When 12-year-old Oscar Aberdeen decided he would do anything to save the only home he’s ever known, he didn’t realize that anything would include theft, trespassing, gambling, a broken nose, grand theft auto, a federal prison, and a police chase. He had no idea it would be so dangerous…or so fun.
Oscar Aberdeen is a bit of an oddball. He’s an ace at playing bridge, loves Frank Sinatra, and attends a whole lot of funerals. He’s also the youngest resident of Sunny Days retirement home by more than a half-century—and he wouldn’t have it any other way. So when his grandpa’s suddenly served an eviction notice that threatens their place at Sunny Days, he needs to find some cash. Fast.
Enter Jimmy Deluca, a shady elderly man with a reputation for being bad news, who makes Oscar an offer he can’t refuse. He’s got the drop on riches hidden away on the “outside” and he’ll share the loot with Oscar on one condition: he busts him out of Sunny Days.
In this humdinger of an adventure, the ultimate odd couple, along with an uninvited stowaway, go from high-stakes escape to rollicking escapade as they search for the secret stash—and forge an unlikely friendship along the way. Will Oscar succeed in saving the only home he’s ever known? Or will he have to fuggedaboutit and return a failure?
The Invisible List of Lani Li written by Veeda Bybee, Shadow Mountain, 224 pages, October 7
A challenge from her little brother and a Chinese fable inspire Lani Li to hit every note of invincible bravery on her band trip to London.
Thirteen-year-old Lani Li has grown up with the tale of the Eight Invincible Brothers–Chinese heroes who use their superpowers to conquer challenges. Lani wishes she could be as brave as them, especially as she faces her own test of courage . . .
When Lani’s elite performance band is chosen to perform in London, she should be thrilled. But with too many fears to count and her little brother, Gavin, unable to join her due to a serious heart condition, the trip feels more daunting than exciting. Before Lani leaves, Gavin gives her a challenge: tap into her own hidden strength by embodying the Eight Invincible Brothers–and each of their special powers.
In London, Lani creates her own “invincible list” based on the fable, and as she checks off each quality, she discovers that these “superpowers” might not be as far-fetched as they seem. But when the final challenge demands that she face a daunting fear–running down the famous Cooper’s Hill in a wild cheese race–Lani wonders if she has what it takes to complete the list.
With her brother’s courage as her guide, can Lani conquer her fears and prove she’s invincible in her own way? Or will this last challenge be the one that defeats her?
Outside written by Jennifer Holm, Scholastic, 240 pages, October 7
From three-time Newbery Honor winner Jennifer L. Holm, a chilling but heartfelt story of a girl being raised in a compound who doesn’t understand how isolated and unusual her life is… until she must encounter the outside world.
Whatever you do, don’t leave home.
Razzi has always been told: Don’t go Outside. It isn’t safe. There are people and creatures out there that will harm you. The walls of the Refuge will protect you from them.
Razzi’s friend Ollie was curious about Outside… and it led to his death. So Razzi is trying to be on her best behavior. She is the oldest kid left, the one the younger kids look up to. She has to follow the rules.
But Outside has a way of getting in, and Razzi, guided by a dog she has a strangely close connection with, wonders what it’s like to run free beyond the walls.
If she steps away from everything she’s ever known… what will she find?
Three Weeks in the Rainforest, written by Jennifer Swanson, Charlesbridge, 80 pages, October 14
A women-led team of scientists protect the Amazon rainforest from destruction as readers get a firsthand account of real-life fieldwork in action.
A compelling, nonfiction, photo-illustrated STEM read for 8-12-year-olds who aspire to be future scientists, environmentalists, and conservationists!
Over 22 years, a team of scientists from the Field Museum in Chicago has helped conserve 28.9 million acres of the Amazon rainforest. Follow the team as they race to gather data over three precious weeks in the field.
During rapid inventory, information is gathered in two ways:
Biologists trek through mud and rain and count every animal and plant they see, recording everything that flies, swims, crawls, slithers, or walks. They then look at key plant and animal groups to assess the health of the ecosystem.
Social scientists visit villages, speaking with local people about their desires and goals for the land, as each community has developed its own way of taking care of its environment.
The team then makes a compelling, evidence-based case for conservation.
Developed in partnership with the Field Museum, this action-packed book focuses on Rapid Inventory 30, which is conducted in Colombia with the help of local and Indigenous scientists and community members.
Photographs from the scientists themselves give readers a glimpse into real-life fieldwork in the Amazon that will captivate STEM readers and the next generation of scientists.
Ivy and Forest Rewrite the World, written by Hannah West, illustrated by Jennifer Bricking, Holiday House, 288 pages, October 14
Fairy tale heroes and fantasy villains chase one another across the multiverse in this clever middle grade debut that sparkles with bookish magic and quick-witted humor.
Ivy is an isolated, daydreaming girl in the “real” world. Forest is a scrawny, unlikely hero in Ivy’s “pretend” story.
Never the two shall meet . . . until Forest unexpectedly walks through a portal and finds himself in Ivy’s queendom. All Forest wants to do is talk to the author of his story about a few edits to his character arc—he has no idea what kind of narrative stakes he is up against.
