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Author: Kelly Barnhill

Publication Year: 2022

Age: Grades 4-7

Genre: Fantasy, Mystery

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: The Chronicals of Narnia

This is not a quick read! This is a book for a serious middle-grade reader. It has all the qualities of a wonderful adventure story with clever animals, charming characters and, of course, a despicable villain! This book is very direct on teaching morals and the importance of community. I think Middle school students will enjoy the mystery and adventure element to this book the most.

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Author: Kim Ventrella

Publication Year: 2020

Age: Grades 5-7

Genre: Fantasy, Paranormal

Rating: 5/5

For fans of: Bridge to Terabithia, The Midnight Library and The Lost Bookshop

I loved the journey this book took me on with the main character Sam who has just lost his father and is moving to a new city to live with his aunt. He has to balance his fantastical experiences in a special world where he can still be connected to his beloved father, and the real world where he has to navigate his new relationships. It's a story about letting go of a loved one and allowing new people to love you. I think middle school students will appreciate the humor this book is written with and will fall in love with Sam and his comical inner narrative.

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Title: A Dress for the Wicked by Autumn Krause

Publication: 2024

Age: Young Adult

Genre: "Historical" fiction; period piece

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For Fans of: Period pieces, fashion, reality TV

Content Warnings: Physical assault

My Review: This book follows Emmaline, a girl from the country who lives in an imagined part of Europe (broken off from England). Fashion is their main export, and it is Emmaline’s dream to be a designer. She enters an old fashioned version of Project Runway, allowed as the “country” contestant politicians are insisting be part of the yearly Fashion House contest. I loved the fashion aspect, though I did get lost in the descriptions of the dresses at times. I also really liked the commentary on social classes and fashion’s place there - it reminded me a little of The Devil Wears Prada in that way. The protagonist occasionally annoyed me, as did the writing, but I liked it overall!

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Title: Where Wolves Don’t Die by Anton Treuer

Publication: 2024

Age: Young Adult

Genre: Contemporary

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

For Fans of: Native stories, the outdoors, wilderness, hunting

Content Warnings: Some talk of suicide; drug use; death

My Review: This is a wonderful story about Ezra, a young Ojibwe teenager who is dealing with the loss of his mother and feeling out of place in the city. He spends most of the book in Canada with his grandparents, learning about trapping and hunting and other Native traditions. There is a bit of a murder mystery in the plot (which felt a little disconnected), and I really liked learning about the Native traditions. The descriptions were also so beautiful! I recommend!

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Title: The Project by Courtney Summers

Publication: 2021

Age: Young Adult/Adult

Genre: Contemporary/Mystery

Rating: 3.5 out of 5 stars

For Fans of: true crime, cults, slow reveals

Content Warnings: There is some language including the f-word (not often); there is some sexual content (not overly graphic); death is a prevalent topic throughout the book; abuse

My Review: This story follows two perspectives - Bea and Lo, her younger sister. Their teenage lives are filled with tragedy, and it is a religious group called The Unity Project that “saves” them. The time jumps back and forth as the story is told, and I liked that part of it - it was a slow burn that gradually revealed pieces of the mystery surrounding Bea’s disappearance into The Unity Project. The ending was a little abrupt and not very well explained - it left a lot of questions!

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Title: Mystery of the Locked Rooms

Author: Lindsay Currie

Publication Year: 2024

Age: Gr 5-7

Genre: Realistic, Mystery

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of Escape Rooms and MG Mysteries

Reminds Me Of: 39 Clues series, Escape From Mr. Lemoncello's Library, The Westing Game

Content Warnings:

Anxiety, Grief, Hardship, Eviction/Losing Home, Chronic Illness (CFS), Financial Strain, Struggles with self confidence, Neurodivergence, Facing Fears

My Review:

One Sentence Summary: Three friends solve the ultimate escape room to stay together.

Three Reasons You Should Read This:
1) Fun middle grade book set in a "escape room" style house that's been abandoned for years
2) There are lots of clues for you to try to solve as you go
3) A good mix of emotional moments, realistic struggles, and adventure

One Thing You Should Know Before You Pick This Up:
This MG novel deals with some serious topics including a family that is struggling in more way than one. Please reading the warnings if you have sensitivities.

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Title: Snapdragon

Author: Kat Leyh

Publication year: 2020

Age: Gr 6-9

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy,

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: Magical Realism

Content Warnings: Bullying, Trans-phobia/Trans-hate, Dead Animals, Taxidermy, Witchy Themes and magic

My Review:

I love that growth of all the main characters throughout the book, I love the magical element with the animals, the colors are fantastic and this is just a wonderful little quick read with LGBTQIA+ rep that most will love .

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Title: Fourth Wing

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Publication Year: 2023

Age: 16 and up

Genre: Fantasy, Dragons and Mythical Creatures, Fiction,

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: Harry Potter, Hunger Games,

Content Warnings: sexual content, violent deaths, lots of death throughout the book

My Review: I instantly started this 2nd book in the series right after Fourth Wing. It picked up right where the first book left off. Through this book, Violet and Xayden must learn to build up their trust between themselves, and their friends. Turns out the government has been hiding some major information from everyone, and it is bringing about a revolution and causing people to become allies with their once enemies. The continuation of sensory details and huge twists and turns kept me reading nonstop and I cannot wait for the next one to come out next year!

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Title: Fourth Wing

Author: Rebecca Yarros

Publication Year: April 2023

Age: 16 and up

Genre: Fantasy, Dragons and Mythical Creatures, Fiction,

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: Harry Potter, Hunger Games,

Content Warnings: sexual content, violent deaths, lots of death throughout the book

My Review: This book lived up to the hype. The main character is seen as frail to most but despite the odds, she strengthens herself throughout the book and ends up one of the strongest riders in the quadrant. I love the sensory detail and that you can actually feel like you are apart of the story.

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Title: Dumbledore: The Life and Lies of Hogwarts Renowned Headmaster

Author: Irvin Khaytman

Publication year: 2023

Age: 13 and up

Genre: Fantasy, Literary History, Criticism

Rating:  5/5

For Fans of: Harry Potter

Content Warnings: It will give away spoilers about the Harry Potter series
My Review:This was such a wonderful and insightful review of the character, Dumbledore, in the Harry Potter series. Irvin analyzes Dumbledore in depth, and uses great citations and more famous fan fiction reflections to help prove his theories on Dumbledore and his actions throughout the series.

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Title:  Maybe Next Time

Author: Cesca Major

Publication year: 2023

Age: 14+

Genre: Magical Realism, Destiny, Family Life, Heartfelt

Rating:  5/5

For Fans of: Women's Fiction, Contemporary Fiction, Feel-good

Content Warnings: Miscarriage, Fertility Issues, Teen Bullying, Cyberbullying, Death of a parent
My Review:

I have never read a book like this before. I will admit that I had to take a short break around Ch. 30 because of how emotional it became for me. When going back though and finishing the rest, I truly loved this book. I could identify with much of what the character goes through, especially as a woman trying to keep her family together, while being successful in their career, and keep up with her friends and social media. It teaches the importance of remaining in the present and looking at the day as a gift. It really was great seeing the thought process of the main character and the changes one decision can make.

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Title: The Paris Housekeeper

Author: Renee Ryan

Publication year: 2023

Age: 14+

Genre: Historical Fiction, WWII

Rating:  5/5

For Fans of: WWII, books about the Holocaust,

Content Warnings: Violence, domestic violence, family separation
My Review: I thought that this book was an amazing different perspective from the WWII age. Typically I don't see much from the French view, and how it impacted them. This book had so many twists and turns and showed how strong women can be in the face of hardship and what they are willing to do to protect the ones they love. The ending had me on the edge of my seat and I could never tell what was going to happen next.

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Title: Cherish (Crave Series #6)

Author:Tracy Wolff

Publication year:2023

Age:14+

Genre:  Fantasy, paranormal

Rating:  4/5

For Fans of: Twilight, Harry Potter, Hunger Games

Content Warnings: Violence, Language, Sexual Content
My Review:

I really enjoyed this book, however, not as much as the others in the series. I feel that between the last book she released and this one, the details become sort of muddy and confusing. It is hard to follow why certain things are happening and feel like I have missed something. I do love the characters though and the sensory details she adds to them and their adventures.

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***MIDDLE SCHOOL BUCKEYE BOOK AWARD WINNER FOR 2023!***

Title: Play Like a Girl

Author: Misty Wilson

Publication Year: 2022

Age: Grades 4-8

Genre: Graphic Novel, Memoir/Autobiography

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: Strong Female Characters, Football, Coming of Age stories

Content Warnings: Bullying, Toxic Relationships, Misogyny, Prejudice, Vomit (brief), Injury/Injury details

My Review: Interesting story, and obviously the kids agree. It really gets at finding your place in the world during those middle grade years - learning how much you'd be willing to give up in order to fit in and courage it takes to truly be yourself.

