Help the development of skills and a life-long love for reading
Elementary School List | Middle School List | High School List
With the help of the Guilderland School Librarians, this Recommended Reading page was created to present current, relevant and high-interest literature to help students discover, think, and broaden their vocabulary.
In addition, we encourage students to check out audio and ebook options that are available through both the school and public libraries. Students will find they have access to several ebooks right through their library catalog. To access the titles, they will need to log into the catalog, which you can find on your school’s library web page. If your student needs any assistance accessing any of these resources, please feel free to contact their librarian for assistance.
SORA available to GCSD Students
Another resource available to our students is SORA. Many of the books on these readings lists are available through SORA.
Sora is a platform that provides audio and ebooks for district users. Students simply identify Guilderland as their school and use their school id to obtain access. Please note the public library’s version of SORA is different, but both accounts can be accessed through the school login, once linked.
School Libraries
Guilderland Public Library Summer Reading Program
Administered by the Guilderland Public Library, students can earn points and raffle tickets by reading books, writing reviews and completing activities. The program typically runs from the end of June to mid-August.
Elementary Summer Reading 2025 (All Elementary Buildings)
Download a PDF of the elementary summer reading list
Grades K-1
Bailey, Jenn (illustrated by Mika Song). Henry and the Something New.
Henry, a young boy with autism goes on a class field trip to the natural history museum, with instructions to find something new.
Blackwood, Freya. The Boy and the Elephant.
In this wordless picture book set in the midst of the city’s hustle, a boy cherishes an overgrown piece of land where he befriends an imagined elephant formed by the trees, but when builders arrive to clear the space, he must devise a plan to save his cherished friend.
Bolte, Mari. I Am Not a Giraffe : Animals in the African Savanna.
The African savanna is home to many kinds of animals, including me! I am spotted, but I am not a giraffe. I am strong, but I am not an elephant. Read the clues and try and guess which animal I am before the end of the book!
Mack, Jeff. The Dog and Pony Show.
Pony has a surprise for Dog–a pet rock! Dog would have preferred a T-Rex, or a moose, or a cow for a pet, but Pony says if Dog gives the pet rock a name, Dog will like it more. Dog names his pet rock Lulu the T-Rex and says it likes to eat ponies! Uh-oh. Will Dog and Pony and Lulu learn to get along?
Moon, Emily Kate. Puff : All About Air.
Puff the wisp of air leads young readers on an adventure that reveals air’s role in the atmosphere and its impact on life on earth.
Kantorovitz, Sylvie. A new Car for Pickle.
Pickle thinks he needs a new car, and tries several that are either too fast, too large, or too expensive–until Coco the mechanic shows him what is wrong with the car he already had.
Kugler, Tina. The Biggest Roller Coaster.
Fox siblings Fritz and Franny, and their patient dog Fred, are at the amusement park squabbling about which ride is fastest and loudest–but when they are confronted by the biggest, tallest, and loudest roller coaster they decide that maybe Fred would prefer something not quite so scary.
Redniss, Lauren. Heatwave.
An almost unbearably hot day of one hundred degrees is transformed as raindrops fall one by one, culminating in a downpour.
Rocco, Hayley and John. Hello, I’m a Quokka.
An introduction to the unique characteristics of the quokka.
Tabor, Corey R. Fox Versus Fox.
When a newcomer arrives, Fox demonstrates all his foxy skills, but when the other creature can do all the same things, he wonders if it really is another fox–and possibly a new friend!
Grades 2 – 3
Aradhya, Kerry (illustrated by Kara Kramer). Ernő Rubik and His Magic Cube.
Presents an illustrated look at Ernő Rubik and the Rubik’s Cube, revealing the obsession, imagination, and engineering process behind the creation of the puzzle that will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2024.
Atherton, David and Harry Woodgate. David Atherton’s Baking Book for Kids : Delicious Recipes for Budding Bakers.
David Atherton guides readers through a veritable feast of sweet and savory baked treats. From snacky samosas to hot cross hedgehogs, from loaves baked in flowerpots to an ombre cake
Bolte, Mari. I Am Not a Dog : Pet Animals.
