Fiction Books for 9–12 Year Olds

932 fiction books for 9–12 year olds, sorted by rating — page 3 of 10.

CLOWN TOWN

former MP Peter Judd to do his bidding. Nothing untoward about that, of course, but this time, Judd’s demands, backed by a compromising tape recording, are more pressing than usual. So Diana reconvenes the Brains Trust—Al Hawke, Avril Potts, Daisy Wessex, and their ex\u002Dboss Charles Cornell Stamoran—whose last assignment was to serve as the contact for psychopathic IRA informant Dougie Malone while turning a blind eye to his multiple rapes and murders, which were really none of the Crown’s business. Taverner’s new assignment for the Brains Trust is the assassination of Judd. Since all these developments are filtered through the riotously cynical lens of Herron’s imagination, nothing goes as planned, and when the smoke clears, the fatalities don’t include Judd. Now that Judd knows he has as much reason to fear Taverner as she does to fear him, Lamb offers to broker a peace meeting between them which Slough House computer geek Roddy Ho will keep secret by knocking out 37 security cameras around Taverner’s dwelling. What could possibly go wrong?"

THE NINTH BOOK IN THE SERIES BEHIND SLOW HORSES, AN APPLE ORIGINAL SERIES NOW STREAMING ON APPLE TV+ Jackson Lamb and the bad spies of Slough House are caught in a deadly battle between MI5's secret past and its murky future in this gripping, hilarious, and heartbreaking thriller by Mick Herron, “th

COFFIN MOON

Name (2024), Rosson returns with an even grungier throwback, dressed up as a vampire\u002Dinfested road novel. In December 1975, just outside Portland, Oregon, roughneck bartender Duane Minor knows he’s on thin ice. His wife, Heidi, a college student who dreams of becoming a writer, is none too pleased with his PTSD and burgeoning drinking problem. Duane is managing to just hold down his in\u002Dlaws’ bar, the Last Call Tavern, but he knows something funny is going on with the business. Meanwhile, Heidi and Duane are both trying to connect with Heidi’s 13\u002Dyear\u002Dold niece, Julia, who was reluctantly sent to them after her mother murdered her stepfather. It’s a rough scene made worse when Duane has a bad run\u002Din at the bar one night with a bunch of bikers led by one John Varley. After the century\u002Dold Varley viciously dismembers both Heidi and her parents, Duane and Julia hit the road seeking vengeance. For horror fans, this is closer to crime fiction than loftier vampire fare—think Richard Lange’s terrific outlier Rovers (2021) or From Dusk Till Dawn in lieu of tortured immortals in velvet capes. Julia’s character takes a dramatic turn after they encounter a sanctuary dubbed the Children’s Museum, led by an ancient, lonely creature called Adeline. Even as he and Julia navigate this bizarre subculture, Duane’s defining characteristic remains the conflict between his inner demons and his outer ones. “You want that man to come forward, that killer I was, but I’ll drown if I do it. I’ll die,” he swears. Meanwhile, John Varley and his psychotic “thrall” leave a bloody trail across the country, chased by one broken man and a little girl with nothing but half a dozen silver bullets to their names."

This chilling YA thriller plunges readers into a world of ancient prophecies and modern-day peril, where a lunar cycle dictates the fate of a small town gripped by supernatural forces. The narrative ...

COMRADES IN ART

the Artists International Association, which formed in London in 1933 and took as its mission the “Unity of Artists against Fascism and War and the Suppression of Culture.” Its founders included several artists who had been to the Soviet Union and returned to England inspired by the mutual support among artists in that country. Fearful of the growing threat of fascism throughout Europe, they proclaimed that “now was the time for their generation of artists to organize” in order “to serve shared political goals through their art” and support progressive causes. Focusing on the activities of the AIA from 1933 to 1943, Friend investigates similar organizations outside of England: the International Bureau of Revolutionary Artists in Moscow, for example, and in the U.S., the John Reed Clubs, the Unemployed Artists Group, the Public Works of Art Project, and the American Artists’ Congress. The AIA forged connections with these groups as it grew to become an increasingly visible force in British culture, producing publications and mounting exhibitions, many to raise funds for combatants in Spain and Russia. In its first year, membership tripled\u003B the roster included Julian and Quentin Bell, Augustus John, Henry Moore, and art critics Herbert Read and Kenneth Clark, along with scores of other painters, sculptors, writers, and illustrators whose work appears in the book’s more than 200 illustrations. Many contributors to the AIA’s efforts were 20th\u002Dcentury stars, such as Picasso, who sent his Guernica to be exhibited in London\u003B muralist Diego Rivera\u003B surrealists Joan Miró and Paul Klee\u003B Ben Shahn\u003B and Virginia and Leonard Woolf, who supported the organization. A biographical appendix identifies less familiar participants."

This compelling history of the Artists International Association delivers a powerful exploration of art as activism during the turbulent 1930s, when creative professionals united against the rising t...

CONFRONTING EVIL

Judeo\u002DChristian standards, Genghis was the devil incarnate, but the Mongols apparently liked him just fine. O’Reilly holds that Mao Zedong was history’s worst mass murderer, “although his evil role model, Genghis Khan, might have surpassed him.” Naturally, while ticking down a rogue’s gallery that includes a few Judeo\u002DChristian figures, O’Reilly tries to own liberals: The Obama administration “does little to halt the Crimea aggression,” encouraging Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, while Ayatollah Khomeini makes Jimmy Carter his plaything, and so on."

This powerful exploration of evil's nature and manifestations offers young readers a thoughtful framework for understanding darkness in the world, from historical atrocities to contemporary moral cha...

Consider Love

Sandra Boynton

From the sentimental to the soulful, this book explores, in absolutely no depth whatsoever (yet with a number of lively and perhaps profound illustrations), the many and curious modes of love. Also it rhymes. This lovely volume is a terrific gifty object (hey, have you ever tried to write book jacke

Corn-Farm Boy

Lois Lenski

An Iowa farm boy longs to quit school and join his dad working the land Dick comes home from school early and tells his mother he was sent home with a stomachache. She puts him to bed and tells him to get some sleep, but Dick can’t shut his eyes for a second. All his life he’s wanted to be a farmer—

COVEN OF ANDROMEDA

Genre

This spellbinding fantasy novel introduces readers to a secret sisterhood of young witches navigating the treacherous waters of magic, friendship, and self-discovery. When ancient powers awaken and t...

