Maybe We're Meant to Last

Miller, G.F. Maybe We're Meant to Last (#3)

November 3, 2026 by Aladdin

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After their epically horrible attempt at dating in 8th grade that was chronicled in Not If You Break Up With Me First, Eve and Andrew are trying their best to maintain a strict adherence to being friends, but it's hard because they both still have a crush on the other. Andrew has been away in Turkey and at band camp, and Eve has spent a lot of time training to make the high school cheer leading squad, but when they finally are able to spend some time together, it's awkward. To make it even more so, Eve kisses Andrew without asking his permission, and then laughs it off as an attempt to have a first kiss so it's not difficult when they date others. Andrew is more confused than ever and gets no help from an AI chatbot. Eve just kicks herself, avoids Andrew, and tries to follow her rules for how to stay in the friend zone. Complicating matters is the fact that Eve makes the cheerleading squad and struggles with some of the routines. She's afraid that the upper class man will judge her for hanging out with a member of the marching band, since there is a lot of bad blood between the two groups. Not only that, but Eve catches the eye of J.T., a very attractive senior football player. Andrew has to deal with Goth-like Claudette Ko (aka Koko) who flirts HARD with him and only reluctantly agrees to help him make Eve jealous after J.T. asks Eve to Homecoming at a disaster school bonfire that ends with the cheerleaders glitter bombing marching band members. Claudette goes to Game Galaxy with Andrew to try to crash Eve and J.T.'s first date, and agrees to go to Homecoming with him. J.T. is a good guy, and he can tell that Eve's affections lie elsewhere, but still goes to homecoming with her so she isn't left hanging and, as he tells her, he already bought a butter yellow shirt to match her dress. Andrew has a plan to win Eve back at the dance, but will it work? 

Strengths: Miller must have a direct line to see tweens and teens in action, because this is pitch perfect. All the angst, all the longing, all of the miscommunication. Should it be this hard for Eve and Andrew to get together? No. But do they put up understandable road blocks for themselves? Absolutely. I didn't enjoy watching Andrew consult a chatbot for dating advice, but this is probably painfully realistic, as was the line (from the E ARC) "he made an appointment with himself to overthink this from midnight to two a.m."! Eve, who was the one wronged the most when they broke up after dating, holds the harder line in trying to keep Andrew as a friend, so it made sense that she dated J.T., who was genuinely lovely, although I did worry that he had evil motives as a senior dating a freshman. Koko was terrifying, but it was such fun to watch Andrew join forces with her. Even the fighting between the band members and the sports players was understandable, given that the marching band had horrible uniforms and the cheerleaders brand new ones. (Even though cheerleaders often have to purchase their own gear.) The ending is happy, so I suppose even saying that is a spoiler. Adored this even more than the first two. 
Weaknesses: I think that Eve should have spent some time dating J.T., just from a life perspective. I loved that he wasn't a jerk; so many authors would have made him one. For the purposes of the story, it's good that she went back to Andrew, but realistically? Life doesn't work that way. Compare this to the ending of the original Wonder Years television show when the epilogue talks about how Winnie and Kevin went their separate ways. (Or not, because that aired in 1993. Sigh.)
What I really think: Miller's titles are terrifically popular in my library, so I have two of each book to keep up with demand. It's the sort of title that girls return to the library with their friend in tow who wants to check it out. Give to fans of Suzanne Nelson and Kasie West or, well, anybody! 

MMGM- How to Walk a Dog and Practically Magic

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

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

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

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

Levy, Joanne. How to Walk a Dog

Published October 20th 2026 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

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

Calonita, Jennifer. Practically Magic

August 25, 2026 by Avon (HarperCollins)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

Shrack, Kimberly. Spooky Scouts

August 25, 2026 by Margaret K. McElderry Books

Copy provided by the Publisher

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

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

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

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

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

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

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

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

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

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

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

Now That We Don't Talk

Liu, Sylvia. Now That We Don't Talk

October 6, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

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

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

July 14, 2026 by Harry N. Abrams

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

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

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

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

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