Sunday Reading

Janowitz, Brenda. The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe 

August 18, 2026 by Melissa de la Cruz Studio

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Emily has decided not to go to college, since she is still dealing with the death of her older sister Liv five years ago, and thanks to her grandmother, is able to take a gap year in Europe. Her grandmother Rose is comfortable because she was part of a girl group, the Flower Sisters, with her sister, Dahlia, and their songs have been used in movies and sampled by later artists. Rose has given Emily her itinerary and asked her to recreate it. On her first day in Seville, she meets Penny, a social media influencer who is traveling with several other teend. Emily is soon caught up with their whirlwind, since Penny decides to document the tour recreation. Emily has a relationship with Alejandro, who is at college, but when he doesn't meet up with her at Christmas because he has to be with his girlfriend, this relationship ends. She also meets up with Nick, whom she has seen several times, but when his grandmother is ill, he and his group return home. While there are some educational spots that she visits, and there are a few people who remember her grandmother (including her great aunt Dahlia's female life partner), most of the trip is eating, shopping, dancing, and yes, kissing boys. 

This was pitched as Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes meets Welch's Love and Gelato, and I guess it sort of is. I was definitely looking forward to it, and my disappointment is because I am old and Emily's travels are completely unlike my own... in 1986. It's very modern with family video chatting our intrepid traveler, the sister having died after taking a pill laced with fentanyl at a party, and generally a very Gen Z feel. Which it should have. I won't buy it for middle school because there was a lot of casual drinking as well as mentions of Emily losing her virginity. It would have been great to see a LOT more of the grandmother's tour with the Flower Sisters, but there wasn't very much. It seemed very, very privileged, and didn't have the vibe of 13 Little Blue Envelopes. I would probably buy it for high school, but think it might be dated quickly. I'm curious how this book plays with fans of Kasie West or Sarah Dessen, and am curious enough that I might take a look at this author's The Grace Kelly Dress. 

Biltmore, Eileen. The Disappearance and the Diary (The Manor Mysteries #1)

August 25, 2026 by Simon Spotlight

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

This is a repackaging of Whitby's Beth's Story (Secrets of the Manor #1)(June 24th 2014 by Simon Spotlight), much like the Lee Heart repackaging of the Angela Darling Crush books as Spotlight Sprinkles. I wasn't able to compare the two, but they are essentially the same story. Names are changed (Margaret instead of Beth), as are some details, but since I already have the entire 2014 series, I won't be purchasing the new books.

 
The new covers are quite nice, and if you are looking for a series of upper crust English manor mysteries, this is a good bet. The sequel to this one seems to be The Girl and the Ghost. (Aug. 25, 2026) https://msyinglingreads.blogspot.com/2014/07/mmgm-secrets-of-manor.html

The Introvert's Guide to Kissing in Europe Brenda Janowitz

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Gillman, Melanie and Mock, Rebecca. (Illustrator)
Who Circled the Globe in Seventy-Two Days? Nellie Bly
August 11, 2026 by Penguin Workshop
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I was an avid reader of the Childhood of Famous American books; by avid, I mean that I checked out two every day and read them on the back porch or in the family room, and then went back for more the next day. It helped that I worked in the library during... recess? It was fifty years ago, so the details are a bit fuzzy. What I have not forgotten is how much I learned about history through the lens of particular historical figures. Early Americans? Virginia Dare. Civil War? Clara Barton. Westward Expansion? Daniel Boone. I'm sure that these books also led to my interest in historical fiction. 

Would I have read graphic novels? Unsure. I would have enjoyed this book, however, with Nellie, her one carpet bag, and her exciting adventures traveling the globe. The illustrations were delightful and captured the clothing, buildings, and people of the era well. I will definitely purchase this, and hope that it will entice my readers to not only learn more about the fascinating Ms. Bly, but to look into more historical books. 

From the Publisher: "Discover how Nellie Bly made headlines in 1889 with one of her most iconic and sensational stunts—a world record–setting race around the globe. A story of daring, adventure, and pushing boundaries, this graphic novel highlights how Nellie Bly challenged traditional gender norms and helped pave the way for women in journalism. Atmospheric full-color illustrations bring this sharp narrative to life, immersing readers in Nellie's globe-trotting exploits."

