Breakout by Christina Wyman - ADVISABLE

Breakout by Christina Wyman, 304 pages. Farrar, Straus & Giroux (Macmillan), 2026. $18

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

13yo Ellis is dealing with a lot. Her relationship with her mother has changed; they seem to fight all the time, especially about Ellis' acne. No matter what she does, her mother tells her she's ungrateful, and her dad, whom she only visits every other weekend, is taking her mom's side. She's also having trouble with her best friend, things are just not the same, but she's so anxious about everything else going on that she keeps putting off talking to Aggy about it. And of course, her Capstone project is due soon, and she's still having trouble with the topic. But Ellis's Aunt Lydia is the voice of reason, and she's a service dog trainer - can Rocco help ease the tension?

I think we all experienced what is happening to Ellis to some degree or another. - acne, friend trouble, parents. Wyman's novels are so relatable - Slouch and Jawbreaker are already popular in my library, and I think Breakout will find its audience as well. I like the author's note at the beginning (rather than at the end), so the reader is aware that not all of the adult voices are mature and appropriate. Ellis is white.

Lisa Librarian 

Oh Brother by Georgina Chadderton - ESSENTIAL

Oh Brother by Georgina Chadderton, 286 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2026. $22

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

This is a graphic memoir about the author's experience growing up with a severely autistic brother in Australia. The timeline focuses largely on her 8th grade year. Gina has to contend with her brother, Rob, stealing her treats and getting into all her stuff, as well as pinching when he gets upset, because he is nonverbal. With everything going on at home, Gina is worried her brother might scare off her new friend.

This was a fascinating look at how a family deals with an autistic child. I loved how the parents roll with it, and Gina loves her brother, even when he is difficult. This is great insight into what it takes to have to deal with chaos daily, but in such a positive and supportive way. Other community members, like the dentist and hair stylist, also help with Rob. A great way to discuss family relationships and friendship and defining normal, this will help build empathy in readers in an engaging format. Gina and Rob are white Australians.

Michelle in the Middle 

Someday Perfect by Kat Schneider - OPTIONAL

Someday Perfect by Kat Schneider, 288 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin Random House, 2026. $25

Language: PG (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, silhouettes of nude statues (no genitalia visible), gender roles); Violence: PG (name calling)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

High schooler Meg is excited to return to a Christian summer camp with her old friends, but she is also worried. She is struggling to figure out who she is and where she fits in, especially after she attended a non-Christian school for the first time last year. At camp when Meg and her friends start developing crushes on the boy campers, Meg’s anxiety and self-doubt spikes as she questions the lessons that she has been taught in church. How can she follow the rules and expectations while feeling this way?

The author was very respectful in tackling this tough subject. The graphic novels include gender expectations, such as women having to wear long skirts or dresses, men being the heads of households, and tampons being impure, while letting the main character explore her thoughts, questions, and doubts. Nonetheless, I felt that Meg's self-reflection could have gone further and been more developed. The art style is interesting with flashbacks in all blue tones. It could be an impactful novel for some students, but other graphic novels may reach a broader audience. Some secondary characters are diverse.

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf - ADVISABLE

Junius Leak and the Spiraling Vortex of Doom by Allan Wolf, 522 pages. Candlewick, 2025. $19 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Junius Leak, who is almost 13yo, is being exiled to stay with his Uncle Spot on his rickety houseboat while his parents work on their marriage. Junius has a love-hate relationship with water: he is writing his own book about water bodies, but he is terrified of being in the water. Junius discovers that he comes from a long line of Junius Leaks, who are tied to pirate treasure, and that there are a lot of surprises in Delcambre, Louisiana, where he was born. Junius wants to learn why his mother left town when he was just a baby and how to overcome his fear of water, all before an impending real-life disaster waits in the wings.

The narrative alternates between Junius and the lake. The lake has a great voice and the story spans 100's of years, involving pirate treasure, family feuds, and a mysterious and cursed Siren's Flute. I loved this book. The only thing keeping it from an essential rating is its length. I didn't pick it up at first because it looked like a huge investment of my time. However, it was an investment I was happy to make once I got going. This a fictionalized story around the real-life bizarre lake disaster in 1980, where an entire lake disappeared. Junius is a great character who is highly sensitive and he is both likable and relatable. The writing style makes every character seem real, even the lake. Indeed, the lake makes a great metaphor for "the way life can stir us up, disorient us, and leave us forever changed." Readers will want to read Wolf's graphic novel, "The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur," for more of the facts behind the story. They make a great companion set. The culture is white with plenty of Creole thrown in.

