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This picture book tells the story of a nine-year-old girl who in 1968 witnessed the Memphis sanitation strike – Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s final stand for justice before his assassination – when her father, a sanitation worker, participated in the protest.

In February 1968, two African American sanitation workers were killed by unsafe equipment in Memphis, Tennessee. Outraged at the city’s refusal to recognize a labor union that would fight for higher pay and safer working conditions, sanitation workers went on strike. The strike lasted two months, during which Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was called to help with the protests. While his presence was greatly inspiring to the community, this unfortunately would be his last stand for justice. He was assassinated in his Memphis hotel the day after delivering his “I’ve Been to the Mountaintop” sermon in Mason Temple Church. Inspired by the memories of a teacher who participated in the strike as a child, author Alice Faye Duncan reveals the story of the Memphis sanitation strike from the perspective of a young girl with a riveting combination of poetry and prose.

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Memphis, Martin, and the Mountaintop by Alice Faye Duncan: 9781629797182 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book • School Library Journal Best Book of the Year • Booklist Editors’ Choice • Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Book • Booklist Top 10 Diverse Books…

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Serendipity: Ten Romantic Tropes, Transformed

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Serendipity: Ten Romantic Tropes, Transformed

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Love is in the air in Serendipity, a collection of stories inspired by romantic tropes and edited by #1 New York Times bestselling author Marissa Meyer.

The secret admirer.

The fake relationship.

The matchmaker.

From stories of first love, unrequited love, love that surprises, love that’s been there all along, 10 of the brightest and award-winning authors writing YA have taken on some of your favorite romantic tropes, embracing them and turning them on their heads. Readers will fall for this collection of stories that celebrate love at its most humorous, inclusive, heart-expanding, and serendipitous.

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I am ECSTATIC to tell you that I am editing my first collection of short stories: SERENDIPITY: TEN ROMANTIC TROPES, TRANSFORMED! These ten stories are all about love and the many twists and turns it can take... especially when there are secret admirers, fake relationships, and grand romantic gestures involved.
On Sale 1/4/2022
I adore this collection so much and have had an absolute blast working with these super talented authors. And I love-love-love this stunning cover, illustrated by Gia Graham!

I cannot WAIT for you all to get your hands on it! Pre-order links are here!

Add to your Goodreads TBR!

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I am ECSTATIC to tell you that I am editing my first collection of short stories: SERENDIPITY: TEN ROMANTIC TROPES, TRANSFORMED! These ten stories are all about love and the many twists and turns it can take... especially when there are secret admirers, fake relationships, and grand romantic gestures involved.

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Start Here, Start Now addresses many of the questions and challenges educators have about getting started with antibias and antiracist work, using a framework for tackling perceived barriers from a proactive stance. Liz answers the questions with personal stories, sample lessons, anchor charts, resources, conversation starters, extensive teacher and activist accounts, and more.

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Most educators want to cultivate an antibias and antiracist classroom and school community, but they often struggle with where and how to get started. Liz helps us set ourselves up for success and prepare for the mistakes we'll make along the way.

Each chapter in Start Here, Start Now addresses many of the questions and challenges educators have about getting started, using a framework for tackling perceived barriers from a proactive stance. Liz answers the questions with personal stories, sample lessons, anchor charts, resources, conversation starters, extensive teacher and activist accounts, and more. We can break the habits that are holding us back from this work and be empowered to take the first step towards reimagining the possibilities of how antibias antiracist work can transform schools and the world at large.

We must remind ourselves that what is right is often not what is easy, and we must continue to dream. Amidst the chaos, our path ahead is clear. This is our chance to dream big and build something better.

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Start Here, Start Now addresses many of the questions and challenges educators have about getting started with antibias and antiracist work, using a framework

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The Equity and Social Justice Education 50: Critical Questions for Improving Opportunities and Outcomes for Black Students

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The Equity and Social Justice Education 50: Critical Questions for Improving Opportunities and Outcomes for Black Students

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How do you ensure that no student is invisible in your classroom? How do you make the distinction between equity as the vehicle versus equity as the goal for each of your students? What measures do you take to ensure that you are growing as a culturally relevant practitioner? Can your students, particularly your Black students, articulate, beyond emotional reactions, the injustices that surround them?

The foregoing are not trick questions. Rather, they are those that best-selling author Baruti K. Kafele poses and on which he suggests you deeply reflect as a teacher of Black students. The Equity &amp; Social Justice Education 50 will help you understand the importance of having an equity mindset when teaching students generally and when teaching Black students in particular. It defines social justice education and sheds light on the issues and challenges that Black people face, as well as the successes they've achieved, providing you with a pathway to infusing social justice education into your lesson plans. And along the way, Kafele reveals personal experiences from his distant and recent pasts to highlight how important it is that your Black students see themselves in all aspects of education every day.

You, the teacher, play a critical role in your students' success. The questions that Kafele asks in this book will help enhance your own understanding of race, systemic racism, and racial justice and guide you in developing strategies and lessons that speak to Black students in ways that truly support their achievement.

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The Equity and Social Justice Education 50: Critical Questions for Improving Opportunities and Outcomes for Black Students

About

How do you ensure that no student is invisible in your classroom? How do you make the distinction between equity as the vehicle versus equity as the goal for each of your students? What measures do you take to ensure that you are growing as a culturally relevant practitioner? Can your students, particularly your Black students, articulate, beyond emotional reactions, the injustices that surround them?

Table of contents

Equity and the Individuality of Learners

Equity and Being a Culturally Responsive Practitioner

Book details

Product No.

ISBN

Release Date

May 2021

Member Book

Yes

978-1-4166-3017-3

121060

Page Count

ASCD empowers educators to achieve excellence in learning, teaching, and leading so that every child is healthy, safe, engaged, supported, and challenged.

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Questions?

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The Equity and Social Justice Education 50: Critical Questions for Improving Opportunities and Outcomes for Black Students - ASCD

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How do you ensure that no student is invisible in your classroom? How do you make the distinction between equity as the vehicle versus equity as the goal for each of your students? What measures do you take to ensure that you are growing as a culturally relevant practitioner?

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Educators must both respond to the impact of trauma, and prevent trauma at school.

Trauma-informed initiatives tend to focus on the challenging behaviors of students and ascribe them to circumstances that students are facing outside of school. This approach ignores the reality that inequity itself causes trauma, and that schools often heighten inequities when implementing trauma-informed practices that are not based in educational equity.

In this fresh look at trauma-informed practice, Alex Shevrin Venet urges educators to shift equity to the center as they consider policies and professional development. Using a framework of six principles for equity-centered trauma-informed education, Venet offers practical action steps that teachers and school leaders can take from any starting point, using the resources and influence at their disposal to make shifts in practice, pedagogy, and policy. Overthrowing inequitable systems is a process, not an overnight change. But transformation is possible when educators work together, and teachers can do more than they realize from within their own classrooms.

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Educators must both respond to the impact of trauma, and prevent trauma at school. , Equity-Centered Trauma-Informed Education, Alex Shevrin Venet, 9780393714739

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"The most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust."
-The Wall Street Journal

"The first masterpiece in comic book history."
-The New Yorker

"A loving documentary and brutal fable, a mix of compassion and stoicism [that] sums up the experience of the Holocaust with as much power and as little pretension as any other work I can think of."
"A quiet triumph, moving and simple-impossible to describe accurately, and impossible to achieve in any medium but comics."
"Spiegelman has turned the exuberant fantasy of comics inside out by giving us the most incredible fantasy in comics' history: something that actually occurred . . . The central relationship is not that of cat and mouse, but that of Art and Vladek. Maus is terrifying not for its brutality, but for its tenderness and guilt."
"All too infrequently, a book comes along that's as daring as it is acclaimed. Art Spiegelman's Maus is just such a book."
"An epic story told in tiny pictures."
"A remarkable work, awesome in its conception and execution . . . at one and the same time a novel, a documentary, a memoir, and a comic book. Brilliant, just brilliant."
- Jules Feffer

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And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.

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Maus I & II Paperback Box Set by Art Spiegelman: 9780679748403 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"The most affecting and successful narrative ever done about the Holocaust." -The Wall Street Journal "The first masterpiece in comic book history."

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A much needed and fresh pop culture critique from the perspective of people of color, “this hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful—and fun—cultural criticism can be” (Publishers Weekly, starred review).

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The creators of the popular website Black Nerd Problems bring their witty and unflinching insight to this engaging collection of pop culture essays-on everything from Mario Kart to issues of representation-that "will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture" (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

When William Evans and Omar Holmon founded Black Nerd Problems, they had no idea whether anyone beyond their small circle of friends would be interested in their little corner of the internet. But soon after launching, they were surprised to find out that there was a wide community of people who hungered for fresh perspectives on all things nerdy.

In the years since, Evans and Holmon have built a large, dedicated fanbase eager for their brand of cultural critiques, whether in the form of a laugh-out-loud, raucous Game of Thrones episode recap or an eloquent essay on dealing with grief through stand-up comedy. Now, they are ready to take the next step with this vibrant and hilarious essay collection, which covers everything from X-Men to Breonna Taylor with "alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate" ( School Library Journal) insight and intelligence.

A much needed and fresh pop culture critique from the perspective of people of color, "this hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful-and fun-cultural criticism can be" ( Publishers Weekly, starred review).

Re-Definition: Nerd Isn't a Person, It's a Spectrum Re-Definition: Nerd Isn't a Person, It's a Spectrum
OMAR HOLMON, aka Noah Webster's Ghostwriter

BEFORE WE CAN get into this real rap raw nerd essays and content, it's important to understand what we as authors mean when we refer to the term nerd. How we define the word may be different than how the reader defines it. So allow me to get my TED Talk monologue on to break the definition of the word nerd down by how it has come to be defined in dictionaries. *takes off my regular square-framed glasses and puts on my public-speaking PowerPoint presentation tortoiseshell-framed glasses*

The online Merriam-Webster dictionary defines a nerd as an "unstylish, unattractive, or socially inept person; especially: one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits."

Dictionary.com defines a nerd as "1. a person considered to be socially awkward, boring, unstylish, etc.; 2. an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby or pursuit: a computer nerd."

As words evolve, they go through semantic change or, more fittingly, semantic progression. Semantic progression occurs when the modern meaning of a word is entirely different from its original meaning. Watch the breakdown: dope, as a noun, used to just refer to a "stupid" person (1850s); later on in time it became a reference to drugs (1880-1900s), but as an adjective it can refer to something as good or great (1980s). You can think of countless other words that you've seen evolve via idioms and slang, which varies across cultures and ethnicities. One word that hasn't officially (as of me writing this in 2020) evolved in the dictionary is the term nerd.

Now, you may be reading this and thinking, "Where's this goin'? Who gives a fuck? Why did he switch glasses when he was already wearing glasses?" Well, if you're reading this book (that clearly says Black Nerd Problems on it) or just "glimpsing through it," *Jeff Foxworthy voice* youuuuu might be a redneck nerd. Regardless, hear me out and watch how I flip this shit.

The only saving grace between both online dictionaries' descriptions is their second definitions for the term: "one slavishly devoted to intellectual or academic pursuits" and "an intelligent but single-minded person obsessed with a nonsocial hobby." Growing up in the 2000s from my teen to college years, I came to understand the term and had the term broken down to me as "a person that knows a little bit about a lot of things," whereas a geek knows a lot about one specific thing. For me, and I want to say for a lot us that identify as nerds, this is a commonplace interpretation of the word, but as far as I know, I haven't ever seen that reflected on paper regarding the word in an "official" definition.

I stated all that to say this: it's been a long time since the term nerd came in the context of a jock vs. an academic, or the popular high school quarterback pushing a scrawny kid into a locker, or the "mean girls" knocking books out of someone's hands. Now in 2020, it ain't really the Revenge of the Nerds movie setting for the context of the word-I'm hard-pressed to say if it ever was... and thank god 'cause even in that movie about underdog "nerds" trying to get their revenge, it's full of misogyny and racial stereotypes. Speaking of stereotypes, media representation gotta be factored in the description for a nerd as well, right? A nerd is usually a male (which is usually sexist), typically white (which is typically racist), scrawny or fat (but in the derogatory fatphobic way), that's (lest we forget) into some obscure hobby/thing no one else cares about. [Sidebar: If you're reading this and wanting to say Steve Urkel from Family Matters as a breaking of the mold by being the first mainstream Black nerd, I question why Urkel, who debuted in 1989, gets that credit and not Dwayne Wayne from A Different World, who was a fucking mathematician and debuted two years before Urkel. Dwayne Wayne and Steve Urkel were both nerds, the only difference was Urkel played heavily on the exaggerated stereotypes of a nerd. So, is a nerd only recognized as a nerd when it comes with a full package of stereotypes? Never mind that the nerdy character Roger "Raj" Thomas from What's Happening!! debuted in 1976. Wouldn't he be both their OG? But I digress...]

Okay, so we got the origin/etymology of nerd down, right? Boom. Now dead all that. With the way the term has evolved and how it's been incorporated in mainstream media, nerd is much more than a singular person, it's a spectrum. Nerd has evolved more so into being a fan of a genre. That genre doesn't have to just be comic books, movies. Sneakerheads are fans of sneakers and know them in explicit detail. They could be considered nerds. Hip-hop heads who know their entire history of the music genre can be considered nerds. Academic nerds. Cooking-show nerds. Sports fans are mos def nerds by being able to recount a player's performance statistics like an RPG character. The list goes on. If you enjoy something, anything you want, if it excites you and you want other people to know of it and enjoy it, then you're a fan of it, which also means you're a fucking nerd for it. That sounds beautiful and inclusive on paper, doesn't it? Sounds great on paper... Here's the problem. To be a nerd means being part of a subculture. A cultural group or collective within a much larger culture that doesn't adhere to the status quo, beliefs, or interests of the larger culture. If you're a Black or POC nerd, then you're in a subculture within a subculture ( Inception shit). The problem is being a part of this subculture means you're part of a minority, which then becomes attached to the identity of being a nerd.

So, when nerd shit starts becoming trendy, a divide occurs, with those nerds now being in an era where this thing only a few loved becomes loved by even more folks. This hobby that was part of the minority is now enjoyed by the majority. So, what happens when what you fan out for isn't the obscure cool thing only a few know about anymore? It's like having a favorite band or artist that was low-key for a long time suddenly blow up with a hit single. Its fan base widens and now they've got a larger reach. There's that feeling of having been there riding for them before they sold out, as the cliché goes. As if everyone enjoying or having access to them now somehow dilutes the enjoyment for those there from the beginning. You know exactly what I'm talking about. Watch the breakdown: We get big-budget superhero movies yearly now. They've become the new Spaghetti Westerns. These superhero movies bring more folks to comic books, comic books become more common reading material and are even seen as a more mainstream-adjacent hobby and not seen as "just for kids." Nerds that fucked with comics when it wasn't associated with cool or trendy then feel like "It wasn't accepted like that when I was coming up. Now that it is, how do I fit in?" Therein lies the problem.

Individually, that nerd is no longer part of a small underdog group; they become part of a larger group that likes comic books now. It's like going from the Resistance to joining the Empire. There's this fear of losing that cool subculture-minority identity that they've come to identify themselves by. So, in order to hold on to identity, you see folks using all the knowledge they've acquired as a litmus test for others to see who was there from the beginning like them or knows as much as them. Now when someone comes into this group liking comics but doesn't know Professor X's Social Security number stated in a back issue from thirty years ago, then they're "not a true fan" or "not a real nerd" or, if they're a woman, a "fake geek girl." All this from a fear of a loss of identity. See how fear is the path to the dark side? Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering gatekeeping. Nerds gatekeeping other nerds to see if they're "nerdy" enough for the nerdy club looks like Anakin Skywalker cuttin' down them Jedi younglings. You're hurtin' the cause instead of helping it, fam.