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Title: Hooky Vol 1

Author: Miriam Bonastre tur

Publication Year: 2021

Age: Grades 5-8

Genre: Graphic Novel, Fantasy

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: Magical Fantasy, Webtoons

Content Warnings: Violence, Blood, Kidnapping,

My Review: It's cute and fun with themes of finding yourself, confidence, being kind, good vs. evil, destiny. Kids at the MS are loving this one, which is currently Vol 1 of 3.

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Title: The Grace of Wild Things

Author: Heather Fawcett

Publication Year: 2023

Age: Grades 4-7

Genre: Fantasy, Historical

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Eva Evergreen, Anne of Green Gables,

Content Warnings: Loss of a Loved One, Isolation, Scary Elements (Ghosts, Witches Eating Children Hansel and Gretel Style).

Review: This is such a moving story about finding yourself and your found family with a great addition of all the magical work!

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Title: Cursed Cuise (Horror Hotel #2)

Author: Victoria Fulton & Faith McClaren

Publication Year: 2024

Age: Grades 8- 12

Genre: Horror

Rating: 2/5

For Fans of: Horror Hotel & Ghost Adventures

Content Warnings: Horror based content (scary scenes, ghost attacks, possession), a straight couple and a lesbian couple that are touchy-feely but keep it PG, family issues, violence against women, adultery, trauma, mental health issues

Review: Not as good as the first book. Our same crew is back and this time headed on a haunted cruise full of ghosts that all want/need something from the Ghost Gang that are all still reeling from the trauma of the hotel stay. Not as good as the first book, but might be good to fans of true ghost stories.

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Title: Conjure Island

Author: Eden Royce

Publication Year: 2023

Age: Grades 4-7

Genre: Fantasy

Rating: 3.5/5

For Fans of : Amari and the Night Brothers, Harry Potter

Content Warnings: Loss of a loved one, Family Separation, Grief

My Review: This was a great story about the importance of family, communication, and friendship. The magic school element will surely grab the attention of HP fans, and the mysteries of the school and it's caregivers will keep them turning the pages.

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Title: The Rhythm of Time

Author: Questlove & S.A. Cosby

Publication Year: 2023

Age: Grades 4-9

Genre: Science Fiction

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Science Fiction, TimeTravel, Questlove!

Content Warnings: Bullying/Racism

My Review: I was excited to see what Questlove created for a middle grade audience and I was not disappointed. What would you do if your genius friend accidentally transported you back in time and you meet your dad as a kid? Go to see your favorite rap group in concert of course. But the more our main character interacts with his family in the past, the more destructive things are getting the present. This one has a happy ending and not only is it fun and adventurous with a super smart GIRL in STEM, but it really touches on understanding and accepting your loved ones, even if they annoy you sometimes. Great read.

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Title: Charm

Publication: 2022

Age: 14+

Genre: young adult, paranormal, romance

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Twilight, Harry Potter, Vampire Academy

Content Warnings: mature relationships, family death

My Review: This is the 5th book in a series!

Charm is the missing four months between Crave and Crush. It says that the book “can be enjoyed anytime after reading Crave”. However, I am personally glad that I read it after Court.

At the end of Crave (book 1), Grace experiences her first personal paranomal event and essentially goes missing from Katmere Academy. This was due to an indecent with Hudson. When Grace returns in the second book, she has no memory of what happened to her. Then, throughout Crush (2), Covet (3), and Court (4), Grace is still not fully aware of the events that took place while she was missing. There are parts that she begins to remember, but still is mainly clueless about what happened.

The book alternates between the perspectives of Hudson and Grace while they are stuck in the Shadow Realm. They begin as enemies, trying to coexist with one another. As time goes on, each character realizes that in order to escape they will have to work together and trust each other. Hudson and Grace become friends and eventually fall in love. So, yes it is a “romance” novel, but there is a lot of suspense, mystery, and action. Although this is a paranormal novel I felt like there were some exceptionally crazy circumstances surrounding their situation! If you have read the first four books of the series, you will already have an idea of how the book will end.

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Title: Court

Publication: 2022

Age: 14+

Genre: young adult, paranormal, romance

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: Twilight, Harry Potter, Vampire Academy

Content Warnings: family death, mature relationships,

My Review: This is the 4th book in a series!

Grace is now really starting to come into her own as a confident Gargoyle in this book. It is probably my pick of the series so far! Even though there is still a lot going on, I felt it was much easier to follow than Covet.

Grace and her friends set out to save the students of Katmere from Cyrus, who is the EVIL! vampire king. (Cyrus is also the father of Grace’s love interests, Jaxon & Hudson - oh, the drama!) There are many nail-biting events that the teens get themselves into and sometimes it is a little exhausting as a reader! A few resolutions about certain characters make for full-circle moments already in the series. There are also some new characters introduced. A lot of the backstory about Grace being a Gargoyle comes to light in this book - including her going to the Gargoyle Court. Now that Hudson and Grace are together, the book focuses on their relationship in between all of the paranormal events.

I liked that there was a “resolution” to the issue of Cyrus for now, but the ending still left plenty of room for the series to wrap up!

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Title- Missing Clarissa

Author- Ripley Jones

Published Date-2023

Age Range- YA 11+

Genre-
Young  Adult Thriller, Mystery,  Thriller, Contemporary, Fiction, Crime
Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Scary, Horror, Podcasts, Crime, Murder, Suspense, Missing Person, Teen Detectives

Content Warning- Murder, Death, Missing Teenager, Sexual Assault Claims

Book Review- I chose a ⅘ rating for this book.  Two girls, in high school, end up getting a class assignment and they decide to do a Podcast in order to try and see who was the murderer of this missing girl, 20 years ago. The missing girl, a popular cheerleader, was from their hometown. She was last seen at a big party with over 100 people, in the woods. They begin posting their finds on the Podcast and it gets a little dangerous for the girls. They encounter a lot of twists and turns as they try to uncover the truth.  I would recommend this book to high school students.  Grade 9 and above.  Maybe for some mature, 8th grade readers as well, if they are fans of this type of book.

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Title- Crunch

Author- Kayla Miller

Published Date- 2022

Age Range- 10+

Genre-
Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Children's,  Young Adult, Comics, Comics, School, Juvenile

Rating-  3 /5

For Fans of- busy kids, graphic novels, life on the run, balance, reaching out for help, putting in effort, Crunch Time, To-Do Lists

Content Warning- stress, doing too much

Book Review- I loved this book. The main character takes on too much stuff that she needs to complete.  From guitar lessons, student council, film making and even a Berry Scout, she is trying to do it all.  I loved the illustrations in this book.  The story was light and fun, but does show how some people can take on more than they need to.  I recommend this book to middle grades 10+.

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Kayla Miller, the New York Times bestselling author-illustrator of Click , Camp , Act , and Clash , returns with a new Olive story! Olive is balancing the too-many things she wants to do with the too-few hours in the day to do them. When everything adds up, suddenly it's crunch time!

It's no secret that Olive loves trying new things. Between taking guitar lessons, making a short film, joining Berry Scouts, and leading the charge on her school's dress code reform, Olive has her hands full! But she enjoys being busy, so staying on track with her jam-packed schedule should be no problem...right?

As weeks fly by, it gets harder and harder for Olive to find time for her activities, never mind time for herself. Will she be able to accomplish her goals, or will all her sizzle turn to fizzle?

The New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Kayla Miller delivers a vibrant and timely story about the importance of balance, effort, and reaching out for help.

Don't miss any of the popular graphic novels in Kayla Miller's Click series:

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Crunch - Kindle edition by Miller, Kayla, Miller, Kayla. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Crunch.

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Title- Ain’t Burned all the Bright

Author-  Jason Reynolds

Published Date-2022

Age Range- 10+

Genre-Poetry, Young Adult, Graphic Novels, Contemporary, Fiction, Art, Teen, Realistic Fiction, Social Justice, Family
Rating-  4 /5

For Fans of- Realistic Fiction, hard times of 2020, world issues, social justice

Content Warning- realistic fiction, sadness that happened to families

Book Review- This was a great book.  I gave it a ⅘ rating.  I think this is a good book for middle schoolers.  It is a fast read but you also need to take the time to look at the art created on all the pages. The art is powerful and speaks to the reader.  I also think this is a great book for anyone in high school +. I recommend this book!

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Title- Besties: Find Their Groove

Author- Kayla Miller and Jeffery Canino

Published Date- 2022

Age Range- 9+

Genre- Graphic Novel, Juvenile, Middle Grades, Friendship, Fiction, Realistic Fiction

Rating-   2.5/5

For Fans of- Graphic novels, friends, school dances, fun with friendships

Content Warning- n/a

Book Review-  Friends trying to find the perfect date and dress adds up to be a challenge. The girls go through some struggles with their feelings, siblings, feeling left out, looks etc. in the book.  The book was not one of my favorites so I rated it a 2.5/5 I would recommend this book to middle school students.  This book is a companion book to the Click Series and you can follow this book up with Besties Work It Out.

