GRIMLORE MANOR de Kalyn Josephson

New York Times bestselling author Kalyn Josephson’s new middle grade is The Inheritance Games meets The Addams Family.

GRIMLORE MANOR
by Kalyn Josephson
Delacorte, 2026
(via Laura Dail Literary)

Every three years on April 13th, a Devlin dies. Fourteen-year-old Kit Devlin knows this because she lost both her parents to the family curse one afterthe other, sending her on an endless carousel of short-lived stints with estranged cousins and forgotten uncles. So when the news arrives that the eccentric grandfather she’s never met is the latest to kick to the bucket, she’s not surprised. What she doesn’t expect is the invitation to his funeral that comes with it—something no Devlin ever has.

Along with her current guardian, Aunt Something or Another (or Aunt Soraas Kit calls her), she arrives at the darkly whimsical Grimlore Manor in the strange and dreary town of Hearthstone, Scotland, only to discover she’s one of a select few Devlins invited to partake in a very special game. Whoever can solve the series of riddles and mysteries her grandfather left behind will inherit his fortune. With the money he left behind for Kit’s care swiftly dwindling, Aunt Sora makes it clear that without that inheritance, Kit will be out of a home. But as she burrows deeper into the game her grandfather left behind, she begins to uncover the truth behind the curse that took her parents—and how to break it. Kit throws herself into the competition, but in a house full of hidden rooms and secret doors that never lead where they’re supposed to, getting lost is the least of her worries.

Because her family members will do whatever it takes to win that inheritance—even kill…

Kalyn Josephson is a New York Times bestselling fantasy writer living in the California Bay Area. She loves books, cats, books with cats, and making up other worlds to live in for a while. Her YA debut, The Storm Crow, was one of Indigo’s Best YA Books of 2019, B&N’s Best YA books of July 2019, and Goodreads’s most popular 2019 debuts. Her debut adult fantasy, The Library of Amorlin, is set to be published by Kensington in 2027.

MISCHIEF GIRLS d’Aashna Avachat

Every school has its secrets—but at the exclusive Ellison College, the past might prove deadly—in this twisty puzzlebox mystery perfect for fans of Maureen Johnson’s Truly Devious series.

MISCHIEF GIRLS
by Aashna Avachat
Delacorte Press, September 2026
(via KT Literary)

THIRTY YEARS AGO: three students walked into the woods surrounding Ellison College, and only one came out. They became known as the Mischief Girls, and their case was never solved.

HALLOWEEN WEEK, MODERN DAY: Ellison freshman Raina isn’t interested in digging into the past. To combat her personal demons, she volunteers at Night Walk, a campus program dedicated to helping students get home safely. Until one night, Raina escorts a fellow freshman to her dorm…only to learn that the girl disappeared before she ever made it through the door.

NOW: With the help of the missing girl’s stepbrother, Raina begins to investigate. But when the pair of them discover that she’d been looking into the Mischief Girls murders prior to her vanishing, the case suddenly becomes much more complicated.

From professors’ offices to state penitentiaries, Raina relentlessly hunts down the truth. But if she wants to find it, she’ll have to accept that maybe what happened to the missing girl didn’t begin the night she disappeared.

Maybe it all started thirty years ago, in the woods.

Aashna Avachat is a writer, reader, and lawyer from California. She studied English and Philosophy at the University of California, Berkeley and law at Harvard Law School. She is also the author of Love Craves Cardamom. When she’s not working, she’s probably reading on a sunny patch of grass, going on long walks to grocery stores, or being cozy with one of her many foster cats. Visit her online at aashnaavachat.com. 

THE INFERNO’S HEIR DUOLOGY de Tiffany Wang

Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family . . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned.

THE INFERNO’S HEIR DUOLOGY
by Tiffany Wang
Bindery Books
(via KT Literary)

BOOK 1: INFERNO’S HEIR (October 2024)

Teia Carthan abandoned her morals long ago, and now there’s nothing she won’t do to stay alive. So far she has survived her parents’ deaths, the ire of the Council, and innumerable attempts on her life, orchestrated by Jura, her half-brother and soon-to-be king of Erisia. Teia’s rare control over two elements marks her as both an outsider and a formidable opponent—but once Jura is crowned king, there will be no way to survive him. Not for Teia, not for anyone.

When Jura moves to crush the rebellion that seeks to overthrow the monarchy, Teia sees one last opportunity to ensure her own safety. She can infiltrate the rebels, locate their base . . . and betray them to Jura, trading their lives for her own.

Yet when Teia meets the rebels, she gets far more than she bargained for. And when she gains not only their trust but their friendship, she begins to have doubts. Perhaps the rebels are right. Perhaps the Golden Palace should be torn down and the monarchy destroyed.

