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 

Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry - OPTIONAL

Last Chance Live! by Helena Haywoode Henry, 544 pages. Penguin, 2025. $22

Language: R (91 swears, 4 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: R (gruesome ways to kill someone mentioned, detailed murder scenes committed by characters, rape mentioned, capital punishment)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

Eternity is 18yo  and on death row for aiding the murder of some extended family members and is desperate to be chosen to compete in a reality show in hopes of winning her freedom. Getting cast on the show could win her clemency from her sentence and give her the opportunity to live the life she always dreamed of outside of prison bars.   The only catch, she must convince America to vote off the other 9 competing death row inmates and guarantee her freedom.  

The story is told in both present and past tense, helping the reader truly understand Eternity's heart and life.  The novel is full of powerful narratives that plague Eternity's mind and soul.  Readers will cheer for, cry for, and become endeared to this main character and her plea to be given a chance to prove she is worth something.  Every reality TV binge watcher will love this deeply human teen novel.  Henry does a masterful job getting the reader inside of Eternity's head and heart. The self-talk doesn't excuse Eternity's actions, yet the truth about race and socioeconomic status is such a defining reality.  I did think that the violence was a bit to bear with the age suggestion being 12-17, but I am protective of what my children read.  The real world really is a tough place for a lot of people! I really enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down.  The concept of a reality show freeing a death row inmate was a unique and controversial idea for sure.

Eternity is a black girl from Dallas. 

S. Lewis

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley - ADVISABLE

Burn the Kingdom Down by Addie Thornley, 428 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $20

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing and implied sex, drinking tea with drug-like properties); Violence: PG-13 (gruesome deaths, descriptions of dead bodies, attempted sexual assault)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Indira has always been content to be the younger sister, peacefully growing the bagrava that's essential to her people's survival. But, when her older sister's body is returned after only a year of marriage to the Vanzadorian prince, Indira is sent to take her place. Her plan to avenge her sister's death and destroy Vanzador starts to fall apart when she discovers that there's more to Vanzador than meets the eye. Nothing Indira sees in Vanzador adds up to what she had been told. As Indira digs deeper into Vanzador's secrets, she discovers her own abilities to lead and becomes the queen her new country needs. 

Overall, I liked the book and the twists and turns kept me guessing. Both Indira and Prince Alaric's character arcs are well done. I also liked the love story because it was authentic and wasn't the primary focus of the story. The magic system was a little strange and could have used a little more explanation. The ages of the characters are only implied - but I feel they are between 18 and 21.

There isn't a specific race or ethnicity for any of the main characters, but Indira is described as having golden skin and freckles, while many of the Vanzadorians have blond hair. 

Andrea R

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

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss - OPTIONAL

The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss, 403 pages. Putnam (Penguin), 2026. $23.

Language: R (98  swears,  8 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (affairs mentioned, light kiss); Violence: PG-13 (cow heart in fridge, body in coffin, fighting with sword, gun shot)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

17yo Carter is excited and is dreading her time on the Escape Game,  popular escape room game show; her online persona is much more confident than the IRL Carter ever has been. Disaster though - one of her team members is Sierra Angelos, the sister of Alicia Angelos who was murdered during the last season - and Sierra is still the prime suspect. Sierra is determined to hunt down the true killer and someone else on the show, calling themselves The Real Gamemaster, also seems determined to expose the killer. But the killer is determined to keep the truth from being revealed.

The descriptions and inner workings of the escape games were more fun than I first thought they might be - the authors did a great job of detailing the rooms and giving clues that the reader could also use to solve the puzzles if desired. They also We kept the mystery tight and interesting - not easy to solve, but also a bit of a surprise for the reader.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - OPTIONAL

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 384 pages. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 2022. $10 (pb)

Language: R (37 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (passionate kissing); Violence: PG (bloody cow heart with a knife stuck in it; kidnapping; a bomb that killed two security guards)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Three weeks after being taken away from her regular life and being named heir in billionaire Tobias Hawthorne’s will, 17yo Avery is telling Jameson how she met Harry, aka Tobias Hawthorne II. Xander’s letter from his grandfather left him a clue to find his son Toby, so off they go on another riddle solving journey that’ll take them to Colorado searching for a compass and a ring and show them discoveries they might wish were left alone. After a professional hit and a bomb exploding, Avery is pretty shaken. The Hawthorne household is shaken too. It’s always an unpredictable ride when Hawthornes are involved.

