2026 Lone Star Reading List

The beat I drum

Bowling, Dusti,


Series information taken from publisher's website. Connor, best friend of Aven Green from Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus, tells his story in this poignant novel about overcoming the challenges of starting over. Finding the beat of the drums helps teenage Connor navigate his Tourette's Syndrome, friendships, and family problems.
Date Published:2025

Bye forever, I guess

Meadows, Jodi,


Booklist starred, October 2024. Publishers Weekly, July 2024. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), September 2024. Kirkus Review, September 2024. Eighth-grader Ingrid runs a popular blog anonymously and has online personal more popular than she is, but when a wrong-number text message offers her a chance at connection, Ingrid opens herself to the opportunity to make a real live friend.
Date Published:2024

The extraordinary orbit of Alex Ramirez

Paulino, Jasminne,


School Library Journal starred, May 2025. Publishers Weekly, March 2025. Kirkus Review, April 2025. Alex, a neurodiverse seventh grader, works to convince his teachers and parents that he is ready to leave his self-contained classroom and join his grade's mainstream science class.
Date Published:2025

It's watching

Currie, Lindsay,


School Library Journal starred, January 2025. Publishers Weekly, November 2024. Booklist, January 2025. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), December 2024. Kirkus Review, December 2024. After attempting to prove the existence of a famous ghost for their school newspaper, Josie, Jackson, and Alison begin to receive sinister memes on their phones and must uncover the truth behind the terrifying messages before time runs out.
Date Published:2025

School Library Journal starred, January 2025. Publishers Weekly, November 2024. Booklist, January 2025. Bulletin (Center for Children's Books), December 2024. Kirkus Review, December 2024. After attempting to prove the existence of a famous ghost for their school newspaper, Josie, Jackson, and Alison begin to receive sinister memes on their phones and must uncover the truth behind the terrifying messages before time runs out.

Date Published:2025

No purchase necessary

Marianayagam, Maria,


Horn Book. A poignant, humorous coming-of-age story about a Tamil Sri Lankan boy whose life spirals out of control when he wins a prize in a stolen candy bar, pushing him to navigate his identity amidst his ever-watchful family.
Date Published:2025

Ollie in between

Callans, Jess,


Kirkus Reviews. A nonbinary middle-schooler must choose between pretending to be the girl everyone expects them to be and forging their own path forward.
Date Published:2025

On again, awkward again

Kelly, Erin Entrada,


ALA Booklist. Horn Book. Kirkus Reviews. High school freshmen, Pacy and Cecil, share a look of love at first sight that sparks a series of mistakes and awkward interactions that become part of their love story.
Date Published:2025

The strongest heart

Faruqi, Saadia,


Mo is used to his father's fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales. The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too-- which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu. With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo's aunt and cousin Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a 'bad kid.' Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas. Sundays at the mosque are better than he'd expected. And Rayyan and his aunt become a real family to Mo.
Date Published:2025

Mo is used to his father's fits of rage. When Abbu's moods shake the house, Mo is safe inside his head, with his cherished folktales. The best way to respond is not to engage. Apparently, his mama knows that too-- which is why she took a job on the other side of the world, leaving Mo alone with Abbu. With Mama gone, the two move to Texas to live with Mo's aunt and cousin Rayyan. The two boys could not be more different. Rayyan is achievement-driven and factual; Mo is a 'bad kid.' Still, there is a lot to like about living in Texas. Sundays at the mosque are better than he'd expected. And Rayyan and his aunt become a real family to Mo.

Date Published:2025

The wrong way home

O'Shaughnessy, Kate,


Newbery Medal/Honor. Publishers Weekly. School Library Journal. When twelve-year-old Fern and her mother abruptly leave their isolated, off-the-grid community, Fern wants nothing more than to return, but things get murky as she slowly adjusts to her new life and discovers unsettling truths about her old one.
Date Published:2024