Cows and Holly

Sandra Boynton

Oh joy! Cows and Holly is a sparkling new Sandra Boynton Christmas album for everyone everywhere—plus illustrated songbook! Zooey Deschanel, Lyle Lovett, Yo-Yo Ma, Patti LuPone, Raúl Esparza, Patrick Warburton, Fountains of Wayne’s Chris Collingwood, Linda Eder, Stuart Duncan, Viktor Krauss, and man

Crafts from Your Favorite Children's Stories

Kathy Ross

Crafts that convert a story into a hands-on experience are a wonderful way to involve young readers and listeners. Making a Pinocchio whose nose actually grows, staging a race between the tortoise and the hare, or sending Peter Pan flying through the air will definitely enhance the fun of story hour

Crime Victims, A Buck Taylor Novel

Chuck Morgan

The peaceful grandeur of the Grand Mesa in Colorado is shattered by the discovery of 11 bodies buried under 11 roadside crosses along a lonely mountain road. The Roadside Cross Killer has struck again, and not even the FBI knew he was active. A killer without a conscience who knows no bounds and kil

CROOKS

the rules.” So says small\u002Dtime criminal Raymond “Buddy” Mercurio as he rises through the ranks of the Vegas mob and courts and marries Lillian Ott, a glamorous salesgirl and nimble pickpocket. Ten years and four kids later, they’re on top of the world when Buddy gets a midnight phone call: “Go.” They escape a shootout and retreat to Lillian’s hometown of Oklahoma City. With another baby on the way, it seems like a place where they can lie low “till [they] get back on [their] feet.” Then, a comedy of errors during a restaurant robbery elevates Buddy as a local hero, and he capitalizes on his celebrity by opening up a disco that becomes a surprising hit. Gangsters be gangsters, though, and when one of his investors discovers Buddy’s skimming from the profits, it looks like it could be time to cut and run—until he realizes it’s his wife behind the takedown. After a chase, a gunshot, and a heavy kiss in the freezing rain, they make up (in full view of the children). The rest of the novel follows each of the five children and the effect of their unconventional upbringing on their own choices and paths in life. From beautiful idiot hustler Jeremy to restless adrenaline chaser Tallulah to staid and earnest mob enforcer Ray to tight\u002Dlaced strategic planner Alice and lonely writer Piggy, they’re all shaped by their criminal parents in different ways. They also move in and out of each other’s stories in appealing ways, emphasizing their loyal bonds even as they keep getting pulled back into their own versions of criminality. As is almost always true in anthology\u002Dstyle works, some stories are more engaging and effective than others, but Berney continues to expand the genre of Western noir with style, humor, and a deep understanding of human frailty and flaw."

This gritty crime thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of professional heists and the complex moral codes of those who operate outside the law. The narrative follows a crew of skilled ...

CROSSING THE CACTUS

laying out the “three key ingredients” for commercialization—great ideas, great people, and capital—and argues that good ideas are abundant everywhere, but management and funding deserts prevent them from growing. Section 2 offers a pragmatic blueprint for building an ecosystem in resource\u002Dlimited environments: identifying clusters, attracting talent, raising capital, and navigating political barriers, all illustrated with ample real\u002Dlife examples. Section 3 grounds these principles in case studies of success and failure, showing patterns that work (and don’t work) beyond the coasts. Blivin draws on decades of experience managing venture funds in the Southeast U.S., New Mexico, and Northwest Europe, showing how injecting early\u002Dstage capital, convening ecosystems, and targeted recruitment can catalyze lasting regional impact. He emphasizes that by securing two of the three ingredients—most accessibly, ideas and capital, though throwing in a ski trip might not hurt, either—hinterland regions can then attract experienced management. Engineering the right conditions works better than waiting for Silicon Valley–magic to migrate. Blivin’s writing is a clear, informed, and well\u002Dorganized. He avoids jargon without oversimplifying, making the material accessible to economic developers, investors, and founders. The book’s regional\u002Ddevelopment focus might narrow its direct applicability for those in established hubs. But the case studies are all\u002Daround practical, offering sober takes on why companies falter and how ecosystems stall. At times, the “three ingredients” mantra can feel reductive, but it reinforces the core takeaway: commercializing a startup outside Silicon Valley is possible but requires its own playbook. "

This gripping survival adventure follows a young protagonist's harrowing journey through a treacherous desert landscape after a catastrophic vehicle breakdown. With only limited supplies and the rele...

CRY OUT LOUD

Genre

This powerful collection of poetry gives voice to the raw emotions and complex experiences of teenage life, tackling everything from first heartbreak and friendship struggles to identity formation an...

CTHULHU FHCON

Jones, based around the work of H.P. Lovecraft." />

This eldritch horror adventure plunges readers into a chilling world where ancient cosmic entities threaten reality itself, channeling the unsettling atmosphere of Lovecraftian mythos into a fast-pac...

DAEMON PROTOCOL

his side, life was good. But when Castor starts guiding its own development and Promethean founding partner Robert Hayes suddenly dies of cardiac arrest, the future of the company becomes uncertain. When Regillus Global offers to buy the firm out and expand it into different markets, it seems like a saving grace. However, as Daniel adapts to the new company structure and direction, he soon finds himself troubled that Promethean’s original vision has been sidetracked. Then irregularities occur in Castor’s systems, indicating that something is very wrong\u003B soon, the situation results in lives being lost in the name of corporate success. Spears’ speculative novel features a large cast of characters and sector\u002Dspecific jargon (“When utilizing Shor’s Algorithm on the quantum chip, the encryption key’s period happened to match the number of physical qubits available to me,” notes Jimini, an AI built from Castor’s code, at one point), but readers will be carried along by the action\u002Dpacked, suspenseful narrative. It’s a disturbingly realistic thriller, as well\u003B as Daniel’s work demands increase, and he pours even more of himself into his work, his family life begins to suffer, and as he uncovers a web of power, deception, and greed, he must find a way to control the seemingly uncontrollable. The author has also clearly drawn on his professional experience as a software engineer to craft the story’s finer technical details, adding to its complexity and feeling of authenticity."

This gripping science fiction thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes world where advanced technology and human consciousness collide, exploring the dangerous consequences of a digital protocol d...

Daredevil Park

Sara Compton

A large-print edition Choose Your Own Adventure series.

DARK PYRAMID

Genre

This gripping middle-grade adventure plunges readers into a shadowy world of ancient Egyptian curses and supernatural threats, where a group of young explorers must decipher hieroglyphic clues to sur...

DARK RENAISSANCE

dint of brains and energy, moved to Cambridge, where he distinguished himself in Latin learning, found himself recruited into a network of intelligence officers for Queen Elizabeth, and then, at age 29, was mysteriously murdered in a bar fight. At the heart of Greenblatt’s book, though, is not just a familiar story but a new argument: that it was really Marlowe, rather than Shakespeare, who lit the flame under the literary Renaissance of Elizabethan England and, furthermore, that it was Marlowe’s brilliant schooling (rather than any lived experience) that fed his verbal imagination. Acting and action were everywhere in Marlowe’s world, and Greenblatt implies that it was his work as a spy that gave him an added sense of what it meant to perform. Marlowe “entered a world in which virtually everyone was in disguise, and it was fantastically difficult to know whom to trust. These professional role\u002Dplayers, operatives supremely gifted at inspiring confidence, whispered what one most hoped to hear and made one want to relax, open up, and reveal the truth.” Greenblatt is describing the world of Elizabethan espionage, but he could well be talking about the power of the theater to make us open up, relax, and reveal the truth. In the end, Marlowe “made it possible to write in a new way about violence, ambition, greed, and desire. He offered poetic liberation.” In his hands, “the expressive power of the English language took a great leap forward.” In Greenblatt’s hands, literary scholarship, too, has taken a great leap forward."

