Middle Grade Books for 9–12 Year Olds

987 middle grade books for 9–12 year olds, sorted by rating — page 3 of 10.

Daniel Stones Adventures by P.J. Moth

P.J. Moth

P.J. Moth re-tells the story of Daniel Stone's adventures through this new illustrated picture book. Grandma Josephine tells Daniel Stone about the magical scarves and uses his own magical scarf to save his friends.

Daniel X The Manga, Vol. 3 (Daniel X The Manga, 3) by James Patterson

James Patterson

Daniel X's hunt to eliminate each and every intergalactic criminal on Earth is relentless, but this time, things are getting personal. Number three on the List of Alien Outlaws takes the form of raging fire - and fire reminds Daniel of the most traumatic event of his life, the horrifying murder of h

DARK PYRAMID

Genre

This gripping middle-grade adventure plunges readers into a shadowy world of ancient Egyptian curses and supernatural threats, where a group of young explorers must decipher hieroglyphic clues to sur...

DARK RENAISSANCE

dint of brains and energy, moved to Cambridge, where he distinguished himself in Latin learning, found himself recruited into a network of intelligence officers for Queen Elizabeth, and then, at age 29, was mysteriously murdered in a bar fight. At the heart of Greenblatt’s book, though, is not just a familiar story but a new argument: that it was really Marlowe, rather than Shakespeare, who lit the flame under the literary Renaissance of Elizabethan England and, furthermore, that it was Marlowe’s brilliant schooling (rather than any lived experience) that fed his verbal imagination. Acting and action were everywhere in Marlowe’s world, and Greenblatt implies that it was his work as a spy that gave him an added sense of what it meant to perform. Marlowe “entered a world in which virtually everyone was in disguise, and it was fantastically difficult to know whom to trust. These professional role\u002Dplayers, operatives supremely gifted at inspiring confidence, whispered what one most hoped to hear and made one want to relax, open up, and reveal the truth.” Greenblatt is describing the world of Elizabethan espionage, but he could well be talking about the power of the theater to make us open up, relax, and reveal the truth. In the end, Marlowe “made it possible to write in a new way about violence, ambition, greed, and desire. He offered poetic liberation.” In his hands, “the expressive power of the English language took a great leap forward.” In Greenblatt’s hands, literary scholarship, too, has taken a great leap forward."

This gripping historical fantasy plunges readers into a shadowy alternate Europe where alchemy works, forbidden knowledge lurks in forgotten libraries, and the great artists of the era wield powers f...

DARK SQUARES

chess but by alcohol and drugs. Rensch detours regularly to deliver a history of chess and the contemporary game largely controlled (i.e., financed) by the USSR until the 1990s, when even celebrity grandmasters barely earned travel expenses. Then came computers, the internet, and more media attention, which produced bigger prizes, plus the rise of cell phones, which facilitated cheating. Readers will sympathize with the author’s struggles but likely perk up when in 2008 he encounters two entrepreneurs operating an early internet chess site whose knowledge of serious competitive chess remained at the amateur level. He persuaded them to add features, programs, competitions, and the technology that ultimately promoted chess.com to its dominant position. During these years, the author writes of victories in his personal life, too, overcoming marital problems and escaping the influence of the cult."

This gripping psychological thriller plunges readers into a world where a seemingly innocent online game called "Dark Squares" begins to manipulate reality itself, blurring the lines between digital ...

Darkened Sea (Ocean Balance Book 2)

Jacy Cook

Our oceans face levels of devastation previously unknown in human history--from pollution, from overfishing, and through damage to delicate aquatic ecosystems affected by global warming. Ocean biodiversity is being decimated on par with the fastest rates of rain forest destruction. More than 80 per

DAYBREAK

Cog’s inhaling his homemade cornets, Marcus offers to make them lunch the next day—and soon, he’s making them lunch every Thursday. The two start spending more time together. Clueless about Marcus’ interest, candid, sincere Cog inadvertently stokes his affection. Cog’s best friend, Toma, however, is not so clueless and encourages Cog to set a firm boundary. But it turns out that Cog doesn’t really mind Marcus’ attention. This slice\u002Dof\u002Dlife rom\u002Dcom explores the feeling of being in the throes of a first crush. The fun, colorful, and dynamic artistic style suits the lighthearted vibe. However, the plot consists of a series of cute, loosely connected moments, resulting in underdeveloped characters and thin worldbuilding\u003B the latter is exemplified by the book’s unclear setting. The Black\u002Dpresenting leads are surrounded by a racially diverse cast at a school that has Japanese influences, but without a cultural anchor, some of the characters’ behavior and reactions feel unclear. Rather than the characters themselves driving the narrative, the need to maintain the tension of their unrevealed feelings is central, making the story sometimes feels contrived. Nevertheless, those seeking a straightforward, queer cotton\u002Dcandy romance likely won’t mind. Readers familiar with manga iconography will notice clues to the leads’ feelings."

This powerful young adult novel follows a diverse group of teens navigating the complexities of identity, friendship, and self-discovery during a transformative summer experience. The narrative weave...

DAYBREAKER

Sousa’s rich, luminous colors, beautifully showcase the Philippines’ diverse landscapes as well as various cultural elements. Inspired by Filipino mythology and folklore, Tadiar incorporates Baybayin, a centuries\u002Dold Filipino script, and the culture of the Indigenous peoples who live in the mountains."

This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into a world divided between eternal day and endless night, where a young apprentice must harness forbidden magic to prevent a celestial cataclysm. The narrati...

DC Comics Secret Hero Society Series

Derek Fridolfs

This charming graphic novel series imagines DC's iconic superheroes as middle school students navigating the challenges of homework, friendship, and early crime-fighting at a mysterious academy for g...

DEAD CENTER

Genre

This gripping thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of a teenage forensic investigator who becomes the prime suspect in a murder she's trying to solve. When a body is discovered at the ...

DEADWOOD

Genre

This gritty western thriller plunges readers into the lawless world of a 19th-century mining town where survival depends on quick wits and faster triggers. Genre masterfully captures the raw atmosphe...

DEALING WITH THE DEAD

thrilling, one-of-a-kind encounters." />

This gripping collection of paranormal encounters delivers exactly what its title promises—unforgettable stories of brushes with the afterlife that will captivate young readers fascinated by ghost st...

DEAR JACKIE

typing herself a fake love letter on Jabari’s old typewriter—but her scheme causes more problems than it solves. With lively, expressive art and the creative use of typewritten narration boxes to reflect Jackie’s unspoken thoughts, this graphic novel captures the cringey, confusing mess of early adolescence. A diverse cast of side characters brings depth to a story that champions self\u002Dacceptance and individuality. Jackie and her family appear Black, and Milo presents East Asian."

This powerful collection of letters to baseball legend Jackie Robinson offers young readers a unique window into his enduring legacy and the profound impact he had on American society. Through heartf...

DEATH AT A HIGHLAND WEDDING

the boorish Austrian gamekeeper and his mantraps, which, to Mallory’s fury, have wounded a Scottish wildcat and killed its mother. During a walk, Mallory, Gray, and McCreadie find part of a butchered deer and then the body of Cranston’s friend Ezra Sinclair wearing Cranston’s coat. When the inexperienced and opinionated local constable arrests Cranston, the investigative trio intervene. Was Sinclair or Cranston the target for murder? And is the killer a disgruntled local or one of their own friends?"