The Invisibles

Kowitt, Holly. The Invisibles
August 18, 2026 by Feiwel & Friends
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jimmy Stern has been to a lot of different schools, since his father’s job is to set up O’Grady’s restaurants around the country. He has a tendency to avoid making friends, since he knows he will just have to leave. Instead, he is deeply invested in the world of “Weird” Walt comics. When he stands up to Kyle Scott when he is bullying hall monitor Milo, and ends up dropping Kyle’s phone in a urinal, he gets sucked into a group of “outcasts” trying to make their way through middle school. He gets accused of having pizza delivered to Mr. Gratch’s class, and helps a girl with her dog. He eventually receives a cryptic invitation to the band room, where he meets the “Invisibles”; Max, Emma, Jamiah, and Finn. They encourage Jimmy to run as the secretary-treasurer for an Art Week in order to secure a spot for Weird Walt, to whom Jimmy has talked on the phone, to visit the school. In order for this artist to come, Jimmy must win the election. With Kyle hosting parties on yachts and pulling out all the stops, will the Invisibles be able to bring one of their own to power?
Strengths: Honestly, more middle grade story plots need to center around things being destroyed or dropped in urinals. Kowitt’s books (The Loser List, The Principal's Underwear Is Missing, This Dance is Doomed) are upbeat and firmly centered on all of the drama that occurs in a middle school. I loved Jimmy’s obsession with Weird Walt, and was JUST having a conversation with my daughter about the time in 2004 that Lee J. Ames CALLED ME AT SCHOOL after I wrote to him! This could happen! Jimmy is a reluctant hero who is happy to be with his people for a change. Loved how the students harnessed their rage.
Weaknesses: There were a lot of things that didn’t seem realistic in a school setting. Hall monitors in 2026? Kids meeting in the band room? A student role responsible for an author visit? Pizzas making it past security in the front office? Young readers won’t mind, but if a book is realistic fiction, I like it to reflect actual school practices.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked the school oriented shenanigans of Cosnter’s My Life as a Potato or Rylander’s The Fourth Stall. I’m debating purchase. I loved that this is humorous and upbeat, but am still bothered by details like a hall monitor wearing a sash. I might have just been having a bad day when I read this!

Shook

Randall, Julian. Shook

August 4, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this novel in verse, Malik Page lives on the West Side of Chicago with his mother and father. He loves basketball and hopes to be a first pick for the NBA. His mother is an English teacher who has been tutoring ever since her school shut down, and his father is a coach who didn't quite go pro. He plays for the Home Grove team, and manages to win an important game, but falls and breaks his leg. His parents take him to a hospital on the North Side to get better medical attention, and Malik, whose father gave him the nickname "Shake", worries that the extra expense will be a problem for his family. He can't play for six weeks, and fears that even though he'll be ready for the next season, he won't be able to make varsity. He meets a friend of his uncle's who has gone on to be a physical therapist, and gives him some exercises to do. Shake struggles with his injury; it impacts his relationships with his friends, especially Kyla, and he starts to suffer from panic attacks. He gets angry with his teacher, Mr. Pasquale, who can never call him the correct name, and ends up being suspended after he fights with him. Shake's parents have him see a therapist, Kendrick, who helps him a lot and is generally pretty cool. He still has some panic attacks, but eventually makes up with Kyla, who was struggling with issues of her own. Shake finds out that his uncle and some other relatives also struggled with anxiety 

Strengths: Having an injury in middle school and not being able to play the sport of one's choosing can be devastating for tweens, so this is an interesting premise for a book. Many of my own students think that they can have a career playing pro sports, so they will definitely root for Shake. I love that his family is intact (the parents are both alive!) and supportive of him, making sure that he gets needed therapy even though they are struggling financially. There is a decent amount of basketball in the story, and the Chicago Bulls are mentioned frequently. Readers who want to meet characters with anxiety disorders and panic attacks will be intrigued by how these impact Shake and his recuperation. It was nice to see Shake make a responsible decision about his participation in sports at the end of the book. 
Weaknesses: It seemed a bit odd that Shake's mother wasn't able to find a job. I would think there is a teacher shortage is Chicago like there is everywhere else. Shake says at one point that "Nobody likes being in middle school, not even the teachers", but I certainly like being in middle school! 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like Reynold's Stuntboy, In the Meantime or the mix of mental health issues and sports in Stroman's The Grip. Comparisons will be made between this and Alexander's The Crossover, but this doesn't have the strong sense of poetry or the intriguing plot of that book. 

Don't Wake Up

Ramos-Gomez, Cassandra. Don’t Wake Up (Doll Island #2)
August 25, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Diego, who had terrifying adventures in Lost on Doll Island, remains in Mexico City with his mother. He frequently visits his Abuela Ximena to learn how to fight the evil dolls, but still hasn’t told his mother about his experiences. He has enrolled in school, and hangs out with friends Jandro and Itzel. He and Jandro are involved in a robotics club, but Itzel is obsessed with magic, lugging around a huge binder of research and insisting on reading facts to the boys. Not surprisingly, she has trouble making friends with the others in their class. There is a bully, El Feo, who gives Diego and his friends a hard time for being “nerds”, but they do stand up to him. When El Feo, whose real name is Isaac, falls into a coma, Diego wonders if there is magic involved that is punishing him for his poor behavior. As other students fall unconscious after even slight infractions, the group knows they need to investigate. Itzel claims she had left her binder at school, so she and Diego and Jandro break into the school building at night. There, they find that El Chucy, a shadowy monster who devours children, is on the loose. Sucked into the dreamlike, liminal state in the school, Diego must battle to save his classmates from the monster. But who really summoned El Chucy, and how is he tied to the magical dolls?
Strengths: The idea of fellow classmates slipping into unconsciousness is an interesting one, and the shadowy world of El Chucy is reminiscent of Hermon’s Hide and Seeker. Diego, Jandro, and Itzel all get along, but have different talents and motivations. The Mexico city setting is interesting and there is plenty of Mexican culture and language to make this stand out from standard, midwestern style horror. The residual terror of the dolls is never far away, as Tomas makes all too frequent appearances! I can easily see there being a third book.
Weaknesses: There are a number of Spanish words and phrases used, which might confuse some of my readers. I also am not a fan of breaking into school buildings at night, and doubt it would be possible in many places. 

