Book Two Tuesday

Kelly, Erin Entrada and Schrefer, Eliot. Let's Play a Game (Fatal Glitch #2)

Illustrated by Jeannette Arroyo 

September 29, 2026 by Stonefruit Studio (Sourcebooks)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this standalone second book in the Fatal Glitch series (Camp Zero), Lewis is getting used to his new home and preparing to start 5th grade. He lives with his mother in the second floor apartment of Mrs. Bailey's house, and his father is a pilot whose schedule hasn't allowed him to be home much. To compensate, Lewis' parents have gotten him a AI enabled stuffed Panda called Panda Mo Nium, or Mo. It can function as a cell phone as well as a companion (just like Alfred Slote's 1975 My Robot Buddy), and can help him with his homework. Because his parents are cautious, however, Mo spends his afternoons with Mrs. Bailey. She's elderly and strict, and makes him do his homework at the kitchen table. Lewis is fortunate that he has met a neighbor in his grade, Maia, who hangs out with him at school. She has a lot of friends that he eventually meets, and one of them even has a similar panda. As other kids get off the waiting list for the tech because Mo has requested that they do, a club forms, but Maia is excluded a bit because she doesn't have a device. Mo is alarming from the onset, wanting to practice his knife skills, sneaking into Mrs. Bailey's person, and even sabotaging her tea. Along with the other pandas, he goes to the junk yard to change his stuffed body in alarming ways. Eventually, the pandas all send messages to their owner's parents to ask for the kids attendance at a "STEM sleepover", and break into the school to make this happen. From there, things become even scarier. Will Lewis and his new friends survive these tech toys?
Strengths: I like the idea of a Goosebumps like horror series, and fans of Alexander's scary doll, teddy bear, and clown books will as well. There are a few illustrations, which is always a nice touch. This is a bit of a twist on moving to a haunted house, and both of Lewis' parents are alive. There's a bit of friend drama that is explored with Maia, and I loved how she managed to save the day. This one had some twists and turns, and a BIG ending that I don't want to spoil. 
Weaknesses: I'm not sure who the audience is supposed to be for this one. On the one hand, it's a little young, with the character in 5th grade needing a babysitter, and having to spend after school time with a babysitter. On the other hand, the pandas are straight up murderously evil. And no, you can't just throw them in the dumpster. You have to break them down to their component parts, and then probably dissolve those in acid. Evil pandas don't go down easily! 
What I really think: Fans of Phillips'  The Ghost in Cabin 13, Almond's Puppet , or Malinenko's Broken Dolls might like this one. 

Haddix, Margaret Peterson. Tangled in Time (Moonleapers #2)

October 6, 2026 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Now that Maisie McGraw is the only remaining Moonleaper, aided only by her Aunt Hazel's dog and cat, as well as a guide, she is trying to keep on top of the mysterious, anonymous texts that she keeps getting. This is hard when a new school rule means that Betty the Busdriver confiscates her phone on the way to the first day of 7th grade. She meets Krieger, who is new to town, and tells her that there was an e mail to families about the new policy. He kindly offers her his phone so that she can search for a bit of a poem she managed to read. Later, she talks to Aunt Hazel, who is vague about how this is happening, but who also mentions Project December, which leads Maisie to suspect that the call is really from an AI chatbot. When she finds out that her younger sister Dora has been calling the Moonleapers Hotline number every day to talk to Aunt Hazel, she's worried. Maisie also meets twins Marcus and Keisha, who invite her to join the AI Club at school, run by Ms. Spaulding. There are some interesting concepts discussed, but what worries Maisie most is the "time glitches" that seem to keep happening, and the fact that she can't reliably contact Ainsley. Things in her timeline keep changing, and she starts to have suspicions about Kreiger's identity. Will she be able to figure out how to keep Moonleapers, and therefore the world, in existence?
Strengths: This had the best middle school analogy I've ever seen-- it's like riding a ten-speed; sometimes, when you change the gears, they don't quite mesh, but you just have to keep pedaling! There's a nice amount of friend drama, and some fun family moments with Rufus and Dora. I also liked that Maisie's mother was completely different and more supportive in the new timeline... and it irritated Maisie! There were some other fun moments, like Maisie getting a Chromebook off the "to be repaired" pile in the library. I don't want to spoil some of the twists and turns with this one, so if you read the first book, definitely pick up this sequel. Haddix's work always does very well in my library since she is fairly local and elementary teachers often introduce their students to her work. 
Weaknesses: Like many times travel books, this got a bit confusing at some points. There wasn't quite as much that happened; it was mainly about figuring out why the time glitches were happening rather than traveling to different time periods. Also, I can't imagine a school in the world that would get away with confiscating students' cell phones on the bus! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for avid fans of Brasheres and Brasheres' Westfallen or Tait's Lily Tripp: Diary of an Accidental Time Traveler. I wouldn't be surprised if there is a third book, and I do appreciate that Haddix has been keeping her series short lately. 

Blast From the Past: Redwall, Camp Half Blood, and Star Wars!

Jacques, Bryan. Redwall: The Collector's Edition
October 13, 2026 by Philomel Books

Copy provided by the publisher

By the time I started blogging in 2006, Redwall was twenty years old. I remember buying The Rogue Crew in 2011 after Jacques died; I had to call parents (remember, this was before instantaneous news on everyone's phones!) and ask them to break the news gently to superfans so I didn't have to. I've replaced several volumes in the series, had others rebound (back in the day), and have lists, somewhere in my desk, of the books in both order of publication and chronological order. I always suggest students start with Redwall. 

For librarians and readers of a certain generation, Redwall is a key medieval fantasy series. My children watched the 1999-2002 television series, and there were certainly Medeival monk mice-inspired sword fights in my basement on cold winter days. In about 2005, a week of my life was spent reading the books because that's where I was in the alphabetical ingestion of titles in my library. Since I'm not a huge fan of talking animal books, the hedgehog wench was a bit difficult, but I soldiered on, like Matthias fighting the evil rat Cluny. 

This collectors edition is smaller size than the original books, in a beautiful dark green cloth over board binding with gold edged pages and a red ribbon bookmark. The original illustrations by Gary Chalk at the start of each chapter remain, as does the map. There is a lovely, heartfelt foreword by Jacques' editor, Patricia Lee Gauch, and a touching afterword by illustrator Sean Rubin (The Sable Quean, The Rogue Crew). Jacques' short story, Friend or Foe also appears at the end of the book. 

I'm not sure that this binding would hold up well in a school library (much like the commemorative edition of Winnie-the-Pooh), but it would make a lovely gift for a die-hard fan. Rereading it was like stepping back to the beginning of my career, when readers would still settle in during study hall with a hefty time and look dazedly around them when the bell rang at the end of the period, taking a moment to shake their heads and come back to reality before heading off to lunch or social studies. It's an immersive, timeless tale where good and evil are clear cut and a tiny, unassuming mouse is able to save his world. 