When a wedding guest turns up dead at a lavish Scottish estate, the picturesque celebration transforms into a high-stakes investigation where ancient clan rivalries and buried secrets refuse to stay ...

DEATH OF A POP STAR

Genre

This gritty YA thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of fame, following the shocking murder of a beloved pop icon and the dark secrets that surface in its wake. The narrative masterfull...

DEATH TO ORDER

the CIA and other American intelligence agencies and, more recently, Vladimir Putin’s use of assassination to silence his political opponents."

This gritty thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes world of covert operations and moral ambiguity, where a shadowy organization offers assassination services to the highest bidder. The narrative...

Death, Loss, and Grief in Literature for Youth A Selective Annotated

Alice Crosetto

All human beings encounter loss and death, as well as the grief associated with these experiences. It is therefore important for children and adolescents to understand that such events are inevitable and to learn how to accept loss and cope with their emotions. In order to help children through thei

DEEPWATER CREEK

Genre

A gripping survival story unfolds when a group of teenagers on a camping trip find their idyllic weekend shattered by a catastrophic flash flood, forcing them to rely on their wits and each other to ...

Delaware at Christmas

DuPont and other local employers, and ubiquitous “Christmas in July” sales among stores in coastal towns.The book’s nostalgic style may not appeal to more academically minded readers, but its upbeat, inclusive approach reflects the holiday season at its joyous best. A major highlight of the book is its use of full\u002Dcolor, festive illustrations and images of photos, paintings, magazine covers, and other holiday ephemera, many of which are in the public domain. Tabler has authored three other works on Delaware history, and he clearly has a firm understanding of the state’s unique place in American culture\u003B he also fruitfully draws on primary source material from more than two dozen of the state’s archives, museums, universities, and historical societies. The work’s only drawback is its oversized back matter, “Chapter Continuations,” which offers additional exposition on the topics in each chapter. This information is often diverting, but the section comprises more than a third of the book’s total length and ultimately makes for a disjointed read. Readers who are looking for a history of Scandinavian Christmas observance, for instance, will not only need to read the book’s opening chapter, but also multiple pages of additional information in the final section that’s longer than the initial chapter itself. Still, despite this editorial misstep, the book is a beautifully crafted and colorful work."

Delaware at Christmas uncovers the rich and surprising ways Delawareans have celebrated the holiday season across four centuries. From colonial-era customs brought by Swedish, Dutch, and English settlers to modern multicultural observances, this book blends history, folklore, and festive tradition i

Detective Duck The Mystery at Emerald Pond (Detective Duck #3) by Henry Winkler

Henry Winkler

From New York Times bestselling creators, Emmy Award-winning actor Henry Winkler, children's book author Lin Oliver, and Caldecott Medal-winning author-illustrator Dan Santat, comes a hysterical, full-color chapter book adventure When the Pond Squad is invited to participate in the Emerald Pond Game

DEVIL IN THE PALE MOONLIGHT

an addiction to a virtual\u002Dreality game called “the Siv,” in which players are promised a way to escape from their troubles (in reality, becoming half\u002Dvegetated slaves to the game’s economy). Enter Tomahawk “Hawk” O’Murtaugh, a construction worker who, at the novel’s outset, quickly loses both his father and his good friend Cezare in rapid succession. The back\u002Dto\u002Dback deaths send Hawk reeling into the world of the Siv, both as a distraction and as a way to understand the blight to which so many of his fellow countrymen, most notably his grandfather, are addicted. Once inside the game, Hawk discovers that his grandfather left him an inconceivably huge inheritance and was in fact one of the game’s founding designers. Determined to use his grandfather’s complicated legacy for good, Hawk sets out to liberate the masses enslaved by the game—a tall order, especially considering a ruthless serial killer is also making his way through the Siv, with his virtual victims perishing in the real world, too. Anderson’s novel deftly captures the strange anomie of living in a tech\u002Ddriven world, as described by Hawk shortly after first engaging with the Siv: “I feel like I just jumped off a diving board into a swimming pool and somehow landed in the middle of the ocean.” While the narrative is set 95 years into the future, its problems are recognizable echoes of present\u002Dday issues. There is a lot to keep track of here—from the politics, to the future tech, to the characters themselves—but the plot is snappy and likely to keep readers on Hawk’s side as he tries to rescue civilization from itself."

This supernatural thriller plunges readers into a world where ancient evil awakens in a quiet town, forcing a group of teens to confront a malevolent force that preys on their deepest fears. The atmo...

Diary of a 6th Grade Ninja by Marcus Emerson

Marcus Emerson

Age Level: 9 and up | Grade Level: 4 and upMy name is Chase Cooper, and I'm a 6th grade ninja. It's my first day at a different school and the only person I know is my cousin, Zoe (but she might be a little too cool for me). I was just another scrawny kid until a group of ninjas recruited me into th

DIARY OF A NATURE NERD

Genre

This engaging nature journal offers young readers a vibrant window into the natural world through the eyes of a curious protagonist who documents everything from backyard insects to seasonal changes....

Diary of a Wimpy Kid Box of Books 1–10 Hardcover Gift Set by Jeff Kinney

Jeff Kinney

Collects the diaries of middle-schooler Greg Heffley as he faces the challenges of school, deals with his annoying older brother, and misses the comforts and conveniences of modern life when his town voluntarily goes electronics-free.

Diary of an Almost Cool Girl - Book 1 Meet Maddi - Ooops!

B Campbell

This humorous diary-style story follows Maddi, a middle schooler navigating the treacherous waters of friendship and family while desperately trying to achieve cool status. Through her candid journal...

Dillon Hunt And The Desert Oasis Resort (Dillon Hunt Adventure' Series Book 1)

Chad Stewart

This action-packed desert adventure follows young Dillon Hunt as he uncovers a mysterious oasis resort that holds secrets far beyond its luxurious facade. Readers will be captivated by the clever puz...

Dinos Love Donuts (Mythical Feasts)

Ben Okon

Dinos love donuts. They love sprinkled donuts, glazed donuts, and any other donut you can imagine. But could their love for donuts lead to their demise? Find out for yourself! Just leave the donut hole at home, or else...

Dinosaur Bone War Cope and Marshs Fossil Feud

Elizabeth Cody Kimmel

Edward Drinker Cope was a charming man with a passion for old bones. Othniel Marsh was a stickler for procedure when he studied his fossil finds. They started as friends, sharing ideas and information, but after Marsh tried to poach Cope's digging site, they became bitter enemies. Their decades-long

Dinosaur Puzzle Book (Puzzle Books)

Kirsteen Robson

Children will be fascinated to discover fearsome facts about the biggest, fastest and deadliest dinosaurs and all kinds of other dino data as they complete the fun puzzles in this book. Packed with information, the puzzles are also designed to encourage and develop key math, language and reasoning s

Disney Manga Stitch! Best Friends Forever! by Miho Asada

Miho Asada

You know and love Stitch's Hawaiian adventures... so join your favorite alien as he visits a Japanese island near Okinawa, where he befriends a young girl named Yuna, who excels at karate. This is a diary of their adventures throughout the island.

