The Drowning Game by Dusti Bowling

 I received an advance copy of The Drowning Game which is due out on Oct. 26, 2026. It's a compelling thriller complete with action, suspense, and a tragic drowning (or was it murder?). The main character is 17-year-old Christian who is invited to go on a rafting trip in Arizona with his persuasive best friend, James. Christian travels from Minnesota to Arizona for the trip even though he is not a strong swimmer. James brings along two friends and his girlfriend Freya, and the teenagers have no lifejackets or helmets, and no adult supervision. The boys bring beer and are drinking and partying while Freya and Christian bond over their realization that James is really a terrible person and neither of them wants to go over the dangerous rapids. Tragedy strikes, leaving Christian angry, alone, and emotionally devastated. 

Flash forward one year and Christian is a college freshman in Arizona when he sees someone from that summer whom he believes should be dead. He becomes a stalker, obsessed with figuring out what really happened on that river and turning into a not-so-great person himself. But is James losing his mind? Or is there more to the story?   

This is Dusti Bowling's first book that is classified as Young Adult, and the reviews are saying it is best for grades 9-up. As a middle school librarian I am always looking for books that include adventure, suspense, and even murder, and I was eager to see if it might be appropriate for my 7th and 8th grade readers. As much as I plowed through this book quickly and enjoyed it immensely, I'm going to stick with the grades 9-up recommendation. I know there are 7th and 8th graders who will eat it up, but it does center around college students who are drinking, making out (nothing more than that), and dealing with the trauma of a drowning. Due to the age of the characters and these factors, I can't call it youngteenlit, but I absolutely recommend it for high school collections, and I probably will hand it to some 8th grade readers as well. I didn't mention that it's based on Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo, which is bit of a spoiler, but that tells you the kind of twisty story it is. Recommended for adults as well as high schoolers. 

Hypergifted by Gordon Norman

 

In this third book in the Ungifted series, Noah (boy genius) and Donovan (his ungifted friend) go off to college. Noah is graduating from 8th grade and is offered a full scholarship to a prestigious university to study AI, but his parents won't let him go for the summer term without a friend. Donovan was hoping for a summer of video games on the couch, but ends up moving into the dorm and working (hard!) as a summer camp counselor on campus. Donovan is a good kid with slacker tendencies and a lot more common sense than his brilliant friend, Noah. This classic Gordon Korman story includes a secret society, a kidnapped pig mascot hidden in a bathtub, and a chronically missing camper. It's fun and funny and a little surprising at times. You don't have to read Ungifted and Supergifted, but they have the same vibe and they are all fun books for 4th-6th graders (and 7th-8th graders too). This was not a standout for me among Korman's books, but is still solidly recommended for elementary and middle school libraries. (My absolute favorite Korman books include Restart, Linked, and Masterminds.)

The Circuit (Graphic Novel Edition) by Francisco Jiménez, adapted by Andrew J. Rostan and Illustrated by Celia Jacobs

This story begins in the late 1940s with a Mexican family dreaming of going to California to find work and a better life. Francisco's family finally does cross the border and his childhood is spent moving from camp to camp, picking cotton and grapes and strawberries in the hot sun. At first young Francisco takes care of his baby brother in the backseat of a car while the family picks cotton, but soon he is old enough to work in the fields. But what he dreams of is staying in one place so he can learn to read and learn English. It is heartbreaking to see him pulled out of school each year, but he does learn to read and write and we know he will grow up to be an acclaimed writer. This graphic novel adaptation of Francisco Jiménez's original memoir is perfect for middle and high schoolers. There is drama and adventure, but it is mainly a story of family and hardship and a boy who dreams of a better future. The ending is unresolved, but students could read Jiménez's other memoirs to find out more of his story. The Circuit is highly recommended, both for pleasure reading and for nonfiction or memoir units. 
 

That's Not My Name by Megan Lally

 

Mary has amnesia. She is found by the side of the road and taken to a police station and a man who has her birth certificate and photos frantically comes to take her home. But Mary doesn't remember this father who takes her to a cabin in the woods, doesn't answer her questions, and tries to dress her in conservative clothes. As a reader, it's pretty clear that this man might not be her father, but who is he and why does he have photos of her? 

Meanwhile, in a separate story, a teenager named Drew is searching for his missing girlfriend, Lola. He was the last one to see her alive and is a suspect in her probable murder. All he wants is to find Lola alive. 

These stories are going to intertwine and the real question is whether or not Mary is Lola and whether she will live long enough to be found. This is a gripping mystery for high schoolers. I was hoping it would work for middle schoolers who are clamoring for thriller/murder mysteries, but there was enough language and themes to make me feel like this is better left for 9th-12th graders. Definitely recommended for older teens looking for a suspenseful thriller.  

