Fantasy Round Up

George, Jessica Day. Holidays at the Castle
September 22, 2026 by Bloomsbury Children's Books
Copy provided by the publisher

Celie and her family are back from their adventures to put Castle Glower to rights, after Tuesdays at the Castle (2011), but run into all sorts of complications involving portraits being created as gifts, all of the food for celebrations, and decorations for the holidays. This is a short book (144 pages) that was originally a novella available through the author's web site. It would make a great holiday gift for a fan of the series. It reminded me, in an odd way, of L'Engle's The 24 Days Before Christmas, which gives us a holiday glimpse of the Austin family. 

Averling, Mary. The Burn Beast

September 15, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Pira Morand moves around a lot as her moms investigate crimes. The newest one is in Cindy's hometowen of Eyrewood, but no one is giving Pira any information. The town was the scene of a horrific fire thirty years ago that burned down just about everything but a defunct paper mill, and was rebuilt with boxy, ugly buildings. The Morands are staying in a run down hotel managed by Jackie Ludger parents. Jackie isn't all that friendly, immediately information Pira of the "rules" of the town-- don't go into the woods, and don't try to light a fire. Nothing burns in Eyrewood anymore. At least Baffy, the son of the local candy shop owner, is friendly, and shows up to walk Pira to school. He also invites her to join the Firefighters, even though Jackie has told him not to. Jackie has a good reason for her mood; her older sister is the last in a long line of people who have gone missing in the woods, and the local police have given up, which is why Mira's moms are investigating. After passing an initiation test, Pira is let in on some of the local lore, and the group visits the local history museum to try to gather more information. What they find is rather fantastical. With the help of Grizz, who has manned the fire watch tower for the last thirty years, will they be able to defeat a local monster and solve the mystery of the missing citizens? 

This was definitely a fantasy book, and it had the same sort of vibe that Condie's The Darkdeep or Cole's The Empty Place did. I still haven't seen Stranger Things, but The Burn Beast seems along those lines; supernatural elements are bedeviling a town, and only tweens can save the day. This had some decent scary scenes, but there was something about the history of the town that seemed a bit off. Averling's The Curse of Eel Grass Bog doesn't circulate as well as I would like, so I may pass on this one, especially since the covers are very similar. 

Copeland, Misty. The Firebird Waltz (Star Fire Academy #1)

August 25, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Josie loves to dance, and her father (now a software engineer) was a dancer who met her mother while she was in a jazz band. Her best friend, Patrick, also dances, and the two are excited when they are accepted to the Star Fire Academy in New York. It's hard to leave California, but both are excited to continue their training. The Fire Bird Academy was founded by a descendent of a Russian prince, who is rumored to have had an actual fire bird; there's a statue of one in the front hall of the school, named Izzy. The owner, Peter Komarov, is the great grandson, but is threatening to seel the school, since it is on prime real estate. Josie is excited to learn from the famous Martine Halston, who is also Black, and excited when she tells Josie she should audition for a principal role in the upcoming school production of Stravinsky's The Firebird. There is relatively little drama at the school, although Sienna Halston is a blonde "Queen bee" who has uncanny hacking abilities. There are also some odd supernatural occurrences that Josie experiences. There are some growing pains when she isn't always able to dance with Patrick, and when she sees him blossom while dancing with other girls. She's a bit homesick, but is helped when her sister Billie shows up. When Josie gets an e mail with the wrong time for callbacks for The Firebird, she is assigned to be the understudy for Sienna, who has won the Firebird role. When Sienna becomes ill, Josie has to step in. This is clearly the first book in a series, and ends on a bit of a cliffhanger. 

I have a lot of students who dance, and there are relatively few middle grade books about dancing. If this were realistic fiction, like Ziegler's The Audition, I would definitely buy it, but the mix of fantasy and ballet would be a hard sell to my students. There are also a lot of plot holes, and the fantastical elements don't make as much sense or align with the introductory story of the Russian prince as much as I would like. Readers who enjoyed dance related fantasies like Adrian's Nutcracked, Mendez' The Reel Wish, Smith's The Toymaker's Apprentice or Sutton and Hannuniemi's The Song of the Swan might want to pick this up. 
 

England, M. K. Riley Dare: Slightly Witchy Sleuth

September 15, 2026 by Penguin Workshop 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Riley lives with her Aunt Hayley in Scarlettsboro, Virginia, where they run the Level Up escape room. When a famous children's author who has just moved to town, Richard Rillardson, comes to the facility, Riley is excited, since her Dungeons and Dragons playing best friends, Kayla and Mateo, are big fans. During the course of the game, the lights go out, Rillardson disappears, and blood is found on the floor. This is a big problem for the business, but Riley, who has a few magical powers, decides that she will solve the mystery as well as the mystery that took place the day she was born. Her aunt has never told her what happened to her parents, and whether or not the fact that they are not around is tied to a famous gemstone theft. With the help of Detective Buckley, will the kids be able to solve the mystery? The next book in the series is titled Haunted and Wanted, and will tell us more about the note that Riley has from her parents, telling her she is in danger. 

The magic didn't get quite the coverage it deserved, and the mystery wasn't as well developed as I had hoped. It's a good choice for readers who liked mysteries mixed with some paranormal elements like. Russell Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave or Strange's The Island at the Edge of Night.

Edited byAzad, Nafiza  and Khanani, Intisar. A Thousand Nights

September 8, 2026 by Candlewick

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I loved the spin on Arabian Nights, the range of different authors contributing stories, and the connection to immigration tales, but at almost 500 pages, it would be tough to get my students to pick this up. If Gratz's Refugee is a book your teachers use for a class unit, this might be a good choice for some reason alouds. 

From the publisher: 
In the mold of Arabian Nights, this groundbreaking YA anthology—featuring sixteen Muslim women writers—links together fantastical stories that a group of refugees tell one another within a riveting frame story.

On her way across the desert, fleeing the soldiers who have destroyed all she knows, one refugee meets another. And another and another. As they travel together, on a journey in search of safety, they take turns telling one another stories—stories woven in the imagination; tales with echoes of the reality they face now. Tales of young people stolen away by jinn and tales of siblings rescuing one another; tales of lands encroached on by settlers and abandoned by rain; tales of magic found in caves, deserts, mountains, lakes, and, above all, in people, community, and faith. With a frame story written by Nafiza Azad and Intisar Khanani interwoven with stories from fifteen additional authors of various backgrounds, drawing on the mythologies and legends of their cultures, this extraordinary collection will appeal to lovers of fantasy and to those looking for books that center refugees and diverse narratives.