 I love all of the puzzles that the characters work on and solve!  I like how a mystery is always in the background of The Inheritance Games books.  The characters are complex and the author has given them unique personalities. 

The ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes - OPTIONAL

The Same Backward as Forward by Jennifer Lynn Barnes, 280 pages. Little Brown, 2026. $21

Language: R (100+ swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (sex implied); Violence: murders and deaths mentioned, man thrown to dogs mentioned

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

20yo Hannah is waiting for the day that her sister Kaylie turns 18 and the two of them can leave their hometown forever. Before that day, however, Tobias Hawthorne and his entourage sweep into town and now Kaylie and the entourage are dead from the fire that also destroyed the Hawthorne island mansion.  Hannah is summoned by her friend Jackson, a hermit fisherman.  Jackson has rescued Tobias and Hannah is determined to nurse him back to health if only to make him live with his guilt the rest of his life. Tobias wakes up with amnesia and only knows what Hannah tells him - which includes a new name. As “Henry” and Hannah spend more time together, they are drawn closer.  But what will happen to their intimacy when “Henry” regains his memories?

Barnes gives as part of the story from Hannah’s point of view and then the reader flips the book over to get the same story, plus more, from Tobias’s point of view.  You should definitely read them in that order. While I am an un-fan of enemies to lovers, I did like the backstory about Henry and about Avery’s mother - and the events leading up to Avery inheriting the Hawthorne fortune.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood - OPTIONAL

Be Right Back (Let’s Split Up #2) by Bill Wood, 352 pages. Scholastic, MARCH 2026. $15 (pb)

Language: R (71 swears, 4  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (four deaths by various means, a good amount of blood mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

It has been almost a year since the kids defeated the “ghoul” of Carrington Manor and they are returning to town for an exclusive interview.  They want to set the record straight in light of Rick Field’s new book, where he takes credit for much that happened. Cam, who never left town, though is creeped out, because he has been seeing the ghoul. Then the whole group discovers a dead body in that infamous alley and everyone becomes worried.  While the original “ghoul” can’t come back, a copycat seems to be in town - someone with even more murderous intentions.

Wood tries hard to distract us from who the murderer might be and on some level he succeeds with his red herrings. The action is a little bloodier thai time around. It seems as though there are hints of a third book at the end.  We’ll see.

Cam and Jonesy are an official LGBT couple now.  The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

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 Steps by Wendelin Van Draanen - ADVISABLE

The Steps by Wendelin Van Draanen, 256 pages. Holiday House, 2025. $20.

Language: G (6 swears; 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (underage smoking, teenage pregnancy mentioned); Violence: PG-13  (mention of animal cruelty, attempted murder) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

14yo Ruby Vossen loves chess, Twinkies, and refusing to be like the rest of her dysfunctional family. Wealth has always made the Vossen family cutthroat, but after her mother and aunt die in a tragic car accident, family relationships go from bad to worse. Ruby’s uncle forbids her from contacting her cousin and best friend, Sterling, and her dad remarries a possible gold-digging murderer. Now Ruby has to share her home with “the steps” –  her stepsister and brother. When a call from her cousin sends Ruby digging deeper into family secrets, she is convinced someone is after her family’s fortune. Now, everyone’s life, including her own, might be on the line. 

VanDraanen’s mystery/thriller contains a lot of what makes Wendelin Van Draanen’s Sammy Keyes series so successful while appealing to an older audience. The chapters are short and action-packed, perfect for reluctant readers wanting something that will keep them turning pages. Most of the characters are well-written, but almost comically terrible people. Some of their schemes and neglectful behavior are so over-the-top it makes some events or reveals feel unrealistic. Ruby and her chess club friends are by far the most likable characters. You’ll spend the whole book rooting for them. While perhaps not for every school, this is a great book to fill that young-adult-mystery-with-little-to-no mature-content-or-language gap some schools might have.

All of the characters cue as white.

