Non-Fiction Books for 9–12 Year Olds

694 non-fiction books for 9–12 year olds, sorted by rating — page 2 of 7.

BEYOND THE SCOREBOARD

far the book’s greatest strength\u003B there seems to be no facet of the subject the author doesn’t examine in detail. Costante asserts that no matter what the event is, the presentation is crucial to the enjoyment of attendees (Chicago Bears fans sitting knee\u002Ddeep in snow notwithstanding)\u003B as any fan will acknowledge, poor bathroom arrangements or clueless staff can spoil a sports outing a lot quicker than a team doing poorly. Every sporting event director should read this book."

This compelling sports narrative goes far deeper than the final score, exploring the complex world of youth athletics where character is the ultimate measure of success. The story follows a young ath...

BIND ME TIGHTER STILL

the untimely death of a guest." />

This haunting psychological thriller explores the dark undercurrents of grief and obsession through the lens of a teenage protagonist grappling with a mysterious death at a family gathering. The narr...

Biography Today, Annual Cumulation 1992

Laurie Lanzen Harris

Biographical profiles written especially for young readers ages 9 and above.

BIRCH AND JAY

a chance encounter with rebellious Elder Elm. Meanwhile, 19\u002Dyear\u002Dold Birch, seeking her own adventure, left her fathers behind to set out after Jay, to whom she is “promised.” Although extreme weather and wild animals plagued their journeys, they each soon learned that humans were a far more dangerous threat. The Six, leaders of an “old\u002Dfashioned city\u002Dstate,” wanted to use environmentally destructive technology that could return Earth to the brink of collapse. The easy\u002Dto\u002Dfollow narrative switches between Birch’s and Jay’s perspectives in the year 2173 with their storylines half a century earlier. The engaging premise is full of poignant reminders that the greatest challenge humanity faces is itself\u003B the climate change warnings are unsubtle but don’t detract from the steady pacing. Race in this world is an “antiquated” concept\u003B Birch is racially ambiguous, and Jay has Nordic and Asian Indian ancestry."

This middle-grade novel explores the evolving friendship between two very different boys navigating the challenges of early adolescence. Birch, quiet and observant, finds his world turned upside down...

BIRD SCHOOL

Genre

This charming picture book offers young readers an engaging introduction to the world of birds through a clever school-day metaphor that makes ornithology accessible and fun. Following a day in the l...

BIRTH OF A DYNASTY

a tyrannical dynasty and largely follows two characters as they struggle to survive in a viper pit of political intrigue while also trying to find a way to attain vengeance for atrocities done to their families." />

This gripping historical narrative chronicles the dramatic rise of a powerful ruling family, tracing their journey from humble origins to the pinnacle of political influence through meticulous resear...

BLACK MOSES

Black people.” Following the Civil War, Gayle writes, supposedly emancipated Blacks had good reason to want to leave the South: Reconstruction was fast proving a failure, having been abandoned by the federal government, and resurgent white supremacy forced a choice: “Ku Klux or Kansas.” Kansas was indeed a destination in what Gayle rightly considers the first Great Migration, preceded by a movement to settle white abolitionists there in order to block the expansion of the slave states. “The negotiated and retreating Reconstruction made McCabe’s argument for a Black state for him,” Gayle writes, but Kansas wasn’t all it was promised to be, and was little friendlier than the South in many ways. Although towns such as Nicodemus were founded, they were so isolated and removed from white market centers that self\u002Dsufficiency was all but impossible. Enter Oklahoma, which McCabe promised, as one contemporary newspaper reported, to be “the New Canaan of the Colored Race.” Hundreds of Blacks settled there during the land rush era, but always in the face of opposition from whites, one leader of whom promised that “if the negroes try to Africanize Oklahoma, they will find that we will enrich our soil with them.” Both promised and very real violence finally drove McCabe away, his project doomed, and, on attaining statehood, Oklahoma quickly established Jim Crow laws to ensure white supremacy and crush the migrants’ dreams."

This gritty coming-of-age novel follows a troubled teenager navigating the harsh realities of the foster care system and urban survival, delivering an unflinching portrait of resilience in the face o...

