Here we round up new and forthcoming children’s titles, including a YA novel following a teen hiding her bipolar disorder diagnosis, a series addition following a trio of misunderstood characters, a picture book about appreciating a community’s work, a young readers guide to Indigenous medicine, and many more.
The Art of Insanity by Christine Webb. Peachtree Teen, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-68263-457-8. High school senior Natalie Cordova navigates her recent bipolar disorder diagnosis while trying to keep her mental health a secret from her peers and preparing for a life-changing art show.
The Bad Guys #16 by Aaron Blabey. Scholastic, $6.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-82053-9. The latest addition to the Bad Guys series unravels some false truths from previous novels and follows a trio featuring a new character, a talkative bat, and a mullet-wearing small guy.
The Baker by the Sea by Paula White. Templar, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-2389-7. The son of a baker admires the profession of fishermen in his town, and soon learns to appreciate how every person contributes to their community. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
Braiding Sweetgrass for Young Adults: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants by Robin Wall Kimmerer, adapted by Monique Gray Smith, illus. by Nicole Neidhardt. Zest, $17.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-72-845899-1. In this young readers adaptation of the adult nonfiction bestseller, Kimmerer breaks down the value of Indigenous science studies and the importance of plants in medicine. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Christmas Princess by Mariah Carey, illus. by Fuuji Takashi. Holt, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-250-83711-0. All Little Mariah wants for Christmas is a holiday filled with happiness for her loved ones, and she takes off on a snowy adventure to make her dreams a reality.
Controlled Burn by Erin Soderberg Downing. Scholastic Press, $26.99; ISBN 978-1-338-77606-5. After a fire leaves her sister injured, Maia moves to Minnesota with her grandparents, where she finds the strength to face fire and nature once more.
Cruel Illusions by Margie Fuston. McElderry, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-6659-0210-6. In hopes of avenging her mother’s death by killing the vampires that murdered her, Ava joins a magical secret society where she’ll have to prove she’s ready to hold magic. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
Dps Only! by Velinxi. Andrews McMeel, $18.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-5248-7649-4. Online, high school student Vicky is an anonymous gaming superstar, but in real life she is often cast aside for her more extroverted e-sports playing brother. When Vicky gets the chance to play in a prestigious tournament, she risks revealing her identity and shattering her peers’ perception of her. The graphic novel received a starred review from PW.
Ezra Exposed by Amy E. Feldman. Blackstone, $18.99; ISBN 979-8-2007-9748-6. Middle school jokester Ezra faces the consequences when a digital joke of his goes too far.
Friends Like These by Jennifer Lynn Alvarez. Delacorte, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-5933-0967-4. After facing a humiliating prank at an end-of-school party, quickly followed by the disappearance of a classmate, Jessica questions her friendships as the truth floats to the surface.
The Frost Fair by Natasha Hastings. HarperCollins, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-063161-27-6. Best friends Thomasina and Anne seek out the elusive Frost Fair, which if found can grant wishes. But upon its discovery the duo learn that their wishes come with consequences.
How to Excavate a Heart by Jake Maia Arlow. HarperTeen, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-307872-7. Queer Jewish teen Shani begins to reconsider her hiatus from dating when she makes an unexpected friend while working at her internship. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
The Hunger Between Us by Marina Scott. Farrar, Straus and Giroux, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-374-39006-8. Liza goes on the hunt to find her best friend after she falls into the wrong crowd in a desperate act for food, during the Nazi siege of Leningrad.
Jasmine Zumideh Needs a Win by Susan Azim Boyer. Wednesday, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-83368-6. Already proclaiming to have won the student election on her college applications, Jasmine faces a xenophobic competitor, and struggles between embracing her heritage and culture or doing whatever it takes to win the election.
Little Red Riding Hood and the Dragon by Ying Chang Compestine, illus. by Joy Ang. Abrams, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4197-3728-2. In a Chinese reimagining of the classic tale, kung fu trainee Little Red encounters a dragon on her way to her grandmother’s house.
The Little Toymaker by Cat Min. Levine Querido, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-64614-180-7. A child with the skill for inventing creative toys tries to create the perfect gift that captures an old woman’s memory.
Looking for True by Tricia Springstubb. Holiday House/Ferguson, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-8234-5099-2. Though 11-year-olds Gladys and Jude are vastly different, they share in their desire to help a mistreated dog and bond while keeping the dog hidden.
The Luminaries by Susan Dennard. Tor Teen, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-250-19404-6. Winnie hopes to join the powerful guard of Luminaries, responsible for keeping monsters away from humanity by protecting a forest. Entering the trials to join comes with new monsters, questionable alliances, and secrets she’ll have to guard with her life.
Midnight at the Shelter by Nanci Turner Steveson. Quill Tree, $16.99; ISBN 978-0-06267321-3. Three-legged rescue dog MahDi must come up with a plan to save the other rescue animals when a new hire at the shelter proves to be doing more harm than good.
