The Librarians

Thomas, Sherry. The Librarians
September 30, 2025 by Berkley

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

I'm never surprised when the demographic for whom I usually review (middle graders, age 10-14) want murder  mysteries, because there are so many adult novels in this category. And what better mystery than one set in my own profession? I've enjoyed a fair amount of cozy mysteries set in libraries, so The Librarians looked like fun.

Hazel, whose husband has passed away, has lived abroad for many years but comes home to Austin, Texas to take care of her NaiNai. Her grandmother doesn't want her underfoot, so lets her know about a clerk job at the local library. It's a good fit, and Hazel impresses the other staff members. Someone from her past shows up, there's an altercation between patrons, and before she knows it, two people are dead. The ensuing investigations uncovers secrets that nearly everyone on staff has, especially Hazel. 

This was an interesting story, but had a lot of coincidental international connections that seemed a bit implausible to me. I guess I was hoping for something a bit more boring and midwestern. If you're a fan of book related murder mysteries for adults, though, you'll want to check this one out! 

Select Your Own Story

Whether they are the original Choose-Your-Own-Adventures or Pick-Your-Path Adventures, there is something appealing about books with multiple story lines. I think these are riding a wave of nostalgia as parents who read this in the 80s and 90s have kids of their own; the original 1979 Cave of Time by Edward Packard is being rereleased as well. Have to admit that I have no memory of this, although it looks like something my brother might have picked up, if he read books! 

Collins, Tim and Wood, Steven (illustrations)

Traitors in Space: A Pick-Your-Own-Path Adventure 

August 26, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

This starts with an illustrated list of the many characters onboard a space craft that has just traveled to the moon Titan and is heading back to Earth with samples.They are all ready to head into cryosleep for the journey back when the ship detects as alien life form aboard. This is similar to the time Mission 13 was besieged by aliens, but that ended in tragedy. The characters must work their way through the crew and test to find out who are aliens. There are a lot of puzzles involved, and the answer to these are provided at the back. Since I was reading this on an e reader, there wasn't a good way to choose which path I wanted to travel and go to that page, so I read this linearly. I wish I had counted how many different endings there are (apparently 20). I had a few of these titles when I first started in my library years ago, but they have been weeded on poor condition. This would be a good one to purchase if there is an interest in this format. It's impossible to say more about this in the way of plot because there are so many, so here is the publisher's description:

Catch the aliens before they catch you in this exciting extraterrestrial choose-your-own-adventure featuring illustrated puzzles perfect for fans of the Among Us game.

Imagine you are a brilliant young scientist who has been chosen for a research mission to a distant planet. On your way back to Earth, you are woken early from cryosleep by the ship’s computer. It has detected an alien lifeform, but you don’t see any sign of one.

You look at your fellow crewmates and wonder if one of them has been taken over by an alien intelligence. Can you work out who can be trusted and who the aliens are before they take over your mind too?

Approximately twenty illustrated puzzle missions are woven into the narrative at key turning points for full immersion in the story. Featuring twenty potential endings, gripping plot twists, and atmospheric illustrations, this alien adventure is truly out of this world.

Packard, Edward. The Cave of Time (Chose Your Own Adventure #1)
August 5, 2025 by Choose Your Own Adventure
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Like other E ARCS of Choose Your Own style books, this did not allow me to skip ahead to other pages; I had to read it linearly, which took a lot of fun out of it. The best I could manage was that one path through the Cave of Time took me to a medieval kingdom, one to the days when mammoths roamed the earth, one to space, and one to the Titanic. The most fun scenario was a beautiful house in California with a screen that allows you to watch any movie or program of your choosing! Yes, in 1979, that would have been magical. You could even play games or read books and magazines. I also liked the idea that since 2037 (it's the year 2062), no new roads have been built, only bike trails, paid for by taxes on gas. There are also paths that take you to London in 1940, and one where you get to help build the Great Wall of China. Meeting President Lincoln is another possibility, as is ending up in the year 3742. I lost count of how many different endings there are to the stories; probably at least twenty.

I liked the format of this more than others; it seemed like most "chapters" were contained on one page, which made sense when choosing a direction. Paul Granger's artwork (especially of the king and knights) was very much of its time; think Time for Timer meets Mad Magazine.

Oddly, I never thought of these books as "game books" until I started looking into the history of this series. It's fascinating that they are reissuing this original title. Chooseco has continued to turn out these titles; I even read Bart King's Time Travel Inn back in 2021.

These are not my cup of tea; I dislike games, and feel a need to make every single choice in the book. If you have a similar reader, this would be a good investment; this could last for an entire vacation. I haven't had any of these books in my library for a while, but since this is being reissued with the original cover art, I think I have to buy it. After all, people like me who were 12 in 1979 are soon going to be... grandparents of middle school students!

MMGM- Breaking the Ice and House with No Keys

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Blitt, Natalie. Breaking the Ice
September 2, 2025 by Scholastic Press
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

8th grader Harper has a job serving cocoa at the Sweet Shack in the local ice skating rink, the Skatium. She used to be on the girls' hockey team, since her grandmother and mother were obsessed with hockey and her older brothers all played, but after an incident in a game, she won't even go on the ice. This poses a problem when the owner of the rink asks her to participate in a mentorship program. Jason D'Andre, a prominent tween pairs skater, has moved to town and will be helping out, but Harper is still reluctant. It takes the insistence of eight year old friend Bronte to get Harper to acquiese, and even then, she refuses to actually get out on the ice. Jason is not only at the rink, but also enrolls in Summit Middle School. When Harper finds out that the two live in the same neighborhood, they walk home together. Jason has his own issues with skating, and is not fond of the attention that his skating has brought him. Harper's best friend was Bea, but she was involved in the incident that took Harper off the ice. Bea's brother, Brian, has been very mean to Harper ever since. When Bea insists that Harper come to her birthday party, there's a snafu with the cocoa, but the two have a heart to heart talk and make up. Harper is enjoying the mentorship program, but is anxious when she thinks she has caused Bronte to injure herself. Eventually, Harper and Jason talk about their issues with the ice, and decide to try to help each other out. They are good friends, but as they spend more and more time together, they become fonder and fonder of each other. Will they be able to return to the skating that they love, and will they be more than friends?
Strengths: I'm trying not to spoil some of the plot twists here, but yes, the two start dating... after Harper asks Jason out! Loved that part! I also appreciated that they really did start out as friends, had a lot in common, and talked to each other for support. It's also fun that Harper is a hockey player with deep ties to the sport, and Jason is a figure skater, since it's often the other way around. Bronte is an interesting character to have, and Harper trying to be a positive role model is great. I'd love to see more tweens mentoring slightly younger kids. Both Harper and Jason seemed like they were high schoolers (especially since Harper has a job), and the illustration style on the cover is similar to some of the Young Adult titles I have seen, which will encourage even 8th graders to pick this up. This was a generally positive story with no dead relatives, a new kid in town who is fairly well adjusted, and a supportive sports environment. The budding romance is super sweet and involves a kiss. I would love to see SO MANY more stories like this. 
Weaknesses: Kids today. They whine a lot. While this is completely on trend for whatever this younger generation is called, it makes an old person like me want to slap them a tiny bit. Blitt's titles are solid middle grade stories, but often seem to get stuck in some kind of publishing purgatory. This came out as Cocoa Crushes about 2020, but maybe only through Scholastic book orders. I also couldn't seem to get a hold of a copy of Carols and Crushes. Scholastic's WISH books are so popular with my students; I don't understand why they are so hard to get for my library. 
What I really think: If I can find a prebound copy of this, I'll definitely purchase it. I've bought some paperback titles because I couldn't get them any other way, but for whatever weird reason, my students are reluctant to check out paperbacks! Fans of Suzanne Nelson's and Taylor Garland's WISH titles will drink this one up like a cup of hot chocolate with marshmallows! 

