A teen turned covert asset matches wits with her unsuspecting hostage-takers in this outstanding thriller from Lloyd-Jones (The Wild Huntress), set in a technologically evolved near-future Portland, Ore. The narrator is 15 when her botched hacking of a driverless car kills her boyfriend and, briefly, herself, deactivating her government-issued biometric tattoo, which is used to confirm one’s identity. At the hospital, the Identity Security Division extends an offer: get re-inked and face murder charges or let everyone think she’s dead and become Augusta Pine, an untraceable ISD operative. Three years later, homesick Augusta contrives to surveil her grandmother from the vacant apartment next door. Augusta is poolside chatting with teenager Eames and his younger sister, Piper, when cyberterrorists seize control of a nearby smartbuilding; they seek Project Persephone, a top secret government property purportedly stashed somewhere inside the building that the terrorists would kill to recover. With external communications jammed and only Eames, Piper, and sentient bumblebee spybot Edgar for backup, resourceful Augusta sets out to save Nonna—and the day. Excerpts from ISD case files intercut Augusta’s snarky present-tense narration, providing context and further developing individual character arcs of the white-cued cast. Subtle sci-fi worldbuilding complements witty, whiz-bang plotting, which ratchets up stakes while probing issues of grief and class disparity. Ages 14–up. Agent: Sarah Landis, Sterling Lord Literistic. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Recently released from a juvenile detention center, Black 16-year-old Jasmine struggles to adjust to her family’s newly affluent lifestyle in an uneven contemporary drama, McCallum’s debut. Jasmine’s overprotective mother, who recently remarried, is determined that the family move on from the teen’s past at Guiding Hearts Home for Troubled Girls. She even goes so far as to lie to Jasmine’s new stepfamily about the truth surrounding her year away and forbids Jasmine from contacting her former friends. Jasmine chafes against the deception and her mother’s strict rules, which causes tension within the household, particularly between Jasmine and stepsister Kayla. Caught between a past she is encouraged to forget and a present that refuses to accept her, Jasmine struggles to maintain balance, especially when an old flame from the center reenters her life, threatening to upend the fragile stability she’s trying to build. Occasional contradictions between character dialogue and actions somewhat undermine the impact of overarching conversations about the juvenile justice system. Still, restrained prose depicts Jasmine as a sympathetic protagonist, and readers will find it easy to root for her to find her place and voice in this straightforward coming-of-age portrait. Ages 12–up. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

in this reflective romp, Korman (Hypergifted) spotlights five children who find themselves with too much time on their hands upon discovering that they no longer need to sleep. White-cued Mickey, 12, and four racially diverse classmates in the town of Shagbark—Skye, Levi, Cyrus, and Thea—have no idea why they’re inexplicably unable to sleep. At first unaware of one another’s predicament, each uses their extra waking hours to pursue personal ambitions in secret: Mickey turns to athletics, Skye becomes an academic overachiever, Levi experiments with multiple social media identities as an influencer, Cyrus immerses himself in invention, and Thea throws herself into musical theater. But when the group realizes they share the same sleeplessness, they form an unlikely friendship, meeting at night to investigate the cause of their insomnia. As they dig deeper, the quintet confronts a pressing question: Is their condition a gift or a curse? And if a cure exists, do they want it? Throughout this fast-paced tale, characters weigh the costs and pleasures of their nocturnal freedom, including its effects—both positive and negative—on identity, popularity, and achievement. While an abrupt resolution somewhat dampens the impact of the intriguing existential premise, perceptive narration nevertheless excels in its interpretation of wish fulfillment. Ages 9–12. Agent: Elizabeth Harding, Curtis Brown. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

