Featuring prose and verse formats, these hi-lo titles have all the adventure, intrigue, romance, and drama that will engage striving readers.

Elementary

Pryor, Shawn. Injury Troubles. ISBN 9798875214714.
––––. Movie Meetup. ISBN 9798875214646.
––––. New Kid at the Dojang. ISBN 9798875214578.
––––. Planning to Win. ISBN 9798875214783.
ea vol: illus. by Alexandra Pulga. 40p. (Taekwondo Academy). Capstone/Stone Arch. Aug. 2025. pap. $7.99.
Gr 1-4–Friends, lessons, and karate kicks abound in this new series for reluctant readers. At Taekwondo Academy, perseverance, willful spirit, self-control, integrity, and courtesy are the values students strive to embody. However, jealousy, injuries, busyness, and rude people the students encounter make it challenging to live the five values. Each book has five short chapters and starts with a glossary of new vocabulary words. The white space to text ratio is well proportioned, and the illustrations are bright and welcoming. With simple and engaging plots and likable, authentic-feeling characters, this series is a winner. VERDICT Reluctant readers will reach for this sports-centered series.

Sazaklis, John. The Great Axolotl Escape. ISBN 9798875223792.
––––. Guinea Pig’s Hero Quest. ISBN 9798875223860.
––––. Hedgehog in Love. ISBN 9798875224003.
––––. Turtle and the Spring Break Terror. ISBN 9798875223938.
ea vol: illus. by Letizia Rizzo. 40p. (Homeroom Is a Zoo). Capstone/Stone Arch. Aug. 2025. pap. $7.99.
Gr 2-4–This fictional series will appeal to animal and adventure lovers. Each title follows one or two of the cute class pets as they attend the Charro Festival, go on a class trip to meet their hero, and spend spring break with a rowdy kid. Characters are not the classroom pets you’d expect, and their humorous personalities and expressions shine through. Told in short chapters, pages have double-spaced paragraphs and a large, dyslexic-friendly font. Illustrations feature bright images on muted backgrounds, bold lines, and shading to give focal images definition. Discussion questions, a glossary, and a fact sheet about each pet are included to support reading comprehension. VERDICT Recommended for most library collections.

Sutherland, Suzanne. Werewolves Don’t Keep Diaries. illus. by Dharmali Patel. 96p. (Orca Echoes). Orca. Mar. 2026. pap. $9.95. ISBN 9781459842663.
Gr 1-3 - In this lively and entertaining book, a boy starts changing right after his birthday. Lou is ravenously hungry, has hairy toes, and the neighbor cat hisses at him. Then his fingernails turn into claws. Each chapter begins with a detailed black-and-white sketch with an Easter egg that hints at the plot twist. The chapters are short and use different fonts to emphasize points. The main character’s reactions to all these changes are hilarious, although his family’s reactions seem a bit unnatural. Some loose ends aren’t tied up at the end, but it feels intentional. VERDICT A great choice for readers seeking funny monster stories.

Upper Elementary to Middle School

Bradford, Chris. Stellar. illus. by Charlotte Grange. 88p. (Everyone Can Be a Reader). Union Square Kids & Co. Jul. 2025. pap. $8.99. ISBN 9781454960393.
Gr 4-6–In the second book of a series that’s part of a larger collection of kid-tested accessible titles, Ryan and Stella are staying at the Galaxy Space Hotel. A trip to a museum gets interrupted by a solar flare, and Ryan gets pushed out into space, leaving Stella to plan a dramatic rescue. Each chapter in this engaging book is five pages long, with large margins and double-spaced text set against a beige background. Illustrations are a mix of full-page images, comic book-style panels, and black-and-white spot illustrations. Sibling dynamics are realistic and help drive the plot, but characters’ personalities aren’t very fleshed out. VERDICT Recommended for library collections where hi-lo readers and science fiction novels are popular.

Gier, Beth Hollar. It’s Like We Touched the Moon. illus. by Letizia Rizzo. 160p. (MG Verse). Rosen/West 44. Aug. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597921.
Gr 4-8–It’s 1969, and space-loving Grace Kelly Donovan is uneasy about spending a summer with her mom. Grace feels inspired when she sees a flyer for a NASA summer camp, but it’s for boys only. Told in verse, the text follows a traditional poem structure with some free verse poetry thrown in. The handwriting-inspired font helps bring the first-person point of view to life. Chapter headings meant to look like NASA’s font aren’t as accessible to readers with dyslexia. The story flows easily and will inspire readers to stand up for what they believe in. Grace’s personality is well-developed and authentic, and shines through her narrative. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where historical fiction and strong female protagonists are in demand.

