The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson - OPTIONAL

The Book of Jupiter by Robin Stevenson, 220 pages. Kids Can Press, JUNE 2026. $20

Content: PG (threats of danger, imprisonment, death implied)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

13yo Ara has lived on Jupiter Station all of her life. Jupiter, her “father” is teaching the ways for all of them to Ascend and become stardust. Things start changing for Ara when Jupiter gives her sole responsibility for baby Nova.  Then one night Ara’s brother, Leo, tells Ara about his doubts about Jupiter; the next day Ara learns that Leo has Ascended.  But how could Leo Ascend if he had doubts? Now Ara is having doubts of her own. But what can she do with a baby to care for and the possibility of disappearing like her brother?

It’s different to have a book about a cult without the story revolving around sex exploitation. Because Ara grew up in a cult, she feels more like 11 than 13 - but I don’t think a book about a cult is a good fit for an elementary school. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie - ADVISABLE

X Marks the Haunt by Lindsay Currie, 285 pages. Delacorte (Random House), 2026. $18

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: PG (ouija board used); Violence: G (mild bullying, ghostly blood, haunting)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Only his best friend, Stash, knows that 12yo Will’s mom is the head caretaker of the local cemetery, Graceland. Except now everyone will know, because his class is there for a fieldtrip. The school bully convinces - threatens - Will into helping him break into a crypt late at night for some social media cred, but something goes terribly wrong.  Now Will is hearing his name in a ghostly whisper, and blood is bubbling up from the ground.  Will and Stash need more help to solve this mystery before its influence spreads. 

Currie is great at writing spooky mysteries that don’t rely on gore to further the story. I personally like the nod to old-fashioned research skills as the group works on the mystery, how they skillfully handle the bully (with some supernatural help), and the byplay between the best friends as they widen their friend group. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid - OPTIONAL

Fable for the End of the World by Ava Reid, 384 pages. HarperCollins, 2025. $20

Language: PG-13 (0 swears, 15 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG (kissing); Violence: PG-13 (fighting, use of weapons, injury and death)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

17yo Inesa lives with her brother in a flooded town where they struggle to make ends meet by running a taxidermy shop, until she discovers her mother has put her forward as payment for a massive debt. That choice forces Inesa into the Lamb’s Gauntlet, a deadly, livestreamed hunt run by the powerful Caerus corporation. Melinoe is the assassin sent to hunt her, a girl trained and altered to kill without hesitation. As the chase unfolds across a harsh wasteland, both Inesa and Melinoe begin to question the roles they’ve been forced into. What starts as a fight for survival becomes a story about choice, identity, and whether love and resistance are possible in a world built on cruelty.

Reid kept me entertained and kept my interest until the end.  It definitely gave me Hunger Games vibes with the two girls on full display in the Lamb's Gauntlet.  I did like both of the characters and found it interesting how they mentally and physically modified Melinoe.  I always enjoy a slow-burn and enemies to lovers romance and this one did not disappoint. My only complaint was the world building was more implied than actually explained, but I liked the size of the book so that is not too big of a complaint.  Overall, it was action packed and romantic which I think students will enjoy. The ethnicity of the characters cues white; the women seem to be older than 18

Jessica Nelson CTHS Librarian

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, - OPTIONAL

Secrets of the Broken House by Taryn Souders, 254 pages. Sourcebooks, 2026. $8 (pb)

Language: G (0 swears, 0 ‘f’); Mature Content: G; Violence: PG (kids see dead body)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Geraldine is the most hated woman in town.  Her pet project seems to be making everyone around her miserable.  But helping her polish furniture for a morning will get 13yo Tucker the rowboat that he wants, then he is willing to brave her disdain. When Tucker goes back the next morning with his friends Sadie and Clemmie, though, they did not expect to see Geraldine dead in her hallway.  Tucker knows something is wrong about the scene; his dad is the chief of police in their little town and Tucker has trained himself to see details. When he finally remembers that elusive detail, however, he may put his own life in danger. 

