Recent Reads: May 2026
a bunch of MGs, 1 YA fairytale, plus some bonus grownup mentions
Hello from summer break! I had a great reading month in May. I always jam through a few extra middle grade reads at the end of the year while I am working in the library without students (inventory, reorganization, etc), so this year I got to a couple of backlist titles I’ve had my eye on for years, along with a couple of new releases (advanced listener copies from Libro.fm) and my continued journey through the Keeper of the Lost Cities series (I’ve simplified my reviews of these since there have been so many already! 😜).
I’m hoping to pick up the YA reads a bit this summer, but I did read one this month with my YA/MG book club. It’s a backlist title I wouldn’t have otherwise picked up and I’m glad I did. We had a lovely book club meetup (delicious Italian food at a restaurant called Buona Forchetta that had the perfect rustic vibes, even though the book does take place in France) to discuss it and it was well-liked overall.
I’m now happy to be deep into summer reading—lots of reading at the beach and anywhere else outside makes me so happy. So let’s get to the books!
Here are the children’s books I’ve read lately, with mini-reviews. (If you’re new here, I have a footnote for you!)1
📚. Middle Grade
Nightfall (Keeper of the Lost Cities #6) by Shannon Messenger (2017) :: This one seemed to drag a bit at times (let’s be honest, mainly when Keefe wasn’t around) but overall was still exciting and full of surprising moments. I liked getting to know new character Ro and seeing Sophie’s crew work together through all the obstacles.
Flashback (Keeper of the Lost Cities #7) by Shannon Messenger (2018) :: For me, this book moved faster than all the previous ones. Usually when I read these books, I’m pretty casual about it for at least the first half, but this one really sucked me into the drama and suspense right away. There’s so much going on in this book and some very surprising moments! I’m pretty attached to these characters by now, and can’t wait to continue on in the series.
The War that Saved My Life by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (2015) :: I enjoyed this WWII story, mainly because of the main character Ada's resilience and toughness, and also her awe and wondered as she discovered a world she knew little about. She was a dealt a horrible lot in life, with maybe the worst fictional mother I've ever read in a book. The way the ending all came together was really brilliantly done, and many of the characters had a redeeming and inspiring arc throughout the book. This book doesn't shy away from the difficulties of war, but from a child's perspective it is softened a bit.
Phoenix (Ride On #1) by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley (2026) :: My feelings were mixed on this one. On one hand, I love the storyline with Phoenix- it’s intense, emotional, and has a great climactic scene! But on the other hand, the divorce storyline was tough, as were my feelings about the characters. This is my second book by Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, and let me just say, she sure can write bad parents (good ones too, but yikes—the bad ones!). I do like the idea of the series following a different character and horse each time! Thank you to Libro.FM for the advanced listening copy. It’s of note to mention that Harper’s dad’s infidelity is the catalyst for this story. For a more in-depth (with spoilers) review relating to this plot point and the rest of the book please see my Storygraph review.
Treasure Hunters (Book #1) by James Patterson & Chris Grabenstein (2013) :: A rollicking adventure on the high seas, this madcap sibling story is a treasure hunt that asks who do you trust when your parents are gone (dead? missing?) and you’ve only got each other. Each sibling has skills to add to the adventure, and with every twist and turn, they find out there’s more to their unique life than meets the eye. The audio is fun but the hard copy has a lot of illustrations that young readers would want to see. Definitely a series starter that doesn’t fully resolve at the end.
Finding Lost by Holly Goldberg Sloan (2025) :: This was a sweet story of a young girl and a rescue dog, with themes of friendship, family, and grief/moving on from loss. With a great librarian to boot and a really nice setting. Thanks to Libro.fm for the advanced listener copy.
The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan by Jasmine Warga (2026) :: What an endearing and powerful story of friendship! Having enjoyed visiting the San Diego Zoo & Safari Park since I was little, I was so excited to read a story about a cheetah and her dog companion and how they came to be friends, as this is a partnership I have seen in action, along with the Safari Park’s cheetah run exhibit. This book will delight animal lovers and would be an excellent family read aloud before visiting a zoo that has a cheetah/dog companion program or a cheetah run. The book deals with some tough issues like anxiety and abandonment but is full of hope, found family, and friendship overcoming fear and isolation. Truly a beautiful story!
📚. Young Adult
Stepsister by Jennifer Donnelly (2019) :: An intricately-plotted YA dark fairytale retelling, this book was well-liked by my book club! I loved the “fate vs. chance” through line and the twist on the Cinderella tale (though definitely more Grimm’s than Disney). The characters are well-drawn and complicated and it turns various aspects of the original tale on its head. There are feminist vibes here as well, which add depth to the story. Isabella is a strong character and I was glad to see her come into her own and create her own destiny and future. I was a little freaked out about the cover, and while there it does begin with a slightly gory-Grimm-esque scene, it’s not a horror story, and has a lot of depth to the plot and characters.
📚. Grown-up Reading
You can always see all the books I’m reading on my StoryGraph page (along with my ratings), but here are some of the grown-up books I read this month, too, just for fun. Anything listed here I rated at least 4 stars.
It Happened One Murder by Liz Lawson (2026)— Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC!
Our Perfect Storm and This Summer Will Be Different by Carley Fortune (2026/2024)
The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion: Vol. 5 by Beth Brower (2021)— reread, appropriate for teen readers
Under Your Spell by Laura Wood (2024)
I hope you find something here that you or a young person in your life might like to read. I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments!
Happy Friday and happy reading,
Nicole
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👩🏼💻 Curious about my writing? I’ve written four complete manuscripts (YA & MG) and am currently drafting a MG fantasy story. See what they are all about on my website.
For notes about my reviews including how I define age categories and information on my opinions, readers’ perspectives, and ARCs, please visit this section of my about page.