Horn Book Herald: October 2025

(3) 4-6 In 1950s Texas, U.S. soldier-parachuters enact a takeover of a small town as a military exercise (based on real historical events). In the hubbub, a space alien kid also lands in town. Chapters alternate between perspectives from Pineda -- a half–Cuban American human boy in sixth grade -- and “Luisa” -- the space alien girl so-named by Pineda -- as the two and their friends try to reunite Luisa and her parents. Some details might not pass muster with sci-fi aficionados, but Cuevas’s overall messages of acceptance of those who are different and resistance against injustice are nonetheless welcome.

Reviewer: Monica de los Reyes

(3) YA When Toronto seventh grader Bea must pick an extracurricular sport, she reluctantly chooses the girls’ ice hockey team. Bea is anxious about her lack of skills but eventually finds she loves hockey and being a part of a team. She also discovers that she has confusing feelings for her teammate Gabi. Hockey enthusiasts will particularly enjoy the game action, but anyone will be able to appreciate Bea’s efforts to overcome her fears both on and off the ice.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(4) 4-6 Thirteen-year-old Kaya, a Chinese and Taiwanese American girl, grapples with hydrophobia and anxiety while navigating her ancestral roots and mysterious connections to a water goddess. Set in Hawaii, the novel weaves together Kaya's personal journey with historical flashbacks and family secrets. Huang’s atmospheric writing captures the archipelago’s beauty, complementing the story’s magical realism and Kaya’s emotional journey. Some unresolved plot points may leave readers wanting more, but the novel’s explorations of themes such as anxiety and identity are compelling.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) 4-6 Illustrated by Glynnis Fawkes. Fifth grader Maple is having a hard time at home: her mom and dad fight a lot, and her dad disappears after their fights. The anxiety she feels affects her school life and her relationship with her older sister and brother; drawing comics and being alone under the tree she’s named for provides some relief. Maple’s complicated feelings about her dad are portrayed sensitively and realistically; the black-and-white comics-style illustrations from Maple’s sketchbook provide additional insight into her frame of mind.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) 4-6 When twelve-year-old Dexter, who lives with his grandmother in The Pines, a retirement community, has to attend school for the first time, he doesn’t fit in: he dresses and acts like a senior citizen. Then a misunderstanding results in his suspension; the classmates who initially brushed him off now rally around him, bonding with The Pines’s residents as well. Told from multiple perspectives, this story features plenty of humor; heartwarming intergenerational friendships; and an appealing and humble protagonist.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) 4-6 Expelled from yet another boarding school, intrepid almost-twelve-year-old Rowan interns at her grandfather’s Library of Curiosities where she must solve a mystery involving stolen enchanted objects, a hidden item, family secrets, and her parents' deaths to clear her name. Along the way, she forms new friendships and navigates tensions with the enigmatic magician Silverjack. This middle-grade novel offers a compelling blend of adventure, intrigue, humor, and self-discovery. A delightful exploration of family and the magic of curiosity.

Reviewer: Summer Edward

(3) 4-6 Team Awkward series. Leah’s parents think she’s at an after-school art club, but instead she’s leading her school’s QuizBowl team as its first sixth-grade captain. Leah is determined to succeed as a leader, but her win-at-all-costs attitude affects her friendships and her teammates when she goes too far to best a rival. This companion to Jojo vs. Middle School has a likable protagonist who learns an important--and gently delivered--lesson.

Reviewer: Rachel L. Kerns

(3) 4-6 Myracle reimagines Burnett’s A Little Princess with a contemporary nine-year-old protagonist at a Savannah boarding school whose mother and celebrity godmother go missing. Sara Crewe’s perspectives are effectively updated as reflections on privilege. Secrets about Penelope and family’s past are revealed, making for scenes of emotional connection. Characterizations (particularly of the school’s villainous headmistress) and plot twists add humor and excitement, and the engaging voice is well-pitched for intermediate readers.

Reviewer: Shoshana Flax