Young Adult Fiction

"A mesmerizing debut fantasy.” –Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame

“A fantastical romp filled with intrigue and suspense.” —Kirkus Reviews

Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family . . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned. 

Teia Carthan abandoned her morals long ago, and now there’s nothing she won’t do to stay alive. So far she has survived her parents’ deaths, the ire of the Council, and innumerable attempts on her life, orchestrated by Jura, her half brother and soon-to-be king of Erisia. Teia’s rare control over two elements marks her as both an outsider and a formidable opponent—but once Jura is crowned king, there will be no way to survive him. Not for Teia, not for anyone. 

When Jura moves to crush the rebellion that seeks to overthrow the monarchy, Teia sees one last opportunity to ensure her own safety. She can infiltrate the rebels, locate their base . . . and betray them to Jura, trading their lives for her own. 

Yet when Teia meets the rebels, she gets far more than she bargained for. And when she gains not only their trust but their friendship, she begins to have doubts. Perhaps the rebels are right. Perhaps the Golden Palace should be torn down and the monarchy destroyed. 

But then again—what if there is another possibility? What if Teia were on the throne instead? 

Winner of the 2024 Leapfrog Global Fiction Prize for Young Adult Fiction

Cat and Josie belong to different worlds, but they share a lifeline – their small town’s high school cross country team. Can they set aside their differences to do what’s best for their teammates – and themselves?

Cat Shultz needs a fresh start. After spending several months at an eating disorder treatment facility, she comes home to the realities of her older sister leaving for college, her best friend growing distant, and the stress of sophomore year looming. When an unlikely invitation lands her a spot on Plain City High School’s cross country team, Cat discovers a natural talent for long distance running, and what she hopes is a step toward recovery. The only problem? She’ll have to lie – to her parents, her team, and ultimately herself.

Josie Romero lives for cross country. When Coach Davis – the closest thing she has to a father – announces this will be his last season, she believes a championship win against their rivals will convince him to stay. As team captain, Josie has always fiercely supported her teammates, but when Cat challenges her spot as the fastest runner, Josie must confront her own insecurities in order to become the leader they deserve.

As the championship race approaches, conflicts arise on and off the course, and suddenly winning feels less likely than ever. When Cat can no longer outrun her lies, Josie finds herself racing for something much more important than the finish line.

Wolfpack is a heartwarming tale of healing, hope, and learning that you always go farthest if you run as a pack.

Inspired by objects found in her environment, Eva Toorenent creates a fantasy world for young and old.

In the soft glimmer of a stream—or in the rustling foliage of a tree—if you know where to look, you will find them. The creatures. With the right eye, a stone turns into a Diestrog egg, and a broken teapot becomes the work of a Shard Demon. Come visit this magical, wonder filled world . . .

WINNER OF THE 2024 GRATEFUL AMERICAN BOOK PRIZE FOR BEST YOUNG ADULT HISTORICAL FICTION!

Ray Elias is a precocious but withdrawn sixteen-year-old growing up in an affluent suburb of New York in the early sixties. Numbed by the assassination of President Kennedy, Ray chances upon a TV documentary about the most recent presidential election and is drawn to the ebullient senator from Minnesota, Hubert Humphrey, who unsuccessfully challenged John Kennedy for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1960.

With the senator as his newfound hero, Ray fashions a mission for himself: make Humphrey Lyndon Johnson’s running mate in 1964. To the amazement of his friends and cynical father, Humphrey learns of Ray’s plan to lobby the delegates and, impressed with his sincerity and ambition, takes Ray under his wing.

Ray enters college as the senator is elected vice president, but the relationship unravels when Humphrey becomes an ardent public supporter of the Vietnam War, despite his personal belief in the war’s futility. As the tension between them grows and their bond deteriorates, Ray is devastated by his loss of faith in Humphrey. However, he finds consolation for his disappointment in Ruth, a spirited classmate from the other side of the tracks who teaches him understanding and empathy.

As Ray matures to young adulthood he reconnects with Humphrey—who has by now achieved a political revival and is mulling a fresh run at the presidency—and the two reconcile after Humphrey finally acknowledges his breach of Ray’s trust, and Ray forgives his former mentor.

Loosely based on the author’s real-life relationship with Vice President Hubert Humphrey, Humphrey and Me portrays the often highly emotional journey that comes with embracing our heroes, while set against the backdrop of the tempestuous political eras of the 1960s and ’70s.

Plenty of things in Zora’s youth would seem strange to others, but they’re perfectly normal to her. Her mother’s fixation with germs, and parties, and the power of names. Her father, who Zora rarely sees, disappearing among the stars as his biggest claim to fame. Her role in explaining things to her younger sister, even as Zora works to discover her own philosophies of life. And her neighborhood, a one-way street with an entrance but no exit called "the Aves."

Zora wants more. More than an honorable name. More than glimpses of glory captured in window frames. Surviving childhood can be as intricate as the intertwined streets of Los Angeles. But as Zora grows, so does her story. And in the process, her desire for more is transformed into a tribute of the magnificent people who live alongside her.

Can surfing change your life? For Ellie, it most certainly does. Vezna Andrews’ debut novel is set in 1980s Southern California, where sixteen-year-old Ellie discovers herself through her love of surfing. Born and raised in New York City, Ellie’s world is turned upside down when her father unexpectedly dies and her mother sends her to Manhattan Beach, California to live with her Aunt Jen and her Uncle Charlie—both avid surfers.

Ellie’s new home is a sharp contrast to the loft in New York City’s garment district where she grew up. Heartbroken about her dad, and worried about her mom, who drinks too much, Ellie doesn’t fit in with the preppie girls at her new California high school, who eventually gang up on and bully her. Thankfully, with the encouragement of Aunt Jen and Uncle Charlie, Ellie discovers surfing, which becomes her passion and her refuge.

While surfing California’s wild coast, Ellie experiences surfing's spiritual, healing qualities, including magical encounters with wild dolphins, whales, and sea lions. Eventually, Ellie finds a group of like-minded souls who show her what true friendship is—and she experiences first love. Though her relationship with her mom grows strained, Ellie becomes close to Aunt Jen, Uncle Charlie, and their community of surfers. Through surfing, Ellie develops the confidence and strength needed to navigate her own path in life—surfing literally saves her.

"A mesmerizing debut fantasy.” –Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Fourth Wing and Iron Flame

“A fantastical romp filled with intrigue and suspense.” —Kirkus Reviews

Fearing for her life, an outcast princess joins the rebellion against her own kingdom and family . . . but when playing with fire, someone always gets burned. 

Teia Carthan abandoned her morals long ago, and now there’s nothing she won’t do to stay alive. So far she has survived her parents’ deaths, the ire of the Council, and innumerable attempts on her life, orchestrated by Jura, her half brother and soon-to-be king of Erisia. Teia’s rare control over two elements marks her as both an outsider and a formidable opponent—but once Jura is crowned king, there will be no way to survive him. Not for Teia, not for anyone. 

When Jura moves to crush the rebellion that seeks to overthrow the monarchy, Teia sees one last opportunity to ensure her own safety. She can infiltrate the rebels, locate their base . . . and betray them to Jura, trading their lives for her own. 

Yet when Teia meets the rebels, she gets far more than she bargained for. And when she gains not only their trust but their friendship, she begins to have doubts. Perhaps the rebels are right. Perhaps the Golden Palace should be torn down and the monarchy destroyed. 

But then again—what if there is another possibility? What if Teia were on the throne instead? 

Between 1943 and 1944, nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were rescued from the Holocaust, including thousands who had already been rounded up and put on trains bound for death camps in Poland. Dominic Carrillo’s suspenseful novel Acts of Resistance is based on the true story of this incredibly heroic effort by the citizens of Bulgaria. In Carrillo’s powerful account, he skillfully weaves together a thrilling tale told by three alternating teenage narrators: Misho, Peter, and Lily.

Misho, an 18-year-old Jewish boy, is a prominent archbishop’s driver, hiding his identity while helping his boss directly challenge the Bulgarian government’s pro-Nazi policies.

Peter, 17, is determined to save his Jewish neighbors by confronting parliament members in the capital, then taking up arms to fight with a partisan rebel communist group.

Lily, 19, works for the collaborationist government office in charge of evicting and deporting Jews to concentration camps. When she witnesses the evil results of her desk job, Lily becomes a spy who leaks information to Jewish community leaders in order to prevent further atrocities.

As the characters’ lives become more endangered and their unsung roles in saving Jewish citizens are revealed, the reader is treated to a tension-filled adventure surrounding one of the greatest unknown acts of heroism associated with the Holocaust. Acts of Resistance will have you on the edge of your seat as Misho, Peter, and Lily face and overcome extremely perilous situations, ultimately triumphing as they each help to lead the people of Bulgaria to rise up against the Nazis and save their nearly 50,000-strong Jewish population from extinction.

Set in a fantasy world of hungry goblins, powerful witches and human criminals, Half-Witch follows the unlikely friendship between Lizbet and the unpleasant sarcastic witch girl Strix on a twisted journey to rescue her father from prison.

In the world in which Lizbet Lenz lives, the sun still goes around the earth, God speaks directly to his worshippers, goblins haunt every cellar and witches lurk in the forests. Disaster strikes when Lizbet’s father Gerhard, a charming scoundrel, is thrown into a dungeon by the tyrant Hengest Wolftrow. 

To free him, Lizbet must cross the Montagnes du Monde, globe-girdling mountains that reach to the sky, a journey no one has ever survived, and retrieve a mysterious book. Lizbet is desperate, and the only one who can help her is the unbearable witch girl Strix. 

As the two girls journey through the mountains and into the lands of wonder beyond, Lizbet discovers—to her horror—that Strix’s magic is turning Lizbet into a witch, too. All while, a revolution in Heaven is brewing!

From bestselling author Josephine Angelini comes a whimsical fantasy read with loads of adventure and none of the triggers. Perfect for fans of Olivia Atwater and Travis Baldree.

Ever wish you could travel inside your favorite book and become the main character? Of course you have. Everyone has. But if you ever manage to pull it off, here’s a tip. Timing is everything…

Take Holly for example, who after saying a spell is transported inside a fairytale called The Chronicles of Lucitopia, a magical world infested with grifter grandmas, halitosis-riddled bandits, and devoid of any functioning toilets.

Holly becomes Princess Pleasant exactly as she wished, but she gets there too late, right after an evil sorcerer turns Lucitopia into a tetanus-ridden hellhole. And now, it’s up to Holly to make things right.

With the help of a freakishly handsome, yet frustratingly virtuous knight, Holly sets out to fix her story, but she only has fifteen days left to do so or she risks being stuck in Lucitopia for the rest of her life, which may prove to be a short one considering she’s overdue for her shots.

Amazon Best Sci-Fi/Fantasy Book of 2018

One of Entertainment Weekly's 10 Best YA Books of 2018

One of Publishers Weekly's Best YA Book of the Year

A National Indie Bestseller

Longlisted for Irish YA prize Great Reads Award

Lose yourself in the fantastic world of the arks and in the company of unforgettable characters in this French runaway hit, Christelle Dabos’ The Mirror Visitor quartet.

Plain-spoken, headstrong Ophelia cares little about appearances. Her ability to read the past of objects is unmatched in all of Anima and, what’s more, she possesses the ability to travel through mirrors, a skill passed down to her from previous generations. Her idyllic life is disrupted, however, when she is promised in marriage to Thorn, a taciturn and influential member of a distant clan. Ophelia must leave all she knows behind and follow her fiancé to Citaceleste, the capital of a cold, icy ark known as the Pole, where danger lurks around every corner and nobody can be trusted. There, in the presence of her inscrutable future husband, Ophelia slowly realizes that she is a pawn in a political game that will have far-reaching ramifications not only for her but for her entire world.

The World of the Arks

Long ago, following a cataclysm called the Rupture, the world was shattered into many floating celestial islands, now known as arks. Over each, the spirit of an omnipotent and immortal ancestor abides. The inhabitants of these arks each possess a unique power. Ophelia, with her ability to read the pasts of objects, must navigate this fantastic, disjointed, perilous world using her trademark tenacity and quiet strength.

An unforgettable heroine, a rich and bountiful universe, intrigue and suspense: A Winter’s Promise is perfect for readers of Margaret Rogerson’s An Enchantment of Ravens, Melissa Albert’s The Hazel Wood, V.E. Schwab’s “Shades of Magic” series, Tomi Adeyemi’s Children of Blood and Bone, Kenneth Oppel’s “Airborne” series, and N.K. Jemisin “Broken Earth” series.