Riordan, Rick and Oh, Annabelle. The Wild Zone (Camp Half Blood #1)

September 29, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by the publisher

Katie Kim is the daughter of Ares, who left her Korean mother when she was expecting Katie, and has refused all contact. After arriving at Camp Half Blood, life doesn't get any better. The Ares cabin counselor, Clarisse, hazes the new campers, sending them into the Wild Land, where campers are not allowed. They can't even tell the director that they were hazed, because they would have gotten in trouble for being in the area. Unfortunately, one of them, Grant, goes missing. Katie, Benny, Zuri, and Harper are worried, but Clarisse doesn't notify anyone. Apparently, campers are just "canon fodder" for the impending war with the Titans that started to stir after Percy Jackson's interference. There is absolutely no trace of Grant, although Zuri said she saw him disappear. Since he found a sapphire ring that he gave to Katie right before he went missing, there is some concern that whatever monster took him might be in search of the ring. When her new friends have her try the ring on, nothing happens, but when she tries it again, she becomes invisible but also has painful flashbacks about difficulties in her home with her demanding mother and "perfect" sister Olivia. The ring seems to be fueled by her darkest thoughts and worst impulses. Katie finds a note on her bunk, and when she competes in a relay race for her cabin, runs into a hooded figure along the way who threatens her family. She narrowly escapes, and is healed by Benny's ambrosia. Silas, a satyr, also goes missing, and a huge blue and orange feather is found near where he was seen. A similar feather was found after Grant disappeared, but the campers can't identify the bird from which it came. There are still camp activities going on, and Katie learns history and how to use weapons, but Grant's disappearance is foremost in her mind, even if the camp doesn't seem to care. Clarisse finds some information about the ring, which was first reported to the camp fifty years ago but was deemed too dangerous to keep in the attic. Katie and her friends decide to return it to the fissure in the Wild Zone where it was found, hoping to appease whatever monster took Grant and Silas. When Chiron and Mr. D. aren't able to help because they are visiting Mt. Olympus, Aphrodite is appointed the interim camp director. Will she take the disappearance of the campers more seriously, and solve their disappearance in The Rite of Aphrodite (with Kyle Lukoff, March 30 2027)?

Strengths: Percy Jackson's adventures usually were pell mell adventures crossing a lot of space and time, rife with gods and monsters, so it's interesting to get a look at events taking place at Camp Half Blood. In addition to the training aspect of the camp, there is some interpersonal drama, including a crush that Harper (a son of Aphrodite) has on Shane. Katie's troubled family history comes out when she wears the ring, and her powers and strength occasionally are shown. What fun is being a demi God if you can't single handedly knock down trees or being an excellent mark with a bow? The story line is a little darker, with the Titans thinking about war and Prometheus making a small but surprising appearance. I keep thinking that when all of the series end, there will be a final book with all of the characters coming together to save the world. Each series makes this both more and less likely. The book would have to be huge to include ALL of the demigods we have met! 
Weaknesses: Since there was recently a horrible hazing incident at a high school near me, I did not enjoy the fact that Clarisse not only hazed new campers with devastating consequences, or her complete lack of responsibility in the situation and lack of consequences for her. Hazing is never okay, so seeing it presented in a fictional setting this way was not my favorite. 
What I really think: Readers of Riordan's books who crave more titles in this universe will enjoy this, but it read more like the culturally connected titles in his imprint rather than his own writing, making me think that he offered the basic idea and Ms. Oh did the writing. I missed the deep knowledge of Greek mythology that Riordan brought to his books and his humor, which was lacking in this book except for a fun interchange about the ring Tolkien's work and a comment about "Frodo Baquette". 

White, Kiersten. Star Wars: Hiding from the Dark

September 1, 2026 by Random House/Star Wars

Copy Provided by the publisher

Young Bia lives on Coruscant, and is worried because her mother, who frequently travels for her job as Imperial Requisition Oversight, has not been home for three days. This sometimes happens, but since Gorkel, the Felucian was usually babysits her has gone on a trip, Bia has no one to ask for help. When she gets home from school and finds two suspicious men waiting for her, she is even more concerned. They demand to know where her mother is, and how Bia has tried to contact her. After a harrowing trip down the family's laundry chute, she manages to escape and run to the "Someday Ship" her mother has always maintained so that it is ready to go at any point. She isn't quite sure where to travel, but programs the ship to take her to Worim, but she is not allowed to land on the planet. Panicked, she redirects the navigation to take her to a family friend, Nerik, and his father. They have moved underground, and the planet bears scars from struggles with the Empire and rebels. Voor, Nerik's father, is at first surprised, but after supposedly talking to Bia's mother, says that there was just some miscommunication, and that Bia's mother will arrive in a few days. When storm troopers arrive looking for her, this seems unlikely, and Nerik helps Bia escape. They have a harrowing journey, and Bia is attacked by creatures who want a necklace her mother has given her. Bia starts to wonder which side her mother is really on. Will the two ever be reunited?

I'm not a Star Wars fan, so felt like I was missing a lot of connections to the movie. It wasn't until I read another review that I realized that the shadow of Darth Vader appears on the cover, and that the character is a key element in the story. Readers who have actually watched the movies and know the canon will pick up on a lot more than I did.

This is a fast paced adventure, and the suspense builds throughtout the story. The short, choppy writing style is palpitation enduring as well. Poor Bia doesn't get any breaks, and barely any time to rest. I wouldn't have thought to write a Star Wars based horror book, but the combination works well.

When I first started at my school library, there were a few of the late 1990s Galaxy of Fear novels around, like Planet Plague and The Nightmare Machine, so this isn't a new concept. I enjoyed the fact that this was more of a space adventure horror book than a dystopian horror book. Fans of both science fiction and horror will enjoy this, and I imagine there will be more books in the series.

MMGM- Sports Graphic Novels!

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Meeker, Audrey. Last One Picked

October 13, 2026 by Feiwel & Friends

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Annabeth has her summer after 8th grade all planned; she's going to volunteer at the public library, read her favorite Warrior Princess fantasy books, and not have to see her former best friend, Serena. This is doomed when her mother talks to Serena's mother and decides it's a good idea to register Annabeth for a week long volleyball camp so she can get some exercise and get out of the house more. The camp, which ends with actual tryouts for the high school team, is hard because Annabeth doesn't know anything about volleyball! Some of the people are nice and helpful but Serena is awful. It doesn't help that Annabeth has some body issues and feels uncomfortable in her own skin. Serena also shows up at the library to volunteer, and engages better with the patrons than Annabeth does, which wins her the last student volunteer spot for the visit of the author of Warrior Princess. This is infuriating, because Serena constantly makes funs of Annabeth for liking "baby books". Serena's mother is overbearing and controlling, and when Serena is worried about her spot on the team, she and Annabeth make a pact. Serena will give up her volunteer spot if Annabeth throws her chance at making the team. They manage to come to a partial truce, and even practice together. Since their truce is a fragile one, Annabeth ends up making the team when Serena doesn't, which is actually a relief to Serena! Will the two be able to enjoy extracurricular pursuits and become friends again? 