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A fun and fresh spin-off of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novels. With the school dance around the corner, fashionistas Beth and Chanda are ready to dazzle!

With their first formal school dance around the corner, Beth and Chanda are on a mission to make it the best night ever. Step one? Secure the perfect dresses so they can dominate the dance floor! But when neither of them can find an outfit that lives up to their high expectations-and when they encounter unexpected pressure to find dates-these besties will need to lean on their friendship more than ever if they hope to find their groove and bust a move!

New York Times bestselling author Kayla Miller and co-author Jeffrey Canino share a thoughtful and lively story about the challenges of finding your own personal style...and how it always helps to keep your favorite person at your side. Accompanied by Kristina Luu's dynamic, expressive art, this graphic novel is the perfect companion to Olive's stories.

Product Details

ISBN-13:

9780358561927

Publisher:

HarperCollins Publishers

Publication date:

09/27/2022

Series:

World of Click

Pages:

208

Sales rank:

57,408

Product dimensions:

5.40(w) x 8.00(h) x 0.60(d)

Age Range:

8 - 12 Years

About the Author

Kayla Miller is the New York Times bestselling creator of four previous graphic novels, Click, Camp, Act, and Clash, and the coauthor of the Besties series. An author-illustrator and cartoonist with a BFA from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Kayla lives and works in New York.

Kristina Luu is a Vietnamese Canadian comic artist and illustrator from Vancouver, BC. Prior to comics, she worked in TV Animation as a character designer and colour stylist. She's the creator of "Intercosmic", an all-ages space fantasy webcomic, and has illustrated for various LGBT+ comic anthologies. She loves creating colourful worlds full of diverse characters and little moments of magic and joy.

Jeffrey Canino is a writer and educator working out of New York's Hudson Valley. He is a coauthor of Besties: Work It Out. He earned his MA in English literature from the State University of New York at New Paltz.

Editorial Reviews

2022-09-14
Pressures mount as a school dance approaches.

Twelve-year-old best friends Chanda and Beth can hardly wait: It's nearly time for their first dance at Bushmiller Middle School! After seeing her seemingly perfect older sister's high school dance pics, Chanda decides she and Beth must find dates. They begin their "Boy Safari" but find things do not go as planned when their prospects see their insincerity. The girls also have a hard time finding dresses: Beth, who is fat, cannot find a dress that fits as she'd like, and Chanda wants something that encapsulates the desi fashion she loves. When Beth eventually gets asked to the dance and Chanda does not, a rift opens up between them. Miller and Canino's sequel to Besties Work It Out (2021) explores not only Beth and Chanda's friendship, but also their dynamics with their mothers and sisters. Those familiar with Miller's other books will recognize her trademark gentle conflict resolution; the novel also gently probes themes like embracing one's cultural heritage and body positivity (all culminating in a delightful school dance scene. Luu's illustrations (with color by Beatty) are reminiscent enough of Miller's from her Click series but also have their own unique panache to set this series apart and give it its own flair. Beth is White; Chanda is Indian American.

Insightful and affirming. (Q&A with Miller, Canino, Luu, and Beatty; sketches and color samples for the book cover; character design sketches; step-by-step creation of a sample page) (Graphic fiction. 8-12)

Kirkus Reviews

Uncover

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A fun and fresh spin-off of the New York Times bestselling Click graphic novels. With the school dance around the corner, fashionistas Beth and Chanda are ready to dazzle!With their first formal school dance around the corner, Beth and Chanda are on a mission to make it the best...

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Title- Don't Turn Out the Lights

Author- 35 various authors of short stories(Edited By- Jonathan Mayberry)(in collaboration with the Horror Writers Association)

Published Date-2020

Age Range- 10+

Genre-
Horror, Short, Stories, Middle Grade, Anthologies,Young Adult, Paranormal, Fiction, Fantasy, Halloween

Rating-   5/5

For Fans of- Scary, Fiction, Halloween, Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark, Horror, Dark nights and spooky stories, Short Stories, Haunted Houses, Paranormal

Content Warning- While this is a middle grade book, it is creepy.  There are some scary twists in these short stories. I had to skip past 2 stories after I started them due to the “gross factor”.  But it was a great book.

Book Review- This was a great and scary read.  There are 35 short stories, and these stories are page turners. This book is a tribute to Alvin Schwartz’s Scary Stories To Tell In The Dark. (I loved those books in my younger school days!). The author gathered a variety of authors to put together some chilling stories. I recommend this book to anyone who likes to be scared while reading.  It’s not so scary that middle school students can’t read, but it's just enough to leave you feeling creeped out. My favorite story was The Neighbor. There were a few stories that grossed me out, but I still give it a 5/5.

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Title- Darkroom

Author-  K.R. Alexander

Published Date-2022

Age Range- 10+

Genre- Horror, Middle Grades, Thriller, Young Adult

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- scary, gaming, apps, thriller, horror

Content Warning- ghosts, frightening encounters

Book Review- I like this book because it is a middle school thriller.(Not too scary)  Beatrice downloads an app with her friend. The girls are live streaming the game to get more followers on their channel.  It is a game that allows you to hunt ghosts. However, the ghosts become too real.  The app can also work when the phone is powered off etc. It is a game that could take your life.  A little creepy, but not so bad for middle schoolers.

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In the latest chiller from million-copy-seller K.R. Alexander, author of THE COLLECTOR and THE FEAR ZONE, an app that allows you to see ghosts can only lead you to horrifying sights...

Do you think an app that allows you to see ghosts would be cool? Well, prepare to be haunted... even when your phone is off.

Product Details

ISBN-13:

9781338807332

Publisher:

Scholastic, Inc.

Publication date:

09/20/2022

Pages:

272

Sales rank:

90,067

Product dimensions:

5.20(w) x 7.40(h) x 0.70(d)

Lexile:

580L ( what's this?)

Age Range:

9 - 12 Years

About the Author

K. R. Alexander is the pseudonym for author Alex R. Kahler.As K. R., he writes creepy middle grade books for brave young readers. As Alex — his actual first name — he writes fantasy novels for adults and teens. In both cases, he loves writing fiction drawn from true life experiences. (But this book can't be real . . . can it?)Alex has traveled the world collecting strange and fascinating tales, from the misty moors of Scotland to the humid jungles of Hawaii. He is always on the move, as he believes there is much more to life than what meets the eye.You can learn more about his travels and other books, including The Collector, The Fear Zone, and the Scare Me series, on his website: cursedlibrary.comHe looks forward to scaring you again . . . soon.

The New York Times bestselling Spy School series continues in graphic novel form with the third book as Ben gets kicked out of the CIA's spy school and enrolls with the enemy.
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Ben Ripley may only be in middle

Superspy middle schooler Ben Ripley is finally going to take SPYDER down, once and for all, in this latest addition to the New York Times bestselling Spy School series.

Stranded in Mexico after nearly

Ben Ripley enrolls in ski school, where the slopes, and the stakes, get really steep in this bestselling follow-up to the Edgar Award-nominated Spy School, Spy Camp, and Evil Spy

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Nominated as one of America's best-loved novels by PBS's The Great American Read Ghost wants

The #1 New York Times bestseller!This chapter book edition of the #1 New York Times bestseller by luminaries Ibram X. Kendi and Jason Reynolds is an essential introduction to the history of

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds, a "funny and rewarding" (Publishers Weekly) coming-of-age novel about friendship and loyalty across neighborhood lines and the

"An intense snapshot of the chain reaction caused by pulling a trigger." -Booklist (starred review)
"Astonishing." -Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
"A tour

It's a whole new ride from master of horror and bestselling author R.L. Stine—with a story so fiendish that it can't be contained to just one book!

Fright-master R.L. Stine invites you on an

You'll love them-to death.

Twin sisters Destiny and Livvy Weller return home from summer vacation with a dark secret . . . and an inhuman desire to drink blood. What have they become? Can they

13 haunting tales perfect for fans of the bestselling author, R. L. Stine, of the Goosebumps series.
Turn the pages if you dare. . . . In this collection of thirteen fabulously chilling stories from

Destiny Weller and her twin sister, Livvy, were as close as two sisters could be-until Livvy chose to become a vampire, leaving Destiny behind. Now Destiny will do anything to bring Livvy back

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Bernie Bridges, the most

Read the books behind Netflix's Fear Street trilogy!

Two sisters, divided by time. Each with a terrible resentment she can barely contain.

Two Fear family weddings, decades apart... Each bride

Read the books behind Netflix's Fear Street trilogy!
Poppy Miller swears she will get payback for Jack Sabers's cruel prank that humiliated her in front of all her friends.

