Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon

Hoang, Van. Auntie Q's Golden Claws Nail Salon
April 21, 2026 by Roaring Brook Press

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Domi Pham has not only been banned from all computer use after an expensive misunderstanding involving another student's tablet at school, but her parents also decide that she will be spending the summer with her Auntie Q, helping out at her nail salon in order to earn $500 to pay them back. Arizona is quite different from California, and Domi doesn't know Q well at all. Her mother, a lawyer, left home for college and never really went back, and her aunt has a house cluttered with years worth of family memorabilia. Her nail salon, Nails, is unremarkable from the outside, but recently renovated inside. There's a reliable, largely Vietnamese staff and steady clientele, but the opening of a new salon, Glitzy, in the local mall is cutting into business. Domi spends each day in the salon, doing small tasks to help out the operators, and honing her own nail polishing skills on the children of clients. She meets Bobby, whose parents own the nearby Pho restaurant, and the two think about helping to update the salon's internet presence since Bobby has an interest in coding and Domi loves to draw, although Q is very reluctant. Domi slowly earns money from tips to pay down her debt, but uses a large portion of it to pay for her and Bobby to experience the spa treatment at Glitzy in order to understand the competition. She discovers a lot of things that might help the business, but her aunt is furious. Q has a history with Glitzy of which Domi was unaware, and the two have a fight. Domi feels that no adults in her life understand her, and takes off on a long walk. After several hours, she realizes she is lost and asks a woman working at a drugstore to call her aunt. Q has panicked, searched for hours, and called Domi's mother, who is on her way. The visit between Domi's mother and Q is fraught, but the two discuss their differences and process long held family trauma in a productive manner. There's even some headway made on cleaning out some of Q's hoarded boxes. When Domi's father arrives, the family even tries to take a break from work and see some of the sights. Even though Domi has spent most of her summer trying to earn money as quickly as possible in order to return home sooner, she becomes very invested in the success of the salon. When her mother and Q fight again, she doesn't want to leave. Some of the updates to the salon cause the owner of Glitzy to threaten to sue for copyright infringement, but Domi's mother uses her lawyer knowledge to deflect these accusations. Domi is able to return home with new insights into her family's background, and a new appreciation for her family.
Strengths: The nail salon setting is such a fun and interesting one, and hasn't been portrayed much in middle grade literature (except for Santopolo's 2014 Sparkle Spa for slightly younger readers), and it is my understanding that many salons are staffed by immigrants. I've never had my nails done, so I can't speak to the accuracy of the portrayal, but now I sort of want to go... and leave a big tip! Domi is a very resilient character who is not happy with the plans her parents have made for the summer, but does acknowledge her role in the misunderstanding, and tries to be helpful to her aunt and the staff at Nails. She and Bobby work well together, and use their skills to really help out the salon. There are plenty of fun scenes, like the trip to Glitzy, but also a lot of good coverage of the often difficult immigrant experience. The reverberations of this are seen in the mother and aunt's difficult relationship, which is resolved only when the two confront the past and their feelings about it and finally talk to each other. The cover of this is great, and I love all of the nail polish colors!
Weaknesses: I'm not usually a fan of flashbacks, but the mother and aunt's experiences leaving Vietnam, and the difficulties they faced in the US with their own mother, might have been more effective shown this way. Even an introductory chapter showing the events of that time would have made the experience seem more immediate before picking up Domi's story. It's such important information, and seeing it tiny bits at a time might make it harder for young readers to connect to it.
What I really think: This is an interesting look inside the workings of a small business and a good choice for readers who enjoyed tales of other family run businesses like Hirandani's How to Find What You're Not Looking For, Yee's Maizy Chen's Last Chance, Mancillas' Taco Tuesday, or Granillo's Cruzita and the Mariacheros.  

Pooch on the Loose and Shim Jung Takes the Dive

Hawn, Goldie, Oliver, Lin and Chambers, Breanna (illus.)
Pooch on the Loose (After-School Kindness Crew #1)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Tony, Mia, and River are all in Mr. Ortega's fourth grade class at Sycamore Elementary School in Los Angeles. When he has a "surprise us" day, River (whose real name is Walter, but who wants to be a star worthy of his new name) brings in sparkly shoes from his mother's clothing resale shop, Tony tries to bring in one of his drawings, which his younger brother ZoZo has covered in strawberry jam, and Mia brings in her snake. Things go badly wrong, the snake escapes, and the classroom is in turmoil. All three kids end up with Ms. Gold in her bungalow for a "brain break". They practice breathing, listen to soothing music, and are given Mindful Me journals. They become friends, and decide that they might want to help out at Dave's Doggy Day Care. ZoZo takes a liking to a dog named Sparky who is usually very loud, but calms down in ZoZo's presence. The kids hope that one of them can adopt the dog, even though all of their parents say no. The kids manage to collect $50, and try to pretend to be adults in order to adopt a dog. They are turned down, in part because "Barky" was already adopted. It turns out that Tony's Grandma Candy has decided that Barky would be a good addition to the family. The kids decide to become the After-School Kindness Crew after spending more time with Ms. Gold, and they even help Lyle Lemon, who has been mean to them for most of the book. 

Strengths: I was unaware of Ms. Hawn's MindUp organization, which was far ahead of its time in promoting preventative mental health. This is clearly the beginning of a series, and I expect to see a lot of different coping strategies portrayed. Oliver, who wrote the Hank Zipzer books with Henry Winkler, knows her way around a series, and Pooch on the Loose sets the scene with richly developed back stories to our three characters and their school. Elementary school students will enjoy the adventures of these enthusiastic friends. 
Weaknesses: While it's great that the After-School Kindness Crew has access to Ms. Gold and her brain break bungalow, I think there are very few schools who have enough time in their day to devote to something similar. Schools only have students for seven hours or less, and there are a lot of unfunded government mandates that need to be addressed during that time. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who enjoyed Sheinmel's The Kindness Club, Mills' Franklin School Kids, or Messner and Fajardo's The Kids in Mrs. Z's Class books. 

Riew, Julie. Shim Jung Takes the Dive
April 28, 2026 by Quill Tree Books

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

In the world of New Samhan, it is the tradition for twelve year old girls to jump into the sea and retrieve an item that will shed light on their destiny. Jung is supposed to jump, but she is still traumatized from losing her mother to the sea and runs back home. She has a plan to leave Haemin Island by getting good grades, and doesn't put as much faith in the "fake history" (mythology) that others around her seem to. Her father thinks she should stop thinking about her mother and move on, but when Jung hears her mother calling her from the sea, she ventures in to the water and ends up in the kingdom of the Dragon Queen. This isn't on the mortal maps, but since the queen saved Jung, Jung must remain in the kingdom as a Palace Girl and work for her. Jung managed to talk to Prince Jae, who is not very happy because his mother is mean, and wants Jung's help to fake his own death so that he can escape. The Dragon Queen's power comes from a gem set in it, and Jung and Jae set out to find a dragon gem of their own. They set out on an epic journey that involves venturing into caves, and fighting off all manner of monsters. Will they be able to get a dragon gem and break free of the Dragon Queen's power?

