Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if you’re searching for a new book crush, a read to bring along to your Galentine’s book club, an excuse to take yourself on a romantic stroll through the aisle of your favorite bookstore, or even a way to escape all the love and romance in the air, our YAYBOOKS! Roundup! is the perfect pairing.
From haunted cottages and sea-faring friendships to crushes on ice, ominous memes, and kids shaking up the status quo, there’s an adventure awaiting every reader. Looking for something sweet and swoony that suits the Valentine’s vibe? Enter our Swoony Reads giveaway!
Get ready to fall head over heels for the 40 brand-new books and graphic novels releasing this month!
YAYBOOKS! 40 Brand New Middle Grade Books Releasing in February 2025:
The Ghosts of Bitterfly Bay
AUTHOR: Mary Averling
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A ghost must team up with the living girl she’s been haunting in order to defeat a monster out of her nightmares and save her little brother, from the author of The Curse of Eelgrass Bog.
Maudie isn’t your typical twelve-year-old girl—she’s the ghost of one. Along with her best friend Kit and little brother Scratch, she haunts a cottage in the woods, doing her best to scare off the vacationers and forget her old life.
But everything changes when Kit and Scratch go missing. Maudie knows something terrible must have happened, and she’s right: Longfingers—a monster from her own nightmares, with spidery fingers and needle-sharp teeth—has stolen her friends away.
Longfingers makes Maudie a twisted deal: find the key to a door in a mysterious cabin, or she’ll never see her friends again. With nobody else to turn to, Maudie has to beg for help from Gianna, the living girl she’s been haunting. Together, the girls search for a way to thwart the monster and save Maudie’s friends.
But Maudie’s keeping secrets about the cabin and her friends. Unless she finds a way to finally face the truth, she may never be able to rescue her friends from Longfingers’s grasp.
🌿RULES FOR HAUNTING: Just because they’re playful ghosts doesn’t mean there aren’t rules to follow. Find out Maudie’s big three rules about haunting HERE!
A World Worth Saving
AUTHOR: Kyle Lukoff
PUBLISHER: Dial Books
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A groundbreaking, action-packed, and ultimately uplifting adventure that intertwines elements of Jewish mythology with an unflinching examination of the impacts of transphobia, from Newbery Honor-winner Kyle Lukoff
“Rare and beautiful—a novel that combines wondrous fantasy, searing real-world relevance, and a frank empathetic understanding of the adolescent experience…The way Lukoff combines these elements in a page-turning adventure is nothing short of magic!” —Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians
Covid lockdown is over, but A’s world feels smaller than ever. Coming out as trans didn’t exactly go well, and most days, he barely leaves his bedroom, let alone the house. But the low point of A’s life isn’t online school, missing his bar mitzvah, or the fact that his parents monitor his phone like hawks—it’s the weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings his parents all but drag him to.
At SOSAD, A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent “transgender craze.” After all, sitting in suffocating silence has to be better than getting sent away for “advanced treatment,” never to be heard from again.
When Yarrow vanishes after a particularly confrontational meeting, A discovers that SOSAD doesn’t just feel soul-sucking…it’s run by an actual demon who feeds off the pain and misery of kids like him. And it’s not just SOSAD—the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.
The School for Wicked Witches: Wicked Never Waits
AUTHOR: Will Taylor
PUBLISHER: Scholastic, Inc.
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Perfect for fans of WICKED, WITCHLINGS, and THE WIZARD OF OZ, this magical series returns with magical adventures, friendship feuds, and a whole lot more.
After making her escape from The School for Wicked Witches, Ava has realized that it might be the right place for her, after all. But her return isn’t triumphant — if anything, she’s more behind than ever. When things start to go very wrong at the school, Ava discovers she may be able to save the day… but only if she pairs up with Tinabella, her friend-turned-enemy. What’s a young witch to do?
💚ADVICE FROM AVA: Ava Heartstraw has learned A LOT about magic since discovering her abilities, so we asked her to share a little wicked wisdom with our readers to help you figure out your own magic – CLICK HERE!
It’s Watching
AUTHOR: Lindsay Currie
PUBLISHER: Delacorte Press
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A chilling middle school novel from the New York Times bestselling author of Mystery of Locked Rooms, three kids must discover who—or what—is terrorizing them after receiving an ominous meme on Halloween night.
“A creepy, freaky, fun-as-anything tale.”—Chuck Wendig, New York Times bestselling author of Dust & Grim
On Halloween night, Josie and her two best friends, Jackson and Alison, sneak into the infamously haunted Bachelor’s Grove cemetery. They are hoping to prove the existence of a famous ghost to secure coveted editorial spots on the school newspaper. Instead, they are chased out by a security guard before they gather any evidence…or so they think.
Later, a sinister meme appears on their phones. It’s an image of the “phantom farmhouse,” an evil apparition rumored to appear to unlucky visitors at Bachelor’s Grove—luring them in…and never letting them out—with the words I’m watching dripping down the screen.
Soon, strange and scary things begin to happen all around them. When a second meme from the same number arrives, this time with a countdown, they realize they have only three days to figure out who is terrorizing them. As they investigate, the trio must use their journalistic skills to uncover the truth, or risk becoming a part of the graveyard’s sinister past forever.
All the Blues in the Sky
AUTHOR: Renée Watson
PUBLISHER: Bloomsbury Children’s Books
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
#1 New York Times bestselling and Newbery Honor author Renée Watson explores friendship, loss, and life with grief in this poignant novel in verse and vignettes.
