Format: Middle Grade Fiction

Building 903

Building 903Building 903 by Lois Lowry
Published by Clarion Books on September 29, 2026
Genres: Science Fiction
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads

In 2099, twins Tessa and Theo live in a community based on rules and order. Citizens seem to like the safety and comfort that their government, run by a dictator Zokiris, provides. At least that is the message citizens receive. Then Theo vanishes and no one can find him. Gradually, Tessa’s family stops talking about Theo but they clearly haven’t forgotten him.  

Events are set in motion when their neighbor, Miriam, moves to a retirement community. She gives Tessa a key that unlocks boxes of books, which are forbidden by Zokiris. When Tessa’s parents find out, her father shares that Miriam had given him a copy of Moby-Dick. He  conducted experiments with Theo using Moby-Dick to activate their imagination. Finally, Tessa and her parents understand that Theo has literally fallen into a good book. He has spent months aboard a cold whaling ship without proper clothes and food. To rescue him, they need to find the confiscated copy that is in a warehouse of books set to be destroyed. While they are rescuing Theo, the citizens begin to overthrow Zokiris.

Building 903 has definite similarities to the Giver, but with a lighter touch. There are strong dystopian elements of power, class, control, and elements of faith. During Theo’s rescue, he needs to pray, which may seem out-of-place without an understanding of dystopian plot elements. Overall, this is a powerful, timely tale about control, censorship, and how creativity and imagination cannot be contained.   

Reviewed by Jaime Beal, RSU 40, Waldoboro

The Doll House

The Doll HouseThe Doll House by D.W. Gillespie
Published by Delacorte Press on July 28, 2026
ISBN: 0593814924
Genres: Horror, Supernatural, Suspense
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Garrett and his mother are poised to receive an inheritance from Garrett’s deceased, estranged grandfather, an eccentric writer whom he knows nothing about. But there’s a catch: they have to spend one week in his now empty, enormous, Gothic house. Seems easy enough, until Garrett starts exploring and uncovers clues about his mother’s family’s past which may or may not  have something to do with the alarming number of random doll parts he keeps finding.  As Garrett feels more driven to discover who his grandfather was, his good-nature and sense of self-preservation take a back seat to whatever mystery lurks in the shadows of the mansion.

This middle grade horror takes a while to get into, in part thanks to Garrett being somewhat unrelatable, but the last fifty pages or so move quickly. While it’s primarily a Gothic grief-horror, it also includes insect-imbued Frankendolls, a possessed typewriter, and some difficult family secrets, so there’s something for everyone. This will be a hit with many, particularly those who are into creepy dolls, but the pacing will make it a struggle for others. Suggest to fans of R.L. Stine, Katherine Arden, or Ellen Oh.

Reviewed by Sarah Maciejewski, Patten Free Library, Bath

three-stars

The Big Sleepover

The Big SleepoverThe Big Sleepover (Bubblegume Shoes #2) by Goldy Moldavsky
ISBN: 0593813804
Genres: Mystery
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

The Big Sleepover (Bubblegum Shoes # 2)

Author: Goldy Moldavsky

This mystery novel for ages 8-12 is the second in the Bubblegum Shoes series. The Bubblegum Shoes Detective Agency is comprised of a group of 4 seventh grade girls at Marlowe Middle School in Hillside, New Jersey: Maya Mendoza, Jordan Freedman, Ava Agarwal, and Clementine Steffin-Paller. The girls are looking forward to enjoying The Big Sleepover, a night where the students spend the night in the school gymnasium and enjoy a Battle of the Bands. One of the contestants in the band battle is Hunter Holloway, an eighth grader and rising YouTube star from England who moved to Hillside when he started middle school. Hunter is being blackmailed by someone who wants him to drop out of the Battle by threatening to post a supposedly AI-generated unflattering deep fake video of him. Hunter enlists the help of the Bubblegum Shoes to find out who the culprit is.