Miles Morales: Stranger Tides by Justin A. Reynolds, illus. by Pablo Leon. Scholastic/Graphix, $12.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-338-82639-5. Miles Morales takes on his most fearsome villain yet, Stranger, who has set a trap for Spiderman fans hoping to play a new game.
Moira’s Pen by Megan Whalen Turner, illus. by Deena So’Oteh. Greenwillow, $18.99; ISBN 978-0-06-288560-9. This new companion book in the Queen’s Thief series adds new layers to Turner’s world with newly published stories, poetry, illustrations, guides to the universe, and an introduction by the author.
My Fade Is Fresh by Shauntay Grant, illus. by Kitt Thomas. Penguin Workshop, $17.99; ISBN 978-0-593-38708-5. A girl finds the best haircut for her among her barber’s plethora of fun styles. The picture book received a starred review from PW.
My Good Man by Eric Gansworth. Levine Querido, $21.99; ISBN 9-78-164614183-8. The sole Indigenous writer at his job, Brian returns home to his Tuscarora reservation following a harrowing accident. The YA book received a starred review from PW.
One and Everything by Sam Winston. Candlewick Studio, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-5362-1566-3. In a metaphorical take on language, a bubble claims to be the only story, consuming all other stories around it.
The Ones We Burn by Rebecca Mix. McElderry, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-5344-9351-3. When blood-witch Ranka is selected to marry the prince, she instead discovers a plague that is killing witches and will have to draw on untrustworthy alliances to put an end to it.
Salt and Sugar by Rebecca Carvalho. Inkyard, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-335-45433-1. Lari Ramires can’t trust the Molinas, owners of the rival bakery in town, but when a supermarket chain threatens the survival of both shops, Lari enlists the help of her rival, Peter Molina, to save their stores.
Seasparrow by Kristin Cashore. Dutton, $21.99; ISBN 978-1-9848-1667-2. In this fifth book in the Graceling Realm series, while Hava and her sister Queen Bitterblue are on a voyage carrying an important formula, a storm forces them to contend with loyalties of those on their ship.
She’s Gone by David Bell. Sourcebooks Fire, $10.99 paper; ISBN 978-1-7282-5420-3. After a car crash puts him in a coma, Hunter awakens to discover his girlfriend and passenger, Chloe, is missing. As the prime suspect, the only way to clear his name is to return to the scene of the crime.
Silver in the Mist by Emily Victoria. Inkyard, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-3354-0670-5. Sent to infiltrate the royal court of a neighboring country while hers is on the brink of destruction, Dev will have to survive the inner workings of another political system without getting caught.
The Sour Grape by Jory John, illus. by Pete Oswald. HarperCollins, $19.99; ISBN 978-0-06-304541-5. Sour Grape learns the virtue of forgiveness in the sixth entry to the Food Group series.
Speak Up! by Laura Coryton. Red Shed, $10.99 paper; ISBN 978-0-00-855265-7. In this guide, Coryton shows young readers how to make their voices heard, especially while tackling complex issues such as consent and feminism.
Super Good Cookies for Kids by Duff Goldman. HarperCollins, $23.99; ISBN 978-0-06-325423-7. Celebrity chef Duff Goldman aims to teach young chefs how to make the best cookies possible in this cookbook.
This Is Our Place by Vitor Martins, trans. from the Brazilian Portuguese by Larissa Helena. Push, $19.99; ISBN 978-1-338-81864-2. Over the course of 30 years, Number 8 Sunflower Street becomes the home for three queer kids who are coming of age and navigating new relationships. The middle grade book received a starred review from PW.
Voices of the People by Joseph Bruchac, illus. by Zoe Urness. Reycraft, $18.95; ISBN 978-1-4788-7515-4. In this poetry collection, Bruchac highlights Indigenous history by profiling influential figures in history and modern times.
Wait for Me by Sara Shepard. Union Square, $18.99; ISBN 978-1-4549-4577-2. When Casey Rhodes begins hearing voices in her head, she’s drawn to a local boy in a nearby town, and together they explore their connection and track down who the voice belongs to.
Winterkill by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch. Scholastic Press, $20.99; ISBN 978-1-338-83142-9. In 1930 Holodomor, friends Nyl and Alice discover that the hunger that Nyl’s Ukrainian community is facing is all part of a sinister plan, and work together to try to prevent it.
The Wondrous Wonders by Camille Jourdy, trans. from the French by Montana Kane. First Second, $24.99; ISBN 978-1-2507-9911-1. When Jo runs away from her new stepfamily and into the forest, she stumbles into the middle of a magical war between woodland creatures.
For more children’s and YA titles on sale throughout the month of November, check out PW’s full On-Sale Calendar.
