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Mary Lambert has always felt safe and protected on her beloved island of Martha's Vineyard. Her great-great-grandfather was an early English settler and the first deaf islander. Now, over a hundred years later, many people there - including Mary - are deaf, and nearly everyone can communicate in sign language.

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From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

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From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks

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Dear Marcus...

Zoe Washington isn't sure what to write next. What does a girl say to the father she's never met, hadn't heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who's been in prison for a terrible crime?

A crime he says he never committed.

Could Marcus really be innocent? The truth is somewhere out there, and Zoe is determined to uncover it. Even if it means hiding his letters and her investigation from her mom and stepdad. Everyone else thinks Zoe's worrying about doing a good job at her bakery internship, and proving to her parents that she's worthy of auditioning for Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge. It's been Zoe's dream to become a star baker, and she can't afford to mess anything up. Her best friend and neighbor Trevor would've been her confidante through all this, but Zoe's not speaking to him anymore. She'll have to figure this out alone.
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With bakery confections on one part of her mind, and Marcus's conviction weighing heavily on the other, this is one recipe Zoe doesn't know how to balance. The only thing she knows to be true: Everyone lies. This captivating novel by debut author Janae Marks follows one courageous girl as she questions assumptions, searches for the truth, and does what she believes is right, even in the face of great opposition.

READ or LISTEN to a sample!

Click HERE for bonus content and educator resources!

Available in hardcover, paperback and audio
​Katherine Tegen Books
Target Age: 8-12
Hardcover ISBN: 9780062875853
Paperback ISBN: 9780062875860

​Indie Bestseller
Named a Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Book Riot, Kirkus Reviews, Booklist,
Chicago Public Library, Project LIT Book Club Selection
​Amazon Best Book of the Month and Teachers' Pick the Boston Globe and the Bank Street College of Education
NPR 100 Favorite Books for Young Readers
#1 Kids' Indie Next List Title
Junior Library Guild Selection
​2020 Cybils Award Winner
2021 Edgar Award Nominee
2021 Agatha Award Nominee
​2021 Anthony Award Nominee
Finalist, NEIBA New England Book Award
Finalist, GoodReads Choice Awards

"This powerful debut packs both depth and sweetness, tackling a tough topic in a sensitive, compelling way. An extraordinary, timely, must-read debut about love, family, friendship, and justice." - timely discussions about institutionalized racism into this uplifting and engaging story that packs an emotional punch. Zoe is a relatable tween, with friendship and familial frustrations that will resonate with readers." Kirkus,Debut author Marks seamlessly weaves
- Publisher's Weekly, starred review

"This exceptionally sweet debut from Marks illustrates profound cracks in the American criminal justice system while telling an affecting story grounded in the middle-grade experience. The troubling ways race affects the characters...will facilitate important conversations about racial profiling and incarceration rates for people of color. Fortunately, Marks' capable storytelling and engaging characters also combine into a wondrous confection of a book, full of heart and hope and promise." -Booklist, starred review

"A smart, necessary, and hopeful middle grade debut that expertly balances a gentle, heartwarming tone with searing insight into systemic racism. Hand to readers who enjoyed Lisa Ramee's A Good Kind of Trouble or Kekla Magoon's The Season of Styx Malone." - School Library Journal, starred review

"A delightful confection of a novel! Zoe is a wondrous heroine who inspires a deeper love for food, family, and friends. Advocating for social justice, she creates a new recipe for a better, sweeter world. An enticing and enthralling debut from Janae Marks." - Jewell Parker Rhodes, New York Times bestselling author of "With a dash of mystery, sprinkle of passion, and whole lot of heart, From the Desk of Zoe Washington has found a winning recipe." - Coe Booth, author of "A touching, tender, and absorbing read!" - Jodi Kendall, author of The Unlikely Story of a Pig in the City

​"Marks doesn't downplay the immense impact of mass incarceration on communities of color, but neither does she dramatize it, allowing the reader to focus, instead, on Zoe's discovery of the amazing work of the Innocence Project, and the bittersweet blossoming of her relationship with her birth father. From the Desk of Zoe Washington tackles the complex costs of the pursuit of justice and motivates readers to feel equipped-and energized-to stand up for what's right, right now. Readers will recognize that, like Zoe Washington, they need not wait until they grow up to make their actions count." ​- Tanita S. Davis, author of Mare's War

"Marks delivers a spirited central character whose determination to get to the truth is admirable. An involving family story, this novel could also serve as an introduction to social justice for elementary schoolers." - Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"Never heavy-handed, Marks' prose is as sweet as one of Zoe's confections. And as the icing on the cake, From the Desk of Zoe Washington imparts important lessons about judging other people, whether by the color of their skin or by their presumed guilt or innocence." - BookPage

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Dear Marcus... Zoe Washington isn't sure what to write next. What does a girl say to the father she's never met, hadn't heard from until his letter arrived on her twelfth birthday, and who's been in prison for a terrible crime? A crime he says he never committed.