Then her

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In the latest chiller from million-copy-seller K.R. Alexander, author of THE COLLECTOR and THE FEAR ZONE, an app that allows you to see ghosts can only lead you to horrifying sights...Do you think an app that allows you to see ghosts would be cool? Well, prepare to be haunted... even...

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Title- Invisible

Author- Christina Gonzales and Gabriela Epstein

Published Date- 2022

Age Range- 10+

Genre-
Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, FictionComics, Children’s, School

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Culture, New Friendships Made, Secrets, Different Languages

Content Warning- family hard times

Book Review- I enjoyed reading this book.  The graphic novel was written in Spanish and English.  The story goes through some hard times with the characters.  Characters who “supposedly shouldn’t be together” come together to help each other and a family in need. It is a heartwarming story.  I recommend this book to anyone who likes to read about family, friendship, and struggles that characters face and overcome.

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Title- The girl in the Lake

Author- India Hill Brown

Published Date- 2022

Age Range- 10+

Genre- Horror, Middle Grade, Fiction, Mystery, Paranormal, Ghosts, Historical Fiction

Rating-  3/5

For Fans of- Mystery, Scary books, Ghosts, Family, Secrets, Ancestors

Content Warning- Ghosts, Scary, Fears

Book Review- I did enjoy this book.  The family gets together for the summer.  Cousins who have not seen each other in a while meet at the grandparents lake house.  A lot of strange things (attic light flashing, ghosts etc.) appear.  The kids need to figure out what is happening after each strange occurance and why one of the grandkids resembles the ghost. Is this ghost a friend or an enemy?  You need to read the book to find out the truth.  I would recommend this book for middle grades.  There is some “scare” factor to it, but nothing too much.

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Title- Katie the Catsitter

Author- Stephanie Yue

Published Date-2021

Age Range- 8+

Genre- Graphic Novel, Children’s, Cat Lovers, Superhero, Friends, Humor

Rating-  4/5

For Fans of- Funny Cats, Superhero books, Humor,Friendships

Content Warning- N/A

Book Review- This was a really funny book.  I do love a good book about cats.  These cats (all 217 of them) each have their own special trait.  From computer hacking to sewing skills, these cats can do it all.  Katie has been looking for a summer job to save money for camp and she found the perfect job, “Cat-Sitting”.  What she does not know is that her job turns out to be just a little more than watching cats.  It is a good and funny read.  I recommend this book to younger children through middle school.

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Title- The 39 Clues: Book One: The Maze of Bones

Author- Ethan Young

Published Date- 2023

Age Range- 9+

Genre-
Graphic Novels, Middle Grade, Mystery, Children's, Adventure, Fiction, Comics, Action,Juvenile

Rating-  4 /5

For Fans of- Mystery, Action, Clues, Series, Travels around the World

Content Warning- Some minor fires and explosions, nothing too graphic

Book Review- I really enjoyed this book. The book starts with Grace (updating her will) leaving an inheritance or a challenge to find the clues for her family to figure out secrets that have been hidden.  The family members have to make a choice.  The grandkids have to decide what path they will take.  I liked this book because it had a lot of twists and turns.  Some people are not who you expect them to be. I am excited to read the next in the series.  This was the graphic novel adaptation of the books written by Rick Riordan.

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Title: Covet

Publication: 2021

Age: 14+

Genre: young adult, paranormal, romance

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Twilight, Harry Potter, Vampire Academy

Content Warnings: family death, mature relationships

My Review: This is the 3rd book in a series!

After a pretty dramatic end to the second book, this one begins with more of the same - including a very significant discovery that Grace is making about herself. Another title I would give this book might be “CHAOS” because of the multiple directions and crazy events that happen to Grace and her friends. I liked how in this book, we start to get more answers about the characters. However, it was a lot to keep up with! Jaxon, Grace, and Hudson face the reality of their complicated relationships. The spectacle of this is woven between a visit to the Bloodletter, Grace’s Birthday, a trip to the Giant Village, attending Dragon Court, and going to jail. (+ more!) I was not expecting the ending to this book and was glad I didn’t have to wait to start the next one!

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Title- Maybe an Artist

Author- Liz Montague

Published Date-2022

Age Range- 9+

Genre-

Graphic Novels, Memoir, Nonfiction, Comics, Middle Grade, Biography, Art

Rating-  5 /5

For Fans of- Art, Independence, Finding Yourself, The Past, True Stories

Content Warning- Some references to 9/11

Book Review- I really enjoyed this book.  This was a good read and an easy read for middle schoolers.  The book starts from Liz Montague’s early childhood and continues through some major events/turning points in her life through adulthood.  I would recommend this book to middle schoolers and older.  I would also recommend that you read the acknowledgements at the end of the book.  You get to see some of her first drawings and read a little more about the author.

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Title- Garvey’s Choice

Author- Nikki Grimes

Published Date-2023

Age Range- 9 +

Genre-
Graphic Novels, Poetry, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Music, Children’s, Family

Rating-  4 /5

For Fans of- Poems, Family, Life Choices, Life Changes, Friends

Content Warning- n/a

Book Review- I liked this book.  I gave it a ⅗ star rating because it was not one of my favorites.  The book is good for students to see how Garvey grows and changes into the person he wants to be.  He has to deal with his father pushing him in one direction when he wants to go in another direction.  He has a supportive family, but doesn’t really realize certain things until the end of the book.

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Title- Race Against Death

Author- Deborah Hopkinson

Published Date- 2023

Age Range- 12+

Genre- Nonfiction, History, War, Middle Grades

Rating-   3/5

For Fans of- WW11, History, POW, True Stories

Content Warning- True stories, War, Death

Book Review-  The book begins with a lot of factual information about the people who are portrayed in the book.  The book is based on the true story of the greatest POW rescue from WWII which took place on January 30th, 1945. I like the fact that the author starts with a “Before You Begin” section of the book.  Here you can read a bit of a preview.  The next section, “About The People In This Book” gives the reader a look into the people involved in the book.  You can learn names, dates, titles etc. about the people involved.  I think this is a good way to start the book so the reader understands the situations/people they are reading about. A note from the author states that she did quite a bit of research to put this book together. I really liked the author’s note and what she states about her journey writing this book.  I also like the fact that the author incorporated a lot of pictures, references, maps and timelines. I did enjoy the book, but for me, I prefer a fictional recreation of a story.  It was a lot of information to take in, but it was informative. I would recommend this book for anyone needing to do a research project on the POW rescues from this time period. For me, I would not recommend this for a page turner book.  I found that I did get lost at times, but I do appreciate all the people who have fought for our country and do this job for all of our freedom.

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Title- Ground Zero

Author-  Alan Gratz

Published Date- 2021

Age Range- 11 +

Genre-YA, Historical Fiction, Fiction, War, survival, Middle grades

Rating-   5/5

For Fans of- War, Struggle, Sept. 11th, Perseverance, Survival

Content Warning- Death, nothing too graphic (this is for Children/Middle Grades), Separation, Losing a loved one

Book Review- This is a good read.  It is a book that will keep your interest.  It is a fast paced and action-filled book. The book jumps back and forth from September 11th 2001 (with Brandon) and present day Afghanistan (with Reshmina).  I like the way the book jumps back and forth between the two characters' perspectives. There is a lot of information that unfolds and brings the two time periods together.  I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in war stories, family, friendship and survival.

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Title: Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune

Publication: 2021

Age: 14-up

Genre: fantasy, fiction,

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: fiction

Content Warnings: what occurs in the afterlife, LGBTQ

My Review: This is another favorite book by this author. I absolutely loved the character interactions, and watching the change within the main character, Wallace, as he takes a hard look at the life he lived when he was alive and works to try and right his wrongs. The story starts out with Wallace's death and his journey that takes place after his death and how people move to the beyond. Along the way he meets the ferryman and his family, and realizes there is much more to life than he realized.

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Title: In the Lives of Puppets

Publication: 2023

Age: 15-up

Genre: fiction, fantasy, robotics, sci-fi

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: fiction, sci-fi

Content Warnings: sexual innuendos

My Review: Out of the three books I read of TJ Klune, this was probably my least favorite. The book is focused around one human, who is the last of the human race, surrounded by a robotic world. Klune tries to align it in a way with Pinnochio. He has to remain hidden or else the robots will kill him. After him and his robot companions sneak into the city to save his "creator"/father he also finds a way to possibly change the fate of the future. I definitely enjoyed the other two of his books I read more, but the characters in the story do make me laugh out loud to myself so it is still entertaining.

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Title: The House in the Cerulean Sea

Publication: 2020

Age: 15-up

Genre: magic, mystery, fiction,

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: Harry Potter

Content Warnings: discussion of LGBTQ, and religious beliefs

My Review: This book was shared to me by a friend who know I loved Harry Potter. The author of the book does a wonderful job with sensory details, and giving amazing descriptions of the characters. The start was a little shocking, as I didn't know how it was going to all tie together, but I felt all emotions throughout the book. It boils down to showing that we should not judge others by their appearance and labels, but their actual character and actions. It has become one of my favorite books and authors for sure.