I liked the snarky voice that Jung had, and the underwater setting was interesting. This follows many middle grade fantasy tropes, since Jung has to save the world when she turns twelve, and also has a fairly standard adventure journey. This will be popular with readers who enjoyed Riazi's Sabrena Swept Away, Chadda's Storm Singer, or Diño's The Serpent Rider.

MMGM- The Summer Scrapbook and Shoes! A Footwear Fashion Frolic

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Migga, Florence. The Summer Scrapbook

May 5, 2026 by Carolrhoda Books

Copy provided by the publisher

Rising ninth graders Ava, Becca, and Cat are all upset because their summer has been ruined. While they would normally be hanging out at their Chatanooga hometown pool everyday and making plans, this summer they will be separated. Ava's father is doing a job swap with another professor, so the family will be living in London. Becca's parents, alarmed that all she wants to do is read the Reverse Elementals book series, are sending her to the Camp Whistling Ridge summer camp for eight weeks. Cat gets to stay at home, but her mother isn't content to let her write poetry and binge watch shows, and forces her to go to the pool by herself. Things are rocky at first for all of the girls, but they quickly improve. Ava, who is missing a summer at Girls State, keeps checking her phone and missing out on the sights, but her parents meet their neighbors and construct a scavenger hunt that Ava must do with Derrick, who is her age. They are given a list and a credit card, and are allowed to travel around the city on public transport. Ava slowly warms up to Derrick, although there are some bumps in their relationship. After initially keeping to herself at camp, Becca makes a friend in Allyson, connects with her small group, and participates actively in the game of Capture the Flag. Cat makes some new friends at the pool who invite her to do things with them, and she even develops a relationship with the cute Von... on whom Ava has a crush. The changes do cause some problems in the girls' friendship that are exacerbated by their distance, are solved by the end. The summer activities equip the girls with a new perspective, new life skills, and a new appreciation for their friendship.

Strengths: Like Holm's Sunny Makes a Splash, this is a book about summer vacation that makes me wonder why my OWN summers were never this much fun! My students often ask for happy, realistic novels, and summer settings are popular year round. This has a good mix of travel, summer camp, and staying at home. Ava and Cat both have sweet romances, and I really enjoyed that the girls each developed new skills and some perspective on what is important. Navigating friendship drama is always a popular topic, and the way the girls' handle their differences is realistic and constructive. Big bonus points for having all of the parents alive and involved, as well as a tiny bit annoying!

Weaknesses: Why do tweens today not want to travel anywhere or do anything? Some activities seem slightly dated; Ava's mother keeps scrapbooks, and the girls talk about making one for their summer experiences, although this isn't really followed up until the end. There's also a lot of hanging out at the mall, going to the movies, and even a visit to an arcade. When my daughters were in middle school 20 years ago, those activities were on their way out.

What I really think: Readers who like multiple points of view will enjoy seeing what summer is like thought Ava, Becca, and Cat's eyes. Hand to readers who were intrigued by the realistic problems in Shang's The Best Worst Summer of Esme Sun, Wientge's Best Friends, Bikinis, and Other Summer Catastrophes, or Calonita's The Taylors. 

Davies, Anna. Shoes!: A Footwear Fashion Frolic

May 5, 2026 by Cicada Books

Copy provided by Young Adult Books Central

There are two nonfiction topics I've been anticipating for years: the history of Black hair (which was partially filled by Qualls' Fros, Fades, and Braids: A Brief History of Black Hair in America) and the history of SHOES. Thanks to Cicada Books, my toes are tapping with this great illustrated history! (Insert video of beginning of the 1984 version of Footloose!)

Not only does this give some ancient types of shoes, but it also discusses the anatomy of shoe and different types of heels. A lot of young readers, who have only ever worn Crocs and tennis shoes, might find it interesting to know the differences between kitten heels, platforms, and stilettos that were ingrained in earlier generations. This also goes through different historical periods starting with the Victorian Era and then taking deeper dives into each decade since the beginning of the 20th century.

Along with descriptions of the different types of shoes that were popular in each era(do love a chukka or Chelsea boot!), there is some historical context; for example, women in the 1900s needed different shoes because they were engaging in new activities, like riding bicycles. 

There are highlight on a vast array of shoe designers like Andre Perugia, Ferragamo, innovator Claire McCardell, Coco Chanel, and others. It was fun to learn that Birkenstocks had been around since the 1940s, even thought they didn't catch on until the 1966, when hippie culture embraced them. The 1990s saw the rise of Manolo Blahnik shoes, as well as Uggs and moon boots. 

The history of sneakers will appeal to many tweens and teens, who might not realize that this type of shoe has roots in 1876 Plimsolls and 1916 Keds. I still regret not seeking out whatever centenary style Keds came out with for its anniversary! More innovation occurred with 1922 Converse shoes, as well as  Adidas, Puma, Nike, Vans, and Reebok brands. Little did I know that when I bought my first pair of running shoes in 1981 that the Reeboks I purchased still included fairly new technology or that my college roommates' Freestyles (complete with the Union Jack on the logo) were iconic. This ends with a brief look at the future of shoes, which could be quite interesting with new technologies! 

The illustrations are rendered in pastel colors, which makes them very pretty to look at. In my heart of hearts, I think I just want a photographic catalog of all the shoes of the 20th century, not just the fancy designer ones. What did my grandmother wear around the house and farm? Keds were available but I can't imagine her wearing them. Readers with a more casual interest in shoe history who enjoyed Frisch's The Story of Nike, Keyser's Sneaker Century, or Abdo's Sneakerheads series will appreciate this overview of everyone's footwear! 

April went quickly with two weeks of testing and one week in Washington, D.C. with 8th graders.  All of the library books are due on Thursday, because the students are out of school two weeks after that! It really does take two weeks to get all of the books back, and I forsee making a lot of phone calls home. I know some librarians are much more philosophical, but I ran a report of books that my students still owe to elementary schools, and it is about $3,000 worth of books. As much as we want kids to read, we also want to have good collections for them. Usually, calls home result in books being found under beds or in closets. There are a few that have to be paid for. When I lost Ellen Wilson's Annie Oakley: Little Sure Shot (1958), I diligently saved up the $2.95 to pay back the public library! I still have no idea what happened to that book! 

