5th September 2025
Focus
Librarians’ autumn picks 2025: The most-anticipated upcoming reads
Lucas Maxwell
Ministry of Mischief: The Takeover Alex Foulkes, Nikolas Ilic (illus) Simon & Schuster Children’s The Ministry of Mischief series is a must-have for anyone who loves films such as Monsters, Inc. Alex Foulkes’ books are always a huge hit in our library. This is the second instalment in the Ministry of Mischief series and it sees Joey and Harry hurtled into the Impworld once again. This time they must stop the world from being taken over by constant good fortune. Sounds good, but it really isn’t. This fantastic story is full of hijinks, jokes, adventure and a lot of heart, don’t miss it.
Any Way You Slice It Méabh McDonnell ( 1) The O’Brien Press Any Way You Slice It is a charming YA romance that teens are going to love. It is overflowing with teenage crushes, angst, pain and lots of humour. Set around a stressful and popular baking competition, you will instantly want to hang out with Carrie and Dara as they navigate the tricky world of bake-offs and relationships. Each chapter is lovingly matched to a delicious recipe, this is a novel with deep meaning and is also a love letter to baking competitions, it doesn’t get much better than this.
Running My Own Race Abena Eyeson Nosy Crow Kofi wants to be “somebody”. He gets his chance when he is accepted at a prestigious private school, but everything is not as easy at it seems on the
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surface. These are the kinds of books we need in our schools, this is a book our students will devour. We need books that build empathy and understanding, and this is one of them. It’s a beautifully written story that is packed with authenticity. You will be rooting for Kofi as he forges his own path despite myriad obstacles and setbacks. It is a powerful, must-read story.
Crow Children James Dixon Guppy Books Ava and her mum move to a new town for a fresh start after the sudden death of Ava’s father. A fresh start is not what they get, however. Ava’s nana begins to lose her memory at a pace that is frightening. Then Ava meets Dustin, a mysterious boy who offers her something impossible, but tempting. This is a deeply moving YA that deals with grief, dementia, loss and the power of memory. It’s one that I’ll be giving to both our older students and our teaching staff, amazing writing, I loved it.
Roar
Manjeet Mann Penguin Rizu lives a comfortable life in Delhi. She goes to school, tries to avoid getting tangled up in gossip, does her homework and chats to her friends. Then, she’s accused of being a witch and she is suddenly forced to flee for her life, joining a reclusive yet vengeful group of outsiders. Roar is Manjeet Mann at her finest, it’s a powerful story about resistance, the dangers of mob mentality and holding truth to power. Another triumph for this brilliant author and one our students will love.
Lucas Maxwell is school librarian at Glenthorne High School in Sutton
Jenny Jones
fast-paced, assured storytelling, short, tense chapters and characters that you immediately care about I think that this book will become an instant hit. Pebble the horse has galloped into my heart and I think that my readers will love her too.
Unfairies Huw Aaron Puffin I’m looking forward to getting my hands on a copy of Unfairies, a comic described as having “the epic adventure of the Amulet series, and the silly humour of Bunny vs Monkey set at the scale of The Borrowers”. Anything described by peer reviewers as being “enviably bonkers” sounds good to me and I’m sure that my legion of comic fans will gobble it up.
Sugar Shack Lucy Knisley ( 5) Random House Graphic We can’t get enough of autobiographical-style, heartfelt comics about friendships, growing up and family life, and Lucy Knisley’s Peapod Farm series is one of the very best. Her comics are honest and warm and I’m sure to have a waiting list for Sugar Shack as soon as it arrives in the library.
Small Wonder Ross Montgomery Walker Books Everyone loves a tale of heroism and derring-do and Ross Montgomery’s Small Wonder definitely delivers. With its
Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom PJ Killburn,
Markia Jenai (illus) Little Tiger Comedy horror stories are so popular with my readers right now thanks to Jennifer Killick’s Dread Wood series and Dead Yard: Seeds of Doom, illustrated by Markia Jenai, is the first in a series that I’m going to be recommending to Killick’s many fans. With its contemporary London setting, chilling monsters drawn from Caribbean folklore and a snack-loving hero I’m sure that they are going to devour it.
Skandar and the Spirit War AF Steadman Simon & Schuster Children’s Books
Skandar fever gripped my library last academic year so the publication of the fifth and final book in the series, Skandar and the Spirit War is going to be huge. It’s one of those series that is so popular and widely discussed that even readers who usually prefer much shorter books rip through them.
Jenny Jones is head preparatory school librarian at Clifton College in Bristol
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Library Focus
Librarians’ Picks
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