Anger is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo - OPTIONAL

Anger is Only a Shadow by Elizabeth Acevedo, 336 pages. HarperCollins, 2026. $20. 

Language: R (41 swears 25 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (teen drinking, mild drug use (gummies) pot mentioned, kissing) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Lil is in trouble again. At her court appearance - where her extended family showed their support, the judge scolded her for repeated offences and made her wear an ankle monitor until her sentencing in about a month. She's got some specific limits, and a curfew and her lawyer has cautioned that she needs to be responsible. But Lil isn't sure she can be that kind of good person; she's loyal, especially to her older brother, who is going through a rough time of his own right now. 

Elizabeth Acevedo is a really good writer. I love how she mixes poetry with prose to tell an engaging, heartbreaking story. I couldn't put it down. I loved the family dynamics - supportive parents who acknowledge they are still learning. I liked how she was challenged to make new friends (her old friends are unavailable), and that it wasn't easy. A great empathy builder as well as a mirror. 

Lil's family is from El Salvador, one of the new friends is transgender. 

Lisa Librarian  

Bigfoot (Is it Real?) by Candace Fleming - ADVISABLE

Bigfoot (Is it Real?) by Candace Fleming, 192 pages. NON-FICTION Scholastic, May 2027. $9. (paperback) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

You are an investigator and have been given the assignment to see if Bigfoot is real! Your case study includes all the information we know up to this point, including the first sighting of footprints by a construction crew in California, the famous Gimlin/Patterson footage, and even information obtained in a 2026 documentary about Bigfoot. As you work your way through the resources, your handbook reminds you about good investigative tools including the different kinds of evidence, the reliability of witness statements, and Occam's razor - a rule used by scientists to help find the truth. What do you think? Is Bigfoot real? 

Oh wow! I learned so much about this Cryptid, and also about investigative processes. Fleming's info is right up to date - there's so much more than we knew in the 1950's and 60's - a whole Cryptid society and modern testing to examine evidence collected decades ago. Now I want to read Is it Real? The Loch Ness Monster. Kids who like real-life mysteries will devour this book. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe - ADVISABLE

The Magic Library of Waterfall Way by Julie Abe, 240 pages. Bloomsbury, 2026. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE; MS - OPTIONAL (11yo main character)

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Lyra is an Unremarkable in an Empire that only cares about Remarkables. In fact, if Lyra isn’t accepted into a  Guild by her 12th birthday, she will be sent into the mists. Rejected by the latest guild, she finds a surprise in the forest - the Guild of Scholars. Lyra is in love with the guild and she has been given one of the hardest quests ever to prove her worth. If she can restore the Library before her 12th birthday, she will avoid the mists and possibly find a new family.

I listened to the book courtesy of libro.fm and thoroughly enjoyed the experience.  It reminded me of Dianne Wynne Jones’s Chrestomanci series. I am hoping for another installment.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Survival Show by Juno Dawson - OPTIONAL

Survival Show by Juno Dawson, 368 pages. Simon and Schuster 2026. $21

Language: R (88 swears, 4 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (deaths mentioned, shots)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Taryn is desperate to get her little brother the medication he needs to survive.  The only skill she has to sell is her voice. If she can earn a spot on the StarMaker singing and performance show, she has a chance to become an international star and save her family.  If she makes the Top Ten and then loses, however, she must surrender to the Population Project - where people volunteer for euthanasia to help Earth’s precarious existence. 

American Idol with a life and death twist. Dawson manages to add more depth than I expected (my shortsightedness) to Taryn’s story. Taryn is from England, but the Top Ten come from all over the world. Dawson also gives us tension and drama without being gratuitous. I think my Hunger Games fans or murder mystery readers will have fun.

Taryn is white, one of the other contestants is a transwoman. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Void Dragons by Scott Reintgen - ESSENTIAL

The Void Dragons (Dragonships #3) by Scott Reintgen, 455 pages. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kiss); Violence: PG-13 (space warfare, some human deaths mentioned, minor blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Before he disappeared, Proteus warned of a great threat to come. Distracted by the quintacentennial meeting of the planetary dragons, 15yo Lunar Jones and the other dragonriders almost miss the beginning of the greatest threat to their universe ever. Maya has been given the task of finding and piecing together the other clues Proteus left behind, but even those hints may not be enough to save them from the most horrific enemy they have ever met.

