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.

Rowan + Gemma

Pla, Sally J. Rowan + Gemma
October 20, 2026 by Quill Tree Books
E ARC provided by Blue Slip Media

Rowan Monahan's family is deeply invested in their hometown of Friendship Prairie. His Uncle Lucky runs the local pub, where the family members work, and his cousin Ty is on the high school football team. His mother Maggie is involved in many community initiatives, and has a lifelong dream to restore the run down Jepson house near the family's home. When it is town down and a big new house is built, she is angry. Rowan stutters and has some developmental delays, but it's a small town, and people understand. He's somewhat concerned about starting high school, and his best friend, Mark (who may be on the autism spectrum), is anxious as well. Neither boy is as anxious as Gemma Caplan, whose mother Clare inherited the Jepson house and moved Gemma and her triplet brothers from the city out to the country after retiring from the law after having heart issues. Gemma has speech apraxia, so doesn't communicate verbally. Instead, she uses an AAC (Augmentative/Alternative Communication tablet). She has some social anxiety as well, and is particular about her clothing. Her mother does relent and drives her to school so she doesn't have to take the bus, but it is a big change. When both Rowan and Gemma are seeking a little quiet to gather themselves, they meet in an art room storage area. Rowan is having a bit of a melt down, but is nonplussed by Gemma's AAC tablet. He helps her get to her first period class, and hopes to see her again. The people in Friendship Prairie are not happy with all of the new development, and the new people in town. Rowan reminds his mother that she is usually kind to everyone, and she does take brownies to the Caplans, but when she realizes that Clare was the one who side swiped her car at school pick up, things don't end well. Rowan's cousin Ty is aggressive toward the Caplan triplets, Tom, Nick, and Harry, even though they seem like they are friendly and a good addition to the football team. After Clare decides to run for the school board, community feelings run high, and Maggie throws her hat into the race. The parents' arguments greatly affect Rowan and Gemma, who at one point go around town replacing negative campaign signs with positive ones. The homecoming dance is the night of the school board elections, and the couple decides to attend, even if they don't want to tell their families. When the weather turns rough, the town realizes that the health and happiness of its citizens is more important than politics. 

Strengths: I'm not entirely sure that most middle schoolers will get the Romeo and Juliet references, but there are many of them for readers who love a twist on Shakespearian or classic tales like Rhodes' Runaway Gold or LaRocca's Much Ado About Baseball. Friendship Prairie is an interesting small town with a lot of built in drama, and there are many small towns struggling with an influx of new citizens right now, at least in Ohio. It's difficult to see one's town changing. While Clare does have ties to the community, she keeps them under wraps. Rowan and Gemma's struggles and embarassments are realistically portrayed, and they have a very sweet romance. I do wish that more middle grade books depicted early high school experiences, and I appreciated that while things were challenging, they weren't absolutely horrible. There's an exciting and generally happy ending to round things off. 
Weaknesses: I would have much preferred more glimpses at Rowan and Gemma's high school experience rather than all of the family drama and the community uproar about the school board election. Seeing the two of them try out different groups, work on school projects, and perhaps raise awareness for different health conditions would have been more helpful than the immature bickering the mothers and townspeople got caught up in. Also, the dance would have to be held on a Tuesday, or the elections on a Friday, in order for the results to be announced the same night as the homecoming dance. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who want to understand what it is like to navigate the world with conditions that are different from the mainstream. Most young readers will have met someone like Rowan, but Gemma's AAC tablet is much more visible and might not be something they have encountered. Add this to Kuyatt's Good Different or Vrabel's A Blind Guide to Stinkville as a book to promote understanding and empathy. 

