🤩 Among The Stars: September '26 Update
It's that time again. For the moment, anyway, our curated starred review spreadsheet is up to date, y'all.
As a reminder, Martha Hickson and I curate and collate the starred reviews from six trade journals:
*This also includes SLJ Express Reviews
We realize, of course, that other sites/blogs award stars, too... but these are the journals we've chosen to focus on.
You May Have Noticed...
Although we still have a couple of months until the calendar officially flips to a new year, much like the retail shelves in my neck of the woods, which are already filled with holiday wares, the starred review spreadsheet has been updated with new tabs for 2027.
Typically, around the end of September, trade journals begin publishing reviews for books that won't hit shelves until the following year. That means Martha and I are officially in that strange in-between season when we're still collecting stars for 2026 while simultaneously getting a head start on 2027. If you've noticed some shiny new tabs appearing in the spreadsheet, that's why.
For book nerds like us, this is an exciting time of year! There's something wonderful about getting our first glimpses of the books we'll be talking about, sharing, and recommending in the months ahead. But it also means we're doing a lot more toggling between sheets, double-checking publication dates, and trying to keep two years' worth of books straight in our heads. As you might imagine, this also increases the likelihood of mistakes. (Turns out, we're human, y'all!)
So, as we make this annual transition, thanks for your patience. We're doing our best to keep all those stars in their proper constellations!
The Stars So Far!
One of the consequences of maintaining such a large dataset is that, for me anyway, sometimes it's difficult to notice changes. After all, visually, 2,000 reviews don't look all that different from 1,500! That said, since my last update, a few things have shifted that might otherwise be easy to miss in this sea of starred reviews!
152 additional titles have received at least one starred review since August.
260 additional starred reviews have been recorded.
The number of books earning five stars has increased from 12 to 19.
The number earning six stars has tripled, from one to three.
Number of Stars | September(ish)* 2026 | August 2026 | Change |
⭐ | 770 titles | 672 titles | +98 |
⭐⭐ | 287 titles | 263 titles | +24 |
⭐⭐⭐ | 109 titles | 92 titles | +17 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 34 titles | 30 titles | +4 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 19 titles | 12 titles | +7 |
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 3 titles | 1 titles | +2 |
Total unique titles | 1,222 | 1,070 | +152 |
Total starred reviews | 1,920 | 1,660 | +260 |
*Note: I've labeled this as a September update, but these numbers contain some reviews published in October, too. | |||
Of course, many of the books on our spreadsheet have earned stars from websites and reviewers we don’t curate. However, if you’re interested in how the rest of our data is shaping up, here’s the latest breakdown.
As always, you can take a closer look at all the spreadsheet-related data by checking out the tabs labeled “stats” at the bottom of the spreadsheet.
What's On My Radar?
In addition to being the time when many trade journals start sharing reviews for books that won't be published until the following year, mid-September is also when the National Book Award longlists are announced. A few weeks later, the finalists are revealed, marking the unofficial start of Book Award Season!
While I've heard from friends that serving on these committees can be... well, interesting, as an outside observer, I'm always so stoked when these lists come out! Part of that excitement comes from being surprised by some of the nominees. NBA committees always seem to have a knack for selecting at least a few books that weren't on my radar. Indeed, there have been years when I've only read one or two of the nominated titles. This year, however, several of them are among my favorites!
That said, I was curious about how many stars each of this year's longlisted titles had earned. So, naturally, I made a spreadsheet! Here's what I found:
 | The Free Verse Society by Delali Adjoa When Jae, a teen mother who placed her baby for adoption, and Derek, a boy struggling with family loss and financial hardship, find themselves in the same high school poetry club, an unlikely romance begins to blossom. This debut YA novel has earned praise for its emotionally complex characters, sensitive exploration of grief and vulnerability, and portrayal of poetry as a powerful means of connection and healing. Stars (so far): ⭐️ |
 | Holloway by Elana K. Arnold (Finalist) After losing her mother to COVID-19, autistic teenager Nora travels to France to scatter her ashes, only to find herself mysteriously transported into the past. This ambitious, genre-bending novel has earned acclaim for its lyrical prose, nuanced portrayal of neurodivergence, and powerful exploration of grief, generational trauma, and the complicated ways love can both wound and heal. Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | The Celestial Seas by T. A. Chan A science-fiction reimagining of Moby-Dick, this debut follows Ishara Ming, a teenage spaceship captain determined to hunt down the legendary sentient spacecraft responsible for destroying her former crew. Acclaimed for its imaginative world building, exhilarating action, and emotionally layered exploration of revenge, identity, survivor's guilt, and found family, the novel brings fresh energy to a literary classic. Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | When Tomorrow Burns by Tae Keller (Finalist) When three former best friends discover that the final prediction in a mysterious book of prophecies may be coming true, they must confront their fractured friendship as wildfires threaten their Seattle community. This beautifully layered middle grade novel has earned acclaim for its sensitive exploration of identity, privilege, climate anxiety, toxic masculinity and the uncertainty of growing up. (This is one of my personal favorites of 2027!) Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | That Which Feeds Us by Keala Kendall (Finalist) When her twin sister disappears at an exclusive island resort, Native Hawaiian teenager Lehua sets out to find her, uncovering a terrifying history of colonial exploitation and supernatural horrors lurking beneath the island's luxurious facade. This YA horror novel has earned acclaim for its vivid prose, incorporation of Indigenous Hawaiian folklore, and unflinching exploration of colonialism, intergenerational trauma, and cultural reclamation. Stars (so far): ⭐️ |
