In deft strokes and bold lines, Ingold (author of There Came a Contagion) effortlessly brings to life characters who linger long after: Turghoff, who paints to express what he cannot say even to himself and “had a reputation well earned; galleries wanted his work, buyers purchased it” ; Yvonne, a journalist who writes with clarity and empathy but is having trouble at home with her alcoholic husband (and self-medicating to cope); Gil, tormented from his time in Iraq; and Carly, tentative, shy, and fragile, with only sporadic attempts at creating art. Even Edgar Montoya, a minor supporting character nicknamed “Headlong” (because “when he set off running he gave no thought to stopping”) comes across as a fully animated, memorable addition to the cast.
Ingold’s depiction of Turghoff is nuanced, capturing the complexities of his artistic self—the joys of small successes and the frustration when “the channel between mind and hand” is blocked—with finesse. Turghoff’s initial wariness, and Yvonne’s mysteriousness, are all fashioned with skilled surety, making this an in-depth exploration of an artist’s mind, its vulnerabilities, the constant battles with roadblocks to expression, and the resilience born out of loyalty to the creative self.
Takeaway: An engrossing portrait of an artist and his muse.
Comparable Titles: Deborah Moggach’s Tulip Fever, Percival Everett’s So Much Blue.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Olaf, Essex, and their newfound companions handily navigate this magical city where foxes communicate with trees and witches lurk under cover. The novel delves into themes of connection and belonging, with each character on a quest to find or reconnect with loved ones; Olaf yearns for his mother, Baby the cat yearns for her former owner, Betty, and Essex pines for her late mate, Bolton. That thread of longing loops the different characters together into a united quest, of sorts, forcing them to consider how a makeshift family may be just the answer they’re all looking for—despite the lack of blood ties.
Olaf—who eventually decides to keep the child and soon learns that she was kidnapped from her true father, Chief Detector Damon Thomas—embraces his role as protector and, with the help of witches Hilda and Helga (one evil, one good), he and Essex face challenges that test their bond and resolve, but ultimately reaffirm the power of love and chosen family. “Life was not a tale signifying nothing. He loved other beings, and they loved him. That was something. That was neverending” Olaf muses. Xiao’s black and white illustrations bring the story’s animals to vivid life, making this heartwarming tale a delightful read for both children and the young at heart.
Takeaway: Sweet tale of the power of found family.
Comparable Titles: S.D. Smith’s The Green Ember, Dave Eggers’s The Eyes & the Impossible.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing Copy: A-
There is serious opportunity there, of course, but as Bengier reminds readers throughout this humane, surprising novel, the course of technological shifts is never predictable, and it will take a generation or two for robots, AI, and other technologies to reach their potential—and, for some of the descendants of Max’s adopted parents, to fight against. The episodic plotting is concerned with changes over decades, cultural and sociopolitical in addition to technological. Bengier considers the fates of the global superpowers, how long it takes smartphones and online eyeglasses to be supplanted by brain-computer interfaces, and why “All robots except the military ones and those in factories have a blind spot behind.”
“You are here to save the planet,” an engineer tells grad students in the mid 21st century. Journey to 2125 explores how some could try. The result is a thoughtful, human-scaled future history, examining the lives—some hopeful, some tragic—of refugees, engineers, public policy-makers, entrepreneurs, and more as they’re both shaped by the world they’ve inherited and committed to saving it.
Takeaway: Sweeping, humane SF novel of one family, the next century, and all the change to come.
Comparable Titles: Kim Stanley Robinson, Sequoia Nagamatsu.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: B+
Fagan brings Havana to life, weaving its landmarks, vibrant culture, and menacing political landscape seamlessly into Pepper’s exploits. As his investigation deepens, the lively cast of supporting characters infuses the story with energy: Hector, Angel’s Elvis-loving cousin, reluctantly shepherds Pepper through Havana’s dicey underworld; grizzled, tenacious Cuban detective Juan Guiteras sets himself against Pepper at every turn (even in the boxing ring); laconic Belarusian filmmaker Victor Beriev’s camera is always watching; and gorgeous actress Dayana de Melina distracts Pepper with her sensual beauty even as her charm opens doors in his investigation. While the arc of their relationship occasionally feels predictable, their romance is disrupted when Pepper discovers that Dayana knows more about Marisol’s disappearance than she claimed.
