What’s captured reader attention the last seven days? Top picks in middle grade and graphic format books, along with the political climate and the potential impact on schools and libraries.

Best Middle Grade Books 2024 | SLJ Best Books
By Monisha Blair, Kristin Brynsvold, Tracy Cronce, Mariah Smitala, Ashleigh Williams
Gripping fantastical journeys, family secrets, unbridled joy, and inconceivable loss: in these pages, tweens are facing it all. These 26 middle grade titles are exemplars across genre of the power of truth telling and embracing one's authentic self, even when it seems impossible.

To Our Readers | From the Editor
By Kathy Ishizuka
SLJ remains committed to the work. There is much to be done.

Best Manga 2024 | SLJ Best Books
By Jasmine Amiri, Rachel Forbes, Joe Pascullo, Lisa Rowland, Sara Smith
As the medium continues its meteoric rise, 2024 marked the debut of SLJ's first-ever Best Books committee dedicated exclusively to manga. From shock-charged action and celestial fantasy to eco-horror and edutainment, these 22 standout titles offer something for readers of all ages and interests, redefining what belongs on K–12 shelves—and why.

Surviving the Slow Burn of Middle Grade (Teen Librarian Toolbox)
By Shannon Messenger
The trick is to not give up while the slow burn runs its course.

Possible Impact if Linda McMahon Becomes Secretary of Education
By Kara Yorio
If confirmed by the Senate, McMahon is expected to advance the school choice and conservative agenda while trying to fulfill the president-elect's campaign promise of shutting down the Department of Education.

Best Graphic Novels 2024 | SLJ Best Books
By Jasmine Amiri, Angie Jameson, Rosemary Kiladitis, Andrea Lipinski, Allison Tran
Cozy fantasies, immigration stories, and reimagined classics—2024’s Best Graphic Novels list isn’t just a collection of 25 unforgettable reads, it’s a showcase of comics that push storytelling to new heights.