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A warm-spirited fantasy about a young bruja negotiating family rules and friendship, with returned spirits bringing a magical mystery. Leo’s grief over her mother’s death and her friend Caroline’s bereavement sit alongside the bakery, spellwork and community celebrations.

A shy girl’s confidence is tested by wedding preparations, modelling, and a public challenge. Her friend supports her as she gains poise and helps bring about a Dream Wedding for her mother.

Bart's love of opera is a private escape from a difficult home life. When Ada encourages him to perform, the story brings music, friendship and school life together.

Fishkill uses violence to intimidate other pupils and obtain food. A friendship with Duck-Duck and help from her mother create a possible alternative, while Fishkill’s mother’s return complicates that fragile arrangement.

The story centres on a child’s affectionate view of an uncle who is also Auntie Lotta, a drag performer. A parade incident and a worry about friends from different parts of Lotta’s life lead to a shared outfit combining Leo and Lotta.

A modern fairy-tale fantasy brings together bereavement, nightmares and a magical threat. Angel and Bavar must learn to rely on one another as they face monsters and a rift between worlds.

Spark’s search involves accepting friends’ offers while recognising that their homes do not suit him. The story ends with friends helping him create a place of his own.

This is an emotionally intense story about a teenager’s eating disorder, self-harm, grief and family relationships, with a thread of hope around recovery.

The mystery pairs seasonal spookiness with a more personal puzzle: how to judge coincidences when you are worried. Mary Anne’s friends are part of the investigation, not just bystanders.

A reflective story about Ruby’s grief and regret, with friendship tensions and a quirky town celebration alongside the serious feelings.

This is a realistic school story in which harassment grows from insults and humiliation into physical attacks. Piddy also faces questions about identity and family, while trying to keep up with school and work.

This is a school-set fantasy about a young person confronting a threat that powerful authorities refuse to acknowledge, with loyal friends alongside him.

This is a family-and-school story about a teenager seeking someone to confide in while life at home is difficult. Her letters to a musician give the story a correspondence-based element.

A mishap at school and other mistakes weigh on Izzy; making tortillas with Lito gives her a way to share them. The family joins in, turning confession into a communal meal.

This is a relationship-focused family story about a new parent facing an unexpected difficulty while her husband is absent. It may interest readers drawn to romantic fiction that continues into adult responsibilities.

This is a coming-of-age story about Andy’s first relationships as a gay man, set alongside memories of a painful family life and his attempt to make a new start at college.

A mystery about identity and family trust, alongside a school project that brings Sam together with Caroline, who may help him read. Sam’s own difficulty reading is central to how he seeks answers.

This is a friendship story about two friends adjusting to change while one faces an eating disorder and possible self-injury.

Dani’s diary follows her as she faces the aftermath of rape and a court case, adjusts to a new school, and draws on support from Reggie and people around her.

This is a family-and-friendship story about a boy facing a personal challenge: finding the courage to express his feelings. Its emotional centre appears to be Louis's inner experience.

This is an intimate, verse-form story about a teenager confronting a family crisis and an anguishing question about his mother’s wishes and care.

The boys’ choice is not simply about money: they consider whether a possible way to meet personal needs could also send cocaine back into their neighbourhood.

This story brings together a daughter’s curiosity about her absent father, a mother’s youthful musical past, and the everyday pressures of friendship, school and attraction.

This is a historical story focused on a child displaced by genocide and separated from her family, alongside the organised relief offered to children in similar circumstances.

The stories combine horse-refuge responsibilities with Amy’s changing relationships and family strains. They may interest readers drawn to animal care and characters balancing practical duties with personal challenges.

This is a gentle-sounding adventure about wanting to explore beyond a familiar view and accepting help from friends. The story centres on Tiny Narwhal’s growing readiness to venture out.

Gabby daydreams, and her teacher introduces a daily daydreaming-writing session.

This is a multi-character story about young people in a Brooklyn neighbourhood. Gingerbread’s claim that “life is funny” sits beside the difficulties described in the outline.

This is a family-and-adventure story about teenage werewolf siblings balancing school and sibling relationships with a threat to the woods they secretly use.

A story about a child facing changes in his relationship with his grandmother, paired with practical information about Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

This is a friendship story shaped by change and a difficult choice: Abby must decide what to do after discovering that Hilary has an eating disorder.

This is a story about an unlikely friendship built around two boys’ different strengths, with football and school both part of their lives.

A horse-and-school story about a child who cares deeply about art and wants to support her grandmother's effort to benefit the school's arts programme.

This blends magical sea creatures with a story about caring for an injured Aquicorn and deciding how a town should live alongside the sea. Family support and Lana's growing independence also matter.

This is a journey story about keeping a promise to someone important, with Victor’s confidence tested along the way.

This story combines the anticipation of a first cheerleading competition with a friendship problem: Maddy is left guessing why another girl has turned against her.

This is a friendship-centred school story: three girls have different challenges, and they are presented as needing to stick together through the term.

A comic take on growing up, with puberty and changing responsibilities at its centre; expect more irreverent body humour than detailed health information.

This is a story about a young character wanting to support a relative facing mockery, alongside a separate troubling family situation involving another boy.

This is an emotionally intense verse novel centred on a teenager’s grief after her twin’s suicide. Its strongest focus is inward: guilt, shame, family responses, cultural belonging and the consequences of losing control.

This is a serious family drama about a teenager carrying responsibility for a struggling parent. Its strongest material lies in showing how trauma affects relationships, choices and the possibility of accepting support.

A lively superhero story about an overlooked helper finding recognition on his own terms. Its strongest appeal is the combination of visual energy, comic reversals, inventive narration and Nick’s determination to keep contributing.

A suspenseful family mystery follows Footer as she investigates what happened after a devastating fire. Her mother’s bipolar disorder and Footer’s uncertainty about her own perceptions make the investigation emotionally complicated.

Expect a warm family story with humour and emotional depth. Batty’s efforts to earn money, her singing talent and the changing relationships around her provide several strands beyond the central grief.

This is a sports-centred story about talent, friendship, family change and grief. Selena’s return to softball offers a hopeful direction, while the death in her family gives the story emotional weight.