Nineteen-year-old “defender of the dead” Chris Chandler, hero of The Mortsafeman Trilogy, is back in a pulse-pounding new horror adventure filled with vengeful spirits and historical relics. Eager to leave his demons in the rearview mirror, he waves goodbye to America and crosses the Canadian border, where he naively accepts a too-good-to-be-true college scholarship under the tutelage of Professor Ignatius Greyson. Unbeknown to Chris, Greyson is in hot water with the college and the professor’s only path forward is by digging up mysteries of the past. He ropes Chris into a quest to secure an ancient amulet with possible mythical powers and a unique connection to epochal 20th century crises. Now, Chris once again finds himself in a battle between life and death, this time involving dark rituals and an inhuman awakening from folklore, but has his luck finally run out?

Readers unfamiliar with the earlier books in the Mortsafeman Trilogy will feel quickly welcomed into this one, though reading the earlier entries (starting with Dead Scared) is a pleasure. Blake efficiently draws in new readers by sprinkling concise background details and summations of past events throughout the harrowing story at precisely the necessary moments, without slowing momentum. Chris serves as a complex protagonist with intriguing and unique supernatural abilities. Several familiar faces return in welcome encores, while enticing new villains and heroes drive the suspense forward and raise the dynamic stakes. Together, this large ensemble cast explores themes of power, revenge, and redemption.

Elements of Jewish folklore sit at the heart of this gripping mash up of fantasy and horror. These unique elements serve as a creative foundation for thrilling twists, rancorous ghosts, and rage-filled demons, all of which make this fast-paced, deeply engrossing tale a welcome—and thoughtful—genre bender. In addition to the potent suspense, some gnarly descriptions will jolt and delight fans of visceral imagery masterfully invoking a delicious dose of stomach-churning nausea. Readers will settle into this riveting narrative and enjoy the gripping ride.

Takeaway: Thrilling fantasy-horror series comes to a strong end steeped in folklore.

Comparable Titles: Bari Wood’s The Tribe, Leigh Bardugo’s Ninth House.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Dead Reckoning

Author and educator Sherr steps out of the realm of homeopathy textbooks and journal articles and into the world of fiction to tell the gripping and charmingly illustrated story of pre-teen best friends Beryl and Carol. Their lives are transformed after a game of kick-the-can ends in a frantic sprint from a group of bullies, who chase the duo into the Forbidden Forest of their English country village. This feels “like jumping off the edge of the universe,” as the girls leave behind their lives of math homework and basketball practice for adventure involving hidden caves, treasure maps, and greedy foes seeking the girls’ downfall at every turn.

The appealing heroes have been best friends since birth, hardly ever apart, living in adjacent cottages beside a river that is their source of joy and play. Their bond strengthens even more after a surprise discovery in the forest leads them on a treasure hunt with much higher stakes than mere material wealth. Sherr blends strong characterization and the quest plot with real-world concerns. Due to the town’s economic hardships related to rural gentrification and the local textile factory’s closing, Carol’s family is being forced to sell their house and shatter the girls’ lives for good. That makes the hunt all the more urgent: the only way to save their town is to find the treasure.

Beryl and Carol’s journey takes them mountain biking through the woods, boating down the river, caving behind waterfalls, and burrowing into the hollows of old trees, and though they face various hardships along the way, they follow their motto no matter what: “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” Kids in the middle-grade age group will easily fall in love with Sherr’s fast-paced, lively writing style and his two unlikely, ice-cream-loving heroes who “dared to follow an empty can into the unknown.”

Takeaway: An exhilarating treasure hunt to save a town from economic ruin.

Comparable Titles: Roshani Chokshi’s Aru Shah and the End of Time, G.M. Savage’s ​​Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Noble Adventures of Beryl and Carol

O’Neill’s debut, a memoir, is the inspiring life story of a hardworking high school football coach and his eventual fight against cancer. At 16, though Mike decides to quit football, an opportunity to coach his kid brother’s team kindles in him a lifelong passion for football coaching. As injuries end his baseball career in college, and romance and marriage usher in the responsibility of providing for a young family, he shelves his dream and becomes a salesperson instead, doing well financially. A chance comment by a friend leads him to eventually becoming a teacher and football coach. Decades later, a shocking throat cancer diagnosis throws life out of gear.

