Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot - ESSENTIAL

Kissing Cowboys (Kissing Cowboys #1) by Meg Cabot, 336 pages. HarperCollins, December 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (37 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (making out, reference to breasts); Violence: PG (fight, accident with injury)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

When 16yo Winn is forced to move cross-country from New York to Montana for her mom's job, she finds herself attending her brother's school. An all-boys ranch school "for intellectually gifted boys, with emotional, behavioral or academic challenges." She's the only girl, allowed to attend classes because her mother is teaching there. She's actually delighted (and a bit scared - what if one of them is a serial killer?) and is quickly, literally embraced by the student body. But she has her eye on a couple of them, and she's hoping she doesn't fall in love. As fresh and funny as Princess Diaries,

I couldn't put it down. I loved her displacement, Winn describes her outfits, which are usually terrible for the winter weather in Montana, and true to Meg Cabot gets herself into some awkward situations. I loved this romance; there's some making out that doesn't go too far, and a lot of sexual tension - of course - there are 80 boys at the school! The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian - 

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 

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin - ESSENTIAL

The Bletchley Riddle by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin, 400 pages. Penguin, 2024. $19

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, civilian war violence - bombs, injuries)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It's 1940, and Germany's invasion of England is imminent. 14yo Lizzie is being evacuated by her grandmother to the United States, and she's not going. She evades her grandmother's agent and sets out to find her 19yo brother Collin. Their mother was working for the US embassy and is missing (and presumed dead) in Poland. Lizzie can't believe her mother is dead. There's no body, no one saw her die; she just disappeared. All Lizzie has is hope, and she's going to find out the truth. Collin is working in the town of Bletchley, and can't talk about what he does. He's a mathematician and has signed the Secrets Act. When Lizzie joins him, she signs the Act too. Now they are both very busy, trying to stop Hitler - and looking for clues to find out what happened to their mother.

These two powerhouse authors are the perfect team! Told in alternating chapters (more or less), the two teens' stories are exciting, suspenseful, and age-appropriate both for the characters and the intended readers. I know Historical Fiction is a hard sell, but I'll be recommending The Bletchley Riddle whenever it's back on the shelf. Collin and Lizzie are English; their mother is American.

Lisa Librarian 

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst - ESSENTIAL

The Faraway Inn by Sarah Beth Durst, 384 pages. Delacorte Books, 2026. $15

Language: PG-13 (9 swears; no ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Nursing a broken heart, 16-year-old Calisa leaves Brooklyn behind for the summer as she goes to Vermont to help her great aunt at the Faraway Inn. Excited by the prospect of escape from her troubles and the opportunity to work at a cozy bed and breakfast, Calisa is shocked to find the inn is run down and in desperate need of rehabilitation. Add to that, Auntie Zee doesn’t seem to want Calisa around, and strange whisperings of possible magic mean this will be a summer Calisa never forgets.

This cozy fantasy has a slow beginning, however, if readers stick with it, Calisa’s story develops into a charming tale of loss, love, and the power of family. Younger readers will appreciate Calisa’s struggle with her first heartbreak and adjustment to being away from home for the first time while the magical side of the plot will charm them. The world building is well-developed and entertaining, leading the reader to hope that this is the first in a series as so many worlds were introduced that the opportunity for exploration of people and places is endless. 

Reviewer: AEB

The Beasts We Raise (The Broken Citadel #2) by D. L. Taylor - ESSENTIAL

The Beasts We Raise (The Broken Citadel #2) by D. L. Taylor, 288 pages. Henry Holt and Co. (Macmillan), 2026. $21

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG; Violence: PG (imprisonment, reference to war, death of her father- gruesome detail of the body)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Newly appointed to the office of Prime, Mance, a young woman,  finds herself in a difficult dilemma. Mance is in love with Silver.  Yet as the new Prime of her realm, she is destined to marry the Prime of the Forrest Realm, Reltas, in order to maintain an alliance.  Reltas is everything Mance hates: self-centered, unkind, power-driven, and demanding.  Why should Mance have to trade her true love just to maintain peace? If Mance wants to avoid a fight that will devastate her realm, she’ll have to consider the proposal. She desperately seeks allyship from other Primes with little to no avail.  With her secret ability to physically split into separate versions of herself, she sets off to not only refuse Reltas's proposal but to bring peace and healing to her realm as well as the rest of the world.

The opening includes a great summary of the 1st book.  This could be a stand-alone novel.  The plot is interesting and suspenseful.  I loved that the novel is shorter and the author didn't feel the need to add fluff and stuff just to make it long.  There were a lot of emotional themes running through this 2nd book such as taking your power back, helping to pull other people out of their darkness, making life easier for other's, enjoying laughter after tragedy, and finally that we can and are strong enough to overcome difficulties especially with healing and love. Great book for teens and adults alike!

