MMGM- How to Walk a Dog and Practically Magic

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

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

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

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

Levy, Joanne. How to Walk a Dog

Published October 20th 2026 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

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

Calonita, Jennifer. Practically Magic

August 25, 2026 by Avon (HarperCollins)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

Shrack, Kimberly. Spooky Scouts

August 25, 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Copy provided by the Publisher

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

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

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

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

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

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

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

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

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

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

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

Now That We Don't Talk

Liu, Sylvia. Now That We Don't Talk

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

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

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

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

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

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

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

Saturday Morning Cartoons- The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James

Dawson, Mike. The Hidden Dominion of Geordie James

May 19, 2026 by Union Square Kids

Copy provided by the publisher

**Spoilers**

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

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

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

Ms. Pennypickle's Remarkable Road Race (#2)

Grabenstein, Chris. Ms. Pennypickle's Remarkable Road Race (#2)
October 13, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Benji and Evan weren't supposed to tell anyone that they won Ms. Pennypickle's Puzle Quest, but they post about it online and it goes viral. Jack, who heads up the Idea Circus public relations team working for Ms. Pennypickle's company has to deal with the aftermath and find a way to put a positive spin on it. He and his team decide the best thing to do is to have another amazing road trip, this time on Route 66. His son, Jackson, is told that he can help pick out the contestants, but instead, gets roped into being part of the quest. He can't win, since his father works for Ms. Pennypickle, but he can still compete with Hope Sullivan, whose mother doesn't want to be on camera. Soon, the trio is joining the race alongside a cast of characters that includes snotty teens, wily grandparents, and a young couple. The puzzles take them from the start of the famed highway in Chicago all the way to the Santa Monica Pier, and includes stops such as a giant hot dog statue in Atlanta, Illinois, the Gateway Arch, the Red Rocker in Missouri, and the Golden Driller in Tulsa. Clues show up in pickle jars at the sites, and in letters found on the paper liners of food baskets in diners. Hope and Jackson do a good job of solving puzzles, and family and corporate secrets are revealed along the way. Ms. Pennypickle manages to show up in disguise at many of the venues!

Strengths: Route 66 is a fascinating piece of Americana, and I have read several nonfiction books about the road and its attractions, so this was quite fun. Learning about some of these places to visit would be a great way to spend some hours in the winter, or during testing. Vicarious adventures through fiction are always fun! Jackson and Hope are engaging characters who learn to get along, and the goofy cast of characters helps the story along. There's a twist at the end that was a bit  unusual. There could be more puzzle quests hosted by Ms. Pennypickle, but the books would stand as a duology as well. 

Weaknesses: Jackson's mother died six years ago. The scourge of middle grade parent deaths manages to work its way even into fun road trips. This could have worked just as well if his parents had been divorced. The level of quirk in this might make it more popular in elementary libraries. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for libraries where Grabenstein's Mr. Lemoncello's Library books, Lucido and Corcutt, and Corcutt's Words Apart, or other books containing puzzles are popular. I think I will stick with just the first book, which was a fun adventure that has circulated well. 

Spy School Goes East (#14)

Gibbs, Stuart. Spy School Goes East (#14)

October 6, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ben can never get a break! Now, Erica's grandparents and father are being held captive, and intelligence leads the group to China's Shanghai Tower, where they are supposedly held on the 116th floor, but they still don't know why the Hales were targeted. The yacht in which they have been traveling, Fishin' Impossible, will probably be confiscated, but the kids go into town, get tourists clothing from Momoko, and get into the building with groups of tourists. Jawa, Zoe, Chip, Mike, Trixie, and Svetlana are all along for the mission, but when Ben sees Erica sneak off, he follows her up a stairwell. She's not happy, especially when they are found by SkyTech's security. Erica cries and says they were just tlooking for the bathroom, and get to meet the company's CEO. She lets them go, but security discusses (in Chinese) killing both kids, so they run and escape down the side of the building using a crane! They needs to go two hours north to Junshanling, and luckily meet up with Jessica Shang, who holds no grudge about the number of her family the Spy School group has had incarcerated. She helps them get to the Great Wall, where they run afoul of some awesome older women who are spies, and manage to outwit them to find Cyril and Alexander, but not Mary. Mary apparently had information about older unexploded bombs, and SkyTech is apparently looking for these and has plans to send them in to space to knock out communication satellites so they can sell more. Since the world is still reeling from the blackout, the kids know they need to stop SkyTech. Of course, first they have to have near death adventures in the Golden Lotus Estates and nearby abandoned amusement park, and have more than their fair share of encounters with flash bombs, tank driving, and narrow escapes. It goes without saying that they narrowly manage to do whatever they need to do, but where will Ben and his friends find themselves when the school relocates? Fifteen books in the series would be a great round number. 

