These series have all of the drama, intrigue, and action mature students are looking for. With accessible and fast-moving text designed for striving readers, this diverse and sometimes gritty collection of titles will have wide appeal. Librarians looking to grow their hi-lo collections will find information about books for patrons who love the creepy, the scandalous, and the otherworldly.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Bearce, Amy. Planet Perfect. ISBN 9781631639005.
Brown, Michelle L. Hekyll and Snyde. ISBN 9781631638961.
ea vol: 160p. (Harbor Set 3). Jolly Fish Pr. Jan. 2025. Tr. $28.50.
Gr 6-8–Zany science fiction and high-interest topics characterize this hi-lo set. Hekyll and Snyde (an homage to the classic The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde) finds seventh grader Lewis capitalizing on the accelerated growth properties of a plant formula he invented to masquerade as an ultra-buff high school basketball player in a bid to save his father’s coaching job. In Planet Perfect , Meg, a 14-year-old girl who is passionate about conservation and protecting the environment, joins an alien reality show, aiming to steal their clean-energy technology for Earth. With plenty of sports action and reality show drama, these books are engaging page-turners. Both teens struggle realistically with self-confidence, and though both make mistakes, their altruistic motivations lend sympathy to their actions. Endings are resolved a bit too quickly and neatly, but this may appeal to reluctant readers. VERDICT Adequate selection for those who wish to expand hi-lo offerings in science fiction or sports.

Bradford, Chris. Lunar. illus. by Charlotte Grange. 72p. Jun. 2025. $8.99. ISBN 9781454960362.
Cross, Gillian. The Ghost Tower. illus. by Sarah Horne. 72p. Jun. 2025. $8.99. ISBN 9781454960355.}
Gibbons, Alan. Super Sub. illus. by David Shephard. 80p. Jan. 2025. $8.99. ISBN 9781454958598.
Patten, Brian. Monster Slayer. illus. by Chris Riddell. 64p. Jun. 2025. $8.99. ISBN 9781454960379.
––––. Flesh and Blood. 128p. Jun. 2025. $9.99. ISBN 9781454960348.
Priestly, Chris. Freeze. 128p. Jan. 2025. $9.99. ISBN 9781454958512.
––––. Still Water. 120p. Jan. 2025. $9.99. ISBN 9781454958581.
ea vol: (Everyone Can Be a Reader). Union Square Kids. pap.
Gr 4-7–InFlesh and Blood,the star of this eclectic mix of mostly horror tales, a WWII-era family takes in a young boy burned and covered in bandages, and they soon regret welcoming this guest into their home. In Freeze, a friend group is tormented by creepy snowmen conjured up by a new student. Still Water features a girl shipped off before the WWII blitz of London—think Kimberly Brubaker Bradley’s The War That Saved My Life with a ghost-story twist. Monster Slayer is an accessible version of Beowulf. The text is easy to read, and the illustrations are astonishingly sophisticated. Ghost Tower seems lightly spooky at first, but morphs into one of the most frightening horrors of all—small-town politics! Its heroes must petition their local town council to save a decrepit tower that has become home to a population of bats. Super Sub is an outlier here, a straightforward soccer story with historical soccer facts between each chapter. While not horror, Lunar is a tidy little sci-fi thriller about a tween trapped on the moon after an emergency escape gone awry and includes full-page illustrations to help contextualize the text. In fact, all the books are adorned with some of the highest-quality illustrations in middle grade fiction. These books span a wide suggested age span. Lunar and Ghost Tower are appropriate for younger readers whereas even adults would enjoy this alluring edition of Beowulf. All the novels were originally published in the UK and most are set there, too. VERDICT Worthy purchases for any school or public library.

Finley, Allison. A Night for Mischief. 112p. Aug. 2025. ISBN 9781459840867.
Hughes, Susan. Miss Match. 144p. Apr. 2025. ISBN 9781459842069.
Lekich, John. Bark Twice for Murder. 120p. Aug. 2025. ISBN 9781459841482.
ea vol: (Orca Currents). Orca. pap. $10.95.
Gr 5-8–This trio of tales features resourceful protagonists who get in over their heads but use their wits to find their way out of sticky situations. The weakest of the bunch is Night for Mischief, a plot-driven tale about a cursed mask turning Halloween into a real-life nightmare. Miss Match features a group of young teens who start a matchmaking service for the upcoming middle school dance. The interest turns out to be overwhelming, and when everyone ends up mismatched, they have some angry customers. This title builds up to a dramatic dance-night confession straight out of a teen movie. Bark Twice for Murder is a masterfully written, deliciously weird mystery. Fourteen-year-old Harry loves to make food for people at his local homeless shelter, even befriending some of the regular customers. When Stanley is murdered near Harry’s food truck, Stanley’s dog, Waffles, starts talking to Harry. The two must solve the murder. Despite the outlandish plot, the book is sensitive to issues like homelessness and mental illness. VERDICT Bark Twice for Murder is a must-add to any collection, Miss Match is worth considering, pass on A Night for Mischief.