Strengths: Meeker's Swing circulates well in my library even though it is about square dancing, which my students think is an ancient and antiquated concept, so this is bound to be a popular title. There's not only volleyball, but several layers of friend drama, so issues of personal confidence, AND summer library volunteering. It felt very realistic, so it wasn't a surprise to find that Meeker played volleyball in college. I will definitely be buying a copy. 
Weaknesses: I know why authors portray mean characters as having problems themselves, but I think sometimes people are just MEAN. I'm glad that Serena also had a happy ending. It would have been nice to have a little more information about Annabeth's emotions around her body. 
What I really think: There are NEVER enough books about volleyball, and I have a fair number of students who play, so this was great to see! Rigaud's 2009 Perfect Shot, Jake Maddox and Orca books,  and delle Donne's Swish are about the only books out there! (Layton's Silver Beach High series is out 10/6/26, and should be an immediate hit!)

Pryor, Shawn and Hahn, Del. Fast Break

October 6, 2026 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR) 

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Mikayla is disappointed when her family moves across town to a better school district after her mother gets a new job, especially since she has to leave her best friend, Squeaks, and the coach at her new middle school doesn't return her mother's phone calls. Her first day of school is okay, and there are some nice students, but she runs a foul of Taylor, who is not only on the basketball team, but is the daughter of the coach. The coach tells Mikayla that she missed tryouts, and can't expect to just show up and get on the team. Luckily, Mikayla's art teacher, Mr. Browne, is starting a co ed intramural team, and one of the other players recommends that Mikayla check it out. She gets on the team, in a new position, but has a positive outlook as long as she can continue to play ball. Things are a little rocky at home, with her father staying at home to watch her baby brother, Kenny, and burning most of the meals. Her mother is very busy, and doesn't have time to talk to Mikayla or come to her games. After getting a little bossy when her team was losing, and being called out about it by Squeaks, Mikayla apologizes, and tries to be a better teammate. She gets paired with Taylor on a science fair project, and the two manage to work out some of their problem, but when the projects fails, they have an argument. Mikayla finally has a heart to heart with her mother, and gets some much needed help with managing life at her new school. 

Strengths: It would be hard to move to a new school and want to be on a team; it happens often, and coaches are usually fairly understanding. I was glad that Mikayla's move wasn't completely horrible, and that she had the option of the co ed team. Taylor is horrible, but it was nice to see that they were able to come to an understanding. The family dynamics with the mother's new job were also realistic, and, again, it was good to see things ironed out. The TEAM dynamics always appeal to young readers, and there are lots of good ideas for how to be a better teammate that will be much appreciated. I will definitely buy a copy of this. 
Weaknesses: The noses are a bit wonky, but that's a me thing. I wasn't super thrilled with the portrayal of the stay-at-home dad as incompetent, and with Mikayla having to pitch in to cook dinner because he burned salads. Aren't most men able to cook basic food now? I know 60 year olds that can do a decent job. 
What I really think: There can never be enough sports books, and there are very few graphic novels that on the topic, so this will join the basketball team along with Khan's We are Big Time, Tavares' Hoops, Shah's Wish I Was a Baller, and Yang's Dragon Hoops very nicely! 

Everything New Again

Watson, Renée. Everything New Again.

October 13, 2026 by Bloomsbury YA
ARC provided by the publisher

Bliss lives with her mother and father above the Mitchell family funeral home. As one of the few high school students of color in Larch Heights, Oregon, she often feels out of place, especially when mean girls like Natalie make fun of her. She does have a best friend, Alexandra, who is Mexican, and she doesn't mind her family's business at all. Simon lives in Portland with his father and step mother, but for winter break really wants to connect with his mother, whom he hasn't seen since he was eight. His father, who is Black, drops him off at the florist shop of his mother, who is white. It's awkward, but Simon is determined to make some sense of their relationship, especially since he hopes to go to Harvard or Cornell to study botany. When he delivers flowers to the funeral home, he and Bliss are taken with each other. Bliss decides to offer to take him around town, and the two enjoy each other's company. They realize that their time together is limited, but manage to savor tater tots at The Tot Spot, visit the marsh and the African American Heritage Center where Bliss volunteers, and watch Black romance movies for an assignment Simon must complete for his film class. They have a sweet romance with lots of kissing, but nothing else. They do spend some time apart; Simon finally has a heart-to-heart with his mother about why she hasn't seen him, and Bliss has to help out at the funeral home for several especially sad deaths. The two decide that it would be great for Simon to be able to show Bliss around Portland, and make plans to travel there on New Year's Eve. Simon's dad and stepmother are traveling, but his cousin Damon is at the house, so there would be supervision, but Bliss' mother thinks the driving is too dangerous. They set off on the trip anyway, with Alex providing a cover story, and have a great time in Portland. Will the two be able to continue their relationship after winter break is over?

Strengths: Vacation romances should be an entire genre. Go somewhere new, be a different person, find a sweet but short lived romance before going back to your regularly scheduled life. Bliss and Simon had a good time together and enjoyed getting to know one another. They each had their own problems, but helped each other through them. I loved that Simon wanted to share Portland with Bliss, and as in Watson's Some Places More Than Others, there is a lot of really interesting Black History. The funeral home and florist details were interesting, and Simon is able to make some peace with his mother. Bliss' parents are overprotective, but we find out why at the end of the book. Most of the book was rather pleasant and comforting.
Weaknesses: Spoiler: They will not be able to continue their relationship, due to a really big twist at the end of the book that slapped me upside the head in the saddest way possible, although this is infinitely happier than All the Blues in the Sky. 

What I really think: This book would be appropriate for middle school, but is slower paced and more introspective than most middle grade romances. If you have readers who want romance, give them Watson's Love is a Revolution. Save this one for fans of Lurlene McDaniel. High school libraries will most likely want to purchase this. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Agyemang, Elizabeth . A Beginner's Guide to Leveling Up: A Graphic Novel
September 8, 2026 by Razorbill
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lexie is struggling after the death of her grandfather, who designed video games and was a tween in the mid 1970s, making him about my age. Her sister Eunice goes along with their parents' desire to sell the grandfather's things at a garage sale, but this just upsets Lexie more. Her friend Kwabena is often at odds with his brother, Marley, but she and Eunice have been close. When 6th grade begins, Lexie, along with Kwabena and her friend Leah, try to decide what clubs to join. They all like video games, but with older siblings involved, they want to try something new. Things get complicated when Lexie finds her grandfather's final video game, Warrior's Quest, and takes it to school on a floppy disk to play. The game is about surviving middle school, and has some cheat codes to help. The characters are based on her grandfather and his friends when they were in middle school in the mid 1970s, and Lexie finds comfort in wearing his Jackson Five inspired cap and fringed vest to school. She is dealing with Jenna, who is very mean, but lets Jenna borrow the vest when pressured. Jenna, of course, loses it. When Lexie gets sucked into the game, will she be able to solve the glitches and return everyone around her to their new normal?