A solid murder mystery with a little friendship drama thrown in. I like that the kids are not cocky or obnoxious and there isn't a bully picking on them. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania - ADVISABLE

A Year Without Home by V.T. Bidania, 409 pages. NOVEL IN VERSE. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $19

Content: G (threats only)

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

When the Vietnam War ends and the communists take over Laos, 11yo Goa Sheng and her family must flee their beautiful home in Laos.  If their father is captured by the new government, he will probably be executed for working with the Americans. The group misses the last plane out of Laos and instead shuffle from refugee camp to refugee camp for the next year - first in hope that they will be able to return to Laos, and then hoping that they will be able to immigrate to safety and a new home.

PLEASE STOP WRITING NOVELS IN VERSE.  They are not poetic; they do not give the story the depth it deserves.  That being said, I loved seeing another side of the Vietnam war from the point of view of Laotian people. Gao Sheng, who is based on Bidania’s oldest sister, is a character worth meeting.  Both historical fiction and large-looking fiction are hard to sell to middle school students, but it is worth taking your time to find readers. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sugar Shack by Lucy Knisley - ADVISABLE

Sugar Shack (Peapod Farm #3) by Lucy Knisley,  230 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025 $22 

Language: PG (5 swears); Mature Content: G; Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

6th grader, Jen, is spending time with her mom and stepsisters at Peapod Farm. Jen is learning to tap trees for maple syrup and how to haul an inordinate amount of firewood. Jen is also trying to fit in with her stepsisters. Just when she thinks she is making headway, Andy reminds her that Reese is HER sister, not Jen's. 

Loved the farm life. It's refreshing to have a rural setting. The art is nicely done, and the story is a delightful commentary on family life, fitting in, and adjusting to new situations. The characters are based on the author's childhood, which makes it feel genuine and comfortable. The characters are likable, even the flawed ones. This is a quick read that will make you want to visit the country. Jen is white, and her stepfamily is Jewish. 

Michelle in the Middle 

Princess Mononoke Film Comic by Hayao Miyazaki - OPTIONAL

Princess Mononoke Film Comic: All-in-One Edition by Hayao Miyazaki, 856 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL. VIZ Media, 2026. $35.

Language: PG (9 swears, 0 “f”); Mature Content: PG13; Violence: PG13

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

After being cursed by the demon he saved his village from, Prince Ashitaka leaves it all behind in search for a cure. Ashitaka finds the humans who are disturbing the nature gods—and both sides are gearing up for war!

Reading this graphic novel is simply a faster way to watch the film. The panels come right from the movie, right down to multiple pages of the credits (in Japanese) at the end. I found the Japanese sound effects text throughout the book to be confusing until I found that they included a guide at the back of the book to translate the Japanese characters into the English equivalent. Overall, the story is fun, and all the good feelings I have about this and other Miyazaki movies translated into good feelings for the book, but I ultimately believe the story is told better on the screen.

The characters are depicted with light skin. The mature content rating is for partial nudity and for mentions of alcohol and brothels. The violence rating is for assault, gun use, blood and gore, fantasy violence, battle scenes, and murder.

Reviewer: Carolina Johnson

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen - ADVISABLE

Angelica and the Bear Prince by Trung Le Nguyen, 224 pages. GRAPHIC NOVEL Random House, 2025. $18. 

Language: R ( 18 swears 1 'f'): Mature Content: PG (cheating boyfriend, kiss) Violence: G 

BUYING ADVISORY: MS, HS - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

Angelica was so busy with all her high school activities that she burned out last year. She had to stop all her extracurricular activities and started seeing a counselor. Now, she's decided she can take on one thing - so she's starting an internship at a local community theater. During her recovery, she started a virtual relationship with "Per the Bear" the mascot of the theater company - hence the interest in the internship. Maybe if she's working, she'll meet the bear IRL. 