Sage’s thirteenth birthday was supposed to be about movies and treats, staying up late with her best friend and watching the sunrise together. Instead, it was the day her best friend died. Without the person she had to hold her secrets and dream with, Sage is lost. In a counseling group with other girls who have lost someone close to them, she learns that not all losses are the same, and healing isn’t predictable. There is sadness, loneliness, anxiety, guilt, pain, love. And even as Sage grieves, new, good things enter her life-and she just may find a way to know that she can feel it all.
In accessible, engaging verse and prose, this is a story of a girl’s journey to heal, grow, and forgive herself. To read it is to see how many shades there are in grief, and to know that someone understands.
Sea Legs
AUTHOR: Jules Bakes
ILLUSTRATOR: Niki Smith
PUBLISHER: Graphix
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Set sail for adventure! Dive in to this hilarious and moving middle grade graphic memoir about friendship, growing up, and life at sea.
Janey’s family is about to set sail for the adventure of a lifetime! The only problem? Janey must leave her school, her life, her best friend, the entire country behind for new adventures ― coral reefs, colorful markets, and new cultures. Life at sea is exhilarating, but there’s a major downside: when you’re raising anchor every few days with sights on a new harbor, it’s almost impossible to make new friends.
Finally, Janey meets the cool and aloof Astrid ― a fellow boat kid who’s equally starved for friendship. But Astrid can be a challenging friend to navigate, and beyond that, hurricane season has only just begun . . . .
At turns laugh-out-loud hilarious and heartbreakingly poignant, this stunning middle grade graphic memoir charts both the turbulence and joys of growing up.
Windy Creek Stables: Presley and the Impossible Dream
AUTHOR: Kaitlyn Sage Patterson
PUBLISHER: Feiwel & Friends
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
“A sure-fire hit for horse lovers!” —Kirkus
Presley and the Impossible Dream is the first book in the middle grade Windy Creek Stables series set at a rural Virginia riding school — a 21st-century Saddle Club, full of authentic detail, realistic drama, and tons of heart.
Presley’s life is pretty great – she has a loving family, friends at school, and plenty of rambunctious rescue pets. There’s just one little problem . . . She’s never gotten to ride a horse. And her mom has banned her from ever, ever, ever getting on one.
And sure, Presley knows riding can be a little dangerous, and a little expensive, but she’s loved horses for as long as she can remember. She’s read every book in the library about horses and horsemanship, she watches professional horse competitions on the internet, and she’s always dreamed about learning to ride. So when she gets the opportunity to tag along with her stepdad on a vet visit to Windy Creek Stables, she jumps at the chance.
And even after a surprise run in with Harper, a popular girl who’s never given Presley a second glance, Windy Creek is everything she thought it would be . . . except, well, maybe it’s a little messy? Clean and dirty saddle pads are all jumbled together, and there’s a tangle of bridles hanging on a hook in the corner. Which gives Presley the perfect idea: In exchange for cleaning stalls and helping around the barn after school, Tracie, the stable owner, will give her lessons—if she can get her mom to agree to the deal.
City Spies: London Calling
AUTHOR: James Ponti
PUBLISHER: Aladdin
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
In this sixth installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies stages a rescue in Rome in another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Charlie Thorne.
Cairo, the newest member of the City Spies, takes the lead when his sister disappears in Istanbul. Determined to save the family of one of their own, the team risks discovery as their search leads them to Rome. Meanwhile, there’s been intel that seems to threaten the royal wedding about to take place in Westminster, bringing the team back to the UK on an official case for MI6. With so much security all over the city, it’s harder than ever for the City Spies to go unnoticed. Will their skills be up to the task?
🇬🇧TOP SECRET INTEL: Author James Ponti shared a few Fun Facts about City Spies: London Calling and what goes into crafting a thrilling spy series! CLICK HERE!
Cruise Life: Queen of the Sea
AUTHOR: Reese Eschmann
PUBLISHER: Scholastic Inc.
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
With all the aspirational elements of Eloise and the heart and emotional intelligence of Ways to Make Sunshine, Cruise Life by Reese Eschmann is sure to set sail for success!
All aboard!
Caitlin and her big brother, Dylan, are still getting used to shuttling between Mom’s new little house and Dad’s fancy new condo after their divorce. But summer means a solid six weeks with her dad. Finally, one toothbrush in one place and all her outfits together! So when her dad announces that he’s gotten a new job on the fanciest, most fun, family-friendly cruise line — and he’s bringing his kids along — Caitlin has mixed feelings. For about a minute!
Then off she goes on the adventure of a lifetime on the biggest ship she’s ever seen, the Wandering Princess, which is tricked out to perfection. But soon the pressures of being a crew kid get to Caitlin. She’s already had to adjust to two new homes . . . will she be able to make the Wandering Princess her third?
The Super-Secret Mission to the Center of the Moon (Pie)
AUTHOR: Melissa de la Cruz
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
In the second book in Melissa de la Cruz’s wacky new middle grade adventure series, the Octos find themselves on a mission to the moon. Which might not be made out of cheese after all.
After discovering in book one that they had every reason to feel a little bit different than their peers, Edwin Edgefield and the rest of his alien-on-earth crew are primed and ready to learn all they can about their home planet. Unfortunately, that planet has been destroyed, and the one person who can help them find out where they came from—Maureen (yuck)—has no intention of helping. In fact, she has just taken off in a rocket ship bound for the moon, where the enemy Yaks awaits with a new version of her planet-destroying machine, this time aimed at earth.
It will take every bit of Edwin, Julie, Kimmy and Dilip’s super abilities—both mental and physical—to stop Maureen this time. Can they pass through the gauntlet of tests Maureen has set for them and infiltrate the Yaks’ secret moon base before the bad guys can power up their earth-blaster, or will Maureen and the Yaks succeed in their vengeful mission?