What I really think: Like so many horror books coming out this summer (Payne’s Pumpkin Apocalypse, Lavoie’s Beware the Jacks, and Howard’s Transylvania County), this book is a little cheesier than my middle school students are asking for. The level of scariness should be great for upper elementary readers who gravitate toward Stine’s Goosebumps books. I am waiting for books like Nixon’s Candidate for Murder or The Kindnapping of Christina Lattimore that are more realistic and young adult, but without the mature content of today’s young adult. 

Nando

Hoyle, McCall. Nando
August 4, 2026 by Shadow Mountain
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Esperanza and her daughter Cloe. along with their dog, Stella, are preparing for a bad storm along the coast in North Carolina. They’ve got sheep that another dog, Nando, is trying to herd to safety after a neighbor, Vern, warns them how bad the storm might be. When Nando is left in the barn when Cloe and Stella take off without permission, he is frantic and wants to find them and bring them to safety. He manages to get out of the barn and locates them, only to see Cloe fall into rushing water and get carried away with her cat, Oscar. Stella jumps in as well, as does Nando, but he gets carried past the group. Luckily, he manages to make it to shore, and is helped by Levi, a new neighbor who is just moving in. He is Cloe’s age, and is trying to get home as well. The two find Oscar stuck in a crevice, and try to make their way across the perilous landscape. They are caught in a rock slide, but Nando is able to get them out. Levi cuts his hand on a branch, and Nando knows he must get this new human to safety… his access to beef jerky might rely on it. When the storm has passed, they do find Cloe, who is desperate to get home to get her medication. Oscar is located, but in a bad way, and they need to find Stella. The bridge they group needs to take is badly damaged, and getting across it almost ends in tragedy. After all of these adventures, Nando misses Levi, which strikes him as odd since Esperanza is his main human. Levi also misses Nando. Since Nando has some injuries and is getting older, he is allowed to recuperate at Levi’s house whil one of his puppies learns to herd the sheep.
Strengths: This is a solid outdoor adventure story that is a little different from Hoyle’s other work, which usually addresses some problems and showcases how service dogs can help humans. I had forgotten about Nando (from Stella), but it was interesting to see that readers requested a book about him. There are good details about the aftermath of a heavy storm, and we’ve certainly seen a lot of those lately. It was good to see how Nando worked with a new character, Levi, and how the two bonded. A refreshing, upbeat adventure surviving horrible conditions, if that can be a thing!
Weaknesses: It took me just a minute to remember what Esperanza’s household set up was, even though I did appreciate that we jumped right into the story.
What I really think: This is a great choice for readers who like outdoor survival adventures like Philbrick’s Wild Wave, Brockenbrough's  At the Edge of Lost, and Hashimoto’s Off the Map. I will definitely purchase. This will be even more popular with my students than this author's Stella, Just Gus, Millie,  and Forever Ripley.   

MMGM- The Baseball Encyclopedia and Exploring American Landmarks

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Kingfisher. The Baseball Encyclopedia: Rules • Parks • Series • Teams • The Greats
August 5, 2025 by Kingfisher
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This relatively short (144 page) encyclopedia covers a qide range of topics about baseball, and is a gret overview to have on hand. There are chapters on playing the game, star players, strategy, leagues, stadiums and business, and different competitions, which is a nice mix of history, baseball lists, and practical advice for playing. While the star player section includes some iconic players like Babe Ruth and Ted Williams, there are also a number of players still currently working.

This is well formatted, with lots of photos, and text separated on the page by topic. Even though there is a lot in each section, it’s not hard to read or understand. The color choices seemed a bit different than many baseball books (which lean heavily on red, white, and blue), and had an almost 1980s feel with a turquoise, purple, and lime green palette and geometric shapes.

There’s a glossary, index, and great lists of statistics and teams, making this a good choice if you need to refresh your baseball nonfiction titles.

Buckley Jr., James. TIME for Kids: Exploring American Landmarks

August 4, 2026 by Penguin Young Readers Licenses

E ARC provided by Edelweiss

This lovely virtual tour of various sites in the US is a great way to introduce readers who may not have traveled much to a wide array of things to do and see in our country. Topics include Made by Nature, Very Important Places, Wow! (tall buildings and impressive architecture), Washington, D.C., Remember (memorials), Sports Landmarks, and Unusual Attractions that even include the Longaberger Basket building not far from me! This ends with a great map, as well as a complete index. 

