June 9, 2026 by Random House Graphic
Copy provided by the publisher
Soledad is the "perfect" daughter, unlike her older sister Luna. Sol is driven and dedicated, and doesn't have time for nonsense as she pursues her academic and athletic goals, while Luna is distracted by silly things like boyfriends. Sol's best friend, Willie, has an important art project coming up, and she wants to support him, but she finds herself spending more and more time with her soccer teammates. One reason for this is that she has a crush on Lily. This sometimes makes it hard for her to focus on the soccer field, and occasionally trips her up. She doesn't want to talk to anyone about this, since she thinks it will ruin her image as a "perfect" student and daughter. There is some tension with Willie and her other friends, and when Sol falls asleep after school and misses Willie's art exhibit, it takes a while for the two to work through this. Sol eventually talks to Lily about her feelings, after confiding in Luna and getting advice from her, and the two are able to have a relationship and still play soccer together. We do see Santiago, from the first book in this series; he talks to the Hillside Valley kids on video chats and shows up to Sol's championship game in New York City because his girlfriend is the captain of the team Sol is playing. I'm curious to see where book three in the series might take us. Perhaps something from Willie's perspective?
Strengths: I've long said that there need to be more graphic novels about sports. Softball and soccer gets some representation; what we really need is football! The diverse ensemble cast will appeal to readers who like series like Libenson's Emmie and Friends, Chmakova's Berrybrook Middle School, or Miller's Click or Besties series. Mendez' illustrations are bright and colorful, and have a slightly older feel to them that will appeal to middle school readers. Romance has been something my students have requested a lot this year, and it never hurts to throw a crush or two into a middle grade novel. We see just enough of Sol's family to make her a well rounded character. I can see this being popular with graphic novel fans.
Weaknesses: It was hard to believe that Sol was so distracted by her crush; yes, romance is important to middle schoolers, but generally worry more about their sports careers. I did appreciate that the issue was not that Sol had a crush on another girl, but rather her feelings were interfering with her life. This is definitely where current middle schoolers are with LGBTQIA+ issues.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Speak Up, Santiago and want to know more about Hillside Valley, or who are fans of soccer books like Becker's Crushing It or graphic novels like BeKa and Maya's The Love Report.
June 9, 2026 by Candlewick
E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus
Jacq Dyer lives in Fathach, a city that has been hunting and killing giants for their bones and using them in building construction. This has been going on for over fifty years, and both of Jacq's parents were giant hunters. Her mother was killed when the Resistance sabotaged her helicopter, and her father now works at The Factory, where bones are processed. He is in charge of explansion programs. Jacq and her best friend Joe were selected to train to be giant hunters now that they are twelve, so head off to the Factory to study. There, they see a giant in a cage that they are supposed to ignnore. We also meet a young giant, Corman, who travels to the Healing Valley with his father and his pet groundling, Misneach, to get herbs to help his sick sister Clova. The two are attacked by helicopters, and the father dies. Corman befriends a forest giant, Foill, and is trying to get back home to Underhill when Jacq falls out of a helicopter and Corman catches and saves her. Foill cautions him against helping her, and the two narrowly escape other giants, but Corman feels he should help. Jacq fixes a map of Corman's, and they try to make their way to Under Hill. Misneach disappears. They pass an abandoned giant village, which is a revelation to both of them. Eventually they read Corman's home, but he passes out. His family retrieves him, and Jacq sneaks into the community in his satchel. The giants understandably are afraid of Jacq when she surfaces, but after seeing a portrait of Corman's father, she realises that he is the giant being held prisoner in the Factory. The director of the Factory is planning to release him at a local parade and use the event to shore up support for the Factory. Corman is determined to go back and free his father, and Jacq hopes to make some changes in her society so that giants are treated better, once she learns the true cause of her mother's death.
Strengths: It's always good to make young readers understand that groups of people are often mistreated because they are misunderstood, and that society should not allow this to happen. Certainly, this is a timely message especially now. Jacq has never quite thought giants should be killed, even though her parents were giant hunters, but we learn that they were not as entrenched in that violent culture as Jacq thought. Corman's experience is traumatic, but he does get to experience life above ground, and meets a variety of other giants in his travels. He and Jacq are very understanding of each other, and not quick to assume that the other will be dangerous, which was good to see. It never hurts to have a loyal pet on an adventure, so Misneach was a fun inclusion. There are some fun songs that Corman's mother would sing to him, many involving worms, which giants think are tasty. This book is on the longer side (320 pages), and younger readers will appreciate the giant story, while older ones will embrace the allegorical side of the narrative.
Weaknesses: This story seemed like it should be set in a medeival world, but was clearly modern, with helicopters and yellow school buses. The modern setting made the need for giant bones for building things seem a bit odd. I wish Jacq wasn't always opposed to hunting giants, because it would have been interesting to see her change her mind.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Netz's The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines, Rylander's The Legend of Greg or Borba's The Midnight Brigade.
Jacq Dyer lives in Fathach, a city that has been hunting and killing giants for their bones and using them in building construction. This has been going on for over fifty years, and both of Jacq's parents were giant hunters. Her mother was killed when the Resistance sabotaged her helicopter, and her father now works at The Factory, where bones are processed. He is in charge of explansion programs. Jacq and her best friend Joe were selected to train to be giant hunters now that they are twelve, so head off to the Factory to study. There, they see a giant in a cage that they are supposed to ignnore. We also meet a young giant, Corman, who travels to the Healing Valley with his father and his pet groundling, Misneach, to get herbs to help his sick sister Clova. The two are attacked by helicopters, and the father dies. Corman befriends a forest giant, Foill, and is trying to get back home to Underhill when Jacq falls out of a helicopter and Corman catches and saves her. Foill cautions him against helping her, and the two narrowly escape other giants, but Corman feels he should help. Jacq fixes a map of Corman's, and they try to make their way to Under Hill. Misneach disappears. They pass an abandoned giant village, which is a revelation to both of them. Eventually they read Corman's home, but he passes out. His family retrieves him, and Jacq sneaks into the community in his satchel. The giants understandably are afraid of Jacq when she surfaces, but after seeing a portrait of Corman's father, she realises that he is the giant being held prisoner in the Factory. The director of the Factory is planning to release him at a local parade and use the event to shore up support for the Factory. Corman is determined to go back and free his father, and Jacq hopes to make some changes in her society so that giants are treated better, once she learns the true cause of her mother's death.
Strengths: It's always good to make young readers understand that groups of people are often mistreated because they are misunderstood, and that society should not allow this to happen. Certainly, this is a timely message especially now. Jacq has never quite thought giants should be killed, even though her parents were giant hunters, but we learn that they were not as entrenched in that violent culture as Jacq thought. Corman's experience is traumatic, but he does get to experience life above ground, and meets a variety of other giants in his travels. He and Jacq are very understanding of each other, and not quick to assume that the other will be dangerous, which was good to see. It never hurts to have a loyal pet on an adventure, so Misneach was a fun inclusion. There are some fun songs that Corman's mother would sing to him, many involving worms, which giants think are tasty. This book is on the longer side (320 pages), and younger readers will appreciate the giant story, while older ones will embrace the allegorical side of the narrative.
Weaknesses: This story seemed like it should be set in a medeival world, but was clearly modern, with helicopters and yellow school buses. The modern setting made the need for giant bones for building things seem a bit odd. I wish Jacq wasn't always opposed to hunting giants, because it would have been interesting to see her change her mind.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Netz's The Lumbering Giants of Windy Pines, Rylander's The Legend of Greg or Borba's The Midnight Brigade.
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