Register for the Specialized High Schools Admissions Test (SHSAT) by Friday, October 31, 2025!
Hidden Voices Spotlight: The Mendez Family's Fight for School Desegregation
In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we are sharing our Hidden Voices profile of Sylvia Mendez and her family who led a groundbreaking legal fight to end school segregation in California. Their case, Mendez v. Westminster, helped pave the way for Brown v. Board of Education and showed how courage, community, and determination can spark lasting change in the fight for educational equality.
Friday, October 31 is Halloween!
Whether you love cozy mysteries, spooky ghost stories, or something in between, these book recommendations for students of all grade levels are all treats (no tricks!) and each feature something for everyone to love this spooky season. We hope you enjoy these stories as much as we do!
Early Readers (3K–Grade 2)
- 10 Spooky Pumpkins, by Gris Grimley
- Boo Stew, by Donna L. Washington; illustrated by Jeffrey Ebbeler
- Gustavo, the Shy Ghost, by Flavia Z. Drago
- The Ofrenda That We Built, by Jolene Gutierrez and Shaian Guiterrez; illustrated by Gabby Zapata
- Trick-or-Treating in the City, by Tiffany D. Jackson; illustrated by Sawyer Cloud
- Zombelina, by Kristyn Crow; illustrated by Molly Idle
Elementary (Grades 3–5)
- A Bite Above the Rest, by Christine Virnig
- The Creepening of Dogwood House, by Eden Royce
- Embassy of the Dead, by Will Mabbit; illustrated by Chris Mould
- The Ghoul Next Door, by Cullen Bunn and Cat Farris
- Read at Your Own Risk, by Remy Lai
- Witches of Brooklyn, by Sophie Escabasse
Middle School (Grades 6–8)
- Hoodoo, by Ronald L. Smith
- More Bones: Scary Stories from Around the World, by Arielle North Olson and Howard Schwartz; illustrated by E.M. Gist
- Mystery James Digs Her Own Grave, by Ally Russell
- Nightmare Island, by Shakirah Bourne
- Spirit Hunters, by Ellen Oh
- The Witch Boy, by Molly Knox Ostertag
Upper Grades (Grades 9–12)
- Burn Down, Rise Up, by Vincent Tirado
- Cemetery Boys, Aiden Thomas
- Come Out, Come Out, by Natalie C. Parker
- Our Shadows Have Claws, edited by Yamile Saied Méndez and Amparo Ortiz; illustrated by Ricardo López Ortiz
- The Ghosts of Rose Hill, by R. M. Romero
- The Taking of Jake Livingston, by Ryan Douglass
You can find these books and many more great reads on Sora, our Citywide Digital Library, which provides free access to thousands of digital e-books and audiobooks for our students. You can also find even more great recommendations in the Carve Out Time with a Good Book Collection on Sora!
Missed our previous book recommendations?
Check them out in the "What We're Reading" Archive!
SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SCHOOLS
On September 4, NYC public schools across the five boroughs opened their doors for the first day of the 2025–26 school year. Check out some of our favorite moments from the first week of the new academic year, and join us as we wish all of our returning students and staff members a wonderful start!
