Such Great Heights

LaRocca, Rajani. Such Great Heights

August 11, 2026 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Siya lives on the East Coast with her father, a software engineer. Her older sister, Asha, is in college, and her mother was killed in a car accident when she was in fourth grade. Her best friends are Max and Grace, who stood by her after her mother’s death. Now in high school, Siya wants to win a position as an attorney on the Mock Trial team after previously serving as a researcher. Also on the team is Raj, whom she thinks is attractive. She does make the team as an alternate, but when another member drops out, she gets her wish and is the fourth attorney. The case proves to be a difficult one, since it bears more thana passing resemblance to her own mother’s death. There were no questions about her mother’s single car accident on a snowy night, but the Mock Trial case paints the woman who died as having personal and professional troubles as a lawyer, and the insurance doesn’t want to pay because the death is treated as a suicide. In trial competitions, Siya sometimes has to argue that the insurance company should NOT have to pay out. This leads her and Raj to try to find out if the case really was meant to reflect her mother’s reality, and leads to some family secrets being revealed. Raj, whose mother is a state senator, is hard to date because of the public scrutiny he is under; at one point, unflattering pictures of the two are published, and someone even locks Siya and another team member under the stage in order to get compromising pictures. Along with the story, we see a parallel look at the traditional Indian tale of Rama and his wife Sita, as well as transcripts of Mock Trial testimony. Siya has a lot of family issues to unpack as the Mock Trial team heads to the state semifinals. 

Strengths: Other than Holms’ Sunny Makes Her Case, I can’t think of any other books with Mock trial teams, so this was interesting. The plot is developed well, and the layers of history are unveiled in an interesting way. The parallels to the story of Rama and Sita will appeal to those who like legends. The best part about this was the romance between Siya and Raj, and I loved how they were able to be on the team together and respect each other. There aren’t a lot of twists to the mystery, but it is revealed slowly and realistically. 

Weaknesses: While the legal case aspects of this were interesting, this book might appeal more to high school readers who have more knowledge about Mock Trial. There is a tiny bit more mature content; one f-word, some alcohol consumption at a party (neither Siya nor Raj drink), and some light petting. Personally, I felt that Siya should have left well enough alone, and knowing the family history, her father should have encouraged her NOT to participate in the case. Some secrets are better left buried. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like young adult books with family problems and legal issues, like Myers’ classic Monster, Haddix’s Full Ride or Morgenroth’s Jude.

Wild Blizzard

Philbrick, Rodman. Wild Blizzard

October 20, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jack Seaver is headed to a science fair in upstate New York with classmates Amy, Harper, and twins Kevin and Calvin. Their teacher, Mrs. Bowditch, is driving the bus,  but only five miles from school runs into rough weather and the bus slides off the road. The kids are okay, but Mrs. Bowditch has a head injury and is unconscious. The group tries to fix the bus, but Jack determines that the axel is broken, and there's no way to drive. They do check over the engine, and have to make sure that the tail pipe is clear of snow so that they don't succumb to carbon monoxide poisoning. With a snowstorm approaching and bitter cold temperatures outside, they have to do their best to assess their situation and plan for survival. Ms. Bowditch comes to briefly and tells them to run the engine only fifteen minutes every hour, as there are only about ten gallons of gas. Eventually, the twins (who are the tallest students) decide to talk to the school, but they don't do well. Jack, who is very short, decides that he has the best chance, as long as he has snowshoes. 

Strengths: I am a sucker for any books dealing with huge amounts of snow, most likely because the Cleveland Super Bomb of 1978 happened at a pivotal moment in my middle school career! Johnson's Ice Dogs, Smith's Stranded, Courage's Snow Struck, Northrop's Trapped-- all good stuff! While I would rather be spending the snow storm in a cozy cabin, it is more exciting to be out snow shoeing through the snow, especially with a dog, Buck, who is very helpful to Jack. There are some exciting moments with a requisite bear attack, and there's even a moose sighting! A small cottage does aid in survival, and there is some mystery surrounding Buck. I enjoyed the use of technology as well as Jack's knowledge of weather, thanks to his science fair project! 
Weaknesses: Not a fan of the cover, since Jack does at least know enough to cover his head and hands! This hand a LOT of really good details about surviving in a snowstorm, but was oddly didactic for a survival book. Jack knew a lot of things my 6th grade students would not, and relied heavily on the GPS on his watch. I don't think my students will notice this, but it made the writing feel a bit clunky. Also, why didn't Mrs. Bowditch check the weather before heading out? During the big storms back in January 2026, we knew for days that things were going to get bad! 
What I really think: My students absolutely ADORE Philbrick's other survival books; I can't keep Wild Wave (probably my personal favorite), Wildfire, Wild River, on the shelves. They are just underr 200 pages, fast paced, and engaging. I will definitely order a copy of this. And look into getting a watch with GPS. And travel with power banks AT ALL TIMES. 
 

It Came From the Creek

King, A.S. It Came From the Creek

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's 1980, and Katy would rather spend her August days hanging out with her best friend Joel in a tent in his yard, listening to baseball on the radio and playing DiceBall. She's not a fan of back to school shopping or heading off to fifth grade, because growing up is scary, and her mother is pushing her to use deodorant. There are bigger issues in her community: Love Canal is making the news, and James Piper, who has bought some of her family's farm land, is known to have a "secret gross landfill". This, along with sinkholes he's filling with toxic waste, is causing horrible smells that are making people sick and contaminating the water, some of which ends up overflowing into her grandmother's basement. When the creek starts looking murky and is filled with dead fish, Katy and Joel start investigating. Over the summer, Katy worked on an assignment for Ms. G., and researched how the world would be different in 100 years. She found out a lot of alarming environmental issues out, and also reported on women's rights as well as other social issues. Her dream is to one day work at the EPA, so Operation Proof that she is working on with Joel using a Super 8 film camera as well as an Instamatic, is very important to her, especially since much of the pollution is happening on former family land. When new houses are set to be built in the area, will things get even worse?
Strengths: I appreciated the author's note that Katy was a younger, slightly different version of Obe's mother from the 2017 Me and Marvin Gardens. The setting seemed familiar, and I thought we saw a glimpse of one of Marvin's ancestors. There are lots of good details about 1980: straight legged corduroys, Battle of the Network Stars, and boys thinking they can exclude girls from playing kickball. In between chapters of the story, we do see Katy's school reports, which cover a lot of problems that still have relevance today; there is even a mention of Artificial Intelligence. King has a knack for addressing topical issues that resonate with gatekeepers; her Attack of the Black Rectangles is frequently used as a class novel. 
Weaknesses: I am a big, big supportive of both environmental and feminist issues, but this was a bit didactic in tone, which took away some of the emotional impact of Katy's plight. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for fans of King's work or environmentally themed books like Helget's 2017 The End of Wild, Cline's Bridge to Bat City, Culley's Landslide, or Baron's Spark.