Strengths: The best part about these books is always the vicarious traveling! I do not ever plan to travel down the outside of the Shanghai Tower, but when I'm along on Ben's mission, I can. There are always bits of humor; the names of missions are always fun, and Ben's "translation" of some of the Chinese is hysterical. I love that Erica has such good spy skills and is so driven. New to this book is Cyrus' decline. He's been a spy for a long time, and he's not as sharp or as strong as he once was. This is sad, but realistic, and I'd love to see him teaching at the new spy school, wherever that might be! 
Weaknesses: There were a lot of characters. I could have done without Chip, Jawa, Trixie, Mike, and Zoe. Svetlana is always humorous, and it was interesting to bring in Jessica, but I would have liked to see a smaller crew so we could have seen more of Erica and Ben's relationship. It's seems like it's on rocky ground, but there was too much action to delve into it. 
What I really think: I love this series, and they still circulate well, but I would love to see Mr. Gibbs branch out with some stand alone mystery or realistic humor titles. 

Still waiting for that button from Simon and Schuster congratulating me for reading all the books! 

1. Spy School

2. Spy Camp

3. Evil Spy School

4. Ski Spy School

5. Spy School Secret Service

6. Spy School Goes South

7. Spy School: British Invasion

8. Spy School Revolution 

9- Spy School at Sea

10- Spy School X

11- Spy School Goes North 

12- Spy School Goes Wild

13- Spy School Blackout

Where the Wild Horses Are

Alznauer, Amy. Where the Wild Horses Are

October 13, 2026 by Neal Porter Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Nash Eliza West is a COWBOY, but has no horse. She has always been interested in horses, but ever since her family left Chicago to live in Smoke County, Pennsylvania six years ago, she has been desperate to have her own horse. She takes riding lessons at Mary D's Riding Barn, but it's just not enough. Her parents are both Deaf, and her father runs an airfield and plane repair shop while her mother bakes a lot of bread and works with Deaf organizations. Her cousin Benny is back in Chicago with her Aunt Jane, who can hear but works as an interpreter for politicians and big wigs. When Jane and Benny's father have to travel for a big interpretors' workshop, Benny is supposed to stay with Nash and her family. This almost scuttles the most exciting plan that Nash has ever had: she sees an advertisement for people to adopt Western wild mustangs, break them, then enter a competition in Texas before the animals are auctioned off. If she could win the competition, she would have enough money to buy her horse. After saying no, her mother gives in as long as Benny can help. Nash uses this loophole to apply for TWO foster horses, which causes some problems. Benny had a previous bad experience with a pet bird, but once she arrives and gets over the feeling that Nash abandoned her six years ago, the girls work with the horses and train them. There are some challenges along the way, including one that takes Nash and her horse, Rev, out of the competition, although Benny and her horse, B-Mine, still compete after Mary D transports them to Texas. Nash has reconnected with her cousin, but will she ever have a horse of her own?
Strengths: Readers who love horses often dream of owning their own, so Nash's plight, and her innovative remedy for it, will have strong middle grade appeal. There are lots of good details about working at the Riding Barn, clearing out areas, and Mary D is insistent about chores being completed. There is also good information about working with horses and training them, which is always a popular inclusion. The representation of Deaf culture was fantastic; I loved that while it wasn't central to the story, it was a very big part of it. It's probably the best book including Deaf culture that I've read since Cerra's 2022 Hear Me, and would be an excellent contended for the Schneider Family Book Award. The little bit of aviation is a fun bonus. The issues between cousins Nash and Benny are realistic, and work out in a satisfactory way. I don't want to spoil the ending, but it is a happy one, and I'm all about upbeat wish fulfillment these days. 
Weaknesses: At 352 pages long, this might be a hard sell to some of my readers, and it could easily have been one hundred pages shorter. Nash is often given to flights of fancy, there's a small subplot with a wild rabbit, and there is a book seller who gives her things like D.H. Lawrence's poems, none of which really further the plot or add to the characters. At one point, I thought this might be set in about 1985, because the cost to foster the horse is only $25, there are documents faxed, and the family drives an AMC Pacer and spends a lot of time at church, but Nash does watch training videos. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who have read books like Nash has read: Henry's 1947 Misty of Chicoteague, Farley's 1941 The Black Stallion, and James 1926 Smoky the Cowhorse, or more modern horse tales like Farley's The Fantom Stallion or Berne's Going Viral. I'll buy a copy, because the cover is great, and it's hard to find a middle grade horse book with Western riding. 