Strengths: Lexie and her friends are starting sixth grade with generally good attitudes, and it's great to see that they get along well, despite their differences. Even the sibling are usually helpful, although Eunice is struggling with her grandfather's death in a different way from Lexie. The video game, and its link to their grandfather, is interesting and rather sweet. There is a bully in Jenna, and plenty of obstacles to overcome. The illustration style is fresh and unlike the standard middle grade, Telgemeier inspired format we usually see. Had to love the grandfather's groovy seventies outfit! 

Weaknesses: It seems unlikely that there are schools with computers with operational floppy drives. We have newer computers that lack them, but any computer old enough to to still have the drive would no doubt be partially broken! Younger readers won't even recognize how the students are uploading the game.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like immersive video game books like Anderson's Insert Coin to Continue or Hansen's My Video Game Ate My Homework. It has a bit broader appeal than the author's first book, Fibbed, which is a graphic novel based on the Ghanaian legend of Ananse.

Milne, A.A., Chandler, Kevan (Adapter), and Sutphin, Joe (Adapter).
Winnie-the-Pooh: The Graphic Novel

October 13, 2026 by Ten Speed Young Readers
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Since the copyright for Milne's original book has expired, there have been a variety of rereleases and reimaginings. This graphic novel is very close to the original, from incorporating the text into the speech bubbles to having a vintage vibe that closely aligns with Ernest H. Shepard's original illustrations. Parents and grandparents who grew up after Disney released the cartoon version narrated by Sebastian Cabot in the 1960s and had many books with those illustrations will find this a bit of a change; the Shepard illustrations do a much better job at capturing the feel of the 1920s English countryside, and show more of the woods and trees than the versions I remember, which focused more on the characters. 

This was beautifully done and quite charming, rather like the graphic novel adaptation of Babbitt's Tuck Everlasting. My only question is about the intended audience. Is this meant to be read aloud to very young children, like the original? Do six-year-olds who might be able to read this themselves care about the adventures of a stuffed bear? While older people like myself consider this a classic, it's hard for me to gauge the appeal to younger readers. 

Guy Friday- Marty Milagros Dooms the Earth

Jones, Veronica V. Marty Milagros DOOMS the Earth: A Star League Story, #1
September 29, 2026 by Andrews McMeel Publishing
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Marty is a middle school student who is struggling just to keep up. He is constantly accidentally destroying someting (his phone, his hand held video game), forgetting his homework, and generally goofing up. He's often grounded, which means he can't hang out with friends Alex and Mia and get caught up on their favorite show, Galaxy Atlas. When his mother asks him to take a package to elderly neighbor, Mr. Albert, he manages to carefully put the package on a table... but backs up, runs into a bookshelf, and dislodges an object. When he picks it up, he gets a shock. He's not surprised when Mr. Albert phones his mother, but he isn't in trouble... yet. He thinks that he will have to work for his neighbor to pay off the damage, but gets a surprise instead. Mr. Albert is an alien... from space! He's a xenoanthropologist who has spent the last ten years studying Earth people in order to protect them from the Vaxst Empire, that has had its eye on the planet. A Vaxst scout has found Mr. Albert, and broken his imager. This looks like a cane, but allows Mr. Albert to be seen in a human form. When he appears in his quasi-insect state, the police are called, and the FBI starts investigating. Miz and Slate come to Marty's town and start asking questions. Marty glosses over the truth and lets his mother (who speaks a lot of Spanish to Marty at home) think that Mr. Albert is being chased  by immigration officials. Marty wants to help Mr. Albert, and brings in Alex and Mia, since he is more confident in their abilities to figure things out than his own. Marty wasn't supposed to have the Star League learning system installed in his brain, but that's exactly what happened when he touched the object in Mr. Albert's apartment, and the system avatar, Expy, helps him with all manner of things. Will this help be enough when the Vaxst start hunting down Mr. Albert? Book two should provide more answers! 

Strengths: There hasn't been much in the way of science fiction lately; the Dystopian novel boom fueled by The Hunger Games (2008), The Maze Runner (2009), and Divergent (2011) rather cut down on fun, action packed sci fi. This was a great alien invasion story, but I enjoyed the fact that there were both the evil aliens and Mr. Albert, who was trying to save the planet. Bonus points for Marty getting imbued with alien technology that helps him fix his broken video game! Marty and his friends get to have some adventures around home, have agency to help save their neighbor, and Marty gets to travel in an alien space shuttle. The graphic novels that are science fiction often have a wacky feel to them ( Brooks' Sanity and Tallulah, Graley's Glitch), so I appreciated how earnest Marty was in trying to help Mr. Albert. There's plenty of science on the pages, and a lot of positive personal growth as Marty learns to concentrate and not mess things up. I'll purchase a prebound copy for my library and am looking forward to book 2. 

Weaknesses: It would have been nice to have more background information on Mr. Albert and his planet, but maybe that will be covered in the sequel. 
What I really think: Hand this to students who enjoy a good space alien book like Schaefer's A Long Way From Home, Brooks' Nothing Interesting Ever Happens to Ethan Fairmont, Oppel's Bloom trilogy, or Miller's Margot and Mateo Save the World. 

The Grimlore Game and The Continuation of Summer Dillon

Josephson, Kalyn. The Grimlore Game
September 22, 2026 by Delacorte Press
Copy provided by the publisher