Divorce The Ultimate Teen Guide (It Happened to Me) (Volume 41) by Kathlyn Gay

Kathlyn Gay

It has been estimated that at least half of the children in America come from families that have been affected by divorce. Of those children, more than half will see a parent's second marriage dissolve as well. The impact of divorce on teens can be devastating, adversely affecting their attitudes, b

DO ADMIT

Genre

This collection of candid author interviews and critical essays offers an unvarnished look at the literary world's inner workings, pulling back the curtain on everything from creative processes to in...

Doctopus the Pirate Octopus

Stanley Crew

Will the pirate octopus ruin Christmas? Before Sol & Vox can stop him, the evil Doctopus finds a way to mess up everything! These two young boys must find out how to defeat him while learning to live on a sailboat. Can they stop him... or will they end up in his slimy grasp? The maiden voyage of the

DODGERS TO DAMASCUS

the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1980. There are also harrowing moments, like surviving two nearly fatal poisoning attempts during his diplomatic work. The book also covers mundane events, such as the subject’s early childhood and his interactions with students as a beloved professor. The author of seven biographies, Cooke approaches the subject with a warmth that borders on fawning (she describes Lesch as “a ‘nice guy’ whose moral compass gives me hope for humankind”). And while at times hagiographic, this biography is backed by solid research, including a scholarly bibliography and interviews with more than a dozen individuals associated with Lesch, from family friends to academics, students, and diplomats. Its engaging narrative is complemented by full\u002Dcolor photographs, maps, and newspaper clippings."

This gripping memoir traces one man's extraordinary journey from professional baseball player to Christian missionary, chronicling his spiritual awakening and dramatic career shift with raw honesty. ...

Dog Man A Tale of Two Kitties A Graphic Novel

Dav Pilkey

"Canine cop Dog Man is back, and he's about to be bested by the world's most conniving cat crook!"--

Dog Stars Three Luminaries in the Dog World (Classic Reprint)

Mrs. T. P. O'connor

Excerpt from Dog Stars Three Luminaries in the Dog World He does not change when beauty flees, nor when poverty comes, nor when health goes. He gives his heart, his true and single heart to his mistress forever. She may be Old and gray, with furrowed face, but he sees the pilgrim soul in her. He cann

DOOMSTAR (The Lost Space Treasure, Book 5) A Space Adventure

Rae Knightly

MEGASTAR thrusts a young girl into an epic hunt to uncover the greatest treasure in the galaxy. A thrilling space opera adventure for middle-graders.

Dork Diaries Books 10-12

Rachel Renée Russell

Get your dork on with the ultimate Dork Diaries boxed set! This collection contains ten through twelve in the wildly popular New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling Dork Diaries series! Books ten, eleven, and twelve in the wildly popular New York Times, USA TODAY, and Publishers Weekly bestselling

Down with Lime Books! A Story About Book Banning

Jan Zauzmer

An allegorical picture book about the very real dangers of book banning Paige and her pals picked out teal books and red books and plum books and more--so many they spilled from the shelves to the floor. . . . But not everyone thought that this rainbow was grand--some wanted lime-colored books to be

DR. BOT

skill, experience, and science, too often others suffer because of doctors’ shortcomings. Many are turning to artificial intelligence to supplement human judgment in medicine, but some in the medical community dismiss AI assistance outright. Replacing the physician with a medical robot would be a mistake equal to banishing AI from the exam room altogether, says Blease. “Today,” the author writes, “substantial research supports the observation that experts can be unreasonably biased against algorithms, favoring their own (sometimes flawed) human decision\u002Dmaking instead. This kind of apathy is referred to as ‘algorithmic aversion.’” Blease is cognizant that both AI and MDs have weaknesses, yet both have skills that, if brought together, would benefit patients. That’s the hope. Blease warns against naively trusting the technology\u003B AI can make blunders. As tests and trials demonstrate, though, advanced AI can be a valuable medical technology. (According to a Pew Research survey, four in 10 Americans, Blease writes, “would feel comfortable if their provider ‘relied on AI for their medical care.’”) The mix of AI and medicine won’t replace the human doctor but can produce what Blease notes is “extended cognition: that our thinking isn’t confined to our brains but extends to the tools and environment around us.” The result: better care, and lives saved."

This middle-grade novel offers a timely exploration of artificial intelligence and friendship, following a young protagonist whose life is upended when a sophisticated AI companion enters their world...

DRACULA'S BRUNCH CLUB

the towering, glowering vampire Constantine, who’s banned people. Worse, Dracula’s entire store of “the crimson\u002Dred, blood orange jelly all vampires crave” has been raided. Local farmers have no blood oranges—a blight has destroyed the crops. This proves disastrous even as Dracula tries to regain his brunch\u002Dhosting ground—kale is no substitute for delicious, energizing fruit jelly. The shortage also jeopardizes his standing with his crush, the human Elena, since he’s promised to donate a year’s supply of jelly donuts to her charity auction to help sick children. Something must be done—and it might just involve blood. After all, Count Dracula is a vampire. This book will greatly appeal to young readers looking for comics with a little edge: The gore is mild and cartoon\u002Dsilly, and there are plenty of jokes to lighten the mood. The story moves at a measured pace, and the fun, kid\u002Dfriendly artwork adds depth to the narrative. Gaybba’s color palette predominantly contains cool, moody tones that make the occasional spots of red—mostly jelly and blood—pop. Human and vampire characters have skin in varying shades of blue and purple."

This clever twist on vampire lore follows a group of young monsters who would rather host a trendy brunch than hunt for their next meal, serving up a story that is equal parts spooky and sweet. The n...

Dragon Girls Series Complete 16 Books Set, Books #1 - #16

Maddy Mara

This enchanting fantasy series follows a group of ordinary girls who discover they can transform into magical dragons, whisking readers away to a world where friendship and courage unlock extraordina...

Dragons Future (Dragon Courage Book 1)

Kandi J Wyatt

Every child of Woolpren dreams of becoming one, but only a few are chosen. Now, ten-year- old twin brother and sister, Ruskya and Duskya, have been selected to join an elite group of riders: dragon riders. Full of awe and excitement, the twins leave their mother, and their home, to train for their n

DREAM ON

winning a contest." />

This compelling novel explores the powerful intersection of ambition and reality when a teenager's life is transformed by an unexpected contest victory. The narrative delves deep into the emotional w...

Drums, Girls, and Dangerous Pie

Jordan Sonnenblick

Includes author's notes and interview with the author.

DUCK AND CAT RIDE THE RIVERBOAT

Genre

This charming early reader adventure follows two animal friends as they embark on an exciting riverboat journey, offering young children a gentle introduction to transportation themes and friendship ...

DUCKY THE SPY

Genre

This clever picture book introduces a feathered secret agent who must use all his spycraft skills to protect the farm from a cunning fox. Young readers will delight in following Ducky's covert operat...

