MMGM- Charts for Babies and Camp Big Top

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Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
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Always in the Middle 

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Unleashing Readers

Personality leakage: School is over for the year! I have a busy summer planned. After a trip to Rochester, New York (that will include the Corning Glass Museum, Susan B. Anthony house, Strong Museum of Play, and a side trip to Seneca Falls!), I have jury duty on June 22 and a trip to the Latvian Song Festival in Grand Rapids, Michigan. I do much better with long chunks of unscheduled time, so we'll see how this all goes! There will definitely be some sewing and knitting, a decent amount of reading and walking, and maybe even some quality time with my grandson. 

Henry turned one in February and is just starting to walk. He babbles a lot. I've forgotten if that's what he's supposed to be doing, and am having trouble with the fact he doesn't wear shoes (I ALWAYS do!) and lets him eat with his hands. I know that parenting styles change all the time, and my daughter understands that it's sometimes hard for me to fathom. 

I am most pleased that when given a choice between a book and a toy, Henry will gravitate towards the book, most often a Sandra Boyton title. The most exciting thing is that he has a really good understanding of concept of print. He holds books and turns pages the right way. His favorite book is Anderson's Imitation Book (Which I did not buy for him. Sigh.), and when he gets to the page with the dog, he makes the sound, and when he gets to the page with the high five, he high fives! So that's some progress. He is also a big fan of the Brain Quest books from Workman that I've been reviewing for Young Adult Books Central. (Going on 14 years over there; check them out!)

Now, to work on his math skills with books like the following! 

Rial, Michelle. Charts for Babies: A Picture Book 

April 7, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

E ARC provided by publisher

Education is best when there is an element of fun to it. Even I am not going to sit down with a one year old and try to directly teach charts and graphs. This is where this book is brilliant. In fun, rhyming text, a lot of different concepts are introduced. There are some opposites introduced (short, tall, big, small) but also things like straight and curly, arrows, and some colors. All along, however, there are charts and graphs in the background. At the end, there is a nice illustrated list of different kinds of charts and graphs like pie charts, area charts, bubble charts, and scatter plots. I know that my students struggle to identify these in sixth grade, so a solid preschool footing in these is a great way to encourage academic success later. 

In addition to reading very smoothly, this is quite humorous. I love the pages that say "This is No, Thank You; This is Yes, Please; This is a... This is a... This is a... SNEEZE! ACHOO!!!" There are lots of little fun things like that will keep kids wanting this to be read over and over. 

The bright colored backgrounds frame the simple black and white drawings well, and there are lots of things to point out to young readers. As someone who still has to think way too hard about the "less than" and "more than", I will definitely use the page with the pie chart with a slice labeled "This is less" to explain reinforce this concept with my grandson before he can really understand it. 

For those who do like all the mushy stuff, there is even a kiss and a hug that you can work in, and the book ends with a really, really tight hug respresented by a spiral and two smiley geometric people hugging. The bowtie on the dad echoed by the hair bow on the little girl are very cute. 

Charts for Babies would be an excellent baby shower gift, with a wooden abacus, and is definitely a book that preschools need in multiples. 

Diaz, Alexandra. Camp Big Top

Cover by Debbie Sfetsios-Conover
May 26, 2026 by Beach Lane Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luna and her parent, Cosmos, have run a circus camp in New Mexico for several years. Luna was a talented aerialist, but since the last summer has gained weight and not been able to work out. Cosmos is not happy about this and has made a lot of disparaging remarks about how Luna shouldn't eat so much. There are about thirty campers, but the book concentrates on just a few of these. Mario has been sent by his harried tech worker parents to stay with his abuela after he used their credit cards to buy a number of things online, and his abuela has enrolled him in the camp. He is not happy and would rather work with her in her vintage clothing resale shop. Ricky is super excited to go to the camp, since he has been kicked out of several because of the behavior caused by his extreme ADHS. Bettina is at the school on a scholarship after a guidance counselor notices that she is a good student who could use some enrichment after three years of being in the US. When classes start, Luna is reunited with her camp best friend, Rowan, who is a competitive ice skater who uses circus camp as a change of pace. Coach Emmy and Coach João teach classes in climbing silks, juggling, and stilts, and Horace covers clowning. The school is having financial problems, and when a plumbing issue closes the school down for the day, Cosmos is in danger of being evicted from the building due to back rent being owed. It doesn't help that Rowan breaks his ankle when he falls from a pyramid when Mario fails to spot Ricky. Luna is fighting more than ever with Cosmos and even spends several nights with her step parent Kai and stepsister Lani, who don't make fun of her weight. Ricky doesn't want to come back, since he feels responsible for the accident, but Luna firmly believes that the circus should include everyone, and the kids visit his house to ask him to come back. They then all work together on a plan to save the school, and Ricky is instrumental in helping with the fundraiser. Even Mario, who has discovered a talent for juggling, wants to help. A fund raising performance is planned in the Teatro del Palacio complete with a parade. Will it be enough to save the camp? 
Strengths: When I coached cross country, the other coaches and I were well aware of what we called "Eighth Grade Girl Syndrome". There are a lot of runners who do really well in 7th grade and start their 8th grade year 35 pounds heavier, and really struggle. This is a tough situation for all parties involved to navigate, so I definitely read Luna's account with interest! I liked that she really had made peace with her body and was working on regaining her abilities, and her biggest challenge was dealing with Cosmos' negative attitude. Mario was not the most pleasant character, but his grandmother knew how to deal with him, and he definitely got better as the book progressed. Ricky is a fairly typical middle school boy, and it was good to see the other campers try to support him. Betina's family didn't quite understand why she wanted to go to the camp, but were ultimately supportive as well. There are lots of good details about the acts that go into a circus, and also information about the fact that animals shouldn't have a role in modern circuses. There is a glossary of Spanish words at the end of the book, since many are used in the text. 
Weaknesses: Cosmos' business practices seem ineffectual, and as an adult, it was hard for me to believe that a fund raiser would really make much difference. Younger readers will believe that children can save the day. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who harbor secret desires to attend circus camps and have read Levinson's Watch Out for Flying Kids, or who enjoyed reading books like Palmer's Camp Prodigy or Bird's Long Road to the Circus.

Proof That I am Actually Not Twelve

Okay. So it's January 28. It's 13 degrees out and school has been canceled for the FOURTH day in a row. I have been reading nonstop for five days, because... it's just too much work to get out my sewing and knitting. I usually walk for about two hours a day but it's too cold to walk. So I'm not in the best mood. 

