The Catalog
Professional reviews of new books, newest first. Filter by audience, category, or format.
Adult
by Mark Lavine
Fiction · Adult
When the hunted encroaches on the hunter’s territory, who will survive?
Top Market Takeaway
A slow-burn work of realistic fiction, this novella may speak to readers who defy conventional narratives in favor of outdoor experiences, survival stories, and the intersection of humans and animals.
Children's
by Arthur Smith
Illustrated by Craig Orback
Edited by Ann Koffsky
Fiction · Children's · 10-01-2026
In a story taken from true life, Artie, a gentle-looking older man, and his dog Gizmo rescue and adopt a shivering mouse they find on an evening walk.
Top Market Takeaway
Aimed toward pre-readers and their caregivers, the first book in The Robe Squad series explores themes of friendship and kindness in acts that are not governed by wealth or abundance.
Adult
by Don Eron
Fiction · Adult · 10-03-2023
The portrait of a life stuck in neutral, unwilling to give up on all it’s supposed to become.
Top Market Takeaway
Aim this at fans of introspective literary fiction who appreciate flawed, self-absorbed protagonists and Chekhovian-style tales of thwarted ambition. Presner the Remarkable explores the difficulty of moving forward when grief and disappointment have become part of your identity.
Children's
by Joann Howeth
Nonfiction · Children's · 08-04-2025
A parallel story of survival relating two disparate Mollys B across the expanse of space and time.
Top Market Takeaway
This book explores the well-known story of the “Unsinkable Molly Brown” alongside the less-familiar tale of a cow named Molly, comparing their experiences in a surprising way. While survival is the primary theme of the story, considerations of humane animal treatment will inspire conversation in homes and classrooms alike.
Young Adult
by Alicia Rinko
Fiction · Young Adult · 06-26-2026
An unlikely hero meets the perseverance arc of a sports story that is literally out of this world in the first book in “The Calamity Competition” series.
Top Market Takeaway
The superhero sports mashup feels a bit derivative, but the characters are likeable for middle grade readers, especially those leaning toward sports-fiction. It, or future books in the apparent series, will need to be shortened to really knock this out of the park.
Children's
by Craig W. George
Fiction · Children's · 10-01-2026
Something different for the alphabet learners and their caregivers: a witty, scary, rhyming ABC book.
Top Market Takeaway
An ABC book with rhymed couplets for each letter, which nab readers’ attention by the shape of a monster or an eerie thing or element. The vocabulary is pretty advanced for little kids still learning their letters, so save the book for adult-child sharing.
Young Adult
by C.S. Pascoal
Fiction · Young Adult · 09-22-2026
Eight misfits. One crumbling room. Thirty days to hack their way out.
Top Market Takeaway
A sharp, tech-savvy satire with built-in classroom appeal, Accidental Tribes will hook teens drawn to gaming, coding, and influencer culture, while its reflective workbook makes it a natural fit for educators, book clubs, and digital literacy programs looking to spark conversation between young readers and the adults in their lives.
Adult
by C.F. Hayes
Fiction · Adult · 06-04-2025
The private diary of a senator’s daughter exposes a life of trauma, taboo, and radical obsession.
Top Market Takeaway
A meandering, provocative character study of an abuse survivor, best suited for readers and collections with niche or thematic interests in the intersections of power, abuse, sexuality, and religion.
Adult
by Ronald Gruner
Nonfiction · Adult · 04-07-2025
A compelling look at the COVID-19 pandemic, written for curious readers beyond the medical community.
Top Market Takeaway
Covid Wars is a deep dive into the history of the COVID pandemic written for the general public, not just medical professionals. From conspiracy theories and alternative facts to historical accounts of the discovery and progression of viral outbreaks to COVID-19 as a global pandemic and social determinant of American public health, Gruner provides a solid reading experience.
Children's
by Frank Fitzgerald
Fiction · Children's · 07-24-2026
An unexpectedly fun ride through Chicago history and culture with a prehistoric tour guide.
Top Market Takeaway
For readers in the early childhood to primary grades, the story of Roar, a dinosaur who lives with an art teacher. A painless way to bring a vibe to Chicago history and culture, this book could be used by lower elementary art teachers as a mentor text and then go on to create murals of their own communities.
Adult
by Jean Leveque
Fiction · Adult · 2026
A lyrical story where the music of language illuminates the depths of the human soul.
Top Market Takeaway
A work of literary fiction that blends philosophical inquiry with sensory memoir, appealing to readers of contemplative, prose-driven narratives similar to classic novels.
Adult
by David R Yale
Fiction · Adult · 05-15-2024
An earnest labor novel in which meticulous historical research and moral urgency unfold through explanatory dialogue, community organizing, and meeting-room sprawl.
Top Market Takeaway
The third of the Paul Mäkinen novels but the fourth entry in the Shingle Creek Sagas, this is a selective purchase for collections where labor history and political fiction circulate well. Substantial research, sustained mental-health advocacy, and a laudable pro-worker perspective will appeal most to readers comfortable with didactic dialogue and extended scenes of organizing and collective decision-making. Explicit sexual and violent content positions this solidly for new adult and adult collections.
Young Adult
by Neysa Jensen
Fiction · Young Adult · 10-06-2026
A queer romance during Japanese internment for two teen girls; the story is unique and will leave readers wanting more.
Top Market Takeaway
A strong choice for older YA and New Adult readers, especially fans of historical fiction. Believable teen characters, dual points of view, and a memorable queer romance help this title stand out.
Adult
by Ronald Gruner
Nonfiction · Adult · 07-04-2026
The blunders, gaffes, and brilliant successes of those in the Oval Office throughout the century come into focus in this very readable and informative survey of modern American history and the presidency.
Top Market Takeaway
New adults and young adults seeking history resources are the unexpected beneficiaries of this refreshingly balanced evaluation of the men who have held the presidency for the last 100 years. Without bias and fully fact-checkable, Gruner’s title provides honest and hard-won context for the history and current state of democracy in the US.
Adult
by Kenneth Chanko
Fiction · Adult · 03-06-2026
Meaningful connections are important, but how does it work between students and teachers….
Top Market Takeaway
Rooted in the systemic flaws and genuine triumphs of public education, this multifaceted novel speaks to the complicated relationships and struggles facing students, education staff, and families. Ideal for educators, this book is also an opportunity for anyone to understand the contemporary disconnect between education and student success.
Children's
by Lauren Sánchez Bezos
Illustrated by Raleigh Stewart
Fiction · Children's · 11-10-2026
In a third installment of the bestselling “The Fly Who Flew” series, Bezos calls upon childhood inspiration, a father who was a flight instructor, and her own status as a licensed pilot to show how differences can be strengths.
Top Market Takeaway
For a general lesson on navigating challenges both ordinary and extraordinary, children—and even adults—who struggle with spatial awareness get a high-flying glimpse of how to find their way without electronics in this Christmas story for new and emerging readers.