The elves in this story are celebrating a holiday very different from Christmas: they’re traveling to Thailand in honor of Leon’s Day—the halfway mark to Christmas—with plans to assist endangered species at the Kaeng Krachan, Thailand’s biggest national park. Natale employs that decidedly unique elf activity to deliver a feast for the senses in this unconventional holiday picture book, the fifth in her Elf School Is Out! series, after Holly’s Rainforest Adventure. Because Sandy is visually impaired, readers get the chance to experience Thailand the way he does—by sampling its sweet durian fruit, racing through the streets in windy tuk-tuks, and catching the scent of perfumed soaps, all accompanied by his faithful dog, Titina, who guards Sandy’s collapsible cane and helps him navigate Thailand’s busy market streets.
Bailey’s bright illustrations reveal just how exciting life can be for Santa’s little helpers, as the elves and co. jaunt from their snow-topped houses to river boats with monkey guides to an extraordinary national park teeming with unusual animals—who are all more than happy to celebrate Leon’s Day with the group. Natale closes this fun holiday adventure with a list of vocabulary from the story and a Thai recipe for kids to try out with their adult readers.
Takeaway: Santa’s elves take an unconventional approach to summer vacation.
Comparable Titles: Kim Ann’s Where Do Elves Go On Vacation?, Trish Madsen’s 12 Little Elves Visit Colorado.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: B-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A
Roberts begins by revealing some harsh truths about the current state of Canada’s educational system—“built by one of the key designers of the Indian Residential School System”—and the genocidal laws and policies upon which it was founded. “My children are the first children in my family that have not been stolen from their parents by the government,” she notes, before explaining the numerous ways this system, along with others, attempted to eradicate Indigenous people and their way of life. Roberts urges educators to “unlearn the colonial framework of education” to better support the needs of Indigenous students.
From cultural appropriation to racial-spotlighting and hidden biases, Roberts dives into the multitude of factors that create educational disparities in marginalized communities, while providing readers with sample lesson plans, suggested readings and playlists, and thought-provoking questions at the end of every chapter to encourage the deconstruction of deeply rooted Eurocentric mindsets and the cultivation of culturally responsive classrooms. This impassioned guide serves as a call-to-action for administrators and educators to develop a strong critical lens and actively decolonize the classroom. Written in relatable, inclusive language, Roberts encourages readers to reconnect with one another, the land, waterways, and community.
Takeaway: Compelling guide to dismantling outdated pedagogies to better serve Indigenous students.
Comparable Titles: Marie Battiste’s Decolonizing Education, Jo Chrona’s Wayi Wah! Indigenous Pedagogies.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Readers of these warm, colorful comics will likely daydream about how nice it would be if all HR departments resembled the Doodles. This volume cements the comic’s shift into a vehicle for book-length storytelling, as Turetsky foregoes punchlines in favor of charting how a good team would handle this situation. The revelation that OUPM workers are being poached by a competitor isn’t a surprise, but the team’s shoe-leather detective work, discussed in meetings and calls, is engaging and convincing. Turetsky’s diverse, cheery faces and playful sense of workplace environs and habits (don’t shout “SHUT UP!” when surprised at a meeting) keep the material light, even as the plot touches on corporate skullduggery and literal vengeance.
Some quirks of presentation again make reading the comics occasionally frustrating. It’s not always clear what order the speech bubbles are meant to be read in. While charmingly designed, characters tend to look straight ahead, at the reader rather than at each other, offering little indication of who is speaking to whom and in what order, which means some panels, especially those with seven characters and five bursts of dialogue, need to be read more than once to follow the flow.
Takeaway: Charming comics about a clever, team-minded HR department.
Comparable Titles: Steve Browne’s HR Rising!, Monica Frede and Keri Ohlrich’s The Way of the HR Warrior.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Readers used to the genre will be comforted, if unsurprised, by the novel’s familiarity. Patterson (author of Shattered Treasure) hits all the basic beats of Amish romance, including the acceptable but unwanted pursuer, the slow convincing of potential love, the light gossip among women, and social gatherings with delicious meals. Though positioned as adult fiction, the story reads young, both due to the age and social immaturity of the central protagonists, the straightforward prose and simple dialogue, and romantic connections that are limited to hand holding and a few kisses. Rachel and Paul’s growing attraction exudes a feel-good vibe that carries throughout, even overcoming their minor frustrations with one another, while their visits into each other’s Christian faith traditions shore up the religious message and keep it relevant to the plot.
