Stoked for This: March 2026

/ Alisha Helms / Leave a comment

I think I’m ready for a vacation out of the Midwest, cause I’ve got quite a few books that are set out in the west coast: California, Washington specifically have two books each! Of course I have a book (or two) set around space or dystopian futures ◡̈ Oh! I can’t forget the story about a girl falling in love with a member of the famous boyband (yes I read 1,000 o

March 3, 2026

Three women united by killer husbands join together to find the new serial killer on the loose in 1960’s California.

The Secret Lives of Murderers’ Wives

By: Elizabeth Arnott

After her best friend goes missing after an earthquake, Celeste is the only one who thinks Nicky is alive and begins her mission to find him.

Lies We Tell About the Stars

By: Susie Nadler

As younger children, the three friends discovered a book of prophecies that seemed to be accurately predicting the future. Now, in seventh grade, the book’s final prophecy brings the three back together in unexpected ways. 

When Tomorrow Burns

By: Tae Keller

Finnegan is a rescue dog with a broken heart. Chase is an anxious cheetah cub, newly orphaned. They couldn’t be more opposite but they form an unlikely friendship.

The Unlikely Tale of Chase and Finnegan

By: Jasmine Warga

March 10, 2026

An adorable children’s book about respecting cat’s personal space.

Arthur’s Cat

By: Johan Leynaud

A coming-of-age YA featuring an Indigenous teen girl grappling with the effects of intergenerational trauma while navigating school, family and young love.

Here for a Good Time

By: Kim Spencer

March 17, 2026

After a slur is shouted at a school assembly, two boys grapple with accountability and the quest to define one’s identity against toxic masculinity.

One Word, Six Letters

By: Adib Khorram

Lucy Nowhere washed up on an island as an infant. At eighteen, she planned to leave and go to university but overnight, her life changed. Her benefactor was murdered and, to her great surprise, she was named his heir. Following the murder, Lucy tries to find the murderer and find out who she is and how she ended up on the island. 

Heiress of Nowhere

By: Stacy Lee

March 24, 2026

After emigrating from Iran a year-and-a-half ago, Yasmine has had to deal with one change after another. now, her mom has sewn Yasmin a beautiful blue dress for the Persian New Year that is too tight on purpose. With the pressure to fit in closing in on all sides, Yasmin starts taking desperate measures. But if being thin is supposed to make her happier, then why does losing weight feel like losing parts of herself, too?

The Blue Dress

By: Rebecca Morrison

A coming-of-age tale inspired by Odysseus set both on Earth and in space.

Celestial Lights

By: Cecile Pin

Famine and war now rage across the land after the last honeybee died. People are no longer allowed to read or create art. Like every other girl, Jess has been taken from her home to live in a government dormitory, where they are forced to pollinate crops by hand with brushes. But, Jess knows how to read and paint. She also knows there is something horribly wrong with this system built on the hard labor of young girls, a system that forces them to marry and have children as soon as they are able. With smuggled paints and brush in hand, can Jess inspire a revolution?

The Danger of Small Things

By: Caryl Lewis

A Deaf, demiromantic teen who falls in love with the lead singer of America’s most popular boy band during a whirlwind summer tour (the fan girl in me can’t resist falling in love with the boy band member…)

Someone to Daydream About

By: Sydney Langford

Blanca of Castile is the granddaughter of Queen Eleanor of Aquitaine, once the wife of both the king of France and the king of England. When Queen Eleanor comes to select the girl who will marry the prince of France, all expect her to pick Blanca’s much older, and much prettier, sister. But Queen Eleanor has always loved surprises and selects Blanca. Now, to meet her destiny, Blanca, along with her best friend Suna, must set out over the mountain for France.

The Queen’s Granddaughter

By: Diane Zahler

March 31, 2026

Set in the Prohibition era Missouri Ozarks, three sisters take over their father’s moonshine business.

The Moonshine Women

By: Michelle Collins Anderson

The Red Car to Hollywood / Jennie Liu

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The Red Car to Hollywood
By: Jennie Liu
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 256
Published: March 4, 2025 (1st Published January 1, 2025)
Publisher: Carolrhoda Lab
Dates Read: February 18, 2026 - February 25, 2026
Format: Hardcover		ISBN: 9781728493213

Trigger Warnings: racism, sexism, sexual assault

Sixteen-year-old Ruby Chan considers herself a modern, independent American teenager. But when her secret relationship with a white boy implodes and is revealed to her very traditional Chinese parents, her life gets locked and chained. Her parents hire a matchmaker to find her a Chinese husband and her dad will also look for a husband on his business trip to China. 

