The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez

Paulino, Jasminne. The Extraordinary Orbit of Alex Ramirez. 2025. 304p. ISBN 9780593859315.

Seventh-grader Alex Ramirez is captivated by space, spending his free time watching rocket launch videos with his Papi and immersing himself in the NASA website. His ultimate dream is to become an astronaut, a goal he knows will require rigorous study. However, Alex's aspirations are continually thwarted by his placement in the school's SC (self-contained) classroom, where he faces the monotony of repetitive worksheets and outdated reading materials. This segregation prevents him from joining Ms. Rosef's mainstream science class, which Alex believes is the crucial first step on his journey to NASA.

After hearing "not yet" from his teacher for what feels like the millionth time, Alex resolves to take matters into his own hands. Determined to prove his capabilities, he embarks on a mission to convince everyone—his teachers, parents, and schoolmates—that he is indeed capable of extraordinary achievements and is ready to pursue his goals of becoming an astronaut.

Fans of main characters overcoming limitations placed on them will appreciate Alex's efforts to overcome a system that deems him not able to fully participate. Alex feels real, and his issues, though subtle, subtly influence the way the story evolves without being front and center. 

Bleach, Vol. 9: Fourteen Days for Conspiracy

Kubo, Tite. Bleach, Vol. 9: Fourteen Days for Conspiracy. 2005. 200p. ISBN 9781591169246. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

The race to rescue Rukia from the Soul Society officially began in Bleach, Vol. 8, and Ichigo and his companions immediately encounter their first significant obstacle: Jindanbô. This monstrous, fez-wearing gatekeeper has maintained an impenetrable defense of the Western Gate for over 300 years, refusing entry to any soul, and he shows no inclination to make an exception for Ichigo's group.

Despite the formidable challenge posed by Jindanbô, Ichigo is not deterred. He had anticipated that his assault on the heavily guarded Soul Society would be anything but easy, embracing the difficulty as a necessary part of the mission. For Ichigo, an effortless victory would simply be boring, suggesting he relishes the struggle and the opportunity to prove his strength against such a powerful adversary.

The story continues in Bleach, Vol. 10.

Somadina

Emezi, Akwaeke. Somadina. 2025. 300p. ISBN 9780593309070.

When the land was devastated by the Split, the only people who survived were those who had a magical ability, called a gift. Somadina and her twin brother, Jayaike, share an unusually deep connection, almost functioning as a single entity. However, as they reach adulthood, their emerging gifts create a stark divide. While Jayaike's powers are admired and welcomed, Somadina's darkness and void evoke fear and ostracization within their community, exacerbating her lifelong status as an outsider and exposing her to open hostility.

When Jayaike, her closest confidant, mysteriously disappears after being kidnapped by a strange and vicious magical being bent on devouring him, Somadina is compelled to embark on a perilous quest to find and free him. This journey forces her to confront daunting challenges, including venturing into the forbidden Sacred Forest and undertaking grueling, otherworldly travel. She must delve into hidden realms avoided by even those deeply connected to the spirit world, testing the limits of her physical and spiritual strength in her desperate search for her missing twin.

Inspired by West Africa and Igbo cultures, Somadina's tale will resonate with readers who find themselves not identifying with their own culture and society.

Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making WEALTH Inevitable

Rodgers, Rachel. Future Millionaire: A Young Person’s Step-by-Step Guide to Making WEALTH Inevitable. 2025. 208p. ISBN 9780310158110.

Future Millionaire is a motivational guide for young adults, asserting that anyone can become a millionaire by adopting the right mindset and financial habits. Drawing on insights from psychology and neuroscience, the book provides practical strategies to challenge limiting beliefs and take deliberate action towards achieving financial aspirations. Building wealth isn't just about money, but about enabling dreams and maximizing one's potential for personal growth and career success.

Having overcome her own experiences with financial hardship to build an eight-figure business, the author shares her journey and empowers readers to transform their own futures. Future Millionaire demystifies financial concepts often omitted from school curricula, covering essential topics like budgeting, debt management, and investing. Beyond practical advice, readers are encouraged to cultivate a "millionaire mindset" that includes healthy boundaries and using wealth to support social causes, ultimately challenging systemic inequities and making a positive impact on the world.

Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods… in Our Own Words

Campbell, Jen, editor. Owning It: Our Disabled Childhoods… in Our Own Words. 2025. 368p. ISBN 9780571380022.

This book serves as an anthology that explores the experiences of growing up with a disability. It features twenty-two autobiographical stories from some of the most celebrated writers within the disabled community. Directly addressing the often isolating nature of childhood disability, Owning It acknowledges that even with supportive loved ones, it's rare to have peers facing similar challenges—until now, through the shared narratives in this collection.

These powerful, firsthand accounts cover a wide range of experiences, from navigating school sports and the awkwardness of receiving unsolicited free items, to balancing hospital visits with a burgeoning social life. For disabled children, this anthology offers a much-needed sense of companionship and recognition. For non-disabled children, it provides an invaluable own-voice perspective, fostering empathy and understanding. It's truly a powerful and essential book that fills a significant void.

Mumming: A Year of Trying (and Failing) to Be a Better Parent

Vanstone, Victoria. Mumming: A Year of Trying (and Failing) to Be a Better Parent. 2025. 320p. ISBN 9780645858099.

Victoria Vanstone initially envisioned herself as the quintessential organized mom, but instead found herself becoming a parent who sometimes resorts to shouting and throwing things. Determined to bridge this gap between expectation and reality, Victoria commits to a year of personal and parental development.

Her year of self-improvement encompasses everything from enrolling in a parenting course and attempting an exercise routine to navigating the complex world of adult friendships and even taking a solo vacation away from her family. Through these varied and often failed experiments, Victoria discovers that imperfection is not only inevitable but can also be the source of joy and a path to a more fulfilling family life. 

Mumming is a heartwarming and side-splitting read that celebrates the messy, authentic, and often funny reality of parenting. This memoir offers a hilarious and deeply relatable look at one mother's journey to reinvent herself and her parenting style, often through a series of comical missteps. 

Naruto, Vol. 32: The Search for Sasuke

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 32: The Search for Sasuke. 2011. 184p. ISBN 9781421519449. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Upon returning from their battle with Sasori in Naruto, Vol. 31, Team Kakashi faces the absence of their leader as Kakashi needs a week to recover. As a result, Naruto and Sakura are appointed a new leader and a new teammate, Sai, who is mysterious and has strange jitsu powers. Sai changes the team's dynamic for the worse, and both Sakura and Naruto are annoyed at his presence.

Meanwhile, Lady Tsunada convinces reluctant elders that it is better to send Naruto on missions than keeping him in Kohona, where he would be easy for his enemies to locate. Sent to make contact with a spy in Orochimaru's organization, Naruto's team head to a famous bridge in what could very well be an ambush!

The story continues in Naruto, Vol. 33.