EDGAR ALLAN POE

Leland, who leads a Poe walking tour of Providence, Rhode Island, offers a basic introduction to the beloved author’s life and work. Complete with bullet points and sidebars, it writes a biography for the PowerPoint generation. It would be best for middle schoolers who have heard of Poe but need to know more. We get the basic outlines of his life, the list of works, and guides to further reading. Interrupting the flow of narrative are sections titled “The More You Know.” These are little paragraphs, in different type and different color, that offer tidbits of history. Did Poe believe in God? A paragraph raises the question, offers a few tantalizing details (a phrase, a personal letter, an aside), and then concludes: “Like many facets of Poe’s life, it may never be known exactly where he stood on spiritual or religious matters. His love of hoaxes, satire, controversy, and sensationalism often concealed his true beliefs.” Interspersed among these comments are the texts of Poe’s poems, printed in a font that looks like that of an old manual typewriter. The literary criticism goes only so deep: “Poe’s ‘Annabel Lee’ is a masterpiece of gothic romanticism. The poem delves into Poe’s usual themes of love, loss, and grief, describing a childhood love that transcends time and even death.” The best parts of the book retell the last months of Poe’s life—his nuttiness, his drinking, and his strange love affair with death itself."

This concise biography brings the haunting world of Edgar Allan Poe to life, tracing his mysterious literary career from his early struggles to his enduring legacy as the master of macabre fiction. Y...

Egghead Book 5 (The Aldo Zelnick Comic Novel Series)

Karla Oceanak

This fifth installment in the illustrated comic novel series continues the hilarious misadventures of its brainy protagonist, blending laugh-out-loud middle school humor with surprisingly heartfelt m...

El lobo de Leo (Leos Lobo Spanish Edition)

Melissa Cristina Márquez

This Spanish-language chapter book delivers an engaging wildlife adventure that follows a young boy's fascination with the misunderstood lobo, or Mexican wolf, weaving important conservation themes i...

ELECTRIC TITAN

scientists who have covertly witnessed her unusual skills who want to see if they can be leveraged to fend off the meteor. By novel’s end, despite some setbacks and a heartbreaking loss, Rosa ends up transforming herself and her world.Reardon, who shares in his “About the Author” note that he is “a brain tumor survivor since the age of 8, and handicapped since the age of 10,” offers insightful commentary and perspectives about disability through the journey of his teen protagonist. Readers learn about Rosa’s post\u002Daccident suicide attempt, frustration with and empathy for her ableist parents (“Hopefully, they would evolve. My new life was new for them, too”), and eventual epiphany that “Being in a hoverchair is only part of who you are. Once you realize that, no meteor could ever stop you.” This last comment is made by an astral temple deity in one of the goddess sequences—these scenes are an element of the book that can get somewhat esoteric. (Another goddess, for example, remarks that Rosa is “the one who will bring neo\u002Dcollectivism to Titan.”) Nevertheless, these conversations showcase Rosa’s intelligence and psychological makeup (supportive, strong Cordelia, a lovely secondary character, astutely suggests that “The goddesses come from your subconscious, right?”). The nonchronological structure of the narrative is at times frustrating\u003B some of the flashback chapters are not as compelling as the looming present\u002Dday threat. The way in which Rosa came to be in the apparently now\u002Dnovel (on Titan) circumstance of being disabled is also withheld until late in the novel and then explained rather hazily (the injury at Convalor is left murky, with the medical operation afterward seemingly responsible for the hoverchair issue). Still, Reardon creates a fascinating future world in which Rosa must draw on some “old” tech to save the day, and her mother, an “animac,” contemplates the disquieting knowledge that her battery life will outlast the lifespan of Rosa’s father."

This action-packed science fiction adventure plunges readers into a world where humanity's last hope rests on the shoulders of a reluctant hero powered by lightning. The narrative crackles with energ...

ELEVATOR PEOPLE

Earth’s alarmingly unstable human population. On Earth itself, a group of guests are gathered at Baltimore’s Zelles Hotel for a charity event. Eight of these guests—trust fund babies Angus and Keiko, wacky ex\u002Dmilitary man Carl, resourceful Kara, Buddhist Ellen, smart young former honor student Bernie, food bank volunteer Bailey, and bland and reliable Roger—find themselves trapped on an elevator that mysteriously takes them not to a floor of the hotel but a century into the future, where they quickly learn a few things. First, their disappearance is well\u002Dknown to history, which has dubbed them the Charity Eight. Second, lots of people disappeared from elevators in 2025 and are now reappearing in 2125. And third, people in 2125 aren’t happy about that fact—they dub the time\u002Ddisplaced new arrivals terrorist aliens and subject known “vates” to random mob violence. The elevator that deposited the Charity Eight in the future also promised to return them to their own time in two weeks, meaning they somehow have to survive that long. But if the Council has its way, will Earth be doomed? It’s an energetic setup, and Laws largely fulfills the premise’s promise of intrigue and deadpan comedy. There’s some lazy writing (characters “hightail it” or are “thrust into the hot seat”), but the novel’s sharp dialogue and winning cast of contrasting characters more than compensates. The Charity Eight are a terrifically engaging mixed bag of personality traits, which makes for richly entertaining reading as their trials demand all their adaptability."

This clever concept book transforms the mundane act of elevator travel into a vibrant, character-driven guessing game for young readers. Each floor stop introduces a new, distinct personality, from a...

Eleven by Tom Rogers

Tom Rogers

"Alex Douglas always wanted to be a hero. But nothing heroic ever happened to Alex. Nothing, that is, until his eleventh birthday [which fell on September 11, 2001]. Then everything changed"--P. [4] of cover.

Elizabeth’s Legacy A Children’s Fantasy Adventure That Will Keep'

Victor Kloss

This middle-grade fantasy novel launches readers into a world where modern England intersects with a hidden magical society, following a young protagonist who discovers his family's secret legacy wit...

Embracing Diversity Paige Learns About Her Southeast Asian Background

Finh Saechao

What are the stories Southeast Asians carry from the Mekong to the Mississippi? In Minnesota's first Southeast Asian-authored anthology of stories, poetry and artwork, the Southeast Asian diaspora storytelling (SEADS) initiative aims to reclaim, honor and amplify the lived experiences of veterans, m

ENGINES OF WAR

master-class worldbuilding, the third volume of Ford’s Age of Uprising trilogy concludes an epic fantasy narrative chronicling an empire torn apart by war." />

This action-packed military science fiction novel plunges readers into the heart of interstellar conflict, where young pilots and mechanized warriors clash in epic battles for survival. The narrative...

ENTANGLED TONGUES

the time of King Henry V, English had re\u002Demerged (per Kisch, Henry V was “probably the first king to speak and write English with ease”). In the years between 1066 and 1200, “about 900 words moved from French into English.” The author goes on to explain how different words from different backgrounds have survived, and how words have changed (house comes from the German haus, while mansion comes from the French maison). Then, there are additional considerations that often baffle those learning English, such as the language’s seemingly strange rules of spelling and grammar. A lot of information is condensed into fewer than 200 pages. Chapters progress in a conversational style\u003B the reader is often addressed directly, as in this consideration of the Norman conquest: “Your life will never be the same again and your language may never be the same, either. This is what happened to the English people in 1066.” As hundreds of years of English history are rushed through, the book has many fascinating points to make. (For example, Shakespeare used “not only French words, but also French sentence structures which sound odd to an English ear.”) All told, the book offers readers different ways of looking at what they say."

