Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty - OPTIONAL

Time Travel for Beginners by Jaclyn Moriarty, 544 pages. Berkley (Penguin Random House), 2026. $28.

Language: R (50 swears, 9 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (alcohol use and mentions of drugs, nudity, pornography, and sex); Violence: PG (assault, gun use, self harm, and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: OPTIONAL - ADULTS

APPEALS TO: SOME

Getting hit by a car on her way to work was just what Anna needed. The incident gave her a legitimate excuse for being late and became the impetus for a career change, leading to a new job at the Time Travel Agency. Which has to be fake. Right?

Despite all the time travel that occurs, Anna’s story reads like a slice of life piece rather than a scifi. The story is told by Anna, Teddy, and Jade as they try to figure out how to be the best parents, siblings, and partners, making mistakes and learning to forgive. I was surprised to realize I like the story as much as I do because there was hardly ever anything going on up until the life-or-death climax, and yet I kept reading and rooting for Anna as she tried so hard to live well. Anna and the majority of characters are Australian.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn - ADVISABLE

Schoolbot 9000 by Sam Hepburn, 277 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Dial Books (Penguin), 2025. $15

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo James is so tired of all of the robots in his life, his robot babysitter, dogbots at the park and even drones that look like bugs.  It is the last straw when robots are introduced as teachers at his school.  Can James and an unlikely ally save the school from being taken over by robot teachers?

Schoolbot 9000 is a graphic novel with a very interesting premise.  What would happen if robots started showing up in your everyday life?  I think that students who are fans of graphic novels will like this silly but interesting book!  Hepburn takes an idea that could possibly happen in our future and makes a good story of it.

James is presumably white.

Tracie, Elementary School Librarian

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga - ADVISABLE

A Rover's Story by Jasmine Warga, 320 pages. HarperCollins, 2024. $10 (paperback) 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Resilience is a Mars rover created in a NASA lab. Although definitely a robot, Res (as one of the scientists nicknamed him) recognizes human emotions and sometimes sees them in his own responses, and hopes to always be rational. He is launched to Mars, and with the help of Fly - an embedded Drone and Guardian, a satellite, Res' primary mission is to find another rover, Courage, who was lost in a dust storm and has gone offline, but Res has a personal mission - to find something so important, they bring him back to Earth. 

What a sweet story! Warga's first science fiction novel was great. I really liked Resilient's voice, and the relationship between Fly the drone and Guardian the satellite. Another character, Sophie, is the child of one of the scientists, who writes letters to Res - more like journal entries, which helps the reader see the passage of time and helps connect with Earth. Perfectly appropriate for upper elementary, with a growing Sophie so there's some friend drama and family problems mentioned as well. 

Lisa Librarian 

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy - ADVISABLE

Finn and Ezra's Bar Mitzvah Time Loop by Joshua S. Levy, 256 pages. HarperCollins, 2024 $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Finn and Ezra don't know each other (yet) but their Bar Mitzvah weekend is about to bring the boys together. They are having their events at the same time at the same hotel, but both boys seem to be trapped in a time loop, repeating Friday through Sunday, endlessly. Finn eventually figures out how to contact Ezra and the two work together to try figure out how to end their Bar Mitzvah Time Loop. 

I loved the crazy schemes they came up with, and how naive 13 year old boys can be. Joshua Levy looks at themes of family relationships, religious practices, friend drama, and coming of age in such a clever book. Of course it's far fetched, but a delightful read - I grew to love these guys. Finn and Ezra and their families are Jewish.

Lisa Librarian 

eMortal by Steve Schafer - ADVISABLE

eMortal by Steve Schafer, 314 pages. Koehler Books, 2024. $30

Language: PG-13 (34 swears, 0 ’f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SEVERAL

17yo Liv enters a competition to create an AI character that can solve a riddle. Liv’s character Breck seems fairly intelligent and when she writes a code that will allow him to sleep (rest and reboot) the competition leader takes notice. Along with the stress of wanting to win the AI competition and internship, Liv tries to help her mother revive the family toy store that belonged to her grandfather. This becomes more difficult than creating a character and writing code. She and her mother struggle to see each other’s point of view and this just causes arguments and frustration. With perseverance, will Liv win and be able to help her mom or will it all be too much?