This nuanced, emotionally layered verse novel by Dubois (Ode to a Nobody) explores grief alongside the complicated role technology plays in middle schoolers’ lives. After white-cued 13-year-old Tolly’s older sister, Sunny, dies in a car crash that some believe was caused by Sunny’s distracted driving, Tolly and her parents struggle to connect with one another. Feeling isolated and burdened by the fear that her own texts to Sunny may have contributed to the accident, Tolly resolves to navigate eighth grade sans cellphone as she searches for concrete clues about the crash and contends with a strained relationship with her former best friend, Willa. Encouraged by a school counselor, Tolly starts the Luddite Club, whose mission of mindfulness finds kinship with those in the Outdoors Club. Among the Outdoors Club’s endearingly offbeat members is Khalil, a nature-loving classmate whose grief over his own loss helps Tolly realize that others too may be dealing with challenges like hers. As Tolly detaches herself from electronic devices and shifts her focus toward others, she discovers that grief doesn’t have to be shouldered alone. Spare verse lines balance a clear-eyed look at technology’s pitfalls with a nondidactic and nonjudgmental approach. The result is a thoughtful and quietly powerful story of loss and healing. Ages 9–12. Agent: Louise Fury, Bent Agency. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Across an evocative story of agricultural upheaval, Hoffmann (The Ocean’s Heart) follows a curious tween’s search for answers about her past in her guarded mother’s childhood diaries. Twelve-year-old Xyla, a space-obsessed bookworm who reads as white, would rather lose herself in library books than tend to the endless chores on her family’s Iowa farm. This puts her at odds with her overworked mother, Cassie, who wishes that Xyla was invested in the property. Tensions rise with the arrival of Alegría, a capable and conscientious tween whose Mexican American family rents a nearby house and who seems, to Xyla, like the daughter her mother wishes she had. When Xyla discovers Cassie’s old journals, she becomes absorbed in her mother’s past—especially the mystery of Xyla’s absent father, whom Cassie refuses to discuss. Interspersed among Xyla’s inquisitive present-day first-person perspective, verse diary entries transport readers to the 1980s, where a younger Cassie emerges as a budding environmental activist, determined to challenge her own parents’ reliance on harmful farming practices. As Xyla uncovers signs of a worsening environmental threat on her family’s farm, past and present narratives intertwine, linking buried secrets with larger questions about land stewardship and responsibility. This is an illuminating exploration of the enduring impact of past decisions on future generations. Ages 8–12. Agent: Lori Steel, Steelworks Literary. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Kelly (The First State of Being) and Schrefer (The Brightness Between Us) craft a brisk, unnerving tale that blends technological horror with a cautionary fable. After accidentally injuring her younger sister, 11-year-old Sofia Mendoza, who reads as Latinx, is sent by her father to Forestjaw, an isolated wilderness camp, hoping the experience will encourage her to “reflect on what you did.” There, she encounters unsettling figures, including severe and enigmatic camp director Monarch, who’s often accompanied by a mechanical vulture. Sofia’s expectations of solemn self-improvement give way to something more sinister when Monarch reveals that Forestjaw is backed by the wildly popular video game Sandbox. The campers are soon thrust into a high-stakes, elimination-style competition, with the promise of a million in-game credits for the winner. Challenges inspired by Sandbox, shifting rankings, and the ever-present threat of removal by robotic vultures create a cutthroat environment. Sofia embraces the rules with chilling resolve, determined to win at any cost. Her willingness to lie, manipulate, and betray sets her apart as a deliberately unlikable protagonist, and the novel’s central tension lies in just how far she will go. Stark b&w illustrations from Arroyo (I Am Sally) heighten the suspenseful atmosphere. Ages 8–12. Authors’ agents: (for Kelly) Sara Crowe, Sara Crowe Literary; (for Schrefer) Richard Pine, InkWell Management. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