Change of Plans

Dessen, Sarah. Change of Plans

May 5, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers 
ARC provided by Young Adult Books Central

Finley has a somewhat complicated but pleasant life; she lives with her father, stepmother, and two young stepsiblings, and spends some time each year with her high powered, corporate mother, Catherine. She's been dating the charming Colin for two years, and spending plenty of time with his family. The two plan to attend the same college, and are supposed to go on a cruise with Colin's whole family to celebrate their high school graduation. Instead, Catherine demands that Finley come with her, not to New York City as they had planned, but to her coastal hometown to help sell her parents' home. Finley has never met her relatives or even heard about them, so it's quite the shock. Her mother left her close knit family and hasn't looked back, so Finley has to get to know aunts Kasey and Liz during a particularly stressful time. Not only is the ancestral home needing to be cleaned out, it's going to be razed by the owners of the huge resort, The Tides. Kasey runs a local diner, The Egg, that is getting business from the resort, and Liz's daughter Anne is getting married in three weeks to Jonathan, whose parents frequent the resort and have very clear expectations about how the wedding should be planned. On top of that, Colin dumps Finley over the phone while he is on the cruise, and Finley finds out that her mother has been keeping a secret about her health. Luckily, Finley enjoys working at her aunt's diner, which needs more staff, and meets the charming musician Ben, with whom she connects. The house is cleaned out and the contents auctioned, Anne's wedding is an off and on prospect, and there is a brief moment of hope when an environmental survey reveals that the family property has a number of rare species on it. Will Finley be able to navigate all of the tense, emotional moments that are thrown her way during what should have been a fun summer break?

Dessen does such a great job at portraying older teens in complicated but fun settings; her 2009 Along for the Ride is one of my favorite teen romance books! While I'm not usually a fan of sad books with lots of problems, Dessen's characters usually face realistic challenges with a good sense of humor. There are certainly lots of tears; Finley is devastated when Colin dumps her, but she manages to make the best of the situation and to move on quickly with Ben, which seems completely realistic. 

There are so many family homes that need to be cleaned out, and teens are bound to get drawn into that, It's a tense, emotional time, and there is the added stress of Catherine's long absence, family secrets, and community challenges that make Finley's experience more traumatic but also more interesting. There are interesting side stories, like Anne's wedding, waitress Lana's difficult life, and Colin's regret, that add a bit more texture to the story. 

Dessen's work has been popular with my middle school students, and this book might work well for them; there is a bit of underage drinking, but it generally isn't portrayed as a good idea. Finley and Ben don't have too many chances to have private moments, and their romance is very mild. 

Romance books have been increasingly popular in my library, so this is a great summer vacation story to hand to readers who enjoyed Boyce's Dating and Dragons, Eulberg's Love Stories or Take a Chance on Me, West's Borrow My Heart, or Cicatelli-Kuc Mint to Be. 

The Ghost in Cabin 13 and The Brainstormerz: Money Talks

Phillips, J.C. The Ghost in Cabin 13

April 21, 2026 by Penguin Workshop

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Leah's parents are sending her to camp for "forced socialization". She's twelve and a half, and still carries her doll, Beverly, everywhere with her. While her father is in no rush for her to grow up, her mother is keenly aware that Leah has been excluded from activities with her friends who are becoming more mature, and has arranged for her to be in a cabin with girls 13-15 in the hope that she will leave her childish ways behind. Camp Cottontail is a traditional outdoor summer camp with cabins and activities like hiking and archery, and also has great camp mythology. The number one rule of the camp is to avoid Cabin 13, which was built over the grave of a woman who now haunts the building. Of course, the first thing the campers want to do is to have a seance there with a Ouija board. It's scary and fun, but the next day, Leah chases a bunny into the forest that leads her to the cabin. There, the ghost talks to her, and gets Leah to give her permission to enter the doll so that she can play with Leah. The two spend the day together until Leah's counselor, Connie, finds her and says they've been looking for her the whole day. Beverly does not like being mistreated, so when the older girls in the cabin give her a swirly in the toilet, the doll retaliates by burning everyone's possessions. Leah is blamed, but two of her cabin mates, Taylor and Adrian, are nice to her. The doll's evil behavior increases, and the girls start to realize that the ghost is trying to find a younger camper whose body she can inhabit. Finally believing Leah's tales, the girls try to neutralize the doll by burying her, which is not effective. Eventually, they tear down the cabin, which gets them in trouble. Leah returns home without her doll, which makes her parents happy, but is that really the end of the story?
Strengths: Middle school has all levels of maturity, and when you stretch the age range up to 15, it's even more apparent. Leah's behavior does seem very young for being almost 13, even though I completely understand her dislike of "forced socialization"! Summer camp is a very singular experience, and unusual closeness with other girls she doesn't know is stressful for Leah. I was so glad that Taylor and Adrian were nice to her, even though some of the girls were mean. I loved the illustrations of Beverly; she starts out as a cute, traditional doll and as she sees more wear and tear, the expressions of evil on her face are fascinating. Traditional ghost/spirit practices are in place, so the ghost can only enter the doll after Leah invites her to; when I have staff gatherings at my house, I always worry that maybe one of my fellow teachers is a vampire, and I've just invited everyone into my home! (Okay, maybe I read too much middle grade horror.) It's also good to see that the entire cabin eventually works together to send the spirit on her way. The illustrations are appealing, and a little different from the brightly colored ones we usually see, which makes sense with a horror graphic novel.
Weaknesses: The ending seemed a bit weak. The doll was really ramping up the evil, so tearing down the cabin and having camp be over was rather anticlimactic. Perhaps there will be a sequel? I was a little surprised that Connie was not excited to be a counselor, but that is probably an accurate depiction of camp counselors in the 2020s.
What I really think: This is a good choice for readers who like K.R. Alexander's creepy doll books like Speak For Me or The Collector, or Mott's Hush-a-Bye. There are not many horror graphic novels, so this definitely combines two very popular themes!

Alexander, Kwame, Dyce, Cassidy, and Doucet, Rashad (illus.)

The Brainstormerz: Money Talks

May 5, 2026 by Little, Brown Ink

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Electric "Lex" lives with his parents, who run a bookstore called Lazy Bacon in Reston, Virginia. He often hangs out with friends DJ and Cass, so when he realizes he in not getting an Apollo phone for his tenth birthday, he makes plans with them to raise the money. DJ is rather unreliable, and prone to not paying attention, so it isn't a huge surprise when the kids' successful hot chocolate sales go bust because DJ used his grandmother's chocolate laxatives in the peanut butter hot chocolate! The kids have to return all of the money they made. They also plan a Doggy Day Care, and get lots of dogs to walk and groom, but when the dogs run after a hot dog truck, they once again fail to make money. Lex is concerned that his parents are fighting, but is invested in the idea of paying for a fancy phone. He buys a magic kit at a garage sale and plan a show at school, where they will charge $1 per person. This angers the school's Magic Club, and they make a deal with Lex that if he can get out of a locker ala Harry Houdini, they will let him keep the proceeds. He doesn't, of course, and the principal has to call firefighters to get him out of the locker. The trio thinks about snowblowing, but land on the idea of selling greeting cards at a local artists' fair. They do well, and earn $937. When Lex finds out that the Lazy Bacon book store might have to close, he offers the money to his parents, but they tell him not to worry about it. They get an extension loan, and eight months later are doing okay. At the end of the book, DJ arrives to tell Lex that Cassandra has a Ginormous problem, and we will get to read about that in the upcoming Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow. 

