A Newbery Honor Book An American Library Association Notable Children's Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Janet Taylor Lisle's captivating Newbery Honor book explores how, like friendship, magic can emerge when you least expect it--and when you need it most. All you have to do is look deep. Anything might happen in Sara-Kate's backyard. For that matter, anything was happening. Fo ...

The Gamages and the Martinkas have been feuding for generations. When Bo Gamage is orphaned, he finds himself in a nest of Martinkas out on the California desert. Peppered with witty dialogue that bites faster than a Mojave green rattlesnake, this humorous tale shows that even Gamages and Martinkas may be able to help each other chase after their dreams.

Karen Harrington calls upon her experience with an agoraphobic mother to movingly convey her main character's angst in learning to live well through tragedy and extreme circumstances. Already facing difficult teenage years, Mysti suddenly becomes provider and voice of reason when her mother's agoraphobia strips away her ability to cope. While the text seems to go on without resolution for a good p ...