Hail Mariam and Magnitude

Al-Marashi, Huda. Hail Mariam

February 24, 2026 by Kokila

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Mariam Hassan is concerned about starting 6th grade at Our Lady of Mercy Catholic School, especially since her family is Muslim. Her mother, an Iraqi immigrant, has been told by one of her friends that the school is more academically rigorous, but Mariam is concerned about the fact that there are so many depictions of Jesus around the school, since she thought the Muslim faith (which considers Jesus a prophet) didn't approve. Her younger sister, Salma, doesn't have to attend. Sister Geraldine seems nice, and Mariam decides to run for class president, devising a clever speech complete with props. She makes friends with Isabella, whose family is Latine, and even gets along fairly well with the popular Lauren despite her political run and the fact that she is cast as Mary in the Nativity play, a role that Lauren was hoping to get. Mariam encounters some academic trouble with her penmanship and math, and worries about what her parents will think of her role in the play. When Salma is diagnosed with a lung problem that might be cancerous, Mariam doesn't want to bother them about issues at school. She even manages to message her teacher, writing as her mother, about several different problems. One of these arises when she whispers to another student during a service at school. A nearby adult thinks that she is being disrespectful because she is Muslim, but Mariam is actually trying to get help because she has just gotten her period. Not wanting other students to think poorly of Muslims, she asks Lauren for help in spreading the information that she was talking because she got her period to all of the students! When her grandmother (Bibi) visits, Mariam wonders if she is right, and that if Mariam were a better Muslim and wore a hijab, her sister wouldn't have gotten sick. Mariam also asks to read a passage about Jesus from the Quran before the Christmas play, since she has dropped out of playing Mary after Salma's diagnosis. She isn't granted permission, but reads it anyway, with the help of her schoolmates. It is a huge relief to find out the truth about her sister's condition, and Mariam makes a tentative peace with being a Muslim student in a Catholic school.
Strengths: This story is based on the author's own life. She is Muslim and attended Catholic schools, which is a rather singular experience! I grew up in a largely Catholic community, so many of my classmates transitioned back to public school after elementary; I can't imagine hitting middle school and starting at a religious school! There was a lot of fairly positive, open religious discussion, and I learned some things, like the fact that there isn't music in masjid. Mariam's desire to fit in but also remain true to her background is realistic, and she has a fairly positive attitude, running for class office and putting herself forward for the play. It was interesting to see Ramadan occur right around Thanksgiving and Christmas time. The impact of Salma's health on the entire family was also informational. This author also had a story in Ali's and Saeed's Once Upon an Eid: Stories of Hope and Joy by 15 Muslim Voices, and I'll be interested to see what else she writes.
Weaknesses: Other than the mention of Mariam's period, this didn't seem to have much in common with Are You There God, It's Me Margaret. I reread the Blume title not long ago (and watched the movie; have to love the vintage set design!), and just didn't see many similarities. While the religious details are interesting, they do slow the story down a bit.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who would like to see more representation of children coming to terms with religion in books like Butler's Rabbit, Rabbit, Ma's Rainbow Fair, Algarmi's Almost Sunset, Siddiqui's Barakah Beats or Braden's Opinions and Opossums.

Nielsen, Jennifer. Magnitude.

March 3, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Cora and Oliver both live in San Francisco in 1906. Their families were friends, but after Cora's father lost the family gold mine and he went to Los Angeles for work, the two were forbidden to speak. Cora owes money to bullies Vincent and Tony, of the Union Street Gang, and when she is going to meet them in the early morning hours, she sees them bullying a young Chinese girl, Chi, and trying to take her bicycle. Cora intervenes, and the girl gets away, but an earthquake hits. Both girls are trapped underground, but work to escape. When they finally free themselves and see the devastation, they both want to find their families. Cora has stolen some gold coins while trapped. Cora runs into Oliver, whose father is a fireman, and the two defy the authorities and head back to her house to find her my other and brothers. They aren't there, but Cora picks up some possessions. Vincent is looting, and tries to extract payment from Cora; he shows up and again and again, as does Mr. Hinkle, who seems helpful but who hides a secret. General Funston is trying to help the fire by blowing up buildings, which seems like a bad idea. Oliver and Cora occasionally listen to the authorities and evacuate to Union Square and the Praesidio, but always seem to go back to get into more trouble. Cora also comes across Chi several times, and eventually helps her get to her family on a boat. She also finds her mother, but goes off and loses her again. In the end, it turns out the gold she is worried about really belongs to her grandfather and will help the family after the father miraculously returns and finds everyone. 

I love Nielsen's work (Free State of Jax, One Wrong Step, Uprising, Iceberg, Lines of Courage, Rescue, Words on Fire, Resistance, A Night Divided, The False Prince ), but this novel had so many coincidences and bad safety protocols that I'll feel compelled to tquiz all students who check this out  with "What do you do in case of fire/flood/earthquake?". It was well written, compelling, and had a lot of historical details that will appeal to readers Hopkinson's Into the Firestorm: A Novel of San Francisco 1906 and Deadliest Fires: Then and Now, Blundell's A City Tossed and Broken,  and Lee's Outrun the Moon. 

If authorities tell you to evacuate, FOLLOW THEIR DIRECTIONS!" May have grilled my daughter about this, and luckily she knew that if you go into a danger zone, it endangers not only you but the rescue workers, as well as other people they might have helped had you not been stupid. 

Whew. Sorry. Visceral reaction to this one. 

Snowlands and The Trouble with Leo

Meroz, Morr.  A Blood Moon (Snowlands #1)
February 3, 2026 by Graphix
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Feba is a white wolf, and her pack have decided that she is cursed and they must get rid of her, since the pack can't find any sheep and are in danger off starving. She is always relegated to watch duty, and when she hears what Toofan is planning, runs away. Eventually, she befriends Usha, a leopard who is mourning the loss of her son and doesn't want to help Feba. After meeting a lynx, Garvesh, the two are lured into a pit and meet Migois, a baboon, and well as Batu, a cat. The group travels to the Sanai Springs to try to find out about Usha's son, and she is encouraged to find the Seeress by traveling through the Forest of Roo. The group is stalked by a group of evil rats (or weasles?). Everywhere the group goes, there is danger, but they manage to help out a crocodile/alligator, and escape some vultures with the help of lemmings. Monkeys in the jungle help an injured Usha, and Feba eventually discovers that Umanga, a goat, is hunting her down to avenge the death of her daughter at the hands of Feba's mother. By offering Feba as a sacrifice, she hopes to bring her daughter back to life. There's an epic battle with Umanga, leading to her death in a plunge over a cliff inspired by the demise of Snow White's Evil Queen. When the truth comes out about Feba's mother, Feba is accepted back into the pack.
Strengths: Feba is a fierce character who is intent of self preservation, and who is unwaveringly loyal to Usha, even though the leopard claims not to want her help. This is an epic hero's journey across an interesting fantasy landscape that will delight readers of Hunter's Bravelands series who want this kind of adventure in a graphic novel. The illustrations feel very classic, and I was not surprised to find that the illustrator has a background in animation. 
Weaknesses: I had a lot of trouble telling what kinds of animals were being represented; the "rats" were especially confusing because they looked more like weasels. It also seemed unlikely that there would be a snowy area so close to a tropical jungle, and that the wide array of animals would be found together.  Young readers won't care as much. This included a lot of fantasy tropes, but to be fair, I haven't seen them used as much in graphic novel fantasies. And why could all of the animals but Batu communicate in English? So many questions. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for a library collection where Warrior Cat graphic novels are popular, or where Lasky's Wolves of the Beyond still circulate. This was definitely not my personal cup of tea, especially since I thought of Kimba, the White Lion every time I looked at Feba! 

