There’s no time for summertime blues with all of the new books out this month. Join a witch for her erroneous cooking show, follow a boy solving riddles all across town, survive the social circles at an elite vampire school, and more in this month’s roundup of notable new books for young readers.
Picture Books and Early Readers
Kari Allen, illus. by G. Brian Karas. Random House/Schwartz, $17.99 (44p) ISBN 978-1-984852-30-4. Ages 4–8.
A boy who loves creating maps encounters a girl seeking a unique map, and together they see the world through new eyes. Soon, authority shifts from the boy—whose rational take makes the girl’s expanding requests seem capricious—to the girl, who shows the boy another way to look at the world.
Everything in Its Place: A Story of Books and Belonging
Pauline David-Sax, illus. by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow. Doubleday, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-37882-3. Ages 3–7.
When Nicky, who enjoys the order of her school’s library, learns that it will be closed for the next week, she ventures out into the world and discovers that she has a place outside of the library. The book received a starred review from PW.
I Forgive Alex: A Simple Story About Understanding
Kerascoët. Random House Studio, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-593-38150-2. Ages 4–8.
After Alex has an accident at recess that causes another student embarrassment, he and his schoolmates navigate forgiveness and regret.
If You’re a Kid Like Gavin: The True Story of a Young Trans Activist
Gavin Grimm and Kyle Lukoff, illus. by J Yang. HarperCollins/Tegen, $18.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-305756-2. Ages 4–8.
Trans activist Grimm recounts how discriminatory behavior in his early childhood led him to become an activist. The book received a starred review from PW.
Breanna Carzoo. HarperCollins, $17.99 (32p) ISBN 978-0-06-305405-9. Ages 4–8.
A fire hydrant that is tired of being a target for passing dogs gets her long-awaited moment to shine when a fire breaks out in her neighborhood. The book received a starred review from PW.
Elana K. Arnold, illus. by Doug Salati. Roaring Brook, $18.99 (48p) ISBN 978-1-250-79698-1. Ages 3–6.
A family’s discoversy of two duck eggs in a park, leads to newfound quality time together as they lovingly nurturing the eggs to hatch. The book received a starred review from PW.
Casey Lyall, illus. by Vera Brosgol. Greenwillow, $17.99 (40p) ISBN 978-0-06-289029-0. Ages 4–8.
A witch’s cooking show doesn’t go as planned when the star ingredients, frogs, make a dashing escape, in this comedic picture book illustrated by Caldecott Honoree Brosgol.
Middle Grade
Kekla Magoon. Random/Lamb, $16.99 (304p) ISBN 978-1-5247-1599-1. Ages 8–12.
When Chester opens the envelope that was mysteriously delivered to him, he assumes it’s a riddle from his father, but as he begins unraveling the clues that are sending him all over town, he realizes his playful hunt may have serious consequences.
Mat Heagerty, illus. by Sam Owen. Simon & Schuster, $21.99 (152p) ISBN 978-1-5344-8257-9. Ages 8–12.
Half-vampire and half-lumberjack, Lumberjackula struggles with the intersections of his identity when he has to make his choice of school in a town where lumberjacks and vampires remain separate. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
M.T. Khan. Little, Brown/Patterson, $16.99 (272p) ISBN 978-0-7595-5795-6. Ages 8–12.
Nura and her best friend Faisal are determined to find a legendary relic on their final day of mining, but instead land in an alternate realm where a mystical trickster plans to keep them there forever unless they find a way to escape. The book received a starred review from PW.
Jose Pimienta. Random House Graphic, $20.99 (256p) ISBN 978-0-593-18062-4. Ages 8–12.
Twin siblings Fernando and Teresa find themselves without each other for the first time and on opposite sides of the U.S./Mexican border for middle school, in this graphic novel inspired by the author’s childhood. The book received a starred review from PW. See our q&a with Pimienta.
Young Adult
Lio Min. Flatiron, $18.99 (352) ISBN 978-1-250-819093. Ages 14 and up.
Santi’s recent transfer to Los Angeles to join an elite marching band brings back old painful memories with drum major Suwa, and the two begin to work towards repairing what was lost. The book received a starred review from PW.
Anna Gracia. Peachtree Teen, $17.99 (352p) ISBN 978-1-6826-3371-7. Ages 14 and up.
June Chu never seems to be good enough, not in the eyes of her expectant mother or Rhys, a boy she likes but won’t commit. As June navigates new and complicated relationships with different boys and potentially disappointing her mother with her college choice, she discovers the only affirmation she needs is the one from herself. The book received a starred review from PW. See our What’s the Buzz? on Gracia’s highly anticipated debut.
Goth Girl, Queen of the Universe
Lindsay S. Zrull. Flux, $14.99 paper (352p) ISBN 978-1-63583-078-1. Ages 14 and up.
When prickly Detroit resident and sewing and makeup phenomenon Jess gets roped into assisting a cosplay team prepare for a convention, she gets the chance to meet her biological mother and define her own meaning of family. The book received a starred review from PW.
Lane Clarke. Poppy, $17.99 (368p) ISBN 978-0-7595-5670-6. Ages 13 and up.
Michelle Cooper dreams of attending Brown University but doesn’t want to relive her trauma for her college essay. With the help of a new friend, Michelle confronts the effects that her past has on her as she works towards pursuing the future she’s always wanted. The book received a starred review from PW.
Elizabeth Kilcoyne. Wednesday, $18.99 (320p) ISBN 978-1-2507-9082-8. Ages 13 and up.
After leaving college and returning home, Laurel is met with increasingly violent occurrences on her family farm. The only way to put an end to the life that seems to be growing on the estate is to embrace her magic. The book received a starred review from PW. See our interview with Kilcoyne.
Sasha Laurens. Razorbill, $19.99 (416p) ISBN 978-0-5933-5320-2. Ages 14 and up.
Elite vampire school Harcote Academy finds a new addition in Kat Finn, a born-not-turned vampire, hoping to fit in with the school’s upper echelon crowd. However, when she and her former best friend turned roommate Taylor discover a conspiracy happening on their campus, they must work together to put an end to it. The book received a starred review from PW.