Johnson, Emma Alice. Lifting. ISBN 9781631639456.
Mist, K.J. Hidden Strings. ISBN 9781631639418.
Osornio, Catherine L. Danger on Martin Mountain. ISBN 9781631639371.
ea vol: 160p. (Harbor Set 4). North Star/Jolly Fish. Aug. 2025. pap. $9.99.
Gr 4-8–The characters in this collection of mixed-genre books are well developed. In Danger on Martin Mountain, a girl is sent to live with her grandfather during WWII and must solve the mystery of who is sabotaging military production in their community. In Hidden Strings, children start disappearing when a mysterious puppeteer arrives in town. In Lifting, Asta is forced to rethink her love of weight lifting when Crouzon syndrome jeopardizes her ability. Chapters vary in length but are generally under 10 pages, and end in a way that keeps the pages turning. Paragraphs are double-spaced, but the text is not dyslexic-friendly. Some chapter headings would be difficult for some to read, and the font is fairly small. The plots are fast-paced and compelling. VERDICT These titles don’t offer a great setup to support visual processing, but they will appeal to reluctant readers who like a good story with relatable protagonists.

Scott, Steven. Double Feature. ISBN 9798875215346.
––––. Gadget Bandit. ISBN 9798875215506.
––––. Game Changer. ISBN 9798875215421.
ea vol: illus. by Lavinia Brandizi. 32p. (Sixth-Grade Shape-Shifter). Capstone/Stone Arch. Aug. 2025. pap. $7.99.
Gr 3-7–This magical realism series will delight reluctant readers. Sawyer can shift into any shape, but once he has transformed things don’t usually go as planned. Each time he shifts, whether it’s into an actor’s body or an arcade game, he ends up saving the day or solving a mystery. Each panel in the comic-style format has a muted or white background. The plots are well-written and easy to follow with engaging, likable characters. The books feature an introduction to the character, a glossary, and discussion questions to enhance comprehension. Books can be read in any order. VERDICT Recommended for most library collections.

Smith, Dan. The Invasion of Crooked Oak. illus. by Chris King. 112p. (The Crooked Oak Mysteries). Union Square Kids & Co. Sept. 2025. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781454962717.
Gr 5-8–This series starter will draw in horror fans. Nancy’s parents have been acting strange ever since a local fracking site closed. Their stares are always blank, and they’re not eating or drinking. Some in town say they are traitors, others think they’re vampires. As Nancy and her friends Pete and Krish investigate, the dark truth comes to light. The sentences are simple, the spacing between characters is wide, and the font is dyslexic-friendly. Pages are beige, making the book more accessible. Illustrations are black-and-white sketches with bold lines and shading, adding a creepy feeling to the book. VERDICT Tested by young readers for young readers, this book is a spooky page-turner.

Williams, C.H. Kimmy Carson Is Not Scared. 160p. (MG Verse). Rosen/West 44. Dec. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597952.
Gr 5-8–Kimmy lives with a fragile heart, and, in response, her overbearing mother controls everything about her life. Her only escape is Dungeons and Dragons. When her class announces a horror maze production, Kimmy wants to participate but doesn’t know if her will heart be able to take the stress. Each chapter is told in free verse with the feel of a continuous train of thought. Kimmy’s feelings are demonstrated through word emphasis, language play, and sentence breaks. Each chapter has a lot of white space and uses a dyslexia-friendly font. At the bottom of each page is an EKG pattern. Repeated references to Dungeons and Dragons may be lost on those unfamiliar with the game. VERDICT A resonant story about overcoming obstacles for striving readers.

Wolf, Ryan. Rulers of a Dead Planet. 160p. (MG Verse). Rosen/West 44. Oct. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978597983.
Gr 4-7– In this addition to the publisher’s collection of character-driven books in verse, Noburan royals Nulara and Narvu have traveled to Earth with their parents to colonize the planet after a nuclear war. They’ve been told by their parents’ advisor that humans are dangerous and need to be destroyed to make a better world. When an atomic serpent attacks the duo, humans defeat it and save them, and the siblings realize that humans may be different from what they’ve been told. The plot is a bit slow moving, but the characters are well developed and show growth throughout. The few black-and-white sketches add depth to the narrative. VERDICT A strong choice for science fiction fans, especially of alien-based stories.

Upper Middle School to High School

Aro, David. Painting Through the Rough. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Oct. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598072.
Gr 7 Up–Overachiever Dex feels pressure from his parents to succeed in sports and academics. When the pressure gets to him at golf tryouts, he gets suspended from school sports. Dex takes up drawing in his new free time and meets Hazel. They confide in each other about their families and help each other cope. Told in verse, this story follows a traditional poetry structure. Unique chapter names foreshadow the plot. The sentence structure is simple, and pages have lots of white space. The ending poem has a message that will resonate with most teens. Characters, however, are underdeveloped. A glossary of golf terms is included. VERDICT Reluctant readers who like sports might relate to Dex’s pressures. A general purchase.

