Journey to Tomioka: A Graphic Novel

Galandon, Lauren, Crouzat, Michaël (Illustrator), Smith, Owen (Translator), and Smith, Anne (Translator)
Journey to Tomioka: A Graphic Novel
June 9, 2026 by First Second
Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Osamu and his sister, Akiko, are being raised in Japan in the aftermath of the Fukushima nuclear disaster by their grandmother, Bā-chan. It’s been difficult for Osamu, who is not dealing with the death of his parents well, and he befriends yōkai, spirits that no one else can see. When the grandmother passes away, a cousin from the city offers to take the children to live with her, even though her husband isn’t very keen on the idea. As they are preparing for the move, Osamu is adamant that Bā-chan’s ashes be taken to her family farm, but since that is in the restricted zone, it’s not an easy task. The area is still radioactive, and hard to get to. The children are taken into the area to take the ashes to the cemetery, but Osamu runs away deeper into the zone. Akiko goes after her brother, and the two make the perilous journey to the farm, having to evade law enforcement, and endangering themselves with the radiation. They are successful in their mission, but somewhat affected by the radiation. They move to the city with their cousin, and slowly start to make their new life in Tokyo, where Osamu’s spirit friends join him.

The Fukushima disaster in 2011 is something I vividly remember, and it’s a little surprising that there haven’t been middle grade books about the event other than I Survived the Japanese Tsunami, 2011 by Lauren Tarshis and the nonfiction books Meltdown by Deirdre Langeland and Meltdown: The Nuclear Disaster in Japan and Our Energy Future… by Alfred B. Bortz. Adding a fantasy element that is culturally connected to the book is interesting, and the yōkai help out Osamu as he works his way through his dangerous and upsetting journey to place his grandmother’s ashes in a location where she would be comfortable.

The illustrations have a manga-like feel to them that also connects to Japanese culture, and have a muted green and yellow color palette interspersed with some darker nighttime shades of mauve and plum. The translation is very smooth, and young readers probably won’t even realize this is a translation from the French. I liked the notes at the end detailing the author’s research and showing some photographs of Fukushima.

Readers who were interested in the recent graphic novel Chernobyl, Life, and Other Disasters: A Graphic Memoir by Yevgenia Nayberg or who have found other stories about disasters like Faris’s Finding Normal, Brown’s Drowned City: Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans, and Bard’s Wildfire interesting will want to pick this up.

Guy Friday- Earth to Chris Cleevy

Bogacs, Christo, Krieger, Hannah (Illustrator), and Savos, Sammy Savos (Illustrator)
Earth to Chris Cleevy
August 25, 2026 by HarperAlley
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel, Chris lives with his mother after his dad has left, and is very interested in a variety of science fiction stories and video games. He shares this interest with friends Flo and Jayden. Flo has been his friend since kindergarten, and also loves taking care of her own aquarium, as well as ones at school. Jayden is new to the area, and having trouble connecting with the boys on the basketball team, but feels like a third wheel with Chris and Flo. After Chris watches the very scary Mind-Eaters film and his mother announces that she is dating a man named Phil whom she wants Chris to meet, he starts to exhibit more OCD symptoms and tics as he worries that Phil is perhaps an alien. In addition to tying and retying his shoelaces (which sometimes takes so long that his friends say “Earth to Chris”, hence the title), he flicks light switches on and off a certain number of times, rebuttons his shirt, and has trouble choosing a pair of socks, thinking that everything depends on him completing these tasks in exactly the right way. He goes through Phil’s bag looking for clues that he is an alien, and when he finds a ray gun, decides to take it to the authorities. He ends up in the police station, and his mother realizes that there is a problem. She takes Chris to Dr. Jenny, who helps him come up with strategies to manage his condition. Jayden is hurt that Chris isn’t speaking to him, and talks candidly with his father about how to communicate with his friend. Flo also has concerns, but the three eventually talk and end the book with a better friendship and understanding of each other’s needs.
Strengths: The graphic novel format allows Chris to have Walter Mitty like moments of seeing his fears come true, as Phil and people close to him take on the guise of aliens. The underlying cause for his compulsions (his fear that his mother will leave him) makes sense, and I was glad to see that his father was realistically absent and not dead. The friend drama is true to the often seen dynamic in groups of three, and the way the issues are resolved definitely embrace the modern zeitgeist with sensitive discussions and psychotherapy based language. The illustrations are nicely done, and the incorporation of science fiction based media will appeal to readers who also like this genre.
Weaknesses: While Chris seems to be in middle school, his belief that Phil might be an alien seems like a concern of a younger child, although unusual beliefs are a feature of OCD of which I was unaware. This is a semi-autobiographical account of the nonbinary author’s own life, so perhaps that belief is also held by the author.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked introspective graphic novel accounts of difficult childhood experiences like Page’s Button Pusher, Ogle and Valeza’s Four Eyes, or Kobabe and Shikumar’s Opting Out or Cooke’s Puzzled.

