J vs. K written by Kwame Alexander, written and illustrated by Jerry Craft
REALISTIC / HUMOR
This story is about two boys (J and K) who are achievement-oriented and extremely competitive with each other. One is a writer, the other is a cartoonist. They both are determined to win the upcoming writing contest. When the realize each other is their biggest competition, things get heated. My favorite parts in this illustrated humorous story are the snarky author notes and tips about writing stories.

Midwatch Institute for Wayward Girls written by Judith Rossell
ADVENTURE
I love a book where kids save the day and do heroic things. In this (heroic) adventure, Maggie is sent to an orphanage where the girls aren’t mistreated. Instead, they are trained to fight bad guys and solve mysteries. Maggie is in a younger age groups tasked with helping the older girls find a missing woman. Even though their group is the most inexperienced, they make the biggest impact in finding the suspects and the kidnapped woman. This is an exciting illustrated adventure of helping others, empowering children, and discovering a found family.

Into the Rapids written by Ann Braden
REALISTIC
A moving middle grade story about fear, friendships, survival, bravery, and grief. Addy’s been existing on the sidelines from other kids and taking care of her mom who’s been deep in her grief since Addy’s dad died years ago. When Addy’s town experiences a power outage, she’s worried she won’t be able to go to the survival camp where her parents met. Trying to get cell service, she encounters an enemy classmate named Caleb more than once. Each time they see each other, their relationship changes into a tentative alliance with Caleb helping her reach the camp despite the downed bridge. What happens next is a test of Addy’s survival skills and bravery — and it changes everything.

Blood in the Water written by Tiffany Jackson
MURDER MYSTERY
If your readers like tight writing with action, adventure, and mystery, this middle grade book is unputdownable! When Kaylani stays for the summer with her incarcerated dad’s rich former employers as a summer charity case, you can imagine how well it’s going to go. Snide remarks and rudeness are the worst of it. . . until an older teenage boy gets murdered! Now the strange-acting older sister in the family is a suspect. Kaylani decides to solve the mystery herself which leads to new friends, alliances with the frenemy sister, and before long–danger. Because someone doesn’t want her to find out the truth. And will kill anyone who gets in their way . . .

Spark written by Chris Baron
REALISTIC / VERSE
Written in sensory, emotional verse, this immersive story with an environmental message is about nature-loving friends Finn and Rabbit, who experience a fire in their California community. Evacuating is a traumatic event. Returning home, they are changed and so is the nature around them. Even though Baron immerses us in the fear and the trauma of a fire like this, the book and these two characters determination give us hope for a better future. It’s not just a story about fire but also about friendship, family, the environment, and most of all, hope. (With masterful writing!)

Smoke & Mirrors written by Rosalyn Ransaw
MYSTERY
Andy’s the only Black kid in town, which is why he’s blamed for burning down a barn, something he didn’t do. Instead of juvie, he’s assigned to help the barn owner rebuild a dilapidated house. The owner wants Andy’s labor but also hopes that they can prove that the former owner of the house, a magician called Red Nave, didn’t commit an infamous murder. Well-paced, well-written with curious clues and a surprising ending, this story is a growing up journey along with an intriguing mystery about second chances, racism, and friendship.

Maxwell Dark Nightmare Hunter created by Brady Smith
PARANORMAL / GRAPHIC NOVEL
Non-stop action with the themes of rewriting your own story and friendship, Maxwell has the ability to travel into other kids’ nightmares. He lost his sister Gwen to a nightmare and now, he’s traveling the world searching for her. In this new city, he finds a girl named Sid who needs his help. She thinks he’s crazy and refuses…until the nightmares get worse. Things get worse and scarier when, for the first time, Maxwell is physically hurt inside a nightmare. Things are changing– the nightmares are fighting back. This is a satisfying adventure with a cool kid hero that will surely lead to more books I’ll look forward to reading.