Elementary schools might want to look into this, but Lex and his friends seem a bit young for middle school readers. It seemed unrealistic that the principal wouldn't have a key to the locker to get Lex out; there are at least five of us at my school who could get a child out of a locker, and this has never once been an issue. The parents' business struggles are realistic, but solved much too easily. I'm all for children opening businesses and trying to make money, but $937 seems like a lot to earn selling handmade greeting cards. Readers who enjoyed Miller, Canino, and Luu's Besties: Work it Out or Doucet's Art Club will want to take a look at this new series. 

After My Brother Sam

It would be fantastic to see more books about the Revolutionary War, especially with the Sestercentennial Celebration coming up this summer. There were many books set during this time period published in 1976, but they had a much different perspective than we see now, and most have fallen apart.  Anderson's 2025 Rebellion 1776 is great, as is Avi's 2022 Loyalty, but the newest thing I have after those is Hughes' 2011 Five Fourths of July. Come on, publishers! This is a money making opportunity!

James Lincoln Collier was born in 1928. Certainly, many authors write into their 80s, but I'm impressed by someone writing in their 90s. Oddly, I couldn't find an obituary online, but the information below appeared on Edelweiss. James' brother and coauthor, Christoper, passed away in 2020. 

James Lincoln Collier was the critically acclaimed and award-winning author of numerous books, including the Newbery Honor and National Book Award nominee My Brother Sam Is Dead, written with his brother, Christopher Collier. Together the brothers coauthored many historical fiction novels for young readers, including The Bloody Country, The Winter Hero, Jump Ship to Freedom, War Comes to Willy Freeman, and With Every Drop of Blood, and they also cowrote dozens of nonfiction books. Before his death in 2024, James wrote more than thirty books for young people over the course of nearly sixty years, ranging from humorous novels to historical fiction and nonfiction to book about music and musicians. James was the father of two grown children and the grandfather of four. He and his wife lived in New York City and had a country home in Pawling, New York.

Collier, James Lincoln. After My Brother Sam.
April 21, 2026 by Scholastic Press 

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

After the death of his brother Sam at the hands of the Redcoats during the Revolutionary War, Timmy Meeker and his mother are struggling to run their tavern in Connecticut. Since his father, who fought for the British, was also killed, times are tough. Occasionally, Timmy has to travel to other towns to get supplies, but since the war is going on, this is often a treacherous undertaking. When he goes to White Plains, the British take his horse and wagon, but he manages to get them back in the night. In New York City, he meets Becky, who tells him that the two of them should just try to steal the supplies he needs instead of buying them. She steals a clock, and the two of them pawn it for fifteen shillings, and Becky decides to leave her life of crime and go back to Connecticut with Timmy. She helps out at the tavern until soldiers abduct her so she can cook for them. Timmy manages to save her, but on the way back home, the two meet a drifter named Chauncy. He comes home with them and tries to make the mother sign a paper giving him half of the tavern in exchange for his help in refurbishing the place. The mother has none of this. Chauncy then pockets much of the silverware and takes off. Timmy and Becky follow him and watch as he tries to sell it to the British. Of course, the officer just takes the silverware. Timmy and Becky try to get it back from the Redcoats while they are sleeping. Even though Chauncy continues to claim the silverware is his by rights, he moves in to the tavern, where he doesn't do much work. At some point, the Redcoats take him, but Becky maintains it is important to save him. While Timmy has thought a lot about getting revenge for Sam's death, he can't manage to figure out whether he would get revenge on the British or the Americans, and in the end decides that none of it matters because his brother Sam is dead. 

Strengths: It's been a long time since I read My Brother Sam is Dead, which was published in 1974. This picks up in a way that is easy enough to follow, and there are good details about daily life and interactions with both sides of the military. Timmy is conflicted; he hates the war, and feels he should get revenge on someone for his brother's death, but never can figure out which sides he hates more. There are some notes at the end of the book with key dates of the war, as well as discussion questions. 
Weaknesses: There is very little plot to the story; it's more anecdotal, and the anecdotes are all very similar, where bad things happen to Timmy. The idea of Timmy wanting revenge is intriguing, but doesn't really go anywhere, and there is no character development. The writing is choppy and oddly stilted. 
What I really think: While I love the idea of Collier writing a book in his 90s, it's not very good. I would love to know more about the process of this. Did Collier have fifty years old notes? Had his brother been involved in this? How did it come to the attention of the publisher. While I need more Revolutionary War books for my collection, and a 144 page book would be great, this just wasn't a solid enough title for me to purchase, even though I feel a little bad about not giving this a glowing review, since Collier has died. 

Mystery Thursday

Morrell, Christyne. The Case of the Scarlet Snakebite.

February 24, 2026 by Delacorte Press

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Amber Adler is not happy that her mother bought a Victorian style house so that she could run the Cozy Koi Bed and Breakfast in Crook's Bend while Amber's father is working as a world famous detective in New York City. Not only does she have to share common spaces with complete strangers, sometimes they even are given her bedroom! Amber loves classic Agatha Christie mysteries, and has "investigated" her mother's guests so many times that she is often in trouble. The most recent case involved an elderly couple that Amber accused of stealing a bathrobe. They had actually turned the robe in to the desk for repair, but not before Amber staged a big reveal of their crime. When the wealthy Willoughby family arrives for a family reunion, Amber lines up her suspects before there's even a crime, which she thinks will be the  murder of the patriarch, E.B. Also at the B&B are Lorraine, E.B.'s wife, and her tiny dog Lady, obnoxious son Sterling, the Fleekers, who are scientists and have a six-year-old son, and Beryl, who designs jewelry. Amber overhears many things that sound menacing but are quite literal: e.g. one of E.B.'s children wants him to actually BUY a farm. E.B. is actually quite nice and talks to Amber, sharing his love of the Hardy Boys with her and telling her about his elaborately carved cane with a $6.2 million ruby in the head. When there is a storm in the middle of the night, E.B.'s cane is violently taken from him. The hotel handyman, Mr. Biddle, had left a ladder outside when he was cleaning the gutters, and the Willoughbys assume that either he or Amber's mother are responsible for the theft. Amber starts to investigate with the help of Mr. Biddle's wife, who is the town librarian. Amber assume disguises, hangs out to eavesdrop at a salon and the local pub, and generally inserts herself into the family's business. Will she be able to find the ruby?

This book is cleverly set up like a Christie novel, with quirky characters who all have a motive, and Amber fashions herself as a detective. I liked the bed and breakfast setting. My favorite part of the book was E.B., who was a business tycoon who was extremely nice to Amber, and had turned from being a horrible employer in his youth to being a really good person. Amber got on my nerves; I couldn't believe how insensitively she endangered her mother's business. Of course, this was excused by the fact that she really missed her detective father. This would be a good choice for readers who like mysteries like Eagle's The Stolen Songbird or Quinn's Ruff vs. Fluff books.