Narrated in a straightforward, often conversational prose, O’Neill’s account of his life story brings out two outstanding qualities: his positive attitude and his commitment to working hard. Despite setbacks, he moves forward relentlessly, both in living life and in telling the story. He exhibits little regretful or dwelling upon the past, whether about wrong decisions, injuries, or disruptions due to reasons outside his control. He takes stock, evaluates his resources and moves forward with determination, never shy of working hard. His upbeat, get-it-done attitude, the hallmark of a coach, remains the same even when it comes to fighting cancer.

Another heartening element of Don’t Back Down is the love story at its heart, as O’Neill frequently acknowledges that he is extremely lucky to have found a soul mate in Beth. Without an understanding and supportive spouse, his life’s most dramatic transitions—from a highly paid corporate job to following his dream into the comparatively lower paid job of a teacher—would not have been possible. Disappointingly, the narrative does not describe the transformative process of slowing down post diagnosis even while the author admits that both he and his wife have lived life in the fast lane. Though heavy on coaching jargon, O’Neill’s memoir is an inspiring, fast-paced memoir as exciting as a tightly contested game.

Takeaway: Inspiring memoir of high school football coach’s fight against cancer.

Comparable Titles: Edward Ulloa’s 27: A Football Coach’s Memoir, Michael DiMatteo’s Confessions of a High School Football Coach.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Don't Back Down

With a mix of practical advice, entertaining anecdotes, and welcome wit, Lowengard’s charming and insightful account of a New Yorker’s life in a country house in mountainous Bucknoll Hills, Pennsylvania, will please readers interested in cottage living—or any urban dweller who recognizes the truth in Lowengard’s declaration that “if you don’t feel the urge to leave town at least three times every two weeks, you’re not really living in the City.” In candid and relatable chapters that originated as newspaper columns, Lowengard takes us on her country house journey, sharing amusing stories, personal reflections, and worries about ticks, bears, and those “decluttering consultants roaming the Earth charging the same hourly rates as your estates and trusts attorney.”

While the book's structure is slightly disjointed, with a collection of anecdotes that resemble individual vignettes more than a cohesive narrative, it doesn't detract from the overall enjoyment of the book. Readers will feel as if they’re right there with her, as Lowengard's writing style is light-hearted and conversational, making it easy to connect. Whether she's discussing waste removal processes, introducing new urbane habits to Bucknoll (she jokingly refers to herself as “the Baroness of Bucknoll Yoga”), considering the challenges of naming a cottage, or exploring the local games and traditions, her sharp eye and winning comic timing always shine through. She wonders if one succeeds at a “Mensa Select” board game like Blokus, “might one bypass the tedious Mensa Admission Test and gain entry into this club to which you might or might not want to be a member?”

It's worth noting that this book may be most appealing to those specifically interested in cottage living or looking to gain insights into the unique challenges and joys of life in a place like Bucknoll, which enjoys just three seasons: Winter, Mud, and Summer. For those in the target audience, The Bucknoll Cottage Chronicles is a big-hearted yet sharp-witted companion to navigate the world of cottage living.

Takeaway: Sharp-witted look at a New York writer’s Pennsylvania cottage life.

Comparable Titles: Chris Stewart’s Driving over Lemons, Christopher Ingraham’s If You Lived Here You'd Be Home By Now.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Bucknoll Cottage Chronicles

Family team David Pridham, Emberli Pridham, and Brooke Pridham take readers on a vibrant journey through the New York City fashion scene in this appealing story, the sixth in their If Not You, Then Who? series (after It’s a Very Merry Christmas). Young protagonist Brooke is elated to be visiting her cousin Delfi, an up-and-coming fashion designer, in New York City for a tour of all things couture. And Delfi has a fun-filled trip planned, complete with tours of designer stores, insider tips on the latest trends, and even front row seats to her latest design competition. Amongst all the glamor, the authors sprinkle real-life fashion stories and educational tidbits.

Adult readers, too, will find much to appreciate here. Fashion’s history is explored, as is the background of United States patents, including several noteworthy patents obtained over the years. Of particular note are the authors’ vignettes on different fashion-related items and their transformations over time: sunglasses have been around since prehistoric days, when the Inuits of Canada utilized them to protect their eyes from the sun’s glare; women’s nylons skyrocketed in popularity during the 1939 World’s Fair; and neckties have been transformed from their role in Croatian military uniforms to their eventual white-collar job usage around the turn of the 20th century. Ronquillo’s graphics are as colorful and dynamic as the book’s fashion choices.