This story has many layers, tension with parents, best friend issues and grief. Jelly is still grieving her grandmother, who died 10 years ago, and other characters are feeling it as well. I think this is the driving action of the plot - she's not dealing well with her grief, and it's messing with everything else. Nguyen's illustrations are marvelous; some of the faces are perfect and made me laugh out loud. A slice of life, a cute story. One character is transgender. Angelica's family is Vietnamese. 

Lisa Librarian 

The Road From Nowhere by Avi - OPTIONAL

The Road From Nowhere by Avi, 288 pages. Scholastic, 2026. $20

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

14yo Ollie lives with his mother in a tiny (population 45) silver mining town in COlorado. Since his father died because of the mine, Ollie has been trying to help his mother as best he can.  But the town is owned and controlled by a ruthless man and his minions, who are ready to destroy anyone who even thinks to escape his control. WHen a state geologist comes to town, Ollie starts to learn about his rights to his own claim.  Maybe with his friend Alys he can find a way and the money for both of their families to escape.

Avi dives back into history, showing us a time period of evil men who would stop at nothing to get their way. My only worry is that historical fiction is a hard sell. The action and danger is not exciting enough to sell the book on its own. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton - NO

Sundown Girls by L.S. Stratton, 293 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2026. $20

Language: R (100+ swears,  10  ‘f’); Mature Content: PG-13 (passionate kissing, over clothes touching); Violence: R (hangings, fire deaths, lynchings, drownings all mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - NOT RECOMMENDED

Kidnapped as a toddler, 16yo Camryn (or Naomi, as she thinks of herself) has been restored to her birth family for 18 months.  She still, however, yearns for the life and the woman that she calls Mom - the woman who kidnapped and raised her. In an effort of family bonding, the Stoakes family heads to a winter cabin vacation outside a small Virginia town. THe town, however, has a recent history of being a “sundown” town - where black people like Naomi and her family were not allowed to stay after dark - found within the town limits and you will get what is coming to you. Naomi has started seeing a ghost and she is sure it is of a girl who was killed by a townsman.  Plus, two other girls have disappeared recently. Naomi has already been kidnapped once.

I was unimpressed for many reasons. Camryn is an unsympathetic character. She has had 18 months to realize that her kidnapper is not the benevolent mom that they posed as, but she refuses to work with her therapist to sort this all out.  Camryn even writes in her journal to her absent Mom. Plus she insists on throwing herself into increasingly dangerous confrontations, even willfully involving a boy she met on the trip without his consent. I sympathize more with Camryn’s  birth family, who have been nothing but kind to her. It shouldn’t take a near death experience for anyone to realize when they are being shown love. There are other problems that I won’t continue to detail.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic - ADVISABLE

The Weaver Bride by Lydia Gregovic, 480 pages. Penguin Random House, 2025. $22

Language: G (1 swear, 0 ‘f'); Mature Content: PG-13 (Sexual innuendos, drinking, smoking, implied sex off-page, kissing); Violence: PG-13 (mysterious deaths, fighting) 

BUYING ADVISORY: HS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

For 18yo Lovett Tamerlane, being a silkwitch is both an honor and a curse. Those few girls born as silkwitches have a magical ability or wit, and their coveted hair can be woven into magesilk which will magically imbue objects. But silkwitches must find a Weaver husband to contain them and their magic before they are 21, or they will be sent to the cloisters from which no silkwitch has ever left. And there are even fewer Weavers, who are descendants of a sorcerer’s line, than silkwitches. Lovett, whose lowborn origins means she doesn't stand much of a chance of catching a Weaver husband, uses her wit to open any door and steal. In a theft gone wrong,  she meets Elliott who proposes a deal. If she can figure out who killed his sister, he will ensure that she finds a husband and avoids the cloisters. Lovett agrees and must pretend to be a highborn lady and compete against 9 other silkwitches in the Vainglory, a contest to wed one of the most eligible bachelor Weavers, all while attempting to solve a murder. 