Currie, Lindsay. The House with No Keys (The Delta Games #2)
September 30, 2025 by Sourcebooks Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Sarah and her friends West and Hannah are back after their thrilling adventure in The Mystery of the Locked Rooms. The Deltas are still helping William out at the house, especially since he has started hosting birthday parties, but he seems oddly tired and distracted. When the group is at a local coffee shop, they get an invitation to C.K. Goodson’s Mystery Mansion. This new venue, only twelve miles from William’s, offers them a challenge with a $10,000 prize. Each of the kids has a use for the money. West wants to apply to the exclusive private school, Everblake. Hannah wants to take ballet lessons again, but because she dropped out, her parents want her to pay. Sarah’s family is still struggling with her father’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and extra cash would mean she wouldn’t have to work as much but would still have some pocket money. The Deltas also are ALWAYS up for a new escape room. This one looks challenging, and the group even has to sign a waiver to participate, which is fairly standard, so they give it only a cursory look. They have to leave their phones and bags, which is a little concerning, but the puzzles start right away with rhyming clues. They have to choose their route, and decide on the shortest one, which is probably the most challenging. They have to solve word puzzles, deal with magnets, and even have to fish! There are tunnels, an Egyptian room with sand, and a lot of similarities to the designs that the Steins created for William’s house. Throughout the process, the kids have moments of sharing their experiences; one room even asks what their desires are, and West mentions really wanting to go to the private school, and Hannah wants to resume ballet. Sarah, however, lies and says she wants a dog, when she would really like West to be her boyfriend and is afraid of losing both of her friends to their new activities. There are clever moments, like figuring out how to finish a go-kart race at the same time, and getting out of the infinity room. Even though they escape in time, things don’t end they way they want them to. Who is the C.K. Goodson, and how has she REALLY developed her puzzles? Can the Deltas figure this out and save William’s business?
Strengths: Like the first book in the series, this is quite well constructed; I can only imagine the wall of maps and sticky notes that go into planning this intricate plot. The personal challenges that the kids face are realistic and developed throughout the story, giving some background structure to the escape room activities. These are all very fun and clever, just like in the first book, and have plenty of perilous moments with the lights out, potential drops into water, and some evil antics by C.K. Goodson.
Weaknesses: It took me a while to remember Sarah’s name, and since she’s the narrator, it’s not mentioned right away. Also, I can’t really explain how much I personally hate games. I couldn’t help but think that the children would be spending their time better doing robotics, ballet, or working!
What I really think: While I am not a fan of puzzles (just yesterday, a student brought the graphic novel version of Mr. Lemoncello’s Library to show me, and asked me to solve a rebus!), many of my students are. Currie’s horror books have a HUGE fan base in my library, so I’ll definitely purchase this sequel for them, as well as for readers of Richards' Survive this Safari, Gerber’s The Liar’s Society, Cavalancia's Mystery Royale, Hunter, H. D. Futureland series, Brandt's Exit Nowhere. and Reese's Puzzleheart.    

All the Things We Found

Levy, Joanne. All the Things We Found
September 16, 2025 by Orca Book Publishers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

**Spoilers**

Ruth loves hanging out with her best friend, Jenna, and her golden retriever, Izzy, playing a game based on their favorite book series, The Unicorns of Faravelle Forest. It's a welcome break from the stress of being at home with her new stepfather (StepBrad) and his teenage sons Christopher and Matthew. Her mother, who is a public health nurse, has been ill, and Ruth fears that she might have cancer. It's even worse when her mother informs her that she is going to have a baby. Three years previously, her mother lost a baby, and Ruth thinks that led to her parents divorce. She visits her brother's grave, and runs into an older woman she and Jenna refer to as Gertabeth, after one of the characters in their novels. Ruth is worried about her mother's health, and is afraid that her family will forget about her brother, especially since they are talking about renovations to the house that might remove the one scrap of rainbow wallpaper from his nursery, which is now Ruth's room. When in the park, Ruth finds a notebook that belongs to Gertabeth, takes it home, and reads it. It's notes on a murder, so she and Jenna take it to the police. It turns out to be notes for a book, and "Gertabeth" turns out to be Ally, the author of Ruth's favorite series. Not only that, but Ally is one of her grandmother's best friends. Ally is a sympathetic ear for Ruth's concerns about her mother's pregnancy, and Ruth finds out that the reason that an eighth book in the series has been delayed is that Ally's husband and coauthor has died and Ally is struggling with his loss. Ruth is seeing a therapist, Dr. Singh, and has a journal where she writes down her feelings, but still often feels like she is wearing a "sadness hoodie" that she can't take off. Things only get worse when (highlight for spoiler) Izzy has a seizure and dies. Ruth finally talks to her mother about all of her concerns with the pregnancy, and Ally starts writing and tells Ruth that the new book will be called The Broken Rainbow. We do see an epilogue with a happy ending, where Ruth and her new sister Iris are at the book launch for Ally's new title. 

Strengths: It's always fun to see fictional book series play a large role in children's lives, and how cool is it that Ruth's favorite author is one of her grandmother's best friends? I love that Ruth didn't believe that the autographed copy her grandmother gave her was really signed by the author. The depiction of a blended family is good to see; there are a lot of my students who are working through issues with new family dynamics, and it's not portrayed as widely as one would think. Everyone gets along, but there are some issues to work through. It was also a positive inclusion to have Ruth in therapy for her loss of a sibling, and since her parents divorced. Ruth has supportive people in her life, and just needs to remember to let them know when she needs help. 
Weaknesses: I loved Levy's more upbeat Let It Glow (written with Marissa Meyer), with its positive portrayal of senior citizens, but this is rather a "sadness hoodie" of a book. It is also a bit young for middle school; fourth grade is about the end of the age range for playing imaginative games, sadly. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like to read about family drama in books like Faruqi's Unsettled and Hitchcock's Flying Over Water. 

First published January 1, 1964

Things are tense here, with a ballott initiative for my school up in November. If it fails, the district will cut ALL the librarians. I will have to retire with 28 years of service. It's hard to think about reading new books being published in January 2026 and making orders for August of 2026 when I may not be here. 

Hence, comfort reading. I collected midcentury teen literature for a while, so have been hitting those titles hard. When I realized I didn't have a post for today (I'm scheduled through mid January 2026; things fall through the carcks), I thought I'd pop this one on. Haven't missed a day of reviewing since January 1, 2012. There is actually still a copy of this title on my library shelves. 