Characters cue white.

S. Lewis

Cassini’s Mission by Kate Venit, illustrated by Julia Blattman - ESSENTIAL

Cassini’s Mission by Kate Venit, illustrated by Julia Blattman. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. MIT Kids Press, 2025. $19. 9781536232325

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

When the Cassini spacecraft was sent towards Saturn to explore the tiny moon Enceladus, the scientists thought they had packed it with every needed tool.  As the team had more questions to answer and challenges for Cassini, the little spacecraft responded beautifully, until they discovered the one question Cassini couldn’t answer - is there life on Enceladus.

I love this look at space missions and scientists finding out their hypotheses were incorrect and then changing their trajectory both literally and figuratively. Excellent for all levels of science teachers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin (Enola Holmes #10) by Nancy Springer - ESSENTIAL

Enola Holmes and the Clanging Coffin (Enola Holmes #10) by Nancy Springer, 336 pages. St. Martin's Press, 2026. $24

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (attack and kidnapping)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO:  SEVERAL

17yo Enola is at the graveyard and hears a chiming bell. She finally pinpoints the sound at a burial site and when it’s dug up, a young woman is inside. Trevina doesn’t remember her name or how she ended up in the burial site. Enola takes Trevina to her helpful acquaintance Florence Nightingale to nurse her back to health and hopefully recover her memory. While Enola helps Trevina regain health and memories, she also wants to help Sherlock with his nemesis, Moriarty.

I love how the reader is introduced to Florence Nightingale and we get a glimpse of her home. Enola is as persistent and intelligent as always. The whole Moriarty mystery is interesting and ominous.

The ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Library, Delta, Utah

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne and Ernest H. Shepard, - ESSENTIAL

Winnie-the-Pooh: 100th Anniversary Edition by A. A. Milne, illustrated by Ernest H. Shepard, 368 pages. Aladdin 2026. $11. 9781665984126

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

The story of the honey-loving, bumbling bear Winnie-the-Pooh will touch the hearts of those who grew up reading these adventures and will become a favorite of first time readers/ listeners. Each chapter explores a new adventure, from searching for honey or celebrating birthdays to hunting Heffalumps. 

This 100 year Anniversary Edition of the classic ""Winnie-The-Pooh"" is produced with a flocked cover (the exact color of Winnie himself)  that’s soft to the touch. Readers of all ages will relish in this beloved story in its unique form.  This edition includes both Winnie-the-Pooh and The House at Pooh Corner.  What a joy to be able to read this beloved book once again.  I remember reading it as a child, reading it to my first graders as a teacher, and to my own children.  It was so much fun being reintroduced to the main characters and reliving the excitement of their fun and unique adventures.  I love this new soft cover edition and can't wait to read it to my future grandchildren. What a treasure! 

S. Lewis

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton - ESSENTIAL

The Notorious Virtues by Alwyn Hamilton, 512 pages. Penguin, 2025. $23

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Healthy competition between cousins )

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

In a world filled with magic, family politics, history, power, betrayal, and lack of love, Nora is supposed to be an heiress since childhood. When her mother is murdered, Nora’s future is in question. A complicated competition, the Veritas, will determine who is the future heiress. Unfortunately, a cousin no one knew existed, Lotte, enters the scene. Lotte has an equal chance at becoming the next heir but first has to win this trial to get the love and attention of her family. Add to the mix, Theo, a knight, and  August, a young journalist, and you have the “perfect storm” of love and honor intertwined with excitement and competition.

Notorious Virtues was easy to read and kept my attention throughout the book.  Instead of most “slow burns”, Notorious Virtures pulled me in right from the beginning.  The book is intriguing, entertaining, and fun to read.  It was easy to connect with all the characters, especially the underdog, Lotte. The author develops each character very well. I loved that it was written with multiple points of view. Very well written!

Reviewer: sl

Sabrina Carpenter by Selena Fragassi - ESSENTIAL

Sabrina Carpenter by Selena Fragassi, 199 pages. BIOGRAPHY NON-FICTION Epic Ink (Quarto), 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Though appearing on TV and film since she was 12, Sabrin Carpenter’s first love has always boon music. With 6 albums under her belt, 2025 was the summer of Sabrina and her hit “Espresso” - but what came before that fabulous time? Fragassi gives us a look at Carpenter’s rise to fame.

