Two Chilean children and a mystical cat traverse a liminal realm of the dead in this atmospheric solo debut, a graphic novel about grief and healing from Cáceres (Pennies). Following a devastating fire that kills her parents while she’s away, young Irene is left with only the smoldering remains of their home. While investigating the scene, Irene finds the body of her cat, Moses, which briefly glows from within before inexplicably reanimating. When the resurrected feline leads her to an unscathed book titled The Comprehensive Guide to the Graylands in her late father’s study, Irene becomes convinced that her dad’s soul now resides inside the cat. Moving into family friend Ruth’s hostel, Irene determines to decode the mystery surrounding Moses, the fire, and the Graylands, which the book describes as a fog-draped world of restless wandering souls, all while thwarting Moses’s escape attempts. After newly arrived Francis, Ruth’s guitar-playing nephew who’s navigating his own loss, inadvertently assists Moses’s latest breakout, Francis and Irene follow the cat back to the charred house—and through a portal to the Graylands. Illustrations evoke Coraline vibes, heightening both the interpersonal stakes and the uncanny mood of the eerie landscape as the children confront turbulent emotions and avoid fantastical obstacles. Striking artwork and metaphor-laden plotting combine to deliver a satisfying adventure that posits alternative ways to process grief and emphasizes the importance of hope. Ages 8–12. Agent: Jennifer Azantian, Azantian Literary. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A swimming mishap gives way to interstellar adventure in this playful graphic novel series launch from de Oliveira (Penguin in Charge). During a beach excursion with her BFF TJ the tern, Pip the otter surfaces from a dive to discover that her sleek brown fur has turned green. TJ—having been reading a comic about verdant aliens—concludes that if Pip’s color shift was caused neither by something she ate nor by molting, then Pip must be from “otter space.” According to TJ, his reasoning is sound: “You don’t eat fish.... Swimming is tricky for you.... And... you’re GREEN!” Joined by friends Gulley, a tinkering seagull, and Herman the crab, who sports a can for a shell and offers comic relief, the crew embarks on a quest to find Pip’s home planet. Along the way, they cobble together a spaceship made of junk, identical-colored dashboard buttons trigger a crash-landing, and the group’s members learn the impact of being themselves. Brightly saturated, black-outlined cartoons and simple, uncluttered settings make for easy-to-follow comics panels, while layers of humor—including two pages of back-matter jokes—reward repeat readings. Goofy and full of heart, this buddy adventure is an appropriate comic for developing readers. Ages 6–9. Agent: Ammi-Joan Paquette, Aevitas Creative Management. (July)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Upon inheriting a queer bar from a dead relative, a newly out teen must learn the ins and outs of running a business while navigating first love in this tender romance from Quindlen (Her Name in the Sky). High school graduate Louisa returns to her hometown of Rustin, Ala., for the funeral of her great-uncle George, a local football hero. She expects a brief stay spent paying respects and catching up with friends before heading back to Connecticut, where she’s lived with her mother since her parents’ divorce. Instead, she learns that George was gay; that he had a partner, Hatch; and that he’s bequeathed his queer bar, the Frisky Cricket, to Hatch and Louisa. After realizing that a nearby university intends to buy the establishment and replace it with a football complex, Louisa determines to save it, though Hatch seems resigned to let it go. Meanwhile, Louisa navigates shifting friendships, including jealousy over her bestie’s bond with Aubrey, the daughter of the would-be buyer university’s new football coach. While the romantic chemistry between Aubrey and Louisa feels somewhat spare, Louisa’s acerbic and sharply drawn first-person narration coalesces in an insightful story that probes complex questions about legacy, community, and queer identity. Ages 14–up. Agent: Marietta B. Zacker, Gallt & Zacker Literary. (May)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

