Children’s / Teenage fiction and true stories

Book Synopsis“Gritty Kitty, stumble and fall, stand back up—no problem at all!” Young readers will see themselves in Gritty Kitty when Gritty takes a tumble on the playground, struggles to wait patiently for a turn with a favorite toy, and experiences other everyday hurdles. But through grit and resilience, Gritty Kitty learns to get right back up again. With gentle humor, this book encourages young readers to find their own inner strength.Trade Review"A gem of a book that encourages kids to toughen up, gently. (starred review)" Kirkus Reviews

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Book Synopsis"Make with boxes, sticks, and string. Imagination can make anything!" Children learn best through real experiences, real people, and and exploring the real world. Baby Unplugged: Make is the newest title in the Baby Unplugged series, encouraging families to limit screen time and be curious, creative, and eager to learn more about the world around them.

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Book SynopsisGrandpa builds a beautiful little vegetable garden, but a big ugly rock is in the way. He digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a car, he decides to bypass it when planting vegetables. Grandma nearly trips over the rock when watering the seedlings, so she digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a house, she decides to walk across it when she is there. Papa stumbles over the rock when he is going to trim the seedlings, so he digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as an airplane, he decides to let it stay. Mama is worried about her sons tripping over the rock, so she digs it with a shovel. Thinking that it is as big as a mountain, she decides to keep her sons out of the vegetable garden.One day, the two brothers see the big rock and decide to dig it out together. Both their grandparents and parents tell them to give it up, because the rock can be bigger than they ever imagine. However, in just one afternoon, the two brothers dig out the rock successfully. It is not as big as they think.Sometimes the things in front of us are not as simple as they look.

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Book SynopsisI Wish pairs writing with a gallery of portraits inspired by old-fashioned photographs - faces staring out at us with the serious, veiled expressions of a bygone time. Scattered among the paintings are young children, men and women, and babies, speaking through Toon Tellegen's yearning language. Like dozens of confessions poured from the page, the writing presents a glittering kaleidoscope of wishes, from imagined feats of heroism to reciprocated human love.Trade Review"This Dutch import pairs portraits with poetry to articulate wrenching individualism, yearning, humor, desires, and pathos ... This probing psychological journey makes for an exciting exploration in empathy." — Kirkus Reviews"Each face is round as the moon, with small shining eyes that sit curiously far apart...The figures rarely smile. One boy wears a bellhop’s uniform; another, a red jersey and cap. Tellegen’s inward-turned, free verse poems, gracefully translated by Colmer, give them voice...By voicing the fears, angers, and secret desires of the figures, Tellegen spurs readers to embrace those of others, and their own." — Publishers Weekly"A strange, melancholy, oddly hopeful book for our strange, melancholy, oddly hopeful little world." — Evanston Public Library, 101 Great Books for Kids List of 2020"A book of prose by Toon Telegen based on illustrations by Ingrid Godon offers timeless musings about life...it will be as simple or as complex as you need it to be for you. What you read in this book of wistful poetic prose is inspired by, and based on portraits with eyes that allow you to peer into delicious intimacy. The portraits themselves look unposed and perfectly candid. It is as if the artist caught her subjects off guard." — Picture this Post"The genius of Tellegen’s poems is in their mystery ... David Colmer’s great accomplishment in his translation of I Wish is that he creates a voice in English for the various speakers that doesn’t pick a side, but instead breaks down our sense of what is “childlike” and what’s for adults ... Like [English educator and reformer] Charlotte Mason, it sees [children] as persons ... Tellegen’s poems share Charlotte Mason’s high opinion of children, in that they show children to be capable of great depth of reflection about difficult ideas ... These are complex characters that give readers at any age much to chew on." — Reading in Translation"I Wish isn’t going to sit quietly in a category. It’s the kind of book that would rather wander off and make up its own categories, expecting you to follow dutifully behind. And you will, because it is strange and wonderful and ultimately very very memorable. Can many other books out there say half as much? ... If ever there was a book worthy of a Batchelder Award, or some similar medal for translation and writing, it is this. A strange, melancholy, oddly hopeful book for our strange, melancholy, oddly hopeful little world." -- Elizabeth Bird, School Library Journal's "A Fuse 8 Production"A "beautiful, unique volume perfect for thoughtful young readers... a glittering kaleidoscope of wishes, from imagined feats of heroism to reciprocated human love." — Librairie Drawn & Quarterly"I Wish is different. It stays with you. It makes you think. About the depths of others. The fears. The dreams. We will read it again. And again. And again. And keep thinking. Keep discussing. Keep wondering." — Victoria DiMassa, Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk (blog)"I Wish is a made up of a series of powerful portraits by the Belgian illustrator Ingrid Godon, accompanied by philosophical meditations written by Toon Tellegen. Surprising in every way, the book has gone through reprint after reprint and was nominated for the prestigious Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis in 2013." - Tzum (The Netherlands)"Several years ago Ingrid Godon surprised friend and foe with a series of mysterious portraits of children...Connoisseurs of children's books already knew she was capable of much more than cute animal faces, but with these intimist, realistic portraits she has tapped into an entirely new style. Initially it seemed like I Wish would remain primarily an art project - until the author Toon Tellegen and the designer Kris Demey joined in and turned it into a gem of a book." - De Standaard (Belgium)"Portraits that recall both family photographs and the Dutch and Flemish masters...Texts that reveal imaginary wishes that are far removed from the usual presentations of childhood happiness, speaking too of hurt, fears, lost joy, unfulfilled longing and hopes that might yet be fulfilled...An outstanding example of the literature of childhood, full of wisdom and of a brilliance that calls out for calm, quiet moments to enjoy it." - Jury Report, nomination for Deutscher Jugendliteraturpreis