Around 84 percent of homeowners have a pet, so I’m in good company. I’m a common pet, but I am not a dog. I am quiet and like to sleep, but I am not a ferret. Read the clues and try to guess which pet I am before the end of the book!
Donaldson, Julia and Axel Scheffer. Jonty Gentoo : the Adventures of a Penguin.
Jonty Gentoo is excited by his aunts’ stories of the South Pole, so he slips out of the zoo, and sets out to find his ancestral home–which would be easier if he was not swimming in the wrong direction.
Faruqui, Saadia (illustrated by Hatem Aly). Yasmin the Camper, 25 p.
Yasmin is excited but nervous about her first camping trip with her scout troop–and a tent that threatens to collapse does not help.
Freedman, Deborah. Partly Cloudy.
Two curious bunnies enjoy watching clouds go by. But when they look at the sky, they see something completely different! While one bunny likes to use his imagination the other bunny can only see the scientific. Together they learn that cloud watching is much more fun when they see it through each other’s eyes.
Hodgkinson, Leigh. The Princess and the (Greedy) Pea.
This little pea is hungry! So hungry it swallows a sprout, slurps up some soup, munches the bread, gobbles the cake, noshes the pickle, guzzles the cheese, drinks all the tea, and even chomps down the table it’s all served on. After all that, it needs to sleep. But whose dinner did it steal? And whose mattress is the now-humongous pea resting under?
Long, Loren. The Yellow Bus.
A forgotten school bus finds joy and purpose in the most unexpected places.
Mo, Cherry. Home in a Lunchbox.
After moving to America from Hong Kong, Jun feels isolated at her new school but discovers a sense of home in the familiar foods and flavors she finds in her lunchbox.
Sturgell, Todd. Except Antarctica.
Turtles are found on every continent EXCEPT Antarctica. But not for long! When a David Attenborough-esque narrator explains that turtles are found everywhere except Antarctica, one determined turtle sets out to prove him wrong. After recruiting other non-Antarctic animals along the way–much to the narrator’s dismay–the turtle and his adventurous friends travel through fields, forests, and cross an entire ocean to reach their goal. But what exactly do they do once they get there?
Grades 4 -5
Applegate, Katherine (illustrations by Patricia Castelao). The One and Only Family, 262 p.
Ivan has been happily living in a wildlife sanctuary, with his friend Ruby next door in the elephant enclosure, frequent visits from his canine friend Bob, and his mate Kinyani by his side. And in the happiest turn of all, Ivan and Kinyani have welcomed a set of twins to their family! Ivan loves being a papa, even though it can be hard sometimes. But as he navigates the joys and challenges of parenthood, he can’t help but recall his life before the glass walls of the mall circus, his own childhood in the jungle-and his own twin.
Brown, Peter. The Wild Robot Protects, 281 p.
Roz must take an under-the-ocean journey to save her island from a mysterious poison tide.
Brunelle, Lynn (illustrated by Jason Chin). Life After Whale : the Amazing Ecosystem of a Whale Fall.
A book about the rich ecosystem that springs up around the death of a whale in the deep sea.
DiCamillo, Kate. Ferris
During the summer before fifth grade, Ferris Wilkey has her hands full with her little sister terrorizing the town, her Aunt Shirley moving into their basement and her grandmother seeing a ghost–one who has wild, impractical and illuminating plans.
Gardner, PJ (illustrations by David Mottram). The Great Zoodini, 197 p.
When his latest escape goes wrong, the Great Zoodini–a fennec fox–winds up at an animal sanctuary/drive-in movie theater where he gets the chance to become world-famous but wonders if fame is worth losing his newfound family–the only ones who’ve ever accepted him.
Jones, Hayley and John. Wild Places : the Life of Naturalist David Attenborough.
A nonfiction account of the life of British naturalist David Attenborough and his advocacy for the protection of wild places on Earth.
Kelly, Erin Entrada. The First State of Being, 253 p.
When Ridge, a time-traveling teenager from the future, gets trapped in 1999, he befriends Michael, a lonely twelve-year-old boy, changing the course of their lives forever.
