Stitch Head by Guy Bass, illustrated by Pete Williamson - ADVISABLE

Stitch Head by Guy Bass, illustrated by Pete Williamson, 142 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL RH Graphic Random House, 2024. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Stitch Head is the caretaker of Castle Grotteskew, and is the first of 300 monsters created by a mad scientist. Stitch Head keeps things in the castle running smoothly despite the mad scientist's increasingly evil components. When a traveling carnival ringleader named Fulbert, shows up, it's up to Stitch Head to keep him out of the castle, but Fulbert is determined to put the monsters in a traveling carnival, and Stitch Head is the only thing thwarting his plans. 

The illustrations are fantastic and really add to the tone of the book. Stitch Head, like us, will learn that that not all things that look monstrous are mean, and maybe seemingly normal people are the biggest monsters of all. A quick and easy read about how we want to be seen for who we are. No culture or race is mentioned, though most characters are drawn white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Chickenpox by Remy Lai - ESSENTIAL

Chickenpox by Remy Lai, 240 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Henry Holt, 2025. $23. 9781250863300

CONTENT: PG(fighting, nosebleed)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Abby Lai is the oldest of 5 siblings. To Abby, being surrounded by immature younger siblings feels like living in a zoo! All she wants is to spend as much time as she can with her two best friends, away from the "wild animals." But when all 5 Lai kids get the chickenpox in 1994 Indonesia, before the vaccine is available, and have to stay home together for 10 whole days, Abby really starts to wish she was an only child. Will Abby and her siblings learn to get along, or at least survive being cooped up together?

I enjoyed this middle grade graphic novel. Fans of Megan Wagner Lloyd's Squished will love Chickenpox. I related to Abby's struggle of having to always be the ""good big sister."" I also liked the process Abby went through when she said something hurtful to her friends--we all need good conflict-resolution models. 

Abby and her family are Indonesian. 

Rachel, Elementary library specialist 

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales by Wendy S. Swore - ADVISABLE

Sleeping Spells and Dragon Scales by Wendy S. Swore, 304 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Believing in fairies made Fairy Door Trail an obvious hangout for 12yo Alaina, and her best friend—and skeptic—Liam didn’t mind tagging along. One day, they stumbled into what could have been a fairy circle and most likely, accidentally offended a fairy. Since that day, Alaina and Liam drifted apart, and Alaina has had  to deal with being cursed. But now Liam is showing signs of being cursed, too, and he needs Alaina’s help.

Swore’s writing sits in the beautiful space between reality and fantasy. Both characters and readers know that fantasy and fairy tale creatures are not real, but they still want to believe they might be. There is magic in believing and in recognizing the fantastical parts of reality. In the book, Alaina and Liam’s English teacher gives an assignment for the students to write their lives as fairy tales, and it has made me look at my life a little differently—with a little more hope and a little more recognition for my main character and heroine status.

Alaina is implied Latina and has an autoimmune disorder, Liam has a chronic neurological disorder, and Doctor Titus is Kenyan. The mature content rating is for mentions of kissing and for near-death experiences. The violence rating is for some mild fantasy violence imagery.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs and Anjan Sarkar - ADVISABLE

Evil Spy School: The Graphic Novel by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Anjan Sarkar, 352 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Simon and Schuster, 2024. $25 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

13yo Ben Ripley just got expelled from spy school. Luckily (or unluckily) he gets picked up by the evil organization, SPYDER. They begin training Ben but he's not sure for what. Turns out Ben is so deep undercover in SPYDER, not even he realizes it at first. He will have to make his new evil companions trust him while finding a way to communicate to his CIA friends. 