BLACK SOLDIERS, WHITE LAWS

a white mob was impending, and indeed they met with a confrontation that led to the deaths of 20 people. In response, military historian Haymond recounts, the Army charged 118 soldiers with mutiny. Hammond chronicles, corroborated by a later Army inquiry, that the soldiers’ defense was sorely inadequate\u003B the officer conducting it was not a lawyer, and the trial was laced with perjurious testimony and racist rhetoric. The trial also revealed incompetence, at the very least, of the white officers who commanded the 24th Infantry Regiment, with the officer in charge being “willing to ­either abandon his junior officers to death at the hands of mutinous troops or, assuming that they ­were still alive, leave them to ­handle ­things without him.” Whether there was a mutiny, strictly speaking, remains controversial. If self\u002Ddefense, then, as Haymond notes, it “can be seen as a legitimate, if hasty, military response to a perceived threat,” but if a vigilante action by Black soldiers, then “a criminal act for which­ there is no excuse or exculpation.” In the end, 110 soldiers were found guilty, with 19 executed and the rest sentenced to life in prison. Thanks to the efforts of historians, including Haymond, and the support of numerous retired flag officers with “extensive experience with military justice,” however, the Army granted clemency more than a century later, returning those Buffalo Soldiers to honorable status—too little, too late, of course, but something."

This powerful examination of military justice and racial discrimination provides a meticulously researched account of how Black service members have navigated systemic inequality within the armed for...

BLACK SWAN SHOCK

the earthquake. Vettori’s detailed disaster\u002Dthemed tale could conceivably prepare some present\u002Dday readers for real\u002Dlife disasters. The author, an emergency\u002Dservices professional, clearly has a taste for disaster fiction, and her take on the calamities erupting around her characters makes them feel real—and there are terrorists afoot, as well. Syia also doesn’t much like the Electromagnetic Sound and Holographic Isler Communication Operating Network that everyone’s using to communicate—especially the “increasingly popular brain implant version”—and it turns out that the good doctor is right to be wary of it. However, Vettori has effectively left that bit of the mystery for the final installment to come.  "

Hey there, I know right now life doesn't feel okay, you feel trapped inside yourself day after day. But just know, you are going to get better, you are not on your own. 'Cause it's me, I'm here with you, and you should never feel alone.

BLESSINGS AND DISASTERS

Okeowo’s account, many of Alabama’s Native Americans, few but politically astute and relatively affluent, seem as wary of their Black neighbors as of their white ones, while the white mayor of Montgomery permitted the erection of historical markers relating to slavery only because he reckoned that they would draw tourist dollars. Okeowo ventures theses that Alabamians and others will find fascinating and provocative, among them the thought that the Lost Cause myth was in good part crafted by “certain white women” and that much of the ugliness of Alabama’s past—“Indian removal, the slave trade, Reconstruction, and Jim Crow”—is absent by design from official histories and “public stories.”"

This collection of contemporary poetry explores the complex terrain of adolescence through alternating moments of profound insight and chaotic emotion. The poet captures the raw intensity of teenage ...

BONES AND BERSERKERS

Frank Lloyd Wright. Others feature the discovery of a haunted well filled with the corpses of soldiers killed in a Civil War battle, gruesome revenge, and monsters like the Boo Hag, a skin changer who sucks blood through sleepers’ noses. All these tales, eerie as they are on their own, are cranked up into screamer territory by Hale’s two\u002Dtone illustrations, which, with indecent relish and fanatical attention to realistic detail, depict fresh and not\u002Dso\u002Dfresh corpses, a radiation victim’s rotted face, a man’s buttocks being hacked off with a sword, leering skeletons, chopped\u002Doff limbs, and creepy night creatures with big, sharp teeth. The cast of storytellers, horrified onlookers, and all\u002Dtoo\u002Doften mutilated victims is racially diverse."

This gripping collection of Norse mythology brings ancient legends to life with visceral battles, treacherous gods, and monstrous creatures that will captivate middle grade and young adult readers. T...

BORN EQUAL

nature, free and independent.” Jefferson held slaves and thus worked from a hypocritical position, but, Amar writes, his fellow Virginian George Washington “seemed open to long\u002Dterm reforms extinguishing slavery,” endorsing a law that simplified the process of manumission. States such as South Carolina “did not concede, as did many Virginia planters, that slavery was wrong and should ideally end, sometime, somehow.” Slavery did end, of course, even if a different inequality came on its heels: “Amendments designed to smash slavocrats were twisted like pretzels into political and judicial doctrines designed to protect plutocrats,” Amar writes, a process of corruption that continues today. Moreover, as the author rightly emphasizes, after the liberation of formerly enslaved Black people, the acquisition of civil and political rights did not extend to any women or Indigenous people, the former of whom did not attain the right to vote until 1920 because—unlike the male Black vote, which was needed to shore up Republicanism—“woman suffrage would not solve any immediate problem faced by these men.”"