MMGM- Roi and Me and the Double V and The Forgotten War

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Headen, Sandra W. Roi and Me and the Double V: A WWII Story
August 25, 2026 by Holiday House
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Marvel Zander lives in Dockside, North Caroline, in 1942. Her father has moved to New York to build airplanes, and her mother is working at the nearby ship yard, leaving Marvel to pick up the slack caring for her younger sister JoJo and her Gramps. The whole family is devoted to running, and Marvel especially loves to run at the Elderberry Farms facility where the Williston High School Tiger Cubs train. Her best friend Roi sometimes joins her, but he also has a lot of responsibilities at home, since his father left the family years ago, and his mother is in a tuberculosis sanatorium. When his older brother, Charlie, manages to enlist in the army, the care of their younger sister Rachel falls to Roi. Charlie, who had a hard time getting into the army, since they were reluctant to accept Black recruits, suggests that Roi contact their Aunt Vi for help, but he doesn’t. The teens are disappointed when their social studies teacher and coach also joins the army, but they like Mr. Peterson, the substitute, who has also worked as a news reporter for Black publications in Pittsburgh. He offers to help coach the track team as well, and keeps an eye on Roi’s family since he lives across the street. When a shipbuilding company starts constructing homes on the site of Elderberry Farms, there is concern that the entire property might be lost, especially since the head contractor, whom the kids refer to as “Copperhead” seems intent on ruining the Victory garden there, and is up to no good. Roi starts to write articles about what he is witnessing, and Mr. P. helps him get wider notice as Roi explores the many reasons that the Black community should work toward a “Double V”; a victory in the war and also in the treatment of Black citizens. The community rallies around the area, and a man from the War Department visits to find out what is going on. There are many challenges, and Marvel and Roi have to deal with a lot of difficulties, but they are steadfast in their endeavors to save Elderberry Farms for their community and to pursue their dreams of running and writing.
Strengths: The depiction of life in the South during World War II was nicely balanced, and I loved that while there were many realistic challenges, Marvel and Roi were willing to work tirelessly towards their goals despite the difficulties they faced. Health issues, trouble getting employment, discrimination, Victory gardens; it’s all here. The inclusion of the church is perfect, since faith based groups are such a big part of the Civil Rights movement. Mr. Peterson is a great character, and so helpful in connecting Roi to other Black journalists; the number of Black news outlets mentioned will provide a great starting point for students looking for history project topics. Including running, and mentioning other historical figures involved in the sport, will intrigue readers who are interested in athletics. I like to think that the one character with the name Hightower is a nod to Columbus, Ohio’s own Stephanie Hightower. Most of all, it was an enormous relief to have a generally upbeat book that models resilience. Ms. Headen is now my number one choice to write a middle grade novel about Greenwood, Oklahoma before the 1921 massacre.
Weaknesses: Even though the details of everyday life are good, I wanted to know more about the running gear and training. This would, of course, have made the book longer, and it was the perfect length at 224 pages. The very mild dialect distracted me at the beginning of the book, but I soon forgot about it as I got involved in the story.
What I really think: This reminded me a bit of Flake’s Hattie Mae Begins Again, although that is set in an earlier time period. There are a few books about the role of Black citizens and soldiers in World War II, but there could be so many more. This is a great addition to nonfiction titles like Binns’ Unlawful Orders: A Portrait of Dr. James B. Williams, Tuskegee Airman, Surgeon, and Activist and Hudson’s Defiant: Growing up in the Jim Crow South, and fictional ones like Cline-Ransom’s young adult For Lamb and Shabazz and Watson’s Betty Before X. 

Fleming, Candace. The Forgotten War: A World War II Battle on American Soil

September 1, 2026 by Scholastic Focus

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I will be purchasing this for several reasons; my students' interest in WWII still has not wanted, Fleming writes the best and most well researched nonfiction no matter what the topic, and my copy of Seiple's 2012 Ghosts in the Fog: The Untold Story of Alaska's WWII Invasion is falling to pieces! When I hand this to students, I am going to encourage them to read Fleming's introduction; this is the story of her father's involvement in this portion of the war that he never talked about. It makes seeing the war from this point of view even more poignant. Very, very well done. 

Sadly, I have reached saturation with all things World War II. This was definitely more readable than most, and beautifully photoillustrated, but it's hard for me to keep all of the battles and moving around straight. I'm not sure I would pass high school social studies at this point, since I really only want to read about social history, not political or military history! Definitely purchasing for my collection. Make sure you also have Fleming's They Saved the Stallions and The Enigma Girls, 

Hijacked by Goats

Braden, Ann. Highjacked by Goats

September 8, 2026 by Nancy Paulsen Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Josie Martinez is willingly starting a stint at the Bryce Haven Psychiatric Hospital, although it was precipitated by an incident where she cut herself because of stress. She wants to please everyone, and her brain tells her she should be punished when things go wrong, so the drama in her friend group worsened her usual anxious condition. She immediately befriends Phoebe, who is working through anger issues. Josie's hobby is making art out of trash, so when the girls find a small infestation of ladybugs, they build a ladybug hotel to keep them safe. Josie's single father works at the grocery store, but is devoted to her care, and visits her even though she is an hour away from home. She benefits from therapy, medication is started, and she is diagnosed with not only anxiety and depressive disorders, but also a form of OCD. After Phoebe leaves, Josie goes home, but is still too fragile to be left alone during the day, even though the father has taken all of the scissors and knives out of the house. Because he has to go to work, he has a retired neighbor, Ms. Crandall, stay with Josie. Ms. Crandall doesn't fool around, and soon has Josie doing yoga, eating lentils and yogurt for breakfast, knitting, copying words from the dictionary, and doing crossword puzzles. Josie also starts seeing a therapist, Rayna, who compares Josie's intrusive thoughts to the goat that the Martinez' are kidsitting at their farm. Hal is stinky and obnoxious, and will frequently plant himself on top of the car or mailbox, interfering with daily activities. Josie's thoughts are the same, and she has to learn how to manage them. She meets up with Phoebe when she travels to Buffalo for her appointments, and finds some comfort in playing soccer. Her father has limited her contact with her friends and her social media, but eventually she has to tell them what that's happened and return to school. Some friends, like Lucy, understand what Josie is going through, and others are best avoided. Hal eventually goes home, and Josie has a lot of support in place to deal with her various mental health issues. 

Strengths: When I quickly went through my mental file for "books where characters are hospitalized for mental health disorders", the first thing I came up with was John Neufeld's 1969 Lisa Bright and Dark, followed by Green and Greenberg's 1964 I Never Promised You a Rose Garden. Josie's experience is MUCH different, and much more indicative of the state of mental health care in 2026. Thirty to fifty years ago, a tween being treated in a psychiatric facilty would have been more unusual and dire; today, while still dire, it is much more common, as well as more accepted. Josie's father doesn't hesitate at all to get her any of the help she needs, and makes sure she has appointments with different types of doctors to fully address her issues. It was good to see that she had time away from her friends, but that she was able to be honest with them about her diagnosis. Of course, my favorite character was Ms. Crandall; even though she is doing all of the things that my generation thinks will cure any mental health challenges, she never mentions anything about Josie's anxiety, depression, or intrusive thoughts as she forces her to participate in therapeutic "grandma hobbies"! It was good to see her develop a relationship with Phoebe and to take up soccer. 
Weaknesses: The cover is not attractive and looks like the book was published in 1989. I wish this didn't matter, but it does. If the goat was completely necessary to have on the cover, I would have chosen something more like Piontek's Better with Butter, which is another instructive book about anxiety that students pick up because the cover is cute. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want a clearer look at a serious mental health issue. It's important to keep these books updated in a school library; I know I weeded Tasjian's excellent 1999 Multiple Choice and Hesser's Kissing Doorknobs because the treatments seemed outdated. Hand this to readers who found Pyron's Octopus Moon, Khan's Drawing Deena or Rompella's Cookie Cutters & Sled Runners interesting. I'll probably buy a copy, but the cover might make this a title that requires some hand selling. 

