Fourteen-year-old McKenna Barney is running the race of her life. Her younger sister Emma is legally blind because of a condition called Stargardt disease, and McKenna is counting on winning a dogsledding race to raise both publicity and research dollars for a cure. There’s just one problem: McKenna, too, is losing her sight.

Although McKenna and her eight-dog team start out fast, the harsh Canadian terrain, her blurred vision and a blizzard put them in peril. McKenna keeps a cool head and her sense of humor, though, as she and another young musher, Guy, prank each other at rest stops along the race route and befriend Harper, a reluctant musher who’s racing at her parents’ insistence. During a tumultuous storm, the three even end up taking shelter in a cave together.

Along the way, McKenna learns that Guy will have to forfeit his dogs if he loses, and Harper wants to win so that she can finally stop racing all together. McKenna knows her own victory would bring solace to her parents and boost her self-confidence. But as her vision worsens, her terror at the notion of losing her independence along with her sight grows.

In Dog Driven, Terry Lynn Johnson’s love of dogs and the Canadian wilderness shines like a beacon. As in her previous books, including Ice Dogs and the Survivor Diaries series, Johnson’s female characters are relatable, strong and able to meet the challenges in their paths. Readers will respond to this warm tale of adventure and will see in McKenna a hero to emulate.

How do you deal with a beloved parent who repeatedly fails you? That’s the question facing 11-year-old Alice Mistlethwaite in Natasha Farrant’s adventurous tale for middle grade readers, A Talent for Trouble. 

Alice’s adoring mother dies, and her animated but n’er-do-well father is largely absent, prompting her Aunt Patience to sell the family estate and send Alice off to Stormy Loch Academy in the wilds of Scotland. Of her bookish, solitary niece who is always writing stories, Patience says, “She needs a new story—not to write, to live.”

Indeed, Alice finds just that, in a setup reminiscent of Harry Potter, complete with a wee hint of magic. There’s a lonely train ride to a new school; a patient, all-knowing headmaster (a collector of “lost souls” and “waifs”); and a trio of new friends who slowly discover their own talents and power for friendship. Alice is thrown together with athletic Jesse and genius Fergus as they enter the school’s Great Orienteering Challenge, using it as an excuse to embark on their own dangerous mission. The story really takes off when the three students set out on their secret quest to meet Alice’s father, Barney Mistlethwaite, who seems to be in trouble. Their adventure results in a memorable showdown.

British author Farrant keeps the tone jaunty and light, often addressing readers directly with both warnings and reassurances. Amid great danger and excitement, Alice learns to stand up for herself and confront her father’s neglect. An old-fashioned tale that tackles a timeless concern, A Talent for Trouble is full of daring exploits and essential lessons.

Sharelle Byars Moranville, author of the critically acclaimed middle grade novel 27 Magic Words, pens a complicated family story set against an idyllic backdrop.

Rose Lovell adores her life on her family’s farm. Although her mother, Iris, left when Rose was just a baby, Rose has never wanted for anything. All she needs to feel content is her beloved grandmother, Ama; their dog, Myrtle; and the natural wonders of the countryside right outside her door.

So when her mother mysteriously shows back up at Ama’s birthday party, Rose is less than pleased. In fact, she’s terrified that Iris’ presence will anger Ama and fracture the perfect bond she shares with Rose. All Rose wants is for Iris to leave as quickly as she came. But life on the Lovell farm was not as blissful for previous generations as it is for Rose, and Rose’s mother has some family secrets to share with her daughter that may change everything, whether Rose likes it or not.

Equal parts heart-swelling and heartbreaking, Surprise Lily is a multigenerational family saga full of language that perfectly evokes the many wonders of the natural world. The narrative spans decades, allowing readers to form attachments to each of the Lovell girls as they experience their stories firsthand. The story touches on the highs and lows of the Lovells as a family and of each Lovell girl individually, exploring subjects such as parental neglect and mental health with sympathy and care. The relationships between the girls and women of the Lovell family are the novel’s heartbeats, and though some are more whole than others, love and hope connect them all.

Eleven-year-old Carter and his older sister, 13-year-old Grace, arrive for a day hike at Blood Mountain with their father and their dog, Sitka. They seem well prepared, as though they’ve hiked together many times before.

However, the family don’t know that they’re not alone on the mountain. Sharing the terrain is a park ranger named Makayla and a nameless man who’s been living in the wilderness, hiding from society, having withdrawn from human contact for so long that speaking feels unnatural to him. These characters provoke the reader’s curiosity as to when and how their paths will cross.