This powerful young adult novel tackles the complex realities of social inequality through the intersecting lives of diverse teenagers navigating systemic barriers and personal challenges. The narrat...

BORN IN FLAMES

deregulation and accompanying shifts in the economic system, which spurred disinvestment in cities and reshaped the insurance industry, with companies making much of their money by investing customer premiums in stock, bond, and money markets. The 1970s Bronx fires were frequently blamed on tenants, a relatively small number of whom did commit arson, Ansfield writes. But this excellent book delivers the truth about “the burning years.”"

This powerful debut novel follows a young woman's journey through a dystopian society where she must navigate oppressive systems while discovering her own revolutionary potential. The narrative blend...

BOX TALES

extension, encourages readers to appreciate the sweet treats they gobble up. Burks’ agreeably over\u002Dthe\u002Dtop cartoon artwork leans into the drama\u003B Bea and Box’s gung\u002Dho partnership is infectiously enjoyable. These two have a lot to learn, but they’re ready to meet the challenge. Bea and her mom have brown hair and olive skin\u003B Mrs. Gomez welcomes them in Spanish and is cued Latine."

This innovative collection transforms ordinary cardboard boxes into extraordinary storytelling tools, offering a fresh approach to sparking children's imagination through everyday materials. Each pro...

BOXED

Genre

This collection of critical assessments offers readers a curated journey through contemporary literature, providing sharp analysis and thoughtful perspectives on recent publications. The reviews span...

BOY FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY

Genre

A young man's journey from the rural landscapes of the North Country to the complexities of urban life forms the emotional core of this compelling coming-of-age novel. The narrative explores themes o...

BRADY VS. BELICHICK

Humphrey Bogart and Claude Rains in Casablanca. Unlike “the politically correct crowd who split it down the middle,” Myers picks a winner in his contrived matchup, but his methodology, like much else in this book, is uninspired."

This gripping sports narrative chronicles the dramatic breakup and subsequent rivalry between legendary quarterback Tom Brady and master strategist coach Bill Belichick, whose two-decade partnership ...

Bravery Is a Superpower

Mari Schuh

A new neighbor moves in across the street. You say hello, even though you're nervous. You make a mistake but tell the truth. Being brave can be hard, but it's worth it. Learn more ways you can show bravery and use your superpower to help everyone around you!

BREAKLANDS

the Rumblers, and they kidnap him in the hope of selling him to the highest bidder. In a world where everyone has some sort of psychic ability, telekinetic Adam stands out as a super\u002Dpowerful being known as a Shaper. This makes him incredibly valuable, and the Rumblers know that he’ll fetch a high price in Tradetown. Kasa teams up with Gargarin, who can track the kidnappers and her sibling. On the way, they pick up Toy, who has a vehicle, and the tough Ruth, who has an impressive healing ability. However, a being named Shattersword is also after the Rumblers to get to Adam, under the direction of Rask—one of the most powerful Shapers, who controls the empire. Kasa doesn’t care about any of that, though\u003B she just wants her brother back, and she’s willing to do whatever it takes. However, will they ever be safe again, now that people know what he’s capable of? In this first collected volume of a new series, writer Jordan and artist Tyasseta transport readers to a world that’s 147 years “after the break”—much like our own, but with a wide range of superpowered people. The brightly colored milieu, with a diversity of body types and skin colors, feels realistic and offers a future that’s recognizable, even as strange creatures roam the world of the Breaklands. The banter between the heroes of the story gives it a found\u002Dfamily feel and make them easy to root for, as when Gargarin says that he has a plan, and Ruth asks if it’s a good one: “Let’s not get ahead of ourselves,” Gargarin quips."

This gritty graphic novel plunges readers into a dangerous, post-apocalyptic world where a mysterious event has granted superpowers to nearly everyone, except for one ordinary teenager. The story fol...

BUFF SOUL

cops, Moa’s debauchery starts to look less like youthful exploration and more like a serious problem. When Åsa disappears from her band duties, Moa recalls a time when she was part of a search party for a woman named Sofia who was found dead. When she finds Åsa and they go home, there’s no glamour left in the tour for Moa. She tries to address Åsa’s out\u002Dof\u002Dcontrol behavior, but Åsa turns it back around on her friend. For Moa, it was less about the drugs and more about indulging in the chaos and inoculating herself from the consequences. Åsa and Moa reaffirm their commitment to their friendship and vow to regain stability. Though the characters skirt up to the edge of the addiction\u002Drelated horror, they manage to help each other through sticky situations and get home mostly unscathed."

