Jennie’s Book Review: Mid-Summer 2026
My name is Jennie Stevenson and my husband and I live in Spencer where I am an academic interventionist for the schools. We have two children who are in all the activities that keep us busy. I’ve been an avid reader since watching Reading Rainbow while growing up in the 90s! I love getting recommendations from others, and I really have loved hearing from each of you as you try these books out!
Keep reading, friends!
Mad Mabel
by Sally Hepworth
I would say this one hits the top of my list for ‘26 and right up there with my favorite of all time. You know the books where the character just stays with you well after putting it down? Meet Mabel! She’s 81, sarcastic, sometimes inappropriate, but quite hilarious. Mabel carries a heavy reputation based on past events in her life that always seems to catch up to her-hence her nickname, “Mad Mabel.”
As the story unfolds, we start to understand how her heartbreaks and trials have brought her to this point. As I write this review, my heartstrings are still being pulled—weeks after reading it!
The Threads Remain
by Glenn Shapiro
I am well versed in books involving the Holocaust, concentration camps, and World War II. However, this is the first book that included a point of view from a German soldier. Josef was drafted at age fifteen—unaware of the things that would be asked of him as a German soldier. As events transpire, three different points of view are woven together in a most profound way. If you’re a fan of The Nightingale by Kristina Hannah, add this to your list!
We’re Mrs. Clouse and Mrs. Rients, two passionate middle school teachers at Okoboji, who believe in the power of a good book! Our mission to share engaging & appropriate book recs for seventh to ninth graders.
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Blood in the Water
by Tiffany D. Jackson
Meet Me Under the Lights by Cassie Miller
Perfect for summer reading, this sweet middle-grade readers looking for a clean, heartwarming romance. Eliza is passionate about theater lighting and design—a legacy passed down from her grandmother, a theater legend. While working on a summer production of Romeo and Juliet, she crosses paths with Reed, a baseball star determined to win the summer championship and reclaim his family’s stadium, which is currently owned by Eliza’s family. As “sworn enemies” with conflicting family interests, the two initially clash, but their summer together changes everything.
Cassie Miller expertly weaves the themes of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet into this charming dual-POV story, balancing two seemingly opposite worlds—competitive sports and technical theater—to show that passion and dedication look the same whether you’re under stadium lights or stage lights. The enemies-to-lovers trope is executed with age-appropriate sweetness, making it perfect for middle school readers craving romance without heavy content. This is a must-read for 6th-8th graders. Sports lovers and theater kids alike will find something to love in this delightful story about finding common ground.
“Meet Me Under the Lights was everything! I loved the theater vs. baseball rivalry and the family drama. I couldn’t put it down. This book relates to so many types of readers!”
– AINSLEY, 7th