Meantime, Carter runs ahead of his father on the trail. Grace follows and joins Carter. Father, daughter and son are all heading toward the same destination, but within hours, their lack of knowledge of the route and their limited preparation for the unexpected become clear—and their hike becomes an increasingly dire matter of survival.

Author James Preller’s omniscient narrator alternates perspectives between the siblings, the mountain man and the park ranger with a chillingly spare and rhythmic cadence that keeps readers on edge, wondering what each character’s next move will bring. The setting itself exerts pressure: The mountain, the forest and all of its creatures are unyielding, beautiful and predatory.

Readers who enjoy the outdoors will tear through Blood Mountain and remember its lessons, while readers who prefer to stay inside will enjoy its suspenseful storytelling. Blood Mountain is worth diving into for its believable yet unpredictable characters, its intriguing, realistic details and a predicament that could go miraculously right or disastrously wrong.

Twelve-year-old amateur astronomer Liberty Johansen used to love watching the stars and making up new constellations with her dad. But since her parents decided to separate and her father moved out of the house, spending time with her father and the love shared between them have become relics of the past.

Now Liberty is angry all the time. She’s angry at her depressed father for living with a new girlfriend, at her former friend Leah and her classmates who have “excommunicated” her, at the pressure to find boyfriends and girlfriends and even at her steadfast mother (though Liberty isn’t sure why). The only one who seems to understand Liberty’s pain is a meteorite that fell from space when Liberty’s own sense of normalcy fell down around her, too.

In this searingly realistic novel, author Amy Sarig King explores mental illness, the trauma of divorce and their intertwined relationship. Mingled with Liberty’s anger is an overwhelming sense of loss, making her wonder whether she might be depressed or prone to depression like her father.

As spunky, resilient Liberty meets with counselors, talks (and listens!) to her meteorite and sets boundaries for herself, she learns that divorce is a kind of mourning, complete with its own stages of grief. While full acceptance might still be as far away as the cosmos, she begins to recognize her control, including how to chart her stars—and her new life—again. Through Liberty’s process, King gives young readers who are also struggling with these issues the hope to persevere.

Sometimes characters continue speaking to their creators long after their books have been published, prompting authors to write unplanned follow-ups. Grateful readers will reap ample rewards in Kate DiCamillo’s Beverly, Right Here, the last in what has unexpectedly become a middle grade trilogy, which began with Raymie Nightingale and continued in Louisiana’s Way Home, about three irrepressible girls who meet at baton-twirling lessons in Lister, Florida, in 1975.

This installment, set in 1979, features the tough-as-nails, eye-rolling Beverly Tapinski, who is now 14. Following the death of her beloved dog, Beverly decides she’s had enough of life with her drunken mother and leaves, hitching a ride to nowhere with a good-for-not-much-else cousin. A big-hearted older woman named Iola welcomes Beverly into her trailer. Beverly slowly builds an anchoring friendship not only with Iola but with bullied, brilliant Elmer, who is about to leave for Dartmouth on a full scholarship.

Life with a ragtag bunch of strangers becomes much better but is still hardly perfect as Beverly, who hates fish, ends up working in a fish restaurant and eating tuna melts every day. A tormentor named Jerome lurks on the sidelines, and Beverly desperately misses Raymie and Louisiana.

DiCamillo’s genius is her ability to create such worlds without ever sugarcoating their gritty realities. “People were terrible to other people. That was the truth,” Beverly realizes. Yet amid life’s injustices, a fish restaurant waitress repeatedly urges Beverly to always dream big, and a cook named Doris stages a sit-down strike for better working conditions.

In the end, although Beverly realizes she can’t run away from her past or her neglectful mother, she learns that she doesn’t have to be held back by either one. Instead, she can seek her own springboards to happiness. As Iola says, “Oh, I’m glad I needed you. I’m glad you needed me.”

DiCamillo has described her trilogy as being about “becoming” and “the power of community.” Drawing each girl’s story with subtle yet bold strokes, DiCamillo delivers novels that feel both beautifully spare and deeply rich. With lovely reminders of the angels who help us all find our way in this sometimes unbearable world—as well as the enduring power of stories, kindness, hope and surprising possibilities—Beverly, Right Here completes DiCamillo’s superb trilogy, which is destined to remain a classic.

When the school bell rings and students race for the doors, where do they go? What do they do? In each of the 10 short stories that compose Look Both Ways: A Tale Told in Ten Blocks, the reader follows a different student to see what they get up to on their way home. 