Each and Every Spark by Claire Swinarski

 

This is a story in two time periods. Modern-day Penny has moved to Paris with her family for her mother's job, but she's deeply unhappy about the move. Marie Bonnet lives in Paris in 1943 and lives with her older sister after their father was taken away by Nazis. Marie discovers that her sister is doing resistance work and, desperate to make a difference, also begins working with the resistance at great danger to her own life. The two stories will intertwine when Penny finds a letter with a long-hidden painting and she sets out to find out more about Marie. Both girls are 13 years old and the vibe of this book is solidly middle grade. This book would definitely be appropriate for middle school libraries, but the sweet spot is going to be readers in grades 4-6. It would fit in well with books such as Number the Stars, The War that Saved My Life, and Codename Kingfisher.  

Refugee: The Graphic Novel by Alan Gratz, art by Syd Fini

 

This graphic novel re-telling of Alan Gratz's very successful novel, Refugee, is bringing the stories of Isabel, Josef, and Mahmoud to a new cohort of young readers. Each character is fleeing from their home country due to war and political violence, and each has an action-packed historical story. Refugee has been beloved by students and teachers since its publication in 2027 and this graphic novel perfectly captures the story. This is a must-purchase book for elementary and middle schools and will serve as an excellent springboard to discussions about immigration, human rights, and courage. 

Anna-Jane and the Endless Summer by Paige Classey

 

Anna-Jane is excited to return to summer camp where she will see her best friend and enjoy being one of the older campers. The summer starts off as usual, but takes a dystopian turn when the camp is cut off from outside communication and no one shows up to pick up their kids. The campers and counselors are on their own, first to survive, and finally to figure out if it is safe to venture outside of the camp to discover what has happened to humanity. Middle school kids love survival stories, and Alone by Megan Freeman has been a big favorite in the last few years. Like Alone, this book is a novel in verse that has a fast-moving plot that will keep readers in suspense right up to the end. The book balances issues of friendship and crushes with the larger issues of how groups of people act in a crisis. This is going to be a big hit in middle school libraries and is highly recommended.    

Wilderness Hacks by Joslin Brorsen

 

Sadie doesn't really want to win a survivalist contest, she's just entering to help our her little brother, Silas, who is a big fan of a 13-year-old YouTuber named Radley Shaw. Radley posts content of himself surviving in the wild, eating live bugs, and reviews of outdoorsy equipment. When Sadie wins and the prize to go rafting with Radley, she tries to bring Silas along but it's against the rules. Sadie actually does know something about survival, and she senses that Radley isn't as great at survival as his influencer status might suggest. The two kids set off on their rafting trip with a wilderness guide. It doesn't take long for a catastrophic disaster to flood the entire valley, leaving Sadie and Radley alone and stranded and lucky to be alive. Wilderness Hacks is their story of trying to overcome all of their bickering and annoyances in order to save their lives and get back to their (imperfect) families. This survival story will probably appeal to outdoorsy kids, but it lacks the edginess to feel like a middle school book to me. I think the sweet spot for this book will be 3rd-5th graders looking for survival and action stories.   

Tuck Everlasting by Natalie Babbitt (graphic novel) adapted and illustrated by K. Woodman-Maynard

The first week of August hangs at the very top of summer, the top of the live-long year, like the highest seat of a ferris wheel when it pauses in its turning. 

Natalie Babbitt wrote the captivating, poetic, beautiful novel Tuck Everlasting over 50 years ago. In it, Winnie Foster comes to love the immortal Tuck family and must decide whether or not to drink from the spring of eternal life. The original story is full of metaphor and images of wheels turning and time moving forward. It's a book that opened my mind when I first read it as a sixth grader in 1980. I am thrilled to say that this graphic adaptation beautifully captures that ache that Winnie Foster has to laugh and be loved, and the painful lessons she learns about staying on the wheel of time. The story has action (very important for young readers today) and includes a kidnapping, an evil pursuer, a potential execution, and life-or-death decisions. I absolutely love this story in its original form and in this lovely graphic novel. I am thrilled that it will bring Tuck Everlasting to a new generation of young readers. This book belongs in every elementary and middle school library. 

Tested by Anna Monders

 

Humanity was almost wiped out in the "Great Dying" when a company called GenIn stepped in to make sure that those with the best genetics would survive and help lead the future. Mikayla is one of the genetic elites, and she has prepared her whole life for the test that will get her into the Elite Scholars program. Her score of 94 places her high up in the social hierarchy, above the "Defectives" and the "Expendables." But Mikayla's world is shaken by a genetic test that shows she may not actually be elite, and a family secret that connects her to the defectives and expendables she has spent her life denigrating. This book asks the question, when you know that the society you live in is corrupt and that you've been fed lies your whole life, to what length will you go to make amends and try to change the system? The book centers around Mikayla's friendship with a lower-scoring boy from her past as well as some teenagers who have been caught in the lesser levels of the caste system. Tested is recommended for middle school book collections where science fiction and dystopian books are popular. 