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Book SynopsisA mother, welcoming her tiny son into the world, tells him the story of their lives, whispering to him as she swings him gently around. With each successive page, he grows while she shrinks, until she is being held by the man he has become. Albertine's weightless strokes and billowing bodies recall the flitting procession of a flipbook or an ephermeral notebook sketch.Trade Review"The parent becomes the child in this sparsely worded French import. The illustrations, done by 2020 Hans Christian Andersen Illustrator Award winner Albertine, rest in copious white space. They are spare, delicate line drawings in what appear to be pencil . . . The sense of movement on static pages is compelling—all in the form of fine, simple lines and dynamic page turns. This elegant story . . . provides food for thought for more-contemplative children . . . A playful and poignant take on parenthood." -- Kirkus Reviews"This is a book about love, the passing of time, and the cycle of our lives. It is also about relationships. Slowly, page after page, the black pencil illustrations on milky white paper tell a restrained, eloquently poetic universal story." - The Bologna Ragazzi Award Jury "In the stories created by the creative couple, the relationship between the text and image is so perfectly controlled and the articulation between the two crafts is seamless. The reading rhythm makes room for moments of silence, a dreamlike and reflexive pause before turning the next page...The mastery of the illustration takes the readers elsewhere: a place where they can indulge in a plethora of emotions and feelings that are exacerbated by inspired narration" - 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury "Where sober or eccentric, low key or outlandish, the worlds of Albertine are always elegant...she mingles reality and fantasy, the trivial and the sublime, dream and memory." - 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award Jury"My Little One is a unique love story featuring a parent and child. The diminutive size reflects titular “little one,” and later, the mother who becomes smaller as she ages and needs her son’s care...This small book packs a powerful message of undying love. The simplicity of Albertine’s line drawings emphasize the closeness between the mother and child, focusing the readers’ eyes on the pair as they focus only on each other." — Glass of Wine, Glass of Milk (blog)"My Little One surpasses all the others. The book is a lake of pure emotion, the story of a life, of two lives, more precisely, of a mother and a son, revolving in time. Making us laugh and cry with each image, and ask: How is it possible to express so much with the tip of a pencil?" — Marine Landrot, Télérama"Occasionally, there are drawings that are stronger than words. That is the case with this small book that tells the story of a life. A mother, a child, and the time that passes... Deeply moving! (For all ages.)" — Astrapi"It seems that the optimal enjoyment of this book would be a parent or adult with a child on their lap, reading aloud the sentences, as the child listens and concentrates on the pictorial depictions . . . One of the final illustrations shows the now grown man cradling his mother to his heart as if laying her to rest . . . The reader’s perspective has now changed as our frame of reference is the boy, now the man gazing at his mother, a position both alien and inherent to our species . . . The capacity to love and care may just be timeless."— Sarah Wang, Vancouver Writers Fest What We're Reading Now blog