I normally really like realistic fiction with friend drama and a little romance, so I should have liked the following books. I especially love Lisa Greenwald's writing, so should have adored Friend Group. I will buy both her new title and New Girl: First Crush, but To All the Boys I've Loved Before still has way too many casual mentions of sex for me to buy for a middle school library. 

People ask me if I intend to retire soon. NO! I like going to work every day. Of course, this post will go live right before summer break starts. The only reasons I survive being off work then is that I can go on tons of walks and sew constantly! 

Maybe we'll have school Friday?

Greenwald, Lisa. Friend Group

May 12, 2026 by HarperCollins

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sadie Zankel is best friends with Olive Horowitz-Yang, and it's always been two of them against the world. As they start 7th grade, Sadie is very interested in the lives of the other Sadie Z (Zicholtz) and her friends group, who are all the popular girls. When she is accidentally added to their group chat, she has a direct line to what to wear, where to hang out, and what the girls are saying about her. Since both she and the Other Sadie Z (OSZ) both have a crush on Eli, this is especially valuable. There is a ton of drama in the group, but Sadie and Olive also struggle with finding a cafeteria to inhabit. Olive isn't as concerned about popularity as Sadie is, and when she finds out that Sadie has been hiding the group chat from her, she isn't happy. OSZ is unhappy when Eli likes Sadie and not her, and when Olive tells the group that Sadie has been secretly following their messages, there's a blow up. Sadie, who has gotten along fairly well with the girls in the group, especially Annabelle, who is struggling with all of the drama, apologizes to everyone, and by the end of the book, the girls are all getting along fairly well. 

My students ADORE the TBH series so much that the books have worn out and I have to buy a whole new set of them. This has more straight text, which I appreciated, but plenty of text messages. I am definitely buying a copy of this. I loved that Sadie and Olive's mothers were best friends and really concerned about their daughters, and even though there is some petty meanness, the girls are all good kids and learn to get along by the end of the book. 

Calin, Cassandra. The New Girl: First Crush

May 5, 2026 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this sequel to The New Girl, Lia is back at her school in Montreal, and navigating her crush on Julien. She is also dealing with extremely painful periods that the doctor won't do anything about, and is fighting with friend Wan Yin, after Lia accidentally outs her friend after Wan Yin confesses to having a crush on a girl. There is lots of drama on the school magazine, and even on school trips. Julien likes Lia, and they hang out together, but Lia is very jealous of Jade's friendship with Julien, which doesn't go over well with him. Lia and her friends all struggle with body image, and have to learn to navigate relationships as they get older. 

The illustration style is appealing, and the colors are bright. Lia's family has come from Romania, so she is enrolled in a Welcome Class, and her family misses friends and family back in their previous home. Readers who enjoy Tessier's Chloe books or Beka's The Love Report will like this series. 

Han, Jenny, Marquez, Barbara Perez (adapt.), Akimaro (illus.) and Lu, Li (illus.)
To All the Boys I've Loved Before: The Graphic Novel

May 5, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Like the 2014 novel version of this story, this had a lot of mentions of sex, so I won't be buying it for my middle school library. Why read it? This title, along with Green's 2012 The Fault in Our Stars, is one of the most requested books that I don't have on the shelves. There must be a television show based on the book, because there was another flurry of requests this year. The illustrations in this area quite nice, but look a bit like Archie comics drawn by anime artists. I'm sure if I bought a copy it would be worn to shreds, but I'll leave this to the high schools and public libraries. 

A Wish With Wings

Guillory, Sarah. A Wish With Wings
May 19, 2026 by Roaring Brook Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Evan (don't call her Evelyn!) lives with her younger brother Ollie and parents who work for the Eastern Mining Company salt mine in Little John Island, Louisiana. She loves to be outside, and often comes back to the house covered in mud, with her father's Aunt Tildy does NOT like. Evan doesn't see any reason that she should "grow up" and not get into so much trouble, since no one ever tells her best friend Ford to do that. When she is out in a marshy area, she sees water bubbling up through the ground, and sees two eggs. When her father and many of the other miners are trapped after a collapse, she worries that she should have told her father about the odd water. She also takes one of the eggs and tries to raze it after finding out that it is a whooping crane egg, and the species is threatened. Her mother is understandably worried, especially after all but three of them men are brought to the surface, but Evan's father Will and two other men are not. Eventually, the three are rescued. One man is dead, and Will is so badly injured that he is put into a medically induced coma. The more Evan struggles with this, the more she is determined to hatch the egg. She finds information online, e mails an expert for the correct temperature, asks classmate Sofia for help, and even gets old school equipment from a teacher. When Evan talks to the other miner who survived, she finds that the company was not entirely truthful in television interviews, even though the mine supervisor is Ford's father. She gives the information she has to the widow of the man who perished, and she in turn goes to the news media. People in town are angry that the mine might be closed, and even Evan's mother is worried about losing her job. Can Evan hold onto the hope that her father will recover as she struggles against the odds to hatch the crane egg?

Strengths: My favorite character was probably Aunt Tildy, who gave Evan a hard time about coming home covered in mud, but really stepped up to take care of the family when it was needed. When I was reading this book, I thought about what it would have been like to be living in East Palestine, Ohio when the Norfolk Southern Railway train derailment in 2023 spilled vinyl chloride and caused such devastation. My mother taught in the East Palestine district, and I wondered how she and her students would have coped. Evan and Ford do mention the Lake Peigneur disaster, which was so brilliantly depicted in the graphic novel The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur by Wolf and Pimienta, which was an interesting real life tie in. The community surrounding the salt mine is close knit, and it was fascinating to know where the salt for our roads in the north comes from! The author does have a note that it's not a good idea to take eggs from the wild, but Evan's care of the egg is very informed, and at the end, she does turn the fledgling over to a reputable rescue group. 
Weaknesses: Any time a story is described as "tender", I know that it will appeal to teachers and librarians a lot more than it will appeal to students. I can see this title being used in literature circles and class discussions. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who reader who like books that use nature to help process family trauma, like Shepherd's The True History of Lyndie B. Hawkins, Lewis' Scarlet Ibis, Miller's Rare Birds, or  Culley's The Natural Genius of Ants. 