The Lions' Run by Sara Pennypacker

 

Lucas lives in an orphanage in a French village. The Nazis have invaded, making life hard for everyone. Lucas is soft-hearted, making him a target of bullies. The story begins with him rescuing newborn kittens and hiding them in a stable where he meets a girl who is rescuing a racehorse. In addition, Lucas makes a little money making deliveries, and on his route is a German-run home for pregnant teenagers. He discovers that the Germans are taking these babies, fathered by German soldiers, back to Germany to be raised to be the next generation of Nazis. These storylines intersect and Lucas finds ways to be courageous that involve much more than saving kittens. It sounds complicated and like more than a 4th-6th grader might want to handle, but Sara Pennypacker makes this story accessible, compelling, and inspiring for young readers. As a middle school librarian I was hoping that it would lean toward older readers, but it is solidly in the young middle grade sphere and I'm sure it will find many readers who will learn a lot from this story, both about history and about how ordinary young people can be heroes. 

Lydia Cooper is a Lie by Meaghan McIsaac

 

Lydia's dad works in the tech industry but won't let her ever use social media. She is an 8th grader with no phone and a tablet that only lets her go to pre-selected websites. It's hard to have a social life, so Lydia figures out a way to get online and chat with her school friends. But the moment a photo of Lydia is posted online, her life is upended. She is separated from her dad, given instructions to get to a safe house, and multiple groups of people are after her. She discovers that she really isn't Lydia Cooper and that her dad's life (and her life) are in danger. Can she trust the boy she has a crush on to help her out? Should she go with the Marshall from Witness Protection? Who is the man with the wolverine tattoo? This fast-paced story takes place in a couple of short days when Lydia is on the run and does not know who to trust or how to get back to her father. The Face on the Milk Carton was wildly popular years ago, and this has similar vibes. Kids love to ponder whether their lives might all be a lie and they love action and adventure. While it seems to be marketed as a middle grade book for younger readers, it has an appealing cover for older readers and I think it will be a huge hit for 6th-8th grade readers. Highly recommended!

The Danger of Small Things by Caryl Lewis

 

"The truth is that the whole world rested on a single bee's wings. The whole world." 

In the near future, when the last of the bees has died, food is scarce and society as we know it has broken down. Boys are forced to become soldiers and girls, at age 11, are taken to camps where they pollinate fruit trees by hand using brushes. It's backbreaking labor being up on ladders in trees all day in extreme heat. The girls, permanently separated from their parents, have nothing to look forward to except for forced marriages and childbearing as soon as they begin menstruating. Jess is different from other girls--her mother taught her to read and paint, and kept her out of the camps until she was 13 years old. She's a quiet outsider who is devoted to her best friend Cass, and she understands the inhumanity in how the girls are treated. A chance gift of paints gives Jess the opportunity to rebel and gives Jess hope for a more meaningful future. This slow-moving, beautifully crafted story has many similarities to The Handmaid's Tale. Young teens who are willing to enter into this dystopian world will find much to think about in this world (almost) devoid of art and literature and bees. Recommended for middle and high school library collections.  

When the Rain Came by Matt Eicheldinger

 

Survival stories are popular with middle school kids and this fast-paced and riveting "Cli-Fi" novel (climate fiction) is going to be a big hit with young teen readers. Aurora is 17 years old and living with foster parents when the rain starts and never stops, flooding cities and leaving people stranded in their homes, desperate for food and safety. Society quickly dissolves into survival of the most prepared, and Aurora's foster parents happen to be peppers who have supplies and a plan of escape. However, when Aurora finds herself abandoned and alone (maybe accidentally but maybe planned) she takes to the water, trying to find a place called "The Hill" where there may be a community forming. Along the way she meets a younger boy and they band together in their search for refuge. The book has several features that make it especially appealing to middle school readers--one is the engaging cover (not a cartoony middle grade cover) and the other is the pace of action (non-stop). It's not that there is no character development, but the plot is primary and the story starts moving on page one. Although Aurora is 17 years old, she seems more like a 15-year-old, which is also makes the book relatable to the 13-14 year olds who need books written for them. Highly recommended for middle school collections! 

Under the London Sky by Anna Woltz

 

Imagine your city being bombed for months and spending every night huddled in a crowded subway station, sleeping among strangers and not knowing if your home would be gone when you emerged in the morning. That was the reality for Londoners during the World War II Blitz and this is the story of Ella, a 14 years old girl, and three other teenagers living through the Blitz. Ella has a limp caused by polio and often feels left behind and ignored, but her new friend Quinn does not seem to notice Ella's physical limitations. Quinn is a wealthy girl, recently escaped from her family's fine estate, and eager to help with the war effort and find her brother, Sebastian, who may or may not be a traitor. The girls meet a 26-year-old boy named Jack who makes money off of the hardships of others and the stories of these four young people intertwine in wartime London. There is hardship and romance and tragedy and reconciliation in this historical book that's perfect for young teens. Recommended for 7th and 8th graders and for all middle school library collections.