Much of Wiggins’s argument draws from extended personal testimony and anecdotes from relatives of marijuana users, lending the text strong emotional undertones, particularly when recounting deaths from marijuana’s “adverse effects on the heart.” He digs into medical literature as well, identifying marijuana as a potential contributor to suicidality, psychotic disorders, neurocognitive decline, and more. For readers unfamiliar with the ins and outs of brain pharmacology, he touches on the mechanics behind marijuana’s influence on the body, in language that brings a complex topic down to an understandable level.
Though he encourages readers to scrutinize research for themselves, Wiggins references findings based on unpublished data from a colleague choosing to remain anonymous, which cuts against the data-driven approach. For Christian readers seeking biblical arguments against cannabis use, though, Wiggins comes through, tying the bulk of his case to the Bible’s prohibition against drunkenness—“the Bible does command sobriety,” he asserts, and “one cannot use marijuana and stay sober”—and contending that “marijuana opens the door to the dark side of the spirit world and the demonic realm.” Wiggins closes with encouragement for readers who don’t find stopping marijuana use “easy” to seek outside help, advising that “God can instantly heal anyone at any time, but He usually works through others.”
Takeaway: A physician and minister’s case against marijuana.
Comparable Titles: Alex Berenson’s Tell Your Children, Todd Miles’s Cannabis and the Christian.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Daniel soon begins getting attention from the town as a hero, buoying his status among his peers. But when popularity gets to his head, and his scarf ends up in the wrong hands, he must find a way to get it back before the new owner uses it to destroy the school. Champey creates a high-spirited story that will draw in middle-grade users with Daniel’s adventures with his grandmother, his uncle, and his friend, Lizzie, plus some mysteries about the rest of the family and much lively incident, including confrontations with bullies, Badgerball shenanigans, secret missions to save the town and stoke Danile’s powers, plus much talk about his parents’ and aunt’s exciting expeditions to lost cities and beneath the sea.
Champey’s brisk, big-hearted storytelling finds fresh fun in some familiar elements, though momentum is diminished by some repetitive sentence structures (“Yes, Ashley Star was the quite the sensation”; “Yes, it was quite the spectacle”) and an overreliance on adverbs (suddenly, immediately) that slow the action. Still, the cliffhanger ending sets up the sequel with buoyant energy, and Daniel learns important lessons about how to treat others, while learning magic and discovering the interesting past of his family.
Takeaway: A middle-schooler’s magic scarf opens up a world of adventure.
Comparable Titles: John August’s Arlo Finch series, Jess Redman’s The Adventure Is Now.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: B-
Marketing copy: B+
Abraham expends minimal detail to spin these tales, creating a foggy and dreamlike atmosphere where anything is possible. Readers are granted nibbles of repeated information that allow them to parse the violent and surreal surroundings here, extrapolating the history of Abraham's written world, bookended by the repeated, unsettling mantra “long live the new flesh.” In “57 Minutes,” a group navigates the treachery and intensity of stolen endings, as one of them croons Latin maxims—“Remember that you have to die. Remember that you have to live.” “Served Cold” trails protagonist Robert, on a deathly mission, as he whispers “there’s no light at the end of the tunnel” both to himself and his victim, in a ghastly attempt to outrun his assignment.
This collection will resonate with readers who cherish buried clues and inconspicuous metaphors but may hobble those who prefer more description and exposition. As far out as the tales may reach, readers will connect with the very human experiences Abraham fashions at their core—a malicious mother-in-law, the danger of a person who feels trapped, a father who will risk everything for his daughter. Abraham offers a new perspective of a terrifying world here, where horror, foreboding, and the prickle of the unknown ignite a hair-raising frenzy.
Takeaway: Existential cosmic horror grounds deeply human experiences.
