Room to Breathe by Kasie West - ADVISABLE

Room to Breathe by Kasie West, 272 pages. Random House, 2026. $13 (paperback) 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing, making out); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

High school junior Indy is constantly trying to be the best - she competes for grades against her best friend Beau, she tutors at an education center and is a model citizen. Until, her family begins to implode when her father seems to be in trouble with the FBI, and her mother has forbidden Indy from telling anyone. Suddenly her perfect world isn't spinning right, her studies suffer, her friends are mad and even her relationship with Beau is on the rocks. 

Told in alternating chapters between Now - when Indy is locked in a restroom at school with Beau - and Then - the story of how everything went wrong. West masterfully arranges these chapters so the reader is just barely ahead of the reveals happening in the now. I was thoroughly entertained. I also loved the stress of Indy doubting her father, and how everyone is fighting in her home and it spills into her whole life. Although Indy is in High School, Room to Breathe will appeal to 8th and 9th graders as well. The characters default white.

Lisa Librarian 

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague - ADVISABLE

Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenemies #2) by Liz Montague, 215 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Studio, 2026. $22

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Bea has grown up a lot over the last year. She’s wearing a little makeup, and instead of carrying her stuffed animal everywhere, she leaves it behind in her bedroom. She’s excited to reunite with her summer camp bunkmates, but they’re shocked by all the changes they see in her.

Bea is afraid that her friends won’t be able to accept the new Bea and starts to wonder if coming back to camp was a mistake. Will the three friends be able to get along and accept the changes in each other and the changes at camp?" A fun, heartwarming graphic novel about learning to love and accept your friends as they do their best to grow up and figure out who they are. I enjoyed the simple straight forward illustrations.

Bea has brown skin and curly brown hair. Virginia has brown skin and red hair. Roxy has light brown skin with blond hair.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith - OPTIONAL

Poop: A (very) Natural History & a Powerful Future by Ben Hoare and Jennifer N.R. Smith, 80 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2025 $23. 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The history of, and scientific explanation of poop (and in some cases urine). The reader learns how our bodies make poop, what it says about health, animals and poop, toilets through the ages and much more. 

So, this was fascinating - there is a ton of information about poop, stuff I didn't know I didn't want to know - yes a lot of it is gross, but it's about poop so what do you expect. The reader is told throughout not to touch poop, and not to experiment with it, to leave it to the experts. The illustrations are large and artistic, illustrations of people pooping are discreet, and it's funny at times. What I really think? Kids will pick it up because it's called Poop, but I'm not sure how engaged they'll be in reading it. Also, it's one of the oversized books that won't fit on our shelves anyway. 

Lisa Librarian 

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu - OPTIONAL

Vacation Shift by Lily Chu, 352 pages. Harper, 2026. $20

Language: R (18  swears, 6 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Ivy Yu is on a bonding trip to Japan with her mother. Unfortunately their curated trip is populated mostly by senior citizens - except a boy her age and his dad, who is near Ivy’s mom’s age. Since her parents separated, Ivy has been harboring hope that they will get back together and she is also battling depression on her own, as her mother feels Ivy can just “get over herself". Keith, the other teenager on the trip, agrees with Ivy that their parents shouldn’t get together.  Will the pair be able to sabotage their elders?

Chu focuses mostly on Ivy and her relationships with her parents and gives us beautiful looks around Japan.  And the growing relationship between the two teens will satisfy romance readers.  

Lily is Asian American.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

America is Wild! by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie - ADVISABLE

America is Wild! A State-by-State Encyclopedia of American Wildlife by Brad Timm, illustrated by Jill De Haan and Margaux Samson Abadie, 208 pages. NON-FICTION Wide Eyed (Quarto), 2026. $23

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

The United States has a very diverse environment, with lots of plants and animals. From each state, the author highlights 4 or so plants and animals that represent their wildlife; some are iconic (I bet you can guess what Wyoming's mammal is), while others are surprising (I didn't know South Dakota had Cactus!) We learn the common name, the Latin name, and some interesting facts about each one. 

America is Wild was a lot of fun. Nice reference book, with great illustrations. The information is concise and accurate, and there's a variety of entries from each state - a bird, a mammal, a tree, a flower, an insect - 3-4 different plants and 3-4 different animals on a 4-page spread. I loved that there was always a "fun fact", not just the general information. An interesting read that I hope will be enjoyed in my library. 

Lisa Librarian 

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 - 

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed - ADVISABLE

Hafsa's Way by Aisha Saeed, 212 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (elephant injury and care issues)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Hafsa wants to be a doctor when she grows up. She's determined to follow that dream despite her father's reluctance to allow his daughter (a girl!) to become a doctor, and the fact that she has been accepted to as prestigious summer camp for pre-med is expensive, and it's in the big city. Fortunately, Hafsa gets her way, and the stars line up in her favor; her married sister lives less than a mile away, and her brother-in-law offers to pay. But when she starts the camp, she sees she's enrolled in the environmental camp instead, but Hafsa is willing to make the best of it.

