Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth - ADVISABLE

Steel & Spellfire by Laura Weymouth, 368 pages. Margaret K. McElderry Books, 2025. $20.

Language: PG (13 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG (bloody gunshot wound)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Magic, murder and mystery!  17yo Pandora’s childhood was taken from her by a patron that warped her powers into an extremely and extraordinary strength to make her dangerous. Her patron always kept their identity secret and Pandora is determined to discover who the person is that changed her power. Meanwhile, someone with similar powers to Pandora’s is murdering young women the same age as her. Once Pandora arrives at court, she meets a guard named Beacon and immediately feels a connection with him. Pandora is determined to solve the mystery of the murderer and her patron but she will struggle to do it alone and Beacon will struggle with loyalty and doing the right thing.

I enjoyed the prose. Beacon fell for Pandora a bit too quickly. Pandora’s friend Winifred is charming and fun. The rivalry between Pandora and Imogen entertains and surprises. Ethnicity falls to white. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian

Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin - OPTIONAL

Lovely Dark and Deep by Elisa A. Bonnin, 388 pages. Feiwel and Friends (Macmillan), 2025. $21

Language: R (22 swears,  4 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mild danger, skeleton mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Faith is back at Every West, a hidden school for magical students for her final year, but this year she is branded a Red Stripe - dangerous. Since her best friend Sydney didn’t return from the journey into the forbidden woods around the school, nothing has been the same. While she is ostracized by the other students at school, the handful of other Red Stripes adopt her as one of their own.  With their courage and strength, Faith may be able to find the answers she needs and find the truth about the mysterious presence she felt within the woods that day.

While Elisa looks a tad young on the cover, she is a senior in high school. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Faith’s story and meeting the other Red Stripes. Less time is spent on explaining the magical system that exists in this world, but I didn’t miss it - Faith’s story was enough for me. I don’t see how there can be a sequel, but I sure do need to read the author’s other two books now.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance - OPTIONAL

A Spell to Wake the Dead by Nicole Lesperance, 352 pages. G.P. Putnam's Sons BFYR (Penguin), 2025. $20

Language: R (56 swears, 5 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (kissing, vaping and drinking mentioned); Violence: PG-13 (gunshot, dead bodies found with missing hands)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

17yo Mazzy and Nora love to learn about harmless spells, especially living in New England. Their idea of spells being fun changes when they find a dead body with missing hands after casting a simple spell and Nora starts to feel the spirit taking over her mind. Nora starts changing and gets more and more interested in and pulled into the dark side of magic which seems to involve the body they found. More bodies are discovered with missing hands and Polaroid pictures of the victims when they’re alive are being left for Nora and Mazzy in random places. The friends want to solve the mystery and help the police but they’re being threatened and pulled into danger.

I like how the author sets up for the supernatural setting of the book. Tough issues are brought up with some of the side characters and I like how the characters help each other deal with them. The underlying cause of the magic, the Egyptian cult, added an extra element of creepiness to the story. A fun and spooky YA read! The ethnicity reads white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek by Kwame Mbalia - OPTIONAL

Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek by Kwame Mbalia, 460 pages. Disney Hyperion, 2024. $18 

Language: G (3 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (bullying, physically fighting, peril, danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After trouble at home in North Carolina, 12yo Jax Freeman is sent to Chicago to live with his grandmother and uncle. Almost immediately, he begins seeing strange things—and soon discovers he’s a summoner, descended from a long line of them. Thrown into a new school, Jax meets friends who share similar magical abilities and begins a crash course in his hidden heritage. But Chicago has its own problems. One of his new friends goes missing, the city’s five magical families are locked in bitter feuds, and the Freeman name has carried blame and suspicion for generations. Young and inexperienced, Jax and his friends must risk everything to find their missing friend, mend the rift between the families, and clear his family’s name once and for all.