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Title- The Messengers- Greystone Secrets #3

Author- Margaret Peterson Haddix

Published Date- 2021

Age Range- 10+

Genre-
Middle Grade, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction Science, Fiction, Adventure, Other World Travel
Rating-   3/5

For Fans of- Science Fiction, Travel between worlds, Adventure, Family

Content Warning- Fighting the forces of evil

Book Review- The Greystone kids are back at it.  They have finally returned back from the “evil” alternate world. They have to work with their “body doubles” from the alternate world to save both worlds.  Coded coins help the kids all find secret messages to keep staying away/solving mysteries from some of the dangers that still lurk around in the worlds.  This was a good book, but being the 3rd in the series, at times I find things to drag on a bit. I enjoyed the ending, but I gave this one a ⅗ and the first two books a ⅘. I would still recommend this series to students at the middle school.  The series does have a mix between lovable and mysterious characters and lots of adventure.

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Title- Forget Me Nat

Author- Maria Scrivan

Published Date- 2020

Age Range- 9+

Genre- Graphic Novels, Middle Grades, Realistic Fiction, Fiction, Humor, Crushes, Friend Drama

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Middle school stories, funny, teens, crushes

Content Warning- Broken Hearts, A little Friend Drama

Book Review- This is a cute middle school Graphic Novel and an easy read for those who want an easier, fast paced read.  The book starts with Nat describing how much she is in love with her crush.  Acting silly, waiting by his locker and planning to attend the Math club, are all things she does to be near him.  Of course then, she ends up getting bands/braces and she feels less confident about herself/appearance. There is some friendship drama and broken hearts in the book. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a cute story (and a little friend drama/crushes).  I also love the parts between the chapters when her pets throw out their opinions etc.

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Title- The Deceivers (Graystone Secrets #2)

Author- Margaret Peterson Haddix

Published Date- 2020

Age Range- 9+

Genre- Science Fiction, Mystery, Fantasy, Fiction

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Mystery, Secrets, Family, Friends, Adventure, Other Worlds

Content Warning- None

Book Review-  After reading the first in the series, I had to continue.  The Greystone kids have been dealt a great deal of trouble/adventure and their mom, being a mysterious woman, is trying to protect them.  I have to say I really enjoyed this book. I do recommend this book for middle grades who like to read about young kids getting into some adventures. I like how the book moves back and forth between worlds. I really enjoy time travel books.  This series has the kids going to other places through a secret door. I look forward to, The Messengers, book #3.

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Title: The Librarian of Crooked Lane
Author: CJ Archer
Publication Year: 2022
Age: 14+
Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Early 1900s Britain,
Rating: 5/5
For fans of: Sherlock Holmes, Enola Holmes
Content Warnings: Discussions of alcohol and a small amount of sexual discussions
My Review: I have been on a mystery kick, and stumbled upon this new series, the Glass Library. Sylvia is in her early 20s living in London right after the war. Moving around a lot, she doesn't know much about her family lineage, but journals left behind by her brother who died in the war leave mention of her family being silver magicians (wizards). This takes Sylvia on an unlikely path, making friends with one of the most famous magician family's son, Gabe. This war time hero, now turned consultant for Scotland Yard, takes Sylvia under his arm on a case about a magician made portrait, arriving at an unforeseen ending. I absolutely loved this book, the era it takes place in, and the detail the author places in the book. It makes you feel like you are trying to solve the case yourself too. I highly recommend this book/series and looking forward to reading the next!

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Title: A Perfect Mistake
Author: Melanie Conklin
Publication Year: 2022
Age: 10+
Genre: Mystery, Fiction, Growing Up, Friendship, Mental Health,
Rating: 5/5
For fans of: mysteries, middle school, friendship
Content Warnings: Near death of a middle school student after an accident
My Review: This was a great book that pulled me in quickly. It focuses on a student with ADHD, his overcoming and learning to manage it, when entering 7th grade, and dealing with a scary and serious incident involving his friends. Max learns that the police is about to give up on figuring out what happened to his friend Will, and decides to start investigating himself. By the end, Max discovers a lot about his friends, his family, and himself. There are lots of twists and interesting parts of the book. I highly recommend it and think students would really get into this book.

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Title: Worser
Author: Jennifer Ziegler
Publication Year: 2022
Age: 10+
Genre: Children's, Fiction, Realistic Fiction, Mental Health, Autism
Rating: 4/5
For fans of: Middle school, Growing Up, Reading and Language, Autism,
Content Warnings: Mother has a severe and sudden stroke and father passed away at a young age.
My Review: This book as a whole was very interesting. I really enjoyed it as an adult looking into the mindset of middle schoolers. Worser is a 7th grader who is obsessed with language and the spoken word. He even has created his own word manuscript playing with words and how they are similar and different. He shares this love of words with his mother, who recently had a severe stroke and can no longer communicate with him on the level that she used to. His aunt, who is total opposite of his logical, and straight forward thinking, is staying with them to take care of his mother and him. Worser discovers a sanctuary at a local, unknown bookshop. Worser brings about the literature group at his school and after a series of events, finds out that the bookshop he has come to love is likely to close. Worser and the literature group find ideas, but Worser finds that he isn't like the others and things go downwards quickly. Worser is a good book, with a fun look at wordplay, life hardships, and overcoming challenges, but I'm not sure how many middle school students would relate to it.

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Title- Sweet Valley Twins- Best Friends

Author- Francine Pascal, Nicole   Andelfinger (Adapter)

Published Date- 2022

Age Range- 9+

Genre- Graphic Novel

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Friends, Middle School, Twins, Differences, Growing Up

Content Warning- Minimal Teen Drama

Book Review-  This book is about twin sisters who have always done everything the same as far as dressing alike, activities etc.  After entering middle school, they see this changing. I think this would be a good book for students entering middle school.  The book discusses some of the challenges young teens face entering this new chapter in their lives: cell phones, bullying, growing apart, sibling rivalry, school clubs, and finding yourself.  I especially like how the plot takes some twists and turns with the twins as they try to grow up and find themselves (together and independently) throughout the story.

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Title- The Baby-Sitter’s Club- Mary Anne’s Bad Luck Mystery

Author- Cynthia Yuan Cheng

Published Date- 2023

Age Range-  8+

Genre- Graphic Novel

Rating-   4/5

For Fans of- Mystery, Friends, Halloween, Spooky

Content Warning- None

Book Review- After getting a chain letter in the mail, and deciding to throw it away, bad luck seems to be following Mary Anne and her friend’s around. This is a good read for those who like a little bit of mystery and suspense. I enjoyed reading this book and seeing all of the bad luck that happened to the characters.

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Building- EMS

Title- Absolutely Nat

Author- Maria Scrivan

Published Date- 2021

Age Range- 8+

Genre- Graphic Novel

Rating-  4/5

For Fans of- Graphic Novels, Teen Books, Camp Settings, Friend Stories

Content Warning- None

Book Review- Natalie leaves her home to attend a summer camp at Camp Mosquito. At the start, she is scared and a little timid to do things at camp.  She believes a story about a lake monster, gets lost in the woods, has an encounter with Poison Ivy, is a little afraid to take the swim test, avoids the lake by trying camp activities and is forced to step out of her comfort zone. In the end, this is a cute book about challenging yourself to do things you would not do, and to making new friends.

I did enjoy the humor of the cat and dog left at home and their take on her leaving and the letters home to them and her mom.

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Title: The Ice Cream Machine

Publication: 2022

Age: 10+

Genre: Fiction/Humor

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Facts of Life, The Human Kaboom, Ancestor Approved

Content Warnings: bullying

My Review: This book is all over the place in a good way! It has a very unique format - there are 6 totally different short stories all dealing with an ice cream machine. The settings range from a jungle to a small kingdom where you can expect to encounter a robot, inventor, sorcerer, and even aliens! Each story also has black-and-white pictures by a different illustrator. To me, the stories were a little longer than what I would categorize as a "short story" and had a variety of pacing. A few words that come to mind when I think about the stories in this book are: imaginative, wacky, entertaining, and quirky. I think that there are a lot of middle school kids who would enjoy this style of writing, but it is not what I would say is my personal favorite.

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Title: A Place to Hang the Moon

Publication: 2021

Age: 10+

Genre: Historial Fiction

Rating: 5/5

For Fans of: The Last Mapmaker, Sweet Home Alaska

Content Warnings: foster care, war, family member death

My Review: This story follows the experiences of 3 siblings during WW2 who are forced to flee London.
William, Edmund, and Anna are resilient and personable despite their life circumstances. While staying in the countryside, they come in contact with a wide array of people and places. The children are placed in the homes of families in the countryside (billets) and have quite different living arrangements than they were used to in London! Being an orhpan could never be an enjoyable experience, but the fact that it is during a war makes the situation much more difficult. Their solace during this time is the love they have developed for reading. While reading this book, you will experience many heartbreaking as well as heartwarming moments!