Samantha: The Next Chapter and Brittle Magic

Davis Fiona. Samantha: The Next Chapter
October 13, 2026 by American Girl Publishing
Copy provided by the publisher

In 1920, Samantha Parkington has been teaching for three years, but is spending the summer back in Mount Bedford with Grandmary while her aunt Cornelia and Uncle Gard are taking their son to San Francisco. It's good to be back home, and Samantha is working hard on encouraging women to vote. She hopes to eventually attend the teachers' college at Columbia University. When her grandmother suddenly passes away after a brief period of decline, Samantha is shocked to find out from the family lawyer that Grandmary filed a new will just the week before she died, leaving everything (including the house that is supposed to be Samantha's) to the MRB Corporation. Mr. Quigley tells her that he will investigate and work to get the money back, but since Gard won't return her communication, Samantha decides to leave the Chicago area and go to New York City to investigate. The servants are sent to a new neighbor, Mrs. Finley, so they are taken care of. Samantha heads to her friend Agatha's boarding house, which is a good thing, since the little money she had is stolen by street children. She gets a place in the boarding house, and Agatha helps her get a job at the B. Altman department store. Unfortunately, it is the undergarments department that is ruled by the evil Mrs. Holzendorf. While trying to hunt done Mr. Malloy, who is behind the change in the will, Samantha meets Tommy, who works for Malloy's shady business. She also runs into long time family friend Ricky Strickland, who is investigating Malloy for fraud, and says that he will tell his supervisors about Malloy's involvement in defrauding her grandmother. Both men are interested in her, but work keeps Samantha very busy. As her investigation continues, things get increasingly dangerous. Will she be able to retrieve her inheritance?

Strengths: This is a beautiful book, complete with edges sprayed in the same plaid as Samantha's childhood dress, and Davis has written other historical novels for adults. It's always an interesting concept to follow a childhood favorite into adulthood; Naylor's Now I'll Tell You Everything is a more extreme example. It's fun to catch up briefly with the cast of characters from Mount Bedford, and to watch as Samantha takes on challenges of adulthood without the support of her beloved Grandmary. Clearly, Davis is well versed in the books, and loves the characters. There are a lot of good historical details about daily life as well as the politics of the time. Even though this is an adult book, there is nothing that would prevent this from being in a middle school or high school library.
Weaknesses: The audience for this book seems to be adult readers who grew up with American Girl dolls in the 1990s. I haven't had readers for these books for at least fifteen years. The villains in the story are not as nuanced as I would expect for an adult title. 
What I really think: I enjoyed this, and know that there are a lot of women who might have middle grade children themselves who will love this. American Girl seems to be having a bit of a resurgence, with the publication of The Making of American Girl and a rebooting of the dolls. I'm interested to see what further adventures Samantha might have. 

O'Shaughnessy, Kat. Brittle Magic
October 20, 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Reader
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Shiloh Brittle Walker lives with her parents, older sister Judith, twin brother Sammy, and a variety of secrets. The most open one is that everyone in the Brittle clan has a touch of magic. Her mother runs a bakery called Sugarplum, and makes sugar butterflies that fly, and other magical treats, excusing their movement by saying the sugar is engineered. Judith can grow enormous pumpkins, and Sammy can heal plants. Shiloh doesn't have any talent, and her older brother, Jason, who passed away when he was twelve, had a talent that was not discussed. His room remains locked and untouched, and Shiloh's mother will not discuss him. Shiloh keeps trying to discover her own talent, and even visits her Aunt Delilah, who can tell fortunes with pickles. The reading leads her to befriend Isabel, who moves to town with her father. Isabel is homeschooled, but Shiloh insists on visiting her house and hanging out, based on the fortune. She is also increasingly interested in Jason's fate, thinking that knowing about him will help her understand her talent. She's at odds with Sammy because he is hanging out with a classmate who can help him connect to a boy he has a crush on, and the two even sleep in separate rooms because they can't get past their fight. When Shiloh snoops in Jason's room and steals mail addressed to her mother, she uncovers information about Jason's death, and confronts her parents to finally explain it to her and help her make peace with the past. Her mother is so angry that she cancels a big, planned family reunion. Can Shiloh figure out what happened to her brother, and discover her magical talent?

This was a fun book with magical realism that would be great for collections where Stewart, Erin. The Mysterious Magic of Lighthouse Lane, Myracle's Incredibly Penelope, or Cherrywell's The Ink Witch are popular. Younger readers who secretly believe they might have a magical talent will identify with Shiloh and her attempts at finding something that gives her that "maple syrup" warm feeling of being magical. The family dynamics will hold the attention of older readers, especially with the cast of interesting characters and the friendship between Shiloh and Isabel. 