Christmas Trees and Weak Knees

Emmel, Katrina. Christmas Trees and Weak Knees
October 27, 2026 by Delacorte Romance

Copy provided by the publisher

Paisley Morgan was an award-winning aspiring singer/songwriter until a disastrous performance and comments by members of the band Six String Justice went viral on social media. Now, she won't perform in public, has deferred her admission to Tennessee State University, and is working at her family's Hidden Acres Christmas Tree Farm. There is also a reindeer rescue, as well as an inn and recording studio aimed at attracting musical artists for long term stays. Kash Murray is a member of Six String Justice, and also writes songs. When the group decides to let him go, he finds himself owing his record label, Exit 12S Records, several songs. Since he has writer's block, this is a problem. Since Paisley has also run afoul of her contract, their mutual agent, Barry, comes up with a solution. The company pays for Kash to stay at the Hideaway Inn and work with Paisley to come up with six songs by the new year. Since Paisley hasn't been checking her phone, she doesn't know that Kash has separated from the band when he arrives, and remembers his rude comments. He doesn't seem to remember the encounter at all. The two fight a bit, but after Paisley hears Kash practicing and offers him some improvements to his song, they fall into an uneasy partnership that is anything but smooth. They are attracted to each other, but continue to fight it. At Thanksgiving, Paisley sings for the guests of the inn with her sister Halley, but she still is uncomfortable. After Kash reads her lyric notebook, he realizes the connection with Six String Justice, and apologizes. The two put together a song entitled "Worth the Wait" and do a demo recording that Kash accidentally sends to Barry. Barry wants Paisley to perform, but she is still reluctant. Will the two be able to write together, have a relationship, and live happily ever after?
Strengths: Back in the 1950s and 60s, there were a lot of books for teenagers that had main characters who were eighteen or older. Some of these were "career romances" and are some of my favorites! Paisley is thinking about a career, but dealing with some traumatic issues, and while she is figuring things out, she is assisting with the family business, working in the gift shop, and even taking care of the reindeer. Lots of freedom, but also lots of questions about the trajectory of her life. Kash is just a bit older; we see his grandfather picking him up for Thanksgiving and supporting him, so he also has a bit of a set back in achieving his goals. While they don't get along for most of the book, they don't hate each other too vehemently, and there are some nice moments of collaboration. The details of trying for a singing career are good, and the ending is, in fact happy. Since the characters are older, and since modern Young Adult books sometimes have eyeball scorching content, I was on the edge of my seat for most of this, but the most that when on was a kiss or two. Whew! 
Weaknesses: I will never understand the appeal of the "enemies to lovers" trope. If I hate someone, I will hate that person forever! The holiday appeal of this will overcome any resistance readers might have. I also wanted to slap Paisley just a tiny bit for letting a few comments completely derail her career.
What I really think: This is a perfect holiday romance for strong middle school readers who think middle grade titles are too babyish. Fans of Kasie West and Sarah Dessen will enjoy this holiday romp, as will fans of Calonita's The Taylors series. 

MMGM- Nothing to See Here and Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Dee, Barbara. Nothing to See Here, 

October 20, 2026 by Scholastic Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

There's a reason Charles M. Gossett Middle School is known as "Gossip School": the students spend much of their time perusing and posting on Pixy, especially in 8th grade, when everyone is "bored and jumpy". The posts aren't kind, and they have quite the effect on four students in particular. Mateo is popular, smart, and kind, but doesn't quite know how to act on his crush on Gia. Gia's mother is a podcaster who portrays her daughter as a genius, and when a teacher points this out, the teasind intensifies. Gia just wants to keep her grades up so she can transfer to a private school. Winnie is friends with Maple, who is being drawn into the popular crowd headed by the mean Esme; Winnie is portrayed as a "not" in a Hot/Not post with the comment "Nothing to see here", which hurts her feelings tremendously. Levi is Mateo's best friend, and Mateo is generally a good listener and supporter, but he is also a little condescending about Levi's somewhat geeky appearance and Levi's need to help out his mother, who has MS. All four are affected by the increasing meanness of the posts, but they are better off than Bellamy, who is so badly bullied that she doesn't talk to anyone and hides in a large coat. Gia tries to befriend her, but is rebuffed. Winnie is worried about Maple when Esme's crowd (mainly from the wealthier, "Old Brookville" neighborhoods) starts shoplifting. When Bellamy can no longer stand the bullying, blows up at lunch, and leaves the school, the four kids converge and try to figure out a plan to show their classmates how damaging the social media is. They try to spread false rumors, from the school getting a service dog or having a longer school day, to a mean post about the way kids from Old Brookville dress. Nothing gains traction, but when they post about a fictional case of food poisoning from the school cafeteria, things heat up. Seeing the damage they have done, they confess to the principal, who understands their intentions but doubts their methods. She assigns them a project to show their classmates the dangers of misinformation at a school assembly. While this doesn't solve everyone's problems, it does give Levi a chance to shine, makes it possible for Gia to talk to her mother about the damage her posts do, lets Winnie reconnect with Maple, and allows Mateo to finally talk honestly with Gia. 