Comparable Titles: Nathan Ballingrud’s Wounds, Adam L.G. Nevill’s Some Will Not Sleep.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B-
Younger readers will instantly fall for Merz’s soul-eyed, happy-dancing pup, who, despite the hard knocks of her life on the street, manages to keep an innocent trust in the world around her. Every time she runs into people, she tries her best to impress, in hopes of finding a friend; more often than not, that ends with her mistreatment, as when a group of school children laugh at her and throw rocks, prompting her to cry “why don’t those kids like me?” Readers will be crushed at the puppy’s despair, and empathize with her melancholy: “I’m cute, I dance, and I give smiley smiles. What’s not to like” she whimpers.
Thankfully, this teary tale has a warm, fuzzy ending, as the puppy meets a teacher named Jean, who steps in at just the right moment to save her from calamity, gifting her with a collar and a name of her own—Parker. Hefke’s bold illustrations bring Parker to vivid life, from her expressive puppy eyes to her excited jumping, and her declaration at the end—that a collar “feels so good… Like love” will thaw even the hardest hearts.
Takeaway: Sweet tale of a pup finding their forever home.
Comparable Titles: Lisa Papp’s Madeline Finn and the Shelter Dog, Kelly Collier’s The Imposter.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B+
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
As the Naked Mole Rats (all teams are named for underground animals), Everly, along with her teammates—the bulky and clever Inuit Katak, belligerent Indian Vashti, and insecure Latina Inés—must triumph at a series of trials, including an obstacle course, marathon race, free climbing a 500-foot tree, and anagram puzzle, all under the watchful eyes of their perpetually scowling mentor Micah. Readers young and old will be captivated by Doty’s swift-moving plot and fierce motivations of diverse, quirky teenagers who are troubled by anxieties and impetuousness, countermanded by their fierce desire to achieve independence as emerging adults.
This is a light read, but it covers familiar themes of teenagers learning how to work together, united by dedication and grit against a corrupt government. Doty’s message of loyalty to family and friends, along with the novel’s strongly drawn characters who succeed despite their difficult circumstances, rings universal. The exploits are satisfyingly demanding and exciting, rewarding readers with a healthy slice of action alongside the more character-driven drama. Doty draws a nuanced and powerful portrait of the type of camaraderie that can save a world teetering on disaster, as Everly herself realizes that “come hell or high water, their fates were intertwined.”
Takeaway: Eager teenagers undergo trials to prove them worthy for a rebellion.
Comparable Titles: Shade Owens’s Chosen, Orson Scott Card’s Ender’s Game.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: –
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
This is a brisk, exciting introduction for a character and series that celebrates African culture and storytelling with a sharp political edge, a hearty dash of flying-saucer and alien-abduction SF, crisp, exciting art, and clear love for superheroes, which here feel grounded despite some literally high-flying action. Adegbite blends the fantastical aspects with real-world commentary on colonialism and its short and long-term effects on sovereign African nations, all while telling a somewhat traditional origin story—Teriba puts his new alien powers to thrilling use, for the public good, but they come with wrenching loss, pressing questions of responsibility, and a host of complications. The president of Westernia, a U.S.-like country, makes a veiled threat to the president of the UAR regarding the spacecraft if he doesn't hand it over. When terrorists take tourists hostage, Teriba boldly uses his new powers to free them, all while the UAR faces a coup attempt and an international conspiracy, plunging the nation into chaos.
Servus’s action is exciting, with inventive panel angels never diminishing the clarity, and the characters prove distinct and engaging with a minimum of us. It's fascinating to see how Adegbite creates a narrative that turns the tables on greed, corruption, and foreign exploitation in such an exhilarating manner, all while leaving so much to explore in the future.
Takeaway: Surprising superhero origin involving UFOs and an African republic.
Comparable Titles: Roye Okupe and Sunkanmi Akinboye’s Windmaker series, Loyiso Mkize and Clyde Beech’s Kwezi series.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: B+
Beth’s office sits at the heart of the narrative: the reader is offered a glimpse of clients who walk in and out of therapy sessions, venting their issues and listening to Beth’s guidance, a lot of them identified by quirky nicknames like “dancer” and “queen.” St. Clair’s experience as a psychotherapist shines through, as the novel oscillates between psychological drama and detective story, as Beth gets wrapped up more deeply in the explosive situation at the school. The narrative picks up pace with each passing chapter, punctuated with twists, turns and truly surprising revelations.