Dasia (Forever)

Stone, Nic. Dasia (Forever)

October 6, 2026 by Crown Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

In this spin off from Dear Justyce, Dasia's family has had their share of trouble; her father was abusive, but ended up being shot in their neighborhood. Her older brother, LaQuan, is in prison for what Dasia thinks is a false accusation of murder. Her mother has been depressed, so Dasia has been taking care of her younger brother, Gabe. When Dasia is diagnosed with cancer, and is given only six months to live, Gabe starts to hang out with some less than desirable influences. To cope with everything that is going on, Dasia has been writing letters in verse to LaQuan. One particularly trying night in the hospital where she is undergoing induction chemotherapy, Dasia is visited by another patient, Jimmy. Jimmy is very pale, and seems young for fourteen; she's carrying a stuffed unicorn. Dasia doesn't want to talk, and doesn't feel like Jimmy should be in her room, but she relentlessly asked questions and shares about her life. Jimmy's from a much wealthier background from Dasia, but has had her own share of troubles; her seventeen year old brother Coltrane "died by decision" and her family has had to deal with that as well as Jimmy's cancer. Her younger brother, Slane, is struggling. Jimmy is insistent that Dasia stay strong for her own younger brother, and the two seem to gain strength from each other. There is a twist at the end that I don't want to ruin, but there is an epilogue set a good two years afterwards that helps make the ending a bit happier. 

Dear Justyce (book number two in the Dear Martin series) is more of a high school book, but this middle grade book could be read independently. There is a LOT going on, and many serious issues are addressed. While this author's Clean Getaway and Fast Pitch circulate well, they are a bit happier and less philosophical than Dasia Forever, which is a good choice for readers who want a slower paced, sadder title like Toalsen's My Brother Oliver or Conklin's Counting Time. 

They Will Not Save Us and The Broken City

Arnold, Marie. They Will Not Save Us

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

There is excitement in Bonne Fin, Haiti when a stranger, Mr. Laurent, comes to town with his personal chef. Lena, whose mother and grandmother are both Mambos, who help the people in her village commicate with the spirits, wants to attend the party at his house with her best friends, Luke and Jesula, hoping it will take her mind off the death of her father, a college professor. Her father was also writing a book of local scary legends, but Lena can't find the thirteenth tale that was supposed to be in the book. Her father was supposedly too afraid to include it. Lena finds the story in his office and discovers the reason why: it is a tale of a demon sailor who was transporting enslaved people, and who made a deal that involved coming for the blood of one of his descendants, who would have a birthmark eerily like Lena's! Things are strange in Bonne Fin; Lena loves living in Haiti, but knows that life there is often hard. When people start acting strangely, the echoes of her father's Thirteenth tale resonate with her. Her Gran tells Lena that it's important for her to practice communicating with the Loa, spirit who govern certain practices, but Lena blames them for the death of her father and is reluctant to talk with them, As she and her friends try to understand why people are acting strangely, they uncover a historical event, the LeJune case of 1788, before the Haitian revolution, that ties in to the story of the demon sailor. Will they be able to thwart the demon and save their town?
Strengths: It was interesting to see Lena's village and learn about her family's role as spirit liaisons. Aside from churches and religion, we don't think as much about the spirit world in the US, and I don't feel like it is any part of my every day life. The linking of real life history to the threatening spirit was a good way to deliver facts in a more engaging way. Having a scary song was haunting; I may never hum Frere Jacques to myself in the same way! Lena's reluctance to embrace her mother and grandmother's role because she is angry about her father's death makes sense. It was fun to see zombies in their traditional Caribbean setting instead of the Dystopian one they so often inhabit in middle grade literature. 
Weaknesses: It would have been satisfying to see Lena's mother and grandmother help her a little more in her fight against the demon sailor, and to watch them impart some Mambo wisdom to her. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy creepy, culturally connected tales like Baptiste's 2015 The Jumbies, Strong's 2022 Eden's Everdark, Stringfellow's 2022 Comb of Wishes, or Bourne's 2026 Here Lies a Ghost or Nightmare Island.

Hunter, Erin. The Broken City (Renegades #2)
November 3, 2026 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Willow is concerned that her sister Luna is still missing, and she is on the run with Violet Rousseau, whose parents are evil. This book reads almost like a Young Adult version of Warriors, with more magic, more humans, and more angst. There's a bit more violence as well.

INTO THE WILD came out in 2004, so it's not surprising that my students' interest in this series has waned a bit. I've stopped buying the new series of WARRIORS book because no one has been reading the later books. It used to be that students would come from elementary school having read everything that had been published, but that doesn't happen as much.

I've described the RENEGADES series to some of my super fans, and they didn't seem very interested. RENEGADES doesn't have the cat-centered world of the previous books. This would almost be better for readers really interested in magic, since the cats have a bit of a "familiar" role. I'm still considering this one, but haven't had enough interest to purchase.

From the publisher:

Willow and Luna have always relied on each other to survive in the city. But when the sisters stumbled on a hidden world of magical animals and human witches, they realized they were no ordinary cats. They have magic themselves.

Now, for the first time, they must forge their own paths.

Willow is on the run with Violet, a witch girl with whom she shares a powerful bond. But Violet’s parents, the Rousseaus, are determined to hunt them down and destroy Willow.

Meanwhile Luna is reeling from a deadly attack by the same Rousseaus. She and her fellow Renegades are driven to join forces with the Truthtellers, a sinister coven of animals with secrets of their own.

As tensions explode into magical conflict, Willow and Luna must grapple with the same question…

What if your worst enemy is your own sister?

MMGM- Spy School Secret Files and The Mystery of the Stars

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Gibbs, Stuart and Jenkins, Ward (illustrator) 

Totally True Tales from World War II (Spy School Secret Files)

November 10, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Ben Ripley, the main character of Gibbs' Spy School series, wants to shed some light on the history of spy craft. After a brief mention of the history of espionage, he concentrates on the creation of the US involvement in World War II in 1941, when the need for the US to gather intelligence grew. He highlights "Wild" Bill Donovan, whom President Roosevelt made the Coordinator of Information, and runs from there.