Brooke and her family, of course, get to learn fashion’s secrets firsthand—and share in Delfi’s excitement when she wins runner up in her competition. When Brooke shares her admiration for Delfi’s success, her mom wisely advises her to follow her own dreams much like her cousin has: “No dream is too big, no dreamer too small. Everyone starts somewhere.” To build on that theme, the authors include a link to their Young Inventor’s Club with monthly STEAM activities.

Takeaway: A chic journey through the history and present of the fashion world.

Comparable Titles: Dana Thomas’s Fashionopolis, Katey Howes’s Be a Maker.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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The second in Marie’s Nature’s Li’l Samaritans series (after The Carpenter Bee) is inspired by the author’s experience rescuing an injured hummingbird. The story begins with a rainbow collage of hummingbird facts, shared in first-person perspective by the book’s hummingbird narrator—a real Anna’s hummingbird that was saved by the author and her wife, after being found weak and hungry on the pavement. As the narrator invites readers to “soar with me into the sky and see things as I do,” readers are treated to an insider’s glimpse of a day in the life of hummingbirds, complete with fun facts (did you know that hummingbirds can dive at speeds up to 60 mph?) and gorgeous scenery.

Marie’s love for these small but powerful birds is evident throughout as she brings their fiercely fragile existence to life. Readers will learn about the birds’ appetites, the half-dollar sized nests they build, and their fondness for baths, among other fascinating facts, all set against the backdrop of kaleidoscopic nature shots of vivid parks, flower gardens, and more. The book’s central hummingbird speaks in reverent tones of being saved by Marie—“swaddled in warmth, a tiny, healing cup”—and shares the lifesaving measures that restored its health, including special dropper feedings. That spirit of kindness flits across every page, as the narrator shares several ways readers can help hummingbirds—and other important creatures—to not only survive, but thrive.

Despite some minor structural issues, the book is as charming and vibrant as the birds it features, and Marie includes a glossary and traceable outlines of common hummingbird types at the end for readers to color: whether it’s Rivoli’s brilliantly hued hummingbird or the jeweled Mexican Violetear, young fans will relish the chance to get up close and personal with these tiny legends—a gentle reminder that, in the end, “we matter one and all.”

Takeaway: Kaleidoscopic exploration of the gentle power of hummingbirds.

Comparable Titles: Patricia A. Thorpe’s Harry the Hummingbird, Robert Burleigh’s Tiny Bird.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Rhyme of the Aged Hummingbird

As the title suggests, Rose’s second novel (after The Sorting Room) takes on the theme of photography, especially the lively intelligence that goes into selecting and capturing a fixed moment in time. The story centers on the remarkable Coty Fine, introduced as a young woman and photographer “in the damp hotbox” of Vietnam in 1954, and follows her until after her death decades later. Encouraged by her wealthy grandfather Sheldon Fine, her benefactor “in the pursuit of art,” Coty has cultivated an eye for “the unusual in any setting.” In Southeast Asia, the unusual is the French priest Laurent Sabatier, with whom she enjoys a surprising connection and soon falls in love. Against her parents’ disapproval, bold Coty returns home to San Francisco to deliver and raise twin girls, Odette (Jette) and wild, artistic Noémie.

Rose’s prose is evocative and captures the beauty of rural Vietnam, tropical Africa, and urban and temperate San Francisco with grace and precision. It also portrays all-too-human dilemmas and confusions with clarity as the novel surveys Coty’s passage through bumptious years, as dark rooms give way to computer manipulation of images, and as tragedy comes to her family. Coty is a remarkable character, her personality, hopes, concerns, and art will grip the interest of readers fascinated by the lives of trailblazing women. The supporting cast, too, is varied and engaging, especially Madeleine, Coty’s crossword solving friend, NaaNaa Joshi, the master carpenter, and Matheo Aubert, another French-speaking priest and a compelling love interest for Evelyn.

Split into four parts, the novel’s form is as bold as its protagonist, leaping over decades, at times giving just a page or two to devastating developments but investing great imaginative energy into the everyday textures of life, such as how a character holds a newspaper or uses a phone. This richness of detail suggests Coty’s way of seeing the world: one crucial image at a time, each suggesting the complex context of a moment, era, or life.