A lot is happening here—between the world-building, the history of the magic, and the heritage behind it all, it was sometimes a lot to keep track of. That said, the magical adventure itself was great. Jax is a strong character; he makes mistakes, but he handles the chaos around him with humor, which makes him easy to root for. I enjoyed all of the train references and history. Now that this book has laid much of the groundwork, I think the second installment will be easier to follow. Some parts were explained in detail, while others felt a bit glossed over, but overall, it set up an intriguing start to the series. All of the characters are Black.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian 

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley - ADVISABLE

Severe and Unusual Weather by Jessie Ann Foley, 272 pages. Harper Collins, 2025. $20

Content: PG (bullying)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL; MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Back in 2011, a freak tornado hit a trailer park in Centralia, Illinois, killing four. Francis was only a baby at the time - he survived, but not his mother. 12yo Natalie has just moved to Centralia to live with Grandma while her mom is in drug rehab. She wants to keep her head low, but can;t keep quiet when she sees how the others at school relentlessly bully Francis. It is Centralia’s bicentennial, and their class has been ordered to make history projects - Francis and Natalie pair up to research the tornado, but someone has secrets and they don’t want the tornado scrutinized. The enemy will take drastic measures to ensure their secrets stay hidden, but Natalie and Francis also have friends who are willing to help them succeed. 

Foley adds a touch of magical realism to her story, which I am not going to give away. I love Natalie’s bravery and the adults who rallied around to help her.  Francis is not as brave, but also realistic.

The characters cue white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan - ADVISABLE

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, Terry Fan and Eric Fan, 272 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL (K-3), EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Toasty the goldfish may be Jillian’s only pet, but Ivy is also the beloved houseplant. Toasty has pride of place in a beautiful octagonal fish tank, an antique found by Jillian’s parents, who are antique dealers whose storefront is barely holding on. Then arrives Arthur, a spider with a broken leg, and then Ollie, another houseplant! None of these new housemates realize how special they are - or how special the water from Toasty’s magical fishtank makes them - until they need to band together to save the Tuppers from a mysterious man with nefarious purposes. 

Listening to the plants and animals interact is a hoot. If I taught 2nd or 3rd grade I’d read this aloud to my class for fun. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Home For Unusual Monsters by Shaun David Hutchinson - ADVISABLE

A Home For Unusual Monsters (Kairos Files #2) by Shaun David Hutchinson, 288 pages. Random House, 2025. $18

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

With her ability to make others see her as she wants them too, Sam could be an excellent agent for Kairos - a secret agency that investigates mysterious happenings. Sam has been sent to the Griffin family, where the grandfather, Archie, a former Kairos agent, has recently passed away. Archie supposedly kept of monsters hidden all over the world and Kairos wants that list before someone else finds it. But as Sam looks for the list, she also learns what being part of a family could be, and she wants to investigate the strange family next door, even though she;’s been told not to. 

You don’t need to read the first book in the series to follow number two - I had no idea there was a  book #1. The cover is more appealing to upper elementary than true middle school readers, but the action will be satisfying for those that pick it up. I never caught a definitive age for Sam, but this being middle grade, she’s probably 12.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto - ADVISABLE

The Last Hope School for Magical Delinquents by Nicki Pau Preto, 345 pages. Viking (Penguin), 2024. $19

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

With frequently absent parents, 12yo Lavinia (Vin) Lucas has been going to different magical boarding schools, but has been kicked out of everyone when chaos erupts around her as she loses control of her powers - even though she doesn't know exactly what those powers are.  Her last hope, before she is kicked out of the wizarding community, is the Last Chance Academy. Vin really wants to make this school work: she has made some tentative friendships and she may have found a teacher who understands her powers.  But chaos is still following her - it might be her powers, but some of it may also be a malicious wizard using Vin to his own ends.