The many therapy scenes, some from other perspectives, set the novel apart, and readers fascinated by the rules, tensions, and promises of such encounters will relish these. Some twists strain credulity, and a climactic confrontation feels somewhat rushed. But fleet, clear writing, an authoritative depiction of therapy, and St. Clair’s firm grasp on the tangled threads keep the pace strong and the mysteries intriguing, leaving readers with a chance to breathe only once it’s all settled.
Takeaway: Intimate psychological thriller of a therapist and the possibility of deadly clients.
Comparable Titles: Alex Michaelides’s The Silent Patient, A.F. Brady’s The Blind.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Osara infuses this book with diversity, offering readers an array of professionals in skilled positions, many of whom are female. She references famous trailblazers in each area, including Julia Robinson, a mathematician specializing in cryptography, Gladys West, who helped develop our global positioning system (GPS), and Grace Hopper—a computer programmer credited with creating the language FLOW-MATIC, making it “easier for people to tell computers what to do.” Osara references how some of those STEM pioneers have paved the way for our current work in the field as well, such as Hopper’s work inspiring the invention of the computer language COBOL, still used in contemporary times.
Beyond the variety of STEM facts included here, readers will find a feast of fun as well. Osara addresses AI (“super smart machines that can learn and think just like us. Sounds like magic, doesn’t it?”), the processes behind foods like potato chips, and more. The illustrations are interesting, offsetting weighty material with entertaining images like a vacuuming robot, though the art styles, which at times suggest clip art, vary at times for reasons that aren’t clear. Osara closes with a glossary and interactive STEM activities kids can do at home, including making a rainbow in a jar or crafting a binary bracelet.
Takeaway: STEM learning transformed into an intergalactic adventure.
Comparable Titles: Jane Bull’s The Simple Science Activity Book, Robert Winston’s Ask a Scientist.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: B
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Tyler’s skill in bringing thoughtful perspective and lyrical prose to the mundanities of daily life shines through in her expression of the deep love for a person so central to her life, alongside the intense frustration that comes with managing her mother’s lucid stubbornness and cognitive confusion. Though there are amusing moments that spring from both Elizabeth’s larger-than-life personality and the dissonance that accompanies her failure to acknowledge her own decline, these mostly serve to lighten a compassionate but sometimes heavy narrative.
Though Tyler references the logistical complexities of parenting young children while managing an aging parent—and of curating her children’s relationship with a declining grandparent—she keeps her focus primarily on her own experiences. Her relationship with Elizabeth’s artistic side comes through as she considers the titular painting, which Elizabeth’s own mother rejected, but which Tyler tries to embrace after her mother gifts it to her; this also aids Tyler’s later asides into deep explorations of identity, as she muses “even here, in this murky suspension between the then and now, I was this: I was my mother’s daughter.” Tyler’s expression of the difficult transformations that occur between caregiving and requiring care, especially for women who take on traditional familial roles, resonates with human universality.
Takeaway: Beautifully honest memoir of an adult daughter caretaking her aging mother.
Comparable Titles: Katie Hafner’s Mother Daughter Me, Loretta Anne Woodward Veney’s Being My Mom’s Mom.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Throughout Patel demonstrates acute understanding of doctors’ mindsets: “You know you’re superhuman,” he writes with a wink, “but patients appreciate it when you humanize yourself with a little humor and a smile in your voice.” Cooperation, empathy, active listening, and connections are some of the operative words as Patel offers detailed examples of his and his colleague's experiences, both positive and negative, showing the harsh reality of crazy hours, challenging emotions, high-level surgery, and patient care, with a little joke here and there and much clear-eyed guidance about how “the emo- tionally intelligent physician understands that managing chaos doesn’t mean you act chaotically.”
Patel’s advice and anecdotes read like intimate talk from a caring mentor urging for a new level of bedside manner. He’s not just pushing for niceness—this is about listening to the patient, putting aside the ego, and creating solutions. Patel’s encouraging call for self-awareness and improvement is specific to the medical world but readers from any field will find this rousing.
