There are a lot of ways to describe Jason Reynolds’ books: Groundbreaking. Relatable. Gripping. Or as School Library Journal said recently in their starred review of Soundtrack: A Novel (Crown Books for Young Readers, 2026), “Librarians can’t go wrong putting any Reynolds novel on their shelves, and his latest is no exception.” The title came out in April as a [...]

Alicia D. Williams traces her love of storytelling back to her childhood when she listened to tales told by family elders and read books she borrowed from a bookmobile. Now the award-winning writer—whose recognition includes a Newbery Honor—creates titles ranging from picture books to middle grade novels. Williams’ newest picture book is Nani and the Lion [...]

“I like to write characters who manage to find silver linings,” says Holly Goldberg Sloan. Her newest middle grade novel, Finding Lost (Rocky Pond Books, 2025), features another of these endearing, resilient characters. Cordy is a middle-schooler who is mourning the death of her father and grappling with change. With Cordy’s character, Sloan strikes a seamless balance [...]