Middle Grade Monday: Olive Oakes and the Haunted Carousel by Kalynn Bayron

e-Audio, 03:43:09Narrated by: Megan GageRelease Date: April 7, 2026Published by: Bloomsbury PublishingRead from: April 7, 2026Olive Oakes, #1Source: Libro FM (I also received this e-ARC from the publisher and Libro FM. This did nothing to influence my review.)Content Warning: Child Death, Kidnapping, Death of a Parent For Readers of: Adventure, Audio, Auto-Buy Authors, Sparkly Covers, Middle…

Kid X by Tracey Baptiste

e-ALC, 06:02:12Narrated by: Ariel BlakeRelease Date: February 24, 2026Published by: Hachette AudioRead from: April 3-5, 2026  Boy 2.0, #2Source: Library’s Libby (I also received a hardcover copy of this book from TxLA 2026. This did nothing to influence my review.)Content Warning: N/AFor Readers of: Action, Audio, Sparkly Cover, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Sci…

Middle Grade Monday: Hail Mariam by Huda Al-Marashi

e-ALC, 04:43:02Narrated by: Karla Maatouk & Huda Al-MarashiRelease Date: February 24, 2026Published by: Books on TapeRead from: February 20, 2026 Stand-aloneSource:  PRH Audio (I received this ALC free from the publisher and their app. This did nothing to influence my review!)Content Warning: For Readers Interested In: Coming of Age, Contemporary, Sparkly Covers, MG, Racial/Ethnic Diversity (Arab/ Iraqi…

The Mighty Macy by Kwame Alexander

e-ALC, 01:00:23Narrated by: Imani ParksRelease Date: February 3, 2026Published by: Hachette AudioRead from: February 6, 2026Stand-aloneSource: Netgalley (I received this ALC free from Netgalley and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review!)Content Warning: N/AFor Readers Interested In: Children, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Racial/Ethnic Diversity, Realistic Fiction, Books about Books, Own Voices, Tear-Jerkers, Verse…

Breaking the Ice by Natalie Blitt

Paperback, 256 pagesRelease Date: September 2, 2025Published by: Scholastic PressRead from: November 8-December 23, 2025Stand-aloneSource: Bought at my kid’s Scholastic Book Fair!Content Warning: Injury/Injury Detail (From the past, but recounted a bit on page)For Readers Interested In: Coming of Age, Contemporary Romance, Contemporary, Sparkly Cover, Middle Grade, Realistic Fiction, Romance, Sports (Hockey & Figure Skating) …

The Book of Anansi (Nic Blake and the Remarkables) by Angie Thomas

Narrated by: Joniece Abbott-PrattRelease Date: September 26, 2025Published by: HarperCollinsRead from: October 4-5, 2025Nic Blake and the Remarkables, #2Source: Library’s Libby (I also received an ARC from the ALA Conference. This did nothing to influence my review.)Content Warning: Bullying, Racism, Slavery, Physical Abuse, Kidnapping, WarFor Readers Interested In: Action, Adventure, ARC, Audio, Family Diversity (Dad…

The Better to Eat You With by Tehlor Kay Mejia

e-ALC, 05:18:55Narrated by: Victoria VillarrealRelease Date: September 23, 2025Published by: Books on TapeRead from: September 27, 2025Stand-aloneSource: PRH Audio App (I received a free ALC from the publisher and their app. I also received a physical ARC from the ALA conference. This did nothing to influence my review)Content Warning: Eating Disorder (Anorexia) For Readers Interested In:…

Middle Grade Monday: Broken Dolls by Ally Malinenko

Narrated by: Renee DorlanRelease Date: September 30, 2025Published by: HarperCollinsRead from: September 24-25, 2025Stand-aloneSource: Netgalley (I received a free ALC from Netgalley and the publisher. This did nothing to influence my review)Content Warning: Possession For Readers Interested In: Audio, Horror, Sparkly Cover, Middle Grade, Most Anticipated, Stand-alone, Supernatural, Thrillers, 2sLGBTQ+, Mental Health (Selective Mutism), Neurodiverse (arithmomania/…

Take Me Away