Takeaway: Vivid, formally inventive story of a photographer and her family, over decades.

Comparable Titles: Mira Jacob’s The Sleepwalker’s Guide to Dancing, Chloe Benjamin’s The Immortalists.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Beyond a Thousand Words

Reese and Dean Walters are back and ready to save the Erutuf National Park from pirates in this second entry in the Erutuf National Park series, following Turtle Tube. Cherry conjures the magic of nature for middle schoolers, as her young sibling heroes fall into unfamiliar territory on the (charmingly fictional) island constituting the Erutuf Park—the vast middle valley, where the kids chat and joke with a bison named Lamar, who roams the land with his herd. Lamar entrusts them with an urgent mission: they must save the park by finding the island’s hidden map and then secreting it in a new spot before the pirates (who look nothing like your average-joe pirates) manage to steal it.

This short chapter book (and series) is perfect for any middle schooler who enjoys adventure stories, the great outdoors, and silly chatter like this: “Want to hear a joke about paper? Never mind, it’s tear-able!” Action-packed and surveying a grandly conceived national park world that bursts with magic and surprises, Bison Blog also offers an engaging educational experience, as the characters reveal facts about the animals, environment, and the planet, while keeping the story lively and fun. Despite the chatty bison and some fanciful touches, like the role of an elixir that’s crucial to keeping the park going, Cherry transports children into a convincing milieu of valley flora, fauna, and terrain that stirs excitement about real-world natural wonders, inspiring curiosity to explore actual national parks.

The child heroes are drawn with personality and spirit—Dean and a friend are excited at the possibility of recreating the park in Minecraft. That spirit of imaginative mapping extends to the plot itself and also to the actual map, at the book’s start, that surveys the island park, displaying the various types of terrains that the Walters siblings will no doubt explore in future books. It's enticing, something for green-minded, future park lovers to pore over.

Takeaway: Playful adventure in a magic national park, perfect for young nature lovers.

Comparable Titles: Nathan W. Landrum’s Treasure off the Coast, Katherine Rundell’s The Explorer.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Bison Blog

Wishengrad’s touching, ambitious debut spins a complex web of New York City relationships, as Dory, a doctorate student in linguistics facing tremendous loss, meets Nick, a lawyer specializing in intellectual property, as he saves Eleanor, a retired teacher, from being hit by traffic. The trio bond at the hospital, with Nick and Dory smitten with each other and pledging to care for Eleanor’s cat, Plato, while she recovers. Fearing that the accident in which she lost her mother and sister somehow defines her, Dory at first avoids telling Nick of her recent past, not giving him her full name and limiting self disclosure to a series of flirty questions at their first date. But once he reveals trauma from his own past, Dory feels emboldened to share her truth. Meanwhile, life swirls around them, as their friends, family, and more face their own hard choices and moments of extraordinary connection—some of which will test the new relationship Dory and Nick are building.

The novel is alive with smart chatter, empathetic characterization, and immersive New York (and Paris) detail, as Wishengrad surveys Dory’s social circle, captures their intimate discussions, and updates readers on what everyone’s reading and writing—touchingly, the philosophy-loving Nick and Dory start a book club with Eleanor, while Dory’s surgeon father’s own book project about the resilience of the heart is excerpted at length. The story’s driven by engaging conversation: Wishengrad has chosen a detached third-person perspective, observing the characters and setting down their talk and texts.

The story abounds with incidents and surprises, including much touching material about adoption and surrogacy. Still, while the characters harbor secrets and face occasional betrayals, the plotting, too, is observational rather than suspenseful—chapters check in on characters, seeing how they're doing and who they're talking to, as life goes on. The story’s heart is in their everyday well-being rather than novelistic suspense, which diminishes narrative momentum. Still, this is a warm, humane, often sparkling book.

Takeaway: Smart, touching novel about grief, love, family, and friends in New York and Paris.

Comparable Titles: Joan Silber, Meg Wolitzer’s The Interestings.

Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Present Perfect

A strong, inventive outing, the sixth entry in McAvoy and Moore’s Vatican Secret Archive series centers on a fascinating commemoration of a historical tragedy: a modern mock trial at Loyola University, commemorating Galileo being charged with heresy by the church 400 years before, complete with church officials, distinguished professors, and the original 17th century trial notes. Father Michael Dominic, prefect of the Vatican Secret Archives (and the secret son of the series’ current pope), is asked to escort documents from the original documents to Chicago for the event, a daunting task involving heightened security. Father Dominic, of course, has been enmeshed in much intrigue in the previous books, and is regarded with side-eye by some within the church.

Adding to the tension, the Pope is in failing health and many ambitious clergy are starting to scheme as they anticipate a Papal election in the near future—and Father Dominic’s mission will be disrupted by nefarious plans. The lively pace never gets bogged down nor moves too fast to follow. If readers have enjoyed previous books in the series, they already have a good working knowledge of the main and supporting characters; however this entry remains inviting for newcomers, as the authors deftly clarify motives, intentions, and relationships throughout without slowing down an exciting plot. That story builds into a mystery, as Father Dominic must work out which faction is behind an effort to purloin the documents and why: enemies within the Vatican who want to embarrass Father Dominic and expose his true relationship with the Pope? The mega-church preacher who is coincidentally building a "museum" to house important religious artifacts?

Each of the many possibilities is tantalizing and entertaining, adding to the tension. Like the others in the series, The Galileo Gambit is impressively researched and informative, dishing out engaging history without a whiff of a lecture. The "Fiction, Fact or Fusion” afterword is a great addition for readers fascinated by the history and references or tempted to try to nitpick.

Takeaway: Superior thriller of Vatican intrigue and centuries-old documents.

Comparable Titles: Glen Cooper, Steve Berry.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about The Galileo Gambit

Part memoir, part spiritual self-help guide, life coach Wilson’s debut offers a profoundly emotional and sometimes heartbreaking foray into the healing power of one feral cat. After a gloomy divorce, Wilson moves to an adobe house in the idyllic heart of the Rio Grande Basin in New Mexico, living quietly and alone with her cats Deirdre, a protective ginger tabby, and gray Cochon, speechless and timid. She becomes friends with her neighbors, elderly Gus and Emma, who after 40 years still mourn the death of their teenage son; Diné (Navajo) teacher Jake; and generous physician turned veterinarian Doc Parsons. To give back to the community, Wilson invites the homeless and fractured to share Thanksgiving dinner. One Thanksgiving night in 1989, a large black feral cat shows up on her deck, scarred with a torn ear and enormous head. When she decides to feed it, her world of wonder, love, and optimism blossoms.

Wilson’s elegant words flow effortlessly, smooth and silky, whether she’s describing the vibrant colors of the New Mexico landscape or the ways the cat becomes a messenger of love and a catalyst for redemption. Named Michael Sabio (that’s Spanish for “wise”) Jordan, or MJ, for the basketball star’s feline gracefulness, the cat changes the lives of not only the small community, but of Deirdre and Cochon, coaxing shy Cochon out of his shell. Wilson weaves into the uplifting story nuggets of MJ-inspired wisdom: “All relationships take nurturin’ if they’re gonna survive” and “All living things change when they’re loved.”

Drawing on her personal experiences and observations from MJ’s positive influence, Wilson opens the minds of animal lovers, worriers, mourners, and dreamers. “In a world where proof is required to believe, I experienced the unbelievable,” she says. Gifts from a Feral Cat is a poignant and insightful healing journey that inspires.

Takeaway: Enchanting tale of a feral cat and love, redemption, and wisdom.

Comparable Titles: Gwen Cooper’s Homer’s Odyssey, Vicki Myron’s Dewey’s Nine Lives.

Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Gifts From a Feral Cat

Initially afraid of the hairy buzzing bee in their front yard, an unnamed mother and daughter give the winged insect a second chance, and by taking the time to learn more about the creature, find that we’re all part of the world in our own unique ways. Based on a true story and written in rhyme, this series kickoff (followed by Rhyme of the Aged Hummingbird) from Marie aims to inform readers and ignite their sense of wonder, while photo-illustration art featuring real carpenter bees—black with silvery blues—serve to demystify an insect that, encountered in a yard, might scare kids. Young nature lovers or those curious to learn the names of different bees and what they look like may find new information amidst the rhyming text.