Takeaway: Rousing call for self-awareness and emotional intelligence in medical careers.
Comparable Titles: Michael Stein’s Accidental Kindness, Shareef Mahdavi’s Beyond Bedside Manner.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Composed of podcast and video transcripts, newspaper clippings, police reports, blog comments, dream journals, texts and even fan fiction, the quick-paced narrative follows the remaining members of the Legion as they continue their cross-country tour, gathering clues as to Kevin’s whereabouts. The mystery starts with an 1897 newspaper report of an airship crash in Aurora, Texas, and the remains of its pilot, “not an inhabitant of this world,” who was buried in a local cemetery. The Nerd Legion follows signs declaring “The Pilot Awakens,” a message revealing that the pilot told Starkly’s great-grandfather his name was Max As Abraxas, and aliens who communicate with us through lucid dreaming.
Walker skillfully manipulates these disparate clues and reports into an intricate chronicle of this dedicated troupe of ufologists and ghost hunters, with welcome attention paid to the thinking and language of Starkly and company, whose takes sometimes surprise: “the Extraterrestrial Hypothesis (ETH) has done more damage to the study of the UFO phenomena than all the crackpot conspiracy theorists,” Starkly argues. The paranormal intrigue is infused with humor, true science, and literary and pop culture references for a playful and suspenseful adventure. Fans of The X-Files will feel right at home.
Takeaway: Gripping alien conspiracy adventure told in found documents.
Comparable Titles: Connie Willis’s The Road to Roswell, Patrick Lee’s The Breach.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
The Ship freshens up classic space-adventure elements with vibrant prose, welcome wit, and a clear love of the genre—Ricketts both honors and challenges readers expectations. For all the fun, action, and mystery, the characterization archetypal but alive, with the burgeoning relationships between Sam and her quickly assembled crew proving the novel’s heart. Sam and Kate bicker, but they quickly fall in together as trusted compatriots—"Do you have a splicer and some proto-casing?” Kate asks, early on, as Sam monkeys with the kraken’s innards. As those two edge toward acknowledging their interest in each other, Ricketts contrasts them with the hilariously blunter attraction Addy feels for mercenary Parker, a “tall drink of 70-round pulse rifle” keeping tabs on Sam for Floodwater.
Ricketts introduces her universe on the fly, through the eyes of Sam and co. and through the blaster shots of the pirates and others they encounter. Surprises like Kate’s status as a “Purifier” and the secrets of her old crew contribute to keeping the somewhat familiar milieu lively, but what makes this ship soar is its first-rate dialogue and character connections, which blend salty, sharp-elbowed chatter with found-family warmth.
Takeaway: Stellar SF adventure debut, bursting with wit, pirates, and found-family warmth.
Comparable Titles: Becky Chambers, G. Willow Wilson and Christian Ward’s Invisible Kingdom.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Jamison recounts her secret life as an addict, opening up about the hidden shame, attempted suicides, and ultimately successful recovery she experienced. From writing her own prescriptions to stealing pills from the medicine cabinets of friends and family, this harrowing story of one survivor's private struggle with substance abuse probes the steps it takes to truly recover from addiction—and the rippling effect substance abuse has not only on addicts, but on their loved ones as well. Jamison shies away from nothing, chronicling her life’s precarious balance as she gains accolades in her career all while harboring dark secrets: “I was achieving great things in my life, but underneath I was hiding a seething boil of inescapable turmoil,” she writes.
This memoir is unique in its exploration of both the wounded and the healed side of trauma and addiction, and readers struggling with similar issues will find Jamison’s emotive writing spellbinding. More than just a chronicle of the devastation wrought by addiction, Jamison’s story is ultimately an homage to her triumph over years of mental anguish and pain—so much so, she coins her own phrase, “surthriving,” to describe her transformation from “mere survival to one of truly thriving, in all the best ways.”
Takeaway: Vulnerable memoir of a psychologist’s triumph over substance abuse.
