Sometimes the Girl by Jennifer Mason-Black, - OPTIONAL

Sometimes the Girl by Jennifer Mason-Black, 294 pages. Carolrhoda Lab (Lerner), 2025. $20

Language: R (41 swears, 43 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (drug use, kissing, sex mentioned); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Holi is struggling to find her footing after the death of a friend, her brother’s suicide attempt, and a painful breakup with her girlfriend, Maya. Hoping to earn enough money for one last trip with Maya, Holi takes a job organizing the attic of Elsie McAllister, a reclusive author in her nineties who published only a single celebrated novel. As Holi sorts through decades of letters and forgotten artifacts, she discovers there was far more to Elsie than her carefully crafted public image. When one of Elsie’s children offers Holi $10,000 to find the missing original manuscript of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Holi becomes caught between money, loyalty, and larger questions about art, legacy, and ownership. In uncovering Elsie’s hidden history, Holi begins to understand herself differently, finding solace in nature, music, and the possibility of moving forward after loss.

A thoughtful and emotionally insightful novel about grief, creativity, and self-discovery. While I appreciated the writing and themes, the overuse of strong language detracted from the overall experience for me.

Holi is white

A. Snow, Librarian

Every Reason to Stay by Lane Clarke - OPTIONAL

Every Reason to Stay by Lane Clarke, 305 pages. JULY 2026. $20.

Language: R (78 swears, 7  ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:SEVERAL

For 16 years, Skylar and her rock star dad have been best friends together - until the day Dad dies. Then, Skylar finds herself not only grieving losing her father, but she has been whisked away from Austin, Texas to Washington, D.C. to live with the mother, Mona, who Sky thought was dead. And with Mona’s wife and their young son. As Sky tries to come to grips with her new life, she finds a diary written by Mona in the months before Sky was born. 

Clarke thankfully did not give as an evil mother/stepmother here - the book is about Sky processing her grief and learning that hearing someone else's story can go a long way to building bridges. While some may feel everything worked out too easily, I did enjoy the soothing story and the bit of romance.  The only thing I did not like was a bit of magical realism - or schizophrenia - you decide which it is when you find the twist. Almost every character is LGBT of some sort.

Skylar and her family are Black.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. by Abby White - OPTIONAL

D.J. Rosenblum Becomes the G.O.A.T. by Abby White, 344 pages. Levine Querido, 2025. $20.

Language: R (60 swears 11 'f'); Mature Content: PG (High School couple kissing in the halls, teen party w/alcohol); Violence: PG (Mention of suicide, not graphic)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo DJ and her mother move to a small town to be close to her aunt's family after the suicide(?) of her older cousin. She’s determined to figure out what really happened, without upsetting the family, which is understandably a hot mess, or upsetting the pecking order at school, because kids will talk to her, and they don’t know Rachel was her cousin. So with Char - a budding journalist, Tori - the most popular girl at the middle school who seems to have connections and can hack into things,  and a boy athlete whose grandma works at the library, the team undertakes a murder investigation. 

What I thought was going to be a whodunnit quickly evolved into a sensitive look at grieving, coping, and coming to terms with a family tragedy. Because the Jewish religion is so intertwined in the family's life, a good portion of the story involves D.J. preparing for her Bat Mitzvah and struggling with questions. It ties so well into the story. I'm certain a Jewish child will see so much more in this story than I did. DJ Rosenblum is the G.O.A.T. is a special book. I am certainly purchasing a copy for my library. DJ and her family are Jewish 

Lisa Librarian  

On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres - ADVISABLE

On the Wings of la Noche by Vanessa L. Torres, 352 pages. Knopf Books for Young Readers (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: G (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG ( kissing, partial nudity); Violence: PG (death scenes)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Noche Villanueva  lives in Duluth, Minnesota and secretly shifts into an owl-like being known as a Lechuza, escorting souls of the dead to the afterlife. After her girlfriend Dante drowns, Noche refuses to release Dante’s spirit, creating emotional and supernatural consequences. As she navigates grief, friendship, cultural identity, and a new romantic connection with Jax, a boy awaiting a heart transplant, Noche must confront whether love means holding on or letting go.

