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The Rules Have Changed (Orca Soundings)
by Lesley ChoyceKey Selling Points In The Rules Have Changed, a teenage boy is shocked to learn that a lot has changed in the three years he’s been away. The book is set in a modern not-as-dystopian-as-one-might-think North American high school and is the author's commentary on the possible impact of the actions of the current US government. In this book themes of rebellion, governmental control and xenophobia are explored. The author has written many titles in the Orca Soundings line, including The Ledge, The Thing You're Good At and Kryptonite. New, enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.
Project Bollywood (Orca Currents)
by Mahtab NarsimhanKey Selling Points In Project Bollywood a teen filmmaker tries to control every detail of his school project. This book explores the themes of teamwork and the importance of challenging stereotypes. The story is built around a Bollywood script, which makes for lots of humorous hijinks. The previous Orca Currents title by this author, Embrace the Chicken, has been very well received. The author is of Indian descent and loved Bollywood movies as a child. Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers.
Crime Club (Orca Soundings)
by Melodie CampbellKey Selling Points Melodie Campbell is the author of the popular Gina Gallo Mystery series and the Arthur Ellis Best Crime novella finalist The B-Team: The Case of the Angry First Wife. The author is a former comedy writer and got her start writing stand-up. Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers
Tilted Sky
by Yao EmeiIs it too much to ask for an ordinary, boring life? Bai Jian is a typical Chinese boy growing up in a big city. But his life is far from typical: his mother abandoned him when he was a baby, and his father, Hei Jian, is always out of work, always fighting with his long parade of girlfriends, always getting the two of them involved in some harebrained scheme. The latest idea involves spending every last dime they have putting Bai Jian up in a posh boarding school so that Hei Jian can leave, and pursue his dream of becoming a big-time movie director. All Bai Jian has ever wanted is a warm bed to sleep in, a safe place to return to at the end of the day, enough food to fill his belly…and a family who’s not just going to abandon him on a whim. He soon realizes: while he may not have been born into this sort of family, maybe he can find one out there in the world himself? From author Yao Emei and translator Kelly Zhang comes a heart-rending, emotional middle grade novel about a contemporary boy in China searching for a home – and whose resourcefulness and generous heart carry him through. Readers who fell in love with Because of Winn-Dixie and Ghost will discover an inimitable voice in Bai Jian that will stay with them forever. P R A I S E "Intimate and introspective." –Kirkus "Readers attracted to international novels in translation or stories about resilient, precocious teens who don’t get into too much trouble will find lots to like here." –Booklist
Wild Poppies
by Haya SalehTwo brothers fight to reunite amidst the turmoil of the Syrian War. Since the passing of their father, Omar has tried—and in his little brother Sufyan’s eyes, failed—to be the man of his family of Syrian refugees. As Omar waits in line for rations, longing for the books he left behind when his family fled their home, Sufyan explores more nontraditional methods to provide for his family. Ignoring his brother’s warnings, Sufyan gets more and more involved with a group that provides him with big rewards for doing seemingly inconsequential tasks. When the group abruptly gets more intense—taking Sufyan and other boys away from their families, teaching them how to shoot guns—Sufyan realizes his brother is right. But is it too late for Sufyan to get out of this? It’s left to the bookish Omar to rescue his brother and reunite his family. He will have to take charge and be brave in ways he has never dared to before. P R A I S E "Poignant." —Foreword "Hauntingly hopeful." —Kirkus "Powerful." —School Library Connection
Gold Rush Girl
by AviVictoria Blaisdell longs for independence and adventure, and she yearns to accompany her father as he sails west in search of real gold! But it is 1848, and Tory isn't even allowed to go to school, much less travel all the way from Rhode Island to California. Determined to take control of her own destiny, Tory stows away on the ship. Though San Francisco is frenzied and full of wild and dangerous men, Tory finds freedom and friendship there. Until one day, when Father is in the gold fields, her younger brother, Jacob, is kidnapped. And so Tory is spurred on a treacherous search for him in Rotten Row, a part of San Francisco Bay crowded with hundreds of abandoned ships. Beloved storyteller Avi is at the top of his form as he ushers us back to an extraordinary time of hope and risk, brought to life by a heroine readers will cheer for. Spot-on details and high suspense make this a vivid, absorbing historical adventure.