The photos in this are great, and there's just enough information to pique readers' interests. I'm not sure that this includes the places that I would have included; I would have definitely embraced more of a historical theme and included places like Plymouth Rock, Mt. Vernon, and Lincoln's birthplace in Springfield, Illinois. I might have even arranged it chronologically. This method would make it much more tied to the Sestercentennial, though, so I can see why TimeKids decided to include things like sports venues and fun and quirky places. I still wouldn't mind seeing something that is more historical. We could throw in Thoreau's Walden, Williamsburg, and some forts while we're at it! 

I will purchase a copy to have on hand for students who have a renewed intest in all thing US related, or who need something to pass the time in study hall. I'll put a note in it for the next several librarians that they should try to save it for the Tricentennial, along with the Sestercentennial t-shirt and pages from Paint by Sticker Kids: America pages that I had students do. I will not be around! 

Snare Your Crush in Three Easy Steps

Berne, Emma Carlson. Snare Your Crush in Three Easy Steps

August 4, 2026 by Choose Your Own Adventure

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

You and your best friend Elise are preparing for the school dance by making cupcakes. When Elise decorates a special one and plans to hide a note in it confessing her crush on the very cute James, you are appalled because he is also YOUR crush, and you had planned on asking him to dance. How will the dance play out? In this Choose Your Own Adventure Book, there are a LOT of different ways! You might sabotage the cupcakes so James doesn’t get her note, you might let Elise go forward with her plan, or a curve ball might be thrown into things when another girl, Sara, is also interested in him! There are some timelines where an overflowing toilet is involved. My favorite is when Elise understands, you get to dance with James, and even get a sweet kiss.

I struggle with this format, especially as an e-book (although it was easy enough to click on the links and go to the correct pages), and want to read every combination. Many of the timelines are very short, and resolve quickly. I can’t imagine the creativity involved in thinking up all of the different combinations of events! I appreciated that the Latin teacher, Mr. B., is also serving as the DJ, and even wearing a t-shirt that reads “Semper Ubi Sub Ubi”, which loosely translates (ungrammatically!) as “Always wear underwear”. I once owned such a t shirt! The illustrations are charming, and reinforce my thought that the girls go to a private school, since they are wearing uniforms.

Romance books have been a big draw for my students this year, so I will buy a copy of this title if it is available in a prebound format. Not entirely sure if my romance readers will like the multiple plot format, but it’s worth a try for fans of Lee Heart Spotlight Sprinkles books or Tessier’s Chloe graphic novels.

Howe, Jenny L. How (Not) to Renovate a Haunted House

July 21, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Amity lives in California, where she plans to attend the college where her mother teaches to save on tuition instead of joining her friend Taylor. When her mother gets another job directing the writing center at Rehoth College, Amity is suddenly whisked across the country to Harlow’s Rest, Massachusetts. She’s irritated about the sudden notice and missing a taco crawl with Taylor, although not particularly concerned about leaving her father, from whom her mother was recently divorced. When their new lodgings turn out to be a local haunted house, Amity isn’t happy, even though she has the whole third floor to herself, and cute fledgling podcaster Theo is interested in the house. Amity struggles with social anxiety, but it isn’t long before she is making a few friends and arguing with Theo. Theo’s family is involved in renovating Amity’s house, which has some weird paranormal phenomena going on. Will the two fight their way through the renovations and haunting, or come to a cozy understanding?

I’m always looking for romances with high school characters that would be appealing to middle school students, so I had great hopes for this one, since horror is also a popular genre with my students. There is at least one f-word early on, but this could work for middle school. It wasn’t my favorite, since I am not a fan of the enemies-to-lovers trope, and found Amity’s behavior a bit young for a college student. She is so anxious she will only order food online so she doesn’t have to talk to staff, and muses that “There should be some kind of script available online to guide people through interactions with strangers.” (I thought there probably was; my daughter said that there is, in fact, a Reddit that addresses this, although I didn’t research it further.)

My big objection was the use of the phrase “got smote”, since the mother is supposed to be a college professor of writing. The principal parts of the verb “to smite” are smite, smote, smitten. This is grammatically esoteric, to be sure, but Amity’s mother should have corrected her.

 
Cute story, liked the premise, would probably buy for a high school library, but this wasn’t my favorite. I'm too old, and too Xoomery too appreciate it. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Frostbite