Extract:

I think we could have all lived happily, in a way, God, me and the others, if it weren’t for that accursed book. It disgusted me. I knew what bound me to it in the most sickening of ways, but the horror of that particular knowledge came later, much later. I didn’t understand straight away, I was too ignorant.

Alberto Villarreal expone heridas abiertas escritas con tinta emocional. Cada página es un espejo, una confesión que muchos no se atreven a hacer.

"Existes porque te recuerdo

Te traigo a la tierra con la fuerza

del cincel contra la carne

Existes porque deseo

Te formo ante mis ojos"

Abrir el corazón, dejar que se desangre, así entiende Alberto Villarreal la poesía y, en este nuevo libro, rompe con todo lo que nos enseñaron sobre ocultar lo que sentimos y esconder el amor que no encaja en lo que otros esperan.

Cada poema de Te daré el olvido habla sin filtros sobre nombrar lo que duele y amar con valentía, sin miedo. Es un testimonio sobre lo difícil que es olvidar a las personas que hemos amado, y cómo su ausencia se vuelve un eco constante en el cuerpo.

Navega en este viaje íntimo que se siente como un abrazo para los corazones heridos.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Alberto Villarreal lays bare open wounds written in emotional ink. Each page is a mirror, a confession many don’t dare to make.

"You exist because I remember you

I bring you to earth with the force

of chisel against flesh

You exist because I desire

I shape you before my eyes"

To open the heart and let it bleed—this is how Alberto Villarreal understands poetry. In this new book, he breaks away from everything we were taught about hiding what we feel and concealing love that doesn’t fit others’ expectations.

Each poem in Te daré el olvido (I Will Make You Forget) speaks unfiltered about naming pain and loving bravely, without fear. It’s a testimony to how hard it is to forget those we’ve loved, and how their absence becomes a constant echo in the body.

Embark on this intimate journey that feels like a hug for wounded hearts.

The unforgettable novel about one child soldier’s struggle with friendship, courage, and resilience.

Jacob is a 14-year-old Ugandan who is sent away to a boys’ school. Once there, he assures his friend Tony that they need not be afraid—they will be safe. But not long after, in the shadow of the night, the boys are abducted. Marched into the jungle, they are brought to an encampment of the feared rebel soldiers. Told that they must kill or be killed, the boys are thrust into a terrifying struggle to endure and survive.

In time, the boys escape. Hunted by the rebels, stalked by a lion, and even pursued by river crocs, they miraculously succeed in reaching safety; however, it is no longer enough. Jacob’s adventures force him to confront evil, victimization, and the dark side of human nature, but also teach him about loyalty, friendship, and the true meaning of family.

Daniel Lafrance’s striking artwork and the poignant, powerful text capture the very essence of life as a child soldier. Readers will never forget the experiences of this young boy struggling to survive, unsure who to trust, afraid of succumbing to madness, and above all, desperate to get to freedom. In the end, Jacob engineers a daring escape.

This graphic novel is based on the acclaimed novel of the same title, winner of a 2009 Arthur Ellis award. The author spent time in Uganda and based this story on real-life accounts of the horrors inflicted on child soldiers and their victims. This is a story of unthinkable violence, but also one of hope, courage, friendship, and family.

Monique Couvson’s trailblazing book Pushout laid the groundwork for understanding how our schools are failing Black girls; her follow-up, Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues, provided a blueprint for their healing and liberation. Now Couvson invites readers to be inspired by her liberatory imagination with an original narrative told from the perspective of the very girls she has been fighting for years to lift up.

Charisma’s Turn is a graphic novel that follows the dynamic story of Charisma, a Black high school student who is grappling with mounting pressures from home and school. When frustrations with her family intersect with a conflict at school, she reaches a crossroads, facing a choice that could change her future. Featuring vibrantly illustrated art from Amanda Jones and a foreword by poet, artist, and arts educator Susan Arauz Barnes, this book will appeal to teens, parents, educators, librarians, and more. Charisma’s Turn exemplifies how Black girls can be truly empowered to reach their full potential when they have supportive educators and community members in their corner.

Named one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2024 Great Graphic Novels for Teens

From the award-winning author of Pushout, an inspiring graphic novel about what can happen when Black girls are given the opportunity to find their genuine power

Monique Couvson’s trailblazing book Pushout laid the groundwork for understanding how our schools are failing Black girls; her follow-up, Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues, provided a blueprint for their healing and liberation. Now Couvson invites readers to be inspired by her liberatory imagination with an original narrative told from the perspective of the very girls she has been fighting for years to lift up.

Charisma’s Turn is a graphic novel that follows the dynamic story of Charisma, a Black high school student who is grappling with mounting pressures from home and school. When frustrations with her family intersect with a conflict at school, she reaches a crossroads, facing a choice that could change her future. Featuring vibrantly illustrated art from Amanda Jones and a foreword by poet, artist, and arts educator Susan Arauz Barnes, this book will appeal to teens, parents, educators, librarians, and more. Charisma’s Turn exemplifies how Black girls can be truly empowered to reach their full potential when they have supportive educators and community members in their corner.

A Wrinkle in Time meets Brave New World in this thought-provoking debut graphic novel about one girl’s quest to save her family's livelihood—and maybe existence itself.

Chloe and her older sister make souls by hand in an empty old house in the countryside. When their supply of breth—the raw material needed to make souls—runs dry, the evil McCorp tries to force them to franchise and make synthetic souls instead. Chloe sets out to the big city in hopes of finding a new source. And maybe a way to modernize their business that Lacey is so determined to keep in the past.

On a journey to find a real breth crop, untouched by MCorp’s greedy hands, Chloe uncovers long-buried family secrets—and starts to question whom to trust and what reality even is.

A beautifully rendered debut, Soul Machine is at once a metaphysical science-fiction story and a nuanced exploration of big ideas: spirituality, family, consciousness, and connection, but also unscrupulous consumption, megacorporations, and how egomaniac entrepreneurs impact our lives.

An aspiring young actor must find her place at a cutthroat arts boarding school in this gothic YA debut for fans of Ace of Spades and If We Were Villains.

Violet Costantino knows she is already on thin ice this school year: her scholarship has taken a significant hit due to her panic attack during her final performance in acting class last semester—which simultaneously shattered her dreams of becoming a leading lady. This year, she is determined to keep her head down and just get through unscathed. But the school seems to have other plans for Violet: to her extreme foreboding, she is cast as one of the leads in the annual Halloween play. What’s worse, the beautiful, infuriatingly talented Frankie Lin and Violet’s ex-crush, Hunter Kinsey, are both cast as her love interests. Despite her initial reluctance, Violet is drawn in by the glamor of the Dark Cove Theatre Society, and she cautiously starts believing that maybe she is cut out for this after all. But lurking in the shadows of Violet’s fragile self-confidence is the rumor of the Society curse, which is said to cause one cast member to drop out before opening night every year, mysteriously and without reason.

In this captivating YA debut, The Dark Cove Theatre Society illustrates both the intoxicating and insidious nature of success and the price we are often forced to pay for it. Passages of found text—glimpses of the school’s handbook, secret letters, and other peeks into life at the Academy—seamlessly woven into the plot will immerse readers even further into the lush, magnetic world of Dark Cove.

“Anyone who is Deaf . . . will immediately feel a connection and a sense of belonging while reading Asphyxia's book.” —Stacy Abrams, founder of the #WhyISign campaign • Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens 2021 • A Kirkus Best Book of 2021

Part coming of age, part call to action, this fast-paced novel about a Deaf teenager by a Deaf author is a unique and inspiring exploration of what it means to belong.

Smart, artistic, and independent, sixteen year old Piper is tired of trying to conform. Her mom wants her to be “normal,” to pass as hearing, to get a good job. But in a time of food scarcity, environmental collapse, and political corruption, Piper has other things on her mind—like survival.

Piper has always been told that she needs to compensate for her Deafness in a world made for those who can hear. But when she meets Marley, a new world opens up—one where Deafness is something to celebrate, and where resilience means taking action, building a com-munity, and believing in something better.

Published to rave reviews as Future Girl in Australia (Allen & Unwin, Sept. 2020), this empowering, unforgettable story is told through a visual extravaganza of text, paint, collage, and drawings. Set in an ominously prescient near future, The Words in My Hands is very much a novel for our turbulent times.

An aspiring young actor must find her place at a cutthroat arts boarding school in this gothic YA debut for fans of Ace of Spades and If We Were Villains.

Violet Costantino knows she is already on thin ice this school year: her scholarship has taken a significant hit due to her panic attack during her final performance in acting class last semester—which simultaneously shattered her dreams of becoming a leading lady. This year, she is determined to keep her head down and just get through unscathed. But the school seems to have other plans for Violet: to her extreme foreboding, she is cast as one of the leads in the annual Halloween play. What’s worse, the beautiful, infuriatingly talented Frankie Lin and Violet’s ex-crush, Hunter Kinsey, are both cast as her love interests. Despite her initial reluctance, Violet is drawn in by the glamor of the Dark Cove Theatre Society, and she cautiously starts believing that maybe she is cut out for this after all. But lurking in the shadows of Violet’s fragile self-confidence is the rumor of the Society curse, which is said to cause one cast member to drop out before opening night every year, mysteriously and without reason.

In this captivating YA debut, The Dark Cove Theatre Society illustrates both the intoxicating and insidious nature of success and the price we are often forced to pay for it. Passages of found text—glimpses of the school’s handbook, secret letters, and other peeks into life at the Academy—seamlessly woven into the plot will immerse readers even further into the lush, magnetic world of Dark Cove.

Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail,Quill & Quire • Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine • Kids Indie Next Pick

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down—and rebel against—standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?

Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?

Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?

When Roz’s estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.

Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.

“Moving and emotional.” —Victoria Ying, Harvey Award–winning author of Hungry Ghost

“Crucial.” —Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo

“Beautiful.” —Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

Governor General Literary Awards Winner • A NYPL Best Book of 2024

This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends.

Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different—to finally give her some stories worth telling. When she meets Ash Chan, it seems like she’s getting what she asked for. Ash is confident, intensely independent, and hell on a skateboard—nothing like anyone Jay knows and exactly how she wishes she could be.

Offering to film Ash’s submission to an upcoming skate contest introduces Jay to a side of Vancouver she’s never seen and gives her the chance to push back against the expectations placed on her. But Ash has a secret, and Jay is increasingly desperate to figure it out. As things between them ride the fine line between friendship and something more, Jay has to decide just how much Ash will impact all the choices she still has to make about where she’s going and who she wants to become.

A Wrinkle in Time meets Brave New World in this thought-provoking debut graphic novel about one girl’s quest to save her family's livelihood—and maybe existence itself.

Chloe and her older sister make souls by hand in an empty old house in the countryside. When their supply of breth—the raw material needed to make souls—runs dry, the evil McCorp tries to force them to franchise and make synthetic souls instead. Chloe sets out to the big city in hopes of finding a new source. And maybe a way to modernize their business that Lacey is so determined to keep in the past.

On a journey to find a real breth crop, untouched by MCorp’s greedy hands, Chloe uncovers long-buried family secrets—and starts to question whom to trust and what reality even is.

A beautifully rendered debut, Soul Machine is at once a metaphysical science-fiction story and a nuanced exploration of big ideas: spirituality, family, consciousness, and connection, but also unscrupulous consumption, megacorporations, and how egomaniac entrepreneurs impact our lives.

Thirteen-year-old Manuelito is a gentle boy who lives with his family in a tiny village in the Guatemalan countryside. But life is far from idyllic.

PACs—armed civil patrol—are a constant presence in the streets, and terrifying memories of the country’s war linger in the villagers’ collective conscience. Things deteriorate further when government-backed drug gangs arrive and take control of the village. Fearing their son will be forced to join a gang, Manuelito’s parents make the desperate decision to send him to live with his aunt in America.

With just a bus ticket and a small amount of cash in hand, Manuelito begins his hazardous journey to Mexico, then the U.S., in search of asylum. But in the end, dangers such as the crooked “coyote”—or human smuggler—his parents have entrusted their son’s life to may be nothing compared to the risks Manuelito faces when he finally reaches America.

Manuelito’s titular character is just one of the staggering one hundred thousand children from the Northern Triangle of Central America—Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras—who have made this perilous journey to escape their war-torn countries. Many are now detained in Mexico, separated from their parents and without access to lawyers, facing the unthinkable prospect of being sent back to the homes and danger they risked so much to escape.

Drawing on years of experience working with child refugees like Manuelito, Elisa Amado’s powerful story, illustrated with striking poignancy by Abraham Urias, brings to light the dire circumstances of so many children, so close to home.