Dream Big (Dream on #2)

Hale, Shannon and Cespedes, Marcela. Dream Big (Dream On #2)
September 1, 2026 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC Provided by Netgalley

Cassie is back, and navigating the summer after fourth grade. She enjoys hanging out with her friend Vali, but Stesha always complains about everything they do, especially when it involves Cassie having to stay in the family of eight's small two bedroom home to play while she watches two younger siblings. When the group is hanging out in a local park, they realize that a film is being made right in their neighborhood. They watch the filming, and Cassie dreams of being on the set, She decides to research the film making process, and has enough knowledge when asking to speak to someone that she actually talks to someone who can cast the few extras that are needed. Stesha thought asking was stupid, but Cassie and Vali are hired! They are to be "ugly kids" in a horror film, playing jacks with the main characters. Filming involves a lot of standing around, but also a craft services table with lots of junk food, which is hard for Cassie to come by now that her father is worried about money. Vali is bored and decides not to come back, but Cassie is enjoying herself, especially when she is chosen for a close up when she makes a particular good face when the group is "Slimed" in rehearsals. The actually filming doesn't go smoothly, which makes Cassie anxious, but pretty much everything does, and she manages to work through it. She eventually makes friends with the lead actor, Davey, who seems sad and lonely to her, even though she calls him an uncomplimentary name when the other kid actors complain about him. In the end, she enjoys her experience, makes a little money, and finds out that while Vali has been hanging out with Stesha, she really would rather hang out with Cassie, but was too afraid of being on set to continue. Cassie even uses her pay check to help her father, whose sales have been down, make rent for the month. 

Strengths: What tween doesn't have vague dreams about being in a movie? (Or has it changed to being a social media star? Must ask actual tweens.) There is lots of good information about the different people on set, and the jobs they do, and the note from Hale that she was an extra in a number of productions was fascinating. It would be interesting to see more middle grade novels with larger families, although today these usually are the result of blended families. Cassie is a sweet person at heart, and since she is anxious about many things, is a little more understanding about what other people are going through. It's a great message for children with anxiety; develop ways to help yourself through tough moments, and try to make others feel better as well. 
Weaknesses: Modern readers might be a little confused as to why Cassie is left alone in the house with toddler and infant siblings, since this is no longer a widely accepted practice. Made perfect sense to me; I was babysitting a neighbor's children who were these ages until 2:00 a.m. when she had a night shift at the hospital! Being a little clearer about the historical setting will help these readers be less confused. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed movie making books like Greenwald's Pete Milano's Guide to Being a Movie Star or Hart's Marcus Makes a Movie, or the many, many graphic novels that deal with tween anxiety like Lloyd's Squished, Libenson's Emmie and Friends series, or Scrivan's Nat Enough books. They seem a bit young for middle school, but I would definitely purchase these for an elementary school library. 

Stanley

Ross, M.C. Stanley

September 1, 2026 by Scholastic Inc

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Stanley was born to be a service dog, and his siblings (all named after film directors), do a great job. Stanley, however, is constantly distracted, even though his mother tells him that this will not help him. When he is taken to a Boston Bruins hockey game, he finds himself headed towards a career change when he gets away from his handler because he is drawn to the sadness of young Charlie O'Donnell. Charlie and his mother have won tickets to the game, but Charlie is sad because he didn't make the Monumentals hockey team, and instead must play for the Bunkeroos, whom he considers to be beneath his skill level. Eventually, Charlie's mother arranges to adopt Stanely, and the group moves to Charlestown. Charlie realizes that Stanley is excellent at helping him train and do drills, and is also useful in winning over teammates. Charlie meets his idol, a Bruin player named Mads, at the park, and gets some insight: he's being a "rat" to his teammates, thinking he is better than them and offering them "helpful" advice, which doesn't go over all that well. Charlie apologizes, and the team begins to do better, but he falls back into his old ways. Stanley occasionally feels like he is failing his boy. When things become too stressful, Charlie and Stanley board the Orange Line and head to Jamaica Plain where they can train in peace... but run into a field hockey player they've seen around, Emily. Emily and her dog, Nugly, go to visit the zoo, where they meet Nugly's friend, a porcupine named Lucky, who seems to make everyone feel better. At the Mayor's Cup Final, the team seems to be doing better, but when they are given a hard time by the Shamrocks, a donnybrook ensues. Will Stanley be able to save the day when the team is sad? 
Strengths: Anytime a book is set in a very specific city, I enjoy all of the details of the location. I've only ever been in Boston in 1999 when the Big Dig was going on, so I always enjoy Ross' look at the city from a dog's viewpoint! Charlie will appeal to a lot of young sports players who will sheepishly see themselves in Charlie's "rat" like behavior. Being a know-it-all is very common for middle school students! There are plenty of hockey details about training, games, and other... hockey things. I've never seen a game and know nothing about the sport (other than what I read in the fantastic 2017 Sports Illustrated Hockey: Then to WOW! ), so I can't open on the authenticity, but it sounds right. Stanley is a great dog who wants to make Charlie happy. The balance between dog information about hockey minutiae is perfect. 
Weaknesses: There was a LOT of hockey details, which I didn't understand. This, however, will make it perfect for readers who love the sport and want to have frequent play-by-plays. While I can appreciate a good crossover story, I could have done without the inclusion of Lucky.
What I really think: This way more upbeat than Kadohata's fantastic but sad 2018 hockey/dog book, Checked and will be a hit with dog lovers and hockey lovers alike. Make sure that you request extra copies of this and other Ross titles like Smiley)  if you are having a Scholastic book fair. 

Bitter Bones

Puckett, Lindsay. Bitter Bones
September 1, 2026 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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Clay Wilde has livedwith his aunts and his cousins Addison and Sophie ever since his mother disappeared eight years ago. Genevieve Wilde was the founder of Doll Eyes, Inc. which had a line of very creepy, Gothic dolls called "Wretches". She released them sparingly and in unconventional outlets, and the demand drove up prices. Clay suffers from a lot of physical ailments, some of which have to deal with his bones. On Clay's birthday, he gets a mysterious present on his bed with information only his mother would know. He loops in his cousins, as well as Addison's best friend Elise, who uses a walker or wheelchair, and the group helps him try to find his mother. Because of the weird nature of the dolls, the people interested in them are sometimes alarming, and there is even an invitation-only online forum called the Curio Cabinet. Clay manages to contact his mother's business partner, Greggory, and while visiting him, sneaks onto his computer and invites himself onto the forum. He gets some critical information, but is soon blocked. There are some sightings of "the man with the button eyes", a mythical character from the stories that feature the dolls, and who is said to come after anyone who "dusts" a doll. (One of the unusual features is that if someone tries to open a doll up and figure out how it was made, the doll disintegrates!) The group attends Creep Con where they make more contacts, and find about about the super creepy Geneives, who are involved in some dark magic surrounding the dolls. At one point, Clay thinks he has found his mother, and also realizes he is cursed and turning into porcelain, just like the dolls! It's likely that the woman he found isn't his mother, but he and his group need to locate her quickly before Clay turns into one of the "Wretches". Will they be able to solve this mystery?
Strengths: I enjoyed the idea that there were super creepy, limited edition Gothic dolls, and that the developer of these was surrounded in mystery. There are a lot of creepy doll books out there even though the traditional china and porcelain dolls may not be something tweens have ever personally seen. Clay loves his aunt and cousins, but of course wants to know more about his mother. A death certificate has been issued, but lacking closure, he still wants to believe she might be alive. Addison and Elise make great teammates, and there's a little flirting going on between Elise and Clay. Six-year-old Sophie adds some levity, and also has an imaginery friend, Clarissa, who occasionally has good observations. The doll underworld is well portrayed, and there are so many twists and turns that I don't want to ruin. You'll just have to pick this one up yourself to find out what happens! 
Weaknesses: Whoever edits K.R. Alexander's horror books should have taken a look at this. While the descriptions of the dolls and the world surrounding them is interesting, the story isn't as fast paced as my readers tend to like, and could be a little bit scarier. I'll still purchase a copy EVEN THOUGH IT IS PUBLISHED IN PAPERBACK. ARGH! Oh, Scholastic. I know things are tough, but why are most of the horror books in paperback while the sappy Life Lesson books all in hardcover? 