There are chapters on research and analysis, recruitment and training, and even Operation Torch, which saw Ralph Bunche, a professor and expert in North African History, involved in this effort to help the British secure the area. Once the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) was created and got off the ground, there are plenty of spy antics to discuss! Mini biographies of figures like Julia Child, movie director John Ford, and architect Eero Saarinen, as well as lesser known but just as impressive people, paint a picture of the depth and breadth of US intelligence during the War and give glimpses of many of the investigations and missions.

Readers unfamiliar with initiatives like cracking the Enigma Code might be enticed to pick up further books like Sepetys and Sheinkein's fictional The Bletchley Riddle or Barone's nonfiction Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code (which is mentioned in the afterword!). There's more information about the storied and fascinating Virginia Hall (who has been highlighted in Purnell's Agent Most Wanted: The Never-Before-Told Story of the Most Dangerous Spy of World War II and Friddell's The Mysterious Virginia Hall: World War II's Most Dangerous Spy), but other women spies who aided the war effort are also included. Missions behind enemy lines are detailed, as well as propaganda and my very favorite-- research and development. It's intriguing to read about how equipment like miniature cameras and hidden guns were invented and used!

D-Day is portrayed as the ultimate "con", the culmination of the efforts of so many. Of course, after the war there was less need for concentrated espionage, and the OSS was shut down. It didn't end so much as evolve, and many people who played a role in the OSS were present when the Central Intelligence Agency was created.

The afterword was fascinating. Gibbs has written a number of spy novels, and managed to get invited to the CIA museum, which is only accessible to employees of the organization or their guests. He managed to gather so much information that the Spy School Secret Files is going to be a series! This is a shorter book, and perfect for readers who enjoyed Scholastic Focus titles like Hopkinson's World War II Up Close: They Battled in Blizzards, Race Against Death: The Greatest POW Rescue of World War II, They Saved the Stallions, or titles about spy craft like Spradlin's Close Calls: How Eleven US Presidents Escaped from the Brink of Death or the late Paul Janeczko's The Dark Game or Secret Soldiers: How the U.S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis.

Moss, Marissa. The Mystery of the Stars: Cecilia Payne-Caposchkin, Astronomer
October 6, 2026 by Creston Books
Copy provided by the publisher

Born in 1900, Cecilia Payne had a few challenges. Her father died when she was young, and there was only enough money to send her brother to college. She was very interested in science and the natural world, and wanted to get a college degree from Cambridge years before they actually awarded them to women. She did complete studies at Cambridge and also went to Harvard, although she had to get her degree from Radcliffe College. She became an astronomer after studying botany, and ended up being extremely talented in the field. She married Russian-born astrophysicist Sergei Illarionovich Gaposchkin in 1934, and had three children. She kept her maiden name as a middle name because she had published a fair amount of work before her marriage, and relied on her husband, whose career did not go as well as hers, to raise their children. She was very accomplished in a field that was not welcoming to women, and opened the doors for other women to enter the field. She died in 1979. 

This was an interestingly arranged biography. Moss incorporates her illustrations throughout the book; they are the same style as her ones for the Amelia's Notebook series, if anyone still remembers that series from twenty years ago. The style is very conversational and fast moving, and Cecilia's scientific achievements are interspersed with information about her personal life. This is a short book (86 pages without the end notes, glossary, etc.) but is full of information. 

I do wish that the book had been a little larger, so that the font wouldn't have been so small. The cover would have been a bit more appealing if Cecilia's face weren't so washed out; surely a simple color correction could have been done so she didn't look so ghostly! 

This is a good choice to have in a middle school library alongside other books about female scientists, like Acevedo's Path to the Stars: My Journey from Girl Scout to Rocket Scientist, Fletcher's Wonder Women of Science : Twelve Geniuses Who Are Currently Rocking Science, Technology, and the World, Bolden's Black Lives: Great Minds of Science, and Ignotofsky's Women in Science.

It's Only Dancing

Guillory, Jasmine. It's Only Dancing

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Kat is not thrilled that she has to spend an entire month at Camp Ochoa in California with her parents and older sister Ella. The four will have a three room cabin and WAY too much time together. Kat would much rather stay home, read, and have some time to herself. Instead, she finds herself scheduled into watercolor painting classes, bird watching, yoga, and pottery. Needing some time to think, she goes for a walk alone one evening and happens upon a group of counselors who are not too much older than she is, dancing. She makes eye contact with Jordan, who is a dance instructor, and gets invited in, but another counselor, Toni, is very negative, and tells Jordan that they should not be fraternizing with campers. THe next day, Kat comes across Toni crying, and gets to talking to her. Toni's nonbinary partner, Frankie, is running in a state track meet, and she really wants to go and be supportive, but the meet is on the same day she is supposed to be dancing with Jordan so he can perform for some college scouts. His father is the chef at the camp, and Jordan hopes he can get a college scholarship for his hip hop dancing. Kat had been an avid ballet dancer, but as she got older and got curves, was told she didn't have the "right" body for ballet. This put her off dancing, but she tries some of the moves with Toni and decides she likes hip hop. She tells Jordan that her parents won't mind if she goes with him to perform, but she just plans on sneaking off and not telling them, as her mother has made negative comments about the clothing and movements included in this style of dance. The two are soon practicing their moves, and becoming closer. Kat is a good technical dancer, but still adheres to the very stiff and formal strictures of ballet. Jordan feels that if she were more comfortable with him, her dancing would be more relaxed, and promises that he won't step over any lines. The two do like each other, and spend a lot of time kissing even though this could get Jordan in trouble with the uptight director, Susanna. The two manage to perform for the scout, and hope to dance again at the camp Show, but their relationship is revealed and Jordan is fired. Kat comes clean to her parents, who are just glad that she is happier, since she took leaving ballet so hard. The camp rallies behind Jordan and mounts a protest to get his job back. Will they be successful?
Strengths: I didn't know that family camp was still a thing; this book loosely reimagines the movie Dirty Dancing, which was set in a 1960s Borscht Belt family resort. It's updated nicely, with a more diverse cast, and good details like the father working remotely instead of driving up every weekend from the city. Jordan was a great guy, and he treated Kat with a lot of respect. The parents give Kat a lot of freedom (as one might do in a family camp setting), and are extremely understanding, since they trust her to make good choices, but they are just the right amount of annoying! The romance is very sweet, and nothing happens except for a lot of kissing. There aren't too many books about hip hop dancing, so this was fun to read. 
Weaknesses: Do modern teens care about forty year old movies? This would be roughly equivalent of people my age being obsessed with Casablanca when I was in high school. It was interesting to see the chapter headings, which were titles of 1980s movies, including The Breakfast Club and When Harry Met Sally. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like young adult romance books that are also appealing to middle grade readers like Watson's Love is a Revolution, Rigaud's Simone Breaks all the Rules, or Kasie West's or Michelle Dalton's romance titles. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Game On