Our Fair Share

Jette, Sarah Marie. Our Fair Share

May 12, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Serafina, Cassi, James, and Avory usually hang out during the duration of the Knox County, Maine fair. This year, however, they are all dealing with a number of family and personal issues that are interfering with their enjoyment of this yearly event. Cassi's father was supposed to be the fair manager, but was accused of cheating. He's back, but the two aren't staying in their trailer, which Cassi uses as a museum of oddities. He has to volunteer his services, and Cassi goes to the trailer alone. Serafina was in a bad car accident with her mother Patty, a kindergarten teacher who runs the ferris wheel that her father constructed. Cassi is now anxious about all dangers in the world, and isn't sure that she will be able to put the paper fortunes she writes on the seats of the ferris wheel for riders to find. James has changed schools, and has been given a lot of trouble by Luke, who shows up at the fair. He has always made the ribbons for the craft competitions, but the new manager, the evil Mike Mercier, now wants participation ribbons for everyone, which is a lot of work. James sews his own clothes and is very particular about what he wears, but doesn't want to enter a sweater he knit to the fiber arts competition, preferring to keep the sweater with it's hidden rainbow pattern to himself. Avory frets about being small; they haven't grown very much. Every year, they have set a Power Tower record for amount of force applied to the fair attraction run by Darryl, but now that they are twelve, it's getting harder. The friends do get together to write out their goals, but there are many obstacles this year. Mr. Mercier bans flashlight tag, helping with the animals, and even Serafina's fortunes, which he says are littering the grounds. Each consumed by their own problems, the children don't reach out to each other for help very much until a devastating storm destroys Cassi's trailer. They all manage to save what they can, and are able to move forward after sharing their problems with each other. 

Strengths: There are thousands of county fairs that take place across the US, and very, very few middle grade books about them. Tweens are involved in 4 H, livestock, and all manner of family businesses, so the possibilities for books set during the fair could be endless. My best friend's family always showed cows, so they had a stall at the fair grounds, and we spent many happy hours wandering about. Serafina's ferris wheel is very cool, and James' involvement at the competition barn made me jealous! There's even a bit of Midway interest with the High Striker that Avory is determined to master. Even Cassi's museum of oddities isn't that unusual. I love that the families are involved, and Mr. Mercier, who is changing things, is the perfect villain. 
Weaknesses: Cassi's museum of oddities sounded unkempt and gross. After the trailer is damaged, she starts putting a mosaic on the walls with all the broken bits. This sounded like a health hazard. The fair ground sounded rather small, so it seems unlikely that such a decrepit vehicle would have been allowed to remain. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Torres' Flora and Miranda Steal the Show but want a heaping helping of problems with their county fair. I would love to see a happy and humorous fair adventure book along the lines of Shang's The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun or Holms' Sunny Makes a Splash. I get that writers want to make the school year full of problems, but can't we at least have happy summers? 
 

The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good

Applebaum, Kristy. The Strange Disappearance of Imogen Good  

May 5, 2026 by Nosy Crow

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Fran is not happy that she has to spend a week with her Aunt Liz, Uncle Pete, and cousin Imogen in a small village near Stillness Estate, since she's never gotten a long with her cousin. Her mother has to go to a conference with her father to try to save the family business, though, so she's summarily dropped off despite her objections. Things get weird when her aunt and uncle tell her that they don't have a daughter! Since they still have Imogen's room with pictures of her in it, Fran feels she's being pranked, but neighbor Bex doesn't remember her either. Stillness Manor has a new owner, Ms. Quincey, who doesn't like children, and the secret garden there is supposedly evil and dangerous. Is it possible that Imogen went there? In alternating chapters, we see the story of Lord and Lady Stillness, who desperately wanted a child, only to have their son Leo become terribly ill when he was ten years old. A storyteller traveled to get a plant that could grant wishes, but wasn't able to make it back in time before Leo died, and Lord Stillness made a terrible wish. Fran manages to get Bex to help her investigate, but when they sneak into the garden, Bex is turned into a statue! Oddly, Imogen comes back. Fran and Imogran then try to save Bex, whose family doesn't remember her and is moving away in a few days. Will they be able to uncover the secret of the garden and work with Ms. Quincey to make sure that no more children go missing? 

Strengths: This had a very classic feel to it; the first thing I was reminded of was Cameron's 1973 The Court of Stone Children. The back story about the death of Leo Stillness and the terrible wish his father made was interesting, and was a very British addition. Young readers will be very uncomfortable with the idea of their family not remembering them, even if the original thought was for families not to suffer when their children were turned into statues. Fran's desire to figure out the mystery and save Imogen and Bex was admirable, and I loved how hard she worked to do this. I would have very much enjoyed this book as a child. 
Weaknesses: The backstory of Lord and Lady Stillness won't appeal to all readers, and this does have a particularly British feel to it. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked fantasy stories like Almond's Puppet, Dassori's Greta Ever After, or Saunders' Beswitched. This somehow reminded me of the surprisingly dark 13 Wishes by Harrison. 

Listen to the Girls and Bunkmates for Never

Giles, Chrystal. Listen to the Girls
May 5, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Reader

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Calla Howard has supportive parents in her mother, an attorney, and her father, and accountant, and even gets along with her older brother, Josiah, who is a track star. She has two best friends, Jacoby and Charlee, and enjoys her classes at her Charlotte, North Carolina middle school, which has had a large investment of money and a new technology focus. At the end of the year, she is surprised to hear that her favorite teacher, Mr. Chavis, supposedly sexually harassed girls at his previous school in Raleigh. This has been posted on the EboniiNews site, and has everyone talking. The comments on the site are often unkind to the girls who made the accusations. Calla is really torn. She hasn't had any problems with Mr. Chavis, but she thinks the girls deserve to be heard. When a cease and desist order from Mr. Chavis' lawyer causes the EboniiNews site to take down the posts, Charlee thinks that they should put the information on the school's "safe" social media site, Connective. Again, Calla isn't sure what to think, but goes along with it. Her brother's girlfriend, Emery, talks about how everyone deserves to be heard, and her comments help the posts go viral. Soon, Listen to the Girls becomes a place for people to discuss topics they have been keeping to themselves, and people find it useful. Calla, however, starts to think more and more about her own interactions with Mr. Chavis, and as she learns more about how predators groom their victims, realizes that it's very similar to her interactions with "Chav". Her parents have her working at her father's office, going through applications that small businesses have sent in to apply for accounting help, and EboniiNews is one of the applicants. Calla feels emboldened after talking to the owner, and comes up with a plan. She is smart enough to go to her parents with the information first, and shares a letter with them that she wants to send to the local school board after the police investigation determines that while Mr. Chavis' might have engaged in inappropriate grooming behavior, his actions never crossed over the line into criminal behavior. Her parents help her with the process and support her as she deals with the aftermath of her experiences. 