Because she started her career at such a young age, there is little about her home life. And everything is framed around her career. Fans will love it. Though the book refers frequently to her later innuendo-laden speech and lyrics, plus her body-con outfits, nothing is explicit in the book itself.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Chappell Roan by Harbert Day - ESSENTIAL

Chappell Roan by Harbert Day, 198 pages. Epic Ink (Quarto), 2025. $20 

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (said once each: suicide, smoking, bare-breast); Violence: G (bullying said) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

From her early days as a little girl in a farm town in Missouri through her early struggles to break into the business to the present day success, meet the woman known as Chappell Roan and visit her highlights and low times on her road to where she is now. Chappell Roan is unabashedly LGBT and is an icon in the community. Day gives us an exuberant look at her life and career, filled with lots of photographs and side bars. Fans of the singer will enjoy reading all about her. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Every Borrowed Beat by Erin Stewart, - ESSENTIAL

Every Borrowed Beat by Erin Stewart, 352 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: PG (5 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS, ADULT - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

16yo Sydney Wells has spent years waiting on the transplant list for a new heart. Alongside her best friend Chloe, she created a blog called ""The List"" to share the raw realities of living with chronic illness and the endless wait for a second chance. Then, at last, the call comes—Sydney receives her new heart. But life after the transplant isn’t as simple as she imagined. She finds herself fixated on Mia, the girl who died so Sydney could live. Determined to learn everything about Mia, Sydney seeks out Mia’s best friend, Clayton. Together, they make a plan to honor Mia’s memory, but Sydney soon finds her feelings for Clayton growing stronger. Torn between her secret and her heart, she must decide whether to reveal the truth—or risk losing both Clayton and the fragile new life she’s been given."

I really liked this book! Through Sydney’s thoughts and feelings, you get to see what it’s like to go through the struggles and heartache of waiting for—and finally getting—a heart transplant. Even though the topic is serious, the author adds humor and a little bit of romance that make the story fun to read. I also liked how Sydney wasn’t sure if she should tell Clayton the truth, which made her feel real and relatable. Teens will definitely connect with Sydney while also learning what it’s like to face such a big life challenge. The story moves along smoothly and is easy to read—I think a lot of students will really enjoy it!

Sydney, Clayton, Chloe and Mia are all presumed to be white.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Girls with Goals by Clelia Castro-Malaspina - ESSENTIAL

Girls with Goals by Clelia Castro-Malaspina, 178 pages. NON-FICTION Quarto, 2025. $20 

Language: G (1 swear, 0 F); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Women have faced an uphill climb in the sporting world. This book reveals the history of soccer for women around the world and their hopes and triumphs and unfair setbacks. Unbelievably, men espoused that if women played sports it could damage to their fertility. 

Creative layout and colorful pages and pictures make the information easily accessible. This book is a good reminder of how far women have come in sports and how difficult their journey has been. Women from all major soccer playing countries are spotlighted, and readers might be fascinated to learn that it was actually against the law for women to play soccer in Brazil in 1941. I read it cover to cover and would recommend it to anyone who likes soccer, or is working to achieve their goals. 

Michelle in the Middle

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis - SEVERAL

All the Noise at Once by DeAndra Davis, 384 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $20.

 

Language: R (85 swears 14 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG13 (bloody fight, police brutality, taunting, football violence) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Aiden wants to play on his brother's high school football team, and it's finally the year they can do it. 17yo Brandon is a senior and the number one recruit in the nation, but when Aiden, who is a good player, but also has autism, has an episode at tryouts, it looks like the boys won't get to play together after all. When a spot opens and Aiden does gets on the team, some of the other players are unhappy, and resent him because they think he's only playing because his brother is the star quarterback. At a team party after a win, one player picks a fight with Aiden, which turns into chaos, the police are called and several boys on the team are arrested. Including Brandon, who as far as Aiden remembers, wasn't involved. But the police say he assaulted an officer and resisted arrest. Aiden feels this is all his fault, and is desperate to clear his brother's name and save his future prospects. 

There's a lot going on in this engaging, heart wrenching, moving story. Davis hits on racism, social issues, high school football, the legal system, and being a child with autism. At one point he confronts his coach with honest questions and anger about how he has been treated by adults - differently because he's black? because he had autism? because of his brother? Those questions don't have a neat easy answer. A good mix of black and white players on the team, as well as a gay couple. A nice companion to Come Home Safe by Brian Buckmire. 

