Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria by LM Wilkinson and Lavanya Naidu - ADVISABLE

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria (Bravepaw #1) by LM Wilkinson and Lavanya Naidu, 170 pages. CHAPTER BOOK. Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 2026. $14

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (Some fantasy violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3) - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Titch is a young mouse who lives in a community of mice in a magical land called Alluria. Her dream has always been to be like Bravepaw, a mouse who accomplished many great deeds. When out exploring, Twitch and her friend encounter a brave rabbit who is trying to save the world of Alluria from monsters called curse worms. Will Titch be brave enough to help him? 

Bravepaw and the Heartstone of Alluria is an excellent book to entice newer readers who are transitioning from leveled readers to chapter books. The plot was very interesting and made me want to read more. The text is similar to the series, Geronimo Stilton with many different fonts being used. There are pictures on most pages but they are black and white. There are three more books in the series after this one. 

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian 

Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames by Jenny Moore - ADVISABLE

Dragon Girl and the Awakened Flames (Emba Oak #1) by Jenny Moore, 307 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $10 (pb)

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Young Emba has always had scales on her arms and she knows that she was hatched from an egg, but she loves her stepmother, the witch Fred. Fred did a reading from the Tome of Terrible Tomorrows for Emba, but when Fred is kidnapped, Emba throws all caution to the wind to save Fred. WIth the help of Odolf, Emba marches straight towards danger and the evil sorcerer who wants to harvest Emba’s dragon blood. 

Originally published in England, there are four books in the series. I like Emba - her friend Odolf is a bit of a humorous sidekick. Moore goes with unlikely and funny details that play against normal fantasy tropes. a good paperback series for young dragon lovers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Dragon House by Liv Mae Morris, - OPTIONAL

The Last Dragon House by Liv Mae Morris, 336 pages. Amulet Books, 2026. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Dragons have been driven almost to extinction, except for the few who find a safe place in the Dragon House. Olly was looking for a job that wasn’t in the local factory, and instead finds himself working for Dr. Lady Abernathy at the house. When Dr. Lady is poisoned, Olly has to take off ona desperate journey to save her.

While the book was a lot of fun to read, I didn't like all of the different forms and kinds of dragons that Morris creates - like the magical creatures we know aren’t good enough, they all actually have to be dragons. The edition the publisher sent to me has beautiful sprayed edges.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Anne Hadu - OPTIONAL

The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene by Corey Anne Hadu, 336 pages. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

About to turn 12yo, Denny is being dropped by her former best friend, Runa, with whom she spent years creating the magical, fictional world of Sorrowfield. Auden is the princess of Sorrowfield, about to turn 12yo. Her parents and sister were stolen by dragons and when she does turn 12yo, the whole kingdom depends on her to defeat the dragons and make things right and safe. When the two girls exchange lives and lands, they each learn strengths they never had.

Both girls are in situations where they are being manipulated by more than one person. Denny’s parents treat her like the adult, with her dad burdening her with her mom’s alcoholism. Auden is isolated by her guardian and his daughter. It was fine. For over 300 pages, I didn’t feel invested.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen - OPTIONAL

Devious Prey by Scott Reintgen, 292 pages. McElderry Books (Random), 2026. $20. 

Language: G (4 swears,  0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (bloody fighting, drowning deaths and bodies mentioned, more deaths, armor made from flesh)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Pearl and her aunt have been contracted to secretly move a highly sensitive and dangerous cargo.  Their voyage is complicated, however, when a wizard prisoner is also on their flying ship. Partway through their trip, the weather wizard keeping their ship safe dies - and all hell breaks loose.  When things calm down, only a people have survived to wash up on a deserted island and Pearl’s cargo, revealed to be a dragon, has escaped. The dragon has vowed to kill all of the survivors, with Pearl being her main target. While the wizard prisoner may be able to help them all, first he will have to escape his jailers. 

Plenty of danger, including that title that can take on so many meanings and layers. Who is predator and who is prey.  Reintgen explores his themes with as much skill as his other books.  Readers who enjoy his Waxways series will also enjoy this. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Dawn of the Axolotl (The Last Immortals #1) by Kit Brooks, illustrated by Brandon Dorman - ADVISABLE

Dawn of the Axolotl (The Last Immortals #1) by Kit Brooks, illustrated by Brandon Dorman, 194 pages. Christy Ottaviano Books, 2026. $9

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (One axolotl bites the tail off of another axolotl and eats it.)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: EL - MANY; MS - SOME

Ace, a fearful axolotl, has just hatched out of his egg with his twin brother, Jasper.  Jasper turns on Ace, bites off his tail and eats it.  Hurt and alone, Ace struggles to survive.  He finds two other axolotls that help Ace understand that axolotls need to work together because they are becoming extinct.  Will Ace have to face his brother again?