In this intense duology opener from de la Cruz (Sibylline), rival thieves are forced into an uneasy alliance when a legendary relic with the power to save their lost homeland surfaces. The once glorious kingdom of Ophir was swallowed by the sea following an invasion by the land of Lacon, leaving Ophir’s surviving citizens scattered and struggling to survive through servitude and theft. Among them are Gineth Strong and Eban Sadreal, the orphaned teenage leaders of competing underground organizations. When rumors emerge of an ancient artifact of immense value, each set out separately to claim it. Their missions collide, and Gin and Eban soon discover that the relic contains powerful magic that could hold the key to restoring Ophir. Begrudgingly joining forces, the pair embark on a dangerous quest that reveals long-buried secrets about their kingdom—and about each other. As their shared purpose grows clearer, so too does an unexpected emotional connection. The rapid succession of events sometimes leaves readers with little room to connect with the protagonists or linger in the richly rendered setting. Still, the tense premise offers plenty of intrigue, while frequent action sequences and high-stakes twists keep the pace brisk as the quest unfolds. Ages 14–up. Agent: Richard Abate, 3Arts Entertainment. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A former vampire races to help a newly turned friend find a cure for their vampirism in this thrilling YA debut, a romantasy from Miller (the Strangeville School series). Florida high schooler Lily startles her boyfriend Max’s best friend, Ezra, when she realizes that Ezra is showing symptoms of a recent vampire bite. Lily was once a vampire herself, having been turned in Victorian England and later restored to humankind using a rare fragment of the gravestone of the first vampire. As she teaches Ezra the rules of navigating undeath—and the art of keeping it secret from their friends—the situation becomes more complicated with the arrival of Cassius, the vampire who originally turned Lily, and who seems intent on pulling her back into his orbit. Their predicament takes another unexpected turn when their friend Sarita reveals that she’s a witch—and that her coven possesses a stash of the gravestone fragments that Ezra needs. But witches and vampires are bitter enemies, forcing Lily and Ezra, who read as white, to mount a risky heist while dodging Cassius, evading Sarita’s coven, and untangling their growing romantic feelings. A bustling blend of supernatural adventure and romantic tension keep the stakes high across a quick-moving plot. It’s a frothy, fang-filled romp that will entice vampire fans. Ages 14–up. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

A queer teen confronts the messy realities of activism and family in this sobering story from Hanson (America’s Not-So-Sweetheart) set against the backdrop of the climate crisis. Small-town high schooler Gavin loves Pondville, Ark., despite its flaws: the water in Pondville isn’t safe to drink, and the town’s crumbling infrastructure means frequent water main breaks and persistently poor water quality. As an intern at town hall, Gavin sees firsthand how little progress is being made toward bettering residents’ circumstances and how easily those in power look the other way. Frustrated but determined, Gavin and his best friend MacKenzie, a fellow intern and passionate activist, take matters into their own hands. The plan is to persuade Gavin’s estranged father—newly promoted at CrispFlow, a massive public utilities conglomerate—to steer a $500,000 grant toward Pondville’s failing water system. As the scheme unfolds, and moral and personal complications pile up, Gavin struggles to reconcile bitterness surrounding his relationship with his dad and feelings of responsibility for Pondville. Grounded first-person narration and urgent messaging deftly render Gavin’s fierce devotion to his hometown and capture the uncertainty facing teens in hazardous living conditions. Complex interpersonal relationships lend the story emotional depth, while the climate-focused plot emphasizes timely concerns. It adds up to a reflective exploration of accountability, advocacy, and hope. Ages 14–up. Agent: Ismita Hussain, Great Dog Literary. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Steven (Our Infinite Fates) highlights challenges associated with disordered eating and anorexia in this clever reimagining of The Portrait of Dorian Gray as a dark fantasy thriller. “Extremely gay” aspiring actor Penny Paxton, who cues as white, enrolls at Dorian Drama Academy in the countryside near Edinburgh, the school that launched her emotionally distant, substance-reliant mother to supermodel fame. There, Penny—struggling to manage insecurity that’s exacerbated by her alopecia—copes by overexercising and restricting food. When she’s introduced to a mysterious artist, she commissions them to paint her portrait, which they claim will age and change while Penny’s corporeal body remains eternally young. Determined to look her thinnest, Penny amps up her dieting and arrives to her sitting famished. Once her portrait is complete, though, she learns that she has unwittingly doomed herself to a life of eternal hunger. Things take a deadly turn when one of the artist’s former clients, a Dorian alumnus, is murdered. Despite occasionally muddy worldbuilding and a somewhat unsatisfying resolution, intelligent reflections about anorexia’s patriarchal connections enrich a twisty, intriguing novel that excavates body politics as well as the darker side of beauty and ambition. Ages 13–up. Agent: Chloe Seager, Madeleine Milburn Literary. (May)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Barrow (The Tournament) delivers a dark and simmering supernatural horror novel in verse that examines jealousy, belonging, and the dangerous allure of revenge. At West Easton High, Maris reigns as captain of the cheer squad, a tight-knit group of intersectionally diverse girls who find their only refuge in one another. Their bond feels unbreakable, but the arrival of new teammate Genevieve threatens that equilibrium. Maris’s resentment toward Genevieve builds as her coach’s attention shifts to the newcomer. A parallel story line set half a century earlier follows Doe, a paranormal, deer-like entity, as it encounters a similar group of girls, who bind the creature to themselves in a blood ritual to harness Doe’s ability to “send humans fleeing in fear.” When those girls later die in a fire, Doe finds itself unable to access its full power. As the narratives converge, Doe meets Maris, the last lingering connection to the girls who bound Doe to themselves—and perhaps the key to Doe’s freedom. Taking advantage of Maris’s deepening jealousy toward Genevieve, Doe begins communicating with Maris, feeding her anger and promising a way to reclaim her place at the top. Short chapters create a brisk, incantatory rhythm that steadily builds tension and dread. This chilling portrait of adolescent rivalry is both captivating and quietly disturbing. Ages 12–up. Agent: Faye Bender, Book Group. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