Boothby, Ian and Guerra, Pia. (Illustrator). Frostbite
August 4, 2026 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In this starkly illustrated graphic novel, we see a hockey bus get lost and skid off a snowy, remote road. The driver and coach try to figure out what to do with the high school team members, and take them to a nearby cabin. Sadly, when blood from the driver drops onto the snow, it unleashes horrible zombie-like monsters that destroy everyone. We also meet Dante and Jen, influencers who specialize in extreme sports. They have a staff that includes a pilot and camera person who are not particularly fans of the teens. They jump onto a snowy mountain in the same region, but when they get to the bottom, find their crew missing. They make their way to a local store, but their equipment is stolen by a resident named Kyle. Even though the clerk warns that they should not follow them, they do, with the help of another clerk, Callum. They find a cabin, but run into the creatures as well. They barricade themselves inside, and end up on the roof, watching the creatures trying to climb the walls. They can be fought off by light as well as water piped in from local rivers. At one point, Jen falls off the roof but makes it to a nearby storage shed. Dante is turned into one of the monsters. Callum’s mother shows up, and it turns out that there is deep local and family history that has caused her to become a monster hunter. An avalanche sweeps her away, and damages the cabin, so Jen and the others have to try to survive. They are eventually rescued, but a final page shows a sign declaring that the cursed area will be home to a future resort and spa!
Strengths: There are not a lot of horror graphic novels, and this certainly had a sort of simplistic appeal, with the stark black and white background with touches of red. The creatures are fairly scary, and indiscriminate in their carnage. There’s a lot of poking them with metal spikes, which dissolves them into a satisfying goo. The backstory makes sense, and the inclusion of social media influencers will be appealing to young YouTuber wannabes. This could be a series, especially if the resort gets built.
Weaknesses: There was really no character development, and it was hard to keep the characters straight. The hockey team didn’t have much of a reason to be in the story, although the bus did show up later. The illustrations are okay, but have a standard, comic book sort of feel to them.
What I really think: This didn’t strike me as particularly good, but I can see its appeal to readers who don’t want a particularly involved story or who struggle a bit with text complexity. I might end up purchasing a copy for readers who aren’t quite up to reading Goosebumps books and enjoyed the P.J. Night graphic novels.

Ghost in the Night

Jackson, Tiffany. Ghost in the Night

August 4, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Harmony Round tree has become increasingly interested in ghosts since the death of her beloved grandmother. She and her father, Big Al, have been traveling around the US with his band. In each new city, she tries to go on a ghost tour and endeavors to take photos. She gets a note of permission from her father, and is often the only Black girl on the tour. In Savannah, her father has new accomodations for them; the guest house at the back of his friend Lena's property. There's just been a murder in the area of a locally beloved historian, Tim Truman, and his nephew Jabari is still missing. This makes Lena wary of letting Harmony take her son, Robby, on ghost tours with her, but the two still go on Asher's Orbs and More tour in the Colonial Park area. At the run down Myers House, Harmony thinks she gets a picture of a ghost. Excited, she goes to a shop to get a hard copy printed, and meets a girl her age, Myah, whose father owns the shop. Myah thinks that the ghost is Truman's, and the girls start to hang out to try to learn more about what happened to Truman. The area was built on top of a Black cemetery, and Truman had been trying to get the name of the square changed from Calhoun, which ran him afoul of some people. The kids try to talk to friends and family of Truman, but upset some of them. They decide that they need to solve the mystery themselves. They try to get some ghost hunting advice from Maverick, who tells them that sometimes what people think are ghosts are really grief hallucinations. Since Harmony is struggling with the death of her grandmother, this is a concern. Also concerning is the fact that Myah has gotten in trouble for claiming to be able to talk to ghosts, encouraged by the teachings of her own grandmother, who is of Gullah descent. Even though the Myers House is condemned, the kids sneak in. Will they be able to solve the mystery, and will Harmony come to terms with her father's plans for the future?

While I thought this book was related to the author's Blood in the Water because of the similarities in the cover, it is not.

Strengths: I've never been to Savannah, so this was a great virtual trip. There is plenty of local history, and it was good to see Harmony investigating it along with Myah, who was aware of some of the local legends. I enjoyed Myah's grandmother. The subplot with Harmony and her father moving away from Harlem could have been a book all on its own. Robby was a good sidekick, and I liked his technical knowledge. Ghost hunting seems like a tween interest that could be more widespread, and the book had a bit of a Scooby-Doo feel to it, with Harmony and her meddling friends being able to find the evil villains and solve the mystery.
Weaknesses: Harmony and Myah make some poor choices, and as an adult, Lena seemed to have some good points about being cautious in an area that had just seen an unsolved murder.While young readers will think it perfectly fine that the kids are giving Maverick money to rent equipment and going into a decrepit building, it gave me some pause. This was also a bit on the long side.
What I really think: While this is mildly scary, it is more historically focused. Fans of Hill's Girl from the Ashes, Strong's Just South of Home, Royce's Root Magic, and Cummins' Trace will enjoy this one. While I appreciate the research that Jackson has done into children and grief, it's never my favorite thing to read about. Grandparents of middle grade readers are very likely to die; it's just part of life. My own philosphy on this is different from the prevailing one. I will probably buy a copy, since the cover is great and my students can't get enough scary books.