With a hurricane approaching and tensions escalating, Pepper must make a crucial decision that will impact this case – and the rest of his life. Though readers may find some of his initial discoveries too convenient, as Pepper’s investigation deepens and he finds himself on the trail of a serial killer who is targeting Cuba’s well-known artists, his trademark intelligence, wit, and resourcefulness create exciting confrontations and thrilling revelations. The story’s relentless pace and action-packed twists and turns through Havana’s dark underbelly will have fans of international thrillers on the edge of their seats.
Takeaway: Exciting and witty missing-person thriller, with a Cuban twist.
Comparable Titles: Carl Hiaasen, Janet Evanovich.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Bellano takes readers on a lively journey, from the streets of New York City and its surrounding suburbs to extended visits with cousins in hardscrabble western Pennsylvania towns, regularly reserving a close eye and gentle love for his numerous sports subjects. The unique differences he observes are striking and play a role in the man he becomes; like his hardworking immigrant family finding its way in a new country with a heavy influence from the Catholic Church, Bellano transforms as he grows, from precocious youngster to sensitive young man.
Sports fans who came of age during this period will appreciate Bellano’s recreations of timeless moments in ‘70s sports history, while also welcoming his intertwining of more serious news, such as the impact of Watergate and inflation on his generation. His recounting of such seemingly mundane things like the “finely manicured grass” of Yankee Stadium or the apparent desperation within Pennsylvania’s all-but-abandoned mining towns is unadulterated and nostalgic, as he reaches the happy realization that the ‘70s were not a “forgettable” decade by any stretch, but one of the greatest, and most under-appreciated, on the books, a “golden age” when “our appetite for sports was voracious.”
Takeaway: Emphatic tribute to the sports triumphs of the 1970s.
Comparable Titles: Mike Greenberg’s Got Your Number, Michael MacCambridge’s The Big Time.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: B+
Marketing copy: A-
Young Shumer eventually was hospitalized when she refuses to eat or drink anything with calories, dropping to nearly 40 pounds. Her journey to gaining weight during her hospital stay found her facing anxiety attacks, strict rules, and restraint devices to stop her from over-exercising. She was discharged weighing 33 pounds more than when she arrived. But after that, Shumer reports, she still struggled with the anorexic mindset, even turning to cutting as a coping mechanism. Consulting therapists, Shumer began the rocky road to recovery, which she writes about with the same frank clarity as the darkest moments, bravely laying bare her moments of backsliding—such as resorting to diet drugs when she hit 108 pounds.
WIth power and sensitivity, Shumer lays bare how anorexia gives perfectionists a sense of accomplishment that is hard to overcome, especially for someone raised in a media culture where “brains were not a high priority currency for females.” But Shumer also demonstrates that recovery from an entrenched eating disorder is possible. Shumer’s gutsy book will provide hope to those enduring one and help family and friends to understand.
Takeaway: Hopeful, eye-opening account of disordered eating and the path to recovery.
Comparable Titles: Deborah Hautzig’s Second Star to the Right, Marya Hornbacher’s Wasted.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Sam’s devotion to her family is a highlight throughout, especially to April, as she’s careful not to put work ahead of her time with her daughter—though her search for the arsonists sometimes overshadows those goals. Sam still carries guilt over her alcoholism, and Ferrendelli probes the limits of that dark emotion, using it as a catalyst to fuel Sam’s efforts, sometimes misplaced, to help April’s deep depression after Carol’s murder—as in the scene where Sam gives April a pony, expressing to a friend that “I want nothing more than for her to be happy and okay. And I don’t know what else I can do. She’s all I have left of me.”