What I really think: This will definitely do better than this author's The Glass Witch, if only because of the creepy doll cover that is reminiscent of Ford's The Headless Doll or Alexanders' The Collector. Make sure you order extras of this if you are hosting a Scholastic Book Fair. 

Wish You Well and How to Do (Almost) Everything

Sumner, Jamie. Wish You Well

September 1, 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Violet knows that she is losing her sight to Best syndrome, but she would rather focus on playing soccer than to think about it. Her single mother, a busy lawyer, takes her to doctor's appointments and wants her to talk about it, but also throws herself into work and spends a lot of time away from home. When Violet has to go to a "sick kids" event, she meets Wyatt, who has had a heart transplant, and Noor, who has cancerous tumors and is undergoing chemotherapy. Wyatt's mom and dad are focused on his older brother Finn's football career, and don't quite understand Wyatt's interest in gaming and technology. Noor's father was killed in the military, and her mom is a nurse, so very invested in Noor's treatment, as is her older sister. The three decide to pretend to be friends in order to get their families off their backs, but Wyatt comes up with a great idea; they are all constantly getting mailings from the Wish on a Star Foundation; what if they game the system, each ask for a wish, and ask to heave their "best friends" join them? They have to establish a "plausible friendship", so start hanging out together. There's always a little tension; Violet likes Wyatt, Noor is prickly, and the three can't quite see eye to eye on the wishes they choose. (Wyatt claims to want to kick a field goal at a Titans' game but later changes his wish to visiting the Googleplex offices, Noor wants to meet a celebrity chef, and Violet wants to blow up a building!) They all have challenges, and don't really want to share them with each other. Violet's vision worsens, but she keeps this from her mother as well as her friends. She and Wyatt have some a romantic moments, but then stop talking to each other. Noor's cancer isn't cured by the chemo and she must undergo some experimental treatment. Violet's mother doesn't want to let Violet have her wish because of her increasingly erratic behavior and her failing grades. All of the kids are doing the best they can, but could they do better if they confided in their friends and family? 

Strengths: Yes, I am always saying that middle grade books are too depressing. Yes, I was obsessed with Beverly Butler's 1962 Light a Single Candle, about Cathy, a girl who is going blind. Both things can be true. There are plenty of sad things in this book, but it FEELS so much different. The characters are sad, angry, and dealing with lots of things, but they are also going forward in a positive way, having adventures, and even embarking on a light romance. Life goes on. It doesn't stop because someone is ill or dies. (Noor's father has died, but it is not discussed very much because Noor has other things to think about!) The book doesn't downplay their conditions; no one is going to magically get better, and for most of the book, I honestly thought that Wyatt would just die suddenly because his body rejected his heart. Spoiler alert: he doesn't. The kids aren't all "everything is sunshine and roses", but they aren't all gloom and doom, either. They are... agitated about their conditions in a way that seems very realistic for middle grade. Violet and her mother have a lot of friction in their relationship, and oh, boy, would I like to see way more of that in books. What middle school student doesn't occasionally get super irritated with a parent? I also enjoyed the connivery of gaming the Wish on a Star system because they were all kind of irritated with all of the mailings as well as the idea that they were to be pitied and deserved a treat for being ill. Bravo. This is probably my favorite book by Sumner, who also has the very strong Maid for It and Roll With It. 
Weaknesses: This could have been just the tiniest bit shorter. The story bogged down a little in the middle, but since it has a strong start, I think readers won't mind. 
What I really think: The sad books that my students DO ask for are ones where the characters have things happen to them that are more horrible than are happening to my readers, and show that it is possible to survive and thrive through these circumstances. Wish You Well does that beautifully, and has some nice romance on top of it. I can see this book circulatingly steadily for a long time. 

Baines, Becky. How to Do (Almost) Everything: 100 Skills for Curious Kids

September 1, 2026 by What on Earth!

E ARC provided by Publishers Spotlight

As the conversation around frequent use of computers and students continues to shed light on how unhelpful screen time is for children, a book like How to Do (Almost) Everything is extremely helpful. Kids get bored. Parents don't know what to do. With a book like this, the work is easy. Young readers will page through the book until they find something that speaks to them and seems doable, and then spent several hours on that endeavor. 

There's a lot to choose from, and I love that the book starts with a safety warning, although as a member of Gen X, it did make me giggle a bit. I'm pretty sure my best friend should not have spent the hours that she did learning to light a match on her jeans zipper, but she did! There's also a note about seeking help and martialling resources. After that, there are over fifty different ways to spend one's time. 

These are not broken down into categories, which I would have liked, but do span a range. There are some things that are basic and important, like how to maintain a bike, predict weather, or cook an egg. My 88 year old father learned this last skill only weeks before his death, so let's make sure that everyone over the age of 10 gets instruction in this! There are some activities that are just fun and useful, like flying a kite (I remember learning to make a kite at school in the fourth grade!), interpreting Morse code and airplane signals, and skimming stones. A few are odd, like performing the Star Trek greeting, dancing the Macarena, miming walking down a staircase, and nature bathing. Nature bathing sounds intriguing, but seems aimed at people who aren't outside very much. 

Some topics have more information than others; there's a lot about constellations, but some items are addressed as quick "how-tos". This makes perfect sense. When I was a child, I would have read this entire book several times, then started methodically trying out all of the skills. This is probably why I wanted to see activities placed into categories (cooking, outdoor activities, fixing things, etc.),  but not everyone will feel a need to be this regimented. 

How to Do (Almost) Everything would make an excellent gift for a young person in your life who is curious and active. To make it even better, go through the book WITH the recipient and find some activities that you can do together. Once you finish this, you can move on to Miller's Everything You Need to Know When You Are 10 or Storey Publishing's Backpack Explorer series. 