Raise the Bar

Frick, Fernanda H. Raise the Bar: A Graphic Novel
August 25, 2026 by Dial Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this graphic novel, Samata Sánchez lives in Santiago, Chile and is obsessed with weight lifting. While her older brother, Pedro, is supportive of her dreams, her parents are not. They think that competitive sports in Chile are not a good choice, so discourage her. She’s never had a coach, and has learned everything from Barb Miller , a US influencer, but when Eva dos Santos, an Olympic weightlifting coach, is recruiting for the HPC school, Sam tries out. When she makes it, her parents so let her attend the school, and she is surprised to find that Barb is also there. There are teens from across Latin America there, competing in a variety of sports. Sam ends up rooming with Barb, and befriends JoJo, Karen, and Tom, whose father works in the kitchen. There is some mix up with Sam’s accommodations, so she ends up eating in the kitchen for several months, and gets to know Tom well. Sam dedicates herself to training in a single mided way that isn’t particularly healthy, and is isolated from the other students. When she attends a competition to qualify for the Pan American Championships, she pushes herself far beyond her capabilities, even though Eva warns her that it is a bad idea. Sam ends up injuring her knee, but decides to stay at the school to recuperate, and ends up making friends and helping out. She also is able to regain some of the joy of weight lifting that she had lost. She develops a romantic relationship with Tom (and other students, like JoJo and Karen, couple up as well) and finally makes peace with her parents and their expectations.
Strengths: Sam’s love of weight lifting will resonate with athletes who are fond of their own sport, and her attendance at the prestigious HPC school will seem like a dream come true to them. The cast of characters is interesting and diverse, and Sam’s relationship with her “rival”, Barb, is particularly well done. While I was surprised that the coach allowed Sam to attempt liftin beyond her range, young athletes definitely push themselves too far sometimes, and even the most cautious teens have to suffer through injuries from time to time. The addition of a little romance makes this even more appealing, and the artwork is charming.
Weaknesses: There are a lot of technical explanations of weight lifting that will appeal to fans of the sport, but might slow down the story for those who are unfamiliar. This is on the long side, and was originally conceived as an animated show, although it was never developed as such.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy sports books with different sports, like Pérez’s Tumble or Egbe’s Run Like a Girl.

100 Things I Love About School- Happy New Year!

I love being back at school. We had sixth graders yesterday, but EVERYONE is back today! It's so exciting! Everything is clean and in place, there are new books up on display, and I get to spend a good portion of the day (when not dealing with ViewBoards, Chromebooks, or helping people did their classes) recommending books to people. It does NOT get any better than this. No new outfit, but I get to wear a dress, jacket, real shoes, and earrings instead of sweat pants. The school even smells good, like lemon cleaner and floor polish. 

Not sure when it became cool to hate school and want to retire, but after a long, hot summer of having to find things to accomplish every day, I am so happy to be back. I can only hope that my grandson will look forward to school, and reading books like the following can only help! 

Schwartz, Amy and Tolstikova, Dasha. 100 Things I Love About School

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Early elementary school is such an exciting place, and this picture book captures the glory of morning meetings, storytimes, and gold stars. There are a lot of different activities, like building things, exercising, and using scissors and glue. There can be parachutes to play with, fantastic playgrounds, and lots of friends. There are even some snacks, musical instruments, and class plays. At the end of the year, there can be moving-up day, which means an opportunity for more adventures the following year. 

Told in fast-paced, free wheeling verse, this book is a triumphant list of all of the things that make school a much more enticing atmosphere than just staying home. While I'm just as glad that I work with older children (less leakage, which is not depicted in this tome!), the lure of doing things for the first time has an undeniable appeal, and the exuberance of young children comes through in the text. 

The illustrations have an early 1980s feel to them; they are rendered in graphite and watercolor, and have limited backgrounds, making the children and activities really stand out of the page. I'm not familiar with the late Ms. Schwartz's work, but she had been writing and illustrating for a long time. Tolstikova does a good job at paying homage to her style. 

As the back to school sales start up, this is a great book to read while arranging new crayons in scissors in a school box. Continue with Clapham and Shireen's The Tour at School, Brenner and Hill's And Then Comes School, and Olsen and Sonke's A Letter From Your Teacher on the First Day of School. You can even delve deep into history and embrace the plaid school bag with its hidden stuffed animal in Haywood's classic 1943 Back to School with Betsy. 