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Book SynopsisA young girl with a physical handicap gazes up at a mobile of spinning horses from her little pink bed in her room filled with leafy plants. As she watches them prance about, the tufted snout of a real live horse peeks through her bedroom door. Soon enough, our bright protagonist is off and cantering on an adventure with seven majestic horses. A story about dreaming and about caring for others, In the Meadow of Fantasies will remind young readers of their own reveries and conjure new fantasies of friendly creatures in far off lands.Trade Review"Mohammadi has a marvelous understanding of the role of repetition in a children’s picture book text . . . Safakhoo’s art is sublime. I absolutely adored the facial expressions of the seventh horse (which has, and I mean this in the best possible way, a kind of Berkeley Breathed quality to it)." --Betsy Bird, School Library Journal"Not a folktale, not a poem, not a dream, but some whirling mixture of the three, this lulling recitation by Iranian author Mohammadi affirms generosity as a natural impulse . . . Repeating phrases and softly amusing drawings give this imaginative realm of loving-kindness a gossamer touch." --Publishers Weekly"This fantastical adventure draws readers in with lyrical text and mesmerizing illustrations. Each page turn reveals a new layer of fantasy . . . Deft composition pairs slightly rough, stonelike textures with exquisite details . . . Though the story is ultimately joyous, there’s an emotionally compelling sense of longing that thrums just under the surface."--Kirkus Reviews"In the Meadow of Fantasies is bursting with warmhearted inspiration. Most likely this book will comfort in many ways. As a bedtime story, as a tale for horse lovers everywhere, as a companion in the question-laden wonder years of childhood, as a stunning example of where imaginations lead."--Cindy Helms, New York Journal of Books"Delicate pen-and-ink drawings filled with watercolor wash relate a dreamy story of a little girl confined to bed . . . The girl’s legs are encased in splints, but a spinning mobile of horses overhead provides comfort and diversion . . . I especially enjoyed the animals arrayed at a dinner table with plates of grass, each with their fanciful dreams erupting from the heads." ."--Youth Services Book Reviews"Between the captivating art, the lyrical narration, and the fantastical story, readers will be swept away into a little girl's wonderland . . . In the Meadow of Fantasies is an ode to imagination and a celebration of beautiful creation."--Victoria DiMassa, Glass of Wine and Milk"When you pick up this book, you are holding something precious in your hands—a velvety, folkloric tale of seven horses and the young disabled girl who dreams of them from her bedroom . . . Nooshin Safakhoo's breathtaking illustrations left me sighing in awe and contentment. A dream of a book!"--Mary Wahlmeier Bracciano, Bookseller at The Raven Book Store (Lawerence, Kansas)"Characters with disabilities are rare in children’s books and even rarer is a character with a disability who gets to be a character first, rather than serving as a teachable moment or discussion point for inclusion and diversity. To have the opportunity to read an engaging and enchanting story with a protagonist as one with a disability—not to mention, a story in translation—is a joy." --Melanie Ho, Asian Review of Books "This picture book follows a girl and her seven imaginary horses—some of whom are blessed with gifts like homes, and dreams, and shades of being, but one of whom is not . . . Delicate line illustrations with dazzling touches—pools of color; trees sprouting from imaginative heads; moonlit celebrations—are used to follow along as he, and the girl, blossom." --Michelle Anne Schingler, Foreword Reviews"This is a joyful book about sharing and imagination – simply drawn in a palette of mainly natural colours one would find in nature . . . A wonderful opportunity to read a work in translation and appreciate the worldwide message that we all need fantasies and imagination." --Love Reading 4 Kids"In the Meadow of Fantasies is a gently profound book on sharing, imagination, and caring for others." --Kendal A. Rautzhan, The Canton Repository"Hadi Mohammadi’s evocatively named In the Meadow of Fantasies . . . tells a tender and beguiling story about a child’s imagination and is a story of generosity . . . There is an underlying joy that permeates the story, as we see the girl — and it’s understood that she’s not able to get about on her own two feet — run and engage in imaginative play with the seven horses. She, in essence, creates her own agency with her imagination." --Julie Danielson, Seven Impossible Things Before Breakfast"The story works using repetition so the child can learn the words and join in . . . Your child is going to love it and will want to read it over and over again. It's a perfect book to start introducing reading and counting . . . An amazing book to sit and read together." --Lady Reading blog"Part fable, part fairy tale, Mohammadi’s story feels both timeless and contemporary . . . This book is about the ways we are created by the people, culture, and community around us. Safakhoo’s illustrations are gloriously full of expression and movement." --Timothy Otte, Wild Rumpus Books"The illustrator, Nooshin Safakhoo, has a very unique and fanciful way of visualizing horses and their environment. The colors are bright but not overbearing… all are soft natural shades evoking the feeling of being in the middle of a forest . . . The translator, Sara Khalili, perfectly captured the feel of a grandmother spinning this tale for her little ones. It is definitely a very enjoyable “must read” for you and yours."--Sybrina's Book Blog"In this imaginative adventure, a girl and seven horses embark on a fantastical journey. This is a lyrical parable that invites multiple readings and interpretations as the horses gather to share their visions and dreams. The poetic language and stunning illustrations effortlessly coalesce into themes of wonder and delightful discovery." --Mildred L. Batchelder Award Committee "Repeated poetic refrains and imaginative illustrations combine to create a compelling tale from the rich storytelling tradition of Iran." --Marie A. LeJeune, Batchelder Award Committee Chair"Hadi Mohammadi’s text, with its multiple repeated words, has a deceptively childlike, mesmeric quality about it that transports readers to another time and place. And Nooshin Safakhoo’s illustrations are surreal and sublime . . . In the Meadow of Fantasies is a beautiful picture book for all to enjoy. It has a . . . richness and depth that invite further thought and exploration." -- Global Literature in Libraries Initiative"In the Meadow of Fantasies prompts valuable conversations about sharing, accommodating, and celebrating one another." --Mary Ann Cappiello and Erika Thulin Dawes, Text Sets and Trade Books

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin Tessa—part witch, part werewolf, raised human and now the unofficial leader of a newly minted supernatural alliance—thinks nothing of her brother, Axel, texting her and Dastien to meet him. The location pin was in a weird spot, but maybe he’d found a magical anomaly there. But when Tessa steps into the darkened warehouse, she doesn’t expect to see her brother laying in a pool of his own blood, smell the sulfuric scent of black magic, or feel the pain of her mate being shot full of silver.Tessa has seconds to make a choice, but there’s only one thing she can do to save the two most important men in her life—sacrifice herself. The last thing Dastien hears from Tessa was her plea—help Axel. But then their bond goes silent. He can’t hear her. He can’t feel her. And there’s no sign of the attackers who took her. Dastien does everything he can to save Axel before calling his friends in a panic. It takes all of them to find Tessa, but when Dastien’s finally reunited with her, there’s no sign of recognition in her eyes. No magic in her touch. No wolf beneath the surface.Everything that made Tessa who she was…has been erased.“I love this series. I just think that it keeps getting better and better.” — A Reader Lives A Thousand Lives“I have enjoyed every minute of this book and will read what ever Aileen Erin wants to write at this point.” - Smada’s Book Smack It’s time to catch up with the Alpha Girls series, which has sold more than 500,000 copies: Book 1: Becoming Alpha Book 2: Avoiding Alpha Book 3: Alpha Divided Book 4: Bruja Book 5: Alpha Unleashed Book 6: Shattered Pack Book 7: Being Alpha Book 8: Lunar CourtDon’t miss Off Planet, the biggest and boldest adventure yet from the mind of Aileen Erin. It's perfect for fans of Suzanne Colllins’ The Hunger Games, Claudia Gray's Defy the Stars, and Maura Milan's Ignite the Stars!Trade Review"I love this series. I just think that it keeps getting better and better." A Reader Lives A Thousand Lives"I have enjoyed every minute of this book and will read what ever Aileen Erin wants to write at this point." - Smada's Book Smack