This gripping historical fantasy plunges readers into a shadowy alternate Europe where alchemy works, forbidden knowledge lurks in forgotten libraries, and the great artists of the era wield powers f...

DARK SQUARES

chess but by alcohol and drugs. Rensch detours regularly to deliver a history of chess and the contemporary game largely controlled (i.e., financed) by the USSR until the 1990s, when even celebrity grandmasters barely earned travel expenses. Then came computers, the internet, and more media attention, which produced bigger prizes, plus the rise of cell phones, which facilitated cheating. Readers will sympathize with the author’s struggles but likely perk up when in 2008 he encounters two entrepreneurs operating an early internet chess site whose knowledge of serious competitive chess remained at the amateur level. He persuaded them to add features, programs, competitions, and the technology that ultimately promoted chess.com to its dominant position. During these years, the author writes of victories in his personal life, too, overcoming marital problems and escaping the influence of the cult."

This gripping psychological thriller plunges readers into a world where a seemingly innocent online game called "Dark Squares" begins to manipulate reality itself, blurring the lines between digital ...

Darkening Skies

Jerry B. Jenkins

The Tribulation Force stuggles to stay clear of the Global Community as another judgment rocks the world.

DAYBREAK

Cog’s inhaling his homemade cornets, Marcus offers to make them lunch the next day—and soon, he’s making them lunch every Thursday. The two start spending more time together. Clueless about Marcus’ interest, candid, sincere Cog inadvertently stokes his affection. Cog’s best friend, Toma, however, is not so clueless and encourages Cog to set a firm boundary. But it turns out that Cog doesn’t really mind Marcus’ attention. This slice\u002Dof\u002Dlife rom\u002Dcom explores the feeling of being in the throes of a first crush. The fun, colorful, and dynamic artistic style suits the lighthearted vibe. However, the plot consists of a series of cute, loosely connected moments, resulting in underdeveloped characters and thin worldbuilding\u003B the latter is exemplified by the book’s unclear setting. The Black\u002Dpresenting leads are surrounded by a racially diverse cast at a school that has Japanese influences, but without a cultural anchor, some of the characters’ behavior and reactions feel unclear. Rather than the characters themselves driving the narrative, the need to maintain the tension of their unrevealed feelings is central, making the story sometimes feels contrived. Nevertheless, those seeking a straightforward, queer cotton\u002Dcandy romance likely won’t mind. Readers familiar with manga iconography will notice clues to the leads’ feelings."

This powerful young adult novel follows a diverse group of teens navigating the complexities of identity, friendship, and self-discovery during a transformative summer experience. The narrative weave...

DAYBREAKER

Sousa’s rich, luminous colors, beautifully showcase the Philippines’ diverse landscapes as well as various cultural elements. Inspired by Filipino mythology and folklore, Tadiar incorporates Baybayin, a centuries\u002Dold Filipino script, and the culture of the Indigenous peoples who live in the mountains."

This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into a world divided between eternal day and endless night, where a young apprentice must harness forbidden magic to prevent a celestial cataclysm. The narrati...

DEAD CENTER

Genre

This gripping thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of a teenage forensic investigator who becomes the prime suspect in a murder she's trying to solve. When a body is discovered at the ...

Dead End in Norvelt

Jack Gantos

Dead End in Norvelt is the winner of the Newbery Medal for best contribution to children's literature and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction! Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whos

DEADWOOD

Genre

This gritty western thriller plunges readers into the lawless world of a 19th-century mining town where survival depends on quick wits and faster triggers. Genre masterfully captures the raw atmosphe...

DEALING WITH THE DEAD

thrilling, one-of-a-kind encounters." />

This gripping collection of paranormal encounters delivers exactly what its title promises—unforgettable stories of brushes with the afterlife that will captivate young readers fascinated by ghost st...

DEAR JACKIE

typing herself a fake love letter on Jabari’s old typewriter—but her scheme causes more problems than it solves. With lively, expressive art and the creative use of typewritten narration boxes to reflect Jackie’s unspoken thoughts, this graphic novel captures the cringey, confusing mess of early adolescence. A diverse cast of side characters brings depth to a story that champions self\u002Dacceptance and individuality. Jackie and her family appear Black, and Milo presents East Asian."

This powerful collection of letters to baseball legend Jackie Robinson offers young readers a unique window into his enduring legacy and the profound impact he had on American society. Through heartf...

Dear Mr. Henshaw

Beverly Cleary

Newbery Medal Winner * Teachers’ Top 100 Books for Children * ALA Notable Children’s Book Beverly Cleary’s timeless Newbery Medal-winning book explores difficult topics like divorce, insecurity, and bullying through the thoughts and emotions of a sixth-grade boy as he writes to his favorite author,

Dear Mr. Henshaw (Spanish edition)

Beverly Cleary

Cuando Leigh Botts envía a su escritor preferido una extensa lista de preguntas, el Señor Henshaw le responde con otra lista de preguntas. Al principio, Leigh se enoja muchísimo pero cuando termina de responderle, se da cuenta de que en papel se puede expresar de una forma que jamás se hubiera atrev

DEATH AT A HIGHLAND WEDDING

the boorish Austrian gamekeeper and his mantraps, which, to Mallory’s fury, have wounded a Scottish wildcat and killed its mother. During a walk, Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie find part of a butchered deer and then the body of Cranston’s friend Ezra Sinclair wearing Cranston’s coat. When the inexperienced and opinionated local constable arrests Cranston, the investigative trio intervene. Was Sinclair or Cranston the target for murder? And is the killer a disgruntled local or one of their own friends?"

When a wedding guest turns up dead at a lavish Scottish estate, the picturesque celebration transforms into a high-stakes investigation where ancient clan rivalries and buried secrets refuse to stay ...

DEATH OF A POP STAR

Genre

This gritty YA thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of fame, following the shocking murder of a beloved pop icon and the dark secrets that surface in its wake. The narrative masterfull...

DEATH TO ORDER

the CIA and other American intelligence agencies and, more recently, Vladimir Putin’s use of assassination to silence his political opponents."

This gritty thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes world of covert operations and moral ambiguity, where a shadowy organization offers assassination services to the highest bidder. The narrative...

Death Weavers

Brandon Mull

Includes an excerpt from Fablehaven Adventure book 1: Dragonwatch.

Deeper

Roderick Gordon

As Will continues to look for his lost father in the underground world he has found, he discovers an evil plot that will harm the world above.

DEEPWATER CREEK

Genre

A gripping survival story unfolds when a group of teenagers on a camping trip find their idyllic weekend shattered by a catastrophic flash flood, forcing them to rely on their wits and each other to ...