Grab a moon pie and cuddle up with this unputdownable sequel to the book PW called “energetic” “fast-paced” and “imaginative!”
How to Draw a Secret
AUTHOR: Cindy Chang
PUBLISHER: Allida
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
For fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Sisters and Jen Wang’s Stargazing comes the empowering autobiographical story of a young Taiwanese American artist struggling to find her voice to save what matters most.
Twelve-year-old Cindy relishes drawing flawless images, but she is stumped by an art contest prompt: “What family means to me.” No one at school can know that Cindy’s dad moved back to Taiwan four years ago, so Cindy sketches out the perfect plan to draw the perfect picture while keeping her parents’ separation secret.
Then an unexpected trip to Taipei reveals devastating new secrets. Suddenly everything from Cindy’s art to her family is falling apart. With her dream of perfection in tatters, Cindy must figure out how to draw from her heart and share her secrets. But can she really reveal the truth, messy lines and all?
Heroes of Havensong: The Fifth Mage
AUTHOR: Megan Reyes
PUBLISHER: Labyrinth Road
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
“A powerful cast of characters in an epic tale of dragons and magic.” —Lisa McMann, New York Times bestselling author of The Unwanteds
Follow the threads of the Fates to the captivating conclusion of this timeless fantasy series about four unlikely heroes bound together to save their world—and magic itself.
Wren, River, Blue, and Shenli have been struggling to face what the Fates have in store for them ever since learning they are the heroes foretold to save their world. Now Haven is on the brink of war, and the stakes are higher than ever.
River’s new mage powers are as out of control as her grief, endangering anyone who comes near her unless she can learn to master her abilities. Shenli must finally confront the impossible decision over the fate of the Lost Ones, as a battle wages between his head and his heart. Finally returning home, Blue, with Wren at his side, sets out to open the closed minds of the people of Gerbera to gain their assistance before it’s too late.
When destiny, duty, and danger clash, it’s hard to know if you’re on the right path, especially if it’s one you never chose in the first place. And as the four friends strive to live up to their prophesied roles, none of them know that there is someone out there who believes her sole purpose is to stop the heroes…whatever it takes.
Far-Fetched
AUTHOR: Lisa Papademetriou
PUBLISHER: Scholastic Inc.
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A laugh-out-loud story about anxiety, friendship, and having a very popular dog.
Lizzie has a lot to worry about.
Ever since her sister left for boarding school, Lizzie has felt overwhelmed by worries. Will she flunk out of 7th grade? Will she say something humiliating in front of her crush? Will her campaign for class secretary set a record for the lowest number of votes ever? Her friends say her fears are far-fetched, but they still make Lizzie’s stomach hurt.
Then her mom thinks she has the perfect answer—Lizzie needs an emotional support dog! And Bella the adorable Australian shepherd is a lot of furry fun. The dog forces Lizzie out of her comfort zone and gives her student council campaign a big boost. Everyone loves a happy dog!
But then Mom says Bella would be even more helpful going to school with Lizzie. And suddenly, Lizzie’s far-fetched scenarios of her life spiraling out of control feel like they’re coming true. Can she teach her anxiety to sit and stay—and find a way to stand up for what she really needs?
Sweet Valley Twins: Sneaking Out
AUTHOR: Francine Pascal, Adapted by Nicole Andelfinger
ILLUSTRATOR: Claudia Aguirre
PUBLISHER: Random House Graphic
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
The Sweet Valley Twins are ready to rock out as the hottest band comes to town…too bad they don’t have permission to go! Will they sneak out to dance the night away or will it all fall apart? Find out in the next installment of the New York Times bestselling graphic novel series!
Everyone at Sweet Valley Middle School is going to the biggest concert ever…everyone except twins, Jessica and Elizabeth! Their favorite band is back in town but no matter how much they beg their parents they can’t get permission to go. Elizabeth is ready to sulk and stay home, but Jessica refuses to give up hope. She’ll see this band even if it means lying or leaving her sister behind.
Caught between her parents and her twin will Elizabeth sneak out with Jessica? Or will she blow the whole plan out of the water?
Get ready to rock, laugh, and cheer for the unstoppable duo as they navigate the challenges of friendship, family, and following their dreams in the next Sweet Valley Twins graphic novel.
Saphie the One Eyed Cat
AUTHOR: JOHO
PUBLISHER: Graphix
DATE: February 4, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
The hilarious hit Webtoon is now a graphic novel! Join Saphie the One-eyed Cat and her fellow house cat siblings as they zoom, scratch, and nap their way through life.
What exactly does a one-eyed cat do all day? Well, there’s running, knocking things over, scratching things you’re not supposed to, terrorizing your brothers, messing with your owner, stealing food, and generally causing mayhem left, right, and center!
Saphie the One-Eyed Cat is a hilarious look at the life of a cat that knows what she wants — and what she wants is to mess around!
The Labyrinth of Souls
AUTHOR: Leslie Vedder
ILLUSTRATOR: Abigail Larson
PUBLISHER: G.P. Putnam’s Sons Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
“Your next favorite book featuring a magical school is here. Get this one for young readers in your life who want their stories full of action, adventure, fantasy, and mystery.” —Lora Senf, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of the Blight Harbor books
A darkly inventive fantasy for fans of Tim Burton about a girl who can see Nightmare creatures from the forbidden Labyrinth of Souls.
In the Kingdom of Spinar, there are seven rules for safeguarding your soul from the Sorrows and Nightmare creatures—most importantly: never, ever enter the Labyrinth of Souls.