Little Monsters

Roche, Máire. Little Monsters

August 18, 2026 by Aladdin

ARC provided by the publisher

Meg March lives with her three sisters in Salem, Massachusetts, where they are cared for by foster mother, Marmee. They have had a lot of placements, all in Salem, but they have never worked out particularly well. It doesn't help that Meg o manifests sharp teeth and long claws when stressed, Jo becomes covered in fur, Amy is part mermaid and struggles with issues when she gets near seawater, and young Beth has bat wings. As Halloween approaches, Meg wants to fulfill her sister's wishes for costumes, even though this means caring for chickens for Mr. Laurence next door. His grandson, Laurie, lives with him, and is Jo's best friend, and a young John Brooke, whose parents can't care for him, lives there as well. Brooks (as he is known) sees Meg with her sharp teeth when they run into each other in the woods by their houses, but doesn't doesn't bother her about it. Meg is fortunate to have a very caring friend in Sally, who is always supportive, but is frequently bullied by the well-to-do Annie and her brother Ned Moffat. There is an animal on the loose in Salem who is eating chickens and destroying property, and Meg starts to worry that she is the one doing these things when she wakes up covered in dirt, with no memory of being outside. With security cameras all around town, she's concerned that there are videos of her transforming into a monster. She even breaks into Annie's house to try to retrieve footage, and finds that Annie might not be treated very well. Occasionally, Meg does things she isn't supposed to do, like staying out late, but Marmee never gets upset; she tries to support Meg, even helping her save favorite breakfast foods that her sisters usually take. Meg doesn't understand why Marmee is so supportive, and still feels that it is her job to provide for her sisters and take care of them. Brooks is also always on Meg's side, and helps her out frequently. Meg does go to the public library to research monsters in Salem after hearing that there are more monsters around than one would suspect, but still feels it is important to hide her true self. When the monster attacks result in Ned being hospitalized, the townspeople gather pitchforks and torches to go after the monster. Meg finds out surprising information about Marmee, and doesn't know quite whom to trust. Is hiding her true self and never asking help the best way for her to live her life as a monster? 

Strengths: Meg doesn't get much coverage in the original book, so it is interesting to see life from her perspective, especially since we also see her future husband, John Brooke. This uses the original characters well, tweaking essential information about them just slightly. For example, we see Ms. Hummel show up as a school teacher. Having the girls in foster care makes Meg's role as the oldest sister more important, and watching her try so hard to mother her sisters is heart warming. The fact that Meg doesn't want to ask for help is a big facet of this book, right up there with the fact that she is trying to hide her true self. Both of these themes are on trend both in middle grade literature and also in social emotional learning practices. This isn't really a scary book, since we only hear about the antics of the "monster" after the fact, so this is more of a book about personal identity and relationships, which makes it truer to the original. 
Weaknesses: I'm afraid that populating this story with Little Women characters will lose more middle grade readers than it will gain. While I'm not sure exactly where the original story was set, I always imagined it was Concord rather than Salem, but that could just be my own assumptions. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like allegorical fantasy books like Lucas' The Vanished Ones , Haydu's The Ordinary and Extraordinary Auden Greene, Leavitt's The Garden Just Beyond. or Savaryn's The Edge of In Between. I just don't have the readers for this type of fantasy book at my library.

Right before I started at my current school in 2002, I was a raffle winner in a library reading contest! Got my picture in the local paper, and told them that "My goal is to read every fiction book in the library", which I thought would take 15 years. It only took me until 2011, when I finished Zirpoli's Roots in the Outfield. I contacted the newspaper, and they came to school to interview me, which was fun. Nothing like setting a ridiculous goal and actually achieving it! 

And yes, I've been wearing this thrift store 1980s jacket ever since. I used to wear a LOT of plaid! 

MMGM- Women and Girls in Sports (with Bonus Blather!)

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

King, Billie Jean and Robbins, Liz. 

See It To Be It: Eleven Champions Leading Women's Sports Today

August 11, 2026 by Calkins Creek

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

From the Publisher:

"Tennis legend Billie Jean King profiles 11 of today’s pioneering athletes in women's sports  in this inspiring nonfiction book based on exclusive interviews that will empower athletes and sports fans ages 12 and up.

Billie Jean King made history in her 1973 "Battle of the Sexes" tennis match against Bobby Riggs. She proved that a woman athlete was as capable, determined, and worth watching as a man. Now, she highlights the trailblazing athletes of women's sports of today who are proving the same thing every time they play.

In See It To Be It, readers will learn about superstars athletes like tennis player Naomi Osaka and WNBA sensation Caitlin Clark, as well as players on the rise, such as Paralympic swimmer McKenzie Coan and Kendall Coyne Schofield of the gold medal-winning US Olympic hockey team. Based on exclusive interviews and featuring never-before-published photos, this electrifying book shares true stories that will energize young athletes and prove that legends aren’t just born, they’re made—both on and off the playing field.

Athletes profiled are Caitlin Clark (basketball), Diana Flores (flag football), Kendall Coyne Schofield (hockey), Midge Purce (soccer), Asjia O’Neal (volleyball), Kelsie Whitmore (baseball), Amit Elor (wrestling), McKenzie Coan (swimming), Nikki Hiltz (track), Chelsea Gray (basketball), and Naomi Osaka (tennis)."

This colorful collection of short biographies offers a wide range of women currently involved in professional sports. There are not only different sports, but also different ethnicities. The struggles of these competitors is not downplayed, including medical  and mental health issuesthat they may have faced, which is a change from twenty years ago when people didn’t discuss many things publicly. 

I’m a huge admirer of King’s, and the amount of good she has done for women’s sports is beyond incredible. It’s particularly noteworthy that she stops to focus on the struggles and accomplishments of other women in sports. Robbins writes engaginly about the different women, there are lots of photos, and the source notes at the back of the book are very complete. 