Delaware at Christmas

DuPont and other local employers, and ubiquitous “Christmas in July” sales among stores in coastal towns.The book’s nostalgic style may not appeal to more academically minded readers, but its upbeat, inclusive approach reflects the holiday season at its joyous best. A major highlight of the book is its use of full\u002Dcolor, festive illustrations and images of photos, paintings, magazine covers, and other holiday ephemera, many of which are in the public domain. Tabler has authored three other works on Delaware history, and he clearly has a firm understanding of the state’s unique place in American culture\u003B he also fruitfully draws on primary source material from more than two dozen of the state’s archives, museums, universities, and historical societies. The work’s only drawback is its oversized back matter, “Chapter Continuations,” which offers additional exposition on the topics in each chapter. This information is often diverting, but the section comprises more than a third of the book’s total length and ultimately makes for a disjointed read. Readers who are looking for a history of Scandinavian Christmas observance, for instance, will not only need to read the book’s opening chapter, but also multiple pages of additional information in the final section that’s longer than the initial chapter itself. Still, despite this editorial misstep, the book is a beautifully crafted and colorful work."

Delaware at Christmas uncovers the rich and surprising ways Delawareans have celebrated the holiday season across four centuries. From colonial-era customs brought by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers to modern multicultural observances, this book blends history, folklore, and festive tradition i

DEVIL IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT

an addiction to a virtual\u002Dreality game called “the Siv,” in which players are promised a way to escape from their troubles (in reality, becoming half\u002Dvegetated slaves to the game’s economy). Enter Tomahawk “Hawk” O’Murtaugh, a construction worker who, at the novel’s outset, quickly loses both his father and his good friend Cezare in rapid succession. The back\u002Dto\u002Dback deaths send Hawk reeling into the world of the Siv, both as a distraction and as a way to understand the blight to which so many of his fellow countrymen, most notably his grandfather, are addicted. Once inside the game, Hawk discovers that his grandfather left him an inconceivably huge inheritance and was in fact one of the game’s founding designers. Determined to use his grandfather’s complicated legacy for good, Hawk sets out to liberate the masses enslaved by the game—a tall order, especially considering a ruthless serial killer is also making his way through the Siv, with his virtual victims perishing in the real world, too. Anderson’s novel deftly captures the strange anomie of living in a tech\u002Ddriven world, as described by Hawk shortly after first engaging with the Siv: “I feel like I just jumped off a diving board into a swimming pool and somehow landed in the middle of the ocean.” While the narrative is set 95 years into the future, its problems are recognizable echoes of present\u002Dday issues. There is a lot to keep track of here—from the politics, to the future tech, to the characters themselves—but the plot is snappy and likely to keep readers on Hawk’s side as he tries to rescue civilization from itself."

This supernatural thriller plunges readers into a world where ancient evil awakens in a quiet town, forcing a group of teens to confront a malevolent force that preys on their deepest fears. The atmo...

DIARY OF A NATURE NERD

Genre

This engaging nature journal offers young readers a vibrant window into the natural world through the eyes of a curious protagonist who documents everything from backyard insects to seasonal changes....

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books 5-8

Jeff Kinney

Dive into the hilarious and heartwarming world of Greg Heffley with this ebook collection, featuring books 5 through 8 of the beloved bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series by Jeff Kinney. Perfect for both new readers and longtime fans, this collection includes: * The Ugly Truth: Greg faces the awk

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck (Book 8)

Jeff Kinney

Everyone's favourite wimpy kid is back for his eighth appearance in Jeff Kinney's world-famous series. Get stuck in to Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Hard Luck to find out what scrapes Greg Heffley has gotten himself into this time! Mom's always saying that friends will come and go but family is forever. Wel

DIARY OF A WIMPY KID: NO BRAINER

Jeff Kinney

From award-winning creator Felicita Sala comes a whimsical adventure about a child who's determined to recover all his misplaced belongings, wherever they may be A baseball cap. A special sweater covered in dogs. A marble collection. The baseball cap, again. Pablo just can't stop losing his things:

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul

Jeff Kinney

Greg Heffley and his family hit the road in author-illustrator Jeff Kinney's latest installment in the phenomenal bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series.

Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are?

Dr. Seuss

Dr. Seuss's irrepressible optimism is front and center in Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? The perfect send-off for grads getting ready to venture off into the world! "When you think things are bad, when you feel sour and blue,when you start to get mad . . .you should do what I do!" So begins

Diper Överlöde

Jeff Kinney

This latest installment in the beloved series follows Greg Heffley as his brother Rodrick's band, Löded Diper, attempts to achieve rock stardom, leading to a chaotic tour filled with sibling rivalry ...

Disney 100 Years of Wonder Storybook Collection

Victoria Saxon

Audio narration brings five stories to life in this enhanced eBook, while word-for-word highlighting text makes it easy for the reader to follow along. Celebrate the magic of Disney's 100 years of storytelling with this delightful eBook featuring a collection of five Disney stories, stories filled w

Disney Classic Stories: Raya and the Last Dragon

Disney Books

Read along with Disney! Walt Disney Animation Studios' fantasy-action-adventure, Raya and the Last Dragon, introduces Raya, a lone warrior from the fantasy kingdom of Kumandra who teams up with a crew of misfits in her quest to find the last dragon and bring light and unity back to their world.

Disney Classic Stories: Soul

Disney Books

Read along with Disney! Ever wonder where your passion, your dreams, and your interests come from? What is it that makes you . . . YOU? Follow along with word-for-word narration as Pixar Animation Studios takes you on a journey from the streets of New York City to the cosmic realms to discover the a

Disney Classic Stories: The Sword in the Stone

Disney Books

Read along with Disney! A young apprentice named Wart receives lessons from a wizard. Follow along with word-for-word narration as he becomes an unlikely hero.

Disney Classic Storybook Collection (Refresh)

Disney Books

A collection of stories featuring classic Disney characters, including Dumbo, Simba, Lady and the Tramp, and Lilo and Stitch.

Disney Princess: Tangled: Kingdom of Color

Disney Books

Read along with Disney! Join Rapunzel, Flynn, and all their friends as they explore all the colors of the kingdom in this reader with word-for-word narration. Expect adventure, heart, humor, and hair . . . lots of hair!

DO ADMIT

Genre

This collection of candid author interviews and critical essays offers an unvarnished look at the literary world's inner workings, pulling back the curtain on everything from creative processes to in...

DODGERS TO DAMASCUS

the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980. There are also harrowing moments, like surviving two nearly fatal poisoning attempts during his diplomatic work. The book also covers mundane events, such as the subject’s early childhood and his interactions with students as a beloved professor. The author of seven biographies, Cooke approaches the subject with a warmth that borders on fawning (she describes Lesch as “a ‘nice guy’ whose moral compass gives me hope for humankind”). And while at times hagiographic, this biography is backed by solid research, including a scholarly bibliography and interviews with more than a dozen individuals associated with Lesch, from family friends to academics, students, and diplomats. Its engaging narrative is complemented by full\u002Dcolor photographs, maps, and newspaper clippings."

This gripping memoir traces one man's extraordinary journey from professional baseball player to Christian missionary, chronicling his spiritual awakening and dramatic career shift with raw honesty. ...