 

Cavanna, Betty. Jenny Kimura

William Morrow, January 1, 1964

Personal Copy

Jenny Kimura Smith lives in Tokyo with her mother, who is Japanese, and her father, who is an American who is a banker. Their home is a mix of Japanese and Western furnishings, and Jenny Kimura has grown up speaking both languages. When she turns 16, she is sent to Kansas City to visit her father's mother, Mrs. Smith. It is a tense experience, and talking to a brash, older American woman on the plane makes Jenny worry more. Her grandmother seems nice, and has a large house with a pool. Leona, a Black woman, "lives in" and works for Mrs. Smith, cooking and cleaning. She is often referred to as a Negro, because that was the polite convention when this book was written in 1964. Mrs. Smith is much different from Jenny's other grandmother, who is described as older and more worn, even though she is two years younger. Mrs. Smith swims, golfs, and gardens, and is very involved in various community activities like being a Gray Lady at the hospital, being in garden club, bridge groups, and charity committees. There is a party for young people in the area to meet Jenny, and Alan asks Jenny out to various places like the drive in movie, and even a family wedding. Jenny wears her kimono, since it is a special occasion, and this embarrassed her grandmother, who thinks that Jenny is calling attention to herself. Alan remains attentive even after his mother makes a few comments that make Jenny feel she does not approve of her relationship with Alan. When Mrs. Smith and Jenny go to Cape Cod to visit Jenny's cousin Dick (whose father died in the war, apparently in hand-to-hand combat with a Japanese soldier), Jenny learns a few more things about her family. She also meets George Yamada, who was born in an internment camp, and whose family lost their farm. Her grandmother doesn't seem to like her hanging out with George, and when Alan comes to visit, things are even more tense. When Jenny almost drowns in a boating incident, George comes to her rescue, and her grandmother seems more accepting. 

This was fairly progressive for the time; my father, who was seven when Pearl Harbor was bombed, was not overly fond of Japanese people until the end of his life. I can't imagine the prejudice in the early 1960s. Mixed marriages (another term from that time period) were very fraught. Mrs. Smith, even though she has several negative moments, does seem to care for her granddaughter, and is a decent person who is having trouble navigating a social situation she doesn't quite know how to deal with. Jenny understands some of the prejudice, but is certainly angered from time to time. While Cavanna was not Japanese, she did dedicate the book to someone with a Japanese name, so perhaps she drew on some personal experiences. 

The inclusion of light romance is not surprising, given Cavanna's other work. 

While there are many dated things in this book (Japanese women don't drive, Leona is a problematic character from today's perspective), it is a hugely interesting slice of life from a different perspective, and a valuable look at what life was like in the early 1960s. 

I can't even find anything much to be snarky about, and I did like the portrayal of the 62 year old Mrs. Smith as active and engaged! Modern middle grade authors should take note!

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze

Barnes, Derrick. The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze
September 23, 2025 by Viking Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Henson lives with his father, Deacon, in Great Mountain, Mississippi after the death of his mother. They have property, and grow grapes, so Henson is expected to pitch in with the work, even though he is a promising 8th grader who is playing on the high school football team. Menkah Jupiter, a younger boy whose father was killed in the military, works for Deacon as well. The father often tells the boys stories about Great Mountain's past, and the history of the formerly enslaved Black people who founded the town. The community is so invested in Henson's performance on the football field that when school starts, Henson gets a lot of breaks. The principal doesn't mind that he's late, and the cafeteria workers bring in steak for his lunch. Henson even attracts the attention of Frieda, an young activist in his grade on whom he has a crush. His friend Flowell supports him, since Henson stood up to the bully Punch for him years earlier. There are some problems in Great Mountain, and some controversy over the Midnight Marauders. Even though the town was settled by Augustus Owens, a Nigerian man who was enslaved by European traders, once white people found out about the town, they took land away from the native Choctaw tribe members. Now, there is an angry group called the Dem Delta Boys who use ugly and racist props and gestures to cheer for the Marauders team. During the first game, Henson is doing very well, and the public adores him. Halfway through, however, he gets news that Menkah has been beated by local law enforcement, and he leaves the game to be by his friend's side. This angers a few people in town, who demand that Henson return to the field. After visiting with Henson, Menkah makes a miraculous recovery, but the hospital is surrounded by sports fans who want Henson to return to the field. When Dem Delta Boys threaten them, help arrives in the OBF organization. The One Big Family is led by Shaka St. Louis and comprised of Black people who come to the aid of anyone who needs them. Henson is able to go home and have a quiet weekend with his father, having Frieda to dinner and learning that his father is in charge of a philanthropic foundation that gives away money to Black people and organizations who need it. Before the next game, there is a pep rally, that goes awry. Is Henson's athletic prowess something more supernatural than it seems at first?
Strengths: Great Mountain is an interesting town with a fascinating history that Deacon imparts little by little to Henson and his friends. While the team name and Dem Delta Boys are problematic, the general atmosphere is one of Black pride and accomplishment. The townspeople are very supportive of Henson; during the game that he has to leave, it is stated that 7,991 people support his decision, and the nine people who don't all meet with very bad events. The relationship between Deacon and his father is wonderful, and the two obviously care deeply for one another. Henson also has other people in his life who support him. This is definitely a fantasy book, and Henson clearly has some powers that help with his performance on the football field. Football helps to sell any story; I just wish this had a football on the cover! 
Weaknesses: While I loved how generally positive the stories, and the treatment of Henson, generally is, I was very confused as to where the book was going. The fantasy elements were there, but it was hard to take Henson's ability to heal seriously when it was followed by hoards of fans massing outside the hospital. I felt like I was missing some sub text about how we idolize sports figures. 
What I really think: Wilson's The Boys of Blur is the only other book I can think of that is anything like this. It's an interesting mix of Black history and magical realism, with a strong feeling of wish fulfillment. (Don't a lot of readers want to be this lauded as sports heroes?)

Zeyna Lost and Found

Khan, Shafaq. Zeyna Lost and Found
September 9, 2025 by Carolrhoda Books ®
E ARC provided by Netgalley

Zeyna's parents have come from Pakistan and are living in London in the 1970s. She loves taking judo lessons and secret horseback riding ones (she cleans the stables in exchange for the lessons, since her mother thinks they are too dangerous), and likes hanging out with her friends Mark and Robbie. When the news that the British Museum is negotiating to return the Shirin Jewel, a Ruby, to Iran, Zeyna starts to notice strange things in her neighborhood. She sees a man with a knife who drops a piece of paper with her street on it, and later someone breaks into the family's shed. Her parents are acting odd, as well, and suddenly decide to go to Bahawalpur for a cousin's wedding. When they arrive, Zeyna sees a man give her father a matchbox, and later finds a ruby in her mother's luggage. She and her sister Amina take it to a jeweler, where they find it is fake, but when detectives come looking for her parents, she and Amina must figure out what their connection to the jewel is, leading to exciting and dangerous adventures. 

Strengths: This starts with a map of the Hippie Trail, which Zeyna and Amina follow during their adventures. I'm enthralled, and rather want to take a deep dive into so many aspects of the trail! There should be more historical fiction set in the 1970s. This had the feel of an international Harriet the Spy in some ways, and was a good adventure with a side of exploration of culture and belonging. 
Weaknesses: Zeyna seemed rather young to successfully have as many adventures as she did. Something about the tone of this made me think that she was only imagining that her parents were involved. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like adventures to retrieve missing loved ones like Dasgupta's The Serpent's Secret or Eagle's equally British The Pear Affair. 

