# data[].attributes.body
Ross Maloy just wants to be a normal seventh grader. He doesn't want to lose his hair, or wear a weird hat, or deal with the disappearing friends who don't know what to say to "the cancer kid." But with his recent diagnosis of a rare eye cancer, blending in is off the table.

Based on Rob Harrell's real life experience, and packed with comic panels and spot art, this incredibly personal and poignant novel is an unforgettable, heartbreaking, hilarious, and uplifting story of survival and finding the music, magic, and laughter in life's weirdness.

# data[].attributes.body
Mia Tang has a lot of secrets. Number 1: She lives in a motel, not a big house. Every day, while her immigrant parents clean the rooms, ten-year-old Mia manages the front desk of the Calivista Motel and tends to its guests. Number 2: Her parents hide immigrants. And if the mean motel owner, Mr. Yao, finds out they've been letting them stay in the empty rooms for free, the Tangs will be doomed. Number 3: She wants to be a writer. But how can she when her mom thinks she should stick to math because English is not her first language? It will take all of Mia's courage, kindness, and hard work to get through this year. Will she be able to hold on to her job, help the immigrants and guests, escape Mr. Yao, and go for her dreams?

# data[].attributes.headline
THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY by Rebecca Balcarcel

# data[].attributes.subject
THE OTHER HALF OF HAPPY by Rebecca Balcarcel

# data[].attributes.body
Twelve-year-old Quijana is a biracial girl, desperately trying to understand the changes that are going on in her life; her mother rarely gets home before bedtime, her father suddenly seems to be trying to get in touch with his Guatemalan roots (even though he never bothered to teach Quijana Spanish), she is about to start seventh grade in the Texas town where they live and she is worried about fitting in--and Quijana suspects that her parents are keeping secrets, because she is sure there is something wrong with her little brother, Memito, who is becoming increasingly hard to reach.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Author reads chapter 1, The Other Half of Happy (grades 4-8, especially)

# data[].attributes.body
Timothy, sentenced to house arrest for stealing, keeps a journal into which he documents his fears and frustrations.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Part I: KA Holt reading from HOUSE ARREST, part I (weeks 1-3)

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The Unwanteds Read-Aloud with Author Lisa McMann | Read & Learn with Simon Kids

# data[].attributes.headline
THE SERPENT'S SECRETS by Sayantani DasGupta

# data[].attributes.subject
THE SERPENT'S SECRETS by Sayantani DasGupta

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Sayantani DasGupta reads The Serpent's Secret

# data[].attributes.headline
MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

# data[].attributes.subject
MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE by James Patterson and Chris Tebbetts

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Chris Tebbetts reading the first two chapters of MIDDLE SCHOOL, THE WORST YEARS OF MY LIFE

# data[].attributes.body
After seventh-grader Jerome is shot by a white police officer, he observes the aftermath of his death and meets the ghosts of other fallen black boys including historical figure Emmett Till in this heartbreaking and powerful story from the award-winning author of "Towers Falling."

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jewell Parker Rhodes reading Chapter One of Ghost Boys

# data[].attributes.body
Moving to Vermont the summer after seventh grade, a young gymnast hides a secret as she makes new friends and investigates her grandmother's claim that someone is trying to destroy her cricket farm.

# data[].attributes.headline
THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTPUS by Anne Braden

# data[].attributes.subject
THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTPUS by Anne Braden

# data[].attributes.body
Seventh-grader Zoey Albro focuses on caring for three younger siblings and avoiding rich classmates at school until her fascination with octopuses gets her on the debate team and she begins to speak out.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Ann Braden Reading the 1st Chapter of THE BENEFITS OF BEING AN OCTOPUS

# data[].attributes.body
Raymie Clarke has come to realize that everything, absolutely everything, depends on her. And she has a plan. If Raymie can win the Little Miss Central Florida Tire competition, then her father, who left town two days ago with a dental hygienist, will see Raymie's picture in the paper and (maybe) come home. To win, not only does Raymie have to do good deeds and learn how to twirl a baton; she also has to contend with the wispy, frequently fainting Louisiana Elefante, who has a show-business background, and the fiery, stubborn Beverly Tapinski, who's determined to sabotage the contest.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
National Book Award Finalist Kate DiCamillo reads from Ramie Nightingale

# data[].attributes.body
Fourteen-year-old twin basketball stars Josh and Jordan wrestle with highs and lows on and off the court as their father ignores his declining health.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kwame Alexander Reads an Excerpt From The Crossover

# data[].attributes.body
Running. That's all Ghost (real name Castle Cranshaw) has ever known. But Ghost has been running for the wrong reasons-it all started with running away from his father, who, when Ghost was a very little boy, chased him and his mother through their apartment, then down the street, with a loaded gun, aiming to kill. Since then, Ghost has been the one causing problems-and running away from them-until he meets Coach, an ex-Olympic Medalist who sees something in Ghost: crazy natural talent. If Ghost can stay on track, literally and figuratively, he could be the best sprinter in the city. Can Ghost harness his raw talent for speed, or will his past finally catch up to him?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
National Book Award Finalist Jason Reynolds reads from Ghost

