The Crime Brûlée Bake Off by Rebecca Connolly - ADVISABLE

The Crime Brûlée Bake Off (Claire Walker #1) by Rebecca Connolly, 320 pages. Shadow Mountain Publishing, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: HS, ADULT - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Claire is a teacher first and a hobbyist baker on the side—until she is accepted as a contestant on the upcoming season of Britain's Battle of the Bakers. Despite her anxiety over the competition aspect of the show, Claire goes. But she never expected the competition to turn deadly.

Though an average murder mystery, I enjoyed the characters and the baking competition aspects of the story. The murder itself was carried out in a brilliant way; however, I found the explanation in the end to be lacking, as if it was only half of the explanation. The suspicious activity mystery on the baking show side of things kept me engaged, and the romantic side plot was adorable. Overall, Claire’s story is fun and well-written.

The majority of characters are British; Alan is Scottish. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, illegal activity, and kissing. The violence rating is for corpses, assault, murder, and mentions of suicide.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All by Chanel Miller - ADVISABLE

Magnolia Wu Unfolds it All by Chanel Miller, 145 pages. Philomel (Penguin), 2024. $18.

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: G (mention of raging father and difficult parents)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

9yo Magnolia lives with her parents in an apartment above the Laundromat they own in New York City.  Her life revolves around the Laundromat, especially in the summer when she's not at school. She collects the "lost socks" and pins them to a bulletin board, but when no one claims any of them, her new friend Iris suggests they become Sock Detectives and  try to return the socks themselves.

I loved the premise, but I didn't expect all the great lessons the girls learned about what happens when you get to know someone and the surprising and interesting things they don't share until you do. I loved the community created by a laundromat. Magnolia's parents are Chinese immigrants.

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

Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia - OPTIONAL:

Mystery Royale by Kaitlyn Cavalancia, 400 pages. Disney, 2025. $19

Language: R (86 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

16yo Mullory feels alone and helpless. Her mother left her to take care of her terminally ill grandmother, leaving her with this warning, “Run if the strange finds you”. She starts receiving letters and doesn’t want to open them but when Elliot, a family services worker, arrives and tells her he’s checking in on Mullory and her Gran and seeing how difficult their situation is, might have a solution to help them. Elliot tells Mullory to open the letters. Inside is an invitation to Stoutmire Estate to participate in a game of mystery to win an inheritance. When she arrives at the estate, Mullory discovers that Elliott is actually Edwin and serves the estate owner, Xavier Stoutmire. Then things become more strange because a murder has been committed and a game has been created by the deceased that’s outlined in the will. The players must unravel the mystery with magical clues, riddles and illusions full of danger. 

The book is definitely written for YA with the quips and easy crushes. I like how the author added literary quotes to broaden the impact. Flashbacks are sprinkled throughout the story as echoes that the characters can see. The author created an eclectic mix of characters.

The ethnicity is predominantly white.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Skyshade by Alex Aster - OPTIONAL

Skyshade (Lightlark #3) by Alex Aster, 384 pages. Harry N. Abrams, 2024. $14

Language: PG (7 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (on page sex); Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS -  OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

20yo Isla struggles with leaving Oro behind but knows it's best for the sake of Lightlark. She’s still angry with Grim for erasing her memories, but odd and destructive incidents help them work together to save the realms. Isla discovers a feather that writes on its own, leading her to learn about skyres, items that hold soul pieces. Zealots are disguised and Isla begins trusting them. She also starts to think that she’s the person causing destruction. Is Isla the traitor?

I like the mystery surrounding the unknown traitor who is wreaking havoc. I don’t really feel that Isla loves Oro as she loves Grim, who seems to be her soulmate. I enjoyed the author’s world building.

Isla has tanned skin, Oro is golden.Others have light brown skin and white skin. 

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman - MANY

All Better Now by Neal Shusterman, 528 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2025. $22.

Language: R (94 swears, 6 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Rón (16yo) wants to believe that Crown Royale, the latest virus, really leaves survivors happier because he needs that in his life. Morgan (19yo) wants nothing to do with the virus—until a wealthy patron offers to hand over her entire fortune if Morgan will fight against it spreading. Mariel doesn’t know what to think; she just wants to survive another day of living with her mom out of their car. Though they don’t yet know it, these three teenagers will affect the future of Crown Royale all over the world.

In Shusterman’s version of the future, Crown Royale comes after coronavirus. The various points of view from all over the world share different perspectives on whether the new virus is good or bad and why they believe that. Rón’s, Mariel’s, and Morgan’s stories invite readers to step into a new space to discuss concerns about viruses and vaccines that allows them to ask questions from new points of view and with new vocabulary. On top of that, the story itself is engaging and surprising. I look forward to the sequel.