Split the Sky

Arnold, Marie. Split the Sky
September 9, 2025 by Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Lala Russell lives in Davey, Texas, a town known for it's stark racial divisions, with the north part being home to mainly white residents, and the south to Black ones. A local group, People of Color for Progress, have been protesting things like the display of the Confederate flag at Lala's school, and have funded a new apartment building in the north side of town. Lala is more interested in her music than in joining the Black alliance at her school. She and her brothers, Aaron and Arlo, are concerned that their father is dating the white owner of an art gallery, especially their aunt Janice is not fond of her. Lala occasionally gets "flashes"; glimpses into the future that her grandmother and deceased mother also experienced. Gray flashes can be changed, but red flashes cannot. When Lala gets a golden flash, her grandmother lets her know that this cannot be changed, because it is something that will happen for the good of the Black community. Since the event is a boy Lala's age being shot and killed by a white homeowner, she wants to change it anyway. In order to figure out which of three boys it is, Lala joins the Black Alliance and interviews the boys to try to figure out who is the one to be shot so that she can stop it. Wes wants to be a music therapist because he has a brother with Austism Spectrum Disorder, Ford works in a day care and is active in the protests for having the Confederate flags removed, and Alex is a violin player on whom Lala has a crush. To help her understand her abilities more, Lala's grandmother takes her to New Orleans, where they visit a "jump house", a place where the sould of dead children gather before their deaths can be avenged and they can move on. Back in Davey, the Faith and Honor division of the KKK is causing more and more problems, and on the day that the shooting is supposed to occur, fire is set to the new apartment building. Will Lala be able to change the flash that she has seen?

Strengths: Lala just wants to play her cello and get on with her life, but the reality is that she has a very special gift, and the world we live in is very troubled. Instead of just focusing on her music, she has to contend with seeing glimpses of troubling events and deciding what to do about them. It doesn't help that she feels her gift is responsible for her mother's death. Her grandmother is very supportive, and there's just enough information about how this gift is passed down through the family to help the reader understand without bogging the story down in details. Ripped from the headlines topics are important ones, and it's fascinating to see how racial inequity impacts Lala and the boys that she interviews. I especially liked that Lala is somewhat older, like Ayomide in this author's I Rise. 
Weaknesses: The ending, which I don't want to spoil, is really, really sad. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like the mix of fantasy and racial issues in McBride's Gone Wolf or  Shawl's Speculation. 

The Raven's Shadow

Spradlin, Michael. The Raven's Shadow
September 23, 2025 by Crossroad Press
E ARC provided by the author

It's 1824, and a fifteen year old Charles Darwin has made a difficult sea trip from England to the United States. His father wants him to visit this new country before beginning his studies at the prestigious Seaton Preparatory school. On the journey, he sees some odd things, such as a wound on the captain's neck, muddy footprints on the deck, and a pale man with red eyes lurking but disappearing suddenly. Relieved to be on solid ground, Charles makes his way to the home of the Harker family in Philadelphia, where he meets their daughter, Lenore, and their nephew, Edgar Allen Poe. Besotted by Lenore, Charles agrees to meet the family at the opera the next night, but on his way home is attacked. Luckily, he is saved by a young man from Indiana, Abraham Lincoln. Shaken, Charles invites Abe back to his boarding house for a meal, and since his father has already paid for the room, suggests that Abe stay with him instead of sleeping outside. Abe comes along to the opera, and afterwards, the three young men ask if they might walk Lenore back to the family home. This ends disastrously when Lenore is attacked and whisked off while the three are answering another call of distress. Edgar is particularly heartbroken, and guilt motivates the new friends to investigate the disappearance. Things become odd when Lenore appears outside a second story window begging to be invited in, but her dead body is found on the Harker's lawn. Even odder, someone is seen carrying her body away from the house! When chasing a suspected perpetrator, the three are trapped, but saved by General William Clark in a flying ship. They learn that the culprit is a shady Character called The Count, who is probably to blame for the death of Clark's comrade, Merriweather Lewis. When it seems likely that the Count will next appear in Washington, D.C., Edgar tells the Harkers that he and his friends are traveling there to see the Calhoun and Webster debate. Staying at the Spriggs rooming house, they meet a Haitian maid, Annabel. When Calhoun is attacked, he is saved by the shadowy "Mr. Smith" who ends up being Reynolds Van Helsing, who is also searching for The Count. When he collapses and is brought to the rooming house, Annabel informs Charles that Van Helsing has been attacked by a death walker and is in grave danger. Edgar must crack a code in Van Helsing's journal to learn more, and Annabel has strategies to deal with the vampires. Clark returns and flies the group to Monticello, where they meet Sally Hemming and Thomas Jefferson, where they learn about Lewis' death and the magnitude of the vampire problem. Back at the rooming house, Van Helsing's condition is worse, and he makes Charles promise to kill him if he succumbs to his injuries, and to deliver a letter to his son. Will Charles, Edgar, and Abe be able to thwart the death walker scourge so that the fledgling United States remains safe?

I was slightly apprehensive about putting these three historical figures together until I realized that they were all born within a month of each other in 1809! One of the really brilliant parts about this story is how cleverly historical figures were woven into a riveting action and adventure story. While I looked up a lot of people and events while reading, there is an appendix at the end of the book that would be very helpful in a print version of this title, so that readers could flip back and forth from the explanatory chapter notes. Another read would uncover even more references!

Young readers like things to HAPPEN in books, and this is a fantastically paced story. Starting with a treacherous sea journey that was so well described that I got a little nauseated, the action continues on shore with sneak attacks, suspenseful pleas from the malicious undead, and plenty of running around. To let our hearts stop racing, we get views of our main characters exercising their particular skills to plot the next adventure. I didn't know that Poe was particularly good at puzzles, although it's not a surprise that Abe is able to wield an axe to take down attackers. Darwin's narrative skills, and his interest in vampires as a species, are not a surprise!

The Raven's Shadow made me realize that novels for young men have really gone downhill since the introduction of Diary of a Wimpy Kid in 2007. I used to have sixth grader reading adventure titles like Dowswell's Powder Monkey (2005), Updale's Montmorency: Thief, Liar, Gentleman (2003), Lane's Death Cloud (Young Sherlock Holmes, 2010), and let's not forget, Somper's Vampirates (2006)! All of these incorporated history, adventure, and young teens navigating the world alone while beset by overwhelming obstacles that they survived through grit, determination, and not a few good punches! The Raven's Shadow even has some terrific Steampunk scenes-- who doesn't want to travel to Monticello to meet Thomas Jefferson in a flying ship?

Middle school AND high school fans of Spradlin's many terrific historical titles like the new Web of the Spider series as well as the older The Youngest Templar series (2008) will enjoy this deep dive into the history of the early 1800s, spiced up with a touch of garlic! It's worth hunting down this Macabre Ink/Crossroad Press title for readers who can't get enough exciting historical adventures.

