These three titles feature tweens with parents navigating incarceration and detention in the United States. Brooklyn-based Kaylani is trying to clear her incarcerated father’s name when a potential murder derails her summer in Tiffany D. Jackson’s Blood in the Water; Andy becomes embroiled in a small-town mystery while he awaits his father’s parole hearing in Rosalyn Ransaw’s Smoke & Mirrors; and Simi’s family makes a brave yet treacherous bid for asylum in the U.S. from India that results in their being separated and stranded across detention centers at the U.S.-Mexico border in Ruchira Gupta’s The Freedom Seeker.

Gupta, Ruchira. The Freedom Seeker. 320p. Scholastic. Aug. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781339012421.
Gr 3-7–A 12-year-old is forced to flee Northern India and becomes entangled in an immigration nightmare. Simi is a regular tween in Punjab with a loving family, supportive best friends, and ambitions to play in a big field hockey championship. But Simi’s Ammi is Muslim, and Abbu is Hindu-Sikh, while her parents’ mixed-faith marriage marks them out for increasing discrimination and hostility. The family decides to leave when Abbu is brutally attacked, and he successfully claims asylum in the U.S. Simi and Ammi are not so lucky, however, due to a crackdown on “chain migration” of asylees’ families that leaves them desperately deciding to enter the U.S. via Mexico without visas. This leaves them vulnerable to ruthless coyotes, and Simi is separated from her mother as they cross the border. Gupta has crafted a compelling narrative about an important part of migration. Simi is resourceful and likable as she struggles with others’ bigotry, homesickness, and her familial separation. The secondary characters are generally appealing but, due to Simi experiencing much of this alone, they are not as fully developed. Jose, a 12-year-old from Honduras who befriends Simi when he crosses the border with her, is the most well-rounded of the diverse supporting cast. There is no perfectly wrapped-up ending, but there are hopeful depictions of people who want to help, whether they are immigration officials or supportive members of the public. VERDICT This timely book about migration and asylum complements Kelly Yang’s Front Desk and Pam Muñoz Ryan’s Esperanza Rising.–Grace Pickering

Jackson,Tiffany D. Blood in the Water. 272p. Scholastic. Jul. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781338849912.
Gr 4-7–Jackson once again proves her brilliance at weaving suspense, heart, and truth into a story that refuses to let go. Twelve-year old Black girl and Brooklynite Kaylani’s summer plans involve trying to fit into the elitist vibe of Martha’s Vineyard, and clearing her incarcerated father’s name. Then a boy turns up dead on the island and Kaylani is accused of stealing money. Her focus shifts to trying to clear her own name and finding out what happened to the teen. Was it really a shark attack—or was it murder? What makes this book shine isn’t just the twists and turns of its plot, it’s the voice. Jackson writes Kaylani with an ear so attuned to how preteens actually speak, think, and feel that every page feels authentic. Kaylani’s voice is filled with the sharp wit, confusion, frustration, and hope of a contemporary 12-year-old. Her inflection and vulnerability are rendered with care and nuance, making her feel not just believable, but deeply relatable. This story deftly explores what it means to be “from the wrong side of the tracks” in a world that judges before it listens. Jackson doesn’t shy away from tough topics—incarceration, classism, bullying, and how children carry burdens that aren’t theirs—but she handles them with grace and empathy. The novel’s emotional undercurrents are as powerful as the suspense that drives the plot. VERDICT A masterful middle-grade mystery that challenges, entertains, and lingers long after the final page. This one deserves a spot on every school and library shelf.–Jessica Clark

Ransaw, Rosalyn. Smoke & Mirrors. 288p. Abrams/Amulet. Jun. 2025. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781419770135.
Gr 4-6–Ransaw’s debut will have readers reevaluating biases and eager to uncover clues to a small-town mystery. Twelve-year-old Andy is living with his aunt while his dad waits for his parole hearing. As the only Black kid in town, Andy experiences microaggressions and feels like he doesn’t fit in, especially after the townsfolk accuse him of arson. Now his summer will be spent working for grumpy Mr. Gilbert on a dilapidated mansion that once belonged to the Red Knave, a mysterious magician who vanished after being suspected of murder in 1954. Having firsthand experience of being falsely accused of a crime, Andy is determined to prove that the Red Knave is innocent even if everyone else in town believes otherwise. While uncovering hidden rooms and piecing together clues, Andy also begins to process his feelings over his own situation and that of his dad. The conflict between Andy and the local boys in town feels authentic. Readers will be able to relate to Andy’s frustrations over feeling unheard and misunderstood by the adults around him. VERDICT A fast-paced, multilayered mystery that will encourage readers to question preconceived notions and search for the truth in their own lives.–Susan Elbag