Patterson uses key background points in both Rachel and Paul’s histories—the car accident that killed Rachel’s father, the friend of Paul’s who was thrown over by an Englisch girl—to reinforce their momentary uncertainty with each other, but Rachel’s willingness to give up college to become an Amish wife feels out of place for her character. Patterson ends with a plot twist resolving Paul’s dilemma and a final reconciliation that’s sweet, if not completely expected.
Takeaway: Enjoyable Amish-Englisch story of first love and new beginnings.
Comparable Titles: Beverly Lewis’s The Heirloom, Shelley Shepard Gray’s A Perfect Amish Romance.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Patterson (author of the Paradise series) delivers a moving, Christian-focused romance with admirable depth and a fine cast of supporting characters—particularly Ami, Logan’s twin brother Nathan, and their parents—who provide much-needed support for Addison as she works to escape her abusive boyfriend. Logan mistakenly believes Addison was drunk when the accident took place, but after getting to know her, he realizes that she was desperately trying to cope with the trauma of her sister’s death. He falls hard and fast for her, though Philip keeps cropping up in the worst ways. As Patterson ratchets up the tension, including a horrific act on Philip’s part that alters Addison for life, readers will ache alongside Addison and Logan as both deal with their complicated realities.
Readers who have experienced intimate partner violence may be triggered by Addison’s trials, but Patterson handles difficult topics with uncommon grace. Both Addison and Logan are forced to make hard decisions, individually and as a couple, as they fight to overcome their tragic past experiences and forge a new path together. Faith-based readers will especially appreciate Patterson’s subtle advocacy of the power of prayer, hope, and conviction in one’s beliefs.
Takeaway: Christian-focused romance that takes on powerful topics with grace.
Comparable Titles: Gina Holmes’s Wings of Glass, Valerie M. Bodden’s Whispers of Truth.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
The world that Krenik creates mixes several beloved by readers: a romanticized version of pre-Victorian England with vast manors, kissable lords, and stern household managers; a drone-patrolled post-apocalyptic dystopia with a deep and intrusive State inserting tracker chips into its citizens and allowing profitable human trafficking to flourish; and an idyllic, fantasy-touched woodland paradise, complete with adorable pets that include a flying dragon. The action mainly takes place in the manorial microcosm and the futuristic deep State ruled by the evil PAX, a group of market-minded billionaires blinded by their wealth and power, with scant regard for anything else. It’s a lot to keep track of but offers much to explore in future entries.
Though there’s much worldbuilding to cover, Krenik smoothly builds ramps up and maintains the suspense till the end, nicely setting up the next book, weaving in some promising romance, and touching on contemporary worries of plutocratic authoritarianism. Climactic revelations satisfyingly pay off the clues that Krenik plants with deft sleight-of-hand, and the mysterious backstory of Lord Ranfurly is neatly woven into the action without any damage to the pacing and anticipation. This is a good start to the series and the strong, sensuous Lord Ranfurly, him of the golden heart, is sure to earn some diehard fans.
Takeaway: Intriguing mystery and romance set in a fantastic alternate world.
Comparable Titles: Danielle L. Jensen’s A Fate Inked In Blood; Anne Perry.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Charlie's Ladder
The evolving relationship between Charlie and Dina is central to the narrative—a dynamic marked by empathy, humor, and flashes of stark revelation. Dina emerges not only as Charlie's therapist but as a pivotal catalyst in his journey towards healing, and her steadfast commitment to helping Charlie confront his past underscores the novel's message of resilience and human connection. Charlie’s wavering mood swings build tension in their actions, as Dina adjusts her schedule to accommodate his growing progress in therapy—allowing her to learn more about Charlie while subjecting herself to his emotional battery.