Grace, Sina. Game On (All-American Persian #1)

October 6, 2026 by Random House Graphic

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Sasan Rad is in 7th grade in West LA and is obsessed with video games, especially the newly released RadBox. His best friend Jon Ho is as well. Sasan's single mother works hard as a nurse, but it takes a lot to support two children, including Sasan's older sister, Darya. Soheila Rad came from Iran, but Sasan's father, whom she divorced years ago, was not Persian. In exchange for getting the $600 game, Sasan agrees to spend two months learning Persian with his mother. At school, he 

is working on a "Who Am I" project with Mr. Webb, whom he rather likes. The teacher makes sure to tell students that if their parents are divorced or if they were concieved through IVF, they can still write about what their idea of family is. There is some research involved into history and family backgrounds as well. Sasan doesn't hang out with the six other Persian students at his school, unless there is a big holiday celebration at the home of some of the wealthier families. His teacher points out that he hasn't even asked his mother how she came to the US. Older sister Darya tries to remind Sasan that their mother can't always provide all of his frivolous requests, and encourages him to be less materialistic. It's hard, though, when Jon is able to buy expansion packs, and other students in the school don't have trouble going to movies, getting snacks, or buying whatever they want. Darya also is annoyed at Sasan's project, since it concentrates more on video games and comic characters than on their cultural heritage. Not surprisingly, after he has gotten the video game he wanted, Sasan spends more time playing the game than he does studying with his mother. After he chooses to go to a Game Con with Jon instead of his mother's birthday party, Soheila is upset. Even though he is desperate to fit in with his friends at school, Sasan sees his sister's point, and creates another "Persian version" of his project, and tries his best to reconnect with his mother and his culture. 

Strengths: The main focus of middle school for many, many students is figuring out their own personal identity. What do they wear? Who are their friends? What activities do they pursue? Increasingly, tweens have complicated family backgrounds, with different cultures and family dynamics. Mr. Webb's acknowledgement of this when assigning the "Who Am I" project was helpful; my school hasn't done similar projects for about fifteen years because students and parents complained so frequently. It makes perfect sense that Sasan is willing to manipulate his mother for the game, and doesn't follow through on his promises, and it also makes sense that he's not really very interested in his Persian background. I enjoyed his older sister trying to make him see the light, and also understood why his mother had trouble stressing the importance of her background, especially since he wasn't receptive. It was fun to see Sasan hanging out with his friend Jon and Jon's family, and taking part in some of their celebrations. The illustration style of this graphic novel is perfect for upper middle grade readers-- it's bright, has just enough details in the background, and has the more angular, black outlined characters that make this seem older. There seems to be a second book coming out.
Weaknesses: Oh, I know from bitter personal experience that middle school students can only be bribed so far. It doesn't have long term motivation. One of my own children got a video game in exchange for doing better at a cross country race; sure, the time was just under fifteen minutes, but the rest of the season reverted to twenty. Sigh. Sasan does slightly better at the end of the book, but I did sort of want to slap him, which was of course the whole point of the story. 
What I really think: Any title involving video games is bound to do well in middle school, and since this is humorous and relatable, I can see it circulating very well. It's good to see graphic novels with boys as the main characters for a change, and nice that this was sort of a memoir but wasn't whiny. I will purchase a copy for my school library. It will be nice to be able to offer my students with Persian backgrounds something in addition to Morrison's The Blue Dress, Amini and Amin's Mixed Feelings, Farazi's Here to Stay and Dumas' fantastic 2016 It Ain't So Awful, Falafel. 
 

Red the River Rises

Crossley-Holland, Kenneth. Red the River Rises
October 20, 2026 by Candlewick

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In 1066, Tor, the third son of Kind Harald Hardrada, has been sent as a scout with his best friend to see what is going on in England. Sadly, their boat, the Kittiwake, has crashed, and his friend is dead. Washed up on the beach, Tor decides to make his way to meet his father in Scarborough as planned. He manages to steal food, clothing, and a pony he names Skopti on his way, and secures a passage on a Norwegian-Irish boat with Matason. Tor decides it's in his best interest to pretend to be a fisherman from Orkney instead of giving away his royal lineage, especially since the English countryside is preparing to defend themselves. One of those worried about her fate is Kata, who lives in the village of Riccall, and whose mother has passed away after spent some time as a slave. She and Tor have an instant connection. Things don't go smoothly between the two; Oswald, a man from her town who is fond of her, fights Tor and hurts him badly. The two are separated, but mangaeg to find each other at various points. The two talk, and find out that their mothers knew each other when Kata's mother was in Norway. Since Harald is still determined to take York, there is a battle that doesn't end well, and Kata is devastated. She thinks about going North to connect with Tor's mother, but given her responsibilities in Riccall, might stay. 

Strengths: This was an interesting look at a portion of history about which there are not that many middle grade novels. The 7th grade curriculum in Ohio might touch on this era briefly, but it's not a time given much coverage in the US. Crossley-Holland's writing is rich with imagery, and he has lots of details of daily life. For readers who like action and adventure, there is plenty of unvarnished coverage of the difficulties of travel and the devastation of war. The cover is fantastic, and I have to admit that the title has such a ring to it that it made me pick up the book! 
Weaknesses: I miss the very particular sort of student who would have loved this, but I can't imagine handing this to anyone currently at my school. Readers of Flanagan's The Ranger's Apprentice series might be persuaded to pick it up, but the romance between Tor and Kata that is threaded through this isn't going to appeal to them. 
What I really think: This is the perfect book for readers who enjoyed White's 1958 The Once and Future King, Dragt's 1962 The Letter for the King, or Pyle's 1891 Men of Iron. This might be more successful in England, since the history is more applicable there. Crossley-Holland's 2001 The Seeing Stone was popular in my library in the early 2000s, but I weeded it years ago. 