Strengths: Dee's strength is social commentary; her 2019 Maybe He Just Likes You is an excellent look at how societal expectations of boys and girls often lead to toxic relationships. Social media is a major influence on today's tweens, and it's hard for adults to see the full impact of it, because it takes place in the shadowy online world. Reading the children's inner thoughts was often painful; Winnie generally likes herself, but the comments online damage her self esteem, Levi is worried about his mother, and feels inferior to his best friend, Gia is angry that her mother has made school difficult for her, and Mateo enjoys being smart and popular but is all too aware that these qualities might hurt other's feelings and make it hard to befriend people. That's a lot of emotions that social media forces on children. It's realistic that Winnie's parents take away her phone and monitor her computer use, but also realistic that she finds ways around this. The adults are generally portrayed as supportive, especially at school, which I really appreciated. This would make an excellent literature circle choice; much more relevant than Golding's Lord of the Flies, which our characters have to read in school! I will definitely be buying a copy and recommending it to my teachers for classroom use when it comes out in paperback. 
Weaknesses: I really, really wanted to slap Gia's mother. I've been protecting my family's privacy for over twenty years, so it was inexcusable that she featured Gia in her podcasts. This was a little on the long side, mainly because there was so much going on, and following the multiperspective chapters may be hard for emerging readers, but this is why the book would be so good for class discussions. 
What I really think: This is a great book to add to a collection of digital drama books along with Korman's Unplugged, Parks' Averil Offline, Weissman's So Over Sharing, Kyi's Emily Posts, Meadows' Confessions from the Group Chat, Burch's Olivia Gray Will Not Fade Away., and Feldman's Ezra Exposed.  A whole unit on social media and book circles with these titles would be intriguing to students!

Berenstain, Stan, Jan, and Mike. Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right

October 6, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by the publisher

If you are a fan of the Berenstains, or of mid century children's literature, it's worth picking up Too Loose, Too Tight, Just Right just for Mike's notes and the family pictures that he includes. Say what you will about Theodor Geisel, but his impact on children's literature cannot be ignored. The Berenstains worked closely with him on the Bright and Early books, of which I was an enormous fan. This rediscovered title was meant to be part of that series. 

The story is simple, since it is meant to be introducing concepts in an easy to read way. A young bear (looking suspiciously like Brother Bear) tries on a sweater, a hat, and some boots until he gets things that fit him. He heads out into the snow to sled and to build a snowman. Mama Bear calls him back in for some cocoa, and the Bear family sits around the table enjoying their "just right" treat. 

While reminiscent of Old Hat, New Hat, this had more of a Bear family feel to it, which is not surprising considering how many of those titles Mike worked on. The length is perfect for a toddler read aloud where pages must be turned quickly, but is also good for emerging readers who will feel successful as they sound out all the words. 

My only quibble is the larger trim size (8.41 x 0.4 x 11.19 inches) which seems to be what publishing embraces nowadays. Perhaps it's because my parents didn't purchase anything but Little Golden Books and the I Can Read series, but I prefer a smaller book, because it's easier for children to hold, and makes reading with a child on one's lap a little easier. 

This was a great nostalgic read for me, but holds its own with modern picture books about opposites and bears, both of which are still published in abundance! 

Scrap

Bass, Guy. Scrap

1 September 2026 by Penguin Random House

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

On the planet Somewhere 513, a robot waits on a pile of trash. His battery will never wear out, but he doesn't see the point of doing anything. After ten years, he builds himself a house. Shortly afterwards, he is surprised by the appearance of two human children, Grant and Paige, who are looking for the King of the Robots. Their mother, Dandelion Brightside, was the scientist who made the robot, whom they call Scrap, and developed the K1-NG core that powers. Their father, Tripp Gander, has died, and they need Scrap to help them get back to the Outskirts, where they live, and find the Pink foot spacecraft to leave Somewhere 513. There is a rich and troublesome history to the planet, and humans are no longer supposed to live there after a series of wars when the robots who terraformed and set up the planet wiped out most of the settlers because the robots wanted the planet for themselves. Shortly after the girls introduce themselves to Scrap, to robot "hunters", Terry and June, arrive and want to kill the girls, even though they pretend to be robots. Scrap's house is destroyed, and he is forced to flee. He ends up having to have some repairs done by Dr. Buckle at the Bad Knees Outpost, and learns that most robots want to constantly upgrade their cases. Harmony Highshine, the mayor of the biggest town, has Scrap on her radar and sends Gunner K11-LU to find him. There are many tense moments, but secrets come to light when Scrap and the girls meet Morton Prometheus, who has Scrap's original case. Will Scrap be able to help the daughters of his creator to safety? 