Strengths: Giles does an impressive job of showing both sides of this issue, which wasn't an easy thing to do. I very much appreciated that Calla had involved parents, and loved that her brother and his girlfriend would occasionally hang out with Calla. There are some great scenes of family life with meals and even a vacation. I'd love to see a lot more of that in middle grade fiction. Jacoby and Charlee are good friends who are much more interested in social media than Calla is. The slow realization that Calla has about her interactions with Mr. Chavis are completely believable, and will be very instructive to middle school readers. Giles, who also wrote Take Back the Block and Not an Easy Win, does a great job at tackling complex social issues in a way that middle grade readers can understand and learn from. 
Weaknesses: It's not a weakness of the book, but I wish that all educators were more careful with how they interact with students so that no students ever feel uncomfortable. Giles cites a statistic that 80% of students report some form of harassment in school; I assume this includes interactions with other students as well. That's horrible. As an educator, this is a hard book to read. While I have, unfortunately, seen instances where teachers and coaches acted inappropriately, and were fired for it, I've also seen situations where students lied and innocent teachers almost lost their jobs. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who were intrigued by Bradley's Fighting Words, Carter's How to Be a Girl in the World, or Booth's Caprice. 

Montague, Liz. Bunkmates for Never (Camp Frenenemies #2)
May 12, 2026 by Random House Studio
Copy provided by the publisher

Bea has had a much better year in seventh grade, and is willingly returning to Camp Chordata, where she is excited to hang out with Virginia and Roxy. Bea has changed quite a lot over the year; she has started to pay more attention to what she wears, to put on makeup, and to save her conversations with her stuffed rabbit, Roger, for nighttime instead of taking him to school. This has boosted her self confidence and helped her make friends, but her "old" self keeps haunting her. Owen, whom she met at camp last year, is staying at home to work as a lifeguard, signs her yearbook at the end of school and references Roger, and Virginia is downright angry that Bea has changed. The change was a good thing in Bea's mind, but she finds herself having to justify not being the introverted, quirky girl she used to be. The camp is short staffed, and their counselor, Flower, leaves them to their own devices a lot while she deals with younger campers. The girls do little but fight, and Bea finally decides to call her father. He comes and picks her up, and Virginia and Roxy are devastated. They manage to free their cell phones from the camp office, call an older brother, and show up on Bea's doorstep. The three finally talk and work out their differences, and managed to talk Bea's father into driving them back to camp so they can enjoy the rest of their week. 

Strengths: Like the first book, Camp Frenemies, this is a good look at the way that short term friendships and different settings like camp can change who middle schoolers are as people. I was glad to see that Bea was able to rely less heavily on her stuffed animals, and paid a little bit of attention to what other students her age were doing, and was able to adapt and make friends. A lot of adults seem to think it's okay for kids to "be themselves" and wear cat ears and tails in seventh grade, but the savvy tween will tell you that is absolutely not the case. My daughters paid close attention to what their peers were doing, and we consulted about how they could dress like themselves but still fit in. The fact that Virginia is annoyed is also realistic, because it's hard to see friends change. 
Weaknesses: Did we miss a year? I thought at the end of the first book, Bea was going into sixth grade, but now she's going into 8th. A lot of this book was just headshots of the characters with text of them talking; I don't remember the first book being set up this way rather than having standard graphic novel panels. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked summer camp based graphic novels like Smith, Tanner, and Gomez's Absolute Zeros: Camp Launchpad, Miller's Stuck, Phillips' The Ghost in Cabin 13, and Messner's Camp Monster. 

Gamers: Leveling Up

Myers, E.C. Leveling Up (Gamers #2)

May 19, 2026 by Pixel+Ink

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After the Gamers worked to get an esport team at their middle school in Gamers: Attempting Connection, the group has had some success at competition, but are continuing on in their lives. This book focuses on Bard, who still struggles with maintaining friendships, especially since his mother is sinking deeper into depression. She's been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, but isn't taking her medication, and always is worse in the winter, feeling somewhat better in the spring when she can participate in roller derby again. Bard meets Reyna, who is also interested in video games, but Bard doesn't want to expand the team. When faculty sponsor Sam Keene, the school librarian who uses they/them pronouns, announces that Chell's dad (who has gotten his job back) has helped create a middle school league for eSports, more kids do join. Not only that, but the game that the group will be competing with has changed. Alyx has gotten an advanced copy of the game, but Bard struggles with learning it. Reyna joins, and is a great asset since she will put together detailed strategy manuals, but Bard is less happy about some of Mario's volleyball teammates joining, especially Dmitri, who remains a bully. Even more grating is the fact that Dmitri is better than Bard at the new game. Bard has to miss some meetings to watch his mother, and he notices that when he invites his mother to watch him play, she calms down. The school counselor, Mrs. Beckett, tells Bard that some studies have shown that games do help with some depression. She also encourages Bard to tell his teammates what is going on in his life. The first meet goes well, but during the second, Dmitri veers from the strategy the team has agreed on, and things go poorly. Dmitri quits the team, since he hates losing. After Bard tells Mario about his mom, he invites teammates over to play games at his house, which is a first. The group has fun, which they haven't in a while, and Bard's mom does okay. Chell is apprehensive about playing the team from her old school, the Sparklers. The Gamers win on a technicality, but the Sparklers, who have benefitted in the past from glitches, don't seem to mind. They make it to the tournament being held at the Bellairs College Esports Area. Alyx's parents fund t shirts so they can advertise their business, and the four original players get to compete. With the title hanging in the balance, will Bard come back from an underwhelming season? 
Strengths: Bard's struggles with his own and his mother's mental health are contrasted nicely with a vibrant video game community that is supportive. There are plenty of details about gaming; Bard starts the book by trying to speedrun the 1988 Miner Tour game, and the amount of gaming was roughly equivalent to the amount of basketball one might find in a novel about that sport. I.E. I skipped over a fair bit of gaming details in the same way I might cursorily glance at the depictions of a basketball game! This means it will be perfect for my students who have actually played video games. Bard has a good support system with Mrs. Beckett, and Mario also talks to her. Dmitri is still unpleasant, but the team's reaction to him is interesting, especially when they let him come back to the team. I wouldn't mind seeing Reyna's perspective in the next book, since she added a lot of value to the group with her strategizing, but we also need to know more about Mario. 
Weaknesses: It's been a while since I read the first book, so there were some things that I forgot, like why Bard doesn't like to go by Josh, or what his mother had done that made her famous. I'll be able to remind my students that the books switch perspective, which will be helpful. 
What I really think: While I don't understand the appeal of gaming books, my students seem to enjoy them. I appreciated the mix of gaming information and real life struggles. Hand this to readers who loved Bradford's Gamer, Coccia's Leon Levels Up, Mancusi's Dragon Ops, or my favorite, Schrieber's Game Over, Pete Watson. 