As soon as Ivy and Forest try to rewrite Forest’s story, the pair gets caught in an evil wizard’s plot for world domination. They must travel through the multiverse of Ivy’s imagination—along with a mishmash cast of abandoned characters, including junior superheroes, an intrepid Victorian girl detective, and even a rough draft version of Forest himself—to foil their dastardly foe. If they don’t succeed in their heroic quest, each and every world (possibly even Ivy’s own!) could be obliterated with just two short words: “The End.”
Each story splinters into the next in this brilliant spin on classic storytelling tropes that celebrates the power of imagination and creativity during uncertain times. Bursting with energy, Hannah West makes a fresh middle grade debut that is perfect for bookworms and kids with big imaginations. Features spot illustrations and a map of Ivy’s multiverse destinations.
Ms. Pennypickle’s Puzzle Quest, written by Chris Grabenstein, Random House Books for Young Readers, 272 pages, October 14
Say this title five times fast!
From the New York Times bestselling author of the Mr. Lemoncello series comes a race across the country full of rousing riddles and laugh-out-loud humor as two brothers try to solve the million-dollar puzzle of an eccentric genius!
Benjamin and Ethan Broderick don’t fit together. Twelve-year-old Ben loves retro arcade games and puzzles, while his older brother would rather play sports and hang out with his friends. The only thing they have in common is how much they resent being forced to go on a summer road trip.
But at the quirky diner where the brothers make their very first stop, they discover a clue leading to a giant puzzle race with a million-dollar prize! Along with five other families, the Brodericks are thrust into a high-stakes competition along the famous Route 66.
Can Ben and Ethan put their heads together—and put aside their differences—to beat out the other families and solve Ms. Pennypickle’s ultimate puzzle?
The Tear Collector, written by R.M. Romero, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 336 pages, October 14
Set after the end of the world, this darkly fantastical climate change tale explores hope, memory, and what really makes a monster.
Climate change culminated in the Flood, an enormous wave that wiped out entire countries. Malka and her younger brother Ezra survived and now live with Dr. Jonas Hollman on the Island, the only piece of land left on Earth. Scavenging useful things from the shoreline under the watchful eye of the Island’s sinister leader Mr. Gray, Malka and her family get by. Barely.
But an illness called the Sorrow is changing people into monsters when their memories of the Mainland grow too sad…and Ezra is the latest to get sick. Desperate not to lose her brother, Malka throws herself into helping “Uncle” Jonas with his research to find a cure.
Then her family’s dismal lives are turned upside down by the mysterious Olivia, who crashes a plane on the beach. More people are out there, she says. The world isn’t lost forever. To save Ezra and the other Islanders, Malka will have to uncover the secrets of her flooded world–and the lies even the people she loves have told her about the true nature of the Sorrow.
R.M. Romero tackles our fear and anxiety surrounding climate change and weaves it through with hope in this beautifully told adventure that will resonate with readers young and old.
Fooled, written by Susan Haas and Lexi Haas, Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, 288 pages, October 21
In this fresh, funny, and fast-paced story, chaos ensues when a down-on-its-luck middle school comes to believe that fake magic is the real deal!
Magic loving, wheelchair user Lil Evers wishes she could start sixth grade at a real wizarding school, instead of the worst junior high in her district. But when she leads her friends in roleplaying their own magic school in the Exceptional Children’s (EC) class for special education, it helps the school days feel more bearable.
When their magic wands end up scaring some bullies away in a chance encounter, the EC students’ standing at school does a total 180. Students think their magic is actually real–and that Lil and her friends can grant their wishes with good luck charms! Strangest of all, the charms seem to be working…
But it becomes clear that there’s someone lurking who doesn’t want the good luck to spread. Can Lil let go of her fantasy world to find her voice–and embrace her real school–before Willow Street Middle falls victim to an evil plan?
From the co-authors of the critically acclaimed memoir The Year of the Buttered Cat comes an imaginative novel that shines a spotlight on the way the school system often fails students with disabilities–while showcasing the power of those very students to make positive change.
Nancy Castaldo: I was fortunate to conduct on-site research on Isle Royale alongside wildlife photographer Morgan Heim. It was an incredible experience to spend time with the scientists I’d admired since college. The predator-prey study there is the longest-running of its kind in the world. We met with researchers and park scientists, often traveling by boat and then hiking into the island’s interior to observe their work firsthand. From water chemistry to tracking wolves and moose, we saw just how much goes into understanding this complex ecosystem. Isle Royale is more than just a beautiful place to visit—it’s a living laboratory, and the work done there has implications for ecosystems everywhere.
Nancy Castaldo: That’s true. For people like me, wildlife is a big part of why we love national parks. Animals bring the landscape to life—without them, so much of the magic would be missing. On Isle Royale, the wolf and moose populations are a major draw. Visitors are captivated by its wildness and the hauntingly beautiful calls of loons and wolves. The presence of these animals is essential to the health—and appeal—of the park.