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Title: Iron Widow

Publication: 2021

Age: 14-17

Genre: alternative fantasy

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: Chinese history, Mecha battles, Twilight

Content Warnings: Murder, Named character death, alcoholism, family death, family murder, mentions of 🤬, misogyny, polyamory, torture

My Review:
While the content of this book is a really unique take of alternative Chinese history, I don't feel like it knew what it wanted to be.  It starts off with a classic revenge story that morphed into a love triangle and ended with purposeful murder of a government official and the attempted conquering of the nation. It really goes off the rails the further along it goes.

Females and males work together to pilot giant mechas to protect humanity from the mecha aliens.  In the process, males use the females' chi, draining and killing their copilots.  Zetian volunteers for the sole purpose of killing her sister's murderer, revealing her untapped mecha piloting potential.  The army decides that she is too powerful and pairs her up with a convicted murderer, Li Shimin, knowing that she will be killed in the next battle.  She survives. The small taste of power drives her to working with Shimin, to revolutionize the pilot system and save girls from being murdered in the process.  Shimin, Zetian and Gao Yizhi (Zetian's original love interest) team up/fall in love.  From there, the book goes off the rails with a media mogul, assault, kidnapping and murder of a government official, a battle/invasion, family murder, conquering the main city, and aliens.

Initially the book starts off amazing and interesting.  However, each plot twist leads the reader to the realization that our main character is not a protagonist but makes more and more ethically wrong choices culminating in the attempted conquering of the entire country and the murder of her own family.  Each twist made the book harder to read and the pacing felt as though we were rushing through a sequel rather than the end of the novel. The author's compulsion to add plot twists means there are two plot twists in the epilogue that might be meant to hook us into a sequel. I will say, the world building is next level; unique and an imaginative retelling from China's history.

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Title: Babel

Publication: 2022

Age: 18 +

Genre: low fantasy, dark academia

Rating: 4.5

For Fans of:

Content Warnings: racism, xenophobia, parent death, suicide, main character death, drugs

My Review:
The novel follows Robin, a Cantonese boy, a ward of a xenophobic professor who attends the language institute (Babel) of Oxford, England during the early 1800s.  There, silver is worked with pairs of similar words of differing languages that helps power the Industrial Revolution. The book deals heavily with issues of xenophobia, racism, colonization.

While the novel is incredibly slow during the first half as Robin attends Oxford, it lays the foundation of him deciding to join a revolution to undo the colonizing might of England as it pilfers and abuses the homelands of him and his friends.  At the halfway point, the novel really takes off as a split second decision propels Robin and co. into the rebellion and into worse and worse straits.  The pacing of this book is a bit jarring; incredibly slow for so long and then it takes off and at the end of the book, it feels like a wild race towards the end.  Robin comes to realize his place in the world; with China as his motherland but living a privileged life in England working to further England's military might in oppressing China.

Overall, the book is well written and the characters are pleasing to read.  Kuang does a masterful job of writing Robin and his three friends and their perspectives of England relative to their back ground.  The latter portions of the book almost inspire whiplash as things go from near idyllic academic scenes to the violence with which the rebellion is quelled.  The ending is tragic with Robin accepting and causing his own death to stop the military might of England and saving his country from invasion.

Kuang is a very skilled author who weaves an amazing tale with important themes that are grappled with by the characters and the reader. The characters face challenging struggles, both internal and external, that pull the reader into the world in a way that most authors cannot do.

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Title: Me, Frida, and the Secret of the Peacock Ring
Author: Angela Cervantes
Publication Year: 2022
Age: Grades 6-10/ YA
Genre: Mystery, Cultural, takes place in Mexico, Young Adult, Middle Grades, Adventure, Family, Art
Rating: 5/5
For Fans of: Mysteries like Enola Holmes
Content Warnings: small amount of violence, stalking, a parent passing

My Review: I stumbled upon this book after reading Enola Holmes (and I think I might be getting into mysteries a lot!). I loved this book. Paloma visits Mexico City with her mother for the first time, the home of her deceased father. She lost her father when she was 3 and Paloma is very timid to go out of her comfort zone, until she meets two new friends, Lizzie and Gael. She learns from these two that there is a secret, lost ring from the famous artist, Frida Kahlo, and if they find it, it will get them a lot of recognition. After finding her love of sleuthing, Paloma learns more about her friends though that puts her in a hard spot, and she must trust the clues and her heart to figure out which direction to go. This book is full of mystery and adventure, as well as a great way to bring another culture into a story for students to learn about and embrace.

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Title: The Year I Stopped Trying

Author:
Publication Year: 2021

Age: 12+

Genre: teens, realistic fiction, LGBTQ+, Coming of Age, young adult, mental health

Rating: 3.5/5

For Fans of: Perks of Being a Wallflower, Hollow Fires, Nothing Burns as Bright as You, Margot Mertz Takes It Down

Content Warnings: Mature Language & Discussions, Alcohol, Difficult Decisions, Mental Health

My Review: This book had several twists and turns that I didn't always foresee coming, which kept me on my toes. A 16-year old, Mary, is an A+, overachieving student, who never would be seen doing anything considered wrong or bad. However, one day, in history, she realizes she didn't do her essay, and that's when she begins to contemplate, "What happens if I stopped turning in my homework?", which leads to "What happens if I stop trying?" We follow Mary's inner monologue and constant internal conflict between who she is expected to be and who she is as an individual. She thinks finding a boyfriend may be her answer, but life throws her a different curve ball. She finds out a lot about herself (with the helpful, unintentional nudge from her younger brother), and what is important to her as a human being.

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Title: Focused
Author: Alyson Gerber
Publication Year: 2022
Age: 11-13
Genre: Realistic Fiction, disabilities, ADHD, Middle School, Coming of Age, Chess, mental health
Rating: 5/5
For Fans of: learning more about students with disabilities, Taking Up Space, Braced, Finding Perfect
Content Warnings: broken family issues with one of the side characters, disability triggers

My Review: I stumbled upon this book on Hoopla and absolutely loved it. A middle school girl, Clea, wants to do really well in school, chess, and keeping up with her friends, but she easily gets distracted or blurts out things without thinking. Her teachers and parents are all concerned, and suggest that she gets tested. She ends up finding out she has ADHD, and she is torn with being happy knowing why she struggles so much, and upset that she feels like she should be able to ignore it and do well by simply working hard. Through her struggles, her friends and family show her that ADHD won't always control her life. Clea learns to believe in herself and use strategies to help her be successful. This book is a great example of perseverance, learning to believe in yourself, and overcoming obstacles. I really enjoyed the storyline, the twists, and watching Clea find herself. I think it would be something many students could relate to and thoroughly love.

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Title: The Shadow of the Gods

Publication: 2021

Age: High School

Genre: Fantasy, Fiction

Rating: 4.5/5

For Fans of: Vikings, Dragons, Action and Adventure, Fantasy based on historical reality

Content Warnings: graphic violence, child abduction, named character death

My Review:
The Shadow of the Gods is the first book of a trilogy that follows 3 characters; an escaped slave, a former mercenary turned mother and a current mercenary.  I love that 2 of those characters are females who are well written.  Each character has a well written goal with a rich back ground.  I really loved the former mercenary's story, even if it took a while to get started. The Thrall's story and the Former Mercenary's stories were really great to read because their motivations were so well done and really heart breaking

The book has heavy action in almost every chapter and the stakes feel real and imminent. The action is violent and described in detail.  His fantasy characters seem to be based on Nordic mythology which might not be familiar to all audience members. At times it is a struggle to understand the world as the author references the gods as though we the reader know the background religion of the world, which is why it loses a half star for me.

The author does a great job of basing his fantasy world in the era of Vikings by pulling in historical details into the story, for example, specifying that a character's hat is nalbound in it's construction instead of knit or crocheted.  Gwynne does a great job of fleshing out a fantasy realm that is not based on Tolkien, so it feels fresh.

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Title: Enola Holmes and the Black Barouche
Author: Nancy Springer
Publication Year: 2021
Age: 11-15
Genre: Mystery, Young Adult, Middle Grades, Teen, British, late 1800s
Rating: 5/5
For Fans of: Mysteries, Sherlock Holmes, strong female driven stories
Content Warnings: mental health, insane asylum, marital abuse,

My Review: This book was great. I watched both films about Enola Holmes on Netflix, and when I spotted a newer book in this series I had to read it. I was not disappointed. Enola is a fantastic protagonist who is full of spirit and a can-do attitude. She was raised by a mother who taught her she can do anything a man can do, even better than them. At 14, she stumbles into a case brought to her brother, Sherlock, and together they must help Tish figure out what truly happened to her twin, who according to her brother law, had passed away suddenly. After initial investigations, all signs are pointing to her twin being alive and they must figure out what has happened to her through lots of scheming and planning. The book keeps you on the edge and wanting more. I think it would definitely be a favorite of middle school and high school students.