I liked the way this author handles love and loss in this book. Torres doesn’t treat grief as something simple or quick to fix, instead, she shows how messy and confusing it can be. The mix of Mexican folklore and modern teen life makes it feel unique, and the Lechuza mythology adds a cool supernatural layer.  I also appreciated how all of the relationships felt genuine and layered, not just surface-level drama. That said, the pacing slows down in the middle, and some of Noche’s inner thoughts repeat before the story really moves forward. I also would have liked a little more explanation about how the supernatural rules work. Still, for high school readers who enjoy emotional stories with romance, identity struggles, and a touch of magical realism, this book offers something meaningful and memorable.

Noche and Dante are Latina/Mexican American.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Monster Tree by Sarah Allen - ADVISABLE

Monster Tree by Sarah Allen, 258 pages. Farrar Straus Giroux (Macmillan), 2024. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (attacks from tree monster, animals brutally killed, kidnapping, peril, danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: EL - SEVERAL; MS - SOME

Following the death of his father, 11yo Linus and his mother move across town for a fresh start. Almost immediately, Linus becomes fixated on a strange, sinister tree in his neighbor’s backyard. When pets begin to go missing and he finds deep scratch marks on the back of his bedroom door, he knows something is terribly wrong.

Teaming up with his best friend Spencer and a new friend, Abby, Linus sets out to uncover why his neighbor seems to have a vendetta against the town—and how she may be using terrifying tree monsters to carry out her plans. Can the three friends stop her before she goes too far?

We see a young boy trying to process the grief and anger of losing his father. Linus, like his father, is an artist, but since his dad’s death he has struggled to return to his art. He also lives with asthma and color blindness, while Abby wears hearing aids. The three friends are kind, loyal, and supportive of one another. I enjoyed both the story and the writing style. Although the book has some scary moments, it’s an overall strong and satisfying read.

Linus and Abby are white and Spencer is black.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman - ESSENTIAL

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman, 320 pages. Little, Brown, 2025. $18.

 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, monster description) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

Clare is an undead fox, used by the afterlife to usher souls who don't know which door to pass through. He can tell by touching them or talking to them which portal they would be most comfortable in - Pleasure, Peace, Progress, or Pain. But one evening, close to All Hallows Eve, a dead Badger appears, but none of the portals accept her. Clare is at a loss. But in an effort to help Gingersnipes, Clare leaves the forest to seek out Hesterfowl, a bird who prophesied a catastrophic event about Clare, and the visit may just set her prophesy in motion. 

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest was one of my favorite reads this year. Mercin Minor's illustrations, at the anticipation of each chapter, add context and expression to this already exciting and thoughtful story. I love that the characters approaching their afterlife assess their lives and reflect on relationships (or the lack thereof). Most of the characters are animals, with a brief but important encounter with humans. 

 Lisa Librarian 

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen - SEVERAL

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen, 224 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $18. 

Language: R ( 18 swears 1 'f'): Mature Content: PG (cheating boyfriend, kiss) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Angelica was so busy with all her high school activities that she burned out last year. She had to stop all her extracurricular activities and started seeing a counselor. Now, she's decided she can take on one thing - so she's starting an internship at a local community theater. During her recovery, she started a virtual relationship with "Per the Bear" the mascot of the theater company - hence the interest in the internship. Maybe if she's working, she'll meet the bear IRL. 

This story has many layers, tension with parents, best friend issues and grief. Jelly is still grieving her grandmother, who died 10 years ago, and other characters are feeling it as well. I think this is the driving action of the plot - she's not dealing well with her grief, and it's messing with everything else. Nguyen's illustrations are marvelous; some of the faces are perfect and made me laugh out loud. A slice of life, a cute story. One character is transgender. Angelica's family is Vietnamese. 

Lisa Librarian 

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart - ESSENTIAL

Busted by Dan Gemeinhart, 352 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2025. $18. 

Language: PG (20 swears, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (peril, Oscar gets punched in the face a couple of times causing nose bleeding and black eye)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Oscar had lived all his life with his grandpa in a retirement home. On the day of his 49th funeral, his life changes. Mr. Howell, the owner of Sunny Days has died and his son has taken over ownership - raising everyone's rent. There's no way Pops can afford the crazy new cost, and Oscar is desperate. So, when new resident Jimmy Deluca offers him a deal - lots of money to break him out - he accepts and goes on a crazy adventure with Jimmy, Natasha (young Mr. Howell's daughter) and Mr. Buttercup, Jimmy's cat. Oscar is a good kid, and this kind of behavior is well out of character for him, but desperate times call for desperate measures. 