The Doll House

Gillespie, D.W. The Doll House
July 28, 2026 by Delacorte Press
E ARC provided by Netgalley

 
It’s always been just Garrett Weathers and his mother June, so when they are visited by a lawyer representing his recently deceased grandfather, it’s a bit of a surprise. There’s been years of estrangement, but the grandfather, who wrote under the pen name Alistair Gray, has left his sizable estate to the two, on one condition. They must spend a week at his house in Georgia, Inkwell Point. June is reluctant, but Garrett is curious, so the two set off on an adventure. The house is enormous but very creepy; it looks like the Addams family house, and there are pieces of wooden dolls strewn about. Not only that, but when Garrett moves a chair that is wedged under the closet door in his room, he finds a super creepy, life sized doll there! The lawyer indicates that Alistair had some sort of unsavory project going on, and June is reticent about why she never visited her parents, which makes Garrett even more curious. There’s a locked basement door behind which there are skittering noises, a typewriter that communicates with Garrett, and a creepy attic workshop with even more dolls. The handyman’s son, Wes, agrees to help Garrett investigate, but refuses to enter the house, since he knows how sinister it feels. Garrett learns that his grandmother was a painter as well as a writer, and died some years ago. He also discovers that Alistair’s siblings all died in their 40s and 50s within a very short span of time. Even though the typewriter warns him to leave the dolls alone and to not put any of the pieces back together, Garrett continues to pry into the past, with terrifying results. Will he and his mother be able to understand their troubled legacy and move on?
Strengths: Finding out your grandfather was a bestselling author. Cool. Inheriting his palatial estate. Awesome. Discovering that there are murderous doll corpses with a dark secret strewn everywhere. Terrifying! There were deeply creepy moments scattered throughout the book, but nothing so disturbing that fourth and fifth graders would have nightmares after reading this. I did appreciate that Garrett told his mom some of what was going on, and that she was somewhat sympathetic. The backstory with her father’s past plays out in a sometimes understandable and sometimes fantastical way, and I didn’t quite put together what Alistair’s diabolical plan was. Definitely a twist on the scary doll and haunted house tropes, and another very solid book by this author.
Weakness: I’ve read hundreds of middle grade novels about haunted places and things, and I’m ready for something new. A haunted community center? Park? Little used mall? Dollar store? Church? There are some haunted library and school books. And why is it always dolls? Couldn’t we have haunted books, pets (Red Rover!), backpacks, or technology? Haunted technology would be awesome.
What I really think: I like Gillespie’s work, especially Grin, so will definitely purchase this one for fans of Currie’s It's Watching, Alexander’s Follow Me, and Sutherland’s The Nightmare Next Door. I’m not entirely sure whether the cover is scary or icky, but I can certainly hand sell this if students find the cover TOO disturbing. I know I’ll have to hide the book when my usual substitute covers for me, since she can’t stand scary doll covers! 

Mayhem at Misfit Mansion

Davault, Kay. Mayhem at Misfit Mansion (#2)
August 4, 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After the adventures in Misfit Mansion, Iris is glad that things have calmed down and that she can live with her friends, even though she is concerned that Agnes and Kel have their own interests and may not want to talk to her anymore. Larkspur is still not very friendly, and even Mathias seems to be distancing himself. When the town agrees to have the annual Harvest Festival at Misfit Mansion, there is a lot of work to be done, and Iris is very busy. When Pippa, a rare Pied Piper Parrot, shows up, her sad song starts to affect the residents, and an effort is made to find her missing friend, Piccolo. Larkspur is irritated when the parrot bonds with him, and also still irritated by Mathias’ past as a horror hunter with his Aunt Anemone. As tensions escalate between Iris and her friends, and secrets emerge about the history of horror hunters, will the Harvest Festival, and perhaps the fate of Misfit Mansion, be in jeopardy? 

Strengths: The illustrations are very appealing, and the color palette is bright despite all of the problems the characters experience. Misfit Mansion is an appealing place, with all of the different “horrors”, which are really just misunderstood mythical creatures. The idea of the Pied Piper parrot is interesting. The current opinion that issues are made worse if you don’t talk about them, and that you should share your emotional upheaval with your friends, is definitely upheld. The townspeople accepting the horrors feels very allegorical and could apply to lots of different situations in today’s world. 

Weaknesses: The multiple layers of conflict, as well as repetitive explanations of it, slowed this one down quite a lot. I was hoping that the monsters could embrace a little more joy after all the problems of the first book. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like the Lumberjanes series or other angst ridden magical graphic novels like McClaren’s Crumble.  

