Rising Thunder by Neal Shusterman - ESSENTIAL

Rising Thunder (Scythe prequel, First Blades #1) by Neal Shusterman, 560 pages. Simon and Schuster, DECEMBER 2026. $25

Language: PG-13 (55 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (deaths mentioned, some bloody)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Who created Thunderhead? Who were the first Scythes and why did they start their gruesome business? How did humankind create immortality?

Welcome back to the beginnings of the world of Scythes where you will find as many questions as you do answers and love every minute of it. Shusterman crafts interesting, complicated, and thoughtful narratives and he does not disappoint as he unveils the first scythes and how they “got the job”. I can’t wait for others to read this so that I have people to talk to about it!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey - ADVISABLE

Everything She Does Is Magic by Bridget Morrissey, 288 pages. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2025. $13.

Language: PG-13 (19 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (repeated kissing on page); Violence: PG (intentional life-threatening allergic reaction)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

17 yo Darcy is a realist who wants to experience life outside of Fableview, a small town that is obsessed with Halloween. 17 yo Anya is a real witch-in-training who also wants a normal life. To become a full-fledged witch, Anya needs to ask someone to be a mortal “protector,” so she lies to her family coven, and says Darcy is willing to do it. However, both of their future plans might be derailed by their new feelings in development. Oh, what’s a girl (or two) to do?

I loved reading this book! It is the perfect cozy Halloween read. I loved the opposites-attract trope between Darcy and Anya. I loved the charming town of Fableview and its quirky cast of characters. I thought it was a delightful sapphic romcom perfect for any high school library.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher #bookswithbeddes 

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 

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield - ADVISABLE

Love Requires Chocolate by Ravynn K. Stringfield, 271 pages. joy revolution, 2024. $13

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (some kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Whitney Curry has just arrived in Paris for her senior year semester abroad to study theater. She has carefully created a color-coded map and a variety of lists outlining how she plans to see and experience Paris, but things don't start as planned. Her roommates are not interested in being friends, her assigned French tutor is grumpy, and her first time in the city on her own she gets lost. But slowly Whitney makes friends, falls in love, and starts to experience the real Paris without her map. Before she heads home, however, she has a few lessons to learn about love and life.

This was a fun romance in which Whitney learns a lot about herself during her first experience away from home. She falls in love with chocolate, Paris, and a great guy. It dragged a little in the middle but over all, a good read.

Whitney Curry and Thierry Magnon are black. Nora is white and Sophie is described as light brown.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Lie Until It's True by Jessie Weaver - OPTIONAL

Lie Until It's True by Jessie Weaver, 320 pages. Disney, 2024. $10

Language:  R (98 swears,  0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS -  OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Two separate murder suspects are on 16yo Amanda’s mind, her exonerated sister Cora and her art teacher from kid camp. Cora was a suspect in the murder of a social media influencer. The art teacher is the suspect in the murder of a very rich man at the Summit hotel. Amanda visits her friends in Summit. She wants to be a better sister to Cora and spend more time with her best friends, Cole, Mallory, and Vince. Cole and Mal are dating and Vince is dealing with the fact that his mother, the art teacher, has been arrested as a suspect in the murder of an art dealer. Cole shows his true colors by manipulating his friends to go ahead with approving the haunted or homicide show for the hotel that will televise the investigation and publicize everything about their lives, which turns the situation into a disaster.

I liked the double mystery storyline that grew into a possible haunting. The dynamic characters were interesting. The buildup and unraveling of the mysteries were fun to read.

Vince has brown skin. Amanda, Cole and Mallory fall to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya - OPTIONAL

Sinner’s Isle by Angela Montoya, 384 pages. Joy Revolution, 2023. $19.

Language:  R (100+ swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (hyper sexualized environment on the island, one non-descriptive on-page sex scene); Violence: R (repeated on-page pain & death);

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

A powerful witch in a highly religious, patriarchal society seeks to break free by escaping her island prison before she is forever magically bound to a powerful, wealthy, noble. The author explores themes of power & control, fate vs free will, and true love, all wrapped up in a thrilling action & adventure swashbuckling story.