Scarlet Morning

Stevenson, N.D. Scarlet Morning, Book 1
September 23, 2025 by Quill Tree Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Wilmur and Viola live in Caveat, a remote outpost that is far away from everything. The world has ben plagued by storms after a pirate massacre that have turned the seas to salt, so life is dreary. Their parents are dead, and they are cared for by Hestur, who tells them stories.  She has a book that tells of the Dickerson Sea, and Queen Hail Meridian who lived at the Palace Faire Distance. It was a pirate named Scarlet Morning who started the problems when she killed the queen in cold blood, which led to the Parliament ordering the death of all the pirates. Hestur tells the children that they must never let anyone get ahold of the book, which includes stories of the Icarus Band in 1912. Hestur has been gone for years, and the children have been subsisting on preserved eggs, so when a stranger comes to their house, they are wary, especially when she wants Hestur's book. Cadence Chase is the captain of the Calamary Rose, and claims that they are not pirates, but the children have doubts. Wilmur and Viola so desperate to leave Caveat that they make a deal; in exchange for the book, they will be transported away from their home and given a little money to start a new life. They have to sleep in a broom closet, but are thrilled at the variety of food on the ship. When they find that the book belonged to a man whom Chase killed, their concerns deepen. Dickerson Sea is an odd environment, and at one point, Viola falls off the ship and slips "between the cracks". She and Chase are marooned in an odd plane of existence, and have to fight to get back. Wilmur, in the meantime, in rescued by Queensmen, who took over governing after the death of the queen. After many adventures, the two end up in Wilder's Green, a bustling city, and reunite. Can Viola figure out what has really gone on in history and survive? This is the first book in a duology, so many questions are unanswered. 

Strengths: The author has a note saying that they worked on this book for 15 years, and given the style of the writing and the spin on the middle grade fantasy tropes, I was able to guess almost exactly how old the author is! The author, who has illustrated several books, includes some illustrations to support the story. There is a lot of good pirate lore, a well developed back story, and a huge number of quirky background characters, some with LGBTQIA+ representation. Hungry teens will appreciate the descriptions of the hearty pirate fare. Wilmur and Viola have a warm and supportive relationship, and their quest to find each other is touching. Cadence Chase is an especially appealing character. 
Weaknesses: At 432 pages, this is long for today's children, and fantasy writing styles have definitely changed since the early 2000s. I have very few readers who want fantasy that does not include a magical school, and pirates have always been a hard sell in my library, along with circuses. 
What I really think: This would be a good choice for fantasy readers who want to take deep dives into a world that felt like it was narrated in a Neverending Story (Ende, 1979) fashion, and had the dark feel of Sabriel (Nix, 1995). The pirates felt reminiscent of Avi's The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle (Avi, 1990 ) or Pirates! (Rees, 2003 ). I would not be at all surprised if Stevenson also read the work of Amelia Atwater-Rhodes (In the Forests of the Night, 1999), Christopher Paolini (Eragon, 2002), and perhaps a Scott Westerfeld title or two (The Secret Hour, 2004). 

MMGM- The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls and White House Secrets

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Coats, J. Anderson. The Unexpected Lives of Ordinary Girls

September 23, 2025 by Atheneum Books for Young Readers

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Life in Cold Creek, Colorado in 1910 is very regimented for young Stansislava. She must help out around the house, attend a kolo dance club, and attend church. Going to school and checking out books from the penny library in town are real treats. Her mother is unhappy that the family has had to move from Carniola (present day Slovenia), and spends a lot of her time praying and crying while her older daughter Stina (who is 23), takes care of the younger children, Mari and Domen. Two older brothers and the father work at the smelting plant. At the penny library, Stansislava checks out a book she thinks is King Arthur and His Knights, but is actually Katie Arthur at Knowlton College. She loves the story of young Katie, who is an immigrant just like her. She decides to start calling herself Sylvia, and asks her teacher about going to college. Sadly, when Stina decides to marry someone who is not Slovene and leaves home, Stanislava is no longer allowed to attend school, but must stay home to wash down the walls, change diapers, and do laundry. Refusing to believe that her future holds no more than children and household chores, she takes off to Denver and finds the boarding house where Stina lived. Unfortunately, she and her new husband have moved to Silver Valley, Idaho. Retreating to the local library to regroup, Stanislava is enthralled by the modern, free library, which is having an examination for enrolling students into a library training program. She meets a young Sloven woman, Jelena, whose mother in laws doesn't believe that the library is free. Stanislava helps explain to her how the library works. She stays at the library overnight, being very careful not to be found, and goes to the exam, only to be told she is too young. Miss Edwards, however, can use Stanislava's help in reaching out to the Slovene community, and also finds  Stanislava a place to live. She gets paid to accompany Anna to the mother's club meeting, which doesn't go well. Anna thinks that immigration is a "problem" and has brought civics books instead of picture books for the young. Her attitude and approach don't work, but Miss Edwards listens to  Stanislava's idea that a party would be a better tool for outreach. When Stina and her new husband show up,  Stanislava that she would rather stay in Denver with her new found family. The woman who runs the boarding house, Ursuala, helps Stanislava enroll in high school and work to pay for her room and board so that she can become educated and have a career. 

Strengths: This is the kind of historical fiction book that I absolutely adored as a tween reader; my favorite Wilder book was Little Town on the Prarie because Laura has a job. I grew up knowing that an education was all that stood between me and backbreaking work on a farm, since both of my parents came from agricultural backgrounds. Today's children don't have the same concept of how important an education is. The details of everyday life in 1910 are perfect; I was vaguely wondering why washing the walls was so important when Stanislava mentioned that the coal smoke made everything grimy! Perfect. The inclusion of a penny library, and of Katie Arthur at Knowlton College was also fantastic; I've read several books from this era through Project Gutenberg, and it's surprising to see how forward thinking some of the literature was. Oh! This was a little bit like Grace Livingston Hill's work, but without the heavy Christian themes. I would have absolutely worn out a copy of this when I was twelve, and it has enough adventure in it that I'm sure I can get readers who enjoyed Albus' A Place to Hang the Moon and Elliot's Bea and the New Deal Horse to read it!. 
Weaknesses: I know that terms like perjorative terms like "Bohunk" would have been used at the time, but it was uncomfortable to read. I could have used a few more descriptions of clothes and household furnishings as well, but that's just me! 
What I really think: The Margarita Kukhtina cover is brilliant, and this is such a fun read. While historical fiction isn't something a lot of kids ask for, there's always a few students who enjoy delving into the past, and I have just the reader for this. I have to admit that I sort of want to buy a copy of my own, and I rarely do that! 

Jarrow, Gail. White House Secrets: Medical Lies and Cover-Ups
September 23, 2025 by Calkins Creek
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Who knew that the presidents in the late 1800s and early 1900s were SO sickly!? Lucky for them, it was a lot harder to get information and to disseminate it! Even into the 20th century, reporters were more circumspect about what they let the public know. Who knows? Maybe the White House is still covering up the medical history of presidents.

It wasn’t 20th president James A. Garfield’s fault that he was stabbed at a train station by someone who wasn’t thrilled he was president, and it’s too bad that he suffered for such a long time. He was succeeded by Chester Arthut, who had Bright’s Disease, a kidney disorder that laid him low, but which was covered up. Right after them, Grover Cleveland battled a particularly nasty form of oral cancer that required extensive surgery and altered his whole facial structure, to the extent that there was some coverage in the papers. He managed to survive for 24 years, which is amazing, considering the primitive nature of treatment at the time.

Woodrow Wilson, the 28th president, had a stroke, but his wife and advisors covered it up. His successor, Warren Harding, had a personal physician in the White House because his wife Florence was poorly, but he himself had the flu and significant heart problems. We all know 32nd president Franklin Roosevelt’s struggles with polio; I know he wasn’t particularly nice to his wife, but you have to admire his work ethic, and how hard he strove to not be seen as weak at a critical time in history. He also had high blood pressure from his constant smoking.

