The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller – Book Recommendation

January 14, 2026January 6, 2026 | Tasha

The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller

Publisher: Philomel Books
Publication Date: January 13, 2026
Reviewed from Edelweiss e-galley
ISBN: 9780593624555

Luna’s life is pretty normal as she starts seventh grade. She is best friends with Scott, a friend she’s had since she was very small. She loves writings and discovers a love of zines. At school, her quiet kindness leads to her being seen as the book doctor, a person who can refer just the right book to a reader to help them out. She helps one classmate with self-esteem and then everyone seems to want her help. Luna begins to create zines to help people too with Scott’s art in them and her words. Soon she gets the attention of one of the more popular girls in class and starts to hang out with that popular girl group. But what will that mean for her friendship with Scott? And how much is she willing to change to fit in?

The Newbery-Honor winning author returns with a new middle school book. She captures so tangibly the push and pull of middle school, the anxiety about the changes that inevitably come, and how you can get lost in it all. The depiction of the hierarchy of popular girls doesn’t take it too far, staying entirely relatable and realistic in their cruelty. At times joyously unique and independent and other times suffocating in its conformity, this book is middle school between two covers. Just the zine about getting your period is enough to recommend this book.

A triumph of a book about writing, middle school and staying yourself. Appropriate for ages 9-12.

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd – Book Recommendation

January 9, 2026January 6, 2026 | Tasha

The Last Ember by Lily Berlin Dodd

Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Publication Date: November 18, 2025
Reviewed from library copy
ISBN: 9780374393120

This first book in a new series starts with a fiery, war-torn tale of a city filled with wealth and poverty. Eva is a 12-year-old chemist attending a prestigious scientific school for girls. When her father gifts her the choice of anything in the jewelry store for her birthday, she selects a silvery ball that she believes is a rare element, rubibium. Meanwhile, Dusty has grown up as a foundling at St. Ichabod’s where he is now the oldest boy and headed into the military when he turns 14 from which he knows he won’t return. Dusty has become part of the Thieves Union at night and is now asked to steal that silvery ball from Eva in her dorm room. Soon Dusty and Eva find themselves of interest to the Director of Kingdom Secrets, who will stop at nothing to get his hands on what Eva has found. Could it actually be an egg from an extinct dragon-like species of lore? Fire and time will tell.

Dodd’s writing is incredibly engaging, allowing readers to understand the society and world she has built fully. Her interludes of information serve more as a friend offering insight rather than information loading. In Eva and Dusty she has created two great hero figures who are complex and interesting to spend time with. Even her secondary characters, including Eva’s roommate and Dusty’s best friend, are fully drawn and fascinating. Add in a potential dragon and you have a rollicking book filled with scientist girls, thieving boys and a dangerous government.

A great series opener, this middle-school fantasy novel is an exuberant experience. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf – Book Recommendation

December 17, 2025November 25, 2025 | Tasha

The Vanishing of Lake Peigneur: A Graphic Novel Based on a True Story by Allan Wolf, illustrated by Jose Pimienta

Publisher: Candlewick

Publication Date: Oct 7, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781536217438

This graphic work of nonfiction for middle schoolers is superb. It tells the story of Lake Peigneur in Louisiana from the lake’s point of view. The lake tells of the misfortune that happened there when an oil rig accidentally punctured the local salt mine’s tunnels. The result was incredibly dangerous for everyone in the area since the water from the lake drained into the salt mine, forming a water vortex that could swallow barges. Boats on the surface had to fight to get to shore and then contend with the lowering water levels. The shore eroded and trees were sucked down until suddenly a geyser erupted as air escaped the mine shafts. As the disaster unfolded, people stayed calm and followed their training, resulting in no one losing their life.

A remarkable tale that creates a book that is fast moving and incredibly gripping. Few people know of the disaster outside of Louisiana since no one lost their life. It’s a look at nature’s response to a man-made issue and the power of water itself. Brilliantly told, the book sticks with the various people in danger, from the miners to the tug boat to the gardeners on shore. The use of the lake as the narrator is clever since there were so many human perspectives.

A thrilling look at nature and disaster. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila – Book Recommendation

December 16, 2025November 25, 2025 | Tasha

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez by María Dolores Águila

Publisher: Roaring Brook Press

Publication Date: September 16, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781250342614

Based on a true story, this verse novel set in the 1930s tells the story of a community that refuses to be silent in the face of racism. In San Diego, Roberto is the youngest of the children in his family. When the local school board decides that the Mexican-American children must attend a different school than the white children, they build a school in a barn for them. But the majority of the families refuse to send their children there. The families form a group and stand up for themselves in court, raising money by selling goods and food items. Roberto, at age 12, is selected to be the face of the children impacted by the decision. Despite losing friends to deportation and being expelled himself, he must find the courage to give voice to his community.