Comparable Titles: Laura Cathcart Robbins's Stash, Sarah Michaud's Co-Crazy.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Ebert’s fast-paced thriller again combines explosive action with complex character development, creating a thrilling and an urgent, emotionally resonant narrative as invested in these highly-trained killers’ hearts as much as it is their skills at subterfuge. Ebert deepens the sibling relationship between Chris and Michelle, while introducing new dynamics with Anna Monteiro and their former foster brother, Ansel Meehan. The storytelling smartly balances intense, inventive action with moments of introspection, even on Irene’s part in a glimpse of her past, adding depth and many personal touches to what could have been a straightforward action plot.
Irene is the standout character, a refined yet ruthless villain whose machinations drive much of the plot and add a layer of political intrigue amid all the personal vendettas. Ebert's prose is, again, taut and efficient, propelling the reader through a series of heart-pounding set pieces across Canada and the US. The author demonstrates a keen eye for detail in his action scenes, making them vivid and immersive, ensuring the reader is fully engaged in the narrative. While the plot is engaging, the multitude of swift-developing elements can sometimes feel overwhelming. However, Ebert keeps these threads cohesive, tying them together in a satisfying climax.
Takeaway: Swift, smart thriller of silent assassin siblings seeking revenge.
Comparable Titles: Vince Flynn's Mitch Rapp series, Brad Thor's Scot Harvath series.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: B+
In traditional Aesop form, Davies animates her featured animals, endowing them with very humanlike emotions and problems, and offers a moral at the end of each story—themes that are both “current and controversial,” in Davies’s words. From a productive goat who becomes lazy and unfocused after he’s gifted a mobile phone to a moth who hates his own reflection, Davies tackles issues that young readers will immediately relate to. In “The Owl and His Dilemma,” a rollercoaster loving owl learns to deal with bullying over his dinner choices, after a gaggle of geese tease him for enjoying a “fieldmouse burger.” That incident prompts him to explore the culinary choices of other birds, inciting his epiphany that “we should just eat what tastes good to us and not mock anyone if their dinner is different to ours,” a message that Davies ties into accepting others and avoiding judgment.
Each fable begins with a colorful, hand-sketched illustration hinting at what readers can expect from the tale, and younger readers will enjoy Davies's outlandish characters, humorous situations, and figurative language (just as adult readers will appreciate the opportunities scattered throughout to learn new, unfamiliar words, such as “pulchritudinous” and “avaricious”). This is a lighthearted tribute to Aesop’s brilliance.
Takeaway: Lighthearted reimagining of Aesop’s fables, for today's youth.
Comparable Titles: Vivian C. Olsen’s The Good, The Bad, and the Goofy, Mike Bennett’s Aesop’s Fables Reimagined.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B
Editing: B
Marketing copy: B+
Giordano weaves a riveting tale deeply embedded in colonial life and subtly laced with the harsh realities of slavery, nimbly portraying colonialism and the imperial enterprise’s many contradictions, often through probing questions. Her nuanced descriptions and skillful integration of surrealism, particularly through the otherworldly mystique of dream sequences, add a haunting layer to the narrative. The oracle Cleo, a central figure, guides both Charles and Eliza through their respective dilemmas and premonitions, and, as the story delves deep into Eliza’s psyche, readers will also be drawn into her slow descent into madness, captured here in vivid detail.
At its core, The Island King is a tale of two individuals haunted by their pasts, grappling with the guilt that shadows them. Themes of honor and betrayal permeate, fueling the dilemmas they face, and Giordano deftly captures Eliza’s emotional transformation as her feelings for Charles shift from intense hatred and disgust to care and affinity. The saga unfolds gradually, with inner monologues that occasionally drift away, but the rich, period-appropriate details firmly ground the story in its sociocultural context. The looming threat of the governor and Captain Bruin escalate the tension, injecting much-needed pace into the narrative's second half, and Giordano ends the novel on a cliffhanger that will leave readers eagerly awaiting the next installment.
Takeaway: Regency-era historical fiction blending surrealism with harsh reality.
Comparable Titles: Amita Murray’s The Marleigh Sisters series, Natasha Boyd’s The Indigo Girl.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: NA
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-