Fairbairn, Nathan and Assarasakorn, Michele (Illustrator). 

The Trouble with Leo (PAWS #5 )

March 3, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

While we haven't seen much of classmate Leo in Gabby Gets it Together, Mindy Makes Some Space, Priya Puts Herself First, or Hazel Has Her Hands Full, we get to spend a lot of time with him in this volume of PAWS. He and Gabby have always had a fraught relationship after a misunderstanding at her birthday party three years ago, but when Gabby runs into an angry Leo in the park, things escalate. Leo decides to start a competing dog walking service with his friends Brandon and Nolawi. The trio plaster the neighborhood with posters advertising Super Cool and Mobile Pet Support, and these even include a QR code to a WALKR app where customers can schedule appointments. Gabby is furious, and takes down the posters. She shows the poster to her father, who is more concerned with how much of a cut the app takes from gig economy workers. She even goes so far as to leave negative reviews on the WALKR site, even though SCAMP doesn't actually have any clients. There is a science project at school, and because Gabby and Leo made a fuss when people were picking their own partners, Mindy is paired with Brandon. They actually get along, share a love of drawing and manga, and need time to work on the project outside of school, which infuriates Gabby, who is bent on destroying her nemesis. This causes problems in the PAWS business, which is often overbooked. The owner of Scraps uses SCAMP, but cancels when Gabby ask about the service. Since this was SCAMP's only customer, and they are out a lot of money for all of their posters, Leo is angry. After Brandon accidentally picks up the PAW's contact book and Leo uses the information to find clients, Gabby and Leo come to blows. It is revealed that Leo's dad moved to Toronto with his dog, and also that Gabby was the one in the wrong during the birthday party. Even though it is difficult, Gabby apologizes, and PAWs is able to increase their business by adding the SCAMPs staff to its own. 

Strengths: This newest volume in the PAWs series really ups the game with the introduction of Gabby's nemesis. This is certainly something that comes up in middle school with alarming frequency, and man, does Gabby hold a grudge. Leo is also very devious, and sets out to destroy Gabby rather than set up his own successful business, although Brandon and Nolawi have some great ideas. This all unfolds in a realistic way, and Gabby certainly walks all over her friends at PAWs as well. I love how realistically dark this is, and how very, very wrong Gabby is at the end. Poor Leo, losing his father AND his dog to another city, and then to be treated so poorly. Dramatic and traumatic in the extreme. Add in a sweet relationship between Brandon and Mindy, and this is middle school melodrama at its finest. I already have students eager to read this volume, and they will not be disappointed. 
Weaknesses: I understand long, long grudges as well as anyone (Remember that purple crayon in 3rd grade, Mark? I do.), Gabby is way out of line when she leaves negative reviews. I'm surprised she didn't get into more trouble for her actions. 
What I really think: This is a popular series in my library, and I love the fact that the characters are all involved in a bunch of activities and are generally upbeat in their outlook. It will be interesting to see how the series continues as Mr. Fairbairn steps down to do other projects and turns over the leash to Ms. Assarasakorn. 

Midnight Mayhem

Uss, Christina. Midnight Mayhem

March 3, 2026 by Holiday House

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Kaz has moved to Philadelphia with his parents and younger brother Max, and misses his friends. He does enjoy the family's new habit of getting weekend brunch at Beigel's Bagels, but is otherwise worried about making friends in his new town. When the owner of the shop challenges him to eat fluorescent green hot mustard, Kaz's father eggs him on. The mustard is hot, and Kaz washes it down with a root beer float, trying to cool himself down. That night, he finds that he can't sleep at all. The same thing happens the next night. He tells his parents, and his mother makes an appointment with Dr. Macaroni, who refers him to a sleep study specialist, Dr. Trout. Kaz's school is shut down for two weeks because of a breakout of hand, foot, and mouth disease, and since he has been bored at home, especially at night, he is devastated. He can't sleep during the study, and when he gets up, he finds another boy his age, Floyd, who is taking animals from a hospital lab, claiming he can talk to them. Floyd has a genetic condition that causes him to need fewer than two hours of sleep a night. His parents have turned him over to the sleep lab for a break, since Floyd is NOT bored; he uses his nighttime hours to have adventures and get into trouble! Kaz is glad to go along, and the two frequent all night food trucks, ride in bicycle taxis, and visit places that are open for Phil Up the Night (which sadly does not seem to be a real thing). After Floyd has a disastrous crash at the science museum, he is grounded, and Kaz, who is still not back at school, is devastated. He's been working with Mr. Beigel to find an antidote for his sleeplessness, which has roots in Poland, where others are mustard and drank root beer and were cursed to not sleep. He tries many things, and also works with the doctors at the sleep lab, who are trying to record Floyd's brain waves during the two hours that he does sleep, because he sleeps so soundly. Eventually, the boys try to win a contest to host an all night radio talk show so that they have something to do all night. 

Uss, who also wrote The Colossus of Roads and The Adventures of a Girl Called Bicycle, has constructed a goofy friend adventure along the lines of The Snarkout Boys and the Avocado of Death (1982) by Daniel Pinkwater, to whom the book is dedicated. There is a screaming Fennec fox and a couple a screech owls, bizarre fried food from street vendors, and plenty of running about town. Tweens will love the experiments for antidotes that involve mixing condiments with beverages; mayonnaise and orange juice does NOT sound very tasty, but is an amusing combination! 

There are many things that are a bit unbelievable, from the mustard and root beer causing sleeplessness to the way the sleep lab is run. Even if a museum is open all night, I think two unaccompanied children would look very suspicious! Floyd gives just enough explanation to make these quirky things seem possible, which will delight tween readers. 

