Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung - ESSENTIAL

Saving H'Non: Chang and the Elephant by Trang Nguyen and Jeet Zdung, 128 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Dial Books FYR (Penguin), 2023. $14

Content: PG (Cruelty to animals mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Chang is a young Vietnamese girl that works hard to conserve and help abused animals. She comes across an Asian elephant that is injured and has been severely abused during her 60 or so years of life. Chang rescues the elephant and goes in search of a kind and compassionate caretaker, a mahout. 

Zdung’s illustrations are amazing! I loved learning about elephant rescuers and elephant sanctuaries. I could not put the book down and I have gone back and read it many more times. This book is truly a treasure that I think a lot of students, teachers and parents will also treasure. 

Ellen-Anita, Librarian

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson - OPTIONAL

Unhallowed Halls by Lili Wilkinson, 464 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2025. $20

Language: R (20 swears, 16 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (romantic kissing, mention of consensual sexual relations, sexual assault alluded to);Violence: R (on page: detailed bloody injury, stabbing, detailed description of people being killed by monsters, stabbing deaths, death by frostbite, violence to animals)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Page Whittaker is from Florida and has attended many schools as she has always struggled to fit in because of the strange and dangerous events that seem to happen when she is around. After one of these events, Page receives a scholarship offer from a boarding school in the Highlands of Scotland that caters to rich, intellectually gifted, troubled youngsters. This seems like the answer Page has been looking for. A place she can fit in with her love of reading and academics and with the strict discipline the school emphasizes, perhaps she can manage to control the darkness within. However, not long after arriving, Page starts to realize that her new school is full of secrets and the reason she has been brought there may be more about unleashing her darkness rather than controlling it.

Intriguing premise that steadily devolves in the second half. A world with magic, but no clear magic system. Too little world building with too much frenzied action. Lack of character development leaves the reader feeling as though they are being held at a distance and left unable to connect with anyone in the story. Many scenes with bizarre and convoluted happenings that are hard to follow or feel invested in. 

Reviewer: AEB

Written in the Stars by Lee Heart, - OPTIONAL

Written in the Stars by Lee Heart, 129 pages. Simon, 2025. $18 (hc); $8 (pb)

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Quinn is so excited to get back to the normalcy of summer camp - with her Dad dying unexpectedly, this has been a tough year. She is excited to be bunkmates with her two best friends, but one of the new girls has a major chip on her shoulder and a bad attitude that starts spreading to others. Also, a very cute British boy has entered the picture - could Quinn like him and maybe he likes her too?

Heart and the new Spotlight Sprinkles series gives us a very early, mild introduction into first crushes. In this title the drama between different friends was more interesting than the crush part.  I did like, however, that lightness - 12 year olds do not need to be thinking about long term romance!

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Last Bookstore On Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold - NOT RECOMMENDED

The Last Bookstore on Earth by Lily Braun-Arnold, 320 pgs. Delacorte Press, 2025. $20

Language: R (60 swears, 3 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (romantic kissing); Violence: R (on page: detailed bloody injury, stabbing, threat with a gun, detailed description of people being melted by acid rain, bloody knife fight, murder by acid rain, stabbing death).

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS-NO

AUDIENCE APPEAL: SOME

Elizabeth survived The Storm and has taken refuge in her former workplace, a bookstore in suburban New Jersey. Every day is a fight for survival as she trades books for supplies and relies on her infrequent visitors for news of the outside world. One day, a visitor brings the unwelcome news that another Storm is on its way. As Liz panics about how to prepare for the incoming disaster, Maeve shows up with knowledge of how to fix the desperately needed repairs for the shop if Liz will just let her stay. As feelings develop between them, questions remain. Who is this surly stranger? Can she be trusted to help Liz? What secrets are both holding back that could threaten their fragile alliance and ultimate survival?

Intriguing premise that was executed poorly. In a post-apocalyptic world, characters react in ways that defy logic and create unnecessary conflict and tragedy. Non-existent world building leads to reader confusion that distracts from the narrative and creates a frustratingly absurd story.