Meanwhile, Ruby meets the nineteen-year-old film star, Anna May Wong at her family’s laundromat and the girls quickly strike up a friendship. Anna May defies Chinese convention by working as an actress on the silver screen and she scoffs at others’ assumptions about her. If she can forge her own path, so can Ruby.

I could really tell the research Jennie Liu had done with this novel and appreciated how she showed the issues Chinese teens dealt with in the 1920s. This isn’t a time in history I read too often so it was a learning experience for me as well. I have read about a few laws that were put into place in America around the 1940s but was not aware some of them were put into place decades before. 

I appreciated Ruby’s growth and determination about forging her own path but still trying to be somewhat respectful. Though the story ends on a high note, it’s not wrapped up sweet and nicely and leaves room for the reader to imagine Ruby’s story beyond the time we read with her. 

Overall, this is an informative, coming of age, historical fiction about growing up as a female Chinese American in Los Angeles’ Chinatown in 1920 that any historical reader would enjoy.

*Thank you Carolrhoda Lab and LibraryThing for a copy of this title in exchange for an honest review

A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez / María Dolores Águila

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A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto Alvarez
By: María Dolores Águila
Genre: Middle Grade, Historical Fiction, Novel in Verse
Number of Pages: 304
Published: September 16, 2025
Publisher: Roaring Brook Press
Dates Read: February 17, 2026 - February 18, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9781250342614

This middle grade, novel-in-verse is based on the true story of Roberto Alvarez and the Lemon Grove Incident.

Twelve-year-old Roberto Alvarez is the first one in his family born on US soil. He’s el futuro.

When the Lemon Grove School Board and Chamber of Commerce are moved by anti-immigrant and anti-Mexican propaganda, they create a separate “Americanization” school in an old barn for the Mexican children who originally were attending the Lemon Grove Grammar School.

Amidst threats of deportation, the Comité de Vecinos risk everything to stand their ground on getting their kids back to the regular Grammar School. With the help of the Mexican Consulate, the committee chooses Roberto as the lead plaintiff in the lawsuit against the school board.

Who else came here to read about another part of history that was left out of history lessons back in the day?

The author did a fantastic job at showing the growth of Roberto from being an innocent twelve-year-old who basically just got kicked out of school, to then someone who was more and more aware of the injustices around him and his community.

As an English speaker, who took French in high school, and then has become semifluent in American Sign Language, I did struggle a little bit with the Spanish that was sprinkled into the verses. Sometimes I could use context clues to figure out what was being said, but other times I would grab my phone to use the camera option of Google translate. That was okay with me, because it helped me become more submerged in the story, but, I can see some people getting frustrated with that.

Overall, a beautiful novel in verse for middle grade readers (and older to be real!) who would enjoy learning about a time in history that is probably not told very often and that was two decades before Brown v. Board of Education.

Night Watch / Jayne Anne Phillips, Karissa Vacker (Narrator), Theo Stockman (Narrator), Maggi-Meg Reed (Narrator)

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Night Watch
By: Jayne Anne Phillips, Karissa Vacker (Narrator), Theo Stockman (Narrator), Maggi-Meg Reed (Narrator)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 304
Published: September 19, 2024
Publisher: Vintage
Dates Read: February 7, 2026 - February 16, 2026
Format: Paperback / Library Book / Audiobook
ISBN: 9781101972793

Trigger Warnings: rape, PTSD, war, trauma, abuse, mental health

In 1874, twelve-year-old ConaLee just arrived at the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum in West Virginia with her mother, Eliza, who hasn’t spoken a word in over a year. They were dropped off by a war veteran who had forced himself into their world. He had made them leave behind family, their loving Dearbhla, and their mountain home. Now, they’re there to heal.

Meanwhile, the Night Watch has a story all his own, or rather, what he remembers from before the war. Now, he’s on his way to his own healing as the Night Watch at the same asylum. 

I had a really really hard time reading this because there were no quotes around spoken words. Everything was one paragraph or a sentence mixed in with descriptors. Sometimes it would have a descriptor, spoken words, and then more descriptors, making it extremely difficult to know when someone stopped talking, it was super frustrating. The timeline also jumped around quite a bit and it was sometimes hard to keep straight if we were in the past or present.

So, I switched and went over to listening to it on Audiobook and let me tell you, the narrators did a spectacular job at keeping everything sorted and understandable. It was then I was able to understand how complex the characters were and appreciate the story a lot more.