This engaging exploration of English language history traces how French and German influences shaped modern vocabulary, from the Norman Conquest's impact to Shakespeare's creative adaptations. Reader...

EQUALITY IS A STRUGGLE

taxing the wealthiest in a clear and significant way.” So writes Piketty, who has made a distinguished career of explicating the whys and wherefores of inequality and its multiple causes. Much of Piketty’s writing here digs into that project, and it’s a credit to Le Monde’s readership that they’re not afraid of tables and hard data. Yet Piketty also writes with admirable clarity about several ideas that are key to his extended argument—and, in at least a sense, these columns forge a single argument in favor of democratic socialism. He observes, in that regard, that the unprecedented prosperity of the 20th century came about precisely because the “hyperconcentration of ownership and class privileges that characterized European societies before 1914” had been broken, with massive investments in human capital and decommodification of the social marketplace. Given the rise of Trumpism and its congeners worldwide, Piketty counters that those values should be restored, and by nobody better than the European states that showed the way in the first place, emphasizing “parliamentary democracy, the social state, and investment in the future.” Voilà: We come full circle to taxing the rich in order to fund health care, education, welfare, and states that observe “the rule of law and democratic pluralism.” Admittedly, Piketty writes, those states are mostly European, whose social economy is far ahead of that of the U.S. There’s some inside baseball—or perhaps soccer—here in Piketty’s essays on and against the Macron government and like causes, but most of these pieces will be intelligible to American readers without much background in contemporary French politics."

This powerful examination of social justice movements delivers an unflinching look at the ongoing fight for civil rights and human dignity across generations. Through compelling historical analysis a...

Ernest and Rebecca #3 Grandpa Bug

Guillaume Bianco

Rebecca is a vivacious 61⁄2 year-old girl whose best friend happens to be a germ named Ernest. He's not only Rebecca's best friend — he's also her partner in mischief, adventure companion, and confidant. In this third volume of the award-winning series, Rebecca and her older sister Coralie are sent

ESSENTIAL SOLDIERS

liberation struggles around the globe. Based on the principle of Kawaida, an African tradition of communitarianism and self\u002Ddetermination, more than 20 groups flourished in urban centers, from Bedford Stuyvesant in Brooklyn to the Crenshaw district of Los Angeles. By uplifting Black culture and fighting racial oppression, the diverse groups focused on strengthening the community. Women were the backbone of these efforts. In food deserts, they started cooperatives providing fresh, nutritious groceries. Where public schools failed Black children, they taught academics alongside cultural pride. They were involved in producing the Black News, which reached a circulation of 50,000, and helping in broader political campaigns, including voter registration and economic boycotts. A basic principle of Kawaida was complementarity, which enforced gender roles identifying males as leaders and women as followers. Highlighting female activists who challenged this sexist formulation, like Amina Baraka and Tayari kwa Salaam, McCray traces the evolution of women’s thinking and practices, including the founding of their own organizations, like the Black Women’s United Front, which focused on domestic violence, rape, reproductive rights, and equal pay. They transformed both themselves and the movement."

This gripping military history explores the unsung heroes who form the backbone of every successful army, from ancient supply train organizers to modern logistics specialists. The narrative vividly d...

ETERNALLY ELECTRIC

her “ballbuster” mother\u002Dturned\u002Dmanager. Her early fame came at a cost to her mental health, she writes, leading to a string of anxiety attacks: “If anyone out there has experienced them, you’ll know what it’s like: you literally think you are dying, unsure where your next breath is coming from.” Gibson writes candidly about her health struggles—she also has Lyme disease—as well as her fraught relationship with her mother, who once said (perhaps jokingly, but revealingly), “My worst nightmare has come true. She has become her own person.” Gibson’s later career saw her appearing on The Celebrity Apprentice and in films such as Mega Shark Versus Giant Octopus—perhaps not the life she had envisioned, but, as she writes, “I love that, though the world has kicked my arse a bit, I’m not bitter.” The writing here is bubbly if unexceptional, and structurally, it’s a by\u002Dthe\u002Dnumbers celebrity memoir, complete with motivational aphorisms and occasional non sequiturs (“I think Mozart would approve of Chappell Roan’s “Pink Pony Club”). This is strictly for Gibson’s fans, but they’ll find it a treat."

This high-voltage adventure plunges readers into a world where the very energy that powers our cities is also the source of life for a hidden society. When a teenage protagonist discovers they can ma...

Everything You Need to Ace Science in One Big Fat Notebook

Workman Publishing

It’s the revolutionary science study guide just for middle school students from the brains behind Brain Quest. Everything You Need to Ace Science . . . takes readers from scientific investigation and the engineering design process to the Periodic Table; forces and motion; forms of energy; outer spac

EVIL-ISH

Genre

This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into a morally complex world where the line between hero and villain is deliciously blurred, following a protagonist who discovers that sometimes saving the wo...

EXILES

Genre

This gripping young adult novel follows three teens unexpectedly transported to a mysterious realm where survival depends on their wits and willingness to trust one another. The narrative masterfully...

EXTRACTION

President Biden’s increased investment in the process. The balance of forces—between public and private, resource nationalism and environmentalism, rich and poor countries—remains fragile."

This pulse-pounding science fiction thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes rescue mission on a hostile alien world, where a team of elite soldiers must extract a brilliant scientist from a quara...

EXTREMITY

the roads not taken. An SF novella about the ultrawealthy and their clones could reasonably be assumed to be in conversation with Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, but Extremity as a title is a bit of a red herring. It’s not about the clones being extensions of their prime selves, but rather about humanity reaching too far in its greed and Earth ultimately paying the price. The narrative framework is engaging but underused as the three stories basically line up, failing to generate sufficient tension about the evening’s outcome. While Binge’s longer works like Ascension are stunning in their scope, this tonally uneven adventure stumbles before it really gets started."

This gritty graphic novel plunges readers into a brutal, post-apocalyptic world where survival hinges on prosthetic augmentation and sheer will. The story follows a young scavenger navigating treache...

EYE IN THE BLUE BOX

Genre

This innovative visual puzzle book challenges young readers to spot the single blue square hidden within each vibrant, complex spread, training the eye to find patterns amid chaos. Each page presents...

F*CK THIS MURDER

numerous disasters over the course of a week, including food poisoning and poison ivy, aggressive yellowjackets, and the discovery of a severed human leg, among other things. In the midst of all this, Maggie—who once underwent fertility treatments—is nervous but hopeful that she may be pregnant, due to an ill\u002Dadvised hookup with her cheating, soon\u002Dto\u002Dbe\u002Dex\u002Dhusband, Lance. He tries to lure her back to Minnesota, as does a promotion\u002Doffering former employer. Maggie’s also anxious about seeing Alice, her former high school girlfriend, whom she betrayed by sleeping with Lance some 14 years ago. There’s also a blackmail plot, related to a tragic event that occurred during Maggie’s high school days. This colorful, spiraling whodunit effectively combines suspense with tongue\u002Din\u002Dcheek absurdity\u003B chapter titles include “Scooby Do or Die” and “What’s a Body Part Between Friends?,” and there are nods to both the 1997 horror film I Know What You Did Last Summer and the TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Readers may find that keeping track of this book’s large squad of characters is challenging, but they’re a believable and attractively diverse bunch of potential suspects. Ultimately, though, this novel has a sweetness to it, with Maggie and her former antagonists coming together in common cause."