Dawn of the Axolotl was an interesting combination of fantasy and axolotl facts.  Fans of Warrior Cats would probably like this book.  I was troubled by the fact that several characters lose limbs or tails in this story.  Because axolotls can regenerate, losing a part of their body is seen as a way to become stronger or "immortal" by the characters in this book.  Axolotls are a very popular animal with elementary students, and they would probably enjoy learning more about them in this fantasy story. The characters in this book are mostly axolotls.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

Griffin Speaker by Jan M. Flynn - ESSENTIAL

Griffin Speaker by Jan M. Flynn, 384 pages. Disney, MAY 2026. $ 18.

Content: PG (one death by dropping, other mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Rain lives with her aunt in a Harvester, or grub, village, just dreading the day when she turns 13 and will be forced to work in the Root mines, harvesting the Roots, which are essential to the realm’s economy.  Her aunt, who is an Outlier (outcast) who runs an illegal magical animal menagerie, has a secret hidden in the barn and Rain is sure that it is a griffin - flying animals reserved for only the top ranks of Griffin Land society. When Rain can no longer resist, she bonds with the griffin, starting her down a path to defying all social conventions and expectations.

Rain’s story is thrilling!  I read almost straight through (had to get some sleep and do some work). She has a couple of great friends to help her and all of the action hangs together and makes sense as well as being interesting to read. The only thing I don't like is that the illustrations make her feel more like 10, instead of 12.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Dragonborn by Struan Murray - ESSENTIAL

Dragonborn by Struan Murray, 320 pages. Dutton (Penguin), 2026. $20.

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (bullying, dragon fighting, battle)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Alex feels suffocated by her overprotective mother - especially since her dad died in a violent storm. Then one day while in her favorite woods actual fire comes out of her mouth. Soon Alex is swept off to the remote island of Skralla, a hidden haven for young dragons to learn how to use their powers. Alex is having a hard time learning to shift from her human form to her dragon form and she is also still mourning her dad. When she hears about a special artifact, the Phylactery, which can help find the spirits of any dragon, she pursues it, even knowing that it is also a possible tool for Drak Midna, the evil dragon who has existed for centuries and who has no need for humankind. Murray sets up the tension so well. He manages to keep the myriad of surprises well-hidden, but logical.

I also became so frustrated with Alex’s inability to change forms, so he was great at engaging my emotions. The only thing I don’t understand is his use of “phylactery” as the name of the artifact - seems an odd use of a Jewish religious word. Other than that, though - loved it. Gorgeous end papers also.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

The Season of Flames (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #2) by Anna James - Essential

The Season of Flames (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #2) by Anna James, 272 pages. Penguin, APRIL 2026. $19

Content: G (slight danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Elio has led a pleasant life as part of the Circus Astra, handling Tangles and Knots for his father. Then when inspectors for the queen, including Oleander Young, come in search of an amber pendant, Elio must flee, along with his new friend Pom, finding their way to Thistledown Academy, where they are hoping that Juniper can help them read the map that his father gave him and figure out how to thwart the queen’s grasp for power.

At first I was surprised that James chose to jump 13 years into the future, but I ended up liking the book immensely. Juniper has just enough importance to satisfy readers who consume the books one after another. Hints of more to come are at the end, too.  Okay, I can wait another year.

One character is non-binary; also has a same-sex relationship.

Characters cue white, though the illustrations seem to indicate a variety of races.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd - ADVISABLE

The Last Ember (Aerimander Chronicles #1) by Lily Berlin Dodd, 352 pages. Farrar, Straus and Giroux (Macmillan), 2025. $20

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Eva thought she was just acting out of spite when she chose the egg-shaped object as this year’s birthday gift from her absentee father.  Turns out, however, that egg-shaped object was really an egg - for an aerimander - a dragon-like creature thought to be extinct.  A creature that is supposed to be extinct.  Now Eva is on the run; the Thieves Guild is on her tail, even if her pursuer is the youngest guild member. Eva wants to protect the egg and perhaps protect herself from the egg - because no one living has seen an aerimander and no one knows how to handle one.

Personally I was hoping for a little more aerimander as the focus, but Eva occupies most of the space. Her escape has a great comical twist and the cover is sure to capture some readers.

The characters cue white.

I listened to the audiobook narrated by Sid Sagar, courtesy of libro.fm

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Rise of Neptune (Dragonship #2) by Scott Reintgen - ADVISABLE

The Rise of Neptune (Dragonship #2) by Scott Reintgen, 415 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

14yo Lunar has stepped up and becomes the Mars dragon’s knight. There is no rest for the weary, however.  The threat from Neptune, or Neptune’s moon Triton, actually, is real and someone is on their way to help and someone is on their way to betray - ready to do whatever they must to conquer the galaxy.