Rón is described as having “brown” skin, Morgan is Eurasian, and Mariel is implied White. The mature content rating is for illegal activity; alcohol use, including underage drinking; mentions of drugs, nudity, condoms, masturbation, sex, and rape; kissing; and innuendo. The violence rating is for assault, mentions of domestic and child abuse and war, gun use, bioterrorism, suicide, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

The Quest of Danger by Stuart Gibbs and Stacy Curtis - OPTIONAL

The Quest of Danger (Once Upon a Tim #4) by Stuart Gibbs, illustrated by Stacy Curtis, 162 pages. Simon & Schuster, 2023. $1. 9781665917476

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Tim, a knight in training, and his friends are saved from falling to their deaths only to be thrown into a new quest. King Neptuna needs help getting his trident back from the knights who stole it. On their journey they encounter vicious beasts, pirates and their nemesis, Prince Ruprecht.

The quest story was fun and well paced. I liked that big words were used and defined (referred to as IQ boosters in the book). The illustrations are great and add to the overall experience. 

The ages of the four main characters are not mentioned. The publisher lists the audience age as 7 to 10 and 4th to 6th grade. Throughout the book Princess Grace expressed her interest in and attraction to Belinda. This theme does not really fit for the target age or the quest theme and feels forced.

The ethnicity of the characters is not mentioned.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 by Rick McIntyre and David A Poulsen - ADVISABLE

The Unlikely Hero: The Story of Wolf 8 by Rick McIntyre and David A Poulsen, 114 pages. NON-FICTION. Greystone Kids, 2024. $19. 9781778400223

Content: PG (some wolves are killed in fights)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

The story of Wolf 8, one of the wolves reintroduced the Yellowstone National Park. Wolf 8 is the runt of the litter, often picked on by his siblings. But he shows great strength and wisdom as he grows. He meets another wolf and takes over raising her pups after the death of their father. Together they have adventures, excitement and family drama.

A very interesting book that follows the lives of a few of the wolves reintroduced to Yellowstone. The narrative style was engaging and easy to follow. It is easy to see parallels and connections between wolves and humans.

Reviewer: A. Snow, Librarian

Snoop by Gordon Korman - ADVISABLE

Snoop by Gordon Korman, 208 pages. Scholastic, JULY 2025. $19

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Carter is more interested in watching the latest viral video than keeping an eye on his younger brother Martin hurling down the ski slope.  Bad call - now Carter has two broken legs and nothing to do but play on his computer. Which leads him to hacking into the traffic cameras around town and then hacking into private businesses cameras, as he finds out that life in his dinky little town is more exciting than he ever thought. That can’t really be a red panda pawing through the garbage cans? Then Carter decides to borrow his mother’s drone that she uses for her professional photography - the static cameras just can’t show him the details he needs to crack the puzzles that his town is hiding.

Korman brings his signature humor and boy antics to his latest. Sure to be read by kids who have found Korman.  Includes a first love interest, a best friend in crime, and plenty of hijinks.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

I.R.L. by Jenny Goebel - ADVISABLE

I.R.L. by Jenny Goebel, 176 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $15

Content: G (tense with mild danger, ghosts)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

12yo Lucy moved to Alaska with her scientist mother in October and has been doing online school with her classmates, because of the icy, snowy danger. When school is supposed to be IRL, (in-person), all she finds is a burnt out husk of a building.  What is going on?  Then she stumbles upon the graveyard - each tombstone bearing the name of one of her classmates. Something sinister happens and something sinister wants Lucy! 

A nicely tense horror book with a believable (usually) plot - I loved the idea of ghosts using Zoom to go to school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen - OPTIONAL

One Wrong Step by Jennifer A. Nielsen, 336 pages. Scholastic, 2025. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ever since his mother succumbed to her cancer, 12yo Atlas has been homeschooled by his father, as they climb mountain peaks all over the world. This year, 1939, they have joined an expedition to Mount Everest - sure that their group can be the first proven to hit the summit. Tension between the group, the unpredictable weather on the mountain, and hazardous climbing conditions - danger abounds on the mountain and within Atlas’s own feelings. 