Readers who like quirky realistic fantasies will enjoy Kaz's attempts to find a cure for his sleeplessness, and for his boredome. Midnight Mayhem has some similarities to Cherrywell's The Ink Witch or Brosgol's Return to Sender and might even encourage readers to rediscover Pinkwater's titles like the newer Crazy in Poughkeepsie. 

Sadly, I can't get my students to check out The Colossus of Roads , which I enjoyed, so I will pass on purchasing this title, which is even quirkier. Quirky is not something I have much patience with. My students have not asked for this kind of humor, or I would try harder to like it. After all, I read all the Erin Hunter Warriors books and every horror or football title I can find because I get constant requests for this kind of book. Quirky, not so much. 

A Case Most Fowl: Opal Watson #2

Thurman, Brittany J. A Case Most Fowl: Opal Watson #2
February 10, 2026 by Storytide
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Opal is glad that her detective agency was able to solve a mystery and save her apartment building in Bronzeville, New York City in Opal Watson, Private Eye, and is ready to take on a new case. She is also very interested in solving the mystery of Maude Watson, a detective from the early 1900s who is most like an ancestor. In order to track down information, Opal relies on Frank to make sure she is getting around with no problems; she suffers from retinitis pigmentosa, an eye condition that leaves the edges of her vision blurry and often results in her tripping and falling. She plans on meeting with Mr. Barnes at the Historical Preservation Society to get information on Maude, but has a more pressing case. Piper Landry's pet bird, Blizzard, is missing, and she asks Opal for help. The problem? Piper is the sister of Jake Landry, who frequently bullies Opal. Mr. Barnes has a microfilm file that he shares with Opal, and there seem to be secret messages and codes hidden in it that will hopefully provide more information about Maude. In the meantime, the hunt for Blizzard is complicated by an "Unzoo" event that is going to take place. Following clues of a strange feather, piles of cooked pasta, and a suspicious moving company, Opal manages to retrieve Blizzard, and also narrows down Maude's location to Weeksville, where she even finds a coat belonging to Maude in Faith's Antiques vintage store. 

The representation of a vision disruption is quite interesting, and is woven into the story in a very effective way, and the information about Opal's neighborhood is fascinating. While I love that Opal is so dedicated to her detective agency, it occurred to me that middle school students aren't as interested in detecting things as elementary school students might be. I've had students ask for true crime books, but haven't had any students ask for books on how to investigate mysteries, even though I have a few CSI science type nonfiction titles. I had my doubts that a coat belonging to Maude (and labeled with her address, although I know that clothing more frequently had ownership labels in it years ago) would show up at an antique store, but younger readers will be glad to believe it. My students are more interested in murder mysteries, but this is a fun choice for readers who enjoyed Dye's Grady Jones and the Great Detective Game, McDunn's Trouble at the Tangerine, or Millington's Once for Yes. 

Fantasy and Mystery

Coelho, Joseph and We, Hyun Song (Illustrator). Relic Hamilton, Genie Hunter
February 3, 2026 by Candlewick
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Relic Hamilton enjoys hanging out with his grandfather in his London, England antique shop, Anansi's Antiques, and "mudlarking" in the Thames with him, picking up small treasures. When he is organizing some of the inventory, he finds a case of lamps, and causes an explosion that releases a shadowy figure after rubbing one of them. He ends up with Raphaela and the Professor on a jet. The two explain that they need to get his grandfather to the secure facility of the Hermetic Sodality of Genie Hunters to make sure he is well. Relic didn't know that his grandfather was part of this secret group, and is alarmed to discover that genies don't just grant wishes; they feed off the hope of people. That's why Relic was knocked out, and his grandfather is in a coma. We also meet Taya, who find the lamp while she is on a field trip from school. The two intersect and have to work with the Sodality to make sure the genies are not unleashing harm on the world. 

This felt particularly British, which I enjoy but which has been increasing unpopular with my students, who now (rightly) feel that Harry Potter is an "old" book. Genies are an even harder sell, although I still love Kerr's The Ahkenaten Adventure and Whitesides' The Wishmakers. I know that Coelho is a very highly regarded children's author in the UK, so this is a fast paced fantasy novel that would be great for readers who enjoyed Crowl's Eden's Wish and Eden's Escape,  Lough's Fire Wish, or Speakman and Galvin's Rebels of the Lamp are popular. 

Bearce, Stephanie. The Curse of the Lost Cave (Raven Gallows #3)
February 3, 2026 by Shadow Mountain Publishing
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After their adventures in The Secret of Moonrise Manor, Raven and her best friend Cosmina are back with their Truth Trackers Detective Agency in Sassafras Springs, Missouri. The town is celebrating Outlaw Days, complete with a Bandit's Ball, which brings a lot of attention to Raven's father's archaeological dig outside of town at an abandoned Irish settlement from the 1800s. Dominion Corporation, which is helping to fund the dig, is also funding part of the celebration. Fellow truth trackers Eric and Miles want to crack the codes that will hopefully lead them to the Lost gold of Alf Bolin, but Raven wants to try to solve the mystery of Mrs. Ames so that her mother can return and not have to be undercover for the Dupin Society. When History Hailey does a report on the dig, lots of people are interested in trying to find the gold, causing some problems, and even some thefts. After cracking some codes and find a civil war era diary written by one of the inhabitants, the Trackers have the information they need to solve some of the codes. There is some real danger as Cosmina is held hostage and some villains interfere with the Trackers work. Will Raven be able to find Alf Bolin's gold, and will her father finally tell Raven's sister Annabel the truth about their mother? 
Strengths: Sassafras Springs is a great setting, and I love that Raven and her friends can walk around the town investigating. The funeral home that her grandmother runs is a good home base, even if Cosmina is a little too interested in it! While I don't quite believe that 150 year old diaries are just lying about in tin boxes, the average tween will be entranced by the idea of a useful artifact that old. The ongoing mystery with Raven's mother is a very serious thread running underneath some of the lighter mysteries. 
Weaknesses: While there are some pretty suspenseful and dangerous interactions in the book that would be a big hit with my middle school students, the cover looks rather young. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like their mysteries to have a bit of a historical twist to them, like Salerni's The Carrefour Curse, Souder's Coop Knows the Scoop, or Fox's The Mystery of Mystic Mountain.  I wouldn't be surprised if Ms. Bearce was a fan of Campbell's Trixie Belden books. 

