Books as Mentor Texts – 2026
It’s no secret that I read a lot. It’s one of my favotie pasttimes. That said, when I read, I do so not only for the pleasure it gives me but also to explore and discover good examples of good writing and solid craft.
As you can see from the list of books I read throughout the past year, I am an eclectic reader.
I am often seeking comp titles for books my clients are writing, or mentor texts to offer as examples of successful writing.
This year, among the books I read, a few stood out for me for specific reasons, and I thought I would list them here and talk about what makes them work and why they stuck with me.
Humorous SciFi/Fantasy
Nine Goblins by T. Kingfisher was one of my favorite books this year. It’s clever, creative, and fun. Kingfisher’s take on the goblins with all their weirdness and grossness mixed with heart makes them not only laughable (in a good way) but also just plain lovable.
The Strange Account of Charlie Wendigo by Matthew Kline is one of those books that just has fun with itself. Kline has a keen wit and a deep knowledge of pop culture that he mixes into a great potpourri of puns and clever word- and world-play. (Full Disclosure: I edited this book.)
Science Fiction
Profit Motives by Bruce Davis (The Profit Logbooks) follows a crew of space-farers as they try to balance a quieter life with returning to action when danger strikes. This tie-in explores found family and provides a deeper dive into Deuce, one of my favorite characters. Davis writes great action, engaging characters, and seamlessly blends science fiction with noir. (Full Disclosure: I edited this book.)
The Kelton Cases: The Lost Princess by K. A. Bledsoe is a science-fiction adventure novel about a family of space-faring problem-solvers who make their way across the galaxy, taking on and solving unique cases that local law enforcement can’t or won’t solve. I love the quirky personalities of the main characters and the ways they work together while also struggling with family dynamics. In addition to solving a good mystery, Bledsoe shows us that parenting is hard enough without traveling through space and having to take on dangerous missions to survive. (Full Disclosure: I edited this book.)
Cozy Fantasy
The Teller of Small Fortunes by Julie Leong is a lovely story about found family, belonging, and self-acceptance. It is a character-driven quest story about owning your place in the world. The characters are wonderful, and the world-building is well-done.
Can’t Spell Treason Without Tea by Rebecca Thorne is a cozy sapphic romantasy about two women deciding to choose a life beyond their assigned roles. It also contains a lot of books and tea. I am the first one to tell you that most romantasy is not my personal cup of tea, but this book does a lovely job of balancing the internal and external challenges faced by two people who work to be together against all odds.
Science Fantasy
Spider’s Wyrd by Adrienne Miles is a science‑fantasy novel about survival, identity, and unexpected destiny in a richly imagined alien world. A downed starfighter pilot whose forced immersion in an alien world leads to self‑discovery, emerging psychic abilities, and the heavy weight of becoming someone others depend on—even when she doesn’t want to be. Rich world-building with heavy nods to Norse mythology and a starfighter’s story of learning to accept what life has to offer, written from a female perspective. (Full Disclosure: I edited this book.)
Middle Grade
Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse – (Novel in Verse) Hesse successfully manages the difficult topic of coming of age during difficult times, specifically growing up in Oklahoma’s Dust Bowl during the Great Depression in the US by using verse. The choice of using lighter, more airy prose helps make this heavy subject more approachable.
Benny Ramirez and the Nearly Departed by José Pablo Iriarte (Novel) This is a heartfelt and funny exploration of navigating family expectations, legacy, and self-worth. As he tries to find his place in the world, Benny gets himself into some standard middle-grade fixes with the added element of his grandfather’s ghost adding chaos and confusion along the way.
Historical NonFiction
Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women by Kate Moore is the true historical account of the young women factory workers who were poisoned by radium exposure while painting luminous watch and clock faces, their subsequent struggle to get medical help, deal with the ultimate deadly diagnosis, and their fight for justice against wealthy businessmen who put profit before people. Moore, an incredible nonfiction author, brings these women to life, telling their gripping story while sticking to the facts.
Historical Fiction
The Lost Apothecary by Sarah Penner weaves together two timelines to tell a story of secrets, revenge, and female empowerment. It explores female agency and resistance and shows how women in different eras navigate and push back against a world dominated by men and limited choices. A good example of dual timelines, good use of historical detail, and feminist fiction.
Memoir
Born a Crime by Trevor Noah is an enlightening account of growing up in South Africa during and after apartheid. Because of the laws against interracial relationships in place at the time, Noah’s birth to a Black Xhosa mother and a white Swiss-German father made his birth and existence a crime. Noah takes us into his world growing up in poverty, hustling to make money, family struggles, encounters with violence and the law, and his journey toward adulthood. An honest, funny, and moving coming-of-age memoir.
The Girl Who Sang: A Holocaust Memoir of Hope and Survival by Estelle Nadel, Sammy Savos, Bethany Strout – (Graphic Novel) tells the true story of Estelle Nadel’s childhood survival during the Holocaust. The graphic novel format and use of illustrations convey emotional depth and historical reality in a way that makes this story accessible to middle-grade readers.
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