Heartstopper, Book 6, by Alice Oseman Tops Holds Lists | Book Pulse | School Library Journal
‘Heartstopper, Book 6’ by Alice Oseman Tops Holds Lists | Book Pulse
by Ashley Leffel
Jul 06, 2026
| Filed in News & Features
Heartstopper #6 by Alice Oseman leads holds this week. Also in demand are titles by Gordon Korman, Shannon Hale, Osamu Tezuka, and Fiona Marchbank. New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Association announces its 2026 Book of the Year Winners. People exclusively reveals the cover of Nicola Yoon’s upcoming YA romance Always One More Time
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Big Books of the Week
Heartstopper #6 by Alice Oseman (Scholastic/Graphix) leads holds this week.
Other titles in demand include:
Sleepless by Gordon Korman (Scholastic; SLJ starred review)
The Princess in Black and the Trick-or-Treating Trouble by Shannon Hale (Candlewick)
Unico: Lost (Volume 3) by Osamu Tezuka, Samuel Sattin, Illustrated by Gurihiru (Scholastic/Graphix)
Ladies of the Knight by Fiona Marchbank (Oni Pr.)
These books and others publishing the week of July 6, 2026 are listed in a downloadable spreadsheet
Librarians and Booksellers Suggest
Barnes and Noble shares their book picks for July
Eight Indie Next picks publish this week:
Picture Book
#1 Pick: The Skeleton and the Cat By Brandon James Scott (HarperCollins)
“An absolute delight! The funny banter between Skeleton and Cat is equally matched by the adorable illustrations. This is a wonderful tale of friendship but just a so-so manual for sandwich eating. Loved it!”
—Nancy Baenen, Arcadia Books, Spring Green, WI
Leroy Has Something to Say By Emily Rosenthal, Illustrated by My Phuong Thai (Bloomsbury)
“A very sweet and lovely story about celebrating differences, taking the time to understand one another, and the beautiful things that grow from that! This will make the most unique of Halloween reads and a beautiful chance for children to recognize themselves within a story.”
—Katie Pionk, McLean & Eakin Booksellers, Petoskey, MI
Middle Grade
The Dark and Other Scary Stories By Max Brallier, Illustrated by Letizia Rubegni (Scholastic)
“This collection of ten short stories is the perfect introduction for newly independent readers who are intrigued by all things frightful! Get this while they’re young so your kids can memorize their favorite story and scare all their friends at their first slumber party.”
—Kathryn Brostowitz, Boswell Book Company, Milwaukee, WI
Offside: A Graphic Novel By Christina Diaz Gonzalez, Illustrated by Mari Costa (Scholastic/Graphix)
“Christina Diaz Gonzalez always shares relevant stories that young readers experience in their daily lives. It’s refreshing, helpful, and really shows growth and real emotions. I also appreciate the kindness shown from the parents and neighbors. Another excellent children’s graphic novel!”
—Sara Rishforth, Roundabout Books, Bend, OR
Raven, Rising By Christine Hartman Derr
(Harper/Heartdrum, 9780063432833, $18.99, July 7, Ages: 8-12)
“When Raven, a young Cherokee girl, loses her parents and moves to a new town to live with her aunt, she finds herself the target of bullies and cruel rumors. As she struggles to find her place, Raven turns to her unique gift of blending magic with baking to set things right. Hartman Derr handles difficult topics like grief with remarkable care and makes an abundance of space for hope and the joys of friendship, magic, community, and finding oneself.”
—Alexis Powell, The King’s English Bookshop, Salt Lake City, UT
Sneaks (Indies Introduce) By Amy Tern (Holiday House)
“An unlikely friendship, a set of binoculars, and clues are all it takes for imaginations to run wild while spying on neighbors! Great debut!”
—Christina Coward, Blue Willow Bookshop, Houston, TX
Wolf’s Belly By John August, Illustrated by Simón Estrada (Roaring Brook; SLJ starred review)
“The artwork is gorgeous and the story is fantastic. So many interwoven fables/fairy tales are present, and the messaging is perfect without being heavy-handed!”
—Laura Sharp, Literally, A Bookshop, Gilbert, AZ
Young Adult
Ladies of the Knight By Fiona Marchbank (Oni Pr.)