Oh Reintgen. I am going to have to put you up there with Neal Shusterman as one of the great talents of the current times. I pity those who don’t read science fiction, as they can never understand. For me this series is a definite re-read.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique - ADVISABLE

Mythspeaker by Christopher Roubique, 286 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2026. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (knife and sword fights with minor blood descriptions, ogres eating bad guys alive)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Kyta wants to fulfill his destiny given to him by Deer Mother, so when the guarded egg of the World Turtle is suddenly stolen, he believes his chance at destiny has arrived. He plans to rescue the egg before it’s too late and the world is destroyed.

I enjoyed the world building and inclusion of native american myths and characters (Deer mother). I loved how the atmosphere was described, it made it feel nostalgic beautiful.

Non specific Native American/ First Nations people descriptions (copper skin, black hair)

Maryn Beddes reviewer

The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class by Kai Cheng Thom - OPTIONAL

The Shapeshifter’s Guide to Gym Class by Kai Cheng Thom, 322 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2026. $18. 

Language: G (0 swears, 0  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (discussion of transgender); Violence: 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Maia and her friends live a nice life in the small town of Nor Numinem.  Even if some of them are shapeshifters, all feel welcome and accepted. Then one day one large garden plot withers and dies and some adults around town start talking about The Rot and how shapeshifters are the cause. As the Rot begins to spread, anti-shifter sentiment becomes louder and more violent. And just when they need each other the most, Maia and her friends group split apart.

Thom gives us a thinly veiled look at anti-LGBTQ sentiment in  our modern society. The title is misleading, as very little happens during gym class. I hate to say it, but I was underwhlemed.

Characters on the cover are multi-ethnic, but within the book their actions default white; some are shapechangers. Two characters are transgender, another is mentioned as non-binary

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I Am Kylian by Kylian Mbappe and Faro - ADVISABLE

I Am Kylian by Kylian Mbappe, illustrated by Faro, 218 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL Rodale Kids (Random House), 2026. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

This is a graphic memoir of Kylian Mbappe's rise to pro football (aka soccer in the U.S.). He wasn't always great, but he was always motivated. 

A chance to see what a pro footballer looks like on his way to the top, and the challenging navigation it takes to get there. There is a lot of information in this book, but sometimes the small frames of the pictures and text make it tricky to read. That said, the story is well told, highlighting both the funny and the serious. Soccer fans will find this a compelling read and tear through it. Even non-soccer fans will find it intriguing because of the fun anecdotes and colorful art. Kylian is a black Frenchman. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi - ADVISABLE

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi, 336 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE Penguin, 2026. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: Peril, near drowning, injuries 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Rama and 11yo Leena are dealing with the recent death of their mother. The family is struggling, and the sisters fight all the time. When their father is out of town during what should have been a school trip, the sisters are trapped by a terrible storm that tears through their town and even their house. No power, barely any food and unable to call or go for help, Rama and Leena must depend on each other for their very survival. 

Dealing with the death of a parent is unimaginable, but the added emotional issues - Leena feels responsible for her mother's death, Rama hears voices telling her she's a monster; the conflict between the sisters, and Rama is having friend issues fills this novel in verse, which is told in alternating - and sometimes split page - perspectives. There's a lot to unpack, the poetry reflects the girls emotions and was a really nice read. The sisters are Muslim. 

Lisa Librarian  

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney - OPTIONAL

The Unexpected Consequence of Bleeding on a Tuesday by Kelsey B. Toney, 304 pages. Random House Books for Young Readers (Penguin Random House), 2025. $20.

Language: R (86 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (two separate doses of medical marijuana, intense periods, several references to the female reproductive system but not sexual in nature, a handful of kissing scenes); Violence: G (some bullying & insensitive comments due to a character’s chronic illness);

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Delia Bridges is a senior in high school in Dallas, TX, on the fast track for a prestigious premed mentorship and early acceptance to an Ivy League college, and has debilitating period pain. She has gone to doctor after doctor and no one believes her, so she wants to become a gynecologist herself and finally get some answers. So when she wakes up on one of the significant days of her high school career in a pool of menstrual blood, she panics because she can’t miss this day of all days. In desperation, she takes some medical marijuana that her sister grew & prepared from scratch. She gets caught with it at school and it spectacularly torpedoes her future plans. Can she figure out her next steps and who she is beyond her period?

Oh, how my heart ached for Delia’s plight! The lack of care from her doctors and her schools’ administration was infuriating, but that was the point. I thought it was a compassionate perspective on chronic illnesses, with both the main character’s endometriosis and her friend’s IBS. I loved reading this book and even if you don’t have period pain as bad as Delia’s, learning how to advocate for yourself and your friends is always going to be a positive takeaway.