I normally struggle with enjoying science fiction but this is a fun read! I love the lead into the ending and the ending itself. I enjoyed the humor and the realistic characters. I admired the perseverance of the characters.

Ethnicity falls to white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm by Julie Kagawa - ESSENTIAL

Shinji Takahashi: Into the Heart of the Storm (Society of Explorers and Adventurers #2) by Julie Kagawa, 324 pages. Disney/Hyperion, 2023. $17 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

13yo Shinji and Lucy are invited to accompany a group from SEA who are headed to a recently discovered shipwreck. Shinji is still trying to learn how to control his recently acquired Guardian powers, and the longish ship voyage seems the perfect place for him to work with Phoebe, a member of the society who has some powers herself. But when Hightower interferes with the mission, and the group - which has acquired a stowaway, a thief named Roux - finds themselves on an uninhabited island, Shinji and the kids get caught in an active volcano and Shinji releases an angry guardian, a giant Boar Spirit who is looking for revenge. 

This is an exciting series - I love the magical elements and the "Indiana Jones" style explorations with secret pathways and collapsing rooms that chase the kids into more danger. They have intelligent, caring adults with them (although the kids often slip their supervision and get into trouble.) Shinji is Japanese American. 

Lisa Librarian

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover - OPTIONAL

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux by Ellen O'Clover, 312 pages. Harper Teen, 2023. $15 

Language: R (100 swears 20 'f'); Mature Content:  PG-13 (Kissing, making out and caressing but nothing too descriptive) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

Rose Devereux is 18yo and a high school senior. All of Ro's life there has been one thing for certain. She is going to create some world altering technology and be living in California. Her father has other plans, and wants her to continue the family legacy and work at his cafe. It isn't until Ro creates an app for a senior project that suddenly her dreams become a reality. The app, MASH can use human behavior to predict your future. MASH becomes a overnight sensation and everyone is downloading it and wanting to see what their lives are like, and Ro must decide if her algorithm is playing god or just a fun past time. 

Seven Percent Of Ro Devereux is an entertaining and interesting book but lacks in logic and character development. This book is a fun read but often times I was left scratching my head at the ideas behind MASH the app and the claims how it's backed by 'science' and 'behavioral psychology'. The book didn't actually provide any science just broad sayings. I also thought the characters were very flat and often times one dimensional and not very relatable . Rose Devereux is white with bright blonde hair. 

Kenzie Hoehne Reviewer

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll - ESSENTIAL

Show Us Who You Are by Elle McNicoll, 304 pages. Crown (Random House), 2022. $17. 

Language: PG (9 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Car Accident - not graphic) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

12yo Cora's best friend is Adrian. Adrian has ADHD, and Cora has autism - Adrian says they are "under the same umbrella." Adrian's dad owns a company called Pomagranite, which creates AI versions of people: famous ones people can pay to meet, or regular people who have agreed to let themselves be imaged, so they can "live forever." Because she is neurodivergent, the company wants to interview and image Cora, her father is against it, but it might be the only way she can continue to connect with the friend she lost. 

McNicoll's science fiction novel is so timely and realistic. AI is a hot topic right now and this exploration of how it could be used was fascinating. I loved that Cora's autism was a personality feature, rather than a disability and that she became her own champion. I loved Adrian's energy and adored their friendship. Highly recommended. The characters are default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Man Made by Gabrysia May - ESSENTIAL

Man Made by Gabrysia May, 369 pages. Independently published. 2022. $15. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (bombing, shooting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

The year is 2042 and 17yo Ginger has lived with her family on a concrete island off the shore of California since she was young. Robots have taken control, even the president of the US is a robot. Robots boat in daily to view the human zoo which Ginger and her family are unwilling but forced exhibits. She really hates living in such a controlled environment and being viewed. Ginger has vague memories of a time before robots controlled everything and she has great hope that someday freedom, peace, and human rule will return. Will Ginger and her friends be able to help pull off the revolution against the robots and free the former president of the US? Will Ginger's robotic friend help or hinder their progress? 