MMGM- Hitting the Road!

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Unleashing Readers

Nelson, Suzanne. RV There Yet? 

May 12, 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

When Mae Merrivale and Arthur Buckfort marry, they find themselves with a large family. Cricket (12), Flossie (11), and Parker (7) Merrivale miss their father, who travels with his rock band, The Flying Subs, but Darwin (8) and Newt (6) Buckfort don't really remember their mother, since she left when they were small. The parents think it will be a good idea for the family to bond by renting a ramshackle RV and spending three weeks traveling on a "familymoon" to Yellowstone National Park. Considering that the trip also includes a sheepdog named Archimedes, it's not surprising that things don't follow Arthur detailed itinerary. Cricket is upset that she won't be going to her usual summer camp, and knows that she won't get much writing done. Flossie, who is always investigating nature, insists on bringing a metal detector, specimen case, and microscope. Mae thinks that she will be able to finish three paintings she needs to submit to a gallery at the end of the family's vacation. Parker is a bit overwhelmed by his two new brothers, since Newt is a whirlwind who has brought a long a snake that gets loose in the RV, and Darwin is worried and concerned about bears, a fear that is not helped by reading a book about them. There are typical disasters, like the RV not having air conditioning and occasionally breaking down, and unfortunate ones like Cricket's cassette tape of her father's band accidentally getting recorded over. Once settled at the campground, there are plenty of adventures, and Cricket meets Ecko, who is staying nearby with his mothers. Ecko saves the Day by giving the family a spare tire so they can continue their explorations. Darwin is scared of the stuffed bear at the Old Faithful Inn, and doesn't want to leave the camper. Flossie is determined to get to an archaeological dig, but scheduling this proves challenging. There is plenty of bad cooking, Lego mishaps, and mud... lots of mud. There are also tough times when getting used to other family members, especially in such small quarters. Cricket can see that Darwin and Newt are not used to having a mom, even though her mother wants to take care of them, but can't see how Flossie feels ignored, since she is processing her own feelings. Things blow up, and there is an incident where a bear gets in the RV that unsettles everyone, but when the parents decide to "turn the RV around" and go back home, the kids realize that they are enjoying being together even though it is sometimes difficult, and encourage their parents to continue traveling with the "Merribuck" clan. 

Strengths: I've said time and again that my students are much more likely to experience blended families than they are likely to deal with the death of a parent, but middle grade literature would have us believe otherwise. The combined Merrivale/Buckford family has a wide array of interests and talents, and seeing them struggle to get along while in an RV, eating undercooked pancakes and not changing their socks enough, is completely amusing to read about. We see the perspective of all of the members, so understand that Darwin is struggling with some real fears, Flossie has a lot of ideas and energy, and Cricket is struggling with the lack of quiet. We even see that blended families can be hard for adults, too, as no one seems to appreciate Arthur's detailed schedule or Mae's attempts at mothering. Young readers will love this for the funny adventures, as well as the very cute and understanding Ecko. Even the cover by Macky Pamintuan is sunny and happy, despite the terror on the children's faces. Highly recommended for all elementary and middle school libraries. 
Weaknesses: Having just read an adult book before picking this up, I was a little torn. There wasn't as much of a developed plot, since the family is just traveling and learning to get along, so I almost wanted this to be more character focused, like an adult novel. Since Cricket is the oldest, and this book is based on Nelson's own childhood experience, I almost wanted this to be a first person narrator. Cricket's insights about a blended family, and a little more of a romance with Ecko, would have been quite interesting, but of course would have been a completely different book. As it is, RV There Yet will appeal to more readers, but twelve year old me wanted more about Cricket's inner thoughts, since I never had to deal with stepsiblings.
What I really think: This is a perfect, humorous adventure book for summer reading! No one dies, and there are realistic problems that are overcome with understanding and patience. This is a great choice for readers who enjoyed Burke's An Occasionally Happy Family or Reardon's Dad Rock Dragon Quest. I will definitely buy a copy, and it will be very popular with my students, especially fans of Nelson's WISH books. 

Lonely Planet. A Kid's Guide to Japan

May 12, 2026 by Lonely Planet

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I've been enthralled by travel book ever since I picked up the original 1984 Let's Go: Greece before I spent a year living in Athens for college. Even if you never get the chance to go to a country, reading about it can be fascinating. Of course, back in the 1980s, there were only tiny black and white illustrations, so you had to use your imagination a lot more. These Lonely Planet Kid's Guides are not meant to be used to find hostels and places for cheap food, but are more of a glimpse into all of the wonders that countries have to offer. 

Starting with a map is especially important to a guide to Japan, since young readers might not be aware that there are so many islands to this Asian country. There's a nice spotlight on Tokyo, followed with the variety of types of travel one might encounter, from bullet trains to ferries to subways. I loved the detail that between trips a cleaning crew performs a "seven minute miracle" to get trains clean, and also the descriptions of the behaviors on public transport. 

In addition to the many urban and natural sites, there is a good deal of culture presented, from an explanation of Kawaii culture and Harajuku fashion to different celebrations and religious and historical monuments. Of course, the information about food is always interesting, and fish, noodles, and tea all get coverage.The best part about the book is the wealth of photographs of different sights. The only quibble I have with this one is an introduction to Sanrio products that refers to Hello Kitty as a cat; I will agree with the company that she is a little girl! 

Like the guides to Paris and New York City, this is formatted in a predictable way, and I can imagine a young reader who is interested in travel wanting to read all of these books and compare the different cities in countries. My daughter and her husband may end up living in Japan for a few years for work, so I would definitely buy a copy for them to have on hand! 

Lonely Planet. A Kid's Guide to Italy

May 12, 2026 by Lonely Planet

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's good to see the Lonely Planet guide including books on countries in their series, and not just cities. The format remains mostly the same as books like the guides to London and Rome, but gives a better feel for other areas in the region. This shows up in sections on travel, which includes not only trains that travel the country and the ubiquitous scooters and motorcycles, but the vaporettos the are used in Venice. 

There's a wide array of activities and sights depicted, equally divided into urban and natural ones. There is a good section on food in Italy, and I learned some things about making pasta that I had never heard before! Shopping and art, as well as historical sights, are included as well. 

Rome certainly gets a lot of coverage, as do areas around it like Herculaneum and Ostia Antica, which I highly recommend. These guides do not offer information about hours or admission rates like other travel guides, but let me just remind everyone that the Villa Borghese grounds are still closed on Mondays, just like they were back in 1985 when my college roommate and I tried to visit. Plan ahead!