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Book SynopsisFrom USA Today Bestselling Author Aileen Erin comes the third book in the Aunare Chronicles "Declan's been captured." Ahiga's strained voice carried through the recording and Amihanna knew without seeing him that he must be hurt. "SpaceTech is shooting us dead in the street and we can't run or hide fast enough. I'm not sure how long we can stay in Haden's hideout. We need your help. I know it's a lot to ask, but please. I'm begging. We're all going to die without you." Ahiga's message was everything Amihanna feared would come true. She was on a convoy to meet with the Aunare's allies."Wait!" Amihanna screams. Her mind is racing, and she needs to make a decision.Keep going. Meet Lorne on the neutral planet to broker an alliance as planned. Or change course. Jump across the universe as quickly as she can, and pray it's fast enough to save her Earther family.Amihanna knows what it's like to be abandoned, fighting for her life, and hoping that someone would come. No one helped her except for the Crew, Declan, and Ahiga.Sometimes debts can't be repaid, but Amihanna is a di Aetes. She won't give up. Not ever."I'm sorry." Lorne felt Amihanna's fear pressing against his heart from lightyears away as he listened to her message. "I have to go back. I'm leaving Roan behind in case you want to find me. I'll come home when I can. Try not to freak out too much. I can do this. I'll be fine."No, no, NO! Lorne's skin glowed so bright it blinded the control room. He moved before he could think, taking the pilot's seat, and steering them in the opposite direction, leading them toward the only thing that mattered in his life.He'd been forced to stay away before, but Lorne was King now. Nothing would keep him from saving Amihanna this time."Suspenseful sci-fi with complex world-building and a tough-as-nails heroine you'll want to root for!"— Elizabeth Briggs, New York Times Bestselling Author of Future Shock"This has definitely sucked me in and I really am now invested in what's to come..." - Becky Bookworm"In this bleak world, one spark of hope soon turns into an inferno. And just like a fireball, once this story is ignited, it just doesn't stop." — Maria V. Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of Navigating the Stars."Erin's world-building is excellent and her characters are big and bold…" — Escape Into WorldsTrade Review"Suspenseful sci-fi with complex world-building and a tough-as-nails heroine you'll want to root for!" -- Elizabeth Briggs, New York Times Bestselling Author of Future Shock"This has definitely sucked me in and I really am now invested in what's to come..." -- Becky Bookworm"In this bleak world, one spark of hope soon turns into an inferno. And just like a fireball, once this story is ignited, it just doesn't stop." -- Maria V Snyder, New York Times bestselling author of Navigating the Stars"Erin's world-building is excellent and her characters are big and bold..." -- Escape Into Worlds

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Book SynopsisThe daughter of Appalachian snake handlers becomes a ward of the state after her eerie “gift” causes a tragedy that leaves her orphaned.Bram Stoker Nominee, Speak No Evil named #14 in Ginger Nuts of Horror’s Top 100 YA Horror Novels of the Last Decade. “Ultimately this is a novel about real life horror; abuse, overcoming it, and the resilience of Melody Fisher as she slowly, with a lot of help, turns her life around.” ~Ginger Nuts of Horror“Melody’s story is grim, but hope is weaved in throughout ... highly emotional.” ~School Library JournalCompelling, gripping, and evocative, Speak No Evil is a study in personality development, horror, how support systems for teens can either succeed or fail, and the impact a caring adult can have on a teenager’s life.” ~Midwest Book ReviewWhat if every time you told the truth, evil followed?My name is Melody Fisher. My daddy was a snake handler in Appalachia until Mama died. Though years have passed, I can still hear the rattle before the strike that took her from me.And it’s all my fault.Since then, I’ve been passed around from foster home to foster home. I didn’t think anything could be as bad as losing Mama.I was wrong.But I will not speak of things people have done to me. Every time I do, worse evil follows. Now, the only thing I trust is what saved me years ago.Back when I would sing the snakes calm ...WARNING: This book contains situations of violence and sexual abuse/rape which the reader may find disturbing.* * *“Expect a paranormal twist, spooky mountain folklore, rattlesnake handling and much soul searching as Melody makes peace with herself—and the trauma she has endured.” ~Girls' Life Magazine “Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.” ~The Nerd Daily"... a touching tribute to the power of love." ~IndieReaderLiana Gardner named to the Ginger Nuts of Horror 30 YA Authors You Should Know ListAwards: Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, Bram Stoker Awards® Silver Medal Winner: Young Adult Fiction, Nautilus Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner in Young Adult Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Gold Medal Winner in Young Adult Fiction — Mature Issues, Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Gold Medal Winner in New Adult Fiction, NYC Big Book Awards Finalist in Best Juvenile or Young Adult Fiction, Silver Falchion Award Trade Review"Gardner tackles difficult topics, including bullying and abuse of all types, in a way that is both artistic and respectful. Given these weighty and emotional issues, the book is masterfully written in such a way that it is a pleasure to read." BookTrib" Speak No Evil is a touching tribute to the power of love, faith and steadfast, patient kindness to heal the damage done by human cruelty and thoughtlessness." IndieReader

