It's 1962, and it seems everyone is living in fear. Eleven-year-old Franny Chapman lives with her family in Washington, D.C., during the days surrounding the Cuban Missile Crisis. Amidst the pervasive threat of nuclear war, Franny must face the tension between herself and her younger brother, figure out where she fits in with her family, and look beyond outward appearances.

A National Book Award Nominee for 2013, A Tangle of Knots is a beautiful story about Cady, an orphan who has a special talent for seeing people and knowing the perfect cake for them. Told from many different perspectives and with many different characters, it takes a little while for the "knot" to be tied but, with a touch of magic, a little mystery, a lot of warmth and humor, and even some great ...

Lily's life is changing fast and she is not happy—really not happy—hide-in-your-room-for-days not happy! Through the guidance of her beloved Poppy, Lily finds the courage to embrace change and find new friends in unexpected places. As she learns to accept all that makes her unique, Lily learns powerful lessons about love, letting go, and family. At the same time Lily's story is told, ...

Poppy, full of hope and determination, literally transforms from a cowardly follower into a confident leader right before a reader's eyes. Her story is so real and so powerful that readers won't be able to put it down until they know she is safe. Well-paced with plenty of plot twists, readers are able to think deeply and ask important questions. Adults will appreciate the opportunity to practicall ...

The latest in Haddix's riveting The Missing series leaves protagonist Jonah on his own to make a series of life- and time-altering decisions. Who are you when the world as you know it seems to evaporate? With great storytelling, Haddix raises this question and deftly takes readers through a roller coaster of events and choices to a thought-provoking and satisfying conclusion, which also marks a be ...

Under arrest! The words came as a shock to young Esther Rudomin, Polish citizen. Because of their Jewish heritage and Father's business success, Esther's family faced certain deportment to Siberia. This sobering tale of a family torn from their homeland, from close relatives, and eventually from one another, paints a vivid picture of grim determination to survive against overwhelming odds. The Sib ...

Part mystery, part adventure, the fast-moving story explores themes of honesty, power, family, and friendship. Memorable characters create opportunities for prequels and sequels, yet the story is satisfying on its own.

This fast-paced tale of two adventurers invites readers on a quest filled with mystery, danger, and a whole lot of excitement. As readers get to know Emily and James, they learn important lessons about choices and consequences, friendship, and what home really means. Whimsy and literary references mixed with technology make this story a modern classic. School drama and family conflict offer authen ...

Urban's bite-sized "chapters" paint just enough detail to reveal a perspective or quirk of each character, making this reading experience a smorgasbord of delightful tastes and textures. This is an uplifting celebration of how lemons become lemonade, for parents just as much as their kids: disappointment confronted with determination can garner reward; crippling insecurities grow weaker with skill ...

This companion to the "New York Times"-bestselling "Football Genius" featuresTim's memorable hero Troy and delves into the flashy world of American sportsmedia, revealing its dark underside.

It is circa 2600 B.C. in ancient Mesopotamia during a terrible drought, and Jomar and Zefa's father must send his children away to the city of Ur because he can no longer feed them. Alone in a strange city, the siblings must put aside old resentments to survive.

When Ann Fay's challenge to recover from polio is compounded by her father's inability to cope with psychological war wounds, Ann Fay's attempts to fix both problems fail miserably. But when she realizes burdens are for sharing and quality relationships require humility and trust, she walks a once-lonely path with help. As she becomes less dependent upon clunky, uncomfortable braces for her polio- ...

This engrossing and thorough biography of an American legend reads like a great story. The author, a black woman who passed away in the 1990's, uses the term "Negro" throughout the book (originally published in 1955), so young readers may need instruction regarding the term's background and use. While many books relate Harriet Tubman's story, this one may retell it the best.

Rich descriptors establish this memoir’s compelling setting so that readers feel the African heat , the desperation of starving families seeking sustenance from dry, barren farmland, and the wind’s power to help a helpless community. Against this backdrop a small, young boy with an insatiable appetite for knowledge lets curiosity drive his desire to help his family and his village. T ...

A songwriter once wrote about being "thankful for a season in your path." This sentiment plays out in this gentle but delightful story of unlikely friendships, the pursuit of dreams, and the return of joy after grief. The characters and the connections between them —both past and presentdemonstrate our need for one another, even when our time together is only for a season.

The hard-hitting plot creates suspense and action that will appeal to reluctant readers. NOTE: Sensitive readers may have difficulty with brief descriptions of organized dog-fighting. However, the book provides great opportunities to discuss problem-solving and decision-making.

This is a story that explores the harbor of safety family can be, regardless of wealth or documentation. But when this family is suddenly ripped apart, the strength of familial roots translates into maturity as a son assumes the role of sibling caretaker, family comforter, and eventually, determined class leader. A well-written, relevant story that instructs with heart and intelligence.

Marting explores loss, grief, and loneliness by interweaving three seemingly disparate stories in alternating chapters. Readers follow heartbreaking and heartwarming moments of a stray dog, the tragedy and restoration of a family who suffers life-changing loss, and the growth of a boy who knows, especially after his best friend moves away, that a dog would fix his sad heart. While the mood is heav ...