Markle, Sandra. Call the Bee Doctor! : How Science is Saving Honey Bees. 48 p.
Since Colony Collapse Disorder began decimating honey bees in 2006, scientists have been researching its causes and how to prevent it. Get an up-to-date look at what we know and how new innovations are saving honey bees.
Rosenstock, Barb (illustrated by Jamey Christoph). The Great Lakes : Our Freshwater Treasure.
A picture book about the five largest lakes in North America–how they formed, the importance of these waters, and how they’ve become a national treasure.
Tur, Miriam Bonastre. Hooky, 384 p.
A fantastical story about twin siblings Dani and Dorian who have missed the bus to magic school and scramble to find a mentor to teach them before their parents find out.
FMS Summer Reading 2025
Download a PDF of the FMS summer reading list
Fiction
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Rebellion, 1776, 224 p.
An historical fiction middle grade adventure about a girl struggling to survive amid a smallpox epidemic, the public’s fear of inoculation, and the seething Revolutionary War.
Avi, Lost in The Empire City, 289 p.
This riveting historical middle grade novel from Newbery Medal–winning author Avi follows a young immigrant from Italy who is desperate to reunite with his family.
Bowling, Dusti. The Beat I Drum, 340 p.
Connor, best friend of Aven Green, tells his own story in this tale about overcoming the challenges of life with Tourette’s. This is the third book in the Insignificant Events in The Life of a Cactus series.
Collins, Suzanne. Sunrise On The Reaping, 382 p.
When you’ve been set up to lose everything you love, what is there left to fight for? As the day dawns on the fiftieth annual Hunger Games, fear grips the districts of Panem. This year, in honor of the Quarter Quell, twice as many tributes will be taken from their homes. Back in District 12, Haymitch Abernathy is trying not to think too hard about his chances.
Cuevas, Adrianna. What Fell From The Sky, 291 p.
Set in 1950s Texas, Pineda Matlage hides an alien in his family’s barn, and with the help of friends and townspeople, tries to reunite her with her family despite the disruptive presence of soldiers using the town for a covert operation to capture and study aliens.
Currie, Lindsay. The Mystery of Locked Rooms, 261 p.
Three seventh grade, puzzle-loving best friends set out to find a hidden treasure in an abandoned 1950s funhouse.
Freeman, Megan. Away, 465 p.
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.
Gidwitz, Adam. Max in The Land of Spies, 341 p.
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.
Howard, Amalie. Bumps In The Night, 295 p.
Sent to her grandmother’s estate in Trinidad, Rika meets a group of kids with elemental powers called Minders, who reveal that her long-lost mom is in danger, sending Rika on a magical adventure where she must learn to believe in herself to destroy evil.
Korman, Gordon. Old School, 276 p.
From New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman, comes a hilarious story about a boy who is homeschooled in his grandmother’s retirement community…until he is forced to go to public school.
Sepetys, Ruta and Sheinken, Steve. The Bletchley Riddle, 392 p.
This middle grade historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death.
Sumner, Jamie. Deep Water, 216 p.
An impactful, gripping middle grade novel in verse from acclaimed author Jamie Sumner that spans one girl’s marathon swim over twelve miles and six hours, calling her mom back home with every stroke.
Thayer, Alex. Happy & Sad & Everything True, 255 p.
With charm and sincerity reminiscent of Judy Blume and Rebecca Stead, this debut middle grade novel is a heartfelt, hopeful story about a girl finding herself through secretly giving out advice to classmates.
Nonfiction
Brower, Kate Anderson. The Hill : Inside the Secret World of the US Capitol, 298 P.
There’s a secret world hidden in the halls of the U.S. Capitol! The building stands today as one of the most recognizable symbols of the oldest democracy in the world. In this home of America’s legislative branch, senators and representatives fight to pass laws they believe are for the good of the country. But these hallowed halls, which some swear are haunted, also harbor a deep history—both extraordinary and unsettling—and that is an equally important part of America’s story.
Couch, Christina. Duncan, Daniel Illustrations. Innovative Octopuses, Half-Brained Birds, and More Animals With Magnificent Minds, 151 p.