As much a psychological exploration as a gripping tale of survival, Charlie’s Ladder delves into the darkest recesses of the human mind, while touching readers with glimmers of hope and restoration. As Charlie navigates the labyrinth of his psyche, readers will also be compelled to confront universal themes of pain, forgiveness, and the quest for inner peace. Charlie’s religion plays a role throughout his journey as well; in one scene, he balances small comforts gleaned from time in his church choir with a feeling that he’s being “duped by yet another Catholic myth, fostered by misinterpretation and wishful thinking.” Readers will be eager for more of Charlie in Reinelt’s next installment.
Takeaway: One man’s visceral journey of trauma, self-discovery, and redemption.
Comparable Titles:Claire Lombardo’s Same As It Ever Was, Arundhati Roy’s The God of Small Things.
Production grades
Cover: B-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy:
Ugliest
As teens not yet able to vote, and with little control over their own lives, Nic’s point of view demonstrates how scary existence can be as a gender-nonconforming youth, especially when adults with agendas demand to make life decisions for them. Soon Nic and Mack were forced to give up the private rooms where they felt safe, and to share a room on the girls’ floor, and Vincent does a phenomenal job making the readers feel their despair and fear—Nic and Mack seem targeted out of hatred for who they were.
As Nic and company face mounting hurdles to being who they are,they begin to share their own stories, anger, and fears in TikTok videos. Vincent writes each with raw, relatable feeling and hard-won insight that will stir deep empathy from readers, sometimes creating a sense of helplessness. That makes it all the more powerful and rousing when Nic—who is shy and avoids conflict—and their friends begin to publicly stand up for themselves in the hopes of helping others too. Readers will be left feeling hopeful and empowered to speak up for others after experiencing firsthand the challenges facing an LGBTQ teen.
Takeaway: Empowering journey of LGBTQ teens standing up against adult judgment.
Comparable Titles: Lisa Williamson’s The Art of Being Normal, Jeff Garvin’s Symptoms of Being Human.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Missing Pieces
Creepier still: visions of a human skull that trigger nightmares that drive Maddie to hypnotherapy. As the stakes ramp up, and as Maddie struggles to determine whether or not her imagination is conjuring dark scenarios, Schleich captures the unsettling feeling of not trusting one’s own mind as well as the practical tensions of what it means to put one’s life and responsibilities on hold, especially as Maddie’s friends, a U.S. Attorney and an FBI agent, insist she take time off to recuperate. But after a shocking discovery, Maddie has no choice but to dig deeper, uncovering a trail of homicides, some decades old, with one common denominator: her client’s soon to be ex.
Schleich crafts an intriguing and twisting murder plot that moves briskly, builds to surprises, and centers on a woman who no longer can count on her sharpest asset: her mind, where words now “flicker” like “a dying neon sign.” What makes Maddie compelling is her refusal to accept this and her zeal to fight for justice.
Takeaway: Gripping mystery of a lawyer's amnesia and a rash of murders.
Comparable Titles: Dylan Young’s Trauma, Charles Harris’s Room 15.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Royce crafts a wonderfully visceral mystery that teems with grotesque and vivid characterizations. Grounded by Craig’s mature point of view, characters—many of whom appear in Royce’s earlier series, Truth, Lies and Love in Advertising—are summarized briskly and efficiently, allowing readers to breezily follow the action. And that action rolls in at breakneck speed from the start: as Craig closes in on answers to the mysteries from his past, he’s shocked to discover pieces of his former life cropping back up in a mobster driven, vengeance-seeking spree of dark secrets, hidden identities, and bloody, action-packed fights.
Royce capably wends through a family tree of mistruths, mirroring Craig’s past life—before his transformation into a loving family man—against that of his family’s current chaos. Ever mindful of his duty and full of love for his family, Craig willfully chases whatever he must to free himself and his loved ones from their terrifying mess. The lengths he’s willing to go to are soon plumbed to the max, as he finds himself face to face with a gritty wonderland filled with all manner of filth, danger, and madness. Readers who appreciate relatable characters and gritty action will be entertained.