“Set in a queer-normative world seemingly free of gender-based discrimination, Ladies of the Knight is an ode to contact sports that tells a story of joy, mentorship, bravery, and finding, or rediscovering, the joy in both life and the craft you dedicate yourself to. There is romance in this story, but the focus is on the mentorship relationship between George and Lady Serafina and their individual relationships to the sport they love.”
—Annie Shields, Morgenstern Books, Bloomington, IN
Bestsellers
Links for the week: NYT Children’s Middle Grade Hardcover|NYT Children’s Picture Books|NYT Children’s & Young Adult Series|NYT Young Adult Hardcover|USA Today Bestselling Books
Wonder by R.J. Palacio (Knopf) maintains the no. 1 spot on the NYT Children’s Middle Grade Hardcover list. Wombat Waiting by Katherine Applegate (Harper/Storytide) keeps its spot at no. 2.
Sing the 50 United States! by Dr. Seuss (Random) moves into no. 1 on the NYT Children’s Picture Books list. America, I’m So Glad You Were Born by Ainsley Earhardt. Illustrated by Kim Barnes (Zonderkidz) moves up to no. 2
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (Abrams/Amulet) celebrates in the no. 1 spot with The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins (Scholastic) in no. 2 on the NYT Children’s & Young Adult Series list.
The Escape Game by Marissa Meyer and Tamara Moss (Putnam; SLJ starred review) moves up to no. 1 on the NYT Young Adult Hardcover list with Fake Skating by Lynn Painter (S. & S.) moving down to the no. 2 position.
Two children’s title features on theUSA Today Bestselling Books list top 25, last updated on July 1st:
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (The World of Eric Carle) comes in at no. 17
Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? 50th Anniversary Edition by Bill Martin, Illustrated by Eric Carle (Holt) is in the no. 18 position
Reviews
“Teen Librarian Toolbox” offers 12 short reviews of new and upcoming books
NPR reviews Opting Out (Scholastic/Graphix): “Opting Out is a warm and ultimately uplifting, but also direct and honest, look at the upheavals that often occupy the early teenage years. Any young person will find ways to connect with the dizzying changes that Saachi experiences; but young people grappling with similar questions, of where and how to fit into a gender binary that feels limiting and confounding, will perhaps find even more recognition — and reassurance — here. While this work is Srikumar’s debut, co-creator Kobabe is already well known for Gender Queer, a graphic memoir, unlike Opting Out, which is aimed at older teens and adults and tracks a young person’s exploration of gender and sexuality into adulthood…Opting Out, which is aimed at readers aged 10-12, is sure to find its own eager audience. The book has a rich and vibrant color scheme, with down-to-earth but vivid illustrations. The plotline is easy to follow, peppered with pleasant surprises…If growing up takes practice, then that practice inevitably entails trying out various ways of being in the world. Sometimes that involves opting in, sometimes opting out. Above all else, it means embracing possibility.”
“A Fuse #8 Production” reviews Watermelon Pool (Dial): “In many ways, Watermelon Pool falls neatly into the category of picture books that fulfill children’s deepest fantasies of diving into enormous piles of food in some way. Consider Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs or The Giant Jam Sandwich or (a personal favorite) Who Made This Cake?. There’s some innate human desire in all of us to subsume ourselves in the edible. And one of the things I liked best about Watermelon Pool specifically was its logistics in this matter. One does not simply dive into a watermelon, after all. Its flesh may be permeable, but it’s not fully liquid. Lune acknowledges this fact so that even when characters do dive in (feet first) there is this satisfying “PLOP!” that occurs when they pierce but do not sink. In many ways, the watermelon comes across as a kind of kiddie pool. And thanks to its own internal logic, we never bother to wonder about the logistics of where it came from and what it truly is. Admit it. On a hot summer’s day, would you worry about such things either? So much of the book’s charm, though, lies in its internal logic. With very little effort, Lune has managed to think through the logistics of what a world filled with an annual watermelon pool might encompass…Why would it take eleven years for this picture book charmer to finally arrive on American shores? Who’s to say? One thing I will point out, though, is that if you are looking for great summer books for your Fourth of July displays (and I’m looking at you, children’s librarians and bookstore workers) this title is a brilliant and obvious inclusion. It has a droll little attitude towards the illogically logical nature of its world. Charm is that ephemeral quality sometimes found in picture books, but impossible to teach. This book has an abundance of the stuff. Sweet, strange, and maybe the teensiest bit delicious, it defies categorization, managing to straddle that line between high quality literature/art and kid-friendliness. A book not to miss. A beauty to its core.”