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Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

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Tristan Strong Punches A Hole in the Sky by Kwame Mbalia

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COMING MARCH 2020
Maximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers who are true of heart on a journey into tomorrow.

If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he'd make Santa Maria's celebrated fútbol team, and whether he'd ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby. He longs to know more about her, but Papa won't talk. So when Max uncovers a buried family secret-involving an underground network of guardians who lead people fleeing a neighboring country to safety-he decides to seek answers on his own.

With a treasured compass, a mysterious stone rubbing, and Buelo's legend as his only guides, he sets out on a dangerous quest to discover if he is true of heart and what the future holds.

Pre-Order Book

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COMING MARCH 2020 Maximiliano Córdoba loves stories, especially the legend Buelo tells him about a mythical gatekeeper who can guide brave travelers who are true of heart on a journey into tomorrow. If Max could see tomorrow, he would know if he'd make Santa Maria's celebrated fútbol team, and whether he'd ever meet his mother, who disappeared when he was a baby.

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"...captivating...The parallels to the Little House series are deliberate-and at times delicious...For Little House fans, novels such as Prairie Lotus...expand Wilder's fictional terrain in ways that are not only deeply satisfying but crucial to our national identity. Prairie Lotus is an independent work.

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Ways to Make Sunshine

"Ryan, her family, and friends are black, and Watson continues to bring visibility to both Portland, Oregon, generally and its black community specifically, making another wonderful contribution that allows black readers to see themselves and all readers to find a character they can love." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review

​

Ryan Hart has a lot on her mind--school, self-image, and especially family. Her dad finally has a new job, but money is tight. That means some changes, like selling their second car and moving into a new (old) house. But Ryan is a girl who knows how to make sunshine out of setbacks. As her brother says when he raps about her, she's got the talent that matters most: it's a talent that can't be seen, she's nice, not mean!

Ryan is all about trying to see the best in people, to be a good daughter, a good sister, a good friend. But even if her life isn't everything she would wish for, when her big brother is infuriating, her parents don't quite understand, and the unexpected happens, she always finds a way forward, with grace and wit. And plenty of sunshine.

Additional Resources

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Ways to Make Sunshine "Ryan, her family, and friends are black, and Watson continues to bring visibility to both Portland, Oregon, generally and its black community specifically, making another wonderful contribution that allows black readers to see themselves and all readers to find a character they can love."

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When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jameson & Omar Mohamed

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When Stars Are Scattered by Victoria Jameson & Omar Mohamed

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When Stars Are Scattered is a graphic novel based on co-author Omar Mohamed's life growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya called Dadaab. Here are some resources for young readers to gain a deeper understanding of the book, and life in Dadaab.

This guide is aligned to Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and History and Social Studies for 6th- 8th grades. Use this six- to eight-week guide as a comprehensive unit plan or a supplement to an already existing language arts curriculum. The guide offers a pre-reading activity, differentiated reading guide, reflections for Part 1, 2, and 3, and a sample performance task. Click here to download.

Links

Refugee Strong This is the website of Omar Mohamed's non-profit organization. He works to deliver school supplies and other resources to kids living and attending school in Dadaab.

Audio

Muzamil's Day In this special audio episode for kids, FRONTLINE follows a day in the life of Muzamil, a 12-year-old Somali boy growing up in Kenya's Dadaab Refugee Camp. Producer Bianca Giaever and Reporter Roopa Gogineni bring him questions from American kids about what it's like growing up in a refugee camp. Are there dentists? A fire department? What is your dreamland? Muzamil takes us through his daily life, answering questions from American kids along the way. (22 minutes)

Dreams From Dadaab A clip from the Dadaab Animation project. A short film featuring young students from Dadaab and their animation work. (3 1/2 minutes)

Educational Challenges A glimpse into a primary school in Dadaab, and the challenges facing young people who want an education. (2 minutes)

Dagahaley Tour A tour through some of the streets, homes, and markets in Dadaab. (3 1/2 minutes)

Ifo Market A tour through the market in Ifo camp (where the story takes place) (3 minutes)

Dadaab Stories A collection of films made by residents of Dadaab.