The girls form a suspect list including: Arnie Arancielo (AKA “Papercut,” school bully known to be taking bets and suspected of fixing the Battle), Kaylee Krudd (Hunter’s toughest competitor in the Battle of the Bands), Angelina Chimichurri (Hunter’s ex-girlfriend and Clementine’s bitter rival), and Andrew Koi (a self-described computer geek deemed the only one capable of producing the blackmail video). The plot thickens when Hunter receives a threatening message using a voice changer app, and the girls find Hunter’s lucky leather cuff (which was previously stolen from his locker), in Kaylee’s art installation. As they start to eliminate suspects, they wonder if the blackmailer might in fact be one of their very own detectives. Or is the whole plot a publicity stunt?

The book contains several surprises to keep the reader engaged and guessing. While maintaining light-hearted humor, it touches upon tween-relevant themes of communication, friendship, honesty, and jealousy.  The diversity of the characters is a plus, but the large number of characters are difficult to keep track of.

4 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

four-stars

Harper Sharp: Kid Detective

Harper Sharp: Kid DetectiveHarper Sharp: Kid Detective: (A Graphic Novel) by Jarrett Williams
ISBN: 0593303059
Genres: Adventure, Humor, Mystery
Format: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
two-stars

Ominous messages and vandalism threaten a school’s preparation for the Young Inventor’s Fair. However, this mystery is no match for detective Harper Sharp. This energetic investigator will stop at nothing to catch the culprit. But will he be able to manage the mystery of the fair and keep up with his studies? To stay sharp, he might have to call on the help of a few friends, if he can trust them. Time is running out, and Harper Sharp is on the case. 

Jarrett Williams makes his debut in middle-grade literature, having built a reputation as a successful illustrator for the adult comic series Rick and Morty. However, the promising start to the Harper Sharp Mystery series falls short for two main reasons.

First, the story is visually overwhelming. Each page is filled with vibrant illustrations to replicate the vivid imagination of the story’s protagonist, Harper Sharp. The gorgeous images themselves could have easily told the whole story; Williams overloads the pages with text bubbles. There is no natural progression from one speech bubble to the next, causing the reader’s focus to burst. This isn’t to say the story is undecipherable; it just requires more conscious effort on the part of the reader. Unfortunately, all the work to find the story only leads to another disappointing clue. 

The mystery within the book is unfair to readers. Good mysteries can share all the important information for the reader to solve the mystery themselves, but through clever misdirection can surprise the reader in the end. The school vandal leaves a mess of clues, but not the transparency of a good mystery. Nowhere in the story can the reader find clues pointing towards the culprit. Yes, there are clues in the story, such as missing keys and spilled milk (don’t worry, no tears were shed), but they’re vague. Vague clues, when added up in the end, solve the mystery only because the protagonist has vital knowledge the reader does not. This unfair advantage takes away the fun for the reader, disengaging them from the story.

Overall, the debut had great potential with colorful illustrations and interactive elements. Despite that, the overpowering presence of text bubbles disrupts the natural flow of reading. Nor does it leave enough direct clues in the story for the reader to solve the mystery themselves. The combination of the two makes it difficult to stay engaged until the end of the book. Harper Sharp: Kid Detective is the first in the series, leaving much room for improvement in the next installment.

Reviewed by Antyna Gilbert, Medomak Middle School, Waldoboro

two-stars

Clock Hands

Clock HandsClock Hands by Marieke Nijkamp, Sylvia Bi
on April 21, 2026
ISBN: 0063027135
Genres: Adventure, Fantasy
Format: Graphic Novel, Middle Grade Fiction
Source: MSL Book Review
Goodreads
four-stars

“Clock Hands” is a middle grade graphic novel set in the world of “Ink Girls,” but can be read on its own. The author is Marieke Nijkamp and the illustrator is Sylvia Bi. In this world you have to pay to become an apprentice in a guild and many cannot afford to. Vale wants to be a metalworker, but cannot afford it until Maestro Giuseppi moves in and asks Vale to help him build an astronomical clock. The guilds don’t like this and retaliate.

The book is beautiful and does a good job showing how societal classes keep the lower classes down. This is an emotional story with difficult themes, but it is an important one. A recommended purchase for middle grade graphic novel collections, especially those that have “Ink Girls.”