Other fun facts include information on Medeival Tuscany, gardens, and languages that are spoken in far flung areas of the country by very few people. The beautiful pictures and fast paced text will give young readers a taste for travel, and are a great choice for cold winter days when one is stuck inside reading! 

The Edge of Forever

Browne, Meghan. The Edge of Forever
May 12, 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Twelve year old Maisie McMeans is grieving her father, who died suddenly after being diagnosed with cancer, and isn't happy that she is spending her summer with her Aunt Gertie in Heaven, Texas while her mother spends 75 days in rehab for alcohol addiction. Her aunt needs a little help in the garden, and introduces her to fourteen year old Walt Wise, who is also helping her out. The big draw is the local public library, where Maisie meets Charlene and is able to check out lots of books. Walt introduces Maisie to the local sites, including a concrete deck that the CCC put in near springs by the Callaway family home. When the kids find out that there is a luxury condo development slated to go in on the site, they try to uncover underhanded dealings that the mayor and her family are involved in. While doing so, they come across some secrets from Maisie's past. Will they be able to fend off the development while Maisie makes peace with her family?

I loved that this included information about the CCC; there were so many interesting projects that they did, but so many have fallen into ruins. It was good to see Maisie getting out to the library and hanging out with Walt rather than wallowing in her grief. The secrets made sense. This title will appeal to readers who enjoyed books like Nye's Going Going, Dilloway's Where the Sky Lives, Mills' The Last Apple Tree, or Helget's The End of the Wild.

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Luz Goes Green

Dávila, Claudia. Luz Sees the Light (Luz Goes Green #1)
May 5, 2026 by Kids Can Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luz lives in Petroville with her grandmother and mother. There are rolling blackouts because of high demands on energy, but Luz is more concerned about going to the mall to look at shoes she wants to buy and getting ice cream. Her mother complains about the price of gas, and forces Luz to take the bus. A new neighbor, Robert, moves in, and he is very interested in computers, so is naturally worried about the electricity cuts. Because the cost of gas is impacting the cost of food, and her mother isn't buying the treats Luz normally likes, Luz decides to turn an abandoned lot into a park with gardens. Her friend Anika helps, and Gord, a local man who rides a bike everywhere and delivers a message of environmental doom, works with the children, and even gives Luz a lesson in composting at the end of the book. When the cost of her shoes goes up so far that she can't afford them, Luz understands that environmental problems affect everyone. Robby uses his skills to customize a pair for her, and the children use their Friendship Park to help others in their neighborhood be more environmentally conscious. 

This book was originally published in 2011, and reviews were fairly harsh. The story is a bit simplistic in its approach to environmental issues, but hits a bit differently in 2026. I've been walking to work, eating local, and buying almost everything second hand for years, and if everyone had started these kinds of habits fifteen years ago, the world might be in a little better place! The illustrations are simple and engaging, and the message to young readers is clear: we all need to do better. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary school library, but want something with a bit more nuance for middle school. 

Dávila, Claudia. Luz Makes a Splash (Luz Goes Green #1)
May 5, 2026 by Kids Can Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

When temperatures in Petroville soar, Luz wants to get some relief, so she and Anika round up their friend, Robert, to make a trip out to her favorite pond. Since she's learned some lessons in  Luz Sees the Light, the kids take a bus out, but are alarmed to see that the pond is very low. This is because Top Cola has started to drain the pond for its soft drink production. In addition to rolling power cuts, there are severe water restrictions in place, and Luz's neighbors are complainin about not being able to water their yards or wash their cars. The community garden is suffering, but no one can water their plants. When Luz sees dishwater being thrown out at the local restaurant, she works with Gord to make gray water filtration systems. Her mother helps her protest Top Cola, and there are boycotts and protests. The community garden puts rain barrels in place, but there hasn't been any rain for a month. Luckily, Top Cola agrees to restore the area around the plant, the garden is able to use the gray water, and rain eventually comes. 

It's great to see a community working together to safe guard natural landscapes. This book was originally published in 2012, but with concerns about the water usage of servers for artificila intelligence, the message of water conservation resonates even more today. There is a helpful chapter at the end of the book where Gord shows Luz how to create a mini marsh. A graphic novel is a good way to introduce environmental problems to young readers. I love that the first book was all in shades of brown, and this book in blue, although young readers increasingly demand full color graphic novels. I would definitely buy this series for an elementary library but am a little surprised there are only two books. There could be a third about recycling. 

My Brother Oliver

Toalson, R.L. My Brother Oliver

May 19, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, Brooks is very upset that he ruined his brother Oliver's birthday. After weeks of worsening depression, bullying at school, and more frequent outbursts at home, Oliver comes across a note his brother has written listing why he should die, with a sketch of how he would make this happen. Brooks has taken the information directly to people at school, who contact his parents in time to avert a tragedy. Brooks is feeling guilty that his brother is in treatment at Clearview instead of being at home, and even blames himself for his brother's suicidal ideation. Oliver's friends have grown apart from him, and are rather mean about turning down his birthday party invitation, and one student, Noel, bullies Oliver relentlessly. Brooks has always been the "good kid", since his older brother is very talented but also frequently has meltdowns, so keeps all of his fear and grief to himself as the family visits Oliver at Clearview in the evenings. Brooks does join choir and drops out of orchestra, which he didn't enjoy, and has some success there. He's struggling a bit himself with friendships. Rocco is still there for him, but their friend Jill has distanced herself because of the mean things middle schoolers say. The book goes back and forth between the events leading up to Oliver's crisis, and following the progress that he makes in treatment while Brooks is blaming himself. Eventually, Brooks is able to talk to his parents about why he feels guilty. Oliver is able to come home to a supportive network of friends and family, and the family starts to heal.

Strengths: There was a very helpful note at the end of the book explaining that this story was based on the author's own experience with her son's suicide attempt, and there is a trigger warning at the beginning, so readers know what to expect. Brooks is an engaging character who is frustrated by his brother's behavior, but still loves him very much. While it is hinted that Oliver is on the autism spectrum and his actions seem to clearly indicate that, it is not stated. It was fantastic to see that everyone who came in contact with Oliver and either heard him mention that he wanted to die (a bus driver), or saw the list (a friend who showed Brooks), did what they were supposed to do and contacted someone. Brooks even runs to the office to talk to an adult; it surprised me the parents weren't contacted immediately. Seeing Oliver in Clearview wasn't easy, but it was good that he was getting help. People do step up to help Brooks, but it is somewhat realistic that his parents don't pay as much attention to him while they are  navigating Oliver's treatment, but they do eventually talk and unravel why he feels so guilty. 
Weaknesses: We have a well developed program of "suicide prevention" lessons for the students in my school; the state of Ohio mandates that we deliver these. Students are told again and again that if they have ANY thoughts that another student might hurt themselves, they should immediately tell someone, so Brook's all encompassing guilt that he told on his brother and his birthday was ruined seemed odd to me. This hit a bit close to home for me; not all people with suicidal ideation exhibit noticeable clues in the same way that Oliver does. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for students who benefitted from reading Bishops'  Things You Can't Say or Morrison's Coming Up Short. 