A Conversation with Omar Mohamed and Victoria Jamieson A presentation filmed for our virtual book launch. (48 minutes)

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Victoria Jamieson - When Stars Are Scattered: Additional Resources

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When Stars Are Scattered is a graphic novel based on co-author Omar Mohamed's life growing up in a refugee camp in Kenya called Dadaab. Here are some resources for young readers to gain a deeper understanding of the book, and life in Dadaab.

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ABOUT BRAVE LIKE THAT:
Find Yourself.

Find Your Place.

Find Your Brave.

Cyrus was just a baby when he was left on the steps of the Northfield firehouse. But growing up surrounded by heroes didn't make Cyrus brave like his firefighter, football star dad or the firefighters who helped raise him.

Instead, he's as skittish and scared as the stray dog who parks his head on Cyrus's shoulder and earns the perfect name- Parker.

Cyrus's dad's strict no-pet rule means Parker can't stay. With football tryouts around the corner, a dog would only be a distraction.

But a distraction is exactly what Cyrus wants: from the fact that he's the only sixth grader who can't read a whole book by himself, from the way his two best friends are treating the new kid, and from how he'd rather tap his feet to a record than score enough touchdowns to break one.

Cyrus feels as out of place as the stray dog who captured his heart. But if fitting in means pretending to be someone he's not, maybe this is the year Cyrus can decide to be his own kind of normal- and there's nothing braver than that.
Read about my inspiration for BRAVE LIKE THAT here.
Listen to a podcast interview with #vted Reads here.

PRAISE FOR BRAVE LIKE THAT:

"This exploration of courage has a good strong heart-beat: both in terms of compassion and suspense."
-LAURA AMY SCHLITZ, Newbery award winning author

"Lindsey Stoddard creates a highly relatable character in Cyrus Olson, then puts him on a perfectly paced journey of the heart. Destination: the brave to reveal his most authentic self to the people he loves."
-LESLIE CONNOR, author of The Truth as Told by Mason Buttle

"A heartrending and compassionate read about how standing up for something can help you stand up for yourself."
-LESA CLINE-RANSOME, award-winning author of Finding Langston

★ "This heartfelt and triumphant novel touches on bullying, stereotypes, and learning differences in a straightforward fashion. Cyrus's journey toward self-acceptance will inspire readers of all ages."
-School Library Journal, Starred [ full review]

"Timely, well-integrated themes, a vibrant setting, and well-drawn, likable characters-the diversity's unlabeled, but it's there-make this a winner."
-Kirkus Review [ full review]

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ABOUT BRAVE LIKE THAT: Cyrus was just a baby when he was left on the steps of the Northfield firehouse. But growing up surrounded by heroes didn't make Cyrus brave like his firefighter, football star dad or the firefighters who helped raise him.

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A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

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A Wish in the Dark by Christina Soontornvat

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★ "The perfect mixture of funny and emotionally resonant." -School Library Journal, starred review

★ "Lai imbues this with an undeniable sweetness." -Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books, starred review

★ "Perfect for fans of Gene Luen Yang and Victoria Jamieson." -Shelf Awareness, starred review

★ "A delectable page-turner" -Horn Book, starred review

" Pie in the Sky is like enjoying a decadent cake: it's multilayered, thoughtfully prepared, and sweet (but not sickeningly so!). And the icing on the cake? It's both heartwarming and rib-tickling. Thoroughly satisfying."

-Terri Libenson, bestselling author of Invisible Emmie

"Remy Lai seamlessly mixes together equal parts of humor, loss, identity, discovery, and love to create a delicious concoction of a story. Jingwen's feelings of isolation as he tries to become comfortable in a new country without knowing the language are illustrated beautifully with Lai's insightful drawings. Also an inspiring read for young bakers!"

-Veera Hiranandani, Newbery Honor-winning author of The Night Diary

"Lai masterfully blends all of the funny, frightening, loving, lonely, comforting, and confusing flavors of growing up."

-Andrew Medlar, Director of BookOps, NY

"The perfect mix of emotion and humor. Fans of Real Friends will love this!"

-Kristen Gilligan, Tattered Cover Bookstore

"A little salty, very sweet, and as comforting as a perfectly made cake."

-Lillian Tschudi-Campbell, Red Balloon Bookshop

"If this is what Remy Lai's got going on straight out of the gate, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next. Even if it doesn't involve cake."

-Betsy Bird, Fuse 8 Production

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Sometimes life isn't a piece of cake... When Jingwen moves to a new country, he feels like he's landed on Mars. School is torture, making friends is impossible since he doesn't speak English, and he's often stuck looking after his (extremely annoying) little brother, Yanghao. To distract himself from the loneliness, Jingwen daydreams about making...