Naruto, Vol. 34: Reunion

Kishimoto, Masashi. Naruto, Vol. 34: Reunion. 2011. 192p. ISBN 9781421520025. Available in the graphic novels section of the library.

Following their confrontation with Orichimaru in Naruto, Vol. 33, Naruto and Sakura, accompanied by Sai, finally track down Sasuke, their long-lost teammate, but their reunion is far from amicable. Sasuke remains resolute in his decision to sever ties with Konoha and refuses to return peacefully. This sets the stage for a fierce and unavoidable confrontation between the former allies, their skills and ideologies clashing in a potentially devastating battle.

The gravity of the situation is immense, and Naruto alone may not be enough to subdue Sasuke. Sasuke's power and determination have grown to a level that poses a significant threat even to his former comrades. Can Naruto find a way to bring Sasuke back without anyone getting harmed?

Murdle, Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose

Karber, G. T. and Chris Grabenstein. Murdle, Jr.: Sleuths on the Loose. Book 1 of the Murdle Jr. Mysteries series. 2025. 353p. ISBN 9780316582254.

On a cloudy afternoon at Sacred Kidney private school's playground, junior detective Jake, proudly sporting her hard-earned detective badge, is poised to confront Brick, the school's biggest bully alongside her sidekick, Sterling, who has been threatened with the dreaded Cincinnati Twist. Their planned showdown is abruptly interrupted by a scream emanating from the library. The children are certain they heard Miss Saffron the librarian, but upon arriving at the scene, they find the library full of books but no sign of Miss Saffron. What happened? 

Jake seizes this mystery with both hands, and enlists a reluctant Brick along with sidekick Sterling to investigate Miss Saffron's disappearance. Despite the adults present in the library remaining silent, Jake, is determined to uncover the truth. Forming an unlikely alliance sealed with a pinky promise, this trio sets out to unravel the mystery of Miss Saffron's disappearance and solve the crime at Sacred Kidney before someone else gets hurt!

The Good Daughter: A Memoir of Losing my Father and Finding Home

Taguchi, Kumi. The Good Daughter: A Memoir of Losing my Father and Finding Home. 2025. 304p. ISBN 9781925750799.

Growing up, Australian broadcaster Kumi Taguchi perceived her Japanese father as a difficult, silent, and excessively frugal figure, who became largely absent after her parents' divorce when she was younger. Living with her Australian mother and despite attempts to sever their limited connection, Kumi found it impossible to deny this part of her identity. When her father passed away, her complex emotions about him and her Japanese heritage remained unresolved and tangled.

Over time, Taguchi began to understand the profound influences that shaped her father, particularly his harrowing experiences as a child during wartime Japan, and the cultural heritage that both captivated and burdened her. This led her to embark on a journey to Japan, seeking their family home in an effort to reconcile with her past and lay some ghosts to rest. This evocative exploration delves into Taguchi's internal conflicts—the tension between duty and freedom, her relationships, and the challenge of finding a sense of belonging between two distinct worlds—culminating in a candid and resonant narrative about self-acceptance.

Readers who want to learn more about what it is like navigating two very different worlds will appreciate Taguchi's story and what she learned in the process about her family, her ethnic heritage, and herself.

Score Out

Tores, Melisa. Score Out. Book 6 of the Perfect Balance Gymnastics series. 2023. 243p. ISBN 9781958613139

Carmen Alvarez is new to competitive gymnastics, and her Level 4 season is off to a rocky start, plagued by mistakes and falls. Despite her hard work, she faces a significant hurdle: she must achieve an All-Around score of 34.00 to qualify for Level 5 and follow her friends to the next level. As her season draws to a close, Carmen grapples with the possibility of not reaching this coveted score, leading her to wonder if she can convince her family and coaches to allow her one last chance at another meet, and if she'll be able to score out if she gets there.

Set within the world of gymnastics, the Score Out features relatable characters who face age-appropriate challenges, exploring the significant life lesson of persevering. Carmen is empowered girls by discover ing her own inner strength.

When Morning Comes

 Raina, Arushi. When Morning Comes. 2017. 222p. ISBN 9781896580692. 

In apartheid-era South Africa, Zanele secretly plots against the government, keeping her activities hidden from the police, her mother, and her sister. Her best friend, Thabo, a schoolboy who has turned to gang life, suspects her involvement in something clandestine, even as he grapples with his own troubles stemming from a botched deal and powerful enemies. Meanwhile, across the bridge in the affluent white suburbs, Jack, who looks forward to escaping his father's overbearing presence, plans to spend his final days in Johannesburg driving his Mustang. But all of that changes when he encounters Meena, a girl from the simmering black township of Soweto, whose unforgettable face captures his attention.

Meena, working in her father's shop, discovers a packet of banned pamphlets, which leads her into a series of chance encounters: with the mysterious black girl Zanele, who holds a secret, the dangerous gangster, Thabo, with expensive tastes, and the engaging white boy, Jack, with the battered red car. These seemingly random meetings set in motion a chain of events, including a failed plot, a murdered teacher, and the emergence of a secret student movement that has spread across the township, culminating in a powerful student uprising.

Blue Exorcist, Vol. 26

Kato, Kazue. Blue Exorcist, Vol. 26. 2020. 282p. ISBN 9781974718467. Available in the graphic novels section of the library. 

Following his trip back in time, which concluded in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 25, Rin returns to find himself aboard the damaged Illuminati airship, Dominus Liminis, armed with the devastating truth about his and his brother's origins. He confronts Yukio, who is also on the airship, as their father, Satan, attempts to manipulate them both further into his control. Rin's primary goal is to convince Yukio to return to the Knights of the True Cross.

However, Yukio is unyielding, seemingly determined to provoke Rin into killing him. As the Dominus Liminis descends in flames, the confrontation between the brothers intensifies, transforming into a desperate battle for Yukio's very soul. The outcome of this fiery clash will determine not only their individual fates but also the ongoing struggle against Satan's influence.

The story continues in Blue Exorcist, Vol. 27.

Vanya and the Wild Hunt

Mandanna, Sangu. Vanya and the Wild Hunt. Book 1 of the Vanya series. 2025. 288p. ISBN 9781250899835.

Eleven-year-old Vanya Vallen has always felt like an outsider, grappling with her British-Indian identity in a predominantly white English town. Her parents hide their secretive pasts. And to compound it all, her ADHD scatter her attention. Adding to her unique circumstances, Vanya possesses the extraordinary ability to converse with books, and more remarkably, the books communicate back to her. 

Vanya's life takes a dramatic turn when a monstrous creature, previously believed to exist only in fairytales, attacks her family, revealing her parents' hidden lives and the pervasive presence of other fantastical beasts.

Whisked away to Auramere, an enchanted library and school, Vanya finds herself among archwitches and archivists, embracing an unexpected, exciting, and wonderful new existence. However, even in this magical sanctuary, danger lurks. The mysterious and formidable Wild Hunt is on the loose, threatening Auramere itself. Vanya must tap into all her creativity and courage to unmask the Hunt's leader and thwart their destructive plans, fighting to protect the only place where she has ever truly felt a sense of belonging.