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Book SynopsisThe daughter of Appalachian snake handlers becomes a ward of the state after her eerie “gift” causes a tragedy that leaves her orphaned.Bram Stoker Nominee, Speak No Evil named #14 in Ginger Nuts of Horror’s Top 100 YA Horror Novels of the Last Decade. “Ultimately this is a novel about real life horror; abuse, overcoming it, and the resilience of Melody Fisher as she slowly, with a lot of help, turns her life around.” ~Ginger Nuts of Horror“Melody’s story is grim, but hope is weaved in throughout ... highly emotional.” ~School Library JournalCompelling, gripping, and evocative, Speak No Evil is a study in personality development, horror, how support systems for teens can either succeed or fail, and the impact a caring adult can have on a teenager’s life.” ~Midwest Book ReviewWhat if every time you told the truth, evil followed?My name is Melody Fisher. My daddy was a snake handler in Appalachia until Mama died. Though years have passed, I can still hear the rattle before the strike that took her from me.And it’s all my fault.Since then, I’ve been passed around from foster home to foster home. I didn’t think anything could be as bad as losing Mama.I was wrong.But I will not speak of things people have done to me. Every time I do, worse evil follows. Now, the only thing I trust is what saved me years ago.Back when I would sing the snakes calm ...WARNING: This book contains situations of violence and sexual abuse/rape which the reader may find disturbing.* * *“Expect a paranormal twist, spooky mountain folklore, rattlesnake handling and much soul searching as Melody makes peace with herself—and the trauma she has endured.” ~Girls' Life Magazine “Gardner’s storytelling displays the same sort of sinister charm as she unravels Melody’s past to tell the story of her present. Speak No Evil is at once hypnotic, vaguely sinister, and decidedly beautiful, with sharp, poignant prose that handles the heaviest of issues with grace and delicacy.” ~The Nerd Daily"... a touching tribute to the power of love." ~IndieReaderLiana Gardner named to the Ginger Nuts of Horror 30 YA Authors You Should Know ListAwards: Nominee for Superior Achievement in a Young Adult Novel, Bram Stoker Awards® Silver Medal Winner: Young Adult Fiction, Nautilus Book Awards Bronze Medal Winner in Young Adult Fiction, Independent Publisher Book Awards (IPPY) Gold Medal Winner in Young Adult Fiction — Mature Issues, Moonbeam Children's Book Awards Gold Medal Winner in New Adult Fiction, NYC Big Book Awards Finalist in Best Juvenile or Young Adult Fiction, Silver Falchion Award

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Book SynopsisRosemary is fifteen and gloriously free, on her own for the very first time. Part of an exchange program for aspiring artists, she arrives in southern France with one goal: she doesn't plan to leave, ever. She wants a new life and a new identity. But her situation, crafted from lies big and small, is precarious. As Rosemary struggles to hide her lack of artistic talent and obvious communication disorder from her new family, she must ultimately choose whether or not she'll tell the biggest lie of all, even if it means destroying the life of someone she cares about.

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Book SynopsisSeventeen year-old Chelsea Knowles is your average teenager. But she's harboring a secret that very few people know: she and her dad can't pay the bills. Broken by his wife leaving, Chelsea's father ignores his parenting responsibilities. Between cheer costs, grocery bills, electricity, and other financial burdens, Chelsea knows it'll be up to her to keep the lights on. She manages to sneak into a casino, and her first big poker win sparks the beginning of downward spiral. Money stops being a problem, but a complicated web of lies begins to spin out of control, threatening to reveal her bluff.Trade Review"A sly, insightful close-up of risk-taking's seductive, addictive appeal." - Kirkus Reviews - - Kirkus ReviewsDILL, Julie. Bluff. 250p. Amberjack. Feb. 2017. pap. $10.99. ISBN 9781944995058. Gr 9 Up-In this cautionary tale of a cheerleader's descent into poker addiction, 17-year-old Chelsea is one of the less privileged members of a cheer squad filled with rich girls. She has an absent mother and a deeply depressed father, her family's bills don't always get paid on time, and there's certainly not enough money for the necessary squad fees. Her first visit to the casino is altruistic: to make enough cash to keep her family going. But quickly the thrill of the games-and the presence of handsome security guard Nate-draw her to the table night after night. In an unusual departure from more frequently seen settings of teens coping with addiction, Dill places her drama at the smoky poker tables of unglamorous casinos, where Chelsea struggles with her inner demons while surrounded by senior citizens with bouffant hairstyles. Her burgeoning romance with Nate is always shown as sweet, a bright light amid her downward spiral. Both poker lovers and cheer fans will appreciate the detail included about both worlds, though previous knowledge of either is not necessary to enjoy the story. VERDICT The engaging style, fast pace, and unusual settings make this a solid choice to recommend to reluctant readers.-Ann Foster, Saskatoon Public Library - - School Library JournalSeventeen-year-old Oklahoma native Chelsea Knowles has grown up playing cards with her single father, and with their financial situation in a very dire place, she puts those skills to the test, sneaking into a local casino, where she wins big at poker. Suddenly, Chelsea has money to spare, and she begins to see playing poker as a means to help her father pay the bills and to afford the clothes and social opportunities she's only dreamed about. Thus begins a gambling spree with all the highs and lows that come with the territory, as well as a romance with Nate, an attractive casino worker a few years her senior. Debut author Dill paints a visceral portrait of the way financial pressures take a toll on a family, particularly on teenagers who don't necessarily feel as though they can anything about it. Chelsea's tender if fraught relationship with her father, given extra depth through flashbacks, and the electric thrill she gets as money starts coming in, will make it easy for readers to understand why she embarks on such a risky path. Ages 13-up. (Feb.) - - Publisher's Weekly