Ix Tatterfall has always been an outcast with big secrets: She can cross into the Labyrinth, home to the powerful Sorrows, and she can see strange Nightmare beasts when no one else can. Some, like the shadowy Inklings or bothersome Stubbed Toads, are merely a nuisance. Many more—like the Jimber-Jawed Hounds—are dangerous. Even deadly.
But something is very wrong in the Labyrinth. A terrible new Nightmare—a raggedy scarecrow called Jack—has been ravaging the misty maze, gobbling up wraiths and lost souls and allowing Nightmares to seep into the Waking World.
On one forbidden trip, Ix comes face to face with Jack. Worse, she’s apprehended by Candle Corps, an elite magical group that protects the kingdom against Nightmares. Instead of exile, Ix is allowed to enter the mysterious Candle Corps Academy. For the first time, she’s surrounded by others who can see what she sees: Morrigan Bea, a hot-tempered girl who might be a monster; Ollie Pembrooke, a shy boy who loves books and Dreamchaser dogs; and Hanky the Inkling, Ix’s faithful Nightmare companion.
But more and more Nightmares are bleeding into Spinar. Raggedy Jack is on the hunt for something—someone—from the Waking World.
Mountain Upside Down
AUTHOR: Sara Ryan
PUBLISHER: Dutton Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A funny and heartfelt LGBTQIA+ middle grade novel set against the backdrop of family drama and a library funding campaign in a small town.
Alex Eager lives in Faillin, OR with her grandmother, a retired librarian. Life should be great for Alex, since she finally worked up the courage to ask her best friend PJ if they could be more than friends and she said yes. But their new relationship will have to be long distance, because PJ is moving. On top of that, Alex is worried that something is wrong with her increasingly forgetful grandmother. And to make matters worse, Faillin is holding a referendum on library funding, and things aren’t looking good. Will anything good for Alex ever last?
Mountain Upside Down is a beautifully crafted story of a thirteen-year-old girl finding her place in her family and her community. It’s a queer-positive story that doesn’t center coming out. It’s a story of a library’s role in a community that doesn’t feature book banning. And it’s a story of long-held family secrets and resentment that focuses not on final resolution but learning how to communicate again.
It’s All or Nothing, Vale
AUTHOR: Andrea Beatriz Arango
PUBLISHER: Random House Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A poignant novel in verse in which, after a life-changing accident, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion. From the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All.
All these months of staring at the wall?
All these months of feeling weak?
It’s ending—
I’m going back to fencing.
And then it’ll be
like nothing ever happened.No one knows hard work and dedication like Valentina Camacho. And Vale’s thing is fencing. She’s the top athlete at her fencing gym. Or she was . . . until the accident.
After months away, Vale is finally cleared to fence again, but it’s much harder than before. Her body doesn’t move the way it used to, and worst of all is the new number one: Myrka. When she sweeps Vale aside with her perfect form and easy smile, Vale just can’t accept that. But the harder Vale fights to catch up, the more she realizes her injury isn’t the only thing holding her back. If she can’t leave her accident in the past, then what does she have to look forward to?
In this moving novel from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Iveliz Explains It All, one girl finds her way back to her life’s passion and discovers that the sum of a person’s achievements doesn’t amount to the whole of them.
🤺VALE’S SAGE WISDOM: Valentina is dishing some majorly vital advice about dealing with failure, failure, pushing for perfection, & changing dreams! CLICK HERE!
A Home for Unusual Monsters
AUTHOR: Shaun David Hutchinson
PUBLISHER: Labyrinth Road
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A girl who has spent her life in disguise tackles a mission that uncovers lies and surprises around every corner. Nothing is as it seems in the next cozily creepy monster mystery from acclaimed author Shaun David Hutchinson.
Sam Osborne may have helped her new friend Hector Griggs save St. Lawrence’s Catholic School for Boys from a terrifying monster, but she is still trying to prove herself as a member of Kairos, the secretive and shadowy government agency devoted to investigating the strange and unusual. And her unique ability to control how others see her makes her the perfect agent…if she can learn to play by Kairos’ rules.
Her next mission? Use her powers of disguise to infiltrate the family of a former agent to find top secret information about monsters hiding in plain sight. But even though Sam is well versed in deception, she may not be prepared for the web of secrets she uncovers. Especially since she may not be the only one pretending to be someone—or something—she’s not. And once the clues are unraveled and the truth is revealed, the monsters she’s searching for might just be closer to home…
Bat and the Business of Ferrets
AUTHOR: Elana K. Arnold
PUBLISHER: Clarion Books
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
The bestselling Bat returns! Bat and the Business of Ferrets is the fourth title in National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold’s heartfelt and widely acclaimed series featuring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum.
Bixby Alexander Tam (nicknamed “Bat”) is about to start fourth grade—and unfortunately for him, everything is changing: There’s a new teacher, a new classroom, new seats…and new rules. Mr. Grayson, Bat’s third grade teacher, had a lovable class rabbit named Babycakes who Bat could visit anytime he needed a break. But Mr. Peña does not have a class rabbit. In fact, Mr. Peña doesn’t believe in class pets at all. And for Bat, that’s one change too many.
Bat and his best friend, Israel, know they need to convince Mr. Peña to change his mind about class pets—and when a business of friendly ferrets arrives at Bat’s mom’s veterinary clinic, they think they’ve found the perfect pet to do so. But when they discover that their classmate Lucca also doesn’t like the idea of an animal in the classroom, Bat starts to worry that things will never be the way they were again.
The beloved series that began with A Boy Called Bat continues with this fourth book featuring an unforgettable young boy on the autism spectrum.
Away
AUTHOR: Megan E. Freeman
PUBLISHER: Aladdin
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A group of children investigate the threat that prompted large-scale evacuations in this powerful and dramatic companion novel to the New York Times bestselling Alone told in multiple POVs.