 

Deepa, M.D.

Swaminathan, Priya. Deepa, M.D.
May 19, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Deepa has been dealing with leukemia and missed all of sixth grade, but has recently gone into remission. She still isn't able to play on the volleyball team or go to sleepovers, so feels disconnected from her best friend, Renée, who has started to hang out with Lola, whom Deepa doesn't like. Deepa's Uncle Jai is a struggling doctor who makes house calls, and is an excellent diagnostician who unfortunately lacks a good bedside manner. When the famous singer, Willa, calls for him, Deepa is allowed to go along. She is a big fan, so manages to calm Willa's temper, and her uncle is able to diagnose POTS that was set off by a concussion. Back at school, Deepa often gets tired, and has to use some of the "perks" of her illness, which include being able to have her phone with her, a place to take naps, and untimed tests. While sitting out of gym class, Deepa meets Manu, who embraces a Goth look complete with eyeliner, and participates in the schools Progress club, an LGBTQIA+ organization. When Uncle Jai asks Deepa to come along on another house call, Deepa is surprised to find herself at Lola's house. Lola's brother, Tayo, is an up and coming tennis player who has been having attacks of stomach cramps and suffering from a rash after returning from a summer tennis camp. Deepa struggles with all of the strictures her mother puts on her activities, and stops taking her pills because they make her feel bad. Uncle Jai can't figure out what's up with Tayo, and even crashes a party to take Tayo's blood after his coach gives Jai the wrong information. Deepa is excited when Willa sends tickets to her concert, but is dealing with friend drama with Renée and Lola. Will she be able to help diagnose Tayo, stay healthy, and navigate relationships in seventh grade?
Strengths: If you look at the number of medical investigation books and television shows available to adults, it's surprising that there hasn't been a middle grade version of House or Qunicy, M.D. Deepa's uncle taking her a long while he is "babysitting" her makes sense, and she has a lot of background in dealing with medical professional thanks to her own illness. This helps her understand what the patients are going through, and what they aren't telling her uncle. It makes sense that her parents are over protective, and also that she has grown apart from Renée. While there are a lot of challenges in Deepa's life, and she doesn't always feel great, there are plenty of happier moments, like the concert and a family Diwali celebration. 
Weaknesses: There was a lot of friend drama going on, and was woven into the book in a way that made the story a bit hard to follow. I would have liked to see more of the medical diagnosis or even Deepa's struggles with leukemia described instead. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who were interested in the medical and social implications of surviving middle school with cancer and found Dee's Halfway Normal, Gephart's Abby, Tried and True, Harrell's Wink compelling. 

Roar

Bajaj, Varsha. Roar
May 12, 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rohan is excited to be able to spend his winter break with his grandmother and grandfather in India. Not only does he get to escape his twin siblings in Houston, but he gets to visit the Vanraj sanctuary where his grandfather is the director, and is known as Tiger Man. There is one tiger, Arya, who has just had cubs. Rohan's cousin Mira visits from Bengaluru, and the two are excited to hang out at the preserve, visit the village school where their grandmother volunteers, and eat the delicious food that Seema the cool makes. The grandfather is worried that a development being planned for twenty kilometers away is too close, since animals need to be able to safely travel around, and development always produces roads that can be very dangerous. Local people support the development because it will mean more jobs and economic prosperity, so there are some protests. An intern, Kiran, joins park rangers Shiva and Anita to try to keep the are safe for tigers, and security cameras are installed to keep track of the area, but there are snares found in the jungle. Not only that, but Arya becomes ill and dies, and seems to have been poisoned. Luckily, her sister, Sita, is nearby, and takes in the cubs. Rohan returns home after break, but is glad to know that his grandfather is able to remain at Vanraj, and the mining is put on hold. This ends with some very good notes about tigers in India. 

I'm a big fan of children visiting grandparents in other countries, and I love that both the grandmother and grandfather were very active in their community. I learned a lot about tigers in India, and enjoyed seeing Rohan and Mira work together to keep Arya and her cubs safe. I do wish there had been a recipe for the guava fudge that was mentioned! This is a great choice for readers who enjoyed Kadarusman's 2025 Music for Tigers or Perkins's 2015 Tiger Boy.

Styx and Stones

Schmidt, Gary D. and Koertge, Ron. Styx and Stones

May 5, 2026 by Clarion Books

E ACR provided by Edelweiss Plus

Simon of Lacedaemon was killed by Spartan soldiers along with his family and has been in the Underworld for 2,451 years. Since he didn't drink the water from Lethe, he remembers his old life, and has been trying to escape. Unlike the other shades, he can interact and even learn, so Persephone has him wait on her, since he also prepares pomegranate seeds the way she likes. After training Cerberus by scratching the ears on all three of his heads, he manages to make the harrowing Journey out of the Underworld and ends up, naked, in the seventh grade boys' bathroom at St. Nikolaos Academy in St. Paul Minnesota. Luckily, Zeke Tripp finds him and helps him out. Zeke struggles with bullies like Rowan, has very hands off parents, and is struggling with his own personal tragedy. The two boys claim that Simon is from Las Vegas and his parents and luggage are experiencing travel difficulties, and enroll him at the school with the help of Mr. Savalas, who is pleased with Simon's knowledge of Ancient Greek mythology (and who also is struggling with his own personal tragedy). Zeke's grandmother lets Simon stay in the family's pool house and doesn't ask too many questions. In the Underworld, Hades is very angry that someone escaped, but Persephone, Sisyphus, and others are glad. Persephone even starts a subtle shift of power because she is so unhappy spending six months of the year in the Underworld. At school, Simon is given a hard time, but he and Zeke work together, and do get help from some classmates like Lucinda. When strange things start happening in St. Paul, the boys know that Hades is trying to get Simon back. Has Simon "broken" the Underworld and make a lasting escape, or will he have to return to his hellish existence?
Strengths: This was beautifully written and introspective, and wove details of Greek mythology into a modern setting in an interesting way. The use of Cerberus will touch the hearts of dog lovers everywhere, and watching Simon struggle to leave the Underworld was oddly enthralling. His arrival in St. Paul was explained well enough that I could even believe the school didn't ask questions. Even though the story went back and forth between the two worlds, it wasn't hard to understand, and the narrative tension was maintained in both timelines. This is beautifully written, and felt almost cinematic at times. I would not be at all surprised if this won the Newbery Award in 2027. 
Weaknesses: While this was a brilliantly constructed book, I'm not sure how much it will appeal to my students. I was enthralled by it, but didn't enjoy it; three characters dealing with losses of loved ones was a bit much. Do have to give some bonus points for Mr. Savalas' career path description: "So how did I end up teaching middle school? My field was Classics." Same, Mr. Savalas. Same.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed allergorical books like Haydu's Eventown or Huang's Kaya of the Ocean. 

