The Cynsational Books of 2025 were selected by Cynthia Leitich Smith from nominations by Cynsations Team members. Titles published by Heartdrum or authored/illustrated by Cynsations team members are ineligible.
The selections (in alphabetical order):
At the Edge of Lost by Martha Brokenbrough (Scholastic, October, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Caleb and Ronan are best friends. It doesn’t matter that Ronan is a dog and Caleb is a middle-schooler. They’ve been together their entire lives and traveled the world together with Caleb’s family.
But now, with Ronan too old for such adventures, Caleb has chosen to stay in Seattle, settling down with his grandfather in a quirky retirement community. Things should be calm here, maybe even boring. But then tragedy strikes, and Poppy is rushed to the hospital. Suddenly, Caleb’s world erupts in chaos and he and Ronan are separated.
Desperate to find each other, the two friends set out on an impossible journey. But a deadly storm is brewing and predators lurk, and they have no idea where the other is. Can they find their way back together-and to Poppy-before it’s too late?
See Suma’s Cynsations Interview with Martha.
Braided Roots by Pasha Westbrook, illustrated by Madelyn Goodnight (Orchard Books, November, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Father braids my hair, just like his,
scented of coconut oil, the familiar tug of fingers on my scalp,
love in every twist…
As a young girl’s father lovingly yet painstakingly braids her hair, he weaves a story about the strength and resilience of their ancestors, Freedmen who walked the Trail of Tears from Mississippi to Oklahoma.
In this enchanting picture book, past and present come together in a tale about endurance, history, and love. With beautiful, sweeping illustrations by Madelyn Goodnight and debut author Pasha Westbrook’s lyrical writing, Braided Roots tenderly explores the unwavering love between a father and daughter.
Graciela In The Abyss by Meg Medina, illustrated by Anna Balbusso and Elena Balbusso (Candlewick, July, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
A sea ghost, a mortal boy, and a dangerous enchanted harpoon . . . A Newbery Medalist takes us far beneath the waves in this extraordinary foray into fantasy.
In the deepest recesses of the ocean, Graciela—once an ordinary girl—now makes sea glass and assists her friend, Amina, as she welcomes newly awakened sea ghosts from their death sleep. Though Graciela’s spirit is young, she has lived at the bottom of the ocean for more than a hundred years. Meanwhile, in the mortal world on land, twelve-year-old Jorge Leon works in his family’s forge. He’s heard of the supernatural spirits living beneath the ocean’s waves—tales that do nothing to quell his fear of the water. But when Jorge discovers a hand-wrought harpoon with the power to spear a sea ghost, he knows he must destroy it any way he can.
When the harpoon is accidentally reunited with its vengeful creator, unlikely allies Graciela and Jorge have no choice but to work together to keep evil spirits from wreaking havoc on both the living and the dead. If only the answer to saving what they care about didn’t lie within the depths of the abyss . . . Newbery Medal winner Meg Medina and illustrators Anna and Elena Balbusso have crafted a thoughtful tale infused with magic and high-stakes adventure that will leave readers wondering what power lies in the depths of the ocean—and inside each of us.
Mountain Upside Down by Sara Ryan (Dutton, February, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
A funny and heartfelt LGBTQIA+ middle grade novel set against the backdrop of family drama and a library funding campaign in a small town.
Alex Eager lives in Faillin, OR with her grandmother, a retired librarian. Life should be great for Alex, since she finally worked up the courage to ask her best friend PJ if they could be more than friends and she said yes. But their new relationship will have to be long distance, because PJ is moving. On top of that, Alex is worried that something is wrong with her increasingly forgetful grandmother. And to make matters worse, Faillin is holding a referendum on library funding, and things aren’t looking good. Will anything good for Alex ever last?
Mountain Upside Down is a beautifully crafted story of a thirteen-year-old girl finding her place in her family and her community. It’s a queer-positive story that doesn’t center coming out. It’s a story of a library’s role in a community that doesn’t feature book banning. And it’s a story of long-held family secrets and resentment that focuses not on final resolution but learning how to communicate again.
See Gayleen’s Cynsations Interview with Sara.
Party Monsters on the Block by Sue Ganz-Schmitt, illustrated by Luke Flowers (Two Lions, October, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Team Funny or Team Scary: Which team are you on? Find out in this delightful story about community and working together.
Monster is so excited about this year’s community block party. And even more special: it will be his new neighbor (and bestie) Clown’s first ever party on the block. So when party planner Yeti breaks a leg, Monster and Clown step up to take the reins. They can plan the festivities in her place. But it turns out that Monster and Clown have some very different ideas about what makes for a fun party. Can Monster and Clown set aside their differences and find a way to work together? Join Monster and Clown in this charming and lighthearted story as they try to pull off the most epic block party ever!
See Gail’s Cynsations interview with Sue.