Bad Things Happened Here

Hossain, Moniza. Bad Things Happened Here
September 1, 2026 by Holiday House
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sam Wells is somewhat reluctant to spend a month in Singapore with his maternal grandmother, Jyoti, but since his mother died when he was a baby, it seems like a good opportunity to learn more about her. Sam is concerned when he sees his grandmother's house: it's packed with items, not very clean, and in an oppressively gloomy neighborhood. The two neighbors he meets, Aunty Nurual and Paul, a frail Australian man, seem nice enough, and he even meets a boy his age, Hafiz. His grandmother teaches English, so Sam has a chance to look around the house and try to find out things about his mother. His grandmother hasn't cleaned out her room, although his mother never returned to Singapore after starting college. The most disturbing thing is that Sam sees a horrific ghost, but also his mother at the age of twelve! Priya Malhotra, his mother, claims she isn't a ghost, but there's clearly something horrible that has gone on. Sam and Hafiz find an abandoned factory in the neighborhood, and come across a decades old Nokia phone with "Tammy" bedazzled on it. They do some research and find that there have been a number of neighborhood children who have gone missing over the years, and feel that they need to solve the mystery of what happened to Tammy so that her spirit, and possibly Priya's spirit, can move on. Neither Sam's grandmother nor Aunty Nural will talk about the disappearances, and it turns out that both of their husbands were questioned in Tammy's disappearance. The boys even go to visit Tammy's mother, claiming they are researching her death for a school project. She isn't interested in talking to them, but Tammy's sister does, and tells the boys that she has also seen her sister's ghost. When Hafiz goes missing, Sam knows that it's up to him to not only solve the mystery of Tammy's disappearance, but to figure out what it has to do with his new friend's absence. 
Strengths: I was not entirely sure where this story was heading, but my students will be delighted that it heads off in the direction of a serial killer! The murderer ends up being VERY close to home, and there are some nerve wracking scenes of horror, both with the ghost and with the human culprit. The Singapore setting was interesting, although it seems a bit too humid and hot for me to want to actually visit. The hoarding issue was an interesting inclusion, and it was good to see that Sam's presence made the grandmother take a look at her lifestyle and make some changes. This definitely has several different levels of scariness to it. It's perfect for middle school, but maybe a little too much for elementary students. 
Weaknesses: This may need to be hand sold, because the cover is a bit murky. It does capture the atmosphere of the book, but doesn't seem to capture the horror well. While I'm not a fan of the dead parent trope, at least there was a reason for the mother to have passed away, so that Sam could connect with her ghost and solve a crime from her childhood. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like April Henry's books but are willing to read books that involve ghosts, like Oh's Spirit Hunters or Young's What Stays Buried. I will buy a copy for my school library, since horror books are the number one type my students request. 

Avery's Story (Rival High #1)

Buford, Candace. Avery's Story (Rival High #1)
October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Avery's divorced mother is a nurse, and moves the two of them to a rival district in Texas when she gets a better job, just as Avery is starting high school! Walker High is a "better" school, and they are able to rend a small house instead of an apartment. She has a disastrous first morning riding her bike; she feels disheveled and has a minor collision with a dirt bike rider. Not only that, but she lies about having a Vespa. She overhears fellow student (and influencer) Maddy talking about some sort of disaster in her personal life, but that's nothing compared to the water main break that floods the bathroom. They escape, but the school is closed and the students are all sent to Sherman High, where Avery would have attended. Her best friend Reagan is glad to have her back, but a little leery about having Teresa, whom she met at band camp, attend her school. The rivalry between the schools is very pronounced, so the annual prank wars are forbidden. Avery befriends Darren, and has him teach her how to ride a dirt bike to cover for her lie about the Vespa, and also to impress Trent, who is dating Maddy, but whom Avery thinks is cute. To complicate things, Avery finds out that her mother is dating Coach Torres, who works at her school! Maddy (who is white), Reagan (who is Latine), and Corinne (who is Asian) are very interested in attending homecoming, and there is some relationship drama at the dance. This will no doubt be explored in the next book in the series. 

Strengths: The NEXT series is quite intriguing, and includes so many good facets. This starts with graphic novel style illustration pages to introduce us to the characters, who are all high school aged. Romance and relationships are central to the high school experience, but are not always portrayed on the quotidianal, molecular level that makes them so important to hormonal teens. Avery's home life is realistic, and while she's not all that excited about her mother dating, and does try to sabotage her, she eventually realizes it's not that bad. While the characters are older, some situations, like sabotaging the mother's dating and the thrall of social media, are solidly middle school in nature. I'll be curious to see what the second book includes! 
Weaknesses: I was never really sure what was going on with Maddy. She is portrayed as a bit snotty, but the girls include her in their friend group even before we find out what her troubled backstory is. Something about the book made me feel like Buford was required to include certain things but wasn't entirely convinced about having them in the story. I'll be curious to see if the following books are written by other authors. Provisionally shelving this under "F Riv" for the series name. 
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who love a series and can't get enough of books like Nelson's WISH novels or the (now ancient!) Simon Pulse Romantic Comedies. It's good to see Scholastic trying to make reading FUN again! 

Maybe We're Meant to Last

Miller, G.F. Maybe We're Meant to Last (#3)

November 3, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After their epically horrible attempt at dating in 8th grade that was chronicled in Not If You Break Up With Me First, Eve and Andrew are trying their best to maintain a strict adherence to being friends, but it's hard because they both still have a crush on the other. Andrew has been away in Turkey and at band camp, and Eve has spent a lot of time training to make the high school cheer leading squad, but when they finally are able to spend some time together, it's awkward. To make it even more so, Eve kisses Andrew without asking his permission, and then laughs it off as an attempt to have a first kiss so it's not difficult when they date others. Andrew is more confused than ever and gets no help from an AI chatbot. Eve just kicks herself, avoids Andrew, and tries to follow her rules for how to stay in the friend zone. Complicating matters is the fact that Eve makes the cheerleading squad and struggles with some of the routines. She's afraid that the upper class man will judge her for hanging out with a member of the marching band, since there is a lot of bad blood between the two groups. Not only that, but Eve catches the eye of J.T., a very attractive senior football player. Andrew has to deal with Goth-like Claudette Ko (aka Koko) who flirts HARD with him and only reluctantly agrees to help him make Eve jealous after J.T. asks Eve to Homecoming at a disaster school bonfire that ends with the cheerleaders glitter bombing marching band members. Claudette goes to Game Galaxy with Andrew to try to crash Eve and J.T.'s first date, and agrees to go to Homecoming with him. J.T. is a good guy, and he can tell that Eve's affections lie elsewhere, but still goes to homecoming with her so she isn't left hanging and, as he tells her, he already bought a butter yellow shirt to match her dress. Andrew has a plan to win Eve back at the dance, but will it work? 