The weakest of Niesen’s books to date. Since it isn’t recounting a real historic climb of Everest, it doesn't fit into her normal retellings of actual events.  Atlas is so unreliable - scatter-brained and angry - I don’t believe he would have survived any of the camps along the route, let alone be able to pull off the heroics he purportedly does. Nielsen’s author’s note of this being a metaphor doesn’t make things better.  I probably won’t buy this unless it comes out in paperback.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee - OPTIONAL

Moonstorm by Yoon Ha Lee, 338 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2024. $20

Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f');  Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (death and fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

9yo Hwagin was a child living in a clanner settlement outside the Empire of New Joseon when her community was devastated by a brutal attack. Rescued by an Imperial soldier who promises the Empress's protection, she is taken in as a ward of the state. Six years later, now known as 15yo Hwa Young, she attends a military academy and dreams of piloting a neurolink mecha, fiercely loyal to the Empire that saved her. When she and her classmates are hastily recruited as lancer pilots to fill personnel shortages, she believes she is finally achieving her dream. However, as she faces the realities of war, she begins to uncover troubling truths about the Empire and its methods. Hints of deliberate separation from older mentors and the grim desperation of the war effort suggests deeper conspiracies that challenge her faith.

Moonstorm captured my attention right away.  I enjoyed getting to know the protagonist, Hwa Young, and following her journey from traumatized child to a loyal soldier. The world Lee created was both interesting and detailed with sociopolitical tension in the Empire of New Joseon and mecha warfare. I always question sending young adults into war and wonder how realistic that really is.  I understand in this book it was necessary because of the shortage of people, but I can't imagine a 15yo flying an aircraft in a battle type situation. Despite that, I thought this was a fast-paced and thrilling book.

All of the characters in this book are of Korean or East Asian descent.

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid - ADVISABLE

Actually Super by Adi Alsaid, 275 pages. Alfred A Knopf (Random), 2023. $19

Language: R (47 swears, 11 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (smoking pot, some kissing); Violence: PG (a body, deaths associated with natural disasters, no descriptions)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

Senior year for Sam, Chio and 18yo Isobel is fast approaching, but Isabel has decided to take her senior year off to hunt for superheroes. Yes, she knows how that sounds, but she isn’t looking for comic book superheroes. She is hoping to find real people with real super abilities who help others.  She has felt such despair since COVID and she doesn’t seem to be able to connect with her parents so she is desperate to find something that will convince her that the world isn’t evil. Sam, Chio and her parents don’t want her to go, but she has convinced them that she needs this, and she is 18, afterall.  With mixed feelings, they send her off with promises to keep in touch.  Sam and Chio also make her promise that she will meet up with them for spring break in Mexico. Nine months later, Sam and Chio are at the designated meeting place in Mexico, but where is Isabel?

Alsaid tells the story mostly from Isabel’s perspective looking for supers which included a lot of new people, places and experiences and it was hard to keep track of it all and to know which ones were important to the story.  I liked the chapters from Sam and Chio’s perspectives better, especially after they reached Mexico and I found the mystery of Isabel’s disappearance to be more interesting than looking for supers.  I think readers that struggled during the pandemic will connect with Isabel’s loneliness, despair and desire to find something more.  The end wrapped up so nicely,  and while I appreciated that, it seemed too easy, and not what I thought Isabel would do.

There are characters from around the world.

RB Librarian

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall - ADVISABLE

All the Water in the World by Eiren Caffall, 304 pages. St. Martin's Press, 2025. $26

Language: PG-13 (13 swears, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: G (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL  

13yo Nonie lives in the American Museum of Natural History in New York because of the immense hurricane and other intense storms that have swept over the world. When a huge flood hits the museum, Nonie leaves with her sister, 16yo Bix, their father and their family friend Keller. They are heading to their Aunt Clare’s house. On the way, they fight nature as the storms increase in strength, the wild and unknown. They try to stop for rest from the river and shelter from the rain but meet two men that only seem to want to harm them. Father gets shot, Bix also gets shot, and Keller gets pneumonia from jumping into the dirty river to rescue their boat from the strong currents. Will any of them survive?

The story has an interesting premise and dystopian plot. The author made the main characters flawed and relatable. I like that the story was carried on by hope, even when everything seemed lost.

The ethnicity is mixed.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

Darkly by Marisha Pessl - OPTIONAL

Darkly by Marisha Pessl, 416 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2024. $10

Language:  R (16 swears, 2 “f'); Mature Content: G (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (bloody death by shooting)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

High school junior Dia Gannon is applying for an internship at Darkly, once a game making enterprise, which has lain dormant since the owner died 39 years ago. 17yo Dia is suspicious of the internship announcement, because there’s no hidden clue, message or riddle, which is nothing like the owner Louisiana Veda who did everything mysteriously. Dia receives a letter announcing that she is one of the seven internship winners that have been chosen from across the globe and will be flying to London for the summer to complete the internship with the others. Dia meets Poe, the 17yo French winner, on the flight to London; Poe has a Darkly game inside a briefcase cuffed to his wrist. They meet the five other interns when they arrive at the boat that will take them to the Louisiana Veda factory near Thornwood, England. Dia feels deceptive vibes and she’s worried about what she’s gotten herself into.