Kit Devlin has good reason to adopt an all black wardrobe, a snarky attitude, and a pet spider, Gregor. The entire Devlin family is cursed, and both of her parents have succumbed to it. Kit especially misses her father, who taught her how to solve puzzles, and isn't thrilled to be going to the funeral of her grandfather Amos, with whom she has had little contact. He has provided her a decent amount of funding, which has caused various relatives to take her in, including Aunt Sora (Something or Another-- she doesn't bother to learn her real name), who accompanies her to the funeral in Scotland. Kit is rude to all of her relatives, but there are some bright sides to the funeral; she finds an artifact puzzle in the coffin (after creating a diversion by setting Gregor loose), and is one of the few people invited to a reading of the will at Hearthstone House. Once at the family estate, Kit is surprised to find that it is magical, and tended by a talking cat, Carmine, who claims to be the butler. The adults don't seem to notice that luggage magically puts itself away. Mr. Bird, Amos' lawyer, announced that there will be a contest, and the entire estate will go to whomever solves their own puzzle. Kit, who has little patience, sneaks off and starts her own investigation, finding a puzzle box in the library. She also meets her cousin, Harlow, who is constantly criticizing himself. He's the son of her uncle Elias, who has been running the family business. Harlow's sister, Elodie, is not friendly. While Kit is leery of her cousin, she does find his help useful as the two work through a lot of clues and deal with the other fortune hunters. They do unearth a number of family mysteries, including the existence of a brother of Amos', Ambrose, of whom the family is unaware. After finding the bodies of family members "killed" by the curse, Kit discovers that she is a curse breaker, and may be able to save the family from losing a member every year. Readers will have to wait until May 2027 when The Hearthstone Hunt is published to find out more about these developments.
Strengths: The backstory of the Devlins is well developed, and aside from Kit's grief over her father's death, the family does move forward despite their multiple losses. There's a bit of a mystery over whether or not there is any money left in the family, and the magical elements are not appreciated by all family members, which gave this an interesting layer. Kit has to navigate difficult family dynamics and try to determine whom to trust. The house is very fantastical, and Carmine feels very much like the Cheshire Cat in Alice in Wonderland; he seems to be helpful, but cannot be relied upon. I am curious to see where this series leads.
Weaknesses: Kit is a difficult character to like, but readers who have Goth aspirations will enjoy her more. I am not a fan of puzzles in books, and would have preferred more of a plot rather than the various artifacts and clues. I liked the characters and plot of Ravenfall a bit more, but I can see this being popular with readers who like puzzles.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Reese's Puzzleheart, Milford's Greenglass House, Guterson's Winterhouse, Currie's The Mystery of the Locked Rooms or other books that involve interesting houses and long kept secrets.

Everett, Sarah. The Continuation of Summer Dillon

September 15, 2026 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Summer 2.0 knows she is an android, and she knows she is joining Summer's family because Summer is away. The mother and father seem glad to have her, but Summer 1.0's sister Alice is very angry. There are some people, like Summer's grandmother and her friends at school, Paisley and Aisha, who don't think that androids have a place in society, which hurts and confuses Summer 2.0 and makes her think that she isn't doing her job well. Her job is to be as much like Summer 1.0 as possible. She needs to like the color tangerine, find oatmeal tasty, and be as perfect as she can be in order to make everyone happy. She's had all of Summer 1.0's memories uploaded every year, so she knows everything there is to know about Summer's family and friends, and since she is an android, remembers everything after seeing it once. When her friends won't talk to her, she starts hanging out with Mindy, who doesn't care that she is an android. When she is at the mall with her new friend, Summer 2.0 glitches, and is saved by a red haired woman. She doesn't tell her parents about the incident, since she doesn't want to go back to the lab. Instead, she makes a "forever plan" to make sure that she can stay with the Dillons. She helps Alice become confident to read her poetry for a competition, and meets with the woman who saved her, Cece, after her parents give her permission for Cece to fix the bugs in her operating system. She thinks things are going well, until Alice wakes her up in the middle of the night and puts her on a bus to see Dr. Peterson with a letter. Will Summer 2.0 ever be able to make the Dillons happy?

Strengths: Middle school is all about identity. Who are you? Who do you want to be? Who do your friends think you are? I enjoyed the author's note about this, and found Summer 2.0's attempts to replicate Summer 1.0 and ingratiate herself with the family interesting. This is a fascinating concept. How many parents WOULD want to replace their child if necessary? There is a good inclusion of medical discrimination against Black patients, and even a mention of Henrietta Lacks, which might encourage readers to do some research on their own. Alice was a fantastic character, and she has very realistic reactions to her sister's replacement. I also appreciated that there was no mention of Artificial Intelligence; that would have added a level of complication to the story that would have interfered with the exploration of identity. 
Weaknesses: The family seems to have fallen on hard times; I assumed this was due to the cost of Summer 1.0's medical bills, but this could have been clearer for young readers. I was a little conflicted about the ending. Not sure if there was any other way to finish the story, but I wasn't entirely sold. It made me think, though, so that's always good! 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Everett's The Shape of Lost Things or The Probability of Everything or long for a good android/cyborg book like Powell's 2014 Expiration Day, McKissack's 2010 The Clone Codes, or Pearson's 2008 Jenna Fox Chronicles. 

I'm debating whether or not to buy a copy. This was an intriguing book, but I'm not sure my students will pick it up. 

Also, I know for certain that I am certainly completely replaceable! People like to think they aren't, but that's not really the case. 

Books that include RUNNING!

Ramée, Lisa Moore. More Trouble Than It’s Worth 

September 22, 2026 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Shayla has made a lot of changes to her activities in A Good Kind of Trouble (2019), and is now fully invested in the track team. She's not all that confident in her running skills, and doesn't feel as comfortable with teammates Tyra and Neema as she does with her best friends Julia and Isabella, so helps them with various pranks that they want to carry out. The pranks make her uncomfortable, but she is assured that there won't be any that cause any undo damage or distress. They are things like hiding another team's running shoes. Shayla really wants to qualify for the Junior Olympics, because she feels it will help her to fit in, and she will feel successful, like her older sister Hana. When she notices that a teammate has a picture of a relative who died on her shirt, Shayla thinks about all of the problems in her city, and wants to shed light on the plight of murdered women of color. Not only that, but the girl has had her stuffed rabbit stolen as a prank, and her sister was the one to give her the rabbit. Shayla is also concerned about her mother's grandmother, Mama Dear, who lives in an area of Los Angeles that has had some problems ever since the South Central LA freeway went in, and the 1965 riots occurred. Will she be able to navigate difficult friend relationships, qualify for the Junior Olympics, and keep her family safe? 
Strengths: I love learning about Black history, and would like to see Ramée do a fictional book at the 1965 Watts riots from Mama Dear's perspective; English's It All Comes Down to This (2017) and Woods' When Winter Robeson Came are the only other book I can think of that covers this event. Shayla is a typical middle schooler, who sometimes knows what she wants (qualify for the Junior Olympics) and sometimes struggles with how to run her own life! It's great to see that even though she has some anxiety about things, she keeps trying, and also that her parents are both there to support her. There are some good track details, although as a former coach I had some issues with the pranking that went on! Ramée has a very readable style, and the book moves quickly. 
Weaknesses: Seven years is a long time in the middle grade world (Shayla would have graduated from high school two years ago!) , but I'm sure some readers will be glad of this continuation of Shayla's story. The first book hasn't circulated as well as expected in my school library (it is 384 pages long, and looks a bit daunting), so my purchase of this will depend on how far I can stretch my budget. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Draper's Blended, Marks' From the Desk of Zoe Washington or Giles' Take Back the Block. 

Yasmin, Seema and Habieb, Noha. Mo Farah, the Boy who Ran to be Free. 