In debut author Beck’s spirited fantasy novel, 12-year-old Airrelle, who is Black, must navigate magical trials and personal challenges on the road to becoming a full-fledged witch. Airrelle lives in Missen Dessalin, a hidden community in Southern California where witches live in seclusion from the outside world. When Airrelle’s mother can no longer train her due to worsening mental health struggles, Airrelle’s older sisters step in to help the youth complete the four rites that will define her powers, which are rooted in song. When she encounters Rabiah, a grieving, strong-willed tween from the nonmagical Overside who’s eager to escape her own world by becoming a witch, Airrelle believes she’s found the answer to the problems plaguing her family. But inviting an outsider into Missen Dessalin is taboo, and Airrelle must rely on her growing abilities—and her trust in others—to protect her community. Airrelle’s winning, adventurous voice propels the story, while her evolving friendship with Rabiah forms its emotional core. Their bond underscores a shared longing for connection amid complicated family dynamics. Familiar magical worldbuilding, which involves patron animals, talking birds, and sentient plants, rounds out this tender tale of hope and belonging. Ages 8–12. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Via lighthearted illustrations and a sprightly setting, Stuart (My Shadow Is Blue) launches an action-packed series that puts a thoughtful spin on good versus evil. Nine-year-old Saphire Sparks, who reads as white, comes from a long line of monster hunters, all members of the Society for Hunting Monsters, an organization firmly convinced that such creatures are evil. In contrast to society legend Gwendolyn Grapeshot, who vanished under mysterious circumstances, Saphire’s own family has never caught a monster. Determined to change that, Saphire enlists help from her nonbinary best friend, Jasper, who happens to be afraid of almost everything. When Saphire and Jasper spot a monster lurking in the library, they follow it into a hidden world beneath the building called the Museum of Wonders, where a community of monsters live and work in secret. Mistaken for new hires by a no-nonsense gremlin, the pair are quickly swept into museum life, and what begins as Saphire’s chance to prove herself as a true hunter evolves into something more as she starts to question everything she’s been taught about the beings. Charming narration recounts Saphire’s journey, along which she learns that tales are often informed by the storyteller’s own experiences and that there’s always more to discover about the world and oneself. Publishing simultaneously: Beware of Sleeping Pixies. Ages 7–10. (July)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

Teaming up with Thomas (Patchwork Prince), middle grade author Giles (Not an Easy Win) makes her picture book debut with this dynamic celebration of Black joy viewed through the lens of community and culture. Anchored by variations on the eponymous refrain, bright text introduces cherished everyday moments: “We are joy-wrapped/ in tight aunty hugs/ and Uncle’s secret handshake,/ in Nana’s hand-stitched blanket.” Bustling digital illustrations with shape-peppered backgrounds depict group scenes of brown-skinned children playing (“We are joy-connected”), gathering to eat corn bread dressing and sweet potato pie (“We are joy-filled”), taking part in academics (“We are joy-teaching”), reading with an elder (“We are joy-full”), and more. Conceptual spreads that visualize protest against injustice underscore joy as both inheritance and act of resistance (“We are joy-always,/ even when we aren’t smiling/ because joy never leaves us”). Incorporating references to collective memory and intergenerational connection, this uplifting tribute to ancestry, advocacy, and aspiration aptly meditates on the sustaining power of joy: “We are joy-ready.../ Exactly like we are.” Background characters are portrayed with various skin tones. Ages 4–8. Author’s agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. Illustrator’s agent: Chad W. Beckerman, CAT Agency. (June)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink

The title of this series kickoff may suggest a solo portrait, but Ferry (The Wombats Go Wild for Words) and Dudolf (the Piggle the Pig series) offer up a rosy, rhyming ode to teamwork. The creators introduce Turtle, a DIY-savvy reptile with a toolbox shell, engaging in what looks at first like solo play. Verse bounces along with satisfying onomatopoeia (“Here is his hammer./ Bang. Bang. Bang.// Here is his mallet. Clang. Clang. Clang”) as Turtle, tongue stuck out in focus, takes on arrayed tasks. But following the arrival of a friend come to assist, Turtle rallies a crew of forest animals to build an elaborate turreted tree house in a carefully selected oak. Round-headed, with friendly dot eyes and a quiet smile, Turtle appears as the confident foreman of nearly every spread, in which crisply inked, soft-color-fill illustrations document construction from framing to hanging decorative lights. Featuring a cheerful, wholly competent crew who share a goal and a can-do spirit, this sturdy addition to the readaloud pile suggests that good things come to those who collaborate. Ages 4–8. (June)

Reviewed on 04/10/2026 | Details & Permalink