Dog Man (Captain Underpants: Dog Man #1)

Dav Pilkey

New from the creator of Captain Underpants, it's Dog Man, the crime-biting canine who is part dog, part man, and ALL COP! There's a new breed of justice in town, and he's ready to sniff out criminals -- as soon as he stops chasing his own tail! George and Harold have created a new hero who digs into

Dog Man 10: Mothering Heights

Dav Pilkey

Dog Man and Petey face their biggest challenges yet in the tenth Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and illustrator Dav Pilkey - now available in paperback. Dog Man is down on his luck, Petey confronts his not so purr-fect past, and Grampa is up to no good.The world is spinningout of con

Dog Man Unleashed

Dav Pilkey

Petey is up to no good in the second Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey. Dog Man is still learning a few tricks of the trade. Petey the Cat is out of the bag, and his criminal curiosity is taking the city by storm. Something fishy is going on! Can Dog Man unleash ju

Dog Man: For Whom the Ball Rolls: A Graphic Novel (Dog Man #7): From

Dav Pilkey

Petey learns what it means to do good in the seventh Dog Man book from worldwide bestselling author and artist Dav Pilkey. The Supa Buddies have been working hard to help Dog Man overcome his bad habits. But when his obsessions turn to fears, Dog Man finds himself the target of an all-new supervilla

DOG MAN: THE SCARLET SHEDDER

Dav Pilkey

Our canine superhero returns in DOG MAN: THE SCARLET SHEDDER, the suspenseful and hilarious twelfth graphic novel in the #1 worldwide bestselling series by award-winning author and illustrator Dav Pilkey! P.U.! Dog Man got sprayed by a skunk! After being dunked in tomato juice, the stink is gone but

Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!

Mo Willems

From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a new holiday classic. It's the most wonderful time of the year-for driving a sleigh! 'Tis also the season-for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the-driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it on

Double the Danger and Zero Zucchini

Betsy Uhrig

While brainstorming ideas to improve his aunt's boring children's book, twelve-year-old Alex recruits his friends to act out new scenes that will make the plot more exciting--and dangerous.

DR. BOT

skill, experience, and science, too often others suffer because of doctors’ shortcomings. Many are turning to artificial intelligence to supplement human judgment in medicine, but some in the medical community dismiss AI assistance outright. Replacing the physician with a medical robot would be a mistake equal to banishing AI from the exam room altogether, says Blease. “Today,” the author writes, “substantial research supports the observation that experts can be unreasonably biased against algorithms, favoring their own (sometimes flawed) human decision\u002Dmaking instead. This kind of apathy is referred to as ‘algorithmic aversion.’” Blease is cognizant that both AI and MDs have weaknesses, yet both have skills that, if brought together, would benefit patients. That’s the hope. Blease warns against naively trusting the technology\u003B AI can make blunders. As tests and trials demonstrate, though, advanced AI can be a valuable medical technology. (According to a Pew Research survey, four in 10 Americans, Blease writes, “would feel comfortable if their provider ‘relied on AI for their medical care.’”) The mix of AI and medicine won’t replace the human doctor but can produce what Blease notes is “extended cognition: that our thinking isn’t confined to our brains but extends to the tools and environment around us.” The result: better care, and lives saved."

This middle-grade novel offers a timely exploration of artificial intelligence and friendship, following a young protagonist whose life is upended when a sophisticated AI companion enters their world...

Dr. Seuss's 1 2 3

Dr. Seuss

An easy-to-read counting book, inspired by Dr. Seuss and illustrated with artwork from his books! Count on Dr. Seuss to make learning numbers fun! This simple, rhymed riff about counting is illustrated with art from some of the most beloved works by Dr. Seuss, including One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Bl

Dr. Seuss's ABC: Read & Listen Edition

Dr. Seuss

Nobody teaches kids the alphabet like the author of The Cat in the Hat, Green Eggs and Ham, and Hop on Pop! This Read & Listen edition features optional audio narration for compatible ebook readers. Arguably the most entertaining alphabet book ever written, this classic Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss is

Dr. Seuss's Sleep Softly Book

Dr. Seuss

A yawn is quite catching, you see. Like a cough. It just takes one yawn to start other yawns off. This interactive touch-and-feel book lets toddlers snuggle and squish the soft beds, bellies, and pillows of Dr. Seuss's iconic sleepy characters! A new Dr. Seuss Nursery Collection title with interacti

DRACULA'S BRUNCH CLUB

the towering, glowering vampire Constantine, who’s banned people. Worse, Dracula’s entire store of “the crimson\u002Dred, blood orange jelly all vampires crave” has been raided. Local farmers have no blood oranges—a blight has destroyed the crops. This proves disastrous even as Dracula tries to regain his brunch\u002Dhosting ground—kale is no substitute for delicious, energizing fruit jelly. The shortage also jeopardizes his standing with his crush, the human Elena, since he’s promised to donate a year’s supply of jelly donuts to her charity auction to help sick children. Something must be done—and it might just involve blood. After all, Count Dracula is a vampire. This book will greatly appeal to young readers looking for comics with a little edge: The gore is mild and cartoon\u002Dsilly, and there are plenty of jokes to lighten the mood. The story moves at a measured pace, and the fun, kid\u002Dfriendly artwork adds depth to the narrative. Gaybba’s color palette predominantly contains cool, moody tones that make the occasional spots of red—mostly jelly and blood—pop. Human and vampire characters have skin in varying shades of blue and purple."

This clever twist on vampire lore follows a group of young monsters who would rather host a trendy brunch than hunt for their next meal, serving up a story that is equal parts spooky and sweet. The n...

Dragon's Breath

E.D. Baker

From a trip to the bottom of the fishbowl sea to an incredible adventure at the Dragon Olympics, Emma and her not-so-froggy prince, Eadric, defy the wily witches and wizards of the magical world and prove that Emma is a witch very much worthy of her inherited powers as they search for ingredients to

DREAM ON

winning a contest." />

This compelling novel explores the powerful intersection of ambition and reality when a teenager's life is transformed by an unexpected contest victory. The narrative delves deep into the emotional w...

DUCK AND CAT RIDE THE RIVERBOAT

Genre

This charming early reader adventure follows two animal friends as they embark on an exciting riverboat journey, offering young children a gentle introduction to transportation themes and friendship ...

DUCKY THE SPY

Genre

This clever picture book introduces a feathered secret agent who must use all his spycraft skills to protect the farm from a cunning fox. Young readers will delight in following Ducky's covert operat...

Easter: Everything You Need To Know About Lent and Easter

Emma J. Lee

"Unlock the secrets of Easter with our comprehensive guide. Perfect for anyone looking to deepen their understanding of this beloved holiday." Easter is a holiday that holds a special place in the hearts of people across the world. It is known for its rich history and cultural significance, and for

EDGAR ALLAN POE

Leland, who leads a Poe walking tour of Providence, Rhode Island, offers a basic introduction to the beloved author’s life and work. Complete with bullet points and sidebars, it writes a biography for the PowerPoint generation. It would be best for middle schoolers who have heard of Poe but need to know more. We get the basic outlines of his life, the list of works, and guides to further reading. Interrupting the flow of narrative are sections titled “The More You Know.” These are little paragraphs, in different type and different color, that offer tidbits of history. Did Poe believe in God? A paragraph raises the question, offers a few tantalizing details (a phrase, a personal letter, an aside), and then concludes: “Like many facets of Poe’s life, it may never be known exactly where he stood on spiritual or religious matters. His love of hoaxes, satire, controversy, and sensationalism often concealed his true beliefs.” Interspersed among these comments are the texts of Poe’s poems, printed in a font that looks like that of an old manual typewriter. The literary criticism goes only so deep: “Poe’s ‘Annabel Lee’ is a masterpiece of gothic romanticism. The poem delves into Poe’s usual themes of love, loss, and grief, describing a childhood love that transcends time and even death.” The best parts of the book retell the last months of Poe’s life—his nuttiness, his drinking, and his strange love affair with death itself."