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Book Synopsis"A moving, mysterious coming-of-age story." – Kirkus ReviewsSixteen year old Krista is still grieving the untimely death of her mother when her father's new girlfriend moves into their home. He's already moved on and wants Krista to do the same, but she's not ready to resume a normal life yet. Distancing herself from those around her, Krista spends all of her time obsessively watching a mysterious house, the house at 758.When a fellow classmate, Jake, takes a sudden interest in her, Krista feels excited for the first time in two years, but feelings of guilt consume her, and she ends up pushing Jake away. It isn't until her grandfather makes a surprise visit from Venezuela that Krista is finally able to confront her grief and begin to let things go.

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Book SynopsisMysteries have a way of gaining momentum. When James's boyfriend dies by suicide, a foster kid with a checkered past, no one asks too many questions. 'Ash always had problems,' they say. But to James, the so-called facts are just the first of many mysteries. And when the very person who can answer his questions skips town, James wonders what else is being hidden. A YA novel of suspense and shifting viewpoints, for readers of Adam Silvera and Gone Girl .

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Book SynopsisMaybe the gray was not where people went to get lost. Maybe it was the perfect place to be reborn. For in that gray was the potential to be anything, to become anyone. Returning to protagonist school had confronted me with a mixed bag of change. Some things were good. I was a star athlete on my Twenty-Three Skidd team, my friends and I were closer than ever, I'd made amends with my traditionalist headmistress, and the surprisingly kind grandson of King Midas was doing his best to win my affection. Other changes, however, were not so sweet. The greater realm now knew about my Pure Magic, and an upcoming trial by the realm higher-ups and Fairy Godmothers would decide my fate. My former princess archenemy was under a sleeping curse, which meant we couldn’t access the vital memories of a dead Fairy Godmother stored in her brain. The commons rebellion in our realm was only growing in strength. And I . . . Well, I'd taken my first life. The antagonist queen's careful planning paired with my hard-to-control powers of life had caused me to snap and kill someone. He'd been a villain, yes, but that didn't placate my morality. Especially given the ongoing internal war I struggled with over my abilities and their potential. As I fought to be a strong hero, princess, and more importantly person, I was flogged by the many questions posed by enemies, friends, and my own conscience about how I was changing—and what I was changing into. Would my magic inevitably corrupt me like the antagonists wanted and our realm's higher-ups feared? My personal fate aside, would my friends and I be able to stop the antagonists from taking over our realm? And finally, was I more afraid of not being powerful enough to stop them, or being even more powerful than anybody anticipated?

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Book SynopsisMommy blogs are great . . . unless the blog happens to belong to your mom. Twin sisters Claire & Poppy are accidental social media stars thanks to Mom going viral when they were babies. Now, as teens, they're expected to contribute by building their own brand. Attending a NY fashion week and receiving fan mail is a blast. Fending off internet trolls and would-be kidnappers? Not so much. Poppy embraces it. Claire hates it. Will anybody accept her as 'just Claire'? And what should Claire do about Mom's old journals? The handwritten entries definitely don't sound like Mom's perfect blog persona. Worse, one of them divulges a secret that leaves Claire wondering what else in her life might be nothing but a sham . . .

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Book SynopsisI Have a Grandma Who…celebrates today’s bold, active grandmothers as they share what they enjoy doing (hiking, biking, cooking, gardening, reading, etc.) with those they most cherish—their grandchildren.

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Book SynopsisCalm Undone is a young adult novel that tackles many of the issues relevant to young people today (feelings of loss, a dawning sense of self, and the awakening of attraction) with a gentle, accepting approach. Seventeen-year-old Tyler wants three things from his summer at the family beach-house: Run along the beach to get ready for cross-country again in the fall. Wander the boardwalk with his cousin Liam. And more importantly, figure out how to move on with his life after his Dad's death from a car crash - one that Tyler survives. But nothing about this summer is right: Running isn't fun anymore. Mom spends hours alone in her room. Liam constantly ditches him to spend time with Melissa --- a girl he met on the beach. Which forces Tyler to spend time alone with Finn, a friend of Melissa's who surfs. At first, he feels abandoned, but Finn is easy going, interested in hearing Tyler talk about running, and the only person in his life that doesn't treat him like the "kid who lost his dad." All of which help Tyler realize that up to now, Dad had been the closest thing he had to a best friend, and in order to move on he has to accept the type of love those left in his life --- Mom, Liam, and even Finn --- have to offer.

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Book SynopsisThis is a story about sensory differences and how some children experience their world, told from a child's perspective. The vibration in her feet when she runs, the tap-tap-tap of her fork on the table at mealtime, the trickle of cool water running over her hands---these are the things that calm her jitters down.This book is for anyone who has ever felt the need for a wiggle, stomp, or squeeze!