Michelle in the Middle 

Trust No One by Karen Bass - OPTIONAL

Trust No One by Karen Bass, 124 pages. Orca, 2026. $11 

Language: R (45 swears, 6 f); Mature Content: PG (abandonment, incarcerated father); Violence: PG (attacks) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Ben Hamer is harassed by the local police just because his father is in prison. His luck seems about to change when a cute girl named Abigail asks him out. The date goes from great to a nightmare when he inadvertently becomes an accomplice to robbery and Abigail frames him for it, causing Ben to go on the run. 

Fast paced with an intriguing plot. The language was rough. I couldn't figure out why Ben still thought Abigail was cute after what she did. The language was rough, but the storyline should still suck in reluctant readers . No culture or race is mentioned. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Busted by Jean Mills - OPTIONAL

Busted by Jean Mills, 92 pages. Orca, 2026. $11 

Language: PG (11 swears, 0 f); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (locker room beating) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

16yo Jonah's hockey team is getting ready to play in a tournament when there is a fight in the locker room and a player gets seriously injured. Jonah accidentally records the fight on his phone and when it leaks, he has to try and field the consequences between his teammates. 

Super fast read, which will appeal to anyone who has been in an uncomfortable situation with friends, teammates, or unintended consequences. Though there isn't a lot of character development, the book gets right to the plot. Good for reluctant readers. 

Characters default white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly - ADVISABLE

Three Blue Hearts by Lynne Kelly, 282 pages. Delacorte (Random), 2025. $18 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Max is hoping for a fresh start. His politician dad has high hopes for him, that Max can't seem to measure up to. During his summer stay at a Texas beach town, Max discovers an injured octopus washed up on the shore. With the help of some local kids he becomes friends with, he rescues it and names her Ursula. As he bonds with Ursula at the rescue center, he thinks he may finally be in the right place at the right time. He also realizes he is not the only one with problems. 

Well written, Max captures the angst of finding yourself and the things that are important to you. There are themes of friendship, loss, and community. You will want to go to a small beach town where everyone pulls together and has history. There were also some great octopus facts. I had no idea how smart they are. Nice read, especially if you like animals. Has environmental themes without hitting you over the head with it. The characters default white. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson - OPTIONAL

Under the Neon Lights by Arriel Vinson, 384 pages. Penguin, 2025 $20 

Language: R (10 Swears 5 'f'); Mature Content: PG (Kissing); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Jaelyn goes to the Westside Roll every Saturday night. It's a part of her life, her parents met there, she learned to skate there, and her friends are all the regulars. One skate, she was crashed into by the cutest guy she's ever seen: Trey. But the gentrification of the community is causing changes everywhere, even to institutions like Westside Roll. So when she hears that the skating rink is closing down, Jaelyn feels like she's losing a part of herself. 

This coming-of-age, slice-of-life story was nostalgic and heartfelt. Jaelyn is dealing with the typical teen issues of friend trouble and divorced parents, as well as more societal issues like raised rent, closed stores and restaurants, and increased police presence. I liked the teen perspective of dealing with things out of your control. 

The characters are black 

Lisa Librarian

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill & Nilah Magruder - ADVISABLE

Creaky Acres by Calista Brill & Nilah Magruder, 268 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Kokila (Penguin), 2025. $15 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

10yo Nora has to move and leave her best friends and her horseback riding team behind. She is their star rider, so the first thing she does when she gets to her new town is to find a barn for her horse, Hay Fever. Nora hates the new barn, called Creaky Acres, because it's so run down and she doesn't like being the only black kid in her school. Nora has to adjust on a lot of levels and find out how to make her new life work. 

The artwork is great and there is interesting information about how to care for a horse. I like Nora's character, because even though she is flawed, she rises to the occasion and helps her new barn friends rise to theirs. Nice messages about friendship and watching out for each other. Even though it's about horse riding, anyone who has had to move can identify with Nora. I had a hard time with Nora being the team coach at age 10, and one of her riders being in a competition at age 8 without a parent there to watch. The ages seem a little young for what they do. Young readers probably won't notice though. Nora is black.