The novel's beginning is a little clunky and has a lot of background information to take in. Nonetheless, the concept and world-building is fresh and creative, which makes up for some of its common Romantasy tropes. The underlying dynamic of silkwitches being treated as possessions and the political undertones make for a well-rounded story. I’m looking forward to picking up the next book in the series to see where it goes!  Romantasy is a popular genre right now, and coupled with a gorgeous cover, readers are likely to pick up this novel.

Minor characters are LGBT+ (spoiler if names are revealed) 

Megan, HS Librarian

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino - ADVISABLE

The Firefly Crown by Yxavel Magno Dino, 288 pages. Bloomsbury, 2025. $19

Content: PG (some danger, some deaths - bones picked clean mentioned)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

12yo Yumi hates slogging through the rice fields with her parents every day, especially because her Cricket powers are so weak, the crickets don’t bother listening to her.  When all of the mambabarang are summoned to the capitol city to witness the crowning of the rajah’s daughter as the new Hara, the only person with enough power to wield the Firefly Crown to hold off the murderous Ghost Swarms, Yumi stows away. Yumi just wants to explore the city and find a metalwork apprenticeship, but her bravery and quick-thinking may be all that stands in the path of total disaster.

Yumi’s talent to save the day is quite exaggerated, as the action takes place over such a short time - her meteoric rise from lowly, inept Cricket to Savior of the Country is a bit clunky at times.  As the story progresses, the action and danger start to feel more realistic. I think this is a stand alone fantasy - it is always nice to have one-offs to balance out the long series. 

I listened to the book narrated by Jensen Olaya, provided by libro.fm.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game by Kerry Duglas Dye - NO

Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game by Kerry Duglas Dye, 320 pages. Aladdin (Simon), 2025. $18

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

12yo Grady is desperate to be great at something, even though he doesn’t take the time to build the skills to be great at anything.  However, Detective-ing is his latest greatness of choice and a murder mystery lands in his lap - he will inherit a large sum of money if Grady Jones can solve the mystery. hen another Grady Jones shows up to also try to solve the murder, Grady #1 will have to really step up.

The only way Grady can get anyone to help him is because the author wrote the other characters that way.  Grady’s personality is so grating, I was excited to see a second Grady show up - because I wanted Grady #1 to lose.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland - NO

Time Lions and the Chrono-Loop by Martin Seneviratne and Krystal Sutherland, 261 pages. Nancy Paulsen (Penguin), 2025. $19

Content: G (mild danger)

BUYING ADVISORY: NOT RECOMMENDED

12yo twin Pearl is so proud of having built a time machine, even though she and her brother Patrick risked their lives to break into the British Museum to retrieve the final piece she needed for her machine.  Imagine her surprise when both children are arrested by TIME (The Interdimensional Misconduct Enquiry) for their crimes against history. AS Pearl fights against her new time restrictions she only continues to make things, including the timeline, worse.

Pearl is absolutely annoying and only gets more annoying as the book continues. Instead of being confident and helpful, she comes off as self-righteous and obnoxious. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu - ADVISABLE

The Queen Bees of Tybee County by Kyle Casey Chu, 309 pages. Quill Tree (Harper), 2025. $20

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Rising 8th grader Derrick Chan is disappointed when he can’t go to basketball camp like he was supposed to - he is a middle school basketball superstar and he wants to keep his skills sharp. Instead, his dad is sending to his grandmother’s (Dad’s mom) for the summer - the grandmother he hardly ever sees, especially ever since his mom died of cancer. As Derrick helps his  grandmother with the local beauty pageant, he finds a side of himself that he had buried - the side of him that loves shiny fabric, fabulous makeup, and swishy skirts. He makes a plan with his new friend Ro, to trade places with her in the pageant - but how will his at-home best friend AND his own father react if they see him?