 As the graphic novel rendition of the book, this is fabulous. It is well illustrated and the pictures help tell the story. The story is fun and keeps. you guessing. I loved Ben's new evil friends and their quirks. There's plenty of humor to go with the high adventure and kids will be wishing they had spy missions of their own. The Spy School novels just got another reason to cheer. Race is never stated, but most of the characters are white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Witch in the Woods by Michaelbrent Collings - ADVISABLE

The Witch in the Woods (Grimmworld #1) by Michaelbrent Collings, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2024. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When their parents get new jobs, 10yo Willow and Jake reluctantly move to New Marburg. The technological advances in the town are exciting, but none of their pictures will stay on the walls, their new teacher hates them, and some guy with gold eyes keeps appearing out of thin air to yell at them in gibberish before disappearing again. Strange things are going on in New Marburg, and Willow and Jake’s mom won’t even listen to them!

Collings’ narration style feels like he’s constantly joking with the reader. Almost everything that can be made over-the-top is, and parentheses mark Collings’ asides that aren’t relevant to the story except for a laugh. With riddles, fairy tale retellings, and impossible things made possible, this story has a little bit of everything. I can’t wait to find out which Grimm’s story is retold in the next book.

Willow and Jake are implied white, and Froggy is described as having “brown” skin. The mature content rating is for illegal activity. The violence rating is for assault, fantasy violence, murder, and mentions of cannibalism.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Carnival Quest by Brandon Mull - ADVISABLE

Carnival Quest (The Candy Shop War #3) by Brandon Mull, 400 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2023. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

When a carnival comes to town, it’s obvious that magic is involved – and there are rumors that not all of it is fun and games. Nate, Summer, Trevor, and Pigeon (now 6th graders) are able to go through the magic barrier that surrounds the carnival to investigate where their magician friends cannot. But every secret they find leads to more – can they stop the malevolence before it stops them?

While I’m sure that reading the prequels makes the magic candy more relevant, I enjoyed this conclusion to the trilogy even without that context. I love the concept of the magic carnival and the secrets around every turn that felt natural in such a chaotic and mischievous setting. The characters are clever and dedicated to their quest, even as they tease and try to be home in time for curfew. Mull has put together a fun magical adventure that is enjoyable for all ages.

Nate, Summer, and Trevor are depicted as white on the cover, though skin tones were not mentioned much in the text. The violence rating is for mild fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Kid Confident #2: How to Master Your Mood by Lenka Glassman, PsyD, illustrated by DeAndra Hodge - ESSENTIAL

Kid Confident #2: How to Master Your Mood  by Lenka Glassman, PsyD, illustrated by DeAndra Hodge, 304 pages. NON-FICTION, Young Adult Magination Press. 2022. $17 

Content: G.

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

If you've ever felt sad and can't explain why or wonder why you can be on a roller coaster of emotions, or even why everything embarrasses you, this book will help you understand yourself and put you in control. 

 Packed with information about brain science, true stories and mental health information. While you can skip around and read only sections that may be of most interest to you, the layout is fantastic and will suck you in. There are cool additions in every chapter of fun facts, calls to action, pro-tips, and take aways. The illustrations make this super readable, and the skills taught in this book would ultimately benefit any age group. This is part of a series, and well worth a spot on a bookshelf. Illustrations reflect a wide swath of diversity. 

 Michelle in the Middle

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas - ESSENTIAL

Swim Team by Johnnie Christmas, 248 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL HarperCollins. 2022. $22. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

After a recent move to Florida for her dad's job, Bree is excited to start at a new middle school. She makes a friend, Clara, at her apartment right away. Clara is on the swim team at school and Bree hopes for the Math Club as her elective. But, registering late, she finds Swimming 101 as her only available elective - and Bree doesn't know how to swim. After several skipped class periods where she hides in the library, afraid for anyone to know she's a non-swimmer, a neighbor (who used to be a swimmer herself in her youth) agrees to teach Bree to swim. In order to try to make up her grade, she makes a deal with the teacher to try out for the swim team and discovers that she's a fast swimmer. 