In this potent, socially attuned novel from Giles (Not an Easy Win), dreams of a carefree summer vacation seem out of reach when a Black middle schooler discovers that her teacher has a history of sexual harassment complaints. North Carolina seventh grader Calla Howard is excited to celebrate the long break ahead. But the mood shifts when her beloved teacher Mr. Chavis is abruptly removed from school grounds following reports from local YouTuber EboniiNews, who alleges that the teacher engaged in inappropriate conduct with students at his previous school. Though Calla struggles to reconcile the accusations with the person she admired, she also feels unsettled by community members’ assumptions that the claims are false. When EboniiNews is forced to remove their post about Mr. Chavis, Calla and her friends create an anonymous social media account to amplify the voices of his victims and encourage others to speak out. As Calla learns more about the survivors’ experiences, she begins comparing their stories with her own memories. Giles approaches a difficult subject with care, utilizing clear, compassionate language to help readers understand how manipulation by trusted adults can occur and how speaking out can begin the process of reclaiming agency. The result is a thoughtful, timely exploration of courage and the power of collective voices. Ages 10–up. Agent: Elizabeth Bewley, Sterling Lord Literistic. (May)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink

Debut authors Cervenka and Debrovner craft an empathetic tale that follows artistic Roxie Glass as she navigates new school nerves after experiencing bullying about her parents’ blindness. Upon starting seventh grade at Greenview Middle School, Roxie resolves to keep her peers from finding out about her parents’ vision impairment, a scheme that includes preventing her parents from meeting her teachers at an upcoming Open School Night. Simultaneously, she avoids lingering on the idea that she may one day develop the same genetic disorder that led to her mother’s blindness. Roxie soon finds a place to belong in the school’s art club, but the more she branches out, the more worried she becomes about keeping her secret. As her anxiety mounts, sensitive third-person prose explores how perceptions surrounding her family’s disabilities further complicate Roxie’s social dynamics and sense of self. Frequent chapters narrated by Nash, the Glasses’ guide dog, add perspective while deepening readers’ understanding of the white-cued family’s daily life and challenges. Thoughtfully designed, the book is typeset in Atkinson Hyperlegible, a font developed to support low-vision readers, reinforcing the novel’s themes of accessibility and inclusion. Concluding authors’ notes provide contextualizing information. Ages 9–12. Agent: Kristin van Ogtrop, InkWell Management. (June)

Reviewed on 03/27/2026 | Details & Permalink