When I started, I was a little thrown off by the references to Latin-esque culture and fantasy vocabulary, but once I got into it, it was fully immersive fantasy world-building. The rage against the patriarchy theme wasn't subtle, but then again, it didn't need to be. The whole point was Rosalinda coming into her own power and finally taking charge of her body, her magic, and her future. I loved the dual P.O.V. between Mariano and Rosalinda and how all the plot lines came together in the end. I will say that the book felt incomplete when it came to wrapping up the larger political intrigue, but for the main plot, it was a good stopping place. It’s an enthralling adventure fantasy romance for older readers.

Reviewer: Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher #bookswithbeddes

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

I'm Trying to Love Germs by Bethany Barton - ESSENTIAL

I'm Trying to Love Germs by Bethany Barton. PICTURE BOOK NON-FICTION Viking (Penguin), 2023. $19. 9780593326725 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

With the help of a talking germ, learn all about microbes and pathogens and the ways they can harm or help us. 

 Barton's 5th book is as cute and informative as the rest of them. I would buy any of the books that correlate with the curriculum at your school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

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

My Father the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang - OPTIONAL

My Father the Panda Killer by Jamie Jo Hoang, 361 pages. Crown Books, 2023. $19. 

Language: R (81 swears 38 'f'); Mature Content: PG (The whole book is about generational trauma so it's a heavy topic) Violence: R (Graphic descriptions of war-time violence, rape, suicide, and deaths from starvation and violence; repeated child beatings) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: LOW 

It’s 17yo Jane’s last summer at home and she can’t wait to escape her Vietnamese father’s oppression when she goes to UCLA in the fall. Now she just has to figure out how to tell him, and her little brother Paul, who she worries will never forgive her for leaving like their mother did. But she has to get out. Her dad’s unpredictability and physical abuse have made Jane’s life unbearable, but so far she’s been able to shield Paul from the worst of it. Jane knows her dad must have suffered horrors during the war and during his escape to the United States, but Vietnamese people don’t talk of such things. As Jane learns more about his story, she starts to understand some of why he is the way he is, even as she understands that it doesn’t justify his behavior. 

This was a hard read, but an important one, and I openly wept a couple of times at the brutal reality of Jane’s life. Several of the beatings were pretty severe and my heart broke for Jane and Paul. Told in alternating chapters, the story bounces between Jane’s present day and the story of her dad’s life in and escape from Vietnam. We often only learn about the Vietnam War through the American lens and I appreciated the authentic telling of this part of history. It was also a window into the experience of children of refugees and their struggle to live in both worlds. I struggled, though, with a lack of condemnation of the abuse Jane suffered. She sort of just reconciles herself to it as the consequence of her dad’s horrific experiences rather than understanding that she’s being abused and getting help. I can’t say I liked this book, but I’m still glad I read it. Jane is Vietnamese-American. 

Andrea R

The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson - ESSENTIAL

The Book of Turtles by Sy Montgomery & Matt Patterson. NON-FICTION, PICTURE BOOK HarperCollins, 2023. $20. 9780358458074 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Turtles have been around as long as the dinosaurs, but they somehow survived. We learn about their shells (which makes them turtles after all) and interesting things about the different species. 

Matt Patterson's paintings are so accurate! Well detailed and gorgeous. I loved Montgomery's text, well written and engaging. I had no idea there were so many things I didn't know about turtles. My favorite part was the spotlights on specific turtles, especially the one about the break up of a couple who had been together over 100 years. A must read. Also includes ways we can help them including sites with resources. 

Lisa Librarian

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang - MANY

These Deadly Prophecies by Andrea Tang, 256 pages. G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, 2024. $18.