Strengths: I'd love to see more middle grade science fiction that includes space adventure rather than dystopias, like Emerson's Last Day on Mars or Swiedler's In the Red, and this comes pretty close. The idea of an entire planet run by robots who have rebelled against humans is interesting, especially if there are children trying to survive on the planet. Robot books, with well developed rules for these creations, are generally popular with middle grade readers, especially those who may have created simpler forms of robots themselves. The robot characters have well developed personalities, and some are quirky and fun (if a little power mad), like Dr. Buckle and Harmony Highshine. My favorite was probably Morton Prometheus, who started life as a shoveling robot and really just wanted to return to that lifestyle. Weaknesses: I felt like I was missing something. There could have been a whole book about the robot uprising that would have been interesting. Scrap tends to truncate his "ing"s, and says "nothin'" and the like, which seemed odd. Unless a robot were programmed that way, wouldn't its speech be fairly precise? At one point, Scrap is short circuited by emotion and passes out, which also seems like a flaw in robot design. 

What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed books about robots who attain sentience and have emotions, like Kelly's The Second Life of Snap, Warga's A Rover's Story, or Brown's The Wild Robot. This also reminded me a little of Perry's Scavengers. 

I'm not one to romanticize robots; thinking they have emotions makes as much sense to me as imagining that one's toaster has feelings. Still, this must appeal to some people.

Saturday Morning Cartoons

Amini, Sara and Amin, Shadia (Illustrator)
Mixed Signals: A Graphic Novel (Mixed Feelings #2) October 6, 2026 by Graphix
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After her experiences in sixth grade in Mixed Feelings, Sara is looking forward to all of the new opportunities in seventh grade. In her math class, she immediately becomes enamored of Hector, who borrows several pencils from her and asks for her help in math (through instant messaging on AOL Chat-- this is set in the 1990s.) Coach Diaz asks her to try out for volleyball, and she makes the team, but this causes problems with her drama club, since the practice times overlap. She doesn't get a part, but is asked to be an understudy for Anneliese when she complains. She's not a great volleyball player, but does her best. Her grandfather is not doing well, which stresses out her mother and causes the two of them to have some arguments, especially when Sara volunteers her mother to do things because she "doesn't have a job" and "is just a mom". Hector does pay her some attention, calling her P.J., for Princess Jasmine, and asking that his friend and soccer teammates Mo asks her to a pool party. Sara isn't as developed as the other girls, and self conscious about it, so she stuffs her bra with tissue, which does not end well. As she tries to go back and forth between drama and volleyball, there are some problems, especially after her grandfather dies, and she is caught cheating on a math test. This leads her to have a heart to heart discussion about the pressures that she is facing. A sequel, Mixed Together, is in the works.
Strengths: There are not enough middle grade novels about trying to balance all of the activities and schoolwork that some tweens have. Certainly, there are lots of kids who don't do any activities, but trying to do a sport and a play, or cross country and soccer, can lead to a lot of conflicts. The crush on Hector was well done; he's a jerk, and it took some time for Sara to figure this out. Readers who are interested in dealing with acne or periods will appreciate the mentions of some of these facts of middle school life.
Weaknesses: I will want to let readers know that there is a Spanish and a Farsi glossary at the back of the book so that they can translate some of the conversations.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels with historical settings and cultural connections like Rodriquez and Bell's Doodles from the Boogie Down, Fahmy's Huda F Are You, Soontornvat's The Tryout, or Bermudez' Big Apple Diaries.

Schuff, Nicolás, Schimel, Lawrence (Translator), and Johnson, Mariana Ruiz (Illustrator)
The Adventures of Odysseus: A Graphic Novel of The Odyssey
October 27, 2026 by Eerdmans Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

With the popularity of the 2026 The Odyssey movie, there has been some renewed interest in the ancient story. I have Sutcliffe's, The Wandering of Odysseus, Hinds' The Odyssey graphic novel, Ford's Stickman Odyssey, McCaughrean's Odysseus, and my favorite, Shipton's rather wacky The Pig Scrolls. 