This raw, unfiltered chronicle documents a week of escalating personal catastrophes that begins with food poisoning and spirals into increasingly absurd miseries. The narrative voice captures the vis...

FAILURE TO TREAT

people who have no idea what being a doctor really means” and is consequently in danger of “falling from its lofty place in our society to a job on the assembly line, widgets replaced by patients.” Kowey illustrates these failings with a series of stories about the problems encountered by patients experiencing the whole range of medical treatment, from unexpected ER visits to extended care for prolonged conditions. Each history is presented in great detail, followed by a “Case Explanation” and a “Conclusion” in which the author pinpoints the cause of the problems and offers some potential solutions. Readers learn about a Mrs. Lynch, for instance, who began experiencing an irregular, racing heartbeat and underwent an ablation to cauterize the arrhythmic area. But her atrial fibrillation continued, perhaps prolonged by the ablation itself, and Kowey contends that, given her otherwise young and healthy state, the ablation was “inappropriate.” In the case of 75\u002Dyear\u002Dold Mrs. Lopez, the issues are more interpersonal than medical: The hospital staff is coldly indifferent, her discharge is likely early, and the hospital’s “patient experience specialist” seems more concerned with a good rating than anything else. “It is maddening,” the author writes, “that hospital leaders have chosen to spend money foolishly on administrative salaries, worthless marketing, failed initiatives, and ancillary services that bring little value to the routine care of hospitalized patients.” As the percentage of the U.S. population that can afford health care of any kind rapidly shrinks, readers will find these stories of miscommunication and administrative bloat recognizable, and the author’s professional experience gives them extra heft."

This gripping medical thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of emergency medicine, where split-second decisions determine life or death. The narrative follows dedicated healthcare profe...

Faith in the Flames (AIO Imagination Station Books) by Marianne Hering

Marianne Hering

Over 1 Million Sold in the Series! When kids step into the Imagination Station, they travel back in time and across the world with cousins Patrick and Beth. Each book is historically accurate, and readers will grow in their faith and knowledge of history as they race through each memorable story. Pa

FALLING ANGELS

Fisher, in the U.S. Freelance operative Torashi Kage, whom a senator has assigned to track down the virus, embarks on a personal vendetta against Maxx—and because Kage doesn’t know where Maxx is, he first goes after Gabby. Thomas caters this finale to readers familiar with the previous series installments. Exhilarating action opens the narrative, with multiple groups of people engaged in combat, rushing somewhere, or scheming to take someone out. Despite the series title featuring Maxx’s name, this is definitely an ensemble cast—the spotlight is shared among many characters, from Dr. Xi and Mr. Green to Maxx’s ever\u002Dreliable military friends Andres Sandoval and Glen Piper. An unexpected standout is one particular villain who struggles with an all\u002Dtoo\u002Drelatable emotional issue\u003B she’s involved in a sinister plan on a global scale but has difficulty overcoming her jealousy, feeling “second best” to the scientist who’s aligned with the man she loves. Maxx makes for a terrific hero and helps to protect Earth, but so do many other characters. The Others, at least in this installment, are mostly an ominous presence—they’re often voiced via the cube, and there’s not much beyond a hint of their specific biology. This doesn’t make them any less daunting, as there seems to be no question that they have the power to devastate the entire planet. The dialogue throughout is rife with cliches (“We’re playing with fire”\u003B “he’s already got one foot in the grave”), but it’s action that truly drives this story, and the author dishes it out in spades."

This powerful coming-of-age novel explores the complex friendship between two girls from vastly different backgrounds in 1970s England, set against the backdrop of Queen Victoria's funeral. Through a...

FAMILY SPIRIT

Luda. Nona’s story then swerves from Lorna and Ayana to Ayana’s Aunt Lil, granddaughter of powerful Mace matriarch GG. As a young woman in the 1970s, Lil was banished from family meetings because she revealed the gift of Knowing to an outsider in her bid to build a career in media (she starts with an appearance on the era’s real\u002Dlife Philadelphia hit, The Mike Douglas Show). Lil’s section sparkles with authenticity, as does a section about Ayana when she’s 22, torn between easy delights with two very different men and buckling down in her undergraduate studies. As Ayana wavers, Aunt Lil returns to Philadelphia. She has a personal reason for this visit, and a Knowing of her own that leads to her reconciliation with the family. As Nona builds the story of the Mace women, she also makes some choices—but it’s difficult to understand what links her actions with those of her characters. Is the titular spirit affecting her? Is she also related to the Mace family? It isn’t clear, and even a tiny glimmer of her ties to them might have held the book together the way Luda’s cherished pearl secures Lil’s long\u002Dabandoned ceremonial gown."

This compelling coming-of-age novel explores the complex bonds of family through the eyes of a teenager navigating cultural identity and generational expectations. The story delves into the spiritual...

Far Out Fairy Tales by Powell

Powell

What do you get when classic fairy tales are twisted around, turned inside out, and reworked for the graphic novel format? Far Out Fairy Tales! Discover what Snow White would be like if she were raised by robots. Find out how Cinderella's story plays out when she walks the path of the ninja. Chase d

Farm Animals How to Draw Farm Animals, Drawing Book for Children

Amit Offir

How to draw dog, rabbit, chicken, sheep, cow and other farm animals how to draw farm animals and other things in the farm step by step. this farm book will teach you how to draw farm animals, characters and other cool stuff. if you are looking for a great activity for the kids this book is the best

Farm Animals How to Draw Farm Animals, Drawing Book for Children

ZIPIT

Young artists learn to draw by following 8 simple step illustrations. Perfect for children who are learning to draw. ★ Simple step-by-step instructions ★ Filled with cute cows, horses, ducks, roosters and many more farm animals! ★ Single sided printing to prevent bleed through ★ Extra pages to pract

FASTER

Genre

This high-octane thriller delivers relentless pacing and heart-pounding action sequences that will keep young adult readers glued to the pages. The story follows a teenage protagonist caught in a dan...

Fate: The Winx Saga Vol. 2

a former comrade in Cuartero-Briggs’ YA graphic novel, one in a series." />

This second volume of the Fate: The Winx Saga graphic novel series plunges readers deeper into the magical world of Alfea, where Bloom and her fairy friends confront escalating threats that test thei...

Fifteen Feet of Time

Philipp Winterberg

This imaginative picture book explores the magical concept of time through the adventures of two friends who discover exactly fifteen feet of time to share. When Benjamin receives this unusual gift, ...