Sunny (Track #3)
by Jason ReynoldsFantasma. Patina. Sunny. Lu. Esta es la historia de cuatro jóvenes de familias completamente diferentes, con personalidades que se vuelven explosivas al chocar. Pero son también cuatro jóvenes de secundaria que fueron escogidos para un equipo de élite de atletismo… un equipo que los podría ayudar a clasificarse para las Olimpiadas Juveniles. Todos tienen mucho que perder, pero también tienen mucho que demostrar, no solo a sus compañeros, sino a sí mismos. Sunny es el protagonista de esta novela, el tercero de cuatro libros en la emocionante serie de literatura juvenil de Jason Reynolds.Sunny es exactamente lo que significa su nombre en inglés: soleado. Siempre con la sonrisa bobalicona y algo agradable que decir, Sunny es el tipo más chévere en el equipo de los Defensores. Pero la vida de Sunny no siempre ha sido un rayo de sol resplandeciente. Verás: Sunny es un asesino. O al menos eso es lo que piensa de sí mismo. Su madre murió al darle a luz, y si nos basamos en el modo en que su padre lo trata —al ignorarlo y hacerle que siempre le diga &“Darryl&”, en lugar de &“papá&”—, no en balde Sunny piensa que la culpa de la muerte de su madre sea suya. Tal parece que lo único que Sunny puede hacer bien según su padre es ganar cintas de primer lugar en las competencias de una milla de distancia, igual que hacía su mamá. Pero a Sunny no le gusta correr; de hecho, nunca le ha gustado. Así que deja de hacerlo. En medio de una competencia. En el momento en que la relación con su padre no podría ir peor, lo último que querría Sunny es dejar a los otros novatos —sus únicos amigos— atrás. Pero no puedes estar en un equipo de atletismo y no correr. Así que el entrenador le pregunta a Sunny qué quiere hacer. ¿Y la respuesta de Sunny? Bailar. Sí, bailar. Pero es que tampoco puedes estar en un equipo de atletismo y bailar. Entonces, en un movida genial que solo podría haber concebido Jason Reynolds, Sunny descubre una modalidad en el atletismo que contiene los ritmos duros del hip hop, la precisión del ballet y las dotes teatrales del baile en general: el lanzamiento del disco. Mientras Sunny practica el lanzamiento del disco, que es aprender a soltarlo a tiempo, también soltará todo lo que lo ha carcomido por dentro.
The Sinister Secrets of the Fabulous Nothings (The Sinister Secrets #2)
by Sean FerrellTechnological wonders and terrors combine to weave an enchanting tale of finding your own way to belong in the second book in the sweeping Sinister Secrets series.It&’s been thrilling for Noah having the crew of the Abbreviated stuffed in his odd-twisting home. After spending a life being lonely, he finally feels like he has a family. But sailors are meant to be at sea, and now Noah&’s terrified that they&’ll leave him alone once more. He wishes he had the answer to solve this latest predicament.And then the strangest things start happening in the city of Liberty. Under cover of darkness, people&’s greatest wishes start to come true. But what begins as the marvelous realization of dreams soon morphs to ghoulish nightmare . . . and only Noah seems to be able to see the chimeras for what they really are. What&’s more, the infiltration may all be his fault.Now Noah must use his cunning to save Liberty once more. But how do you battle an invisible threat? And what will it cost him? Accompanied by vibrant black and white illustrations, the stunning second book in the Sinister Secrets series reunites old friends for new challenges in a quest brimming with eerie mystery, adventure, and an aching desire to find a space in the world.
World Made of Glass
by Ami PolonskyAn &“inspiring&” (Kirkus, starred review), &“heartfelt&” (The Horn Book, starred review) coming-of-age novel about a girl finding her way to activism in the early years of the AIDS pandemic, from award-winning author Ami Polonsky. Iris tries to act normal at school, going through the motions and joking around with her friends. But nothing is normal, and sometimes it feels like she&’ll never laugh again. How can she, when her dad is dying of a virus that&’s off-limits to talk about? When she knows that soon all she&’ll have left of her kind, loving dad are memories, photos, and a binder full of the poems they used to exchange? In a sea of rage and grief, Iris resolves to speak out against the rampant fear, misinformation, and prejudice surrounding AIDS—and find the pieces of Dad that she never knew before. Along the way, Iris might just find new sides to herself. Critically-acclaimed author Ami Polonsky has crafted a lyrical, tender, earth-shattering novel that will stay with you long after you&’ve turned the last page.
The Elephant Girl
by James Patterson Ellen Banda-AakuAN INDIE NEXT PICK AND AN AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH! #1 bestselling author James Patterson and award-winning author Ellen Banda-Aaku deliver an unforgettable story of a girl, an elephant, and their life-changing friendship—perfect for fans of The One and Only Ivan, Pax, and Because of Winn-Dixie. Clever, sensitive Jama likes elephants better than people. While her classmates gossip—especially about the new boy, Leku—twelve-year-old Jama takes refuge at the watering hole outside her village. There she befriends a baby elephant she names Mbegu, Swahili for seed. When Mbegu&’s mother, frightened by poachers, stampedes, Jama and Mbegu are blamed for two deaths—one elephant and one human. Now Leku, whose mysterious and imposing father is head ranger at the conservancy, may be their only lifeline. Inspired by true events, The Elephant Girl is a moving exploration of the bonds between creatures and the power of belonging.
Adventures of Mary Jane
by Hope JahrenIn this brand new reimagining, Mary Jane—the red-headed spark from Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, who stole Huck's heart in just 30 pages—comes to life with her own story of adventuring down the Mississippi River in the 1840s.Meet Mary Jane Guild — she&’s on a dangerous and unpredictable adventure down the Mississippi River — and she&’ll steal Huck Finn&’s heart along the way.In his classic work Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain briefly introduces "Mary Jane, the red-headed one." In no time Mary Jane becomes the girl Huck thinks about "a many and a many million times." Now author Hope Jahren has created for Mary Jane a life as vivid and compelling as Huck's.These pages will show you the real Mary Jane. A girl on her own dangerous, unpredictable journey down the Mississippi River in pre-Civil War America. Equipped with an uncanny ability for mathematics, a talent for sewing, and a bale of beaver skins, Mary Jane navigates deadly illnesses, angry mobs, treacherous landowners, outright thieves and swindlers, and more than a thousand miles of muddy water. What&’s more, she thrives in the face of these challenges, thanks to support from strangers who become friends. Traveling solo requires Mary Jane to grow up fast, but it ultimately leads her to a new resilience, a love of adventure, deep and enduring sisterhood, and a blue-eyed, ponytailed boy she can&’t stop thinking about.Jahren offers a wealth of layered characters and deeply researched, authentic details of changing times in the North and South. Using the language and style of Twain and shifting the point of view to a smart and determined young woman, she explores timeless themes of duty, family, romance, and betrayal, with grit and courage at the core.
We Shall Be Monsters
by Tara SimFrankenstein meets Indian mythology in this twisty, darkly atmospheric fantasy where the real horrors are not the monsters you face, but the ones you create.&“One of the most unique and intelligent books I&’ve read. . . Alluring, completely enthralling, and masterfully rendered.&” —Axie Oh, New York Times bestselling author of The Girl Who Fell Beneath the SeaKajal knows she is not a good person. If she were, she wouldn&’t selfishly be risking her sister&’s soul in a dangerous bid to bring her back to life. She would let Lasya rest in peace—but Kajal cannot stand the horror of living without her.As Kajal prepares for the resurrection, the worst happens: Her sister&’s soul warps into a bhuta—a murderous, wraith-like spirit—and Kajal gets sentenced to death for her sister&’s rampage. There seems little hope of escape until two strangers offer to free her. The catch: She must resurrect the kingdom&’s fallen crown prince to aid a growing rebellion against a tyrannical usurper. Desperate, Kajal rushes to complete her end of the deal . . . only to discover that the boy she&’s resurrected, Tav, is not the crown prince.Now Kajal—prickly, proud, admirer of the scientific method—must team up with Tav—stubborn, reticent, and fonder of swords than of books—to find the real crown prince. With only a scalpel and her undead dog, Kutaa, at her side, Kajal must work fast before her mistake is exposed or Lasya&’s bhuta turns its murderous fury on the person truly responsible for her death: Kajal herself.
Two Sides to Every Murder
by Danielle ValentineFrom the author of How to Survive Your Murder comes a propulsive thriller about two teens who return to Camp Lost Lake, site of the cold case that sealed their fates."A must-read for fans of true crime, dark family secrets, and intricate mysteries." —Ryan La Sala, bestselling author of The HoneysMost people&’s births aren&’t immortalized in a police report—but Olivia was born during the infamous Camp Lost Lake murders. Seventeen years later, Olivia&’s life looks pretty perfect . . . until she discovers the man she calls dad is not her biological father. Now she wants answers about her bloodline, and the only place she knows to look is Camp Lost Lake.Most people don&’t spend their formative years on the run with an alleged murderer—but Reagan did. In the court of public opinion, her mom was found guilty of the deaths at Camp Lost Lake, and both of them have been in hiding ever since. But Reagan believes in her mother&’s innocence and is determined to clear her name.Luckily for Olivia and Reagan, Camp Lost Lake is finally reopening, providing the perfect opportunity to find answers. But someone else is dead set on keeping the past hidden, even if it means committing murder.
Elevate Science Modules: Energy Transfer
by Michael J. Padilla Zipporah Miller Michael E. WysessionNIMAC-sourced textbook
La última cuentista (Cuentista)
by Donna Barba HigueraHabía una vez . . .Una niña llamada Petra Peña que no quería otra cosa que ser cuentista, como su abuelita. Pero el mundo de Petra está llegando a su fin. La Tierra ha sido destruida por un cometa, y solo unos pocos científicos y sus hijos —entre ellos, Petra y su familia— han sido elegidos para viajar a un nuevo planeta. Son ellos quienes garantizarán la continuidad de la raza humana. Cientos de años después, Petra despierta en el nuevo planeta y descubre que es la única persona que recuerda a la Tierra. Un siniestro Colectivo ha tomado el mando de la nave durante el viaje, empeñado en borrar los pecados pasados de la humanidad. En forma sistemática, han purgado los recuerdos de quienes se habían embarcado… o directamente los han purgado. Solo Petra atesora las historias de nuestro pasado y, con ellas, las esperanzas para nuestro futuro. ¿Podrá devolverles la vida? Donna Barba Higuera, ganadora del Premio Pura Belpré, nos ofrece un viaje brillante al mismo corazón de eso que nos hace humanos.
Alebrijes: Cuentista (Cuentista)
by Donna Barba HigueraPURA BELPRÉ HONOR WINNER BEST OF THE YEAR New York Times · Kirkus · Booklist · Chicago Public Library The follow-up to Newbery and Pura Belpré Award-winning The Last Cuentista For 400 years, Earth has been a barren wasteland. The few humans that survive scrape together an existence in the cruel city of Pocatel – or go it alone in the wilderness beyond, filled with wandering spirits and wyrms. They don’t last long. 13 year-old pickpocket Leandro and his sister Gabi do what they can to forge a life in Pocatel. The city does not take kindly to Cascabel like them – the descendants of those who worked the San Joaquin Valley for generations. When Gabi is caught stealing precious fruit from the Pocatelan elite, Leando takes the fall. But his exile proves more than he ever could have imagined -- far from a simple banishent, his consciousness is placed inside an ancient drone and left to fend on its own. But beyond the walls of Pocatel lie other alebrijes like Leandro who seek for a better world -- as well as mutant monsters, wasteland pirates, a hidden oasis, and the truth. From Donna Barba Higuera, Newbery and Pura Belpré Medal-winning author of The Last Cuentista, comes another novel to astonish us and create a whole new imaginative world, that holds a mirror to our own. 7 STARRED REVIEWS ★ "An instant classic." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "Breathtaking… A ferociously epic and beautiful middle-grade dystopian novel." —Shelf Awareness (starred) ★ "Combines humanity and technology with imaginative splendor." —Foreword (starred) ★ "This heartfelt adventure signals hope for humanity, even in the aftermath of darkness." —Kirkus (starred) ★ "High-stakes adventure… Beautiful, imaginative writing fills this dystopian sf novel. Though it exposes cruelty and corruption, it raises up storytelling, culture, and kindness as stronger yet… A wondrous addition to any collection." —Booklist (starred) ★ "This stellar speculative narrative explores themes of identity across circumstance, centering an adolescent without structural power working to protect family and community." —Publishers Weekly (starred) ★ "Higuera brilliantly balances the heaviness of a dystopian future of a ruined Earth with her own blend of science fiction and Mexican folkloric elements once Leandro leaves his human body… Leandro and his unflinching dedication to an uplifting view of humanity that will spark engagement from the first page and linger in the minds of readers well after they finish the novel." —Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books (starred) "With its social and environmental commentary, this fast-paced and imaginative novel tackles issues of deception and control and leaves one with a sense of wonder that a single flap of a wing or a solitary voice can bring about unimaginable change." —Horn Book
How to Stay Invisible
by Maggie C. RuddMy Side of the Mountain meets How to Steal a Dog in this high-stakes and heartfelt middle-grade story of a young boy and his dog surviving on their own in the woods.Being alone is something Raymond is used to.Twelve-year-old Raymond Hurley has never had a place to call home. His free-wheeling parents move their family from town to town, and he’s living in a trailer in a brand-new state when one day, they just up and abandon him. All alone with nothing but a duffle bag full of clothes and his reliable pup, Rosie, he is forced to live in the woods behind his middle school.With a fishing pole in hand and survival guide checked out from the library, Raymond scrapes by and doesn’t tell anyone his secret. This isn’t the first time he’s had to rely on himself. However, when winter days get colder and finding food becomes nearly impossible, Raymond makes new friends, including a curious coyote, in unexpected places. Soon, he learns that his fate will depend not just on his wilderness skills, but on the people and animals he chooses to trust.In How to Stay Invisible, Maggie C. Rudd takes readers on a journey of survival that speaks to friendship, adventure, and the everyday wonders of nature. In middle school, blending in is easy but sometimes the braver thing is being seen.
Firekeeper's Daughter
by Angeline BoulleyA PRINTZ MEDAL WINNER!A MORRIS AWARD WINNER!AN AMERICAN INDIAN YOUTH LITERATURE AWARD YA HONOR BOOK!A REESE WITHERSPOON x HELLO SUNSHINE BOOK CLUB YA PICKAn Instant #1 New York Times BestsellerSoon to be adapted at Netflix for TV with President Barack Obama and Michelle Obama's production company, Higher Ground. “One of this year's most buzzed about young adult novels.” —Good Morning America A TIME Magazine Best YA Book of All Time SelectionAmazon's Best YA Book of 2021 So Far (June 2021)A 2021 Kids' Indie Next List SelectionAn Entertainment Weekly Most Anticipated Books of 2021 SelectionA PopSugar Best March 2021 YA Book SelectionWith four starred reviews, Angeline Boulley's debut novel, Firekeeper's Daughter, is a groundbreaking YA thriller about a Native teen who must root out the corruption in her community, perfect for readers of Angie Thomas and Tommy Orange.Eighteen-year-old Daunis Fontaine has never quite fit in, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of a fresh start at college, but when family tragedy strikes, Daunis puts her future on hold to look after her fragile mother. The only bright spot is meeting Jamie, the charming new recruit on her brother Levi’s hockey team.Yet even as Daunis falls for Jamie, she senses the dashing hockey star is hiding something. Everything comes to light when Daunis witnesses a shocking murder, thrusting her into an FBI investigation of a lethal new drug. Reluctantly, Daunis agrees to go undercover, drawing on her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to track down the source. But the search for truth is more complicated than Daunis imagined, exposing secrets and old scars. At the same time, she grows concerned with an investigation that seems more focused on punishing the offenders than protecting the victims.Now, as the deceptions—and deaths—keep growing, Daunis must learn what it means to be a strong Anishinaabe kwe (Ojibwe woman) and how far she’ll go for her community, even if it tears apart the only world she’s ever known.