Daly, D.E. Growing Magic. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Dec. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598010.
Gr 6 Up–Amaryllis’s mother Grace grows her own herbs and owns a modern-day apothecary. Grace believes the herbs have magical powers. Amaryllis thinks she’s crazy, until one day her mother disappears, leaving behind a note that says to call her Aunt Heather—which is when Amaryllis learns about a family her mom never told her about, and is faced with the possibility that magic is real. The poems in this verse novel flow into each other to tell the story. The characters are well-drawn and memorable. VERDICT A quick and magical family story that’s accessible to all sorts of readers.

Diefendorf, Bekki. Spotted. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Oct. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598102.
Gr 7 Up–Ruthie’s mother is a hoarder. To make sure no one notices, Ruthie tries to remain invisible. She likes to leave her classmates anonymous gifts, which draws the attention of the charming Trey, who starts to bring her out of her shell. When Ruthie gets diagnosed with vitiligo, she starts to worry that people will notice her for the wrong reasons. The plot is character-driven and, at times, humorous. The mental illness at the heart of Ruthie’s mom’s hoarding is mentioned, but mental health and its toll aren’t really elaborated on. VERDICT A realistic and emotional novel in verse about unrepresentative protagonists; purchase for most YA shelves.

Fields, Jan. The World Inside. ISBN 9781631639562.
Myers, Makenna J. The Stripe and the Star. ISBN 9781631639524.
ea vol: 160p. (Horizon Set 3). North Star/Jolly Fish. Aug. 2025. pap. $9.99.
Gr 7-10–Each volume in this hi-lo set features a teen dealing with a rough family situation. In The Star and the Stripe, Stella copes with her parents’ divorce and subsequent move to her grandpa’s house by taking up roller derby. In The World Inside, Tamika’s grandma falls into a coma, and she finds herself stuck in Virginia with her mom while her friends explore France. Character development isn’t particularly rich, but the characters are realistic. The ample white space and short sentences make these accessible reads. VERDICT Both are solid choices for striving readers who enjoy realistic fiction. However, The Stripe and the Star is better written and includes a believable romance.

Jackson, Brentom. The Way of the Wailing Women. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Aug. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598164.
Gr 7-10–Araminta lives in a small, religious town where her mother died mysteriously. Her father is the town’s minister and ignores her. Longing to win at a music festival, she joins the secret church sect, Wailing Women, to learn the secrets of their sound. Every religion, however, has a dark side. The novel is written in free form verse. Watermark sound waves on each page add an eerie feel to the narrative. The spare words are deftly chosen and create evocative imagery. Language play, line breaks, and punctuation emphasize the character’s heightened sense of longing. Snippets of Spanish cue the main character as Latine. VERDICT Recommended for purchase where mysterious, small-town fiction is popular.

Laurel III, Gume. The Final Diadem. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Aug. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598133.
Gr 7-10–When Ariel butts heads with his mom and stepdad, they send him to Camp Juniper, where he meets four other teens. He soon discovers that he and the others are part of The Diadem, a group of Martian superheroes. When their enemy, the Gemini, shows up at camp, their mission becomes clear. The verse chapters are short and lead readers seamlessly through the story. The night sky background on each page gives the book an otherworldly feel. Poems are presented in free form. Plot twists are plentiful and come unexpectedly, adding intensity to the reading experience. VERDICT A must-read for fans of science fiction.

Lindwasser, Anna. This Trauma Is Sponsored. 200p. (YA Verse). Rosen/West 44. Dec. 2025. lib. ed. $25.80. ISBN 9781978598041.
Gr 7-10–As long as she can remember, Rosalie’s life has been posted online by her influencer parents. She’s determined to leave that world behind. When her five-year-old sister starts getting pushed into the spotlight, Rosalie must try to figure out how to stand up to her parents and expose the trauma she’s suffered. Told in free form verse, the language play, word spacing, and line breaks shine light on the characters’ personalities, as well as their anxiety and frustration of being in the spotlight. The perils of social media and the importance of privacy are ideas presented in the poems and add a human element to the often perfect-looking world of influencers. Each chapter title sounds like a social media post. VERDICT. Recommended for most hi-lo collections.

★Wein, Elizabeth. White Eagles. 144p. (War Birds Cycle: Bk. 3). Union Square Kids & Co. Sept. 2025. pap. $9.99. ISBN 9781454962748.
Gr 8 Up–War and courage go hand in hand in the third installment of Wein’s historical fiction series. It’s 1939, and Germany is closing in on Poland’s borders. Finished with their basic pilot training, Kristina and Leopold are part of the Polish Air Force Reserve. Called up to join the White Eagles, Kristina’s new post doesn’t last long. When the Germans invade the town where she’s posted, Kristina is force to flee. The plot is engaging, fast-paced, and well-written. The layout is dyslexia-friendly and easy to read. The characters are authentic, likable, and memorable, and the cliff-hangers at the end of each chapter keep the action moving. VERDICT Readers who like historical fiction, especially WWII novels, will flock to this series.