In what I consider to be modern times (closer to my own lifetime!) we only have John F. Kennedy and Ronald Reagan whose health was compromised significantly, although there is a short discussion about President Biden’s challenges at the end of his term. Kennedy’s colitis and spine problems were significant, and did make the news occasionally, but he had such an air of health about him that I’m not sure people took them as seriously as they did. The press covered up a LOT for him, although knowing the extent of his medical problems, it’s bit surprising that he was able to participate in as many extracurricular activities as he did. Conversely, Ronald Reagan was seen to be absolutely ancient at 70, even though he was fairly active. He was the target of an assassination attempt from which he rebounded fairly quickly, but he also had problems with polyps and his prostate. Whether or not he had cognitive decline during the presidency is hard to determine, but he did finally succumb to Alzheimer’s at the age of 93, fifteen years after he left office.

Each chapter starts with a picture of the president and a short overview. The chapters are all detailed, but move fairly quickly. In addition to the effects of the health problems on the presidents, Jarrow does a good job of addressing the effects of the president’s ill health on the wider government and society. The addition of primary source political cartoons is excellent, and there’s a good timeline at the end of the book.

There are always a few middle school students who are obsessed with the US presidents, so this is a good choice for them, along with Spradlin’s Close Calls and Bausum’s Our Country’s Presidents. 

Happy Autumnal Equinox!

Wilson, Misty. Falling Like Leaves

September 2, 2025 by Simon & Schuster

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Ellis and her mother move to Bramble Falls, Connecticut to live with her aunt when her parents separate. Ellis is angry, because she was just starting her senior year in high school, and had an internship with her father's media company. She hopes to get into Columbia to study journalism, even though her true love is fashion, and she tells her parents that she is applying to the Fashion Institute of Technology as a "fallback choice". Ellis' cousin Sloane is a year younger, and introduces her at school, where she fits in quite well, even though she's planning on leaving by Thanksgiving. She gets involved in local events because her aunt is the mayor, and even gets a date to the dance with a cute, popular boy. The real drama comes with Cooper, however. The two were friends when Ellis spent time in Bramble Falls when she was younger, but Cooper feels she ghosted him when she moved to New York City, and is prickly about it. Their connection remains, and the two dance around whether or not they want to rekindle their relationship.

I loved Wilson's Play Like a Girl, and am always looking for Young Adult romances that will translate well to middle school students, like Pumpkin Spice & Everything Nice by Katie Cicatelli-Kuc, or Kasie West's books. This had a bit too much about college and career pondering, as well as several instances of more mature language, for me to purchase it for my middle school library. The cover of this is gorgeous, and it had the feel of a Hallmark movie with the added twist of teen snark, which I think will make this very popular with high school readers. I'd combine this with a pretty travel coffee mug and Starbuck's gift card for a fun present for an avid teen reader.

LaRocca, Rajani and Alwar, Abhi. Fall is For Beginnings

August 5, 2025 by Abrams Books for Young Readers

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

Ravi and Joe have been friends for a long time, and now that school has started, they are prepared for another new year of eating lunch together, especially since they are in the same class! They have Mrs. Murdock, and manage to sit together in her class. Strangely, an exuberant new student introduces herself and sits by Ravi as well. Ellie quickly insinuates herself into their relationship, claiming that she will be Ravi's best friend. Ellie often gets the two in trouble, and is a rather loud person who challenges Ravi, who ends up doing many new things because she is always pushing for new experiences. Joe is more amenable to this, even trying her beet salad, but Ellie's presence just wears on Ravi. When Joe and Ravi go as ice cream and a cone for the class Halloween party, Ellie dresses up as sprinkles "because we're best friends". This is too much for Ravi, who tells Ellie forcefully that she is NOT his best friend. Ellie slinks off, her feelings hurt, and Ravi starts to feel badly about the way he has treated her. Eventually, Ravi confides in his sister about how tired he was of Ellie, but how he didn't mean to hurt her feelings. Anita tells Ravi that she wasn't thrilled when HE showed up, either, but in the end, it was a good thing. Ravi and Joe apologize to Ellie and include her in all of their activities, and Ravi is proud that he is able to do new things. 

Friendship trios can be difficult to manage, but it's also hard to be a new student. Ellie's enthusiasm to befriend others is somewhat commendable, but Ravi's reluctance to include her in his activities with Joe is also completely understandable. It doesn't help that the two have very different personalities, and that Ellie's rambunctious nature would challenge the most understanding of youngsters. Joe doesn't seem to mind as much, but Ravi is much quieter. 

The artwork is fresh and innovative, and the characters are drawn with broad strokes, and there's a lot going on in the backgrounds. A lot of orange is used on the pages, making this feel very autumnal. 

Books are a great way to help young readers navigate difficult relationships. I can see this being a great choice for a class read aloud when there are friendship issues boiling over into classroom time. Keep this on hand along with Sarah's Big Friends, Jenkins' Tyler and Badger, Ness' The Hat of Great Importance, Elliott's Boar and Hedgehog, and Firth's Hector and Hummingbird for those times when friends get to be annoying! 

I have to say that I sided with Ravi on this one, and would not have made him hang around with Ellie! 

Henning, Sarah. Running Back to You

September 9, 2025 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Millie is in 9th grade, and has been having a hard time. Her mother lied to her and her twin brother James, and is no longer living with their father. This has made Millie very sensitive to lies. When she has a weird encounter with Owen in front of Logan, she lies about having been kissed and says she has a boyfriend. A video of her saying this goes viral, and she's devastated. Her best friend Hannah wants to help, so decides that if Millie can actually get a boyfriend and kiss him, all of the social reprobation will go away. Hannah decides the most likely candidate is Caleb, James' best friend. She comes up with a strategy, including color coded spreadsheets, to "get" Caleb to like Millie. This even involves both girls trying out for the track team, since Caleb is on it. Both girls find that they rather enjoy the sport, and Millie (who is 5' 10" and has taken dance) finds that she has a natural talent for hurdles. She tries to inveigle Caleb to help her train, but Logan steps in. He's actually very helpful, and Millie enjoys being with him, so she starts to forgive him for witnessing her humiliation. When the spring dance approaches, Hannah is sure that Millie has to get Caleb to ask her, but another round of misunderstandings jeopardizes both her relationship with Caleb, who seems to like her but in whom Millie has little interest, and with Logan, whom she really does like. Will she be able to clear up the misunderstandings? 

On one hand, I absolutely adored Logan, and loved all of the track details. I agree with the author that there should be a LOT more track books. Logan was so sweet, and he and Millie spend a lot of time practicing and then getting ice cream, which was delightful. We need more upper middle grade romances, so it's perfect that Millie is in 9th grade. 

On the other hand, I viscerally hated Hannah and her insistence that Millie "get" a boy. The scheming seems very 1980s or 90s; some of the cultural references also seem dated. (I'm not sure my students have any idea what The Breakfast Club or High School Musical are.) My students REALLY don't care what people think about them; I've had countless conversations about why it's impolite to, say, put on makeup in public, and my students cannot understand why this is a problem. I doubt any of them would care if someone asked them if they'd kissed someone, and they wouldn't feel a need to lie. 