In “The Low Cuts Strike Again,” Bit, Francy, John John and Trista are the kids whom teachers talk about in the teachers’ lounge—“at-risk” kids who swipe loose change wherever they might find it. The Low Cuts, as the four call themselves, have something in common: their almost-bald heads, a haircut chosen in solidarity with each other and with their parents, all cancer survivors. And it’s what they do with all that loose change that shows another side of the label of “at-risk.” 

In the lead story, “Water, Booger, Bears,” Jasmine and TJ challenge those who think “boys and girls can’t just be friends.” Other stories portray protagonists dealing with bullying, falling in love and struggling with anxiety. 

Jason Reynolds affords loving attention to each of the characters in his large cast. Despite simple-seeming prose, his language sparkles. He writes of the Low Cuts, “Even though they were tight on time, they were loose on talk” and, “Bit put a pothole in the middle of memory lane.” Along with his previous novels, written in prose, verse and dual voices, these short stories demonstrate Reynolds’ range of superb storytelling.

Filled with beautiful art and poignant prose, Cary Fagan’s latest middle grade novel is funny and touching in equal measure.

Hartley Staples hasn’t been interested in much of anything since his older brother, Jackson, ran away from home. With middle school graduation approaching and his final project—the topic of which must be something he’s passionate about—due, Hartley’s disinterest is becoming a bigger problem. Then one day, he spots a handmade postcard, signed only with the initials “g.o.” Soon he happens upon another postcard, and just like that he’s completely wrapped up in a mystery: Who is g.o.? How many postcards are out there? Why does g.o. make them, and what do they mean? As Hartley becomes more invested in g.o. and their story, he starts to reawaken to the world around him and begins to find a way forward in Jackson’s absence.

Fagan has crafted Hartley as both a kid dealing with the trials of adolescence and as an individual facing emotional trauma; he’s a character readers of all ages will relate to. All of Fagan’s characters feel fully realized, with unique voices that stir laughter, warmth and even heartache on every page. The Collected Works of Gretchen Oyster addresses family hardship, bullying and other serious topics, all while managing to maintain a sense of humor and hope even in the midst of pain. It will fill you up and make you believe in the healing power of art and human connection.

Tor Seidler, acclaimed author of A Rat’s Tale, revisits the theme of community in this New York City adventure of a hapless squirrel named Phoenix.

Snatched from his wooded New Jersey home by a hawk named Walter, Phoenix is dropped onto the hot tar of a Manhattan construction site, where he escapes with his life but loses most of his fur—including his beautiful bushy tail. Phoenix has always despised the “naked worm-tail” of the rat, along with the creatures sporting them, but now finds himself forced to look anew at his prejudices. As the days pass, Phoenix comes to appreciate the highly organized community of wharf rats that comes together to nurse him back to health. There’s P. Pandora Pack-Rat, the wise matriarch healer, as well as the kind and friendly Lucy and her literary brother, the aptly named Beckett, who’s teaching himself to read (and write) from the various newspapers and past issues of The New Yorker the rats collect for winter heating.

Phoenix’s climbing abilities and Beckett’s communication skills come in handy when the community is threatened by a developer intent on demolishing the pier. Phoenix and his new friends hatch a daring protest and attempt to dismantle the nearby electric substation. Can the community be saved? Can it rally support among humans? And when the opportunity arises, will Phoenix return to his own kind or decide to make his home on the Hudson River?

While young readers will be enthralled by Phoenix’s adventures, which are enhanced by Gabriel Evans’ delightful illustrations, Oh, Rats!, also offers lots of opportunities for discussion about being part of a community and how neighbors come together in times of crisis.

It’s finally the last day of school, but Leah has a long summer looming ahead, with no camp or vacation plans. With boredom starting from day one, she’s aimless in her attempts to stay afloat during the long, hot summer days. She sleeps in, wanders from the kitchen to the couch in pajamas and clicks through the TV channels.

One day, boredom gets the best of her, and she puts on actual clothes and leaves the house. At the nearby creek, she sees a girl with a beautiful mop of huge, curly red hair, lounging on a big rock. The girl looks luminous in the light, and Leah is at first afraid to speak. From a distance, Jasper breaks the ice, introducing herself and explaining that she’s new to the area. But there’s a lot about Jasper that Leah doesn’t know.