Wow, I couldn't put Man Made down! Nonstop action from the beginning to the end, which leaves you hanging on for book 2. I surely hope there will be a sequel! I grew to love so many of the characters in this great debut dystopian novel from a 16yo author.

CS - Middle School Librarian

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Dregg Disaster-An Algebra 1 Game Book Chris Matthews - ADVISABLE

Choose Your Own Adventure: The Dregg Disaster-An Algebra 1 Game Book Chris Matthews, 288 pages. INTERACTIVE Chooseco. 2022. $20 

Language: G (0 swears 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (if you choose poorly, you may die).

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

"As you walk home from soccer practice, you find a wallet. Inside is an access card to the Dregg Corporation. The card isn't the ordinary employee ID because your mom used to work there. It's heavier and has a holographic picture on the back of a woman in a trench coat named Doctor Donda LaBella. What catches your eye though are the words, ""If found please return to the Dregg Corporation. $1,000 reward." You want that money!

The Dregg Disaster is a choose your own adventure with a math twist. To choose which direction your character should go, you need to solve the math equations at the bottom of each page. This actually made math engaging for me. Plus, if you get a problem wrong, the page you thought you should go to will tell you if you did it right. If you forgot how to solve a particular problem, there are directions for solving each problem at the end of each of the four chapters. My math geek friend loved it. If you want to get your math lover to read or your reading ace to do math, this is a great tool. The story was engaging and the problems didn't take long to do. Cover has a white teen 

Michelle in the Middle 

Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa - ESSENTIAL

Shinji Takahashi and the Mark of the Coatl by Julie Kagawa 309 pages. Disney/Hyperion. 2022 $17. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG peril, injuries resulting in blood 

MS - ESSENTIAL 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH 

13yo Shinji Takahashi discovers a cool statue in a shop that turns out to be an ancient idol called a Coatl. Now he is being chased by an organization called Hightower which wants the statue for themselves. On the advice of Lucy, a girl who helps him escape from Hightower, Shinji travels cross-country and meets up with an organization called The Society of Explorers and Adventurers. SEA wants to help him return the idol to its rightful place, and hopefully break the curse on Shinji. 

Exciting right from the start, I was feeling Indiana Jones vibes the whole read. Kids are going to love this. Lots of dangerous plot twists (caves, rope bridges, jungle chases), creepy monsters - spiders, bears, snakes -  and a really great Meso-American legend. I loved that SEA is a group of adults, and that Shinji isn't on his own. I'm so happy this is Book 1 of what I hope will be a long series. Shinji is Japanese American 

Lisa Librarian 

Every Line of You by Naomi Gibson - OPTIONAL

Every Line of You by Naomi Gibson, 311 pages. Chicken House (Scholastic Inc), 2021. $19.

Language: PG13 (27 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Her little brother died in a car crash two years ago. Her father left six months later. Her mother cares more about her dead brother than her. Lydia (17yo) has never been more alone, which is why she is so proud of her AI, Henry. Together they can do anything – and no one can stop them.

I enjoyed the AI what-ifs that drive Gibson’s story, even though there were some technological leaps made that seemed to break her own rules. Lydia’s overdramatics were taken seriously by herself and Henry, which made it difficult for me to tell if the tone was intended to be humorous or dark. Whether or not Gibson did it purposefully, the story felt dark to me, and my dark interpretation has led me to be conflicted over the ending because the tone shifted and felt lighter than the rest of the book. All in all, I don’t know whether or not I liked the book as a whole. The mature content rating is for illegal activity, underage drinking, groping, nudity, and sex. The violence rating is for persistent violence and blood.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Be More Chill : The Graphic Novel by David Levithan, art by Nick Bertozzi - ADVISABLE

Be More Chill : The Graphic Novel by David Levithan, art by Nick Bertozzi 140 pages. Hyperion. 2021. $22 

Language: PG13 (13 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (sexual situations) Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

16yo Jeremy would like more attention - especially from Christine, a fellow actor in the school's Shakespeare play. But, he keeps a tally of all the things that make him a loser, and Christine isn't interested in him.  But then he talks to Rich after rehearsal and is introduced to a supercomputer pill that if taken will sit in Jeremy's brain and assist him.  for only $600 this pill will make Jeremy popular, and help him win Christine.