I love a good wizard school book - all the way back to Jane Yolen’s Wizard’s Hall - and Pau Preto rises to the challenge. The adventure is fast paced, with early hints for the reader to know and the characters to find out.  Also includes a great epilogue, setting up the sequel. The characters read white, which is a little disappointing - I would have loved to see a little variety from different world magic systems.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Age of Enchantment (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1) by Anna James - ADVISABLE

The Age of Enchantment (Chronicles of Whetherwhy #1) by Anna James, 282 pages. Penguin, 2024. $10 (pb)

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Spring Ember Day arrives - time for all 13yo’s to have their enchantment affinity tested - and Juniper shows an affinity for all four seasons - making her an enchanter.  Which means she is off to Thistledown Academy to learn to use her powers responsibly - though it means leaving behind her family, especially her twin, Rafferty. Rafferty follows her, unknowingly putting himself into the path of a secret society which has found a way to steal and use the powers of enchanters like his sister. 

Anna James has started another exciting fantasy series! I was drawn into the story, so I spent more time at each sitting than I originally thought I would - very pleased. I’m happy to add this and recommend it  to my fantasy lovers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer - ADVISABLE

Kwame Crashes the Underworld by Craig Kofi Farmer, 335 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $18. 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

12yo Kwame is about to go on a trip to Ghana. His grandmother recently passed away and his family is going to her celebration of life, but he's reluctant. He is choosing to not address his grief and is trying to get out of the trip. But, the night before he is to go, he's staying over at his friend's house when suddenly, they are attacked by an aboatia, a whistling monkey like mythical creature. It steals his dashiki (a shirt his grandmother made him) and he and his friend Amber chase it until they fall into another world - a world where Kwame discovers he is a "shard of mother earth" and a special one - tasked with saving the world. 

Full of adventure, monsters, gods and culture, Kwame Crashes the Underworld was an exciting read. Kwame learns about where he came from, builds a respect for his grandmother's culture and fights a bunch of demons and monsters. Amber is hearing impaired and even with no special powers (Kwame has a cool magical sword) she holds her own against them as well. There are a lot of these mythical books in so many cultures, this one contains a glossary. Kwame is African American Ghanan, Amber is Afro Korean 

Lisa Librarian 

The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver #1) by Vanessa Le - ADVISABLE

 

The Last Bloodcarver (The Last Bloodcarver #1) by Vanessa Le, 384 pages. Roaring Brook Press (Macmillan), 2024. $20.

Language: PG-13 (17 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody violence - stabbing, gunshot wounds)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

18yo Nikha is a heartsooth, a person with abilities to heal themselves and others. When she finishes healing a person as requested, the man turns her in and calls the Butchers. They cage her and take bids from buyers that visit her cage. She’s sold to a young woman, Mimi Congmi,  who offers a huge amount of money for Nikhai. They travel to the Congmi manor where Nikha is asked to heal Hendon, the only witness to Mimi’s father’s death. Mimi and her brother believe he was murdered. When Nikha heals Hendon, the information he offers throws them all into a whirlwind of danger and deception.

The mystery grabbed my full attention. The world building and character development brought the story to life. I enjoyed learning about Nikha’s background.

Nikha has golden brown skin. Nikha’s grandmother has skin a shade darker than hers. The Congmi family has pale, rosy skin.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake by Michael Witwer - OPTIONAL

Vivian Van Tassel and the Secret of Midnight Lake by Michael Witwer, 368 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2023. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo (13yo?) Vivian and her father have returned to Vivian’s mother’s hometown of Midnight Lake to start over. While her father seems to fail at every DIY project he attempts, Vivian is dealing with her anger over the move and life in general. RIght the mean girls at school have it out for her.  The only place she seems to fit is with the Beasts and Battlements group that meets under the stairs in a hidden alcove. Strange happenings are afoot.  As Vivian researches the history of the middle school, which is built in the old sanitorium,  for an assignment, she discovers that whoever created B and B, seems to know all about the mysterious creatures that were described by the inhabitants of the sanitorium.  It may be that Vivian, with some help from her new friends, may be the answer to an old prophecy.

