Nightbooks by J. A. White

Available July 24, 2018

When I first saw this book I thought, "Creepy Library and reading at night" but I was way off base.
However, I could not put it down. It is a Hansel and Gretel witch story set in modern times, complete with essential oils (instead of potions), a New York apartment (instead of a cottage in the woods), and a nightly story to keep everyone happy.

Alex got into all this trouble trying to destroy his scary story notebooks and ended up getting trapped and the story books ended up helping him. He meets Yasmin, who is a girl also trapped by the witch.  At first she tries to steer clear of Alex, but eventually she befriends him and in an effort to escape they come up with a daring plan only to realize they are still trapped.   The stories that he was trying to escape from may be the only thing that saves him...

Angel and Bavar by Amy Wilson

Available November 6, 2018

Great fantasy with supernatural monsters, talking pictures/ statue, missing parents, etc. Similar to Beauty and the Beast in that there is a house under a spell, a tall "beastly" boy, and a small, petite girl.  Angel helps Bavar in fighting the "evil" with him because it affected her family life.  The monsters came and killed her parents and she is now living in a foster family.  Bavar's family has had this "curse" on them for a long time.  He must maintain the barrier and fight the monsters. As Angel gets to know him they discover that there is a way to repair the rift and close the door to the other world, but will it come at too high a price?

  I think middle schoolers will love it. 

Small Spaces by Katherine Arden

Available September 25, 2018

Olivia, known as Ollie, is dealing with her mom's death. She has withdrawn socially at school and after defending a new girl she runs away to a quiet place by the water.  There she encounters a woman crying trying to throw a book away.  Ollie takes the book and the woman gives her a warning to "Avoid large spaces and stick to small spaces."  Ollie begins reading the diary and it starts her on a journey to encounter supernatural experiences at Misty Valley Farm.  

Excellent creepy read!  I could not put it down until I found out what happened to Ollie, Coco, and Brian.  Would they survive the night or not????  This story has missing people, lots of scarecrows, an old diary, and ghosts.  What's not to love?   

Squint by Chad Morris & Shelly Brown

Available October 2, 2018

Flint is a thirteen year old boy who is losing his sight. Kids at school call him Squint and he really doesn't have any friends. He loves to draw comics and is planning on entering a comic contest in a little over a month. Not only is he losing his sight, but his dad left before he was born and his mom is not good at being a mom so her parents are raising him.


McKell is a newish girl at school and she slowly begins to befriend Flint, but then her brother dies, Flint gets a new cornea and things get a little sticky as they work through their friendship and the problems each of them is dealing with.


Great book! I can't wait to share it with my middle school students.

Tight by Torrey Maldonado

Available September 4, 2018

This book was TIGHT!  Bryan is a 6th grade student who is pretty much a quiet, good kid.  He loves quietness and chillness.  His sister, Ava, is in 9th grade and thinks he is soft.  Bryan's mom brings a new kid Mike around for dinner and so it begins... at first Bryan thinks Mike is cool.  They share a love of comic books and drawing.  Then things take a turn.  Mike gets Bryan to skip school, jump turnstiles and hop on subways without paying, throw rocks off of roofs, etc.  Bryan knows these things are wrong, but his dad (who has been in and out of jail) tells him he needs to be hard.  He is confused about what to do until he gets caught by his parents for skipping school.  Bryan starts to befriend Big Will and Mike doesn't seem to like that.  He starts to cause trouble for Bryan until it finally comes to a head that could start even more problems for Bryan and Mike.  I love the fact that the author uses language like a kid would use and I will admit I was a little confused on the OD and SOS...:) This book is amazing and I can't wait to share it with my students.

Harbor Me by Jacqueline Woodson

Available August 28, 2018

The story is told from Haley's point of view and is told mainly through a flashback about her 5th grade year in a "special" class with 6, no 5 other people. The kids are all diverse: Dominican, African-American, Caucasian, etc. and each one is dealing with different things: parent immigration status, parent in jail, parent dead, racial prejudice, etc. They pretty much become a family as they are given space to just be them on Friday afternoons. Haley decides to record their stories, so she will have them as memories. Through these recordings she tells about her year in Ms. Laverne's class and how each kid deals with their situation. She explores her feelings about her own situation with her dad and uncle and determines to begin building her relationship with her dad by the end of the book...