The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane

Stewart, Erin. The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane

February 3, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lucy has always been "sensitive", but after collapsing at the aquarium during an end of year 6th grade field trip, her parents decide that it would be best for her to spend the summer away from New York City, staying with her grandfather on Prince Edward Island. Lucy is glad to be away from everyone, especially her best friend Vienna, who didn't understand. Lucy's grandfather is a quiet man who likes to be alone, especially after the death of his beloved wife. He has agreed to take Lucy in, but doesn't seem to have any plans other than feeding her. Luckily, on one of her first journeys out of the house, Lucy runs into Poppy Anne Montgomery, who claims to be descended from Lucy Maud Montgomery, the author of Anne of Green Gables. Poppy also says that she has seven siblings, and that her family owns the lighthouse near the grandfather's house. After the grandfather gives Lucy her grandmother's old fashioned camera,  she finds that the pictures she takes and develops in the home dark room show secrets about her subjects. She takes one of young violinist John Paul, and feels that he needs help earning money. She and Poppy help him, and end up having him tag along with them. She also thinks that restaurant owner Candace wants a husband (the picture Lucy takes shows her wearing an engagement ring that she wasn't wearing in real life) and tries to set her up with her grandfather, not knowing that Candace was her grandmother's best friend! This ability isn't always helpful; Lucy doesn't realize that her grandfather's dog, Copper, is sick until it is too late, and the dog dies of stomach cancer. Lucy feels others pain acutely, so the pictures take their toll on her, especially when she has a disagreement with Poppyu, and when she takes a picture of her grandfather smiling when he never does so in real life. Trying to make her grandfather happy is very difficult, and ends with the two fighting and Lucy returning home. Lucy realizes that her mother always tries to "fix" her, and that she was trying to do the same to her grandfather. After she returns to New York, her grandfather comes to ask her to come back. Lucy returns, makes amends with Poppy, and tries to offer people support (in the guise of her grandmother's famous banana bread) rather than trying to fix them. 

Strengths: The cover on this was great! I love that Lucy got to go to Prince Edward Island, and the descriptions are gorgeous. I loved her grandfather, and would have loved to spend the summer with him when I was in middle school, especially since I was very invested in Anne of Green Gables at the time! Poppy is an exuberant character with some secrets of her own, and the girls falling out is realistic. Lucy's parents are a bit remote, and it seemed likely that they were just tired of all of Lucy's scenes and really did send her away so that they could have a break, especially since the mother is NOT a fan of Lucy's "meltdowns". 
Weaknesses: While the camera seems to be magical, I was a little confused about Lucy's empath qualities. Does she really feel people's emotions deeply enough to pass out? Or is it just her anxiety? Also, I sort of wanted the photos to be even more magical, and that they could have saved Copper. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like magical realism and summers with grandparents in books like Logue's Dreki, Badua's Ghoul Summer, or Traore's Children of the Quicksands. 

MMGM- The Spider Strikes

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Spradlin, Michael P. The Spider Strikes (The Web of the Spider #3)

February 24, 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In the Web of the Spider series, we meet three friends growing up in Heroldsburg, Germany in the late 1920s. Rolf's struggle in Rise of the Spider centered around his brother Romer's involvement with the Hitler Youth, and Ansel's difficulties in Threat of the Spider had to do with his reporter father's opposition to the Nazis, and the trouble it caused the family. In this installment, we see things from the point of view of Joshua. His father is a wealthy banker, but the family is Jewish, and worried about the rise of crime and discrimination against German Jews. Since Rolf's father is taking him to America, where an uncle runs a shoe factory, and Ansel's father is recuperating from injuries, the boys are allowed to go to Salzburg, Austria to stay with Joshua's family at their summer house. The boys are excited to see Salzburg, and spend a bit of time in Munich on the way there. Unfortunately, they run into Romer and his associates with the Hitler Youth, and mention in passing that they are on their way to Salzburg. There, they run into more Hitler Youth, including Otto Koch, who is rather threatening. After settling in to the summer house and seeing sights in the town, the boys ask to be allowed to spend a week camping at the family cabin about ten kilometers away, in an area that is being turned into a national forest. Since they have all been involved in the scouts and have some wilderness training, they are allowed to do this. There is a slight problem when one of the few stores for supplies refuses to serve the group because Joshua and his father are Jewish, but soon the boys are snug in the cabin, fishing for food and having a grand time. When Otto appears in the woods, they know they are in trouble, and must use all of their skills to stay safe. There is a fire set on the cabin's porch, so the boys try to snare Otto and his gang in snares, managing to fling some of them into a pit of poison ivy. The two groups tussle with each other until Rolf opens a box with a snake in it, and is bitten. Joshua and Ansel must struggle to carry their friend down from the mountain to get medical treatment, and are aided by an Alpine rescue team. Rolf is okay, but upon their return, the group finds that there are more Nazi flags flying in Heroldsburg. What will the next book bring?

Most of the middle grade fiction books about World War II in Germany concentrate on the fighting, so I was thrilled to see this series of short books that shows what daily life was like leading up to the war. It's all too easy to see the German society as a monolith that supported Hitler and his regime, but this is far from the case. Ansel, Rolf, and Joshua are all from well-to-do families that are all opposed to the hatred being sown in their society, and all work against it in their own ways. The inclusion of Rolf's brother Romer, who is devoted to the Hitler Youth, shows how divisive the situation was to families, and how this often led to families fleeing the country. Hitler's targeting of Jews hits home when we see Joshua and his family before this happens; we can understand even more just how much they are about to lose.

While all three books cover the politics and history of the time well, they also do a good job at showing the boys having exciting adventures. My students will probably be amazed that they were allowed to spend a week alone at the family's cabin with no supervision, but this seems entirely realistic to me. I had friends who grew up in Germany at about this time, and they told tales of long bike trips with friends, skiing excursions, and other outdoor activities that had no adult supervision! While Otto and his group could have seriously hurt Joshua and his friends (and fully intended to), there is also an element of adventure in the back and forth between the groups. While this was cut a bit short for my taste, it made perfect sense. Each of these books are nice and short, which means that my students finish one and are eager for the next. I'm definitely looking forward to more volumes, and to finding out what happens to each of the characters.

Spradlin has done an impressive amount of research to brilliantly portray not only the politics of this era, but also the everyday life in Germany at the time. I have to admit that when the boys were traveling around Salzburg, I did envision them running into the von Trapp children in the streets! Pair this series with fiction books like Smith's My Brother's Secret or Kessler's When the World Was Oursor nonfiction titles like Bartoletti's Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow or McCormick's  The Plot to Kill Hitler: Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Spy, Unlikely Hero. Bartoletti's title includes a photograph of Bonhoeffer's home office which I have always found heartbreaking. This small glimpse of everyday life makes World War II in Germany seem even more crushing, and Spradlin's depiction of Joshua's family gives me the same feeling of devastation.