This would make a great gift for a young athlete. The preface talks about the fact that King herself, and many of the women highlighted, had books about other female athletes that inspired them. For a school library, I am always hesitant to buy biographies about people who are in the middle of their careers, since things can change, but public and school libraries with a decent budget will want to look into this clear interview that helps to correct the fact that only 20% of sports news coverage focuses on women’s sports! 

Johnston, E.K. Third Period Comeback

August 11, 2026 by Dutton Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Hayley is an avid and talented soccer player, but she knows that her playing days are soon going to be over. Her great grandfather, William Rilko, played for the Toronto Maple Leafs, but was killed in an air crash in 1951. This is thought to be the catalyst for a curse that has led the team to have disastrous seasons and not win championships, but since his body was never found, his whole family suffers. It’s a very large family, with Hayley’s 21 cousins as well as aunts, uncles, great-aunts, and great-uncles. The Rilko’s all love playing hockey, but have to stop when they hit puberty. Everyone knows about this, so when Hayley gets her period, she’s devastated and a bit embarrassed that everyone will soon know. She is able to finish the season, since the curse doesn’t take hold until her third period, but she feels the time crunch. When her extended family goes to their summer camp in Timmins, outside of Ontario, she and her cousins try several different ways to undo the curse. This is a struggle, since not only have other family members devoted their lives to this pursuit, but people knowledgable in magic haven’t been able to reverse it, either. They attempt to talk to “Greatest William” via Ouija board, and eventually travel deep into the woods to find the plane and burn whatever body remains to break the curse. Will Hayley be able to find a way to continue playing her beloved sport?
Strengths: The depiction of the family cabin, with its musty board games and tiny shared rooms, was delightful, and reminiscent of Matson’s The Firefly Summer. I loved that Hayley didn’t want to summon the dead with a game produced by Parker Brothers! Very astute. The large family works well together with understandable hitches in dynamics from time to time, and the adults are supportive but give the children lots of freedom. This is definitely a fantasy novel, with a thin veneer of magic coating Hayley’s entire world. Hayley’s ancestor seems to be loosely based on the real life Bill Barilko, who was killed in a plane crash in 1951. I am always glad to see books centered on sports! 
Weaknesses: There could have been more detailed world building, since there seemed to be whole systems of magic that weren’t well explained. I also knew nothing about “real” curses the Toronto Maple Leafs suffered, so was vastly confused. Hayley’s family is very large, which is understandable (I personally have 38 cousins!), but made it hard to keep track of characters. There is a lot of detail about getting one’s period that will appeal to some readers but not to others.
What I really think: Add this to a selection of hockey books that includes Blitt’s Breaking the Ice, Irwin’s Captain Skidmark Dances with Destiny, and Ridge’s Inside Hudson Pickle. I don’t have a huge audience for hockey books, but I can see this being popular in Canada!  

Blather:

The school year no longer starts with a definitive First Day, which I don't like. We had schedule pick up, teacher work days, more teacher work days, and have just 6th graders tomorrow. I would rather jump into a cold pool all at once, and this is easing toes in for way too long! 

I really am thrilled to be back; no threats to librarian positions in my district for about three years. Whew. Last year at this time, I was sure I was out of a job. The library schedule worked out really well, a new order of books came in, and things are fairly organized. The students seem excited, and some of the more challenging 8th graders are now in high school. It should be a great year. 

Have to share a LegiLad (pictured) story about the power of exposing children to books. My daughter, Picky Reader, said she read Sandra Boynton's Moo, Baa, La La La to LegiLad thirty times. He's eighteen months old. She finally said "Please go get a DIFFERENT book!" He went over and picked out... their second copy of Moo, Baa, La La La! When told again to go get a different book, he went back and got Boo, Baa, La La La. At that point, she figured that he liked what he liked, and proceeded to read whatever he wanted. She also sent a video of him sitting on the floor, happily turning pages in a board book. This picture of him with the Reader's Digest is great. He actually looks like he is completely absorbed in "Increase Your Word Power"! 

Hope everyone has a great new school year! 

Also, it's been raining torrentially here, and we didn't have students, so attacked my new books wearing drip dry athletic gear. May have threatened my principal I would make this a habit, but he knows I am lying. Thrift store pants, cross country coach's shirt from about 2015! 

Sunday Reading

Janowitz, Brenda. The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe 

August 18, 2026 by Melissa de la Cruz Studio

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Emily has decided not to go to college, since she is still dealing with the death of her older sister Liv five years ago, and thanks to her grandmother, is able to take a gap year in Europe. Her grandmother Rose is comfortable because she was part of a girl group, the Flower Sisters, with her sister, Dahlia, and their songs have been used in movies and sampled by later artists. Rose has given Emily her itinerary and asked her to recreate it. On her first day in Seville, she meets Penny, a social media influencer who is traveling with several other teend. Emily is soon caught up with their whirlwind, since Penny decides to document the tour recreation. Emily has a relationship with Alejandro, who is at college, but when he doesn't meet up with her at Christmas because he has to be with his girlfriend, this relationship ends. She also meets up with Nick, whom she has seen several times, but when his grandmother is ill, he and his group return home. While there are some educational spots that she visits, and there are a few people who remember her grandmother (including her great aunt Dahlia's female life partner), most of the trip is eating, shopping, dancing, and yes, kissing boys. 