Chu tackles racism, family problems, homophobia, friendship drama, and acknowledging your own sexuality.  It may seem like a lot, but she does it so well. And she does it in a way that the only way could be offended is if you deny that drag queens and LGBT people exist. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway by Sarenaz Tash - OPTIONAL

The Treasure of Ocean Parkway (Queen of Ocean Parkway #2) by Sarenaz Tash, 227 pages. Knopf (Random House), 2025. $18

Content: G (none)

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - OPTIONAL

APPEALS TO: SOME

Since they solved their first mystery together, 12yo Roya and Amin have been collaborating on a mystery podcast. Then Thea, another kid in their building approaches them to help her solve a mystery left behind by her grandfather. The mystery involves both Thea’s great-grandfather and Thea’s dad, who has a very rocky relationship with Thea’s grandfather, who has been beset with Alzheimer's related memory loss. As the kids follow the clues all over the building and the city, they are also learning to trust each other and how to open up to accepting new people in their lives.

#2 doesn’t have the magical realism of #1. I liked it much more than the first. Adding a third character made the dynamics between people more interesting and I didn’t miss the magical realism.

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao and Srindhi Srinivasan - ADVISABLE

When Science Stood Still by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Srindhi Srinivasan. NON-FICTION PICTURE BOOK. McElderry (Simon), 2025. $20. 9781665949965

BUYING ADVISORY: EL, MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Subramanyan Chandrasekhar was only 19 in the 1930’s when he did the math and wrote the paper that proved the existence of black holes.  It took more than 30 years for the rest of the science community to take him seriously - and 50 years after that first paper, Chandra was awarded a Nobel prize. 

Rao does an excellent job of succinctly giving us Chadra’s story in a way that captures our attention and keeps us reading. I am excited to show this to my middle school science teachers to support their curriculum. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian, MLS

Kamala Harris (She Persisted) by Raakhee Mirchandani - ADVISABLE

Kamala Harris (She Persisted) by Raakhee Mirchandani, 68 pages. BIOGRAPHY. Philomel (Penguin), 2025. $7 (pb). 9798217039593

Content: G

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SOME

From her earliest days, with her parents’ activism, Kamala Harris has been involved in working to make people’s lives better. This passion drove her through college and into a career first as a lawyer, and then into politics, where she was the first female vice president and the first female presidential candidate by one of the two major parties. 

Mirchandani gives as a simplified, but well detailed look at Harris’s inspirations, her drive, and her poise. There are at least 3 dozen books in this series now - well-known and little-known names - to enjoy. 

Cindy, Middle School Librarian MLS

We Fell Apart (We Were Liars #3) by E. Lockhart - ADVISABLE

We Fell Apart (We Were Liars #3) by E. Lockhart, 320 pages. Random House Children's Books, 2025. $23

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

BUYING ADVISORY: MS - ADVISABLE

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL

Matilda has been raised by a mother who is frequently running off to find love.  Her father is unknown to her. Her mother never talks about her father and Matilda has lived her life without knowing him or anything about his life.  Unexpectedly, upon graduation, she receives an email from her father that turns her world into one mystery after another.  

Based on a hidden beach, tangled with webs of lies and a little romance, readers will be thrilled to find one surprise after another until the very end. This is a sweet book of a young woman trying to find her identity, a true love, and whether or not she can be “whole” in spite of her father’s lack of love and attention.  The plot is fun, fast moving and interesting.  We Fell Apart is well written in a very clean and classy way.  I loved that strong emotions were experienced and explored without the use of violence, swearing, or sexual content.  The book runs the gambit of love, loss and triumph without worrisome content. 

S. Lewis

Glory Be by Jamie Sumner - ADVISABLE

Glory Be by Jamie Sumner, 208 pages. Novel in Verse Atheneum (Simon and Schuster), March 2026. $18. 

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

BUYING ADVISORY: EL - ADVISABLE 

APPEALS TO: SEVERAL 

9yo Glory's dog Roux is missing. It is all she can think about. Her father has a drinking and gambling problem, and she is worried that he is somehow involved in Roux's disappearance. 

This novel in verse is very dog forward. A child with a dog, or who has ever lost a dog, can easily relate to Glory's misguided plan to find Roux. Sumner's poetry is free verse, and at many times is visually expressive. I really enjoyed Glory Be. The characters default white. 

Lisa Librarian