If you’re like me, you know that growing up means stretching regularly to avoid cramps and sleeping well to have energy for the whole day. What it doesn’t necessarily mean is stopping ourselves from reading books geared toward children and young adults. In fact, new juvenile fiction is published every year that catches my interest.

Children’s books like Night Chef by Mika Song remind me that a book doesn’t have to have world-ending stakes to keep me on the edge of my seat. From endearing characters to an intriguing plot with a heartwarming reveal, this graphic novel is the perfect one-sitting read.

On nearly the other end of the spectrum, The Darkness Outside Us by Eliot Schrefer blends space thriller and love story, the desolation of space and the strength of human connection. I picked this book up after it was recommended by a friend, but I was blown away by how much I enjoyed getting to know the characters and discovering the world they belong to.

Devils Like Us by L.T. Thompson captures the adventure of a classic pirate tale with a story of friendship and self-discovery. 

If you’d prefer books geared towards adults that capture some of the same feelings as youth literature, look no further. Speaking of pirates, The Adventures of Amina Al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty follows a post-retirement crew who reunite for one final adventure (which turns into a few more). Chakraborty and Thompson visited DMPL earlier this year for our Authors Visiting in Des Moines (AViD) series. After listening to them talk about the research and process of writing their stories, I gained a new appreciation for all the historical details woven into both action-packed books.

Finally, if you never grew out of your animal book phase, check out Cat’s People by Tanya Guerrero. Like Night Chef, this novel focuses on the importance of community and how just one creature can bring many together. It’s a lesson that all of us, limber and well-rested or otherwise, can appreciate. 

Arlette Uribe-Gonzalez is a library assistant at the Des Moines Public Library. She spends her time knitting, snuggling with her cats, or stumbling across new hobbies (see: obsessions). This article was originally published in Little Village’s September 2026 issue.