This powerful collection of poetry and prose explores the complex emotional landscape of modern adolescence with raw honesty and lyrical precision. The author crafts verses that tackle identity, ment...

Building Your Best Life

Merie Weismiller Wallace

You might be surprised to know how many adults pick up their heads one day and ask themselves, “how did I end up here?” Merie Weismiller Wallace, a still photographer who has worked on some of Hollywood’s most interesting films, reveals things she learned and ideas she discovered that allowed her to

Bullying

Kathleen Winkler

Examines what bullying is, why bullies behave the way they do, and why victims take the abuse, and discusses ways that people are working to end bullying and make the world more secure for children.

BURY OUR BONES IN THE MIDNIGHT SOIL

Genre

This haunting debut novel plunges readers into a world where ancestral magic and environmental collapse collide, following a young protagonist who discovers her family's power to communicate with the...

By the Numbers

National Geographic Kids

"Did you know that your brain can hold 1 million gigabytes of data? (That's like 3 million hours of TV!) Get ready to be wowed by this awesome book of numbers! Boost your math brainpower with easily "getable" infographics that bring amazing stats, facts, and figures to life. Meet real-life experts w

CALL ME ARES

Robert A. Heinlein in the iconic military SF classic Starship Troopers (1959). The premise is amplified here\u003B while Heinlein used lengthy academy\u002Dinstruction interludes to expound on warrior philosophy and military values, Martelle employs practically nonstop scenes of combat as his classroom. The fatalistic, punchy, and apothegm\u002Drich prose (“The logic was irrefutable. As long as you lived, you had a chance to keep living. Once dead, it was too late”) should provide gamer\u002Dminded readers with plenty of diversion. It is only acknowledged in a scant way that Ares’ crew’s epic sacrifices are largely meaningless\u003B if the humans win, they will likely just ravage Espenar Four for its resources and proceed to another world. The author, a retired Marine Corps officer, has positioned this yarn as the opener for a multivolume series."

This gripping young adult novel reimagines Greek mythology through the eyes of a transgender teen who discovers he is the reincarnation of the god Ares. When Carson begins experiencing violent vision...

CALLS MAY BE RECORDED

one. However, over the course of a single workday, we see Jimmie manage to poke holes in precarity, reaching for moments of freedom through daydreams, illicit intrigues (real and imagined) with coworkers, and leaps over the established boundaries of customer service. Volckmer’s prose is electric, and as she skillfully unearths moments of tenderness, even ecstasy, amid the sweat and stench of abjection, she ensures this brief book lingers past its pages."

This sharp, contemporary thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of a corporate call center, where a teenage employee stumbles upon a conspiracy that puts her life and future in jeopardy....

Calm: Mindfulness for Kids

Wynne Kinder

Teach your kids how to focus their thoughts and notice the world around them with this fun mindfulness kids activity book. Mindfulness activities are a great way to teach children about their thoughts and feelings and how to understand them--while having fun at the same time. This book is packed wit

Cameron's Awesome Book of Puzzles!

Clarity Media

Cameron's awesome book of puzzles contains a fun collection of 100 different puzzles, including 20 Cameron themed word search puzzles. Other puzzles include: Sudoku, Find The Word, Mazes, Number Pyramid, Word Finder, Spot The Difference, Dot To Dot. All of our puzzles are printed on very high qualit

CAMPERS BEWARE

a four\u002Dstep strategy for making friends, Molly sets her ursine buddy to mending parental fences during a weeklong vacation. But along with painful encounters with bees, mosquitoes, and other miseries, practically every interaction with the bumbling behemoth leaves Molly’s dad annoyed or depressed, and even his hopes of enjoying a little father/daughter quality time are repeatedly stymied. While the setups and punchlines work for a short daily comic strip, these elements quickly turn monotonous when they come along every few pages in an extended storyline. Still, even while repeatedly playing victim or comic foil, Molly’s dad may come in for some reader sympathy as he sadly remarks on watching Molly growing away from their former closeness. Readers may also find the advice for making friends helpful in their own lives: “1. Be interested / 2. Compliment / 3. Help / 4. Gifts.” This second series entry has one full book\u002Dlength story followed by two short additional episodes. Molly and her family present white."

This chilling middle-grade thriller plunges readers into a summer camp where the campfire stories are all too real, blending classic horror elements with the relatable anxieties of being away from ho...