Highly recommended. I'd heard a lot about Swim Team and was excited to read it. There's a good description by Ms. Etta of the segregated pools of the south and why many African Americans aren't swimmers. I loved the theme of being a team outside of the pool is as important as what happens in the pool. Bree also has a lot of self-doubt, and I loved how those "voices" were illustrated within the panels. The main characters are Black. 

Lisa Librarian

Troublemaker by John Cho - ESSENTIAL

Troublemaker by John Cho, 224 pages. Little, Brown and Company/Poppy. 2022 $17 

Language G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Fight, child with a firearm). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

12yo Jordan worries that he is his father's biggest disappointment. He has been messing up a lot lately, getting in trouble with his friend Mike, and not doing well in school - in fact, today he got suspended for cheating! But before Appa can find out about the suspension, he heads to their family store - the Rodney King verdict has just been announced, and their store is close to where the riots are - just a little away in Koreatown. Jordan wants to prove himself and is worried about his father being alone at the store with no protection. He knows where Appa's gun is hidden and decides to take it to him. 

I could not put this down, as soon as I realized he was taking that gun I was hooked. I loved the sprinkling of Korean words and phrases, the family/friend dynamics, and the comments about the perceived impression of Asian kids "people think you're good and quiet and expect you to stay out of the way." Fast-paced and gripping, this historical fiction about a couple of boys on an ill-advised mission is perfect for middle school readers. The main characters are Korean. 

Lisa Librarian 

Dinosaurs: 400 Words for budding paleontologists by Stephanie Warren Drimmer and Daniel Long - ESSENTIAL

Dinosaurs: 400 words for budding paleontologists by Stephanie Warren Drimmer, consultant editor Ellen Therese Lamm, illustrated by Daniel Long, 64 pages. NON-FICTION Merriam-Webster Kids. 2022. $17. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Readers learn about dinosaurs in general, as well as specific stars of the different periods. We learn about their skeletons, cool things that were on their bodies, things they ate, how we can tell if they were a night dweller or hunted during the day. We find out how they protected themselves, whether or not they could fly, which was the biggest or the smallest and so much more! We also learn about what goes on today, finding fossils, working in the lab and what museums do, what a career in paleontology involves, and we meet some modern dinosaurs - or at least their descendants. 

All the best stuff about dinosaurs complete with labeled illustrations, maps, pronunciation guides and amazing illustrations. This stuff is cutting edge - like feathered dinosaurs as well as scaled, growth rings in bone, and melanosome which lets researchers know what color the dinosaur was. Kids will love this. Each two page spread is full of information bits, so they can really open to any page and learn about dinosaurs. There are time lines, a dictionary and source material, and an index to find where your favorite dinosaur is featured or mentioned. Part of Merriam-Webster's Talk Like an Expert series, I'm excited to see what else is out there. 

Lisa Librarian

Ready for a Scare? by P.J. Night - HIGH

Ready for a Scare? The Graphic Novel (You're Invited to a Creepover: The Graphic Novel #3) by P.J. Night, 150 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Simon Spotlight (Simon and Schuster). 2022. $21

Content: G  

BUYING ADVISORY EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Kelly Garcia is going to have a slumber party for her birthday. Unfortunately, her parents are delayed by snow so the party is off. Going for a virtual sleepover, Kelly, the queen of all things creepy, tries to scare her friends, but it seems that calling up the ghost of a teen who died tragically in their town might backfire when her friends start to disappear. 

 The Creepover series is just right for reluctant readers or anyone who needs a quick but satisfying read. The art is colorful and haunting and the plot is just the right amount of scary. None of the Creepover books need to be read in order and they have a different cast of characters for each one. I will read any and all of them. The main character is blonde with a wide ethnic variety of friends. 

 Michelle in the Middle

The War to Save the Worlds by Samira Ahmed - ESSENTIAL

The War to Save the Worlds (Amira & Hamza #1) by Samira Ahmed, 356 pages. Little, Brown and Company/Poppy. 2021. $17.