“Who built this house? Whose money? Whose blood?” 

Ghosts aren’t the only thing that can haunt a house. Trynne Delaney’s debut novel  explores the insidious legacies of violence and oppression—and how Black, queer love and resistance can disrupt them.

With her dad’s incarceration, escalating fights with her mom, and an overbearing stepdad she’s not sure she can trust, Asha is desperate for the fresh start promised by a move to the country. Her great aunt Aggie’s crumbling, pest-ridden house isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but the immediate connection she makes with her new neighbor Cole seems like a good sign. Soon, though, Asha’s optimism is shadowed by strange and disturbing occurrences within the old house’s walls: footsteps stalking the halls; a persistent chill; cold hands around her neck in the middle of the night . . .

Fearing for her loved ones’ safety—and her own—Asha seeks out the source of these terrifying incidents and uncovers secrets from the past that connect her and Cole’s families and reach into the present. But as tensions with her mom and stepdad rise and Cole withdraws, Asha is left alone to try and break the cycle of violence that holds them all in its haunting grip.

A brilliant historical YA that asks: how do you choose between survival and doing the right thing?

The arrival of the Soviet army in Germany at the end of World War II sends sixteen-year-old Katja and her family into turmoil. The fighting has stopped, but German society is in collapse, resulting in tremendous hardship. With their father gone and few resources available to them, Katja and her sister are forced to flee their home, reassured by their mother that if they can just reach a distant friend in a town far away, things will get better. But their harrowing journey brings danger and violence, and Katja needs to summon all her strength to build a new life, just as she’s questioning everything she thought she knew about her country.

Katja’s bravery and defiance help her deal with the emotional and societal upheaval.  But how can she stay true to herself and protect the people she loves when each decision has such far-reaching consequences?

Acclaimed writer Michelle Barker’s second novel explores the chaos and destruction of the Second World War from a perspective rarely examined in YA fiction—the implications of the Soviet occupation on a German population grappling with the horrors of Nazism and its aftermath.  

Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail,Quill & Quire • Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine • Kids Indie Next Pick

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down—and rebel against—standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?

Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?

Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?

When Roz’s estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.

Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.

“Moving and emotional.” —Victoria Ying, Harvey Award–winning author of Hungry Ghost

“Crucial.” —Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo

“Beautiful.” —Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

Governor General Literary Awards Winner • A NYPL Best Book of 2024

This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends.

Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different—to finally give her some stories worth telling. When she meets Ash Chan, it seems like she’s getting what she asked for. Ash is confident, intensely independent, and hell on a skateboard—nothing like anyone Jay knows and exactly how she wishes she could be.

Offering to film Ash’s submission to an upcoming skate contest introduces Jay to a side of Vancouver she’s never seen and gives her the chance to push back against the expectations placed on her. But Ash has a secret, and Jay is increasingly desperate to figure it out. As things between them ride the fine line between friendship and something more, Jay has to decide just how much Ash will impact all the choices she still has to make about where she’s going and who she wants to become.

A hilarious YA novel about coming of age in the shadow of climate change, overcoming cynicism, and the power of collaboration from the award-winning author of Dragging Mason County.

Ever since the best story of his career became the worst humiliation of his life, teen reporter John O’Neil has gone rogue. He has turned his nose for news toward blackmailing those responsible, namely Lance McPhee, diabolical heir to the local country club. When John learns that the club plans to expand into a bird conservation area founded by his late grandfather, he begrudgingly joins forces with the school birdwatching club to expose the scandal. And if John ruins Lance’s life along the way? He’s only killing two birds with one stone.

John races against the clock in a desperate bid at environmental espionage involving forgeries, a car chase, and a high-stakes heist. But it’s a race John won’t win without former best friend/co-reporter Rachel Miller, who just so happens to want him dead. Can this motley crew flock together long enough for their mission to take flight?

A hilarious YA novel about coming of age in the shadow of climate change, overcoming cynicism, and the power of collaboration from the award-winning author of Dragging Mason County.

Ever since the best story of his career became the worst humiliation of his life, teen reporter John O’Neil has gone rogue. He has turned his nose for news toward blackmailing those responsible, namely Lance McPhee, diabolical heir to the local country club. When John learns that the club plans to expand into a bird conservation area founded by his late grandfather, he begrudgingly joins forces with the school birdwatching club to expose the scandal. And if John ruins Lance’s life along the way? He’s only killing two birds with one stone.

John races against the clock in a desperate bid at environmental espionage involving forgeries, a car chase, and a high-stakes heist. But it’s a race John won’t win without former best friend/co-reporter Rachel Miller, who just so happens to want him dead. Can this motley crew flock together long enough for their mission to take flight?

A songwriter wrestles with instant stardom and his bisexuality in this raw and propulsive novel for fans of If This Gets Out and Alice Oseman’s I Was Born for This.

After one of his songs goes viral, Ollie Cheriet gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a cross-country tour, an album deal, and a chance to help his family with their financial struggles. The only problem? Ollie has major stage fright, a symptom of his anxiety disorder. As pressure from performing, social media rumors, and his romantic life rises, his mental health starts to spiral. So he’s surprised at how grounded he feels when he collaborates with his wildly talented—and distractingly cute—touring partner, Jesse. Music has always helped Ollie through hard times, but he’s going to have to be more vulnerable than he ever thought possible to find self-acceptance in the glow of the spotlight.

Featuring characters from Maya Ameyaw’s acclaimed debut When It All Syncs Up, this story takes readers into the green room, immersing them in the vivid behind-the-scenes world of touring musicians.

From debut author Alexandra Mae Jones comes a compelling, nuanced exploration of bi identity and body image with a ghostly backdrop—perfect for fans of Nina Lacour. 

Still reeling from a recent trauma, sixteen-year-old Dell is relieved when her mom suggests a stay at the family cabin. But the much-needed escape quickly turns into a disaster. The lake and woods are awash in trash left by a previous tenant. And worse, Dell’s mom has invited her boyfriend’s daughter to stay with them. Confident, irreverent Ivy presses all of Dell's buttons--somehow making Dell’s shame and self-consciousness feel even more acute. Yet Dell is drawn to Ivy in a way she doesn't fully understand. As Dell uncovers secrets in the wreckage of her family's past--secrets hinted at through troubling dreams and strange apparitions--Ivy leads her toward thrilling, if confusing, revelations about her sexuality and identity.

Set during a humid summer in the mid-2000s, The Queen of Junk Island simmers with the intensity of a teenage girl navigating the suffocating expectations of everyone around her.

A songwriter wrestles with instant stardom and his bisexuality in this raw and propulsive novel for fans of If This Gets Out and Alice Oseman’s I Was Born for This.

After one of his songs goes viral, Ollie Cheriet gets the opportunity of a lifetime: a cross-country tour, an album deal, and a chance to help his family with their financial struggles. The only problem? Ollie has major stage fright, a symptom of his anxiety disorder. As pressure from performing, social media rumors, and his romantic life rises, his mental health starts to spiral. So he’s surprised at how grounded he feels when he collaborates with his wildly talented—and distractingly cute—touring partner, Jesse. Music has always helped Ollie through hard times, but he’s going to have to be more vulnerable than he ever thought possible to find self-acceptance in the glow of the spotlight.

Featuring characters from Maya Ameyaw’s acclaimed debut When It All Syncs Up, this story takes readers into the green room, immersing them in the vivid behind-the-scenes world of touring musicians.

“A stunning read [. . .] simmering with tension and gripping to the final word.” —Debbie Rigaud, New York Times bestselling author of Simone Breaks All the Rules and A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic

Now in paperback! A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Tiny Pretty Things.

Ballet is Aisha’s life. But when discrimination at her elite academy pushes her to her breaking point, she decides to pivot. At her new public arts school, Aisha scores more dance opportunities than she’s ever had before. And it doesn’t hurt that she gets to take classes with her bestie . . . and with Ollie, an adorably shy musician who keeps throwing off her usually impeccable balance.

Yet even as Aisha navigates friendships, family conflict, and first love, questions about her dance career open up new and old wounds. Aisha must find strength in herself and place her trust in others to make her next move.

"At times hopeful and beautiful but also heartbreakingly devastating, When It All Syncs Up is a story of love in so many forms. But maybe most important of all, it is about the love we give ourselves, and allow ourselves to be given, even at our most broken."—Jonny Garza Villa, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

The unforgettable novel about one child soldier’s struggle with friendship, courage, and resilience.

Jacob is a 14-year-old Ugandan who is sent away to a boys’ school. Once there, he assures his friend Tony that they need not be afraid—they will be safe. But not long after, in the shadow of the night, the boys are abducted. Marched into the jungle, they are brought to an encampment of the feared rebel soldiers. Told that they must kill or be killed, the boys are thrust into a terrifying struggle to endure and survive.

In time, the boys escape. Hunted by the rebels, stalked by a lion, and even pursued by river crocs, they miraculously succeed in reaching safety; however, it is no longer enough. Jacob’s adventures force him to confront evil, victimization, and the dark side of human nature, but also teach him about loyalty, friendship, and the true meaning of family.

Daniel Lafrance’s striking artwork and the poignant, powerful text capture the very essence of life as a child soldier. Readers will never forget the experiences of this young boy struggling to survive, unsure who to trust, afraid of succumbing to madness, and above all, desperate to get to freedom. In the end, Jacob engineers a daring escape.

This graphic novel is based on the acclaimed novel of the same title, winner of a 2009 Arthur Ellis award. The author spent time in Uganda and based this story on real-life accounts of the horrors inflicted on child soldiers and their victims. This is a story of unthinkable violence, but also one of hope, courage, friendship, and family.

A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Euphoria and Tiny Pretty Things.

Ballet is Aisha’s life. So when she’s denied yet another lead at her elite academy because she doesn’t “look” the part, she knows something has to change–the constant discrimination is harming her mental health. Switching to her best friend Neil’s art school seems like the perfect plan at first. But she soon discovers racism and bullying are entrenched in the ballet program here, too, and there’s a new, troubling distance between her and Neil. And as past traumas surface, pressure from friends and family, a new romance, and questions about her dance career threaten to overwhelm her. There’s no choreography to follow–for high school or for healing. Aisha will have to find the strength within herself–and place her trust in others–to make her next move.

• FOLLOW-UP TO ACCLAIMED DEBUT: When It All Syncs Up received starred reviews from Kirkus and SLJ. This book will take readers into one of the book’s popular secondary character’s POV while checking in with the characters from the previous book. The paperback edition of When It All Syncs Up is coming a month ahead for anyone who missed it the first time around.
• PAPERBACK ORIGINAL! A lower price point for teens
• MUSIC APPEAL: Exploration of fan culture and the impacts of social media on popular artists
• THOUGHTFUL DEPICTION OF DIFFICULT ISSUES: Nuanced exploration of mental health challenges (anxiety disorder), sexual assault recovery, bi identity, and internalized homophobia
• TOUCH OF ROMANCE: Light romance elements with a crush growing between Ollie and his touring partner as Ollie navigates a long-distance relationship—and his struggles with accepting his own queerness
• QUEER REPRESENTATION: Main character Ollie is bisexual
• FOR FANS OF: On the Come Up and If This Gets Out
• LEVELING INFO: Coming soon

“[A] thoughtful reflection on how bigotry of the past informs the hauntings of the present.”

—STARRED review, The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (CCBC)

Ghosts aren’t the only thing that can haunt a house.

With her dad’s incarceration, escalating fights with her mom, and an overbearing stepdad she’s not sure she can trust, Asha is desperate for the fresh start promised by a move to the country. Her great aunt Aggie’s crumbling, pest-ridden house isn’t exactly what she had in mind, but the immediate connection she makes with her new neighbor Cole seems like a good sign. Soon, though, Asha’s optimism is shadowed by strange and disturbing occurrences within the old house’s walls: footsteps stalking the halls; a persistent chill; cold hands around her neck in the middle of the night . . .

Fearing for her loved ones’ safety—and her own—Asha seeks out the source of these terrifying incidents and uncovers secrets from the past that connect her and Cole’s families and reach into the present. But as tensions with her mom and stepdad rise and Cole withdraws, Asha is left alone to try and break the cycle of violence that holds them all in its haunting grip.

Trynne Delaney’s debut novel explores the insidious legacies of violence and oppression—and how Black, queer love and resistance can disrupt them.

A laugh-out-loud YA debut that examines the realities of small-town queer life and celebrates the transformative power of drag—perfect for fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Pumpkin.