Language: R (50 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (deaths) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

17 or 18yo Tabatha apprentices for the famous and magical Solomon. He states, through several prophecies, that he will die. It’s a shock to everyone when he actually dies and it’s a brutal death. Tabatha is told by Solomon, before his death, to only trust his son Callum and no one else. Callum and Tabatha try to solve the murder mystery but get swept up in the unknown along the way. 

This book is such a fun read! I loved the spooky atmosphere and the mystery. Tabatha is a strong, persistent, interesting character. The Solomon family members are white and Tabatha is Chinese American. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookies of Chaos by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr - ADVISABLE

Ben Yokoyama and the Cookies of Chaos (Cookie Chronicles #5) by Matthew Swanson and Robbi Behr, 348 pages. CHAPTER BOOK Knopf (Random House), 2023. $14 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Ben finds a lost wallet with 50 dollars in it and no real identification besides just some random business cards. Ben would love to keep the money, but also wants to do the right thing. Janet, Ben's good friend, is convinced Ben needs a personal philosophy to guide him. Ben goes through five different fortune cookies to find his personal philosophy as chaos ensues through the form of a vengeful librarian, and a terrifying toilet. 

Ben and Janet are great characters and the idea of gaining a personal philosophy is an important talking point. The humor is spot on and the adventures are fun. Ben always learns something but it's never heavy handed and it's a joy ride of self discovery. The art work helps with the story and the tone as well. No culture or race is specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle and Dave Valeza - HIGH

Four Eyes by Rex Ogle, illustrated by Dave Valeza, 224 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Graphix (Scholastic), 2023. $13 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Sixth grader, Rex, is having a rough time at school. He's being bullied and his best friend no longer has anything to do with him. To top it off, he needs glasses, which his family will have a difficult time paying for. 

 Rex's coming of age story has a lot of depth to it. He has a step-father who stutters, a hard working waitress for a mother, and an estranged father who doesn't want to pay for extras. Rex's story of trying to fit in and adjust to glasses while dealing with bullies, friends, and family should resonate with middle school readers. Rex's mother and grandmother are Hispanic. 

 Michelle in the Middle 

Lei And The Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea - ESSENTIAL

Lei And The Fire Goddess by Malia Maunakea, 298 pages. Penguin Workshop, 2023. $18      

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting, not described in detail).

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

12yo Anna goes from Colorado to Hawaii to visit her Tutu every summer for three weeks. During that stay, her Tutu tries to teach, and tell her the stories about her Hawaiian heritage. But Anna doesn't believe in that stuff anymore. Then she picks Pele's (the fire goddess) special 'ohi'a lehua flower and Pele's hawk comes and takes Kaipo, her best friend in Hawaii, away. Anna has to embark on a journey that takes her to the cave of a mo'o, and up the side of a volcano with a demigod to save her Tutu's house from the lava, and her best friend. With the wind at her side, and a talking bat, she learns to believe the stories her Tutu told her.

I liked how easy it was to get into the book. And it was a new experience for me, reading about Hawaiian Lore, it was cool. And it was a good amount of adventure and action. The characters were likable as well.    Anna is half Hawaiian.         

STUDENT REVIEWER E. Anderson 9^th grade

    

The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers - ADVISABLE

The Eyes & The Impossible by Dave Eggers, 250 pages. Random House, 2023 $19.00 Language: PG (9 swears (all deity) 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Johannes is a wild dog who lives in a park. The bison, who seem to be in charge of all the wildlife in the area, have given him the responsibility of being The Eyes. He runs through the park and reports back what he sees - with the help of his friends a seagull, a squirrel, a pelican and a raccoon they know about everything - the people, the park workers, the construction projects. The bison are wise and know just what to do. But Johannes has a problem, he's not fast if he gets distracted. 

The Eyes & The Impossible isn't just another dog book. Oh, I loved it so much. Eggers' story telling is engaging and exciting. The characters, although animals, are realistic and believable. The gorgeous landscapes (actual Fine Art with the dog added) made the book fancy and beautifully illustrated. A sure purchase for my library. 