The Ginghams

Kemper, T.C. The Ginghams
July 21, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Joni Bird has returned from an arts summer camp with her friend Tyler. The two had to leave behind their friend May, a drummer in Olive Springs because she had broken her arm. In their absence, May has started to hang out with a new girl, Charlotte Ann Gingham, whose family has an odd fashion sense and even odder world view. Charlotte Ann and her mother wear clothing reminiscent of the 1950s, heavy on pastel dresses, cardigans, and pearl accessories. They also espouse “virtues” of the era through their weekly book club that studies Mr. Gingham’s book Pillars of Perfection: Building a Flawless American Family. Since May has started wearing similar dresses instead of ironic band t-shirts, and putting her hair in a bun, Joni is concerned. The trio loves the Twister Trio series of graphic novels, but before long May is saying that they are inappropriate. Joni and Tyler, a boy who favors sparkly eyeshadow and paisley tank tops, spend a lot of time trying to research the Ginghams at their school library, consulting Miss Peters, an older woman with a bright pink Pixie and fun t-shirts. Joni’s parents make her attend the book club, and once Ms. Bird gets earrings from the Ginghams, she starts turning into one of them. Mr. Bird starts sporting a silver watch and also seems to change. More horribly, May’s cool mother, who runs the local Bookies and Cream bookstore/ice cream shop, stops riding her motorcycle and paints the cool store beige! Mr. Gingham runs for mayor, and Joni has her suspicions about what ‘s going on. When he persuades the school board to remove all of the books from the library for “evaluation” Joni and Tyler know they need to act. Will they be able to figure out how the Ginghams are brainwashing the town in order to stop them?
Strengths: The premise of this, as well as the mechanics of how people were controlled, was intriguing and a bit brilliant, and the book certainly embraces the current social zeitgeist concerning behavior, identity, and societal norms. Joni and her friends have a great relationship and varied interests, and it’s nice to see how well they complement each other. This makes the horror of May’s change all the more terrifying. Mr. Gingham is clearly the most evil, but he is also clever, glib, and politic… in the way that all the most truly evil people are. It’s a modern, middle grade twist on Ira Levin’s classic 1972 The Stepford Wives with the visual effect of the 1998 movie, Pleasantville.
Weaknesses: This felt very heavy handed. It seemed a bit odd that Joni and her friends complained that they were “weird” because they liked graphic novels and quirky fashions. ALL of my students seem to be this particular flavor of quirky, and even the new stereotype of school librarians is a dyed, tattooed, and pierced person in Chucks and message t-shirts. The Ginghams weren’t entirely wrong– aren’t most adults against social media apps and too many video games? To be petty, I’m not sure you can really describe a sweater as “gingham”. Gingham is a distinctive weave of fabric, but I guess you could reproduce this with knitted color work.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like strong social commentary like King’s Attack of the Black Rectangles or Dee’s Tear This Down. It also could be paired with van Eekhout’s Happy Town, Haydu’s Eventown, or Korman’s Masterminds.  

I was so looking forward to this book, but was a little disappointed in the lack of nuance. I wanted Joni to be initially charmed by Charlotte Ann so the reality seemed harsher. Also, I can’t argue with another of Mr. Gingham’s dictates that our only value comes from our productivity, and if we aren’t useful, we have no value to parents or society. Okay, so maybe NO value is a bit harsh, but if I’m not doing something productive, what value do I really have? This is definitely a similar philosophy from my maternal line; both Helen (my mother) and Anna (my grandmother) were ALWAYS doing something, and I have embraced this fully. I fail to see why this is wrong, although I know full well that society has moved away from this. It will do no good to argue this with me.

This book did lead me to instruct my advisory group on different types of fabric, so that perhaps they will understand, at the very least, the difference between knit and woven fabric.     

MMGM- Level Up

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers 

It is SO time to go back to school! Originally posted this with the heading of AUGUST! I did put in a book order last week, so I'm hoping to have new books for students shortly after they come back. 

Hermon, Daka. Level Up

August 4, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Keenan, his Dane Shepherd Leo, and his mother Jackie move from California to Tennessee to get away from his father, who is controlling and unpleasant. They are staying with Jackie’s mother, with whom there is some tension. Keenan thinks his grandmother is cool, if a little quirky, and she runs the Southern Delights Bakery. Maxine, who is Keenan’s age and lives nearby, warns him that there have been kids kidnapped by a “fear monster”, which seems a bit ridiculous, but makes a bit of sense since Keenan feels that something is wrong. This is made worse at school, where all of the children are encouraged to play video games to help with their academic skills, but seem completely addicted to them. The teachers are all a bit odd, and Keenan notices that they wear stone bracelets. Keenan can’t play the video games because he is colorblind and they rely heavily on color, but he hides this from his teachers because he had been bullied before about his condition. Maxine warns him to stay away from kids in a nearby neighborhood who were involved with some of the monster issues, but after classmate James turns into a monster in a bathroom and menaces Keenan, he starts to wonder if he should ask them for help. When he finally contacts Justin, Nia, and Lyric, they tell him a little about their adventures, and figure out that he is the only one who can defeat the monster queen by heading into her world during the upcoming eclipse. It’s a good plan, but requires precise timing and a lot of bravery. Will Keenan be able to defeat the queen, and even if he does, will it be enough? 

Strengths: I have a good friend with red/green color vision deficit, so it was fun to see this condition not only represented, but to have it be almost a superpower that Keenan uses to fight the monsters. The inclusion of video games as a way to mind control students is absolutely on point; we have iReady and CommonLit that students have to spend time on, as well as other programs for intervention classes, and I’m not a fan of kids having to spend so much time looking at screens during the school day. The grandmother is an absolute delight, and knows her stuff, but of course Jackie discounts her opinion as well as Keenan’s. Even Leo plays a good role in the fight, and there is some solid real life drama with Keenan’s family situation that is worked out well. I don’t want to ruin any surprises, but there could well be another book, and I will be looking forward to another adventure for the “Monster Crew”. 