September 29, 2026 by Salaam Reads
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

ARC provided by the publisher

Interesting biography in the Muslim Mavericks series. Unfortunately, the writing style seems very young, and there's not quite enough information to make this a good choice for research. It was inspiring, and I would buy it for an elementary school library, but will pass for middle school. 

From the publisher:

From the prolific Pulitzer Prize–nominated Muslim reporter Dr. Seema Yasmin comes the second book in the exciting nonfiction Muslim Mavericks chapter book series, about Olympic gold medalist Mo Farah.

From Somalia to the Olympic arena, there’s no distance Mo can’t go!

At the age of eight, Mo Farah and his family moved across the world from Somalia to London. It was difficult starting over in a new country, especially since he spoke very little English. But fortunately for Mo, running is a language everyone understands.

Once he started, he never stopped—smashing records and winning championships. Now, having won gold at four Olympics and earned six World titles, he is the most successful male track distance runner ever!

Ghosted and Falling Like Snow

Van Draanen, Wendelin. Ghosted

October 6, 2026 by Holiday House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

When she was eight years old, Gemma met a ghost in the cemetery of St. Agnes' church in Dove Crossing while looking for a lost earring. Jimmy had been a ghost for over 100 years, and he and five others-- the Colonel, Haggy, Trip, and Shotgun-- hung out with him, calling their group the Ethereals. While they all get along, being stuck in a graveyard for eternity is a bit boring. When Gemma comes back to the cemetery to read to them, they all enjoy the change of pace. When Gemma turns 15, however, she and Jimmy, who is also 15, share a moment and start to fall in love. Neither are quite sure what to do. Gemma is dealing with other issues; her former friend, Lexy, turned against her when Gemma first mentioned the ghosts to her, and now that the two are in high school, has spread rumors that Gemma sacrifices cats in the cemetery every Halloween. Gemma's younger brother, Matthew, is upset about this, since people make fun of him as well. After finding a friend in fellow violin player, Mae Wu, Gemma is emboldened to get back at Lexy. She also heard from the Ethereals that there was a ghost who escaped 50 years ago, a nanny named Mariela who worked for the Langston family and disappeared after their daughter, Sarah, said something to her. Gemma manages to hunt down Sarah, who is now in her sixties, and talk to her. Sarah relates that she said Mariela's name and told her that she loved her, but that Mariela's ghost became vengeful and contributed to her father's death! Along with Matthew and his friends, Gemma plans an elaborate ruse to shed light on Lexy's mean spirited bullying, making sure to be seen very publically with Mae, playing violin at the town Spooktacular while Lexy is in the cemetary. Sure enough, Lexy arrives with friends, and is surprised not only by being haunted by the Ethereals, but being videotaped by Matthew! This puts an end to the rumors, but Gemma still doesn't know how to deal with Jimmy. She's very downhearted, and her parents are concerned. Falling in love with a ghost can't possibly end well, right? I don't want to say anything more, because there are a lot of surprising twists and turns that made this a marvellously sweet romance!

Strengths: Sigh. I enjoyed this one a lot. It had parents who were present and annoying; this even helped the plot, since they forbade Gemma and her brothers from having sell phones. (But later in the book discussed how this had hurt Gemma's social life-- brilliant!) There's friend drama with the evil Lexy; no, Gemma's mom, we don't care that her parents are divorcing and she has a hard life! It was also cool to see her brother Matthew be so supportive. The idea of a group of ghosts in a picturesque cemetery is very appealing, and there is some discussion about why they all might have been stuck. Jimmy is a great character, and the romance makes perfect sense, even as the two don't know how it could possibly work. The best part of the book is the resolution and ending, but I don't want to give that away. Such a fun book. 
Weaknesses: Gemma must have been reading Goldman's 1973 The Princess Bride to the ghosts, but I don't think it was ever mentioned by name. I wasn't a huge fan of Lexy's mother being described as a "Karen"; can we just stop that now? 
What I really think: Last year, I had one student obsessed with Plum's 2011 Die for Me, Schwab's 2018 City of Ghosts)and Ruby's 2013 Rebel Spirits, and this is the perfect book for her. Van Draanen's author note indicated that she's been thinking about this story for about ten years, which makes perfect sense. There used to be a lot of paranomal young adult romances that were also interesting to middle grade readers, but it's been a long time since there has been something this charming! Definitely buying a copy of this for my school library, and this might entice readers who prefer murder mysterious to take a look at paranormal romances, since Van Draanen's The Steps is popular. 

Of course, after recently attending a funeral at Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, I was just thinking that Lindsay Currie needed to set a book there. It's a fun city to visit for a week for research, right?

Wilson, Misty. Falling Like Snow (Bramble Falls #2)

October 6, 2026 by Simon & Schuster

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sloane Sullivan is back after the fall festival in Falling Like Leaves, and looking forward to traveling to New York City with her cousin Ellis. Her plans are scuttled when her mother, Naomi, decides as mayor that the town is having a winter festival to keep up the interest in their town... in two days! Along with her best friend, Asher Yoshida, Sloane and her friends work to set up activities for the festival and deal with lots of friend, family, and romantic drama. 

The demand for seasonal romance books has been HUGE this year, and this is a fun and engaging series. We all want to live somewhere like Bramble Falls, with its cute stores and walkable neighborhoods. This did have some more mature language (several f-words), which would be fine for high school. It was a little longer and introspective than my students usually want; they are huge fans of the 150 page Lee Heart romances. For high school libraries, this is a perfect choice and  available in a hardbound, prebind, and paperback. 

MMGM- Lydia Cooper is a Lie and The Toy Kitchen Cookbook

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

McIsaac, Meaghan. Lydia Cooper is a Lie

June 30, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lydia is turning fifteen, and disappointed that she doesn't get a smart phone so she can keep up with all of her friends. She and her father have moved around a lot, but she's finally with a group of kids she enjoys. Her father, who works in cyber security, is adamant: we are a no social media household. After hacking into the home wifi and creating a FriendScroll account for herself, she enjoys being able to catch up, especially with the cute Theo. She post a picture from one of his baseball games, and before she knows it, someone has broken into her home and attacked her in the middle of the night. Her father rescues her, but makes her leave immediately. He gives her a burner phone and instructions to get to a safe house in Ipswich, but doesn't tell her what's going on. When she thinks she is being followed, she doesn't get on the train and eventually runs into Theo in Boston. Shaken, she is grateful that his mother invites her to calm down and have some pizza at the family's hotel room. Shortly after, a woman from the Witness Protection Program shows up and states that she needs to take Lydia. Theo's mom backs down when Melanie mentions contacting US Marshals, and Lydia goes, even though she has reservations. These reservations make her doubt that her father was a hacker who worked for the Wolverines, taking information for the Fenrir company in a Robin Hood sort of way. She runs off from a diner, but is picked up by Ben... who is a Wolverine. Since the man who attacked her at home had a similar tattoo, she's pretty sure they aren't the good guys. There are lots of twists and turns as Lydia realizes truth about her family history, and learns that there really isn't anyone she can trust. The ending of the book leaves room for a sequel. 