FIGHTER

boxing. Lee, an Irish southpaw, melds revealing set pieces about life as an “outsider” with a rich account of his rough route to the middleweight championship. His itinerant boyhood was shaped by the “special closeness to gypsy life.” His family was among a group that lived in “trailers and caravans,” traveled “in convoy” and prohibited marriages to “non\u002DGypsies. Gorgeys, we call them.” At school, classmates sang a parody of his peripatetic lifestyle. He learned to fight by taking beatings from his older brothers, already skilled boxers. Relatably, Lee realizes that he chose his profession in part because he didn’t want to disappoint loved ones. Yet being “pushed to the fringes of society” equipped him with an invaluable trait—“raw toughness.” A stellar amateur career won the attention of Emanuel Steward, a decorated American trainer who began schooling Lee at the famed Kronk Gym in Detroit. As “the white kid in a black city,” he was lonely. He read Viktor Frankl’s Man’s Search for Meaning, discovering the Holocaust survivor’s “theory of ‘Sunday neurosis’: that feeling of emptiness that people get when their hectic life slows down at the weekend. That’s me.” Lee is excellent on boxing preparation and technique. As an amateur, he won by counterpunching, but pro fighting rewards “viciousness.” A Steward disciple teaches him the “Suzie Q,” a technique meant to get an opponent leaning before you “dress him up”—flatten him. Prefight weigh\u002Dins prove easy to manipulate. He sits in saunas before getting on the scale, then chows down, his weight fluctuating by 10 pounds within hours. The book’s one clear flaw—a penchant for hackneyed philosophizing about the nature of combat—only shows up a couple of times."

This powerful narrative delivers an unflinching look at the world of competitive fighting, following a young protagonist's journey through grueling training, personal sacrifice, and the complex psych...

FIGHTING BULLIES

Genre

This powerful guide tackles the difficult reality of school bullying with direct, actionable advice for young readers navigating these challenging social dynamics. The book provides clear strategies ...

FINDERS

Genre

This gripping mystery novel plunges readers into a high-stakes treasure hunt where ancient artifacts hold the key to unraveling a family's hidden legacy. When a teenager discovers a cryptic map among...

Finding Home (A Baxter Family Children Story)

Karen Kingsbury

Now an original series on Prime Video Much-loved storyteller Karen Kingsbury’s Baxter Family books have captured the hearts of tens of millions of readers who have come to think of the Baxter family as their own. Now Karen Kingsbury and her son Tyler Russell inspire and entertain young readers by go

Finn The Foxs Silly Dreams A Magical Adventure About Imagination

Tremayne Mitchell

Take an adventure through the imagination of Lana, a little girl whose dreams are often filled with scary things, until her grandmother helps change the scary into silly dreams she could have instead. Together Lana and her grandmother come up with some great imaginary animals, laugh at their ideas,

FIRST KISS WITH FANGS

fangs." />

This paranormal romance delivers a fresh take on first love with its compelling blend of supernatural tension and authentic teenage emotions, following a human protagonist's unexpected connection wit...

Fish in a Tree

Lynda Mullaly Hunt

A New York Times Bestseller • An emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who’s ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn’t fit in. "Fans of R.J. Palacio’s Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.” —Kirkus Rev

Fishing Adventures Book Set 6-Pack

Kevin Lovegreen

Join Lucky Luke and dad on many real-life fishing adventures!

FLASH GORDON

an escape pod containing Flash Gordon, a freckle\u002Dfaced girl with endless curiosity and energy but no memory of her identity. When the Ark crashes on planet Omnia X, the new friends find themselves at odds with the “Merciless Emperor” Prince Azimuth, who dominates the planet’s kingdoms with his rage\u002Dpowered dark magic. Flash is shocked to discover the tyrant is no older than she is, while Azimuth’s sister, Princess Aura, is even more surprised by the fear her brother has for their unexpected visitor. Seeking to use this, Aura saves the girl from the gladiatorial arena and takes her to Arboria, a land of rebellious tree\u002Dfolk and gallant knights led by the honorable Captain Barin. But as the determined Flash readies herself to save Dale and liberate Omnia, she is blind to the Princess’ own ambitions and the unsettling reason behind the Prince’s fixation on her. Johnson’s illustrations, delightfully influenced by shojo manga, are rich with detailed characters set against simple, colorful storybook\u002Dstyle backgrounds, capturing expressive facial expressions—even during an intense battle with a giant, razor\u002Dtoothed axolotl. Bennett, who has worked on some of Marvel’s and DC’s biggest properties, displays her talent for inclusive storytelling—this universe is filled with more than just the white and green faces so many space operas feature. The spirit of Alex Raymond’s original creation is here, too\u003B there’s an intoxicating combination of sword\u002Dand\u002Dsorcery tropes with laser guns and flying saucers. The book never talks down to its audience, and this heartfelt adventure will be great for kids to share with parents, or even for longtime fans looking for a reminder of what made them love Flash Gordon—and comics—in the first place."

This thrilling space opera rockets readers into a universe of interplanetary adventure, where the heroic Flash Gordon battles the tyrannical Ming the Merciless across the exotic landscapes of Mongo. ...

FLIGHT OF THE CHICXULUB

Genre

This gripping science fiction adventure plunges readers into a high-stakes mission to save Earth from a second dinosaur-level extinction event, blending cutting-edge astrophysics with pulse-pounding ...

FLIP

Genre

This innovative picture book transforms the traditional reading experience into an interactive adventure, inviting young readers to physically engage with the story by flipping the book upside down t...

FLOAT

Genre

This visually stunning picture book explores the magical world of water through the eyes of a young child discovering what happens when everyday objects meet puddles, ponds, and rain-filled skies. Th...

FLORA & ULYSSES

Kate DiCamillo

“Forget paranormal romance; this horror-humor-romance pastiche is where those in search of hot nonhumans should set their sights.” — Kirkus Reviews When Cynthia Rothschild’s best friend, Annie, falls head over heels for the new high-school librarian, Cyn can totally see why. He’s really young and su

Flora and Ulysses The Illuminated Adventures

Kate DiCamillo

Available in a paperback edition! The beloved 2014 Newbery Medal winner by former National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature Kate DiCamillo. Holy unanticipated occurrences! From #1 New York Times best-selling author Kate DiCamillo comes a laugh-out-loud story filled with eccentric, endearing

FOLK REMEDY

Genre

This chilling exploration of traditional healing practices and their shadowy consequences delivers a potent blend of supernatural suspense and psychological depth, perfect for readers who crave stori...

Forfeiture

murderous timbermen in the Brazilian rainforest. Above the Arctic Circle, an old Inuit woman takes her skeptical, indolent “grandson” to a remote old village (from which oil companies uprooted them) to enact an obscure ritual. Both use ancestral memories to summon help from an advanced extraterrestrial civilization of color\u002Dshifting, somewhat reptilian humanoids of about 8 feet in stature who call themselves the Indigo. Eons ago, interstellar Indigo explorers were awestruck by Earth’s unparalleled biodiversity and beauty and left such safeguards behind to protect the planet. The two distress signals prompt the aliens’ return in massive ships that intimidate even the Earth’s superpowers. Meeting with a few chosen human representatives (including the U.S. president), the Indigo are horrified at the state of Earth, now beset by pollution, species extinctions, unsustainable economic development, war, and other existential threats. The Indigo give humanity one year to reverse the failing state of the world\u003B meanwhile, they will remain as noninterfering “Observers.” Some Indigo opinion\u002Dleaders grow quite fond of humanity’s arts and music\u003B others harbor no affection for the predatory apes and begin a grim judgment process. A radical\u002Denvironmentalist spin on Arthur C. Clarke’s Childhood’s End (1953), Nebra’s narrative will find favor with those who have fantasies of captains of industry and world leaders being brought to account by a galactic Greenpeace for crimes against nature: “Dolphins in terror, surrounded by humans with an enclosing net and frantically writhing and rolling in a red sea, the blood of their family. A Hawksbill turtle, grotesquely deformed by the plastic ring slowly choking it. The hillside shorn of its trees, the fertile soil pointlessly pouring away in streams with every rain.” The polemical material is balanced by fairly nuanced characterizations (including developing nation indigenes, too often idealized by sympathetic writers as unspoiled, cardboard Edenic angels), good pacing, and a final act that is fairly unputdownable."