#2 in the series is very exciting, full of danger, and crammed with unforeseen twists and shocks. I have enjoyed all of Reintgen’s YA science fiction and fantasy. There is a little bit of middle novel syndrome (think of the Back to the Future movies) - where the novel at the end seems to exist to propel us to the third novel, but the action is enough to carry us beyond that feeling. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Dragon Quest by Joan Reardon - ADVISABLE

Dragon Quest (Dad Rock #1) by Joan Reardon, 337 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $18. 9781665963367

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Zadie is excited to have some time with her older sister Persephone and her mom has agreed they can visit their park ranger dad.  BUT, they have to take along Mom’s extremely boring boyfriend. Almost as soon as they arrive, things become dangerous - turns out Dad is actually a caretaker for magical animals, and even Zadie, as his daughter, is a valuable commodity.  When Dad and Persephone get kidnapped, it is up to Zadie and Lloyd to work out their differences so that they can charge (carefully) to the rescue.

A good optional choice for a large fantasy collection.  I really appreciated the scene where Zadie and Lloyd really listened to each other; students will love the danger and Dad’s rockin’ lifestyle. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Blood Phoenix by Amber Chen - ADVISABLE

The Blood Phoenix (Fall of the Dragon #2 ) by Amber Chen, 464 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2025. $17 

Language: PG-13 (18 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 ( kissing and drinking); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

20yo Ying and her fellow engineering competitors are called back together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates and stop the deadly attacks that are occurring. Ying and Ye-Yang haven’t spoken and they both continue to have feelings for each other. Ying isn’t sure if she can get over his past deception. Ying enjoys working with her engineer friends and wants to stop the pirates from killing anyone else. She discovers there’s more to the attacks and the Blood Phoenix than the rulers think and it puts her friends and loved ones in terrible danger.

I like how the friends from the engineering competition are brought together to help the kingdom fight off the pirates. The comrades work well together. The relationship between Ye-Yang and Ying is topsy turvy and adds to the storyline. I love how much Ying and her sister Nian care about each other. The ethnicity is based on Asian characteristics and mentions pearl skin and bronze skin.

 LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Of Jade and Dragons by Amber Chen - ADVISABLE

Of Jade and Dragons (Fall of the Dragon #1) by Amber Chen, 480 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2024. $11

Language: PG-13 (17 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (gentle kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

18yo Ying witnessed her father’s murder and she’ll do anything and everything to avenge his death. She also wants to be an engineer like her father. She disguises herself as a boy and enters the engineering competition in the capital. Her sponsor ends up being a prince and she’s completely surprised by this. When Ying becomes part of the competition, she’s also thrown into politics and danger. Will she stay her course and avenge her father?

The names of the royals were confusing at first. I like the dynamics between Ying and Ye-yang. The science fiction and engineering aspects were fun and added an extra element to the story. The ethnicity is based on historical Oriental culture.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman - ESSENTIAL

Among Ghosts by Rachel Hartman, 400 pages. Random House, 2025. $21.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (death by fire, plague, dragon attacks, bully violence ) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Charl had arranged to meet his bully in the ruins of the old abby on the hill. Arriving there, he witnesses a terrible accident, where 2 boys from the village are killed. Charl realizes it could have been him! Years ago Charl and his mother escaped their abusive father, the Earl of Ucht. Now, 7 years later, he his found them, and has sent bounty hunters to return them to him, including a dragon set on destroying the whole village, and beetles which start a plague. Protected by a former knight, a nun, a doctor friend (who also happens to be a dragon) and an old prioress, Mother Truce, Charl wants to save his mother, but she has taught him to turn away from violence. But Charl thinks he may be more like his father that he wishes to be. 

A slow build to the ghostly content. It takes about 1/2 way through before the ghosts show up but I was not disappointed. Hartman sets up the story so well, and once she brings in the ghosts, this reader was also investing in the boy's story. The setting of Among Ghosts is Goredd, the same world as Hartman's other fantasy novels Serafina, Tess of the Road and others. Among Ghosts can be read on it's own and the novels don't overlap, rather they contain dragons which can take human form.  

Lisa Librarian 

Beetle and the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne - ADVISABLE

Beetle and the Chimera Carnival by Aliza Layne, 384 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $26 

Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: PG (the two main characters are lesbian); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

In book two, 12yo Beetle, Penny, and Kat are getting ready to celebrated the Chimera Festival, a magical night that only happens once every 10 years. There are costumes and magic and most of all, dragons, who come in just for the festival. The trio discovers that there is something sinister going on as the dragons fail to show up. Beetle's body is threatening to transform at an inopportune time and Gran is gone, But Beetle and her friends have to figure out what is going on before it is too late. 

