Children’s / Teenage fiction: Family and home stories

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Book SynopsisIt’s time for Grayling to be a hero. Her mother, a hedge witch, has been turned into a tree by evil forces. Tangles and toadstools! Lacking confidence after years of being called “Feeble Wits” by her mother, Grayling heads off dubiously into the wilds in search of help, where she finds a weather witch, an aromatic enchantress, a cheese soothsayer, a slyly foolish apprentice, and a shape-shifting mouse named Pook. A fast-paced and funny coming-of-age odyssey from Newbery medalist Karen Cushman.  

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Book SynopsisIn this electrifying follow-up to Kwame Alexander''s Newbery winner The Crossover, soccer, family, love, and friendship take center stage. A New York Times bestseller and National Book Award Longlist nominee, now in a graphic novel edition featuring art from Dawud Anyabwile.Twelve-year-old Nick learns the power of words as he wrestles with problems at home, stands up to a bully, and tries to impress the girl of his dreams. Helping him along are his best friend and sometimes teammate Coby, and The Mac, a rapping librarian who gives Nick inspiring books to read.  This electric and heartfelt novel-in-verse bends and breaks as it captures all the thrills and setbacks, action and emotion of a World Cup match.A novel about a soccer-obsessed tween boy written entirely in verse? In a word, yes. Kwame Alexander has the magic to pull off this unlikely feat, both as a poet and as a storyteller. —The Chi

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Book SynopsisA masterclass on how to create the ideal board book. It really is. -Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ Blog)A soothing and humorous bedtime story with a baby who is still up! This is the ideal board book for baby to read before lying down to sleep.The sun is DOWN but the moon is UP, and so is the baby! They are not sleepy...not at all. Perfect for babies and their loved ones, I''m Still Up! is a joyful story about the age-old struggle of bed time, and a soothing reminder that when Mommy and Daddy, the cat and the dog and even the sun are sleepy, baby might be, too. By repeating shapes, words, and language, I''m Still Up! will help your baby learn new words and routines while you read a bedtime story. Sweet, humorous, and adorable, Antoinette Portis''s illustrations and simple text are perfect for fans of the Sheep in a Jeep and Llama Llama series, and Leslie Patricelli''s board books.Trade Review"Written with simplicity and clarity, the childlike narrative is accessible to the very young, while adult readers will feel the parents’ relief at the story’s end, when they deliver the last words in a whisper, 'Baby’s sleeping.'" — Booklist "A masterclass on how to create the ideal board book. It really is." — Betsy Bird, A Fuse #8 Production (SLJ blog)

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Book SynopsisA spellbinding middle grade fantasy about three sisters who go on a quest to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations.​ All Betty Widdershins wants is an adventure—one that takes her far away from Crowstone, the gloomy island where she’s always lived. But instead of an adventure, Betty and her sisters, Fliss and Charlie, are given of a set of magical objects, each with its own powers: a scruffy carpet bag, a set of wooden nesting dolls, and a gilt-framed mirror. And these magical objects come with their own terrible secret: the sisters’ family is haunted by a generations-long curse that prevents them from ever leaving their island—at the cost of death. The sisters set out to break the curse and free their family forever. But after stumbling upon a mysterious prisoner who claims to be able to help them, they find themselves in great danger. And in order to break the c

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Book Synopsis'A perfect tale of outcasts, friendship, falconry, and the families we create.”--Tui T. Sutherland, New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire seriesIn the vein of Barbara O’Connor’s Wish, a moving, poignant story told in alternating perspectives about a down-on-her-luck girl who rescues a baby owl, and how the two set each other free. Great horned owl Rufus is eight months old and still can’t hunt. When his mother is hit by a car, he discovers just how dangerous the forest can be. Reenie has given up on adults and learned how to care for herself—a good thing, since she’s sent to live with an aunt she’s never met. Yet this aunt has a wonderful secret: she’s a falconer who agrees to help Reenie catch an injured passage hawk in the wild and rehabilitate it. When Reenie traps bedraggled Rufus, his eyes lock

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Book SynopsisA highly visual fractured-fairy-tale retelling of Little Red Riding Hood (and a cat who loves cake) from Caldecott Honor–winner Barbara Lehman. With simple picture bubbles and pictograms, this is perfect for budding graphic novel readers.Little Red has baked a cake with their father, and is on the way to Grandma's house to make a delivery. But someone has been trailing them ever since they left home . . . someone who really loves cake. This playful retelling of a beloved classic is a visual delight, with references to other fairy tales hidden throughout Lehman's inviting illustrations. Master of the wordless picture book, Lehman tells a rich story using only pictures, perfect for teaching visual literacy and for budding graphic novel enthusiasts.