This concise biography brings the haunting world of Edgar Allan Poe to life, tracing his mysterious literary career from his early struggles to his enduring legacy as the master of macabre fiction. Y...

ELECTRIC TITAN

scientists who have covertly witnessed her unusual skills who want to see if they can be leveraged to fend off the meteor. By novel’s end, despite some setbacks and a heartbreaking loss, Rosa ends up transforming herself and her world.Reardon, who shares in his “About the Author” note that he is “a brain tumor survivor since the age of 8, and handicapped since the age of 10,” offers insightful commentary and perspectives about disability through the journey of his teen protagonist. Readers learn about Rosa’s post\u002Daccident suicide attempt, frustration with and empathy for her ableist parents (“Hopefully, they would evolve. My new life was new for them, too”), and eventual epiphany that “Being in a hoverchair is only part of who you are. Once you realize that, no meteor could ever stop you.” This last comment is made by an astral temple deity in one of the goddess sequences—these scenes are an element of the book that can get somewhat esoteric. (Another goddess, for example, remarks that Rosa is “the one who will bring neo\u002Dcollectivism to Titan.”) Nevertheless, these conversations showcase Rosa’s intelligence and psychological makeup (supportive, strong Cordelia, a lovely secondary character, astutely suggests that “The goddesses come from your subconscious, right?”). The nonchronological structure of the narrative is at times frustrating\u003B some of the flashback chapters are not as compelling as the looming present\u002Dday threat. The way in which Rosa came to be in the apparently now\u002Dnovel (on Titan) circumstance of being disabled is also withheld until late in the novel and then explained rather hazily (the injury at Convalor is left murky, with the medical operation afterward seemingly responsible for the hoverchair issue). Still, Reardon creates a fascinating future world in which Rosa must draw on some “old” tech to save the day, and her mother, an “animac,” contemplates the disquieting knowledge that her battery life will outlast the lifespan of Rosa’s father."

This action-packed science fiction adventure plunges readers into a world where humanity's last hope rests on the shoulders of a reluctant hero powered by lightning. The narrative crackles with energ...

ELEVATOR PEOPLE

Earth’s alarmingly unstable human population. On Earth itself, a group of guests are gathered at Baltimore’s Zelles Hotel for a charity event. Eight of these guests—trust fund babies Angus and Keiko, wacky ex\u002Dmilitary man Carl, resourceful Kara, Buddhist Ellen, smart young former honor student Bernie, food bank volunteer Bailey, and bland and reliable Roger—find themselves trapped on an elevator that mysteriously takes them not to a floor of the hotel but a century into the future, where they quickly learn a few things. First, their disappearance is well\u002Dknown to history, which has dubbed them the Charity Eight. Second, lots of people disappeared from elevators in 2025 and are now reappearing in 2125. And third, people in 2125 aren’t happy about that fact—they dub the time\u002Ddisplaced new arrivals terrorist aliens and subject known “vates” to random mob violence. The elevator that deposited the Charity Eight in the future also promised to return them to their own time in two weeks, meaning they somehow have to survive that long. But if the Council has its way, will Earth be doomed? It’s an energetic setup, and Laws largely fulfills the premise’s promise of intrigue and deadpan comedy. There’s some lazy writing (characters “hightail it” or are “thrust into the hot seat”), but the novel’s sharp dialogue and winning cast of contrasting characters more than compensates. The Charity Eight are a terrifically engaging mixed bag of personality traits, which makes for richly entertaining reading as their trials demand all their adaptability."

This clever concept book transforms the mundane act of elevator travel into a vibrant, character-driven guessing game for young readers. Each floor stop introduces a new, distinct personality, from a...

ENGINES OF WAR

master-class worldbuilding, the third volume of Ford’s Age of Uprising trilogy concludes an epic fantasy narrative chronicling an empire torn apart by war." />

This action-packed military science fiction novel plunges readers into the heart of interstellar conflict, where young pilots and mechanized warriors clash in epic battles for survival. The narrative...

ENTANGLED TONGUES

the time of King Henry V, English had re\u002Demerged (per Kisch, Henry V was “probably the first king to speak and write English with ease”). In the years between 1066 and 1200, “about 900 words moved from French into English.” The author goes on to explain how different words from different backgrounds have survived, and how words have changed (house comes from the German haus, while mansion comes from the French maison). Then, there are additional considerations that often baffle those learning English, such as the language’s seemingly strange rules of spelling and grammar. A lot of information is condensed into fewer than 200 pages. Chapters progress in a conversational style\u003B the reader is often addressed directly, as in this consideration of the Norman conquest: “Your life will never be the same again and your language may never be the same, either. This is what happened to the English people in 1066.” As hundreds of years of English history are rushed through, the book has many fascinating points to make. (For example, Shakespeare used “not only French words, but also French sentence structures which sound odd to an English ear.”) All told, the book offers readers different ways of looking at what they say."

This engaging exploration of English language history traces how French and German influences shaped modern vocabulary, from the Norman Conquest's impact to Shakespeare's creative adaptations. Reader...

EQUALITY IS A STRUGGLE

taxing the wealthiest in a clear and significant way.” So writes Piketty, who has made a distinguished career of explicating the whys and wherefores of inequality and its multiple causes. Much of Piketty’s writing here digs into that project, and it’s a credit to Le Monde’s readership that they’re not afraid of tables and hard data. Yet Piketty also writes with admirable clarity about several ideas that are key to his extended argument—and, in at least a sense, these columns forge a single argument in favor of democratic socialism. He observes, in that regard, that the unprecedented prosperity of the 20th century came about precisely because the “hyperconcentration of ownership and class privileges that characterized European societies before 1914” had been broken, with massive investments in human capital and decommodification of the social marketplace. Given the rise of Trumpism and its congeners worldwide, Piketty counters that those values should be restored, and by nobody better than the European states that showed the way in the first place, emphasizing “parliamentary democracy, the social state, and investment in the future.” Voilà: We come full circle to taxing the rich in order to fund health care, education, welfare, and states that observe “the rule of law and democratic pluralism.” Admittedly, Piketty writes, those states are mostly European, whose social economy is far ahead of that of the U.S. There’s some inside baseball—or perhaps soccer—here in Piketty’s essays on and against the Macron government and like causes, but most of these pieces will be intelligible to American readers without much background in contemporary French politics."

This powerful examination of social justice movements delivers an unflinching look at the ongoing fight for civil rights and human dignity across generations. Through compelling historical analysis a...