Amidst the danger they face, Beetle and Kat are trying to find out when to come out and let their families know they are lesbian, so there are issues of coming out, as well as insecurities about identity and if someone will still like you if you are different. The end of the book addresses things you can do if you feel like self-harming, which is nice. The art is stunning and it is painted instead of the flat colors usually associated with graphic novels. The characters, while non-human, are wildly diverse, interact together well. A fast read with some nice plot twists. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Age of Enchantment by Anna James - ADVISABLE

The Age of Enchantment (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1) by Anna James, 282 pages. Penguin, 2024. $10 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content:G ; Violence: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Spring Ember Day arrives - time for all 13yo’s to have their enchantment affinity tested - and Juniper shows an affinity for all four seasons - making her an enchanter.  Which means she is off to Thistledown Academy to learn to use her powers responsibly - though it means leaving behind her family, especially her twin, Rafferty. Rafferty follows her, unknowingly putting himself into the path of a secret society which has found a way to steal and use the powers of enchanters like his sister. 

Anna James has started another exciting fantasy series! I was drawn into the story, so I spent more time at each sitting than I originally thought I would - very pleased. I’m happy to add this and recommend it  to my fantasy lovers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Dragon’s Apprentice by James Riley - OPTIONAL

The Dragon’s Apprentice by James Riley, 223 pages. Labyrinth Road (Random House), 2025. $19

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

It has been 1000 years since the Dragon Mage set out to teach all humans magic, bringing into being the evil Revenants, so now magic can only be in the hands of the Emperor. At least that was 12yo Ciara and the others of the kingdom have been told by the Emperor and his descendants. But Ciara has found the journal written by the Great Betrayer - or Bianca as she was known by the Dragon Mage, and Ciara uses the journal to summon a dragon! Scorch, the dragon, doesn’t want to train Ciara - he’s been asleep for 1000 years and he needs to find out where everything went so wrong and where the other dragons and their apprentices.  Ciara needs to save her mother and defy the Warden, who wants the journal. If Scorch and Ciara can’t learn to work together, the Emperor will win.

Ciara is the embodiment of chaotic good - she knows what she wants and she will take the little she knows in order to do what she sees as right.  Scorch doesn’t help matters as he prioritizes his own wants over Ciara’s.  And the Dragon Mage didn’t help things by making it impossible for a dragon to harm a human (just saying - a little fire applied to the right behinds would make things much easier). Young readers will enjoy the plethora action that furthers the story and won’t miss the lack of any kind of world-building or backbone to the story.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie - ESSENTIAL

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie, 368 pages. Random House, 2023. $20. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (creature violence, threats of being eaten, terrible injuries, fights with knives and swords, a murderer, deaths, talk of blood - seems like a lot buts it's not gory or excessive or even gross) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

It's very difficult to write a short summary of a story so beautiful and complex, so please excuse my very limited review. Mal and Christopher are children, Mal has a special coat that helps her to fly. She lives in the Archipelago which is like a animal preserve for magical creatures. Christopher's grandfather is the guardian, who watches the regular world side of the entrance to the Archipelago and protects it. Christopher will be Guardian some day, as was his mother. But then Christopher notices an injured Griffen near the lake, and Mal comes looking for help. The 2 children head to the Archipelago together to avoid a murderer, and try to stop whatever is killing the last magical place on earth. 

I have heard about this book for more than a year - the hype is correct, it's wonderful! An amazing adventure for a couple of brave and determined kids, who get just enough help to protect them, but not so much that they aren't the heroes. So many magical creatures, many I remember from the stories of my childhood, but many more as well. I appreciated the Bestiary at the end, with descriptions and illustrations of the impossible creatures. It is a bit violent, but not graphic or bloody - yes there are some life threatening injuries, and deaths of people and creatures we care about and a horrible villain, but upper elementary and middle school readers are going to love this. I have a couple of copies in my library already and it will be my gift of choice to the younger teens who want a book for their birthday. Christopher and Mal are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier - ADVISABLE

Dragonfruit by Makiia Lucier, 368 pages HarperCollins, 2024. $20. 

Language: PG (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (gore, violence, killing of dragons, injuries and deaths described) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

18yo Hanalei studies sea dragons. She has a special connection with them - her father once saved her life using a sea dragon egg. Now her father is gone and she is fending for herself, working for scholars at a school - getting them information about the elusive dragons. But when she is captured by a dragon hunter, she escapes back to her home village, where she must face her past, her friends and the dragons. 

An engaging story, more violent than I expected - not a next read for the Wings of Fire crowd as the dragons are hunted and brutally killed, and their eggs stolen. The setting is a Polynesian type archipelago, and tattoos are another magical element to the story. I enjoyed Dragonfruit, plenty of adventure, both seafaring and on land. The characters are islanders. 

Lisa Librarian