The text, though, at times works against the book’s lofty aims, with stilted and overly formal lines that limit its communicative and educational power. Sometimes the text obscures basic meaning in awkwardly constructed sentences: “A cardboard ride we gave it then / to a backyard bush for shade./ A small lid with water there / we rested where it lay.” The glossary found at the end of the book is dedicated not to anything science or insect related but to defining some of the words (retreated/depleted) deployed to make the rhymes work.

What The Carpenter Bee excels at is showing multiple species of carpenter bees up close and personal, alongside warm and sunny images of happy children and flowers, acquainting young readers with the life and work of an often misunderstood insect. Fun and lively trace and color pages are also included at the end of the book to further kids’ connection to carpenter bees and aid in their identification. Best suited as an introduction to bees or a supplement to a more comprehensive and informative book, The Carpenter Bee’s message doesn’t always quite land, but does well at exposing readers to various bee species.

Takeaway: Rhyming celebration of carpenter bees for young readers.

Comparable Titles: QED’s It Starts With a Bee, Alex G. Griffiths’s The Bug Collector.

Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about The Carpenter Bee

Robby may look like an average taxi cab, but he works for the Creative Cab Company in the town of Greensborough, where everyone is special in their own way, including Robby, who is dyslexic. While he may have a hard time reading signs, he has a knack for memorizing routes after driving it just once. In this low-stakes adventure, readers follow along with Robby as he navigates an unexpected change in plans and learns he’s more adaptable than he realized. Fellow dyslexics or readers who are just a little different from everyone else will appreciate Robby’s upbeat attitude and the lively and textured illustrations in Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure.

Greenberg’s illustrations feel appropriately childlike, with big blocky structures that make up the city and expressive features on Robby and his car coworkers. The text of the story moves around on the page, working with the illustrations so as not to stand out or blend in too much while still allowing freedom of movement and angles for the illustrations themselves. These dynamic page spreads invite readers in to explore and savor the variety of buildings, vehicles, and people, and they provide plenty of opportunity to return and find new details. The color palette also assists in conveying the overall cheerful tone of the book and Robby’s outlook.

A positive and friendly taxi is an easy character to root for, and Robby, so genuine in his enthusiasm for his job, is especially compelling as he deals with getting around his perceived limitations. Easy to follow and full of heart, the Greenbergs’ book invites readers of all kinds to see the strength in folks who have dyslexia, and hopefully dyslexic readers see the strength and creativity within themselves as well, just like Robby does in this heartfelt ode to being different.

Takeaway: A cheerful dyslexic taxi showcases adaptability in this sweet adventure.

Comparable Titles: Tom Percival’s Perfectly Norman, Kate Gaynor’s Tom’s Special Talent.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Click here for more about Robby the Dyslexic Taxi and the Airport Adventure

This exciting middle-grade adventure follows three young boys—Jack, Gene, and Edgar, dubbing themselves the Boonetown Bandits—on a hunt for a hidden treasure after Jack and Gene discover a chest and a centuries-old letter and map in which a British Redcoat lays out the location of a cache of “the finest jewels and gold in the land.” They’ll face wildlife, river rapids, an unsteady rope bridge, a mysterious presence in the woods, and the true banes of all youthful adventures, being grounded and having to go to summer school. Meanwhile, Jack must also deal with his intense feelings for a crush his friends razz him about, and the suspicion that a man named Dan whom they encounter knows way too much—not just about their quest, but about Jack’s family.

Readers will be captivated by the surprising twists, unexpected alliances, and personal growth of the characters. Jack starts as a playful prankster who conceals a tender side beneath his jovial exterior. As the story unfolds, we witness Jack's character evolving subtly, lending a rich depth to the narrative. The dynamics between Jack and the other Bandits richen the at-times familiar adventure storytelling, giving readers reason to invest in the relationships, and ultimately leading to memorable transformation and growth. The boys’ joking with each other eventually gives way to them speaking frankly about some tough topics, like why Jack’s crush might not reciprocate his interest: “You’re selfish, arrogant, and judgmental,” Gene says. “It’s no wonder Sarah doesn’t like you.”

Savage's narrative style maintains a fast-paced rhythm, captivating attention from start to finish, though the rapid resolution of conflicts and dangerous incidents sometimes has the effect of diminishing the narrative stakes. One notable strength of the book is its introduction of unexpected antagonists, whose motives and intentions invite readers to guess, which adds welcome suspense and intrigue to an engaging adventure that combines memorable twists, heartfelt friendships, and personal growth.

