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Short list this title for middle grade library collections and recommend to readers, reluctant or not, with an interest in pirates, history, bodies of water, or atypical family structures.
PREMIUM
Say Something, Poupeh Babaee!
An emotionally compelling, insistently educative view of a challenging immigration experience.
A real humdinger of a story told by master storyteller; this title will appeal to tweens seeking high-stakes, high-fun realistic fiction.
PREMIUM
School Dance
This story of finding the courage to overcome stage fright is a solid addition to any middle school graphic novel collection, especially where the series is already popular.
PREMIUM
Seabird
A first purchase for all libraries wishing to inspire readers to make their own path rather than follow the trail.
Confirmed sci-fi fans, comic readers, and those new to the genre or format will all find easy entry here, along with a satisfying payoff.
A delightful, interdimensional graphic adventure about found family, the need to belong, and dubious motivations.
Enhancing a classic and empowering readers to better understand complex imagery, this faithful and beautiful adaptation is a must purchase for all graphic novel collections.
A nice blend of the western Marvel-mania in a manga format that will charm both readers already in-the-know and appease those who are just getting their first tastes.
Birdsall is so adept at magical realism that after finishing this book, readers will likely keep an eye out for fairylike creatures the next time they visit a museum or library. An essential purchase for all middle grade collections.
PREMIUM
Dracula’s Brunch Club
A delightful addition to the middle grade-friendly collection of vampire titles.
PREMIUM
Schoolbot 9000
An exploration on humans vs. machines combines with a student navigating middle school life. Graphic novel fans will gobble this up and be eager for the next installment. Highly recommended.
PREMIUM
Steel & Spellfire
With a Regency-style setting, likable protagonists, romance, plot twists, and complex worldbuilding, this magical mystery story will appeal to readers who enjoy their historical romance laced with strong fantasy elements.
PREMIUM
To the Stars and Back, Vol. 1
This slice-of-life LGBTQIA+ romance is a secondary purchase where Webtoons or boys’ love manga is popular.
PREMIUM
Tall Water
A compelling, heartfelt story, and an excellent addition to most YA graphic novel collections.
PREMIUM
Pretty Girl County
A funny, emotional glimpse into the unique Black social system of Prince George’s County; readers will be rooting for Sommer and Reya to achieve their dreams.
Stunning illustrations coupled with a thrilling plot make this a standout title that belongs in all YA graphic novel sections.
PREMIUM
Rosa by Any Other Name
A powerful coming-of-age story about passing, resistance, and self-discovery. Recommended for YA collections.
PREMIUM
Codebreaker
This book will appeal to tween and teen readers seeking an engrossing, adrenaline-packed mystery. Recommended for fans of Jennifer Lynn Barnes, Holly Jackson, and Kayvion Lewis.
Brimming with heart and humor, this poignant and thought-provoking graphic novel is perfect for fans of awkward romantic entanglements with fantastic twists.
PREMIUM
This Book Might Be About Zinnia
Full of heart, this book is recommended for libraries where Elizabeth Acevedo’s Clap When You Land is popular.
PREMIUM
Water in Her Veins
A potential town-wide conspiracy and links beyond the veil combine for a chilling mystery sure to keep readers eager to unearth the truth.
PREMIUM
Soul of Shadow
The first in a new YA romantasy series, this novel is perfect for readers of Holly Black, Lauren Roberts, and Stephanie Garber and mythology lovers who enjoy Rick Riordan and Joanne Harris.
A beautifully written and compassionate story of healing set against the horror of a brutal generational ritual.
PREMIUM
A Spell to Wake the Dead
Fantasy fans may want more explanation to the magic as it’s glossed over; the true reward in this novel is the mystery. Overall, this is a fun, spooky read that will keep readers hooked until the end.
PREMIUM
Soulmatch
A quick standalone read for teen fans of the “enemies to lovers” trope with some mystery and thriller set against the backdrop of dystopian science fiction.
Great for fans of F.T. Lukens and those who enjoy cozy fantasy and standalones.
This story of one of the most pivotal engineering accomplishments in U.S. history, told from diverse perspectives, is highly recommended for middle and high school collections.
This engaging biography contains detailed descriptions of setting and cultural context that convey a clear time line and sense of causation, as well as peeks into the artist’s intimate life.
PREMIUM
How to Say Goodbye in Cuban
A strong purchase for graphic memoir shelves, refugee stories collections, and curricular tie-ins for studies on the Cold War and Latin American history.