Takeaway: Gritty, vengeance-driven thriller of family secrets and sacrifice.
Comparable Titles: CLR Dougherty’s Assassins and Liars, Samuel Lockwood’s The Hidden Heir.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Mating Habits of Fireflies: A Novel
St. Clair paints a vivid picture with rich prose that captures the imagination, employing the stunning imagery of fireflies throughout to mirror Emily and Danny’s complex relationship and their yearning for connection despite the multitude of challenges they face, both individually and together. When Danny draws the top number in the Vietnam draft lottery—and rejects his family’s suggestion to flee to Canada—the war takes over their lives; but, amid “tanks and exploding bombs,” Danny writes to Emily of the fireflies surrounding him, “light[ing] up entire trees like it’s Christmas.” Likewise, Emily draws “her spirit dissolving into stippled dots” when recalling sexual abuse at the hands of her father.
As the war rages on, Emily and Danny’s lives are played out to the soundtracks of Jimi Hendrix, Country Joe and the Fish, and Creedence Clearwater Revival, and St. Clair paints a vivid backdrop of historical, artistic, and cultural renderings that include real life figures like Stavros Melissinos, the cobbler who fashioned shoes for the Beatles, baby blue VW Bugs, and rainbow headbands paired with cutoff jeans. Always, the grisly consequences of war play out in the background, while Danny fights to survive and Emily fights to preserve him as her lifeline, with his haunting refrain of “dream me alive” testifying to their timeless connection.
Takeaway: Ethereal meditation on war, love, and human fragility.
Comparable Titles: Glendy Vanderah’s Where the Forest Meets the Stars, Suzanne Redfearn’s Where Butterflies Wander.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Royce raises the stakes with breezy efficiency, finding fresh life in some familiar fantasy beats. Hunted by supernatural terrors, prodded by telepaths, and plagued by flashbacks, Eyolin soon finds sanctuary in Aideil, the capital of the High Elves. There she is given the moontear, a gem that holds the key to her magik, and taken under the wing of Tequerra Arendt, an ancient elf master who will train her in the art of controlling her powers. The narrative blends the personal, especially questions of identity, with sorcerous suspense, as Eyolin, targeted by a god and a king alike, must stay undercover to evade an evil necromancer, Magnogogue, and perhaps even greater threats.
Royce’s storytelling is immediately compelling, alive with rhythm, depth, and a sense of what compels lovers of the genre. That goes for her worldbuilding, too. Magik in Alagana may have a lot of rules, but at its core this story is about finding and being true to oneself. Eyolin’s budding friendship with the human servant Dale is funny and heartbreaking, while scenes of dark suspense startle as the story heads to a surprisingly gritty climax. Royce proves as well-versed in writing horror as fantasy, and an engrossing cliffhanger ensures readers are hooked for the next chapter in Eyolin’s quest.
Takeaway: High-octane fantasy adventure of an outcast elf and some darker themes.
Comparable Titles: Jillian Boehme’s The Stolen Kingdom, Stephanie Garber’s Caravel series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
The memoir intricately details the dual fronts upon which Reid Allin battles and perseveres: the public front replete with prejudice, obstruction, and hostility by male colleagues and the private front mired with loneliness, bullying and abuse. Reid Allin vividly paints the Canada of the 1960s and 1970s, where cigarettes were advertised as harmless, flying was considered a man’s domain, and she grew up loving the TV adventures of Sky King and his aviator niece, Penny. Her interest in flying from an early age is communicated with power through her allegory of clouds while describing everything from her father’s mood to the uncertainty of the future.
The excitement and terror of flight training prove thrilling in her telling, while the technical details and vivid flight descriptions anchor the story, heightening the tension with moments such as, "the altimeter indicates 3,000 feet between us, terra firma, and death.” Further, the intrusive questions in her head (spread across chapters in italics) force the readers to understand the hurdles pioneering women face. The book is an inspiring tale that will resonate with anyone encountering obstacles in life or needing a nudge to pursue their dreams.
Takeaway: Inspiring memoir of a woman pilot blazing her own path.