Strengths: Miller must have a direct line to see tweens and teens in action, because this is pitch perfect. All the angst, all the longing, all of the miscommunication. Should it be this hard for Eve and Andrew to get together? No. But do they put up understandable road blocks for themselves? Absolutely. I didn't enjoy watching Andrew consult a chatbot for dating advice, but this is probably painfully realistic, as was the line (from the E ARC) "he made an appointment with himself to overthink this from midnight to two a.m."! Eve, who was the one wronged the most when they broke up after dating, holds the harder line in trying to keep Andrew as a friend, so it made sense that she dated J.T., who was genuinely lovely, although I did worry that he had evil motives as a senior dating a freshman. Koko was terrifying, but it was such fun to watch Andrew join forces with her. Even the fighting between the band members and the sports players was understandable, given that the marching band had horrible uniforms and the cheerleaders brand new ones. (Even though cheerleaders often have to purchase their own gear.) The ending is happy, so I suppose even saying that is a spoiler. Adored this even more than the first two. 
Weaknesses: I think that Eve should have spent some time dating J.T., just from a life perspective. I loved that he wasn't a jerk; so many authors would have made him one. For the purposes of the story, it's good that she went back to Andrew, but realistically? Life doesn't work that way. Compare this to the ending of the original Wonder Years television show when the epilogue talks about how Winnie and Kevin went their separate ways. (Or not, because that aired in 1993. Sigh.)
What I really think: Miller's titles are terrifically popular in my library, so I have two of each book to keep up with demand. It's the sort of title that girls return to the library with their friend in tow who wants to check it out. Give to fans of Suzanne Nelson and Kasie West or, well, anybody! 

MMGM- How to Walk a Dog and Practically Magic

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Seven years after  Harrington's 2019 Revenge of the Red Club, students are now wearing tube tops, New Balance sneakers and pajama pants to school, and I've had girls ask me for tampons in their normal voice (no whispers!) with other people around. Also, I've given up wearing skirts, slips, and nylons and just wear jeans with my jackets and sweaters. Teachers will mention having hot flashes without any shame. Children with anxiety, ADHD, or processing challenging have no problem advocating for themselves and making sure to tell me that they will be wearing headphones or that they need a quiet moment to decompress. The world is changing all the time. 

I'm old. It's still hard for me to fully embrace these kinds of open conversations, but I'm trying. Reading  How to Walk a Dog, however, did give me another good reason to help middle school students erase the stigma surrounding periods: it's a way to smash the patriarchy. I am ALWAYS up for smashing the patriarchy. Now, if we could just get women to stop changing their names when they get married. It's been my biggest pet peeve for the last forty years, and it baffles me.

Not as applicable to middle school as this book, though!

Levy, Joanne. How to Walk a Dog

Published October 20th 2026 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Asher is sad sad and confused as to why  his best friend, Gilly, stopped talking to him back in July, so when he sees her steal some menstrual products from the grocery store, he is concerned for her. Talking to her doesn't go well, and Asher's mother explains to him that Gilly's family's circumstances have changed; her parents divorced, her mother went to Florida, and her father was in a car accident and has been on disability. Asher, who has ADHD and often finds it hard to stay focused even during brief conversations, wants to help, especially after his mother explains to him the unfair stigma around periods. When Asher's current best friend, Dylan, makes fun of Gilly when she has a bad leak through her pants, Asher's resolve to help Gilly strengthens, and he lends her his jacket and calls his own mother to pick Gilly up. The two meet to walk Teddy, a dog belonging to a former neighbor of Gilly's, Melanie, and to talk through what has gone on. In school, the students are assigned a "passion project", and Asher decides he wants to do his on ending the stigma around periods. Gilly is uncomfortable about this, but Asher is so unabashedly forthright and unbothered talking about menstruation that she sees his point and agrees to help. Asher certainly has some missteps, but with the help of Asher's older brother Marc and his mother, he and Gilly manage to put together a humorous and informative video. Asher, who frequently forgets to do homework, even gets the project done a week early, doing some editing in the school computer lab. When the video appears on YouTube and goes viral, Asher is worried, even though most of the responses are positive. He figures that Dylan, who knew his password from when they would work on hockey videos together, posted the video, and Asher's mother says that she will talk to the school about it. Asher's teacher is very complimentary, and the best news of all is that Melanie, who is an advertising executive, represents the Good Days Menstrual Products Company, which wants to use the video as part of an ad campaign raising awareness. Operation Red Empathy is a success, Asher and Gilly return to being friends, and there is some good news for Asher's campaign to have his own dog as well. 

Strengths: Asher is the driving force that makes this book successful. He is an endearing character who truly means well, but blunders about in a way that makes perfect sense if you have much exposure to middle school students. My former friend needs food? Let me just bring a big old bag of it to school. I loved how Asher's mother, a therapist, gently explains to him why this wasn't a great idea, and also tells him how he could have done things in a more acceptable way without yelling at him! The scenes with Asher's family, which also includes older brother, Mark, who enjoys magic tricks, and father, who is a doctor and encourages Asher to go running with him, are one of the best things in the book. There are a lot of trips to the grocery store which are such great opportunities for conversation. Dylan is a typical middle school jerk (and they ARE still around), and while Asher does push him when he is angry, most of the time he is able to either ignore him or stand up to him. Gilly's situation is achingly realistic, and it was comforting to see her be able to confide in Asher's mother. The dog walking also provided moments for conversation as well as an opportunity for Asher to show that he is responsible. The straight forward, unashamed attitude and language that Asher uses to discuss periods is refreshing, and sets a great example for middle school boys. If I had a tween boy at home, I would definitely make this required reading. I was a little concerned about the video going viral, but the video was well vetted with Gilly and the mother, so was well done, and the amount of views seemed reasonable. Very well done book that addressed a serious issue in an amusing and fun to read way! 
Weaknesses: I'm conflicted about the cover and the title. On one hand, since they don't have anything to do with menstruation, it's a sneaky way to get boys to pick up the book. On the other hand, it's...kind of sneaky. I'm hoping it's the sort of book that I recommend to a reader I know will appreciate it, and he will recommend it to lots of friends. There will always be some readers who bring books back because they are just not ready for certain content, and that's okay. 
What I really think: This is an excellent choice for readers who enjoyed Harrington's 2019 Revenge of the Red Club, McCullough's Code Red, Evans' Grow Up, Tahlia Wilkins, Schneemann's and Williams' Go With the Flow graphic novel or Salazar's The Moon Within or Calling the Moon: 16 Period Stories from BIPOC Authors. It's a perfect book for modern young male feminists who want to learn to be supportive brothers and friends, and later helpful husbands and fathers, which is what we should all want. 