This third book in the Extraordinary Animals series delves into the mind-bending world of amazing animal brains.Real-life animal brainiacs and the scientists who study them come to life in this detailed look at how animal—and human—brains work and the incredible things they can do.
Messner, Katie. Earth Day and The Environment (History Smashers), 230 p.
Myths! Lies! Recycling scams? Discover the real story behind the first Earth Day celebration and some of the biggest US climate catastrophes–and their solutions! Don’t miss the award-winning History Smashers series as they get to the truth on the biggest environmental fibs!
Wood, Chelsea L. Motrom, Dave Illustrations. Power To The Parasites!, 168 p.
Power to the Parasites! lets you in on a secret: Parasites are all around you, all the time, quietly running the world. You might think of them as slimy, disgusting freeloaders – tapeworms and roundworms and ticks and lice, too small to be important and too selfish to be valued. But by the end of this book, you’ll realize that sometimes parasites are the good guys.
Graphic Novels
Ball, Georgia. I Survived The Molasses Flood, 1919, 146 p.
One of the strangest disasters in U.S. history is brought to vivid life in this graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis’s bestselling I Survived the Great Molasses Flood, 1919, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Karen De La Vega.
Lambcat, Cursed Princess Club. Vol. 1-4
For fans of Disney princesses and Sailor Moon–style girl power, Cursed Princess Club is a lighthearted story of a young royal who finds her place in a world obsessed with princes, beauty, and happily-ever-afters.
Soontornvat, Christina. The Tryout Book Series. The Tryout, 255 p.; Book 2: The Squad, 270 p.
Could anything be more mortifying than trying out for cheerleading in front of your whole grade? This hilarious, highly relatable story will make you laugh, cry, and cheer! Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier.
Telgemeier, Raina. The Cartoonist Club, 261 p.
New York Times bestselling cartoonists Raina Telgemeier and Scott McCloud team up for a one-of-a-kind friendship story. Makayla is bursting with ideas but doesn’t know how to make them into a story. Howard loves to draw, but he struggles to come up with ideas and his dad thinks comics are a waste of time. Lynda constantly draws in her sketchbook but keeps focusing on what she feels are mistakes, and Art simply loves being creative and is excited to try something new. They come together to form The Cartoonists Club, where kids can learn about making comics and use their creativity and imagination for their own storytelling adventures!
Yee, Reimana. The Maker’s Club, 219 p.
For fans of Raina Telgemeier’s Drama, The Maker’s Club, a gorgeous graphic novel from an Eisner-nominated author, is about a group of kids who blend art and science to create incredible projects in video gaming, fashion, and a whole lot more.
GHS Summer Reading 2024
Download a PDF of the GHS summer reading list
Fiction
Anderson, Laurie Halse. Rebellion, 1776, 224 p.
An historical fiction middle grade adventure about a girl struggling to survive amid a smallpox epidemic, the public’s fear of inoculation, and the seething Revolutionary War.
Barnes, Jennifer Lynn. The Inheritance Games, 376 p. (the entire series!) Sora
When a Connecticut teenager inherits vast wealth and an eccentric estate from the richest man in Texas, she must also live with his surviving family and solve a series of puzzles to discover how she earned her inheritance.
Cho, Ian X. Aisle Nine, 260 p. Sora
Even though the world is filled with portals to hell and bloodthirsty demons pop out of them on the reg, Jasper spends his days and nights working as a check-out clerk at the Here For You discount mart. Sure, there’s even a hell portal in aisle nine, which means he could be maimed, dismembered, or even eaten whole during every shift, but at least at the mart he can be near his crush, Kyle Kuan. That she doesn’t seem to even notice that he exists seems about right to Jasper, because Jasper can’t remember anything that happened to him before his accident five months ago, either.
Ciccarelli, Kristen. Heartless Hunter, 406 p. Sora
In a world where witches face persecution, Rune leads a double life, masquerading as a socialite during the day and transforming into the vigilante known as the Crimson Moth by night, and forms a complicated alliance with the witch hunter Gideon Sharpe, blurring the lines between love and danger.
Deuker, Carl. Shadowed, 343 p.