Kiera, ELA teacher #BookswithBeddes

Hand-Me-Down by Damian Alexander - ADVISABLE

Hand-Me-Down by Damian Alexander, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2026 $16 

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 f) Mature Content: PG (depression, grief, foster home) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Damian is going through his middle school years dealing with the loss of a mother he never knew, since she died when he was a baby. His grandmother is the only mother he and his older brother have known, and Damian tries to piece together his mother's life from other people's memories. When Damien feels out of place and alone at school, his grandmother's stories about her childhood in foster care and his daydreams help him cope. He comes to feel closer to the mother he lost and begins to see the mother he found. 

This memoir captures the difficulty of dealing with loss, loneliness, fitting in, and growing up poor. Damian's voice is authentic and readers will be able to either identify with his feelings or gain empathy. There are some nice life lessons here and it's a quick read. The graphic art is laid out well and easy to follow. Damian is white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Wump by Tony Diterlizzi - ADVISABLE

The Wump by Tony Diterlizzi, 316 pages. Dial (Penguin), 2026. $19 

Language: PG-13 (15 swears, 0 f) Mature Content: G Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Timothy is an 11-12yo boy who loves bugs and all things entomology. He is the resident school nerd and good student. That begins to change when he is faced by bullies and his overbearing mother, who wants him to be a "normal kid," and give up his bug collection. Timothy starts to notice a black shadow in his reflection, and when he gives himself over to it, or the Wump, it takes control of his life and Timothy lashes out in ways he never would have before. With the help of the Wump, Timothy stands up for himself and takes control, but at what cost? 

The black and green illustrations help add to the creepiness of the book and Timothy's involvement with the Wump. For those readers who are dealing with uncontrollable anger, lashing out, or Wumps of their own, this might be a helpful read. Tony has to find a better way to deal with the stresses of his life than merely getting revenge and giving himself over to his dark side. A fun way to deal with the balance self-control and standing up for oneself. Timothy is white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

The Travelers by Greg Howard - ADVISABLE

The Travelers by Greg Howard, 320 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $10 

Language: G (0 swears) Mature Content: PG (same sex attraction, death) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

12 yo Ben Turner has lost his mom to a drug overdose. The only other family he has is a grandmother he's never met, who turns out to be cold and distant. Her home, Clifton House, is creepy and old and possibly haunted. There are strange sounds in the walls as if people are present, and the house seems to hum with a weird energy. Ben is alone and still grieving, but discovers a secret of the house and hopes to use it to save his mother. 

The plot morphs from a possible ghost story to time travel and dealing with grief. Ben discovers he is not the only person grieving his mother. Good story for those dealing with grief or trying to move on, especially when we wish we could go back in time and change the past. Interesting premise. I would read other books by this author. Ben is white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Blightfall by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson - ADVISABLE

Blightfall (Riftwake #1) by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson, 496 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $22

Language: PG (16 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (hand holding, chaste kiss); Violence: PG (people dying, alien shot down, bloody injury)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Arturo is building a flight crew for a covert mission to Blightfall. He and his crew have been assigned to explore this planet and guard diplomats as they try to reach settlements and make contact. Before they land, the crew is attacked and some perish. Those left are terrified that they might never find cooperation or be able to return home. When they do land they discover that the planet is as inhospitable as their welcome was.

I like the wise quote on page 273, “If one is offended by questions, one might be revealing the weakness in one’s own rhetorical position.” The awkwardness between Arturo and Alanik is adorable! They like each other but are unsure if the other one likes them. Cute humor throughout the book. Fun sci-fi adventure with a bit of a mystery.

Crew members are described with a variety of skin colors, including purple.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Rootbound by Margaret Owen - ADVISABLE

Rootbound: A Tangled Novel by Margaret Owen, 316 pages. Random House, 2026. $19

Language: G (0 swears, though a couple of slant swears are used; 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (some fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE; HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Newly found Princess Rapunzel, 18yo, is invited to a neighboring country, Astera. This country usually doesn't allow visitors past the harbor, so the move is suspicious, but Rapunzel wants to prove herself as fit to be a princess. Eugene accompanies her, but he is worried that Rapunzel's parents will tell him that he isn't good enough for a princess. They arrive in Astera and find that according to Asteran traditions Princess Verette should have been given the throne years ago, but her father refuses to abdicate for her. The two princesses form an alliance and discover that King Enver has been sapping magic from the land to maintain control for years. This has led to a famine causing King Enver to decide to invade Rapunzel's home. 