Weaknesses: I suppose the teachers have to be evil, but couldn’t there be just ONE who was on the grandmother’s side and could help Keenan and his friends? Maybe, I don’t know, the librarian? 

What I really think: This could almost be a stand alone, but is better if read after Hide and Seeker and The Nightmare King. It was just the right level of psychological terror and gore, and was quite a relief after a spate of cheesy horror books. Definitely purchasing, since it was my second favorite read of April. (Nelson’s RV There Yet? was the first, since I don’t personally care for horror books. My students LOVE horror!) Perfect for fans of Lawrence’s The Stitchers, Currie’s X Marks the Haunt, and the works of K.R. Alexander.  

Lieberman, Daniel E. Fed Up: What Evolution Reveals About Food, Diet, Health, and Eating Well

August 11, 2026 by Knopf

E ARC provided  by Netgalley

Netgalley is a dangerous platform, because I often find books there that look appealing but don't fall within the purview of my blog. Dr. Lieberman had posted a charming video describing his book on social media, and when I found out it was available on Netgalley, I read it right away. 

This had a fantastic balance of science and anecdote. The author and his wife gamely tried a lot of fad diets, and the book was arranged in historical order of some of these. Major trends (Weight Watchers, Atkins, High Carb, etc.) were discussed at length with humor and professionalism. I didn't know that evolutionary biology was a field of study, but this expertise shed some light on why some diets are adopted, and how they do or don't support human health. 

My favorite part of the book was the discussion of African chimpanzees' diets-- Lieberman followed them around and ate the plants that they ate, even ingesting some ants! This personal approach and willingness to be his own guinea pig was quite interesting and endearing. Reading about his mother's adherence to diets of her era was interesting; she was roughly the age of my own mother, but more "successful" in adhering to them. Sadly, this meant that she was very underweight in her old age and not as strong as she could have been. Since I have an aunt who is 88 and currently weighs 92 pounds, this hit close to home!

There aren't any earthshaking conclusions at the end of the book; he quotes Michael Pollan's "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants." a couple of times. Eat a variety of whole foods, but don't put foods off limits; just eat some sparingly. I love reading food writing, though, so didn't really expect a prescriptive diet from this book. Knowing the history of diets, and knowing that I'm fairly on track with current research and science when deciding what to eat (yes, getting enough protein and fiber is a full time job as one ages!) made this book worth reading. I would think all public library would want to invest in this title. 

Middle School Monsters

Easter, Robin. Middle School Monsters
August 4, 2026 by Little, Brown Ink
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Jamie and her family have just moved to a new town, and Jamie wants to start anew. At her old school, she let people know she was a werewolf, and they made fun of her. Now, in seventh grade, there are three girls, Aimee, Jazz, and Olivia who include her right away. They do warn her against Vera, or Vee, who claims to be a vampire and alienated her former best friend, Kennedy, by biting her. In one class, Jamie is assigned to sit next to Vee, and finds that the two share a love of certain t.v. shows that Aimee and her gang do not appreciate. They chat surreptitiously, and hang out several times, even going trick-or-treating together as their alter egos, Raven and Scout. They are even writing a story about these characters, but when Vee doesn’t log off a school computer, another student shares the story with everyone. Aimee and her gang are particularly mean, and Jamie does not stand up for Vee. This creates a rift between the two, and Jamie has to decide if she wants to pretend to be someone she is not in order to hang out with a relatively popular group, or to embrace her inner quirkiness and be friends with Vee, even if it means she creates an awkward social situation for herself.
Strengths: This has a very specific and narrow audience who will love the fact that Jamie thinks she is a werewolf (she does have particularly hairy legs and arms, and her mother won’t let her shave) and wants to wear a wolf hat to school. The message of embracing your true self and not hiding it from others is widespread in popular culture now. The librarian lets Vee eat in the library instead of learning to adapt to the school environment, and this also seems to be a popular trend. I thought it was interesting that Aimee and her friends, who play volleyball, were quite nice to Jamie, even though they were shown making somewhat unkind remarks about others. This has a lot of very real moments, like Vee coloring her fingernails with black sharpie.
Weaknesses: Whether or not Jamie is really a werewolf is never really addressed. Vee admits she just thinks she is a vampire; some young readers might appreciate more concrete identification. They will also not pick up on the allegorical elements of the story.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who liked graphic novels about school social structure like Miller’s Click, Libenson’s Invisible Emmie, or Chmakova’s Crush. 

As a weird middle schooler myself, I have to say that it is a VERY BAD idea to share your true self with others. Once I realized this, high school was a lot easier. I really, really fail to understand why adults think it’s a good idea to "let your freak flag fly", to quote Jimi Hendrix. In middle school, it’s definitely not. Had a long conversation with my now 32 year old daughter about this, and we both agreed that there is a time and place for being one’s authentic self, and that middle school is not one of them.