O'Shaughnessy's Lasagna Means I Love You  was quite an interesting read, and her Newbery Honor book, The Wrong Way Home has been VERY popular with my students. The focus on Jason's death made this book a great deal sadder and slower than it could have been, and it was hard to believe that the mother would have kept so many secrets from so many people. 

MMGM-- The Luckies and Off Balance

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Mlynowski, Sarah and Soontornvat, Christine.

Rumor Has It (The Luckies#1)

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Leela Luxenberg is going into the 10th grade and has a lot of upheaval in her life. Her mother, Sadie, an author, has inherited a large house in Lost Bluff, Tennessee, and is moving Leela and her sister Mia from New York City to live there. Her father passed away from cancer, and Sadie has been dating Josh Laksandee, and the two decide to combine their families.  Annie, older brother Alex, and younger brother Aidan are used to moving around a lot. Their mother is an actress, and is on the west coast trying to get a film role, so Annie especially is glad to be in a picturesque town with a traditional family. She gives up the room she wants to Leela, who is NOT happy to be in Lost Bluff, and is determined to sabotage her mother's relationship so she can return home, especially after the parents float the idea of having the family name of "Lucky" after they get married. Mia, who is in middle school, also has a positive attitude, and gets along well with Annie. When school starts, Annie makes friends with Beth and Jeannie, and also captures the attention of cute Dylan. All students must be on a service committee, and Annie finds herself planning the fall fundraiser... at the family home! Sadie, who grew up in Grey House with her wealthy grandparents, the Randolphs, doesn't seem to want to connect to the community, and allows the fundraiser to be held only if parents aren't invited. Leela sees this as a way to turn her mother against the idea of being in Lost Bluff, and lies to Annie. Big plans are made quickly, and Sadie and Josh both say they don't need to be involved. When emotions run high on the night of the fundraiser, and Mia runs off, will the siblings be able to work together to make things right? This ends on an astonishing cliff hanger, and I can't wait to hear more about the adventures of these two families. 

Strengths: I am constantly complaining that publishers don't do market research into what actual twelve-year-olds want to read, and I am not surprised that Scholastic actually DID look into this! There's a great note at the beginning of the book about the NEXT series, and there are so many good elements here. Fifteen-year-old main characters, family drama, light romance, and some illustrations to appeal to readers who have been raised on graphic novels. This reminded me of a not-so-nasty version of Sweet Valley High, and is everything my students want in realistic fiction. While the Luxenberg father is dead, the book isn't about processing grief over his passing; it's about putting on a party, and reminded me a bit of Donna Parker Takes a Giant Step (1964). This is what young adult books SHOULD be-- realistic problems, flawed but generally positive characters, supportive but irritating families, and light romance. Will probably buy two copies, since I like to have an extra first book in a popular series. 

Weaknesses: There were text messages between some chapters, but I couldn't quite figure out who was writing them. Given the huge popularity of Greenwald's TBH series, my students don't have the same aversion to texts that I do. The advance copy didn't have all the pictures, so I will be interested in seeing the finished version. Then ending was a bit of a slap in the face, but it also made me VERY interested in reading the next book!

What I really think: If you are hosting a Scholastic book fair, ask for a case of these! Soontornvat and Mlynowski also worked together on the Best Wishes series, and each have a nice list of books on their own (I still adore Mlynowski's 2010 Gimme a Call), but this combination is magical. Sure, Soontornvat's 2021 A Wish in the Dark won some awards, but The Luckie will be the kind of book that readers will wish they had bought and saved. Reading it was just such a relief after a plethora of dark, depressing middle grade books! 

Chase, Paula. Off Balance (The Heights #2)