The Pecan Sheller by Lupe Ruiz-Flores (Carolrhoda, April, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
In 1930s San Antonio, thirteen-year-old Petra dreams of going to college and becoming a writer.
But with her beloved father dead, two younger siblings to care for, and with a stepmother struggling to make ends meet, Petra has to drop out of school to shell pecans at a factory. Hoping it’s only temporary, she tries not to despair over the grueling work conditions. But after the unhealthy environment leads to tragedy and workers’ already low wages are cut, Petra knows things need to change. She and her coworkers go on strike for higher wages and safer conditions, risking everything they have for the hope of a better future.
Pedal Pusher: How One Woman’s Bicycle Adventure Helped Change the World by Mary Boone, illustrated by Lisa Anchin (Henry Holt and Co., 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Annie Cohen Kopchovsky was ready to ride her bicycle.
Not to the market.
Not around the block.
Not across town.
Annie was going to ride her bike all the
way around the world.In 1894, when two men bet that a woman could never bicycle around the world, as a man had done, Annie set out to prove them wrong, despite not knowing how to ride a bike.
Dressed in a long skirt, she began her journey in Boston. It wasn’t easy, but Annie never gave up. Her adventure brought her attention in every place she visited along the way, and she loved it all. She told many stories–about hunting tigers, dodging bullets, socializing with royalty, and serving time in a Japanese prison–and some of them were probably not true. But she did ride all the way around the world. And she changed the way that the world thought about what women were capable of doing.
Filled with captivating illustrations of the incredible globe-spanning journey, this celebratory picture book tells the story of an unsung feminist icon, the marvelous and resilient Annie Cohen Kopchovsky.
Sisters in the Wind by Angeline Boulley (Henry Holt and Co., September, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
From the instant New York Times bestselling author of Firekeeper’s Daughter and Warrior Girl Unearthed comes a daring new mystery about a foster teen claiming her heritage on her own terms.
Ever since Lucy Smith’s father died five years ago, “home” has been more of an idea than a place. She knows being on the run is better than anything waiting for her as a “ward of the state”. But when the sharp-eyed and kind Mr. Jameson with an interest in her case comes looking for her, Lucy wonders if hiding from her past will ever truly keep her safe.
Five years in the foster system has taught her to be cautious and smart. But she wants to believe Mr. Jameson and his “friend-not-friend”, a tall and fierce-looking woman who say they want to look after her. They also tell Lucy the truth her father hid from her: She is Ojibwe; she has – had – a sister, and more siblings, a grandmother who’d look after her and a home where she would be loved.
But Lucy is being followed. The past has destroyed any chance at safety she had. Will the secrets she’s hiding swallow her whole and take away any hope for the future she always dreamed of?
When the past comes for revenge, it’s fight or flight.
Angeline Boulley’s award-winning canon of books puts compelling characters and fast-paced action at the center of narratives rich in historical context. Read Firekeeper’s Daughter; Warrior Girl Unearthed; and Sisters of the Wind in any order; but like the world itself, there are echoes within each for the other stories.
Smiling Eyes by Linda Sue Park, illustrated by Lenny Wen (Allida Books, February, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
From Newbery Medalist and bestselling author Linda Sue Park comes a joyous and inclusive celebration of eyes—showcasing the variety of Asian eye shapes and hues—in lively rhyming text ideal for sharing with any child.
For an enthusiastic little boy, an ordinary day is filled with the joys and surprises of seeing and being seen. All around him, people are using their eyes: big eyes, small eyes, eyes that are open wide, or shut tight, or even winking! With irresistible rhymes and warm, inviting art, this ode to eyes by Linda Sue Park and Lenny Wen will delight the youngest of readers.
The Summer of the Bone Horses by Virginia Drivinghawk Sneve, illustrated by Steph Littlebird (Amulet, April 2025); from the publisher’s website:
A Lakota child spends a summer with grandparents at their home on the Rosebud Reservation in this young chapter book, illustrated in full-color.
Multiple starred reviews! “A captivating tale about the healing power of community and familial bonds. Infused with tenderness, this family story is simply lovely.”(Kirkus starred review)
This charming chapter book follows a present-day Lakota child connecting with extended family, embracing new experiences, and growing up along the way.
When Eddie’s parents drive from the Black Hills to the Dakota plains to drop him off with Grandpa and Grandma High Elk, Eddie aches all over at the thought of being away from Mom and Dad for the first time.
But quickly, Eddie’s stay on the Rosebud Reservation becomes a summer that he’ll never forget as he spends his days riding horses, fishing, helping Grandma in her garden, and playing with the toy bone horses that his grandfather gave him. When his grandfather is hurt and needs medical attention, Eddie steps up and helps him get the care he needs.
The Sunshine Project by Uma Krishnaswami (Groundwood Books, August 2025); from the publisher’s website:
In the final book in the Book Uncle trilogy, Anil faces a dilemma when the city decides to build a solar panel factory on the site of a mangrove forest.