Wombat Waiting

Applegate, K.A. Wombat Waiting

May 5, 2026 by Storytide
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

A small dog in California has been on her own on the streets since her mother and siblings were lost to cars, and she is just trying to get by. When there are wildfires in the area, she hears a voice in her head telling to go towards the fire rather than away from it. Another dog, Silas, tells her that she is a "destiny dog" and might eventually meet her person, so she continues to follow the voice. There is a stunned owlet she meets along the way, and she manages to get the bird to hop onto a stick so she can carry him away from the fire. We also meet Henry, a boy who is preparing to leave his home along with his younger sister, Sylvie, his two mothers, and older neighbors. They all go to a shelter. Mama Ro works for the Orphaned Wild Life organization (OWL), and the animals from OWL are also brought to the shelter. When the dog sees Henry, she is delighted, and greets him enthusiastically. Henry, however, was bitten as a child and is wary of dogs. He does name her Wombat, since there are some similarities in appearance. Wombat camps out on a bench and just waits for Henry to pay her some attention. When he leaves, Wombat talks with one of the OWL rescues, a bat named Barnabus, and tells him that Henry is her destiny. She won't move from the bench, and while she doesn't want to interact with others, spends a lot of time comforting people and even being "canine Kleenex", soaking up human pain. Henry and his family return to their home only to find it gone. Nothing of Henry's survives. When he returns to the shelter, he and Wombat finally click, and plans are made to adopt Wombat when Henry's family finally gets a home.
Strengths: Wombat and Henry's stories are told in poems that, while free verse, are actually poetic. There's great use of figurative language and imagery. The idea of a "destiny dog" will appeal to readers who are fond of canines, and Wombat's patient vigil to wait for Henry is very sweet. The fact that it is based on Hachiko, a dog who waiting at a train station for his owner to come back for years after the man died, is the reason behind the statue of Wombat on a bench when the community rebuilds. There is a nice range of human and animal characters to give some depth to the novel, as well as some moments of humor during a bleak time. Jennifer Bricking's pencil sketches are adorable, and have a bit of a Garth Williams feel to them. I can see this being tremendously popular as a class read aloud in elementary schools.
Weaknesses: I'm not usually a fan of books from animals' perspectives, and am not a sentimental person at all, so this was not a personal favorite. It was well written and charming, and I can see why people recommend having tissues at hand when reading it.
What I really think: While there have been an increasing number of stories about family's escaping wildfires and having to rebuild (from Tashjian's more humorous My Life as a Meme to Bard's graphic novel Wildfire to Baron's novel in verse Spark), Wombat and Henry's story was a bit gentler and more hopeful. It would not hurt my feelings if this won a Newbery award, but it does seem a little young for my middle school audience. 

MMGM- Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Currie, Lindsay. The Secret Bookstore Sleuth Society
September 15, 2026 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

Merrick McGee's life has been complicated recently. Her Grandma Ida has kidney issues, so had to sell her house and move in with Merrick's family while she is undergoing dialysis. Her father is off working in a military lab, and her mother is busy running a bookstore, so doesn't have time to homeschool Merrick, although she's been taken out of her private school, Elkhart, to save money. This means that she has to hang out at the store and doesn't get to see her friends, members of the Sleuth Society, at school. She video chats with Sonny, his sister Miko, and Archer, but it isn't quite the same. When a big storm hits Chicago, a car accident strands her friends and her grandmother at the bookstore. Luckily, the store is attached to the Dog-Eared Inn and its restaurant, Novel Bites, so there is room for them, as well as Miko and Sonny's mother, Merrick' s Aunt Jerrie, the staff of the inn and restaurant, and several guests. Shortly after the accident, however, Merrick goes back to the storeroom to get her things... and discovers a dead man facedown in a cake! It turns out to be a longtime customer, Daniel, whom Merrick refers to as "Pipey" due to the fact he often carries a smoking pipe. Luckily, Officer Carleton is on hand, as are Daniel's son Tim and daughter-in-law, who were at the hotel to celebrate Daniel's birthday. The adults agree that Daniel's health issues no doubt led to his death, but Merrick suspects murder. Luckily, the Sleuth Society has plenty of skills to bring to the investigation; Miko plays mahjong and is good at recognizing "tells", Sonny is a video gamer, and Archer is a sports star and leader. Merrick is interested in chemistry, and is collecting elements. Even Grandma Ida gets involved, since she has recently been reading a lot of Agatha Christie novels and can cover for the kids when other adults ask questions! The group create a spreadsheet of suspects and start their investigations. Who would have wanted to murder Daniel? Avery, a young clerk at the hotel? Mrs. Dain, a local baker? "Everest" a hiker and commercial actress? Or Tim Fielding and his wife? When the power goes out, it's harder to investigate, but definitely more atmospheric.  Will the Sleuth Society be able to convince the adults that Daniel was murdered, and to bring the perpetrator to justice?

Strengths: It should not surprise publishers that tweens ask for MURDER mysteries; look at the sheer number of BBC television shows that feature murder investigations, or the legion of adult mystery books where murders are being investigated. When I was in graduate school for library science, I did a project on "cozy" murder mysteries like Braun's The Cat Who mysteries, and there are still a ton of adult books set in bakeries, coffee shops, and bookstores where an inordinate number of people die in mysterious circumstances. Currie gets bonus points for Merrick's STEM interests in elements and chemistry, and for working this science into the investigation. I absolutely ADORED the inclusion of Grandma Ida, and the realistic protrayal of the challenges that her age and health presented. While she might not have wanted to crawl under tables, she kept up with the kids nicely, even if murder was "not on her bingo card". Aunt Jerrie's Britishisms and Ida's vintage phrases (as well as Merrick's translations!) were fun, and the chapter titles were very clever. It's been a while since I've read Christie, but the setting and investigative style seemed very much like the mysteries investigated by Miss Marple or Mr. Poirot. Now that Christie's work is coming into the public domain, I've been trying to get my students to read her work, as well as that of Dorothy Sayers and Patricia Wentworth! Tweens will appreciate the very nascent romance between Merrick and Archer, as well as the happy ending. 
Weaknesses: I wasn't as convinced as Merrick was that Daniel's death was murder, and it rubbed me the wrong way that he was referred to as "Pipey" for reasons I can't quite explain. He had a connection to another character that came out of left field; this was interesting, and added quite the history to the characters, but seemed a little more unlikely. Young readers will take all of this in stride, and I am definitely purchasing a copy.
What I really think: This book will be a big hit with fans of Currie's work (The Girl in White, It's Watching, X Marks the Haunt, Mystery of the Locked Rooms), or Souder's new middle grade cozy murder mystery, Secrets of the Broken House. Kids are CONSTANTLY asking for murder mysteries, and I give publishers permission to start killing off elderly, slightly unpleasant neighbors with the same frequency that middle grade parents die to feed the tween appetite for murder. I love Stevenson's Wells and Wong mysteries, which also feature plenty of unfortunate deaths, but the historical setting on books like Murder is Bad Manners is a little harder to sell even when it is phys ed teachers who are the victim! 

Let It Wag

McKearin, Natalie. Let It Wag: A Holiday Novel

September 1, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Jules Fitgerald's life has been upended, but she's trying to be positive about the changes. Her father has taken a new job in Texas and moved the two away from family and friends in Chicago. Since her mother died when she was very young, it's just been the two of them, so she's a little jealous when next door neighbor Theo Boutros has been hanging out with her dad. Her father signs her up for a winter break camp, which doesn't make her happy, but she does make some new friends, including Mia and the cute Oliver. He also fosters a large dog, Sparky, and she tries to warm to the idea of a pet. It's not easy to stay positive, but with Christmas approaching, Jules tries to make the holiday special by following a list of her mother's that she has found in a box. Theo is amazingly helpful, and as his mother struggles with taking care of his grandmother Rima, the two spend a lot of time at each other's houses, eating delicious Lebanese food, taking care of Sparky, and decorating for the holiday. A massive winter storm threatens a camp dance after Jules finds out information about Theo from Mia. Christmas proves to be one disappointment after another as her cousins have to cancel their visit and Sparky keeps eating decorations and gift wrapping. Theo often comes to the rescue, and when Jules can no longer put a brave face on things, he is the one in whom she confides. Will there be a Christmas romance? (Spoiler: YES!)