Never ending action makes Busted a book that's hard to put down. This aging mobster is delightful (and unpredictable, and probably dangerous and certainly sweary) Natasha is a great yang to Oscar's ying. He's a good kid and she's looking for trouble. So many life lessons, lots of impossible situations and a great narrator made this such a fun read. I'm recommending it already! The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen - OPTIONAL

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen, 224 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. RH Graphic (Random House), 2025. $18.

Language: PG13 (21 swears, 1 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Angelica (17yo) could do it all, classes and extracurriculars and friends and helping with her mom’s food truck, until the day she couldn’t. What helped was messaging Per the Bear, the mascot for the local theater. Trying once again to show up, Angelica accepts an internship at the theater, hoping to lean into the good thing in her life—and maybe meet the person behind the bear too.

Obviously, Angelica is the main character, but she is not the only point of view readers get. As we peek into the lives of Angelica, her parents, her new and and old friends, and even the owner of the theater, we find that everyone is dealing with grief in their own ways. The timeline in the first chapter was unclear, but it worked itself out after that, and the illustrations complement the story with lines and curves that somehow manage to feel soft and soothing.

Angelica and her family are implied Asian, and there are various skin tones depicted in the illustrations. Gable is described as nonbinary, and Richard and Phil are gay. The mature content rating is for mentions of alcohol and smut as well as for innuendo.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Schooled by Jamie Sumner - OPTIONAL

Schooled by Jamie Sumner, 218 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G Violence: PG (a bad sunburn described) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Lenny is starting 6th grade at a new school. His mother has recently passed and his dad has taken a job teaching Latin at a college so they've moved from New Jersey to Tennessee. Along with 4 other children his age, all kids of college professors, Lenny is enrolled in The Copernicus school were his education is primarily self discovery, meditation, observing campus life and auditing college classes. Lenny and his dad are grieving for his mom in different ways and are not getting along. He doesn't want to be part of anything, his dad, this school, or Tennessee. 

Schooled is a bit different from Sumner's usual writing. It took me a bit to get into, and it was an adult connection rather than one kids would gravitate to. Lenny meets a professor on campus who invites him to audit his Fairy Tales class (but then the content of the class is more Mythology). Lenny is stuck unable to grieve his mother's death because his dad is in denial? can't manage his own feelings? unable to see Lenny's needs? What I really think - it's sad and readers picking it may be disappointed it's not like her other books. Lenny is white, his friends are a variety of races including Asian, Black and Hawaiian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Whispers of Shadowbrook House by Rebecca Anderson - OPTIONAL

Whispers of Shadowbrook House by Rebecca Anderson, 272 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Shadowbrook House has never been a happy place for Oliver. He left the crumbling—and possibly haunted—place and his aloof uncle as soon as he could and is only returning now as the heir to convince his uncle to sell it. Oliver (26yo) finds more resistance than expected from not only his uncle but also his dying cousin, a lovely governess, and even an over-the-top spiritualist that comes to visit.

With so many spooky and supernatural touches, Anderson surprised me with an adventurous and tender story. But none of the fun elements take away from the powerful message that healing comes to all kinds of grief—grief for death of loved ones, for illness-ridden bodies, for failed relationships, for unfulfilled dreams. The spiritualist, Madame Genevieve, may be at Shadowbrook House under the pretense of communing with the departed, but she can do a lot of good for the living in the house and for the reader.

The majority of characters are implied British. The mature content rating is for kissing and mild scary elements.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi - OPTIONAL

All the Tomorrows After by Joanne Yi, 400 pages. Atheneum Books (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $20.

Language: R (94 swears, 25 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Sung, 17yo Winter’s father, left her with her mother and grandmother when she was a child and seemingly never looked back. A senior in high school now, Winter longs to run away like he did and is saving up to do just that, but then the stepmother Winter didn’t know existed shows up begging her to come see her father and unintentionally gets Winter fired. Winter is desperate enough to make a financial arrangement with her estranged father—how desperate is he for a relationship he turned his back on years ago?

