure. The wizard in the pointy hat, the wicked witch, and the poor street urchin are literary tropes that are mixed with humor, deadly acid bat poops, and a little bit of scariness to create a story that races along.

J. Smith, Teacher 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

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. Razzie 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 Razzie’s changes.  While ages are never specified, Razzie seems to be 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

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly - ADVISABLE

The Last Resort by Erin Entrada Kelly, 240 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger, threats)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Lila’s life has been uprooted. The grandpa she never met has died and her family has relocated to Grandpa Clem’s Castle Inn to get it ready to sell.  But something happens on the way there and now Lila can see ghosts? Teddy, the next door neighbor, and Caleb, Lila’s little brother, are there to help her figure out what’s going on - especially after Clem contacts her and tells Lila that he was murdered!

Great cover that should draw some kids in. The drama gets quite tense when the kids get close to the final answers they need - with the whole final being very satisfying.  While I was annoyed by Lila’s tentativeness early on, she grew nicely. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $19 

Language: PG (3 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

For the last 4 years 12yo Skye has missed her brother. Her parents are divorced and her dad ran off with then 10yo Finn. Skye and her mom celebrate his MIA birthday every year, taking a picture of Skye beside the cake. She hates it. But then, her mom gets a call. Finn has been located and he's on his way home! Skye is excited, but he's changed a lot. He's more than just older; Finn is different in other ways, too, like a scar Skye remembers is missing, and he doesn't remember games they played before. Skye isn't sure he's really her missing brother. 

Everett has created a well written story with lots of good twists and turns. I kept wondering if The Shape of Lost Things was going to turn into science fiction at some point. Maybe it's my age, but I had a bit of trouble with her using a polaroid camera and taking so many pictures. Are they different today than in the 70s? Seems like an expensive hobby. This is a book about relationships and loss and change. There would be a lot to be able to discuss with a class, particularly the changes in Skye's friend group - one of her best friends has recently become friends with the class bully and now treats Skye differently. A great upper elementary or middle school read. Skye and her family are black. 

Lisa Librarian 

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