Reviewer: AEB

Huda F Wants to Know? by Huda Fahmy - ESSENTIAL

Huda F Wants to Know? (Huda F #3) by Huda Fahmy, 209 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Penguin Teen, 2025. $18 (pb).

Content: G (some talk of mental health, back matter contains info about suicide hotlines)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

Huda’s life has just been flipped on its head - her parents are getting a divorce???!!! Huda’s grades are already tanking because she’s  more interested in a boy than doing school work, but now she has no chance. Then she has a fight with her best friend, and they aren’t speaking to each other.  Huda needs help, but admitting you need a professional to talk to is frowned upon.

Huda’s life in her junior year tackles deeper topics - though everything is handled with care. I love the look into life as Muslim - Utah has so little to experience. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sole Survivor by Norman Ollestad and Brendan Kiely - ADVISABLE

Sole Survivor by Norman Ollestad and Brendan Kiely, 272 pages. MEMOIR. Farrar Straus Giroux, OCTOBER 2025. $20

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG (mention of abusive stepfather); Violence: PG (3 deaths of plane crash, blood mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

11yo Norman is anxious to get back to Big Bear to accept his award for the ski championship. Their small private plane takes him, his dad, and Dad’s girlfriend from Malibu, but when they hit bad weather, the plane goes down, killing the pilot and Norman’s dad.  Norman will have to rely on himself to perhaps get himself and Sandra off the mountain.

I think kids will love Norman’s true life survival adventure. Norman recounts all of the ways his dad forced him into dangerous situations in all kinds of outdoor adventures, such as surfing or skiing during storms. As an adult, I think Norman’s father was a daredevil fool who could have lost his parental rights for child endangerment in the present day. I do like the afterword where Norman confronts his dangerous, spiraling behavior before he completely crashes out of life. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt - ADVISABLE

Exit Nowhere by Juliana Brandt, 309 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2024. $18.

Content: G (ghosts, mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Since her best friend deserted her, Barret Eloise has become withdrawn from the school social scene - only surfacing to answer every teachers’ questions correctly to show off her one skill.  Forced into a group project with sadi former best friend, the school sport star, and the also smart Wayne, the quartet decide to investigate the Rathfield Manor - the local haunted house, where it is said people disappear. Now they are locked inside and tormented by the ghost of a young boy, who dares them to try to win his games. 

Brandt gives us a good game-based ghost story, but adds depth with Barrett Eloise’s insecurities, while also giving her the tools she needs to grow more depth.  Also, the solution to the haunting problem is its own layer - not just an evil spirit out to kill everyone. In fact, I am very impressed by other small details that Brandt nurtures into the overall story.

The characters are white, with one African American. One character has two dads.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie - ESSENTIAL

Impossible Creatures by Katherine Rundell, art by Ashley MacKenzie, 368 pages. Random House, 2023. $20. 

Language: PG (2 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (creature violence, threats of being eaten, terrible injuries, fights with knives and swords, a murderer, deaths, talk of blood - seems like a lot buts it's not gory or excessive or even gross) 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: MANY 

It's very difficult to write a short summary of a story so beautiful and complex, so please excuse my very limited review. Mal and Christopher are children, Mal has a special coat that helps her to fly. She lives in the Archipelago which is like a animal preserve for magical creatures. Christopher's grandfather is the guardian, who watches the regular world side of the entrance to the Archipelago and protects it. Christopher will be Guardian some day, as was his mother. But then Christopher notices an injured Griffen near the lake, and Mal comes looking for help. The 2 children head to the Archipelago together to avoid a murderer, and try to stop whatever is killing the last magical place on earth. 

I have heard about this book for more than a year - the hype is correct, it's wonderful! An amazing adventure for a couple of brave and determined kids, who get just enough help to protect them, but not so much that they aren't the heroes. So many magical creatures, many I remember from the stories of my childhood, but many more as well. I appreciated the Bestiary at the end, with descriptions and illustrations of the impossible creatures. It is a bit violent, but not graphic or bloody - yes there are some life threatening injuries, and deaths of people and creatures we care about and a horrible villain, but upper elementary and middle school readers are going to love this. I have a couple of copies in my library already and it will be my gift of choice to the younger teens who want a book for their birthday. Christopher and Mal are white. 