Comics Beat reviews Aurora and the Orc (First Second): “There’s a new kid in Aurora’s class. He’s eats household pets, comes to classes covered in blood, and he can barely spell. Yep, the new kid is an orc and only Aurora realizes it. This is the cleaver set up for Aurora and The Orc, the latest joke filled graphic novel by prolific French cartoonist Lewis Trondheim…Ultimately, Aurora and the Orc is a book for kids that won’t entirely bore adults. Because it’s Lewis Trondheim, this is a charmingly drawn book that knows its audience. It also sneaks in some pretty complex ideas such as forever wars, and acceptance of those different from us. The jokes might be overwhelming but the best ones certainly earn a laugh. While Aurora and The Orc might not be peak Lewis Trondheim, this book can be a fun and engaging read when it works.”
“Good Comics for Kids” reviews Supergirl’s Family Vacation (DC Comics): “DC has been promoting a “Summer of Supergirl,” publishing several projects in conjunction with the heroine’s upcoming movie. Original graphic novel Supergirl’s Family Vacation by Brandon T. Snider and Sarah Leuver is part of that initiative, of course, but I think the most important word in the title isn’t necessarily “Supergirl” but “Family”. That’s because while Superman’s younger cousin is technically the protagonist, and she narrates the book somewhat intermittently, it’s a version of the Superman family that stars in the book; in that regard, it’s also a good Superman book and a good Lois Lane book, not just a good Supergirl book…This “Summer of Supergirl”, there are two comics I would recommend to anyone curious about the character. The first is Supergirl: Misadventures in Midvale, the first trade paperback collection of the current Supergirl ongoing series by Sophie Campbell, which seems created specifically for new readers and is appropriate for an all-ages audience. And this is the second, a very well-made, very fun exploration of the cousins from Krypton, their relationship to one another, and to those in their family.”
“Good Comics for Kids” reviews Half is More, vol 1. (VIZ): “When VIZ announced that they acquired the licensing for Yoico Rujimi’s Half is More, I was very intrigued. So invested I was, I immediately bought the original Japanese manga. Half is More is not centered on one point-of-view, but multiple viewpoints. The story at first centers on four female mixed-race characters, each having a Japanese parent…We see how they struggle with identity and discrimination in Japan. Strangers asking invasive questions, stares and side glances, and of course, racist remarks whether intentional or not…I hope readers give Half is More a chance and ignore the haters. We have a manga that readers can relate to and give a voice to those who have felt isolated and othered in numerous ways. Maybe we’ll see more people willing to share their stories and experiences in spite of the trolls.”
Briefly Noted
SLJ talks to Amanda Connolly on her YA debut The Lure of Wolves and Whisper
SLJrounds up a list of 7 affirming books centering neurodivergent teens
New Atlantic Independent Booksellers Associationannounces its 2026 Book of the Year Winners
World Literature Todayannounces the 2027 finalists for the NSK Neustadt Prize for Children’s and Young Adult Literature
The Children’s Book Councilshares an Indigiqueer booklist
People reports Knicks player Jalen Brunson to publish a new children’s book
People exclusively reveals the cover of the sequel to Jennifer Iacopelli’s Finding Her Edge (Penguin/Razorbill)
People talks with Good Mythical Morning’s Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal about their new book, Spaghetti Head & Chicken Fingers (HarperPop)
People reveals the cover of Lauren Sánchez’s new children’s book
People shares an excerpt of Alex Aster’s new YA Barbie fantasy, Barbie Dreamscape (Mattel).
People recommends 8 books for young readers to celebrate Disability Pride Month
People reports all the Harry Potter audiobooks to be made available on spotify
People exclusively reveals the cover of Maulik Pancholy’s YA debut Will They, Won’t They (Penguin/Kokila)
People exclusively reveals the cover of Stuart Gibbs’s new time-traveling middle grade novel, There’s No Place Like Rome (S. & S.)