Strengths: Dogs, Christmas, and romance are a tried and true formula for success; look at Taylor Garland's work or this author's own The Twelve Strays of Christmas. Theo is a great character who has faced his own challenges, but wisely doesn't tell Jules about them. Both families are warm and welcoming, and it makes perfect sense for Jules and Theo to hang out at each other's houses. I liked that Jules made friends at the camp, and that Oliver was interested in her. Why aren't there more middle grade books where the main character has more than one admirer? I remember people in middle school changing romantic interests frequently. The Christmas traditions will be a strong draw for readers who can't get enough tree decorating and cocoa drinking. If you're having a book fair before Christmas, make sure to request a whole box of this title! (Which is also available in prebind through Follett.)
Weaknesses: This would have been better without the dead mother. Perhaps the mother could have been... back in Chicago while waiting to move. On a work trip. Caring for elderly relatives. In jail or the hospital. Even having her deployed would have had some interesting connections to another character. But, no. Had to be dead. At least the dog lives. I'm also not the greatest fan of the enemies to lovers trope or the current SEL push to let people know when you're sad or struggling, but young readers will enjoy both of these more than I did. 
What I really think: Romance. Check. Christmas. Check. Cute dog. Check. I have already put a prebound copy of this on my order for September, and it will be hugely popular. Nice use of green on the cover! It was fun to learn that the author worked on the television show of Ellen Miles' The Puppy Place! Fans of Greenwald's Absolutely, Positively Natty will appreciate Jules' stalwart attempts at trying not to complain. 

Library of Memories and Nat Again (#&)

Marquez, Barbara Perez and Marlin, Lissy (Illustrator). The Library of Memories
Expected publication August 25, 2026
E ARC provided by Netgalley

In a vaguely Steampunk Victorian setting replete with talking birds in waistcoats, we meet a young girl who is excitedly working at a library. Unfortunately, it turns out that she has no memory of the library or her own life, so has to keep being told the various rules and procedures. One of the rules is that she shouldn't touch memories without gloves, or she will experience the memory and cause it to lose power. Because she is so desperate to regain her own memories, she tends to ignore this, which infuriates Lawrence, a bird who helps her out. The girl, who goes by the name Copenhagen, is looking for a lost girl but can't find it, and creates her own so that she can take notes. One of the reasons for the problems in the library is that raw memorat is leaking into places where it shouldn't be. It's hard to fix problems in the library when no one can identify what they even are, since the library is constantly changing. Eventually, Copenhagen happens upon a boiler room, where memories seem to be discarded, and finds that there are some memories, including ones that might be her own, that are using their own energy to stay active. Is the brusque and mysterious Bookkeeper the key to Copenhagen's own memories?

Strengths: Most readers, especially librarians, are all in when it comes to books set in magical libraries. I still recommend Shulman's 2010 The Grimm Legacy to students who want this sort of book! There aren't as many fantasy graphic novels, and Marlin's artwork is beautiful. Copenhagen has a good attitude about her memory loss, and is very energetic and motivated to solve all of the library's problems. There's a nice Steampunk vibe, and the talking birds will appeal to fans of Warriors books. 
Weaknesses: I don't do as well with graphic novels, so I struggled a bit to understand the setting as well as Copenhagen's dilemma, but graphic novel fans won't have that problem. My major objection, however, is the treatment of grief. I don't want to spoil anything, but there is a loss portrayed, and a mother putting all of the things that remind her of the child in the attic. This is wrong. The mother more likely would have given everything AWAY, if she didn't want to be reminded. There's nothing wrong with trying to utterly forget people. One can often move on much better that way. That's a personal objection, however, with which most people will not agree. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels like Aldridge's The Pale Queen or Nijcamp's Ink Girls or middle grade novels focusing on grief, like Haydu's Eventown. I probably won't purchase this, because my graphic novel readers are easily confused, and I think they will have trouble following the plot of this one. Other reviewers have made similar comments. 

Scrivan, Maria. Nat Again (Nat Enough #7)

September 15, 2026 by Graphix

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this latest installment, Nat and Alex have a bit of a falling out after Nat spills fruit punch on her and there is a misunderstanding about a comic that Nat draws. Flo and Zoe are also fighting over a comment that Zoe has made about Argyle, Flo's sock puppet and constant companion. Parallel to these story lines, we see Ms. Lemur instructing the class about misinformation, false conclusions, and thought traps. Nat has the very evolved moment of recognizing that she is involved in spiraling thought traps based on incomplete information, and she eventually talks to Alex and they work out their differences, since information  can help with the solution to problems. 

The Nat Enough series has been a solid circulator in my library since its debut in 2020, and I particularly enjoyed Nat a Chance, where Nat takes on a triathlon. There are plenty of graphic novels (many of them memoirs) where the characters are anxious and whine about their lives, but I like the turn that these have taken, with Nat finding constructive ways to deal with her anxiety and negative thoughts. Definitely will purchase this one. 

Guy Friday- Absent

Ogle, Rex. Absent

September 1, 2026 by Norton Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Things are tough in Iron Hill, and we meet three students who all have problems that many middle schoolers have. Manny doesn't see much of a point to school; he would rather spend his time writing rap lyrics and skateboarding, since he sees his grandparents, who immigrated from Mexico, working hard for little reward, and knows that his father struggled to put food on the table after Manny's mother left, and is now in prison for stealing. Calvin loves to draw, but has little time for this since he has to get his two younger brothers up, dressed, and delivered to school across town, since his single father has to work. He is constantly late, which gets him in trouble with principal Ms. Cho. Liam is a good student, but is bedeviled by Grady, who constantly threatens his with real, physical violence, to the extent that Liam takes refuge in Dana Funkhouser's library, and spends several entire days in a back storage room. All three eventually end up with a three week after school detention stint for truancy, which doesn't make them think school is any more appealing. They do talk to each other, eventually, and find ways to help them see a bit more value in school. Manny is glad to have a new language arts teacher, Ms. Patel, who tells him that he is talented and cares about him, even showing up at the skate park on the weekend to talk to him after he storms out of class when he doesn't want to read his poem out loud. He also fights with his grandparents when they opine that he is really very fortunate. Calvin has a fight with his father after he is forbidden to draw, since it takes attention away from his brothers, and Manny and Liam encourage him to keep up with his art. Liam tries to talk to his father and stepmother, but knows that his father's salary as the custodian at his school won't run to mental health therapy, even though the panic attacks he has are debilitating. Luckily, Ms. Funkhouser is supportive, and even saves him from Grady's abuse and makes sure that Grady is brought to justice. It's impossible for the boys to change their circumstances alone, but when they talk to each other and let other people help, some issues can be resolved. 

Strengths: I very much appreciate that Ogle asked teachers what their number one problem at school is; I am not surprised that it is absenteeism. Can't say I have seen any books on the subject. The format is also clever, with Manny's chapters written in verse, Calvin's in a graphic novel format, and Liam's in prose on graph paper. The problems the boys face are realistic, and hard for middle school students to navigate. The fights with families are something that, again, I don't see portrayed as much in fiction. They are MUCH more interesting (and common) than children dealing with grief, although there is a little bit of that as well. While three weeks of after school detention doesn't seem like it would be an effective punishment, it does give the boys a chance to bond and to eventually improve their lots a bit. 
Weaknesses: I know that Ogle speaks from his own experience, but this doesn't necessarily reflect modern practices. There are very strict protocols, for many reasons, and Ms. Funkhouser could have improved Liam's life a whole lot sooner if she had immediately informed a school counselor when she knew that Grady was bullying Liam. How can we expect students to "see something, say something" if TEACHERS aren't following the same rule? For a 27 year old, Ms. Funkhouser had some odd cultural references, and she was the modern stereotype of a librarian; tattooed and pierced with brightly colored hair. I can't imagine the trouble I would be in if I let a student play hooky in the library, so I questioned her training and professionalism. We need to know where students are at all times! It also was very risky for Ms. Patel to talk to Manny outside of school. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Ogle's work or books like Sonnenblick's The Secret Sheriff of Sixth Grade or Korman's The Fort. I will probably purchase a copy, although the last thing I intend to do is to hand it to students who are chronically truant. If they pick it up from a display, that's fine! 