Lisa Librarian 

All Ears by Stuart Gibbs - ESSENTIAL

All Ears (funjungle #9) by Stuart Gibbs, 306 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2025. $18.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ESSENTIAL

APPEALS TO: MANY

13yo Teddy’s detective plate is very full.  Someone is stealing valuable pure deer urine from a local sanctuary, his best friend Xavier has been accused of vandalizing a construction site, and an elephant has been stolen from a different sanctuary and Teddy is sure that it is going to be used in an illegal hunt.  Summer has jumped all in to help him, but time is short and plenty of red herrings are standing in the way of finding the true villains.

Gibbs does such a great job of weaving together the complexities of endangered animal conservation, zoo controversies, and even environmental concerns into his plots without feeling heavy handed or preachy. This particular is is complicated, but involves Teddy’s signature detective work and strokes of insightful brilliance.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson, fine art by Ekua Holmes - ADVISABLE

Black Girl You Are Atlas by Renee Watson, fine art by Ekua Holmes, 96 pages. Penguin, 2024. $19. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Black Girl You Are Altas is a collection of poems by Renee Watson celebrating black girls and women. 

A few autobiographical prose sections - which still read like poetry because Renee Watson is such a talented poet - about being 7, 13 and 16. As I read, I found myself re-reading certain poems and reflecting on my own experiences. Gorgeous illustrations by Ekua Holmes highlight many of the poems and make this short collection a great addition to your poetry section, and also a wonderful gift. 

Lisa Librarian

Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce

Song of the Lioness by Tamora Pierce, 251 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. Abrams Fanfare (ABRAMS), 2025. $18.

Language: PG (1 swear, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: MANY

When Alanna (11yo) and her twin brother, Thom, are sent away by their father to become a court lady and a knight, respectively, neither are happy. So they switch places. Thom goes into training to become a sorcerer in the City of the Gods, and Alanna cuts her hair and calls herself Alan in order to be a page in training to become a knight.

While Alanna struggles with the long road to become who she wants to be, she perseveres, showing readers that victory is about more than magic and inherent talent. Alanna’s story captured me when I was her age, and reading this graphic novel version has brought it to life again for me—it even cleared up some confusion I didn’t realize I still had from when I read the series before. I loved how the illustrations enhanced my visualization of the action sequences and of the castles and world Pierce described.

Characters of various skin tones are depicted throughout the book. The mature content rating is for alcohol use, mild scary elements, mild innuendo, and partial nudity. The violence rating is for assault, war, death, and fantasy violence.

Reviewer: Carolina Herdegen

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo - PUBLIC ONLY

Not Like Other Girls by Meredith Adamo, 448 pages. Bloomsbury, 2024. $20.

Language: R (100+ swears, 100+ F's); Mature Content: R (sexual content, sexual language); Violence: R (sexual assault, kidnapping) 

BUYING ADVISORY: NEW ADULT - PUBLIC ONLY

APPEALS TO: SOME 

17yo Jo-Lynn had a confrontation with a boy at a beach bonfire, his response, revenge porn - he sent her nudes (stolen from her phone) to his contacts. Suddenly she went from popular to pariah. The girls all stepped away from her, the boys thought she was easy, and acted on it. She spiraled at school.  Then, her ex-best friend Maddie disappears - some say she ran away, others that she's dead. Maddie had been awful to Jo, but the day she disappeared, Maddie had told Jo she was in trouble and needed her help. Was this a set up, or could Jo figure out what really happened? 

This debut novel is a Morris award winner. An intriguing mystery with a lot going on. A school cheating scandal, academic rankings drama, college acceptance, mentors, mean girls, mean boys, as well as family drama. Jo starts fake dating Hudson, (his suggestion to help her get back in with the popular crowd) and the relationship grows and becomes physical. The sexual content is also a lot, I would describe it as explicit, and there's not a nice build to it either - it doesn't feel romantic, also there are several scenes. While the intended audience is high school, I would suggest New Adult as a more appropriate audience. Characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian 

Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos by Alex Evanovich - NO

Keeper Chance and the Conundrum of Chaos by Alex Evanovich, 336 pages. Simon and Schuster, 2024. $19.