Leiknes, Mark. Quest Kids and the Mystery of the Goblin Gazebo. 368p. (Quest Kids Bk. 3.). Union Square Kids. Jan. 2025. Tr. $16.99. ISBN 9781454946311.
Gr 3-7–The Quest Kids are composed of Ned, the leader; Terra, a 700-year-old elf; Gil, a wizard with a fake beard; and Boulder, a rock troll reminiscent of Thing from The Fantastic Four. In this third, and presumably final, installment, the Quest Kids continue their pursuit of the evil Doug. Any kid who likes the idea of a supreme evil leader named Doug will thoroughly enjoy this series. They shouldn’t start here, though. The book dumps readers right into the story, with no context given on the characters or how they ended up where they are. The book alternates between traditional text chapters with heavy illustration support and comic-style panels. The tone is conversational, and phrases are frequently bolded for emphasis, seemingly at random. A few chapters feature different narrators. The text requires a high level of reading skill to navigate. Artwork has charm, but all the humanoid characters have identical faces. VERDICT Purchase where the other two installments are popular, but if it hasn’t caught on at your library, don’t start now.

Mara, Wil. The War at Home. 120p. (Twisted). Enslow/West 44. Jan. 2025. Tr. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597891.
Gr 6-8– The War at Home is a thin suspense tale about a smart home gone bad. Told in third person, Emma finds herself in an unexpected battle with Buddy, her smart home, as it tries to kill her with appliances and—even worse—deletes her homework. The story would be timely if it wasn’t so reductive, with an ending is so simple that it’s comical. Overall, the writing lacks nuance, relying on stereotypical fears of AI gone awry and reads like a smart device wrote its own book after watching outdated tech thrillers. VERDICT An overall uninspiring package, but it may appeal to a new generation of young luddites.

Prendergast, Gabrielle. Under Fire. 96p. (Orca Anchor). Orca. Apr. 2025. pap. $10.95. ISBN 9781459838222.
Gr 6-8–After Poppy’s mom dies, she is upset when her dad buys the farm—literally. Now Poppy lives on her family farm in rural Canada with her brother, Jed, and her dad. Set during the Canadian wildfires, the book pivots around Poppy’s strong will and resourcefulness. For the first half of the book, Poppy is a passive character, but an inciting incident inspires her to take action. The turning point occurs when her dad volunteers to fight the incoming fires, leaving his capable young teens on the farm. However, the fires blaze closer and force Poppy and Jed to lead their farm animals to safety. The book is clearly written, with a simple, linear plot. The pacing is laconic and lacks the tension one might expect from an adventure story about trying to survive as a raging fire bears down upon you. VERDICT A fine book, but not a necessary purchase.

Szpirglas, Jeff. Ink of Nightmares. illus. by Andrew P. Barr. 192p. (Book of Screams: Bk. 3). Orca. Sept. 2025. pap. $14.95. ISBN 9781459840591.
Gr 3-7– Ink of Nightmares consists of unrelated short horror stories loosely tied together by a central narrative. The structure is reminiscent of classic horror anthologies like Tales from the Crypt or Tales from the Darkside. The central story is about a successful horror author (á la Stephen King) who gets his stories from stealing the nightmares of others. Unfortunately, this central tale is the weakest of the bunch. The rest are mostly spooky stories well told. Some are spins on urban legends, like Bloody Mary. The strongest are those that feel wholly original and suspended in the logic of bad dreams, like the opening story about the creepy consequences of a boy counting to infinity. Many are cyclical: the horror wins and survives to haunt again. The book is peppered with fun easter eggs, like notes in the margins that relate to the stories, making it an eerie joy to explore. The illustrations fail to match those of Stephen Gammell’s, and some of them are amateurishly composed. The illustrator is best at capturing the grotesque and the weird. VERDICT Sure to grab the attention of any horror fan.

