Young Christian—a stand-in for the author—is such a soccer enthusiast that he carries a mini-ball with him everywhere he goes. But team tryouts turn disastrous when he finds himself surrounded by much taller, stronger kids. His family springs into action—proclaiming the next morning a “Super Soccer Day,” challenging him to earn his breakfast by beating his sister at a quick match, and cheering him on. When Christian complains that his family members are bigger, they respond that strength and size are not soccer superpowers, but focus and determination are, particularly when backed up by an internal “wall of confidence”—sound advice for young athletes, delivered clearly. The next day at practice, he passes the ball when it comes his way, cheers on his fellow players, and, when an opportunity to score presents itself, triumphs at last by believing in himself. In a personal afterword, Pulisic explains that the episode was inspired by his family, and though specific events are invented, photos of him as a young player and of the actual “Confidence!!” sign on the wall of the garage in his childhood home in Pennsylvania provide autobiographical links. In the sunny illustrations, Kissi depicts the protagonist joining his likewise light-skinned mom, dad, and big sister in athletically booting the ball around their kitchen and yard; other team members are racially diverse.

After the events of Shadow and Tide (2025), Mira finds herself imprisoned in the royal council’s court and forced into a deadly competition along with a boy named Kell, who’s also a captive. Each territory sends champions to the Trials, and victory brings power, alliances, and influence. To ensure Mira’s obedience, the council is holding her best friend, Agnes, hostage. As the trials commence, Mira and Kell, determined to stay alive, make deals with other contestants. Elsewhere, Brielle, separated from the powerful Coven Septern, forges her own path, building a new coven with two fledgling witches. Meanwhile, Lowri, teetering on the edge of burnout, is stranded in another world with Eli. As they unravel Eli’s father’s secrets, they discover the council’s hand in the realm’s ruin and realize they must return to their own world before it meets with the same fate. As the characters’ paths collide, the truth emerges: The council has wicked plans and together, the heroes must stop them from coming to fruition. The series closes with an explosive finale. Readers should be familiar with the earlier entries if they hope to follow the sprawling cast and their tangled relationships. Even returning fans may be challenged by the late reappearance of characters introduced in earlier books. Main characters are cued white.

Acclaimed painter Laura Adams is known for her solitary ways. So Annie is perplexed, and a little piqued, to learn that her mother has taken art student Felicity Rowe under her wing, even allowing Fliss to share her Chelsea town house. Annie isn’t hard up for lodgings, since she inherited a fortune from her great-aunt Frances, but her concern over her mother’s new living arrangements brings her down from rural Dorset to assess the situation in person. That concern rises to the level of panic when Felicity turns up dead in a dumpster behind the house. Laura’s clearly hiding something, and to unravel the complex puzzle, Annie needs the help of her old friend, police Detective Rowan Crane. Felicity’s murder turns out to have roots in the decades-old death of socialite Vera Huntington, who partied with Frances in London’s jazz clubs back in the 1960s. Perrin handles the twin narratives deftly, giving careful attention to each and permitting their connection to develop richly. She allows the love interest in each story to follow their own peculiar trajectory. And she draws a vivid picture of London, both past and present. The solution to the puzzle, on the other hand, is easily foreseen and too long in coming. Perrin is at her considerable best when she concentrates on drawing sympathetic, believable characters facing tough emotional issues.

The story opens with a young girl with light skin and dark hair observing her father training “to climb a big mountain called Denali.” He explains that he’ll spend three weeks with a team in Alaska, hauling food and gear across the Kahiltna Glacier. Including her in the experience, he draws his daughter into his preparation, doing push-ups with her on his back and running while pushing her in a stroller. The narrative also explores the father’s motivation of raising money for charity while also testing his own limits—he encourages his daughter to follow such ambitions, telling her she might try someday when she’s older. When the climb ends short of the summit, there’s no sadness; the emotional payoff isn’t about reaching the peak, but in the familial bond reinforced by the father’s thoughtful decision to choose safety. The sentences flow smoothly and convey emotional depth. Miller’s painted illustrations are warm and textured, though the frequent use of surrounding blank space can feel awkward, leaving text and image slightly disconnected rather than in rhythm. Still, the portrayal of a parent balancing ambition with care will surely resonate with readers and caregivers alike.

In 1986, Natalie Chester lands her dream assignment for the American News Agency bureau in Moscow. Her first few months are marked by problems: Her boss, Max, doesn’t seem to support her, and the Soviet government’s tight restrictions lead her into trouble more than once. Early on, Natalie receives news of a seemingly minor accident at a nuclear reactor. While writing a perfunctory newswire item on the story, she fails to recognize the vast significance of the event, and Max is furious when more circumstances of the Chernobyl tragedy come to light. Natalie soon focuses her attention on human-interest stories of Russian Jews attempting to immigrate to Israel, Soviet tourists in Crimea, and the return of an exiled political dissident to Moscow. After accidentally trespassing at a military installation, Natalie evades prison time with the help of Anatoly “Tolya” Vladimirovich, a new deputy foreign minister. Natalie and Tolya are immediately drawn to each other and begin a secret romance. As she builds her career as a foreign correspondent and Tolya attempts to make changes in the government, their relationship faces continual challenges. Williams draws on her own experiences as a foreign correspondent for this novel, writing from a place of authenticity in a setting of historic upheaval. Natalie is a likable if somewhat naïve protagonist; her unshakable idealism is appealing but also makes her prone to misunderstandings and arrests. The love story between Natalie and Tolya is sweet but often feels rushed. Williams glides along the surface of Tolya’s character, never giving readers enough information about him to make him truly engaging. Still, this setting feels timely, and the inclusion of secret listening devices, codes, and spies enlivens the story.