Language: PG (30 swears (God) 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG - monster violence (i.e. green blood) warlike battles, dangerous challenges, peril. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

12yo Amira and her 10yo brother Hamza are the chosen ones. On a visit to a museum on a special night (Super Moon, Blue Moon Blood Moon - all on the same night) Hamza is drawn to an ancient object, and it begins to work. At the same time, they discover that everyone else is kind of frozen and a group of Jinn arrive on a golden throne and tell the kids that they are the Chosen Ones and are needed to save both their own and the world of the Jinn. 

Exciting and engaging, The War to Save the Worlds is the first in a series. Amira really likes science, and I love how she used that knowledge to work through some of the problems the faced with magic. The kids work with a group of Jinn and other characters from Urdu and Persian stories and myths to stop the moon from coming apart and destroying both worlds. 10yo Hamza was just the perfect little brother turned hero. His character will be highly appealing to 4th-5th graders and gives this big a larger audience. The children are Islamic.

Lisa Librarian

In Honor of Broken Things by Paul Acampora - ESSENTIAL

In Honor of Broken Things by Paul Acampora, 197 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2022. $18 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Three 8th grade students are thrown together in pottery class. Oscar is the star of the football team, but he just lost his little sister to cancer. Ellie feels her mom dragged her to this tiny town from Philadelphia and Noah has been homeschooled his whole life. These three students bond over ceramics and things that are broken in their lives. They form a very unlikely friendship and realize that some things that are broken will never be fixed. 

The story of these three young people was both fascinating, heartwarming and heartbreaking. They stick together and do things they might not have normally done, just to support each other. I loved the story that showed that no matter what your background, you can make friends, do your best and live a good life. It really helps them that they have each other. I loved the story and highly recommend it.  The main characters are American and Mexican. 

Ellen-Anita. Librarian 

Welcome to Feral by Mark Fearing - HIGH

Welcome to Feral (Frights From Feral #1) by Mark Fearing, 232 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Holiday House. 2022. $22 

Content: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

The town of Feral, population just over 16,000, is a creepy place to live. A resident of Feral invites the reader to experience some of the dark side of the town through five spooky stories. 

 The first in a series, these stories are delightful and have great twists. The art is vibrant and fun and totally makes the stories come alive (or dead). I love Fearing's sense of humor and will most likely read anything he writes. If spooky stories with a dash of humor are your jam, then this book will not disappoint. Characters represent a variety of cultures, depending on the story. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Santiago! by Jay Hosler - ESSENTIAL

Santiago! Artist, Scientist, Troublemaker by Jay Hosler, 218 GRAPHIC NOVEL BIOGRAPHY Margaret Ferguson Books Holiday House. 2022 23 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Santiago Ramon y Cajal, wanted to grow up to be an artist, but his father said he had to be a doctor. Santiago was forbidden to paint and because of that, was often in conflict with his father. However, Santiago never gave up on his dream and began painting brain cells to unlock their secrets. Santiago won the Nobel Prize for medicine in 1906. 

Told as a graphic novel, this format makes Santiago's story accessible and relatable. His antics as a child almost got him killed, but readers will be impressed at how he never gives up on his dream. The source notes for each chapter at the back of the book are just as interesting as the chapters themselves. It's fascinating to learn what Santiago accomplished to advance brain surgery. Santiago Ramon y Cajal is Spanish

Michelle in the Middle 

Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang - HIGH

Fibbed by Elizabeth Agyemang, 250 pages, GRAPHIC NOVEL. Razorbill (Penguin Random House). 2022. $15.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

12yo Nana tells the truth even though those around her don’t believe her outrageous stories.  Nana’s parents decide to send her to stay with family in Ghana after her last story gets her in trouble at school.  Nana isn’t thrilled about spending a summer in a country where she can barely speak the language. Life gets even more difficult for Nana when she actually meets Ananse, the trickster spider of legend and discovers that magic is being drained from the neighboring forest.