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Book SynopsisBook two in the Hope for the Best series. The brand burned into Charlie's arm is a constant reminder that family doesn't exist, people only care about their own selfish interests, and a handful of pendants, if united, could lead to negative consequences for the entire world. All he wants is to escape his perilous past and the people who want him dead. By accident, he arrives in the small town of Maibe, Nebraska where he has the chance to change his life and start over. Rochelle is trying to pick up the pieces and move forward after a year filled with loss and illness. She just wants to take care of her family, prevent her home from becoming a ghost town, and save the world if she has time. When an old friend shares secret information about pendants that could save millions of lives, she finds herself and everyone she loves plunged into a world more dangerous than she could ever imagine. As it becomes clear that nothing happens by chance, Charlie and Rochelle must face the trauma of their pasts and work together to ensure tomorrow will be better for everyone.

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Book SynopsisWhen the Gingerbread Baby and his band of instruments play their sweetest Christmas tunes for the town, they are in for a surprise. Their delicious sugary scent makes the audience’s taste buds tingle, sparking an epic gingerbread chase. With the help of Matti, the Gingerbread Baby and his friends find the perfect hiding spot: the Christmas tree in the centre of town! Jan Brett fans love this latest installment in her Gingerbread Baby series, and in board, it’s perfect for the youngest readers at Christmas.Trade Review"Fans of Brett's intricately detailed illustration style will find this a sweet treat."—Kirkus Reviews"Brett celebrates the holidays with the cheery hero of Gingerbread Baby and Gingerbread Friends and his friend Matti...In her signature style, Brett frames her pages with intricate themed borders...featuring candies, gingerbread, and ornate loops of icing, they look good enough to eat."—Publishers Weekly"In this third book about Gingerbread Baby, the cookie takes part in the town's Christmas Festival. Matti bakes a batch of gingerbread instruments, and Gingerbread Baby takes the stage with his band."—School Library Journal "Problem: the Gingerbread Baby doesn't have a group of musicians with whom to perform in the Christmas Festival. His (human) friend Matti's solution: bake a band! New problem: the band looks dangerously delicious. Will gingerbread be gingertoast?....a gift that keeps on giving."—Horn Book

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Book Synopsis* Clever, funny, and true--really.-- Kirkus Reviews (starred review)* The animals, rendered expressively by Bliss, learn what kids already know and adults too easily forget: the capacity to say I'm sorry--and mean it--is no small thing.--PW (starred review)A sweet and thoughtful picture book about how one act of kindness can change the world, written by publishing legend Joanna Cotler and illustrated by New York Times bestseller Harry Bliss.Cow was in a nasty mood. When Duck came along Cow kicked mud in her face.Why'd you do that? asked Duck.I felt like it, said Cow. And I'm not sorry.Little did Cow know that her bad mood would spread to the whole farm. But it does when Cow passes her anger along to Duck who takes it out on Frog who is mean to Bird who upsets Goat who bothers Pig. Until good-hearted Dog turns things around by showing kindness to Pig, turning not sorry into sorry (really sorry). But will that be enough to mend all of the hurt feelings on the farm? With a charming text by Joanna Cotler and beautiful artwork by New York Times bestseller Harry Bliss, this is a picture book about the power of reactivity and how to diffuse it with love. Being sorry (really sorry) can make a world of difference and make your world different too.Praise for Sorry (Really Sorry):Funny and touching and had a nice, rhythmic feel to it that I think would work well in storytime. --Jean Little Library

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Book SynopsisWhen Maple is tiny, her parents plant a maple tree in her honour. She and her tree grow up together, and even though a tree doesn’t always make an ideal playmate, it doesn’t mind when Maple is in the mood to be loud—which is often. Then Maple becomes a big sister, and finds that babies have their loud days, too. Fortunately, Maple and her beloved tree know just what the baby needs.Trade Review* “Sweet debut. . . . Free-spirited, bracing sessions of solitary, outdoor fun. . . . Here’s a child’s world, where . . . private reverie recurs as an all-consuming pastime. . . . Maple, sweetly nondescript . . . could easily sit next to any young reader at preschool or day care. Leaf rubbings (from real maple leaves!) dazzle. . . . An arboreal homage perfect for children reveling in alone time or reeling with a new sibling’s arrival.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred review* “Readers will fall in love with Maple. . . . Lush, leafy illustrations. . . . This is a fresh addition to the standard new sibling fare, and young naturalists will identify with Maple’s adventurous and tender spirit.”—School Library Journal, starred review“The narrator’s voice . . . has its own distinctive, understated humor. . . . An exploration of different kinds of love and different kinds of acceptance.”—Publishers Weekly

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Book SynopsisA traveling medicine show promises to cure all, but two kids learn it takes more than faith in the miraculous to fix things that are broken.Thirteen-year-old Jack knows what cured his baby sister when his family thought she might never get well—Dr. Kingsbury’s “Miraculous Tonic.” Guaranteed to relieve maladies known to man or beast, Dr. Kingsbury’s potion can cure everything from pimples to hearing loss to a broken heart, and Jack himself is a witness to the miraculous results and the doctor’s kindness. When he had no money, the doctor didn’t turn him away but gave him the tonic for free along with a job—to travel with him from city to city selling his cure-all elixir. When Dr. Kingsbury and Jack arrive in Oakdale, the town at first feels like any other they’ve been to. But it’s clear Oakdale is a town with secrets, and its citizens are slow to trust strangers.  Then Jack meets Cora, and a friendship neither expected starts to bloom. Together they uncover something else they didn’t expect—not only secrets about the town but also Dr. Kingsbury. As they race to discover the truth, they’ll have to decide who and what to believe before it’s too late.

