How to Lose Yourself Completely by Peter Bognanni - ADVISABLE

How to Lose Yourself Completely by Peter Bognanni, 337 pages. Balzer + Bray (Harper), 2026. $21

Language: R (77 swears, 1 ‘f’); Mature Content:PG-13 (suicide mentioned, crude joke, mentions of drinking, smoking, and of marijuana use) ; Violence: PG ( dead body, another death)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

16yo Case was used to being in his older brother’s shadow. Now that Sean is dead, Case is spiraling out of control. His parents suggest wilderness therapy. Who should also be there? Diana - Sean’s girlfriend and the girl Case can’t forget. When the kids’ guide and counselor disappears, the group is left flailing in the wilderness - nature’s version and within the wilderness of their problems. 

Kind of like an updated, more psychological version of Hobb’s classic Downriver. I was very glad that no one was a murderer, or that the program wasn’t trying to kill the teens, though murder mysteries seem to be where my readers’ attention is right now. The narrative takes us from Case’s present day and back before Sean’s death and his downward spiral.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Double Crossed by Rebecca E.F. Barone - OPTIONAL

Double Crossed by Rebecca E.F. Barone, 187 pages. NON-FICTION. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $20.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

During World War II one of the most important groups to the success of the Allies and such maneuvers as D-Day was the XX - double agents who had the ears of the Germans, but actually were loyal to England. These men and women risked their lives to feed false information to Germany.

It's too bad the writing doesn’t feel more intimate and engaging for such a potentially interesting topic. As an adult I loved learning about this dimension of WWII.  I don’t think most students will stay locked in long enough to absorb the information.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Welcome to Weird Street by Stephen Mangan - OPTIONAL

Welcome to Weird Street by Stephen Mangan, 318 pages. Scholastic, 2026. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

When a girl finds a lost cat, she goes to each home on Weird Street hoping to find its owner. Along the way she encounters, hears, or we as the reader discover, strange goings ons inside each house.

While the girls and cat create the framework and excuse, the odd happenings in each house are the point to the short story collection. Decidedly odd. I could see a teacher reading one story a day out loud.

Audiobook provided libro.fm. Narrated by the author.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Tales from the Territory by Travis Baldree - OPTIONAL

Tales from the Territory by Travis Baldree, 224 pages. SHORT STORIES. Subterranean Press, 2026. $40.

Language: R (24 swears, 2 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use and mentions of illegal activity); Violence: PG13 (corpses, assault, blood and gore, and mentions of murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Baldree has compiled five short stories focusing on a variety of favorite characters in the Legends and Lattes series. Laugh, cry, and enjoy an extra peak into the lives of Zyll, Thimble, Viv, and Tandri.

Seeing these characters again was a joy! I was thrilled to get Thimble’s backstory, so that tale was my favorite. The stories here about Thimble, Zyll, Tandri, and Viv all occur before readers meet them in their respective books of the series. I was a little disappointed that I had already read the prequel story about Viv (“Pages to Fill” was previously published at the end of the Legends and Lattes book), but it’s a fun one if you haven’t read it before. The final story is about the whole Legends and Lattes crew two years after book one.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter - OPTIONAL

Trust Fall by Lynn Painter, 416 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $22. Kiss me

Language: R (719 swears, 137 “f”); Mature Content: PG13 (drug and alcohol use, including underage drinking, illegal activity, kissing, innuendo, and mentions of sex); Violence: PG (assault and for mentions of guns and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Julia and her family only learn that their friend Lou was a rich man from New York when the executor of Lou’s estate informs them that Lou left them an inheritance. The catch is that the family must move to the home Lou left in New York and Julia and her brother must attend the local exclusive academy for at least six months or else the millions of dollars will no longer be theirs. Sounds easy, but Lou’s great-nephew, Damion, has other plans.

Painter writes well, and the story is sure to be enjoyable for those who are fans of the tropes Painter chose to use. Damion hides a lot of truths from Julia, and it’s easy to empathize with him when readers get his thoughts and point of view. However, his actions towards Julia were very irritating, and I found myself more stressed reading their story than not. It all works out with a happy ending that is satisfying only because I know it is in the fictional world—I would not be as okay with the ending if Julia was a real-life friend.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Move it or Bruise It by V. P. Anderson and Tatiana Hill, - OPTIONAL

Move it or Bruise It (Blood City Rollers #2) by V. P.  Anderson and Tatiana Hill, 153 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Random House, 2026. $22

Language: G (1 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (Roller derby fights)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Humans Mina and Swan (13 yo) miss their roller derby teammates the Blood City Rollers, who also happen to be vampires. After spending the summer searching for them, they finally track them down at a creepy abandoned asylum. But if the Blood City Rollers want to keep their new home, they must compete in a sudden death scrimmage against another roller derby team made up of misfit monsters who are also searching for a place to belong. Along the way, Mina learns that being part of a team means supporting one another rather than always trying to compete.