Comparable Titles: Tammie Jo Shults’s Nerves of Steel, Niloofar Rahmani’s Open Skies.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Farnham skillfully delves into the intricacies of Boothbay Harbor's lobstering families and unveils the hidden facets of their close-knit society with an insider's perspective—for all the story’s lived-in detail, Farnham takes pains to invite in readers who don’t know a snatch block from a pot hauler. Through nuanced storytelling, Farnham paints a vivid picture of Jack and Melissa's unlikely connection, exploring themes of grief, redemption, and the transformative power of love. From beginning to end, Melissa and Jack's romance feels natural and not forced into the story.
Subtle tension powers the story as the crew uncovers why a solitary lobster boat departs long after others have returned to shore, but what makes Red at Night—named for a beloved but “typical” Maine lobster boat—stand out is Farnham’s deep feeling for the milieu, especially his portrayal of characters navigating life's complexities amid the rugged beauty of Maine's coast. At times readers may wish for greater insight into the characters’ hearts—as well as another round of editing polish. Still, this is an engaging read for readers drawn to romance, intrigue, and convincing portrayals of rugged ocean work.
Takeaway: Heartfelt exploration of love, loss, and second chances on Maine's maritime culture.
Comparable Titles: Barbara Kent Lawrence’s Islands of Time, K. Stephens’s The Ghost Trap.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
The danger of becoming infatuated with the doomed Fitzgeralds is the desire to rewrite their tragic trajectories (alcoholism and mental illness). “Young Scott & Zelda” offers a pithy distillation of the epochal couple’s courtship, with brisk dialogue that captures the dynamics of a determined pursuer and his skittish quarry. Raffetto views them as combustible collaborators who created exquisite art, especially The Great Gatsby. But “3 a.m.” reads like a mea culpa for relishing their aura of beautiful possibility while downplaying the manipulative undercurrents of their warring personalities. When Zelda accuses Scott of mining her life for material, he calmly replies: “Everything we do is mine.” It’s a chilling summation of a shift in power after the dual bondage of marriage and fame.
After asserting that the women’s movement would have expanded Zelda’s options, Raffetto opens the centerpiece title story with protagonist Kristin facing sexual assault from a Hollywood producer, making victimization the common denominator for his female characters. It’s the late 1980s, and Kristin retreats into analog isolation in a coastal California community stuck in time. Holden, whose drug addiction ended his professional baseball career, finds a new role as her protector. Unlike Scott and Zelda, their pathologies mesh. Amid all the pain in these stories, Raffetto demonstrates a hopeful compassion for his literary giants and damaged twentysomethings, whose grand passions so submerge them that they’re forced to sink or swim.
Takeaway: Strong stories of two fragile, dangerous 20th century romances.
Comparable Titles: Therese Anne Fowler’s Z, Raphael Bob-Waksberg’s Someone Will Love You in All Your Damaged Glory.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Mysteries of Bowie and Other Oddities
Between the novellas, Raffeto offers an incisive essay on socio-political influences on the celebrated music of Bowie’s late-1970s Berlin era—when he lived in the divided city and recorded Low, “Heroes,” and Lodger—and Bowie’s concert at the Berlin Wall in 1987, not long before it fell. From the Spanish Civil War era to the post-pandemic present of “Mysteries of Game Theory,” where the internet is controlled by the government, Raffetto’s message rings out: peace cannot be born out of war. "There's no future or past in this world," Raffetto writes in “Venice to Venice,” a harrowing story of the U.S. and Iraq in the 2000s that deftly delineates the interconnected repercussions of war across decades.
The collection culminates with significant power in “The Georges”—as in Zimmerman, Bush, and Orwell. This searching, climactic entry, narrated in a numbed first person, challenges readers to consider their own stances on war and violence. Set in “the void created after the trigger has been pulled,” Raffetto’s work aims to unify, eradicate hate and racism, and commit to the truth, urging readers to choose wisely.
Takeaway: Essential read on the interconnectedness of war and the struggle for peace.
Comparable Titles: Catherine Reay’s The Berlin Letters, Will Mackin’s Bring Out the Dog.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