The story stumbles when it centers too much on extraneous clues connected to the arsonists, getting bogged down by lengthy descriptions of firefighting equipment and Sam’s obsession with her weight (Ferrendelli includes multiple references to Sam’s physique, characterizing her throughout as trying to “shed the pounds”). Crime scenes are fittingly intense, and the arsonists’ excitement—and obsession—at setting fires is disturbing to read, but the ending stays upbeat. Scenes at Sam’s beloved ranch, her oasis of calm in a sea of chaos and evil, are uplifting, as is the blossoming romance between Sam’s grandmother, Nona, and her longtime friend Howard, offering readers some glimmers of hope amidst the foreboding darkness.
Takeaway: Single mom fighting her own demons hunts for serial arsonists.
Comparable Titles: Sara Paretsky’s Burn Marks, Christopher Pike’s Slumber Party.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
Smith renders self-help as a personal and intimate experience, with a slew of personal advice, anecdotes, and, most of all, encouragement—to stay positive, practice self-forgiveness, and stop worrying about situations outside of your control. He speaks to readers in gentle, casual tones, never losing sight of his rosy outlook—even when addressing weighty topics like end-of-life events and toxic emotions. “The more time we spend feeling bad about our mistakes,” he writes, “the more likely we are to do something else bad,” pushing instead for readers to “make amends… and move on.” Those pep talk snippets are both welcoming and refreshing, a soothing answer to the moments in life that can feel insurmountable.
Smith's references to religion, philosophy, and case studies on well-knowns like The Beatles and Jimi Hendrix underscore his desperate search for answers. From there, ideas such as the power of the self, mindfulness, and gratitude spring forward, as Smith demonstrates that the path to recovery will be long and challenging but ultimately rewarding. Change hinges on willpower, mindset, and being true to yourself, he writes, and, in his own words, there’s no time like today to start “enjoy[ing] a more fulfilling life.”
Takeaway: Upbeat guide to creating a joyful, fulfilling life.
Comparable Titles: Brianna Wiest’s The Mountain Is You, Sue Varma’s Practical Optimism.
Production grades
Cover: B
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Barnes dazzles with his sharp characterization, briskly engaging prose, and dazzling worldbuilding, crafting the Beyond—a parallel universe where reality bends and twists at the will and intent of witches—into a vivid, immersive landscape. The novel is a spellbinding blend of magic and mystery, alive with tension, laughs, and real emotional resonance. Standout setpieces abound, involving lizard guides with stitched mouths and eyes, ancient cave pictographs, and supernatural bonds with witches and their animal allies, conferring Spiritual, Mental, or Physical power.
While the book is lengthy, it does not bore. Beneath the enchanting and sinister world of witchcraft Barnes conjures with effortless skill is a meditation on power—how it can be wielded for good or evil—the effort and intent needed to reach one's potential, mastering fear, and how trauma shapes the becoming of a person. Barnes invites readers to see the humanity in every character throughout this multi-layered tale that will surely cast a spell on the readers.
Takeaway: Fun, epic adventure of a girl fighting to save her abuelita from a curse.
Comparable Titles: Kelly Barnhill's The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Raquel Vasquez Gilliland’s Sia Martinez and the Moonlit Beginning of Everything.
Production grades
Cover: A
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
"Every coping skill you learn is like a tool in a toolbox," Nurse Dorothea shares with her class, touching on different mental health conditions such as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, anxiety, and depression, while encouraging her students to share life events that can trigger stress—and exploring the role genetics may play in who develops mental health disorders. The story stays upbeat and positive, as Nurse Dorothea teaches readers different coping styles—emotion focused, problem focused, meaning focused, social coping, and avoidance coping—alongside personal examples from her students, analyzing how each style works, what could be improved on, and how to develop new skills for mental wellness.
The information may be dense to wade through, but Dow presents it in an entertaining way, breaking up the more complex topics with Lindsay Roberts’s bright, engaging illustrations. Nurse Dorothea makes the information relatable for a student audience, addressing stressors like bad grades, relationship struggles, and bullying, resulting in an engaging resource for dealing with life’s more challenging moments. The book’s strategies for reducing stress, including mindfulness, positive affirmations, and physical exercise, are both actionable and rewarding, and Nurse Dorothea closes with a call to action to “help others on their journey to good mental health.”
