July 2025
Summer Reading is over at my library! (Kids go back to school on July 30 here.) We ended with an absolutely delightful art show/reception featuring art that kids had made throughout the summer. We were a little worried that 1) we would have no art and 2) we would have no people, but neither of those worries turned out to be the case! We wrote up slightly unhinged curator notes for the different projects, served popcorn and juice, and had a great time.
The tv adaptation of Murderbot has been renewed for season 2! ART! ART! ART! Speaking of which, here’s a nice profile of Noma Dumezweni, who plays Mensah. We did watch the finale and I did cry, even though I knew what was going to happen. In further Murderbot news, Martha Wells released a short story to celebrate the finale, and there’s a new novella coming in 2026.
I’ve been watching our ripening tomatoes like they’re a pot about to boil and I think that tomorrow may be Tomato Day!! I also spotted a baby eggplant this morning, so exciting things are happening in the garden.
Upcoming MG SFF
Ahahaha there are SO many books coming out in the next three months. Books with ** are the books I am personally excited about!
July
Graphic Novels
The Magic Paintbrush: The Guardian’s Quest by Kat Zhang, Eric Darnell, and Phoebe Zhong (fantasy | sequel)
Oddity Woods by Kay Davault (fantasy | spooky mystery) **
Chapter Books
Sabrena Swept Away by Karuna Riazi (fantasy | Scherazade retelling) **
Weavers of Legacy and Fate: The Thread of Destiny by Aimee Lim (fantasy | sequel)
Dead Good Detectives: Ghost Rescue by Jenny McLachlan (fantasy | sequel)
The Library of Curiosities by Jenny Lundquist (fantasy | magical library) **
August
Graphic Novels
Quest for the True Dragon by Jaimal Yogis & Vivian Truong (fantasy | series)
Goat Magic by Kate Wheeler (fantasy | K. O’Neill readalike) **
The Space Cat by Nnedi Okorafor and Tana Ford (science fiction | alien cat)**
Rema Chronicles by Amy Kim (fantasy | portal worlds | sequel)
Ghost Circus by Adrienne Kress and Jade Zhang (fantasy | ghosts | friendship)**
Hooves of Death by Sam Bragg (fantasy | dystopian)
Chloe Vega and the Agents of Magic by Leslie Adame (fantasy | magic school)**
Chapter Books
The Island of Forgotten Gods by Victor Piñeiro (fantasy | Rick Riordan readalike)
The Memory Spinner by C.M. Cornwell (fantasy | magic & memory) cw: death of a parent
Anomalies 53: Into the Shadows by Angela Cervantes (fantasy | series)
Into the Wild Magic by Michelle Knudsen (fantasy | portal fantasy) **
The Forest of a Thousand Eyes by Frances Hardinge and Emily Gravett (fantasy | illustrated) **
September
Graphic Novels
Brume: The Dragon Awakens (fantasy | mythical creatures)
Daybreaker: Ilustra by Tori Tadiar (fantasy | mythology)**
Chapter Books
The Forbidden Room by Nicki Pau Preto (fantasy | sequel | magic school)
The Experiment by Rebecca Stead (science fiction)**
Candace, the Universe, and Everything by Sherri L. Smith (science fiction | time travel)**
The Bookshop at the Back of Beyond by Amy Sparkes (fantasy | series)
Wand Keepers: The Mummy Snatcher Curse by Tiffany McDaniel (fantasy | sequel | Eva Evergreen readalike)
Dawn of the Dragons by Mari Mancusi (fantasy | adventure | prequel)
The Pumpkin Princess by Steven Banbury (fantasy | spooky & sweet | sequel)
Jed Greenleaf by Kieran Larwood (fantasy | historical)
Nic Blake: Book of Anansi by Angie Thomas (fantasy | folklore & history | sequel)
Ghoul Summer by Tracy Badua (fantasy | ghosts)**
Skandar and the Spirit War by AF Steadman (fantasy | mythical creatures | series)
Witchlings: Scepter of Memories by Claribel Ortega (fantasy | friendship | series)
The Ink Witch by Steph Cherrywell (fantasy | fantastical creatures)**
The Bloodstone Thief by Sabina Khan (fantasy | legends & myths) **
Impossible Creatures: The Poisoned King by Katherine Rundell (fantasy | adventure | sequel)**
A Method for Magic and Misfortune by Craig Kofi Farmer (fantasy | magic school)**
The Black Market by Jed Alexander (fantasy | magical market | friendship)
Recipe of the month
Chilled tomato soup with cumin & avocado
2.25lb tomatoes
1 cucumber, peeled
1 red bell pepper
4 scallions, trimmed
2 garlic cloves
2t ground cumin
2/3c olive oil
2T sherry vinegar
Salt & pepper
2 avocados
Juice of 2 limes
1/4c cilantro
Chop vegetables, scallions & garlic coarsely & blend with cumin, oil, vinegar & seasoning. Blend to puree. Strain into large bowl. Taste and adjust seasoning, adding more cumin if needed. Cover 7 chill. To serve, halve & pit avocados. Cut into slivers & squeeze lime over them; season well. Serve soup cold, with an extra drizzle of olive oil, avocado & cumin. A Change in Appetite / summer
And with that, I’ll wish you all sunny skies and low humidity!
Maureen