Peter Thompkins needs a public image overhaul. After a tense confrontation with one of the few other queer kids in his small-town high school, rumors about him are becoming more elaborate by the day. Meanwhile, his best friend Alan (aka teen drag queen Aggie Culture) is throwing Mason County’s debut Drag Extravaganza. Although Peter is a self-described “dragnostic,” he decides to help produce the show, hoping to prove that he isn’t a self-hating gay. In the process, he finds himself facing down angry guard dogs, angrier bigots, and a very high-strung church lady. As backlash grows, Peter begins to wonder whether he's setting fire to his already damaged reputation and if his friendship with Alan will survive past curtain call.

At turns touching, sharply funny, and a little absurd, Dragging Mason County explores the pains and pleasures of queer community through one teen’s journey to self-acceptance.

The powerful story of a child refugee seeking asylum in America

Thirteen-year-old Manuelito is a gentle boy who lives with his family in a tiny village in the Guatemalan countryside. But life is far from idyllic: PACs—armed civil patrol—are a constant presence in the streets, and terrifying memories of the country’s war linger in the villagers’ collective conscience. Things deteriorate further when government-backed drug gangs arrive and take control of the village. Fearing their son will be forced to join a gang, Manuelito’s parents make the desperate decision to send him to live with his aunt in the United States.

With just a bus ticket and a small amount of cash in hand, Manuelito begins his hazardous journey to Mexico, then the U.S., in search of asylum. But in the end, dangers such as the crooked “coyote”—or human smuggler—his parents have entrusted their son’s life to may be nothing compared to the risks Manuelito faces when he finally reaches the United States.

Manuelito’s titular character is just one of the staggering two hundred thousand children from the Northern Triangle of Central America—Guatemala, El Salvador, and Honduras—who have made this perilous journey to escape their war-torn countries. Many are now detained in Mexico, separated from their parents and without access to lawyers, facing the unthinkable prospect of being sent back to the homes and danger they risked so much to escape.

Drawing on years of experience working with child refugees like Manuelito, Elisa Amado’s powerful story, illustrated with striking poignancy by Abraham Urias, brings to light the dire circumstances of so many children, so close to home.

A laugh-out-loud YA debut that examines the realities of small-town queer life and celebrates the transformative power of drag—perfect for fans of RuPaul’s Drag Race and Pumpkin.

Peter Thompkins needs a public image overhaul. After a tense confrontation with one of the few other queer kids in his small-town high school, rumors about him are becoming more elaborate by the day. Meanwhile, his best friend Alan (aka teen drag queen Aggie Culture) is throwing Mason County’s debut Drag Extravaganza. Although Peter is a self-described “dragnostic,” he decides to help produce the show, hoping to prove that he isn’t a self-hating gay. In the process, he finds himself facing down angry guard dogs, angrier bigots, and a very high-strung church lady. As backlash grows, Peter begins to wonder whether he's setting fire to his already damaged reputation and if his friendship with Alan will survive past curtain call.

At turns touching, sharply funny, and a little absurd, Dragging Mason County explores the pains and pleasures of queer community through one teen’s journey to self-acceptance.

On a journey to uncover her family’s story, Spotted Fawn travels through time and space to reclaim connection to ancestors, language, and the land—creating a path forward in this essential graphic novel.

In the dreamworld she bears witness to a mountain of buffalo skulls. They stand as a ghostly monument to the slaughter of the Plains bison to near extinction-- a key tactic to starve and contain the Indigenous People onto reservations. On this path, Spotted Fawn knows she must travel through her own family history to confront the harsh realities of the past and reignite her connection to her people and the land. Her darkroom becomes a portal, and her photographs allow her glimpses into the lives of her relatives over the course of four chapters of this book, which follow the phases of the moon. Time and space become unlocked and unfurl in front of her eyes. Guided by her ancestors, Spotted Fawn’s travels through the past allow her to come into full face—like the moon itself.

Adapted from the acclaimed stop-motion animated film of the same name, written and directed by Amanda Strong, Four Faces of the Moon brings the oral and written history of the Michif, Cree, Nakoda and Anishinaabe Peoples and their cultural link to the buffalo alive on the page. Deeply resonant and beautifully rendered, this graphic novel retelling is essential reading.

Backmatter by Dr. Sherry Farrell-Racette (Michif), an associate professor of Native Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Manitoba, provides information on Michif culture and history and the injustices of colonialism.

Governor General Literary Awards Winner • A NYPL Best Book of 2024

This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends.

Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different—to finally give her some stories worth telling. When she meets Ash Chan, it seems like she’s getting what she asked for. Ash is confident, intensely independent, and hell on a skateboard—nothing like anyone Jay knows and exactly how she wishes she could be.

Offering to film Ash’s submission to an upcoming skate contest introduces Jay to a side of Vancouver she’s never seen and gives her the chance to push back against the expectations placed on her. But Ash has a secret, and Jay is increasingly desperate to figure it out. As things between them ride the fine line between friendship and something more, Jay has to decide just how much Ash will impact all the choices she still has to make about where she’s going and who she wants to become.

On a journey to uncover her family’s story, Spotted Fawn travels through time and space to reclaim connection to ancestors, language, and the land—creating a path forward in this essential graphic novel.
 

In the dreamworld she bears witness to a mountain of buffalo skulls. They stand as a ghostly monument to the slaughter of the Plains bison to near extinction-- a key tactic to starve and contain the Indigenous People onto reservations. On this path, Spotted Fawn knows she must travel through her own family history to confront the harsh realities of the past and reignite her connection to her people and the land. Her darkroom becomes a portal, and her photographs allow her glimpses into the lives of her relatives over the course of four chapters of this book, which follow the phases of the moon. Time and space become unlocked and unfurl in front of her eyes. Guided by her ancestors, Spotted Fawn’s travels through the past allow her to come into full face—like the moon itself.
 

Adapted from the acclaimed stop-motion animated film of the same name, written and directed by Amanda Strong, Four Faces of the Moon brings the oral and written history of the Michif, Cree, Nakoda and Anishinaabe Peoples and their cultural link to the buffalo alive on the page. Deeply resonant and beautifully rendered, this graphic novel retelling is essential reading.
 

Backmatter by Dr. Sherry Farrell-Racette (Michif), an associate professor of Native Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Manitoba, provides information on Michif culture and history and the injustices of colonialism.

El conmovedor relato de un joven refugiado que busca asilo en Norteamérica

Manuelito, un niño de trece años, vive con su familia en un pueblito en Guatemala. Pero la vida es todo menos idílica: las PAC—o Patrullas de Autodefensa Civil— son una amenaza constante en las calles, y recuerdos aterradores de la guerra en el país siguen marcando la memoria colectiva de los campesinos. La situación se deteriora aún más cuando pandillas que trafican con drogas, respaldadas por el gobierno, se instalan en el pueblo y toman el control. Temiendo que a su hijo lo obliguen a meterse a pandillero, los padres de Manuelito toman la decisión desesperada de mandarlo a vivir con su tía en América del Norte. 

Con un billete de autobús y muy poco dinero, Manuelito comienza el largo y arriesgado viaje a México, y luego a los Estados Unidos, en busca de asilo. Pero resulta ser que peligros como el “coyote” corrupto —o traficante humano— a quien los padres le han encomendado la vida de su hijo, no son nada comparados a los riesgos que Manuelito enfrenta cuando por fin llega a Norte América. 

El protagonista de Manuelito, es solo uno de los cien mil niños del Triángulo Norte de América Central —Guatemala, El Salvador y Honduras—, que han emprendido esta peligrosa travesía huyendo de países aún destrozados por la guerra civil. Hoy muchos de ellos se encuentran detenidos en México, separados de sus padres, sin acceso a abogados y confrontados a la perspectiva impensable de ser devueltos a los países de donde huyen, luego de haber corrido riesgos tan importantes. 

Reflejo de años de trabajo con niños como Manuelito, el poderoso relato de Elisa Amado, ilustrado con hondo sentimiento por Abraham Urias, trae a la luz las circunstancias extremas que tantos niños enfrentan, no lejos de nuestros hogares. 

Best Books of 2024 lists: NYPL, The Globe and Mail,Quill & Quire • Most Anticipated Feminist Books of 2024, Ms. magazine • Kids Indie Next Pick

A powerful coming-of-age graphic novel about how mothers and daughters pass down—and rebel against—standards of size, gender, race, beauty, and worth.

Guangdong, 1954 Sixteen-year-old Mei Laan longs for a future of freedom, and her beauty may be the key to getting it. Can an arranged marriage in Hong Kong be the answer to all her problems?

Hong Kong, 1972 Sixteen-year-old Lydia wants nothing more than to dance and to gain approval from her mother, who is largely absent and sharply critical, especially about the way she looks. Maybe her way to happiness is starting over in Toronto?

Toronto, 2000 Sixteen-year-old Roz is grappling with who she wants to be in the world. The only thing she is certain of is that if she were thinner, things would be better. How can she start living her life, instead of just photographing it?

When Roz’s estranged por por abruptly arrives for a seemingly indefinite visit, three generations are now under one roof. Delicate relationships are suddenly upended, and long-suppressed family secrets begin to surface.

Award-winning creator of Living With Viola Rosena Fung pulls from her own family history in her YA debut to give us an emotional and poignant story about how every generation is affected by those that came before, and affect those that come after.

“Moving and emotional.” —Victoria Ying, Harvey Award–winning author of Hungry Ghost

“Crucial.” —Deb JJ Lee, creator of In Limbo

“Beautiful.” —Fiona Smyth, illustrator of Sex Is a Funny Word

Content Warning: body image, disordered eating.

From debut author Alexandra Mae Jones comes a compelling, nuanced exploration of bi identity and body image with a ghostly backdrop—perfect for fans of Nina Lacour. 

Still reeling from a recent trauma, sixteen-year-old Dell is relieved when her mom suggests a stay at the family cabin. But the much-needed escape quickly turns into a disaster. The lake and woods are awash in trash left by a previous tenant. And worse, Dell’s mom has invited her boyfriend’s daughter to stay with them. Confident, irreverent Ivy presses all of Dell's buttons--somehow making Dell’s shame and self-consciousness feel even more acute. Yet Dell is drawn to Ivy in a way she doesn't fully understand. As Dell uncovers secrets in the wreckage of her family's past--secrets hinted at through troubling dreams and strange apparitions--Ivy leads her toward thrilling, if confusing, revelations about her sexuality and identity.

Set during a humid summer in the mid-2000s, The Queen of Junk Island simmers with the intensity of a teenage girl navigating the suffocating expectations of everyone around her.

DARK ACADEMIA WITH A TWIST: This novel offers a classic dark academia setting with a critical lens on the intense pressures and toxic faculty dynamics students face.

COMPELLING QUEER LOVE TRIANGLE: Diverse, realistic characters navigating identity, attraction, and ambition in a high-stakes environment.

FOR THEATER ENTHUSIASTS: A must-read for theater fans as the story weaves in dramatic performance elements and backstage intrigue.

DEBUT: This is Sierra Riley’s first book.

MENTAL HEALTH REPRESENTATION: Thoughtfully portrays mental health challenges, especially the impact of panic attacks and anxiety, reflecting relatable struggles in the high-pressure world of performing arts.

FOUND TEXT FOR IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE: Integrates school handbooks, letters, poems, and other "found" texts to deepen the atmospheric world, fully engaging readers in its gothic aesthetic.

SOCIAL ADVOCACY NARRATIVE: A powerful story about student resilience and activism, with students challenging toxic power dynamics in an arts environment that demands change.

FOR FANS OF: Ace of Spades and How We Fall Apart

LEVELING INFO: Coming soon

“A stunning read [. . .] simmering with tension and gripping to the final word.” —Debbie Rigaud, New York Times bestselling author of Simone Breaks All the Rules and A Girl’s Guide to Love & Magic

Now in paperback! A Black teen dancer with dreams of landing a spot in a prestigious ballet company must learn to dance on her own terms in this explosive debut about the healing power of art and friendship, perfect for fans of Heartstopper and Tiny Pretty Things.

Ballet is Aisha’s life. But when discrimination at her elite academy pushes her to her breaking point, she decides to pivot. At her new public arts school, Aisha scores more dance opportunities than she’s ever had before. And it doesn’t hurt that she gets to take classes with her bestie . . . and with Ollie, an adorably shy musician who keeps throwing off her usually impeccable balance.

Yet even as Aisha navigates friendships, family conflict, and first love, questions about her dance career open up new and old wounds. Aisha must find strength in herself and place her trust in others to make her next move.

