We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to middle grade. First, Adam Gidwitz joins us to discuss Max in the Land of Lies: A Tale of World War II (Dutton, February 25). Then young readers’ editors Laura Simeon and Mahnaz Dar discuss more of the year’s best books.

Thanks to our sponsors:

• The Tale of the Wicked Old Woman and the Very Nice 'Beast' of Crouch End by Lance Lee, illus. by Nathalie T. Retivoff
• Passages by P.K. Edgewater
• Eco Reign by L. Galuppo
• Rom-Com for Dummies by Tom Diggs

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We’re continuing our Best Books of 2025 coverage with a special episode dedicated to picture books. First, Patricia Morris Buckley joins us to discuss To Walk the Sky: How Iroquois Steelworkers Helped Build Towering Cities, illustrated by E.B. Lewis (Heartdrum, Jan. 28). Then young readers’ editor Mahnaz Dar dishes on more of the year’s best books.

Thanks to our sponsors:

• The History of Lightning by Anthony Dwanye Webb
• Into the Gray Scale by Oge Mobuogwu
• Maybe I’m Not God by Stefania Gander, trans. by Chiara Gastaldi
• The Judgy Bunny by Gramma Sir

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Former U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance joins us to discuss Giving Up Is Unforgivable: A Manual for Keeping a Democracy (Dutton, October 21). Kirkus calls it, “A hopeful manifesto for a renewed democracy.” Then our editors recommend their top picks in books for the week.

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