This was pitched as Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Welch's Love and Gelato, and I guess it sort of is. I was definitely looking forward to it, and my disappointment is because I am old and Emily's travels are completely unlike my own... in 1986. It's very modern with family video chatting our intrepid traveler, the sister having died after taking a pill laced with fentanyl at a party, and generally a very Gen Z feel. Which it should have. I won't buy it for middle school because there was a lot of casual drinking as well as mentions of Emily losing her virginity. It would have been great to see a LOT more of the grandmother's tour with the Flower Sisters, but there wasn't very much. It seemed very, very privileged, and didn't have the vibe of 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I would probably buy it for high school, but think it might be dated quickly. I'm curious how this book plays with fans of Kasie West or Sarah Dessen, and am curious enough that I might take a look at this author's The Grace Kelly Dress. 

Biltmore, Eileen. The Disappearance and the Diary (The Manor Mysteries #1)

August 25, 2026 by Simon Spotlight

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

This is a repackaging of Whitby's Beth's Story (Secrets of the Manor #1)(June 24th 2014 by Simon Spotlight), much like the Lee Heart repackaging of the Angela Darling Crush books as Spotlight Sprinkles. I wasn't able to compare the two, but they are essentially the same story. Names are changed (Margaret instead of Beth), as are some details, but since I already have the entire 2014 series, I won't be purchasing the new books.

 
The new covers are quite nice, and if you are looking for a series of upper crust English manor mysteries, this is a good bet. The sequel to this one seems to be The Girl and the Ghost. (Aug. 25, 2026) https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2014/07/mmgm-secrets-of-manor.html

The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe Brenda Janowitz

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Gillman, Melanie and Mock, Rebecca. (Illustrator)
Who Circled the Globe in Seventy-Two Days? Nellie Bly
August 11, 2026 by Penguin Workshop
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I was an avid reader of the Childhood of Famous American books; by avid, I mean that I checked out two every day and read them on the back porch or in the family room, and then went back for more the next day. It helped that I worked in the library during... recess? It was fifty years ago, so the details are a bit fuzzy. What I have not forgotten is how much I learned about history through the lens of particular historical figures. Early Americans? Virginia Dare. Civil War? Clara Barton. Westward Expansion? Daniel Boone. I'm sure that these books also led to my interest in historical fiction. 

Would I have read graphic novels? Unsure. I would have enjoyed this book, however, with Nellie, her one carpet bag, and her exciting adventures traveling the globe. The illustrations were delightful and captured the clothing, buildings, and people of the era well. I will definitely purchase this, and hope that it will entice my readers to not only learn more about the fascinating Ms. Bly, but to look into more historical books. 

From the Publisher: "Discover how Nellie Bly made headlines in 1889 with one of her most iconic and sensational stunts—a world record–setting race around the globe. A story of daring, adventure, and pushing boundaries, this graphic novel highlights how Nellie Bly challenged traditional gender norms and helped pave the way for women in journalism. Atmospheric full-color illustrations bring this sharp narrative to life, immersing readers in Nellie's globe-trotting exploits."

The Invisibles

Kowitt, Holly. The Invisibles
August 18, 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jimmy Stern has been to a lot of different schools, since his father’s job is to set up O’Grady’s restaurants around the country. He has a tendency to avoid making friends, since he knows he will just have to leave. Instead, he is deeply invested in the world of “Weird” Walt comics. When he stands up to Kyle Scott when he is bullying hall monitor Milo, and ends up dropping Kyle’s phone in a urinal, he gets sucked into a group of “outcasts” trying to make their way through middle school. He gets accused of having pizza delivered to Mr. Gratch’s class, and helps a girl with her dog. He eventually receives a cryptic invitation to the band room, where he meets the “Invisibles”; Max, Emma, Jamiah, and Finn. They encourage Jimmy to run as the secretary-treasurer for an Art Week in order to secure a spot for Weird Walt, to whom Jimmy has talked on the phone, to visit the school. In order for this artist to come, Jimmy must win the election. With Kyle hosting parties on yachts and pulling out all the stops, will the Invisibles be able to bring one of their own to power?
Strengths: Honestly, more middle grade story plots need to center around things being destroyed or dropped in urinals. Kowitt’s books (The Loser List, The Principal's Underwear Is Missing, This Dance is Doomed) are upbeat and firmly centered on all of the drama that occurs in a middle school. I loved Jimmy’s obsession with Weird Walt, and was JUST having a conversation with my daughter about the time in 2004 that Lee J. Ames CALLED ME AT SCHOOL after I wrote to him! This could happen! Jimmy is a reluctant hero who is happy to be with his people for a change. Loved how the students harnessed their rage.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of things that didn’t seem realistic in a school setting. Hall monitors in 2026? Kids meeting in the band room? A student role responsible for an author visit? Pizzas making it past security in the front office? Young readers won’t mind, but if a book is realistic fiction, I like it to reflect actual school practices.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked the school oriented shenanigans of Cosnter’s My Life as a Potato or Rylander’s The Fourth Stall. I’m debating purchase. I loved that this is humorous and upbeat, but am still bothered by details like a hall monitor wearing a sash. I might have just been having a bad day when I read this!