Eric Carle's Book of Many Things

Eric Carle

Learn over 200 words with The Very Hungry Caterpillar and other favorite friends from the World of Eric Carle. Children will have hours of fun learning first words and first concepts in this beautiful book from the creator of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. From things in the garden to things you can e

Eric Carle's Very Little Library

Eric Carle

Collects three of the author's special feature picture books featuring a hungy caterpillar, a hardworking spider, and a lonely firefly. On board pages.

Escaping Peril: A Graphic Novel (Wings of Fire Graphic Novel #8)

Tui T. Sutherland

The graphic novel adaptations of the #1 New York Times bestselling Wings of Fire series continue to set the world on fire! Peril has been loyal to Queen Scarlet, who used her fatal firescales to kill countless dragons in the SkyWing arena. Now, Peril is loyal to Clay, the only dragonet who has ever

ESSENTIAL SOLDIERS

liberation struggles around the globe. Based on the principle of Kawaida, an African tradition of communitarianism and self\u002Ddetermination, more than 20 groups flourished in urban centers, from Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. By uplifting Black culture and fighting racial oppression, the diverse groups focused on strengthening the community. Women were the backbone of these efforts. In food deserts, they started cooperatives providing fresh, nutritious groceries. Where public schools failed Black children, they taught academics alongside cultural pride. They were involved in producing the Black News, which reached a circulation of 50,000, and helping in broader political campaigns, including voter registration and economic boycotts. A basic principle of Kawaida was complementarity, which enforced gender roles identifying males as leaders and women as followers. Highlighting female activists who challenged this sexist formulation, like Amina Baraka and Tayari kwa Salaam, McCray traces the evolution of women’s thinking and practices, including the founding of their own organizations, like the Black Women’s United Front, which focused on domestic violence, rape, reproductive rights, and equal pay. They transformed both themselves and the movement."

This gripping military history explores the unsung heroes who form the backbone of every successful army, from ancient supply train organizers to modern logistics specialists. The narrative vividly d...

ETERNALLY ELECTRIC

her “ballbuster” mother\u002Dturned\u002Dmanager. Her early fame came at a cost to her mental health, she writes, leading to a string of anxiety attacks: “If anyone out there has experienced them, you’ll know what it’s like: you literally think you are dying, unsure where your next breath is coming from.” Gibson writes candidly about her health struggles—she also has Lyme disease—as well as her fraught relationship with her mother, who once said (perhaps jokingly, but revealingly), “My worst nightmare has come true. She has become her own person.” Gibson’s later career saw her appearing on The Celebrity Apprentice and in films such as Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus—perhaps not the life she had envisioned, but, as she writes, “I love that, though the world has kicked my arse a bit, I’m not bitter.” The writing here is bubbly if unexceptional, and structurally, it’s a by\u002Dthe\u002Dnumbers celebrity memoir, complete with motivational aphorisms and occasional non sequiturs (“I think Mozart would approve of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”). This is strictly for Gibson’s fans, but they’ll find it a treat."

This high-voltage adventure plunges readers into a world where the very energy that powers our cities is also the source of life for a hidden society. When a teenage protagonist discovers they can ma...

Everyday

Bendon Publishing

Simple text presents numbers (1 through 10), describes the basics of counting and shows how to group numbers.

Everything We Never Had

Randy Ribay

From the author of the National Book Award finalist Patron Saints of Nothing comes an emotionally charged, moving novel about four generations of Filipino American boys grappling with identity, masculinity, and their fraught father-son relationships. Winner of the APALA medal, the Boston Globe-Horn

EVIL-ISH

Genre

This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into a morally complex world where the line between hero and villain is deliciously blurred, following a protagonist who discovers that sometimes saving the wo...

EXILES

Genre

This gripping young adult novel follows three teens unexpectedly transported to a mysterious realm where survival depends on their wits and willingness to trust one another. The narrative masterfully...

EXTRACTION

President Biden’s increased investment in the process. The balance of forces—between public and private, resource nationalism and environmentalism, rich and poor countries—remains fragile."

This pulse-pounding science fiction thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes rescue mission on a hostile alien world, where a team of elite soldiers must extract a brilliant scientist from a quara...

EXTREMITY

the roads not taken. An SF novella about the ultrawealthy and their clones could reasonably be assumed to be in conversation with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, but Extremity as a title is a bit of a red herring. It’s not about the clones being extensions of their prime selves, but rather about humanity reaching too far in its greed and Earth ultimately paying the price. The narrative framework is engaging but underused as the three stories basically line up, failing to generate sufficient tension about the evening’s outcome. While Binge’s longer works like Ascension are stunning in their scope, this tonally uneven adventure stumbles before it really gets started."

This gritty graphic novel plunges readers into a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where survival hinges on prosthetic augmentation and sheer will. The story follows a young scavenger navigating treache...

EYE IN THE BLUE BOX

Genre

This innovative visual puzzle book challenges young readers to spot the single blue square hidden within each vibrant, complex spread, training the eye to find patterns amid chaos. Each page presents...

F*CK THIS MURDER

numerous disasters over the course of a week, including food poisoning and poison ivy, aggressive yellowjackets, and the discovery of a severed human leg, among other things. In the midst of all this, Maggie—who once underwent fertility treatments—is nervous but hopeful that she may be pregnant, due to an ill\u002Dadvised hookup with her cheating, soon\u002Dto\u002Dbe\u002Dex\u002Dhusband, Lance. He tries to lure her back to Minnesota, as does a promotion\u002Doffering former employer. Maggie’s also anxious about seeing Alice, her former high school girlfriend, whom she betrayed by sleeping with Lance some 14 years ago. There’s also a blackmail plot, related to a tragic event that occurred during Maggie’s high school days. This colorful, spiraling whodunit effectively combines suspense with tongue\u002Din\u002Dcheek absurdity\u003B chapter titles include “Scooby Do or Die” and “What’s a Body Part Between Friends?,” and there are nods to both the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer and the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Readers may find that keeping track of this book’s large squad of characters is challenging, but they’re a believable and attractively diverse bunch of potential suspects. Ultimately, though, this novel has a sweetness to it, with Maggie and her former antagonists coming together in common cause."

This raw, unfiltered chronicle documents a week of escalating personal catastrophes that begins with food poisoning and spirals into increasingly absurd miseries. The narrative voice captures the vis...

Fablehaven

Brandon Mull

Kendra and Seth find themselves in the midst of a battle between good and evil when they visit their grandparents' estate and discover that it is a sanctuary for magical creatures.

