The Whole Wide World of Mabel Mulligan: A Graphic Novel by Victoria Jamieson

The Whole Wide World of Mabel Mulligan:  A Graphic Novel by Victoria Jamieson 
Publisher:  Dial Books
Publishing:  October 6th, 2026
Format Read:  E-ARC 
Number of pages:   256 pages
Source: NetGalley ARC request following Penguin Fall Preview

It's the last day of school, and Mabel is thrilled to be spending it at home.  Her stuffed animal friends are her only companions, and she can't imagine a better way to spend her summer than hanging out with them.  Unfortunately, her three-and-a-half-year-old sister Pearl will be home too.  On the bright side, the family always chooses a summer project, and Mabel is hoping this will finally be the year they build the tree house she's been dreaming of.  She's even designed an incredible plan, complete with a zipline and swimming pool. 

But then her parents announce a different project, moving Mabel's bedroom up to the attic.  Pearl is decidedly not excited about having a "big girls" room all to herself.  Later that night, Mabel overhears her parents talking about her.  They're trying to figure out how to help her spend more time with other kids, and she catches confusing bits of the conversation, with something about "strange" and "real friends."  Hurt by their words, Mabel is left feeling like she needs to make a change, but how can she give up her best friends?

The Whole Wide World of Mabel Mulligan is an adorable story about growing up and navigating the changes that come with it, including learning how to let things go.  It's also a lovely reflection on the importance of open communication between parents and their children, and the value of sharing feelings honestly.  

Mabel's family is wonderfully supportive, well, maybe not Pearl, but she is only three and a half.  They love Mabel and want the best for her.   Her dad's concern about her not having any friends to play with are understandable, just as her attachment to her stuffed animals makes perfect sense as a source of comfort.  Figuring out when the right time is to let go of those beloved companions can be tricky.

Although neighborhood kids have invited her to play basketball, Mabel doesn't see herself as the sporty type.  I could easily identify with that feeling.  I was encouraged to play softball and join the swim team, but I would've much rather been reading a book or watching T.V.  Mabel does, however, have her PopPop, who takes her to Mass and encourages her to explore building things in his shop. 

I really loved the art style of this book, especially the pencil-and pen illustrations paired with watercolors.  At the back of the book, there are illustrations kids drew of their "stuffies," along with a sweet encouragement from the author to write stories about their own stuffed animal friends.  Overall, a very sweet story and I'm hoping there will be more books in the series.  

**A huge thank you to Dial Books for the E-ARC in exchange for an honest review.**

Death in the Tallgrass by Andrea L. Rogers

Death in the Tallgrass by Andrea L. Rogers
Publisher:  Levine Querido
Format Read:  E-book 
Number of pages:   192 pages
Publishing:  September 15th, 2026
Source: via Edelweiss+  

Opening Lines:  "The road from the highway that led to the unincorporated town of Snake, Oklahoma was as serpentine as, well, a snake."

Cynthia, her older sister Diane, her younger sister Wren and their parents have moved onto their grandfather Haggard's ranch in the hills of Oklahoma. Diane has thrown herself into the anti-war and the growing American Indian civil rights movement, Wren continues to be a thorn in Cynthia's side with all of her tattling, and all of them do their best to stay out of their grandfather's way as he sulks, glares, assigns chores, and snaps in anger without warning.  Truthfully, he scares them all.     

The plan was to stay with Cynthia's grandparents for only a few weeks, just long enough for her father to sort out the ranch's affairs before it goes bankrupt.  The move also gives her parents time to find a new home in Tulsa before her dad starts his new job.  

While exploring the fields around the farm, Cynthia discovers a tarnished silver charm bracelet with a rearing horse.  For a moment she thinks she hears her name carried on the wind.  Later, Wren takes the bracelet and accidently drops it behind the dresser, revealing a loose piece of the trim.  Hidden inside is a small box and a diary belonging to Violet Wood, who lived in the house during the 1920's. 

Violet's diary delivers a chilling message, if her prized possessions are ever found and she is ever discovered dead, "presume she was murdered."  As Cynthia begins to unravel the truth behind Violet's death, she realizes the mystery may expose a secret capable of tearing her family apart.

I have to admit, the first thing that drew me to Death in the Tallgrass was its cover, the sweeping open field paired with the haunting feel of the title immediately caught my attention.  The story is a murder mystery rooted in a dark family secret, told with a tone reminiscent of Holes by Louis Sachar.

Interspersed between each chapter are historical notes, reflection questions, various Cherokee words, and traditional stories.  An approach that adds depth and context to the unfolding mystery.  Violet's past emerges gradually through brief, haunting glimpses of her life, while Cynthia and her sisters spend their days doing chores on the ranch and trying to understand and reconnect with their Cherokee heritage.  The reader should be prepared for moments of sadness, especially when the secret is finally revealed, but I remained fully invested in the story all the way to the last page. 