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Book SynopsisTrade Review“Chaotic, comical, and heartwarming. A rewarding family story." — Booklist

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Book SynopsisA spellbinding middle grade fantasy about three sisters who go on a quest to break the curse that’s haunted their family for generations.​ All Betty Widdershins wants is an adventure—one that takes her far away from Crowstone, the gloomy island where she’s always lived. But instead of an adventure, Betty and her sisters, Fliss and Charlie, are given of a set of magical objects, each with its own powers: a scruffy carpet bag, a set of wooden nesting dolls, and a gilt-framed mirror. And these magical objects come with their own terrible secret: the sisters’ family is haunted by a generations-long curse that prevents them from ever leaving their island—at the cost of death. The sisters set out to break the curse and free their family forever. But after stumbling upon a mysterious prisoner who claims to be able to help them, they find themselves in great danger. And in order to break the c

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Book Synopsis'This is the kind of read that makes your soul sit up straight. At once a heart-wrenching tale of found family and a thrilling, atmospheric mystery that keeps you guessing at every page, Ally Carter's middle grade debut is a triumph. I loved April's character down to the barb wire wrapped around her heart, and I cheered for her journey and the extraordinary bravery required to open up to other people.' —Roshani Chokshi, New York Times bestselling author of Aru Shah and the End of Time“A fast-paced thrill ride of a book . . . it’s Batman meets Annie.” —Stuart Gibbs, New York Times best-selling author of the Spy School series“An adventure-filled read with a twisty mystery and spunky friendships. I loved it!” –Melissa de la Cruz, New York times best-selling author of The Descendants series April didn't mean to start the fire. She was

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Book SynopsisTrade Review"Seamlessly explores bodily autonomy and familial expectations through a perceptive protagonist, sharp narration, and complex relationships. . . . Powerful and engrossing." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) "Intricate, nuanced, and empowering." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "An authentic portrait of a character who wants to be seen for who she is and not the limitations placed on her." — Booklist "Readers will be pleased to see Verónica strike the right balance of being authentic to herself while valuing relationships as a two-way street." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books "Sylvester blends the compelling struggle of a young woman trying to find her voice with the effects of living with a serious medical condition" — Horn Book Magazine "A poignant and powerful story... Real and beautifully relevant." — Laura Taylor Name, New York Times bestselling author of A Cuban Girl's Guide to Tea and Tomorrow "Breathtaking and utterly original... A tribute to disabled bodies and a vital addition to YA literature." — Lillie Lainoff, author of One for All "With its deep honest, hope, emotion, and tenderness, this is a coming-of-age story I will forever hold close to my heart." — Jonny Garza Villa, author of Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun "A gorgeous, heartfelt exploration of what it means to know and love the body that you have... A shimmering triumph of a book." — Amanda Leduc, author of The Centaur's Wife and Disfigured: On Fairy Tales, Disability, and Making Space

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Book Synopsis'A perfect tale of outcasts, friendship, falconry, and the families we create.”--Tui T. Sutherland, New York Times bestselling author of the Wings of Fire seriesIn the vein of Barbara O’Connor’s Wish, a moving, poignant story told in alternating perspectives about a down-on-her-luck girl who rescues a baby owl, and how the two set each other free. Great horned owl Rufus is eight months old and still can’t hunt. When his mother is hit by a car, he discovers just how dangerous the forest can be. Reenie has given up on adults and learned how to care for herself—a good thing, since she’s sent to live with an aunt she’s never met. Yet this aunt has a wonderful secret: she’s a falconer who agrees to help Reenie catch an injured passage hawk in the wild and rehabilitate it. When Reenie traps bedraggled Rufus, his eyes lock