"At times hopeful and beautiful but also heartbreakingly devastating, When It All Syncs Up is a story of love in so many forms. But maybe most important of all, it is about the love we give ourselves, and allow ourselves to be given, even at our most broken."—Jonny Garza Villa, author of the Pura Belpré Honor Book Fifteen Hundred Miles from the Sun

“Four Faces of the Moon is a visually stunning story of Métis life, love and belonging. A rich, beautiful and immersive reading experience that shouldn’t be missed.” —Leanne Betasamosake Simpson, author of Noopiming: The Cure For White Ladies

“This is magnificent storytelling. This is Spotted Fawn magic.” —Richard Van Camp, author of Little You, and We Sang You Home

On a journey to uncover her family’s story, Spotted Fawn travels through time and space to reclaim connection to ancestors, language, and the land in this essential graphic novel.  

In the dreamworld, she bears witness to a mountain of buffalo skulls, a ghostly monument to the slaughter of the buffalo—a key tactic to starve and contain the Indigenous People onto reservations.

Spotted Fawn must travel through her own family history to confront the harsh realities of the past and reignite her connection to her people and the land. Her darkroom becomes a portal, allowing her glimpses into the lives of her relatives. Guided by her ancestors, Spotted Fawn’s travels through the past allow her to come into full face—like the moon itself.

Adapted from the acclaimed stop-motion animated film of the same name, also by Strong, Four Faces of the Moon brings the history of the Michif, Cree, Nakoda, and Anishinaabe Peoples alive on the page.

Backmatter by Dr. Sherry Farrell Racette (Michif), an associate professor of Native Studies and Women’s and Gender Studies at the University of Manitoba, provides information on Michif culture and history.

“Anyone who is dDeaf . . . will immediately feel a connection and a sense of belonging while reading Asphyxia's book.” —Stacy Abrams, founder of the #WhyISign campaign • Winner of the Schneider Family Book Award for Teens 2021 • A Kirkus Best Book of 2021

Part coming of age, part call to action, this fast-paced novel about a Deaf teenager by a Deaf author is a unique and inspiring exploration of what it means to belong.

Smart, artistic, and independent, sixteen year old Piper is tired of trying to conform. Her mom wants her to be “normal,” to pass as hearing, to get a good job. But in a time of food scarcity, environmental collapse, and political corruption, Piper has other things on her mind—like survival.

Piper has always been told that she needs to compensate for her Deafness in a world made for those who can hear. But when she meets Marley, a new world opens up—one where Deafness is something to celebrate, and where resilience means taking action, building a com-munity, and believing in something better.

Published to rave reviews as Future Girl in Australia (Allen & Unwin, Sept. 2020), this empowering, unforgettable story is told through a visual extravaganza of text, paint, collage, and drawings. Set in an ominously prescient near future, The Words in My Hands is very much a novel for our turbulent times.

• STEAM CONNECTION: Metaphysical science fiction, asks philosophical questions about the nature of reality and consciousness.
• NEW TAKE ON METAPHYSICS FOR KIDS: A modern A Wrinkle in Time meets Brave New World, but focused on contemporary issues and in a more accessible graphic novel format.
• INCREDIBLE ART: Captivating art with Belgian-influenced comic style stands out in the market, gives the book reverence.
• DEBUT: This is Jordana Globerman’s first book.
• SIMPLE BUT TOPICAL: The ideas are not overly complicated, but perfect for sparking questions in youth about how social media, mega corporations, and egomaniac entrepreneurs impact our lives.
• FOR FANS OF: A Wrinkle in Time and Tokyo Ghost
• LEVELING INFO: F-P Guided Code: Z - Grade Eight II. Lexile Code: High-Low 280 L

«Espejo mágico dime una cosa, ¿Qué mujer de este reino es la más hermosa?»

El cuento de Blancanieves, recogido en esta edición junto a once relatos más, es uno de los más famosos de los hermanos Grimm. Desde su primera publicación en 1812, no ha habido ninguna colección de cuentos tradicionales que haya influido en tantas generaciones de lectores y servido de inspiración para numerosas adaptaciones.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?”

The tale of Snow White, included in this edition alongside eleven other stories, is one of the most famous works by the Brothers Grimm. Since its first publication in 1812, no other collection of traditional fairy tales has influenced so many generations of readers or inspired as many adaptations.

Por el premiado autor de Aristóteles y Dante descubren los secretos del universo.

En Aristóteles y Dante descubren los secretos del universo conocieron el amor. Ahora, deben descubrir cómo cuidarlo y construir una relación en un mundo que parece desafiar su existencia. Ari ha pasado toda la preparatoria escondiendo su verdadero yo, manteniéndose callado e invisible. Pensaba que su último año sería igual, pero algo en él cambió cuando se enamoró de Dante. Ahora hace cosas que jamás pensó: tiene nuevos amigos, confronta a cualquier tipo de bully y no se queda callado ante nada. Y siempre a su lado está el soñador y perspicaz Dante, quien lo mismo consigue sacarlo de quicio que hacerlo suspirar.

Los chicos están decididos a abrirse camino en un mundo que no los entiende, pero cuando Ari sufre una repentina y devastadora pérdida, sabe que deberá luchar como nunca para lograr la vida plena y feliz que siempre soñó.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

From the award-winning author of Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe.

In Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, they found love. Now, they must learn how to protect it and build a relationship in a world that seems determined to challenge their existence. Ari spent all of high school hiding his true self, staying quiet and invisible. He thought his senior year would be the same, but something inside him changed when he fell in love with Dante. Now he does things he never imagined: he has new friends, stands up to bullies, and refuses to stay silent. And always by his side is the dreamy and sharp-witted Dante, who can drive him crazy and make him swoon all at once.

The boys are determined to carve out a place in a world that doesn’t understand them, but when Ari suffers a sudden and devastating loss, he knows he must fight harder than ever to build the full and joyful life he’s always dreamed of.

Un dark romantasy sobre una joven que encuentra esperanza en sus poderes destructivos.

El Reino de los Ladrones es un lugar oculto en el mundo de Aadlior. Muchos susurran sobre su existencia, pero pocos lo han encontrado. Allí, el misterioso Rey Ladrón gobierna con la ayuda de las Mousai, un trío de hechiceras veneradas y temidas.

Larkyra Bassette es la más joven de las Mousai, pero cuando canta, su voz tiene el poder de aniquilar monstruos. Cuando se descubre que el Duque de Lachlan está extrayendo una droga del Reino de los Ladrones y usándola para abusar de su poder, a Larkyra se le ofrece su primera misión en solitario para detenerlo. Ansiosa por demostrar su valía, Larkyra acepta haciéndose pasar por la posible esposa del duque.

Sus planes se complican cuando se siente atraída por Lord Darius Mekenna, el heredero al trono de Lachlan. Pronto sospecha que Darius tiene sus propios motivos para librar a Lachlan del corrupto duque, pero ambos deben aprender a confiar el uno en el otro si quieren tener alguna posibilidad de salvar al pueblo de Lachlan y a sí mismos.

Bienvenidos al mundo de Aadlior, donde todos pueden ser asesinos y ladrones, y las notas más seductoras suelen ser las más mortíferas. ¿Te atreves a escucharlas?

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

A dark romantasy about a young woman who finds hope in her destructive powers.

The Thieves’ Kingdom is a hidden place in the world of Aadlior. Many whisper about its existence, but few have ever found it. There, the mysterious Thief King rules with the help of the Mousai, a trio of revered and feared sorceresses.

Larkyra Bassette is the youngest of the Mousai, but when she sings, her voice can destroy monsters. When it’s discovered that the Duke of Lachlan is extracting a drug from the Thieves’ Kingdom and using it to abuse his power, Larkyra is offered her first solo mission to stop him. Eager to prove herself, she accepts—posing as the duke’s potential bride.

Her plans grow complicated when she finds herself drawn to Lord Darius Mekenna, the heir to Lachlan’s throne. She soon suspects Darius has his own reasons for wanting to rid Lachlan of the corrupt duke, but they must learn to trust each other if they hope to save the people of Lachlan—and themselves.

Welcome to the world of Aadlior, where anyone can be a killer or a thief, and the most seductive notes are often the deadliest. Dare to listen?

La sensación viral de Wattpad con más de 34 millones de lecturas y 2.5 millones de votos, una historia que rompió todos los moldes.

La saga de romance monárquico ahora en una edición de lujo con ilustraciones inéditas a todo color, un capítulo extra y lujosos cantos tintados.

Emily Malhore, hija de los perfumistas más famosos del reino de Mishnock, llevaba una vida tranquila entre las flores de su jardín, sus amigas y sus tutorías. Por eso, jamás imaginó que el príncipe Stefan se fijaría en ella, convirtiéndola en el centro de atención de su pueblo y de sus enemigos.

Atrapada en un juego de poder donde parece ser solo una pieza intercambiable, Emily sobrepasará los límites de su carácter dócil, pondrá en duda su búsqueda de una vida pacífica e incluso cuestionará la lealtad de su corazón enamorado para descubrir quién es su verdadero adversario.

Y este es solo el comienzo de la historia con la que Karine Bernal Lobo ha conquistado a lectoras y lectores de todo el mundo.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

The viral Wattpad sensation with over 34 million reads and 2.5 million votes — a story that broke the mold.

The royal romance saga is now available in a deluxe edition with never-before-seen full-color illustrations, an extra chapter, and luxurious sprayed edges.

Emily Malhore, daughter of the most famous perfumers in the kingdom of Mishnock, lived a peaceful life among the flowers in her garden, her friends, and her studies. That’s why she never imagined that Prince Stefan would notice her, turning her into the center of attention in her town—and among her enemies.

Trapped in a power struggle where she seems to be just a pawn, Emily will push beyond the limits of her gentle nature, question her pursuit of a peaceful life, and even doubt the loyalty of her own heart as she seeks to uncover her true adversary.

And this is just the beginning of the story with which Karine Bernal Lobo has captivated readers around the world.

Between a dying ocean and a divided world, a mermaid must grapple between the sea that made her and the surface that might break her — in this stunning novel-in-verse.

Muireann is a mermaid – fierce, curious and proud of the body that keeps her warm beneath the waves. But life in the ocean is becoming impossible. The merfolk are at war with the human ramifications of climate change: food is scarce, and her twin sister has been killed in a mass-fishing net. With her mother lost in grief and her world falling apart, Muireann longs to escape to the surface to find some answers. But the human world isn’t the haven she hoped for. It’s colder, crueller – and here, her large body is seen not as strength, but as something to be ashamed of.

In this beautiful novel in verse, Muireann must find her voice and fight for where she belongs – whether that be beneath the waves, or above them.

Después de perder a su padre, Vane regresa al único lugar donde aún puede sentirlo cerca: el Café Morelia. Motivada por el deseo de comenzar de nuevo, decide pedir trabajo allí. Conforme aprende a preparar las mejores bebidas, termina enamorándose del lugar y sueña con convertirse en la dueña. Pero, poco a poco, descubre que su fantasía implica más que preparar una buena taza de café.

Un día, cuando menos se lo espera, aparece Gael en busca de una simple tacita de té para calmar su garganta. Él es un estudiante de intercambio con una voz cautivadora, ojos dulces y una forma inesperada de desordenarle la vida. Lo que nace entre ellos es sincero y tan frágil como las alas de una mariposa.

Cuando él tiene que partir, Vane comprenderá que algunos amores se quedan para siempre y que otros nos enseñan a soltar. Una historia sobre las pérdidas que nos transforman, los amores que nos marcan y los lugares que nos enseñan a empezar de nuevo

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

After losing her father, Vane returns to the only place where she can still feel him close: Café Morelia. Driven by the desire to start over, she applies for a job there. As she learns to craft the perfect drinks, she falls in love with the place and dreams of becoming its owner. But slowly, she realizes her fantasy involves more than just brewing a good cup of coffee.

One day, when she least expects it, Gael shows up looking for a simple cup of tea to soothe his throat. He’s an exchange student with a captivating voice, sweet eyes, and an unexpected way of turning her world upside down. What blossoms between them is sincere—and as delicate as butterfly wings.

When he has to leave, Vane will understand that some loves stay with us forever, while others teach us how to let go. A story about the losses that transform us, the loves that leave a mark, and the places that help us begin again

¡Vuelve la saga juvenil más esperada! Descubre la verdadera cara de ese agosto de 1986, el pasado que no llegó a cambiarse, y revívelo a través de la mirada de April Moon.

Conoce la historia antes de La teoría de Kim, la verdadera cara de aquel agosto de 1986 —ese pasado en el que no irrumpió en sus vidas el viajero en el tiempo—, y descubre con ella los secretos de la historia que ha conmovido a millones de personas alrededor del mundo.