Michelle in the Middle 

Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia - MANY

Brownstone by Samuel Teer and Mar Julia, 320 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL HarperCollins, 2024. $19. 

Language: R (21 swears 4 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

14yo Almudena is spending the summer with her father. Her parents hadn't been together since she was a baby, and this was really the first time they'd met, but her mom is on a dance tour for the summer and Almudena needed a place to stay; her father is renovating an old Brownstone, and Almudena is expected to help. At first things are terrible, her father hardly speaks any English, and a friend of his needs to translate for her. The food is different, the neighborhood is unfamiliar, and the boys her age call her off-brand. She just doesn't fit in, but maybe this summer could be the start to getting her parents back together. 

Brownstone is a great read for my 8th and 9th graders! I love that Almudena is a 14yo who acts like one. There's a bit of language, but not as much swearing as I expected for a raw story about a teenager. It takes place in 1995, so they aren't all about their cell phones and computers, and there's some angst about a character coming out and an adult who is concerned that Almudena has a friend who is a lesbian. Also, there's a lot of non-translated Spanish. I loved it because it shows Almudena's language gap with her father. The Community is diverse and most speak Spanish, Almudena's father is from Guatemala but she has been raised by her white mother. 

Lisa Librarian 

Continental Drifter by Kathy Macleod - ADVISABLE

Continental Drifter by Kathy Macleod, 

224 pages. BIOGRAPHY, GRAPHIC NOVEL First Second (Macmillan), 2024. $23. 9781250813732

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

11yo Kathy lives in Thailand with her American father, Thai mother and sister.  Every few years the family takes a vacation to Maine to visit with Kathy's father's extended family.  She loves these trips. Kathy doesn't feel like she fits in anywhere. She speaks English and she attends an international school in Thailand, but none of her friends are like her there. In her neighborhood, a boy tells her she isn't American because she doesn't have blue eyes. Although Kathy speaks English with an American accent, she finds she doesn't fit in at summer camp in Maine either.  Where does Kathy belong?

Kathy Macloud's childhood memories make a really good graphic novel.  I love her spunk and attitude, especially when she feels annoyed.  She's a strong kid.  I loved her camp experience. Her cabin mates (unfortunately) act as expected - for American kids, and Kathy feels othered.  She has a great advisor at camp, and some marvelous aunts as well. A great empathy builder as well as a window for my new arrivals.

Lisa Librarian

All the Ways to Go by Jessie Janowitz - OPTIONAL

All the Ways to Go by Jessie Janowitz, 368 pages. Sourcebooks, 2024. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Before he knew it, 12yo Milo, chess prodigy, has thrown his recent tournament and ruined his mother’s plans for him to attend chess camp this summer. Now Milo and mom are headed to New Jersey to spend the summer with Mom’s friend Neva and her free-range pre-teen Roxie.  The new summer camp Milo is at with Roxie is obviously for little kids.  Escaping outside, Milo is drawn to a pair of Go players - who reluctantly teach Milo and Roxie the game. This is the first time in a long while that Milo has been excited about a board game and soon the whole camp is drawn into playing - teaching Milo much about himself along the way.

Is there another novel about GO for children?  Do we need a novel about Go for children? I do see this as an alternative activity for kids who don’t want to play chess. Janowitz does a good job of weaving game theory into the narrative without being boring. And she brings out the mental and personality aspects as well. But will kids brag about this to each other? It will take selling to the right teacher as a class read aloud.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds - OPTIONAL

Twenty-Four Seconds from Now by Jason Reynolds, 242 pages. Caitlyn Dlouhy Books, Simon and Schuster, October 2024. $20. 

Language: R (34 swears 1 'f'); Mature Content: PG-13 ( Descriptive making out, discussions of sex, references to genitals, bras and condoms, bragging boys etc.) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

17yo Neon Benton has been with his girlfriend for 2 years. They've decided they are ready to have sex, but Neon's nerves get the best of him, and he ends up stressing out in the bathroom instead. Told in a series of flashbacks that run from seconds ago to hours, weeks, months, and years, back to the day they met, Neon is open about his plans with Aria (his girlfriend), his sister, his mother, his friends, and even his dad. 

