Middle School

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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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

| 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.

Publishers Weekly Best Middle Grade Books of 2025

| Tasha

Publishers Weekly has announced their best books lists for 2025. Here are their picks for best Middle Grade books:

Candle Island by Lauren Wolk

Graciela in the Abyss by Meg Medina, illus. by Anna and Elena Balbusso

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban by Daniel Miyares

The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze by Derrick Barnes

Malcolm Lives! by Ibram X. Kendi

My Presentation Today Is About the Anaconda by Bibi Dumon Tak, trans. from the Dutch by Nancy Forest-Flier, illus. by Annemarie van Haeringen

Night Chef by Mika Song

The Nine Moons of Han Yu and Luli by Karina Yan Glaser

Oasis by Guojing

Pocket Bear by Katherine Applegate, illus. by Charles Santoso

A Sea of Lemon Trees by María Dolores Águila

The Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Driving Hawk Sneve, illus. by Steph Littlebird

The Trouble with Heroes by Kate Messner

The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest by Aubrey Hartman

A World Worth Saving by Kyle Lukoff

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Free Piano (Not Haunted) by Whitney Gardner 

Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers

Publication: July 1, 2025

Reviewed from copy provided by publisher

ISBN: 9781665938129

In 1980, Vision was a teen pop star, singing in front of large crowds. Today, Margot is trying to catch the attention of people online with her music, but her ukulele isn’t cutting it. Margot finds a synthesizer on the side of the road with a sign saying that it’s not haunted. She hauls it home, hoping for her father to teach her to play. But her father deserts Margot and heads to California to become a star once he gets enough online fans. Left behind, Margot starts to learn to play keyboard and that’s when Vision, whose spirit is trapped in the synthesizer, appears. The two girls start to play music together, but is something darker involved with the keyboard and what is the price of chasing external fame?

A marvelous graphic novel for middle-grade readers, this book successfully combines modern online attention culture with throwbacks to the 1980s. The haunted, or not, synthesizer forms a bridge both in music and connection between the two girls, one a ghost and one alive. The message of finding your own happiness rather than seeking external validation is offered in a variety of ways through the story, via Margot’s father, her friends and Vision herself. The art is bright and popping and veers dynamically into horror lighting at times. 

A great graphic novel with a message for our times. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Nightmare Jones by Shannon Bramer – Book Recommendation

| Tasha

Nightmare Jones by Shannon Bramer, illustrated by Cindy Derby (9781773069463)

First meet Nightmare Jones himself via the poem about him. He has blood on his shoe, a swashbuckler heart and a soul of soot. One after another, monsters appear poem by poem. There are little ghosts who live in shoes. There is the man who collects teeth. You can visit a witch’s garden or find the monster with a hole in her head. Spiders and eyes make several appearances in the book alongside dark emotions. Your monster can be tangible or all in your head, or maybe a bit of both. 

So much poetry for children is simplified and this book is marvelously challenging both in content being less than straight forward and poetry structure being played with constantly. The result is a book with lines that are eerie and strange, just right for odd children who enjoy the dark corners of books. My favorite poem is near the end of the collection, “The Strangest One” and the title is just right. 

Dark, delightful and dangerously good. Appropriate for ages 8-12.

Reviewed from e-galley provided by Groundwood Books.