But then again—what if there is another possibility? What if Teia were on the throne instead?

“A mesmerizing debut fantasy.” –Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame

“A fantastical romp filled with intrigue and suspense.” —Kirkus Reviews

BOOK 2: TEMPEST’S QUEEN (October 2025)

The queen has won her crown. Now, she must prove she’s worthy to wear it.

Six months ago, Teia Carthan seized the throne against all odds. She sacrificed everything—her morals, her friends, even the spark of love—to hear the whisper of her new title: Highness.

Now, Teia sets sail across the Dark Sea to warn her cousin, the Shaylani emperor, of a threat that could doom the Five Kingdoms: Cornelius Lehm lives, and he’s planning to raise the Serkawr. But as she begins a furious journey across Shaylan, Teia knows she needs help to defeat Lehm—even if it means working with the very rebels she betrayed to claim her crown.

Trust is a fragile thing, and Teia crushed it beneath her heel. Can she earn the Dawnbreakers’ friendship once again? Or will the consequences of her treachery win out, dragging all she’s fought for like a wave to the depths?

Tiffany Wang hails from a town in North Texas and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania, although she’s currently wandering her way through New York City. In her spare time, she enjoys browsing through bookstores, hunting for a quiet place to write, and snacking on a questionable amount of Cheetos.

HUCK AND LOONA d’Emily Kilgore & Florence Weiser

A story about friendship, conflict, and finding a path forward after disagreement.

HUCK AND LOONA
by Emily Kilgore
illustrated by Florence Weiser
Beaming Books, October 2024
(via Kaplan/DeFiore Rights)

Huck and Loona love spending time together in the Great Northwoods. From cloud-watching to fishing, the two want to do everything together. When they realize they sometimes want to do different things or that there are some activities the other simply cannot do, they worry that their friendship is over.

With themes of friendship, individuality, compromise, and grace, Huck and Loona equips children to embrace their uniqueness and communicate with others for healthy relationships that help them grow and thrive.

Emily Kilgore is an educator and writer of picture books. She strives to share books that bring people together. She is also the author of The Whatifs, The Iheards, and The Christmas Book Flood. She lives in Minneapolis with her husband, their son, and their kitty.

Florence Weiser is a French illustrator based in Belgium. She grew up in Luxembourg and studied illustration in Brussels, followed by specialized studies in graphics and web design in Paris. She has illustrated numerous children’s books for publishers around the world.

EMBARRASSED FERRET de Lisa Frenkel Riddiough & Andrea Tsurumi

When every oopsie is followed by an uh-oh, little Ferret’s embarrassment grows. How will she survive the day at Forest School?

EMBARRASSED FERRET
by Lisa Frenkel Riddiough
illustrated by Andrea Tsurumi
Disney Hyperion, July 2025
(via Kaplan/DeFiore Rights)

Ferret strolled to school in style,
All silky fur and cheerful smile,
Until she tripped on someone’s duffle
And caused herself a slight kerfuffle.
From there her day gets worse and worse.
Embarrassment is Ferret’s curse!
Pencils spilled. Stubborn glue.
Toilet paper on her shoe!
There is one thing that helps her through.
Surprise! She’s just like me and you.

Ferret trips while getting off the bus, makes a gigantic glitter mess at craft time, urgently has to pee at recess, and gets toilet paper on her shoe! But when others in the classroom goof up in equally embarrassing ways, Ferret is relieved to discover that nobody’s perfect.

The first book in the Forest School of Big Feelings series from Lisa Frenkel Riddiough and Andrea Tsurumi is sure to help little ones, parents, and caregivers navigate the many emotions of life.

Book 2 in the Forest School of Big Feelings series, FURIOUS TURTLE, will publish in Fall 2026.

Lisa Frenkel Riddiough is the author of LETTERS TO LIVE BY, which School Library Journal called, “Creative, humorous, and thought-provoking,” in a starred review. Of her second book, PIE-RATS!, Kirkus said, “Here be treasure!” Lisa is a graduate of Hamline University’s MFAC program in writing for children and young adults, and splits her time between Northern California and Idaho. Learn more at lisariddiough.com.

Andrea Tsurumi is an author, illustrator, and cartoonist. Their first book, ACCIDENT!, was named an NPR Great Read, and their second, CRAB CAKE, won the Red Clover Book Award. I’M ON IT!, an Elephant & Piggie Like Reading Book, which was named both a Kirkus and Parents Magazine best book of the year. Andrea lives in Philadelphia with their spouse and very serious dog. Learn more at AndreaTsurumi.com