Because I had not read the first book in the series, I spent the beginning of the story feeling a little lost and confused. I kept wondering why two human girls were playing on a vampire roller derby team. However, as the story progressed, I was able to piece together the background information and better understand the characters and their relationships. The book delivers a positive message about friendship, teamwork, and learning to put the success of the group ahead of individual competition. The characters are a mix of ethnicities.  

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Steam by Shaenon K.Garrity - OPTIONAL

Steam by Shaenon K.Garrity, 208 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Margaret K. McElderry (Simon and Schuster), 2026. $15. 

Language: PG (3 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (man in briefs no shirt, kissing) Violence: PG (theme of captive humans in an experiment) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Ruby is one of many humanoid subjects of an experiment conducted by a university. She is remarkably intelligent and has been programmed to solve problems. When she solves a problem of her own, and escapes the lab, Ruby gets a job as a barista and begins to make love matches with the employees and customers. But does she consider that there might be a match for her? 

Definitely a college setting, though only a few of the characters are actual students. The science was cool - Ruby can process so much information and figure out solutions. No wonder she's so valuable to the University. High School students would probably enjoy it, it's not very edgy though. It's almost like it was written for middle schoolers. While not specified, the characters are a mix of races. 

Lisa Librarian  

Honor by Susan McClelland, Nataliia Mariichyn, and Leon Buchwald - ADVISABLE

Honor by Susan McClelland, Nataliia Mariichyn, and Leon Buchwald, 240 pages. NON-FICTION Astra, 2026. $20 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (The threat of violence against Jews, a father is murdered by Nazis, the aftermath is on page. Peril, reference to work camps, concentration camps and pogroms. Bullets flying by, racist language, Nazi mischief - breaking toys and such, just being mean because they can) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

When Ukrainian teen Nataliia is given a stack of old letters by her grandmother, she reads about a Jewish boy, Eliezer, who is in hiding during WWII. After the murder of his father, Eliezer tries to support his sister and mother and keep them out of the grasp of the Nazis. Told in dual perspectives, Nataliia's current suspension from school over an incident with another girl is put into a different perspective when she is moved by Eliezer's story and wonders how her grandmother is connected. 

This narrative non-fiction is engaging and moving. The modern story takes place in 2010 in The Ukraine. This isn't just another story of a Jewish family hiding from the Nazis. We connect with the families and people who are helping, sharing, hiding, and caring about Eliezer, his mother and his sister. We see how a community can stand by while their neighbors are taken away or even killed, and what turns people to do things they know are morally wrong. There are also examples of people doing good despite the very real chance they could lose their lives for helping. Peppered with pieces of news articles or descriptions of places to help put everything in context. I would not be surprised to see Honor show up on a 2027 YMA list - either for Non-Fiction or a Sydney Taylor. Well written. 

Lisa Librarian 

 

My Killer Family Reunion by Dinesh Thiru - OPTIONAL

My Killer Family Reunion by Dinesh Thiru, 384 pages. Atheneum (Simon & Schuster), 2026. $20. 

Language: R (50 swears, 5 'fs'); Mature Content: PG13 (talk of making out, a kiss, a bit of vulgar language) Violence: PG13 (instances of domestic violence- on page and referred to, 3 attempted murders) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

16yo Jayshree's wealthy grandmother owns property worth millions; when she dies, her family will inherit and become rich themselves. But at this family reunion, she announces a change to her will, and by the end of the dinner, the grandmother is in the hospital - someone has tried to kill her. Jay is an excellent sleuth; admittedly, her cousins call her invisible, so she's the perfect one to investigate. Everyone might be a suspect! 

I loved this whodunit. Jay exposes so many family secrets, and there's lots of family drama. The family is Hindu; there are ex-husbands, greed, under-the-table transactions, plenty of danger, and more than one attempted murder. My family reunions are never this exciting. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Sky We Shared by Shirley Reva Vernick - ADVISABLE

The Sky We Shared by Shirley Reva Vernick, 215 pages. Cinco Puntos Press (Lee and Low), 2026. $16

Language: G (2 swears,  0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (bombing deaths, blood)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

In 1945, 14yo Nellie and her family are struggling as their father is off to fight in the war. And her former best friend, Joey, has changed since word came that his older brother has died. 14yo Tamiko and her aunt also struggle in a small Japanese village.  When the Emperor calls for girls to volunteer to help with the war effort, she goes despite her twisted hip from polio.  But glueing together endless sheets of origami paper is not what she thinks helping in the war would look like.  Little does she know that the papers she is glueing will have a direct impact on Nellie’s community.

