
Despite being a chosen one, Chip experiences relatable moments of self-doubt over what he must do, lamenting the dangers of the journey itself and that he’s not strong enough to defeat Pea Brain. Ultimately Chip embraces his inner power, and in a clever touch literally pops his own negative thought bubbles with the tip of his finger. By drawing attention to the dishonest origins of such harmful inner messages, Chip is able to help others turn away from fear and stay “calm and peaceful and centered.” For most kids, feelings of uncertainty and inadequacy start shockingly young, so this message of mindfulness will help them recognize and overcome these destructive lies.
Wendy Lorenzana’s beautiful, zen-like illustrations seem to glow from within, radiating a sense of possibility and magic. The Harmony Animals’ eyes are wide and expressive and their faces appealingly calm and friendly as they frolic on grassy hillsides and commune with the Wise One, a tree person adorned with leaves and feathery moss. By contrast, Pea Brain’s dark world is filled with people frowning, yelling, and crying. This stark contrast in moods makes it all the more rewarding when the characters’ focus shifts back to spreading love—to others and themselves.
Takeaway: A chipmunk helps people overcome negative thoughts and learn to spread love.
Comparable Titles: Bonnie Clark’s Catching Thoughts, Jennifer A. Swenson’s Chirp!: Chipmunk Sings for a Friend.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
A vital and inspiring heroine, Anjolie vows not to let Clive maintain control over her home—not the house in which she was raised, nor India itself. Bose twines the story of both her years in France, where she’s warned by the former Governor-General of French possessions in India that Clive will “rape and pillage” all he can, with that of Clive himself, a detestable cuckold eager to force local farmers to abandon food crops for profitable opium. “She had never seen anyone so white and whalelike,” Bose writes, of a 15-year-old virgin forced to bed Clive.
Anjolie will have her revenge, an act that will shake both her century and ours. Bose includes chapters set in the Trump era, as an American of Indian descent visits an ancestral home in France, contemplates complex legacies of colonialism and racism, and discovers the story of Anjolie. This is rich material with moral weight, though it diminishes narrative momentum in a book that’s notably long. The prose at times is wordy, and some 18th century dialogue feels quite contemporary, but historical and cultural detail is convincing and the scenecraft is often strong.
Takeaway: Epic historical novel of revenge, love, and Britain’s seizing of India.
Comparable Titles: Sangeeta Bhargava’s The World Beyond, Amitav Ghosh’s Sea of Poppies.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The author thoroughly proves that common sense isn’t often common, by using data to back up his points. For instance, tailgating (the author’s chief pet-peeve transgression) is among the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents in the U.S., and the top offenders live in Idaho, Georgia, Nebraska, Utah, and Virginia. A more sobering statistic notes that 805 children have died in overheated vehicles since 1998, with 88% of them age 3 or younger. Then there’s the mind-boggling: more than “80% of drivers admit to dangerous behavior while driving, such as changing clothes, steering with a foot, painting nails, or even shaving”—and, of course, the ubiquitous issue of texting.
In addition to offering best practices, Reinhardt also provides sage advice on how to deal defensively with those bent on violating the rules of the road—including by dangerous passing and blaring music so loud it causes the cars around it to vibrate and wearing headphones while driving. The result may avert accidents. Veteran and newbie drivers alike can learn (or re-learn) sensible and safe driving rules designed to keep everyone behind the wheel and inside the vehicle safe.
Takeaway: Sensible lessons on driving safely when everyone else refuses to do so.
Comparable Titles: Hank Wysocki’s How to Drive a Car, Karen Gravelle’s The Driving Book.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B+
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Writing with an informative bent about the history of American education, and a sense of reverence for Tome and the school itself, Kelley transports readers into those “hallowed halls” but also the students’ hearts and minds, as he examines the mixed emotions—nervousness, excitement, uncertainty—they must have felt upon arrival and also their need for an education and to flourish and build community with fellow classmates. Their preparatory work was essential for university admission, though Kelley also emphasizes the other rewards of the Tome experience: “the bonds of friendship forged, the personal growth experienced, and the self-identity realized.”
Kelley writes movingly of each student’s life after Tome, as adolescence churns quickly to adulthood, higher education, a wide range of professions, and family responsibilities. A concluding tour of the now-abandoned original campus is touching, though Kelley leaves the question of how he connects to the school unanswered. Instead, with humility and a touch of awe, he traces the school and Tome’s legacy through the reach and sweep of the class’s impact on the world, making the case that Tome’s “most enduring legacy is the students who benefited from his generosity.”
Takeaway: Touching, informative study of the legacy of the Jacob Tome School’s class of 1923.