Takeaway: Exciting treasure-hunt adventure with strong insight into friendship.

Comparable Titles: Aaron Johnson’s Mystery in Rocky Mountain National Park, Roshani Chokshi’’s Aru Shah and the End of Time.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

Click here for more about Jack Mathias and the Boonetown Bandits

Rimer’s deeply pained and beautifully written exploration of her son’s death from suicide, is at once a celebration of a life, a reckoning with a death, and an impassioned inquiry in how and why the inconceivable could happen—and what more can be done to prevent it in other cases. Before his death in Berlin in 2006 at the age of 23, Patrick Wood had been a young man of extraordinary promise and charisma. He earned the highest of academic accolades, had developed into a dazzling pianist and programmer, and seemed to thrive, after coming out as gay, among new friends in Berlin, where he served an internship with the engineering company Siemens. Despite an earlier hospitalization as a student at Stanford for depression and suicidal ideation, the news that he had ended his life came as a total shock. “Why?” Rimer asks.

Rimer, an English teacher, writes with grace and precision of complex feelings, as she recounts her and her family experience of the aftermath, including their efforts to understand Patrick’s, such as tours of his Berlin, tearful meetings with friends, and, later, the jolting revelations of reading his medical records. Rimer discovers that Patrick’s depression had been much more debilitating than she had known, and she makes an impassioned call for awareness of how parents and schools are ill-equipped to “detect the severity of the disease and, therefore, the likelihood of a completed suicide.”

“We rationalize depression and suicide when they are not rational,” she writes. “We look for logic instead of anatomical disease. We settle for thirteen excuses why. We need to insist on more.” That spirit of bold truth telling is matched throughout by Rimer’s frank account of holding herself to blame despite understanding that she’s not and her agonized search for answers in literature, family history, and science. It’s also matched, with rare power, by love for Patrick. The book pulses with moving testimonials, in memorial encomiums, song lyrics, conversation, and his twin sister’s tender, sparkling foreword. It’s above all an act of love.

Takeaway: A mother’s moving efforts to understand a son’s death by suicide.

Comparable Titles: Kay Redfield Jamison’s Night Falls Fast, Susan Auerbach’s I’ll Write Your Name on Every Beach.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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Middleton (author of The Certainty of Chance) spices this dual-timeline teen and second-chance romance with heaps of Scottish character and a deeply compassionate approach to challenges in physical and mental health. On the Orkney Islands, shopkeeper’s daughter Evie Sutherland’s crush on television heartthrob Nick Balfour takes a jolting but delightful turn when she discovers that he has local family. More surprising still: despite her conviction that “dating me is such a freakin’ headache” due to complications from her Crohn’s Disease, Nick actually solicits her close friendship and eventually more. Her friends harbor mistrust about his behavior. That relationship ends badly, but years later, in the novel’s second timeline, Evie is forced to re-encounter Nick as the caterer for a television project he’s producing on the island, and both must decide if they’ll merely keep it cordial, or try to make it right.

Middleton does a lovely job blending romance beats with the vividly realized setting, enticing readers with memorable local dialect and charming traditions like the annual Christmas ‘Ba game, all captured in brisk, buoyant prose that lights up the characters’ inner lives: “He strolled past the window, framing the sunset’s sherbet glow, and picked up the stuffed Loch Ness Monster from Evie’s desk.” She also rousingly dramatizes teen life for an adult audience, with aspects like the coveting of magazine centerfolds, group meetups at local events, rapid-fire changes in social dynamics, and lack of adult supervision all hitting a nostalgic sweet spot. Evie’s Crohn’s diagnosis is treated realistically in terms of teen embarrassment and implications for her social life, and nicely balanced with Nick’s secrecy about his own panic attacks.

The romance is sweet but politely lukewarm in both the teen and adult timelines, and readers will find it easy to move between the two story tracks. The two big mistakes Nick makes in the story get resolved without much suspense, but Middleton’s characterization stirs such fondness for the couple that the resolution satisfies.

Takeaway: Buoyant second-chance romance with Scottish flavor.

Comparable Titles: Jenny Colgan’s The Cafe by the Sea, Kerri Carpenter’s Come What Maybe.

Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

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