People reports on the new YA rom-com that reimagines the film John Tucker Must Die
People exclusively reveals the cover of Nicola Yoon’s upcoming YA romance, Always One More Time (Delacorte)
NYT covers the announcement of
NYT spotlights the work of author Sandra Boynton
NYT looks at how four picture book authors view America at 250
USA Today talks about the discovery that led to a new Dr. Seuss book
Publishers Weekly talks with Daniel Nayeri about his upcoming book, This Is a Door (Sourcebooks/Stonefruit Studio).
Publishers Weekly features a new anthology inspired by the love songs of Taylor Swift
Publishers Weekly features a pride month interview with Andrew Joseph White
Publishers Weekly features a pride month interview with Aiden Thomas
Publishers Weekly has an article by Pooja Makhijani about portraying postpartum depression in children’s books
Publishers Weekly reports on Rebel Goose’s debut title and its LGBTQ+ support
Publishers Weekly asks four questions of Marley Dias, author of I Am the Dream Come True (Scholastic/Orchard)
Publishers Weekly shares three YA books that feature the cutthroat world of cheerleading
Publishers Weekly has a conversation with Alan Barillaro, Marcus Cutler, and Keith Negley about their picture books featuring upside-down protagonists
Megan E. Freeman talks with Publishers Weekly about how her year as exchange student inspired her new novel, The Secret to Belonging (Atheneum; SLJ starred review).
Publishers Weekly does a Q&A with Kody Keplinger about her new YA thriller, Where Lost Girls Go (Scholastic)
The Guardian does a roundup of new books for children and teens
Book Riot features middle grade spy mysteries
Book Riot shares middle grade books about dragons
Book Riot features eight new children’s books coming out in July
The Guardian shares Jane Yolen’s obituary
Comics Beat exclusively announces Oni Press’s new Arabic Orignal Graphic Novel hitting shelves for English readers
Comics Beat shares how the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is headed to the stage
“A Fuse #8 Production” chats with Christine Hartman Derr about her new book Raven, Rising (Harper/Heartdrum)
“A Fuse #8 Production” reveals the cover of Loren Long’s upcoming book, The Boy and the Island (Farrar)
“A Fuse #8 Production” does a Q&A with Derrick Barnes and Frank Morrison about their book, Seven Million Steps (Harper/Amistad; SLJ starred review)
“A Fuse #8 Production” has a publishers’ spotlight on fall and winter books from Blue Dot Press and Paw Prints.
“Good Comics for Kids” previews Gamelad by Norm Grock (Oni Pr.)
“Good Comics for Kids”announces a new early reader comic from Papercutz featuring the world of “Frozen”
“Good Comics for Kids” exclusively reveals new middle grade fantasy from Nakama Press, Hokis, Focus!
“Good Comics for Kids” shares a preview and trailer of Cooking with Monsters: Best Served Cold (IDW Pub)
“Teen Librarian Toolbox”features a guest post by DeAndra Davis, author of The Lovers, The Liars, and Me (Atheneum)
“Teen Librarian Toolbox” has a guest post by Lindsay Champion, author of Cast vs Crew Tech Week (Pixel + Ink)
“Teen Librarian Toolbox”features a fast five interview with Alfredo Cáceres about his new book, Through the Black Gate (Atheneum)
“Teen Librarian Toolbox” features a guest post by Amanda Connolly
“100 Scope Notes” reveals the cover of 1,000 Horses for the King by Travis Jonker and Gracey Zhang (Viking)
Page to Screen
People reports Meg Cabot has seen scripts for “Princess Diaries 3”
The Nerds of Color gives a behind-the-scenes look at the upcoming movie, Sunrise on the Reaping
Deadline reports Tomi Adeyemi says she will not watch the film adaptation of Children of Blood and Bone
Deadline reports stars of YA adaptations turned out for Prime’s Obsessed Fest fan event
Deadline reports on Studiocanal’s movie adaptation of “Rainbow Fish”
Variety covers the announcement of a live-action “Magic School Bus” movie
Animation Magazine exclusively reports on a film adaptation of Julian Is a Mermaid
Authors on Air
Aaron Reynolds talks “The Jasper Rabbit Universe” on “The Yarn” podcast
Caldecott winning illustrator Cátia Chien appeared on “Here & Now” to talk about Fireworks (Clarion; SLJ starred review)
Lauren Tarshis, author of the “I Survived” series, appeared on The Kelly Clarkson Show
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