MMGM- In the Blood and Diamond Fever!

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Henry, April. In the Blood

May 12, 2026 by Christy Ottaviano Books (Little, Brown)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tessa Lundgren has always known she was left at a fire station right after her birth and adopted, and is happy with her parents, but when she turns 18, her best friend El gives her a DNA test. The two had always thought about who Tessa's biological parents might have been, so Tessa does eventually send off the test. She's busy at school, and starts hanging out with her lab partner, Victor. In alternating chapters, we also hear the point of view of Keisha, a police officer who is sent to do a welfare check on a young woman named Alida and finds her murdered. She starts to delve into the fifteen years history of a killer called the Portland Phantom who is scrupulous about leaving no traces, but who does leave gruesome "calling cards" of mementos from previous victims. There is only one sample of DNA from one of his killings, taken from underneath the fingernails of the victim. We also see Quentin Sinclair, who is committing the murders, and get a look at the warped psychology behind his actions. While her parents are generally supportive of her, Tessa has noticed that they seem very stressed, and worry that they will divorce, leaving her and her younger sister Phoebe, their biological child, in a stressful situation. When she gets her DNA match back, she locates a woman who is probably a cousin of her mother. Audrey meets up with Tessa, El, and Victor, and seems to think that her cousin Gina might be Tessa's mother. Gina is involved in a cult-like religious group called the Reapers, and does talk to Tessa. It seems that her daughter Ruth might be Tessa's mother, but she ran away from home around the time that Tessa was born. Since she was raised in such a strict environment, Tessa is at a loss as to who her father might have been. She talks to Ruth's brother Jared, who gives her Ruth's diary. There's still not a lot of information. There has been yet another murder, and Keisha, who is still involved in the investigation, gets an alert about Tessa's DNA test. Suspicion falls on Tessa's father, until the detectives talk to Tessa and find out that she is adopted. We see Quentin setting up his next murder, and learn about Ruth's affair with him from his perspective. Tessa is upset to learn that her father might be the Portland Phantom, but when Quentin finds out he has a daughter, the situation becomes dangerous for all involved. Will Tessa find her father, or will she become his next victim?

My students are enthralled by true crime podcasts and documentaries like the one in the book that details the investigation into the Portland Phantom and is quoted between chapters. Henry's When We Go Missing has been extremely popular with my students, and this book is even better! 

I've never been a fan of true crime stories, but Henry writes such incredible mysteries that I was drawn right in. There are a lot of twists and turns that I don't want to ruin. Seeing the story unfold from three different perspectives didn't sound that appealing to me at first, but ended up being absolutely fascinating, and added a huge amount of tension to the story! The research behind the science of DNA and the way that crime scenes are investigated is very evident, and I would NEVER want to get on Henry's bad side. If anyone could pull off the perfect crime, I think it could be her! 

The best part of this was that even though the murders are grisly and Quentin is clearly deranged, there are no details that make this inappropriate for middle school readers. Even Ruth's pregnancy is framed in a very factual way with no particulars. Showing Quentin's thought process can't have been easy, but we see his wife, Melanie and her Precious Moments figurines, and also Quentin's creepy storage unit with the relics from his victims. This is top notch writing, since it is suspenseful without having to resort to gruesome descriptions, profanity, or more mature language. 

There's plenty of suspense, and the end of the book is fraught with danger. I don't think it's too much of a spoiler to say that Tessa survives, and ends up writing a book about her experience, since throughout the story she has talked about wanting to write. After all of the tension of the book, it is good to have a happy ending; even Tessa's parents problems are revealed as being a health issues with the father. 

Something about the cover reminded me of Lois Duncan or Joan Lowery Nixon books from the 1990s, in absolutely the best way. There's always been a middle grade and young adult interest in true crime and murder, but they are hard topics to write about for this age group. Henry knocks it out of the park every single time with her books, and just keeps getting better and better. I will buy at least three copies of this newest title, which my students have been asking about already in January 2026. 

Also, I hadn't known that the murder case of Lois Duncan's daughter was solved in 2021. Sadly, the author died in 2016. 

https://www.oxygen.com/crime-news/lois-duncan-daughter-serial-killer-paul-apodaca

Sheinkin, Steve and Chad, John (illus.)

Diamond Fever! A True Crime Story in the Wild West

May 12, 2026 by Roaring Brook Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

True Crime books are very popular with my students now, and I've even been surprised at how many of my students will read Day and Helquist's The Mona Lisa Vanishes: A Legendary Painter, a Shocking Heist, and the Birth of a Global Celebrity. While I love history, I'm not as big a fan of true Crime, and while I enjoy mysteries, I am rubbish at keeping all of the clues straight. 

Diamond Fever will be a popular choice for nonfiction projects, and comes in at 256 pages, which meets the "over 200 pages" requirements. I could give a synopsis of all of the characters and the back and forth of the story, but since there is a list complete with thumbnails of the participants at the front of the book, there are just too many characters for me. 

Suffice it to say, there were two very wily and somewhat evil men, cousins Philip Arnold and John Slack, who is 1871 put in place a very elaborate hoax that there was a diamond mine somewhere in the west. They got all manner of well respected men drawn into the hoax, and strung them along for years, trying to get legal rights to the mine so they could see stocks. There were even some British connections to this, and men like Charles Lewis Tiffany and Henry Janin were involved. Land was salted with diamonds and rubies that were probably bought in London, and it took a government surveyor, Clarence King, to uncover the hoax. This no doubt was covered sensationally in the newspapers, and I sort of want to travel to Elizabethtown, Kentucky to see the Arnold sites. 

Students will enjoy the travels, the intrigue, and the snarky tone that Sheinkin employs. Even narrative nonfiction can be a little dry, and when you're working on a project for a month or more, it's good to have an engaging title. This will be right up there with Fleming's The Curse of the Mummy and Seiple's Byrd and Igloo for handing to students who are reluctant to read nonfiction. The inclusion of comic style panels throughout won't hurt!