Witwer tries really hard to create a new teen savior character for a  new generation.  In fact, Vivian herself mentions HP as often as she possibly can.  I only found it to be extremely annoying. At least Vivian is more competent than HP! Only purchase if you have a large, steady stream of fantasy readers.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz - ADVISABLE

The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines by Mo Netz, 208 pages. Harper, 2024. $19

Content: PG (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

11yo Jerry and her mom have just arrived at the latest of a string of temporary homes - this one at a motel right next to a creepy wood with a disturbing past - a lot of people have disappeared over the years within it. Jerry may be confined to a wheelchair, but that doesn’t keep her from doing everything she wants - including investigating a midnight only radio station and diving in when her own mother seems to be the latest victim of the woods. With the help of Chapel, a new friend who also lives at the motel, and with the encouragement, Jerry’s imaginary pocket-sized dragon companion, Jerry will plunge into the woods - for better or worse.

A bit ghost story, a bit evil trolls, and plenty of magic and fortuitous happenings. I like that Jerry;s wheelchair is never ignored - but she is VERY GOOD at maneuvering it as she wants to. Lots of magic creatures and happenings - but the bit of ghosts brings it to another level.

Jerry is white, Chapel is Black. I listened to the audiobook provided by libro.fm, which was narrated by Hope Newhouse.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar, Elizabeth Builes, and Sara Lissa Paulson - OPTIONAL

Johnny, the Sea, and Me by Melba Escobar, Elizabeth Builes, and Sara Lissa Paulson, 124 pages. Enchanted Lion, 2024. $17. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G Violence: PG (Pirate talk, story about an earring in soup because of a pirate's missing ear) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

10yo Pedro is so excited - his mother is taking him to see the ocean! They are flying to an island in the Caribbean, where he expects the water to be beautiful and to see ocean life he cannot see in Columbia. But when he arrives, and his mother tells him some bad news, Pedro runs, and runs and runs, until he is lost far down the beach. He is discovered by an old man who takes him to his shanty, feeds him dinner and lets him stay the night, where he hears stories of Prirates and adventure, and experiences some adventure of his own. 

Originally published in Spanish, and a Batchelder Honor for 2025, Johnny the Sea and Me contains illustrations, and short chapters. There's an element of magic, both with the old man as well as with Pedro. I wasn't impressed, however, and there were some questionable decisions made by Johnny - like should a lost 10yo willingly go home with a stranger. Johnny and his mother are Columbian. 

Lisa Librarian 

Your Blood My Bones by Kelly Andrew - OPTIONAL

Your Blood My Bones by Kelly Andrew, 356 pages. Scholastic Press, 2024. $13.

Language: R (22 swears, 6 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (some kissing, one passionate kiss that is interupted); Violence: PG-13 (Animal death, blood, violence, poisoning, cults, bones, murders, gore, paranormal activity)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After learning of her father's death and that she is the last surviving Westlock heir, 18yo Wyatt returns to her childhood home intending to burn it to the ground. It has been five years since she was last at the farm.  But before she burns it down, she finds that her childhood best friend Peter is chained in the basement. After freeing Peter she begins to piece together what was happening at the farm during her childhood all without her knowledge and understanding. Peter, semi-immortal, has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths at the hands of a cult who were attempting to create wards to keep hell contained. And her father was the steward at the center of it all. Peter knows that the only way to free himself is to kill Wyatt and end the Westlock line. Reluctantly Peter and Wyatt work together as Wyatt learns to use her inherited powers from her alchemist father and witch mother to rebuild the spells and protect the world from the darkness that lives in the forest.

The author's prose is beautiful. The suspense is just right.  Her descriptions are rich and vivid. I was quickly immersed in the world she created. If you are looking for an addition to your horror section, I would recommend this book.

Wyatt, Peter and James are white.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

We Do Not Welcome our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix, - OPTIONAL

We Do Not Welcome our Ten-Year-Old Overlord by Garth Nix, 240 pages. Scholastic, 2024. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Kim knows that his 10yo sister Eila is smarter than  he is, but that doesn’t mean she is always right.  She should have left the glowing orb alone like he told her to. Now Eila seems more insufferable than usual, thanks to Aster (the orb has a name) and Kim is almost sure it has something to do with that orb. With the help of his best friend, Bennie, Kim hopes that he can for once outsmart his sister and save Earth in the bargain..