Will my students like this? The issue with Owen and the video does have a feel of "Was My Face Red", so they might like to read about Millie's embarassment, and there's probably still some scheming to "get" people to like them, so they might. The cover is great. I'll  be curious to see what other librarians think. I would definitely have bought this in the early 2000s, but it just doesn't feel quite right in 2025. 

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Dream On

Hale, Shannon and Cespedes, Marcela. Dream On. 
August 26, 2025 by Roaring Brook Press
E ARC Provided by Netgalley

Fourth grader Cassie Carpenter is part of a close but large family that includes her and five siblings, some younger and some older. She is very talkative and anxious, and doesn't get as much attention from her mother as she needs. She has a good friend in Vali, but not that Stesha, a rather mean girl in their class, has lost her best friend, Stesha is playing Vali and Cassie against each other. It's even worse when her teacher, Mrs. Farmer, separates the girls during class, even though Cassie does start to talk to Tomas. Cassie occasionally hangs out with neighbor Trinh, but since she's a year younger, she's afraid people will make fun of her. She's tired of being called sensitive. When she sees an envelope in the mail that says she has won fabulous prizes, she fills it out, complete with stickers for three magazines, even though her mother says they can't afford the $19.95 to pay for them. She carries around the flyer and envisions what she will do with the money and trips, hoping that it will make things better around her house. The friend drama with Vali ramps up, and Cassie even calls Mrs. Farmer "weird" when talking to Vali and Stesha, which she regrets. She does apologize to her teacher, who is retiring at the end of the year and was once married to a prince! Cassie also starts to plan a retirement party, since she'll have the money from her prize. Even though there are some bright spots in her life, like going to the local buffett, there are so many sad things 9like her father being out of work and Vali's grandmother dying) that sometimes Cassie feels that there is no joy in life at all. Eventually, the guilt of the magazines and the friend drama overwhelm her, and she stays home from school and finally has a heart-to-heart with her mother. 

Strengths: This is based on Hale's personal experiences, including having a teacher who was married to a prince, so the story really rings true. Not many tweens come from families this large, and it's always interesting to see what that would be like. Friend drama is always a popular topic, and fourth grade can be particularly brutal. This was set sometime in the 1980s, I think, so there are some historical elements that will appeal to readers. The illustrations are bright and colorful, so this will fly off the shelves. 
Weaknesses: Middle school drama is slightly different from elementary school drama, so this will be more popular in lower grades, while this author's Best Friends and Real Friends more accurately capture the reality of friend drama for 11-14 year olds. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like graphic novels about anxiety and interpersonal relationships like Libenson's Invisible Emmie or Vivat's Frazzled. 

Guy Friday- Rocket Arm and Hut! Hut! Hike!: A Branches Book

Green, Tim. Rocket Arm
September 23, 2025 by HarperCollins
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Zeno Fyfe is heavily involved in the Junior Football League in Atlanta, and hopes to impress the high school coach, but he doesn't seem to acknowledge the incoming 7th grader's fantastic throwing skills. However, someone else does; Coach Lamb, of the International Sports Management Group sports boarding school does. Lamb is so impressed by Zeno's skills that he offers him a full tuition scholarship. This is great, since Zeno's father isn't a great businessman, and his restaurant doesn't do well enough for him to afford the $90,000 a year tuition. Lured by the idea of Zeno making bigs bucks even in college, with the Name, Image, Likeness opportunities, his father is completely on board. Before he knows it, Zeno is checking in to the school and meeting his beefy roommate, Archie Takowsky, who likes to talk about himself in the third person while letting toxic farts rip. Coach Pantz isn't thrilled with Coach Lamb, who was brought in because he knew someone on the influential board, and so is tougher on Zeno than he should be. Zeno's year starts out well; he has a crush on blonde volleyball player Rachel, impresses his advanced math teacher, and does well on the field. When a play goes wrong and he sprains his ankle, though he is worried that he won't be able to play until Coach Lamb "cures" his injury with a crystal and some "voodoo". Mentioning the miracle cure, but not calling it voodoo, during an interview causes Zeno's popularity to soar, and his father's restaurant's business to pick up. His father gets him an interview in New York City even though he doesn't get permission from the school. This causes some problems, but Zeno is more concerned with a crisis that Rachel is having. Her father is a gambler, and has recently lost so much money that it's doubtful that she can continue in the school. Her boyfriend, Tod Parrotte, an 8th grader who has been "reclassed" a couple of times (meaning that he is fifteen, but playing in a league for younger kids), claims that an ancestor of his was a pirate who had a treasure buried in the swamp near the Florida school. He's not willing to take the risk to help Rachel dig it up in the middle of the night, but a besotted Zeno IS.  He and Rachel spend quite a bit of time digging, finding empty boxes and little else. These late night forays don't help Zeno's football or academic ventures at all. After finding a chest with a note from 1805 claiming the rumors of a treasure are all a joke, a long with three gold coins, Zeno tells Rachel he is done. There is a football game in a storm that doesn't go his way because he is so tired, even though he plays better than expected. Coach Lamb, who has looked the other way, also runs into trouble, and Zeno doesn't speak up. Will Zeno be able to make things right so that he can continue at the school, or will he perish from Archie's toxic farts have to return home and miss the exciting opportunities the school has to offer? 

Strengths: This is middle grade sports wish fulfillment at its finest. Of course Zeno gets picked to go to a spectacular sports school. He's a great player, so his adult life will find him playing professional ball right out of college, getting huge signing bonuses, and making an enormous amount of money after going through college on a full scholarship. While I'm not a fan of selling this dream to my students, it will definitely get them reading! The buried treasure gave this a bit of a New Kid vibe, and I did appreciate the flawed by present parents, the crush on Rachel, and the fact that everything ended happily. The cover alone will ensure that this title is constantly checked out, like most of Green's happier football titles. 
Weaknesses: I could have done without the whole plot arc surrounding the buried treasure. It does lead to a satisfying conclusion, but I found it hard to believe that Coach Lamb knew about Zeno's escapades and allowed him to continue. Archie's severe flatulence didn't appeal to me, but will be a huge hit with the target demographic. 
What I really think: This is an even more exciting version of Whitaker's Snap Decision, where a younger middle schooler gets a chance to play on a high school team. The characters all read like they were in high school, especially Tod. This is a great choice for middle grade readers, who love to read about high school sports players. If you don't know about Tim Green's story, you should look into his new podcast, Nothing Left Unsaid. I'm assuming that he wrote this book by typing it with his eyes, in the same way he wrote Final Season, which is one of the few sports books that teachers AND students will like. There's enough sadness to make the football palatable to adults. 

Maraniss, Andrew and Tandon, Aishwary(illustrator)
Hut! Hut! Hike!: A Branches Book
September 2, 2025 by Scholastic Inc.