Comparable Titles: James McLachlan’s American Boarding Schools William M. Hogue’s The Jacob Tome Institute and its Schools.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: B
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A

Sklar touchingly relates his friendships with investigative reporter William A. Reuben, a colorful raconteur, editor, and horse racing enthusiast devoted to proving to the world Alger Hiss was railroaded by Richard Nixon and his cronies, and with Nyoko, a Japanese-American woman whose parents were imprisoned by the U.S. government during World War II. Sklar charts the lifelong scar this left on the family, resulting in tragedy. Also affecting is his account of the transformative experience of serving as a student volunteer on Daufuskie Island, off the coast of South Carolina, in the late 1960s, when the unique Gullah Geechee culture was already in peril from outsider developers. As the younger Sklar questions what good he can achieve, he also faces immediate crises, like burying a friend who dies of exposure. It’s a harrowing yet intimate account of life and death.
Sklar's prose is dramatic without being florid, and he is careful, as he observes crucial relationships and surveys a fractious half century of American history, to aim his focus on his subjects instead of himself. Instead, he offers exquisite testimony of hard-won victories achieved when we take the time to care for each other.
Takeaway: A writer’s moving personal and political history and a call to ease each other’s pain.
Comparable Titles: Helene Hanff’s 84, Charing Cross Road, June Jordan’s Soldier: A Poet’s Childhood.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The plot turns on deception, double-crosses, surprise firefights, and the proclivities of the powerful, as Sohrab, in the guise of George, promises Ayatollah Hamshahri a bomb that can devastate an Israeli city, in exchange for cash and access to sex. Glimpses of what Nika and other women endure as temporary wives are harrowing yet handled with an outraged sensitivity. Setting the novel apart from the thriller pack is that author and hero alike possess deep understanding of both American and Iranian culture and practices, making Sohrab’s infiltration not just plausible but illuminating.
Rohani’s dialogue is strong and mostly convincing, and the story’s most engaging moments occur in colloquies, as when Nika reveals her history to Sharob, or when they discuss her options as a “temporary wife” summoned to her master: “I must either submit to him or kill him, and I’m not going to submit to him anymore.” Scenes of action are clear but presented without the flashy brutality of many thrillers. Readers who favor smart thrillers that take the rest of the world seriously—and are frank about the realities of sex work and sex slavery—will find this compelling.
Takeaway: Smart thriller of a CIA agent from two worlds infiltrating Iran’s nuclear program.
Comparable Titles: Ausma Zehanat Khan’s Among the Ruins, Frank Gardner’s Ultimatum.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-

As is to be expected in a children’s book about building a robot, hijinks ensue, such as Charlie (the robot) breaking things, shoving Billy’s clothes in the wrong drawer, and putting plates in the garbage can. Amidst all the gentle chaos, Billy’s family is supportive, cheering on the friends, and encouraging Billy to keep trying and to keep creating art. Their encouragement is gentle, leaving him room to make his own decisions, a model for letting children learn to problem solve. Through it all, the family is smiling and having fun with each other, even including Charlie the robot.
Billy is a thoughtful, curious, creative, and loving character who is easy to root for, especially as he navigates troubleshooting and figuring out what he doesn’t want to miss out on, like spending time with his family. Maria Gabriella Gama’s line art is minimalist yet immersive, with plenty of details to keep readers engaged, and expressive through character faces and small humorous details like Billy’s dad’s shirt which says “I REPORT TO ME.” A refreshing and heartfelt twist on STEM concepts and family themes, Brainy Billy Builds a Bot will be a welcome addition to home or classroom libraries.
Takeaway: Creativity and heart combine in this humorous tale of a boy and a robot.
Comparable Titles: Kim Norman’s The Bot That Scott Built, Ashley Spires’s The Most Magnificent Thing
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The story that follows finds her embracing what she calls a second chance, humbled and devoted, dedicated to Bible study , the work of “building a relationship with Christ Jesus,” and the understanding that “Jesus sees us as valuable. He did not die for trash; he did not die so we would be stressed out, depressed, and broke.” Such impassioned but conversational testimony powers the book, as Yokum-Achane recounts, in inviting prose, the work it took to put her life on track, including starting and building a medical billing business. She makes clear throughout that faith is no quick fix, and that it, like everything else in life, demands dedication.
In prison, her life is jolted by another revelation, too, when a prison nurse announces that Yokum-Achane’s pregnant with twin girls. Her love pulses through the book, and she writes movingly of parenting but also is quick to offer real talk (“having twins is the definition of exhaustion”). Her depiction of faith as an ongoing relationship where one must ask for forgiveness is powerful, and throughout the book she links her life stories (of loss, of complicated romantic relationships) to scripture and Biblical insights. This straight-talking memoir will appeal to Christian readers who relish stories of faith despite hardship.
Takeaway: Touching testimony of faith and perseverance in the face of the worst.