This book is almost like a picture book, with text arranged under the pictures, which have a feel of red figure pottery, with most of the stylized characters being shown from the side view. The text is almost cursive, which might cause some students trouble with reading the words. The stories are recounted briefly, so this is a good choice for readers who are interested in the story, but don't want a terribly long book. I will purchase for my library. 

What I really want, though, is a graphic novel adaptation of The Aeneid. All five Latin students remaining in the US would be thrilled with this. 

Escabasse, Sophie. S'Witch Back (Witches of Brooklyn #6)

September 1, 2026 by Random House Graphic

School library copy

Now that Effie is on the council's radar for her run in with a dragon in Curse and Reverse, she has to appear before the council. While most of the witches are very understanding and supportive, Councilor Horn is not, and makes Effie and Garance meet with him for "lessons" to help them understand the magical world and get a hold of their powers. Of course, he's up to no good, and along with their friend Yvan, Effie and Garance help save the world from Horn's evil. 

I've been recommending this series a lot to my students who want fantasy graphic novels, because there aren't as many of them as there are slightly whiny memoirs ones. I enjoyed this series, mainly when there were fun magical problems. This slips a bit into the middle grade fantasy trope of the chosen one saving the world, but I guess that's a good way to end the series. I enjoyed the chapter at the end where Effie accidentally ingests a potion that makes her hair grow, but that's because I'd love to see more fantasy books where powers are fun, rather than doom and gloom. More like the television Bewitched, I guess, which The Witches of Brooklyn is at times. 

Fahmy, Huda. Huda F Would Love You

October 20, 2026 by Dial Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Huda has graduated from high school and is ready to transfer her community college credits so she can start college as a junior. Her life plan list is going well, and the last thing she needs to check off is "fall in love". She's planning on making her debut into society by going to a lot of weddings in the summer, even if her sister tells her she's the only one who thinks of this as a debut. She doesn't have a lot of luck charming the aunties who might fix herr up with their sons, but she doesn't give up. She's spending a lot of time on the community college campus waiting to pick up her younger sister, and gets involved with a group of young women who are planning an event for women with a dance and a speaker. She really likes them, even if a cute young man, Loki, in one of her classes doesn't have nice things to say about them. She starts to worry that she will never find anyone to love her, but has enough sense to eventually realize that Loki isn't someone with whom she should get involved. She doesn't eventually meet a nice young man her family knows, and at the end of the book, their mothers have been in contact. This seems to be the last book in the series. 

My students have enjoyed seeing Huda's other exploits, but I'm not sure how interested middle school girls will be in husband hunting. There are some good messages about how people should treat each other, although I would have liked to see a little more about how Huda navigated the aunties not appreciating that she wanted a career. (Not enough time for domestic chores, and the Huda's idea that her husband would share in them equally did NOT go over well!) It would be fine in a middle school, but I'm going to think about it for a bit. 

Fight or Flight and I Survived The Night of the Lions, 2025

Kinney, Jeff. Fight or Flight (Wimpy Kid #21)
October 20, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams
Ohio E Book Library copy

If you want to know what goes on in the book, complete with spoilers, read on. If you want to be surprised, don't! I read this VERY quickly, so if I makes mistakes with names or events, please feel free to correct me. 

After years of bullying his best friend, Rowley, Greg is suddenly concerned about being bullied himself. With bullies like Zander "Z-Rex" Wrexham roaming the hallways, he develops elaborate plans for survival, with flight always being his reaction. Greg isn't the most bullied kid in the school; that honor belongs to Jarrett Jollifee. Greg plots out all of the doorbell cameras in his neighborhood, pretends to talk on a cell phone so no one bothers him, and even hides an emergency "go bag" in the ceiling tiles in the boys' bathroom, just in case he needs to leave the country. You'd think antibullying month at school would help, but it doesn't, and Greg's mom is embracing the philosophy that he needs to learn to problem solve on his own, so she's no help. Greg does have a few other concerns; Mr. Finch and Miss Starling are dating, and he often carries notes to Miss Starling; he and Rowley play Magick and Monsters, a Dungeons and Dragons type game where Rowley is Targor Ironhide, a dwarf warrior; and he thinks a lot about animal adaptations and how he could change his ways to better survive. He starts keeping a notebook of all of the bullies in school, their strengths and habits, and details about when they bully others. Greg also gets involved in a birding club, but tries to talk them into watching for bullies instead. This is briefly successful until Mr. Finch and Miss Starling get involved as advisors and plan a field trip to a bird sanctuary. When Greg accidentally switches binders with Mr. Finch, things get interesting. The binder is turned over to the principal, and kids get called down to the office and put into detention. Greg doesn't want the bullies to connect him to the binder, so gets himself sent to the principal for chewing gum and gets his binder back. He recycles all of the pages in the office, but when the recycling is emptied, pages blow everywhere. The bullies try to locate the "Snitch", and Greg is so afraid that he even tries karate lessons but is quickly kicked out. Z-Rex hires Greg to investigates the identity of the Snitch, but Ryland (another bully) hires Alex, and when the bullies think that ROWLEY is the snitch, a fight is planned between Z-Rex and Rowley. Everyone in school shows up to the stadium, and Rowley chickens out at the last minute, leaving Greg in the line of fire. Luckily, Rowley literally throws a towel at Z-Rex, taking him down just long enough for the Birding Club to arrive to save the day. Jarret gives a speech about kindness, and everyone thinks he is a hero. Mr. Finch and Miss Starling get married, and the school culture changes. The bullies have nothing to do, so Greg reads them picture books at recess, and everyone lives happily ever after. 