# data[].attributes.body
If home is where the heart is, what would happen if you lost it? Compassion and humor infuse the story of a family caught in financial crisis and a girl struggling to form her own identity.It's the first day of summer and Rachel's thirteenth birthday. She can't wait to head to the lake with her best friend, Micah. But as summer unfolds, every day seems to get more complicated. Her "fun" new job taking care of the neighbors' farm animals quickly becomes a challenge, whether she's being pecked by chickens or having to dodge a charging pig at feeding time. At home, her parents are more worried about money than usual, and their arguments over bills intensify. Fortunately, Rachel can count on Micah to help her cope with all the stress. But Micah seems to want their relationship to go beyond friendship, and though Rachel almost wishes for that, too, she can't force herself to feel "that way" about him. In fact, she isn't sure she can feel that way about any boy - or what that means

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Jo Knowles reads from Where The Heart Is

# data[].attributes.body
Twelve-and-three-quarter-year-old Felix Knutsson has a knack for trivia. His favorite game show is Who What Where When; he even named his gerbil after the host. Felix's mom, Astrid, is loving but can't seem to hold on to a job. So when they get evicted from their latest shabby apartment, they have to move into a van. Astrid swears him to secrecy; he can't tell anyone about their living arrangement, not even Dylan and Winnie, his best friends at his new school. If he does, she warns him, he'll be taken away from her and put in foster care.

As their circumstances go from bad to worse, Felix gets a chance to audition for a junior edition of Who What Where When, and he's determined to earn a spot on the show. Winning the cash prize could make everything okay again. But things don't turn out the way he expects. . . .

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
We've detected that JavaScript is disabled in this browser. Please enable JavaScript or switch to a supported browser to continue using twitter.com. You can see a list of supported browsers in our Help Center.
Help Center

# data[].attributes.headline
DON'T ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM by Jenn De Leon

# data[].attributes.subject
DON'T ASK ME WHERE I'M FROM by Jenn De Leon

# data[].attributes.body
First-generation American LatinX Liliana Cruz does what it takes to fit in at her new nearly all-white school. But when family secrets spill out and racism at school ramps up, she must decide what she believes in and take a stand.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Jennifer De Leon reads the first chapter of Don't Ask Me Where I'm From. Liliana Cruz does what it takes to fit in at her new nearly all-white school, but when family secrets come out and racism, she must decide what she believes in.

# data[].attributes.body
When being yourself isn't good enough, who should you be?

Told in dual perspectives, this provocative and timely novel for middle-school readers by Paula Chase, the acclaimed author of So Done and Dough Boys, will resonate with fans of Jason Reynolds, Rebecca Stead, and Renee Watson.

Best friends Rasheeda and Monique are both good girls. For Sheeda, that means keeping her friends close and following her deeply religious and strict aunt's every rule. For Mo, that means not making waves in the prestigious and mostly White ballet intensive she's been accepted to.

But what happens when Sheeda catches the eye of Mo's older brother, and the invisible racial barriers to Mo's success as a ballerina turn out to be not so invisible? What happens when you discover that being yourself isn't good enough? How do you fight back?

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Paula Chase reads the first chapter of Turning Point. In this story, the author explores the complex and emotional issues that affect many young teens in the same neighborhood as her acclaimed So Done and Dough Boys.

# data[].attributes.body
A young boy gets detained by ICE while crossing the border from Mexico to the United States in this timely and unflinching novel by award-winning author Alexandra Diaz.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Alexandra Diaz reads the first chapter of Santiago's Road Home. Fleeing abusive relatives and extreme poverty in Mexico, young Santiago endures being detained by ICE while crossing the border into the United States.

# data[].attributes.headline
GHOSTS UNVEILED by Kerrie Logan Hollihan

# data[].attributes.subject
GHOSTS UNVEILED by Kerrie Logan Hollihan

# data[].attributes.body
Ghosts Unveiled is the second book in the Creepy and True series. This new book explores another spine-chilling topic that kids are sure to love: ghosts Packed with compelling evidence but light in tone, award-winning author Kerrie Hollihan takes a humorous but meticulously researched, well-balanced look at ghost sightings, unsolved mysteries, and creepy hauntings around the world.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Kerrie Logan Hollihan First Chapter Friday

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Kerrie Logan Hollihan reads the first chapter of Ghosts Unveiled, the second book in the the Creepy and True Series. This book offers readers a new twist on a much-beloved subject. Ghosts are undeniably creepy, but could they also be true?

# data[].attributes.body
For 12-year-old Maddie Polansky, the only good part of school is art class. And though she's never paid much attention to politics, when she learns that the frontrunner for mayor of her city intends to cut funding for the arts in public schools, the political suddenly becomes very personal. So Maddie persuades her babysitter, Janet, to run for mayor against Lucinda Burghart, art-hating bad guy. Soon, Maddie is thrust into the role of campaign manager, leading not only to humor and hijinks, but to an inspiring story for young readers that talks about activism and what it takes to become an engaged citizen. Maddie and Janet's adventures on the campaign trail are illustrated by copious black-and-white drawings throughout the book

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Leila Sales reads the first chapter of The Campaign. Her middle grade political comedy about a 12-year-old who runs her babysitter's campaign for mayor.