Also, this is going to motivate me to start the year with some serious talks about attendance with my advisory group. My school has some good resources, so I want to make sure that if my students are having difficulties making it to school, these issues are addressed. Last year, I did make sure that each student had current contact information on file; this is essential in case a child takes ill or has an accident during the day! 

Shadow Play and Art Attack

Poblocki, Dan. Shadow Play

September 1, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Shelby and Jane Hoffman are spending the winter break with their grandparents Betsy and Frank. Their parents are taking a little vacation because the father has recently been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Unfortunately, Betsy and Frank have just moved from New York City to Violet Springs, where they are setting up the Museum of Future Disasters to showcase their sculptures. Violet Springs in an interesting place, with a movie theater, the Orpheum, that used to welcome Vaudeville shows, and Limelight Manor, which is now a performing arts summer camp, but used to have big name performers in the 1950s in its Clover Theater. The caretaker, Mr. Nichols, has recently retired, and in his place is Denis, whose nephews Liam, Felix, and Octave Beaumont are staying with him. Shelby attended the camp in the summer, so when Octave offers to show the girls the house, she's excited, although Jane would rather be at home reading mysteries. Shelby's boyfriend has given her a necklace that turns out to be the one in a portrait of Madame Natalia, a Russian immigrant who had an internship at the theater doing psychic work from 1929-1959. When the kids start to hear and see very odd happenings, they go to the town library to investigate. This leads to poking around in an abandoned house, sneaking into the theater, and even having a scary encounter in a local cave. There are lots of questions as the supernatural experiences pile up, but Betsy tells the girls they can't bother the one person who might know a lot about what went on. There was a fire in 1989 that killed several campers, and even Jane can get behind investigating this. As the group questions local residents and does a lot of poking and prodding, they anger the supernatural, but the bigger threat might be real life residents. Can they solve the mystery before their parents return? 
Strengths: Apparently, New York state is filled with a lot of abandoned summer camps and hotels, which means I am probably never going to get to a Catskills resort for the summer, but has a TON of potential for creepy books. The Clover property has so much interesting history, and the dates are perfect for their to be some original people still around... and friends with Betsy and Frank. I really enjoyed that Shelby and Jane were comfortable enough with their quirky grandparents to be willing to talk to them about all of the hauntings; this is so much better than killing everyone off. Faced with violent ghosts, I'm pretty sure most young people are going to want to consult a trusted adult! The Beaumont boys work well with the girls, and I was able to keep all of the characters straight, which means they were all well developed. There are some twists and turns, but I loved how the kids are able to save the day through not only bravery, but RESEARCH! 
Weaknesses: This wasn't nearly as scary as Poblocki's other work. The inclusion of the tension between Shelby and Jane over their reaction to their father's illness slowed the story down. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who Lawrence's The Many Hauntings of the Manning Family, Parris' Stage Fright, or Keys' Twelfth. Theater mysteries seem to be trending; Kate Messner's Keep the Ghost Light On comes out in February 2027, and Farazin's third The Last Resort coming out in September 2026 is entitled Ghost Light .

Ponti, James. Art Attack (The Sherlock Society #3)

September 8, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Alex and Zoe are back after their adventures in The Sherlock Society and Hurricane Heist. With the approval of their parents and the help of their ulta-cool Grandpa Pete, they have put together a web site for their investigative concern and get a job offer; Turner-McGee construction is building a luxury condo and wants to hire the artist Funky Munky to paint a mural on the side of the ten story building. They are willing to pay the artist $200, 000, which means that the Sherlock Society would get a finders fee of $20,000... if they can locate the reclusive and secretive artist. Like Bansky, Funky Munky does guerilla painting with social messages, and no one knows who this is. Since the Turner-McGee group is making their project eco friendly and also putting in low income housing, they are hoping that Funky Munky will agree. It doesn't hurt that Grandpa Pete is spending a lot of time with Marisol, who was the art editor at the Miami Herald, where he used to work. As Art Week approaches in the city, the kids have just a month to find the artist. This search takes them to meet lots of different artists, as well as Peyton Reed, a pod caster and muralist. They look at different paints, see lots of graffiti, and learn terms and techniques from the artists themselves. They even manage to figure out who Funky Munky is... but does Turner-McGee really want to hire the artist?

This is another fun romp with Alex, Zoe, Lina, and Yadi. I loved how the grandfather continues to be involved, and how the parents occasionally step in and punish Alex for breaking their rules! There are a lot of artists, and the grandfather and Marisol's connections help... and who doesn't want to be driven around in a vintage car. Some of the funniest moments were Alex's attempts to dress for spirit week at school, but there are plenty of adventures as well. This series has been popular with my students, so I will definitely be ordering a copy. If your Carl Hiaasen books are worn out, this is a great replacement for them. 

Keep forgetting to post my statistics for August. Feel lackluster at best about my reading; did love VanDraanen's upcoming GHOSTED.

Stifled

Gennari, Jen. Stifled

September 1, 2026 by Beach Lane Books (Simon and Schuster)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Amelia's friend, Madge, from Muffled is a keen and talented trombone player who hopes to one day play for the Boston Pops. Her mother, who died in a car accident when she was one, was also a musician, so Madge's Oma gets sentimental when Madge's ambitions are discussed. Now that sixth grade is starting, both Amelia and Madge try out for Jazz Notes, a group that has more 7th and 8th graders in it. Madge makes it; Amelia does not. Since the fantastic new librarian, Ms. Madias, has shared with students that a local group, Liberty Guardians, is contesting some of the titles in the library, especially those with underrepresented characters, Amelia isn't too upset. Instead, she dedicates herself to a group of students fighting to keep titles in the library and spreading awareness about the issue and works closely with Rhonda, who is her new "bestie". Madge struggles with band; she was the best trombone player in fifth grade, but doesn't have the improvisation technique that older students who have taken private lesson have developed. Madge likes hanging out with the older kids in the band, and even has an awkward moment with Zan, an 8th grader on whom she has a crush. Madge is struggling a little in other areas; it's hard to practice an hour a day and keep up with homework, she knows that her grandmother struggles to take care of her, and she wants to know something about her father, whom she has never known. She and Amelia and increasingly at odds, with Amelia, who has sound sensitivity, wanting to speak up in support of banned books and not being happy when Madge assumes that she will stay quiet. When Ms. Madias' job is on the line, will the girls be able to work together to save the library? 
Strengths: This is a timely book in a fraught age, where librarians do lose their jobs and books are under attack in many areas. What I loved about this, though, was the depiction of a school band. Tryouts, solos, jockeying for seats-- this was all big stuff for me from 5th grade on, and is rarely depicted in middle grade novels. The friendship difficulties will be intriguing to middle school readers, who love to see how other people navigate difficult times with friends. I love Oma, and the fact that she was trying her best to raise her granddaughter. It was interesting to see a continuation of Amelia's story from Madge's perspective. 
Weaknesses: As important an issue as this is, my students have not picked up the books on this subject. Maybe we are just really fortunate that the issue hasn't yet touched our library?  (Not that it is an issue in this book, but they also haven't picked up books about dress code enforcement, because we don't have a dress code.)It did seem a bit odd to me that Ms. Madias' found time to knit at work. It would be cool to do that, but it wouldn't work in my day! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed like Swartz's Same Page, Levithan's The Answer in the Pages, Gratz' Ban This Book, Varnes' Property of the Rebel Librarian, Yang's Finally Seen, Levy's Not Another Banned Book, and King's Attack of the Black Rectangles. Guess I shouldn't have gotten rid of Hentoff's 1982 The Day They Came to Arrest the Book. I would definitely love to read Betty Miles' 1980 Maudie and Me and the Dirty Book again! 