If the definition of nerd needs to go through semantic progression and the term nerd has evolved into a spectrum instead of just an individual, then the individuals that adhere to this spectrum must become more malleable and welcoming to all portions of said spectrum in order to make the definition true. I don't think nerd as a subculture is a thing of the past or a Force ghost now. The progression of nerd as a subculture shouldn't be feared, especially when nerd as a spectrum contains various multitudes and hues. I mean, think of the word nerd like the Pokémon Pikachu: we've gained so much experience over the years, it's time for that fucker to evolve into a Raichu. However, if due to the fear of a loss of identity folks keep gatekeeping the term as if it's a title to be earned instead of a realization one comes to across a spectrum of genres, then the definition of nerd will remain as it has been over the years, a Pikachu. Yeah, it's cute, convenient, and comfortable, but with what we know now and all this experience, the definition of the word could take that next step and evolve into so much more... like motherfucking Raichu or a hue in a vast nerdy mutherfucking spectrum.

William Evans is an author, speaker, performer, and instructor known for founding the Writing Wrongs Poetry Slam and cofounding the popular website Black Nerd Problems. He has been a national finalist in multiple poetry slam competitions and was the recipient of both the 2016 Sustainable Arts Foundation Grant and the 2018 Spirit of Columbus Foundation Grant. The Callaloo and Watering Hole fellow is the author of three poetry collections and currently lives with his family in Columbus, Ohio. He is an MFA candidate at Randolph College in Lynchburg, Virginia.

Omar Holmon lives as he writes, one nerd reference at a time. Recognized by Rutgers University as a distinguished Alumnus Poet, he is the author of the poetry collection We Were All Someone Else Yesterday and cofounder of the website Black Nerd Problems. Omar's voice is one that makes a home across numerous demographics. Like A Beautiful Mind but with more comic book and movie quotes, Omar is able to find the correlation between pop culture and any body of work, using humor in his social commentary to make serious points.

"Evans and Holmon examine a broad swath of the popular-culture landscape, from anime and video games to comic books and movies, mixing social commentary and insight with the sheer love of the true fan... [The] authors reach far and wide across fan culture and use a pleasing blend of humor and pathos to connect readers to the material. An exercise in pop culture criticism that is simultaneously funny, thoughtful, and provocative." -Kirkus Reviews (starred)

"This book is a welcome, come-in gesture. You may not get every pop culture reference, but you'll feel it." -Chicago Tribune

"Reading Black Nerd Problems will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture. If you dig writing that is authentic, enthusiastic, and cynicism-free, this BNP collection will be your jam. I promise." -Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Ready Player One

"[A] wide-ranging, compulsively readable debut collection...Evans and Holmon are often hilarious...and always original. This hugely entertaining, eminently thoughtful collection is a master class in how powerful-and fun-cultural criticism can be." -Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"William Evans and Omar Holmon reveal the many things at work in the mind of the brown nerd: skepticism, humor, delight, but most of all, love. Man, I wish this book existed when I was a kid." -Marc Bernardin, co-creator of Comixology's Adora and the Distance and supervising producer of Star Trek: Picard

"Holmon, [...is...] the co-founder, along with William Evans, 41, of the website Black Nerd Problems. Their book of the same title will be published this summer. Both projects excavate the territory of nerd culture - comics, anime, e-sports, tabletop gaming, science fiction, fantasy and more - from a Black perspective that the broader nerd community has historically overlooked or, worse still, outright attacked." -T, The New York Times Style Magazine

"Omar and Will are the best of the best at dissecting pop culture." -Kari Byron, bestselling author of Crash Test Girl, host of Crash Test World, and former host of Mythbusters

"Alternately hilarious, thought-provoking, and passionate, sometimes all within the same essay. The authors' knowledge of all things nerdy is encyclopedic yet the depth at which they connect their subject matter to real-life issues is what makes the book stand out." -School Library Journal

"The humor balances the seriousness of the subject matter, allowing for a better, more intimate understanding of the authors' passions. By taking readers through feelings of disappointment, elation, confusion, and pure unbridled joy, Holmon and Evans make Black Nerd Problems an incredibly cathartic read and a must have for anyone that appreciates what it is to be a nerd." -AIPT Comics

"If you are a blerd, Black Nerd Problems is a must-read. It is insightful, humorous, and written like you are just having a conversation with a nerdy friend." -Blerd.com

"From the Marvel Cinematic Universe to the nuanced aspects of cosplay while Black, Evans and Holman give their unabashed and at times emotional takes on some of pop culture's greatest hits, making for a very entertaining read." -The Root, "The Best Books to Give (and Get) This Holiday Season"

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The creators of the popular website Black Nerd Problems bring their witty and unflinching insight to this engaging collection of pop culture essays-on everything from Mario Kart to issues of representation-that "will fill you with joy and give you hope for the future of geek culture" (Ernest Cline, #1 New York Times bestselling author).

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In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman explores history, language, identity, and erasure through an imaginative and intimate collage. Harnessing the collective grief of a global pandemic, this beautifully designed volume features poems in many inventive styles and structures and shines a light on a moment of reckoning. Call Us What We Carry reveals that Gorman has become our messenger from the past, our voice for the future.

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Praise for Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman:

★ "An inspired anthem for the next generation-a remarkable poetry debut." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review

"Gorman's thoughtfulness and activist spirit shine through on every page." -Publishers Weekly
"In seven sections and through poems that often experiment with form, the book sets out to tell the story of the COVID-19 pandemic from a collective point of view, with Gorman exploring the grief, hope and wisdom that come from a period of shared tragedy. -
"Gorman doesn't merely transcribe a diary of a plague year; her bold, oracular pronouncements bear witness to collective experience, with an uncanny confidence and a prescient tone that are all the poet's own." -"Amanda Gorman . . . reckons with America's present, particularly with the pandemic. Through the lens of the country's history, she shows us the path toward healing.""Gorman shows us what an honor it is to witness history and to survive it, even if it doesn't always feel that way. . . The liberating force of the stories these poems tell about our resilience and survival showcases a powerful griot for our times."" Call Us What We Carry is thought-provoking and lyrical. Her poetry places readers back in the days of quarantine, back in that loneliness, and it makes us reflect on how far we've come and how far we still need to go." -

"Her poetry insists that not just she but an entire country is capable of growing itself to a place of glory, like Tupac's rose in concrete. Her emergence in this very moment is the instantiation of our ability to press on. We shall overcome goes the spiritual, but 'We have survived us' is what Gorman says. As she looks ahead in these pages, she is like Washington crossing the Delaware. 'We must change/This ending in every way.'" -The Washington Post

"In Call Us What We Carry, Gorman has written a mnemonic symphony of hope and solidarity in the face of the 'vanishing meaning' of our time, speaking eloquently with 'the lip of tomorrow.'" -The Guardian

"Between breath, light, water and soil, text messages and letters, and visual formations of ships, whales and flags, Gorman's Call Us What We Carry is an inventive literary resurrection." -AP

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Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman: 9780593465066 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Praise for Call Us What We Carry by Amanda Gorman: ★ "An inspired anthem for the next generation-a remarkable poetry debut." -Kirkus Reviews, starred review "Gorman's thoughtfulness and activist spirit shine through on every page."

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Aware of the racial tumult in the years after the passage of the Chinese Exclusion Act, Mei tries to remain blissfully focused on her job, her close friendship with the camp foreman’s daughter, and telling stories about Paul Bunyan–reinvented as Po Pan Yin (Auntie Po), an elderly Chinese matriarch.

Anchoring herself with stories of Auntie Po, Mei navigates the difficulty and politics of lumber camp work and her growing romantic feelings for her friend Bee. The Legend of Auntie Po is about who gets to own a myth, and about immigrant families and communities holding on to rituals and traditions while staking out their own place in the United States.

SEE LESS

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NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST!

PRAISE FOR THE LEGEND OF AUNTIE PO

"Hopeful, humane, empowering story." - New York Times Book Review

"In this reclamatory and illuminating graphic novel, Khor underscores the healing power of sharing stories." -"A sweet book that places a Chinese girl squarely at the center of the frame... the art is lovely, it's enjoyable for young kids who can relate to Mei as a protagonist or enjoyable to adults who only remember what it was like to be thirteen." - NPR Pop Culture Happy Hour

* "A timely and ultimately hopeful tale." - Kirkus Reviews, starred review.

* "A multifaceted addition to the historical graphic novel genre, this unique bildungsroman successfully presents many formidable topics with intentional and comprehensive grace." - The Horn Book, *"A moving read that skillfully explores themes of racism, privilege, and identity. A must for all libraries." - School Library Journal, starred review.

"On the surface, this story is the birth of a folktale, but the author explores much deeper topics: grief, family, loyalty, racism, and self-discovery. ... Watercolors are beautiful and illustrations are clean and simple, conveying a childlike air while tackling serious subject matter." -"Khor (The American Dream?) straddles myth and harsh realities via stunning digital pencil and hand-painted watercolor art that highlights cornerstones of Chinese culture. Much will resonate with diasporic readers, though any reader will find Mei's journey cathartic." - Publishers Weekly

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The Legend of Auntie Po by Shing Yin Khor: 9780525554882 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST! PRAISE FOR THE LEGEND OF AUNTIE PO "Hopeful, humane, empowering story." - New York Times Book Review "In this reclamatory and illuminating graphic novel, Khor underscores the healing power of sharing stories." -"A sweet book that places a Chinese girl squarely at the center of the frame...

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Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot.

As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesn’t go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudi’s parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true love—comedy.

But when Hudi’s dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunky’s guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?

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In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican-Jewish family.

Hudi needs to lose weight, according to his doctors. Concerned about the serious medical issue Hudi had when he was younger, his parents push him to try out for sports. Hudi would rather do anything else, but then he meets Chunky, his imaginary friend and mascot. Together, they decide to give baseball a shot.

As the only Mexican and Jewish kid in his neighborhood, Hudi has found the cheerleader he never had. Baseball doesn't go well (unless getting hit by the ball counts), but the two friends have a great time drawing and making jokes. While Hudi's parents keep trying to find the right sport for Hudi, Chunky encourages him to pursue his true love-comedy.

But when Hudi's dad loses his job, it gets harder for Hudi to chart his own course, even with Chunky's guidance. Can Chunky help Hudi stay true to himself or will this friendship strike out?
* A TLA Maverick Graphic Novel of the Year *

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In this full-color middle grade graphic memoir for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jerry Craft, Yehudi Mercado draws inspiration from his childhood struggle with his weight while finding friendship with his imaginary mascot, Chunky, as he navigates growing up in a working class Mexican-Jewish family.

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Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There’s the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There’s the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there’s the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo–walking the same path, going to the exact same place–Milo realizes that you can’t really know anyone just by looking at them.

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Milo Imagines the World by Matt de la Peña: 9780399549083 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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The team behind the Newbery Medal winner and Caldecott Honor book Last Stop on Market Street and the award-winning New York Times bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes once again delivers a poignant and timely…

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As a young Nahua girl in Mexico during the early 1900s, Luz learned how to grind corn in a metate, to twist yarn with her toes, and to weave on a loom. By the fire at night, she listened to stories of her community’s joys, suffering, and survival, and wove them into her heart.

But when the Mexican Revolution came to her village, Luz and her family were forced to flee and start a new life. In Mexico City, Luz became a model for painters, sculptors, and photographers such as Diego Rivera, Jean Charlot, and Tina Modotti. These artists were interested in showing the true face of Mexico and not a European version. Through her work, Luz found a way to preserve her people's culture by sharing her native language, stories, and traditions. Soon, scholars came to learn from her.

This moving, beautifully illustrated biography tells the remarkable story of how model and teacher Luz Jiménez became “the soul of Mexico”—a living link between the indigenous Nahua and the rest of the world. Through her deep pride in her roots and her unshakeable spirit, the world came to recognize the beauty and strength of her people.

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Huda and her family just moved to Dearborn, Michigan, a small town with a big Muslim population. In her old town, Huda knew exactly who she was: She was the hijabi girl. But in Dearborn, everyone is the hijabi girl.

Huda is lost in a sea of hijabis, and she can’t rely on her hijab to define her anymore. She has to define herself. So she tries on a bunch of cliques, but she isn’t a hijabi fashionista or a hijabi athlete or a hijabi gamer. She’s not the one who knows everything about her religion or the one all the guys like. She’s miscellaneous, which makes her feel like no one at all. Until she realizes that it’ll take finding out who she isn’t to figure out who she is.

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Praise for Huda F Are You?

"Fahmy portrays the negotiations of identity-be it social, cultural, or personal-in high school with humor and genuine warmth . . . [a] funny, thoughtful story of negotiating school dynamics, cultural identity, and individual agency." - BCCB

"Fahmy comedically captures Huda's embarrassing moments, conflicting desires for validation and acceptance, and the sarcasm she uses as a coping mechanism when facing everyday Islamophobia, xenophobia, bigotry, and microaggressions . . . Hilarious, charming, and much needed." -"[An] unconventional fish-out-of-water story . . . [an] entertaining, frequently wry fictionalized memoir." -"In her signature loose, expressive cartooning style, Fahmy deftly balances humor and seriousness . . . The specific context of Huda's story is sure to resonate with Muslim teens, but the pitch-perfect jokes and search for a way to stand up for herself without standing out too much is something lots of teens can relate to." - Booklist

"Huda Fahmy's YA debut is a window into the world of a Muslim teen in modern-day America. A hilarious navigation of high school, faith, and acceptance, Huda F Are You? is a must-read that I devoured in a matter of hours!" -Hafsah Faizal, New York Times bestselling author of We Hunt the Flame

"I was hooked from page one, and read the entire book in one breath. The story is both heart-wrenching and hilarious, as Huda Fahmy flawlessly weaves together laugh-out-loud moments with the emotionally raw honesty of the coming-of-age struggle. I cannot wait to have this book on my shelf for many future rereads!" -Svetlana Chmakova, award-winning author of Awkward, Crush, and Brave

"Only Huda Fahmy could take the complex experience of navigating her developing Muslim identity, add a generous sprinkle of teenage awkwardness, throw in expressive illustrations and witty asides, and weave it all into a coming-of-age story this warm and engaging. I didn't want it to end!" -Tyler Feder, award-winning author of Dancing at the Pity Party

"An honest, heartfelt exploration of identity and self-awareness, Huda F Are You? is a relatable, poignant tale of growing up Muslim in the United States. Readers will cheer Huda on, and each picture brings hilarious teenage antics to life in this wonderful graphic novel!" -Uzma Jalaluddin, award-winning author of Ayesha at Last and Hana Khan Carries On

"This is the book, the one I've been waiting for my entire life. Full of wit, wisdom, and all-too-real hilarity, Huda F Are You? is for all of us who explored every pull from every direction-except the one from our own hearts. After inhaling the story, you'll do what I did: reread it again and again to savor its brilliance." -S. K. Ali, award-winning author of Saints and Misfits

"Warm, insightful and laugh-out-loud funny, Huda F Are You? explores the complexities of belonging in a way that readers of all backgrounds will appreciate. A treat and a triumph." -G. Willow Wilson, Hugo Award-winning creator of Alif the Unseen and Ms. Marvel

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Huda F Are You? by Huda Fahmy: 9780593324301 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Praise for Huda F Are You? "Fahmy portrays the negotiations of identity-be it social, cultural, or personal-in high school with humor and genuine warmth . . . [a] funny, thoughtful story of negotiating school dynamics, cultural identity, and individual agency."

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When Louise Wolfe’s first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off immediately and dumps him.

It’s her senior year, anyway, and she’d rather spend her time on her family and friends and working on the school newspaper.

The editors pair her up with Joey Kairouz, the ambitious new photojournalist, and in no time the paper’s staff find themselves with a major story to cover: the school musical director’s inclusive approach to casting “The Wizard of Oz” has been provoking backlash in their mostly white, middle-class Kansas town.

From the newly formed “Parents Against Revisionist Theater” to anonymous threats, long-held prejudices are being laid bare and hostilities are spreading against teachers, parents, and students—especially the cast members at the center of the controversy, including Lou’s little brother, who’s playing the Tin Man.

As tensions heighten at school, so does a romance between Lou and Joey—but as she’s learned, “dating while Native” can be difficult. In trying to protect her own heart, will Lou break Joey’s?

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HEARTS UNBROKEN was named the 2018 Foreword Reviews Silver Medal Award Winner in Young Adult Fiction. PEEK: "At a time when the trade media devoted nearly all its attention on the larger corporate publishers like Random House and Simon & Schuster, the debut of Foreword Reviews introduced a new stream of quality reviews of independently published books to the wholesalers and distributors where booksellers and librarians order their books."