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewWith a little grit and a lot of wit and humor, Amanda Sellet dives deep into what it means for a teen to both live up to and strain against expectations, while navigating the challenges of forging one’s own path in life. Jo’s experiences manage to be delightfully outlandish yet perfectly authentic. Belittled Women is a pitch-perfect homage to the messy-yet-loving chaos of family life. — Megan Bannen, author of The Undertaking of Hart and Mercy Belittled Women is not just for fans of Little Women—it’s also for those of us who love a book featuring a rebellious, smart protagonist, a rustic, charming setting, and prose that makes us literally laugh out loud. Jo is a lovable and hilarious heroine, and readers will also fall in love with her family, her hometown, and her journey to figure out exactly who she is and what she wants. — Raquel Vasquez Gilliland, author of Pura Belpré Award–winning How Moon Fuentez Fell in Love with the Universe If Nora Roberts wrote a YA Little Women retelling, this would be it. Brimming with effortless banter set against a satisfying slow-burn romance, Belittled Women is the very definition of a romantic comedy. Hilarious from page one, Amanda Sellet draws us into Jo Porter’s waking nightmare: the never-ending carousel of life in a literal Little Women reenactment at her mother’s roadside Kansas attraction. Living under the weight of her alternate life portraying “Book Jo” and her family’s expectations, our Jo can’t wait to bust free, but what’s holding her back might be what’s been holding her together all this time. — Sarah Henning, author of Throw Like a Girl and It's All in How You Fall I loved this wry, witty, raucous take on Little Women. Sellet nails the absurdity, love, and occasional brawls of sisterhood. The Porters are a boisterous delight. — Jessica Spotswood, author of Great or Nothing "More of a “what if” than a retelling, this novel will interest fans of the original but will also appeal to teens who are looking to be the weavers of their own tales, clobber their bratty sister a bit, and savor the "almost" moments with the cute boy next door. With quick, breezy prose and relatable dialogue, the Porter sisters may not rival the Marches, but they leave their own mark." — ALA Booklist

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Book SynopsisIn her joyous authorial debut, Coretta Scott King Illustrator Award Honor winner Raissa Figueroa celebrates the warm love between Black fathers and their children. Capturing a child’s perspective and infused with gentle humor, Raissa Figueroa’s tender, insightful look at fathers is an irresistible ode to the bond between daddies and the children they love.Whether it’s exploring, learning, dreaming—or anything in between—all daddies love doing things with their kids. In fact, the only thing they love more than spending time with their kids is the kids themselves!Perfect for Father''s Day or any day.

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Book SynopsisMeet Pretzel, the "World's Longest Dachshund," and his playful puppy family from Pretzel and the Puppies streaming on Apple TV+!

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Book SynopsisA “must-read for tweens and their parents (SLJ, starred review), this funny, feminist, and queer contemporary middle grade debut follows 12-year-old loner Hazel Hill, who after one of her classmates is harassed online, devises a plan to catch the school''s golden boy in the act. Seventh grader Hazel Hill is too busy for friends. No, really. She needs to focus on winning the school-wide speech competition and beating her nemesis, the popular and smart Ella Quinn, after last year’s embarrassing hyperbole/hyperbowl mishap that cost her first place.But when Hazel discovers Ella is being harassed by golden boy Tyler Harris, she has to choose between winning and doing the right thing. No one would believe that a nice boy like Tyler would harass and intimidate a nice girl like Ella, but Hazel knows the truth—and she’s determined to prove it, even if it means risking everything. Deeply relatable

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Book SynopsisIt's been 30 years and with rising temperatures melting icy mountain tops the previously frozen Willoughbys have thawed out and are about to return! From living legend and Newbery medalist Lois Lowry comes a hilarious sequel to New York Times bestseller The Willoughbys—soon to be an animated film starring Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, and Sean Cullen on Netflix!Although they grew up as wretched orphans, the Willoughby siblings also became heirs to the the Melanoff candy company fortune. Everything has turned out just splendidly, except for one problem: Richie Willoughby, son of Timothy Willoughby, is an only child and is quite lonely.Winifred and Winston Poore have long admired the toys of their neighbor Richie Willoughby and finally befriend the mysterious boy next door. But just as Richie finally begins to make friends, selling sweets is made illegal, and the family's fortune is put in jeopardy. To make matters worse, Richie's horrible Willoughby grandparents—frozen atop a Swiss mountain thirty years ago—have thawed, remain in perfect health, and are making their way home again.What is the point of being the reclusive son of a billionaire when your father is no longer a billionaire? What is the future without candy in it? And is there any escaping the odiousness of the Willoughbys? These are the profound questions with which Newbery medalist and ignominious author Lois Lowry grapples in The Willoughbys Return.Trade Review"The Willoughbys Return offers plenty of delightful silliness for younger readers too, from its nuttily arch dialogue to its winningly absurdist plot and subplots.... Lowry proves yet again that she has the imaginative power to transport."—New York Times Book Review "An entertainingly absurd revival that recalls Roald Dahl’s oeuvre."—Publishers Weekly "Archly comedic.... Lowry’s exaggerated characters and breezy, unlikely plot are highly entertaining."—Kirkus "Lowry exaggerates and gently mocks the conventions of old-fashioned fiction, while capturing readers with her sure-handed storytelling and wry wit."—Booklist —