Interview with Rob Buyea and Because of Our Student Teacher

Mr. Buyea today

Rob Buyea first came on my radar in 2010, when his Because of Mr. Terupt was a Cybils Award honors book. 

1. Who were you as a middle grade reader? What books did you enjoy that you would recommend to today’s students?

As a kid, I wasn’t a reader. Never. Of course that has changed now. Every opportunity I get to talk to students, I stress the importance of being a reader—and I spend time sharing lots of book recommendations. A few recent favs: Rez Ball by Byron Graves and Hidden Truths by Elly Swartz.

2. What inspired you to bring back Peter Jacobs, who as a student had a special love of challenging rookie teachers, as a student teacher? Were any of his experiences based on your own? 

I had the idea for a student teacher character for quite a while. I have great memories from my time as a student teacher, and I had the privilege of working with several in my classroom when I was the teacher. I wanted the student teacher character to be wonderful, but didn’t know how to make the story different from my Mr. Terupt books. When it hit me that the student teacher could be Mr. T’s protégé, I couldn’t wait to get started. Making it different was no longer a concern. What an awesome idea!

The author as a young man

3. Many of your books, including the Mr. Terupt and Perfect Score series, present the story from different points of view. What draws you to this format? 

Truth is, that was how the idea for Mr. Terupt first came to me, different students taking turns, talking about their first day of school. I’d never tried writing anything in this style before, not until the idea hit me. My readers (and publisher) have really liked the multiple voices, so when it came time for The Perfect Score, they wanted more of it. To be clear, I do enjoy writing and telling stories in this way very much. It works for me.

4. I’m not a fan of killing off middle grade parents, because it’s so much more interesting to deal with annoying and imperfect parents. Your characters all struggle with different parenting styles. Why did you decide to keep the parents alive rather than killing them off? 

Never thought of killing them off. Not anything I wanted to do. I spend a lot of time thinking about how characters can change. My stories are positive and hopeful. But that doesn’t mean I won’t ever whack a parent in the future. Depends on the story.

5. Your details about the classroom are so vivid and realistic. Tell us a little about your history in the classroom. 

I loved it! I challenged myself and my students with lots of on-going projects. There were plenty laughs. And tremendous fun at recess, which was where great bonding often happened—and not with only the “sporty” kids.

6. Because of Mr. Terupt came out in 2010, well before the rise of Social Emotional Learning and the trend of “connecting with students”. What are your feelings about teachers bringing emotional vulnerability to the classroom? I’m older, so tend to err on the side of more distant and professional relationships with students. 

Mr. Terupt, Mrs. Woods, Mr. Jacobs – one thing they all have in common that makes them special is the relationships they develop with their students. “Connecting with students,” as you say. I’m a fan.

7. It occurred to me this summer that I’ve never seen any teachers suffering consequences of poor test scores, even though testing still looms large. Have you? What would you say to teachers who might not feel comfortable with projects like the ones in the book? 

You do you.

8. I ADORE biography projects, so was delighted to see Mr. J.’s “big head” project. I have dressed up as Ruth Wakefield and Philo T. Farnsworth! What historical figures have you dressed up as? Do you have any other favorite projects? 

The projects woven into my stories are all favorites of mine – and most I did at one time or another. As far as dressing up goes, one of my better moments gets mentioned in Because of Our Student Teacher.

9. You apparently have some big feelings about college supervisors. Dr. Carlson is not a sympathetic character at all. Are any of her antics based on real life? 

 No. And I haven’t had any negative experiences with college supervisors. A story needs a bad guy. I did have a certain someone in mind while writing these scenes, so that was fun for me.

10. I’ve been waiting 16 years to ask this: when will you write an older middle grade book that centers around WRESTLING? There are so few books on the topic, and you would bring such great details to such a book!

 
You’ve been waiting to ask, and I’ve been thinking about it all that time. Stay tuned…

Buyea, Rob. Because of Our Student Teacher

September 8, 2026 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by the publisher

Mr. Dwyer's class started out well, but as the fifth grade year progresses, he has become quiet and withdrawn, and lessons aren't as fun. This encourages Toby to be more of a prankster, makes Lenny more anxious, pitches Derek into more daydreaming about baseball, and concerns even exemplary students like the competing Dakota and Harper. When Peter Jacobs is forced on the class as a student teacher (whose previous placement fell through), the class is wary. Toby suspects, after eavesdropping, that Mr. Dwyer's son was involved in the same car accident that his older brother Teddy was. This is serious stuff, and Teddy is acting much like Mr. Dwyer and is no fun. Mr. J. plays games with the kids att recess even though Mr. Dwyer cautions against it, has innovative teaching methods, and really connects with this kids while not letting them get away with anything. This isn't enough for his college advisor, who has a disastrous observation that includes a crayfish being flung on top of her head, and Mr. J. is in danger of getting a bad grade. As the term progresses, we see the children struggle with a variety of issues, including Derek's parent's divorce, Lenny's father's verbal abuse, Ava's overload of after school activities that don't interest her, and Dakota's parents putting a lot of pressure on her. When a big biography project  and a story telling project are assigned, all of these issues combine and create problems. Will the fifth grade class, as well as its teachers, make it to the end of the year?

Readers who have followed Buyea's Because of Mr. Terupt series will recognize Peter Jacobs as a pivotal character from those books, and it's completely realistic to see hi return to his school as a student teacher. We have had several of my students return to my school, and even had several hired to teach! As always, Buyea shows keen insight to what goes on in the classroom and show how the interpersonal dynamics are often colored by behind-the-scenes issues. I loved the "young" Mr. Dwyer (he's about ten years younger than I am!) who is having a difficult year, and especially appreciated that he was able to find his way back to a happier place. There are lots of heartwarming moments, and again, it's completely realistic that Mr. Dwyer also taught Lenny's father! I don't want to give away the details of what the students are teachers are going through; you will want to read this one yourself. It's perfect for a class read aloud, although Mr. J. favored Rodman Philbrick's 2004 The Young Man and the Sea, which I completely missed!

Any objections I have to these books are purely personal. I've struggled through a very public difficult during my career, but never let it affect my teaching. You just... can't. Of course, I also don't believe that teachers have the kind of poetic, huge impact on students' lives that Buyea depicts so beautifully. It's just one of those things that I can't, in my heart of hearts, envision. When I retire, no one will care!