Based on the novel that became a Broadway musical, this is a unique story of a nerd turning his life around, and what happens when popularity becomes the main focus.  Illustrated in greyscale with blue accents, the style fits a high school audience best, as does the mature content.  I liked the science fiction element - a computer that takes over a characters brain.  I enjoyed it.

Lisa Librarian

Take Me With You by Tara Altebrando - OPTIONAL

Take Me With You by Tara Altebrando, 384 pages. Bloomsbury, 2020. $18.

Language: PG13 (22 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

Four high school students receive odd messages to meet with the band teacher after school -- but he is nowhere to be found. Instead, they find a black box giving them instructions: do not tell anyone else about it and to take it with them...or else. These students must obey the device and figure out what it wants or find out what “or else” means.

While I was intrigued by the story, I was also confused about what was going on the whole time. I think there are valuable lessons to be learned from these high schoolers about being careful and conservative with technology use, but the mystery still feels unresolved by the end of the book. The mature content rating is for mentions of sex, sexting, and drugs.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe by Carlos Hernandez - ADVISABLE

Sal and Gabi Fix the Universe (Sal and Gabi #2) by Carlos Hernandez, 432 pages. Rick Riordan Presents (Disney Hyperion), 2020. $17.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE 

13yo Sal Vidon and his best friend Gabi are in a race against time and Sal's Papi. Remember the wormholes Sal created in book 1? Well, his Papi a calamity physicist,  has created a machine to shut them down and fix the wormholes. But it isn't working because a Rogue Gabi from another Universe keeps popping in, trying to stop him - her world has been destroyed and it's all Papi's fault! Now, Sal and Gabi are trying to keep everything under control, but multiple Sals and Gabis (especially Rogue Gabi) are quite a handful - plus, there's the regular drama of being in middle school.

My favorite characters were all the AIs - especially the Artificial Intellligence Toilet. I laughed out loud so many times! Still lots of Cuban culture - the extended description of empanadas was perfect. Lot's of pop culture references - I appreciated the literary ones make this series so much fun. Fast paced with a ton of characters - it matters that you read Sal and Gabi Break the Universe, so start there first. Note: Some of the characters are gender creative.

Lisa Librarian

The Future Will Be BS Free by Will McIntosh - HIGH

The Future Will Be BS Free by Will McIntosh, 332 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House Children’s Books), 2018. $18.

Language: R (107 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS – OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: HIGH

17yo Sam and his buddies have a product that’s going to make them all rich, as soon they can get a prototype together. Their portable, infallible lie detector is going to change the world. They aren’t wrong, but it comes at a greater price than they expected.

I enjoyed reading this story set in a futuristic America for a few reasons. First of all, Sam’s story includes a lot of action as he and his friends are forced to flee several times before facing the main antagonist, and the excitement of it all makes it easy to stay engaged. But another reason was more alluring: pondering the repercussions of everyone knowing the truth all the time. Sam and his friends run into several unintended consequences of their invention, and the thought experiment it gives to readers was my favorite part. I wonder which of Sam’s friends I most relate to and why; I wonder what this invention might do to our modern-day America. Do you want a world where everyone has to be honest? The mature content rating is for nudity and a peeping tom incident, innuendo, and mentions of sex; the violence rating is for theft, torture, gun violence, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Eve 2.0: The Ultimate Gaming Experience by Winter Lawrence - OPTIONAL

Eve 2.0: The Ultimate Gaming Experience by Winter Lawrence, 338 pages. Fire & Ice Young Adult Books (Melange), 2019. $19.