 | The Fight of Our Lives: AIDS in America by David Levithan and Gabriel Duckels (Finalist) Drawing on firsthand interviews, extensive research, poetry, and personal narratives, this powerful work of YA nonfiction chronicles the AIDS epidemic in the US, highlighting the devastating consequences of prejudice and government inaction alongside the courage of affected communities. Acclaimed for its meticulous research, accessible storytelling, and emotional depth, the book honors those lost while reminding young readers of the power of advocacy, solidarity, and collective action. (I love this book so much!) Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | The Moon Without Stars by Chanel Miller When seventh grader Luna's homemade zine unexpectedly draws the attention of the popular crowd, she finds herself navigating shifting friendships, peer pressure, and the uncomfortable question of how much of herself she's willing to change to fit in. This tender, often funny middle grade novel has earned acclaim for its authentic portrayal of adolescent social dynamics and compassionate exploration of identity, belonging, and the messy realities of growing up. (Another personal favorite!) Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | Clothes to Make You Smile: Patrick Kelly Designs His Dreams by Eric Darnell Pritchard, illustrated by Shannon Wright This joyful picture book biography celebrates Patrick Kelly, the groundbreaking Black fashion designer who transformed his childhood love of sewing into a career defined by bold colors, playful designs, and an unwavering commitment to self-expression. Acclaimed for its exuberant storytelling and Wright's vibrant mixed-media illustrations, this book book offers an inspiring portrait of creativity, perseverance, and the courage to stand out. (Again, I love this book!) Stars (so far): 👀 None! What? More about this below! |
 | Shook by Julian Randall, illustrated by Nathan Walker (Finalist) When an ankle injury threatens eighth grader Malik “Shake” Page's dreams of making the varsity basketball team, he must navigate anxiety, changing friendships, and a strained relationship with his father while discovering who he is beyond the basketball court. This powerful middle grade novel in verse has earned acclaim for its rhythmic, energetic writing, authentic portrayal of adolescent vulnerability, and compassionate exploration of mental health, identity, and resilience. (I was so happy to see this one make the short list!) Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ |
 | Life on the Moon by Matthew Swanson When twelve-year-old Leo joins the first human colony on the Moon, his father's mysterious disappearance leads him to discover extraordinary lunar creatures whose existence the authorities are determined to conceal. This imaginative middle grade science-fiction adventure explores curiosity, courage, and the importance of questioning authority, combining an intriguing mystery with thoughtful questions about truth, power, and humanity's responsibility toward other forms of life. Stars (so far): ⭐️ ⭐️ |
So what does all of this mean?
For teachers and librarians, starred reviews can be incredibly valuable. They represent recognition from professional review journals and can help us identify books that have been singled out for their literary, artistic, or informational merit. For educators working in districts where collection development policies require evidence of professional acclaim, these reviews can be especially useful. Indeed, those very educators are a big part of why Martha andI choose to do this work. They can also provide important documentation when a book is challenged and a librarian must demonstrate the professional reasoning behind its selection.
But here's where I think we need to put those stars into perspective.
While we know that starred reviews are intended to recognize exceptional books, we know considerably less about how consistently that distinction is applied. Different journals have different editorial processes, and although some share information about how stars are awarded, there isn't a single, universally accepted set of criteria. Ultimately, these decisions involve human judgment, and human judgment is subjective. Two thoughtful, experienced reviewers can read the same book and come away with very different assessments of its merits.
It's also worth remembering that not every book gets reviewed, and not every positive review comes with a star. A book with six starred reviews has certainly earned an impressive level of critical recognition, but that doesn't necessarily mean it has found its way into the hearts of the kids for whom it was intended. Ultimately, starred reviews (like so many other professional resources) are just one piece of the collection development puzzle. And while I find them infinitely interesting, I also know that the connections young readers make with the books on our shelves are the most important distinction of all.
What Did I Miss?
Finally, as a reminder, Martha and I manage this resource in all of our spare time. Har! The longer I spend curating this spreadsheet, the more respect I have for Jen J., the public librarian who began this work way back in 2011! Four years into my journey as a part-time spreadsheet sommelier, I have no idea if I’ll be able to keep it up for as long as the first Jennifer did. But I do know this much: no matter how careful we are, mistakes happen! We miss reviews. We misspell titles. And sometimes we delete whole sections and have to start again. 😬
When you notice an error, we hope you’ll let us know! But, as a reminder, we ask that you do the following when submitting corrections:
Remember: we typically update this spreadsheet once per month. With that in mind, please wait at least one month before letting us know that we’ve missed a starred review. For example, if you notice that a starred review published on May 15th isn’t yet on our spreadsheet, please wait until after June 15th to let us know.
Please only submit review corrections once. We will get to them as soon as we are able. Promise!