Takeaway: Middle grade resource teaching coping strategies for mental health.
Comparable Titles: The School of Life's What Are You Feeling?, Elizabeth Cole's I Am Stronger Than Anxiety.
Production grades
Cover: C+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: B
Editing: B
Marketing copy: A-
Readers will find this entertaining, interactive, and, above all, respectful, as Moulton honors burying practices throughout, encouraging readers to observe the hushed reverence that shrouds cemeteries—and even offering suggestions on how to get involved in historical tracking and preservation. Her analysis of the meaning behind common gravesite symbols is particularly intriguing, as readers will learn the ins and outs of the “fine art” behind stone carving, why a weeping willow was often used on headstones as a symbol of immortality, and the different interpretations of hands used in cemetery engravings.
What’s most appealing in Moulton’s guide are the interactive activities she includes, ranging from scavenger hunts for recurring symbols to space for readers to record their favorite epitaphs. Her emphasis on cemeteries as a wealth of historical information is eye-opening, and she offers a local history challenge for readers to research headstones that catch their attention. Black and white photographs of various markers and monuments dot the pages, rooting Moulton’s in-depth analysis in dramatic visual imagery, while appendices offer opportunities for further sleuthing, including typical symbols, abbreviations, and potential archives to “make your research more exciting.”
Takeaway: Interactive guide that makes cemetery exploration interesting and engaging.
Comparable Titles: Loren Rhoads’s 199 Cemeteries to See Before You Die, Greg Melville’s Over My Dead Body.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A
As Won shares personal anecdotes and his own struggles with being seen, being true to himself, and finding happiness, he provides actionable steps to aid readers in pursuing their own abundant lives. "By deciding to move from using our ego to one of authenticity, we give up the unnecessary struggle," Won writes, explaining that, by existing in the ego, most people focus entirely too much on fears of failure and rejection, struggling to escape their own head and getting bogged down by internalizing what others think of them. He also delves into the conscious, subconscious, and superconscious, explaining how all three areas of the mind "influence our actions and outcome in the manifestation process."
The material is often abstract and complex, as Won touches on themes that include grief and death, finances, authenticity, and more, but he capably breaks down even the most perplexing topics in language that simplifies while it enlightens. At the end of each chapter, Won includes questions to help readers explore, through journaling and self-reflection, how his guidance can be personalized. For readers intrigued by the metaphysical, Won provides the steps to discover their path to happiness and the tools to meet the challenges of the road ahead.
Takeaway: Inspiration to move away from the ego and into love.
Comparable Titles: Don Miguel Ruiz's The Four Agreements, Vex King's Things No One Taught Us About Love.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A-
Magda’s story draws on well-known biblical characters, including Peter and Paul—two men who led the charge for spreading the gospel after Jesus’s death, but who, according to Magda, conveniently neglected to mention women’s contributions to that history. Werner (author of The Good at Heart) pens an immersive story of the men and women who followed and loved Yeshua, all through the realistic perspective of a woman who viewed Yeshua as a human, flawed man with miraculous gifts. Magda interlaces this emotionally charged narrative with love, humanity, and religion, reflecting on Yeshua’s days in Caphernaum and Jerusalem and his time spent with disciples who "weren't all men.” As she shares insights on Yeshua’s female followers—herself, Shoshanna, Yohanna, and Ilana—she also highlights Yeshua's true message of "radical equality and radical tolerance."
Werner capably builds tension and suspense as Magda reflects on Yeshua’s life—and her own destiny alongside him, including becoming his wife—using this familiar story to expose the “truth” of the Messiah—and his ultimate sacrifice for mankind. Throughout, Yeshua is painted in shades of unconditional love and peace, as Magda, and his other followers, join efforts to spread his message—and Magda seeks a balance between her very human love for Yeshua and the greater purpose surrounding them. Fans of historical retellings will be captivated.
Takeaway: Fresh take on the story of Jesus, from Mary Magdalene’s perspective.