A companion novel to both Amal Unbound and Omar Rising - Amal returns as best friend, but it's Hafsa's story. I'm not sure how old Hafsa is, she reads to be 12-14, maybe? The story takes place in Pakistan, and the conditions at the zoo are rough - I hope readers understand that things are very different in the US. I loved the environmental connection - kids today are really invested in this subject, so I think this will get read. Saeed is a great writer, and I love her storytelling. The family drama was just right; the medical component - yes, she gets a bit of an opportunity to experience it - was a little surprising, so I think she may be older than 12. Hafsa is Pakistani

Lisa Librarian 

Hattie Mae Begins Again by Sharon G. Flake - ADVISABLE

Hattie Mae Begins Again (Companion to Once in a Blue Moon) by Sharon G. Flake, 368 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Knopf (Random House), 2026. $18. 

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

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Hattie Mae is allowed to attend Miss Abigail's School for Exceptional Young Ladies in Philadelphia. But in 1938, there are rich black families and poor black families, and Hattie Mae, being from North Carolina, just doesn't fit in with the other girls. And they let her know it. She makes a friend, but Lisa, probably the wealthiest of the girls, is cruel. Hattie wants to be a lawyer someday, or maybe a doctor. 

This is unfair, but Hattie Mae is strong and resilient and won't let mean girls keep her down. I didn't mind that it was a novel in verse - sometimes the poetry breaks up the story because the chapters are so short, but this wasn't the case. I enjoyed the historical look at depression era Philadelphia. I enjoyed Sharon Flake's poetry; I felt the story was gripping without it being just about Hattie Mae dealing with a mean girl. There was a lot more - being courageous, learning to fit in without losing yourself, recognizing change and adapting to it. It's historical fiction, so I'm going to have to hand-sell it, but I think I can easily find some readers in my library. The characters are black. 

 Lisa Librarian 

Singing Justice Singing Peace by Monica Brown and Molly Mendoza - ADVISABLE

Singing Justice Singing Peace: The Story of Joan Baez by Monica Brown and Molly Mendoza. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Beach Lane (Simon), 2026. $20. 978665926607 

 BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

Joan Baez knew she wanted to make the world a better place, even when she was young. When her father joined a peace organization, they moved to Iraq, and Joan saw children who were starving and learned that even in California, where she lived, there were starving children. She carried the world on her shoulders and wanted to change things. When she was given a ukulele, she began to sing, discovered folk music, and became an icon, not just for her music, but for her support of justice and peace. 

 Many more illustrations than text, and I love how illustrator Mendoza has represented the music Baez creates. Includes an author's note, which doesn't just repeat the text; it's got more, juicier info about her bravery, some of the times she went to jail, and things that happened while supporting the Civil Rights Movement. A great read, even for a high school class. Joan is Mexican/Scottish/American 

 Lisa Librarian 

The Lionharts by Mike Lawrence - ADVISABLE

The Lionharts (The Lionharts #1) by Mike Lawrence, 233 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Abrams Fanfare, 2026. $25 

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Hand to hand combat, peril, and danger) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12yo Alder and his younger brother, Flynt, hate nothing more than being stuck running the family shop while their parents are away working as questers for hire. They would much rather be joining their parents on exciting adventures. But when their parents disappear after accepting a mysterious, high-paying job, the brothers have no choice but to set out on a quest of their own to rescue them. Along the way, they encounter trolls, witches, and dangerous magic. As they draw closer to finding their parents, they also uncover long-buried family secrets. With every revelation, Alder and Flynt begin to question everything they thought they knew about their family. Some secrets may hold the key to saving their parents, while others threaten to tear the family apart.

This Dungeons & Dragons inspired graphic novel is full of adventure, magic, and excitement. Along the way, the boys learn that they are capable of doing hard things, just as their parents and grandparents did before them. The story highlights courage, perseverance, and the importance of believing in yourself when facing challenges. Characters cue white. 

 Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Friend Group by Lisa Greenwald - ADVISABLE

Friend Group (Friend Group #1) by Lisa Greenwald, 352 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: PG (29 swears - all God, 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Olive and Sadie are so excited to start 7th grade at the middle school. One of the things they wish, though, is to be part of the popular group. Those girls don't exclude them; they just aren't invited. But when Sadie is accidentally added to their group chat, she suddenly has inside knowledge of what the popular kids are doing, where they are going, what they are wearing etc. But they don't know they got the wrong Sadie, and she's not telling anyone, not even her best friend Olive.