Reviewed by Kate Radke, Walker Memorial Library, Westbrook, ME.

four-stars

Casting April

Casting AprilCasting April by Wendy Lu
on June 16, 2026
Genres: Juvenile Fiction / Social Themes / Friendship
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
five-stars

Casting April

Author: Wendy Lu

This middle grade novel for ages 8-12 is about a sixth-grade girl named April Xue, whose grandparents were Chinese immigrants. April, who has a tracheostomy tube due to bilateral vocal cord paralysis, has developed a love of theater since seeing Hamilton. Her parents own an Asian fusion restaurant called Modern Dragon. April auditions for the lead role of Daisy in the school play called Finding Primula, which is about an astronaut lost in space whose ship explodes. Unfortunately, April is assigned to be a stage assistant and learns that Ms. Rooney, the theater director, did not cast April in the play because of her trach tube. April is determined to prove to Ms. Rooney that she deserves the role. April eventually discovers that there may be a personal reason behind Mrs. Rooney’s decision, the same reason Mrs. Rooney’s Broadway career was cut short.

April’s singular focus on the play starts to negatively affect her friendship with her best friend, Ruby, who feels left out when April forms a friendship with Zahra, a Muslim girl who landed the role of Daisy. After the performing arts center is vandalized, the cast, crew, and community band together to find a way for the show to go on, while also finding a way for April and Zahra to share the spotlight.

The inclusion of a non-binary teacher, Mx. Bruener, feels unforced and encourages empathy. The references to Hamilton are non-obscure; since a performance of the musical is readily accessible and can be streamed, it is likely much more familiar to readers than another play would be. Even though April’s disability is quite rare, her struggles about feeling different and being unfairly excluded are universal, especially during the middle school years.

 

5 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

five-stars

Rootbound | A Tangled Novel

Rootbound | A Tangled NovelRootbound: A Tangled Novel by Margaret Owen
Published by Random House Books for Young Readers on July 28, 2026
ISBN: 1368101046
Pages: 316
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

This charming but muddled story picks up a month after the action in Disney’s 2010 movie Tangled. Rapunzel and Eugene are trying to adjust to their new roles, relationships, and expectations when they are summoned to an isolationist country on a suspicious diplomatic mission. Accompanied by a strict and fussy palace official, the pair must unravel a tantalizing mystery whose many loose ends touch celestial magic, a foreign country’s decline, a fraught royal family, and even Eugene’s own past. Unfortunately, the main storyline reaches a climax that is rather, well, tangled; the magic battle is overwhelming and confusing, while Rapunzel’s role in its resolution undermines her excellent character development up to that point. 

New and old side characters and animal hijinks keep the tone light, but the book’s real magic is its depiction of Rapunzel and Eugene not just as the lovable, spunky duo from the film but moreover survivors of difficult childhoods with relatable anxieties about their place in the world. Disney princess and Tangled fans will come for the nostalgia and hopefully stay for the uplifting character growth, magic aside.

Reviewed by Emily Ender, Oxford Hills Middle School Library, South Paris

three-stars

The Cat Prophecies: Claw Quest

The Cat Prophecies: Claw QuestClaw Quest (The Cat Prophecies #1) by Jorge Enrique Paz, Nik Korpon
Published by Labyrinth Road on June 9, 2026
ISBN: 0593906284
Genres: Adventure, Cultural / Latin America, Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
four-stars

Set in modern-day Colombia, this story is a fun revamp of a classic plot structure about a young teen boy struggling to fit in, only to discover, with the help of other outcasts (and a cat), that he may be the chosen one destined to defeat the forces of evil. Ideal for upper elementary and middle grade readers, Claw Quest stands out for its celebration of Latine culture and its dual use of Spanish and English. The bilingual text should not dissuade non-Spanish readers from enjoying it, as most Spanish words and phrases are translated in context of the story. It is clear that the authors put care and effort to make this story accessible to a vast audience while remaining faithful to Colombian culture. 

The writing is fluid, well-paced, and engaging. Characters feel well fleshed-out with their own uniquely identifiable traits. The main character has Tourette Syndrome, and is an empathetic representation of children with disabilities or neurological conditions who struggle with being bullied. The Juaica, warrior cats whose bodies transform when in their realm of Iguakay, are a fun magical element. However, a weakness of the writing is the description of the Juaica in their magical form. It is hard to tell if the author intended for them to move like humans with cat-like features, or simply like oversized, muscular cats. Either way, this detail likely won’t detract from the readers’ enjoyment of the book’s message that anyone may be the ‘chosen one’ if they choose kindness and embrace their individuality.