Strengths: This seemed a little different from the other installments in that there were a lot of characters and plot points that ended up being picked up later in the story and being important. Most of the time, something like Rowley having a character named Targor would be mentioned once and never brought up again, but it's the one thing that ties him (and therefore Greg) to the notebook. Jarrett and his Kindness Klub are mentioned early on, and then really take over the end of the book. There was even a clever bit with Mr. Finch and Miss Starling being the Birding Club advisors. There's still a lot of random events thrown around, but children seem to love this non sequitur, anecdotal style. We don't see too much of Greg's family, which helps focus the story on school events. Greg is portrayed as a little less psychopathic, and even seems to have picked up a reading habit. Most of all, Greg's adventures don't seem to repeat themselves and still feel fresh. There's also a shout out  to Tarshis' I Survived series with a made up series Greg enjoys called "I Ran Away From...". 
Weaknesses: Are there still antibullying initiatives in schools? Yes. But real bullying isn't so much wedgies and stealing lunch money as it is nasty whispers. There are several other things that don't seem realistic, like cameras in classrooms and parents attending school with their children, Greg getting sent to the principal for chewing gum, and teachers being prohibited from dating. There's a huge crowd for the fight on school grounds? Are these ideas funny? Sure. The beginning of the book is extremely frenetic, but things do settle down into something that almost resembles a plot for a bit.
What I really think: The Wimpy Kid books are all the proof we need that I am not ACTUALLY a twelve year old boy. I don't really enjoy them at all, but I am not the target demographic. Actual tweens still love these. Because I won't have a copy for a while, I told my sixth grade classes how to check the book our from the Ohio Digital Library, and a half dozen got out their Chromebooks and checked out copies on the spot! 

Tarshis, Lauren. I Survived The Night of the Lions, 2025

September 15, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Netgalley

After Dylan injures his arm playing baseball at home in Boston, he travels with his much older sister, Maya, who is the social media influencer behind Maya's Wild Life. Their destination? Botswana! Accompanied by a local driver, Tito, they learn about the lions in the area. Of particular interest in Mogolo, who is in charge of his pride, and the younger Kotsi brothers, who need to strike out on their own and find a pride that they can take over after defeating the leader. When Mogolo shows up on videos as having been caught in a wire, the team heads out to try to help him, and Dylan and Maya are allowed to come along. Unfortunately, on the return trip the plane they are traveling in crashes, and Maya shatters her leg. The pilot, Rik, is badly burned, and the plane explodes! Dylan has been warned the the night belongs to the predators, so he is very cautious when he tries to get water from a lagoon. When the Kotsi brothers see him, will he and his group be able to survive the night?
Strengths: The I Survived books are popular with 6th graders in my building, and this 26th tale is part of a new series, Wildlife Adventures. It's more like the Gary Paulsen World of Adventure books; quick, interesting, and short. I wish I had the whole series of these, since the two I do have are quite worn out. Young readers who want to be influencers will be enthralled by Maya's lifestyle, and there's some sympathy for Dylan after injuring his arm. There are notes and pictures on Tarshis' own trip to Botswana as well as facts and a bibliography, making this informative as well as exciting. 
Weaknesses: This was not a personal favorite of mine. I didn't much care for Dylan or Maya, and the ending was very sudden. There was very little surviving, and Dylan didn't get to do much that contributed to the group's rescue. 

What I really think: I will probably buy a copy of this while I can get it in hardcover, since it will get a lot of use. I can see this being a book that lures some of my students into reading other historical adventures. 