Comparable Titles: Debbye Turner Bell’s Courageous Faith, Jo Saxton’s The Dream of You.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Puppies, strangers, helping—well, as Cassius says to a third party, ““It’s better if I’m strict than for a mistake to eventually cost her her life.” That division between the protagonists gives fresh resonance to tense but at times familiar zombie-fiction story beats as the duo faces both a host of zombies but also that other wasteland standby: other humans, duplicitous and mad with power, indulging in man-eating and manifestos alike. But there’s hope, too, the form of a pregnant woman who hopes to get to a rumored boat city.
The story moves fast, in episodic story-like chapters, and Csák proves adept at the logistics of this hardscrabble life, at dramatizing philosophical differences through dialogue and choices, at glimpses of wreckage and carnage that stir a despairing awe. The anticipation of violence is more effectively handled than the action itself, which suffers from imprecise prose, and the human villains in the book’s back half won’t surprise readers who have feasted on earlier zombie stories. More interesting are the protagonists and their reluctant companions, figuring out what they’re living for. The dogs, too, are inspired—both the puppy Abigail claims, and the fearsome ferals.
Takeaway: Epic but highly focused and humane story of zombie survival.
Comparable Titles: Brian Keene’s The Rising, David Moody’s Autumn.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Readers looking for a lighthearted read will likely find it in this brisk, amusing story that’s heavy on the hijinks but still full of skillful twists, both comic and suspenseful. Public Safety Officer Jane Roberts, her new assistant Israel, and other local law enforcement folks are kind of on the scent, but the abundance of players—and fresh, funny inventions like entrepreneur Gluella’s Lobster Brides! business— provide plenty of red herrings to throw them off the track. Jane’s determined to figure out why Troy was beaten and what a group of Russians is up to, but she’s realistically somewhat overmatched at times when it comes to keeping up with the densely layered schemes underway on a very small island.
With so many intriguing story threads and an extensive parade of characters who each get a crisp, memorable scene or two, readers will have to pay close attention to keep up with Chen’s wild plot. That makes it all the easier to root for Jane and the dazzling untangling that she, Storm, Helen, and Israel undertake to straighten out the whodunits and whodidn’ts.
Takeaway: Public Safety Officer Jane Roberts faces a sprightly, twisty island mystery.
Comparable Titles: Janet Evanovich’s Stephanie Plum series, Sarah Strohmeyer’s Bubbles series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A

Those lines—direct, unfussy, pared to the bone—exemplify Miller’s approach. Sometimes, he’s conversational, as in these pleading lines addressed to concerned friends and family: “I know. / It’s been almost two years. / I know, I should get out, meet people, travel”. The poetic forms and the accumulation of striking detail over dozens of poems imbue such everyday speech with fresh resonance and weight. Little Known Stories is an immersion in and exploration of grief, and Miller’s too honest—too scrupulous a reporter of experience—to promise the epiphanies of recovery narratives.
The result is a rare portrait of a sort of afterlife, days haunted by an absence. At times the verses find him feeling utterly bereft, as when he wonders “why people want to live so long /after losing what they could not live without.” Celebrating his Lisa—her artistry, her achievements, their shared rituals—seems to help. His portrait of her is as rousing as his unblinking account of grief is wrenching. The richly moving result is both a celebration of love and an act of it, too.
Takeaway: Richly moving, pared-to-the-bone poetry of a widower’s grief.
Comparable Titles: Jacqueline Lapidus and Lise Menn’s The Widows’ Handbook, Katherine Billings Palmer’s I Wanted to Grow Old with You.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
In raw, honest fashion, A Life's Work explores the highs and lows of life, success, and happiness. Struggling with questions about faith and insecurities while growing up in rural Virginia in the 1950s, McKenney reflects on his youth within the church, in college studying philosophy and law, and checking off the "social norms" such as getting a lucrative career, marriage and children. Through all of these growing pains, McKenney found his ideology constantly evolving, from religious and spiritual beliefs to his ideals of success and happiness. McKenney digs into familial relationships, both of his childhood and of his own making, with four children produced between two marriages. He describes his happiness as a miracle, one that took serious effort: “my life’s work,” he writes, has been “to constantly overrule my mindless brain, uncovering the still, small voice within me that always knows what’s good and right.”
Throughout, he offers demonstrations of how to push back against an unhelpful mind. He covers pivoting and adjusting after career setbacks and changes, a failed marriage, and heartbreaking losses of close friends through self-inflicted tragedy, demonstrating what it took to learn and grow from those impactful experiences and relationships to define his own happiness. The result is a personal, revealing look at one man’s path toward control, understanding, and mindset of peace.
Takeaway: Engaging memoir exploring the urgent life’s work of changing one’s mindset.
