Katherine Applegate

Pocket Bear
By: Katherine Applegate, Charles Santoso (Illustrator)
Genre: Middle Grade, Magical Realism
Number of Pages: 272
Published: September 9, 2025
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Dates Read: September 2, 2025
Format: ARC / eBook

Zephyrina is a trash-diving, chaos-loving cat, who has been deemed “The Cat Burglar” by the neighborhood due the treasures she brings back home. Some of those treasures are stuffed toys and when they’re brought back, the daughter of the home will clean them up, make any repairs needed, and then put them up for “adoption” at her Second Chances Home for the Tossed and Treasured. Pocket, the unofficial mayor of Second Chances Home is Zephyrina’s best friend and he’s who both welcomes and looks after the stuffies during the night while the humans sleep.

When Zephyrina brings back a teddy bear a local collector has her eye on, things turn interesting at home.

I already knew when I saw Katherine Applegate had a new book coming out that I was going to want to read it – I also knew I would probably get at least a little teary eyed because that’s what she does to me in all her books. The concept of this book being about a little pocket bear – a tiny teddy bear born during WWI that was designed to fit into the pocket of a soldier’s jacket with their eyes sewn a bit higher than normal so that they’re always looking up – was already getting me emotional because, as a young girl, I would get emotionally attached to stuffed animals, and you’re telling me soldiers would take these little teddy bears with them into battle?! Secondly, his best friend is a cat, so I was already obsessed!

If you mix together some historical fiction, current events, and Toy Story you’ve got yourself Pocket Bear. Though this book is aimed at younger audiences, I’m 33 and absolutely loved it. I think anyone who ever had any connection to a stuffed animal would adore this book. Also, anyone who loves cats would enjoy this as well since Zephyrina is the narrator.

Overall, this is an adorable book that readers of all ages would enjoy and appreciate, especially those who wish magic upon their stuffed animals.

*Thank you Feiwel & Friends and NetGalley for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

A TWENTY-ONE (yes 2-1) item list coming your way with amazing titles being released in September. We’ve got a pull as your heartstrings novel about people’s relationships with dogs, a little pocket bear who’s the unofficial mayor of a home for refurbish plush toys, a novel and a nonfiction book written by Indigenous authors, there’s werewolves, there’s witches, there’s time travel portals, we’ve also got a travelogue of one’s author’s favorite cemeteries.

If you can’t find one thing on this list that sounds good – what are we missing??

September 2, 2025

From the best selling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed (aka one of my favorite Indigenous authors) comes a new young adult about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.

Sisters in the Wind

By: Angeline Boulley

A middle grade book that’s sure to rip my heart out about the powerful relationship that can happen between dogs and humans.

Forever Ripley

By: McCall Hoyle

A young adult book about the only survivor of a massacre twelve years ago, who is now being hunted by urban legend cultists who believe that on her 17th birthday, she’ll open a portal to hell and user in the apocalypse.

The Deep Well

By: Laura Creedle

A novella (128 pages), where scholars must construct an ancient city from scratch to please their new dictator, Gyges, who needs the justification for his next invasion.

Making History

By: K.J. Parker

September 9, 2025

A book I kept religiously checking for ARCs for online because it’s not only by one of my favorite children’s authors (Katherine Applegate), but it’s also about a Pocket Bear from WWI who serves as the unofficial mayor of Second Changes Home for the Tossed and Treasured – where stuffed toys are refurbished and given a fresh opportunity to be loved.

Pocket Bear

By: Katherine Applegate

A fantasy (with some horror) book where paintings hold curses and powers.

The Macabre

By: Kosoko Jackson

A middle grade novel about three generations of Black girls connected through a wormhole in their school locker.

Candace, the Universe, and Everything

By: Sherri L. Smith

September 16, 2025

A new take on werewolves anybody?

American Werewolves

By: Emily Jane

A look into works of history, science, memoir, and fiction written by Indigenous authors.

Bad Indians Book Club: Reading at the Edge of a Thousand Worlds

By: Patty Krawec

A novel with institutional menace with triple boys who only want to sent to the Big House in Margate.

The Book of Guilt

By: Catherine Chidgey

A young adult novel about the longing to be loved while living with a mind that tells you otherwise.

The Golden Boy’s Guide to Bipolar

By: Sonora Reyes

When the lights come back, the king is dead – murdered with the princess’s knife, in a weak spot only his guards know of, and dipped with venom from one of the beast tamer’s monsters – the unlikely group in his chambers make a pack to not tell a soul the king is dead until the treaty is signed. But then a winter storm seals everyone inside and the person who killed the king, begins killed off guests one by one…

I Killed the King

By: Rebecca Mix & Andrea Hannah

September 23, 2025

It’s the sequel to “Book of Night”!! Charlie is good enough to steal a shadow, but is she good enough to steal a heart?

Thief of Night

By: Holly Black

A companion piece to another of my favorite books, “My Father, the Panda Killer”, told in dual POV that follows a teenage son searching for information about his absent mother, and the mother as she struggles with grief and longing and the battle of the decision to leave her children.

My Mother, the Mermaid Chaser

By: Jamie Jo Hoang

Okay, I’m just going to give the pitch of “Twilight” meets “Teen Wolf” and let y’all decide 🙂

Moonsick

By: Tom O’Donnell

September 30, 2025

Oh, just a history about how the patriarchy used the accusation of witchcraft to both weaponized fear and silence women.

How to Kill a Witch: A Guide for the Patriarchy

By: Zoe Venditozzi & Claire Mitchell

A graphic memoir about the author’s father’s life during the Cuban Revolution and his family’s escape to America.

How to Say Goodbye in Cuban

By: Daniel Miyares

A travelogue about the author’s favorite cemeteries around the world… a grave-a-logue.

Somebody is Walking on Your Grave: My Cemetery Journeys

By: Mariana Enriquez

Oh, this a deeply researched novella (144 pages) that’s based on a series of real witchcraft trials that took place in Northern Jutland in the seventeenth century.

The Wax Child

By: Olga Ravn

A YA about lost sisters, female rage, and the drive to find out the secrets in order to survive.

Seven for a Secret

By: Mary E. Roach

Another novella (176 pages) about two daughters of opposing clans falling in love and how they want to be together, but also to be loyal to their clans.