Language: R (64 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

The only two things that Gwen’s boyfriend and her neighbor’s little brother have in common are being in a coma for no apparent reason and playing with a new video game simulation immediately prior to falling into their comas. As Gwen explores this potential cause, she finds herself trapped in a video game with the others. They’re promised by the AI Eve that returning to their bodies is as simple as accomplishing an objective -- but that was before Eve adapted the code programmed into her.

I had fun reading this story, though the obvious strategies the author uses to get the main characters to work out their issues could be eye roll-inducing. When Lawrence’s predictable scenes made arguments and reconciling too easy, I had to force myself to continue before getting lost in the story again. The squabbles between the main characters kept the story lively, but my favorite parts were the scenes that shifted to the perspective of Gwen’s father. All in all, this scifi is enjoyable as long as you don’t take it too seriously. Mature content rating for underage drinking and mentions of sexual acts.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Monstrous Devices by Damien Love - OPTIONAL

Monstrous Devices by Damien Love, 338 pages. Viking (Penguin Random House), 2018. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL  

AUDIENCE APPEAL: AVERAGE

When Alex’s grandpa shows up suddenly and whisks him on an adventure, Alex is desperately trying to figure out why. He learns gradually about robots that have taken on human characteristics and one in particular that has enough power to control an entire population. His grandpa is reluctant with information, especially information involving Alex’s father, leaving Alex to figure out the clues himself.

I am usually up for a multigenerational adventure, but the relationships between family members that holds those stories together was very much absent in this book. At no point did I really understand or relate to any of the characters, nor they to each other. The setting was mysterious and mostly enjoyable, but the plot, like the characterization, was disjointed and choppy.

Jen Wecker, HS English Teacher

Brother from a Box by Evan Kuhlman –OPTIONAL

Kuhlman, Evan Brother from a Box 288 pgs. Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 2012. $13.75.  Content: Language: G (0 swears); Mature Content: G;  Violence: G.

Matt was supposed to have a brother, but he died as an infant. Fortunately his dad is a computer genius and surprise’s him (and especially his mom) with a robot brother. Norman is quite a character, with a French flair, a bit of a show-off, and a ladies man. He even seems to be exceeding his programming  Matt loves having a brother, but the true measure of family is put to the test when some bad guys come after Norman.

This was a fun and quirky book with an interesting family dynamic. The author has a dry sense of humor and the text is intelligent. Now that we have established that I liked the book, will students? I think the cover is a bit off-putting, its kind of old fashioned looking. While I students would find it interesting to imagine themselves in this situation, the constant inclusion of French, and the glommy neighbor girl might be off-putting, especially for boys young enough to enjoy this book.

EL –OPTIONAL Reviewer: Stephanie Elementary School Librarian & Author.

The Nightmare Garden by Caitlin Kittredge - ADVISABLE

Kittredge, Caitlin The Nightmare Garden, 432 p. Random House, 2012.  $18.  Language: R (60+ swears, 0 ‘f’).  Aoife (Ee-fah), 16, Has discovered that the necrovirus is a hoax perpetrated by the Proctors who want to keep Magic for themselves.  As the Half Human/Half Fey who unleashed destruction upon her city, however, she is a fugitive – one who is determined to return to her city, no matter the cost, and release her mother from her imprisonment in iron – the iron that has been driving them all crazy.  

All along her way, however, Aoife will make the same mistakes all head-strong characters seem to make – leaping before looking.  She will leap into traps set by her enemies; she will leap into mistakes that could have been avoided had she just taken a moment to think.  For all of her mistakes, however, you have to admire Aoife’s grit.  I just hope that in the next book she actually makes some choices – maybe dangerous ones – but choices, instead of being used by everyone around her.  I am not sure why the swear count shot up so high in this one – make it hard to justify it for a middle school.  HS – ADVISABLE. Cindy, Library Teacher