January 2026 Indie Titles for Middle & High School Readers from IBPA
Hello Librarian Friends,

We hope you and yours are well. In the face of ongoing global crises, we continue to believe that books and libraries are essential, and we're grateful for all you do. We trust you'll find new stories that will feel essential for your students in this selection from our publisher members—it's a variety-pack of fascinating reading. Thank you for your time!

All of us at the Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA)

Table of Contents:
Young Reader: Fiction  
Teen: Fiction | Nonfiction

Young Reader Fiction

THE CENTRAL PARK IRREGULARS
by Paul Cicchini
One Knight Publishing LLC

Harper Jensen and her little brother Bohdi move from their family farm to Manhattan when their mom takes a job as a museum curator, leaving their dad behind.
 
Trading fields for Central Park, Harper finds new friends and a new world to explore.
 
When a priceless artifact is stolen and suspicion falls on her mom, Harper and the newly dubbed Central Park Irregulars race to solve a mystery hidden among the park’s famous landmarks before it’s too late.

ISBN : 9798218685539 (Paperback)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


CHOOSE MOOSE
by David Benjamin
Last Kid Books

Sixth-grader Henry Haddock’s protest over a beloved teacher’s sudden layoff sparks an unexpected war with the school board chairman, drawing the entire town into the conflict.
 
“A rollicking good story about a group of young people tackling serious issues ... Choose Moose is a reminder to citizens young and old that local politics are real and they affect us all. They bear watching.” — Pat Hall, author, The Secret of Santa’s Naughty-Nice List

ISBN : 9798986312989 (Paperback) 9798986312996 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Pathway Book Services, Ingram Wholesale


THE WATCHWOOD INHERITANCE
by Ann Huchingson
Golden Pine Press

Thirteen-year-old Peter Penstimon thought summer meant sun, surfing, and boredom—not unraveling family secrets at a crumbling estate full of ghosts.
 
When his parents drag him to Watchwood Farm, their ancestral home, everything changes.
 
Haunted by spirits seeking answers, Peter must uncover the truth behind his uncle’s disappearance and the dark legacy buried in Watchwood’s past. Ignoring them could cost him everything he loves.

ISBN : 9798998786228 (Paperback) 9798998786235 (Hardcover) 9798998786204 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


Teen Fiction

A DIFFERENT KIND OF BRAVE
by Lee Wind
Duet Books/Interlude/Chicago Review Press

The celebrated gay teen action adventure romance that's both an homage and critique of James Bond movies! Book two, A Different Kind of Enemy , publishes May 2026. 
 
“A gem... not just a high-octane thriller but also a queer romance full of heart and sensuality.” — Foreword Reviews, Starred Review
 
“Thrilling. Positively thrilling.” — Kirkus Reviews
 
“Be prepared to fall in love with Nico and Sam.” — Alex Sanchez, author of Rainbow Boys

ISBN : 9781641609500 (Paperback)
9781641609524 (Ebook)
Ordering info : IPG


ECHOES OF THE LOST WORLD
The Hidden World
by Seth Mohs
Sethworld Media, LLC

Six teens from around the world meet in Berlin and discover that magic is real, monsters are loose, and an ancient seal is breaking.
 
As a troll stalks the museum and stone wings creak to life, they scramble to control strange new powers and trust each other before the Hidden World tears through our own.
 
Book One in the Echoes of the Lost World diverse YA fantasy series.

ISBN : 9798999778710 (Paperback) 9798999778727 (Hardcover)  9798999778703 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


FLASH OF FIRE
The Phoenix Rising Trilogy - Book 1
by A.L. Wyss
Illustrated by Leon Ning
Carnelian & Quills Publishing

2025 Bronze Moonbeam Children's Book Award, Best Series
 
2025 1st Place, Royal Dragonfly Award, Best Audiobook
 
2019 1st Place, Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Award
 
An accidental fire reveals Vivian is a phoenix, pulling her into a secret academy where gifted teens train to stop a growing threat to the human and fae worlds.
 
“A smart, strong-willed young woman who does not back down.” — BookLife
 
“Dynamic, fast-paced storytelling.”
— Readers’ Favorite

ISBN : 9781960479044 (Paperback) 9781960479075 (Hardcover) 9781960479006 (Ebook)
9781960479143 (Audiobook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Overdrive


LUPE & SELINA PLAY THROUGH THE STORM
Book Two
by Anita Perez Ferguson
Luz Publications

Selina’s dreams are overshadowed by her brother’s baseball legacy. She wants a future in softball, but ambition isn’t enough.
 
“…She encounters the ghost of former baseball all-star Roberto Clemente, uncovering a supernatural mystery that challenges everything she thought she knew about the game, herself, and her community… A warm, sharply observed coming-of-age story with a strong Latina at its center.” — Kirkus Reviews

ISBN : 9798991197717 (Paperback) 9798991197724 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


QUANTUM GENESIS
by MD Hanley
Hanley-Adams Publishing

A scientist’s experiment awakens Ghia, a sentient planet facing extinction. With an asteroid approaching, humanity’s only hope lies in sheltering underground—Ghia gives the scientist 14 powerful quantum stones that bend the fabric of reality.
 
A gripping sci-fi thriller of survival and sacrifice.
 