The showdown between King Enver and Rapunzel, Eugene and Princess Verette is fast paced and showcases all the good qualities in our heroines and hero. As a bonus, the book ends with a cliffhanger about Eugene's own backstory. "Rootbound" is an exciting continuation of the Rapunzel story from the Disney movie. Rapunzel and Eugene are fleshed out even more as characters with personal motivations. It is a fun adventure story, but Rapunzel and other characters are used to show the lasting affects of trauma making this a deeper story for many readers.

It is a make believe world, so there are no actual ethnicities, but some characters are described with different skin, hair, and eye colors. Some characters are LGBT.

Janae S., Reading Teacher

Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen by Megan Shepherd - ADVISABLE

Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen (The Pumpkin Queen #3) by Megan Shepherd, 409 pages. Random House, 2026. $21

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G ; Violence: PG (Mad scientist experiments, kidnappings, Halloween characters, some danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MS - MANY, HS - SOME

Even though Sally has saved Halloween Town and discovered her own lost family, she still feels insecure and carries the trauma of having been held captive and experimented on by Dr. Finkelstein. When characters, including Jack, start disappearing during storms, Sally has to find a way to protect Halloween Town. The Shadow Prince is too powerful, and Sally must enlist the aid of all her friends and the famous Night Mare. Constantly putting herself in danger and accepting help from former enemies, Sally must overcome her fears and accomplish the impossible.

"Shadow Over the Pumpkin Queen" is the third installment in the Pumpkin Queen series focused on Sally, the rag doll who married Jack. There is enough background provided that this can be read as a stand alone novel. Fans of "The Nightmare Before Christmas" will love the continuation of the story. Sally becomes a role model for all students feeling insecure and wondering if their past will always hold them back.

Janae S., Reading Teacher

Gone Forever? by Erin Silver and Xulin Wang - ADVISABLE

Gone Forever? by Erin Silver and Xulin Wang, 84 pages. NON-FICTION. Orca, 2026. $27. 9781459840980

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Silver gives a very detailed, but engaging look at the different threats around the world because of human-created climate change. 

Silver is even-handed and matter-of-fact about the challenges being faced all over the world, and looks into the causes of and possible solutions for at least some of the problems. I was fascinated and read everything from cover to cover. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Yule Be Sorry by Christopher Krovatin - ADVISABLE

Yule Be Sorry by Christopher Krovatin, 208 pages. Scholastic, 2026. $9 (pb)

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (danger, a death mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Farrah just wants to have their family's traditional Christmas celebration, but everyone around her is on edge this year. Now she’s being dragged to her grandmother’s home in the woods for an extended family gathering, but all of her relatives seem to be grumpy too. One night she and her cousin find a hidden box of ornaments and when they use them to decorate the tree, they have no idea that they are about to unleash a variety of angry Nordic spirits upon their families. 

It takes a bit to really build up to the most dangerous parts of the yule creatures attacks. But I think a reader drawn in by the cover will enjoy the anticipation. Farrah is younger than older 16yo sister, but her age is not specified. The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

War Boats by Jennifer A. Nielsen - ESSENTIAL

War Boats by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 304 pages. Scholastic, MARCH 2027. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (war deaths mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

12yo Arthur has lied his way onto a merchant marine ship at the very beginning of the next war in Europe. His father died working to save his shipload of crew and Arthur can’t stand his stepfather. The SS Tairoa is hit and captured by the Germans and Arthur goes through grueling days as a prisoner of war.  After he is released, nothing can stop Arthur from running away and joining another ship.  And if he has to steal a boat and cross the English Channel to rescue soldiers trapped on the beach on Dunkirk in order to help the war effort, then Arthur is going to do just that.

While the opening is a little slower than Nielsen’s normal pace, I liked how she shows us how determined Arthur is and also how everything Arthur does is another dynamic in his relationship with his mother and stepfather. My students, especially the boys, are loving historical fiction, so I am very excited to have another offering for them - especially because they already like Nielsen so much. Arthur is white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories about the Ocean written by Mary Boone, art by Max Temescu - ADVISABLE

Unfathomable: 20 Wild (But True) Stories about the Ocean written by Mary Boone, art by Max Temescu, 192 pages. NON-FICTION. Random House Children's Books (Penguin Random House), 2026. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: ELEM (4-6), MS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

Unfathomable details twenty wild-but-true stories about the ocean and the many things that exist inside.

The book, quite literally, started off with a bang about the Florence, Oregon whale bombing in the 70s, which had me in tears. I was laughing so hard. The rest of the book is interesting, gross, or weird in equal measure. Considering that most kids want to be a marine biologist at some point in their lives, you can bet this one will do brisk circulation in your classroom library.

Kiera Beddes, ELA teacher, #bookswithbeddes