After an imminent yet unnamed danger forces people across Colorado to leave their homes, a group of kids including an aspiring filmmaker and a budding journalist find themselves in the same evacuation camp. As they cope with the aftermath of having their world upended, they grow curious about the mysterious threat.
And as they begin to investigate, they start to discover that there’s less truth and more cover-up to what they’re being told. Can they get to the root of the conspiracy, expose the bad actors, and bring an end to the upheaval before it’s too late?
Mihi Ever After: Home Sweet Home
AUTHOR: Tae Keller
ILLUSTRATOR: Geraldine Rodríguez
PUBLISHER: Henry Holt and Co. (BYR)
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Mihi and her friends are trapped in the fairy tale realm. Will they ever make it home? Find out in the final installment of the Mihi Ever After middle grade series.
Mihi, Reese, and Savannah just wanted an adventure in fairy tale land. Now, they’re trapped in the Rainbow Realm and the portals back home are disappearing. And, strangest of all, they’ve discovered that their beloved librarian, Ms. Lavender, and their Rainbow Realm frenemy, Bertha, actually . . . know each other?
Can Mihi, Reese, and Savannah find a way to work with Ms. Lavender and Bertha to escape from the Rainbow Realm? Can they make room for themselves in the stories they love so much? Or will they be stuck in the fairy tale world forever?
The Princess Protection Program: After Ever After
AUTHOR: Alex London
ILLUSTRATOR: James Fernhaber
PUBLISHER: Greenwillow Books
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
What happens when a princess accidentally fractures her fairy tale by fleeing to the real world? Bestselling author Alex London turns classic fairy tales on their heads in this fast-paced, funny fantasy about friendship and facing your fears. For fans of The School for Good and Evil and the Never Afters series.
Princess Rana loves her friends (all fellow fairy tale escapees), loves her school (the HEA, an academy for fairy tale royalty), and loves punk rock (the best music genre). But she does not love frogs . . . especially demanding frog princes who follow her home. Rana fled her story because of one frog prince in particular, and she has no plans of ever going back to that stuffy place full of rules. But then her frog prince shows up at the academy’s gate. And he’s not alone. Dozens of duplicate frog princes have followed him to the real world. Worse still, a shadowy monster is in hot pursuit, one that dissolves fairy tale characters into nothing, erasing their stories. To save everyone she cares about, Rana will have to do the one thing she vowed she’d never to do—return to her Once Upon Time.
Acclaimed and bestselling author Alex London weaves together several beloved fairy tales in this fast-paced, funny, and slyly subversive adventure about figuring out who you want to be. The daring escapes, sinister monsters, familiar friends, and surprise twists will keep even reluctant readers glued to the pages. The Princess Protection Program is for fans of the Never Afters and the Descendants series, The School for Good and Evil, and the Fairly True Tales series.
What Fell from the Sky
AUTHOR: Adrianna Cuevas
PUBLISHER: Farrar, Straus and Giroux (BYR)
DATE: February 11, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
From Pura Belpré Honoree and Edgar Award Winner Adrianna Cuevas comes an out-of-this-world middle grade adventure, based on true historical events, perfect for fans of The Goonies and Stranger Things.
All Pineda Matlage wants is to get through the school year and maybe pull an epic prank or two with his friends Junior, Ernesto, and Patsy. But class is disrupted when a slew of American soldiers descends upon their rural Texan town of Soledad. They’ll be carrying out a training exercise and taking over everything, from Pineda’s school to the local government.
But Pineda knows why they’re really here. For days he’s hidden the strange creature who fell from the sky in his parents’ barn. He promised her he’d find her family and help them return home. But with soldiers now on every street corner and armed checkpoints across every road, reuniting his new friend with her missing parents seems an impossible task. Especially when they realize that the army’s presence is really a coverup for capturing his alien friends—being observed in a laboratory by the US government for reasons of their own.
Enlisting the help of his friends, a Black soldier adjusting to a newly integrated army, and townspeople tired of the military’s destructive presence, Pineda and all of Soledad will embark on an adventure none of them could have ever expected.
The Ripple Effect
AUTHOR: Rebecca Caprara
PUBLISHER: Charlesbridge
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
When 6th grader Zella’s class prank flops, she’s given a second chance to leave a lasting impact in this middle-grade novel about redemption, friendship, and kindness.
A perfect book club pick to inspire discussion, 9–12-year-old fans of Katherine Applegate’s Wishtree will love this hopeful story about the power of connection.
It’s the end of 6th grade and Zella wants to be the one who thinks of the best class prank—a long-held tradition that administrators allow, with parameters.
In alternating chapters told by Zella, best friends Bowie and Janea, Shelby the school sleuth, and the town of Kettleby, Zella’s story reveals her quest to uphold her image as class clown and bask in the spotlight.
As a result, she loses sight of what’s going on in the lives of her two best friends and begins to cause more stress for her mom—who manages their family’s failing ice cream shop while caring for Pops. Zella doesn’t mean to cause trouble, but being 12 is hard. Everything is changing, and everyone seems so much cooler and better understood.
When her prank doesn’t go as planned, the entire class is punished, and Zella is to blame. But when Zella’s given a second chance, her small, subtle acts of thoughtfulness begin to grow. It turns out that redemption, friendship, and a remarkable chain of kindness tastes even sweeter than her family’s famous raspberry ripple ice cream.
With humor and heart, The Ripple Effect’s themes of kindness and connection will inspire young readers to even greater compassion and generosity in their own lives.
