October 2026 Reading Recap

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October 2026 Reading Recap

October 2026 Reading Recap

Here we are, nearly at the end of 2026, and I’m finally circling back to do a bit of a reading recap. My last one was a double recap for May and June. The rest of the summer and most of the fall flew past with barely a minute to breathe. I’m still scrambling to get caught up on books I promised to review, but I don’t have many new requests for November and December, so I’m hoping that will give me time to catch up.

This month was a busy one, reading-wise. I made some progress reading titles from the spring and summer that I missed. My … Continue reading →

Review: Evamar by Margarita Engle

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Evamar by Margarita Engle

Evamar
Margarita Engle
Atheneum Books for Young Readers
Published September 8, 2026

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About Evamar

From award-winning author Margarita Engle comes a “spellbinding”(Publishers Weekly, starred review) novel in verse about first love, hidden cultures, and ancestral connections that follows a teen’s journey to uncover her late grandmother’s roots in Cuba.

Just before she was transformed
into an invisible spirit
my grandmother whispered her last wishes
into my ear:

Sprinkle my ashes in a patch of girasoles,
wait patiently, harvest the seeds,
fly to la isla, find el jardín,
plant las semillas.
Then and only then—
read my diaries.
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Review: Survival Show by Juno Dawson

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Survival Show by Juno Dawson

Survival Show
Juno Dawson
Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Published August 4, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Survival Show

K-pop survival shows meet The Hunger Games in this “chilling, satirical dystopian adventure” (Publishers Weekly, starred review) about a teen betting her life that her singing talent can make her a star from the celebrated author of This Book Is Gay, Juno Dawson.

The world just seems to take and take from Taryn Beck, but there’s one thing it’ll never have: her voice. Only when she’s singing does Taryn feel like she can escape her reality—free from the aftermath of the War, free … Continue reading →

Review: Under a Carnivore Sky by Brianna Jett

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Under a Carnivore Sky by Brianna Jett

Under a Carnivore Sky
Brianna Jett
Page Street YA
Published August 18, 2026

Amazon | Bookshop | Goodreads

About Under a Carnivore Sky

I’m the only one left hunting the monster, the only one left with a chance of saving us all.

Raised in a town surrounded by a labyrinthine, man-eating swamp, Lili craves nothing more than to track down the monster lurking in its depths and kill it. 

The monster’s curse claims the flesh and bone of every adult in town, stealing them away, piece by piece. For generations, people have tried to kill it or escape the town altogether, but every path out of town leads them … Continue reading →

Review: The Pools by E. Lockhart

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The Pools by E. Lockhart

The Pools
E. Lockhart
Delacorte Press
Published October 6, 2026

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About The Pools

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the We Were Liars series comes a love story full of simmering darkness and astonishing twists, following two teenagers whose lives are shattered by a shocking transformation.

Once, in a small New England town known for its hot springs, something terrible happened. Something that should have been a warning to stay away from the pools, if the stories were to be believed.

But no one is afraid of the water anymore, even if … Continue reading →

Review: The Christmas Wish by Lee Heart

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The Christmas Wish by Lee Heart

The Christmas Wish
Lee Heart
Simon Spotlight
Published September 8, 2026

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About The Christmas Wish

A girl full of holiday spirit hopes to get her secret crush’s attention for Christmas in this latest installment in the acclaimed tween middle grade rom-com series, Spotlight Sprinkles—full of evergreen tropes like holiday parties and the magic of the season!

Joy Rudolph is convinced nobody loves Christmastime more than her. After all, she was born on Christmas Day! Joy’s birthday parties are always full of holiday cheer, but this year, she has an extra-special wish: for her secret crush, … Continue reading →