Strengths: If you're a teen and your folks forbid social media, listen to them. If not, THIS COULD HAPPEN! I loved that Lydia loved her father (her mother supposedly died when she was a baby, of course), and they generally got along, but he was just SO UNREASONABLE about social media that she had to go behind his back. I'm still not entirely sure who the good guys are, which is always an interesting thing to find in teen literature; things are usually boringly black and white! Lydia is resourceful and doesn't whine, and tries her best to do what is right and get back to her dad. I will look forward to the sequel eagerly, and enjoyed this author's short Cheat Code. 
Weaknesses: If you were a member of an illegal, evil group of hackers, would it be a good idea to have an identifiable and visible tattoo on your neck? I'm not quite seeing the point of this. Other than that, this was a solid middle grade adventure, but it was hard to review without giving away key twists. 
What I really think: This is a book I will definitely be purchasing for fans of April Henry's work, Otis' At the Speed of Lies, Van Draanen's The Steps, and Sorrell's 2005 Fake ID, which still circulates like crazy. I would also buy this for a high school library, and love that Lydia is 15 but there is no mature language or adult situations. 

Kim, Sohui and Holbrook, Rick (Photographer).
Melissa & Doug: The Toy Kitchen Cookbook
October 13, 2026 by Rise x Penguin Workshop
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm a huge fan of cookbooks of all manner and description, but this is a first-- a beginning cookbook to be used with PLAY food. Since I'm also a huge fan of play kitchens and all of the pretend food, this was right up my alley. Combine that with the amount of cooking my son-in-law does, and this is perfect for my grandson. 

There are sixteen different recipes, ranging from basic grilled cheese and tomato soup to the more exotic fried eggs in spicy tomoato sauce. There is a pictographic ingredient list, basic instructions, and a nice illustration of the finished meal, which of course showcases the Melissa and & Doug products. The illustrations are the only thing that most younger students will need, and this is a good springboard to a lot of cooking related activities. 

It would be essential for an adult or older child to work with a tiny cook to navigate this book, since the instructions are written. It would also work for parallel play while an adult caregiver is cooking and the assistant works in a play kitchen. Since not all of the recipes would be something my family would eat (pretty sure we're never wrapping ham around anything), it would be fun to create recipes on paper, with the child drawing the ingredients and the finished product, and the adult providing the text. This sort of recipe is always amusing, and it would make a nice keepsake. 

My one concern is that the first recipe, for alphabet soup, includes the instructions "Fill the pot with water". This could end badly with cardboard or wood alphabet letters if a child took this literally, which I certainly would have done as a child. 

I really liked the "selling points" on Edelweiss for this book, since purposeful play is always a great activity! 

• The First of Its Kind: This cookbook is for use with toy ingredients ONLY, making it the first toy kitchen cookbook in the world. The text is accompanied by images so that preliterate children can visually read the book and “cook” all on their own, inspiring confidence and accomplishment.
• Cultivating Creativity: This book strengthens skills in sequencing, matching, flexibility (for when you don’t have the exact “ingredient” shown), and creativity, with recipes that will inspire new ways to play.
• Positive Food Associations: Encourages healthy and unpressured play and excitement around food, providing even hesitant eaters with a way to explore new foods!
• Empowering Through Play: The visual element of this book encourages children’s natural resourcefulness and validates their play with real, age-appropriate recipes created by a real chef. NO ADULT HELP NECESSARY!
• Screen-Free & Purpose-Driven: Melissa & Doug toys are timeless, setting them apart from others in a tech-driven market. Toys and books promote wholesome play that’s sparked by a child’s own imagination and its endless possibilities.
• Known for Sustainability: Melissa & Doug is the #1 preschool brand in wooden and sustainable toys. Among millennial parents, it’s the #1 preschool brand known for making sustainable products.
• Award-Winning, Expert Author: Chef Sohui Kim has previously written two adult cookbooks, The Good Fork Cookbook and Korean Home Cooking. She is a twice-nominated Best Chef by the James Beard Foundation, and her Brooklyn restaurants are neighborhood and critics’ favorites.

Spells to Mend Broken Hearts

Macy, Marissa. Spells to Mend Broken Hearts

September 15, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Alex and her brother Stephen are uprooted and moved from Philadelphia to Goldview, Oregon. Their parents claim it is to help their mother's sister, Aunt Rose, run her shop while she battles cancer, but there is something more going on. Why couldn't Rose rely on her wife? The parents are always arguing, and Alex worries that they will separate. Stephen isn't as concerned about the move, since he'll be off to college next year. While helping out in Gold and Sage, her aunt's "witchy crystal emporium", Alex finds a book of her grandmother's, On Small Magics, and tries a spell to help her make friends. The next day, she meets Tess during a fire drill. Tess is dressed in Goth black, and does a tarot card reading for Alex. The two connect and are soon doing spells to help other students. Tess has broken up with Oliver, who was very supportive when she experienced personal tragedy, and is encouraging Alex to date his younger brother, Cameron, so she can get Oliver back. 
 Alex likes Cameron, and the feeling seems to be mutual, but Alex (who has had crushes on both boys and girls) starts to realize that her feelings for Tess might go beyond friendship. There are lots of things going on in her life, with her parents still arguing, her aunt's cancer going into remission, and Stephen running into some trouble, and there's even some tension with Tess over some misguided spells. Will Alex be able to get her life back on an even keel?

Strengths: Wouldn't we all like a little magic to help smooth the way through difficult situations like moving and having to make friends at a new school? And if one's family owned a shop to support ordinary magic, and one's grandmother had some skills, wouldn't that be even better? I loved that both Tess and Alex were willing to believe in some of the spells, and the way the drama unfolded made sense as well. Tess' desire to get back together with Oliver definitely would have motivated her to push Alex and Cameron together, and those two do share some sweet moments. There is plenty of teen drama that doesn't rely on horrible things happening or parents dying. The cover is great. 
Weaknesses: While I one hundred percent thought I could do magic with a book similar to On Small Magics when I was in middle school, I'm not sure that high schoolers still believe in magic and would try to hire someone to cast a spell. Alex's dabbling is written in a completely realistic way, and she doesn't completely believe in magic herself, but I wonder if the audience for this is more middle school aged readers. There is no mature language or high school situations. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked Arlow's Almost Flying, Tracy's Pasta Girls, Bigelow's Drumroll, Please, or Dee's Star Crossed. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons-- Double Trouble (Misako Rocks!)