I appreciated the little tidbits of information about asylums back in the 1800s and how easily it was to basically get dropped off there and forgotten.

Overall, while this historical novel will challenge the everyday reader, if you can get past the unique style choice of no quotation marks, you may very well discover the emotional and intellectual depth this novel has to offer.

Rune: Tale of the Obsidian Maze (Rune #2) / Carlos Sánchez

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Rune: Tale of the Obsidian Maze (Rune #2)
By: Carlos Sánchez
Genre: Graphic Novel, YA, Fantasy
Number of Pages: 160
Published: November 4, 2025
Publisher: Flying Eye Books
Dates Read: February 3, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9781838741631

Chiri and Dai have stayed in Puddin’ to learn more about magic and sword now that the Shadow King is trapped in a bottle. One day, their group gets attacked by skeletons that bring them an invitation to the Obsidian Maze. The Darkness created two other Heralds besides the Shadow King, one is trapped in crystal inside the Obsidian Maze: The Midknight. Chiri and Dai must face the obstacles of the maze as well as the taunts from the Shadow King before they fight the Midknight.

As with the volume before, this book is beautifully drawn and has such an eye catching color palette, after every page you can find me engrossed in the background and details.

I still love the way Sánchez draws Chiri and the sign language she uses. 

This volume for sure gives the vibe of more to come (I would hope so with the ending that was given anyway!), which makes me super excited to keep an eye out for them. I’ve been getting them as requests for my library but have plans to purchase my own copies of them for sure.

Overall, it is still an amazing, action packed, background filled, beautiful graphic novel that middle grade readers and above would enjoy (even adults!).

Three Blue Hearts / Lynne Kelly

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Three Blue Hearts
By: Lynne Kelly
Genre: Middle Grade
Number of Pages: 282
Published: October 7, 2025
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Dates Read: February 1, 2026 - February 2, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9780593898390

Max can’t seem to get out of the shadow of his politician dad, or the nicknames from his shortcomings. But, for the next few months Max and his mom are going to a Texas beach where nobody knows them, where Max could be Milo instead.

Shortly after arriving, Max stumbles upon an octopus washed up onshore after a storm. With the help of some news friends and the local wildlife center, Max rescues the octopus – who they name Ursula – and who Max vows to take care of until she’s ready to return to the sea.

But as their bond deepens Max learns what friendship without conditions means, how to accept himself as who he is, and how to show up for those he loves most.

So, octopuses are my all-time favorite sea animal, so when I saw that Lynne Kelly wrote a book with one as a character, I was already invested! Even so, Kelly does a phenomenal job as weaving actual facts and information in with the storyline without it feeling like you were reading a textbook.

Not only did I love Ursula’s journey, I appreciated the one Max went on as well. He learns how to love himself, even with faults, and even with his big political dad looming over him. He learns that when you’re honest, and open with people you trust, beautiful friendships can form.

This one hit a little hard for the animal lover within me. I know all of them can’t be saved, but I sure always wish they could.

“When we can’t save them, at least they’re not alone. They go out surrounded by those who loved them. At the end, that’s all we have left to give – the love we have for them. Sometimes that has to be enough.”

Overall, this a great read, especially for middle grade readers to read about accepting yourself, being a good friend, and showing up for all those you love – humans and animals alike!

*Thank you NetGalley and Delacorte Press for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

We Burned So Bright / TJ Klune

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We Burned So Bright
By: TJ Klune
Genre: Novella, Sci-Fi
Number of Pages: 176
Published: April 28, 2026
Publisher: Tor Books
Dates Read: January 31, 2026
Format: ARC / Paperback		ISBN: 9781250881236

Don and Rodney have lived a long life together. They’ve experienced the highs and lows of family and have been together even when they thought it was the end of the world.

Now, with the black hole getting closer and closer, it really is the end of the world. After all the time together, Don and Rodney are in a race against the clock to make it from Maine to Washington to take care of one last thing.

On the road they meet all kinds of characters: some in denial of the end just around the corner and some who are rushing to get to the finish line. As the black hole gets closer and closer, Don and Rodney look back on their lives and ask if what they did was good enough.

Yet again TJ Klune has captured my attention and wouldn’t let it go until the last page. 

It’s a shorter book but still one you want to take your time with. I had the opportunity to read it all on a Saturday and ignored my house chores for a bit 🙂. Each chapter Don and Rodney meet someone else on their black hole journey to death and each new encounter all deserve their own time to digest their story. Each one is a different lens on how we as a society can handle death and grief. One of the girls they met will probably stay with me for quite some time.