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Title: Monsters Born and Made

Publication: 2022

Age: Middle school

Genre: YA fiction, fantasy

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: fantasy, the Hunger Games, Percy Jackson

Content Warnings: abuse in the home, terminally ill sibling, brutal parent death

My Review:
Overall this was an enjoyable book.  It feels like the Hunger Games featuring a Ben Hur style chariot race with a slight love triangle that is reminiscent of Twilight.

This is a fresh fantasy where the elite live underground safe from the harmful effects of the sun and the rest live outside struggling to survive against the super charged sun, fantastical beasts and poverty.  Coral Hunter, who captures Meristags (like a aquatic deer/horse with a temper like a wet chihuahua but with big teeth and poisonous barbs) to sell to the elite tricks her way into the Glory Race to win enough money to keep her terminally ill sister alive.  While doing this, she falls back in love with a former boyfriend who is kind of a jerk the entire book to her. Her dad and his dad are both abusive and that seems to be the foundation of their connection.

Through out the novel, Coral comes to grips with her place in society and how the forces of the elite and the rebels alike are preserving the status quo and don't care about the average person.  The book doesn't give you a Hunger Games ending of the government being overthrown and a better tomorrow, rather Coral gets framed as working with the rebellion, her parents are executed and she just barely manages to escape with her life with the established government still in power and hunting her.  It does seem to stage itself well for a second novel.

I did drop the rating from a 5/5 due to the descriptions by the author were at times not the most clear. I also docked points for the love interest being so toxic and that never really being remedied but excused rather. Overall an enjoyable, a new story with familiar elements, but almost nothing good happens to the main character. She starts impoverished and then her house is burned down by rebels, her terminally ill sister nearly dies in the fire, her brother is accused of being a rebel then imprisoned and escapes, her parents are executed and she is running from the government...while on an island.

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Title: Charm (5th book in Crave series)

Author: Tracy Wolff
Publication Year: 2022

Age: 13 +

Genre: Young Adult, paranormal, fantasy, romance, supernatural,

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Twilight, Harry Potter,

Content Warnings: paranormal, romance, mature relationship, violence

My Review: This is the 5th book in the Crave series, which I have read and thoroughly enjoyed. This book goes back in time to a memory of the main character, Grace, when she actually goes unconscious to the world around her, as she turns into a gargoyle for the first time ever. This book takes place in her subconscious at first, where she is forced to live with her boyfriend's(mate's) "evil" vampire brother. Grace has been told all through the first book how terrifying he is and that he cannot be trusted. But as Grace and Hudson are pushed together after several conflicts and battles, they learn to trust one another--even to the point of wondering how much they really do care for one another. Grace and Hudson get out of the room, but then find themselves in another dimension where they realize they could be stuck there for the rest of their lives, never to see their family and friends again.

This book has lots of twists and turns, and at times it could get confusing with the time jumps that Wolff uses. I would recommend the Crave series, but this last book wasn't one of my favorites unfortunately since it was hard to follow at times.

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Title: An Occasionally Happy Family

Publication: 2021

Age: 12+

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: The Road to Wherever, A Duet for Home, Consider the Octopus

Content Warnings: Death of a Family Member, Cancer

My Review: This was a cute and funny book from the perspective of Theo who is on a family vacation with his dad and older sister. I instantly empathized with the siblings as they lamented over their vacation itinerary. The location was great, but the plans their dad had did not sound fun! A theme throughout the book was how each character was dealing with the loss of their mom/wife. This made for some heartfelt moments in between the comedy. The big "surprise" from their dad proved to be an interesting twist on the vacation and ended up changing things for everyone. Theo, his sister, Laura, and their dad are all very relatable, endearing characters.

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Title: Moon in Bastet

Author: E.S. Danon
Publication Year: 2023

Age: 13+

Genre: fiction, history, religion, magic, mysticism, feminism

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: The Chronicles of Narnia, The Unmarked Witch,

Content Warnings: some racist comments from some side characters about Middle Eastern sects and Jews, brief discussion of female growth and puberty, mental and physical abuse, alcoholism

My Review: Eva is a 14-year old girl, who was orphaned and found by a nearby group of Bedouin women. The women and their husband gave her up to a Christian Circus woman, Bella, in order so they could remain on a nearby piece of land peacefully, instead of being nomadic. Bella, however, is abusive and a drunk, and takes all of her anger out on Eva, who she treats as her personal slave, while the boys at the circus maintain their freedom and fair treatment from her. Eva's only friend is Jack, a Jewish boy, who runs the ticket booth and stays with the circus majority of the year because his family couldn't afford to raise him. He is quirky, but sticks by Eva's side, even when she is hateful to him. Eva struggles throughout the book wondering why she must remain where she is, and how come God won't just spite her and put her out of her misery. It isn't until the arrival of a tuxedo cat, Andy, when Eva finally feels she has someone to fight for and love completely. So much so, she is willing to put her life on the line to compete in the Circle of Fire. Through this journey, Eva begins to find self-love and self-worth for herself and realize what she actually deserves in her life.

This story shows the fight and struggle that is still occurring today in the Middle East between religions and the ill treatment of women. It shows how many religions treat women as a second class citizen and not as an equal, and the injustice behind that. The author speaks from her own knowledge as a descendant of family members who were Jewish and who were also lost in the Holocaust. There is a lot of symbolism, heartbreak, and triumphs in this book. To fully understand it, I would recommend it to high school age and older.

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Title: Linked
Author: Gordon Korman
Publication Year: 2021
Age: 11-13
Genre: Realistic Fiction, history, mystery, holocaust, middle grade
Rating: 5/5 Love!
For Fans of: learning more about the Holocaust,
Content Warnings: discussions of racism, and deaths of those effected by the Holocaust

My Review: This book has been my favorite yet. I always find myself loving every book by Gordon Korman. Linked is told from the perspective of multiple students/characters in the story. In Chokecherry, CO (a very small town), nothing ever seems to happen, until one day, one of the students spots a horrendous drawing on the wall--a swastika. The school gives tolerance lessons for weeks, thinking that should solve the problem, however, the swastika instead begins popping up everywhere. The student body decides they need to do something about it, and they set their minds to making 6 million linked chains to remember the Jewish people. This gets the attention of not only everyone in town, but people around the world who send links to the school to contribute. While this is all going on, one of the students, Link Raleigh, has found out that he has a past family connection to the Holocaust that hits home. The book is filled with twists and turns, and mystery trying to band together to unite against racism, and find out who is behind the swastika drawings.

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Title: Abby, Tried and True
Author: Donna Gephart

Publication Year: 2021

Age: 6th-8th Grade

Genre: Fiction

Rating: 4/5

For Fans of: Babysitters Club, Violets are Blue, Taking Up Space

Content Warnings: Cancer, Bullying, Self-Esteem Issues

My Review:
This book was a heart-warming, easy read from beginning to end!
Abby is a 7th grader dealing with a serious family health issue along with missing her best friend who moves away and a new relationship with the boy next door. She is a mature middle school girl who enjoys poetry and her pet turtle. Many will identify with Abby's feelings of insecurity, and anxiety over the events in her life. The book takes Abby through changes and challenges while showing the growth of her character. Some of it is a bit predictable but in a good way.

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Title: Hey Bruce
Author: Ryan T Higgins
Publication year: 2022
Age: Grades K-3
Genre: Picture Book, Animals, Humor
Rating: 4/5
For Fans of: Press the Button, Bunny Slopes, Humor, Interactive books, Bruce the Bear, and Author Ryan T Higgins
Content Warnings: None

I LOVE Ryan T Higgins' books!  I was so excited to get my hands on the newest in the "Mother Bruce" series.  This one features the usual cast of characters, but this time it's interactive and the reader gets to play along with the critters.  This will be perfect for a read aloud.

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Title: Knight Owl
Author: Christopher Denise
Publication: 2022
Age: Grades K-3
Genre: Picture Book, Fantasy, Animals
Rating: 5/5
For Fans of Small Saul, Tiny T Rex, We Don't Eat our Classmates, Sweet/Cute Books
Content Warning: None

I've been seeing this book show up on everyone's "Best of the Year" lists and I had to give it a try.  It is the cutest story and the cutest illustrations.  Our fearless Knight Owl, goes on Night Knight Owl duty and must take on the fearsome dragon all on is own!  So Sweet. I love the play on words - the students may not pick up on this on their own - but the adult readers will! I love the themes of determination, friendship, working toward your goals.  This one could win some awards this year.