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

BUYING ADVISORY: NO

APPEALS TO: SOME

Keeper Chance has perfected the art of lying low - until he comes to the attention of the local chapter of EVIL (Evil Villains International League). The new recruits first mission is to steal cookies, but the whole thing rapidly becomes much more complicated. 

Super weird that Keeper and the other recruits can drive, but I feel as if mentally they are 12 years old. I would suggest your students read Mark Walden’s HIVE, with Otto and his friends instead.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Boys I Know by Anna Gracia - NO

Boys I Know by Anna Gracia, 352 pages. Candlewick, 2023. $18

Language: R (100+ swears, 1  “f”); Mature Content: R (on page descriptive sex, drinking, drug use); Violence: G

BUYING ADVISORY: NO

APPEALS TO: SOME

High school senior June Chu has nothing figured out.  Her life has been decided by her over-bearing Asian mom.  Every boy she seems to want and every sexual experience she has ends badly. June can’t even seems to keep her relationships with her best girlfriends. As senior year swiftly moves a close, June will have to break out and make choices, real choices, for herself, or let the rest of her life be someone else’s choice.

The first 75% of the book is a boy-centric mess.  I wasn’t invested in June as a person until the last 25%, which is not a great recommendation.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman - OPTIONAL

The Enemy’s Daughter by Anne Blankman, 288 pages. Penguin, 2025. $19

Content: PG (dead bodies mentioned as the ship sinks)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

In 1915, 12yo Marta and her father used false papers to board the Luisitania to hurry home to Germany to persuade Marta’s brother not to join the German army during WWI. Just as her father’s deception is discovered, the boat is hit by German torpedoes - sending it to the bottom of the ocean. Marta and her father barely survive, but while he is dragged off as a prisoner, Marta is left to find her own way home.  In enemy territory.  She is taken in by a Irish family living in London, but she knows if anyone kearns her true nationality, she will become an outcast and a target.

The potential is there for an exciting book, and the beginning is pretty great.  Once Marta settles in London, however, it drags and drags.  I get that the point is for Marta (and us) to learn that whom we are at war with isn’t necessarily our enemy, but since Marta has to flee when everyone turns on her, the point is not made. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong - OPTIONAL

The Secret Dead Club by Karen Strong, 240 pages. Simon , 2024. $18

Content: PG (talk of evil spirits)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Wednesday and her mom have moved to Arizona to the house that Mom grew-up in. Ever since Wednesday had a run-in with an evil spirit, she and her mom realized that they need the safety of the family home, which is protected by a spirit from the family who built the house. Wednesday falls in with Miki and Danni-Lynn, two girls who believe in ghosts, but can’t see them. They convince Wednesday to act as their medium to contact their friend Violet who passed away almost a year ago - and who they know is still in her old house. 

Lots of talks of ghosts and evil spirits.  Wednesday’s family has inherited ghost powers, so they know what can happen.  The girls as a group are kind of pushy to Wednesday and their club seems annoyingly formal (though remember having a similar, not ghost related club, at the same age, but ours feel apart as a club pretty fast). Anyway. A little spooky, a little girl drama. 

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 

Wicked Darlings by Jordyn Taylor - OPTIONAL

Wicked Darlings by Jordyn Taylor, 271 pages. Delacorte Press (Random House), 2025. $20

Language: R (100+ swears, 41 ‘f'); Mature Content: R (off page sex, kissing and making out mentioned, some drug use, underage drinking, drunk driving); Violence: PG-13 (car crash, some blood mentioned, attempted assault, fighting)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

18yo Noa is getting ready to graduate and can’t believe it’s been a year since her sister, Leah, took her life.  Everyone is still grieving, and it seems impossible to move forward because her feelings for her sister are complicated.  Before she died, Noa was jealous of everything about her.  Now she is gone and Noa is sad, but also relieved.  What kind of person does that make her?  When Noa finds Leah’s cellphone, she starts reading all her texts and is surprised by what she finds.  Things aren’t adding up and Noa begins to wonder if  something happened to Leah.  Noa had plans to visit New York over the summer, but decides to go early to see what she can find out about her sister’s life.  But to do so she has to find a way to meet the people in Leah’s life and get them to trust her.  How else will she find out if one of them killed her sister?

