Dasia (Forever)-a middle grade novel tackling serious topics

 

Dasia (Forever) by Nic Stone, a middle grade novel sprinkled with letters in a verse format, provides a raw, emotional perspective of Dasia, a 13 year-old who is in the hospital receiving cancer treatment. Through Dasia's dates and timestamps, the reader is taken to her home before her treatment where she is grieving over an abusive father, missing her older brother who is serving time for a crime he didn't commit, rejected by her younger brother who is starting to hang out the same crowd that got her brother into trouble, and worst of all, cautiously walking on eggshells around her erratic mother who has undiagnosed depression and PTSD.  

Dasia finds her older brother's journal and writes to him about what her life is like now that he is gone.  She pours her heart into these letters and lets him in on the harsh realities she must face, aside from her cancer diagnosis. The reader is then brought back to the present when Dasia is isolated in the hospital for several weeks as she gets her treatment which leaves her weak.  

One night she is visited by another patient, Jimmy, who brings out Dasia's true self.  By sharing details about her own life, Dasia learns how to speak about her own struggles.  

Readers will come away with a deeper understanding of adolescent emotions, thinking, and ways to help those who have similar situations as Dasia and Jimmy.   There is a surprise in the story that completely caught me off guard and reaching for the tissue box.  This is an important topic that deserves to be read, shared and discussed by middle grade readers, teens, and adults. 

Although this is a spin-off of the Dear Martin trilogy of young adult books by Nic Stone, the reader does not have to have read those books in order to read Dasia (Forever). 

It will probably encourage those readers to pick up the books in the Dear Martin series, however! 

Nest of Tongues: Filipino Vampire Folkore

Randy Ribay's young adult novel, Nest of Tongues, is a suspenseful, unique story of teenage Filipino siblings in the Bay area who happen to be vampires.  Full of Filipino folklore, Ribay weaves an intricate tale that takes place throughout the course of only one week.  At the start of the week the main characters,  Lily and Caleb, are flying at night to feed on an animal when they discover the body of another vampire that had been brutally murdered. Once they tell their grandmother, Lola, she jumps to discuss the threat with the local elder supernatural creatures.  It is revealed that a figure called a Bayani is the culprit and it is coming for Caleb next.  The rest of the story is a race against the clock as everyone tries, in their own ways, to protect Caleb.  In their attempts to solve the mystery, family secrets about their mother are spilled and they can never be the same again.

The best part of this story is the family relationship between Lily and Caleb.  Siblings typically have a complicated bond and the siblings in this story are no different.  They are written with such care and compassion for each of their insecurities and hopes for one another.  Ribay was able to do this well because each chapter changed the POV of the storyteller between the siblings and at times, from the Bayani, too.

I enjoyed learning about the Filipino cultural beliefs and how Tagalog is spoken by young people today. Ribay did not shy away from the horror aspect of this genre so I would suggest it to readers 14+ who can handle graphic descriptions of gore.  The ending surprised me and there was enough story unresolved which, I'm hoping, means that there will be a follow-up story some day.  Even if Ribay does not continue the story, the setting, plot and question of what makes some thing good vs. evil lingers in my mind for a long time. 

Watch author Randy Ribay discuss his perspective on writing this story in the interview conducted by The Booklist Online:

Ghost in the Night: a spooky story for preteens

 

Ghost in the Night by award-winning author, Tiffany D. Jackson, is a middle grade chapter book that is perfect for readers who want an intriguing mystery along with some creepy supernatural events. I usually devour any book that Jackson writes, especially her young adult novels, so I was surprised that I missed Jackson's other middle grade thriller that was written before Ghost in the Night, Blood in the Water.

Although I hadn't read Blood in the Water yet, I read Ghost in the Night anyway and it could truly be read on its own.  

Ghost in the Night is from the perspective of Harmony, a 12 year old Harlem resident, who is taken to Savannah, Georgia with her father, who is a musician.  Once Harmony arrives into town she is immediately curious about the ghost tours.  Since she has been on multiple ghost tours in other cities, her father allows her to go.  During the tour she snaps a photo of a house that is thought to be haunted and when she develops the photos she believes that she did indeed capture someone--or something, through the window!  

Along with several new friends that Harmony makes in Savannah, they make a plan to find out what is in that house.  The mystery is amped up when a local historian is murdered and his young nephew, Jabari, goes missing.  Harmony and her friends want to help find Jabari and find out if his slain uncle has anything to do with the house that is said to be haunted. 

The best part of this story is how deeply Jackson delves into each of the characters' motivations and their past experiences. For Harmony, it's the loss of her grandmother who was her best friend.  The background of her new friends connects her to the Gullah people's culture that shapes how some interact with the supernatural in the Low Country.  Harmony struggles with getting too comfortable in Savannah, knowing that she will be returning to Harlem, however, several twists in the story change this plan and Harmony has to face some difficult conversations with her father about their future.  For a 12 year old, Harmony is an extremely thoughtful person who is flawed, but faces up to her mistakes with empathy.  Young readers will be able to relate to her situation and adults who read this may have more understanding of pre-teen developmental needs.

I would recommend this book to readers ages 10 and up noting that there are many talks about ghosts, haints, demons, etc.  The mystery is one that readers could possibly solve before the ending is revealed so that makes it a more entertaining read.  Jackson carefully plants clues throughout the story that make the ending quite satisfying.  Now I need to read her middle grade thriller, Blood in the Water!

Juvenile Crime—A Look Behind the Curtain

 

Anger is Only a Shadow , a contemporary young adult novel by award-winning author Elizabeth Acevedo, is a necessary and moving story for anyone who has dealt with mental illness in their families, with being a multicultural person or known youth with criminal backgrounds.  The main character is a D.C. high schooler, Lil, the middle child of immigrant parents from the indigenous Taino people of El Salvador and the Afro culture of the Dominican Republic. Most of the story is her experience in a youth detention center while waiting for her court hearing and the rest of the story is what her life is like after being released to her family but with an ankle monitor. Her older brother, who has always been looking after her, has gone away to college, but his behavior has changed and not in a good way. She feels burdened with finding out what is going on with him and her parents aren’t sure what to do. 

Lil reveals the positive influence that the poetry teacher at the youth detention center had on her through the “I Am From” writing prompts she is assigned. Even after leaving the center she still writes her own poems that reflect what’s going on in her mind at different points in the story. This is the strongest element of the book for me. Through Lil’s writing, her character goes through a process of seeing what is holding her back and getting to the place where she belongs. Even with several setbacks, the transformation that Lil goes through offers hope to others going through similar circumstances. 

Another strong aspect of the story is Lil’s relationship with her Abuela who is going through memory loss. She sometimes speaks in her native language and this reminds Lil of how much her brother loved the stories that her Abuela told them. This connection to her heritage is what ends up being a big factor in helping her brother at a dire time. Prior to reading this book I had read stories about characters with mental illness, however this is the first time I have read about a younger sibling who witnesses her older sibling’s mental health decline.  Acevedo provides additional mental health resources at the end of the book. 

Of course Lil’s time returning to school after the fallout of her crime is also an important part of her story. As a teacher myself, it reminded me of how much may be going on in the lives of my students that affects their behavior at school. It also makes me question some of the school rules that are strictly enforced without being able to make exceptions for students with special needs. Although it was sad to see that her two best friends, who were with her during her crime, were no longer at her school, it made her pivot to others that she had always been curious about from afar. 

I would highly recommend this book to anyone age 13 and up. Acevedo’s writing is reminiscent of Neal Shusterman and Angie Thomas, as they all express their stories with similar heart and authenticity. 

Thanks to NetGalley for sharing an advanced reader copy for me to read and review before the book is published in September 2026. 

Building 903: a future of control without creativity

An intriguing opening that immediately invites questions of what happened to society? 

Electronics have taken over, nobody writes with their hands anymore. No stories exist, no playgrounds, no pets, no music or singing unless it's the anthem,  a continually surveilled society where people can be "taken away" and centenarians abound. Baby names were assigned a theme annually, only one world currency is used. There's quick corrective surgery from knee replacements to skin tightening. The leader who has been in power for decades runs unopposed and the voting age is raised to 27. Compulsory retirement at 100, except for the leader. Campaigning is illegal and punishments are tattooed to bodies. Everyone is rated by their cognitive abilities.  These are just glimpses into the world that Lois Lowry creates in her new book, Building 903. 

Set in the year 2099, this story focuses on the mysterious disappearance of one twin sibling, Theo, and the repercussions his absence has left his family, particularly for the remaining twin, Tessa. Tessa's 135-year-old neighbor may have some answers about where Theo went and when she leaves some clues with Tessa, the truth begins to be revealed.  Tessa must finally talk to her parents about the grief they all feel and try to find Theo before it's too late.

The main themes of the book are its greatest strengths:  censorship, activism, love and hope.  Each character presents another important facet to the story and without the cooperation of all of the characters, the satisfying conclusion would not be able to exist.  This story lends itself well to a book club or literature circle because each twist of the story needs to be discussed with other readers. From the very first page of the book the scene is set for a big reveal and Lowry does not disappoint!  

Much like her award-winning book, The Giver, and the rest of the series, this story will resonate with multiple generations of middle grade readers, teens and adults as they dive into the eerie, yet plausible world painted by Lowry. 

Mental Health Books for YA & Middle Grades

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and no group can use it more than adolescents. In my 20+ years of being an educator and 15+ years as a school librarian, I can attest that offering books as bibliotherapy helps.  It helps the student and their caregivers when navigating difficult moments that they cannot bear alone.  

This past year I was awarded a grant that had me work alongside my high school's wellness center counselor to select books for student support groups, as well as adding specific books requested by students to the school library collection. In my experience, the books that touch on the survival aspect of mental health struggles are what readers want to read and learn about with the hopes of transferring those successes to their own lives. 

Here are the nonfiction and fiction books that I recommend for young adults and some middle grade readers:

Brave Face, a memoir, How I Survived Growing Up, Coming Out, and Depression by Shaun David Hutchinson. Young adult audience and up.

 

The Beasts in Your Brain, Understanding and Living with Anxiety and Depression by Katherine Speller. Young adult audience and up.

It Won't Ever Be the Same, A Teen's Guide to Grief and Grieving by Karie Leigh. Middle grade audience and up. 

The Anxious Generation, How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness by Jonathan Haidt. Young adult audience and up. 

The Amazing Generation, Your Guide to Fun and Freedom in a Screen Filled World by Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price.  Middle grade audience and up. 

Look Me in the Eye, My Life With Asperger's by John Elder Robison. Young adult audience and up.

One in a Million, a graphic memoir by Claire Lordon. Young adult audiences and up. 

Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindess and Community by Born This Way Foundation Reporters and Lady Gaga. Middle grade audiences and up.

Move, How Physical Activity Helps Maintain Mental Health by James Roland. Middle grade audiences and up. 

Brain on Fire, My Month of Madness by Susannah Cahalan. Young adult audience and up. 

Obsessed, a Memoir of My Life with OCD by Allison Britz. Young adult audiences and up.

Invisible Differences, A Story of Autism, Adulting, and Living a Life in Full Color by Julie Dachez, Madmoiselle Caroline, Edward Gauvin. Young adult audience and up. 

Art Cure, The Science of How the Arts Save Lives by Daisy Fancourt. Young adult audience and up.

Helping Teens Who Cut, Using DBT Skills to End Self-Injury by Michael Hollander. Young adult audience and up. 

Heads Up, Changing Minds on Mental Health by Melanie Siebert. Middle grade audience and up. 

Teen Guide: Social Anxiety by Mary Gerard. Middle grade audience and up.

Where to Start, A Survival Guide to Anxiety, Depression and Other Mental Health Challenges from Mental Health America and Gemma Correll. Middle grade audience and up. 

Puzzled: A Memoir About Growing up with OCD by Pan Cooke. Middle grade audience and up. 

Fitting Indian by Jyoti Chand and Tara Anand. Young adult audience and up. 
 

Age 16 by Rosena Fung. Middle grade audience and up. 

Weirdo by Tony Weaver, Jr., Jess & Cin Wibowo. Middle grade audiences and up. 

Shoot the Moon by Matt Beam. Young adult audience and up. 

Ash & Feather by Sharon Frances. Middle grade audience and up. 

Louder Than Hunger by John Schu. Middle grade audience and up. 

Ab(solutely) Normal, Short Stories that Smash Mental Health Stereotypes edited by Nora Shalaway Carpenter and Rocky Callan. Young adult audience and up. 

The Dark Matter of Mona Starr by Laura Lee Gulledge. Young adult audience and up. 

Yolk by Mary H.K. Choi. Young adult audience and up. 

Little & Lion by Brandy Colbert. Young adult audience and up. 

The Weight of Zero by Karen Fortunati. Young adult audience and up. 

How it Feels to Float by Helena Fox. Young adult audience and up.

Words on Bathroom Walls by Julia Walton. Young adult audience and up. 

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini. Young adult audience and up. 

Chaos Theory by Nic Stone. Young adult audience and up. 

A World Without You by Beth Revis. Young adult audience and up.

Buzzing by Samuel Sattin and Rye Hickman. Middle grade audience and up. 

If you're looking for book suggestions with an elementary school audience, check out my list HERE.

Comment on your favorite books that touch on mental health topics that would be good for readers.

The Pools: A Fairy Tale Set in Modern Day

When an author branches out of their typical writing style and format, it takes a reader with an open mind to judge the book on its own merits, rather than from what the author typically writes. That is the case for The Pools by E. Lockhart. I have read all of E. Lockhart's other works and was expecting much of the same in this story, yet, I was surprised at each turn of the plot.  

In The Pools, the reader is introduced to Lexie, a mysterious teenager who arrives to town to live with her aunt, ill mother and little sister. The fresh water pools in the town are what drew Lexie's family there with the hopes of healing her ailing mother. There is a deep town lore about the pools from a long time ago when people who bathed in them got turned into birds. As Lexie settles into her new life, she also partakes in the pools and meets Chester, a fellow high school student with a mysterious past he is keeping from Lexie. Their relationship grows in sweet ways despite having their disagreements at times. Although the last argument they have is the final time they see each other before Chester, along with Lexie's younger sister and three other community members disappear after using the pools. Without spoiling the story, the burden of bringing them back to their human forms is what drives Lexie to the surprising conclusion. 

The strength of The Pools is the verse format that Lockhart uses to propel the story forward and develop the characters.  It feels like a fairy tale being told but in a modern-day setting. The themes are universal, however, and that is what makes the story stand out. 

Thanks to Net Galley for allowing me to read and review an Advanced Reader Copy since the book publishes on October 6, 2026.