Some of Us Are Brave

Faruqi, Saadia. Some of Us Are Brave

February 10, 2026 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

It's the last week of summer vacation in Houston, Texas in 2017, and Yasir Manzoor wishes he were attending soccer camp instead of being a coach for younger kids, since his life plan is to become a professional player and help out his mother, who has struggled since his father's death. He's not thrilled to run into school bully Cody at the rec center, especially since Yasir really wants to beat him out for team captain in middle school. One of the kids Yasir is coaching is Omar, who is also Punjabi. Omar's sister Mona is in school with Yasir, and he considers her well-to-do. Mona, however, struggles to take care of Omar when her parents, college professors, go off to attend conferences and leave her in charge. Since her grandmother passed away, they get Mrs. Shabazz to stay with the children. Cody's father is a veteran who has been injured, and has had anger management issues, yelling at Cody and his mother, and occasionally locking Cody up in a shed outside. All three children have fears; Yasir almost drowned in the rec center pool a year ago, Mona is anxious about floods, which comes out in her artwork, and Cody is afraid of the dark. As Hurricane Harvey bears down on the area, they children all find themselves fending for themselves. Mrs. Shabazz has to go to work, and tells Mona and Omar to stay inside, Yasir gets stranded at the rec center and tells his mother that he will meet her after the center is evacuated, and Cody spends the night in a rec center outbuilding for some piece. As the storm intensifies, all of the children find themselves fighting the flood waters. Cody and Yasir take cover in the shed until it's clear it will soon be flooded, and they meet Mona and Omar, who have found a canoe. They all try to get to the local fire station, along with Killer, a dog that Cody has found. At the fire station, they meet Mr. Delgado, a retired fire fighter who volunteers at the center. He helps them contact their parents and get to the George R. Brown Convention Center. Throughout their adventure, the children have shared flood stories from different cultures, and Mona has drawn artistic representations of stories about characters such as Noah, Gilgamesh, and Olorun. When the storm abates, Mona's parents come back and end up staying with Yasir and his mother, while Cody's father seems to be coping better. There is a lot of clean up to be done, but the children have all harnessed their inner bravery to survive. 

Strengths: The author lives in Houston, and includes a note that while her home was not as badly affected by Hurrican Harvey, she saw how devastating the storm was to some areas of the city. I liked that the children were all separated from parents for reasons that made a fair amount of sense. The inclusion of soccer, and the prominence of the rec center in the lives of the children, both made the sense of community very strong. Cody has internalized his father's rants that "foreigners" are evil, and has been mean to Yasir because of these views, but when the two finally talk, he changes his mind. I loved that Omar looks up to Yasir; we don't see enough relationships between older and younger children in middle grade literature, and they can be quite powerful. The difference between eight year olds and twelve year olds is staggering. Mona's art, and the inclusion of different myths, added some different twists to a flood adventure story. The ending, with the characters having different amounts of damage to their homes, finished this story off nicely. 
Weaknesses: I had a number of books about Hurricane Katrina, but they have never circulated very well. It might be because many of them are longer; Philbrick's Wild Wave has been very popular, but it's much shorter. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy storm related adventure books like Feldman's The Puttermans Are in the House, Courage's Storm Blown, or Dodson's Escape from Hurricane Katrina. 
 

The Cassette Tape Secret

Herzog, Danielle. The Cassette Tape Secret
October 21, 2025 by Jolly Fish Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Alex Bennett, who suffers from OCD and anxiety, just wants to fly under the radar and not incur the wrath of his classmates, who are usually mean to him. When he works on a class project with the outspoken Ida May, he has to take some chances and step outside of his comfort zone. Ida May has a cassette tape that she found in a donation to the thrift store where she volunteers, and it has a message from the 1960s for Georgia. Thrilled to be able to investigate this, and hoping to reunite parted loves, Ida May wants to look into things. Alex's therapist challenges him to talk to more people, and bribes him with a ticket to see a YouTube creator he really likes, so Alex agrees to help Ida May. Since Alex's dad is not in the picture, and his mother is a very busy doctor and Ida May has just moved to town with her father while her mother pursues a career in acting, the two have a fair amount of leeway to go places on their own. They uncover some good information; the songs on the tape before the message are by Mack Densey, who had a band that went by a lot of different names. Not only that, but Alex's Grams was in the band! Sadly, he died in Vietnam in 1969. Alex and Ida May manage to track him down and visit his guitar shop. He's thrilled to hear the tape, but doesn't have much information for them. The local library has Mr. Collins, who is very helpful with the kids' research. Will the two be able to solve the mystery of Georgia and get Mack's message to the right person? (Spoiler: they do!)

Strengths: Today's children can't fully understand how many things people committed to tape forty to sixty years ago. I used to exchange taped letters with penpals, my father recorded himself singing lullabies when he was attending night school and couldn't sing to me in person, and my friends and I occasionally would have a tape recorder going at parties, since we couldn't take videos. That a cassette tape with songs and a message could be donated to a thrift store is entirely possible. There are also a few tape players around in the wild. Alex and Ida May both have trouble making friends, so it also makes sense that they would form a connection. There are enough people around to help them solve the mystery, and there's some fun family history as well as the sadder information about the Vietnam war. The story moves quickly, and has a satisfying conclusion. 

Weaknesses: The school librarian, Ms. Strickland, is portrayed as being behind the circulation desk in an empty library at lunch, perhaps watching Hallmark movies on her phone. I can't imagine having that kind of time. Also, the mystery reminded me of a VERY old joke about a father and son who are in an auto accident, and the doctor in the ER can't operate on him, saying "He's my son!" Fifty years ago, the listener wouldn't have assumed the doctor could have been his mother. There's some nice LGBTQIA+ representation, but things are a bit different now than they were in 1969, so Mack's romance might not hit today's readers the way it would have in the past. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want gentle mysteries with some historical connections like Johnson's The Parker Inheritance, Frantz's The Secret of Helmsbruck Mansion, or Salerni's The Tontine Caper. 
 

A Kid Like Me

Feuti, Norm. A Kid Like Me

February 3, 2026 by HarperAlley

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ethan and Ricky live in the Millbrook Estates trailer park, and are apprehensive about starting middle school, since some kids from other parts of town make fun of them as being from "Mill-broke". Ethan's parents are divorced, and his father in Florida doesn't pay child support, so his mother does struggle to provide for him on her salary from the Big Box discount store. He's on free lunch, gets him back pack and clothing from the thrift store, and has an embarrassing flip phone. Ricky, whose noncustodial father at least lives in town, is slightly better off, and is trying to hang out with more well-to-do kids like Dillon. Ethan doesn't like the way Dillon treats him, but does make friends with Aiden and Briana after working with them on a writing assignment and finding out that they share a love of the vintage card game Bio Battle. It's bad enough that Ethan has to deal with his shoes falling apart (and wearing his mom's unisex ones to school!) and racking up a $26 lunch fee, but when he starts fighting frequently with Ricky, it's hard, especially since his mother relies on him going to Ricky's house when she has to work. His friendship with Aiden is a bright spot, even though Aiden is having to struggle through his own's parents' divorce. Eventually, he and Ricky come to an understanding and realize that they should be on the same side!