This is an interesting example of what happens when the adults are willing to talk about sex (beyond the birds and the bees) and the teens feel supported and loved when they are making this important decision. A good read to open/foster discussions. Definitely about the feelings, thoughts and decisions to have sex. Mature content is not graphic but certainly implied. The characters are black. 

Lisa Librarian 

Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar - ESSENTIAL

Ultraviolet by Aida Salazar,  304 pages. Scholastic Press, 2024.  $19.

Language: PG (12 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (references sex-ed, adolescent sexual development - both male & female, toxic masculinity, cyberbullying, briefly mentions online predators); Violence: PG (one physical altercation, repeated cyberbullying);

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Written in verse, Ultraviolet is an intimate look at what it means to grow up and be a man for 13 yo Mexican-American Elio Solis. There is a lot happening at the start of 8th grade - puberty, girlfriends, big emotions, and surviving a culture of toxic masculinity. When a situation at school gets out of hand and lands Elio in the hospital, will he learn his lesson in time?

This is a book that adults will love more than kids. I still argue that it is an essential book for any school library because it’s targeted at middle grade boys and it deals with all the things that boys need help with but are too scared to ask. This was a great look at the intersection of toxic masculinity, social media, and growing up in middle school. It could be a nice one to pair with Long Way Down to compare what masculinity means in different communities, both in a poetic format.

Kiera, ELA teacher #BookswithBeddes  

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo - ESSENTIAL

Bright Red Fruit by Safia Elhillo, 368 pages. Young Adult, Book in Verse Make Me a World, Penguin Random House, 2024. $20.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing) Violence: PG13 (sexual assault attempt) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

16yo Samira has an unearned bad reputation. When she was younger, a boy she knew bragged a lie, and now adults and others in her community believe the worst. She's not yet even kissed a boy, but who she's with, and what she's wearing are reported to her mother, who doesn't believe Samira. So she's closely watched. Samira is a poet, and wants to go to college and New York where her life can be different. She meets a poet "Horus" online, and although he's much older she agrees to meet him IRL when he comes to D.C. for a reading. 

I love that Samira's story was told in verse, although I know they aren't for everyone. Samira is young and naive, but trying to break free of the strict rules of her culture, so it's no wonder she gets caught up in the excitement of this older man. Considering the topic, I was pleasantly surprised that the story is told without swears or adult content. Elhillo has woven the Persephone myth throughout which was genius. Oh, I loved this so much. Highly recommended.

Samira is Sudanese, many of her friends attend Arabic school with her. 

Lisa Librarian 

Nothing is Little by Carmella Van Vleet - ESSENTIAL

Nothing is Little by Carmella Van Vleet. 215 p. Holiday House, 2022. $19 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

11yo Felix lives with his mom and his stepdad. He has never known his dad and he and a friend start investigating to see if they can find any clues to who he is. Felix is short, and he finds out that his dad was really short too. Felix has Growth Hormone Deficiency. Without that Growth Hormone, he will not grow. Felix and his very pregnant mother go to see a specialist. It is decided that Felix will start Growth Hormone treatments. In the meantime his baby sister, Boo, keeps growing and making his mother very uncomfortable. On top of everything else, his mom and stepdad want Felix to change his last name so that the whole family will have the same last name. Felix struggles with all these things; starting middle school, being short, not knowing his father, getting a new stepfather, and waiting for the new baby to be born. 

I loved this book. I loved how Felix rises to each new challenge and makes good decisions. He does not especially mind being short, it is just the way he is. He has some good friend and a mom and a stepdad who love him and want what is best for him. The was a very heartwarming story about how children, and all of us, can overcome hardships in our lives, learn to live with it, and keep doing our best. I really recommend this book. It is a good read-aloud, or, book talks to students and they will all want to read it. Happy reading everyone. 

The characters are default white.

Ellen-Anita. Librarian 

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti - MANY

The Epic Story of Every Living Thing by Deb Caletti, 403 pages. Labyrinth Road. 2022. $19.

Language: R (100 swears 50 'f'); Mature Content: R (mentions of having had sex, teens drinking, mention of sexting) Violence: PG13 (mention of sexual assault)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

17yo Harper’s life seems perfect (boyfriend, social media following, grades, future plans), until the end of her junior year. Unexpectedly dumped, she also discovers that her anonymous sperm donor father (who her mother has always refused to discuss) has also fathered at least 42 others. These major events lead Harper to Hawaii with some of her newfound half-siblings, in search of answers about their elusive father. What they find will change every single one of them, and the entire world, for the better. 