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Title: Five SurviveAuthor: Holly Jackson

Publication: 2022

Age: High School

Genre: Mystery Thriller

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: Scary, suspenseful books, April Henry, Holly Jackson

Content Warnings: Gore, Death, Gun Violence, Descriptions of Injuries, Crime, Death of a Parent, Death of a loved one

This was a wild ride. Six teens trapped in an RV with a sniper outside wanting to know someone's secret...

While the plot was extremely, ridiculously over the top, it absolutely kept me reading to see who had what secret, who the sniper outside was, and obviously which "Five Survive." I had a real love/hate relationship with 5/6 of the characters and just flat out hated one character from page one. I definitely think this was due to the way Jackson had to write all the characters to keep you suspicious of each one of them - I found myself rooting for them sometimes and then other times they had me hearing that meme voice "Oh No. It's Melanie. That's a shame, she was really nice." Like I said, wild ride. But that one character was just horrible 24/7 and had absolutely no positive at all and I wished I could punch him in the face more than once.

I would really really have loved one more piece to the epilogue documents at the end though... IYKYK.

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Title: Packing for Mars for Kids

Author: Mary Roach

Publication year: 2022

Age: Grades 4 - 8

Genre: Nonfiction - Science

Rating: 3/5

For Fans of: Strange Facts, Space, Informational Books

Content Warnings: Talk of bathroom use and bodily functions

I read an adult Mary Roach title a few years ago and loved it, so I was excited to see one of her books adapted for younger readers.  The thing I love about Mary Roach is she approaches an interesting topic not as an expert but as a learning, and it really makes you feel like you're on the journey with her.  This one takes on a trip to space to examine how we actually get people outside Earth's atmosphere and what living in zero-gravity really looks and feels like.  While some of the bodily function talk was kinda gross, it is a fact of life and a hurtle for space travelers and I think the kiddos won't mind reading about it all.

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Title: Nine Liars (Truly Devious #5)

Author: Maureen Johnson

Publication year: 2022

Age: Grades 8+

Genre: Mystery/Thriller

Rating:  4/5

For Fans of: Truly Devious Series, Good Girls Guide to Murder, Agatha Christie, One of Us is Lying

Content Warnings: Violence, Death, Murder, Fade to Black Sex Scene, Non-detailed discussion of sex between characters, Grief, Anxiety, Panic Disorders

I'm a huge fan of this series and this was another great addition to the set.  While books 1-3 have an overarching plot that really lends itself to reading the books in order, books 4 and 5 are more like spinoffs.  While you will probably get more out of the reference to Stevie's past cases if you read the prior books, you don't need to in order to enjoy this stand alone book.  In this book, we see Stevie and her gang head to England for a study abroad trip and for a visit with Stevie's boyfriend David.  And Stevie being Stevie, she quickly finds herself pulled into an investigation of a murder of two teens in England from the 90s.

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Title: Ain't Burned All the Bright
Author: Jason Reynolds, art by Jason Griffin
Publication: 2022
Age: Gr 7+
Genre: Nonfiction, Poetry
Rating: 5/5
For Fans of Brown Girl Dreaming, Jason Reynolds, books that make you reflect on your experiences
Content Warning: racism, violence, illness, illness of a parent, anxiety

This book was so good.  I'd actually been actively avoiding it because I find the poetry and art combo a little intimidating.   As I started to realize this book was going to be on every end of the year list and likely would win some awards, I decided to give in.  And I'm so glad I did.  Reynolds poem is set in the tumultuous year of 2020 and is represented through three breaths with the continued theme of an oxygen mask. The first breath centers the unrest and protests after the death of George Floyd.  The second breath centers around the COVID-19 Pandemic and sick loved ones.  And the third breathe cycles through a moment of relief and hope.  I was blown away by this book.

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Title: Barb and the Ghost Blade
Author: Dan & Jason
Publication Year: 2022
Age: 3rd - 6th Grade
Genre: Graphic Novel, Humor, Fantasy
Rating: 4/5
For Fans of: Dog Man, The Bad Guys

Content Warnings: Violence, Grief

I absolutely love this series.  It is cute, funny, and adventurous.  I love Barb and her determination, her kindness, her bravery.  I enjoy her interactions with all the characters along the way as she builds her own little group of Berzerkers to save her original squad.  I think this really ticks all the boxes for interest level in a graphic novel.  This series currently has 2 books and I anticipate more to come in the future!

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Title: Bomb

Author: Steve Sheinkin & Nick Bertozzi

Publication year: 2023

Age: Grade 5 - 9

Genre: Graphic Novel, Nonfiction, Science, World War II

Rating:  4/5

For Fans of: Bomb (Original Chapter Book), Science Comics,  Torpedo

Content Warnings: War Related Violence, Atomic Bomb Related Violence and Death, Lies & Spies

I LOVED the original chapter book version of the book, so I knew I had to get my hands on this new graphic novel edition!  Personally, I think I preferred the chapter book, but I think this will be another great way for students to access this information.  The thing I like most about both editions is how accessible Sheinkin makes the science behind the atomic bomb - he made me feel very smart! This will draw kids in with the tension, the invention and advancements, the secrecy, and the horrible power of the world developing such a weapon.  This is a must read!

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** COMING IN MAY 2023!! **
Title: I Survived the Great Chicago Fire Graphic Novel

Author: Lauren Tarshis

Publication year: 2023

Age: Grades 3 - 6

Genre: Historical Fiction/Graphic

Rating:  3/5

For Fans of:  I Survived, Graphic Adaptations, Natural Disasters

Content Warnings:  Injury/Death related to the Fire, Child Poverty, Criminal Activity, Death of a Parent, Grief, Description of injuries/death

My Review:
The kids LOVE these graphic adaptations of the original I Survived books, but I think it took them a while to get the hang of adapting chapter to graphic.  The last few have been much better and this maybe the best yet.  These are such a great and engaging way to get kids learning about history.  I also learn something when I read on of these books.  I also usually end up researching more about the topics myself afterword.  I Survived books, especially the Graphic Novels, are fantastic for reluctant readers.

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Title: The Sleepover

Author: Michael Regina

Publication year: 2021

Age: Grades 5 - 8

Genre: Scary, Graphic Novel

Rating:  3/5

For Fans of:  Stranger Things, Nightmares, Small Spaces

Content Warnings: Death of a Child, Grief, Violence, References to Scary Movies

My Review:  This was such a great way to package a book about living with grief in a graphic novel that the kids will eat up!  We see elements of grief on several levels and the end result of taking that grief in a positive or negative directions. The overarching storyline though revolves around scary movies and neighborhood legends and will engage kids who enjoy scary books.

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Title: Unfamiliar

Author: Haley Newsome

Publication year: 2022

Age: Grades 6+

Genre:  Graphic Novel, Fantasy, Humor

Rating:   4/5 Stars!

For Fans of:  Cucumber Quest, Nimona, Lumberjanes, Ana's Ghost

Content Warnings: Isolation, Self-Esteem Issues

This is another adorable graphic novel!  I love the can-do attitude of our main character that really seeps into the rest of the characters.  I love they combine their witchy powers, they seemingly can do anything!  I like that friendship, positivity, persistence, and growth are all themes in this cute, humorous little graphic novel about a hodge-podge group of witches.

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COMING IN AUG 2023!
Title:  Things in the Basement

Author: Ben Hatke

Publication year: 2023

Age: Grades 4 - 7

Genre: Fantasy, Scary, Adventure, Graphic Novel

Rating:  4/5

For Fans of: Amulet, Cucumber Quest, Barb the Last Barbarian, The Bad Guys

Content Warnings: Could be scary for sensitive kiddos, ghosts, monsters, fear, isolation

While this graphic novel has very few words, the story telling is so rich through the images.  This is one of my new favorites!  I love the idea of the adventure through the basement(s) and gathering a rag-tag group for an adventure to save a missing sock.  I thought this was creative and emotionally impactful and I can't wait for this to come out and more people to read this.  I really really hope we see a sequel to this one.

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Title: A First Time For Everything

Author: Dan Santat

Publication year: 2023

Age: Grade 5+

Genre: Realistic, Graphic Novel

Rating:  4/5

For Fans of:  Smile, Guts, Babysitters Club Graphix

Content Warnings: Bullying, Chronic Illness, Self-Esteem Issues

My Review:
Dan Santat is a rock star. He is my favorite kidlit creator and he just nails it every time! I haven't yet read everything he's worked on, but I've yet to find one that I didn't fall in love with. A First Time for Everything is a story about Dan finding himself, his self-confidence, and falling in love for the first time all backdropped by a European tour with his peers before he starts high school. I love the honesty and realness and relatability. Anyone who was self-conscious, afraid, lost, insecure, etc in middle school (which is everyone) will relate to Dan and his amazing trip through Europe learning to love himself and trust himself. If you haven't read Santat yet, pick this up immediately. If you have read Santat, it's already on your TBR, I'm sure!

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