Strengths: While the vast majority of graphic novels are memoirs of the difficult life that women artists had as children, there are not nearly as many written by men, so it was good to see this updated and fictionalized account of Feuti's upbringing. The artwork is clear and fun to look at, and I loved the details like the mailboxes at the trailer park. It was a good idea to set this story in the present day with all of the students so invested in their phones, especially since Ethan was so embarrassed about his "retro" flip one. There are just not enough books about the friend drama that boys have to deal with, and it is really quite a different dynamic that the relationships and drama that girls have. I loved Ethan's mom, and appreciated all of the details about back packs and shoes falling apart! My daughter lost the sole of her shoe trick or treating one Halloween, but luckily had very understanding friends! I will definitely purchase a prebound copy of this, and might just have to buy two! 
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters, which is completely realistic, but I struggled to remember the names of all of Ethan's classmates. 
What I really think: This is more along the lines of Tatulli's Short and Skinny or Varner's Dog Trouble than Ogle's Four Eyes or Page's Extra Large. Now, could we possibly get some graphic novels that are a little more upbeat? Still, I did enjoy this one a lot.

The Wish Ring Cipher

Ott, Alexandra. The Wish Ring Cipher (Codebreakers #1)
February 3, 2026 by Norton Young Reader
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Emma switches middle schools from Sterling to Afton Academy after her dad and stepmother decide that Afton has more programs tailored to her needs. Emma's recent autism diagnosis makes sense; she is often overwhelmed by noise and people, and is hyperfocused on puzzles and codes, which she loves. Learning coping strategies and being able to visit the school counselor, Mr. B., helps. Switching schools is hard at first, but she meets Nate Lin, who seems to be everywhere at school and is popular. He is also interested in codes, and since his brother Davey is also on the autism spectrum, he deals well with some of Emma's habits, like talking softly and not looking at people when she talks to them. He tells her that it is really important that he solves a local code, although he won't tell her why. Near their town of Riverside, there is the Sablewood National Park, where the ruins of the town of Sablewood lie. There is a legend that dark magic destroyed the town, and Nate tells Emma about an organization of Code Breakers, but students and adults, who are trying to solve codes and find secret artifacts. With Emma's help, the group (which includes Eli, Owen, and Diya) find a box that has a crystal in it. The crystal causes Eli to become invisible! Of the 11 artifacts, six have now been found, but the Code Breakers are at odds with the Division, who split from the group. When Nate disappears, Emma finds out information about the Division that makes her unsure about whom to trust, but meeting Leonora, who is part of the Division, makes Emma not want to trust them, since Leonora locks Nate up! Nate has his reasons for wanting to know the code to find the wish Ring, but Emma thinks the reasons aren't very sound. There are plenty of loose ends for the Code Breakers to investigate in another book.
Strengths: An author's note explains how Ms. Ott could not find many books with autistic characters who were girls or somewhat older, especially in fantasy books. This is definitely the case, although there are a few more with girl characters on the autism spectrum now than there were even a few years ago. Emma is very thoughtful about her reactions to things, and has some good strategies in place. The historic code is interesting, and there are some twists and subterfuge involving the Division that make the book exciting. Nate's reasons for finding the magical objects (and no mistake; this is a fantasy book) make sense, as do his friends objections to them. I loved that Mr. B. was also a Code Breaker. 
Weaknesses: This is a fairly slow paced mystery and includes a lot of puzzles, so this might not appeal to middle grade readers who want slap dash murder-and-mayhem type mysteries. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want mysteries with a bit of danger and a LOT of code solving, like Beckett-King's The House of Found Objects, Grabenstein's Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library, Currie's The Mystery of the Locked Rooms, or Guterson's The World Famous Nine. 

Space for Saffron

Neal, Rie. Space for Saffron
February 3, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ten-year-old Saffron's Mama works at Mr. Millington's cafe in Cedar Springs, Iowa, and Saffron (who has a hearing aid) is allowed to visit after school as long as she stays in the corner, working quietly. When she tests out her volcano and ruins the walls, Mama loses her job. Since her other mother, Mimi, works construction, Saffron can't stay with her after school. When Saffron's beloved Gran wants Mama to manage her coffee shop in Silicon Valley for six months helping out Uncle Toby it seems like a perfect opportunity. Mimi isn't thrilled about leaving Iowa, but agrees to go. Once in California, it is quickly apparent that the cafe is failing. Gran leaves on an extended art vacation, and Mama is in charge of the failing cafe. Saffron doesn't have a great first day at school, but does meet Hannah, whose grandmother is friends with her grandmother. Saffron was very excited about a volcano project she was working on for her other school, but the students in her new school all have much more exciting ones, so she throws hers in the trash. She and Hannah think that having a theme at the cafe tied to the local interest in science would be good. Saffron steals a spring from Hannah's trampoline in order to work on an idea for a swing, and when she finds out that Hannah's mother bought a new trampoline, is glad to get all of the old springs. The girls know that to be successful there needs to be more games, better decor, and an unpdated menu, and get to work. There are some snags along the way, but their STEM related theme seems to work. When Gran returns home suddenly, she is willing to paint the walls of the cafe. Saffron and her mothers will say in the apartment over the space, and Safffron is glad to be in California because of all of the STEM activity at her new school, and because she will get to be near Uncle Toby's new baby. 

Strengths: This was a fun look at a family business, and all of the parents were alive! Saffron has some trouble at her new school but quickly adapts, and isn't averse to the move. She rallies her friends around her to help save the cafe, and the science theme will go over well with fans of STEM programs. Ms. Nakamura, her teacher, is an amusing minor character. We even learn a little bit about Silicon Valley. The representation of Saffron's hearing aid is interesting and well explained. The only time she seems to have a lot of trouble with hearing things is when she is eavesdropping! 
Weaknesses: Saffron has some trouble with impulse control, and she is never really reprimanded for some of her bad behavior, which has significant impacts on those around her. This seemed odd. Saffron is ten, this is best suited for elementary readers. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoy a good "save the family business" story like Caprara's The Ripple Effect, Greenwald's Wishing on Matzo Ball Soup: Ellie's Deli, or Granillo's Cruzita and the Mariacheros.

Happy Lunar New Year!