Cassi and the House of Memories
AUTHOR: Dean Stuart
PUBLISHER: Viking Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A dazzling journey through memories past gives one girl the chance to save her grandfather–as long as she can find him in time. A graphic novel perfect for fans of Pashmina and Anya’s Ghost.
Cassi loves spending time with her grandfather. His games, songs, and stories have always brought her endless joy. This visit with him, though, is different: Grandpa seems to be losing track of things, including everything from the stories they’re sharing to who Cassi herself is. So when he goes missing after wandering off from his own backyard, Cassi knows she has to figure out where he’s gone.
What she discovers is a world filled with memories, none of them her own. As she leaps from one memory to the next, she knows she’s getting closer and closer to finding her grandfather—but only if she can make sure he doesn’t slip away forever.
Skylar and the K-Pop Principal
AUTHOR: Luan Goldie
PUBLISHER: Walker Books US
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
K-pop fandom and Freaky Friday collide in a hilarious body-swap story that celebrates the fans who drive one of the biggest musical sensations in the world.
Skylar is convinced that life for her as an eleven-year-old is way harder than for any adult, including her cranky principal, Ms. Callus. The only good part about being eleven is being a massive K-pop fan, even if her parents do ban her from all things AZ8, the best K-pop boy band in the world. When a freak accident causes Skylar and Ms. Callus to switch bodies, Skylar finds herself trying to convince the world of AZ8’s supremacy, going viral in a K-pop dance video, and somehow running her school, all while stuck in a seventy-one-year-old’s body. And then she gets the chance to meet AZ8 in real life. With the help of her bestie, Dana, and her own wits and passion, Skylar must decide whether her K-pop dream come true is worth risking being stuck as an old lady forever.
A feel-good tale singing with laugh-out-loud moments, Skylar and the K-Pop Principal is a joyful and uplifting story of friendship, fandom, and chasing your dreams.
Almost Sunset
AUTHOR: Wahab Algarmi
PUBLISHER: HarperAlley
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
In a contemporary middle grade graphic novel debut that Gene Luen Yang calls “funny, endearing, and an intimate look at a Muslim family,” Almost Sunset follows a young Muslim American boy during Ramadan as he finds the balance between his family traditions and his secular middle school life. Perfect for fans of Swim Team and Chunky.
It’s almost sunset, and Hassan has been dreaming about eating since the sun came up. The month of Ramadan has begun, and not eating until sundown intensifies his already busy days full of homework, soccer, and gaming. And since his teachers and friends at school barely understand Ramadan and its traditions, it’s easier to just…not mention it.
As the month stretches on, Hassan’s family and community grow closer together. They wake up before sunrise every morning, feast when the sun goes down, and attend mosque in the evenings. Can Hassan balance it all during the hectic holy month—faith, tradition, school, and fun, too?
The Enemy’s Daughter
AUTHOR: Anne Blankman
PUBLISHER: Viking Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
In the spirit of Lauren Wolk and Ruta Sepetys comes the tale of a girl fighting her way back home after surviving the sinking of the Lusitania—and learning to think for herself rather than accept the prejudice of wartime.
The year is 1915 and the world is at war. Marta and her father are passengers on the Lusitania, desperately trying to get back home to Germany. While aboard, they must keep their identities hidden or risk being mistaken for enemy spies. Then the Lusitania is attacked by a German submarine. They just make it off the sinking ship, but her father is discovered and detained. Marta suddenly finds herself alone in enemy land.
To survive, Marta must draw upon a deep well of bravery she never knew she had. Fortunately, she meets Clare, a young Irish girl who can talk a mile a minute, and her kind family. Believing that Marta is a Dutch refugee, they welcome her into their home. She can’t risk letting her new friends know she’s actually from Germany—the very nation that the Irish and English are fighting against. But could these people who have shown her nothing but kindness truly be her enemy?
Sweeping from the Irish Sea to a cathedral city in England, this story shows us that friendship, especially in times of war, may be the greatest gift of all.
Rick Kotani’s 400 Million Dollar Summer
AUTHOR: Waka T. Brown
PUBLISHER: Quill Tree Books
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Oregon Book Award–winning author Waka T. Brown hits a home run in this middle grade novel about a baseball-obsessed twelve-year-old who moves to Oregon to help his grandfather—an elusive old man with a shrouded past—but ends up learning unexpected truths about his family and how they mysteriously parallel the Japanese folktale of Urashima Taro.
Rick Kotani is looking forward to spending the entire summer playing baseball. Sure, his team never wins, but he’s been practicing a special pitch he knows is going to land him a 400-million-dollar major-league contract . . . someday. That all changes when his mother throws a curveball of her own: Instead of playing ball in California, Rick will be heading to Oregon to help keep an eye on Grandpa Hiroshi while they move him to a retirement home. Trading no-hitters to be a babysitter? Rick is beyond bummed.
But once there, Rick discovers Grandpa is actually pretty cool, and the two bond over a Japanese folktale about a fisherman, Urashima Taro, who trades his life on earth for the riches of an underwater kingdom. And like the fisherman, Rick soon forgets about his team back home when he joins a supercompetitive local league that only cares about being the best—at any cost.
As the team racks up the wins and Grandpa makes his final move, Rick must decide which ending he wants for his story: Will he fall in line with his ruthless teammates and their victory-obsessed coach in his own “underwater kingdom,” or will family, true friendship, and integrity lead him back to shore?
Werewolf Hamlet
AUTHOR: Kerry Madden-Lunsford
PUBLISHER: Charlesbridge Moves
DATE: February 18, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Humor, heart, and Shakespeare abound in this middle-grade novel about Angus, a 10-year-old theater fanatic, his struggling family, and his changing relationship with big brother Liam.