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Book SynopsisA poignant, gorgeously-illustrated story about a girl''s bond with her grandfather and how it evolves after his death.Searching for treasures with her grandpa is this young girl’s favorite thing to do. Every week they examine the items in her secret box and go on walks to find more—a broken robin’s egg, rusty spring, even a snakeskin that makes Grandpa squirm and make funny faces. But then Grandpa is too sick to come. She leaves him a few treasures in the hospital, but when he dies, she can’t bring herself to even open the treasure box. When Grammy brings her some treasures Grandpa wanted her to have, they open the box together and continue the tradition, showing that memories of time together are the greatest treasures of all. This poignant, gorgeously-illustrated story celebrates the special bonds kids have with grandparents, even after they are gone. 

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Book SynopsisThe second book in the Iggy series about the lovable troublemaker by New York Times bestselling author Annie Barrows (Ivy + Bean).One thing led to another . . .Have you ever heard those words? Sometimes it means Things got better. That's not what it means in this book. In this book, Iggy gets an idea--a perfectly fine idea--and then, unfortunately, the principal shows up, and then, even more unfortunately, there's an incident with a basketball, and then, before you know it, Iggy's flying through the air.How did it all happen? It's really hard to explain. You'd better read the book.In the second book in Annie Barrows's series about how causing a little bit of trouble can sometimes be a whole lot of fun, Iggy almost realizes that the consequences of his actions can affect others. Almost.

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Book SynopsisThe third book in the Iggy series about the lovable troublemaker from New York Times bestselling author of Ivy + Bean.From Iggy''s point of view, his plan was genius, pure genius. From Iggy''s point of view, he''s saved (a) his candy, (b) his family, and (c) the toaster. From Iggy''s point of view, he should get a trophy. And respect. And more candy. So what if Rudy Heckie disagrees? Rudy Heckie has been wrong before and he''ll be wrong again. Rudy has a scar now, and scars are cool! He should be happy. So should Mr. Heckie. So should Iggy''s mom and dad. Everyone should be happy. Specifically, everyone should be happy with Iggy. But are they? It all depends on your point of view.In the third installment of Annie Barrows''s series about the secret joys of causing trouble, readers will learn about the power of interpretation (but we all know who''s really right).

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Book SynopsisNew York Times bestselling illustrator Mike Rex’s vivid, vehicle-filled scenes are the perfect match for this enthusiastic celebration of big rigs and big imaginations.   Bulldozers and back-hoes, pavers and plows, trailers and tractors--the world is filled with so many types of trucks! Imagine the fun you could have if you could drive them all! And what if you could bring your best friends along with you? Hop along for a thrilling ride! This playful romp is sure to delight truck lovers everywhere!

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Book SynopsisEver 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 mum, who thinks criticising Ellie’s weight will motivate her to diet. Fortunately, Ellie has allies in her dad, her therapist, and her new neighbour, 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.Trade Review“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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Book SynopsisFrom award-winning author Eve L. Ewing comes an illustrated middle grade novel about a forgotten homemade robot who comes to life just when aspiring fifth-grade scientist Maya needs a friend -- and a science fair project.Maya's nervous about fifth grade. She tries to keep calm by reminding herself she knows what to expect. But then she learns that this year won't be anything like the last. For the first time since kindergarten, her best friends Jada and MJ are placed in a different class without her, and introverted Maya has trouble making new friends.She tries to put on a brave face since they are in fifth grade now, but Maya is nervous! Just when too much seems to be changing, she finds a robot named Ralph in the back of Mr. Mac's convenience store closet. Once she uses her science skills to get him up and running, a whole new world of connection opens up as Ralph becomes a member of her family and Maya begins to step into her power. In this touching novel, Eve L. Ewing melds together a story about community, adapting to change, and the magic of ingenuity that reminds young readers that they can always turn to their own curiosity when feeling lost.Trade ReviewPRAISE FOR MAYA AND THE ROBOTA School Library Journal Best Book of 2021FOUR STARRED REVIEWS "A... positive lesson in bravery, intelligence, and friendship." --Booklist*"A warm, unforgettable story about following your passions and being yourself." --Kirkus, starred review.*"A heartfelt title that seamlessly brings tech and creativity to a tween audience with delightful characters and gentle humor."–-Ashleigh Williams, School Library Journal, starred review.*"Not only is this story about using one's curiosity and ingenuity to get through a tough time, it's also about the power of community. Christine Almeda's... winning illustrations and relatable topics make Maya and the Robot significant and meaningful." --Lana Barnes, Shelf Awareness, starred review.*“Interspersed with charming, animation-style b&w illustrations by Almeda, Ewing’s tender-hearted middle grade debut wholly conveys the strength it takes to come out of one’s shell, the thrill of discovery and creation, and the power of pursuing wonder.” –-Publishers Weekly, starred review.“[T]he perfect read for kids who need a push to pick up a chapter book. Highly illustrated and easily relatable, Maya and the Robot combines friendship struggles, teacher problems, and yes, science....” -- NPR.org "With heart, humor, and ultimately hope, Maya and her beloved robot remind us that even in the most difficult times, there is light on the path... and friendship makes it that much more visible."--Nic Stone, #1 New York Times bestselling author of DEAR MARTIN“‘Maya and the Robot,’ a delightful tale by Eve L. Ewing, champions young people’s interest in technology and the world of science fairs…Animated by Christine Almeda’s engaging illustrations, it all makes tech and science seem cool, fun and accessible. And the message, to me at least, is clear: Young readers, don’t be daunted by technology and science.” -- The New York Times Book Review

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