Yu, Rin-rin. Goodbye, French Fry
February 17, 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Fifth grader Ping-Ping and her younger brother Xy (pronounced "she") were born in New York City and are being raised in Edgewood, so they don't understand why ignorant classmates like Lee Beaumont give them a hard time about being Chinese. Their supportive mother translates picture books, and their Baba has a high level position in the Population and Statistics Bureau at the United Nations and commutes into New York City. There are a few higher expectations for academic performance, and since both Ping-Ping and Xy have perfect pitch, they take piano lessons. Ping-Ping also studies taekwondo, and likes to hang out with her best friend, Ana. When she overhears her mother saying that her father might get a promotion to a position in Nigeria, Ping-Ping is devastated. Finding out from her cousin Pai at Thanksgiving that people often take promotions for higher pay, the siblings both try to raise money, Ping-Ping by selling friendship bracelets, and Xy by holding unsuccessful car washes. When her eyesight makes it hard for her to see the blackboard in school and read music that is too far away, Ping-Ping tries to hide this from her parents, since they believe that bad eyesight is caused by reading at night, but she has to eventually come clean. Her parents admit that since they both wear glasses, genetics might play a part. Xy has a boy, Jack, move to his class from China, and asks Baba to help him improve his Chinese language skills. Lee's bullying behavior is a thread throughout the story, and when Ping-Ping accidentally kicks him in the face while practicing a taekwondo move, she is conflicted. She eventually confesses to her mother, who calls Lee's parents, only to find that Lee has explained his injury as an accident caused by slipping on the ice. Ping-Ping is surprised when her mother includes an extra brownie in her lunch to share with Lee, and is even more suprised when this seems to improve Lee's attitude towards her. In the end, Baba gets a promotion, but the family can still stay in the New York area.
Strengths: This was an interesting slice-of-life book involving identity and family dynamics. Ping-Ping's trying out of the name "Megan" as something that would be less problematic for her made me laugh, because I remember wanting to reinvent myself as "Kay" because there were so many people named Karen in my grade! I loved that she took piano lessons, practiced taekwondo, and studied Chinese with her father. Both parents are alive, supportive, and loving in their own way (which is also explored when Ping-Ping sees her friend Ana's mother frequently hugging her and saying "I love you", which Ping-Ping's parents don't do.). Lee and his bullying behavior is realistically portrayed, and the resolution was a relief. I would be interested in seeing more books by this author.
Weaknesses: I wish that Ping-Ping's vision problems were more clearly depicted. While the parents eventually admit that genetics might be behind Ping-Ping's need for glasses, young readers might come away with the idea that bad eyesight might be caused by individual actions. I was glad to see that Ping-Ping didn't mind her glasses, but it was alarming that she felt like needing them might be her fault.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to explore the issues surrounding being an Asian American and who enjoyed books such as Chen's With Twice the Love, Dessie Mae, Tsong's Fake Chinese Sounds, Keller's Jennifer Chan is Not Alone, Wang's Summer at Squee, or Soontornvat and Cacao's The Tryout: A Graphic Novel. It's also a good look at the family and school activities that upper elementary students might be involved with. I'm debating this one, as it is a bit young. I would definitely buy this for an elementary library.

Veit, Helen Zoe. Picky: How American Children Became the Fussiest Eaters in History
February 24, 2026 by St. Martin's Press
E ARC provided by Netgalley and the publisher

I'm a huge fan of histories of everyday subjects, and particularly love books like Bundy's A Century in Food (2002). Veit, who has written histories of food in the Gilded Age, Civil War (North AND South), and the really intriguing sounding Modern Food, Moral Food: Self-Control, Science, and the Rise of Modern American Eating in the Early Twentieth Century (2013), doesn't set out to tell parents how to feed their picky eaters; she's here to tell us the history of the US diet and explain how changes led to children being picky eaters. Since I am not currently dealing with any small people who won't eat dinner, I found this fascinating. 

This also delves a lot into the changes in how parenting has been viewed over the years; I particularly found the idea that "good parents are nice parents" interesting. My mother, who was born in 1934 into a family of 11, thought that two chocolate chip cookies were a fine breakfast, although when the doctor told her when I was in third grade that I needed to lose weight, she cut me back to a thermos of tomato soup and a slice of baloney (no bread!) for lunch. Nutritional advice was apparently in short supply in the 1970s, when marketing snacks to children really took off. There's also an entire chapter on Overbearing Mothers. 

Even though there isn't really a prescription for dealing with picky eaters, there is a short epilogue entitles "Happy Meals" that discusses how the author has used her knowledge of food history to encourage her own children to be decent eaters. Basically, it comes down to not letting children snack, and not offering them other options is they don't like what is being served. No bribery, no arguments, just "this is what you're eating, or you're not eating". Not perfect advice, but not a bad place to start. 

This is the sort of book I eat up (sorry!). I loved reading that even in 1955, doctors were opining that maybe kids weren't eating at meals was because they were not hungry, having filled up on snacks. And the thought that if you have pie every day, it becomes less special. This book was fascinating if you love to read about everyday culture and enjoyed books like Marks' Finding Betty Crocker: The Secret Life of America's First Lady of Food (2005), Wyman's SPAM: A Biography: The Amazing True Story of America's "Miracle Meat!" (1999), or Jan and Michael's Square Meals: America's Favorite Comfort Cookbook (1984). Which I should never have gotten rid of. Reading nonfiction books like this is how I will be spending my retirement, since I won't need to read middle grade novels for five hours a day!

Stealing the Score and Europa

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Lost my patience AND my filter recently. 

Twenty years of reviews, one every day since 2012. Over 7,110 posts. 

Celebrate or not. No longer care. 

But I do know more about middle grade literature than anyone. 

Prove me wrong. 

Liu, Sylvia. Stealing the Score

February 3, 2026 by Scholastic Paperbacks

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ethan Yang loves soccer, and is a big fan of Luis Alamilla, aka El Botín, a player for Venezuela who is especially charismatic and charms spectators with his antics surrounding his special "magical" soccer shoes. Ethan's best friend, Sasha plays WorldFootball, a video soccer game, when she's not helping her single mother with her catering business. She's very good, and comes close to making a level where she would go to a tournament in D.C., but loses to another player named "Worminator". Mateo Flores is a social media influencer the kids know, who has 400,000 followers. His father works with the AC Miami team. All three are interested in a scavenger hunt that El Botín sets up for fans, and manage to figure out a couple of the clues and take the required selfies, although Ethan and Mateo don't get along, and try to stop the other from finding the clues. When El Botín's soccer shoes go missing, the star posts on social media that he can't play without him. This escalates after several disastrous games, and he even mentions a curse. When Ethan (who used to live in Mexico City and knows Spanish) is at the AC Miami facility to try out for their academy team and overhears some people talking, he suspects that Mateo's dad might be involved with the disappearance of the shoes. Meanwhile, Sasha's mother gets a catering job with Irina, El Botín's girlfriend, and Irina is so pleased with how Sasha interacts with her cat, Starboy, that she offers to hire her if she needs a cat sitter! Mateo's sister, Cecelia, is planning her quinceanera, which leaves Mateo without parental supervision even more than usual. When the three kids start to work together, they investigate Mateo's father and think they find a box with the shoes. Sneaking aboard Irina's boat, they end up going to El Botín's private island and talking to him. In the end, they are able to convince him to come back to the game. Sasha ends up working her way through the losers' bracket to play the Worminator in a WorldFootball tournament. 