Emily Powell, junior high librarian

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

Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz - MANY

Very Dangerous Things by Lauren Muñoz, 352 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $20

Language: R (92 swears, 10 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Drinking, sexual references); Violence: PG-13 (offpage murder, attempted murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  MANY

A body is discovered at the J. Everett High School of Criminology, which is not an odd occurrence as the private school hosts an annual murder mystery contest. However, this time the murder is real. 11th grader Dulce Death Castillo reluctantly agrees to help the prime suspect Sierra, who happens to be the victim’s ex-girlfriend and Dulce’s ex-friend. Sierra and Dulce haven’t talked since Dulce’s mom died in a car accident, and Sierra supported the official position that Dulce’s mom was driving drunk, which Dulce does not believe. Together with her forensic team dubbed the Wimsey’s, Dulce investigates the student’s murder amongst a web of complex relationships, affairs, police corruption, and politics.

The novel includes a collection of clues, flashbacks, and Dulce’s own “conclusions,” inviting readers to become detectives themselves. While I found a few plot elements unlikely, the pace was steady with solid twists and turns that will appeal to teenage murder-mystery fans. The characters were also nuanced. For example, Dulce struggles with forgiveness, guilt, insecurity, and a budding romance.

Dulce is Mexican American. Secondary characters are diverse including several LGBT+ characters, and Emi (Dulce's best friend) is Japanese American.

Megan, HS Librarian 

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer - ADVISABLE

The House Saphir by Marissa Meyer, 427 pages. Feiwel & Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $15

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody violence and bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

Teenager Mallory is a tour guide for the haunted House Saphir, the home of Bastien Le Bleu, a man who murdered several of his wives over a century ago. She’s also a con artist, along with her sister Anais, and together they run their family shop of fake magical treasures. During one of her tours, a young man named Armand, claiming to be a descendant of Le Bleu, asks for Mallory’s help in ridding his family mansion of Le Bleu’s evil ghost. Mallory and Anais are barely scraping by, so she happily takes Armand up on his generous offer to pay her for her assistance, thinking it will be easy money. Mallory soon learns that she’s in over her head and she’s put herself and Anais in danger.

The charming banter between Mallory and Armand is a lot of fun. The spooky setting is a perfect backdrop for the storyline. I enjoyed the mystery and the main characters, Mallory, Armand and Anais.

The ethnicity is mixed and the main characters cue white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao - ADVISABLE

Zodiac Rising by Katie Zhao, 392 pages. Random House, 2024. $20

Language: R (23 swears, 1 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death, murder, sword fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO:  MANY

During the Second Opium War in 1860, British soldiers attacked and looted China’s Summer Palace, stealing five of the twelve zodiac statues. Their theft unleashed a curse, stripping the twelve guardian families of their ancient magic. Generations later, the descendants of those families have taken refuge in Manhattan, hidden away at an elite boarding school. When the lost statues resurface—and a student is murdered—a group of four must embark on a perilous quest to reclaim what was stolen from them, break the curse, and avenge their friend. The crew includes 17yo Alice, a 17-year-old mortal with mysterious abilities; Evangeline, a vampire; Nicholas, a shape-shifting fox spirit; and Tristan, a werewolf.

This book has a lot going for it—history, Chinese mythology, supernatural beings, ancient magic, and an epic quest. All of this is woven together with themes of grief, pride, rivalry, and vengeance. I loved the plot twists! However, I didn’t quite understand why immortal beings over 150 years old would willingly keep attending high school every day. The story also ended on a cliff hanger. I’ll definitely need to read the sequel.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

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 

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson - OPTIONAL

Falling Like Leaves by Misty Wilson, 333 pages. McElderry (SImon), 2025. $21.

Language: R (61 swears, 4 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (passionate kissing); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

17yo Ellis has worked hard to follow in her father’s NYC advertising footsteps, but her plans blow up when her mother announces that she is taking Ellis and going back to Bramble Falls to live with her sister for a while to have “some space”. Ellis goes, kicking and screaming, enrolling in a common high school instead of her NYC private school, angry at every one.  Except - there is something wonderful about a small town in the fall - especially one that embraces fall celebrations so whole-heartedly.  And there is something wonderful about a boy that Ellis spent a great summer with three years ago. Will Ellis make her way back to NYC, or has a small town and a small town boy captured her heart?

I really like that Ellis and Cooper don’t fall into insta-love and that they have issues to deal with right up to the end. It is a winner in my book - especially because the romance is limited to kissing, not two kids instantly falling into bed. Anyone who likes sweet romance and pumpkin spice everything will enjoy.

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