On Craig Island, a vast landscape of ice north of the Arctic Circle, three travellers are hunting duck. Among them is expert Inuit hunter and guide, Edie Kiglatuk; a woman born of this harsh, beautiful terrain. The two men are tourists, experiencing Arctic life in the raw, but when one of the men is

FRANCISCO DE SAAVEDRA’S AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR

the British, he was taken as a prisoner to Jamaica, which he realized was an excellent opportunity for espionage. After talking his way out of incarceration, he made his way to Havana, the Spanish base of operations in the Caribbean. The Spanish allied with the French, hoping to drive the British out of the area, and Saavedra, a genius in money matters, financed his lifelong friend Bernardo de Gálvez’s successful rout of the British from Pensacola in British West Florida. At this point, the dispirited and nearly bankrupt Americans turned in desperation to their allies, the Spanish and the French. Saavedra wrangled loans in record time from far and wide to pay for the Battle of Yorktown in 1781—a decisive conflict that effectively sealed the independence of the United States of America. From there, he went from strength to strength, even reluctantly becoming the Spanish prime minister for a time. Ever a modest man, he once said, “In one way or another this contrast between my true and apparent merit is one of the keys to my life.”In a book that fairly bristles with endnotes and indices, one might expect to encounter very dry prose, but Giesler proves to be a graceful and often lively writer. This biography of Saavedra engagingly addresses all the momentous affairs in which he had a hand, and Giesler relies greatly on Saavedra’s diaries and letters. The author points out that his subject was not only savvy in financial matters but was also a talented administrator. The situation in Havana, for example, often pitted the old guard, who not only jealously guarded their privileges but were also overly cautious in military matters, against the young and rash—Bernardo de Gálvez being a good example of the latter. Saavedra, the author establishes, was the perfect go\u002Dbetween, compromiser, and schmoozer, who could handle people set in their ways and young fire\u002Deaters. The powers back in Madrid, including his patron, José de Gálvez, saw the Central American colonies as simply cash cows—but Saavedra, the man who was actually there, in Cuba, in Mexico, and later in Venezuela, realized that the colonists had legitimate grievances and deserved respect and audience. Giesler reveals his subject’s prescience in realizing that if the colonists didn’t get that respect, they would eventually rise in revolt, which is, of course, exactly what happened. Saavedra died in Seville in 1819, perhaps the most respected man in all of Spain at the time—a man for whom the term “national treasure” is fitting."

This compelling historical account chronicles the crucial but often overlooked contributions of Spanish official Francisco de Saavedra during the American Revolutionary War. Drawing from extensive ar...

Freddie Muffin Chapter 1 - 3 Middle Grade Humor by H.T. Ran

H.T. Ran

Freddie Muffin and his cohorts (Sanjay Goota, Pee-Winkle Mikowski, Peggy Giordano, Ashley Smarty-pants, Jimmy Chew, and Leroy Brown) are at it again. This time in multi layer slap-stick comics. Get ready for one heck of a joy ride, and a surprise shocker at the end. Or is it?

FREE PIANO (NOT HAUNTED)

the emergence of the ghost of the piano’s original owner from its keyboard: 1980s one\u002Dhit\u002Dwonder pop star Vision. Vision’s cool vibes are eventually too much to resist, though, and she becomes a welcome source of support as Margot reckons with her mom’s long working hours, feeling like her dad’s “dumb invisible daughter,” and the success of @sonsofsmash, her best friends’ social media channel about smashing things, which is gaining the followers she’s desperate for. But Vision isn’t the only ghost in the machine, and Margot may be in danger. The art features amusing details, vivid gradients, and bright colors (like Vision’s candy apple red hair and blue eyeshadow), as well as expressively drawn characters. Margot, who has light skin and blond hair, grapples with feelings of abandonment and betrayal when her existence is clearly a lower priority to her father than his own fame in a way that’s accessible and grounding, balancing emotional depth with the creepy mystery. "

This cleverly titled middle-grade novel delivers exactly what it promises: a free piano with a surprisingly un-supernatural backstory, wrapped in a contemporary tale of friendship and family dynamics...

From Bilingual to Biliterate Secondary Discourse Abilities

Eva M. Knopp

This study investigates the oral and written story productions of 10-12-year-old Greek-German and Greek-English bilingual children growing up in Germany and the US. It indicates that bilinguals can share narrative abilities in both modes of production, if educational support is adequate and bilingua

FROM COCINAS TO LUCHA LIBRE RINGSIDES

themes, including “Building Bridges, Building Community” and “Belonging…Dolor y Alegría.” The authors and illustrators run with the inspiration provided by food and sports, exploring the nuances of diaspora culture and belonging through the lens of their diverse Latinx heritages. The varied artistic styles include both full\u002Dcolor and black\u002Dand\u002Dwhite illustrations. While the central focus on Latinx identity is strongly developed throughout, some of the entries feel too similar to one another to stand out on their own, making this collection better for dipping into and browsing than reading cover to cover. Some stories are brief and humorous while others are longer, more thoughtful pieces reflecting on serious topics. The strongest narratives are the ones rooted in memoir and family history, such as Valerie Martínez Cabrera and Andrés Vera Martínez’ “Lamesa” (a story of enduring Chicano cultural pride in mid\u002D20th\u002Dcentury Texas, which features atmospheric, sepia\u002Dtoned illustrations) and “El Limber” by Rafael Rosado (a charmingly buoyant slice\u002Dof\u002Dlife tale set in 1970s Puerto Rico)."

This is the third edition of an established and leading book on family law in Nigeria. Since the last edition in 1990 significant judicial and statutory enactments have taken place in the area of study. The new edition incorporates these changes and explains their implications. The chapters have bee

FROM LANGUAGE TO LANGUAGE

the Stagirite.” In another example, he unpacks how a metaphysical “notion of being would be entirely different” in the West African tonal language Ewe. The book itself is intertextual, emphasizing the collaborative act of knowledge building, as Diagne traces the evolution and lineage of his thinking in elegant prose. The author cites numerous late cultural theorists and philosophers, including Henri Bergson, Gottfried Wilhelm Leibniz, and Léopold Sédar Senghor, as well as present\u002Dday figures, among them Kwame Anthony Appiah, Philippe Dagen, and Sandra Laugier."

This bilingual journey offers young readers a vibrant exploration of how words and meanings transform across cultures, presenting common phrases and everyday vocabulary in parallel languages that inv...