Calonita, Jennifer. Practically Magic

August 25, 2026 by Avon (HarperCollins)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Katharine "Kat" Hadley is prone to crushes; her latest is Colton Croft, whom she can envisioning marrying even though they've never really talked much. She hopes to invite him to the Halloween party that she's throwing, where she can definitely make him like her. Since her family has been in Mystic Hollow for generations, the stakes are high; she's hoping that Colton will not only like her, but be her soul mate, so that the two can work together to perform the yearly magical ritual to protect the town. Confident in the way that only a high school student can be that this will absolutely happen, she has he best friends, Zach and Laney, help her plan the get together. Hadley's parents will be traveling, as will her kooky aunts, but she assures everyone that they don't need to worry about the spell. She has is covered. Her older sister, Harriet, is the one her parents seem to prefer, especially since she is off at Boston College so can converse with their college professor parents on a higher level. Harry throws a wrench in Kat's plans by asking too m any questions and by doubting her sister's abilities... and even whether she has a boyfriend! Kat's Halloween crushes have been going on for years, and generally don't end well, so when Kat finds out that the reason no one is coming to her party is that Harry has cast a spell to make Kat completely uninteresting to anyone, she's furious! Odd things start to happen in town as the protections surrounding it start to weaken. Vampires are seen in town, the Hadley house is starting to crumble, and at one point, all of Kat's old crushes resurface and claim to be in love with her! Mystic Hollow wants to attract more tourists to its Halloween celebrations and promote its supernatural connections, but will Kat's dating habits put the entire town in jeopardy?
Strengths: There are plenty of summer and Christmas romance books, but not nearly enough for those of us whose favorite season is fall. Halloween is an increasingly popular holiday; there's even a Summerween initiative to bring spooky things into the summer. A cool New England town with vibrant leaves, coffee shops, and paranormal heritage? Combined with this cover? This will fly off the shelves! It was interesting to see the chapters with all of Kat's previous crushes, and the sister drama is quite good. Bonus points for sending the parents on a trip rather than killing them; that's the nice thing about characters over the age of 14; you can leave them unattended for a bit, even if they do throw parties! Calonita has a strong middle grade presence, and I'm so appreciative that there wasn't any pointlessly mature language or situations that would make this a bit much for an eleven year old, since my 6th graders are the ones who have been embracing romance books. I didn't realize that there was a movie with the same title until I read the author's note, but anyone familiar with the movie will appreciate that connection. 
Weaknesses: I know from bitter personal experience that if someone isn't attracted to you within a week, it's unlikely anything you do will change their mind, so it was irksome to see Kat trying to "get" these boys, and to jeopardize her entire community on the off chance that she can connect with Colton. Teens, however, will adore this combination of magic, romance, and saving the day. 
What I really think: While this was not my personal cup of spiced apple cider, it has undeniable appeal to young readers who love both Halloween and a good romance. Fans of Nelson's Pumpkin Spice Up Your Life, Wilson's Falling Like Leaves, or Homzie's Pumpkin Spice Secrets will absolutely adore this magical fall romance. I will definitely purchase this for my school library if it is available in a prebind. 

Shrack, Kimberly. Spooky Scouts

August 25, 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Copy provided by the Publisher

Luna loves being a Spooky Scout! There are badges to earn, cookies to sell, and s'mores to eat on the annual camping trip! She heads off to the Darkenscary National Forest with her troop, which includes her friend Cal, a skeleton, as well as a mummy, a ghost, and a zombie. Her troop leader is a yeti! Things are going well on the hike until someone mentions that there is a full moon! Luna is alarmed. She's a werewolf who has a secret, and knows she doesn't want anyone else to know. Luckily, she has moon screen in her back pack, but it washes off when her canoe capsizes. A good scout is always prepared, and she makes a hat she thinks will help. It doesn't. When her secret is revealed, she feels bad until her troop mates remind her that they all have secrets as well. 

It is always good to update books for children; reading Luna's story, which has a strong Social-Emotional Learning component to it, makes me wonder how relevant older Halloween books still are. Does Thayer and Fleishman's Gus 1962 Was a Friendly Ghost still hold up? What about Bright's 1944 Georgie? Would they have made fun of Luna when her secret was revealed? Luckily, her modern monster friends know better. 

I love the Monster Scout uniforms, which are purple and tan, with some green accents. Very seasonal! The backgrounds pick up this palette, which creates a nice, spooky autumnal air. The full moon glows on the page and illuminates the s'mores very nicely! 

This would be a great classroom read aloud for the run up to Halloween alongside Drago's Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, Wills' Little Ghost Makes a Friend, and Cantini's Ghoulia. 

Hong, Stella (illus.) Sesame Street Spooky Tale (an Abrams Trail Tale)

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Need an engaging Halloween board book for the youngest readers? Join Elmo and his friends as they cross the moat and visit the Count's castle. They see Cookie Monster baking treats in the kitchen, go up many flights of creaky wooden stairs, and pick out cheerful costumes to wear. They investigate a music room, a library ("where all the magic happens"!), the bats' bedroom, a playroom, and even a bowling alley! There's a dance floor and a huge Halloween party at the end, with four flaps that fold out and show all of the characters celebrating.

The flaps are part of the fun of the Trail Tales, and allow the characters to climb high into the attic and slide down into the bowling alley. There are also a lot of cut outs that show characters peaking through from one scene into another. I know at eighteen months, my grandson is a HUGE fan of turning pages, so he will have a great time opening up all of the flaps. Older children will enjoy building skills related to anticipating the characters' next steps, and may be able to figure out the numbers on the last pages better than I was. 

I'm not sure how many children watch Sesame Street, although episodes do seem to be available on the PBS website. I was in the demographic for the first programs in 1969, so it's good to see the franchise still around. Elmo, who premiered when my own children were watching the show, seems to be the most major character, along with Abby Cadabby. Still, old timers like Big Bird, Oscar, and the Count still play a big part in the fun. 

Halloween is almost as exciting as Christmas to young readers, who will be glad to add this interactive Halloween adventure to their reading list along with Willis' Little Ghost's Summerween, Cummins' Creepy Sheepy, McClean's Can You Find a Black Cat, and Burton's One Happy Haunted House. 