2019 Amelia Bloomer List (Young Adult Fiction) from The Amelia Bloomer Project, an annual booklist of the best feminist books for young readers, ages birth through 18, from the Feminist Task Force of the Social Responsibilities Round Table of the American Library Association.

HEARTS UNBROKEN was chosen as the fall 2018 YA read for the NIEA Book Club by the National Indian Education Association, the leading education advocate for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian students.

HEARTS UNBROKEN was named to the list of Bank Street College of Education 2018 Best Children's Books of the Year (YA category).

HEARTS UNBROKEN was chosen as a 2019 Kansas NEA Reading Circle YA Section by the Kansas National Education Association.

Hearts Unbroken was chosen for the Just One More Page Recommendation List, compiled by the Wisconsin State Reading Association Children's Literature Committee for the 2019 Convention from titles published between September 2017-December 2018.

★ "Absorbing....Blending teen romance with complex questions of identity, equality, and censorship, this is an excellent choice..." -School Library Journal, starred review

"...a nice mix of romance, routine high school drama, and more serious topics like racism, bullying, and becoming more socially aware. Sure to inspire interesting classroom discussions, this is a must-have for all collections." - Teen Librarian Toolbox at SLJ

"...lively, illuminating novel. ...explores difficult truths and hard decisions even as it entertains." CCBC (Book of the Week, Nov. 25, 2018)( read the whole review)

"...Smith's narrative is thought provoking and candid, with touches of humor that make Louise a very likeable character." - Lisa Krok at The Hub from YALSA, QP2019Nominees

"...the book offers a brave and layered look at the complexities of identity and the missteps that are so easy to make in navigating your own and that of others along the way." Publishers Weekly ShelfTalker

"This insightful, complex take on a difficult topic.... Even considering its seriousness, the novel is fun to read, with charming characters and a nicely balanced teen romance. Thought-provoking and engaging, HEARTS UNBROKEN will leave its young adult audience with a great deal to consider." -The Foreword

"In a time when #ownvoices stories are rising in popularity among YA readers, this brings an insightful story to the conversation...this is truly a thought-provoking and educational novel." -Booklist

"...a thought-provoking work of realistic teen fiction." -Publishers Weekly

"Smith effectively presents the continuous microaggressions Lou faces as a young Native woman alongside the central narrative arc of the school play." -The Horn Book

"Highly recommended! There's so much love and warmth and reality all through HEARTS UNBROKEN. And so much hope! And some absolutely terrific ground-breaking moves!" -Debbie Reese at American Indians in Children's Literature ( read the whole review)

"...a wonderful story about identity, censorship, the erasure and stereotyping of Native Americans, and the challenges of romantic relationships when you have to protect your heart at all costs. An engaging addition to school, home, and classroom collections seeking more #ownvoices books featuring contemporary Native experiences and stories, drama and journalism nerds, or any reader looking for an empowered, complex heroine like Lou." -Donalyn Miller at The Nerdy Book Club ( read the whole review)

"This is a fantastic novel that provides romance and laughs, but will also give readers plenty to think about." -Rich in Color ( read the whole review)

"HEARTS UNBROKEN is just consuming. I didn't want to put it down until I finished it. There are such rich, realistic characters, and Louise is just brilliant." -children's librarian Rosemary Kiladitis from Mom Read It ( read the whole review)

"HEARTS UNBROKENis a necessary reflection on race and prejudice - and the teens who are affected by it and fighting it." - Cristina Arreola from Bustle

Recommended title, BETTER WITH BOOKS: 500 DIVERSE BOOKS TO IGNITE EMPATHY AND ENCOURAGE SELF-ACCEPTANCE IN TWEENS AND TEENS by Melissa Hart (Sasquatch Books, 2019).

Native Stories: Books for Tweens and Teens By and About Indigenous People by Debbie Reese and Kara Stewart from School Library Journal. PEEK: "HEARTS UNBROKEN is a standout not just for the realistic characters but also for the way Smith lays bare the underbelly of life in many towns and schools where students navigate stereotyping and racism."

2019 We Are Kid Lit Summer Reading List from the We Are Kid Lit Collective.

50 States of YA by Kelly Jensen from Book Riot. CYN NOTE: Hearts Unbroken represents Kansas.

Best Books of 2018 for Young Readers from Ebony Elizabeth Thomas at Penn Graduate School of Education.

2018 Nerdies in YA Fiction from Donalyn Miller at The Nerdy Book Club.

2018 Activist Books from M Is for Movement.

Must-Reads of 2018 from We Need Diverse Books at Goodreads.

Best Books of 2018 from American Indians in Children's Literature.

Favorites of 2018 from Crystal at Rich In Color.

Don't Miss Books of 2018 with Debbie Reese and Traci Sorell from Matthew C. Winner.

#ReadYourWorld Book Jam of 2019 from Multicultural Children's Book Day and Children's Book Council. SEE ALSO Own Voices Young Adult Novels about Native Teens, compiled by Cynthia Leitich Smith from Multicultural Children's Book Day.

2018 Summer Middle Grade & YA Book List by Naomi Bishop from the American Indian Library Association. CYN NOTE: Deeply honored to see HEARTS UNBROKEN on this list; please click for recommendations of additional books by Native authors and illustrators.

Our Most Anticipated Contemporary YA Novels of 2018: July to December by Dahlia Adler from BNTEENblog. PEEK: "HEARTS UNBROKEN... It's an excellent year for Native YA fiction, capped off by the return of Smith's first since 2001's RAIN IS NOT MY INDIAN NAME."

5 YA Stories Featuring Native Characters to Read This November from Book Page. PEEK: "Through Lou's funny and honest narration, readers will gain some valuable insight..... Although this read deals with plenty of heavy cultural issues, Smith balances the main plot with a poignant romance...."

Authentically Representing American Indians by Sonja Cole from Booklist. PEEK: "All Native children deserve to have books that respect who they are and who their ancestors were. This list below provides a starting point for more authentic representations of American Indians and First Nations people in children's books."

Power, Agency, andd Hearts Unbroken by Cynthia Leitich Smith from Uma Krishnaswami at Writing with a Broken Tusk. PEEK: "...articulates questions about representation and voice and the human tendency to pronounce judgment with limited information. Questions about history and privilege, about who has power and why. Questions that push back against the daily indignities, large and small, so often inflicted upon minorities in America, and push back as well on commonly held historical myths and emblems of public nostalgia."

11 Upcoming Romantic YA Novels That Might Just Be Your New Favorite Rom-Com by Kerri Jarema from Bustle. PEEK: "From New York City meet-cutes to falling in love in small towns, there is something here that will get those butterflies in your stomach fluttering around. And, hopefully, will get the attention of the next Hollywood exec looking to bring YA love stories to the big screen."

15 Exciting New YA Books for October 2018 by Kate Oldfield from United by Pop. PEEK: "Saying October might be one of 2018's best bookish months might be a bold statement to make but October might be one of 2018's best bookish months."

27 New Young Adult Books That Need to Be On Your Radar by Kerri Jarema from Bustle. PEEK: "...there is nothing more fun as a reader than making a seasonal TBR of all the books you are pumped to read in the coming months, but especially when there is so much to choose from.... These books are the absolute must-reads."

36 of October's Best New Young Adult Books by Dahlia Adler from BNTeenBlog. PEEK: "...I try to not to make grand statements like 'This is maybe the best YA publishing month of all time,' but..."

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HEARTS UNBROKEN by Cynthia Leitich Smith (Candlewick, 2018 hardcover, May 2020 paperback) When Louise Wolfe's first real boyfriend mocks and disrespects Native people in front of her, she breaks things off immediately and dumps him. It's her senior year, anyway, and she'd rather spend her time on her family and friends and working on the school newspaper.

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In kindergarten, Jarrett Krosoczka's teacher asks him to draw his family, with a mommy and a daddy. But Jarrett's family is much more complicated than that. His mom is an addict, in and out of rehab, and in and out of Jarrett's life. His father is a mystery; Jarrett doesn't know where to find him, or even what his name is. Jarrett lives with his grandparents, two very loud, very loving, very opinionated people who had thought they were through with raising children until Jarrett came along.

Jarrett goes through his childhood trying to make his non-normal life as normal as possible, finding a way to express himself through drawing even as so little is being said to him about what's going on. Only as a teenager can Jarrett begin to piece together the truth of his family, reckoning with his mother and tracking down his father.

Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.

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Hey, Kiddo is a profoundly important memoir about growing up in a family grappling with addiction, and finding the art that helps you survive.

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George Takei has captured hearts and minds worldwide with his magnetic performances, sharp wit, and outspoken commitment to equal rights. But long before he braved new frontiers in Star Trek, he woke up as a four-year-old boy to find his own birth country at war with his father’s — and their entire family forced from their home into an uncertain future.

In 1942, at the order of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, every person of Japanese descent on the west coast was rounded up and shipped to one of ten “relocation centers,” hundreds or thousands of miles from home, where they would be held for years under armed guard.

They Called Us Enemy is Takei’s firsthand account of those years behind barbed wire, the terrors and small joys of childhood in the shadow of legalized racism, his mother’s hard choices, his father’s tested faith in democracy, and the way those experiences planted the seeds for his astonishing future.

What does it mean to be American? Who gets to decide? When the world is against you, what can one person do? To answer these questions, George Takei joins cowriters Justin Eisinger & Steven Scott and artist Harmony Becker for the journey of a lifetime.

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Winner of the 2020 Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature!

Winner of the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work!

" They Called Us Enemy is truly beautiful - moving, thoughtful, important, engaging, and stunningly rendered. I am so excited to see this book's impact on the world." - Jacqueline Woodson, National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and National Book Award-winning author of Brown Girl Dreaming

"George Takei's story reveals the important lessons of the WWII Japanese American Incarceration that still need to be learned today. They Called Us Enemy is a compelling must-read for all ages." - Karen Korematsu, Founder and Executive Director, Fred T. Korematsu Institute

"Riveting... Takei has evolved into an increasingly powerful voice for oppressed communities, and Enemy finds him at peak moral clarity - an unflinching force in these divisive times." - The Washington Post

"A detailed, wrenching account... They Called Us Enemy should prove the most potent introduction for younger readers to this ignoble chapter in our history." - The New York Times

"Powerful, moving and relevant." - Los Angeles Times

"Moving and layered... Giving a personal view into difficult history, [ They Called Us Enemy] is a testament to hope and tenacity in the face of adversity." - Publishers Weekly (starred review)

"A compelling blend of nostalgia and outrage... this approachable, well-wrought graphic memoir is important reading, particularly in today's political climate." - Booklist (starred review)

"This evocative memoir shares stories of the nation's past, draws heartbreaking parallels to the present, and serves as a cautionary tale for the future." - School Library Journal (starred review)

"Emotionally staggering... They Called Us Enemy also inspires readers to engage through democracy to insist that we treat fellow human beings with fairness and dignity." - Amazon's "Best Books of the Month"

"A cogent reminder that liberty and justice is not always for all, They Called Us Enemy explores a dark episode of America's past as it dives into the heart of a pop culture icon." - Foreword Reviews' "Indie Books That'll Blow You Away"

"The creators are gifted storytellers, and Takei has a great story to tell, full of unexpected twists. And as compelling as it is, it is also inspirational, a story of ordinary people and the choices they faced in an extraordinary time." "A tale of triumph over adversity." - BBC America

American Book Award AWARD 2020

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APLA)-Literature Award AWARD 2020

Eisner Awards AWARD 2020

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They Called Us Enemy: Expanded Edition by George Takei, Justin Eisinger, Steven Scott, Harmony Becker: 9781603094702 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Winner of the 2020 Asian/Pacific American Award for Young Adult Literature! Winner of the 2020 Eisner Award for Best Reality-Based Work! " They Called Us Enemy is truly beautiful - moving, thoughtful, important, engaging, and stunningly rendered. I am so excited to see this book's impact on the world."

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Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

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Whoosh! Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

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A cool idea with a big splash!

You know the Super Soaker. It’s one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson’s early life. Growing up in a house full of siblings, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie’s invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.

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A cool idea with a big splash!

You know the Super Soaker. It's one of the top twenty toys of all time. And it was an accidental discovery that brought it into being. Trying to create a new cooling system for refrigerators and air conditioners, inventor Lonnie Johnson instead created the mechanics for the iconic toy.

A love for rockets, robots, inventions, and a mind for creativity were present in Lonnie Johnson's early life. Growing up in a house full of siblings, Lonnie demonstrated persistence and a passion for problem solving that became the cornerstone of his career as an engineer and his work with NASA. But it is Lonnie's invention of the Super Soaker water gun that has made the most memorable splash in popular culture.

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Whoosh!: Lonnie Johnson's Super-Soaking Stream of Inventions

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Illustrated by Don Tate A Junior Library Guild selection Included on the 2017-18 Texas Bluebonnet Award Master List and 18 other state reading lists Starred reviews from Kirkus and Publishers Weekly A cool idea with a big splash! You know the Super Soaker. It's one of the

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Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her fifth birthday party, she’s been bullied about her weight. To cope, she tries to live by the Fat Girl Rules—like “no making waves,” “avoid eating in public,” and “don’t move so fast that your body jiggles.” And she’s found her safe space—her swimming pool—where she feels weightless in a fat-obsessed world. In the water, she can stretch herself out like a starfish and take up all the room she wants. It’s also where she can get away from her pushy mom, who thinks criticizing Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbor, Catalina, who loves Ellie for who she is. With this support buoying her, Ellie might finally be able to cast aside the Fat Girl Rules and starfish in real life–by unapologetically being her own fabulous self.

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"In her debut novel, Starfish, Lisa Fipps confronts diet culture and fat phobia head-on. . . . The book reads as if Ellie herself is writing these poems, which are accessible and engaging." -The New York Times Book Review "Fipps bursts onto the middle-grade scene with her debut, a verse novel that shines because of Ellie's keen and emotionally striking observations. As she draws readers in with her smart and succinct voice, Ellie navigates the difficult map of knowing she deserves better treatment while struggling with the conflict that's necessary to achieve it. Fipps hands her young narrator several difficult life lessons, including how to self-advocate, how not to internalization of the words of others, and what it means to defend yourself. Ellie's story will delight readers who long to see an impassioned young woman seize an unapologetic victory."- Booklist, starred review

* "Fipps' verse is skillful and rooted in emotional reality. The text places readers in Ellie's shoes, showing how she is attacked in many spaces-including by strangers on public transit-while clearly asserting that it's other people who need to change. . . . Make room in your heart for this cathartic novel"- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

* "Affirming representation of fatness. . . . Fipps's use of verse is as effective as it is fitting; Ellie dreams of becoming a storyteller and poet 'to help people feel what it's like/ to live in/ someone else's skin.' A triumphant and poignantly drawn journey toward self-acceptance and self-advocacy."- Publishers Weekly, starred review

* "A charming novel in verse about a girl struggling with self-worth. . . . Once readers start, it will be difficult for them to put this book down. Ellie's story is heartbreaking and raw at times, and Fipps paints a realistic picture of bullying in a world that equates thinness with beauty. . . . True joy comes in watching Ellie gain confidence in herself and standing up to the bullies, even when they're family. . . . A must-have for libraries serving teens and tweens."-School Library Journal, starred review

"In this free-verse novel, Fipps is laceratingly authentic about the kind of 'teasing' and 'help' that Ellie is constantly subject to, and the family dynamic, wherein her father dislikes her mother's treatment but rarely intervenes, is sadly believable. . . The intense focus mirrors a lot of experience, and readers will be glad to see Ellie eventually 'starfishing-starting to claim my right to take up space.'"- The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

"This beautiful, heartbreaking, and powerful novel-in-verse would pair well with media literacy lessons on body imagery, bullying, and victim shaming. The story is very engaging and readers will not want to put it down. School guidance counselors, school psychologists, and social workers will appreciate the realistic portrayal of Ellie's therapist and the benefits of therapy for children and adults."- School Library Connection

"Ellie's simple and powerful free-verse poems intensify her emotional turmoil and smoothly destroy stereotypes ('They think I'm unhappy / because I'm fat. / The truth is, / I'm unhappy because / they bully me / about being fat'). Her strength in accepting herself and learning to defy her Fat Girl Rules is an inspiring reminder to all readers that they deserve to 'take up space.'"- Horn Book

"Readers will rejoice as Ellie gains the strength to confront bullies with intelligence and honesty, and refuses to allow other people's cruelty to shape her life."- Padma Venkatraman, award-winning author of The Bridge Home

"This is a big beautiful book about a big beautiful girl. Meet Ellie, who looks in the mirror and sees someone lovable. Now, if only the rest of the world (and especially her own mother and brother) could see what Ellie sees. This is a story about the colossal cruelty that's hurled at her because of her weight, and how, with colossal strength, Ellie manages to triumph. An honest, heartbreaking, hilarious novel-in-verse from a debut author with a delicious voice."- Sonya Sones, author of What My Mother Doesn't Know

"Lisa Fipps's spot-on verse gives Ellie a wrenchingly real voice that sings with humor, pain, and hope. Prepare yourself: Once you read this book, your heart will never be the same." - K. A. Holt, author of House Arrest

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Starfish by Lisa Fipps: 9781984814524 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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A Printz Honor Winner! Ellie is tired of being fat-shamed and does something about it in this highly acclaimed debut novel-in-verse. Ever since Ellie wore a whale swimsuit and made a big splash at her...