October 20, 2026 by Wednesday Books

ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central 

Chyna, Leesh, and Selena are recovering from all of the drama in Balancing Act that caused upheaval in their home life, school, and gymnastics team. Chyna is now living with the Swansons, a radio show power couple in Diamond City who are parents to Leesh. Leesh, who is used to a privileged lifestyle, is angry that she has to share her parents, and is not happy that Chyna is so good at gymnastics. The online rumor monger, Hot Lipz, still knows a distressing amount about what is going on at their high school, but no one can figure out who is posting. The investigation into the Winston Prep athletic field fire is ongoing, but it is soon clear that Spencer and his friends were behind it, not the students at other, predominantly Black, schools in the city. This is somewhat of a relief, but also intensely irritating, because of the racism involved. Leesh is still dating Jamal, and Selena is still dating Pierre, and there is still some concern about the whereabouts of Chyna's aunt and the state of the Swanson's marriage. The focus shifts to gymnastics when a big competition, the Pinnacle, is being held at Hughes College, an HBCU that is trying to encourage athletics in struggling inner city schools. Leesh gets pulled from competition by the coach because she is already on the fast track to success because of her parents, but Leesh's aunt pressures the coach into including Leesh. The reason? There is a new Bet on Black network television showing coming out, The Hill, that features gymnastics and basketball, focusing on stars Leesh and Jamal. There is an explosive trailer for the show that makes everything clear, since both teens had to sign NDAs and couldn't tell their friends. Selena's anger at Leesh grows; in addition to taking her spot at the Pinnacle and not telling her about the television show, Leesh has hidden the fact that Spencer's family has asked the Swansons to get him into The Heights after being expelled from Winston Prep. Since Spencer had harassed Selena horribly at a previous school, she no longer feels safe. The show causes all sorts of problems, and Leesh sinks to a new low. The is plenty of relationship drama, friend drama, and celebrity drama all layered with current sociopolitical and racial struggles, and the story promises to continue as Leesh moves into the Heights dormitories!

Chase does such a good job portraying the social struggles that sometimes overshadow sports, and throws in tantalizing views of celebrity life. Leesh knows that her parents' standing as top radio show hosts gives her unprecedented luxury, but she balks like any other teen when this is threatened in any way. The idea of a reality show ties together all of these topics, and combines them with the drama of selecting limited participants with competitions, as well as a little romance. 

The exclusive Heights campus, as well as the impressive Hughes College facilities (funded in part by the Swansons!) offer a tantalizing glimpse at a way of life that contrastc sharply against other schools in the area as well as living situations like Chyna's. While Leesh is a little clueless about her personal privilege, she does understand the importance of education and of colleges like Hughes and high schools like The Heights. Spencer's change of schools was intriguing, and his relationship with Leesh will probably be discussed more in the next book. 

This is more of a young adult book, given the length and level of complicated drama, and there is some more mature language as well as hinted at sexual activities. I would have loved to see more of the details of the gymnastics competitions, since it is so hard to find novels that include gymnastics, but the social media postings of Hot Lipz, as well as the hidden identity of this character, takes up more of the plot. 

Readers who enjoyed this author's Del Rio Bay Clique series will enjoy this title and look forward to the third installment of the series, and fans of Randy Ribay, Carl Deuker, Sarah Henning, Candace Buford, and DeAndra Davis will find the competition at The Heights fascinating. 

The Secret to Belonging

Freeman, Megan. The Secret to Belonging

September 15, 2026 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

In the 1980s, the narrator (who is unnamed, since the book is told in second person point of view) dreams desperately about going to college, since her home life is centered around her brother, who is addicted to heroin. Her parents always make excuses for him, and blame others for his actions. Finally, he gets himself in trouble that they can't solve without taking the college fund the narrator was left by her grandfather. Realizing that she won't be able to break free, she decides to become an exchange student, and gets matched with a family in Norway. She goes to the country in the summer, takes some intensive language courses, then goes to live with a family with two younger children. They are happy and supportive, and she does well in school. She has a boyfriend, and is glad to be away from her family. There is some drama with her friends from back home, and her relationship with the boyfriend also has its ups and downs, but when she is called back to California suddenly, she realizes that her family doesn't care as much about her as she needs them to, and she must decide where her place in the world is. 

This novel in verse is very compelling, but also very much a young adult book. There is more mature language, a little drinking, and more than several mentions of sex. The author spent a year on exchange in Norway in the 1980s, and this is crystal clear. The emotions of going away on one's own, and the casual way in which teens during that era were allowed to solve their own problems, made me nostalgic, since I spent a year in college in Greece. High School readers will be amazed at the differences, but will also enjoy this story about finding one's path. I won't be buying it for my middle school library, but would buy it for a high school library where verse novels are popular. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons' Film Nerds and Framed