And then there’s Jeremy. I could tell pretty early on what Don and Rodney’s goal was but not for who. That story made my heart ache for the men and absolutely I teared up.

Overall, I highly suggest this end of the world novella for those that would be interested in the philosophy of how humans act when they know the end is coming, but it’s also about love, love, and choosing life.

*Thank you NetGalley and Tor Books for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store / James McBride (REREAD)

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The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store (Reread)
By: James McBride
Genre: Historical Fiction
Number of Pages: 400
Published: August 8. 2023
Publisher: Riverhead Books
Dates Read: January 23, 2026 - January 28, 2026
Format: ARC / Paperback		ISBN: 9780593422946

In 1972, workers were digging a new foundation in Pottstown, Pennsylvania when they found a skeleton at the bottom of a well. To figure out who it is, The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store goes back 40 years to the secrets of the neighborhood of Chicken Hill, a dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side.

This book was ultimately about the community of Chicken Hill, rallying together in order to protect a young deaf boy they’ve named Dodo, from being taken by the state to an institution. It starts off with a murder mystery, but to be honest, that wasn’t at all the most interesting part of the story.

Below is my second time reading it’s review:

This time around, I physically read this book verses listening to it in audio and doing this definitely changed my mind about it. Chuna is still one of my favorite characters, but I now also have a soft spot for Monkey Pants. But also, since I was really slowing myself down to pay attention, the list of characters is so long! I gained more respect for a lot of characters that, during the first read through, I didn’t even remember! Characters like Moche, or Malachi, or Paper!

Above all though, it really made me think about justice and how it’s served and does taking it into your own hands count?

Overall, I’m glad I gave this a second chance. It is rich and full of characters that are there for their community and get things done.

If you want to re my first review, you can below. A lot of changed since I physically read it this time around.

The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store / James McBride

Land (Volume 1) / Kazumi Yamashita, Kevin Gifford (Translator)

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Land (Volume 1)
By: Kazumi Yamashita, Kevin Gifford (Translator)
Genre: Manga
Number of Pages: 660
Published: September 9, 2025 (1st Published April 15, 2015)
Publisher: Yen Press
Dates Read: January 19, 2025 - January 23, 2025
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9798855421088

When twin girls are born in a superstitious village, one twin must be sacrificed to the gods to protect the village. So, Sutekichi takes one of his daughters to the mountains and raises his other daughter, An, in the village. When An gets older, she begins asking questions about the four gods at each point of the village, but also asking why every villager dies right at the age of 50. It gets even weirder when a feral child comes into the village.

I had a hard time with this one, which sucks because I wanted to like it, but I think it’s a little too out there for me. I made it about half way through before I started just skimming it, which is still a lot since this book is 658 pages!

I didn’t understand the animal heads, or why they wouldn’t answer An. <spoiler> Also, the two “An”s confused me, and the name also threw me off cause I kept thinking it was a determiner </spoiler>.

Overall, I still think this would be a great read for those who like to immerse themselves in a rich fantasy world with unique rules. I myself was a little impatient when it came to reading this, so just give yourself some time and I think you would enjoy it.

Hello Sunshine / Keezy Young

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Hello Sunshine
By: Keezy Young
Genre: Graphic Novel, Young Adult, Horror
Number of Pages: 384
Published: September 23, 2025
Publisher: Little, Brown Ink
Dates Read: January 19, 2026 - January 19, 2026
Format: Library Book / Hardcover	ISBN: 9780316509473

When a troubled teen disappears from his small town, his loved ones go on a paranormal journey to save him from his inner demons.

It’s taken me a while to review this book simply because trying to put into words how amazing I think the author did in showing and handling the character’s mental health struggles was brilliant and impactful. Every member of the group had their own journey throughout this story and each arc felt complete at the end. I appreciated the struggle Noah had between religion and his sexuality, I was a little nervous about it going into this, but that turned around pretty quickly.

I’m a huge Hawkeye fan, and the artwork in this graphic novel really reminded me of Matt Fraction’s 2010’s Hawkeye. The art style, color, and texture of the panels gave the perfect amount to make it supernaturally and horror-y at the same time. 

Without getting into too much of the storyline due to spoilers, I just want to say that the mixture of what was real and what was only available to the one character was phenomenal and well taken care of. With both the visual and the dense dialog pages, Keezy Young showcases the losing of one’s mind by mental illness more effectively than I’ve seen with a graphic novel in a long time.