October reading statistics. And yes, I am buying seven of the 85 books I read last month. 

Now That We Don't Talk

Liu, Sylvia. Now That We Don't Talk

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Best friends Grace Lo and Mia Lamonte are excited that they were both accepted into the Sandpiper magnet middle school in their Virginia Beach community, but devastated that they don't have any classes, or even lunch, together. Grace, who doesn't like change, figures that the two of them will be able to talk during softball practice, and is surprised that Grace isn't at tryouts. Grace has met Margery, Jayden, and Chloe in her homeroom, and has decided to investigate Environmental Club and student council instead of going out for softball. This causes some tension, but the girls still get together, especially since their dogs, Penny and Otis, like to play. When Grace gets moved to Mia's lunch, she doesn't much care for Margery. Mia decides to run for class president against Marcus, whom Grace rather likes. When the friends are working on campaign posters, the dogs tear them up, and Mia blames Grace. Mia does well at the elections, and finds that delivering on her campaign platforms is hard. Marcus works with her to help get a composting plan started at school, and she includes his idea for serving organic food in the cafeteria into her proposal. Mia and Grace continue to fight; the dogs distract Grace at a game, and Mia has other plans for Halloween. When the dogs go missing while everyone is out trick or treating, will the girls be able to work together to find their pets, as well as others that have been missing from the neighborhood?
Strengths: Ah, middle school. Sixth grade is so exciting. Who will you be? What activities will you do? When long time friends chose to embrace different experiences, it can be very hard on a friendship. It was nice to see that Grace and Mia kept trying to be friends; even after several difficult situations, they still showed up for each other and put in the work to forgive each other and remain in contact. This is not always the case, especially when annoying people like Margery are involved! I also enjoyed the relationship between Marcus and Grace. Including a group project always increases the tension in a book, but is completely realistic. Halloween is also a much bigger deal in middle school than most adults imagine. Those group costumes can lead to some intense drama. My dog, Leo, very much appreciated the villain of this story; Penny and Otis' nemesis, the Dark Squirrel! 
Weaknesses: I love Liu's Stealing the Score, Near and Dear, and Hana Hsu and the Ghost Crab Nation, but student council plots are such a hard sell at my school. The chapters from the point of view of Penny and Otis also weren't my favorite. These are definitely "me" problems, and actual middle grade readers will be much more invested in the friend drama. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy a bit of friend drama and liked Greenwald's Friend Group, Migga's Summer Scrapbook, or Vivat's Frazzled. Really, all middle grade books could include problems with friends! 

Hong, Stella (illus.) Sesame Street Spooky Tale (an Abrams Trail Tale)

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Need an engaging Halloween board book for the youngest readers? Join Elmo and his friends as they cross the moat and visit the Count's castle. They see Cookie Monster baking treats in the kitchen, go up many flights of creaky wooden stairs, and pick out cheerful costumes to wear. They investigate a music room, a library ("where all the magic happens"!), the bats' bedroom, a playroom, and even a bowling alley! There's a dance floor and a huge Halloween party at the end, with four flaps that fold out and show all of the characters celebrating.

The flaps are part of the fun of the Trail Tales, and allow the characters to climb high into the attic and slide down into the bowling alley. There are also a lot of cut outs that show characters peaking through from one scene into another. I know at eighteen months, my grandson is a HUGE fan of turning pages, so he will have a great time opening up all of the flaps. Older children will enjoy building skills related to anticipating the characters' next steps, and may be able to figure out the numbers on the last pages better than I was. 

I'm not sure how many children watch Sesame Street, although episodes do seem to be available on the PBS website. I was in the demographic for the first programs in 1969, so it's good to see the franchise still around. Elmo, who premiered when my own children were watching the show, seems to be the most major character, along with Abby Cadabby. Still, old timers like Big Bird, Oscar, and the Count still play a big part in the fun. 

Halloween is almost as exciting as Christmas to young readers, who will be glad to add this interactive Halloween adventure to their reading list along with Willis' Little Ghost's Summerween, Cummins' Creepy Sheepy, McClean's Can You Find a Black Cat, and Burton's One Happy Haunted House. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James

Dawson, Mike. The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James

May 19, 2026 by Union Square Kids

Copy provided by the publisher

**Spoilers**

Geordie is failing his science class, so his teacher, Mr. Fritts, puts him in a group for science fair that includes four other students who are struggling. Anthony is mean to Geordie, Samesh is the younger brother of one of his sister Maisie's friends, Alex is having trouble balancing all of her classes, and Taylor is willing to have the group meet at her house to discuss the project. Geordie has a lot of social anxiety, and would rather spend his time playing Dominion, a Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game on his tablet, building his Buttonwood Farms construction that he tries hard to hide from Marauders in the game who just destroy things. His father, who has been working from home, doesn't like him to be on the device, but doesn't take it away. When a pig escapes from a local farm, Geordie becomes obsessed with it because of a connection to his past. The science fair group decides that their theme should be humans and the environment, but each kid wants to do something different. Geordie wants to do something with animals, but he has trouble expressing himself, and the others shoot down his ideas. He does have Samesh over to his house, and the two play Dominion together, although Samesh is one of the dreaded Marauders. Eventually, Geordie's father grounds him from playing and makes him spend time outside, but Georgie sneaks the device outside. He finds an abandoned club house where he can get WiFi, and spends his time playing games. There is a lot of tension in the group, tension in Geordie's home life, and even tension in the game. It all becomes too much when the town announces that it will be renovating the outside space where the club house is. Geordie goes out during a storm and is missing for a while, but when he is found the next day he is able to talk to his father and come to terms with some of his issues.

The biggest issue is that Geordie's mother died of COVID, and his connection to the pig is based on the fact that right before her death, the two had visited a farm. There had been a pig there that interested him, but the pig was sent to be slaughtered. The father transitioned to working at home, and doesn't seem to want to enforce any rules with Geordie: I couldn't believe he didn't lock up or hide the tablet, since it was clearly causing Geordie's problems in school, or that Geordie wasn't in some kind of grief counseling. This all comes together at the end and things are happier. The father even builds a clubhouse in the yard, since he is an architect.

The illustration style is interesting, and this is on trend with current thoughts on social emotional learning and processing grief. I loved Dawson's THE FIFTH QUARTER, which is super popular with my students because it is about basketball. This is more of a literary graphic novel that would be interesting for class discussions, but I would love to see more graphic novels that are humorous or that cover different sports topics.