Comparable Titles: C.A. Gray's Messiah, Jill Eileen Smith’s Dawn of Grace.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Gurgu skillfully portrays the challenges of Geo's new position, including the threat of armies of Nightmares, while exploring the intricacies of gaining trust and wielding authority in a broken world and fractious society. The loving dynamic between Geo and his partner Bree adds depth to the narrative, giving Geo a reason to fight. Gurgu's world-building continues to impress, with the author painting a richly detailed picture of the Caves and the various factions and forces at play (“Yeah, well, we adapted democracy to the needs of our times,” one politico admits), plus coll innovations like fossil ships and the returning Night Hunter. The introduction of Han the Great as a looming threat adds another layer of complexity to an already complex plot, setting up future volumes.
The prose is taut and engaging, driving the story forward with a mix of political intrigue, bloody visions, weird science tinged with fantasy, and engaging character development. Gurgu balances multiple threads and mysteries, keeping readers invested in both the immediate challenges facing Geo and Bree and the larger conflicts shaping their world. Newcomers to the series are advised to start with the first book.
Takeaway: Inventive post-apocalyptic sequel blending weird science, politics, and pulp thrills.
Comparable Titles: Kameron Hurley's Nyx series; K.R. Griffiths's Adrift Trilogy.
Production grades
Cover: B+
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: N/A
Editing: A-
Marketing copy: A-
Mayer deftly separates the book’s two eras, reciting through Qaya’s chronicle an archaic narrative, at times difficult to understand, yet wrought with poetry that evokes a vibrant ancient culture—“Cannot mistake when Trek draws nigh whose People send their trekkers forth upon the land” Qaya reflects. The modern account, told alternately by expedition cook Arthur and his girlfriend, photographer Gabby, provides meticulous details of the team’s scientific methods in the frigid landscape. The action eventually picks up when the students decipher Qaya’s extraordinary journey, embrace magical realism—one says he was rescued in a storm by a shadowy spirit guide— and believe the skin’s messages are meant for them.
Mayer’s text, and sprinkling of black and white illustrations, illuminate his expert knowledge of the novel’s setting, and the characters come to brilliant life in his capable hands, particularly Qaya, who, when she returns from her Trek, will become her People’s friend in the Spirit World and counsel to the elders. Her discovery of the skins, unharmed after a snowstorm, sparks in her a deep desire to leave them behind as a legacy– in hopes that a great magic will lead future inhabitants to uncover them and learn of her people. Mayer also encloses a glossary of Inuktitut terms and reference list that lend this singular debut a reverent air of authenticity.
Takeaway: Modern archaeologists uncover the extraordinary journey of a prehistoric Inuit girl.
Comparable Titles: Mitiarjuk Nappaaluk’s Sanaaq, Donna Barba Higuera’s The Last Cuentista.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A
Illustrations: A-
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A
Bodnarczuk writes with touching precision of Thomas, an Eagle Scout and “edgy iconoclast who stood apart from many societal expectations and exhibited an unconventional type of wisdom.” Thomas shared his parents’ questing spirit, asking hard questions of the world—his “doubts,” Bodnarczuk notes, “[lived] side by side with his faith in God.” Bodnarczuk plunges into hard questions himself, exploring with tender frankness why Thomas would have purchased Xanax illegally—and digging into Thomas’s adolescent nightmares, from years before, of being hunted by a cloaked figure.
Recalling those disturbing visions leads Bodnarczuk deep into spiritual, Jungian, and Christian analysis. As Bodnarczuk stares down the hardest questions of all—why?—the pages pulse with a real spiritual struggle, described with rare frankness and clarity, worked through by a thinker who never professes to have all of the answers but whose hard-won insights, in the end, will offer comfort to other believers facing losses that might seem unendurable.
Takeaway: Searching, spiritual memoir of parents’ loss of a child, steeped in Jung and dreams.
Comparable Titles: Timothy Keller’s Forgive, Verena Kast’s Time to Mourn.
Production grades
Cover: A-
Design and typography: A-
Illustrations: A
Editing: A
Marketing copy: A