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“Make a way out of no way” is just the way of life for Rue. But when her mother is shot dead on her doorstep, life for her and her younger sister changes forever. Rue’s taken from her neighborhood by the father she never knew, forced to leave her little sister behind, and whisked away to Ghizon—a hidden island of magic wielders.

Rue is the only half-god, half-human there, where leaders protect their magical powers at all costs and thrive on human suffering. Miserable and desperate to see her sister on the anniversary of their mother’s death, Rue breaks Ghizon’s sacred Do Not Leave Law and returns to Houston, only to discover that Black kids are being forced into crime and violence. And her sister, Tasha, is in danger of falling sway to the very forces that claimed their mother’s life.

Worse still, evidence mounts that the evil plaguing East Row is the same one that lurks in Ghizon—an evil that will stop at nothing until it has stolen everything from her and everyone she loves. Rue must embrace her true identity and wield the full magnitude of her ancestors’ power to save her neighborhood before the gods burn it to the ground.

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Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1

BULLETS DON'T HAVE NAMES.

But if they did, chances are one would have mine. Or someone brown-skinned like me.

Metal slats chill my legs and I shimmy sideways, craning for a better view from the bus stop, careful to keep the onyx stones fused to my wrists covered.

Up all night, I watched the sun rise like a traitor to the chill set in my bones. A yawn scratches at my throat, but my lungs refuse to breathe. Any moment Tasha will step out, her tie-dye drawstring knapsack on her back and her purple fuzzy phone clutched in her fingers. She always oversleeps. But she won't be late. Not today. She-like me-probably couldn't sleep, knowing we had to face today. Had to relive what this day means.

One year ago today, Moms died, shot dead on her stoop. No explanation. No investigation. Just blood, pain, and lots of tears. So many tears.

Since then, it's been Tasha, and me. Separated, living in different places.

But not today. Today my little sister won't be alone.

My eyes sting. I blink the tears away as a bass-filled trunk rattles by, blasting some rapper whose name I can't remember. I'm home. It's good to be back... even if I can't stay. I sigh, but my shoulders cinch instead of sink.

Construction crews spill out of work trucks across the street, bringing the block to life. Chiming bells snatch my attention. Kiki's wig shop? They opened early as hell today. Two doors down, dudes in glistening chains, hoodies, and baggy jeans chop it up, slapping hands and giving one-arm hugs. My niggas. The whole damn block is family. Neighbors are aunties. I got more cousins than makes any sort of mathematical sense. You can't work that shit out logically with a family tree chart. The block is fam. Just the way it is. The way it has to be.

But even families keep secrets. I tug at my sleeves.

I lean back, slipping my hood on, face cloaked in shadow. I'm not trying to get tripped up with questions about where I've been. Some shit's just too wild to even try to explain. And where I've been this past year-the place I'm forced to now call home-is wild AF.

A jumble of voices pulls me around, twisting in my seat. I keep my head down, hoodie up, until their footsteps are faint patters. I exhale, my knee still bouncing.

Six a.m.

My sis takes the bus to school because it's too far to walk, and everybody at the house is off to work well before the streetlamps stop buzzing. Any moment now, she'll be out the door and find the gift I left on her step. A gift I wish I could hand to her if the risk wasn't so great.

As far as folks know, I disappeared a year ago. They probably think I'm locked up in juvie somewhere. It's not true. I've been in juvie twice. Two times too many. Being snatched from home before Moms was in the ground makes my insides ache more than how it felt sleeping on a cold cell floor.

And the bastard who took me left Tasha.

Such bullshit. "She isn't full blood," he'd said. We got the same mom, different dads. I tried to tell him the whole block is fam-that I can't be pulled from home and just forget where I'm from. It don't work like that. But he wouldn't get that because he's not from 'round here. Home won't ever be "behind me."

He wasn't hearing it. "Once you leave this place you can't ever come back... ever," he'd said without explaining. And for 364 days I didn't.

But Tasha won't be alone today. Today, she has me. Even if it means breaking their dumb-ass rules to leave her this gift.

She will know I remember.

I tuck my curls inside my hoodie and swipe the screen on my wristwatch. It warms, glowing a dull blue. It's barely breakfast time and this Houston heat is straight up disrespectful.

Six-oh-five. Come on, sis.

I promised Bri, just about the only friend I have at my new "home," I'd get in, leave Tasha's gift, see her off to school, and get out of here. She protested, but she made me this dope watch to get here and back- without magic -undetected. She'd just finished it days ago and was nervous it might not work. A pulsing dot shifts on its screen, zeroing in on Tasha's location when I tap. Works just fine. Bri is smart as hell, I swear.

As long as I lay low, no one will even know I'm gone.

A frayed purple necklace dangles from my neck. I roll the thread back and forth between my fingers. The last time I saw Tasha, she wore a matching one. The sparrow charm that used to hang from it broke off months ago. Tasha's got a thing for birds. Something about flying mesmerizes her. She was always back and forth between Moms's and her dad's grandma's house. She's like a bird, even if she can't fly. Little bones, light, so small. Always flitting between fam's houses. A bird with many nests. When I last saw her, she was going on about some new species she'd learned about in school. I smirk. She loves school. A trait we don't share. Tasha musta got that from her pop's side of the family.

I didn't have a dad, so home for me didn't change every weekend. I pull the knot in the charmless necklace, making sure it's tight. As ratty as it is, it's mine, my sister's-ours. One of the few things I was able to hold on to from this place when I left. My only real keepsake from home.

Tasha's glittery pink Converses catch the sunlight as the door opens, and I gasp. She's taller than before. How she grow that fast? The door fully opens and I'm up on my feet. I lighten my pace across the street, careful to stick to the shadows. I can see her, love her from a distance, be here, but I can't touch her. Touching her is the one rule I can't break.

Something changed when I was bound to magic in Ghizon, the place I live now. I rub the onyx lump fused to my wrist and it warms. Having magic is cool, but it isn't worth the cost. If I'd had the choice, I'd have chosen Tasha and life here on the block.

A message on my watch shakes my wrist and I ignore it, eyes fixed on my sis.

I skip across the street to get closer, careful to keep my hood up. Shade swallows me on her side of the street. She pops in earbuds before locking the door and slipping her string straps on her shoulders. That faded-ass tie-dye. I told her that went out in the seventies, but she loves it. She was never one to follow what everyone else is doing. She's always been like that though-cool doing her own thing. Like me. That we musta both got from Moms.

Come on, Tash. Look down. Neon braids dangle from her cornrows, dancing across her scalp in zigzags. Her hair is always tight. Her nails probably match. That's my sis. Nail polish isn't my thing. Chips too easy. I keep my fresh white 1s clean though. Toothbrush in my pocket at all times. Tash ain't leaving the house without the dopest 'do and flyest nails. Period. Twelve years old and stuntin'.

I slick down my edges, grinning... remembering. On the stoop, Moms used to rip through our heads, braiding ours and half the neighborhood's with a piece of cigarette dangling on her lip. Took the whole Saturday, I swear. She'd smack the hell out of my hand with a rattail comb if I moved too much.

"You got too much damn hair to be tender-headed," she'd say.

I flick away hot tears. Moms is gone and crying never solved shit.

Glasses perched on Tasha's beautifully wide nose hide her dark eyes. Her shoe nudges the wrapped box I left on her bottom step and my heart skips a beat. She grabs it and looks around. I press into the neighbor's brick. She cannot see me. How would I explain that? Where do I say I've been? What do I do if she wants to come back with me? She wouldn't understand. And what if she tries to touch me? Patrol back in Ghizon says touching humans gives them memories of all your feelings and experiences. She'd know everything about the secret place I live and the magic they gave me. I can't. Ghizon exists in secret and they intend to keep it that way. Just being here for a few is enough. It has to be enough.

Chin up, I pretend the dull ache in my chest isn't there. Lines riddle Tash's forehead.
The paper, look at the wrapping paper.
She rips the side open, then stops. She brings it closer to her face and tiny craters dent her cheeks. She holds the package there, staring, smiling. A priceless smile, worth every bit of trouble I could get into for this. I wasn't sure what to wrap it with. They don't exactly have a mini-mart with wrapping paper where I'm living. They'd probably magic some shit together, but I don't know those spells yet. So I took pages from Moms's old journal and wrapped the box, like an extra gift in addition to what's inside.

Tasha peers closer at the paper and gasps. Moms's words, she's reading them. Her fingertips find the corners of her eyes. I stay on her six as she walks with quick steps toward her bus stop, opening the package. I can't see her face. I wanna see that big-ass grin when she actually opens it up.

We round the corner, head down Fischer Street and turn into Moms's complex. A square block of row-style brown brick apartments with a basketball court in the center. My old spot. The janky-ass hoop still hangs there with a piece of plywood for a backboard. The smell of bay leaves, onions, and garlic curl my toes. Somebody's grandma is cooking gumbo. I haven't set foot in my old stomping grounds since I left. Seeing the backside from across the street wasn't easy. But walking into my neighborhood is... hard.

The block's lit like it's a Saturday night. People are everywhere, spilling out of their homes. Moms's old door is still coated in chipped green paint. The number nine dangles there like it always did, perpetrating as a six. My fingers twitch to fix it out of habit. Tufts of weeds peek through cracks on the stoop where I spent summers drinking Kool-Cups, gossiping with my girls, hollering at dudes.

I walk along the shade. Tasha's digging into the box now. The playground swings shuffle in the wind, creaking. They're like a clock, reminding me I shouldn't be here.
Tick tock. Tick tock.
Maybe a little closer. Just a little.

I stroll down a broken concrete path alongside the swing set, carefully cloaked in darkness, but closer to her now. She cracks a smile and I'm warm all over.

She rounds a corner up ahead and I follow as a pair of six-foot-two somethings walk by. Baggy jeans, another face I don't know, says, "What's up." I do the same. Their bling dangles and clinks above zip-ups and long sleeves. It's not cold enough for all that. Like most winters in Houston, it's muggy as hell.

My watch vibrates. Another message. Ignored.

Just a few more minutes. A chance to see her face light up at what's inside that box. Something to let her know that today of all days, I am still thinking of her.

Around the corner is Tasha's school bus stop. Six-nineteen. On time. She rips off the last piece of paper and pulls out a golden trinket from inside the box.

It was a little pendant Moms gave me. The last thing I had from her. She put the heart-shaped pendant in my hand three weeks before she died. Told me she worked a double shift for months to afford it. That didn't mean I needed to feel bad, she'd said. Just that my ass better not lose it because she can't afford another one. Tash used to ask me to play with it. I wouldn't even let her breathe on it. Now it's hers. I'm the oldest, which means I have to be the strongest. She needs it more than me.

My watch pings. I swipe right. A new message and all the ignored older ones scroll up the screen.

Bri: You okay?

Bri: It's been a long time. I'm getting worried.

Bri: Rue?

An old-school Cadillac with a rattling trunk steals my attention as its shiny chrome wheels slide to a stop. His black-tinted windows crack and kids at the bus stop rush over. Two kids about Tasha's age hop out. Nosey, like Moms always said I was, I crane my neck trying to see.

Tasha looks in my direction. Like, dead at me. I can't move. Does she see me? Shit. Shit. Shit. She waves at me, but she's looking past me. I spin on my heels. Some dude's hanging out a car across the intersection, waving back at her.

I exhale.

"Aye, yo, T," he yells. The dude's white button-up is tucked neatly into a pair of faded jeans. His face-do I know him?

"Sup!" Even her voice sounds older. She puts the heart-shaped pendant in her pocket and jets his way. I squint, hunching beside a dumpster. Who is this dude? And why the hell is whatever he wants so damn important she has to leave her stop to cross the street to come to him. You want something, you come here. My sister won't be running after no one.

She looks both ways and he does too, beckoning her closer. She's all smiles. Her bus. She's going to miss her bus. Uneasiness coils in my gut.

She knows this dude. And by the way she's grinning, she knows him well. I'm on my feet, keeping her in my sights. I don't like this. She darts across the first half of the street as the sound of a horn zips by.

"Hurry up, girl," he says with a smile, his pasty skin reflecting the morning sun.

"Aye, wait up," she answers. "I'm coming."

Coming where? Where the hell we going? I need to be closer. I'm not feeling this, any of this. Not with my sister. Not while I'm here. I creep so close, the scent of her vanilla hair puddin' swirls in my nose. I'm so close. So very close. If she turns around she will see me. Then what?

As she checks both ways again, tires peel out in the distance. Burnt rubber stings my nostrils. The dude's now in his Impala-dark blue with glistening wheels. My heart won't slow and I no longer expect it to. Tasha dips across the rest of the intersection and hops in his passenger seat. He pulls off the curb and she turns my way.

Our eyes lock.

She sees me.
SHIT!
I'm no expert on the ins and outs of Ghizon-the magic world-but one thing I know for sure: Magic folks, like these Laws here, do not like broken rules. What does a slap on the wrist even look like there?

Tash knowing I'm here is a problem. A big-ass problem.

Her mouth is hanging wide open in utter shock. She grabs the dude's shoulder to slow down. He throws me a glance, black ink peeking at me from the collar of his shirt. His eyes burn into mine and he doesn't smile... doesn't stop... just slows, approaching a yellow light. My excitement shatters.

Tires screech far off in the distance. The tatted driver runs the red and keeps rolling across the intersection... staring at me instead of the road. A white sedan dents my peripheral, racing toward them. The skin on my back bristles like icy hot knives.

Th-they're going to get hit.

The sedan driver's eyes bulge as he slams on the brakes.
No. No. No.
Rubber screams and skids against pavement. My magic. I close the distance between us and raise my hands, fingers spread wide. I tug all my focus to the center of my wrists. Energy like heat rushes through me, pooling in the balls of onyx glowing at my wrists. Waiting, ready.
The time spell. The damn words. What are the damn words?
"Tind na yo wevee." Magic rips from my hands like branches, blinding and hot.

Everything stills.

Time stops.

The nose of the white car is frozen in motion, kissing the passenger side door-Tasha's door. The face of the guy driving the white car is scrunched in pain, frozen and unmoving. Tasha's arms are all I see, stilled in a wave. The entire scene is frozen like figures of glass, pupils dilated with fear. Wind whips around us feverishly.

"I'm here," I say. Her eyes are wide and still. She probably can't hear me, but I whisper all the same. "You're going to be okay."

The guy in the driver's seat next to her is still as ice, hand on the door handle, a twisted grin glued on his face. A big-ass coiled snake tattoo is on his neck. I move around the car and tug at the back door. Locked. With no one conscious watching, I press my palms together, conjuring a force of energy between them. I thrust it at the rear window. It shatters in a sea of chimes.

"Feey'l." Flames ignite from my fingertips. The smell of burned chemicals fills my nostrils as I scorch through her seat belt as quickly as I can.
Magic bearers should never touch humans.
The damn rule plays on repeat in my head.