I like a good mystery and I was hoping this one would put me on the edge of my seat, but unfortunately that didn’t happen.  While it had promise, there wasn’t enough depth to the story. It moved fast, but didn’t give the time to get to know and understand the characters and their motivations. Also I was surprised at how easily Noa worked her way into these wealthy, elite circles and how they welcomed her with open arms.  I did appreciate Leah’s death being resolved and that Noa seemed to make a genuine friend. While your mystery lovers will be drawn to the cover, the quick read, and may leave satisfied, I wish it had a little more to it.

The author describes her characters with a variety of skin color, genders and sexual orientation. RB - librarian

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot - ADVISABLE

Navigating with You by Jeremy Whitley, Cassio Ribero and Mikki Foxrobot, 220 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Maverick (Mad Cave), 2024. $15. 

Language: PG (13 swears); Mature Content: PG13 (Kissing on a bed); Violence: PG (Manga violence - illustrations) 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SOME 

Gabby and Neesha are both new at the high school. Neesha has Cerebral Palsy which affects her balance and she needs braces on her feet and legs. When she learns the principal has taken her out of her honors classes and placed her in special education classes instead, she bravely threatens to call her mom who will call her lawyer and she gets (many of) the accommodations she needs. Gabby is also having a bad first day, nearly getting sent home for a dress code violation, Neesha steps in and advocates for Gabby too. The two become friends, discovering that in middle school they both enjoyed the same Manga series, and commit to book clubbing the series together. Through the shared readings, and the shared adventures of finding the next in the series, the girls become close. 

I liked this sweet budding romance - the girls become fast friends, even best friends before it turns to romance, and the romance isn't steamy - even when given the opportunity to be alone together, either the authors don't disclose it all, or the romance stops at kissing. I loved strong Neesha ready to take on the world for the under advantaged, she's so sweet with Gabby who is going through some personal problems. Although the girls are in high school, I would purchase a copy for my middle school library, too. My 8th and 9th grade readers who like LGBTQ will enjoy Navigating with You. Neesha is black, Gabby is Cuban. 

Lisa Librarian 

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson - ESSENTIAL

Rebellion 1776 by Laurie Halse Anderson, 405 pages. Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), 2025. $19. 

Language: G (0 swears 0 'f'); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (scary people, peril; descriptions of smallpox); 

BUYING ADVISORY:MS, HS - ESSENTIAL 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

13yo Elsbeth is a maid for Judge Bellingham, a member of the Royal Governor's Council and a loyalist. It's 1776, and the siege of Boston gave patriots control of the city. Loyalists left Boston and Judge Bellingham with them. Elsbeth's father is missing and she is desperate to find him, she has no secure employment and may end up in an orphanage. Then a wealthy family, the Pikes arrive, and Elsbeth becomes their maid-of-all-things. They have a housekeeper who quickly shows her distaste for Elsbeth, so she doubles down and works even harder. But when smallpox starts spreading, and inoculation is the answer to getting a light case, Elsbeth, who survived smallpox as a child, becomes even more valuable to the family. But her father has some sketchy acquaintances, and his past threatens her future. 

I love Laurie Halse Anderson's histories so very much. On the shelf it seems a huge book, and page wise, yes, but the story is so engaging! I thought it would be about battles and the revolutionary war, but it was more about the lives of the people trapped in Boston, first by the seige, and then by the smallpox. Readers of historical fiction will like this one, it reminded me of Ann Rinaldi's books I read in the 90s. Highly recommended, but I have trouble getting kids to read fat books and historical fiction, I hope the tide turns soon. The characters are white. 

Lisa Librarian