Nine year old Jasper loves to play living room football with his father, but when the two break a vase, the mother puts a stop to it. His friend, Mo Garcia, is not allowed to play football at all (his mother' thinks it is too dangerous, and rightly so!), so the two play a game with football trading cards. It's just not the same, so they ask their friend Ruby for ideas. She's seen a flyer for a flag football team being started by Coach Sanders at the community center. Over two dozen kids try out for a dozen positions. Jasper starts to realize that he doesn't know a lot about football rules, and outside of his living room, isn't a great player. Still, he and both of his friends make the team. They come up with their name, the Dart Frogs, and the parents lean heavily into this with t shirts and stuffed mascots. The friends, along with players like Nick, pay close attention to practice and have a big game against the Beagles. Things are looking dire, but Jasper manages to save the day and make the winning touchdown. The book ends with discussion questions and activities.
Strengths: The Branches series offers chapter books that are just perfect for emerging readers. The text is large, the stories simple but engaging, and the illustrations effective in helping to support the text. I loved that while Jasper thought he was so good at living room football, he didn't really know all that much about the sport and struggled when it came to playing in a league. It was also good to see that a number of girls, including Ruby, were on the team. Maraniss has done some fantastic work for older readers, like Strong Inside : Perry Wallace and the Collision of Race and Sports in the South, Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke, and Inaugural Ballers: The True Story of the First U.S. Women's Olympic Basketball Team, so it is very much appreciated that he has turned his talents to younger readers with titles like this and Beyond the Game: Maya Moore.
Weaknesses: I wouldn't have minded a tiny mention of why Mo's mother doesn't want him to play. Concussions in football are such a problem, and even the youngest readers should know about this danger before they become overly invested in the sport.
What I really think: There are relatively few beginning reader books about football, other than the Jake Maddox books and titles by David A. Kelly and Rich Wallace. In addition to a fun story, this had a lot of additional material about football rules, illustrations of the field, and player biographies that will get young readers up and running when it comes to knowing all about their favorite sport.  

Hurricane Heist (The Sherlock Society #2)

Ponti, James. Hurricane Heist (The Sherlock Society #2)
September 2, 2025 by Aladdin
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus 

After escaping an exploding yacht during their quest to find Al Capone's treasure in The Sherlock Society, siblings Alex and Zoe are back. This time, they are being chased by dogs and being threatened by a rhinoceros while trying to solve a 60 year old mystery. The aftermath of Hurricane Clyde has revealed a dead body at the Moroccan Hotel, and the group has a lot of motivation to solve the mystery. Their grandfather, Pete Lassiter, knew the victim and has been investigating his purported involvement in a jewel heist at the hotel on and off since 1964. Back then, young Pete was helping his father deliver supplies to fortify the hotel against another hurricane. Their friend Doc, whose real name was Ignacio, was a pediatrician who lived in Cuba and could only get work as the Bell Captain at the fancy hotel. When a movie, The Cat Strikes at Midnight, was being filmed there, real jewelry and artwork was used. After the hurricane, it went missing, but so did Doc. He was presumed to be the thief, especially since his car was found far away at Dulles International Airport, and a ticket to Europe was bought in his name. The CIA decided he was guilty, even though young Pete tried to prove his innocence, even contacting Edna van Buren at the Miami Herald to help him. Even though he couldn't close the case, it inspired his career as an influential investigative journalist. Now 73 and retired, when Doc's body is found, he provides the Sherlock Society, which includes Yada and Lina, with his 60 year old notes. The group also manages to find some of the original investigators at an area senior facility, and get lots of information from them. Combined with visiting various Florida locations to follow up leads, they are able to figure out who really stole the art. Even after so many years, however, someone wants to stop the society from uncovering the truth.
Strengths: Ponti's work is upbeat and fun even when dealing with a murder! Alex and Zoe's parents (an environmental scientist and a lawyer) are around to support their children, and Grandpa Pete drives them all over the area to investigate crimes while teaching them investigative skills. He even outruns Alex and has mysterious date nights. What great representation of an older character. I absolutely adored getting to meet him as a 12 year old just embarking on his career. He also takes the kids for fried food and rents and furnishes a storage unit for their office. This was so much better than having the children solve a mystery while grieving the death of loved ones. There are lots of details about Hurricanes in Florida, fun connections to 1960s heist movies and fancy hotels, and plenty of clues to follow. Starting a book with a chase scene is always a good plan. Ponti definitely knows how to write an engaging and exciting mystery!
Weaknesses: I'm torn about the level of detail in some of the explanations. While I enjoyed hearing details about hurricanes from Alex's scientist dad, fun facts about the BeeGees' musical inspirations, and investigative journalism techniques from Grandpa Pete, young readers might think this information slows down the story. Also, now I have Stayin' Alive stuck in my head!
What I really think: Middle school readers have an insatiable desire for murder mysteries that publishers do NOT seem to understand. While the Sherlock Society books don't approach the CSI style of investigation that April Henry's books do, they definitely appeal to readers who want their murders to be softened by intervening years while the investigation has plenty of excitement. Hand to readers who can't get enough of this author's City Spies books, Stuart Gibbs' Spy School series, or books like Tubb's Fowl Play or Gerber's The Liar's Society. Definitely purchasing.

 

Rewilding

Gerlits, Lisa. Rewilding
August 5, 2025 by One Elm Books
E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Joy Holderman and her brother Ian have had a hard time since their parents divorced. Their father isn't great about picking them up on time or following through with plans, and their mother is so depressed that she often doesn't make it out of bed in order to buy groceries or take care of the yard. The neighbors are starting to notice, and when Joy's best friend Char overhears Ian talking to the school counselor, Ms. Bertoli, Joy panicks about Children's Protective Services getting involved. When she is trying to do some lawn care  herself, she finds an injured bird and is afraid a neighbor's cat might kill it, so she brings it inside and tries to take care of it. When she panics that she has perhaps done the wrong thing, she consults a neighbor whose yard is rewilded, which many of the other neighbors do not like. Mrs. MacRury, or Ezzie, as she likes to be called, is not friendly at first, but does help with the bird. Joy and Ian spend time in her yard, and it is a welcome break from their troubles at home. Joy does laundry, cooks, and makes a list of groceries for her mother. She sees a "final notice" bill for the electricity, which is soon cut off, and the mother still isn't motivated to action. Joy texts her mother's friend, Simone, telling her that they are not okay, especially after she sees legal papers indicating that her father is seeking custody because of the "mental instability" of the mother. This is especially important, since long held secrets about the father's interaction with the children come to light. Will Joy and her family be able to find a way forward?

Strengths: Stories about parental abuse and neglect tend to circulate well in my library; my daughter was a big fan. She explained that the books made her feel better about her own life, and I see this played out frequently in my library, usually in the winter, when readers crave this kind of comfort. The Holderman situation isn't dire, but it's getting there. Joy is able to take care of Ian, and does not want anyone, even her friend Char, to know their business. There are supportive adults, like Ms. Bertoli and Ezzie, and that's always a good, hopeful inclusion in this type of book. The problematic behavior of the father is foreshadowed nicely, and the inclusion of gaslighting is something that doesn't show up a lot in middle grade novels. Ezzie is an interesting character, and I love that she is rewilding her yard. I've been working on my own property since I read Burns' The Hive Detectives, and thankfully my neighbors have all been supportive. It's an interesting and important thing for readers to learn about!. 
Weaknesses: The illustration style of the cover and interior pictures make this seem very young. It might be hard to get seventh and eighth grade readers to pick this up. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who are comforted by stories about children whose lives are worse than their own like Kalmar's Stealing Mt. Rushmore, LeZotte's Deer Run Home or Florence and Scrimger's The Other Side of Perfect.