Perfect for fans of books that handle difficult subjects and family dynamics in a sensitive way, like Better Nate Than Ever and Rule of Threes.
10-year-old Angus is unique. He quotes Shakespeare and wants to stage a Werewolf Hamlet play for his 5th grade legacy project. Angus’s 17-year-old brother, Liam, is like a werewolf now—Angus never knows if he’ll be nice or mean or when he’ll sneak out to get drunk or worse.
Meanwhile, tension continues to build for Liam’s family in Los Angeles. Mom and Dad are going to default on the mortgage. Older sister Hannah is fed up and ready to move herself to Maine, and little sister Sidney doesn’t really get what’s happening. Then Liam goes missing, and Angus decides he has to find him.
A realistic, heartfelt look at the complexities of family relationships and struggles. Along with Angus’s loveable charm, sense of humor, and desire to stage his original play, Werewolf Hamlet is sure to win its audience—on and off the page—over.
Cousins in the Time of Magic
AUTHOR: Emma Otheguy
ILLUSTRATOR: Poly Bernatene
PUBLISHER: Atheneum Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Three cousins get transported back to 1862 to play an important role in the Battle of Puebla, the reason we celebrate Cinco de Mayo today, in this enchanting middle grade fantasy adventure.
History is alive with magic. That’s what zany Tía Xia is always telling cousins Jorge, Camila, and Siggy. Daredevil Jorge couldn’t be more different than his cousins: Camila is a dreamer who adores animals and Siggy is an aspiring influencer who has an exclusive party to attend. And their aunt has many secrets, including a mysterious diamond-encrusted sword that Jorge definitely wasn’t supposed to see.
But when the three stumble upon a time portal in their aunt’s yard, they are transported back to 1862, a past filled with wonders—and dangers. To return to the present, they must race to deliver the sword to General Ignacio Zaragoza in time for the historic Battle of Puebla in Mexico: the foundation of the holiday Cinco de Mayo.
As their journey to Mexico takes them through the Civil War–era United States, the cousins see just how much US history has been shaped by Latin communities. They must find the power within themselves to make sure things happen as they’re supposed to, without altering the past.
Bea Mullins Takes a Shot
AUTHOR: Emily Deibert
PUBLISHER: Random House Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
When a 7th grader is forced to join her school’s hockey team, she discovers unexpected friendships and a budding crush on the team captain. This fierce and heartfelt queer romance explores the courage to face your fears, even when your dreams are on thin ice.
Some goals are worth falling for.
After a lifetime of humiliating sports experiences, Bea Mullins knows the best way to survive middle school is to stick to the sidelines. When PE is suddenly canceled, though, Bea is forced to join an after-school activity…which is how she ends up as a member of the Glenwood Geese, her middle school’s first all-girls hockey team.
Bea would be happy sitting on the bench, but she doesn’t want to let down her best friend, Celia. Plus, the more time Bea spends on the rinks, the more she comes to enjoy her teammates, especially the incredibly talented–and incredibly cool–co-captain Gabi. But when low funding puts the Geese in danger of never playing again, Bea realizes she may lose everything she didn’t know she wanted.
A hilarious and heartfelt middle-grade contemporary about first crushes and fierce friendships from debut author Emily Deibert.
🏒FIERCELY FICTIONAL: Bea is fierce both on and off the ice! Want to know why? Author Emily Deibert shared five of Bea’s fiercest qualities HERE!
The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest
AUTHOR: Aubrey Hartman
PUBLISHER: Little, Brown Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
This delightfully grim tale is a heartwarming exploration of moving on, perfect for fans of Kate DiCamillo and Tim Burton!
Clare is the undead fox of Deadwood Forest. Here, leaves grow in a perpetual state of fall: not quite dead, but not quite alive—just like Clare. Long ago, he was struck by a car, and, hovering between life and death, he was given the choice to either cross into the Afterlife or become an Usher of wandering souls. Clare chose the latter: a solitary life of guiding souls to their final resting place.
Clare’s quiet and predictable days are met with upheaval when a badger soul named Gingersnipes knocks on his door. Despite Clare’s efforts to usher her into the Afterlife, the badger is unable to leave Deadwood. This is unprecedented. Baffling. A disturbing mystery which threatens the delicate balance between the living and the dead.
Desperate for help, Clare and Gingersnipes set out on a treacherous journey to find Hesterfowl—the visionary grouse who recently foretold of turmoil in Deadwood. But upon their arrival, Hesterfowl divulges a shocking revelation that leaves Clare devastated, outraged, and determined to do anything to change his fate.
Crumble
AUTHOR: Meredith McClaren
ILLUSTRATOR: Andrea Bell
PUBLISHER: Algonquin Young Readers
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
A heartfelt and magic-filled graphic novel for fans of Sheets and Real Friends about baking, friendship, and feeling every kind of emotion—no matter the flavor.
Emily, her mom, and her aunt Gina have a very special magical power: They can bake emotions into the desserts they sell at their family bakery. Need a dash of confidence? Try their millionaire shortbread! Want relief after a stressful day? The cheesecake will lighten your spirits! There is only one rule: Never bake a bad feeling.
Every day after school, Emily and her best friend, Dae, make tried-and-true recipes, while she and Aunt Gina brainstorm new ones. But when Aunt Gina dies in an accident, Emily’s life is turned upside down. Not knowing what to do, Emily breaks the rule and bakes her bad feelings into. . . a crumble. It looks gross. Dae says it tastes gross. But they can’t stop eating it. Neither can Emily’s classmates. And with her grief and pain baked into the crumble, Emily gets the comfort of being at least a little numb. So even though she’s not supposed to, she makes it again, and again, and again.
But baking (and eating) bad feelings doesn’t really make them go away . . .