Yee, Lisa and Santat, Dan. The Sea Monster Conundrum (The Misfits #3)
January 6, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers
Public library copy

After Olive Zang's adventures at RASCH in The Royal Conundrum and The Copycat Conundrum, she and her friends are back at Foggy Manor in San Francisco. When the city is gripped with excitement over sightings of ghosts and sea monsters that bring a Foodie Festival on the Golden Gate Bridge to an abrupt end, Olive, along with James, Iggy, Theo, and Phil, are off to investigate. In between lessons on how to flibbertigibbit, they visit Professor Fable Howser at Marine World to try to get some insight. Marine World is owned by the evil Oscar "Odious" Odion, but they hope that Dr. Howser will have some information. NOCK, the secret spy No One Can Know organization to which Olive's parents and grandmother belong, starts a New Creatures Division to help investigate. When the kids find the sea monster, Frannie, is one of the tanks, they know they need to free her. They are even more determined when a Frannie's very young daughter is found out in the water. Using a Silly Boat Parade as cover, will the Misfits be able to save the endangered animal?

This was another quirky adventure that showcases San Francisco rather nicely, as the kids travel around the city. There's a good balance between scenes set in school and those set out and about, and we even get to meet some of the characters from previous books, like Rance Reed. There are lots of great illustrations by Santat, and the chapters are very short and move quickly. Readers who fancy themselves spies and who wrote themselves into stories like Landis' Capitol Chase, Ponti's City Spies, or Walsh's The Bug Bandits will enjoy this adventure and be curious about the MixFits that show up at the end up the book to "replace" the Misfits! 

Deep Secrets

Smith, Nikki Shannon. Deep Secrets

April 21, 2026 by Scholastic Inc.

Copy provided by Edelweiss Plus

Collette lives in Greenwich Village, New York City, in 1929 with her mother, older sister Genevieve, and younger brother Antoine. Their father died in a factory accident when Collette was two, and she has always been frail. Her mother won't allow her to work, even though times are tough and the family could use the income. She is only allowed out once a week to get groceries at Walter's store. A clerk there, Claude, has captured her attention. On a weekly grocery run, Collette sees Walter crying. It turns out it would have been his brother William's 40th birthday, but he died on the Titanic in 2012. Perhaps emboldened by this personal exchange, and realizing that the store is short staffed, Collette offers to help clean and organize the store in order to pay down her mother's debt. She enjoys feeling useful, and working at the store is a timely move. The stock market crashes, and her family are concerned about their jobs. Antoine's pay is cut, and he considers leaving school. At the mother's work, all of the Negro women (the term used at the time, and also in the book) are let go. Collette is a little surprised at how vehemently her mother defends Black people, and is surprised at how people like her mother's friend, Nadine, are treated. As she continues to work at the store, she hears more and more about Walter's experiences on the Titanic. Collette has long had dreams about being saved from drowning, and these all start to make more sense. Some of her mother's obsessions, like making sure she and her siblings stay out of the sun, also are easier to understand when family secrets are revealed. Eventually Collette's disobedience is found out, but life improves for the family.
Strengths: There are some great twists in this that I don't want to spoil because they are very clever and make a lot of sense. Looking at both the Titanic disaster and the Great Depression was a good idea, especially with the multicultural inclusions. Hearing details from Walter was a good way to introduce them. The way Collette's poor health was treated didn't surprise me, since her treatment of complete rest all the time was fairly widespread, but it was good to see her break out on her own and get a job to help support her family. This is exactly the kind of book I would have adored in middle school. The light romance between Claude and Collette was a nice touch as well.
Weaknesses: I could have used fewer repetitions of Collette's dream, since this book is already a bit long. I could tell the major plot twists early on, but young readers won't necessarily grasp why Collette couldn't be out in the sun.
What I really think: Readers who liked Nielsen's Iceberg might find this lacking in details about the Titanic, although there are plenty. It's a book more like Haddix's Uprising or books about the Great Depression. It makes perfect sense to combine these two historical events, and I will definitely purchase this for my collection.

Life on the Moon and The Lovely Dark

Swanson, Matthew and Behr, Robbi (illus.) Life on the Moon

April 14, 2026 by Knopf Books for Young Readers 

E ARC provided by Netgalley

Leo Brightstar is going to live on the moon in the first colony with his father, a scientist, who has recently separated from Leo's mother, who will remain on earth to work in a zoo. Before he even gets settled, his father gets a message that there is a rover on the wrong side of the moon, and he has to investigate. Leo is left in their "dome", where an advanced smart speaker takes care of him. The dome gives him the rules: number one is that there is no life on the moon, and number two is not to ask questions! This is very difficult, and the dome does answer some, since Leo has many! There is a Constable, who is evil, and a Deputy, who visits Leo and tells him not to admit that his father is missing. The Deputy takes Leo to school, where Leo is reminded by his teacher Ms. Dulcet that children should not ask questions. Leo meets Bobby, and witnesses a large green bug, which is cleaned up by a space Roomba. Eventually, he steals a rover to go search for his father, and gets drawn into an odd world with space creatures. Bobby follows him out, which is great when Leo crashes the rover, but Bobby is eaten by a Hortle! Leo meets friendlier creatures, the Valrooten, the leader of which he names Mitchell. When Mitchell is eaten by a Hortle on his 100th birthday, Leo is sad, but the Valrooten all share a common hive mind, so he consoles himself by talking to Mitchell 2. Eventually, Leo locates Bobby, his father, and his father's friend Sally in a Hortle hairball, but decides that the colony government should not be trying to hide or kill the native species and vows to fight for them, and sends Bobby back to earth with a message. 

Strengths: I love the illustrations, and the way that the text is woven around them. The idea of living on the moon is always intriguing, and this has some more space adventure, rather like Bradford's Lunar, Landers' Blastaway or Swiedler's In the Red. The space creatures are a little goofy, but the message about saving indigenous creatures is a timely one. Bonus points for having Leo's parents separated instead of dead. 
Weaknesses: Like Swanson and Behr's Ben Yokoyama and the Cookie of Destiny, this book got a bit goofy. Even though Leo is supposedly 12, he seems much younger, and even with the illustrations, 320 pages is a long book for elementary students. I also found the ending confusing. 
What I really think: This is a good choice for reader who liked Lubar's Emperor of the Universe series, Barnett's The Two-Headed Chicken, or Angleberger's The First Cat in Space Ate Pizza. 