A mildly interesting/funny scifi book.  Eila was irritating from the first page, but I like Kim.  I think this was set in the 1970s, but the setting didn’t really play into the plot, except for the lack of technology simplifying the action. Might be worth it in paperback.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

World’s Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady - OPTIONAL

World’s Worst Time Machine by Dustin Brady, 192 pages. Andrews McMeel, 2023. 

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

5th grader Liam meant to summon Thomas Edison with the janky time machine.  Instead, he gets a different Thomas Edison - Tommy Twinkles from 1933, who is much more interested in robbing banks than helping Liam find a way to send him back. Maybe Elsa, Liam’s super smart friend can help Liam out of this jam.

For boys with short attention spans who like absurd premises.  Kind of an elementary version of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventures (for us old people who remember it). Buy it based on how fondly you remember that movie. The characters default to white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

New Powers Every 24 Hours (The Stupendous Switcheroo #1) by Mary Winn Heider and Chad Sell - ESSENTIAL

New Powers Every 24 Hours (The Stupendous Switcheroo #1) by Mary Winn Heider and Chad Sell. DOODLEBOOK. Alfred A. Knopf (Random), 2023. $14. 9780593427309

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO:MANY

Switcheroo wakes up one morning to find he has the superpower of telekinesis. He is so excited. He immediately wants to contact his hero, Vin Valor, and ask to be his sidekick. Switch's mom is away on a business trip and he has a robot for a babysitter. He slips out of the house to take on a supervillain to impress Vin Valor. Things don't go quite as planned. Then Switch finds that he wakes up every morning with a different superpower, some more useful than others. Switch tries to contact his mom and after several days decides something is very wrong. Together with some new unlikely friends, Switch works out a plan to find and save his mom.

A great superhero adventure chapter book that is enhanced by short, comic-style drawings mixed in with the text. It is fun to imagine having a new superpower every day.  The story is funny, fast-paced and entertaining. It will appeal to reluctant and avid readers alike. It ends on a cliffhanger so be sure to have all the books in the series on your shelf.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon - ADVISABLE

The Secret Library by Kekla Magoon, 373 pages. Candlewick, 2024. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

11yo Dally receives an unusual inheritance from her grandfather, the knowledge of a Secret Library. Although everyone (even her grandfather) would like her to wait until she's older, Dally finds the library and discovers it's not just a secret, it's a library of secrets - Family Secrets. 

I enjoyed the story. Dally discovers her family history is full of secrets, including pirates! I loved that she didn't read about the secrets, but that she experienced them. Magoon does a great job reconciling the secret scenes so it doesn't mess up the future. I appreciated the family tree at the end so we could put everyone in perspective. I'm not sure the intended audience has the background knowledge to fully understand the slavery and civil rights, which won't take away from their enjoyment of the book, but might not adequately deliver the author's intent. Dally is black 

Lisa Librarian 

Like a Boss by Sarah Mlynowski, Hena Khan and Jennifer Bricking - ADVISABLE

Like a Boss (Best Wishes #4) by Sarah Mlynowski and Hena Khan, illustrated by Jennifer Bricking, 192 pages. Scholastic, 2024. $17. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

5th grader Maya Amir is the next recipient of the magical bracelet. She really wanted to be the president of the environmental club, but when her best friend Hazel stepped up and volunteered, Maya didn't want to run against her. But Hazel wanted to plan posters that included a bunch of glitter and plastic and disregarded Maya's idea to recycle. If only Maya was the boss!  But, of course her wish comes true, but being the boss (of everything) isn't what she wanted. 

AJ and I have loved this series. It's fun to anticipate the problems. We love that the girls from the other stories are available for Maya to bounce ideas off of, and to be a support when things get bad. Lots of real environmental ideas as well. We especially loved Maya's grandmother Dadi - she's wise and funny. 

Maya and her family are Pakistani-American. 

Lisa Librarian and AJ (age 8)