Anil loves karate, his friends and the solar power project he has been championing in his community. He doesn’t love having to speak up — as his karate sensei says, best fight, no fight. Still, Anil wishes his classmate Mohan would stop picking on him.
Then Anil learns where the city is planning to build a new solar panel factory. More sustainable energy is good news — but this factory will threaten plant and animal species and force the village people who live on the land to move. Maybe staying quiet isn’t an option anymore …
A class assignment nudges Anil into action. Now he’s a Young Reporter, so why not ask questions about the factory? With help from his friends Yasmin and Reeni, support from his classmates and neighbors, and the right book picks from Book Uncle, can Anil help the city find a solution that works for everyone? And just how loudly will he have to speak up?
A triumphant finale to the Book Uncle trilogy about the power of asking the right questions and listening when change comes to your community.
See Suma’s Cynsations interview with Uma.
Top Heavy by Rhonda DeChambeau (Holiday House, June, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
This heart-stopping debut novel in verse about a talented dancer struggling to give herself grace in the wake of an assault is a gut-wrenching masterpiece.
Fifteen-year-old Esme lives and breathes dance. Alongside her best friend, Mia, she is happiest when in the studio… sweating, stretching, soaring. And after a summer of nonstop practice, Esme and Mia earn coveted spots on the Elite dance team. Now that they’ve proven themselves to Miss Regina and the senior girls, it should be smooth sailing.
Except that Esme and Mia took the spots of two popular, well-liked dancers.
Except that Esme’s dad hasn’t been able to work for months, and there’s hardly enough money for groceries, never mind dance tuition and recital costumes.
Except that a stranger touches Esme during a night out, touches the breasts that have always felt like giant targets.
After years of being oversexualized for her large chest, this is the violation that pushes Esme over the edge. Was it her fault? Could she have stopped it? Why can’t she just be different? Esme stumbles, off kilter and adrift from her loved ones, struggling to find the strong, central cord that will pull her up and allow her to soar again.
This dazzling, tour-de-force debut tackles friendship, first love, and sexual assault, along with the full emotional range of life as a teenage girl. Esme musters strength she didn’t know she had—and learns to lean on others to find the right support. An unforgettable read.
See Gail’s Cynsations interview with Rhonda.
When Science Stood Still: How S. Chandrasekhar Predicted the Existence of Black Holes by Shruthi Rao, illustrated by Srinidhi Srinivasan (Margaret K. McElderry Books, October, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Discover the remarkable true story about the man who discovered the science of black holes and persisted in his theories against the disbelief of the scientific community in this nonfiction picture book perfect for fans of Counting the Stars and What Miss Mitchell Saw.
When scientists get things right, science leaps forward. When they get things wrong, they learn from their mistakes, and science continues to advance. But sometimes, even when scientists get it right, nobody pays attention. Then, for a while, science stands still.
Subrahmanyan Chandrasekhar was a brilliant scientist with eyes fixed toward the stars. As a young man, he developed the theory that would eventually lead to the discovery of black holes. But when he presented his findings to the world’s leading Western scientists, they scoffed at his ideas. Chandra knew he was right. But would anyone listen?
Learn the true story of a relentless scientist and his cosmic discovery that had to wait for science to change its mind.
Words Matter: The Story of Hans and Sophie Scholl, and the White Rose Resistance by Anita Pazner, illustrated by Sophia Casson (Groundwood Books, September, 2025); from the publisher’s website:
Words are powerful. Words spread truth. Words turn to action. Words matter in this lyrical account of the White Rose Resistance.
The White Rose Resistance was the German student movement that used the power of the written word to speak out against the Nazis during World War II. They worked in secret to distribute leaflets condemning the government’s actions at a time when doing so meant putting your life at risk.
The story follows siblings Hans and Sophie Scholl, who were instrumental members of the resistance. Words Matter transports readers through the world the siblings inhabited, from their idyllic childhood to becoming leaders in the Hitler Youth groups; the Nuremberg Rally; witnessing the arrests and murders of innocent people; and finally emerging as leaders of the White Rose Resistance — while still believing in the goodness that lived in the hearts of the German people. The Scholl siblings were arrested and executed in 1943 but their legacy, and the words of the Resistance, live on.
Written in verse and strikingly illustrated for middle-grade readers, Words Matter brings to life an unforgettable true story of nonviolent resistance. Hans and Sophie’s story demonstrates the enduring power of words, especially in times of propaganda and fear.
See Suma’s Cynsations interview with Anita.
Cynsational Notes
The annual Cynsational books list is complied by the Cynsations team. Due to the obvious conflict of interest, books by team members or the Heartdrum imprint at HarperChildren’s, for which Cynthia Leitich Smith serves as author-curator, are not eligible for consideration.