Fox, Matthew. The Lovely Dark

April 21, 2026 by Union Square Kids

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Eleanor lost her grandmother in the first wave of the COVID pandemic. She saw her ghost briefly right after her death, but hasn't seen her since, even though that would be a welcome occurrence. Her father is a history teacher in their Croyden neighborhood, where Ellie likes to hang out with her neighbor and best friend Justin. After Ellie recuperates from a bad round of flu, her parents tell her that her mother is expecting. Riding on the trains, Ellie and Justin both see children who look exactly like them, which is worrying, since Ellie's grandmother told her to watch out for "fetches". On a school field trip to see some Roman mosaics, there is a flood in the area, and Ellie and Justin both drown. They've recently heard the story of the Underworld and Orpheus and Eurydice, and after traveling on the river Styx, they find themselves trapped there. Ellie really wants to get back home to meet her new brother, but will she and Justin be stuck there?

 
My daughter Eleanor lost both of her grandmothers in the pandemic, so this is certainly a true to life premise. The use of mythology is interesting, and readers who liked DeStefano's The Girl with the Ghost Machine, Edge's The Many Worlds of Albie Bright, or Shusterman's Skinjackers series will enjoy this book. 

MMGM- Double Crossed and Anna-Jane and the Infinite Summer

It's

Marvelous Middle Grade Monday
 at 

Always in the Middle 

and #IMWAYR day 

at

Unleashing Readers

Barone, Rebecca E.F. Double Crossed: The WWII Spies Who Saved D-Day

April 28, 2026 by Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

If you have avid readers of World War II narrative nonfiction, this is the book they need! It's a cross between Seiple's Nazi Saboteurs: Hitler's Secret Attack on America and Janeczko's Secret Soldiers: How the U.S. Twenty-Third Special Troops Fooled the Nazis (both published in 2019), but centers on Operation Bodyguard and several of the double agents that were instrumental in making it a success. Starting with a list of the many historical figures involved, Barone draws us in to the world of espionage and intrigue that existed during this time period. The thing that baffled me was how some of these agents were able to be hired by the government with absolutely no skills or background at all in intelligence work!

Two of these people, Johnny Jebsen and Duško Popov, were wealthy and looking for adventure. Juan Pujol Garcia was a poultry farmer who had a lot of trouble being accepted, and only got taken on when his wife approached the US with his "credentials". Perhaps my favorite is Lily Sergueiew, who was Russian, and was recruited by the Abwehr. She wanted to be sent to Britain so that she could be a double agent, but really wanted to take her small dog, Babs, with her. She was promised that she could, but this didn't work out, and she harbored a lot of ill will against the British when she had to leave the dog behind.

I'm not sure how it occurs to someone that it's a good idea to be a "XX agent" (double cross; this tripped me up when I read it!). The stakes are high, and the amount of lying one would have to keep straight would be enormous. Since the British had managed to crack the codes developed by the German Enigma machine, but the Germans didn't know this, there was a lot of work involving codes.

Operation Bodyguard was essentially a plan to distract the Germans from fortifying the area around Normandy ahead of the planned Allied D Day operation. The planning surrounding this was enormous. Not only were there the messages and misleading information passed by the double agents, but a vast infrastructure of fake harbors and equipment. I'd read about the soldiers parachuting into areas with gramophones and records of gunfire and talking, but even with the pictures in the book and Barone's excellent descriptions, it's hard to imagine how vast the operation was.

Of course, D Day was as successful as something that contributed to the death of so many men could be. The Nazis were turned back, and the war changed. What was interesting was how the double agents were involved, and what happened to them afterwards. Again, I was fascinated with Sergueiew. There are excerpts from her journal (which things like a horrible thing for a double agent to keep!), and she was so bitter and disenchanted with the whole experience, but kept going more or less out of spite, and because she enjoyed having the power to take down the whole operation.

While WWII is not my favorite thing to read about, (and I struggled mightily to keep all of the moving pieces of this narrative straight!) there are always students who want more information. Double Crossed is a great length, has plenty of pictures and facsimiles of things like the initial plan for Project Bodyguard, and ends with resources for additional reading. The teachers at my school are requiring that students read more narrative nonfiction, so this is a perfect book to purchase for a middle school or high school collection, along with Barone's other titles like Race to the Bottom of the Earth: Surviving Antarctica, Unbreakable: The Spies Who Cracked the Nazis' Secret Code, and Mountain of Fire: The Eruption and Survivors of Mount St. Helens. Of course, what I am really looking forward to is her Mind Not the Timid, a fictional book about the women's suffrage movement in 1917, set to potentially come out in 2027!

Classey, Paige. Anna-Jane and the Infinite Summer

E ARC provided by Netgalley 

April 28, 2026 by Random House Books for Young Readers

**Spoilers** 

In this novel in verse, Anna-Jane, who has just finished 7th grade, is excited to return to Camp Chester to be with her friend Amaya. She will miss her mother, who works as a waitress and saves up all year in order to send her to camp, and even then relies on a scholarship. Anna-Jane has brought several books with her and is keeping a journal on the advice of her language arts teacher, Ms. Zhang, who encourages her to write. Camp starts out fairly normally, with a helpful but reserved counselor, Bridget, and a cabin full of girls, including the shy Morgan. Anna-Jane is worried when she sees Bryce, who just graduated from her middle school, because she is afraid that he will tell people that she is poor. She also thinks he is rather cute. When the cabin is allowed to go to town for pizza and a movie, they realize that something is wrong. They only see four people in town, and they have spotty cell service. Anna-Jane does hear from her mother, but only a cryptic text that something is wrong and her mother is coming to get her. Back at the camp, the girls eavesdrop on the counselors, and know that something has taken out all of the internet, phone, and cable service, and people are ill. Some parents show up to retrieve their children, but Anna-Jane's mother never comes. Hayes, the director, tries to establish control, which the counselors like Rob don't like, and Nurse Collins tries to let the children know what is going on, and also takes good care of them. When a little boy, Thomas, is found in the woods, more details about the problem emerge. There is a sickness, and his parents left him alone while they went to the hospital. There is talk that it's an act of bioterrorism that has infected the food. As the summer drags on, the campers are put to work, and all supplies must be pooled. Morgan starts trying to determine what is wrong with the spiders around the camp; there's already been a dead, mutated wolf that the children found. Some counselors leave, and Anna-Jane has a falling out with Amara when she spends time with the charismatic Pooja. The children start hunting and fishing, but try to hold on to a routine schedule of camp activities. Things get worse when Thomas becomes ill and dies, and Rob talks about leaving camp and taking children with him. Bryce's sister Zoe, who is Rob's girlfriend, manages to talk him in to leaving with just her. Morgan thinks she has some insight into why the campers haven't gotten sick, but Nurse Collins collapses and sinks into a diabetic coma. Since Hayes has already abandoned the campers, things become even more dire. Luckily, Zoe shows up to let the children know that while most of the people in the US have died and things are not looking good for their relatives, there are people who have survived, and they are banding together. Amaya chooses to remain at the camp, but Anna-Jane goes with Zoe, Bryce, and Pooja with the team of survivors.
Strengths: I loved the premise of this and could totally see the 7th grade me constructing a rich fantasy of me leading all of the campers at Camp Kiwatani as we survived with Nurse Collins as the only adult. Anna-Jane and I would have made short work of the idiots Rob and Cody. One of the best parts of this was the sweet romance with Bryce; if the world is ending, a tween romance would definitely make things a little better. Bioterrorism and the concomitant disabling of the communication infrastructure would definitely be my top two ways that a dystopia would actually roll out. It makes sense that a camp would have decent food stores, and taking supplies from Thomas' neighborhood enables the group to survive without too much difficulty. There's just enough tween drama to make this realistic. Having read this, I'm a little surprise there aren't more surival type stories that start at summer camp and continue When Things Go Wrong.
Weaknesses: At the beginning of the pandemic, my daughters, who both read their fair share of dystopian titles, made the observation that they thought living in a dystopian world would involve a lot more running around setting cars on fire. The bioterrorist act was absolutely devastating, but the children in the camp were largely spared. Food was somewhat scarce, they had no winter clothing, and they were on alert for the camp to be attacked, but aside from some interpersonal conflicts, nothing exciting happened. The ending was bleak.
What I really think: The cover and title, combined with the fact that this is a novel in verse, might make this a book that needs to be hand sold. The description of the book tours it as "an ode to books, friendship, and the power of women". It's somewhat along the lines of Nelson's The Girl Who Owned a City and O'Brien's Z for Zachariah, but not as action packed as Walter's Rule of Three, Smith's The Switch, Freeman's Zap, or Philbrick's The Big Dark. Like Lettrick's camp-based Frenzy, the ending is fairly dire. The most mentioned comparison is Freeman's Alone, and that is pretty accurate.

