Talia's Codebook for Middle SchoolReview posted February 27, 2026.
Candlewick Press, 2025. 216 pages.
Review written January 13, 2026, from my own copy, purchased via Amazon.com.
Starred Review
2026 Mathical Book Prize Honor Book, Grades 6-8
Talia's Codebook for Middle School is a sequel to Talia's Codebook for Mathletes, which was our Mathical Book Prize Winner for 2024. This book is eligible for this year's Mathical Prize, but I'm writing this before our discussion.
We've got more journaling goodness. Lots of middle school situations to navigate, and lots of pictures to go with Talia's musings. I like Talia's approach to life as codes: For example, the codes of what parents' expressions mean, the code of how you can tell when people "like" each other, the code of how to lead others without coming across as too bossy.
It is good to read the first book before reading this one, and I think like me you'll be glad to read more. Talia's still on a math team, but now it's a combined team of girls and boys, and her best friend (a boy) is acting like her best friend again. The new team leader is a girl, and Talia feels like she's Miss Perfect - until she gets to know her better.
Meanwhile, Talia's parents are putting lots of pressure on her, and she's worried about the next math team competition - doesn't want to get her answer wrong again.
Let me just say that I think the math competition portrayed is terrible - most kids answer ONE question each, in a speed competition with a buzzer. When my kids did math competitions in middle school, there were different phases, including one that was a written test with multiple problems and another that gave teams a chance to collaborate and solve harder problems. So much pressure on *one* question would be terrible!
But other than that, I love this portrayal of a girl who loves math - and who learns to make friends with both girls and boys in middle school. I hope there are more to come.