Very few people know about the thousands of bomb-laden giant paper balloons that Japan sent wafting across the Pacific Ocean.  While very few deaths resulted, to the friends and families of those killed, the balloons were very personal. If you have a strong historical fiction collection or a teacher who covers WWII, I would suggest buying.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Zodiac Legacy by Katie Zhao - OPTIONAL

Zodiac Legacy (Descendants of the Zodiac #2) by Katie Zhao. 364 pages. Random House, 2025. $20

Language: PG (18 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Implied sex mentioned. Opposite sex and same sex kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Monster attacks, sword and hand to hand combat, death by gunshot and stabbing)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO:  SOME

Centuries ago, the Descendants were cursed - transformed into vampires, werewolves, and fox spirits. Their only hope of breaking the curse is to restore the source of their power: 12 zodiac statues. Standing in their way is the Collector, a villain who can turn humans into mindless, vicious Wrathlings. To make matters worse, not all Descendants actually want the curse broken. To restore her people's former power, Evangeline and her crew must battle the Collector, his army of Wrathlings, and the ultimate betrayal from her own brother.

While I enjoyed the first book in the series, this sequel fell a little flat for me. The action scenes were solid, and it was satisfying to see the storyline resolve, but the narrative lacked the rich historical context and mythology that made the first book so engaging. The pacing also suffered from excessive internal monologues, and too many moments where the plot stalled.

The characters are Chinese. Lei and Titus are LGBTQ

Amy Snow, Librarian

Cry Out Loud by Tara O'Connor - ADVISABLE

Cry Out Loud by Tara O'Connor, 256 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $25. 

Language: PG (4 swears 0 'f' - Irish swears not counted); Mature Content: PG (same gender kisses); Violence: PG (human sacrifice is a plotline) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Nell is suspended for a term from high school, and her mother sends her to stay with a distant relative in rural Ireland. Everything is strange from the beginning, but then becomes dangerous when Nell discovers she may be the next victim of a generational family sacrifice. 

Dark and creepy, complete with banshees and a robed cult. A gripping tale of family traditions. The illustrations are full color with just the right amount of detail. I appreciated the pronunciation guide for the names. The characters are Irish. 

Lisa Librarian  

72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm - OPTIONAL

72 Hours of You by Darianne Schramm, 336 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2026. $20.

Language: R (507 swears, 242 “f”); Mature Content: R (underage drinking; illegal activity; groping; nudity; mentions of drugs, condoms, sexting, and sex; and ad nauseam innuendo); Violence: PG13 (assault; mentions of school shootings, bombs, and suicide; gun use; and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Death is an inevitable part of life—something that Sydney (17yo) is very familiar with. She dreads the pink glow, only visible to her, that follows people in their last 72 hours of life. This ability sets her apart, and that’s the way she likes it. Until a nosy classmate figures out her secret.

One of the most interesting points in this book is that Sydney believes in the beginning that she deals with death better than others do because she has to confront its reality more often and all by herself, without help or support through her grief. The journey Sydney experiences is an inward change that makes this perception a reality, and we don’t have to develop her supernatural ability to make that change in our own lives. The grief is still among the living, but so is life. Sydney is Jewish. Jules is bi.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

America's Founding Myths ... and What Really Happened by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Marta Sevilla, - ADVISABLE

America's Founding Myths ... and What Really Happened by Christy Mihaly, illustrated by Marta Sevilla, 40 pages. INTERACTIVE, NON-FICTION Barefoot Books, 2026. $20 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

How much of the history we learn in school is really a myth? Apparently a lot of it. Mihaly looks at 15 myths surrounding the founding of the United States - from the people who lived here before Columbus arrived to the Revolutionary War. Includes the story of Pocahontas and John Smith, the First Thanksgiving, Plymouth Rock and who really warned that "The British are Coming". 