Upper Middle School to High School

Bankston, John. Ambassador of Souls, Book 5. ISBN 9798892604611.
––––. The Beverly Hills Home for Boys and Ghouls, Book 4. ISBN 9798892604604.
––––. A Disjointed Night, Book 3. ISBN 9798892604598.
––––. A Lively Spirit, Book 6. ISBN 9798892604628.
––––. Murder at The Thanu, Book 2. ISBN 9798892604574.
––––. Scare BnB, Book 1. ISBN 9798892604581.
ea vol: 48p. (The Davenport Death-Detective Agency). Mitchell Lane. Jan. 2025. Tr. $35.71.
Gr 8 Up–Four teenagers band together to investigate haunted locations and solve a generational mystery in the six spare volumes of this paranormal series. After her parents’ death, Lily relocates to California to help her Vietnamese grandmother, who is struggling to keep a supposedly haunted hotel afloat. Joined by Sabrina, a champion surfer; Carlos, an inventor and science geek originally from Ibiza; and Matt, a YouTuber and podcaster who specializes in haunted locations, Lily first delves into her grandmother’s hotel and then takes turns narrating as the teens explore other haunted locations. With each volume comprising 50 or fewer pages and short, simple sentences, these books are incredibly quick reads that will be approachable to developing readers. However, abrupt time and location shifts are frequently disorienting, and limited character and plot development give rise to an unsatisfying reading experience. Although the publisher lists the interest level as primary or intermediate, the characters read as teenagers and some of the investigations involve intense elements like dead or dismembered bodies, making these more appropriate as hi-lo selections for young adults. VERDICT Skip these in favor of similar but more meaningful hi-lo material.

Barnett, Maija. Like Water for Dragons. Apr. 2025. Tr. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597655.
Malaspina, Ann. Ghost Runner. Jun. 2025. Tr. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597747.
Williams, C.H. Girl Crush. Apr. 2025. Tr. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597686.
Wolf, Ryan. Doubling the Bounty. Jun. 2025. Tr. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597716.
ea vol: 200p. (YA Verse). Enslow/West 44.
Gr 10 Up–This crop of novels-in-verse features futuristic sci-fi, a roadtrip adventure, and a young man haunted by the memory of his dead brother. The stories are all told in first-person, with Doubling the Bounty alternating between two different protagonists. Novel-in-verse lends itself well to exploring the interior lives of its narrators, as each short chapter reads like snippets of their personal thoughts. Like Water for Dragons takes the timely concept of robots enslaving humans. Double the Bounty is about two young women and their fraught relationships with their dads—one is a bounty hunter and the other a felon on the run. Girl Crush is a beautifully written story of an army brat questioning her sexuality. Ghost Runner is a pensive examination of grief in the face of a death that could be the result of an accident or suicide. Most read like books with creative line breaks, but Girl Crush has a lovely poetry to the writing. That and the melancholy Ghost Runner are the best of the bunch. VERDICT Each story is a strong choice for introducing reluctant readers to this form of fiction writing.

Beam, Matt. Shoot the Moon. Apr. 2025. ISBN 9781459839632.
Denman, K.L. Trance. Aug. 2025. ISBN 9781459841321.
Di Lorenzo, Melinda. Sugar Crash. Aug. 2025. ISBN 9781459840249.
Jocelyn, Marthe. One Kiss. Apr. 2025. ISBN 9781459840898.
ea vol: 128p. (Orca Soundings). Orca. pap. $10.95.
Gr 8 Up–Each of these stories follows a female teen protagonist in an unexpected situation. One must find her bipolar dad after he disappears. Another is grappling with the effects of being kissed by her best friend’s dad. The third is a type-one diabetic lost in the woods without her insulin. And the last is trying to rescue her psychic friend from a coma-like trance. A broad spectrum of plots to be sure! All are told in first-person, have imperfect but satisfying endings, and, perhaps unintentionally, all of the main characters need someone else to drive them places but otherwise have little in common. One Kiss is an especially complex story about a 16-year-old’s feelings after her BFF’s rock star dad kisses her. The story follows Maya as she grapples with guilt until she realizes the incident resulted from exceedingly inappropriate adult behavior. Maya experiences a difficult challenge but gets through it with her mom and friend’s support. VERDICT There is a story for almost any taste in this varied selection.