Incredibly timely and impactful, this book uses poetry as a vehicle for readers to understand Roberto and his point of view. From the beauty of his community to the hatred spewed at them to the threats they endured, his emotions are bared on the page. Written with immense restraint and simplicity, Águila shares the full story of the history while humanizing it with Roberto’s voice.

Powerful and heart-wrenching. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson – Book Recommendation

December 9, 2025November 20, 2025 | Tasha

Blood in the Water by Tiffany D. Jackson

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Publication Date: July 1, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9781338849912

Kaylani is not happy about spending her summer vacation on Martha’s Vineyard with wealthy family friends. It means that her father won’t be able to call her from prison as easily. Kaylani knows that her father is innocent of the financial fraud he was accused of, even if the justice system didn’t agree. Now she is stuck on an island that is full of beautiful large homes, beaches and people having a great summer. She tries to enjoy herself, but the daughters of the family she is staying with don’t make it easy. When a teenager turns up dead, Kaylani sets out to figure out what happened. But as she gets closer to the truth, it may just be her own life that is turned inside out.

Jackson’s middle grade debut is incredible. She writes with such skill for this age group, never speaking down to them and giving her young protagonist agency and wisdom. Kaylani is an engaging character, looking for connection with her father while also struggling to fit with the family she is staying with and their rules. I particularly enjoyed the parts of the book where she engages with kids her age outside of the family, showing that she is the personable one as she makes friends easily and cares for them well.

Brilliant plotting, a murder and plenty of questions make this a compelling middle grade mystery. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Barnes & Noble Best Young Reader Books of 2025

November 25, 2025November 20, 2025 | Tasha

Barnes & Noble have released their Best Books of 2025 lists. Here are their picks for the best Young Reader books of 2025:

The Court of the Dead by Rick Riordan and Mark Oshiro

Dog Man: Big Jim Believes by Dav Pilkey

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Partypooper by Jeff Kinney

The First Cat in Space and the Baby Pirate’s Revenge by Mac Barnett, illustrated by Shawn Harris

The Gate, the Girl and the Dragon by Grace Lin

Growing Home by Beth Ferry, illustrated by The Fan Brothers

Howl’s Moving Castle Collector’s Deluxe Edition by Diana Wynne Jones

I Am Rebel by Ross Montgomery

J vs. K by Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate

The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell

Scarlet Morning by ND Stevenson

Spy School Blackout by Staurt Gibbs

Vanya and the Wild Hunt by Sangu Mandanna

War Games by Alan Gratz

Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell – Book Recommendation

November 18, 2025October 30, 2025 | Tasha

Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls by Judith Rossell

Publisher: Dial Books

Publication Date: May 27, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9798217002405

When Maggie is sent to the Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls, she knows just the sort of place she is entering. She expects severe discipline, not much learning and pure dreariness. But the Institute is not like that at all. Behind that respectable front lies a school that trains girls in how to be spies, fight bad guys and solve mysteries. Soon Maggie and her class of new students are finding themselves learning to hide, speak German, fence and dance. When their class figures out a letter from a missing woman is actually a cry for help, they are placed on the case. They must figure out who is behind the disappearance and who a jewel thief discovered in their investigation is.

Set in a marvelous world of floating blimps combined with turn of the century attitudes and technologies, this book brings an entire city to life for the reader. All of the characters are fascinating, including the adults who are far more roundly crafted than many other children’s books. The various ways out of the Institute and into the city add to the wonder and whimsy of the book.

Full of action and lots of disobedient and clever girls, this story is smashing. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Silverborn by Jessica Townsend – Book Recommendation

November 17, 2025October 30, 2025 | Tasha

Silverborn by Jessica Townsend

Publisher: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers

Publication Date: June 24, 2025

Reviewed from library copy

ISBN: 9780316348393

The fourth book in the Nevermoor series has Morrigan discovering that her mother is actually from Nevermoor and was part of a very wealthy family. Morrigan is invited to meet her mother’s family, the Darlings, but things don’t go perfectly at their first meeting. Still, she continues to be in touch with them as her relationship with her mentor falls apart due to both of them having kept large secrets from one another. At a Darling wedding, Morrigan finds herself in the midst of a murder investigation where she and her friends may just be the only ones still searching for the true murderer. She must also find time to continue her studies to be a Wundersmith, one of the big secrets she is keeping from everyone.

After many delays in its publication, there is such joy in returning to the world of Nevermoor and the magic delights that dwell there. In this novel, there is plenty of darkness woven throughout. Readers will be able to figure out some of the mysteries and lies ahead of Morrigan while other reveals will surprise. With a monster, a murder and Morrigan, this book has plenty to keep fans happy.

If you haven’t tried this children’s fantasy series yet, this fourth book just adds to the reasons to read it soon. Appropriate for ages 9-12.