diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index fc1828fdb8..0585919a67 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,9 @@
+8.9.7 / 2025-02-04
+==================
+ * fix: avoid applying defaults on map embedded paths #15217 #15196
+ * types: add missing $median operator to aggregation types #15233 #15209
+ * docs(document): clarify that toObject() returns a POJO that may contain non-POJO values #15232 #15208
+
 8.9.6 / 2025-01-31
 ==================
  * fix(document): allow setting values to undefined with set(obj) syntax with strict: false #15207 #15192
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 44aa124df0..7846787591 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "name": "mongoose",
   "description": "Mongoose MongoDB ODM",
-  "version": "8.9.6",
+  "version": "8.9.7",
   "author": "Guillermo Rauch <guillermo@learnboost.com>",
   "keywords": [
     "mongodb",