El primero de agosto de 1986, April Augustus le reprochaba a Dios la muerte de su abuelo. Aunque April había esperado durante toda la noche a que Sean Grace, su amigo de la infancia, se apareciera en el funeral, este nunca llegó. En su lugar, fue Taylor —su hermano— quien lo encontró llorando en medio de la lluvia y se acercó para consolarlo.

Si la redención existiera, a April se le habría concedido un otoño en brazos de un chico de ensueño. Con él, podría vivir un romance como aquellos de los cuentos de hadas que escribía a escondidas de su padre. O quizá cumplir sus fantasías más salvajes a través de Taylor, cuya cualidad más irresistible era su inquietante parecido con Sean.

Pronto, el deseo por los hermanos le haría preguntarse: ¿hasta dónde estaría dispuesto a ignorar el daño a otros en beneficio propio?

En un condado lejano y escondido en California, las flores mueren en agosto.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

The most anticipated YA saga returns! Discover the true face of that August 1986—the past that never got rewritten—and relive it through the eyes of April Moon.

Uncover the story before La teoría de Kim, the real version of that August 1986—the past where the time traveler never entered their lives—and join April as she unearths the secrets behind the tale that has moved millions around the world.

On August 1st, 1986, April Augustus blamed God for her grandfather’s death. She had waited all night for Sean Grace, her childhood friend, to show up at the funeral—but he never came. Instead, it was Taylor—his brother—who found her crying in the rain and came to comfort her.

If redemption were real, April would have been granted an autumn in the arms of a dream boy. With him, she could live a romance like the fairy tales she secretly wrote behind her father’s back. Or maybe fulfill her wildest fantasies through Taylor, whose most irresistible trait was his uncanny resemblance to Sean.

Soon, her desire for both brothers would force her to ask: how far would she go to ignore the harm done to others for her own gain?

In a remote and hidden county in California, flowers die in August.

Si eres fan del romantasy, no podrás resistirte.

Dragones, guerreros valientes, hadas encantadoras y seres fantásticos: todo lo que necesitas para que tu imaginación vuele y tus personajes de romantasy preferidos cobren vida.

Con más de sesenta ilustraciones de distintas artistas, esta es una invitación a un mundo donde los amantes se convierten en enemigos, los enemigos en amantes y los lectores en los verdaderos protagonistas.

Solo sumérgete, colorea y deja que tus historias favoritas se hagan realidad.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

If you're a romantasy fan, you won't be able to resist.

Dragons, brave warriors, enchanting fairies, and magical beings: everything you need to let your imagination soar and bring your favorite romantasy characters to life.

With over sixty illustrations by various artists, this is an invitation to a world where lovers become enemies, enemies become lovers, and readers become the true protagonists.

Just dive in, color, and let your favorite stories come to life.

Déjate atrapar por la trilogía de misterio de la autora de El verano en que me enamoré.

EN UNA ISLA PERFECTA, llena de encantadoras tiendas para turistas, playas prístinas e increíbles casas frente al mar, viven tres chicas que lo único que quieren es venganza.

KAT está harta de que su ex mejor amiga la intimide.

LILLIA siempre ha cuidado de su hermana pequeña, así que, cuando descubre que uno de sus amigos está saliendo con ella en secreto, tiene que ponerle fin.

MARY vive atormentada por un acontecimiento traumático, y el chico responsable aún no ha recibido lo que se merece.

Ninguna puede llevar a cabo sus planes por separado. Pero juntas... todo es posible.

Con una alianza en marcha, estas chicas le mostrarán a la isla que la venganza es un plato que se disfruta mejor entre amigas.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Get swept away by the mystery trilogy from the author of The Summer I Turned Pretty.

ON A PICTURE-PERFECT ISLAND, filled with charming tourist shops, pristine beaches, and stunning oceanfront homes, live three girls who want only one thing: revenge.

KAT is done being bullied by her ex-best friend.

LILLIA has always protected her little sister, so when she finds out one of her friends is secretly dating her, she knows she has to stop it.

MARY is haunted by a traumatic event, and the boy responsible still hasn’t paid the price.

None of them can pull off their plans alone. But together... anything is possible.

With their alliance in motion, these girls will show the island that revenge is a dish best served with friends.

El amor es un sacrificio en el altar del poder.

Tras el sangriento torneo Kejari, la vida de Oraya ha quedado reducida a cenizas. Prisionera en su propio reino, llora la muerte del único familiar que ha conocido y se aferra a una sola certeza: no puede confiar en nadie, y menos en Raihn, después de su cruel traición.

La Casa de la Noche está rodeada de enemigos. Los nobles no están dispuestos a aceptar a Raihn como rey, un vampiro convertido y antiguo esclavo. Y la Casa de la Sangre ha clavado sus garras en el reino, amenazando con desangrarlo desde dentro. Cuando Raihn le ofrece una alianza, Oraya se da cuenta de que es su única opción para obtener el trono y vengarse del que una vez creyó su aliado. Para lograrlo, tendrá que invocar un poder ancestral ligado al mayor secreto de su padre.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Love is a sacrifice on the altar of power.

After the bloody Kejari tournament, Oraya’s life has been reduced to ashes. Imprisoned in her own kingdom, she mourns the death of the only family she’s ever known and clings to one certainty: she can’t trust anyone—especially Raihn, after his cruel betrayal.

The House of Night is surrounded by enemies. The nobles refuse to accept Raihn as king—a turned vampire and former slave. And the House of Blood has sunk its claws into the realm, threatening to bleed it dry from within. When Raihn offers her an alliance, Oraya realizes it’s her only chance to claim the throne and take revenge on the one she once called an ally. To succeed, she’ll have to summon an ancient power tied to her father’s deepest secret.

As Oraya unravels her past and defies her fate, she’ll face the most dangerous choice of all: fight for the crown or surrender to a devastating love that could be her undoing.

Nadie imagina la oscuridad que se esconde en ella.

Me llamo Dannielle y, a mis veintidós años, he atravesado el infierno en más de una ocasión y el precio que mi mente tuvo que pagar fue fragmentarse. Después de salir del hospital psiquiátrico he intentado tener una vida normal como estudiante de Medicina, pero mis compañeros notan que hay algo diferente en mí. Mi forma de hablar y cómo evito ciertas miradas provocan preguntas a mi alrededor, sin saber que hay historias que no deberían salir a la luz.

Marck, mi maestro de Cardiología, se ha convertido en algo más que una figura de autoridad y no quiero perderlo. Su manera de mirarme, de enseñarme a leer los silencios del corazón, despiertan en mí una ternura que creía muerta. Pero también está Anthony, mi psiquiatra, el único que a pesar de haber visto las ruinas en las que me convertí, se atrevió a quedarse. No puedo permitirme arruinarlo todo, aunque solo se necesita una chispa para iniciar un incendio y esta vez puede ser tan grande que nadie logre escapar de sus llamas.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

No one imagines the darkness she hides within.

My name is Dannielle, and at twenty-two years old, I’ve walked through hell more than once—and the price my mind had to pay was to fracture. After leaving the psychiatric hospital, I’ve tried to live a normal life as a medical student, but my classmates sense something different about me. The way I speak and avoid certain glances raise questions, unaware that some stories should never come to light.

Marck, my Cardiology professor, has become more than just an authority figure, and I don’t want to lose him. The way he looks at me, teaches me to read the silences of the heart, awakens a tenderness I thought was long gone. But there’s also Anthony, my psychiatrist—the only one who, despite seeing the ruins I became, dared to stay. I can’t afford to ruin everything, even though it only takes a spark to start a fire, and this time it might be so big that no one escapes its flames.

Descubre Mil recuerdos tuyos, una hermosa y reconfortante novela sobre el duelo, el amor y la amistad.

Tras la muerte de su querida hermana Poppy, la vida de Savanna Litchfield se siente vacía. Por sugerencia de su terapeuta, se une a un grupo de adolescentes en duelo en un viaje alrededor del mundo, llevando bajo el brazo el diario que Poppy dejó y que ella aún no se atreve a leer.

Cael Woods era el jugador de hockey más prometedor de las ligas menores, ahora ni siquiera es capaz de entrar a la pista de hielo. Su hermano murió el año pasado y a partir de entonces su vida ha ido en caída libre. Para intentar ayudarlo, sus padres lo inscriben en un viaje con otros jóvenes, a pesar de que él no tiene ganas de ir.

Cael y Savannah se embarcan en el mismo viaje e, inesperadamente, encuentran consuelo mutuo. Y mientras sanan las heridas de sus corazones rotos, ¿será este el inicio de un gran amor entre dos personas que creyeron estar destinadas al dolor?

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Discover A Thousand Moments of You, a beautiful and heartwarming novel about grief, love, and friendship.

After the death of her beloved sister Poppy, Savanna Litchfield’s life feels empty. At her therapist’s suggestion, she joins a group of grieving teens on a journey around the world, carrying with her the diary Poppy left behind—one she still hasn’t dared to read.

Cael Woods was once the most promising hockey player in the minor leagues, but now he can’t even step onto the ice. His brother died last year, and since then, his life has spiraled downward. Hoping to help, his parents sign him up for the same trip, even though he has no desire to go.

Cael and Savanna find themselves on the same journey and, unexpectedly, discover comfort in each other. As they begin to heal their broken hearts, could this be the beginning of a great love between two people who thought they were destined only for pain?

Discover Life Lessons in Faith and Family in This Graphic Novel for Grades 4-8

This coming-of-age tale offers a poignant reflection on growing up, sibling relationships, and the enduring bonds of family, making it an essential read for kids ages 8-12.

Embark on a journey of self-discovery and acceptance. The Effects of Pickled Herring by Alex Schumacher is a poignant coming-of-age graphic novel. As 12-year-old Micah Gadsky and his spirited sister Alana prepare for their dual bar and bat mitzvah, they grapple with a family secret that unravels their understanding of faith and identity. Micah's introspective nature and Alana's outgoing spirit collide, leading them to confront the complexities of growing up, and ultimately, the enduring power of familial bonds.

A vividly illustrated graphic novel. The author's mix of humor and heart in The Effects of Pickled Herring makes this coming of age book relatable for all young adult readers. If you are looking for books about family dynamics, brother and sister relationships, books about growing up, or one’s introspection on faith, pick up a copy of The Effects of Pickled Herring!

Inside find:

• A compelling exploration of self-worth, identity, and anti-Semitism
• A heartrending portrayal of the effects of Alzheimer's on a family unit
• Engaging illustrations that vividly bring the narrative to life
• Relatable themes for readers navigating the challenges of growing up

Looking for the best graphic novels for ages 8-12? This is for you! If you liked Calling My Name or A First Time for Everything, you will love The Effects of Pickled Herring.

Inspired by historical Florence, Italy, and based on legends of the Renaissance-era Medici family, The Seller of Secrets is a YA romantasy novel with a sensory and elemental–based magic system.

On the mystical island of Bardia, Bell Asbury’s sister is dying. A girl with an extraordinary but volatile gift for fusing magical elixirs, Bell was eleven when she accidentally struck her sister, Roza, with a magic that left her with an incurable illness. Six years later, she overhears her sister’s fiancé buying illicit ingredients for a brainwashing elixir. Alarmed and infuriated, Bell tries to end the engagement, but Roza's fiancé is from a noble house, the sisters’ father is in debt, and their mother is eager to have a connection to a powerful family.

Desperate to find a cure for Roza’s disease and an antidote to the brainwashing elixir, Bell uncovers a tangled web of secrets that leads to a man called the Seller of Secrets and his plot to use the brainwashing elixir to force the entire island to obey him. Bell alone can create an antidote, but her experiments risk the sanity of those she loves.

Rian, an infuriatingly handsome spy, offers to help her defeat the Seller of Secrets. Although she knows Rian is a master of deception, Bell can’t stop herself from falling for him. But with so many things changing in her life, Bell doesn’t know who she can trust and who is working to control her gift.

¿Matarías por poder? ¿Y por amor?

Chrysantha lo dará todo por mantener su título, excepto su corazón.

Chrysantha Stathos escondió su inteligencia y ambición detrás de su belleza; nada la iba a apartar del título de duquesa que ansiaba. Ahora solo tiene que esperar a que muera su desagradable y anciano esposo para disfrutar de la libertad, el dinero y la seguridad que siempre quiso.

Cuando llega el momento, un hombre que afirma ser su nieto aparece y arruina todos sus planes. No importa lo atractivo que sea ni sus extraños poderes: Eryx Demos debe morir.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

Would you kill for power? What about for love?