Strengths: Who knew there were so many different facets to soccer? This book has Ethan and Sasha playing the sport, Sasha involved in an E Sport version, and Mateo covering professional soccer on social media AND his father involved in the administration of a pro team. There's also the scavenger hunt for fans, and a mystery about El Botín going missing. The three main characters were all different, but worked well together; the tension when Sasha got along with both Ethan and Mateo while the boys didn't like each other was great! I also very much enjoyed the parents being alive but busy with other things. That gave the three plenty of time to get into trouble, sneak around, and end up with their idol on his private island! The information about handmade soccer shoes was touching as well. I've read so many sad middle grade novels recently that this was an absolute delight. Should not have been surprised, since I enjoyed Liu's Near and Deer and Hanna and the Ghost Crab Nation as well. 
Weaknesses: There could have been more soccer in the book. While I'm all about a good mystery, I'm always looking for more books about playing the sport, like Layton's The Academy books or Fabbri's Back of the Net series. 
What I really think: I will definitely purchase this title, and it is a great choice for readers who loved  David A. Kelly's Ballpark Mysteries when they were younger. If you're having a Scholastic book fair, I would make sure to have extras of these on hand, as it will be very popular with kids who like soccer, humorous books, or mysteries. 

Ponti, James. Europa (City Spies #7)

February 10, 2026 by Aladdin

Copy provided by the publisher! 

After their adventures in London Calling, the City Spies find themselves lodging in a safe house in London, since their Scottish base was compromised. Tru uses this as an opportunity to brush up on the groups' skills and knowledge of history in her Tru-torial sessions, which involves visits to important MI6 sites and sometimes delicious lunches. When there is a threat that train stations may be bombed, she has the group look at the notes, and the kids are the only ones who realize that it's not London train stations that are being targeted, but rather ones in Paris. They take off to the city with Tru reluctantly posing as their grandmother. We see that Gilles Deschamps is working for Allard, who is threatening the government even from jail, telling agents that if he isn't released, bad things will happen, not that he will be responsible for them. At the last minute, the children figure out that the "train station" is actually an abandoned one that is beneath the Museum D'Orsay. They manage to get into the museum after hours, and while Sydney doesn't completely diffuse the bomb, she manages to limit the damage of the paint, and suffers a concussion. Even with her injuries, she is able to deliver a coded message to Paris when they are arrested and questioned. They are released, but can no longer remain in Paris. There are suspicions that Clementine is somehow involved in this threat, so when she and Annie show up, there are some questions. When Allard gets loose and endangers Clementine, will the City Spies be able to save her? More missions are on the way. 

Strengths: You have to love the ease with which the City Spies bop back and forth on the EuroStar and run around London and Paris on their missions. It is nice that they have supportive adults like Tru and Mother on their side, and Clementine is an interesting character, since we're never quite sure if she is completely good. Annie gets a little more coverage in this one. The recap of the different kids in the back, along with their pictures, is a fun overview. There are a lot more puzzles and clues in this one, as Tru sets up meetings with the kids via puzzles, and the train station bombing also requires them to solves some siddles. Reading a print copy of this book made me realize that even though this is 378 pages long, the print is on the large side, with lots of white space. Publishers don't seem to realize that this  makes a HUGE difference in the reading experience for middle school students. 
Weaknesses: I'm not personally a fan of the clues and riddles; to me, they slow down the story. There seem to be more of them in this book than the others in the series, so maybe actual tweens are requesting that they be included. 
What I really think: I'm always interested to see what Ponti writes next, and even though I'm not a fan of enormous series, both his work and Stuart Gibbs' still circulates well for the entire series. We'll refer to this as the Jackson Braun Conundrum, after the author of  The Cat Who Mysteries, which lasted for an inordinate amount of books. I'll continue to purchase these until the end!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Party Pooper (#20)

Kinney, Jeff. Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Party Pooper (#20)

October 21, 2025 by Harry N. Abrams

Ohio Digital Library Copy

When Greg's mother doesn't make a big deal about his birthday, he thinks it's because she is throwing him a surprise party under the guise of a pie making contest at church. Of course, when he shows up, it really IS a pie contest, and his mother has the lame excuse that the family calendar got taken away with a broken refrigerator, and she forgot. After sharing anecdotes about many, many birthday parties, Greg says that his mother is planning another one, and since he is currently obsessed with finding a Three Eyed Threeble collectible card to earn money, he asks for packs of those for gifts. He also plans to sell items at his party, like cups, and charging people to flush the toilet. He's invited a lot of people, and his mother has hired a bouncy house, so there are a ton of people, but they are all ignoring his fund raising efforts. When his mother has to redecorate the cake with expired mayonnaise and hired Heath Healthbody as entertainment, things go downhill. Collectible card thieves show up, as does the groom from a wedding down the street, creating further chaos. When a group of mothers who found out from social media that Greg's mother forgot his birthday show up with cake, it looks like things might improve, but the neighbor's overgrown yard gets mown and a deer that had been hiding there closes Greg's party down. The day is saved when Greg's Aunt Nancy, who was visiting from Hawaii and took over his room, leaves a note that has a Three Eyed Threeble card in it. Greg struggles with what to do with the card, and where to hide it, but even that supposedly good thing goes bust quickly. In the end, Greg runs into the father of a boy who heard Greg's party was so awesome that the father hires Greg to host his son't party, leading to a lucrative new business for Greg.
Strengths: It doesn't matter what the Wimpy Kid books are about; my readers have an insatiable desire for them. Since this is concerned with Greg's birthday, I think it will be especially popular, and the cake frosting cover is great. There's a tiny bit of a plot, and the story moves fairly quickly.
Weaknesses: Like the previous 19 books, there is little character development, and not enough of a plot to really mean much. Essentially, this is Greg's self-centered ramblings about his birthday. I found it hard to believe that his mother forgot his birthday, not matter how invested she was in the pie baking contest.
What I really think: I'll have to purchase a copy, and it will get read to pieces. I wonder how many more titles there will be.