Captain Underpants Extra-crunchy Book of Fun

Dav Pilkey

George, Harold, Captain Underpants, and a cast of bad guys jump from the pages in a lively activity book filled with puzzles, games, comics, drawing tips, Flip-o-Rama pages, and more. Original.

CAROLE KING

Genre

This biography chronicles the remarkable journey of a Brooklyn girl who became one of the most celebrated singer-songwriters in pop music history, tracing her path from crafting hits for other groups...

CAT & CAT ADVENTURES

an unidentified villain. Squash and Ginny are off to the rescue and use their magic wand to track the friends to a mansion. There, the friends, the Orb of the Past, and other items and creatures are scheduled to be auctioned off. Squash and Ginny must breach security barriers, crack a complicated code that readers are encouraged to solve, and convince a group of creatures that Squash and Ginny need the orbs to stop the Spirit World from spilling into the human world. As vines from the Spirit World invade the mansion and human adversaries approach, the heroes grab the orb and escape with the help of a Spirit World visitor. Now they face the daunting task of retrieving the Orb of the Future. Pages with several panels of digitally created cartoons and multiple speech balloons keep the pace brisk. Layers of group problem\u002Dsolving, environmental concerns, and a magical world make this a book for more experienced readers."

This vibrant graphic novel series follows the hilarious escapades of two feline friends whose curiosity consistently leads them into magical trouble. Through bright, expressive artwork and snappy dia...

CÉCÉ

Genre

This vibrant picture book introduces young readers to Cécé, a curious child whose everyday adventures become opportunities for discovery and learning. Through simple yet engaging storytelling, the na...

Celebrate Easter

Deborah Heiligman

A look at the meanings and traditions surrounding Easter and discusses how Easter is celebrtaed all around the globe.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage

Carole Marsh

Provides a fun variety of ideas that excite kids, and bring Hispanic achievements to life. NEW! NUEVO! FREE! GRATIS! Hispanic Activities! CLICK HERE!

CHAMPION

basketball legend Abdul-Jabbar and prolific author Obstfeld." />

This compelling sports novel delivers a powerful story about a young basketball player navigating the pressures of high-stakes athletics while confronting systemic injustice in his community. Co-auth...

Chicken Soup for the Soul: Think Positive for Kids

Kevin Sorbo

A collection of 101 personal stories about children making good decisions, doing the right thing, thinking positively, overcoming obstacles, and being grateful.

CHILD OF LIGHT

a maid, and a note written by a friend. In keeping with the spiritualist theme, the story moves fluidly through time, jumping backward on several occasions to fill in the story of the Memenons (in particular, Papa\u0027s history as an electrical scientist). Bender gracefully conveys how the currents of the times and the influence of parents shape a young mind, and in Ambrétte the author has created a memorable character."

This epic fantasy adventure follows a young girl's journey through a magical kingdom where she must master her newfound powers to restore balance to a world threatened by encroaching darkness. The na...

Children's Book of Art

DK

Welcome to the greatest gallery on Earth. Put yourself in the picture with this incredible visual guide displaying the best artistic works of all time. You're the very special guest with unlimited access to the world's most important art through the ages, from ancient cave paintings to modern-day st

Children's Book of Mythical Beasts and Magical Monsters

DK

Stories have been told on every continent since the dawn of time, and some have lasted for thousands of years, becoming what we know today as myths. These fantastical tales educate and fascinate by creating amazing worlds and inhabiting them with wondrous feats of heroics and dastardly deeds of evil

CHRISTIANITY AND THE QUR'AN

Mustafa Akyol (2017)."

This comparative religious study offers a thoughtful examination of how Christianity is portrayed within Islam's holy text, providing crucial context for interfaith understanding. Mustafa Akyol metic...

Christmas in Germany

Kristin Thoennes

An overview of the symbols, celebrations, decorations, food, and songs that are part of Christmas in Germany.

CIRCLE OF DAYS

Genre

This imaginative novel weaves together elements of time travel and magical realism to create a captivating journey that explores the cyclical nature of time and the power of imagination. Young reader...

CITY OF CLANS

Genre

This middle-grade novel presents a compelling exploration of societal structures through the lens of a divided city where different clans navigate complex relationships and power dynamics. Young read...