Chrysantha will give up everything to keep her title—except her heart.

Chrysantha Stathos hid her intelligence and ambition behind her beauty; nothing would stand between her and the duchess title she craved. Now, she only has to wait for her unpleasant and elderly husband to die to enjoy the freedom, wealth, and security she’s always wanted.

But when the time comes, a man claiming to be her grandson appears and ruins everything. No matter how handsome he is or how strange his powers may be: Eryx Demos must die.

Sabía que su vida estaba en juego, pero no su corazón.

Florence era consciente de que podía ser desenmascarada como rebelde, espía y asesina, y ser condenada a muerte; lo que nunca esperó fue enamorarse del rey de los vampiros.

Atrapada entre la lealtad que siente hacia su familia y sus sentimientos por Benedict, mientras otro grupo de revolucionarios amenaza con destruirlo todo, Florence intenta desesperadamente reinstaurar la paz en la corte.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

She knew her life was at stake—but not her heart.

Florence was fully aware she could be exposed as a rebel, spy, and assassin, and sentenced to death. What she never expected was to fall in love with the vampire king.

Caught between loyalty to her family and her feelings for Benedict—while another group of revolutionaries threatens to destroy everything—Florence desperately tries to restore peace at court.

En un reino envuelto por la Niebla, Kiara deberá enfrentarse a la oscuridad, pero lo que realmente podría destruirla es el amor.

Muchos le temen a la oscuridad, el lugar donde el horror acecha constantemente. Sin embargo, no hay nada más peligroso que la Niebla, responsable de la destrucción del reino de Asidia y de la muerte de sus valientes soldados, como Kiara Frey, que también estuvo a punto de morir y sintió el miedo profundo que inspira la noche, pero ya no. Para romper la maldición que asfixia a Asidia, Kiara debe salvar al comandante Jude Maddox, a quien ama profundamente, y solo Zorro, la ladrona más escurridiza del reino, puede ayudarla.

Así Kiara se aventura en una peligrosa búsqueda para rescatar a Jude. Lo que no sabe es que en las sombras se esconde algo inesperado, algo que la observa y la manipula para resolver un antiguo misterio.

Cuando es atraída a un templo sagrado que alberga tanto sueños exquisitos como pesadillas escalofriantes, Kiara desarrolla nuevos poderes, pero sus propios sentimientos amenazan con consumirla. Porque ahí, en esas tierras malditas, lo que destruye el alma no es la oscuridad… es el amor.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

In a kingdom shrouded in Mist, Kiara must face the darkness—but what might truly destroy her is love.

Many fear the darkness, a place where horror lurks. But nothing is more dangerous than the Mist, responsible for the destruction of Asidia and the deaths of its brave soldiers—among them Kiara Frey, who narrowly escaped death and once felt the fear that night inspires. Not anymore. To break the curse that suffocates Asidia, Kiara must rescue Commander Jude Maddox, the man she deeply loves—and only Zorro, the kingdom’s most elusive thief, can help her.

So Kiara sets off on a perilous quest to save Jude. What she doesn’t know is that something unexpected lurks in the shadows, watching her and manipulating her to solve an ancient mystery.

Drawn into a sacred temple that holds both exquisite dreams and chilling nightmares, Kiara begins to unlock new powers, but her own emotions threaten to consume her. Because in those cursed lands, what destroys the soul isn’t the darkness… it’s love.

When your best friend is moving a continent away, the last hurrah has to be epic. Rufus and Xandr are sneaking away during the holidays but as crazy as their plan is, it won’t ever approach the reality that is about to hit them.

“What does the end look like? Like that black and orange cloud on the horizon coming closer each day? What I do know, however, without a shadow of doubt, is that this whole thing was a bad idea. Stuck in the middle of freaking nowhere without any means of transport, enough food, or the faintest idea of what’s going on.”

Rufus and Xandr have known each other forever. To call them best friends is an understatement. However, Rufus’s dad decided that his family must emigrate. As these two best friends prepare to wave each other farewell, they plan one last adventure together . . .

No planeaba salir de su cuarto... hasta que el amor llamó a su ventana.

Malva es la chica solitaria de cabello rosa. Malva tiene una colección de quinientos treinta y cinco crayones. Malva está en huelga y planea quedarse en su habitación hasta que sus padres anulen los planes de divorcio.

Ónice es el chico más popular de la escuela. Ónice quiere ser el ganador del Festival del Queso Rodante. Ónice es el vecino y amigo de la infancia de Malva que, sin proponérselo, se distanció de ella.

Cuando Ónice se entera del encierro voluntario de Malva, comienza a hablar con ella de ventana a ventana. Ambos piensan que ya no tienen nada en común, hasta que, poco a poco, las largas conversaciones, las confesiones profundas y los aviones de papel se convierten en el inicio de un amor capaz de iluminar sus vidas.

Aunque no puedan salir por completo de la penumbra, dejarán que el otro descubra los colores que llevan en su interior.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

She didn’t plan to leave her room... until love knocked on her window.

Malva is the lonely girl with pink hair. She owns a collection of five hundred and thirty-five crayons. Malva is on strike and plans to stay in her room until her parents cancel their divorce plans.

Ónice is the most popular boy in school. He wants to win the Rolling Cheese Festival. Ónice is Malva’s childhood friend and next-door neighbor who, unintentionally, drifted away from her.

When Ónice finds out about Malva’s self-imposed lockdown, he starts talking to her from window to window. They both think they have nothing in common anymore, until—bit by bit—long conversations, deep confessions, and paper airplanes spark the beginning of a love bright enough to light up their lives.

Even if they can’t fully escape the shadows, they’ll let each other discover the colors they carry inside.

"Besar a Axil era como respirar, no sabía cómo había conseguido vivir tanto tiempo sin hacerlo, sin él."

Axil Luna me rompió el corazón cuando yo tenía quince años; desde entonces, sueño con vengarme.

Cuando se convierte en el rey de todos los lobos y me convoca para que compita por su mano en las letales pruebas de la Reina, acepto encantada.

Se arrepentirá del día que pensó que podía rechazarme sin consecuencias.

Pero hay una guerra en la frontera. Axil ya no es la misma persona de antes, ni es con quien esperaba encontrarme. Y ahora… tan solo deseo sobrevivir a las pruebas para poder averiguar qué podríamos llegar a ser.

ENGLISH DESCRIPTION

"Kissing Axil was like breathing—I didn’t know how I’d managed to live so long without doing it, without him."

Axil Luna broke my heart when I was fifteen; ever since then, I’ve dreamed of getting revenge.

When he becomes king of all wolves and summons me to compete for his hand in the deadly Queen’s Trials, I gladly accept.

He’ll regret the day he thought he could reject me without consequences.

But there’s a war at the border. Axil is no longer the boy I once knew, nor the one I expected to face. And now… I just want to survive the trials long enough to find out what we could become.

For Bo and her siblings, the underground fight club may finally provide escape from life with an abusive uncle ― but only if she can win.

Never again. That’s what seventeen-year-old Bo Clark has promised her two younger siblings ever since they were put in separate foster homes―a situation that nearly turned deadly for her little brother, and that they have vowed never to repeat. Bo will do anything to keep that promise. Even if it means enduring the abuse of Uncle Jack, their new guardian. When Jack discovers that Bo has a talent for boxing, he signs her up for an underground fight club tournament, which could bring in enough money for her to move out with her siblings as soon as she turns eighteen.

But the ring is a brutal place, and when Bo’s cutman is arrested, Jack is forced to bring a new one onto the team. Liam turns out to be a schoolmate of Bo’s, and even as the two of them grow closer, she worries that he will go to the authorities if he ever finds out Jack is hurting her.

As Bo makes her way closer to the big prize, Jack starts to set his sights beyond the tournament, and in an explosive finale, the violence moves outside the ring, putting everything Bo loves at risk.

Key Text Features

Biographical information

chapters

dialogue

epigraph

Legalizing weed doesn’t mean that living on a secret, family-run grow-op is easy, especially when your new girlfriend turns out to be the daughter of a cop.

Isaac loves art class, drives an old pickup, argues with his father and hangs out with his best buddy, Hazel. But his life is anything but normal. His parents operate an illegal marijuana grow-op, Hazel is a bear that guards the property, and his family’s livelihood is a deep secret.

It’s no time to fall in love with the daughter of a cop.

Isaac’s girlfriend Sam is unpredictable, ambitious and needy. And as his final year of high school comes to an end, she makes him consider a new kind of life pursuing his interest in art, even if that means leaving behind his beloved home in the Rockies and severing all ties with his family.

For a while he hopes he can have it all, until a disastrous graduation night, when Sam’s desperate grab for her father’s attention suddenly puts his entire family at risk.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Winner of the Ruth Schwartz Award

Jeanne Chatel has always dreamed of adventure. So when the eighteen-year-old orphan is summoned to sail from France to the wilds of North America to become a king's daughter and marry a French settler, she doesn't hesitate.

Her new husband is not the dashing military man she has dreamed of, but a trapper with two small children who lives in a small cabin in the woods. With her husband away trapping much of the time, Jeanne faces danger daily, but the bravery and spirit that brought her to this wild place never fail her, and she soon learns to be truly at home in her new land.

The provocative fictional memoir of a boy actor in Shakespearian London.

In Shakespeare’s time, women were not allowed to appear on stage, and so female parts were played by boy actors. In I Was Cleopatra, readers meet John Rice — perhaps the most beautiful and acclaimed boy actor of them all. It is believed by many that John Rice originated the roles of Lady Macbeth, Cleopatra and Cordelia, and this fictional memoir explores his life both on and off the stage. With graceful prose and an encyclopedic knowledge of the period, Dennis Abrams invites readers to experience gender fluidity and sexuality through the fictional recollections of a fascinating historical figure as he reflects on his life in this “farewell” to his theatrical past.

The story follows John from the age of thirteen, when he leaves his family in Reading to join the King’s Men theater troupe in London as an apprentice boy actor. Over the course of the next few years, John eagerly hones the acting skills necessary to portray female roles. He memorizes lines, reads all the plays he can get his hands on, and works on imitating female gestures and mannerisms. He becomes a friend, and eventually a lover, of Alexander, a boy actor who is getting too old to play female roles. And he works closely with Shakespeare himself, who coaches him through the roles of Lady Macbeth and Cleopatra, among others.

But around the time he turns sixteen, John starts to worry about inevitably becoming too old to convincingly portray women onstage, which leads to some unsettling choices.

Key Text Features
literary references
author’s note

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Winner of the Geoffrey Bilson Award for Historical Fiction

The year is 1959, and fifteen-year-old Nipishish returns to his reserve in northern Quebec after being kicked out of residential school, where the principal tells him he's a good-for-nothing who, like all Indians, can look forward to a life of drunkenness, prison and despair.

The reserve, however, offers nothing to Nipishish. He remembers little of his late mother and father. In fact, he seems to know less about himself than the people at the band office. He must try to rediscover the old ways, face the officials who find him a threat, and learn the truth about his father's death.

In the highly anticipated sequel to Suck it In and Smile, Ellie is wrestling her picture-perfect life as a social media influencer back under control — but how long can she keep bridging the distance between the desire to be herself and the pressure to conform? 

Ellie is an inspiration to her hundreds of thousands of followers on Instagram and YouTube. Her book of wellness tips (including her signature recipe for chocolate chip–chickpea cookies) is about to launch. She is one half of a social-media power couple with singer Samuel Vanasse, who is now her fiancé. And she is on the verge of breaking into the top three on the YouTube charts. She has everything she needs to be happy — but lately, when she starts crying, she can’t seem to stop. 

Between her father’s failing health and the charming yet enigmatic Dave, between her friendship-rivalry with another YouTuber and the pressure to be “authentic” at all times, Ellie is lost. She retreats into her old patterns and tries to regain control of her life, one Fat Burning Challenge at a time. But listening to her heart isn’t as easy — or glamorous — as she’s been making it look to her followers. 

This exciting conclusion to Ellie’s story examines how we measure success and happiness, while exploring the complexities of body image, female rivalry and grief.

Key Text Features

chapters

vignettes

dialogue

Charlotte’s life is changed forever when her parents’ marriage breaks up, and Charlotte has to leave her beloved house and her old life behind. Then two very different boys cross her path, and a new emotion creeps into her sadness and anger — an emotion that is both confusing and sweet.

Charlotte falls in love with Carlo, tries to stay friends with tough-guy Sulzer and faces the jealousy of the cool-girl clique at school. As she watches her parents cope, sometimes haplessly, with changes in their own personal lives, and as she deals with a new baby brother, a potential stepfather and unexpected house moves, she realizes that love is a messy and risky business.

If grownups can make such a hash of it, how on earth can a fifteen-year-old cope?

But Charlotte does cope, magnificently, as she tries to figure out how to be a big sister, a daughter, a friend, a good person. And in the end she finds the courage to take responsibility for her own actions, and sets off to be with the boy she loves.

Set in a small town on the Austrian Danube, this is a familiar story that will touch a chord with every teenager, yet it is told with refreshing emotional honesty. Devoid of the judgment, sentimentality, sitcom snark or sexual precociousness that define so many North American young adult novels about first love, this story shows a strong, open, curious girl stumbling and prevailing as she figures out how to turn away from the noise of other people’s expectations, and listen to her own heart.

Four guys -- Tommy, Brad, Andy and Shane -- are all making their way through the jungle that is the last year of high school. Tommy, model student, is heading for the military to learn to fly fighter jets, something that will please his doting grandmother and free him once and for all from his abusive parasite of a mother. His best friend, Brad, is being scouted for Junior B, which will finally satisfy his ambitious hockey dad, whose relentless pressure has turned his son into the team enforcer. Andy is on the verge of making his acting breakthrough. He's got an agent, and he's got an audition for the role that could launch his career -- the Punk. All he needs is someone who can show him the moves, teach him the hard stare. He turns to Shane, the kid who is so scary that even the teachers are afraid of him.

Jess finds a secret diary and imagines what it would be like to be a girl who has everything. Will she become so wrapped up in someone else’s life that she misses a chance to create her own?

Jess cleans houses to save money for college, because her dad — unemployed and off the wagon yet again — has moved the two of them out of the city into a decrepit borrowed tent and trailer. Jess wavers between anger at her father and fear that poverty and addiction may be her fate, too, and she decides she will do whatever it takes to avoid it.

She gets a gig cleaning a gorgeous country home and discovers the trashed bedroom of the teenaged daughter, Quinn. Jess wonders how a girl with a perfect life – private school, horseback riding – could have wrecked such a beautiful room. As she cleans, she finds troubling clues – including, tucked behind the bed, a diary.

Gradually Jess learns that Quinn’s life is not what it’s supposed to be. Jess begins to imagine becoming friends with Quinn, and when she begins to write down a new story for Quinn, she risks turning her back on the opportunities that are right in front of her – new friends, new interests, a fresh beginning.

Key Text Features

biographical note

chapters

dialogue

journal entries

A funny, touching look at the life of a social media influencer who starts to question the #goals life she has created for herself.

Every day, Ellie motivates her hundreds of thousands of followers to become the best versions of themselves by posting videos of exercise routines and high-protein breakfast recipes. Far from the shy teenager that she was, she is now in a very public relationship with singer Samuel Vanasse, and together they have become one of the most popular influencer couples in the country. She has succeeded. She shines.

And yet, Ellie worries that her life is not as flawless as she makes it seem on YouTube and Instagram. Between her obsession with the “ideal weight,” her growing attraction to another man, her family’s disdain for her career as a content creator and a collaboration with another influencer who Ellie can’t stand, a thought haunts her. What if, by trying to become everything she wanted to be, she’s lost herself along the way? 

Suck It in and Smile is an intimate exploration of our obsession with appearances and the hypocrisies that appear when you must craft the perfect online life.

Key Text Features

chapters

vignettes

dialogue

After her older sister is murdered in a horrific incident of domestic abuse, Taylor begins a new life in a new town. She meets Lily, whose open, warm manner conceals a difficult personal life of her own, coping with her brain-injured mother. The two girls embark on a tentative friendship. But just when life seems to be smoothing out, Taylor's abusive boyfriend, Devon, arrives on the scene, and before they know it, the girls find themselves in a situation that is both scary, and incredibly dangerous.

Abetted by Conor, a friend who owes him a favor, Devon takes the girls to a remote cabin. There is no heat, no food, no water. There is a hunting rifle, which Devon uses to intimidate the others. As he becomes increasingly agitated, and Conor threatens to bail, the girls engage in a silent battle of their own. Lily wants to escape, while Taylor feels hopelessly trapped by her relationship with Devon and uses sex and flattery to try to keep the situation calm. The cabin becomes a pressure cooker, filled with tension as the four teenagers wrestle with their anger, fear, resentment and boredom - any one of which could tip the situation into disaster.

From the opening moments when Taylor witnesses her sister's autopsy to the final cathartic scene after the two girls have survived their ordeal, the reader is glued to every page of this frank, gripping and beautifully written novel that raises questions for every teenager. Do you need to be a certain way to get a boyfriend? Can someone who loves you also hurt you? How can a million small compromises eat away at who you are? What happens when you don't think you deserve to be treated well? How do you end up in an abusive relationship, and what keeps you there?

Elise Moser goes deeply into the hearts and minds of Lily and Taylor, who in the end save each other in unexpected ways.

In war-torn Sudan, a girl must make heart-rending choices as she fights for survival and a chance at a future.

“This short, quickly paced narrative will stay with readers for the rest of their lives.” School Library Journali, STARRED REVIEW

“Moving and necessary.” Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW

For Poni, life in her small village in southern Sudan is simple and complicated at the same time. Stay in school. Beat up any boy who tries to show attention. Watch out for the dangers in the river. But then the war comes. And when soldiers arrive in her village and bombs begin to rain from the sky, there is only one thing for Poni to do. Run.

Poni runs for her life, and alongside thousands of refugees, she must then make a long, dusty trek across the east African countryside. Driven by the sheer will to survive, Poni finds her way to the Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya, where she hopes to be reunited with her family. And if she is lucky, she will one day be able to convince the authorities that she is worthy to go to the land of opportunity. But the misery in Kakuma is almost overwhelming, and sooner than Poni could have imagined, she is on the run again.

With single-minded determination, Poni survives hell and back, but she cannot escape the war’s devastating psychological effects or her survivor’s guilt. In a heartbreaking final twist, Poni finds her mother just as she is about to leave for America—forcing her to make the hardest decision of all.

Key Text Features
map
historical note
timeline
glossary
references

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

Hockey is the only game worth playing in the rough-and-tumble prairie town of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan. When sixteen-year-old A.J. Brandiosa makes the Triple A team of his dreams, he can hardly believe that his life is finally coming together.

And then it falls apart. A.J. makes an unexpected discovery about his best friend and teammate, Tulsa Brown, and he can't keep his rage and fear from spilling onto the ice. An aggressive defenseman is becoming a violent one…

An explosive novel by award-winning author Diana Wieler that looks honestly at teenage sexuality and the world of amateur hockey.

A poignant and frank novel set in Ghana, told from the point of view of a disarmingly forthright teenaged girl.

When sixteen-year-old Gloria fails thirteen out of fifteen subjects on her final exams, her future looks bleak indeed. Her family's resources are meager so the entire family is thrilled when a distant relative, Christine, offers to move Gloria north to Kumasi to look after her toddler son. In exchange, after two years, Christine will pay for Gloria to go to school.

Life in Kumasi is more grand than anything Gloria has ever experienced. She joins a youth band at church and Christine has even promised to teach her to read. But Kumasi is also full of temptations -- the owner of a popular clothing shop encourages her to buy on credit, and the smooth-talking Dr. Kusi offers Gloria rides in his sports car. Eventually Gloria is betrayed by the people around her and is disillusioned by her new life. But in the end she decides who she can trust, and draws on her own considerable inner resources to put the bad experiences behind her.

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6
Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.

IRA Notable Books for a Global Society selection

Hiding behind an armchair, five-year-old Emma does not witness the murder of her mother, but she hears everything. And when the assassins finally leave, the young Tutsi girl somehow manages to stumble away from the scene, motivated only by the memory of her mother's last words: "You must not die, Emma!"

Eventually Emma is taken in by an old Hutu woman who risks her own life to hide the child. Emma stays with the old woman and a quiet bond forms between the two, but long after the war ends, the young girl is still haunted by nightmares.

When the country establishes courts to allow victims to face their tormenters in their villages, Emma is uneasy and afraid. But through her growing friendship with a young torture victim and the gentle encouragement of an old man charged with helping child survivors, Emma finds the courage to return to the house where her mother was killed and begin the journey to healing.

This future history of the next thirty years, imagined by bestselling author Thomas Harding, is a compelling and startling call to action.

In 2020, a researcher is shocked to find a set of notebooks detailing the history of the next thirty years. Is this a hoax? Or could it be real? 

The notebooks, written in the year 2050, contain interview transcripts between teenage Billy and Gran Nancy. We learn about the great climate SHOCK, when global temperatures rise much faster than anticipated, resulting in catastrophic consequences for humanity. We learn about a shift away from democracy, toward unelected “ethnarchs” — heads of corporations who use their access to our personal data to competently run the world. We learn about the giant city towers where most people live, work and play inside — where it's safe from natural disasters and viral outbreaks.

And between these interviews, we learn more about Billy, whose interest in the history that has been erased from the official record is causing trouble in 2050. Is it too late to change the past to save the future?

Key Text Feature

glossary

Winner of the Canadian Library Association Book of the Year Award

Young Tommy and Baby Bridget, the girl with the trillium-shaped eyes, discover that living, healing and dying are not always what they seem. And they make that discovery with the help of a wonderful cast of characters, including Crazy Mickey, Frank and the Hummer.

Award-winning author Brian Doyle spent the summers of his boyhood in the Gatineau Hills, the setting for Up to Low.

“...explore how painting, writing, and building things with your hands can be the outlet that helps a person get through the hell that is high school.” — Quill & Quire

The kids at school call her rag girl because she hides under layers of oversized clothing, but she calls herself Ophelia. She hardly speaks to anyone — until one day a visiting author comes to give a talk in the school library. The writer speaks about what it means to create art, and at the end of her talk, she thanks Ophelia for asking the first question by giving her a blue notebook with her address on it.

Ophelia starts to write to the author in the notebook — letters that become a kind of lifeline. The idea that someone, somewhere, might care, is enough for her to keep writing, an escape from her real life. By day she goes to school and works at the dollar store before returning home to her mother, a former addict who once had to put her daughter in care. At night she creates graffiti around town, leaving little broken hearts as her tag.

One night she finds an abandoned building that she decides to use as her workshop, where she can make larger-than-life art. When she finds that a classmate, an overweight boy named Ulysses, is also using the space to repair an old van, the two form an uneasy truce, with a chalk line drawn down the middle to mark their separate territories. As time passes, Ophelia and Ulysses forge a fraught but growing friendship, but their cocooned existence cannot last forever. One night, intruders invade their sanctuary, and their shared bond and individual strength are sorely tested.

Key Text Features
illustrations
doodles
sketches
photographs

Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:

CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3
Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.

A balm for adolescent anxiety, this inclusive collection offers sometimes imperfect but always frank short stories of first sexual experiences.

Although to be honest, there isn’t ever really a first time, is there? Rather there are many: first times with yourself. First times with another person. First times you look forward to. First times you wish you could forget. First times that are sexy as hell. First times that are definitely, definitely not.

First Times: Short Stories about Sex collects nine stories by nine different authors, writing from a vast range of perspectives, cultural backgrounds and sexual orientations — revealing how unreasonable it is to define ourselves by a single, overhyped moment. (What a relief!)

With stories by Laurence Beaudoin Masse, Edith Chouinard, Vanessa Duchel, Schelby Jean-Baptiste, Alexandra Larochelle, Jérémie Larouche, Nicolas Michon, Olivier Simard and Pierre-Yves Villeneuve; edited by Karine Glorieux and translated by Shelley Tanaka.

Key Text Features

introduction;doodles

In the sequel to the award-winning Boy O'Boy, it's spring in post-World War II Ottawa and Martin O'Boy has finally found a true home with Grampa Rip. Martin's also found a job, working for the Pure Spring soft drink company. Best of all, he's in love with beautiful Gerty McDowell.

But everything's not perfect. Martin lied to kindly Mr. Mirsky, Pure Spring's owner, to get the job. Grampa Rip's brain increasingly goes missing. There's that mysterious, yet oddly familiar, man in the park. There are also Martin's memories, the sudden appearance of famed Soviet defector Igor Gouzensko, and Martin's shady boss, Randy. And worst of all, Randy is robbing Gerty's grandfather, and he's forcing Martin to be his accomplice. Martin's happiness, sense of duty, and love for Gerty collide. Can he find his way through these dire developments?

Brian Doyle's fast-paced plot and vivid characterizations, along with the lively colloquial dialogue and period detail, create a rich historical portrait that confirms the author's place as a master storyteller.