Grief plays a prominent role in both girls’ lives. They both have their own secrets, and only time will tell if their newfound friendship will be enough to withstand them. Author Laurel Snyder (Orphan Island) pens a gorgeous yet realistic story about the struggles that a friendship endures when secrets verge into dangerous territory.

Tackling issues of grief, homelessness, alcoholism and abuse, My Jasper June is appropriate for mature young teens. The issues are intense and the consequences realistic, but they’re handled sensitively, making the novel a good fit for readers ready to explore such themes.

Things aren’t real unless you can prove them—that’s what 12-year-old Addie thinks. At least, that’s what she thought until she reads the notebook that belonged to her twin brother, Amos. It’s filled with clues about the mysterious creature living in Maple Lake, where Amos drowned the winter before. In The Light in the Lake, the debut novel from Sarah R. Baughman, Addie is drawn back to the lake to discover its secrets and more about herself as well.

Addie and Amos spent much of their time at the lake—swimming, boating and fishing. But when Amos goes out on the lake too late in the winter, he falls through the ice and drowns before anyone can rescue him. Now, Addie’s parents want her to stay as far away from the lake as possible. However, when Addie is offered the chance to be a Young Scientist for the summer, researching the effects of pollution on Maple Lake, she can’t resist. Each day she spends at the lake, she learns more about the water, the mysterious creature her brother was investigating and who she really is.

Haunting, memorable and full of mystery, The Light in the Lake is a brilliant combination of beautiful, lyrical prose and a compelling, exciting story. Baughman has created complex characters with real, deep emotions and a picturesque setting that will make readers feel as if they are at Maple Lake with Addie.

The award-winning author of Rooftoppers and Cartwheeling in Thunderstorms, Katherine Rundell is no novice at penning romps of adventure, and The Good Thieves is sure to carry on her tradition of capturing the hearts and imaginations of readers of all ages.

Vita Marlowe has always longed for adventures, but they can be hard to come by, due to her small stature and a bout of polio as a young child. Well-meaning adults are always telling her to “slow down” and “take care.” So when her grandfather’s family estate is swindled away by Sorrotore, a powerful, crooked businessman, Vita doesn’t hesitate to throw all of her strength and wits into concocting a plan to get it back, no matter the danger.

Before long, she’s assembled a ragtag group of accomplices, among them a pickpocket, an aspiring acrobat and a gifted animal charmer. With their help, Vita feels ready to steal back what rightfully belongs to her grandfather and put the smile back on his face. But with Sorrotore and his minions lurking around every corner, will this group of unlikely vigilantes be able to pull off their heist while avoiding disaster?

Prohibition-era New York serves as a gritty and glittering backdrop for this story of family loyalty and moral thievery. Fast-paced and sharply written, with a generous dose of heart and humor, Rundell’s fifth novel will appeal to readers with a penchant for grand escapades, a strong sense of justice and a soft spot for the underdog.

A new book by Renée Watson, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award winner, is always a cause for celebration. In Some Places More Than Others, the Oregon-born Watson has penned a love letter to her adopted home of New York City where, in addition to writing, she serves as founder and executive director of I, Too, Arts Collective, a nonprofit dedicated to nurturing underrepresented voices in the creative arts.

Eleven-year-old Amara lives in Beaverton, Oregon, with her parents and a baby sister on the away. Amara is also eagerly anticipating her upcoming birthday and knows exactly what she wants: to accompany her father, a Nike executive, on a business trip to New York City. Amara wants to get to know her father’s family in Harlem. Her dad hasn’t talked to Grandpa Earl in 12 years, though he is close with his sister, Aunt Tracey. Amara has never even met her teenage cousins.

At first, Amara’s mother is against the trip, which isn’t the only point of tension between the two. Amara balks at the dresses her designer mom makes her wear. She’d much rather wear the new shoes her sports marketing dad can get. Her mother agrees to the trip when Amara begins a school assignment called the Suitcase Project, in which she must fill a suitcase with poems, objects and essays about her family. Amara’s mother also gives her a special task: to make sure that her dad and grandpa have some time alone to reconnect.

Amara’s first-hand discovery of black culture in Harlem is a revelation, as is the news that her father loved to write poetry in high school, something Grandpa Earl didn’t understand. Amara realizes that just as she is feeling pressure from her mother to be something she’s not, her own dad was pressured by Grandpa Earl to be someone he wasn’t. As Amara gets to know her family and the city, Watson expertly balances her heroine’s outward adventures with her inner exploration of identity, family heritage, black history and independence.

With an appealing narrator and a celebration of family and community, Some Places More Than Others is a story for all readers.