Warren, Sophia. Film Nerds

September 29, 2026 by G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ami (that's AH-mee) and her friend Ivy have enjoyed each other's company for a long time, and like to get together in Ami's treehouse to film their movie. As middle school starts, they are assigned to different teams, so rarely see each other. Ivy seems to have friends in her classes, so Ami's lies about the things that she does with her time, even though she eats alone in the school library, thanks to an understanding Mrs. Hassan. Ami's classmates have been together for a while, and she doesn't want to insert herself into their groups, especially since she has had a tendency to blush in class and has gotten the nickname "Tomato". When she is assigned a class project about Egyptian deities with Karan, Abby, and Em, she enjoyed being part of a group and having people to talk to, even though they all blow off a study session at her house and she ends up making the group poster on her own. Feeling emboldened by her new social group, Ami asks Ivy if she can enter their film in the talent show. Ivy says absolutely not, since she thinks the film will embarass her in front of her crush, Peter. Ami shows the film anyway, and Ivy pulls out the flash drive halfway through the showing to the entire school. Afterwards, Ami is depicted as having a fog around her head in this graphic novel. She stays home from school and doesn't care about anything, even when Cleo mentions that she like to do stop motion clay animation films. Eventually, she talks to her older sister, Sasha, about all of this when Sasha is home from college. Sasha encourages her to talk to Ivy, and the girls iron things out. Ami also confides in her mother for support. Eventually, Ami is in a better place where she is brave enough to east in the cafeteria after thanking Mrs. Hassan for letting her eat in the library. 

Strengths: Oh, the dreaded schedule. It's always hard when students are in classes without their friends; it's one of the reasons I'm not a huge fan of our 6th grade teaming. That said, when I was in 7th grade and my friend Jenny stopped talking to me, I had every single class with my friend Lori, and we became very close! Ami struggles in a realistic way, and isn't quite sure how to change things. The depiction of the group project will speak to anyone who has ever done more than their fair share of work when assigned to a bunch of slackers! I loved that Sasha and the mother were supportive when Ami finally asked for help. 
Weaknesses: It was somewhat difficult to read the parts of the book that were the girls' film. The story within a story format is never a personal favorite of mine, so younger readers with stronger eyesight won't mind this at all. Also, I'm still not understanding school librarians that have room for students to eat lunch there. Anyone trying that in my library would find themselves in the middle of classes! 

What I really think: The one unforgiving rule about middle school is that it's highly likely that you will lose at least one friend. I will purchase this, because it has a realistic and helpful look at how friendships can change. Hand this graphic novel to fans of Vivat's Frazzled, Scrivan's Nat Enough, and Libenson's Invisible Emmie.

Evans, Karina and Bell, Andrea. Framed

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

Toby is very crabby and fights with Mrs. Moore the art teacher during class. She is assigned a lunch detention that she has to serve with Layla and Reed. The supervising teacher steps out briefly to the playground to deal with an issue there, and Toby talks reluctantly to the other kids, who discuss why lunch detentions aren't really helpful in curbing undesirable behavior. After the teacher comes back, Mrs. Moore enters and accuses Toby of putting all of the other students' art in the trash, since she had put her own picture there, and schedules a meeting with her parents. Toby is even more angry, but Layla and Reed offer to help her investigate and find the real culprit. The trio travel around the school, evading authorities, and finally solve not only what happened to the paintings but also why Toby is so angry. 

I had a lot of doubts about whether the children would be allowed to skulk around the school; we take attendance very seriously in my school, and about five minutes after the three skipped class, there would have been an all call on the announcements having them report to the office, and the school resource officer and principals would have been around checking bathrooms and security cameras. Oddly, I was perfectly fine with Evans' Audrey Covington Breaks the Rules where the main character and her grandmother are on the loose in Hollywood with a golf cart. 

This would be a good book for elementary school readers, since the reason for Toby's anger and acting out is that her parents are getting divorced. The way that everything is handled seemed more appropriate to younger students, so I will probably pass on purchase, but would definitely take a look at this one for an elementary library. 