Reading Winter’s story is painful because the weight of loss is something that we all understand. No matter how much she tries to enforce her protective shell of solitude, Winter cannot escape the pain of everything going wrong and losing pieces of her heart. To read her story is to recognize that every kind of loss and grief is painful and that it’s okay to allow yourself to not be alone, to allow yourself to make more connections despite the risk of more loss later. Her story cannot be described as enjoyable but it is worth it.

Winter is Korean American. While the book takes place in California, the majority of characters that Winter interacts with are also Korean. Melody is described as bi. The mature content rating is for underage drinking, mentions of drugs, illegal activity, kissing, partial nudity, innuendo, and sex. The violence rating is for assault, child abuse, and mentions of suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner - ESSENTIAL

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner, 368 pages. Bloomsbury, 2025 $18.00 Language: PG (1 swear, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (injuries, animal attack)

BUYING ADVISORY:, EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

13yo Finn is in big trouble. He kicked over a large headstone in the cemetery, and it was caught on security cameras. The grave belonged to a woman who was a celebrated mountain climber. Her daughter wants to honor her mother's memory by dropping the charges if Finn will climb all 46 High Peaks in the Adirondacks over the course of the summer, and bring along the old woman's dog. 

The Trouble with Heroes is a special book. Written in verse in Finn's voice - he's also doing makeup work for both PE and ELA - we see an angry, grieving boy trying to come to terms with the loss of his father. I loved the connections he made and the how the mountains touched him. I was crying within the first several pages, and also crying again by the end! There was so much to love in between, and I'm going to try some of those cookie recipes. Finn is white 

Lisa Librarian  

Scattergood by H M Bouwman - ADVISABLE

Scattergood by H M Bouwman,  320 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19. 

Language: G (4 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (farming accident) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Nearly 13yo Peggy is about to start high school in 1941, but is younger than the other 9th graders. Her friend Joe is a Quaker and volunteers working at a Quaker managed home for European refugees. Peggy may have her 1st crush, an older boy - a jewish refugee named Gunther, who doesn't see Peggy that way at all. Peggy's cousin Delia is very sick. Peggy is certain that the country doctors just don't know enough about Leukemia to treat Delia properly. 

There is a lot going on in this novel. Grief, family problems, religious differences, Jewish survivors, loss, and coming of age. The action and emotions really ramp up in the last several chapters, and I found I couldn't put it down. A tightly woven plot where every last thing connects for a very satisfying ending. Peggy is white 

Lisa Librarian 

The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox - ADVISABLE

The Mystery of Mystic Mountain by Janet Fox. 274 pages. Simon & Schuster BYR, 2024. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Becca and her mom meant to go to a spa resort but mistakenly made reservations at a dude ranch in rugged Montana. Her parents are struggling in their marriage, while Becca is struggling to navigate friend groups and self identity. She meets Jon who is struggling with the death of his mom by trying to find the lost treasure of outlaw Pearlhandle Pete. They form a team and set out to solve the riddles left by Pete, but find themselves challenged by a visiting YouTube star.

“The Mystery of Mystic Mountain” shows young teens dealing with heartbreak and trying to find their place in the world. However, the serious questions are balanced by true treasure hunting adventure. Becca is shown to be smart and kind as she learns to be true to herself. Outlaws, ghosts, and long lost relatives make for a good read. Becca has a best friend, Ameerah, who is told by other girls to, “ Stay in her own country,” even though she and her parents are citizens.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian 

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson - ESSENTIAL

All the Blues in the Sky by Renée Watson. 181 pages. Bloomsbury Publishing, 2025. $18.

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

We meet 13yo Sage in her after school grief counseling group. Her best friend, Angel, was killed by a drunk driver while she was walking over to Sage’s house for her birthday celebration. 

Renée Watson writes beautifully spare verses that strip away description and dialogue leaving emotion as the focus. Several times I thought to myself, “Wow! That was an insightful line.”

Sage lives in the Harlem area of New York City. She is black while her best friend is Angel Rodriguez. Other students also have names that indicate a minority group.