I was immediately immersed in the story due to the voice of the main character. Dia is quirky, smart, and tough. The book was extremely interesting and unique and I couldn’t stop reading once I started.

The ethnicity is mixed with characters from around the world.

LynnDell Watson, DHS Librarian, Delta, Utah

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

Lady of Steel and Straw by Erica Rodgers - OPTIONAL

Lady of Steel and Straw (Waking Hearts #1) by Erica Rodgers, 432 pages. Holiday Hosue, 2024. $20

Language: R (90  swears, 5 “f”); Mature Content: ; Violence: PG-13 (bloody fights, some deaths)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Ten years ago, it was the immortal scarecrow Guardians who kept the royal house of Tristain safe.  Their ten years of exile are almost up and 18yo Charlotte is looking forward to greeting her family’s Guardian, the parson, Worth, again, and see her brother work in tandem with him.  Instead, her brother is murdered by the man of the cardinal Lorraine the Pure and now Charlotte, inexperienced and angry as she is, is the one bound to Worth.  And she has been commanded to turn over Worth’s heart for death. The few remaining Guardians and their allies have a plan to reclaim their prominence from the cardinal, but first they must plan and gather.  And keep out of sight of the Cardinal’s Watch.

I am unsure why the blurb bills this as a star-crossed romance, but the romance part, at least in #1,  is actually low key.  The betrayal is nicely taut and the deep ulterior motives and betrayals are much more interesting. I never felt very invested in Charlotte and the Guardians - as I was listening, I kept asking myself why I should care and should I really side with the Guardians - and I couldn’t make myself care that much. The characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators by Sherri L. Smith - OPTIONAL

American Wings: Chicago's Pioneering Black Aviators by Sherri L. Smith, 384 pages. NON-FICTION. Penguin, 2024. $20

Language: G (1 swears, 0  “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (mobs and beating mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

In the time between the wars, it felt like everyone wanted to learn to fly - and Blacks were no exception.  Except that the barriers for them were built from prejudices of the past centuries.  They weren't allowed access to airfields, they weren’t hired by aviation companies, they weren’t allowed to train as pilots for the military.  So they took matters in their own hands and some few of them built their own planes and taught themselves to fly anyways. Male or female it didn’t matter. 

I love that Smith shows us the Black aviation pioneers beyond the Tuskegee airmen, who were the only Black aviators I knew about.  Unfortunately, at almost 400 pages, this is a tome - too much information for most readers. Purchase only if it is a topic that is discussed in your schools - otherwise, I would get this as an audiobook for a shared collection. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Salt Thief by Neal Bascomb - OPTIONAL

The Salt Thief by Neal Bascomb, 272 pages. NON-FICTION. Scholastic, 2024. $19

Language: G (0 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG-13 (bloody deaths mentioned, lightly described)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

in 1930 India, Mohandas Gandhi decided that the British had ruled India long enough - it was time for self-determination.  In order to highlight the need, to draw international attention, and to force the hand of their British overlords, Gandhi decides to lead as large of a group that he can gather, tot eh seashore to gather salt - something that used to be freely available to all Indians, but now is strictly controlled by the British.  They expect resistance, perhaps even death for some of their number.

I was surprised that the book is only 272 pages long.  I listened to it and I felt like it dragged.  I felt like I walked every step with Gandhi myself. It did not, unfortunately, ignite a passion on the subject for me. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Dead Wednesday by Jerry Spinelli - ADVISABLE

Dead Wednesday by Jerry Spinelli, 240 pages. Random House 2021. $18

Content: G (student deaths mentioned, but no descriptions)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Dead Wednesday is the greatest!  The entire 8th grade is assigned the name of a student who died young and no one is allowed to talk to them all day - because of course, they are dead! Worm loves this idea.  However his day is kind of ruined, because his dead person, 17yo Becca who dies in a car crash, actually shows up, well her ghost does, and she follows him around all day - decidedly not ignoring Worm. Worm’s day will definitely change him.

Spinelli goes back to his storytelling roots here - Stargirl quality.  That being said, if a student picks this up expecting something silly, or something scary, they will be disappointed - lessons are learned and lives are changed instead. The characters default white.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS