Unless designated otherwise, this posting recommends novels published in 2026, several of which deal with Tough Topic issues.
THE ILIAD AND THE ODYSSEY Retold and illustrated by Marcia Williams 1996-2006 / Graphic Text
There’s no disputing the popularity of the summer release of the Christopher Nolan film, The Odyssey. It’s a BIG film (3 hours) and a rather thrilling movie-viewing adventure. The movie has sparked a re-visit of publications telling the story of the Iliad and The Odyssey. The most popular recent version is a translation by Emily Wilson (2017). Marcia Williams who has been a champion of graphic stories (Tales from Shakespeare, The Adventures of Robin Hood, Oliver Twist, Les Miserables) has created an engaging retelling of the Odyssey story where the characters of Athena, Nausicaa, The Cicones) come alive in comic pages, helping to make this an accessible, manageable, abridged version of the classic story for readers young and old.
LISTENING FOR TIGERS by Michelle Kadarusman / Animal extinction
Michelle Kadarusman has written some beautiful novels that escort readers into the natural world especially often inviting them to respect the plight of animal extinction. (Berani, We The Sea Turtles). Listening for Tigers is the second novel in a trilogy. We first met Louisa in the book Music for Tigers where her adventure in Tasmania helped her to rescue the Tasmanian thylacinet iger which she named Ellie and was believed to have been extinct for nearly a century. In this sequel, young Louisa is visiting her grandfather’s farmhouse in southern Ontario. When her biologist mother gets a message from a de-extinction organization (TIGRR lab) to help with a project that seek out evidence of the lost species, Louisa is worried that discovering the secret of Ellie’s survival will lead to trouble in the scientific world. Michelle Kadarusman tells a story of vanishing animals in the world through the eyes of a compassionate, courageous, somewhat introverted, girl (“You’re a musician. A listener. A deep thinker”) who has personal worries that involves an injured elbow, a frightening near-death accident and devotion to her older sister who has been diagnosed as being bi-polar. Through dreams and music and listening for tigers, Louisa – and readers – come to understand the significance of respecting and preserving the wild at a time when “de-extinction is no longer speculative. It is happening,” (Author’s note)
THE NEW GIRL by Cassandra Calin / graphic novel / 2024 / The Immigrant Experience
Sequel: First Crush: The New Girl #2 /2026
I was browsing through my local bookstore (Queen Books) and when i picked up this book, a uyoung girl turned to me and said that it was ‘really good‘ and she was at the store to buy the recently released sequel, First Crush, which is quickly becoming a bestseller. Drawn from the author’s own immigration experiences, this graphic book tells the story of 12 year-old Lia who is sad to leave behind all she’s known in Romania when her family moves to Montreal. Before getting on the plane to depart, Lia experiences her first period and experiences bad cramps (a recurring incident throughout the book). Menstruation, of course causes stress and anxiety which is augmented by the pressures of joining a new school, learning French, and finding acceptance amongst her peers. Lia is a talented artist and finds a place of belonging when she joins the school magazine. Added to her pre-adolescent anxieties is the crush she has on Julien who seems to be involved with someone else. This is an appealing story of the challenges of balancing school, family, friendships, menstrual cycles – and acne. The graphic format paints a strong picture of the home and school life and the up and down feelings of being growing up. This book is certain to resonate with many tweenagers whether they are immigrants or not. I’m sure we’ll learn more about the ‘new girl’ in future Cassandra Calin books.
SHOOK by Julian Randall (verse novel)
This novel is recommended for lovers of basketball and / or lovers of free verse novels. Julian Randall is a terrific poet and his talent is put to fine use as he tells the story of Malik Page (unless your his mama, call him shake’) a twelve your Black boy addicted to playing basketball and determined to make the varsity squad as an eighth grader. When an accident, breaking his ankle forces him to be sidelined, he is an a funk where there is ‘ginger ale pops in his skull.’ The book shifts into an account of how Shook deals with an anxiety disorder. With the pressure of tryouts fast approaching, a distancing from his bet friend Kyla, Shook, with the help of a therapist strives to return to his old self and a rewarding life on the basketball court. The poetic language, slang, and lingo of a Black youth from Chicago, along with the play by play action on the court bring authenticity to this story of a troubled young boy dealing with mental health and living with dreams.
Excerpt
“When my breath gets short/ when the shot isn’t falling, when the game is tied until Jeremiah drifts to the corner/ and buries a wide open 3 off my pass. All we need is us.”
SLEEPLESS by Gordon Korman
I was browsing through a bookstore and noticed a new title by Gordon Korman. I grabbed it and headed to the cashier. How could I not buy a new book by the great, popular author? Korman’s books always entertain and intrigue. The characters in his book are identifiable,’typical’ (whatever that means)cmiddle school students. But what Korman cleverly does is invent rather ‘outside the box’ inventive situations that add a sense of mystery and intrigue. The question on the cover of this book asks: “What Would You Do If You Didn’t Need Sleep?” Each of the five central characters in this novel have entered a world where they are awake twenty four hours. They do not experience any side effects or health issues of having to stay awake all night. Each character comes to see the advantage of having extra hours beyond their usual bedtime? Mickey (embarks on an exercise routine) Skye (more time to read, knit, study and do art), Levi (attracting followers on social media platform) Cyrus (invents a new toaster and a retractable dog collar cone) and Thea (gets extra time to rehearse for the school play). How did this happen? Why them? How long can they keep sleeplessness a secret? What happens when the secret is out? As the novel unfolds the five students find each other and have some decisions to make about whether to let the world know about their unique condition and moreover, if given the choice, should they stay sleepless? Gordon Korman uses his familiar technique of telling the story from different points of view. As always, he has written an unusual, mysterious, adventurous, funny, a bit preposterous and thought-provoking novel. Bravo, Mr. Korman.
THE THREE WOLVES by Eric Walters; illus. Olga Barinova / chapter book, ages 8-10
Andrew’s Mom and Dad run a rescue center to help abandoned and injured wildlife (skuk, squirrels, bunnies a baby moose. When news reaches them that a wolf has been run over, Andrew and his Dad check out the situation only to find that three baby wolves have been abandoned and need rescuing. Eric Walters tells an appealing story about the caee and treatment of the wolves with the goal of sending them back into the wild where they belong. As always, Mr. Walters is a great storyteller. He is also a great researcher and provides interesting information about the development and behaviours of wolves. Olga Barianova’s illustrations paint clear, images of what has been described. A note from the author ells us hat he wrote a twelve-pages tory called “The Three Wolves” in grade five, His teacher, Miss Christena Gay assigned he piece an A and remarked “You can be a writer when you grow up,.” Amen! Eric Walters is one of Canada’s leading authors of children’s literature, having written over 130 books for readers of all ages. Eric Walters dedicated this book to his grade five teacher. Hooray for Miss Gay! Hooray for Eric Walters! (and Hooray for all those who rescue animals!)
THE WIND IN THE WILLOWS by Kenneth Grahame; illus. John Burningham / 1908 / 1983
“Here today up and off somewhere else tomorrow, travel, change interesting excitement! The whole world before you, and a horizon that’s always changing.”
“All this he saw, for one moment, breathless and intense, vivid on the morning sky; and still he looked, he lived; and only still, as he lived, he wondered.”
To prepare myself for seeing a theatrical production of The Window of the Willows I decided to re-read this classic novel, written over 100 years ago, and engaging readers young and old, generation after generation. Friends, Toad, Mole, Badger and Water Rat have been given readers treasured book friends for over a century. Themes of companionship, loyalty, temptation, adventure, wrong-doing, jealousy, wanderlust, comfort, home, community, change, dreams are inherent in this timeless novel. There have been several illustrated versions of this story. On my bookshelf, one by John Burningham, the other by Robert Ingpen. Kenneth Graham’s classic work of fiction provided rich roots for a banquet of novels told anthropomorphically (e.g., Frog and Toad Are Friends (Arnold Lobel), Charlotte’s Web (E.B. White(, Abel’s Island (William Steig), The One and Only Ivan (Katherine Applegate). My octogenerian friend re-reads this book year year. I’m was pleased to revisit this gem again. (BTW: The play I recently saw wasn’t as good as the book).
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YOUNG ADULT / ages 12+
KIDNAPPED FROM UKRAINE: Under Attack by Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch / 2025 / Historical Fiction
High praise goes to Marsha Forchuk Skrypuch for her publication of noteworthy historical fiction titles that illuminate periods of history with detailed information and wonderful storytelling (Making Bombs for Hitler, Traitor’s Among Us, Winterkill. Her most recent book immerses readers into the horrors of the war in the Ukraine. She prepared her manuscript between 2022 – 2024 . The book was released in 2025. I am writing this in 2026 and the war goes on and on. The protagonist of this narrative is Daria, a twelve-year old girl who was separated from her twin sister, her father and eventually her mother when Russian bombs struck her building February 24, 2022 in the city of Mariupol. Daria’s story could be sectioned into three parts 1. Surviving Bomb Attacks 2. Kidnapped 3. Being “adopted” by a Russian family. The author has done mammoth research drawn from media reports, interviews, documented accounts. Though a work of fiction, the events and experiences are real – heart-wrenching, grim, suspenseful, and horrid. Kidnapped from Ukraine is an exemplary sample of historical fictional writing where students are immersed in the tragedy of world events. It is a story of unimaginable hardships, of fake news and propaganda, and ultimately a story of courage and hope in “those who must be saved” in a country that is ‘under attack’. (dedication)
Excerpt
“You have been victims of propaganda,” he said. “You will learn the true history and rich culture of Russkii mir. Failure to learn will result in punishment…. You will forget the lies that your Ukrainian Nazi teachers have told you. We will make you into proper Russians.: (p. 171-172)
“As of this writing, Russia had bragged about kidnapping (they called it rescuing) 700 000 Ukrainian children. Fewer than three hundred have been returned to their homeland.” (Author’s Note, p. 305)
MY BROTHER OLIVER by R. L Taolson / Mental Health
Brooks older brother, Oliver, is a brilliant, musical, 13 year old boy. Oliver is autistic. Brooks and his parents seem to always be walking on eggshells, not knowing if and when might explode and have a meltdown. When Brooks learns that Oliver might kill himself, he turns to his parents, who lead to Oliver being hospitalized. Although Brooks saved his brother’s life, he is filled with anxiety about things he once said to his brother and for not standing up for him at all times. Brooks and his family struggle to navigate a home life without Oliver. Brooks secret smothers him with guilt which is central to the novels narrative. The free verse style and the shifting time periods before and after ‘the incident’ make for a compelling, sombre read, especially as we get into the head of Oliver’s brother. The author shares that this story came from her personal family experience. It is a heart-squeezing account of what it means to be a sibling and the of Mental Health.
There is a content warning that introduces the book “This book contains references to emotional instability, bullying, depression, and suicidal ideation.” This book may trigger some connections to YA readers who have experienced breakdowns in their famiies. However, R. L Toalson’s masterful novel deserves to be read for its expert and sensitive exploration of youth (and their friends and family) who live with Mental Health issues.
from Author’s Note (p. 449)
“I hope Brooks’s and Oliver’s story will provide an opportunity to understand the complicated factors that pile onto an already depressed mind and make it worse… Why not treat each other with kindness and understanding and love when it costs so little? W may never know what our words and actions mean to another person, but we can know that we have been, As Maya Angelou once said, ” a rainbow in someone else’s cloud.” Love well, my dears.”
ONE WORD SIX LETTERS by Adib Khorram / hate, homopbobia
Dayton and Farshid are freshman in high school. The novel is presented in alternate chapters telling the story of each of these fourteen-year-old boys. Interesting is that Khorram chooses the second person voice as narration. One word, six letters connects the boys. On a dare, Dayton calls out the word during an assembly, He is assigned 3 day in school suspension and comes to accept that this slur is hateful. Will he ever be forgiven? Will he forgive himself? Farshid is haunted by the one word, six letters that is called out in the hallways and feels that it is aimed at him?. Why are students using this hateful word, when he swears he’s not gay. As the book unfolds, Dayton navigates his friendships, new and old. Farshid embarks on a strict physical regime hoping that a new body will help to make him feel better about himself as he struggles to accept the truth of who he really is . Khorram has written an important novel that deals with the issue of accepting consequences of mistakes, hateful language, homophobia and confronting truths of what kind of men they will become. Throughout the book, the one word six letter is never written but it is a word that is forever being tossed around both casually and harmfully in schools and in society. It’s just a word. If anyone, for any reason has ever said this word (or any other hateful putdown) , they should buy and read Adib Khorram’s book. It would sell millions and millions of copies.
SOUNDTRACK by Jason Reynolds /2025
This is the story of a group of teenagers in New York who come together play in a band. Dunk (guitar), Alexis (bass guitar), Kevin (trumpet player) and central character (Stuy) are talented, dedicated and determined to let the world know how good they are. Soundtrack (as they came to be known) pop up in the parks, streets and underground subway stations and perform like crazy, gathering crowds wherever they go. Thirteen-year-old Frankie is the good luck charm, acting as host to each of their shows and helping to collect donations left by people in the audience. The group’s perseverance leads to growing success until an an unfortunate sends one of the group members to jail. The story takes a turn about midway through the novel when Soundtrack is forced to stop playing. Band members (and Frankie) are fiercely loyal to each other. Stuy and his crew are like a family, which is a good thing because each character has family problems to deal with.
I always look forward to a new Jason Reynolds publication. This novel was written years ago and sat in a slush pile in the author’s drawer, In a Q & A section at the back of the book, Reynolds explains that since the book is about music, it made sense to hear it first and so Soundtrack was first released as an audiobook by Listening Library. In this original print version, the text is largely presented through dialogue, written as a movie script. First person narrative from Stuy’s point of view helps to tell a story of putting together a rock band . I always look forward to reading a Jason Reynold’s book and would certainly welcome the publication of manuscripts found in the author’s slush pile. Soundtrack is an engaging read for young teenage readers as they read about black family, big dreams, exciting music-making in a story immersed in the neighbourhoods of New York where if you can make it there, you’d make i tanywhere.