Nate plays soccer, but he doesn’t love it. He plays because it’s what his family expects. Then Lucas Cawley moves in across the street. Lucas isn’t like any of Nate’s sports friends–he’s poor, his parents are mostly absent, and he’s devoted to his sister, Megan, who has a learning disability. Lucas may be an outcast at school, but he and Nate find common ground in their fierce games of one-on-one basketball. It’s not long before Nate realizes that basketball is his sport. But Nate has an ax to grind with star players Colin and Bo, who have disrespected him for years. Nate believes that outplaying those two is the most important thing . . . until he learns that life is about more than getting ready for the next game.
Eddings, Mazey. Tilly in Technicolor, 309 p. Sora
When eighteen-year-old Tilly goes to London to intern for her sister’s company, she begins to unmask her ADHD and connects with Oliver, another neurodivergent intern.
Everett, Percival. James, 302 p. Retelling
A brilliant, action-packed reimagining of Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, both harrowing and furiously funny, told from the enslaved Jim’s point of view.
Hayden, Chaz. Diet Soda Club, 309 p.
Since their dad died and mom is usually working, Reed spends his free time caring for his disabled sister, Bea. When their mom takes off, Reed turns to making fake IDs to support them. He soon finds that he can’t manage on his own and finds help where he least expects it.
Hahn, Erin. Even if it Breaks Your Heart, 313 p.
As he attempts to fulfil a list left behind by his deceased best friend, nineteen-year-old Case meets eighteen-year-old Winnie, a hardworking ranch hand with aspirations of her own, and together they embark on an unexpected journey as they chase down their rodeo dreams.
Hannah, Kristin. The Women, 471 p.
Women can be heroes. When twenty-year-old nursing student Frances ‘Frankie’ McGrath hears these unexpected words, it is a revelation. Raised on idyllic Coronado Island and sheltered by her conservative parents, she has always prided herself on doing the right thing, being a good girl. But in 1965 the world is changing, and she suddenly imagines a different choice for her life. When her brother ships out to serve in Vietnam, she impulsively joins the Army Nurse Corps and follows his path. As green and inexperienced as the men sent to Vietnam to fight, Frankie is overwhelmed by the chaos and destruction of war, as well as the unexpected trauma of coming home to a changed and politically divided America.
Lawhon, Ariel. Frozen River, 432 p.
A historical mystery based on the real-life diary entries of Martha Ballard, an 18th-century midwife who found herself at the center of a murder trial.
Moore, Liz. God of the Woods, 478 p.
When a teenager vanishes from her Adirondack summer camp, two worlds collide in a story of inheritance and second chances, the tensions between a family and a community, and a history that will not let any of them go.
Sepetys, Ruta and Sheinken, Steve. The Bletchley Riddle, 392p. Sora
This historical adventure follows two siblings at Bletchley Park, the home of WWII codebreakers, as they try to unravel a mystery surrounding their mother’s death.
Sonnenblick, Jordan. Stepping Off, 325 p.
Jesse Dienstag’s favorite sweatshirt says, “The real world isn’t real.” That’s the slogan of the vacation-home community in Pennsylvania where his family has always spent every vacation and weekend for as long as he can remember. In the summer of 2019, as Jesse is about to enter his junior year of high school in New York City, he desperately wants to believe the slogan is true. For one thing, the two girls he loves — equally and desperately — are in Pennsylvania, and all the stresses and pressures of his daily life and school are in New York. But when his parents stop talking to each other, it gets harder and harder for Jesse to maintain his dream life in Pennsylvania. And when Covid shuts New York City down in March 2020 just days after Jesse’s mother leaves his father, Jesse’s worlds collide.
Stone, Nic. Dear Manny, 199 p.
Companion novel to: Dear Martin. “While running for junior class president at his university, Jared falls for his opponent who has a similar platform based on equity and inclusion, and processes his feelings by writing letters to his deceased friend Manny.
Treuer, Anton. Where Wolves Don’t Die, 320 p.