An important and compelling work that belongs in all high school and public libraries.
PREMIUM
The Space Cat
Okorafor’s story blends the everyday life of a pampered cat with satisfying sci-fi action. Middle grade readers who enjoy stories from the pet’s point-of-view will be delighted to meet and get to know Periwinkle.
PREMIUM
Deepwater Creek
A fast-paced horror story that intertwines a monster adventure with emotional growth.
A solid addition to middle grade graphic novel collections, this engaging series expertly blends a compelling narrative with fascinating historical details about unexplained phenomena, sure to captivate with its colorful artwork and intriguing mysteries.
PREMIUM
Free Piano (Not Haunted)
A great addition to middle grade collections, this graphic novel balances supernatural humor with real-world emotional resonance.
PREMIUM
Worst Bot Ever: Meet Ballpoint
Readers of all ages with some knowledge of Transformers lore and a penchant for goofy jokes and fumbling heroes will have fun with this unique tale.
PREMIUM
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes
Readers who love fantasy and adventure will be drawn to Feather and the dangers of a menacing and destructive Forest and crave more details about the communities Feather encounters.
PREMIUM
Kindred Dragons
A sweet way to introduce “Anne” books to newbies and a dragon fantasy for fans and potential converts.
PREMIUM
Another
A robust horror title that deftly utilizes the uncanny valley while drawing on real-life recent events. Highly recommended for youth horror shelves.
PREMIUM
Mooncussers
A charming and original sequel that will take readers on a magical adventure in an alternate 19th century. Recommended for dark fantasy lovers and fans of the first installment.
PREMIUM
A Beautiful and Terrible Murder
Recommended; hand this book to strong readers who like a complex mystery entwined with Victorian culture set in the center of the Sherlock Holmes universe.
An engaging and well-executed adaptation that will revive interest in the original series.
A comfort read for anyone who is drawn to romances set in the Regency and Victorian eras.
PREMIUM
Sky on Fire
Recommended for libraries with fans of Aetherbound or Johnston’s “Star Wars” novels, but its uneven pacing and lack of background context limits its wider appeal.
More concept than direct instruction, this humorous art book takes readers on a journey of imagination and embracing imperfection.
PREMIUM
How the Word Is Passed (Adapted for Young Readers): Remembering Slavery and How it Shaped America
While this book addresses an important topic and will have niche readers, the lack of establishing shared context for a younger audience and the uneven approach make this a secondary pick.
For many of us, ALA Annual is a place, both physical and social, where we come for a particular experience. To move foreward, we have to consider how did this place get to be what it is? And, what dominant forces are maintained here?
Author E. L. Starling discusses how the movie Interstellar and family discussions about terraforming led to the book BOUND BY STARS
I learned so much about myself while writing this book. As a mother. As a daughter. As a cycle-breaker. As a storyteller. And I’ve come to realize just how quickly perfectionism can sabotage all four of those roles.
I'm burning through my TBR, which feels good, after months of it just growing out of control. Hope you find some good things to add to your own summer TBR!
From figure skating dreams to dungeon crawler adventures, these seven popular manga titles with recent anime adaptations offer something for every taste and age.
The former Librarian of Congress spoke with author Kwame Alexander about getting fired and offered ALA Annual attendees comfort and guidance.
Eager attendees packed a much anticipated screening at the American Library Association Annual conference in Philadelphia. With the filmmakers and titular subjects on hand, it was an emotional experience of The Librarians, which examines the national crisis of censorship and the heroic professionals on the front lines of defending intellectual freedom.
Someone's raising money for trans and nonbinary youth and creators? Get on this, people!! It's happening today!
The stars of Saturday AM team up to save the multiverse in the action-packed one-shot.
Summer means I can grab the book mail the second it drops on my doorstep and tear into it. It also means I can put it in my TBR and know that I might actually get to it sometime soon.
Summer means I can grab the book mail the second it drops on my doorstep and tear into it. It also means I can put it in my TBR and know that I might actually get to it sometime soon.
It will now be up to educators and local school districts to stand up for intellectual freedom, book access, and LGBTQIA+ rights in the face of parental opt outs and political pressure, according to PEN America staff attorney Elly Brinkley.
ClickView’s roughly 12,000 videos and movies, ranging from under a minute to full-length documentaries, are curated by a team of educators, searchable via keyword, and can be filtered by grade level, rating, production year, and length.
SLJ wants to know what's on your mind as you think about the next school year. Fill out our Google form to share your hopes, concerns, and plans for 2025-26.
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