Frantic, I wrap my shaking hands around her and a tingling sensation moves through me. I bite down, ignoring it, and pull harder, her warm skin against mine. Singed but hanging on by a thread, the seat belt still doesn't let go of her legs. The time spell will wear off any second, and this car crash will crunch back into motion. I tug and bite the belt, pulling as coppery liquid fills my mouth.

It won't relent. Shit! She will not die here. She won't! I clamp my teeth and yank again. The belt releases.
Magic bearers should never touch humans.
The rules. The stupid rules. This is my sister, not just anyone. They can do their worst to me, I'm not losing her. I pull her petite frame onto the asphalt.

The streetlights are flashing now and the colors shift from green, to yellow, to red, and back to green. I glance over my shoulders and check my watch. How long does the time spell last? I bite my lip. Bri would know. I fidget with my watch to send her a message as the sound of crunching glass splits the air.

I raise a hand, trying to keep the spell intact. Hold. Please hold! My hand shakes more violently and the air itself seems to tremble. It's not going to hold. She's like a cinder block, but with one arm I drag her toward the sidewalk, away from the crash.

"Wake up, Tash. Come on, wake up."

She bats her eyes. Sounds of crumpling fiberglass crack through the air. My spell is buckling. My hand trembles, the heat from my wrists simmers.

"I-I can't hold it." Oof. A jolt of pain radiates through me and chaos erupts in blurred motion. The car she was just in skids across the intersection and plants into a pole.

But the driver... the driver just inside is gone.

Wait... what... but how?

The driver of the white car hangs out the window, neck crooked backward and streaked with blood. I turn my face away. Tasha pulls herself up on shaky elbows, blinking in my direction.

"R-Rue?" She looks at me and I cover the warm stones in my wrists.

"Rue!" Her voice cracks and nothing matters anymore.

I pull her in to me. "It's okay. You're okay."

Cars swerve to a stop, narrowly missing the pile of crushed metal. A man in a navy windbreaker emerges with a phone to his ear.

"Help will be here soon," I say. She weeps against my chest, a gash on her forehead crying tears of blood. I hold her tight-tight like Moms would do.

"It's over," I whisper, refusing tears trying to break free. "You're okay. I'm here. Everything's okay."

The crowd nearby clamors over one another for a look at the wreck, when a sweet chemical scent wafts past. Gasoline.
No. Shit. No!
"W-we have to move." Even on the sidewalk we're too close. I fumble for her arm, pulling it over my shoulder. She's heavy. So much heavier than I remember. "We have to get up." The gasoline smell stings my nostrils and words stick to the roof of my mouth.

"Tash, we have to get farther away!" Her head bobs like she's woozy, her forehead wound gushing faster.
Magic. Move her with magic.
A cluster of eyes cling to us; everybody's watching, recording. I-I can't. The time spell wore off. People are watching! I can't use magic with them all looking. I-

The chemical smell grows stronger and a flicker of fire dents my periphery.
Do something!
B-but people are around...

I-I... I have to. I can't lose her.

The words are fuzzy in my head, and the black stones fused to my wrists swirl with warmth, but nothing sputters from my hand. Focus. What are the words? I can't think. I pull hard from my center and my wrists glow hot as the black balls fused to my skin heat like a skillet. My words are muddled, but I feel it. I feel my magic. Energy rushes through me, ripping from my palms, a light sprouting like rays of sun.

"Shee'ye ya fuste." The light shifts into a wall transparent as glass between us and the crash, rippling like droplets of water. The ground shudders and clouds of orange blaze explode, slamming against the invisible barrier. Jolts of pain pinch my spine, but I keep my hands still. If I let go, the flames will swallow us. She moans.

"Tash? Stay with me. I'm here. It's going to be okay."

She hugs me, nestling her fingers against my skin. I close my eyes and focus on the rhythm of her heartbeat pressed to my chest. Moms used to rock me back and forth and hum when I was little and scared. So I rock.

Holding her stirs a heat inside of me, brighter and fiercer than the sizzling flames popping just a ways away. Sirens moan in the backdrop and orange light colors my eyelids. I don't want to open them. Not yet. My wrists chill as the fire and magic around us fizzles out and a gust of smoke assaults my head.

She's okay. We're okay.

My wristwatch buzzes. It's Bri.

Bri: What did you do?! Patrol is coming. Run!

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Chapter 1 CHAPTER 1 BULLETS DON'T HAVE NAMES. But if they did, chances are one would have mine. Or someone brown-skinned like me. Metal slats chill my legs and I shimmy sideways, craning for a better view from the bus stop, careful to keep the onyx stones fused to my wrists covered.

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Every week, seventeen-year-old Tracy Beaumont writes letters to Innocence X, asking the organization to help her father, an innocent Black man on death row. After seven years, Tracy is running out of time–her dad has only 267 days left. Then the unthinkable happens. The police arrive in the night, and Tracy’s older brother, Jamal, goes from being a bright, promising track star to a “thug” on the run, accused of killing a white girl. Determined to save her brother, Tracy investigates what really happened between Jamal and Angela down at the Pike. But will Tracy and her family survive the uncovering of the skeletons of their Texas town’s racist history that still haunt the present?

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This Is My America by Kim Johnson: 9780593118764 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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“Incredible and searing.” --Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin The Hate U Give meets Just Mercy in this unflinching yet uplifting first novel that explores the racist injustices...

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Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites

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Niki Nakayama: A Chef's Tale in 13 Bites

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https://debbimichikoflorence.com/books/picture-books/

As a child and adult, Niki faced many naysayers in her pursuit of haute cuisine. Using the structure of a traditional kaiseki meal, the authors Debbi Michiko Florence and Jamie Michalak playfully detail Niki’s hunger for success in thirteen bites — from wonton wrappers she used to make pizza as a kid to yuzu-tomatillo sauce in her own upscale Los Angeles Michelin-starred restaurant, n/naka.

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Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

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Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

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A young biracial girl looks around her world for her color. She finally chooses her own, and creates a new word for herself—honeysmoke.

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Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

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Honeysmoke by Monique Fields tells a powerful tale of a young biracial girl who learns to love and celebrate her unique skin color.

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Honeysmoke: A Story of Finding Your Color

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When people look at George, they think they see a boy. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl. George thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. George really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part...because she's a boy. With the help of her best friend, Kelly, George comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

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BE WHO YOU ARE.

When people look at Melissa, they think they see a boy named George. But she knows she's not a boy. She knows she's a girl.

Melissa thinks she'll have to keep this a secret forever. Then her teacher announces that their class play is going to be Charlotte's Web. Melissa really, really, REALLY wants to play Charlotte. But the teacher says she can't even try out for the part... because she's a boy.

With the help of her best friend, Kelly, Melissa comes up with a plan. Not just so she can be Charlotte -- but so everyone can know who she is, once and for all.

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Melissa (formerly published as GEORGE) - Kindle edition by Gino, Alex. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading Melissa (formerly published as GEORGE).

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In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl–an every girl–whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached. Misty encourages this young girl’s faith in herself and shows her exactly how, through hard work and dedication, she too can become Firebird.

Lyrical and affecting text paired with bold, striking illustrations that are some of Caldecott Honoree Christopher Myers’s best work, makes Firebird perfect for aspiring ballerinas everywhere.

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Firebird by Misty Copeland: 9780399166150 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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In her debut picture book, Misty Copeland tells the story of a young girl--an every girl--whose confidence is fragile and who is questioning her own ability to reach the heights that Misty has reached....

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Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

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Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

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Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride.

Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In a high school gym full of color and song, people dance, sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. Young protagonists will meet relatives from faraway, mysterious strangers, and sometimes one another (plus one scrappy rez dog).

They are the heroes of their own stories.

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Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride.

Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Dance for Mother Earth Powwow in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

In a high school gym full of color and song, people dance, sell beadwork and books, and celebrate friendship and heritage. Young protagonists will meet relatives from faraway, mysterious strangers, and sometimes one another (plus one scrappy rez dog).

They are the heroes of their own stories.

Featuring stories and poems by:
Joseph Bruchac
Art Coulson
Christine Day
Eric Gansworth
Carole Lindstrom
Dawn Quigley
Rebecca Roanhorse
David A. Robertson
Andrea L. Rogers
Kim Rogers
Cynthia Leitich Smith
Monique Gray Smith
Traci Sorell,
Tim Tingle
Erika T. Wurth
Brian Young

In partnership with We Need Diverse Books

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Ancestor Approved: Intertribal Stories for Kids

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Edited by award-winning and bestselling author Cynthia Leitich Smith, this collection of intersecting stories by both new and veteran Native writers bursts with hope, joy, resilience, the strength of community, and Native pride. Native families from Nations across the continent gather at the Danc

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Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her, but a move with her newly blended family from their small California beach town to the embattled Midwestern city of Cedarville might be the fresh start she needs. Her mom has accepted a new job with the Sterling Foundation that comes with a free house, one that Mari now has to share with her bratty ten-year-old stepsister, Piper.

The renovated picture-perfect home on Maple Street, sitting between dilapidated houses, surrounded by wary neighbors has its . . . secrets. That’s only half the problem: household items vanish, doors open on their own, lights turn off, shadows walk past rooms, voices can be heard in the walls, and there’s a foul smell seeping through the vents only Mari seems to notice. Worse: Piper keeps talking about a friend who wants Mari gone.

But “running from ghosts” is just a metaphor, right?

As the house closes in, Mari learns that the danger isn’t limited to Maple Street. Cedarville has its secrets, too. And secrets always find their way through the cracks.

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The Haunting of Hill House meets Get Out in this chilling YA psychological thriller and modern take on the classic haunted house story from New York Times bestselling author Tiffany D. Jackson! Marigold is running from ghosts. The phantoms of her old life keep haunting her,

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Eighth grader Kiara has a difficult time making — and keeping — friends. She has Asperger’s syndrome, so relating to other people doesn’t come naturally. Most of the time, she relies on Mr. Internet — her go-to when the world doesn’t make sense, which is often — and her imagination, where she daydreams that she’s Rogue, one of the mutant superheroes of the X-Men. In the comics, Rogue hurts anyone she touches, but eventually learns to control her special power. Kiara hasn’t discovered her own special power yet, but when 12-year-old Chad and his sweet younger brother move in across the street, she hopes that, for once, she’ll be able to make friendship stick. She’s even willing to keep Chad’s secrets and help him do something she knows is wrong, if that’s what it takes. Being a true friend is complicated, but it might be just the thing that leads her to her special power.

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"The depth of Kiara's loneliness, her capacity for empathy (though she's unsure of when and how to express it), and her persistence in her quest for true friendship make the book a substantive addition to the emerging body of youth literature about Asperger's." - The Horn Book

"The author does a nice job of relaying the thoughts, feelings, and emotions of a teenager with Asperger's. The characters are realistic, while the text flows easily and leads the reader on a roller coaster ride." - Library Media Connection

Get the latest updates from Lyn Miller-Lachmann

And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.

And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.

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Rogue by Lyn Miller-Lachmann: 9781101596739 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"The depth of Kiara's loneliness, her capacity for empathy (though she's unsure of when and how to express it), and her persistence in her quest for true friendship make the book a substantive addition to the emerging body of youth literature about Asperger's."

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Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable—more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn’t turn up for the first day of school, Claudia’s worried.

When she doesn’t show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn’t just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year’s rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best—and only—friend more than ever. But Monday’s mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday’s sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend’s disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she’s gone?

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"Jackson's characters and their heart-wrenching story linger long after the final page, urging readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society and the system." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List") From the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly, Tiffany D. Jackson, comes a gripping novel about the mystery of one teenage girl's disappearance and the traumatic effects of the truth.

Monday Charles is missing, and only Claudia seems to notice. Claudia and Monday have always been inseparable-more sisters than friends. So when Monday doesn't turn up for the first day of school, Claudia's worried.

When she doesn't show for the second day, or second week, Claudia knows that something is wrong. Monday wouldn't just leave her to endure tests and bullies alone. Not after last year's rumors and not with her grades on the line. Now Claudia needs her best-and only-friend more than ever. But Monday's mother refuses to give Claudia a straight answer, and Monday's sister April is even less help.

As Claudia digs deeper into her friend's disappearance, she discovers that no one seems to remember the last time they saw Monday. How can a teenage girl just vanish without anyone noticing that she's gone?

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"Jackson's characters and their heart-wrenching story linger long after the final page, urging readers to advocate for those who are disenfranchised and forgotten by society and the system." (Publishers Weekly, "An Anti-Racist Children's and YA Reading List") From the critically acclaimed

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Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what happens when nobody can pronounce your name? Having just moved from Korea, Unhei is anxious about fitting in. So instead of introducing herself on the first day of school, she decides to choose an American name from a glass jar. But while Unhei thinks of being a Suzy, Laura, or Amanda, nothing feels right. With the help of a new friend, Unhei will learn that the best name is her own.

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"Unhei's reflection and inner strength are noteworthy; cultural details freshen the story, and Choi's gleaming, expressive paintings are always a treasure." - The New York Times

Arkansas Diamond Primary Book Master List WINNER 2003

Arizona Young Readers Award NOMINEE 2005

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The Name Jar by Yangsook Choi: 9780440417996 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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A heartwarming story about the new girl in school, and how she learns to appreciate her Korean name. Being the new kid in school is hard enough, but what happens when nobody can pronounce your name?...

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Timothy is on probation. It's a strange word - something that happens to other kids, to delinquents, not to kids like him. And yet, he is under house arrest for the next year. He must check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist and keep a journal for an entire year. And mostly, he has to stay out of trouble. But when he must take drastic measures to help his struggling family, staying out of trouble proves more difficult than Timothy ever thought it would be.

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Timothy is on probation. It’s a strange word - something that happens to other kids, to delinquents, not to kids like him. And yet, he is under house arrest for the next year. He must check in weekly with a probation officer and a therapist and keep a journal for an entire year. And mostly, he ha…

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A young student receives a family tree assignment in school, but she can only trace back three generations. Grandma gathers the whole family, and the student learns that 400 years ago, in 1619, their ancestors were stolen and brought to America by white slave traders.
But before that, they had a home, a land, a language. She learns how the people said to be born on the water survived.

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The 1619 Project: Born on the Water by Nikole Hannah-Jones, Renée Watson: 9780593307359 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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The 1619 Project's lyrical picture book in verse chronicles the consequences of slavery and the history of Black resistance in the United States, thoughtfully rendered by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist...

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With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching shares lesson design strategies that build traditional literacy skills while supporting students in developing their social justice skills at the same time.