“Hanley’s writing isn’t just descriptive, it’s alive. By the time I reached the final chapters, I was both wrecked and strangely uplifted.” — Literary Titan

ISBN : 9798987974063 (Paperback) 9798999265128 (Hardcover) 9798987974070 (Ebook)
(Audiobook also available)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Amazon, Barnes and Noble


TRANKARRI
The Boy with a Magical Pen - Book 1
by Christopher Dean
Croft Regis

An epic adventure begins when young artist Nathaniel Hancock receives a magical drawing pen. As his art comes to life, he enters the Inkworld, a pen-and-ink realm of imagination.
 
“An appealing, down-to-earth hero traverses an endlessly captivating pen-and-ink world.”
— Kirkus Reviews
 
“Throughout, Dean showcases a rare ability to weave emotional authenticity into high adventure.”
— BookViral
 
“A love letter to imagination.”
— NetGalley reviewer

ISBN : 9781967885008 (Paperback)
9781967885015 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Amazon, Barnes & Noble


WARRIOR ONE
A Vision Quest Story
by Deborah M Pratt
Illustrated by Will Conrad
VGM Publishing Incorporated

Set in Earth’s near future, Warrior One follows Jetta A, whose life in the near utopian continent of Atlantia collapses when sentient biodroid soldiers called the Black Guard turn on humanity, judging it unfit to rule. In a single day, her world changes forever.
 
“Warrior One stands out not only for its world-building and visual potential, but also for its timely resonance within the zeitgeist as a work of speculative fiction.”
— Industrial Light and Magic 

ISBN : 97809708730925 (Paperback)
9780984675623 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


WHY CAN'T LIFE BE LIKE PIZZA?
by Andy V. Roamer
Nine Star Press

Follow the main character, RV, through his high school years at the demanding Boston Latin School as he grapples with many questions about life, God, prayer, romance, sexuality, and his immigrant heritage.
 
“A kindhearted protagonist anchors this sweet and contemporary coming-of-age story.”  — Kirkus Reviews
 
“Young adult readers receive a compelling story spiced by a powerful voice.”
— Midwest Book Review

ISBN : 9781951880675 (Paperback) 9781951880668 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Amazon, Draft2Digital

ZICKY
Wrath of the Rat King
by Darin S. Cape
Illustrated by Zeno Decrux and Hiorsh Gabotto
SHP Comics

Zicky: Wrath of the Rat King is an all-ages fantasy adventure blending manga energy with Western storytelling.
 
With its cheeky underdog hero and themes of family, loyalty, and imagination, Zicky is ideal for readers who love fast-moving fantasy with heart.
 
Zicky is funny, sweet and definitely nods to Calvin and Hobbes . I am adding it to our collection and have spread the word to my fellow comics librarians!
— Jackie Bush, Teen Services Librarian

ISBN : 9798992749939 (Paperback)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Amazon


Teen Nonfiction

GETTING STARTED WITH ENTITY EVENT-DRIVEN EMBEDDED SYSTEMS
Volume 1: GPIO and Asynchronous Programming with Microdot
by Byron Mattingly
Cassandra STEAM Press

Boost Your STEM Section: A Hands-On Guide for Roboticists, Makers, and Hobbyists.
 
Unlock the world of affordable robotics with Getting Started with Entity Event-Driven Embedded Systems .
 
This beginner-friendly series for the Raspberry Pi Pico guides students from basic GPIO to responsive AI-agent-ready Microdot servers.
 
Featuring clear MicroPython examples and open-source GitHub projects, it is an essential resource for STEM education collections.

ISBN : 9798898609344 (Paperback) 9798900467849 (Hardcover) 9798898609351 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale, Amazon


THE SIMULATION HYPOTHESIS
An MIT Computer Scientist Shows Why AI, Quantum Physics, and Eastern Mystics All Agree We Are in a Video Game
by Rizwan Virk
Tarcher

“You take the red pill and you keep on reading and Rizwan Virk, [MIT] computer scientist, will show you how deep the rabbit hole goes.” —  BBC Science Focus
 
“… This idea that we’re all characters in an advanced civilization’s video game is, well, kind of awesome…” — Vox.com
 
“This book is a must-read for considering the possibility that AI generates a simulated world within the larger simulation which we call reality.” — Avi Loeb, Harvard Professor

ISBN : 9780983056904 (Paperback) 9780593853382 (Hardcover)
9780593854969 (Ebook)
(Audiobook also available)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale


VACCINES AND THE DISEASES THEY TARGET
An Analysis of Vaccine Safety and Epidemiology
by Physicians for Informed Consent
Physicians for Informed Consent

Vaccines and the Diseases They Target (the Silver Booklet) presents clear, side-by-side comparisons of childhood diseases and their vaccines in a concise hardcover guide.
 
With simple, clear graphics and over 400 citations, it is an indispensable resource for parents, students, and professionals. 
 
“The most comprehensive and research-based analysis of the CDC-recommended vaccine schedule,” says pediatrician Dr. Bob Sears.

ISBN : 9798998784514 (Hardcover) 9798998784507 (Paperback) 9798998784521 (Ebook)
Ordering info : Ingram Wholesale (Hardcover), Amazon (Paperback & Ebook)

IBPA's core values include Independence and Inclusivity. As a nonprofit association, we are committed to independent points of view and a publishing industry where everyone can tell their story and find themselves in the content they read.

Please note that inclusion in this IBPA program does not constitute an endorsement of these or any particular book, author, or publisher by IBPA, its employees, or board members. Learn more about IBPA and our advocacy, education, and tools for success at ibpa-online.org .
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