Shook

Randall, Julian. Shook

August 4, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, Malik Page lives on the West Side of Chicago with his mother and father. He loves basketball and hopes to be a first pick for the NBA. His mother is an English teacher who has been tutoring ever since her school shut down, and his father is a coach who didn't quite go pro. He plays for the Home Grove team, and manages to win an important game, but falls and breaks his leg. His parents take him to a hospital on the North Side to get better medical attention, and Malik, whose father gave him the nickname "Shake", worries that the extra expense will be a problem for his family. He can't play for six weeks, and fears that even though he'll be ready for the next season, he won't be able to make varsity. He meets a friend of his uncle's who has gone on to be a physical therapist, and gives him some exercises to do. Shake struggles with his injury; it impacts his relationships with his friends, especially Kyla, and he starts to suffer from panic attacks. He gets angry with his teacher, Mr. Pasquale, who can never call him the correct name, and ends up being suspended after he fights with him. Shake's parents have him see a therapist, Kendrick, who helps him a lot and is generally pretty cool. He still has some panic attacks, but eventually makes up with Kyla, who was struggling with issues of her own. Shake finds out that his uncle and some other relatives also struggled with anxiety 

Strengths: Having an injury in middle school and not being able to play the sport of one's choosing can be devastating for tweens, so this is an interesting premise for a book. Many of my own students think that they can have a career playing pro sports, so they will definitely root for Shake. I love that his family is intact (the parents are both alive!) and supportive of him, making sure that he gets needed therapy even though they are struggling financially. There is a decent amount of basketball in the story, and the Chicago Bulls are mentioned frequently. Readers who want to meet characters with anxiety disorders and panic attacks will be intrigued by how these impact Shake and his recuperation. It was nice to see Shake make a responsible decision about his participation in sports at the end of the book. 
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that Shake's mother wasn't able to find a job. I would think there is a teacher shortage is Chicago like there is everywhere else. Shake says at one point that "Nobody likes being in middle school, not even the teachers", but I certainly like being in middle school! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Reynold's Stuntboy, In the Meantime or the mix of mental health issues and sports in Stroman's The Grip. Comparisons will be made between this and Alexander's The Crossover, but this doesn't have the strong sense of poetry or the intriguing plot of that book. 

Don't Wake Up

Ramos-Gomez, Cassandra. Don’t Wake Up (Doll Island #2)
August 25, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Diego, who had terrifying adventures in Lost on Doll Island, remains in Mexico City with his mother. He frequently visits his Abuela Ximena to learn how to fight the evil dolls, but still hasn’t told his mother about his experiences. He has enrolled in school, and hangs out with friends Jandro and Itzel. He and Jandro are involved in a robotics club, but Itzel is obsessed with magic, lugging around a huge binder of research and insisting on reading facts to the boys. Not surprisingly, she has trouble making friends with the others in their class. There is a bully, El Feo, who gives Diego and his friends a hard time for being “nerds”, but they do stand up to him. When El Feo, whose real name is Isaac, falls into a coma, Diego wonders if there is magic involved that is punishing him for his poor behavior. As other students fall unconscious after even slight infractions, the group knows they need to investigate. Itzel claims she had left her binder at school, so she and Diego and Jandro break into the school building at night. There, they find that El Chucy, a shadowy monster who devours children, is on the loose. Sucked into the dreamlike, liminal state in the school, Diego must battle to save his classmates from the monster. But who really summoned El Chucy, and how is he tied to the magical dolls?
Strengths: The idea of fellow classmates slipping into unconsciousness is an interesting one, and the shadowy world of El Chucy is reminiscent of Hermon’s Hide and Seeker. Diego, Jandro, and Itzel all get along, but have different talents and motivations. The Mexico city setting is interesting and there is plenty of Mexican culture and language to make this stand out from standard, midwestern style horror. The residual terror of the dolls is never far away, as Tomas makes all too frequent appearances! I can easily see there being a third book.
Weaknesses: There are a number of Spanish words and phrases used, which might confuse some of my readers. I also am not a fan of breaking into school buildings at night, and doubt it would be possible in many places. 

What I really think: Like so many horror books coming out this summer (Payne’s Pumpkin Apocalypse, Lavoie’s Beware the Jacks, and Howard’s Transylvania County), this book is a little cheesier than my middle school students are asking for. The level of scariness should be great for upper elementary readers who gravitate toward Stine’s Goosebumps books. I am waiting for books like Nixon’s Candidate for Murder or The Kindnapping of Christina Lattimore that are more realistic and young adult, but without the mature content of today’s young adult. 