Mihaly's introduction is excellent. She tell how written history is just one perspective, and different points of view make the whole thing messy and complicated. It's interactive; you see the well-known myth, then open a flap to "uncover" the truth (ingenious). There are also some opportunities to lift the flaps for other things. There are also interesting "think about this yourself" questions. A brilliant book that doesn't feel political - it explains why many of our stories turned into myths and shows witnesses' statements of the events. Kids who love history will eat this up. Back matter includes ideas to know or discover if something is true, encouragement to write your own perception of events you witness, a glossary and resources for finding out more. Includes a QR Code to access the bibliography. 

Lisa 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 

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina - OPTIONAL

Beyond Seven Forests by Amanda McCrina, 192 pages. Carolrhoda 2026. $19

Language: PG (6 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (accusations of sex); Violence PG (war violence mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Renata Zamoyska, a Polish countess, has been hauled before a military tribunal, accused of treason and impropriety. Through flashbacks, Renata slowly reveals the events leading to her arrest - her humane treatment of two Russian soldiers who showed up on the threshold of her ruined mansion on the heels of a snowstorm.

Unfortunately McCrina’s writing didn’t draw me into the story - I felt isolated from the action. While that might be the tone the author was going for, I fear few of the target audience will persevere.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Murder in Blackfriars by Jennifer Ashley - OPTIONAL

Murder in Blackfriars (Below Stairs Mystery #9) by Jennifer Ashley, 320 pages. Berkley (Penguin Random House), 2026. $20.

Language: PG13 (17 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (alcohol use, mentions of drugs, kissing, mild innuendo, and implied mention of prostitution); Violence: PG (corpses, assault, blood and gore, and mentions of bombs and murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: ADULTS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

In the middle of a picnic, Kat’s fiancé, Daniel, runs off on what is sure to be another dangerous scrape, and Kat can’t go with him because she has to take her daughter, Grace, home to the family that is raising her. And then that family tells Kat about the new job that will move the family—including Grace—to a home in the countryside, away from Kat’s employment in London.

While there were obvious mentions to ongoing relationships and past escapades, I was satisfied with my experience reading this book as a standalone mystery. Besides the murder that is mentioned in the title, Kat and Daniel also take on the overwhelming task of attempting to find out who Daniel’s parents were. One of these mysteries has a more satisfying climax than the other, but I recognize that there needs to be a reason to continue the series. I could see myself reading more about these delightful characters and the happiness they create for themselves despite difficult circumstances. The characters are English.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis - OPTIONAL

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis, 272 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2026. $20

Language: PG (4 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Forced child marriages, homophobia, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (Off-page sexual abuse, physical abuse, murder)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

After the bees died, the military took control. All girls ages 11-16 are forced to pollinate plants by hand using brushes. 13yo Jess postponed that fate for two years thanks to her rebellious mother who lied about her and her brother’s ages. Unlike many of the other girls at the camp, Jess learned stories of the past, how to read, and how to paint. Jess makes friends with 14yo Cass, who is starting to worry. Once they have their periods, they are biologically matched to a husband and forced to marry. With time running out, Jess feels the stirrings of her own rebellious spirit.

With such a heavy subject matter and premise, I appreciate the novel’s focus on hope, the value of art, and the power of community in the face of oppression. The plot itself is not very action-forward, but the characters’ themselves kept me reading. It’s reminiscent of The Handmaid’s Tale but appropriate for a teenage audience. 

Secondary characters are diverse including LGBT+ (spoiler if reveal who).

Ms. Megan, HS Librarian 

America is Wild! by Brad Timm, 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 

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram - ADVISABLE

One Word, Six Letters by Adib Khorram, 224 pages. Henry Holt (Macmillan), 2026. $20 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG13 (masturbation talk); Violence: PG (Bullying, referring to queer slurs) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

14yo Dayton shouts a slur at a visiting speaker at the ELA assembly for 9th graders. He was promised $20 for doing it, and he thought it wouldn't be a big deal; it's just a word. But in that moment, everything changes for Dayton. He loses friends, his parents are shocked and disappointed, and he begins to examine his own actions. Nothing he does seems to make it any different. Farshid is also in 9th grade, and knows Dayton but isn't a friend; however, Dayton's actions have affected Farshid too, who is wrestling with his body image and sexual identity. 

Told in alternating perspectives - and also in second person and present tense - so the reader is put into the story, and it unfolds in real time. There was a lot to unpack; Dayton never meant to offend and felt terrible, but couldn't really repair what he'd done. Farshid was angry all the time and taking it out on his mother and himself - making unhealthy decisions about his body. Khorram never says the word, but the reader can piece together what it is. This is one of those important books that I hope will gain some traction and get read by the teens who need the message and the courage to do the right thing. 

Dayton is white, Farshid is Iranian. 

Lisa Librarian