Tear This Down
AUTHOR: Barbara Dee
PUBLISHER: Aladdin
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
From Barbara Dee, the critically acclaimed author of Maybe He Just Likes You, comes a middle grade novel about a girl who makes the choice to speak out against a problematic historical hometown figure no matter the cost—perfect for readers of Dress Coded.
For as long as Freya can remember, she has loved living in her cozy hometown of Wellstone. Not only is the town itself named for local and historical hero Benjamin Wellstone but everything in it: schools, beaches, and stores. There’s even a giant statue of him to remind everyone of the good things he did.
But while doing research for a big school project, Freya discovers that Benjamin isn’t the big hero everyone has been taught to believe. He had some redeeming qualities, but he also held incredibly problematic views towards women, believing they shouldn’t have the right to vote—or even to exist outside of the home. Disappointed by her revelation, Freya wonders if she could figure out a way to not only show what the hometown hero was really like but replace his statue with one of an unsung hero: local suffragette Octavia Padgett.
Though Freya knows not everyone will agree with her, she is shocked when her efforts cause even bigger issues than she could have imagined. Even her own parents seem uneasy with Freya’s cause. With the help of her beloved Nan, friends new and old, and the coolest librarian she’s ever met, can Freya stand firm and tear down outdated views?
⭐️FIERCELY FICTIONAL: Find out what makes Freya fierce in this FIERCELY FICTIONAL piece by author Barbara Dee!
On Thin Ice
AUTHOR: Jessica Kim
PUBLISHER: Kokila
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
For fans of Disney’s GO FIGURE, a laugh-out-loud, heartfelt dual POV sibling-rivalry story by acclaimed author Jessica Kim
Twelve-year-old fraternal twins Phoebe and Dexter Bae are polar opposites in every way except for their love of the ice. Phoebe is hyperfocused on pairs figure skating, and Dex loves his hockey team. But when Phoebe’s partner injures his knee just two months before competitions and Dex gets cut from his team in favor of a new hotshot goalie from Canada, they’re both left spinning.
With their skating dreams dashed, their mother suggests that Dex fill in as Phoebe’s doubles partner. It’s a hard sell—the twins haven’t been close since their father passed away two years ago. For Dex, working with a perfectionist like Phoebe would be a challenge, but if it means he’d improve his skating technique enough to get back on the hockey team—and he’d have something to keep his mind off his dad—it’d be worth it. Phoebe isn’t thrilled either, but what choice does she have if she wants to bring home the gold, something that would’ve made her dad happy?
Can these siblings skate past their differences toward victory?
Momo Arashima Duels the Queen of Death
AUTHOR: Misa Sugiura
PUBLISHER: Labyrinth Road
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
In the thrilling finale to the epic fantasy series filled with gods and monsters of Shinto mythology, a twelve-year-old girl with divine heritage risks everything to save her family—and the world—from the vengeful goddess of the underworld.
Momo Arashima is half goddess and half human—torn between two worlds. But with her friends Danny, Ryleigh, Jin and Niko by her side, she’s finally starting to find a place where she belongs. Too bad none of that matters when Izanami, the treacherous goddess of death, threatens the life of someone Momo loves and forces her into a terrible bargain.
Izanami is after the Jewel of the Heart, an artifact that will help her finally escape the land of the dead…and she wants Momo to get it for her. Along with her friends, Momo must face fire demons, fanged mermaids, and spiders as big as horses. But even if they succeed, what will Momo do? Sacrifice the person most precious to her, or hand over the Jewel and unleash Izanami on the world?
Kingdom Keepers: Inheritance: The Final Draw
AUTHOR: Ridley Pearson
PUBLISHER: Disney Hyperion
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
This epic conclusion to the KINGDOM KEEPERS INHERITANCE trilogy will keep you on the edge of your seat until the very last page!
In this final installment in the series that has sold over a million copies worldwide, Ridley Pearson concludes the Kingdom Keepers saga with spectacular magical flair.
The Villains are about to make their ultimate stand in an effort to take over the Disney parks. Ursula, the baddest of the bad, has figured out how to animate every villain in every attraction, and has beckoned them to her side to form the most evil army of all time, leaving the parks without their stories. The result? The parks begin to fade and warp as the stories their attractions are based on cease to exist. Can Eli and his band of talented friends find a way to take down Ursula before her dastardly deeds ruin the Disney Parks for good?
Max in the Land of Lies
AUTHOR: Adam Gidwitz
PUBLISHER: Dutton Books for Young Readers
DATE: February 25, 2025
SYNOPSIS:
Max Bretzfeld is back in Berlin where his most dangerous mission is about to begin! The thrilling conclusion to the World War II spy duology that began with Max in the House of Spies.
″A headlong thriller laced with provocative and topical historical truths.” –Kirkus, starred review
Max is on a mission.
Well, two missions.One has been assigned by his British spymasters: Infiltrate the Funkhaus, the center of Nazi radio and propaganda.
The other they have forbidden: Find his parents.
Max Bretzfeld was willing to do anything to return to Germany, even become a British spy. Training complete and forged papers in hand, the radio wunderkind’s missions have begun. But nothing is as he expected. His parents are missing. Nazi intelligence is watching him. And the lines between lies and truth are becoming more blurred every day. Max will need every tool at his disposal, from his radio expertise and spy training to the help of Berg and Stein, the immortal creatures living on his shoulders. Even so, there’s no guarantee he’ll make it out of Berlin alive.
📚STILL NEED MORE READS?: Catch up on last month’s edition of YAYBOOKS!
⭐️NEED A CHALLENGE?: Our YAYOMG! Reading Challenge will inspire your reading all year long!