Knowing she's lurking on someone else's group chat is disconcerting and cringy. That said, there were a lot of discussion-starting things that happened in this novel - it would make a great book club choice. Sadie is Jewish, Olive is Asian, the friends are multi-cultural

Lisa Librarian

Clementine H. Hopeful is not a Hero by Noah Corey - ADVISABLE

Clementine H. Hopeful is not a Hero by Noah Corey, 352 pages. Labyrinth Road (Random House), 2026. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

11yo Clementine Hopeful knows he doesn't fit in. He loves spiders, privately wears dresses and sees faces in the forest. The kids at school don't like him, the one girl who will talk to him tells him he's weird. His homeroom teacher refuses to call him Clementine - saying it's a girl's name (It's a boy's name if a boy has it, and Clementine has it). But then, a boy named Beetle - who prefers to be called Bug - throws a rock through Clementine's window and the two become friends. But Bug and the friends he introduces Clementine to are different as well; they seem to have magic. 

I really like the writing style of Noah Corey. Clementine Hopeful has a modern feel with a traditional fantasy telling, including a spider-filled adult looking to eat Clementine, and a pretty sinister villain - although that's Clementine's dream, to be a villain. Includes an underlying queer theme that is well woven into the story. This debut author has written a marvelous adventure. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian

All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel - OPTIONAL

All That Chandni Knows by Khushboo Patel, 272 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Penguin, 2026. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (menstruation, implied infidelity); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

 APPEALS TO: SOME 

12yo Chandni is intent on being a leader, a good friend, and a great student. In order to excel in academics, she wants to attend a prestigious boarding school. Everything is going well for her; she is the leader of her friend group, her parents are doctors so they can pay for her schooling (even though she is a girl), and, best of all, her crush may even like her too. But it seems, when all is good, something always happens, and a devastating family secret threatens to ruin everything, unraveling Chandni's friendships, schoolwork, and family relationships. 

This novel in verse was engaging and heartbreaking. Set in India in 1999 on the eve of the millennium, there is reference to change - friends moving to a bigger city, extended family emigrating to America, and the mirror of changes both at home and at school. I was surprised how similar their culture was to the US - watching sitcoms on TV, Walkmans, and cassette tapes. As it is told in verse, the chapters are very short. While I don't want to spoil the read by disclosing the family secret, it's hard to imagine confronting it as a middle schooler, and I'm torn about including it in my library. All the characters are Indian.

Lisa Librarian 

Flight by Alan Gratz - ADVISABLE

Flight by Alan Gratz, 96 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2026. $10 (hc)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G (mentions girls being dragged away); Violence: PG-13 (beatings, threats, kidnappings, guns and other weapons)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Dani and 9yo Carlos are fleeing for their lives aboard The Beast, the train that can take them all the way to America. Their small Honduran coffee farm used to be prosperous until climate change brought new diseases. Then they had to flee the city when they became the targets of local gangs. Dani disguises herself as a boy to keep attention away and she and Carlos will have to be very careful of whom they befriend on their harrowing journey.

More short story than novella - it needed to be included as part of Gratz’s Two Degrees book. Gratz is honest about the dangers people face as they try to flee violence to a place of safety without roaming in to graphic, mature content. I just wish it had another 50 pages for more depth.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Sugh Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca - ADVISABLE

Such Great Heights by Rajani LaRocca, 384 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20

Language: R (12 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

10th grader Siya is ecstatic to make the school’s mock trial team - especially since 12th grader Raj Raghavan is one of the leaders. Siya is also determined to honor the memory of her mother, a lawyer, who died in a car crash when Siya was ten. This year’s mock trial is not sitting well with Siya, however, because it seems to be based on Siya’s family’s own tragedy. She not only wants to do her best, but she also wants to find out if this is coincidence or a plot.

LaRocca includes the Indian story of Rama and Sita woven into the book. While it is supposed to highlight the romance between Siya and Raj, I found that part of the plot to be secondary to Siya searching for the truth about her mother and family. Of course, I’m an old lady, so I am totally missing the romance. I do love LaRocca’s resolution.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Ghost Light by Sara Farizan - ADVISABLE

Ghost Light (The Last Resort #3) by Sara Farizan, 208 pages. Scholastic, SEPTEMBER 2026. $18 

Content: PG (some danger, evil spirits) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Lisa and Teddy are involved with the Founder’s Day play being produced in honor of their town of Castle Hill, even though past plays have said to be cursed. What they don’t know is that one of the original founders, whose name has been erased from history, lingers as a ghost and gets angry whenever he hears the rewritten narrative. Plus, the kids know that the Fire Maiden has not been completely vanquished. They will not only need Rosteen’s help to conquer her for good, but also of Blight Howler, who they originally banished. It is a delicate balance to save not only themselves, but the whole town, too. 