This book would be a wonderful addition into a library’s Fantasy Fiction section. The vibrant cover would also look great on a book display! 

Reviewed by Jada Gastia, Williams Elementary School, Oakland, ME 

four-stars

Mystery of Macaw Mountain

Mystery of Macaw MountainMystery on Macaw Mountain by Maria Jose Fitzgerald
on March 10, 2026
ISBN: 0593488741
Genres: Adventure, Animals, Juvenile Fiction / Action & Adventure / General, Mystery
Format: Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

Mystery on Macaw Mountain

Author: Maria Jose Fitzerald

This mystery novel for ages 8-12 takes place in Copan, Honduras. Nico and Tessa Paz-Murcia, brother and sister whose parents, Mercedes and Feliz, are separated, host a visit with their cousins, Jackie and Emilio. Mercedes is an archologist whose supposed new boyfriend, Frank, had his small bird sanctuary flooded so had to move eight macaws into temporary enclosures. The plan to re-introduce the birds in a new sanctuary among archaeological ruins is thwarted when the birds are found missing. The four cousins are determined to solve the mystery of the missing macaws, especially after the authorities assume that the birds simply escaped.

The list of suspects is long: Natalia (Frank’s helper who cares for the birds), Nando (neighbor and park guide), Anges and Diego (young archeologists who work with Mercedes), Josefina and Felipe (neighbor/baker and her son), professional wildlife traffickers.

The cousins uncovered much evidence: Natalia’s locket was found in the woods near the enclosure, and Agnes and Diego were seen taking something into the temple and coming out with 2 bundles. The cousins found a suspicious note from Nando on Mercedes’s desk. Emilio secretly records a concerning conversation between Nando’s wife, Olga, and Natalia. Then, one of the birds is found dead and delivered to Frank’s. Will the 4 kids manage to solve the crime and avenge Napoc’s death?

This is a lovely story that reminds readers that people are not always as they seem, everyone makes mistakes, and people sometimes do wrong things for seemingly good reasons. It addresses controversial practices of relocating, smuggling, and stealing valuable artifacts and relics. While this story is fiction, the Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve is a real place in Copan, which helped restore the population of free-flying scarlet macaws to the park in 2011.

This reviewer found the sheer number of characters overwhelming and confusing. Today’s young readers may be unfamiliar with some of the antiquated technology used by the characters (iPod, tape recorder) and find the frequent inclusion of Spanish words and phrases obfuscating (to young monolingual English readers) and the Mayan culture foreign and unrelatable.

3 stars

Reviewed by Lindsey Hopkins, Jay-Niles Memorial Library, Jay

three-stars

Forbidden Mountain (Guardians #1)

Forbidden Mountain (Guardians #1)Forbidden Mountain (Guardians #1) by Brandon Mull
Published by Random House on April 14, 2026
ISBN: 0593712048
Genres: Fantasy
Format: Chapter Book Fiction, Middle Grade Fiction
Goodreads
three-stars

 

Forbidden Mountain is the first in the new Guardians series by Brandon Mull. Anoran children are matched with a spiritual guardian when they turn 14 years old.  Mako hopes to become a great warrior like his father.  When he matches with an Accursed, a guardian of destruction, he hopes to wield his new powers for good.  Across the kingdom, Arden has a mysterious gift of knowing when someone is telling the truth.  She hopes to use her gift to find her friend Kiko, who disappeared after joining a gang.  When she double-crosses the boss, Arden and her family must run for their lives.  Eventually, Mako and Arden’s paths cross when they both join Anoran Warmaster Rojan’s crew.  Are Mako and Arden ready for epic adventures, battles, and conspiracies?   

This book sets the stage for future books in this series.  The pacing is slow with occasional action and predictable characters and plot lines.  Students interested in epic world-building sagas may enjoy this one, but it is not necessarily written for your average middle/high school reader.

Reviewed by Jaime Beal, RSU 40, Waldoboro

three-stars