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Introduction

Chapter 1: Naming It All
Why Do We Need to Take This Approach in the Classroom? Values of Social Justice Teaching Traits of Textured Teaching Bias in Teaching Racialized Imaginations A Radical Teaching Stance
Context Is Important

Chapter 2: Student Driven and Community Centered
The Identity Work The Land Work Community Centered Classroom Community Classroom Texts and Libraries
Culture and Behavior Work Cautions and Challenges
Adding a Layer of Texture

Chapter 3: Interdisciplinary
Demystify and Destigmatize
Discussions and Conversations
Build Background and Research
Supplement and Think Critically
Collaborating with Colleagues
Synthesizing and Debriefing with Students
Cautions and Challenges
Adding a Layer of Texture

Chapter 4: Experiential
The Community as a Resource
Creating Experiences for Students
Bringing the Text to Life
Sensitivity and Intentionality
An Example from My Class
Experiencing Truth xx Cautions and Challenges
Adding a Layer of Texture

Chapter 5: Flexible

Strategizing for Flexibility
Strategy #1: Being Flexible with Students
Strategy #2: Being Flexible with Processing Sheets
Strategy #3: Being Flexible with Assessments
Strategy #4: Being Flexible with Grading
Strategy #5: Including Out-of-School Literacies
Assessments and Learning Challenges
Cautions and Challenges
Adding a Layer of Texture

Chapter 6: Conclusion: Textured
If Only My Teachers Had Known
A Tool for You: Unit Template
The Texture We Already Have
It's Time

"Lorena Escota Germán walks us through a framework that is realistic, wholistic, liberating, and necessary! Textured Teaching is THE book every teacher should read. Not only does the book guide us into meeting our students where they are and learning who they are, it also helps us [the educators] to grow and become the teachers we are meant to be. Centering education in love, community, justice, truth, and knowledge, Germán pushes us to go beyond ourselves and to be present and to open our hearts to the possibilities of justice centered learning." --Tiffany Jewell, author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller, This Book Is Anti-Racist

"Textured Teaching is a combination of affirmation, culturally relevant practices, culturally sustaining teaching, and liberating pedagogies. It is love. It is truth-telling. It is nuanced. It is hopeful. It is necessary in its stance and commitment to dismantle harmful schooling practices through pedagogical restoration, equity, and justice. In fact, it is Lorena Escoto Germán's commitment to anti-oppressive and anti-racist teaching which is felt on every single page of this book, that should encourage us to reimagine teaching as a Project in Humanization that positions teachers as learning partners alongside students. What a beautiful text. What a layered teaching framework. What a textured book. Read it and be left inspired!" --Valerie Kinloch, Renée and Richard Goldman Dean & Professor, School of Education at the University of Pittsburgh

"As this country becomes more divided, this book helps educators step into the liberation work with both feet. Germán has written the teaching book that will hopefully push teachers and their classrooms to more justice-centered practices and orientations." --José Luis Vilson, Executive Director of #Educolor, NYC math educator, and author of This Is Not a Test

"The craft of teaching is both science and art, but textured teaching suggests that it also wisdom and discovery. The wealth of this approach, subtle in its implication, transformative in its intent, is found at the fertile intersection of where profound education work sits in the lives of youth, to equally empower, enhance, and sustain them while fostering conditions that promise they will grow." --David E. Kirkland, Executive Director, NYU Metro Center and Professor of Urban Education, New York University

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With Culturally Sustaining Practice as its foundation, Textured Teaching shares lesson design strategies that build traditional literacy skills while supporting

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Education can be transformed if we eradicate our fixation on big data like standardized test scores as the supreme measure of equity and learning. Instead of the focus being on “fixing” and “filling” academic gaps, we must envision and rebuild the system from the student up—with classrooms, schools and systems built around students’ brilliance, cultural wealth, and intellectual potential. Street data reminds us that what is measurable is not the same as what is valuable and that data can be humanizing, liberatory and healing.

By breaking down street data fundamentals: what it is, how to gather it, and how it can complement other forms of data to guide a school or district’s equity journey, Safir and Dugan offer an actionable framework for school transformation.

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Prologue: Data in a Time of Pandemic

PART I: WHY STREET DATA, WHY NOW?

Chapter 1: Leading for Equity: Another World Is Possible

Chapter 2: No Shortcut: Avoiding Equity Traps and Tropes, by Dr. Jamila Dugan

PART II: CHOOSE THE MARGINS

Chapter 3: Flip the Dashboard: Street Data Drives Equity

Chapter 4: Pound the Pavement: Digging Into the Levels of Data

PART III: DEEPEN THE LEARNING

Chapter 5: Redefine "Success": Street Data and the Pedagogy of Voice

Chapter 6: Build Coherence: Focus, Holism, and Well-Being

Chapter 7: Make Learning Public: Valuing Teacher Voices, by Carrie Wilson

PART IV: TRANSFORM THE CULTURE

Chapter 8: Embrace Vulnerability: Moving Through Street Data Cycles

Chapter 9: Calling Folks In and Up to Equity: Street-Level Conversations

Epilogue: The Journey Toward Liberation

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Prologue: Data in a Time of Pandemic PART I: WHY STREET DATA, WHY NOW?

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n Cultivating Genius, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad presents a four-layered equity framework-one that is grounded in history and restores excellence in literacy education. Muhammad's Historically Responsive Literacy Framework is essential for all students, especially youth of color, who traditionally have been marginalized in learning standards, school policies, and classroom practices.

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Cultivating Genius: An Equity Framework | The Scholastic Teacher Store

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In Cultivating Genius, Dr. Gholdy Muhammad presents a four-layered equity framework-one that is grounded in history and restores excellence in literacy education. Muhammad’s Historically Responsive Literacy Framework is essential for all students, especially youth of color, who traditionally have been marginalized in learning standards, school policies, and classroom practices. The framework promotes four learning goals-or pursuits: ��� Identity development; defining self; making sense of one’s values and beliefs ��� Skill development; developing proficiencies through reading and writing meaningful content ��� Intellectual development; gaining knowledge and becoming smarter ��� Criticality; developing the ability to read texts to understand power, authority, and oppression When these four learning pursuits are taught together-through the Historically Responsive Literacy Framework- all students receive profound opportunities for personal, intellectual, and academic success. Muhammad provides probing, self-reflective questions for both teachers and students as well as bibliographies of culturally responsive text and sample lesson plans across grades and content areas.

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Fifteen-year-old Simran “Simi” Sangha comes from a long line of Indian vichole –– matchmakers — with a rich history for helping parents find good matches for their grown children. When Simi accidentally sets up her cousin and a soon-to-be lawyer, her family is thrilled that she has the “gift.”

But Simi is an artist, and she doesn’t want to have anything to do with relationships, helicopter parents, and family drama. That is, until she realizes this might be just the thing to improve her and her best friend Noah’s social status. Armed with her family’s ancient guide to finding love, Simi starts a matchmaking service — via an app, of course.

But when she helps connect a wallflower of a girl with the star of the boys’ soccer team, she turns the high school hierarchy topsy-turvy, soon making herself public enemy number one.

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Nandini Bajpai on writing A Match Made in Mehendi

Love takes many forms and the presence and quality of love in teens' lives impacts their social and emotional health. In A Match Made in Mehendi love is certainly a major theme.

The teenage years are a hotbed of stress, personal growth, social experimentation and the start for the search for romantic love. Societies have had different ways of conducting this search over the ages from arranged marriages set up by matchmakers to dating apps in the twenty first century. The world in which Simi lives in an Indian American community in New Jersey has the whole range of approaches happening simultaneously from the matches her mom and masi carefully arrange in their matchmaking business to the drama and messy relationships in the hallways of her school. No wonder Simi wants to stay in the safe backwaters of her school's social scene with her friend Noah, though both of them would like to find and date the perfect guy. But not for long.

Having seen these worlds up close in my life it was both very uncomfortable and very interesting to bring them together and see what happens. What if Simi took the techniques used by the matchmakers in her family and applied them to the high school dating scene? How would her peers, some of them Indian American and the first generation to grow up in America, react? How would kids that are more privileged react when kids they don't consider worthy start to get attention and find partners the entitled ones have set their sights on? What if everybody gets out of their perceived lane to actually cross the lunchroom floor and be with people that they share common values with whatever their background? And what would happen if their parents found out?

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Love takes many forms and the presence and quality of love in teens' lives impacts their social and emotional health. In A Match Made in Mehendi love is certainly a major theme. The teenage years are a hotbed of stress, personal growth, social experimentation and the start for the search for romantic love.

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A Mexican-American girl and a black boy begin an ill-fated love in the months leading up to a catastrophic 1937 school explosion in East Texas.

The powerful story opens with the legendary school explosion in New London and then rewinds to September 1936. Naomi has begrudgingly left behind her abuelitos in San Antonio for a new life with her younger half siblings, twins, and their long-absent white father, Henry. Now a born-again Christian, Henry struggles to atone for his sins. The siblings struggle to fit into the segregated oil town, where store signs boast "No Negroes, Mexicans, or dogs." The precocious twins read better than half the senior class, and dark-skinned Naomi is guilty of not only being Mexican, but also of being "prettier than any girl in school." Their one friend is Wash, a brilliant African-American senior from the black part of town. Pérez deftly weaves multiple perspectives—including Henry and "the Gang," the collective voice of the racist students—into her unflinchingly intense narrative, but the story ultimately belongs to Naomi and Wash. Their beautifully detailed love story blossoms in the relative seclusion of the woods, where even stepfathers can't keep them apart. But as heartbreaking events unfold, the star-crossed lovers desperately hope that any light can penetrate the black smoke cloud of darkness spreading around them.

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A Mexican-American girl and a black boy begin an ill-fated love in the months leading up to a catastrophic 1937 school explosion in East Texas.

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Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season's program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy of national success.

Once Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, thoughts about the princess program and gender identity begin to take center stage. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana doesn't correct him and finds comfort in this boyish identity when he's around. As their friendship develops, Ana realizes that it's tricky juggling two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. And with a major competition approaching, Ana must decide whether telling everyone the truth is worth risking years of hard work and sacrifice.

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Perfect for fans of George and Ivy Aberdeen's Letter to the World: a heartfelt coming of age story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world.

Twelve-year-old Ana-Marie Jin, the reigning US Juvenile figure skating champion, is not a frilly dress kind of kid. So, when Ana learns that next season's program will be princess themed, doubt forms fast. Still, Ana tries to focus on training and putting together a stellar routine worthy of national success.

Once Ana meets Hayden, a transgender boy new to the rink, thoughts about the princess program and gender identity begin to take center stage. And when Hayden mistakes Ana for a boy, Ana doesn't correct him and finds comfort in this boyish identity when he's around. As their friendship develops, Ana realizes that it's tricky juggling two different identities on one slippery sheet of ice. And with a major competition approaching, Ana must decide whether telling everyone the truth is worth risking years of hard work and sacrifice.

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Perfect for fans of George and Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World: a heartfelt coming of age story about a nonbinary character navigating a binary world...

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Kabir has been in jail since the day he was born, because his mom is serving time for a crime she didn’t commit. He’s never met his dad, so the only family he’s got are their cellmates, and the only place he feels the least bit free is in the classroom, where his kind teacher regales him with stories of the wonders of the outside world. Then one day a new warden arrives and announces Kabir is too old to stay. He gets handed over to a long-lost “uncle” who unfortunately turns out to be a fraud, and intends to sell Kabir. So Kabir does the only thing he can–run away as fast as his legs will take him. How does a boy with nowhere to go and no connections make his way? Fortunately, he befriends Rani, another street kid, and she takes him under her wing. But plotting their next move is hard–and fraught with danger–in a world that cares little for homeless, low caste children. This is not the world Kabir dreamed of–but he’s discovered he’s not the type to give up. Kabir is ready to show the world that he–and his mother–deserve a place in it.

SEE LESS

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"Venkatraman has never met a heavy theme she did not like....Borrowing elements of fable, it's told with a recurring sense of awe by a boy whom the world, for most of his life, has existed only in stories."- New York Times Book Review

★ "Their experiences reveal the invisibility of low-caste people in Indian society, tensions between neighboring states over water supplies, and the unexpected kindness of helpful strangers. Kabir's longing for freedom and justice underscores bittersweet twists and turns. . . . Kabir engages readers by voicing his thoughts, vulnerability, and optimism: While his early physical environment was confined within prison walls, his imagination was nourished by stories and songs. This compelling novel develops at a brisk pace, advanced by evocative details and short chapters full of action. A gritty story filled with hope and idealism."- Kirkus Reviews, starred review

★ "Thoughtfully and gently explores a troubled justice system, interstate conflicts over increasingly commonwater shortages, and a frustrating caste system. . . An optimistic and earnest tale of the power of hope and the gift of family in all forms."- Booklist, starred review

Get the latest updates from Padma Venkatraman

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And go from well-read to best read with book recs, deals and more in your inbox every week.

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Born Behind Bars by Padma Venkatraman: 9780593112472 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"Venkatraman has never met a heavy theme she did not like....Borrowing elements of fable, it's told with a recurring sense of awe by a boy whom the world, for most of his life, has existed only in stories."- New York Times Book Review ★ "Their experiences reveal the invisibility of low-caste people in Indian society, tensions between neighboring states over water supplies, and the unexpected kindness of helpful strangers.

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Gracie sees a chance of fitting in at her South Carolina private school, until a “🤬”–themed Halloween party has her steering clear of the rich kids. Samuel’s Tejano family has both stood up to oppression and been a source of it, but now he’s ready to own his true sexual identity. A Puerto Rican teen in Utah discovers that being a rodeo queen means embracing her heritage, not shedding it. . . .

For most of America’s history, rural people and culture have been casually mocked, stereotyped, and, in general, deeply misunderstood. Now an array of short stories, poetry, graphic short stories, and personal essays, along with anecdotes from the authors’ real lives, dives deep into the complexity and diversity of rural America and the people who call it home. Fifteen extraordinary authors—diverse in ethnic background, sexual orientation, geographic location, and socioeconomic status—explore the challenges, beauty, and nuances of growing up in rural America. From a mountain town in New Mexico to the gorges of New York to the arctic tundra of Alaska, you’ll find yourself visiting parts of this country you might not know existed—and meet characters whose lives might be surprisingly similar to your own.

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The writers bring authentic voices to their work in addition to their biographies, shared at the back of the book. This collection will be a high-interest read for middle and high school students...This book is a must-purchase for libraries serving middle and high school readers.
-School Library Connection

The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting. A fresh and highly accessible contribution.
-Kirkus Reviews

From laughing out loud to holding back tears, readers who enjoy emotionally resonant books will not be disappointed. Those from similar geographic areas will be nodding their heads while every reader, regardless of location, will connect to the universal triumphs and tribulations of teen life. Fans of Rainbow Rowell will dive headfirst into this collection. A great addition that explores an often misrepresented portion of readers.
-School Library Journal

With carefully curated precision spanning poetry, comic, and prose, this anthology turns the spotlight on young adults living in rural areas of the United States...Themes including self-discovery, expression, and self-acceptance thread throughout. While some entries may hold less appeal than others, the wide range of representation ensures that readers will find an authentic voice to their liking.
-Publishers Weekly

A generous handful of the tales offer particularly rich storytelling-S. A. Cosby's story of a fraught encounter between a wealthy Black entrepreneur and his blue collar Black employee over a missing watch; Ashley Hope Pérez's poem in which stealthy references to sexual abuse are tucked among verses extolling the beauty and camaraderie of rural life; and stories by Rob Costello and Nasugraq Rainey Hopson in which teens in the Catskills and in Alaska confront specters from respective local lore.
-Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

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Rural Voices: 9781536212105 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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The writers bring authentic voices to their work in addition to their biographies, shared at the back of the book. This collection will be a high-interest read for middle and high school students...This book is a must-purchase for libraries serving middle and high school readers.-School Library Connection The compilation successfully meets the challenge of serving as a cohesive whole while providing readers with enough variety of tone, pace, and voice to keep the reading experience interesting.

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After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC–Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape—until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called “Legendborn” students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a “Merlin” and who attempts—and fails—to wipe Bree’s memory of everything she saw.

The mage’s failure unlocks Bree’s own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there’s more to her mother’s death than what’s on the police report, she’ll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society’s secrets—and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur’s knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she’ll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down—or join the fight.

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An Instant New York Times Bestseller!
Winner of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award
Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn's YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic.
After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews wants nothing to do with her family memories or childhood home. A residential program for bright high schoolers at UNC-Chapel Hill seems like the perfect escape-until Bree witnesses a magical attack her very first night on campus.

A flying demon feeding on human energies.

A secret society of so called "Legendborn" students that hunt the creatures down.

And a mysterious teenage mage who calls himself a "Merlin" and who attempts-and fails-to wipe Bree's memory of everything she saw.

The mage's failure unlocks Bree's own unique magic and a buried memory with a hidden connection: the night her mother died, another Merlin was at the hospital. Now that Bree knows there's more to her mother's death than what's on the police report, she'll do whatever it takes to find out the truth, even if that means infiltrating the Legendborn as one of their initiates.

She recruits Nick, a self-exiled Legendborn with his own grudge against the group, and their reluctant partnership pulls them deeper into the society's secrets-and closer to each other. But when the Legendborn reveal themselves as the descendants of King Arthur's knights and explain that a magical war is coming, Bree has to decide how far she'll go for the truth and whether she should use her magic to take the society down-or join the fight.

"A King Arthur reimagining that adds seats to the roundtable, inviting new readers to find themselves within its lore, Tracy Deonn's Legendborn braids southern folk traditions and Black Girl Magic into a searing modern tale of grief, power, and self-discovery."
- Dhonielle Clayton, New York Times bestselling author of The Belles

" Legendborn is an enthralling, standout modern fantasy about history and power, and Deonn is an author to watch."
- Kiersten White, New York Times bestselling author

"Legendborn is intoxicating, electrifying, and resonates with a deep understanding and vulnerable adoration of what it is to be a Black girl searching for the magic of herself. Tracy Deonn captivates you from page one with her perfect pacing, exhilarating plotting, and a command of storytelling that cannot be ignored. This book will hold everything you are hostage until, page by page, you discover how it has actually set you free."
- LL McKinney, author of the critically acclaimed Nightmare-Verse series

" Legendborn is a thrilling and tense fantasy that weaves Arthurian adventure with southern Black culture into a story that had me shouting. It will hook readers from the very beginning and leave them breathless until the final, mind-blowing revelation."
- Kwame Mbalia, New York Times bestselling author of the Tristan Strong series.

"Perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare and Kiersten White, Tracy Deonn's unique reimagining of Arthurian legend is full of magic and heart. A brilliant debut!"
- Ashley Poston, National Best-Selling Author of Geekerella

" Legendborn is a remarkable debut that should firmly place Tracy Deonn on every fantasy and contemporary YA reader's radar. Deft and insightful blending of Arthurian legend and Southern Black American history make for an engrossing tale of mystery, romance, and finding your place in the world?-an absolute must-read!"
- Alyssa Cole, award-winning romance author

Sixteen-year-old Black whiz kid Bree Matthews battles grief and demonic forces on her college campus.

After her mother dies in an accident, Bree begins a residential program for enterprising teens at her mother's alma mater and, soon after her arrival, witnesses a magical attack that triggers hidden memories about the evening her mother was killed. Haunted by the fact that their final conversation was an argument, Bree begins a redemptive quest to uncover the connection between her mother's death and the university's secret society, the Order of the Round Table, joining their ranks as an initiate and unwittingly stumbling into a centuries-old supernatural war. While competing in the tournament that determines entry to the society, Bree discovers the truth about her heretofore unknown magical abilities, unwinding a complex history that showcases the horrors chattel slavery in the American South perpetuates on the descendants of all involved. Push through clunky expositions and choppy transitions that interrupt the cohesion of the text to discover solid character development that brings forward contemporary, thoughtful engagement with the representation, or lack thereof, of race in canonical Arthurian lore and mythologies. Representation of actualized, strong queer characters is organic, not forced, and so are textual conversations around emotional wellness and intergenerational trauma. Well-crafted allusions to established legends and other literary works are delightful easter eggs.

Don't look over sea or under stone, this is the fantasy novel for all once and future fans of suspense-filled storytelling. (author's note) (Fantasy. 14-18)
- Kirkus Reviews

*DEONN, Tracy. Legendborn. 512p. S. & S./Simon Pulse. Sept. 2020. Tr $18.99. ISBN 9781534441606.

Gr 8 Up-In Deonn's rich and explosive debut, readers are introduced to a meticulously-built world of magic with roots in Arthurian legend and traditions of the African American South. After her mother's death, Bree enters an Early College program, despite still processing her grief. It's not long before she's pulled into a secret society, and is pushed by circumstance into dangerous tournaments to go from Page to Squire all while watching her back for the demons who would kill her. This book discusses pertinent topics such as institutional racism, intergenerational trauma, and feminism with grace and a natural, unforced style. Readers will delight in a delicious love triangle that promises to get more delectable with a sequel. Though heavy at times with exposition, the novel provides plenty of scenes rife with action and emotion. Deonn pulls off a surprise ending that will urge readers to start from the beginning, to collect the clues laid along the way. VERDICT A promising series debut perfect for fans of Cassandra Clare's City of Bones and Maggie Stiefvater's The Raven Boys. This book underscores the movement for more inclusive versions of traditional Western narratives, and will be a favorite of contemporary fantasy readers. Highly recommended.-Abby Hargreaves, DC P.L.
- School Library Journal STARRED REVIEW

The African diaspora blends with Arthurian legend in Deonn's dynamic YA fantasy debut, reminiscent of City of Bones. On her first two nights at the University of North Carolina's Early College program, 16-year-old Bree Matthews, who is Black, witnesses otherworldly demonic attacks that most other students can't see. When a strong mage's attempt to alter Bree's memories fails, she recovers the recent events alongside a brief recollection from the night of her mother's death, three months prior-a fragment that she realizes another mesmerist sought to hide. Convinced the campus incidents have something to do with her mom's sudden end, Bree persuades peer mentor Nick to help her infiltrate the magical Order of the Round Table, the historically white, deeply racist secret society that he was born into, and which is committed to hunting the demons. Bree struggles as the Order's sole Black member and page, but outside Black female practitioners offer help via a different means of magic, and Bree must decide which path will give her the most answers about both her mother and herself. Though hazy exposition initially slows the narrative, Deonn adeptly employs the haunting history of the American South ("the low buzzing sound of exclusion") to explore themes of ancestral pain, grief, and love, balancing them with stimulating worldbuilding and multiple thrilling plot twists. Ages 14-up. Agent: Penny Moore, Aevitas Creative. (Sept.)
- Publishers Weekly

Margaret K. McElderry Books, 9781534441606, 512pp.

Publication Date: September 15, 2020

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Legendborn (The Legendborn Cycle) | IndieBound.org

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An Instant New York Times Bestseller! Winner of the Coretta Scott King - John Steptoe for New Talent Author Award Filled with mystery and an intriguingly rich magic system, Tracy Deonn’s YA contemporary fantasy Legendborn offers the dark allure of City of Bones with a modern-day twist on a classic legend and a lot of Southern Black Girl Magic.After her mother dies in an accident, sixteen-year-old Bree Matthews...

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Veda, a classical dance prodigy in India, lives and breathes dance—so when an accident leaves her a below-knee amputee, her dreams are shattered. For a girl who’s grown used to receiving applause for her dance prowess and flexibility, adjusting to a prosthetic leg is painful and humbling. But Veda refuses to let her disability rob her of her dreams, and she starts all over again, taking beginner classes with the youngest dancers. Then Veda meets Govinda, a young man who approaches dance as a spiritual pursuit. As their relationship deepens, Veda reconnects with the world around her, and begins to discover who she is and what dance truly means to her.

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"Venkatraman has created a rich, exotic, and fully human world that dazzles and delights. Her way with prose reflects Veda's with dancing: 'Nothing else fills me with as much elation as chasing down soaring music' This novel accomplishes exactly that."- Providence Sunday Journal

"[A] powerful depiction of a teen girl struggling to recover from an accident."- The Chicago Tribune

* " Set against a cardamom, melted butter, and semolina sojji-wafted landscape, the novel's emotional expression and accompanying music impel the reader to share Veda's belief that "Shiva dances everywhere. In everyone. In everything."- Booklist, starred review

* " A beautiful integration of art, religion, compassion and connection."-K irkus Reviews, starred review

* " Told in verse, this story is magnificently strong as Veda's determination dances off the page and into the reader's heart."-V OYA, starred review

* "This exceptional novel, told entirely in verse, captures beautifully the emotions of a girl forced to deal with a number of challenges and how she overcomes them on her way to becoming a confident young woman. It is sure to appeal to readers who are also trying to find their place in the world."- School Library Journal, starred review - various

ALA Notable Children's Book WINNER

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A Time to Dance by Padma Venkatraman: 9780147514400 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"Venkatraman has created a rich, exotic, and fully human world that dazzles and delights.

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Portico Reeves’s superpower is making sure all the other superheroes—like his parents and two best friends—stay super. And safe. Super safe. And he does this all in secret. No one in his civilian life knows he’s actually…Stuntboy!

But his regular Portico identity is pretty cool, too. He lives in the biggest house on the block, maybe in the whole city, which basically makes it a castle. His mom calls where they live an apartment building. But a building with fifty doors just in the hallways is definitely a castle. And behind those fifty doors live a bunch of different people who Stuntboy saves all the time. In fact, he’s the only reason the cat, New Name Every Day, has nine lives.

All this is swell except for Portico’s other secret, his not-so-super secret. His parents are fighting all the time. They’re trying to hide it by repeatedly telling Portico to go check on a neighbor “in the meantime.” But Portico knows “meantime” means his parents are heading into the Mean Time which means they’re about to get into it, and well, Portico’s superhero responsibility is to save them, too—as soon as he figures out how.

Only, all these secrets give Portico the worry wiggles, the frets, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis who is determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all.

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About The Book

A Schneider Family Award Honor Book for Middle Grade From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselling author Jason Reynolds comes a hilarious, hopeful, and action-packed middle grade novel about the greatest young superhero you've never heard of, filled with illustrations by Raúl the Third!
Portico Reeves's superpower is making sure all the other superheroes-like his parents and two best friends-stay super. And safe. Super safe. And he does this all in secret. No one in his civilian life knows he's actually...Stuntboy!

But his regular Portico identity is pretty cool, too. He lives in the biggest house on the block, maybe in the whole city, which basically makes it a castle. His mom calls where they live an apartment building. But a building with fifty doors just in the hallways is definitely a castle. And behind those fifty doors live a bunch of different people who Stuntboy saves all the time. In fact, he's the only reason the cat, New Name Every Day, has nine lives.

All this is swell except for Portico's other secret, his not-so-super secret. His parents are fighting all the time. They're trying to hide it by repeatedly telling Portico to go check on a neighbor "in the meantime." But Portico knows "meantime" means his parents are heading into the Mean Time which means they're about to get into it, and well, Portico's superhero responsibility is to save them, too-as soon as he figures out how.

Only, all these secrets give Portico the worry wiggles, the frets, which his mom calls anxiety. Plus, like all superheroes, Portico has an arch-nemesis who is determined to prove that there is nothing super about Portico at all.

Reading Group Guide

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Reading Group Guide for
Stuntboy, in the Meantime
By Jason Reynolds

Illustrated by Raúl the Third
About the Book
Portico Reeves has a secret identity that only his best friend Zola knows about. As Stuntboy, he is the superhero who keeps all the other superheroes, and his fellow residents of Skylight Gardens (aka the Castle), safe. Lately, that means protecting Zola from their archnemesis, Herbert Singletary the Worst, learning to tame his own anxiety attacks (the Frets), and trying to keep his mother and father's fighting (which always reminds him of an episode of Super Space Warriors) from turning into an Explosion of Great Magnitude.
Discussion Questions
1. What does Portico love about living in Skylight Gardens? What does the fact that he calls it "The Castle" suggest about how he feels about his home? What do you love most about the place where you live?

2. Look up the definition of community. Which part of the definition do you think describes the community that is created by the residents of Skylight Gardens? Give examples of specific ways that they demonstrate that they care and look out for each other.

3. Explain the types of situations that cause Portico to get a case of the Frets. Look closely at the way Jason Reynolds describes how Portico feels when he is anxious: Which parts of his body are affected when he has the Frets? How does your body feel when you are anxious, worried, or afraid? What helps Portico feel better when he gets the Frets? What helps you when you are anxious?

4. Describe Zola and Portico's friendship. In your opinion, what makes them such good friends? How do they demonstrate that they care about each other? Choose a moment in the book when you think their friendship is particularly strong, and explain why you chose it. What do you think is the most important characteristic to look for in a friend?

5. Explain the difference between a hero and a superhero. Who are some of Portico's heroes? Who do you know that you consider a hero? Explain why you think they are heroic. If you could choose, would you rather be a superhero or a regular hero?

6. Which superhero does Portico decide he wants to be? What does he choose as his superpower? What do his choices tell you in regard to what Portico cares about?

7. Why is Portico initially excited when his parents tell him they are getting two apartments? Why do you think he does not realize his parents are separating?

8. When Portico's mother tells him to go see what Zola is up to "in the meantime," he thinks she says, "the mean time." Why is "the mean time" a good name for what is happening in Portico's apartment? Using words that sound alike to suggest a different meaning is called a play on words or a pun. Look for other times when Jason Reynolds uses a play on words.

9. An allegory is a story that has more than one meaning, and in this book, the Super Space Warrior episodes can be read as an allegory for the conflict between Portico's parents. Look up the meaning of the names "Mater" and "Pater." How is this a clue to the allegorical meaning of Super Space Warriors? What words do the name of the show's villains, the Irators, sound like when you say it out loud? How might Mater and Pater's duty to protect the sun relate to Portico and his parents? If each show ended with someone telling what the moral of the story is, what do you think the moral of each of the Super Space Warriors episodes would be? How do the illustrations reinforce the allegorical connection between Mater and Pater and Mr. and Mrs. Reeves?

10. Why do you think Herbert Singletary was looking sad the first time Portico met him? Why do you think Herbert responded to Portico's kindness by pushing him and calling him names when Portico was being nice to him?

11. What does a building superintendent do? Why do Zola and Portico conclude that the superintendent of Skylight Gardens is a superhero?

12. Why does Portico get into a physical fight with Herbert Singletary at the block party? What does his father say about whether or not it was okay for Portico to fight Herbert? What does his mother say? Who do you agree with?

13. What do Portico and Zola learn about Herbert's family and what is behind the half door? When Zola tells her mother that Herbert hides in the room behind the half door, Mrs. Brawner says, "We're all hiding from something." Sometimes people hide from their true feelings. What feelings do you think Herbert is hiding by being mean? What feelings do you think Portico's parents are hiding from when they act out in anger toward each other?

14. What event leads to Herbert becoming friends with Zola and Portico? Why do you think Portico is finally able to feel sad about his parents' separation? How do his friends let him know that they will be there for him? Why do you think he decides not to run in and stop his parents from fighting this time?

15. When Portico's parents fight over him, how does it make him feel? What does it mean to say that someone feels "torn" or "torn apart"? Have you ever felt this way? What helps Portico feel better? What helped you?

16. In the last section of the book, "The Final Word and Two Frights," what does Portico realize about himself? What does he realize about all the things that were piling up and making him afraid?

17. This book ends with the words, "To be continued." What do you hope happens next?
Extension Activities
1. Portico and his best friend, Zola, imagine themselves and the other people who live in Skylight Gardens as superheroes, complete with special powers. If you could choose a secret superhero identity for yourself, who would you be? What would be your secret power? What would be your mission? Would you work alone (like Wonder Woman), with a partner (like Batman and Robin), or with a team (like the Avengers)? Create a comic strip about one of your superhero's adventures.

2. Stuntboy, in the Meantime is structured as a series of episodes, each beginning with the Stuntboy theme song. Write complete lyrics for the theme song and make a recording of your song. You can use the tune of a song you already know or create your own music to go with your lyrics.

3. Zola teaches Portico about meditation and yoga, two practices that help people cultivate mindfulness and reduce anxiety. Research the benefits of practicing mindfulness, and work with a group to teach your class a breathing or other mindfulness exercise. Talk about how your body feels after you complete the exercise. How do you think you would feel if you practiced a mindfulness moment before you took a test or participated in a competition? How would you feel if you started and/or ended the day with a breathing exercise?

4. What can you tell about the way the plot of each Super Space Warriors episode is structured? How do they begin and end? What causes the conflicts in the episodes? Once you have analyzed the formula for Super Space Warriors, create a new episode that uses the same structure.

5. Try reading some of Stuntboy, in the Meantime out loud. What do you notice about the way the text sounds? Jason Reynolds uses figurative language when he writes, which you may recognize from reading poetry. Look for examples of internal rhyme, alliteration, similes, and metaphors. Divide your class into teams and search for other examples of poetic language in the book to see who can identify the most examples.

6. The residents of Skylight Gardens have created a community where everyone knows and cares about one another. When a school creates this type of community, we call it "school spirit," and some schools even have a student government organization and/or a spirit club to help build community. Think about the things that create community for the residents of Skylight Gardens, and develop a plan inspired by the book to create more school spirit.

7. Zola's mother says, "Life is just a TV show, and we're all characters in it." If your life was a TV show, what kind of show would you want it to be? In the style of Stuntboy, in the Meantime, write and illustrate a story that imagines one of your experiences as an episode of your own TV show.

8. Stuntboy, in the Meantime features numerous charts that provide instructions for how to do different things. What are your areas of expertise? Create a graphic chart that teaches others how to do something new and share it with your class.

9. Many of the items that Portico's parents fight over have a symbolic value (in other words, they are connected to a memory or idea that makes them important to the owner). Discuss why each item that they fight over is important to both of them. Think about an object you own that has a symbolic value to you and write an essay that describes the object using sensory details and explains why it is important to you.
Guide prepared by Amy Jurskis, English Department Chair at Oxbridge Academy in Florida.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.