Farizan skillfully picks up where Kelly and Warga left off. She brings humanity back to Rosteen, whom I only saw as a nuisance in book #2. The danger is nicely creepy without going overboard. 

 Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo and Natalia Sylvester - ADVISABLE

No Way Never Sisters by Chantel Acevedo and Natalia Sylvester, 276 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2026. $19 

Content: G (mild pranks, family tension) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Sure 12yo Roxy and Meli know each other from school, but they are definitely in different crowds. Roxy is sporty and popular, while Meli is artsy and has her own crown, thank you very much. Now Roxy’s dad and Meli’s mom are getting married? And they are all, including their little brothers, moving into the same house which needs major renovations before the wedding in August! Meli and Roxy need to cooperate and scuttle this relationship pronto, if they want to maintain the lives they already enjoy. Their Disaster Plan has a good chance of succeeding - so what if it hurts everyone around them. 

Acevedo and Sylvester juggle a lot of moving parts, but they do it well. The two younger brothers are the cutest, but different from each other. The girls each have a health problem and the dynamics between each girl and the adults plays out differently. The middle grade crowd is perfect for this. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS 

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy - MANY

Paint Me Like Your Dead Girls by Cynthia Murphy, 352 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2026. $13

Language: R (53 swears, 2 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Teens smoking joints and being drugged unknowingly in their drinks); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

ADULT - SEVERAL - ADVISABLE

17yo Fliss and Izzy are attending an artist retreat to delve deeper into their personal interests. They meet other teens who love different types of artistic expression and enjoy the social interaction until everything comes to a halt, when a murder occurs. Immediately, Fliss uses her sleuthing skills to find the suspect and to understand the connection between now and the 1911 murders that revolved around four paintings the killer created to immortalize his victims. He also created a self portrait that shows up at an estate sale after being lost for decades. Rumors about a curse being released when the painting was found are rampant and causing people to panic. Will Fliss be able to stop the murders before history repeats itself?

Such a fascinating premise! I enjoyed this mystery and I didn’t want the book to end. The writing and background building pulled me in and made this story extremely interesting! Fliss is a natural detective and her friendship with Izzy balances them both out. The debate over whether or not the painting is cursed added a nice touch of supernatural spookiness. Mixed ethnicity includes white, Irish, British-Korean, and Italian. Noah has olive skin and Fliss is white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah 

Invisible: The (sort of) True Story of Me & My Hidden Disease by David Soren - ADVISABLE

Invisible: The (sort of) True Story of Me & My Hidden Disease by David Soren, 256 pages. Penguin, 2025. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

When 9yo JJ was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, a "monster" that only he could see, named Norm, became his companion. The more his disease was affecting him, the larger Norm would grow. Norm's purpose seemed to be to make JJ feel bad about himself. Norm would eat foods JJ couldn't and was loud and boisterous. Good thing he was invisible to everyone else. JJ was also an artist. From a young age, he would delight his friends with his skills, making trading cards of the principals and teachers. So JJ worries that his disease and Norm will keep him from becoming an animator. 

Soren is an animator, so Invisible is also illustrated. It was a fun read, which surprised me, because even though JJ is in and out of the hospital and has to be careful about what he eats and can't do a lot of things other kids his age do, it's not a "poor me" book. JJ is resilient, his family grows through this as well, and Norm is extremely entertaining. JJ ages from 9-13 during the course of the story, so it's perfect for middle school. Might be a tough sell though, due to the subject matter, but what a great mirror. JJ is white. 

Lisa Librarian  

Carlotta's Special Dress by Carlotta Walls LaNier with Lisa Frazier Page, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton

Carlotta's Special Dress: How a Walk to School Changed Civil Rights History by Carlotta Walls LaNier with Lisa Frazier Page, illustrated by Vanessa Brantley-Newton. BIOGRAPHY, PICTURE BOOK Little, Brown, 2026. $19. 9780316572545 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

It's 1957 and Carlotta is one of the "Little Rick 9." She and other Black high school students would be the first integrated into Central High School. Her Uncle had given her mother money for Carlotta to buy a new dress, and she was excited to go wearing the beautiful store bought dress. But, that first day of school was not to be. Angry crowds and soon the National Guard prevented Carlotta and her classmates from going to school. 

An interesting twist on the story of Central High school. I like that it made it personal, giving not just a face but a story to one of the students. I loved the illustrations, and the amount of text was just right. Includes an author’s note (Carlotta is the author) and so we learn a bit more to her story. Also includes a timeline and captioned photographs - yes, one is of Carlotta in The Dress. 

Carlotta is Black. 

Lisa Librarian