Guy Friday- Second Generation Blues

Anta, Julio and Dryer, Red. Second Generation Blues

September 29, 2026 by HarperAlley

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Luis Menendez spends most of his free time working at his parents' Havana Express restaurant with his Tio Pedro. Things aren't going well; his mother is meeting with new distributors and his father has had words with the landlord. When Luis makes suggestions to help the business, like signing up for online apps and having an internet presence, his father yells at him. Luis wants to be a music journalist, and has a lot of views on one of his posts about a street busker. A representative of Hype Media actually e mails and asks to see his work, and eventually offers him an internship. Even though he would really like the opportunity and thinks it would look good on college applications, Luis turns it down. He also starts dating a customer, Yara, on the sly. Her family roots are in Puerto Rico, but her father has done very well on the stock exchange. They've moved back to Queens for the Latine culture. Yara is understanding when Luis explains how angry his father gets when he does anything except work at the restaurant. After his father finds out about Yara and forbids Luis from hanging out with her, Luis decides to attend the Summer Sound Music Festival and accept the internship. His parents track his phone and find him, dragging him home. Yara isn't happy that Luis wasn't completely forthcoming with her, and Luis decides to just put his head down and do only what his father wants. When he learns that the landlord is close to evicting them, Luis works with his uncle to get the restaurant signed up on delivery apps. Business booms, but his father still isn't happy. Is there any way that Luis can meet his father's demands and save the business?

Strengths: I loved the illustration style of this; it made it seem much older than middle grade graphic novels. There's something about the characters being leaner and more angular instead of rounded that someone seems more "teen". This is an excellent "windows and mirrors" book; readers whose own family immigration stories happened generations ago will develop a new understanding for how difficult it was for their ancestors to come to a new country for a better life, and readers who may themselves have some from elsewhere will feel less alone if their parents are also demanding. As a Gen X'er the father's reactions seemed fairly normal. Why would Luis have fun when he could be working? It was interesting to see him balance his own desires while trying his best to make his father happy. I'll definitely purchase a copy. 
Weaknesses: While this is absolutely appropriate for middle school readers, it does have a teen level of angst that elementary students might find repetitive. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like to learn about the tension over expectations in some immigrant families and enjoyed books like Yang's Front Desk, Chari's  Karthik Delivers and Kuo's In the Beautiful Country. While Luis is in high school, I think this will have more appeal to middle school readers than this author's Frontera. 

True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum

Subity, Sam. True Crime Files: Heist at the Museum

October 6, 2026 by Sourcebooks Explore

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Charlie's father is a professional gemologist who works at the American Museum of Natural History in 1964. After the death of his mother, Charlie spends a lot of time wandering around the museum with his younger sister Julie while their father is busy working. At one point, Charlie hears several men talking about stealing some of the jewels that are on display, including the Star of India. Charlie shares these concerns with Mr. Hoffman, the security guard, but no one is too worried. Mr. Hoffman doesn't try to completely disregard Charlie's information, and lets him know that rainy nights are often preferred for breaking and entering. When the weather turns, Charlie sneaks out of his bed and goes to the museum in the middle of the night. He sees the men, who are trying to cut through the glass. They managed to evade the security sweep, and Charlie doesn't see how he can stop them! He tries to find something in the men's coat pockets, but can only locate a hotel matchbook. The men smash the glass and get away with the jewels. Charlie goes after them, rappelling down the side of the building on a rope and almost falling to his death. One of the thieves, Murf the Surf, saves him. Charlie passes out and is found on the floor the next morning by Mr. Hoffman. The police finally listen to him, and the thieves are apprehended because a hotel clerk also had suspicions. THe most valuable jewels were recovered, but not all of them were!

Strengths: Middle school students often ask for true crime books, but I don't like giving them anything too gory; art and jewel thievery is perfect! I appreciated that the end of the book included information about how bad security was back in the day, biographies of the thieves, details about the jewels, synopses of other major museum heists, and a timeline of events of 1964. Including fictional middle grade characters in historical events is not without precedence; London's Search and Rescue: Pentagon Escape has a character visiting his father at work on 9/11. This is a nicely short book, and would be a good inclusion for a middle school or elementary library. 

Weaknesses: Given the title, I thought this would be a nonfiction book, but the focus on Charlie's involvement made it fictional. A nonfiction account from the point of view of Murf the Surf would have been interesting. It was completely unnecessary to the story for Charlie's mother to have passed away. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who have enjoyed Tom Sullivan's The 500 Million Dollar Heist or Marino's Escape From Alcatraz.