Drones and Rayana Johnson's Giant Leap

Berne, Emma Carlson and Lopez, Sareki (illustrations).
Drones: A Graphic History (Amazing Inventions)
Copy provided by the publisher

Drones are in the news all of the time, whether they are being used in the war in Ukraine or sighted in the US near airports. Some tweens might have a drone of their own that they play with, or know of someone who uses them to take aerial footage of neighborhoods or even weddings. How did this piece of technological equipment become so popular? 

I didn't know that the Wright brothers had been approached by the military to use their planes for bombs, or that Elmer Sperry achieved unpiloted flight in 1917, but I'm not surprised. Luckily, the war ended before the Sperry Bomber could be used. Of course, in 1935 the UK military had a similar piece of equipment called the Queen Bee, which was radio controlled and could return to the base. When more of these were produced, they were called "drones" in honor of the first one. 

These drones were used for surveillance during the Vietnam War, and in the 1960s, toy companies made smaller versions for play. Both government and civilian drones kept evolving and being used more and more, and there were even competitions in 1974 for drone enthusiasts. Like many technological innovations, wars and the military contributed to many of the developments. In the early 2000s, Abraham Karem developed the Albatross drone, and eventually, the Predator. Now, drones have many uses, from monitoring weather patterns to collecting climate data. 

I have to admit that I never really thought about the history of drones, and don't really remember hearing about them until they were used in the War in Afghanistan. It was interesting to see the development of commercially available hobby drones alongside the military uses. This makes sense, much like the Postal Service using surplus Army Jeeps to deliver mail or Tang becoming popular after astronauts drank it!

Nonfiction books are a great way for young readers to learn more about the world around them. Since graphic novels are hugely popular, a series like Amazing Inventions will entice elementary and middle school students to learn about ordinary objects like skateboards, comic books, electric guitars, and even sneakers in an entertaining and accessible way. 

 

Tew, Jill. Rayana Johnson's Giant Leap

April 21, 2026 by Freedom Fire

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Rayanna is very excited to attend Galaxy Camp, but concerned about leaving her best friend, Kaya, whose father has recently passed away from cancer. Since Rayanna has very supportive parents in her mother, an accountant, and her father, a professor of paleobotany, she feels like she has to be extra attentive to her friend. She wants to be an astronautical engineer when she grows up, so she hopes the ten days at camp will help her. Rayanna struggles with anxiety, so over plans everything from her packing list to her reminders on her phone to check in with Kaya, so she's dismayed when the camp wants her to turn in her phone. Her cute counselor, Isaiah, allows her to keep the phone as long as she uses it wisely. The other campers in the Armstrong Crew include Fiona McCall, Lily Choi, and Michelle Whitaker. Rayanna would love to earn her own NASA bomber jacket, so she wants to do well in all of the competitions, and gets along with all of the girls. The boys, however, are a different matter, since Travis is not only a bit of a jerk, but wearing his older brother's jacket, which Rayanna thinks is not right. When Rayanna scans an unusually placed QR code with her phone, she gets drawn into a secret scavenger hunt, and she suspects Travis is working on it as well, which further annoys her. Camp does not go as Rayanna wants it to; she gets her period, her team loses several competitions, and Michelle is subjected to prejudice from the director of the school. Michelle is very helpful and supportive when it comes to Rayanna's period, which is especially helpful because Rayanna feels there's something odd going on with her parents when she talks to them. While she keeps in contact with Kaya, Kaya eventually gets annoyed with her friend's attempts to cheer her up when sometimes she just wants to be sad. The Armstrong Crew endures some team building exercises to help them work better together, and this helps quite a bit. Will Rayanna be able to get her jacket, make up with her best friend, figure out what's going on with her parents, and eventually find a boy who likes her?
Strengths: Rayanna is a typical thirteen year old who is anxious about a lot of things, deeply devoted to her best friend, and passionate about her interest in space. She is a good kid, but occasionally struggles with the camp rules, and is devastated when things don't go her way. I liked that there was a diverse group of kids who all had to learn to work together; there's a Travis in every group, isn't there? The story ARC concerning Rayanna's parents is very true to life. I was glad to see that Rayanna's anxiety eased up a little the more she got involved with activities. The cover is great and will immediately appeal to STEM oriented readers who have their own dreams of space (or supporting space missions from the ground, which I heartily endorse!).
Weaknesses: While it seems perfectly reasonable that Rayanna wants to find a boyfriend at camp, and even that she has a crush on Isaiah, it seemed odd that she would think about changing her last name. Aren't the days when girls would write out their names if they got married on their notebooks long past? The scavenger hunt was less exciting than I hoped it would be.
What I really think: I just realized that Kaya was the main character in Tew's Kaya Morgan's Crowning Achievement, which also involved a summer camp. Camps revolving around specialized interests seem more common than traditional outdoor summer camps, and space camp sounds really fun! This is a great book to hand to students who want a generally upbeat story, and certainly romance in books is having a bit of a comeback, at least in my library. I'm curious to see if there will be further adventures in Rayanna and Kaya's world.