Lisa Librarian

The Last Fallen Realm by Graci Kim - ADVISABLE

The Last Fallen Realm (Gifted Clans #3) by Graci Kim, 300 pages. Rick Riordan Presents (Disney-Hyperion), 2021. $17.

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

Witches all over the world have lost access to their gifts, so Riley (13yo), her parents, her Horangi guardians, and her friends are traveling across the country to help witches everywhere get their powers back. Unfortunately, while the group is in Las Vegas, the space between the three realms tears, beginning the war. Riley and her friends need to figure out their attack plan now before the angry goddesses destroy their world.

Readers watch Riley struggle through good character growth in this trilogy, reminding us how difficult things continue to impact our lives and that we can choose to let the impact be positive. Amongst other good life lessons and humor and contemporary references for levity. While the story takes some random twists and turns, Riley does her best to be a hero—and she wants you to be one too.

The majority of characters are Korean. The mature content rating is for kissing. The violence rating is for assault, blood, and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Relit by Sandra Proudman - MANY

Relit by Sandra Proudman, 352 pages. SHORT STORIES. Inkyard Press, 2024. $21.

Language: R (63 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13; Violence: PG-13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

These sixteen authors retell stories we know from Disney movies and high school English class. From Greek mythology to folktales, Jane Austen to Edgar Allan Poe, stories familiar to us are made new and exciting again.

The intent of this collection was to rewrite familiar stories with Latinx characters, which breathes new life into the retellings. The cultures of the new main characters and their settings lend elements to the stories that did not exist in the originals. It’s as if the authors are inviting readers to ask how the story would change if they—if we—were the main character. Let your imagination go wild.

Most of the characters are implied, if not explicitly, Latinx. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, drug use, kissing, innuendo, partial nudity, and mentions of sex and sexual harassment. The violence rating is for fantasy violence; mentions of guns, torture, homicide, and genocide; and suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Middle School and Other Disasters: Worst Love Spell Ever! by Wanda Coven and Anna Abramskaya - HIGH

Middle School and Other Disasters: Worst Love Spell Ever! by Wanda Coven, illustrated by Anna Abramskaya, 322 pages. Middle Grade, Simon and Schuster, 2023 .$15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Heidi is at Kettledrum Academy, a boarding school that caters to witches-in-training and nonmagical kids alike. Heidi is totally enamored with Hunter "McCutie" and wonders how she can cast a love spell to get him to notice her since she thinks of herself as boring and invisible. What could go wrong? 

True confession: I almost didn't get past the first few pages. There are so many words all in caps and an overabundance of exclamation points. However, if you can channel your inner middle school angst that most of us try to smother with a pillow, it's actually pretty relatable to the target audience. The book does bring up some real issues, like why being yourself is important and that perhaps all first crushes don't work out and that's ok. So while you can practically hear girl screams about boys in your head, it would actually be a fun read for tween girls. Culture or race is never specified. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Mission Manhattan by James Ponti - ESSENTIAL

Mission Manhattan (City Spies #5) by James Ponti, 423 pages. Aladdin Paperbacks, (Simon and Schuster), 2024. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

Book five in the City Spies series shines some love on 13yo Rio, who is a skilled street magician on top of being one of the City Spies. The group of spies travels to Venice, Italy to protect a teen environmentalist during a demonstration and her speech to the UN conference. When Rio spots a bomb, he is hailed as a hero, but finds that there are a lot of sinister powers in play. 

Another engaging spy novel that will suck you in. There are a lot of characters to root for, and the Venice and Washington, DC settings make it even cooler. Yes, the young spies seem almost superhumanly gifted, but who wouldn't want to be them? Plus Cairo's mom, who seems to be the City Spies' enemy, is lurking in the shadows and figures to play a bigger role in the future. I shall anxiously await further missions! City Spies represent a variety of ethnicities. 

Michelle in the Middle