Ezra Cloud hates living in Northeast Minneapolis. His father is a professor of their language, Ojibwe, at a local college, so they have to be there. But Ezra hates the dirty, polluted snow around them. He hates being away from the rez at Nigigoonsiminikaaning First Nation. And he hates the local bully in his neighborhood, Matt Schroeder, who terrorizes Ezra and his friend Nora George.
Fiction Authors We Recommend Always:
Alexander, Kwame
Anderson, Laurie Halse
Bruchac, Joseph
Crutcher, Chris
Dessen, Sarah
Green, John
King, A. S.
Levithan, David
Reynolds, Jason
Sepetys, Ruta
Stone, Nic
Strasser, Todd
Thomas, Angie
Trueman, Terry
Wein, Elizabeth
Zusak, Markus
Non – Fiction
Cooper, Candy J. Shackled: A Tale of Wronged Kids, Rogue Judges, and a Town That Looked Away, 163 p. Sora
Here is the explosive story of the Kids for Cash scandal in Pennsylvania, a judicial justice miscarriage that sent more than 2,500 children and teens to a for-profit detention center while two judges lined their pockets with cash, as told by Candy J. Cooper, an award-winning journalist and Pulitzer Prize finalist.
Fleming, Candace. The Enigma Girls: How Ten Teenagers Broke Ciphers, Kept Secrets, and Helped Win World War II, 371 p. Sora
From award-winning author Candace Fleming, comes the powerful and fascinating story of the brave and dedicated young women who helped turn the tides of World War II for the Allies, with their hardwork and determination at Bletchley Park.
Green, John. Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection, 208 p.
In 2019, author John Green met Henry Reider, a young tuberculosis patient at Lakka Government Hospital in Sierra Leone. John became fast friends with Henry, a boy with spindly legs and a big, goofy smile. In the years since that first visit to Lakka, Green has become a vocal advocate for increased access to treatment and wider awareness of the healthcare inequities that allow this curable, preventable infectious disease to also be the deadliest, killing over a million people every year. In Everything Is Tuberculosis, John tells Henry’s story, woven through with the scientific and social histories of how tuberculosis has shaped our world—and how our choices will shape the future of tuberculosis.
Ogle, Rex. Road Home, 264 p. Sora
This final, essential chapter in Rex Ogle’s memoir trilogy recounts being forced from his home and living on the streets after his father discovered he was gay. When Rex was outed the summer after he graduated high school, his father gave him a choice: he could stay at home, find a girlfriend, and attend church twice a week, or he could be gay–and leave. Rex left, driving toward the only other gay man he knew and a toxic relationship that would ultimately leave him homeless and desperate on the streets of New Orleans. Here, Rex tells the story of his coming out and his father’s rejection of his identity, navigating abuse and survival on the streets.
Rusch, Elizabeth. A Greater Goal: the Epic Battle for Equal Pay in Women’s Soccer–and Beyond, 316 p. Sora
A history of the more than 250 women who have played for the U.S. National Soccer Team and their battle for equal pay.
Watson, Renée and Ekua Holmes. Black Girl You Are Atlas, 81 p. Sora
Through a series of expressive, semi-autobiographical poems, Watson portrays junctures of her life growing up in Portland, Oregon, that are accompanied by stunning collage artwork by Holmes. A captivating and resonating collection.
Yoo, Paula. Rising From the Ashes : Los Angeles, 1992. Edward Jae Song Lee, Latasha Harlins, Rodney King, and a City on Fire, 358 p. Sora
Based on 100+ personal interviews as seen through the eyes and experiences of those who were there, this compelling, nuanced account of Los Angeles’ 1992 uprising, which erupted in violence, discusses its impact on Korean and Black American communities.
Notable Non-Fiction Authors:
Bryson, Bill
Gladwell, Malcolm
Harari, Yuval Noah
Kolbert, Elizabeth
Krakauer, Jon
Mukherjee, Siddartha
Ogle, Rex
Sheinkin, Steve
Walls, Jeanette
Wright, Lawrence
Graphic Fiction
Bogart, Matthew, and Jesse Holden. Incredible Doom Series.
Set in the early 1990s, this series follows teenagers Allison, Samir, Richard, and Tina as they navigate the early world of the internet, forming connections amidst personal turmoil. The narrative captures the era’s technological landscape and the timeless challenges of adolescence, offering a moving yet incredibly enjoyable story.