The story weaves between real world issues and those of magic and legend.  It’s interesting to explore life in Ghana through Nana.  The ending wraps up a bit too predictably, but it’s a nice cultural read. 

Michelle in the Middle

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan and Ethan Young - HIGH

The 39 Clues: The Maze of Bones by Rick Riordan, adapted and illustrated by Ethan Young, 194 pages, GRAPHIC NOVEL.  Scholastic.  2023. $13.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Just before she dies, Grace Cahill, the matriarch of the world’s most powerful family changes her will leaving her ruthless offspring with a life-changing choice of whether to take cash or risk it all on a treasure hunt.  This is no ordinary treasure hunt, but the hunt for the source of the family’s power.  There are 39 clues hidden around the world and family members will stop at nothing to win.  Orphaned siblings Amy and Dan are up against incredible odds as they tackle the hunt and the mystery surrounding their parents. 

If you liked the novel version, you will probably like this one too.  The art is well drawn and the action is constant.  There are a lot of twists and turns and danger is everywhere.  The plot is National Treasure meets dysfunctional family. My only petty grievance is violence against children by adults and family members.  If that doesn’t bother you, then let the clues begin!

Michelle in the Middle

Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends by Francine Pascal, Nicole Andelfinger, and Claudia Aguirre - HIGH

Sweet Valley Twins: Best Friends by Francine Pascal, adapted by Nicole Andelfinger, illustrated by Claudia Aguirre, 203 pages, GRAPHIC NOVEL.  Penguin Random House. 2022. $21

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS  - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Identical twins, Jessica and Elizabeth have been super close and have even dressed alike for 12 years.  But as they begin middle school, they discover they have different interests, which may make middle school even harder than it already is.  One of the twins worries friends and different activities may divide them.

Even if this is your first foray into the Sweet Valley Twins books, you may find yourself enjoying them more than you thought.  The twins are white middle class girls but have diversity in their friends.  The twins capture the angst of middle school and family issues pretty well, and their sibling relationship rings true.  This was an engaging and quick read that many students will relate to. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Tall Tales by James Riley - ESSENTIAL

Tall Tales (Once Upon Another Time #2) by James Riley, 310 pages. Aladdin (Simon & Schuster). 2022. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

In book two in this trilogy, we get the human sized giantess Lena and Jin the Djinn back as they try and overcome prejudices for their kind and help save their kingdom from the Golden King and the shadow magic that threatens them all.  Lena has to prove herself worthy in order to defeat the shadow magic, but she struggles to define what that is before she dooms everything. 

Great characters that make you want to root for them as they face common themes of prejudice, fear, and figuring out one’s own path.   There are some nice plot twists and the humor is fun.  My only grievance?  I need the next book stat because the ending left me wanting more.  Delightful engaging series!

Michelle in the Middle

We Own the Sky by Rodman Philbrick - ESSENTIAL

We Own the Sky by Rodman Philbrick, 208 pages. Scholastic Press (Scholastic). 2022. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Peril, Racist Language, Abduction). 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

1924, Maine. 12yo Davy and his 17yo sister Jo have recently been orphaned. Before she died, their mother reached out to a distant cousin, asking that she find a place for the children. Ruthie, an aviatrix, picks up the kids, but it's right at the beginning of the Flying Circus season, so she puts them to work with her show. Davy sells popcorn and Jo sells tickets. The performers are immigrants - French Canadian, Italian, Irish, etc. and soon the KKK in Maine takes notice and tried to shut them down. 

Exciting stunts, dangerous situations, and relatable characters make We Own the Sky a gripping read. I love the cover picture - necessary because Bi-Plane and Wing Walker are both unfamiliar, but would have liked it better if the Klan had been in robes - they just look like cowboys. We really need a resurgence of interest in historical fiction, because I think kids are going to love this! 

Lisa Librarian