FAILURE TO TREAT

people who have no idea what being a doctor really means” and is consequently in danger of “falling from its lofty place in our society to a job on the assembly line, widgets replaced by patients.” Kowey illustrates these failings with a series of stories about the problems encountered by patients experiencing the whole range of medical treatment, from unexpected ER visits to extended care for prolonged conditions. Each history is presented in great detail, followed by a “Case Explanation” and a “Conclusion” in which the author pinpoints the cause of the problems and offers some potential solutions. Readers learn about a Mrs. Lynch, for instance, who began experiencing an irregular, racing heartbeat and underwent an ablation to cauterize the arrhythmic area. But her atrial fibrillation continued, perhaps prolonged by the ablation itself, and Kowey contends that, given her otherwise young and healthy state, the ablation was “inappropriate.” In the case of 75\u002Dyear\u002Dold Mrs. Lopez, the issues are more interpersonal than medical: The hospital staff is coldly indifferent, her discharge is likely early, and the hospital’s “patient experience specialist” seems more concerned with a good rating than anything else. “It is maddening,” the author writes, “that hospital leaders have chosen to spend money foolishly on administrative salaries, worthless marketing, failed initiatives, and ancillary services that bring little value to the routine care of hospitalized patients.” As the percentage of the U.S. population that can afford health care of any kind rapidly shrinks, readers will find these stories of miscommunication and administrative bloat recognizable, and the author’s professional experience gives them extra heft."

This gripping medical thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of emergency medicine, where split-second decisions determine life or death. The narrative follows dedicated healthcare profe...

FALLING ANGELS

Fisher, in the U.S. Freelance operative Torashi Kage, whom a senator has assigned to track down the virus, embarks on a personal vendetta against Maxx—and because Kage doesn’t know where Maxx is, he first goes after Gabby. Thomas caters this finale to readers familiar with the previous series installments. Exhilarating action opens the narrative, with multiple groups of people engaged in combat, rushing somewhere, or scheming to take someone out. Despite the series title featuring Maxx’s name, this is definitely an ensemble cast—the spotlight is shared among many characters, from Dr. Xi and Mr. Green to Maxx’s ever\u002Dreliable military friends Andres Sandoval and Glen Piper. An unexpected standout is one particular villain who struggles with an all\u002Dtoo\u002Drelatable emotional issue\u003B she’s involved in a sinister plan on a global scale but has difficulty overcoming her jealousy, feeling “second best” to the scientist who’s aligned with the man she loves. Maxx makes for a terrific hero and helps to protect Earth, but so do many other characters. The Others, at least in this installment, are mostly an ominous presence—they’re often voiced via the cube, and there’s not much beyond a hint of their specific biology. This doesn’t make them any less daunting, as there seems to be no question that they have the power to devastate the entire planet. The dialogue throughout is rife with cliches (“We’re playing with fire”\u003B “he’s already got one foot in the grave”), but it’s action that truly drives this story, and the author dishes it out in spades."

This powerful coming-of-age novel explores the complex friendship between two girls from vastly different backgrounds in 1970s England, set against the backdrop of Queen Victoria's funeral. Through a...

FAMILY SPIRIT

Luda. Nona’s story then swerves from Lorna and Ayana to Ayana’s Aunt Lil, granddaughter of powerful Mace matriarch GG. As a young woman in the 1970s, Lil was banished from family meetings because she revealed the gift of Knowing to an outsider in her bid to build a career in media (she starts with an appearance on the era’s real\u002Dlife Philadelphia hit, The Mike Douglas Show). Lil’s section sparkles with authenticity, as does a section about Ayana when she’s 22, torn between easy delights with two very different men and buckling down in her undergraduate studies. As Ayana wavers, Aunt Lil returns to Philadelphia. She has a personal reason for this visit, and a Knowing of her own that leads to her reconciliation with the family. As Nona builds the story of the Mace women, she also makes some choices—but it’s difficult to understand what links her actions with those of her characters. Is the titular spirit affecting her? Is she also related to the Mace family? It isn’t clear, and even a tiny glimmer of her ties to them might have held the book together the way Luda’s cherished pearl secures Lil’s long\u002Dabandoned ceremonial gown."

This compelling coming-of-age novel explores the complex bonds of family through the eyes of a teenager navigating cultural identity and generational expectations. The story delves into the spiritual...

Famous Folk Tales

Saviour Pirotta

Here's Pecos Bill, the cowboy whose horse ate dynamite, and his girlfriend Slue-Foot Sue who rode a giant catfish. And here's Paul Henry, the steel-driver. His race against a digging machine made him a household name. And finally, meet Paul Bunyan, the giant lumberjack. His ox, Babe, was as blue as

Fancy Nancy: Halloween...or Bust!

Jane O'Connor

No one knows Fancy like Nancy . . . . . . and no one knows Halloween like Nancy!

FASTER

Genre

This high-octane thriller delivers relentless pacing and heart-pounding action sequences that will keep young adult readers glued to the pages. The story follows a teenage protagonist caught in a dan...

Fate: The Winx Saga Vol. 2

a former comrade in Cuartero-Briggs’ YA graphic novel, one in a series." />

This second volume of the Fate: The Winx Saga graphic novel series plunges readers deeper into the magical world of Alfea, where Bloom and her fairy friends confront escalating threats that test thei...

Female Heroes in Young Adult Fantasy Fiction

Leah Phillips

The heroic romance is one of the West's most enduring narratives, found everywhere, from religion and myth to blockbuster films and young adult literature. Within this story, adolescent girls are not, and cannot be, the heroes. They are, at best, the hero's bride, a prize he wins for slaying monster

FIGHTER

boxing. Lee, an Irish southpaw, melds revealing set pieces about life as an “outsider” with a rich account of his rough route to the middleweight championship. His itinerant boyhood was shaped by the “special closeness to gypsy life.” His family was among a group that lived in “trailers and caravans,” traveled “in convoy” and prohibited marriages to “non\u002DGypsies. Gorgeys, we call them.” At school, classmates sang a parody of his peripatetic lifestyle. He learned to fight by taking beatings from his older brothers, already skilled boxers. Relatably, Lee realizes that he chose his profession in part because he didn’t want to disappoint loved ones. Yet being “pushed to the fringes of society” equipped him with an invaluable trait—“raw toughness.” A stellar amateur career won the attention of Emanuel Steward, a decorated American trainer who began schooling Lee at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit. As “the white kid in a black city,” he was lonely. He read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, discovering the Holocaust survivor’s “theory of ‘Sunday neurosis’: that feeling of emptiness that people get when their hectic life slows down at the weekend. That’s me.” Lee is excellent on boxing preparation and technique. As an amateur, he won by counterpunching, but pro fighting rewards “viciousness.” A Steward disciple teaches him the “Suzie Q,” a technique meant to get an opponent leaning before you “dress him up”—flatten him. Prefight weigh\u002Dins prove easy to manipulate. He sits in saunas before getting on the scale, then chows down, his weight fluctuating by 10 pounds within hours. The book’s one clear flaw—a penchant for hackneyed philosophizing about the nature of combat—only shows up a couple of times."

This powerful narrative delivers an unflinching look at the world of competitive fighting, following a young protagonist's journey through grueling training, personal sacrifice, and the complex psych...

FIGHTING BULLIES

Genre

This powerful guide tackles the difficult reality of school bullying with direct, actionable advice for young readers navigating these challenging social dynamics. The book provides clear strategies ...

FINDERS

Genre

This gripping mystery novel plunges readers into a high-stakes treasure hunt where ancient artifacts hold the key to unraveling a family's hidden legacy. When a teenager discovers a cryptic map among...