Comparable Titles: Deena Kastor’s Let your Mind Run, Elaine Welteroth’s More Than Enough.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-

Goodwin keeps the action moving at a fast pace and achieves a nice balance between the characters' personal lives and an agreeably twisty mystery, making sure the multiple threads are neatly braided together. She has given the book an interesting structure: Kacy and Robert take turns narrating the story, with occasional third-person descriptions, providing deep insights into the cast, though the storytelling requires readers to pay close attention. Multiple viewpoints of the same incidents can at times be a challenge to track, but Goodwin keeps the story lean and the emotions resonant.
Although Goodwin's writing is spare, she doesn’t stint on character development. Scenes between Kacy and her father ring true, as they tentatively try to establish a new relationship in the wake of tragedy. Especially good is the romance between Kacy and Robert, and the dual narration sets readers up to experience their growing passion organically. Goodwin is equally at home with the violent scenes set in rural Oklahoma as well as a series of moving interviews with a stroke victim whose memories are integral to the investigation. Goodwin closes the book with an exciting and cathartic wind-up, leaving readers hoping for a future Kacy and Robert adventure.
Takeaway: Twisty mystery finds a YouTube star investigating a Tulsa killing.
Comparable Titles: Mario Giordano’s Auntie Poldi and the Sicilian Lions, Joshilyn Jackson’s Never Have I Ever.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+

Gray’s tone is conversational and light, suiting the subject, and this is an inviting and polished manual for adults looking to expand their network, make new friends, or simply plan a winning get-together. Gray explains the power of positive icebreakers, how to cut off a long-winded guest, and even how to avoid the awkward period when guests first arrive. (The secret? Delegating tasks, as “early arrivals…appreciate the chance to feel useful instead of making idle conversation.”) Other welcome tips include advice for handling kids, breaking up cliques, and this reminder: “As long as the liquor you buy is in a glass bottle and not plastic, it’ll do fine for an adult party.” Gray’s instructions are also straightforward and written in an inviting tone, though at times they can be repetitive—an entire chapter on name badges may be excessive for some readers.
Still, with fresh suggestions and an inviting tone, Gray fulfills what he promises in the introduction: a complete guide to throwing a networking event. Gray includes an appendix with helpful lists and examples that he introduces throughout the book, and chapter checklists summarizing the big takeaways.
Takeaway: Fresh, helpful guide to the hows and whys of throwing an entertaining party.
Comparable Titles: Mary Giuliani’s The Cocktail Party, Leslie Brenner’s The Art of the Cocktail Party.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Returning fans will appreciate how Horn stays true to Eudora’s quirky personality in this entertaining tale, though she’s treading more grown-up waters this time around. Captain Jax is feeling blue because he can’t muster the confidence to ask Eudora’s teacher, Miss Allison, on a date—a problem that Eudora believes she can solve by proposing the Captain and Miss Allison go on a double date with Eudora and her best friend, Arnold. Eudora, of course, offers to do the asking, and with the help of her sister learns the necessary etiquette to make the date a success. In the process, the story touches on welcome lessons for readers on weightier concepts like self-esteem and the importance of personal choice, as when Miss Allison discovers not just one but two gentlemen are eager for her affections, meaning she must choose which would be the better fit.
Judit Tondora’s black and white illustrations will elicit laughs and draw out the more subtle details of the story, and Horn matches the series’ tone with a light, carefree ending—and fun details that illustrate life in space, like Arnold’s special-delivery blueberries straight from Earth. Readers won’t want to miss this one—in Eudora’s own words, “It’s not every day you get to help the captain.”
Takeaway: Space adventure full of laughs and matchmaking hijinks.
Comparable Titles: Ray O’Ryan’s The Galaxy Zach Collection, Jeramey Kraatz’s Space Runners series.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Russell’s ambitious story pulses with what readers want from the genre: palace intrigue, family secrets, grueling training exercises, and dramatic events all involving an engaging cast and set against a fresh and vivid alien world. The Delions are not only rumored to have kidnapped Zaed women for a nefarious breeding program, but also possess a device that can transport them to another planet called Earth. After a tragedy involving his wife and unborn child, Vasco plots to attack the Delions and steal the device. Meanwhile, Zaed Lieutenant Kov who escaped from the Delions is acting strangely. And Blahom is preoccupied by two love interests: the intense warrior Jhapalle and Rasheed, the flirty easy-going adopted son of her uncle.
A welcome focus on black characters as the protagonists and heroes, and convincingly detailed rituals and world building overcome minor flaws in storytelling, such as a tendency toward exposition, some uneven pacing, and some plot threads left to be picked up in future volumes. Still, there’s much here that dazzles, and young adult readers and fans of unique fantasy cultures will enjoy this majestic new mythology. QR codes embedded in the text link to additional material available to club members.
Takeaway: Plucky Goddess Warriors defend their planet in this epic debut.
Comparable Titles: Alechia Dow’s A Song of Salvation, Maura Milan’s Ignite the Stars.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
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