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Book SynopsisIn this spooky and atmospheric debut contemporary fantasy, Snow White and Rose Red meets the modern world after sisters Neve and Rose’s lives are upended when a swamp witch kidnaps Rose.Trade Review"With a dose of creepiness and a dash of delight, Landra Jennings brews a bewitching tale of sisterly love, finding your voice, and the value of a good tomato. I love this book." — Anne Ursu, author of The Troubled Girls of Dragomir Academy "The Whispering Fog is a dark and twisty retelling of Snow White and Rose Red, with a delicious page-turner of an ending. But underneath the magic, it's a refreshingly honest story about imperfect families, about how sometimes we care best for others by being real with ourselves. I loved it." — Laurel Snyder, author of Orphan Island and My Jasper June "This riveting retelling of Snow White and Rose Red is eerie and atmospheric, grounded in an extraordinary sibling connection that is given room to shift and evolve . . . a splendidly suspenseful and sinister read with a tender heart." — Booklist "A swamp full of secrets and a quirky cast of characters combine for a delightfully dark debut." — Kirkus Reviews "Jennings threads the fantasy and horror elements with the book’s realism with a goosebump-inducing precision while infusing the story with small details that leap off the page. . . Hand this to fans of Doll Bones (BCCB 06/13) and middle graders looking for a spooky blend of horror and folklore." — Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books

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Book SynopsisTrade ReviewPraise for The Moon Remembers: ★ "Peaceful and reverent, this is a book for all families to share as they cuddle closely together." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Praise for The Moon Remembers: ★ "[A] satisfying nighttime story with a tender heart. Reassuring in its simplicity and lulling in its tone, with visual ties to the expanse of the natural world." — Publishers Weekly (starred review) Praise for The Moon Remembers: ★ "E.B. Goodale’s exceptional The Moon Remembers deserves a place among perennial favorites like Margaret Wise Brown and Clement Hurd’s Goodnight Moon and Eric Carle’s Papa, Please Get the Moon for Me." — BookPage (starred review) Praise for The Moon Remembers: "Goodale blends realism and a touch of fancy to pitch some big ideas to the toddler and preschool crowd. Will be welcome at bedtime and baby-showers." — Horn Book Magazine Praise for The Moon Remembers: "A book that is both beautifully written and illustrated." — School Library Journal Praise for Under the Lilacs: "Ezra Jack Keats Award winner Goodale succeeds in offering a contemplative and relatable work that affirms and reflects the complex emotional lives of young children." — School Library Journal Praise for Also: ★ “A multigenerational masterpiece, and outstanding addition to any collection.” — School Library Journal (starred review) Praise for Windows: ★ "Debut illustrator Goodale's delicately detailed ink, watercolor, letterpress, and digital collage illustrations display palettes of the evening and night skies with beautifully nuanced shades of yellow, gold, and blue. The red-hooded child of color with dog can't help but recall Peter and Willie, and this book is a lovely, affirming follow-up. A warmhearted tale of a child, a dog, and their peaceful, friendly, and inviting neighborhood." — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

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Book SynopsisA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard SelectionThe third book in the thrilling series about the Widdershins sisters is a spellbinding tale of sorcery, spells, and witches.It should have been a fresh start for the Widdershins, finally free from the misty gloom of Crowstone and beginning a new life. But all is not as it seems in their postcard-pretty village. Their neighbors are acting strangely, and why do they flinch at the mere mention of magic?The Widdershins sisters have their own secret: a set of enchanted nesting dolls with the power to render their user invisible. The sisters must use their wits—and their magic—if they''re to break the dark hold over the village, and save one of their own . . . but have they finally met their match?A dangerous spell cast over an unsuspecting village.An enchanted painting locked in a hidden room.A desperate race against time to break the

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Book SynopsisThis sequel to A Pinch of Magic is another spellbinding sisterly adventure, this time with a haunted shipwreck, a fierce pirate, and, of course, a little magic!The family curse has been lifted, and the Widdershins sisters—Betty, Fliss, and Charlie—are free to leave the misty prison isle of Crowstone. But when a mysterious girl arrives at their inn accompanied by a will-o’-the-wisp, or ghost, it seems another adventure has landed on their doorstep. The stranger, named Willow, is an escaped prisoner from nearby Lament, desperate to clear her father''s name before he''s executed for a crime he didn''t commit. Then Charlie is kidnapped by poachers, swept away on a dangerous mission in search of pirate treasure that''s protected by a vengeful ghost. Betty, Fliss, and Willow pile into their trusty boat and embark on another incredible adventure, one that involves ghosts, fierce pirates, and a journey to a mythic

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