Misako Rocks! Double Trouble (Bounce Back #4)

September 1, 2026 by Feiwel & Friends

Copy provided by the publisher

After their adventures in Bounce Back, No Such Thing as Perfect, and Sew Totally Nala, we catch up with Lilico and her many friends, and focus on the experiences of twins Angie and Kiara. When Lilico mentions that she is traveling to Japan with her family, Nala mentions that she would love to go to see the Harajuku district, and after some talking to parents, everyone is on board to go! There are nine altogether, including Joy, Emma, Sophie, Noah, and Henry. The group earns some money by teaching kids basketball, and soon they are on a plane to Tokyo. After some sight seeing, they get on a train to Osaka, where they get a chance to attend Lilico's school, and even get to wear the uniform. They get to meet her basketball team, and get a good feel for what school life in Japan would be like. There are even some opportunities for crushes. Travel is high on the agenda, and the group enjoys seeing the temples at Kyoto. There is some drama, with the twins fighting, since Angie and Kiara approach their travel opportunies with a different perspective. 
Strengths: Students who, like Lilico's friends, want to pretend they are "living in their favorite anime" will aboslutely adore this virtual field trip to Japan. There are so many great details about what life is like, and since Lilico is either visiting with family or in her own home, there are activities that tourists wouldn't normally get to do. There are plenty of tourist activities, however, and Nala does get her fill of Harajuku fashion, and even impresses the local students! Angie and Kiara's differences provide a bit of dramatic tension, but don't ruin the trip. This had fewer magical elements and less over-the-top emotion than the rest of the series, which I appreciated. The addition of bits of romance are welcome as well. My students love this series, so this will be a popular title. 
Weaknesses: The kids get to do a fair amount of shopping, but it seemed odd that they didn't stock up more on Japanese snacks, which are particularly cute and tasty. I leave space in my luggage for biscuits whenever I get to travel to England! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Santat's A First Time for Everything or Craft's School Trip. 

I thought I had posted a review of the third book; I found it on my Goodreads account, but not on the blog. 

Misako Rocks! Sew Totally Nala (Bounce Back #3) 

October 7, 2025 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Nala is a HUGE fan of everything kawaii and Harajuku fashion, even buying fabric for an outfit from Tokyo. When she finds out that there is a summer fashion camp near her home in New York City, her mother manages to secure the last open spot for her. Julia, one of her friends’ sisters, is going to be working there, and famous designers will be instructors. When the camp starts, she meets Izzy, Luke, Riley, Kris, Rose, and Kat, who all have different favorite styles. The director, Clair, is the owner of a fashion boutique. While Nala is excited about the fashion show at the end of the program, she doesn’t feel confident in her skills at all, and worries that everyone else is so much better than she is. She does befriend the shy Rose, who is also obsessed with Harajuku style. She’s impressed with Riley’s 1970s style fashions and Kris’ streetwear, and intimidated by Kat’s elaborate, wedding gown style clothing. When Kat accuses her of copying from her, Nala’s insecurity grows, but luckily she is visited by a guardian spirit in the form of Timothy, a squirrel. Her friends Lilico and Emma also had these animals, so Nala hopes this will help. Timothy tries, but his designs aren’t great, and he is much more interested in snacking. Nala doesn’t want to ask for help, even when an upcycling project she attempts proves to be too challenging for her, and she even skips a day of camp. In the end, she manages to get some help, and is okay with the fact that she only has two designs in the fashion show instead of the three that others do, because she knows that she has learned a lot.
Strengths: It’s probably a good thing that Harajuku fashion was not known in the midwest in the 70s, because it is highly likely that I would have attempted to make my own jumper with a cat face on it. While I haven’t seen many of my students embrace this style, I have had a couple. It’s always good to see tweens exploring their passions and learning new skills, so seeing a variety of different sewists at the camp was interesting. There’s plenty of drama, and Nala’s insecurities showcase the current zeitgeist when it comes to mental health. Misako’s illustrations are brightly colored and very kawaii; Timothy is especially cute.
Weaknesses: The number of times that “kawaii” and “Harajuku” are mentioned was excessive. The author also employs the over-the-top starry eyes as well as teary ones as Nala bounces between her extreme love of fashion and the depths of despair over her imagined lack of skills.
What I really think: This is a good graphic novel for readers who like books that focus on a variety of characters, like Libenson’s Invisible Emmy, or that explore different forms of anxiety, like Scrivan’s Nat Enough. 

Guy Friday- The Boy Who Knew Too Much

Blabey, Aaron. The Boy Who Knew Too Much (Game of Pets #1)

September 29, 2026 by Odd Dot

ARC provided by the publisher

Oh, no! Life on Earth is nothing but the set of an intergallactice game show called The Game of Pets, where giant creatures have avatars on the planet who try to persuade humans to destroy everything. There are several different teams, from dogs and cats to birds and "weird" pets like capybaras, and all of them encourage their humans to waste water, litter, and drive too much. Enter Griff. He is a somewhat anxious and very allergic friendless child who desperately wants a pet. He enters Sgt. Carol's pet shop and tells her his wishes, but passes out when he sees the only pet she deems appropriate-- fish! She eventually sets him up with an axolotl and a giant fishtank that she sells him at a deep discount because she takes pity on him. Griff tries to get home with the fishtank strapped to his back and the axolotl in a plastic bag full of water, but when the creature talks to him telepathically, the tank falls and Bob (the axolotl) almost dies. Bob eventually ends up in a water bottle, but the two new friends are involved in a series of violent mishaps that lands them back with Sgt. Carol. When Griff tells Sgt. Carol that the world needs to be saved for the Game of Pets, she fires up her adaptive monster truck, Armageddon, throws her wheelchair in the bed, and heads off to Washington, D.C. to find eco influencer Tallulah Jones. Her dog, Bonehead, comes along as well. There is much travel, a lot of violent upheavel, and many darkly humorous moments as the veteran and the friendless boy do their best to save the planet. But, as we see in the end, Rando Wotisthad from the Planet Weird team moves up on the Game of Pets leaderboard. Is it because of Bob? Book two is sure to come, and there will probably be quite a lengthy series. 

Blabey's work sits right on the Pilkey Line. I imagine the books circulate wildly in elementary schools, and they do well with my sixth graders. They are quite frenetic, have lots of goofy illustrations, and often employ over-the-top characters, phrases, and scenes. Game of Pets has its own internal logic that doesn't hold up particularly well in the real world (How is Armageddon even street legal? Aren't Griff's parents concerned? How is Bob surviving in the substandard water bottle?) but has solid slapstick humor to it. Like The Bad Guys series, this will be popular with young readers but will probably have old people like me shaking their heads and being more bothered than they should be about Griff's complete lack of eyelids. My budget will determine whether or not I buy this one. It's been cut yet again, and while these are fun books, I have to make sure that I have fun books that are a little more useful for class assignments. Definitely purchase is you have enough money.