The Drowning Game and The Hardy Boys: Fall Mysteries

Bowing, Dusti. The Drowning Game

October 13, 2026 by Union Square & Co.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In the summer of 1999, Christian is surprised when his friend James calls him out of the blue and demands that he go on a white water rafting trip with him on the Salt River in Arizona. Christian and his mother moved to Minnesota after the death of his father from cancer, and his life has been pretty boring. There's not much to do but work at Taco Bell and play video games, so he finds himself reluctantly agreeing, since James has already bought his planet ticket. He doesn't tell his mother the trip involves the water, since he had a previous unpleasant incident, but just says they are going camping. When he arrives, James introduces him to his girlfriend, Freya, as well as Daniel and Scott. The trip seems ill-planned, since there are no life jackets, little food, and only three sleeping bags, but there is a cooler with beer. Christian finds Freya to be very attractive, and when she and Christian decline to go over one of the falls and instead portage around, the two have some heart-to-heart conversations about James' treatment of her. The trip doesn't go well, and ends with Freya getting washed off of the raft and drowning. Christian, frozen with fear, doesn't jump in to save her. He's not charged with her death; it's ruled accidental after her body is found. Christian hopes to attend college in Minnesota, but is only accepted into Arizona State. He's just as glad to be away from the water. He gets an apartment and starts classes, including one on forensic science. He starts dating Nikki, but things start going poorly after he sees a girl who looks just like Freya. He becomes obsessed with her and follows her, which leads to the police delivering a restraining order. Madison Barton may say she's not Freya, but what's the real story? Fans of April Henry will absolutely adore the dark twists and turns!

Strengths: I absolutely loved Christian, and thought that his relationship with James was completely realistic, and that the twists and turns this takes are completely dependent on both the characters and their history together in a way that is rather brilliant. The rafting trip ended halfway through the book, and I was a bit confused. That's it? Now Christian just goes off to college? Ah, but that's where things REALLY get interesting. Definitely dark and psychological in ways I can't really describe without ruining the suspense. I loved the depiction of college classes, the apartment, and Nikki; young adult books used to have characters in college more than they do now. The most brilliant part of this is that Bowling was circumspect in her use of language and situations. There is some drinking, and there is a brief make out scene where Nikki tells Christian to stop and he does, but there is no mature language or anything else that would make this inappropriate for more mature middle school readers. The 1999 setting ads a little bit of interest, and also does away with the difficulties that cell phones would have caused with the plot. 
Weaknesses: This did catch me off guard a bit, perhaps because of the cognitive disconnect between Bowling's Sir Edmund and Aven Green books and the much older and darker content of this title. There was no reason for the father to have died; people move to different states all the time for work or to be near family. I also personally could have done without the depiction of Christian pretending (?) to drown himself in the bathtub to replicate what Freya would have experienced, but he never seems to be very serious about causing himself harm. That detail does cause the book to have a warning note, and would be the main reason to think critically about having this in a middle school library. 
What I really think: This is a fantastic book for readers who enjoy April Henry's many dark mysteries or Van Draanen's The Steps. Ms. Bowling has done many different types of excellent books, but I really think she has found her niche with this new book, and I hope that she continues to write more upper middle grade/young adult mysteries! After much reflection, I will be buying this for my collection. 

Dixon, Franklin W. and  Gutiérrez, Santy (illustrator)

The Hardy Boys Clue Book: Fall Mysteries

September 8, 2026 by Aladdin

I love any iteration of the Hardy Boys, so this is a fun book. Great for developing readers in middle school and perfect for elementary readers!

Brothers Frank and Joe Hardy tackle three spooky investigations in this fall-themed Hardy Boys Clue Book three-books-in-one paperback bind-up!

In The Bad Luck Skate, Frank and Joe are excited to be supporting their friends on the Bayport Checkers hockey team. But when someone dumps paint all over the team’s lucky skate, their star player worries their luck has run out. Then his stick breaks before he takes the ice! Has the team really lost their luck or is someone trying to psych them out so they lose the game? Without a clear suspect, Frank and Joe are on thin ice.

After Frank and Joe’s friend Jason wins a treasure map at Bayport’s Pirate Palooza, a message in a bottle warns him not to hunt for the treasure! Could it be the legendary ghost of Captain Scurvydog? In The Pirate Ghost, the Hardy Boys are on the case to prove that spirits definitely do not exist…or do they?

In The Great Pumpkin Smash, Frank and Joe can’t wait to celebrate Halloween at Bayport’s annual party, Boo at the Zoo. But when the brothers go to check out the painted pumpkin display, they’re all completely squashed! The two detectives must find out who pummeled the pumpkins or else this will be the last Boo at the Zoo.