|
|
The Next Chapter: Books for Kids and Tweens October 2025 |
|
|
|
|
|
The Academy by T. Z. Layton Leo has been invited to try out for a youth soccer squad in London. Once he gets there, he finds he not only has to face the grueling work of the competition, but a bully as well. Will Leo survive the summer and make the squad? Series alert: The Journey Continues is the next title in this action-packed series for soccer-mad readers, whether players or fans.
|
|
|
|
The Green Kingdom by Cornelia FunkeAll right, she had to admit it: it really was an adventure to be in a new place. A different Caspia emerged here. A Brooklyn-Caspia, just like the Brooklyn-dandelion. Twelve-year-old Caspia hates big cities, especially New York. So, she isn't thrilled by the news that her parents are taking her to Brooklyn for the whole summer. But everything changes when Caspia discovers a bundle of letters, written by a blind girl many years ago, and hidden in an old chest of drawers. Each letter contains a 'green' riddle, with clues leading to a different plant. Caspia sets out to solve the riddles and, as she does, she meets friends she could never have imagined and finds, to her surprise, that sometimes you can put down roots where you least expect it. Author spotlight: Award-winning German author Cornelia Funke has become beloved in the U.S. Her books for older kids often pit brave heroes, whether dragon or human, against menacing villains and overwhelming problems in fast-paced, adventure-filled fantasies lightened with touches of humor. Funke's storytelling excels with twists and surprises, elegant turns of phrase, elaborate plots, and emotion-driven, precarious situations that propel readers through lengthy fantasy novels. Her richly detailed writing creates strong settings that let readers escape into intricate worlds inhabited by unique, complex characters where magic and mystery mingle. (Novelist) |
|
|
|
Inside the Park by Andrea WilliamsBaseball-loving 12-year-old Timothy “Pumpsie” Strickland gets trapped inside the baseball stadium on the eve of the season's biggest game and realizes he's not alone, that foul plots are brewing, and it's up to him to save the team's postseason chances. Reviewers say: "This warm, lively story has an irresistible protagonist and skillfully blends sports and family life. Williams’ depiction of a close-knit African American family is marked by humor and rich cultural details.A delightful, action-packed, and satisfying read." (Kirkus) |
|
|
|
Oasis by GuojingTwo children and one robot take center stage in this timely exploration of how far AI technology can go when JieJie and her little brother DiDi find an AI-powered robot lying dormant in an abandoned junkyard while their mother works tirelessly to earn their admission into Oasis City. |
|
|
|
Speak Up, Santiago! by Julio Anta; illustrated by Gabi MendezThough he's bilingual, middle schooler Santi speaks way more English than Spanish. He's trying to change that while visiting his Abuela Emma in the Latin American neighborhood of Hillside Valley, but his frustration and embarrassment keeps getting in the way. What's inside: this graphic novel series-starter is packed with authentic characters and crisp, bright artwork. |
|
|
|
Red Panda & Moon Bear by Jarod RoselloRed Panda and Moon Bear, magical defenders of their community, battle ghosts, evil robots, alien invaders, and time portals, all before Mami and Papi get home. |
|
|
|
Lalo Lesperance Never Forgot by Phillippe DiederichLalo Lesperance lives with his older brother and Mexican American mother in a low-income apartment building in Fort Myers. They moved there from a subdivision after the family lost Lalo's Haitian American father. At school, Lalo is known as the boy who can't remember anything and needs special help in all his classes. But when the first COVID lockdown hits, he finds himself in a friendship of convenience with Vivi, a Mexican American kid his age who gets perfect grades and who never gave him a second thought when they were in school. Vivi's abuela watches the kids while their mothers work long shifts as nurses at a clinic slammed by COVID. What happens: As Lalo navigates his much smaller pandemic world, he discovers his apartment building has its own mysteries, like a sinister stranger in an old RV and a storage closet full of junk, including an old radio that just might hold the key to remembering why Lalo's family moved to the apartment and what happened to his father. |
|
|
|
When 11-year-old Lila arrives at her deceased Grandpa Clem’s inn, she discovers that it’s packed with ghosts -- including Grandpa Clem himself, who wants Lila to investigate his supposed murder. Next in the series: The Claiming by Jasmine Warga, out in 2026.
Don't miss: This paranormal thriller series starter features interactive QR codes, but you don’t have to use them to enjoy the eerie vibes. |
|
|
|
  When Felice learns that she's the daughter of La Llorona, she catches a ride to the magical town of Tres Leches, where her mother is said to be haunting the river. Growing up with her uncle Clem in Corpus Christi, Felice knew that she had been rescued from drowning--it's where her intense fear of water comes from--but she had no idea her mother remained trapped between worlds, looking for her. Guided by the magical town's eccentric mayor, Felice vows to help her mother make peace with the events that turned her into the most famous monstruo of US-Mexico border lore. Along the way, she meets the children of other monstruos, like La Lechuza and the Dancing Devil, and together they free Tres Leches from magical and metaphorical curses that have haunted its people for generations. |
|
|
|
In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra dreams of going to college and becoming a writer. But with her beloved father dead, two younger siblings to care for, and with a stepmother struggling to make ends meet, Petra has to drop out of school to shell pecans at a factory. After the unhealthy environment leads to tragedy and workers' already low wages are cut, Petra and her coworkers go on strike for higher wages and safer conditions, risking everything they have for the hope of a better future.
Based on a true story: Included is an author’s note explaining the role of Emma Tenayuca and the Fair Standards Labor Act's impact on the pecan shellers’ strike. (Booklist) |
|
Contact your librarian for more great books!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|