Duncan, J.B. Boxed Out. ISBN 9798765611371.
––––. Missing Mascot. ISBN 9798765611364.
––––. Numbers Game. ISBN 9798765611357.
––––. On the Line. ISBN 9798765611401.
––––. Panic at Practice. ISBN 9798765611388.
Duncan, J. B. & Dale Jones. Win or Lose. ISBN 9798765611395.
ea vol: 104p. (Hoops Academy). Lerner/Darby Creek. Jan. 2025. Tr. $29.32.
Gr 6 Up–This series is set at the fictional high school Hoops Academy, where the most promising young basketball stars get an education. Each book has a different protagonist, evenly split between male and female main characters. The male characters’ conflicts typically focus on a young man who tries to do everything. One of them deals with panic attacks, and another is trying to outdo his brother. The guys have to learn to go easy on themselves and play better with their teammates. The female characters’ plots revolve around a mystery of some sort. In one, a girl tries to find out who is cheating on a test. In another, the search is for a locker room thief. Basketball is only tangentially related to the plot in all the books, with the ones centered on young women featuring more basketball content than those with young male protagonists. Some characters recur in other books, but the series could be read in any order. Each book feels consistent in structure and tone. VERDICT While the basketball is peripheral, the stories may be compelling enough to hold the attention of readers.

Fenton, Peter E. Not Not Normal. 192p. ISBN 9781459419322.
Jendrick, Angel. Line Drive to Love. 184p. ISBN 9781459419599.
Lister, Alison. Summer with Sunil. 184p. ISBN 9781459419292.
ea vol: (Real Love). Lorimer. Jan. 2025. Tr. $27.99.
Gr 9 Up–Each of the stories in this season’s “Real Love” installments revolve around the romantic struggles of their queer protagonists. Summer with Sunil follows a trans protagonist on vacation with their parents, where they immediately fall for another trans teen. Line Drive to Love is about a softball jock swooning over her best friend’s nerdy cousin. Not Not Normal takes the friends-to-lovers approach as sensitive Jordan must work with brash Nathan on a school project, which ends with a dramatic Shakespearean climax. All the stories feature sick, absent, or unsupportive fathers. Mature language is prevalent in all titles, with the characters in Sunil being particularly profane and Not Not Normal using the f-slur. Every protagonist gets their happily ever after. VERDICT Strong stories for more mature romantics.

Gray, Keith. The Den. 120p. Jan. 2025. ISBN 9781454958499.
Murphy, Cynthia. Welcome to Camp Killer. 128p. Jan. 2025. ISBN 9781454958611.
Pratt, Non. Unboxed. 120p. Mar. 2025. ISBN 9781454960416.
Stevenson, Robert Louis. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll & Mr. Hyde. 216p. Jun. 2025. ISBN 9781454960409.
ea vol: (Everyone Can Be a Reader). Union Square Kids. pap. $9.99.
Gr 8 Up–This batch is a diverse assortment: one slasher horror, two friendship dramas, and one public-domain work reprinted in an accessible format. The writing is strong across all of the modern stories. Each one follows a singular protagonist down a simple, linear plot, although The Den’s first chapter is a bit jumbled. The Den and Unboxed are about untangling the twisted knots of friendship as young people age. In The Den, a bullied teen finds refuge in an abandoned house in his neighborhood. In Unboxed, a friend group split apart after one friend’s death from cancer reunites to open letters to themselves they wrote many years before. Both novels have characters who liberally swear, and the books have happy endings. Camp Killer stands out as a Psycho meets Friday the 13th summer camp thriller. It begins with gentle chills and light scares before characters are stabbed with arrows, crushed, and otherwise wiped out one by one. The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde is an abridged update of the classic novel and includes a brief bio of Robert Louis Stevenson at the back of the book. All of these novels were first published in the UK—one as far back as 2016, which feels like ancient history in teen years, and one in 1886, which is ancient history in any human’s years. VERDICT All the modern novels are worthy additions to any collection. The classic can be added where such accessible books are needed.

Peters, Stephanie. Spoon. ISBN 9781631639081.
Phillips, Jennifer. Walking on Eggshells. ISBN 9781631639128.
ea vol: 160p. (Horizon Set 2). Jolly Fish Pr. Jan. 2025. Tr. $28.50.
Gr 8 Up–Two high school juniors navigate weighty realistic challenges in these compelling hi-lo offerings. In Spoon, Macy is a leader on her volleyball team until an injury leaves her benched for several games. Alliyah, an energetic teammate whose boldness often twists into manipulation and rule-breaking, challenges Macy’s moral code as well as her starting position on the team. Walking on Eggshells is a sympathetic, honest portrayal of a teen who is newly diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Kai, a Chinese Hawaiian boy with big dreams of becoming a chef, has just been discharged from the hospital following his first manic episode. Now he must recalibrate his plans and expectations for the school year in light of this new diagnosis. Social topics like bullying, sportsmanship, and chronic illness are presented in an empathetic light that may help bring understanding to teen readers. VERDICT Fast-paced, appealing, realistic stories featuring underrepresented topics make this set a solid buy.