 I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE   

Art Attack: The Sherlock Society #3 by James Ponti

Art Attack: The Sherlock Society#3 by James Ponti
Publisher:  Aladdin
Publishing:  September 8th, 2026
Format Read:  E-ARC via NetGalley
Number of pages:   320 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines:  "Late November in Miami can be colder than most people would think, but my hoodie was still soaked in sweat."

Art Attack is the third book in James Ponti's bestselling middle grade series The Sherlock Society.  This time Alex, Zoe, Lina and Yadi are going undercover in Miami to track down an anonymous graffiti artist known only as Funky Munky.  A property development company wants to hire the artist to paint a mural on the side of one of their buildings, but there's one problem, no one knows who Funky Munky is. 

Because the artist has gone to great lengths to hide their identity, the gang decides their first step is to negotiate a firewall deal with the developer.  This protects Funky Munky's anonymity while allowing the team to present an offer directly to them.  If the artist isn't interested, they can decline without revealing their identity.  With only four weeks to locate the mysterious artist and Miami Art Week happening at the same time, the team has their work cut out for them.  Will the clues hidden in the city's street art lead them to the right person, or will they need a more elaborate plan?

Art Attack is a super clever mystery with an engaging plot.  I loved seeing Alex and Zoe's grandpa join the investigation, and thought the book provided a fascinating look into the world of graffiti art, everything from "tags, throwies to pieces," along with the artists motivations behind their temporary works on structures and buildings.  Banksy immediately came to mind, since their art also blends creativity with political or social commentary.

I appreciated the way the friends support each other, and how Alex and Yadi experienced real consequences when they took a drone into an empty building without telling their parents first.  The details about the Miami art scene were interesting and the mystery of Funky Munky's identity kept me guessing right up to the end. 

 

Our Favorite Day of the Week by Ashley Franklin and Rahele Jomepour Bell

 Our Favorite Day of the Week by Ashley Franklin, illustrations by Rahele Jomepour Bell
Publisher:  Salaam Reads/Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
Publishing:  September 29th, 2026
Format Read:  E-ARC
Number of pages:   40 pages
Source: Publisher

Opening Lines: "Musa was ready to begin his week with something amazing."

Musa is thrilled to have learned how to tie his shoes and can't wait to share the news with his next-door neighbor, Zohra.  But when he sees her, she doesn't seem in the mood to celebrate with him.   Zohra is worried that her upcoming trip on Tuesday means she'll miss her favorite pastime, seeing Mr. Joey and Mr. Brown collect her trash.  Recycling is her passion and watching them work makes Tuesday the best day of her week.  

Hearing this Musa shares what he enjoys about Wednesday's, and soon their friends from school join in as they walk to school, each describing what they love most about their favorite day of the week.   I loved the children's excitement and reasons for why they picked the day that they chose whether it was swimming with a parent, playing futbol, visiting a Chinese cultural center or celebrating the Jewish day of rest or Shabbat.  Every day held something meaningful and together created a joyful mixture of traditions and activities.      

The vibrant colors and expressive faces in the illustrations were the highlight for me.  The book features a wonderfully diverse group of children, and I especially loved that one of the days was spent with a grandparent creating art projects together.  It's a lovely sequel to Our Favorite Day of the Year, carrying forward the same sense of joy, connection and celebrating everyday moments.  

Included at the back of the book is a section explaining which countries consider Sunday the first day of the week, along with the origins of each weekday's name, including the Roman or Norse gods they were named after.  I can easily see this being used in a classroom during story time to spark conversations about each student's favorite day of the week, or even to create a chart or list so the class can compare their choices. 

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi

Sisters Alone by Shifa Saltagi Safadi
Publisher:  GP Putnam's Sons Book for Young Readers
Publishing:  September 8th, 2026
Format Read:  E-book via NetGalley
Number of pages:   336 pages
Source: Egypt Street PR

Opening Lines:  "i cut carefully, scissors snipping, slicing."

Sixth-grader Leena is working on a scrapbook filled with happy memories of her mom, who died six months earlier in a tragic accident.  Creating the album is the only way that she feels she can keep her mom's memory alive.  Since the loss, both Leena and her older sister, Rama, have changed in ways they don't fully understand.  Rama has become angrier and struggles with intrusive thoughts.  She feels like Leena can't do anything right and that she's constantly cleaning up her messes.   She gets easily irritated and has alienated her best friend Madiha too.  Leena, meanwhile, is the only one who secretly blames herself for their mom's death.

The sisters have been preparing for a school ski trip, but Leena is worried she won't pass one of her classes and won't be allowed to go.  Rama is desperate to fix things with Madiha, who seems to be drifting toward the new girl at school, and she hopes the ski trip will be able to repair things.  With her dad traveling to Japan for work, Rama is put in charge of Leena.  