Saturday Morning Cartoons- Harper Sharp: Kid Detective: (A Graphic Novel)

Williams, Jarrett. Harper Sharp: Kid Detective: (A Graphic Novel)
March 3, 2026 by Random House Graphic
E ARC provided by Netgalley 

Harper is a big fan of the Detective Kim podcast and is well known for solving mysteries at Starview Elementary school for Principal Toughcook. He carries his magnifying glass everywhere he goes, and is a keen observer. His best friend, Marcos, is very invested in the Sunset Showdown video game. Loof is the school bully who has it in for Harper ever since he stole basketball cards and got in trouble when Harper found him out. There is an Inventors' Fair in the works, and Mrs. Maple leaf is very excited about it, so when someone defaces her sign with "Beware the fair", Harper is called on to find out who did it after someone also toilet papers the gym. His sister Harlow, Grandma, and parents are all super supportive, especially when Harper is threatened to let the investigation go. After intensive investigation, Harper discovers the culprit and reveals him at the Inventors' Fair. 

This was a fun, brightly colored graphic novel with a LOT going on. Elementary school readers who like the graphic novel adaptations of Gibbs' Spy School or Springer's Enola Holmes series or Goerz's Shirley and Jamila books might want to pick this one up. I'll be curious to see if this becomes a series. 

Gibbs, Stuart and Sarkar, Anjan (Illustrator) 

Spy School Secret Service (Spy School Graphic Novels #5)

April 28, 2026 by Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

E ARC Provided by Edelweiss Plus

The graphic novel adaptations of this series adhere very closely to the original plots, and seem to even preserve some of the prose. I didn't reread the original, but some of the letters are reproduced, and the language seems very familiar. The illustrations are done in a particularly pleasing style, somewhere between Raina Telgemaier's work and a comic book. It's fun to see the school, as well as the locations. I'm not sure I agree with depicting Erica Hale in all black most of the time; she's a good enough spy that I feel like she would be more nuanced. I do enjoy the thumbnail sketches and descriptions of the agents.

These are not as popular in my library as the novels; there's a LOT of text. I've only bought the first two because of budget constraints, but do have additional volumes on my wish list for possible future purchases.

Guy Friday- The List

Gray, Keith. The List 
April 7, 2026 by Union Square & Co.

E ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus
 

Jake's neighbor and best friend Denny is moving away with his mother. Before he goes, he wants to complete five items on a list he has made. The two live in a neighborhood that backs up to a golf course, but since they aren't members, they have never been allowed to go there. They hop over the fence and take some selfies; that's all Denny uses his phone for, and Jake doesn't have a phone since he lost his and his parents won't replace it. Next up is getting revenge on Mal, who pushed Denny two years ago and messed up his shoes. He and Jake take buckets of muddy water and dump them through Mal's window... only they have picked out his older brother Harry's room! The brother is furious, but Mal is happy, because his brother hits them. He helps the boys with the list. Denny also wants to relive his first kiss, so hunts down Tabby, who obliges him with another one. Tabby joins the group as they go to apologize to their teacher, Mrs. Hubler. Denny had drawn an unflattering picture of her on on the school walls and playground. When she isn't home to hear the apology, the kids decide to chalk a huge apology on her driveway. Her neighbor gather around, and Mrs. Hubler looks flabbergasted rather than angry. Denny has to return something he stole, which ends up being Jake's phone. Jake is very angry, but ends up forgiving his friend after he borrows a horse, Burdock, from a local farmer, Mr. Clem, and rides to Jake's house. While it's still sad that Denny is leaving, Jake now has Mal and Tabby to hang out with at school. 

Strengths: This is one of Barrington Stokes books for emerging readers, so is only 128 pages, and in a dyslexia friendly font. I wish there were so many more of this kind of realistic fiction books; boys having funny adventures. A lot of emerging readers struggle with fantasy or mystery books, because the stories are harder to follow, but this is laid out in a very predictable way, since Denny sets out with a list. I can see this being perfect for students who need to do a book project but struggle with longer titles. I loved that Denny's adventures leave Jake with two new friends to pick up the slack in Denny's absence. 
Weaknesses: There is a decidedly British feel to this that I loved, but which my students may not. Who knows? Maybe they will read this and start using the word "gutted". 
What I really think: Readers who felt comfortable with Maldonado's Tight but need something shorter than Ross' The Amazing Beef Squad will find this to be the perfect read. 

Flirting with Murder

Sellet, Amanda. Flirting with Murder
April 21, 2026 by Wednesday Books

ARC provided by Edelweiss Plus

Virginia Tillis is traveling to visit her grandmother Lainey at her retirement condo in Florida, and also to attend the funeral of their friend Claude, who was responsible for the quirky nature of the building. The pink, rococo style resident was home to a number of elderly theatrical retirees, and hosted Murder Most Fowl dinner parties (where fried chicken was served) as well as regular games of Killing Me Softly. Virginia willingly plays along, donning a vintage dress for the reading of the will. At the airport, she has met Felix, who is the grandson of another resident, and the two hit it off. Virginia is not as happy to meet Bradley, the college aged step nephew of Claude's sister Berneice. He's a little too familiar and creepy, and he and Berneice are not happy to find that Claude has left Berneice only his apartment, and not the entire building. Not only that, but his sister must stay in the apartment for three months and take care of his cat. When the unpleasant Bradley is found dead under the pool table, Virginia and Felix step in to investigate, even though it is assumed that one of Bradley's many allergies killed him. Bradley has taken some of Claude's paintings to a local thrift store, hoping to get money for them; one was painted by Felix's grandfather, and the two buy it back. Bradley's father runs a redevelopment company, which seems to be interested in the building, since it sits on a prime piece of real estate and has been attractive to other developers as well, even though Claude steadfastly refused to sell. As details emerge about Bradley's past as well as about suspicious things at Castle Claude, like a neglected garden full of poison plants, Virginia and Felix become closer as they participate in some of the residents' investigative parties, and also come closer to solving the crime. 

There are so many cozy murder mysteries for adult readers that it should be no surprise that young adult readers would like some as well. Even middle grade readers are thrilled by books like Souders' Secrets of the Broken House. What better setting than a condo filled with quirky, theatrical retirees who love putting on murder mystery parties? Virginia and Felix both wholeheartedly enjoy the older people around them, and have learned a lot about detection during the course of the many scenarios. The fact that Castle Claude might cease to exist adds a layer of anxiety to the proceedings as well. 

Bradley is a stereotypical heel, so it's hard to take his death too seriously. Berneice works against the residents in a way that makes her unsympathetic as well. There's some unexpected community in a local taxi service run by several sisters, a lawyer who doesn't have the best intentions, and a twist that will make readers who want to see justice served happy. 

Felix and Virginia have a charming new romance, and this will play well with middle school readers as well as high school ones. Recommend this to fans of young adult mysteries like Johnson's Death at Morning House, van Draanen's The Steps, or Cavalanchia's Murder Royale, or even readers who enjoy the grandfather in Ponti's Hurricane Heist and the similar residence involved in that second book of The Sherlock Society mysteries.