Cotugno, S.H. The Glass Scientists.
In Victorian London, Dr. Henry Jekyll leads the Society for Arcane Science, aiming to legitimize the work of rogue scientists. However, his own experiments have unleashed a chaotic alter ego, Mr. Hyde, threatening the society’s mission. This graphic novel intertwines classic literary figures in a fresh narrative, praised for its charming storytelling and immersive art.
Gooch, Chris. In Utero.
Twelve years after a disastrous explosion, young Hailey is dropped off by her mum at a holiday camp in a dilapidated shopping mall. Alienated from the other kids, she connects with an eerie older teen named Jen… but soon dark horrors awaken, and the two new friends are caught up in a cataclysmic battle between two terrifying creatures who have been lying dormant all this time.
Ogle, Rex. Pizza Face, 213 p. Sora
On the first day of seventh grade, Rex encounters a bump in the road—a big angry pimple right in the center of his forehead. And this is only the beginning of his problems. What follows is a frustrating battle with stubborn acne, body odor, and other embarrassments of puberty. Still struggling with a home life edging on the poverty line, Rex can’t afford to buy the acne medication or deodorant he needs, and bullies are noticing Rex’s awkward transformation.
Tokuda-Hall, Maggie, and Faith Schaffer. The Worst Ronin, 333 p. Sora
Sixteen-year-old Chihiro Ito, daughter of a renowned samurai, seizes the chance to prove herself by partnering with her idol, Tatsuo Nakano—the first woman accepted into the prestigious Kesi Academy. Tasked with eliminating a yamauba demon terrorizing a village, Chihiro discovers that Tatsuo is far from the hero she imagined. This edgy, unexpectedly hilarious graphic novel blends traditional samurai lore with modern elements, delivering a genre-defying adventure.
Graphic Nonfiction
Brown, Don. 83 Days in Mariupol: A War Diary, 127 p. Sora
A city ruined. In once-quiet residential streets, two armies battle, driving people into cellars and basements with little food or water. No lights or heat. Dwindling medical supplies. Shells and bullets deliver cruel, random death to the young and old, men, women, and children. This is Mariupol, a Ukrainian city and early target of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Bordering Russian-occupied territory, the coastal city seemed doomed to a defeat that would come within days, if not hours. Could Mariupol, and Ukraine, survive?
Garrud, Edith. The Bodyguard Unit: Edith Garrud, Women’s Suffrage, and Jujitsu, 136 p.
In the early twentieth century, women in England demanded the right to vote—and faced violent retaliation. Rather than back down, the suffragist group Women’s Social and Political Union formed its own security unit. Edith Garrud, a pioneering self-defense instructor, trained them to fight back against abuse and arrest while pursuing long-overdue rights.
Ha, Robin. Almost American Girl, 227 p. Sora
Robin, born in South Korea and raised by a single mother, faces challenges when they immigrate to Huntsville, Alabama. Struggling with language barriers and cultural differences, Robin reconnects with her passion for comics, leading to new friendships and self-discovery.
Jones, Dan C. Stealing Little Moon : the legacy of the American Indian Boarding Schools, 284 p. Sora
Dan SaSuWeh Jones chronicles his family’s time at Chilocco–starting with his grandmother Little Moon’s arrival when the school first opened and ending with him working on the maintenance crew when the school shut down nearly one hundred years later. Together with the voices of students from other schools, both those who died and those who survived, Dan brings to light the lasting legacy of the boarding school era.
Kendall, Mikki, and A. D’Amico. Amazons, Abolitionists, and Activists: A Graphic History of Women’s Fight for Their Rights, 195 p. Sora
This graphic primer offers an essential understanding of the fight for women’s rights, highlighting contributions from women of color in various movements, including suffrage, labor, civil rights, and LGBTQ rights.
Parish, Theo. Homebody, 211 p. Sora
In this graphic novel memoir, the author shares their journey to find a home within themself, taking readers through the experiences and everyday moments that all led up to them finding the term “nonbinary,” which finally struck a chord.