On the morning of the ski trip, everything falls apart.   Leena is turned away from the bus because she forgot to turn in her permission slip.  Suddenly, both girls are stuck at home for the entire week.  They decide not to tell their dad, afraid that he will cut his trip short and risk losing his job.  At first, they try to manage with what little food that is left in the house, but things quickly become dire when a snowstorm knocks out the power, and a falling tree causes structural damage to the house.  Forced to take shelter in a shed, the girls face escalating hardships, and a painful misunderstanding puts them both at risk.

Sisters Alone is from the author of Kareen Between and the Amina Banana series, and is a verse novel that explores sadness, deep frustration, grief after losing a family member, shifting friendships, and evolving sibling relationships.  It portrays how trauma impacts people in different ways.  It's a beautifully emotional story rooted in the bond between these two sisters.

I loved the variety of writing styles for the verse, from cascading words to the conversational back-and-forth between Leena and Rema.  Switching between their perspectives allowed me to understand each girl's grief and anxieties.  The vivid winter setting came alive through detailed descriptions like, "salt crunches beneath the tires.  Ice covered evergreens line our way."  I also really appreciated how their culture shone through in the moments of them completing their five daily prayers.  This is a great read if you enjoy books in verse, survival stories or heartwarming sibling stories.  The author's note at the end shares her personal experiences with anxiety and intrusive thoughts, along with helpful links for further exploration.

 I hope you'll check out all the other Marvelous Middle-Grade Monday posts at Greg Pattridge's blog HERE   

We Are the Keystones: Animals That Hold Habitats Together by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Hannah Salyer

We Are the Keystones:  Animals that Hold Habitats Together by Katy S. Duffield, illustrated by Hannah Salyer
Publisher:  Beach Lane Books/Simon & Schuster
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:   36 pages
Publishing:  September 1st, 2026
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines: "All throughout the nature-hoods, in marshes, grasslands, water, woods, they help themselves-help others too-just by doing what they do."

We are the Keystones introduces the reader to the concept of keystone species, or the "plants, animals or other organisms that have an outsized impact on the environments around them."  Real world examples include wolves hunting elk, to alligators creating a gator hole for cooling, each featured species plays a vital role in its ecosystem.  The back matter explains that scientist Robert Paine was the first to explore how removing a keystone species can dramatically alter an environment and he coined the term.

The illustrations open with two people in a misty marsh observing a bird through binoculars, then expands into scenes of animals in their natural habitats.   I especially enjoyed the range of environments represented, marshlands, marine ecosystems, forests, and grasslands.  Eleven creatures are highlighted, and the book even includes a list of additional keystone species for curious readers to explore.  My favorites were the sea otters and hummingbirds.    

The story is told in rhyming verse paired with illustrations that show each creature at work, like a beaver gnawing down a tree to build a dam while frogs, herons, and dragonflies thrive in the pond it created.  Beneath each illustration is a brief explanation of how that species supports its habitat.  In the beaver's case, its pond provides an essential breeding ground for other animals.  

This would make a lovely read‑aloud for exploring how animals contribute to their environments and why maintaining ecosystem balance is so important. It gently reinforces the idea that every species plays a part, and that some are especially crucial for the survival of many others.

It's Almost Time for Thanksgiving by Maisha Oso, illustrated by Tom Knight

It's Almost Time for Thanksgiving by Maisha Oso, illustrated by Tom Knight
Publisher: Margaret K McElderry Books/Simon & Schuster
Publishing:  September 1st, 2026
Format Read:  Hardcover
Number of pages:  32 pages
Source: Publisher in exchange for an honest review

Opening Lines: "Once October's days are over, move without delay.  You must make sure you're ready for this thankful holiday."

A little boy and is pet lamb are busy preparing for Thanksgiving.  They put away the Halloween decorations, plan the menu, visit a turkey farm, and even squeeze in a football game before cooking a meal and settling in to watch the parade.  After sharing a lovely meal with family and friends, the reader is prompted to guess the holiday.  Following the humorous wrong answer of St. Patrick's Day, the book reviews everything the young boy did to prepare and finally reveals the correct holiday. 

It's Almost Time for Thanksgiving is described as How to Catch a Turkey meets The Night Before series and it continues Maisha Oso's It's Almost Time collection, which also includes books celebrating Christmas, Halloween, and Easter.  The illustrations are very colorful and detailed, filled with warm oranges, reds, and browns with touches of green and blue that perfectly capture the season.  There's even an adorable lamb to spot on each page as it holds a wreath, hugs a cabbage, and finds a clover, hinting at a very different holiday it's looking forward to.  A cozy read that captures the anticipation of Thanksgiving through its delightful rhymes and festive charm.