Although there is a LOT of swearing, the storyline is compelling and the characters are so real that readers will be drawn in almost immediately. Besides the obvious themes of wrestling with what makes us who we are - is it DNA, or is it something else? - are other broad and powerful themes. Woven throughout are subtle lessons about being addicted to the “likes” of social media, becoming buried in our phones, and how to be present in our modern world. Crippling anxiety is another recurring theme, along with how to come to terms with being unable to control everything. Personal growth, finding resilience and bravery within ourselves, refusing to let others define and limit us, the beauty and majesty of every living thing on the earth, and the complicated definitions of what makes a “family” are just a few of the reasons readers will find Harper’s journey so profound and personal. Absolutely moving, this is one of my favorite reads in a long, long time. Most of the main characters are Caucasian, but there are multiple side characters from many different cultures, orientations, and backgrounds. LGBTQ relationships mentioned.

Tammie H, Librarian

Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan - MANY

Meet Me in Mumbai by Sabina Khan, 352 pages. Push (Scholastic), 2022. $19 

Language: R (6 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (unwed pregnancy, off page sex, condoms, abortion mentioned); Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY

18yo Ayesha is living in the US with her Desi aunt and uncle, working hard to get good grades so she can get into a good college. Then she meets Suresh, also from India and falls in love. When Suresh’s father takes ill, he rushed back to India to care for him and the family – at the same time Ayesha discovers she is pregnant, but Suresh brushes her off, overwhelmed by concerns at home. Ayesha knows that her relatives and parents will ostracize her, so she finds a lesbian couple to adopt her baby and takes off for Texas to live with them instead. When the baby girl is born, she leaves for India and tries tp pick up her life as if the baby never happened. 18 years later, that baby, Mira, finds the few items that Ayesha left behind when she fled back to India. Now Mira, who loves her mothers very much, is set on fire by a desire to track down her birth mother and hear she story. Even if it involves a trip to India. 

Long summary, but a complicated narrative. The author rushes the narrative at the end, just when things get most complicated, so I was left having to reread passages two or three times to really understand what people were doing and feeling. Despite that, reading Ayesha’s and Mina’s stories was still worth the time. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS LGBT 

Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks - ESSENTIAL

 Growing Pangs by Kathryn Ormsbee and Molly Brooks, 340 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House Graphic, 2022. $21. 9780593301289 

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: ; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL – ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rising 6th grader Katie and her best friend Kacey were headed off to summer camp together, but Kacey resents Katie’s friendship with another camper. When their homeschool co-op starts up again, Kacey starts freezing Katie out. If that weren’t enough drama for Katie, she also starts having buzzing thoughts that won’t go away – thoughts that make her do weird things to make them go away. 

What an excellent book for students to discover the transitory nature of friendships, and such a gentle, but important introduction to OCD. A friendly, honest, and heart-warming look at the confusion of growing up. Katie has red hair, a few of the secondary characters are not white, but ethnicity doesn’t guide anyone’s actions. 

Cindy Mitchell, Library Teacher, MLS 

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch - ADVISABLE

The Sky Blues by Robbie Couch, 325 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2021. $20

Language: PG-13 (94 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG-13 (repeated references to teenage boy sexuality, blatant homophobia and racism); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

12th grader Sky Baker, who is white and openly gay, is just trying to survive his Midwestern small town. Sky's plans to fly under the radar go by the wayside when a bully hacks a schoolwide email newsletter targeting Sky and the boy he is crushing on. Rather than fading into the background, Sky is determined to take a stand and be visible, not only for himself, but for anyone else who feels marginalized and isolated. His stance gains popularity, but not without some setbacks. Is Sky tough enough to overcome the growing attention?

Oomph, this book pulls at the heartstrings. I felt so deeply Sky's internal trauma from his familial relationships, the bullying he experienced at school, and his emotional growing pains. I even teared up! The book has excellent LGBTQ representation, not only in Sky, as the main character, but in the supporting characters too. This book perfectly illustrates the chosen family concept so important to so many within LGBTQ communities. The author authentically captures growing up differently in a small, homogenous community, and finding your place in the world, despite the bullies and the haters.

Reviewer: BookswithBeddes