Aiden and Brandon are black, many of the team is too, most are white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout - ESSENTIAL

Song of a Blackbird by Maria van Lieshout, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2025 $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (war violence, execution of resistance members, blood in graphics) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

When Annick's Dutch grandmother needs a bone marrow transplant, and discovers she is not a blood relative of her siblings, Annick begins a search of her grandmother's history to discover what happened to her in German occupied Amsterdam during WWII. Told from 2011 and 1941, we see the answers to Annick's research as events unfold during the war. In 1941, artists and art not approved by the Nazis was forbidden, but Emma, who likes to draw was introduced to the underground art community by a friend, as well as learned how she could help the Resistance from a teacher at her school - smuggling forged paperwork produced by her artist friends and helping foster Jewish babies who have been saved from deportation with their parents. Annick discovers that one of these babies may have been her Oma, and that Oma has a brother. 

A well written, well documented account of the resistance movement in Amsterdam during the war. I especially loved that many of the graphic illustrations were superimposed onto photographs taken by the Resistance. I was especially impressed by the end notes, telling about who the characters were based on the stories behind the events that happened in the book. The Bank Heist was my favorite. As I began reading, I noticed that Song of a Blackbird takes place at the same time and in the same place as Artifice by Sharon Cameron. It had some overlap which was fun. The characters are Dutch 

Lisa Librarian  

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Callela - ESSENTIAL

Liar’s Kingdom by Christine Callela, 384 pages. Page Street, 2025. $19.

Language: PG-13 (31  swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kisses); Violence: PG (2 deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE; HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Ell is on her way to the palace to wed the prince after he appears at her home and she fits the glass slipper.  She is so happy to be out from under her evil stepmother’s iron-fisted rule that she doesn’t even care that she wasn’t even at the ball. But someone knows that she is not the girl who danced at the ball.  And her stepmother is not ready to give up Ell so easily.  And the king is a volatile tyrant who wants to eliminate every fairy from existence. Turns out that Ell was only in the pan - the fires raging around her are oh so worse.

The ferocity of Callela’s Cinderella reminds me of Cinderella is Dead by Kalynn Bayron - the Cinderella is going to have to save herself. Readers who enjoy complex fairy tale reworks will have a great time.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Huda F Wants to Know? by Huda Fahmy - ESSENTIAL

Huda F Wants to Know? (Huda F #3) by Huda Fahmy, 209 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin Teen, 2025. $18 (pb).

Content: G (some talk of mental health, back matter contains info about suicide hotlines)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Huda’s life has just been flipped on its head - her parents are getting a divorce???!!! Huda’s grades are already tanking because she’s  more interested in a boy than doing school work, but now she has no chance. Then she has a fight with her best friend, and they aren’t speaking to each other.  Huda needs help, but admitting you need a professional to talk to is frowned upon.

Huda’s life in her junior year tackles deeper topics - though everything is handled with care. I love the look into life as Muslim - Utah has so little to experience. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shante - ESSENTIAL

The Unboxing of a Black Girl by Angela Shante, 160 pages. Page Street, 2024. $19. 

Language: PG13 (13 swears. 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (reference to kisses and kissing) Violence: PG13 (aftermath of a sexual assault) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Black children, especially girls, grow up quickly. Full of vignettes of growing up black, particularly female and black. Angela is resilient and driven. 

Shante is a gifted poet. The Unboxing of a Black Girl is a novel in verse, and, like Anderson's Shout isn't just a collection of poems - this is one readers are going to want to own, to re-reread, to reflect, to connect with and share. The use of footnotes to connect the reader with the culture and history was smart. Includes a reader's guide with discussion questions, music, books and film references, as well as research topics and author "inspirations" Highly recommended. 

Lisa Librarian 

Zero: the number that almost wasn’t by Sarah Albee and Chris Hsu - ESSENTIAL

Zero: the number that almost wasn’t by Sarah Albee, illustrated by Chris Hsu. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. Charlesbridge, 2025. $18. 9781623544324

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Follow the timeline and take a trip around the world as you explore the history of the number zero.

Albee does a great job of simplifying zero’s history, letting us see the scope of the concept throughout history and at many different places around the world - including the time when CHristian leaders said that zero was the work of the devil. I showed this to my math teachers and they love it. This might convince a middle school or high school math teacher that picture books are worth reading to their students.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins - ESSENTIAL

Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, 400 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $28

Language: G (0 swears,  0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (undescribed naked mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (many deaths mentioned, decapitation, spilled guts, bones,)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Haymitch’s 16th birthday and reaping day - a potent combination. It is the day of the Quarter Quell, the 50th Hunger Games, and 4 tributes will be chosen from each District to fight to the death in the Capitol’s arena of choice.

What more do you need to know?  Collins has written a tear-jerker, a heart-breaking look at Haymitch and the Games he “won”. The level of violence is similar to all of the other books in the series. You will not be sorry you read it - and you will hate President Snow even more than you already did before the end. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS