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The Loudness: A Novel
by Nick CourageHenry Long doesn’t have a heart. Since the Tragedies, he doesn’t have much: just an annoying low-watt buzz from his makeshift transplant, skinny arms, and a dusty library attic from which he charts the slow progress of reconstruction in the Green Zone, the last habitable neighborhood of his troubled coastal city. While his parents work on making the Green Zone independent from a federal government that appears to have abandoned them, Henry himself feels increasingly left on his own—that is, until he discovers a refugee artists’ colony called the Other Side. When the federales don’t take kindly to the Green Zone’s attempts at secession and kidnap Henry’s parents, Henry and his new renegade friends are forced from the colorful streets and underground rock clubs of the Other Side to an overcrowded capital city on the verge of collapse. As Henry uncovers more about the conflicting forces that run his corner of the world, he realizes that not everyone is who they seem to be—himself included. His artificial heart may turn out to be more of a blessing than a curse. In this stunning, fast-paced, and punk rock–like first middle grade novel by author Nick Courage, young readers will be propelled into another world where superheroes emerge from the unlikeliest people.
Wonder, Hope, Love, and Loss: The Selected Novels of Gene Stratton-Porter
by Scott Russell Sanders Gene Stratton-Porter<P> Three classic stories for young adults about the wonder and power of our connections with nature and each other. Gene Stratton-Porter was a pioneer naturalist, wilderness advocate, and author. She wrote both fiction and nonfiction about the woods and swampland that she loved so much, and her tales of finding independence and courage through building a relationship with nature touched millions of readers both when she was writing and to this day. <P> In Wonder, Hope, Love, and Loss: The Selected Novels of Gene Stratton-Porter, three of her most timeless classics are collected in one volume. A Girl of the Limberlost, Freckles, and The Harvester demonstrate the power of Stratton-Porter’s writing for young people as she explores how the natural world can provide not just a means of sustenance, but also a source of strength in the face of the world’s difficulties and, ultimately, a place where you can be true to yourself. <P> In both A Girl of the Limberlost and Freckles, we see young Elnora Cornstock and an orphan boy known only as Freckles develop a love of Limberlost Swamp, using it to gain independence and find true connections with others. <P> Taking place in the woodlands of the Midwest, The Harvester tells the story of a young man who lives on his own and who heals an ill girl. In each book, nature is a powerful force that helps the characters deal with the pain of their pasts and the uncertainty of the present. With a foreword by award-winning essayist Scott Russell Sanders, Wonder, Hope, Love, and Loss: The Selected Novels of Gene Stratton-Porter brings together three classic novels that deserve a place on any young adult’s bookshelf.
High-Impact Assessment Reports for Children and Adolescents: A Consumer-Responsive Approach (The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series)
by Robert Lichtenstein Bruce EckerAssessment provides rich opportunities for understanding the needs of children and adolescents, yet reports are often hard for parents, teachers, and other consumers to comprehend and utilize. This book provides step-by-step guidelines for creating psychoeducational and psychological reports that communicate findings clearly, promote collaboration, and maximize impact. Effective practices for written and oral reporting are presented, including what assessment data to emphasize, how to organize reports and convey test results, and how to craft useful recommendations. In a large-size format with lay-flat binding for easy photocopying, the book includes sample reports, training exercises, and reproducible templates, rubrics, and forms. Purchasers get access to a Web page where they can download and print the reproducible materials. This book is in The Guilford Practical Intervention in the Schools Series, edited by T. Chris Riley-Tillman.
Love, Lucas (Love, Lucas Novel #1)
by Chantele SedgwickA 2015 Whitney Award Nominee! A powerful story of loss, second chances, and first love, reminiscent of Sarah Dessen and John Green. When Oakley Nelson loses her older brother, Lucas, to cancer, she thinks she’ll never recover. Between her parents’ arguing and the battle she’s fighting with depression, she feels nothing inside but a hollow emptiness. When Mom suggests they spend a few months in California with Aunt Jo, Oakley isn’t sure a change of scenery will alter anything, but she’s willing to give it a try. In California, Oakley discovers a sort of safety and freedom in Aunt Jo’s beach house. Once they’re settled, Mom hands her a notebook full of letters addressed to her--from Lucas. As Oakley reads one each day, she realizes how much he loved her, and each letter challenges her to be better and to continue to enjoy her life. He wants her to move on. If only it were that easy. But then a surfer named Carson comes into her life, and Oakley is blindsided. He makes her feel again. As she lets him in, she is surprised by how much she cares for him, and that’s when things get complicated. How can she fall in love and be happy when Lucas never got the chance to do those very same things? With her brother’s dying words as guidance, Oakley knows she must learn to listen and trust again. But will she have to leave the past behind to find happiness in the future?
The Temple of Doubt (Temple of Doubt)
by Anne Boles Levy"Fiercely original with a capable and plucky heroine, The Temple of Doubt rips open a door to a fresh new fantasy world. ” --Amalie Howard, author of the Aquarathi series and Alpha Goddess It’s been two six-days since a falling star crashed into the marshes beyond Port Sapphire, putting the wilds of Kuldor off-limits to fifteen-year-old Hadara. She feels this loss deeply and is eager to join her mother beyond the city limits to gather illegal herbs and throw off the yoke of her tedious religious schooling. Medicines of any sort are heresy to the people of Port Sapphire, who must rely on magic provided by the god Nihil for aid. And if people die from that magic, their own lack of faith is surely to blame. At least, that’s what Hadara has been taught--and has so far refused to believe. Hadara and her mother have ignored the priests’ many warnings about their herb gathering, secure in knowing their tropical island is far from Nihil’s critical gaze. Then two powerful high priests arrive from Nihil’s home city to investigate the fallen star, insisting it harbors an unseen demon. This sets off speculation that an evil force is already at work in Port Sapphire and brings one of the holy men to Hadara’s doorstep. When he chooses Hadara as a guide into the wilds, she sets off a chain of events that will upend everything she’s been taught about the sacred and the profane. The Temple of Doubt is the first installment in a series that follows a teenager who is given a greater destiny and purpose than she could’ve ever imagined.
The Endermen Invasion: An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure, Book Three (An Unofficial Gamer?s Adventure)
by Winter MorganWill a griefer destroy Steve's hope of winning the elite building competition?In this third installment of the Minecraft Gamer's Adventure series, Steve is invited to participate in an elite building competition on Mushroom Island. His friends-Max, Lucy, and Henry-are impressed and want to join their friend on a journey to the island. Yet not everyone is happy: Steve's neighbor Kyra is upset because she wasn't chosen as a contestant. Steve asks Kyra to come to the competition and help the gang build boats to get to Mushroom Island. She agrees, and the group sets out on an adventure to the contest. Getting there is half the fun, and the group treks through the jungle, where they find a rare temple filled with treasure! But getting the treasure isn't easy, and they have to fight fierce battles to continue their journey.After their exhilarating and rewarding journey to the contest, they finally make their way onto the island and meet the judges, as well as the other four contestants, whose egos are as big as the houses they are building. Steve builds his dream house to impress the judges, but just as they begin judging, the island is overrun with Endermen. Mushroom islands are known for not having hostile mobs, so everyone knows it's the work of a griefer. Is it one of the contestants? Nobody knows, but they all have to work together to battle this invasion of the Endermen.Will they be able to defeat the Endermen and find out who the griefer is? And who will win the building contest? Find out in this thrilling third installment of the Minecraft Gamer's Adventure series!
Escape from the Overworld: An Unofficial Overworld Adventure, Book One (Unofficial Overworld Adventure #1)
by Danica DavidsonEleven-year-old Stevie, who comes from a long line of Steves, doesn't feel as if he fits in the Minecraft world. His father is great at building and fighting off zombies, but Stevie struggles in these areas. One day, when Stevie is alone in the field trying to build something new that will impress his dad, he discovers a portal into a new world.Stevie steps out of a computer screen and into the room of eleven-year-old Maison, a sixth-grade girl who loves to build and create, but who is bullied and made an outcast by her classmates for not indulging in activities deemed "cool." Stevie is shocked by how different this world is, and Maison takes him under her wing and teaches him all about her world. The two become friends, and Maison brings Stevie to school with her.Stevie is horrified to see there are zombies in the school! He realizes that when he opened the portal, this allowed zombies to also enter the new world. More and more creatures are slipping out by the second, wreaking havoc on a world that has no idea how to handle zombies, creepers, giant spiders, and the like. Stevie and Maison must put their heads together and use their combined talents in order to push the zombies back into Minecraft, where they belong. As Stevie and Maison's worlds become more combined, their adventure becomes even more frightening than they could have imagined.
The Skeletons Strike Back: An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure, Book Five (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #5)
by Winter Morgan<P> Steve and his friends are back at the wheat farm trying to find a way to secure their crops from hostile mobs when their old friend Georgia comes to them for help. Georgia’s village is in the middle of a serious skeleton attack. The skeletons appear at dawn, and nobody can go to bed without risking death. Steve and the gang agree to help, but the journey to Georgia’s village isn’t easy, especially with a new batch of rainbow griefers on their trail. <P> After Steve and the gang get to the village and fight the skeletons, they think the battle is over. They are surprised to find out that it has just begun! Rumors circulate through Georgia’s village about a skeleton farm nearby in the dungeon of an old castle. The griefer running the farm spawns skeletons and destroys them for the bones the skeletons drop when destroyed. Is the skeleton invasion a part of the griefer’s larger plan? Or are the skeletons escaping in order to save themselves? The gang has to figure out who their real enemy is before they can win this battle. Should they side with the skeletons? Or stop the griefer? Find out in this thrilling fifth installment of the Unofficial Gamer’s Adventure series!
Treason in America: Disloyalty Versus Dissent (Jules Archer History for Young Readers)
by Jules Archer Brianna DuMontTreason can be defined as "the breach of the allegiance which a person owes to the state under whose protection he lives.” But what exactly does it mean to be guilty of a "breach of the allegiance” owed to your country? In a country that guarantees freedom of speech and dissent tp all citizens, the extent to which dissent becomes unlawful may not always be clear. Treason is punishable by the death penalty, underscoring the importance of the question: How do we go about proving that someone is indeed an enemy of his country-a traitor?In this book, renowned historian Jules Archer explores different cases of treason throughout our history, while encouraging young readers to really question the definition of treason and how it should be treated. He asks readers to consider the similarities between disloyalty and dissent and ultimately urges this generation to take it into their own hands to redefine American duties and liberties for our time.
Clash of the Creepers: An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure, Book Six (An Unofficial Gamer's Adventure #6)
by Winter MorganThe final chapter in the series that began with The Quest for the Diamond Sword--will Steve and his friends find Mine Mountain and get the legendary treasure? When Steve’s friends Max, Lucy, and Henry get their hands on a map with the location of the legendary Mine Mountain, Steve questions if the map is a fake. Going to this fabled mountain, rumored to contain an endless supply of diamonds, is every treasure hunter’s dream. Many believe the mountain doesn’t exist, and although Steve is doubtful about the map’s authenticity, the gang convinces Steve and Kyra to embark on a journey to find this magical mountain. On their trip, Steve and his friends stumble upon a town filled with friendly folk. While there, they meet other treasure hunters who are also searching for Mine Mountain. As the group joins forces with their new treasure hunter friends, creepers attack them. The closer they get to the famed mine, the more creepers appear. The group doesn’t know if this is the work of a griefer or if the creepers are trying to hide something. Will they stop the creeper attack? Will they get the diamonds? And should Steve and his friends trust these new treasure hunters? It’s a test of trust in this journey for treasure. Find out in this thrilling sixth and final installment of the Unofficial Gamer’s Adventure series!
The Secret Treasure: An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure, #1 (An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure #1)
by Winter MorganA new series from the author of The Quest for the Diamond Sword--will Noah and Violet protect an enchantment book to save the Overworld? Treasure hunters and protectors of the Overworld Noah and Violet stumble upon a chest in a jungle temple. The treasure chest includes a rare enchantment book that can make diamond swords and armor extremely powerful. Daniel, who runs the powerful league of griefers, wants the enchantment book for himself. Noah and Violet have to battle the league of griefers, including the tricky and powerful rainbow griefers. Can the duo do it alone, or do they need more people to help them protect the Overworld from this powerful league of evil griefers? This is a test of survival, as griefers use several tricky tactics to steal the enchantment book and use it to destroy life in the Overworld. But the battle isn’t just one between the good guys and the griefers. With unpredictable hostile mobs attacking without warning, can Noah and Violet come up with a good plan to hide the book from the griefers and stay alive? Find out in this first installment in a new series for Minecrafters!
Hidden in the Overworld: An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure, #2 (An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure #2)
by Winter MorganWill Noah and Violet find the griefers who escaped to the Overworld? Noah and Violet are busy rebuilding their town when the Ender Dragon flies above the village streets. The following day the Wither attacks them. As the town battles these harsh hostile mobs, Noah and Violet, with their good friends Hannah and Ben, set out to search for Daniel, whom they suspect is behind these vicious attacks. As they search for the griefers, they find clues leading them to believe the griefers haven’t disappeared but are actually planning a master attack. Instead of battling the griefers, the gang has to find head griefer Daniel and his friends before they stage their next attack. While battling strikes from Endermen, the Wither, and the Ender Dragon, the group’s journey to find the tricky griefers leads them to an unexpected place, where the griefers have been hiding. Upon discovering the griefer’s hiding spot, a war ensues between Noah and Violet and the league of griefers. Will Violet and Noah take down the league of griefers and survive all the mob attacks they face? Find out in this second installment in a new series for Minecrafters, the League of Griefers!
Griefer's Revenge: An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure, #3 (An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure #3)
by Winter MorganCan Violet and Noah protect their village from griefers and ensure the Olympic Games continue uninterrupted? Noah and Violet’s village is hosting the Olympics for Minecrafters. The events are disrupted when a TNT attack destroys the Olympic stadium. Noah and Violet are forced to gather the townspeople to wage a battle against Daniel and his powerful griefers. They all must stop the griefers before they destroy the games entirely. With a full agenda of Olympic games from relay races to boat races, the group has to save the legendary competition. The griefers, angered by their recent defeat, are getting their revenge on Noah and Violet. They are planning a serious attack on the town, which could have devastating consequences on the duo and their hometown. Can Violet and Noah stop the griefers in time? Will the Olympic games go on safely? Find out in this thrilling third installment of the League of Griefers series!
The Return of the Rainbow Griefers: An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure, #4 (An Unofficial League of Griefers Adventure #4)
by Winter MorganWill Noah and Violet finally defeat Daniel and his crew of rainbow griefers? Violet and Noah’s village is celebrating the new amusement park opening in town. Everyone is enjoying the fun rides and tasty food. But when Noah spots a rainbow griefer in the village carrying blocks of TNT, the celebration suddenly stops. Before the townspeople can do anything about the dangerous interloper, the roller coaster explodes! The accident with the roller coaster is blamed on Noah and Violet’s frequent enemy, Daniel. The duo must stop Daniel and his new crop of rainbow griefers before they do anymore damage to the village--or the world of Minecraft. Things get tricky when Noah and Violet get a message from an old friend who needs their help. Can Noah and Violet come to the aide of their friend while saving their village? It will be a team effort to stop the rainbow griefers in this battle, but are the Minecrafters up for the challenge? Find out in this thrilling fourth installment of the League of Griefers series!
Avenging the Owl
by Melissa HartA long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away, Han Solo avenged the destruction of an innocent planet by helping Luke Skywalker blow up the Death Star. Han walked away with a gold medal and the love of his life. But when Solo Hahn-named in honor of the beloved action hero-tries to avenge the death of his gray-and-white kitten, he gets eight months of community service. Eight months of working at the local raptor center helping owls-his now sworn enemies.For the first time in his life, Solo is labeled a troubled kid, an at-risk youth. He’d always gotten good grades, had good friends, and gotten along with his parents. He used to volunteer to read Reader’s Digest to old people at the retirement home next door, and his favorite thing in the whole wide world was to surf. He wrote screenplays for fun. But when his parents uproot him and move the family from California to backwoods Oregon, Solo starts to lose track of the person he was. Everything is upside down, and he finds himself dealing with things way beyond his understanding. He’s the new kid in town, and he’s got a bad reputation. The question is: What will he do next?This is a story about staying true to yourself when things get tough. Solo has every reason to lash out, but he ultimately needs to find a way to cope. Avenging the Owl deals with the difficult issues of suicide and depression, but more than anything it captures the powerlessness of being a kid. It won’t be easy, but the wild beauty of Oregon, its cold, empty beaches and captivating wildlife, may be just what Solo and his family need to help them start over.
Camp Dork (Pack of Dorks #2)
by Beth VrabelThe pack of dorks heads to camp—and this time the bully they face might just be one of their own.Sheldon convinces Lucy, Sam, April, and Amanda to join him at Camp Paleo. Like cavemen, the campers are going to have to make do without air conditioning, and they'll dig for fossils during the day. And Grandma's coming too—as the lunch lady for the camp next door. But Sam backs out at the last minute to attend a gymnastics camp instead. Lucy wonders why she misses him so much—it's not like he's her boyfriend. Why does the word "boyfriend" make her blush? She needs a distraction. Enter Mr. Bosserman, the grouchy camp leader who won't budge on the camp's caveman theme. The old man needs some softening up, and Lucy knows just the person for the job: Grandma. One successful match made, Lucy starts to see potential lovebirds everywhere. But when the wrong campers pair up, the pack falls apart, all under the watchful eye of a secret blogger who's been writing about the camp's activities. Even worse? A thief is targeting everyone but Lucy, setting her up to look guilty. Soon Lucy finds herself alone, left to fix the messes she's made. If she fails, the pack may be splintered for good.
They Made a Revolution: The Sons and Daughters of the American Revolution (Jules Archer History for Young Readers)
by Jules Archer Kathleen KrullThe founding fathers and mothers of the United States were not, as history often makes them out to be, stuffy cardboard figures of virtue and nobility. They Made a Revolution introduces them as the real people they were-complete with their inevitable flaws and weaknesses. Through their letters, diaries, and reminiscences, discover what was going on in the minds of this country’s revolutionary leaders as they committed treason against the most powerful nation on earth, risking their lives for the sake of freedom. Meet "The Sly Fox,” Sam Adams; "The Rich Rebel,” John Hancock; "The Silver-Tongued Bumpkin,” Patrick Henry; and the very brave Abigail Adams and full-of-secrets Martha Washington. Each of these characters comes alive in this fabulous collection of historical biographies.These are the stories of the courageous men and women who stood up to the British king and made a revolution happen. To England, they were traitors. To the United States, they became patriots.
Life Before
by Michele BaconSeventeen years is a long time to keep secrets, and Xander Fife has gotten very good at it.Everyone believes Xander has a normal life and a normal family. If he can just get through this summer, he’ll start his real life in college with a clean slate-no risk, no drama, no fear.Even better, his plans for summer are awesome: lots of pick-up soccer, relaxing afternoons with friends, and an epic road trip. Xander is banking on some long-overdue nights with his ideal girlfriend, the amazing Gretchen Taylor.Instead of kicking off what had promised to be an amazing summer, however, graduation day brings terror. His family’s secrets are thrust out into the open, and Xander must confront his greatest fear. And survive doing so.Armed with a fake ID, cash, and a knife, Xander skips town and assumes a new identity. Hundreds of miles from home and in danger, one thing is clear: Xander’s real life is already in progress and just getting through it isn’t enough.
Beyond the Red (Beyond the Red Trilogy #1)
by Ava JaeAlien queen Kora has a problem as vast as the endless crimson deserts. She's the first female ruler of her territory in generations, but her people are rioting and call for her violent younger twin brother to take the throne. Despite assassination attempts, a mounting uprising of nomadic human rebels, and pressure to find a mate to help her rule, she's determined to protect her people from her brother's would-be tyrannical rule. Eros is a rebel soldier hated by aliens and human alike for being a half-blood. Yet that doesn't stop him from defending his people, at least until Kora's soldiers raze his camp and take him captive. He's given an ultimatum: be an enslaved bodyguard to Kora, or be executed for his true identity--a secret kept even from him. When Kora and Eros are framed for the attempted assassination of her betrothed, they flee. Their only chance of survival is to turn themselves in to the high court, where revealing Eros's secret could mean a swift public execution. But when they uncover a violent plot to end the human insurgency, they must find a way to work together to prevent genocide.
Hacks for Minecrafters: Command Blocks (An Unofficial Minecrafter's guide #3)
by Megan MillerFrom the author of Hacks for Minecrafters comes the most encompassing guide ever to command blocks in the world of Minecraft! With Hacks for Minecrafters: Command Blocks, kids will learn everything they need to know about manipulating and programming command blocks within Minecraft. As well as clearly explaining the commands and how to use them, this book has tons of fun tricks and projects for making your own custom maps and mini-games. Hacks for Minecrafters: Command Blocks shows exactly how the experts wield command blocks and make fun modifications to the Minecraft world.
Hacks for Minecrafters: Redstone (An Unofficial Minecrafter's Guide #5)
by Megan MillerFrom the author of Hacks for Minecrafters comes the most encompassing guide ever to redstone in the world of Minecraft! With Hacks for Minecrafters: Redstone, kids will learn the basics of manipulating redstone to make amazing contraptions, with clear and illustrated explanations of redstone power and current, as well as how to build essential redstone logic gates, loops, and circuits. Hacks for Minecrafters: Redstone will also demonstrate exactly how to construct some classic and crazy contraptions and machines. Hacks for Minecrafters: Redstone shows exactly how the experts wield redstone power and build amazing contraptions. In Minecraft, the risk of attack is ever-present, and players need to utilize every resource available to them, especially redstone.
Divah
by Susannah AppelbaumEloise meets Rosemary's Baby in New York City’s very own Carlyle hotel.Seventeen-year-old Itzy Nash is spending the summer at the exclusive Carlyle hotel in New York City. But the hotel harbors more than the rich and privileged; it is host to a gorgeous fallen angel, reclusive movie stars, and-Itzy soon learns-demons of the worst sort. When the Queen of the Damned checks in, all Hell breaks loose. Itzy is called upon to save herself-and all of humanity-from the ravages of the Underworld. There’s only one problem: Itzy’s possessed.Part gothic thriller, part historical fiction, the novel straddles the Upper East Side and the lush trappings of the Carlyle hotel, and Paris during the Reign of Terror in 1789. Marie Antoinette is the Queen of the Damned. Marilyn Monroe is an expert demon hunter. To kill a demon, Hermès scarves, Evian water, and a guillotine are the weapons of choice.For anyone who loved Daughter of Smoke and Bone, this has an epic battle between angels and demons with a doomed love story at its core. But it’s also darkly funny, for fans of Hold Me Closer, Necromancer, and more than anything it’s something original-dark, funny, clever, and glamorous.
My Little Brony: An Unofficial Novel about Finding the Magic of Friendship
by K. M. HayesDrew Morris doesn’t just feel like an outsider in his football-crazed Texas town--he actually is. He sucks at sports, even though his dad is the high school football coach. And his supposed "teen growth spurt” has yet to be seen, so he’s sure his freshman year will be filled with seniors stuffing him in lockers. However, Drew is spared from the bullying he expects. Instead, a girl named Skye--who constantly dons horse ears and talks about My Little Pony--becomes everyone’s target. Drew feels bad for her, but he’s not about to stand up and take her place. At least not until he discovers what these My Little Ponies are all about. Babysitting his younger sister one night, Drew is forced to watch My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Much to his surprise, he finds himself actually paying attention to the show . . . and maybe even wanting to watch another episode after his sister is in bed. As school drags on, lonely and boring, he keeps sneaking episodes on his tablet until he has watched every single one. Not only that, but he’s even started drawing the ponies in his spare time. He knows if anyone finds out how much he likes the show, he’ll be a dead man walking like Skye. As it becomes harder to keep his secret while he has to watch Skye get bullied for the one thing that has made him happy all year, Drew faces some important choices. Read about Drew’s search for friends and self-acceptance in My Little Brony.
The Last Cherry Blossom
by Kathleen BurkinshawFollowing the seventieth anniversary of the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, this is a new, very personal story to join Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes.Yuriko was happy growing up in Hiroshima when it was just her and Papa. But her aunt Kimiko and her cousin Genji are living with them now, and the family is only getting bigger with talk of a double marriage! And while things are changing at home, the world beyond their doors is even more unpredictable. World War II is coming to an end, and since the Japanese newspapers don’t report lost battles, the Japanese people are not entirely certain of where Japan stands. Yuriko is used to the sirens and the air-raid drills, but things start to feel more real when the neighbors who have left to fight stop coming home. When the bombs hit Hiroshima, it’s through Yuriko’s twelve-year-old eyes that we witness the devastation and horror.This is a story that offers young readers insight into how children lived during the war, while also introducing them to Japanese culture. Based loosely on author Kathleen Burkinshaw’s mother’s firsthand experience surviving the atomic bombing of Hiroshima, The Last Cherry Blossom hopes to warn readers of the immense damage nuclear war can bring, while reminding them that the "enemy” in any war is often not so different from ourselves.
The Friendship War
by Andrew ClementsStickers, Silly Bandz, Rainbow Looms, fidget spinners . . . buttons?! A brand-new school story about friendship and fads from the bestselling author of Frindle. <P><P>This is war. Okay--that's too dramatic. But no matter what this is called, so far I'm winning. <P><P>And it feels wonderful. <P><P>Grace and Ellie have been best friends since second grade. Ellie's always right in the center of everything--and Grace is usually happy to be Ellie's sidekick. But what happens when everything changes? <P><P>This time it's Grace who suddenly has everyone's attention when she accidentally starts a new fad at school. It's a fad that has first her class, then her grade, and then the entire school collecting and trading and even fighting over . . . buttons?! <P><P>A fad that might also get her in major trouble and could even be the end of Grace and Ellie's friendship. Because Ellie's not used to being one-upped by anybody. There's only one thing for Grace to do. With the help of Hank--the biggest button collector in the sixth grade--she will have to figure out a way to end the fad once and for all. But once a fad starts, can it be stopped? <P><P>Andrew Clements, the beloved author of Frindle, returns with a deliciously entertaining and deeply satisfying story that will resonate with anyone who's ever been in a classroom . . . or been a kid. A fad is a tough thing to kill, but then again, so is a friendship.