J. Smith, Teacher Librarian

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Lost Things by Sarah Everett, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $19 

Language: PG (3 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

For the last 4 years 12yo Skye has missed her brother. Her parents are divorced and her dad ran off with then 10yo Finn. Skye and her mom celebrate his MIA birthday every year, taking a picture of Skye beside the cake. She hates it. But then, her mom gets a call. Finn has been located and he's on his way home! Skye is excited, but he's changed a lot. He's more than just older; Finn is different in other ways, too, like a scar Skye remembers is missing, and he doesn't remember games they played before. Skye isn't sure he's really her missing brother. 

Everett has created a well written story with lots of good twists and turns. I kept wondering if The Shape of Lost Things was going to turn into science fiction at some point. Maybe it's my age, but I had a bit of trouble with her using a polaroid camera and taking so many pictures. Are they different today than in the 70s? Seems like an expensive hobby. This is a book about relationships and loss and change. There would be a lot to be able to discuss with a class, particularly the changes in Skye's friend group - one of her best friends has recently become friends with the class bully and now treats Skye differently. A great upper elementary or middle school read. Skye and her family are black. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

The Shape of Thunder by Jasmine Warga, 288 pages. HarperCollins, 2021. $19. 

Language: PG (1 swear 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (reference to a school shooting, injury in a creek); 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Quinn and her next door neighbor Cora have been best friends their whole lives. Until last November, when Cora's sister Mabel died in a school shooting. Quinn's brother Parker was the shooter. They haven't spoken since, it's been terrible for each of them, but Quinn feels somehow responsible, like she should have known, like she should have stopped him. Actually, Cora does, too. She can't help but blame Quinn. So when Quinn has a plan, and Cora sees that they both need to be involved for it to work, they agree to try. To find a wormhole and go back in time to try to fix things, to stop Parker somehow. 

Told in alternating chapters, both Cora and Quinn are grieving, but differently. Cora is so angry, she has other friends still and visits a therapist every week, but isn't sure it's helping. Quinn's parents won't talk about what happened with Quinn and fight with each other all the time. Quinn has no friends at school - everyone avoids her. She didn't try out for the soccer team and spends lunch every day in the library. A fascinating look at the effect on the family of a school shooting. Quinn is while, Cora's father is from Lebanon. 

Lisa Librarian 

After Life by Gayle Forman - OPTIONAL

After Life by Gayle Forman, 272 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20. 

Language: R (63 swears 10 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (sexual activity - talked about not fully described) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Amber arrives home from school, and things at home seem different. She can't find her cat, the TV doesn't work right and when her mom sees her she can't stop screaming. Amber was killed in a hit and run on her way home from school 7 years ago. Her little sister Melissa is now Amber's age! Amber's mother is horrified, her father is elated. Amber is confused. She didn't know she died, but now she's seeing how it affected her family, her friends, even people she barely knew. 

Told from many perspectives and times prior to and after Amber's return. After Life is definitely for a more mature reader who can keep track. A deep examination of grief, and how different people manage it. 

A complicated novel, but a must have in a High School library. Amber and her family are white. Melissa is a lesbian 

Lisa Librarian 

Take a Chance on Me by Elizabeth Eulberg - ADVISABLE

Take a Chance on Me by Elizabeth Eulberg, 304 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $13 (Paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing, teen drinking - legal because they are in England); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Evie left Chicago on the last day of school, blocked her friends and stopped using social media. What happened at lunch felt like a betrayal and she was done. She started her annual summer vacation in London immediately. But there's issues with her dad, who abandoned her and her mom years ago and the London trip is really just a custody agreement thing. He's controlling and food obsessed - Evie sneaks crisps into the apartment, and he's judgemental if he catches her. But on her first day in the city, she meets a handsome busker about her age named Aiden. Maybe her promise to give up boys can be set aside, after all, she's only in London for the summer. 

Eulberg is so great at writing clean romance, lots of smoldering and "just friends" with a satisfying ending. The body image, exercise and eating issues were well handled with a trigger warning at the beginning. I loved Evie and was on her team from the beginning. I like that she's honest with herself, I love that she's a lot and embraces it. Evie is white, so is Aiden - their friends are multi cultural, Dev seem to be culturally Indian, not sure about Fiona.

Lisa Librarian