Nando

Hoyle, McCall. Nando
August 4, 2026 by Shadow Mountain
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Esperanza and her daughter Cloe. along with their dog, Stella, are preparing for a bad storm along the coast in North Carolina. They’ve got sheep that another dog, Nando, is trying to herd to safety after a neighbor, Vern, warns them how bad the storm might be. When Nando is left in the barn when Cloe and Stella take off without permission, he is frantic and wants to find them and bring them to safety. He manages to get out of the barn and locates them, only to see Cloe fall into rushing water and get carried away with her cat, Oscar. Stella jumps in as well, as does Nando, but he gets carried past the group. Luckily, he manages to make it to shore, and is helped by Levi, a new neighbor who is just moving in. He is Cloe’s age, and is trying to get home as well. The two find Oscar stuck in a crevice, and try to make their way across the perilous landscape. They are caught in a rock slide, but Nando is able to get them out. Levi cuts his hand on a branch, and Nando knows he must get this new human to safety… his access to beef jerky might rely on it. When the storm has passed, they do find Cloe, who is desperate to get home to get her medication. Oscar is located, but in a bad way, and they need to find Stella. The bridge they group needs to take is badly damaged, and getting across it almost ends in tragedy. After all of these adventures, Nando misses Levi, which strikes him as odd since Esperanza is his main human. Levi also misses Nando. Since Nando has some injuries and is getting older, he is allowed to recuperate at Levi’s house whil one of his puppies learns to herd the sheep.
Strengths: This is a solid outdoor adventure story that is a little different from Hoyle’s other work, which usually addresses some problems and showcases how service dogs can help humans. I had forgotten about Nando (from Stella), but it was interesting to see that readers requested a book about him. There are good details about the aftermath of a heavy storm, and we’ve certainly seen a lot of those lately. It was good to see how Nando worked with a new character, Levi, and how the two bonded. A refreshing, upbeat adventure surviving horrible conditions, if that can be a thing!
Weaknesses: It took me just a minute to remember what Esperanza’s household set up was, even though I did appreciate that we jumped right into the story.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like outdoor survival adventures like Philbrick’s Wild Wave, Brockenbrough's  At the Edge of Lost, and Hashimoto’s Off the Map. I will definitely purchase. This will be even more popular with my students than this author's Stella, Just Gus, Millie,  and Forever Ripley.   

MMGM- The Baseball Encyclopedia and Exploring American Landmarks

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Kingfisher. The Baseball Encyclopedia: Rules • Parks • Series • Teams • The Greats
August 5, 2025 by Kingfisher
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This relatively short (144 page) encyclopedia covers a qide range of topics about baseball, and is a gret overview to have on hand. There are chapters on playing the game, star players, strategy, leagues, stadiums and business, and different competitions, which is a nice mix of history, baseball lists, and practical advice for playing. While the star player section includes some iconic players like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, there are also a number of players still currently working.

This is well formatted, with lots of photos, and text separated on the page by topic. Even though there is a lot in each section, it’s not hard to read or understand. The color choices seemed a bit different than many baseball books (which lean heavily on red, white, and blue), and had an almost 1980s feel with a turquoise, purple, and lime green palette and geometric shapes.

There’s a glossary, index, and great lists of statistics and teams, making this a good choice if you need to refresh your baseball nonfiction titles.

Buckley Jr., James. TIME for Kids: Exploring American Landmarks

August 4, 2026 by Penguin Young Readers Licenses

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

This lovely virtual tour of various sites in the US is a great way to introduce readers who may not have traveled much to a wide array of things to do and see in our country. Topics include Made by Nature, Very Important Places, Wow! (tall buildings and impressive architecture), Washington, D.C., Remember (memorials), Sports Landmarks, and Unusual Attractions that even include the Longaberger Basket building not far from me! This ends with a great map, as well as a complete index. 

The photos in this are great, and there's just enough information to pique readers' interests. I'm not sure that this includes the places that I would have included; I would have definitely embraced more of a historical theme and included places like Plymouth Rock, Mt. Vernon, and Lincoln's birthplace in Springfield, Illinois. I might have even arranged it chronologically. This method would make it much more tied to the Sestercentennial, though, so I can see why TimeKids decided to include things like sports venues and fun and quirky places. I still wouldn't mind seeing something that is more historical. We could throw in Thoreau's Walden, Williamsburg, and some forts while we're at it! 

I will purchase a copy to have on hand for students who have a renewed intest in all thing US related, or who need something to pass the time in study hall. I'll put a note in it for the next several librarians that they should try to save it for the Tricentennial, along with the Sestercentennial t-shirt and pages from Paint by Sticker Kids: America pages that I had students do. I will not be around! 

Snare Your Crush in Three Easy Steps

Berne, Emma Carlson. Snare Your Crush in Three Easy Steps

August 4, 2026 by Choose Your Own Adventure

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

You and your best friend Elise are preparing for the school dance by making cupcakes. When Elise decorates a special one and plans to hide a note in it confessing her crush on the very cute James, you are appalled because he is also YOUR crush, and you had planned on asking him to dance. How will the dance play out? In this Choose Your Own Adventure Book, there are a LOT of different ways! You might sabotage the cupcakes so James doesn’t get her note, you might let Elise go forward with her plan, or a curve ball might be thrown into things when another girl, Sara, is also interested in him! There are some timelines where an overflowing toilet is involved. My favorite is when Elise understands, you get to dance with James, and even get a sweet kiss.