About The Author

Jason Reynolds is a #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Newbery Award Honoree, a Printz Award Honoree, a two-time National Book Award finalist, a Kirkus Award winner, a UK Carnegie Medal winner, a two-time Walter Dean Myers Award winner, an NAACP Image Award Winner, an Odyssey Award Winner and two-time honoree, the recipient of multiple Coretta Scott King honors, and the Margaret A. Edwards Award. He was also the 2020-2022 National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. His many books include All American Boys (cowritten with Brendan Kiely); When I Was the Greatest; The Boy in the Black Suit; Stamped; As Brave as You; For Every One; the Track series ( Ghost, Patina, Sunny, and Lu); Look Both Ways; Stuntboy, in the Meantime; Ain't Burned All the Bright (recipient of the Caldecott Honor) and My Name Is Jason. Mine Too. (both cowritten with Jason Griffin); and Long Way Down, which received a Newbery Honor, a Printz Honor, and a Coretta Scott King Honor. He lives in Washington, DC. You can find his ramblings at JasonWritesBooks.com.

About The Illustrator

Raúl the Third is the illustrator of the New York Times bestselling Stuntboy, in the Meantime, by Jason Reynolds. He's also a three-time Pura Belpré Award winner for ¡Vamos! Let's Go to The Market! and his Lowrider picture book series written by Cathy Camper, the first of which, Lowriders in Space, also won the Texas Bluebonnet. Raúl is also the author and illustrator of ¡Vamos! Let's Go Eat and ¡Vamos! Let's Cross the Bridge. His work centers around the contemporary Mexican American experience and his memories of growing up in El Paso, Texas, and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico. He's also contributed to the SpongeBob Comics series. He lives outside of Boston.

Product Details

Publisher: Atheneum/Caitlyn Dlouhy Books (November 30, 2021)

Length: 272 pages

ISBN13: 9781534418165

Grades: 2 - 7

Ages: 7 - 12

Lexile ® 640L The Lexile reading levels have been certified by the Lexile developer, MetaMetrics®

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Raves and Reviews

"Consistently funny and undeniably thoughtful."

- Kirkus Reviews, STARRED, September 15, 2021

Portico Reeves, secret alter ego Stuntboy, lives amid a lively, largely Black community at "the castle"-apartment building Skylight Gardens. As Portico, he navigates tense interactions with bully Herbert Singletary the Worst, the stress of his ever-fighting parents, and his own anxiety, or "frets." As Stuntboy, meanwhile, his job is "keeping other superheroes safe, so they can save the world!" And he definitely has his hands full watching out for the castle's various larger-than-life characters-rolling down the stairs for a neighbor who's a "little wobbly," taking a tumble in lieu of shoelace-obsessed Mr. Mister, and blowing salt-and-vinegar chip crumbs in his dad's face to stop his parents' fighting. Zola Brawner, best friend for 163 days, offers support, comparing Portico's fighting parents to episodes of an in-universe television show, but his folks' dismissals and descent into the "mean time" threaten to worsen the frets. From vibrant, comic book-style art with ample color by Elaine Bay to running gags and commercial breaks that balance serious moments, there's plenty to enjoy about this engaging, high-energy collaboration by Raúl the Third ( Strollercoaster) and Reynolds ( Stamped).

- Publishers Weekly *STARRED REVIEW*, October 11, 2021

BCCB - Portico Reeves lives in "a giant castle . . . made from the glassiest glass and the brickiest bricks on Earth." Skylight Gardens apartment, towering over the city and boasting "one hundred windows," "at least a million steps," and plenty of interesting neighbors, is pretty much all the residence a kid could want. Unfortunately, one particular occupant, Herbert Singletary, is out to make life miserable for Portico and his best friend, Zola. Fired up by their common passion for Super Space Warriors (and by Portico's longing for a role in a superhero universe), the friends envision Portico as Stuntboy, a sort of caped guardian who does the physical dirty work of intervention so that superheroes will be safe. Stuntboy's skills are needed now more than ever to defuse his parents' fights over personal property as they prepare for a separation that's obvious to everyone but Portico. .... [T]he presentation is successfully buoyed by the interplay of Portico's overly literal tendencies (e.g., he understands "in the meantime" to allude to his parents' "mean time" skirmishes) and by and by Raúl the Third's ebullient digital illustrations, which shine as a love letter to working class urban life.

- BCCB, November 1, 2021

*"This ingeniously crafted illustrated novel offers a multifaceted and heartfelt take on the classic superhero story. Portico Reeves is a kid with a "secret secret"-he likes to think of himself as Stuntboy, a homegrown and self-styled superhero whose power is "making sure all the other heroes stay super. And safe. Supersafe." The selfless Stuntboy protects the quirky and racially diverse cast of characters in his apartment building, particularly his own family members and his best friend Zola. Instead of super strength or flight, Stuntboy performs a variety of odd "stunts" to help others, which also lets him burn off some energy. When he is Stuntboy, the young hero isn't affected by his anxiety, or "the frets," which are made worse for Portico by his parents' constant bickering and his relentless bullying by "Herbert Singletary the Worst." In ten episodic chapters, Reynolds employs fast-paced, realistic dialogue loaded with wordplay and humor. .... Raúl the Third's cartoon illustrations are integral, active components of the story....the art makes Portico's world feel real and vibrant. Bay's color work is invaluable, oscillating between pulsating palettes and subdued screentones. Keeping to the superhero tradition, the creators end on a cliffhanger, leaving readers with a promise of more adventures to come."

- The Horn Book, starred review

*"In this funny, action-packed graphic novel, readers are introduced to Portico Reeves (aka Stuntboy), a Black fourth-grader and superhero. As Portico tries to dodge Herbert's bullying and cope with his parents' constant arguing, Stuntboy swoops in to save his neighbors and, hopefully, his parents' marriage.

This easily accessible and hilarious graphic novel is broken up into short episodes interrupted by commercial breaks with helpful tips on stunts. National Ambassador for Young People's Literature Jason Reynolds ( Track series) creates a text that makes for a quick and easy read and the accompanying digital illustrations by Raúl the Third (Strollercoaster) match the tone perfectly. Stuntboy, in the Meantime is a perfect book for seven- to 12-year-olds."

- Shelf Awareness, starred review

Awards and Honors

Audie Award Winner

CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Council)

Volunteer State Book Award Nominee (TN)

Bank Street Best Children's Book of the Year Selection Title

ALA Notable Children's Recording

Odyssey Honor for Audio

NYPL Best Books for Kids (Top Ten)

ALA Schneider Family Honor Book Award for Best Book for Middle Grade

Resources and Downloads

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Stuntboy, in the Meantime by Jason Reynolds - A Schneider Family Award Honor Book for Middle Grade From Newbery Medal honoree and #1 New York Times bestselli...

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World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals—and you’ve never heard of many of them. Sarah delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. From high-profile figures like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt to the trailblazing gender-ambiguous Queen of Sweden and a bisexual blues singer who didn’t make it into your history books, these astonishing true stories uncover a rich queer heritage that encompasses every culture, in every era. By turns hilarious and inspiring, the beautifully illustrated Queer, There, and Everywhere is for anyone who wants the real story of the queer rights movement.

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Sarah Prager's first book, Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World came out from HarperCollins on May 23, 2017.

World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals-and you've never heard of many of them. Sarah delves deep into the lives of 23 people who fought, created, and loved on their own terms. From high-profile figures like Abraham Lincoln and Eleanor Roosevelt to the trailblazing gender-ambiguous Queen of Sweden and a bisexual blues singer who didn't make it into your history books, these astonishing true stories uncover a rich queer heritage that encompasses every culture, in every era. By turns hilarious and inspiring, the beautifully illustrated Queer, There, and Everywhere is for anyone who wants the real story of the queer rights movement.

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Sarah Prager's first book, Queer, There, and Everywhere: 23 People Who Changed the World came out from HarperCollins on May 23, 2017. World history has been made by countless lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer individuals-and you've never heard of many of them.

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Lou Bulosan-Nelson has the ultimate summer DIY project. She’s going to build her own “tiny house,” 100 square feet all her own. She shares a room with her mom in her grandmother’s house, and longs for a place where she can escape her crazy but lovable extended Filipino family. Lou enjoys her woodshop class and creating projects, and she plans to build the house on land she inherited from her dad, who died before she was born. But then she finds out that the land may not be hers for much longer.

Lou discovers it’s not easy to save her land, or to build a house. But she won’t give up; with the help of friends and relatives, her dream begins to take shape, and she learns the deeper meaning of home and family.

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"This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love." - Kirkus Reviews, Starred review

"Cheerful and hope-filled." - School Library Journal, Starred review

"Readers will enjoy rooting for [Lou] as she finds out exactly what makes a house into a home." - Booklist

"Mae Respicio's charming middle-grade debut offers an intimate experience of Filipino culture as well as a message of empowerment to young girls with grand goals. . . . A sweet treasure for any budding reader." -Shelf Awareness

"If this book were a house, the rooms would be filled with warmth, family, and friendship." -Erin Entrada Kelly, author of the Newbery Medal winner Hello, Universe; The Land of Forgotten Girls; and Blackbird Fly

"Equal parts girl-heart, muscle and know-how for today's reader. Endearing to the end." -Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor- and Coretta Scott King Award-winning author of the National Book Award Finalist Clayton Byrd Goes Underground

"Warm, funny and affirming. As we get to know Lou, her extended Filipino family, and friends, the door opens into her life and, ultimately, her home." -Lisa Yee, author of the Millicent Min trilogy andthe DC Super Hero Girls series

"I fell in love with Lou and her wonderful extended family. This story may be about a tiny house, but it has an enormous heart." -Kate Messner, author of Breakout and Capture the Flag

Dorothy Canfield Fisher Children's Book Award NOMINEE 2019

CBC Awards & Honors SELECTION 2019

Asian/Pacific American Librarians Association (APLA)-Literature Award HONOR 2019

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The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio: 9781524717971 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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"This delightful debut welcomes readers in like a house filled with love." - Kirkus Reviews, Starred review "Cheerful and hope-filled." - School Library Journal, Starred review "Readers will enjoy rooting for [Lou] as she finds out exactly what makes a house into a home."

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From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party and Roaring Softly, this picture book is a pure celebration of all the different human bodies that exist in the world. Highlighting the various skin tones, body shapes, and hair types is just the beginning in this truly inclusive book. With its joyful illustrations and encouraging refrain, it will instill body acceptance and confidence in the youngest of readers. “My body, your body, every different kind of body! All of them are good bodies! BODIES ARE COOL!”

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2022 ALA RISE: A Feminist Book Project List Pick

★ "A bustling celebration of body positivity that lovingly features bodies, skin, and hair of all kinds . . . Feder chooses clear and unapologetic language to describe body characteristics, challenging the negative connotations that are often attached to those bodies . . . Depicting societally marginalized human bodies in all their joyful, normal glory, this book is cool." - Kirkus, starred review

★ "With such a joyfully inclusive range of humans, all taking part in community and taking pleasure in each other's company, it's hard to imagine a stronger statement of body affirmation and pride." - Publishers Weekly, starred review★ "[T]his unabashed promotion of body positivity packs a punch and reminds readers to respect and love every body-including their own. This is a timely message with universal applications." - Booklist, starred review

★ "With colorful pages of people in all shapes and sizes, this book both serves as a joyous read-aloud for small and large groups and as a book for individual study and discovery . . . With lilting dancelike rhythm through word repetition and brightly colored detailed images, this is a timely and worthy addition for every collection." - SLJ, starred review

"Feder's rhyming text and double-page spreads filled with all kinds of people celebrate the variety of our physical attributes. The joy-filled cartoon illustrations pack a lot of bodies into the settings (e.g., subway car, pool, backyard barbecue) and offer plenty to consider." - Horn Book

"This inclusive book shows and celebrates all types of bodies in the park, in the pool, at a party-everywhere. That's exactly where all our bodies are . . . . It's truly transformative not only to be seen by others but to see yourself. To see yourself just as you are. To see yourself included. To see your body as good, as cool . . . a great resource to start conversations about fatphobia and anti-fat bias and to help a kid struggling with their self-image." -Lisa Fipps, author of Starfish

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Bodies Are Cool by Tyler Feder: 9780593112625 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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This cheerful love-your-body picture book for preschoolers is an exuberant read-aloud with bright and friendly illustrations to pore over. From the acclaimed creator of Dancing at the Pity Party...

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When sisters Usha and Aarti look up at the stars, they see different things. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, but Usha sees the Big DIGGER. And cousin Gloria sees the Big Kite! Could they all be right? A playful introduction to geometry and spatial relationships, featuring Indian American characters and a note about cultures and constellations.

Storytelling Math celebrates children using math in their daily adventures as they play, build, and discover the world around them. Joyful stories and hands-on activities make it easy for kids and their grown-ups to explore everyday math together. Developed in collaboration with math experts at STEM education nonprofit TERC, under a grant from the Heising-Simons Foundation.

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Usha and the Big Digger by Amitha Jagannath Knight: 9781623542023 | PenguinRandomHouse.com: Books

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Celebrate diversity, math, and the power of storytelling! When sisters Usha and Aarti look up at the stars, they see different things. Aarti sees the Big Dipper, but Usha sees the Big DIGGER. And cousin...

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Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. Gino became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and it changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested.

To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino’s greatest achievement was something he never told a soul—that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.

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Author Megan Hoyt and illustrator Iacopo Bruno bring to light the inspiring, true story of Gino Bartali, a beloved Italian cyclist and secret champion in the fight for Jewish lives during World War II.

Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including the 1938 Tour de France. Gino became an international sports hero! But the next year, World War II began, and it changed everything. Soldiers marched into Italy. Tanks rolled down the cobbled streets of Florence. And powerful leaders declared that Jewish people should be arrested.

To the entire world, Gino Bartali was merely a champion cyclist. But Gino's greatest achievement was something he never told a soul-that he secretly worked with the Italian resistance to save hundreds of Jewish men, women, and children, and others, from certain death, using the one thing no authority would question: his bicycle.

This compelling nonfiction picture book for elementary-age readers offers a unique perspective on World War II history. It's a strong choice for units on the war and for biographies of lesser-known heroes in history and in sports.

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Bartali's Bicycle: The True Story of Gino Bartali, Italy's Secret Hero

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Author Megan Hoyt and illustrator Iacopo Bruno bring to light the inspiring, true story of Gino Bartali, a beloved Italian cyclist and secret champion in the fight for Jewish lives during World War II. Gino Bartali pedaled across Italy for years, winning one cycling race after another, including

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In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist George M. Johnson explores his childhood, adolescence, and college years in New Jersey and Virginia. From the memories of getting his teeth kicked out by bullies at age five, to flea marketing with his loving grandmother, to his first sexual relationships, this young-adult memoir weaves together the trials and triumphs faced by Black queer boys.

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*An Amazon Best Book of the Year optioned for television by Gabrielle Union!* In a series of personal essays, prominent journalist and LGBTQIA+ activist Geor...

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Celi Rivera's life swirls with questions. About her changing body. Her first attraction to a boy. And her best friend's exploration of what it means to be genderfluid. But most of all, her mother's insistence she have a moon ceremony when her first period arrives. It's an ancestral Mexica ritual that Mima and her community have reclaimed, but Celi promises she will NOT be participating. Can she find the power within herself to take a stand for who she wants to be?

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​ Celi Rivera's life swirls with questions. About her changing body. Her first attraction to a boy. And her best friend's exploration of what it means to be genderfluid.

But most of all, her mother's insistence she have a moon ceremony when her first period arrives. It's an ancestral Mexica ritual that Mima and her community have reclaimed, but Celi promises she will NOT be participating. Can she find the power within herself to take a stand for who she wants to be?

A dazzling story told with the sensitivity, humor, and brilliant verse of debut talent Aida Salazar. *Edited by Nick Thomas of

*COVER ART by Arthur A. Levine Books Joe Cepeda

​Middle-Grade, 4 - 8th grade * 240p . * Scholastic. *
$17.99. * ISBN 9781338283372.

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​ Celi Rivera's life swirls with questions. About her changing body. Her first attraction to a boy. And her best friend's exploration of what it means to be genderfluid. But most of all, her mother's insistence she have a moon ceremony when her first period arrives.