I struggle with this format, especially as an e-book (although it was easy enough to click on the links and go to the correct pages), and want to read every combination. Many of the timelines are very short, and resolve quickly. I can’t imagine the creativity involved in thinking up all of the different combinations of events! I appreciated that the Latin teacher, Mr. B., is also serving as the DJ, and even wearing a t-shirt that reads “Semper Ubi Sub Ubi”, which loosely translates (ungrammatically!) as “Always wear underwear”. I once owned such a t shirt! The illustrations are charming, and reinforce my thought that the girls go to a private school, since they are wearing uniforms.

Romance books have been a big draw for my students this year, so I will buy a copy of this title if it is available in a prebound format. Not entirely sure if my romance readers will like the multiple plot format, but it’s worth a try for fans of Lee Heart Spotlight Sprinkles books or Tessier’s Chloe graphic novels.

Howe, Jenny L. How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House

July 21, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Amity lives in California, where she plans to attend the college where her mother teaches to save on tuition instead of joining her friend Taylor. When her mother gets another job directing the writing center at Rehoth College, Amity is suddenly whisked across the country to Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts. She’s irritated about the sudden notice and missing a taco crawl with Taylor, although not particularly concerned about leaving her father, from whom her mother was recently divorced. When their new lodgings turn out to be a local haunted house, Amity isn’t happy, even though she has the whole third floor to herself, and cute fledgling podcaster Theo is interested in the house. Amity struggles with social anxiety, but it isn’t long before she is making a few friends and arguing with Theo. Theo’s family is involved in renovating Amity’s house, which has some weird paranormal phenomena going on. Will the two fight their way through the renovations and haunting, or come to a cozy understanding?

I’m always looking for romances with high school characters that would be appealing to middle school students, so I had great hopes for this one, since horror is also a popular genre with my students. There is at least one f-word early on, but this could work for middle school. It wasn’t my favorite, since I am not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and found Amity’s behavior a bit young for a college student. She is so anxious she will only order food online so she doesn’t have to talk to staff, and muses that “There should be some kind of script available online to guide people through interactions with strangers.” (I thought there probably was; my daughter said that there is, in fact, a Reddit that addresses this, although I didn’t research it further.)

My big objection was the use of the phrase “got smote”, since the mother is supposed to be a college professor of writing. The principal parts of the verb “to smite” are smite, smote, smitten. This is grammatically esoteric, to be sure, but Amity’s mother should have corrected her.

 
Cute story, liked the premise, would probably buy for a high school library, but this wasn’t my favorite. I'm too old, and too Xoomery too appreciate it. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Frostbite

Boothby, Ian and Guerra, Pia. (Illustrator). Frostbite
August 4, 2026 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this starkly illustrated graphic novel, we see a hockey bus get lost and skid off a snowy, remote road. The driver and coach try to figure out what to do with the high school team members, and take them to a nearby cabin. Sadly, when blood from the driver drops onto the snow, it unleashes horrible zombie-like monsters that destroy everyone. We also meet Dante and Jen, influencers who specialize in extreme sports. They have a staff that includes a pilot and camera person who are not particularly fans of the teens. They jump onto a snowy mountain in the same region, but when they get to the bottom, find their crew missing. They make their way to a local store, but their equipment is stolen by a resident named Kyle. Even though the clerk warns that they should not follow them, they do, with the help of another clerk, Callum. They find a cabin, but run into the creatures as well. They barricade themselves inside, and end up on the roof, watching the creatures trying to climb the walls. They can be fought off by light as well as water piped in from local rivers. At one point, Jen falls off the roof but makes it to a nearby storage shed. Dante is turned into one of the monsters. Callum’s mother shows up, and it turns out that there is deep local and family history that has caused her to become a monster hunter. An avalanche sweeps her away, and damages the cabin, so Jen and the others have to try to survive. They are eventually rescued, but a final page shows a sign declaring that the cursed area will be home to a future resort and spa!
Strengths: There are not a lot of horror graphic novels, and this certainly had a sort of simplistic appeal, with the stark black and white background with touches of red. The creatures are fairly scary, and indiscriminate in their carnage. There’s a lot of poking them with metal spikes, which dissolves them into a satisfying goo. The backstory makes sense, and the inclusion of social media influencers will be appealing to young YouTuber wannabes. This could be a series, especially if the resort gets built.
Weaknesses: There was really no character development, and it was hard to keep the characters straight. The hockey team didn’t have much of a reason to be in the story, although the bus did show up later. The illustrations are okay, but have a standard, comic book sort of feel to them.
What I really think: This didn’t strike me as particularly good, but I can see its appeal to readers who don’t want a particularly involved story or who struggle a bit with text complexity. I might end up purchasing a copy for readers who aren’t quite up to reading Goosebumps books and enjoyed the P.J. Night graphic novels.