CLEMENTINE

a squadron of girls who patrol the perimeter, led by a figure called the Gardener. But stability feels strange to this group after the harrowing experiences they’ve endured. Clem struggles to feel at ease, even with her girlfriend, Ricca, there to ground her. Olivia, a new mother, is floundering. Fen is acting suspiciously distant. Amid this uncertainty, something unthinkable happens, leaving Clem crushed. Seeing her vulnerable state, the Gardener offers her a new path forward—but it comes with a price. When she learns that the Gardener may not have the community’s best interests at heart, Clementine must gather her determination to protect those she cares about. The citizens of Nuuk speak Greenlandic and Danish, and Clementine has medium\u002Dtoned skin and wavy black hair. Walden’s hand\u002Ddrawn style feels both elaborate and effortless, playing with light and shadow to enhance her storytelling. Like the other volumes, this series finale crafts an allegory from the horrors of the post\u002Dapocalyptic world, exploring themes of power, trauma, survivor’s guilt, and love in times of darkness."

This poignant middle-grade novel introduces readers to an unforgettable third-grader navigating the challenges of school, friendship, and family with remarkable wit and resilience. Through a series o...

CLOWN TOWN

former MP Peter Judd to do his bidding. Nothing untoward about that, of course, but this time, Judd’s demands, backed by a compromising tape recording, are more pressing than usual. So Diana reconvenes the Brains Trust—Al Hawke, Avril Potts, Daisy Wessex, and their ex\u002Dboss Charles Cornell Stamoran—whose last assignment was to serve as the contact for psychopathic IRA informant Dougie Malone while turning a blind eye to his multiple rapes and murders, which were really none of the Crown’s business. Taverner’s new assignment for the Brains Trust is the assassination of Judd. Since all these developments are filtered through the riotously cynical lens of Herron’s imagination, nothing goes as planned, and when the smoke clears, the fatalities don’t include Judd. Now that Judd knows he has as much reason to fear Taverner as she does to fear him, Lamb offers to broker a peace meeting between them which Slough House computer geek Roddy Ho will keep secret by knocking out 37 security cameras around Taverner’s dwelling. What could possibly go wrong?"

THE NINTH BOOK IN THE SERIES BEHIND SLOW HORSES, AN APPLE ORIGINAL SERIES NOW STREAMING ON APPLE TV+ Jackson Lamb and the bad spies of Slough House are caught in a deadly battle between MI5's secret past and its murky future in this gripping, hilarious, and heartbreaking thriller by Mick Herron, “th

COFFIN MOON

Name (2024), Rosson returns with an even grungier throwback, dressed up as a vampire\u002Dinfested road novel. In December 1975, just outside Portland, Oregon, roughneck bartender Duane Minor knows he’s on thin ice. His wife, Heidi, a college student who dreams of becoming a writer, is none too pleased with his PTSD and burgeoning drinking problem. Duane is managing to just hold down his in\u002Dlaws’ bar, the Last Call Tavern, but he knows something funny is going on with the business. Meanwhile, Heidi and Duane are both trying to connect with Heidi’s 13\u002Dyear\u002Dold niece, Julia, who was reluctantly sent to them after her mother murdered her stepfather. It’s a rough scene made worse when Duane has a bad run\u002Din at the bar one night with a bunch of bikers led by one John Varley. After the century\u002Dold Varley viciously dismembers both Heidi and her parents, Duane and Julia hit the road seeking vengeance. For horror fans, this is closer to crime fiction than loftier vampire fare—think Richard Lange’s terrific outlier Rovers (2021) or From Dusk Till Dawn in lieu of tortured immortals in velvet capes. Julia’s character takes a dramatic turn after they encounter a sanctuary dubbed the Children’s Museum, led by an ancient, lonely creature called Adeline. Even as he and Julia navigate this bizarre subculture, Duane’s defining characteristic remains the conflict between his inner demons and his outer ones. “You want that man to come forward, that killer I was, but I’ll drown if I do it. I’ll die,” he swears. Meanwhile, John Varley and his psychotic “thrall” leave a bloody trail across the country, chased by one broken man and a little girl with nothing but half a dozen silver bullets to their names."

This chilling YA thriller plunges readers into a world of ancient prophecies and modern-day peril, where a lunar cycle dictates the fate of a small town gripped by supernatural forces. The narrative ...

Complete Book of Grade 3

Thinking Kids

Reinforce your third grader's essential skills with the Complete Book of Grade 3. With the colorful lessons in this workbook, your child will strengthen skills that include reading comprehension, sentence types, contractions, and the order of operations. --The Complete Book series provides a dynamic

COMRADES IN ART

the Artists International Association, which formed in London in 1933 and took as its mission the “Unity of Artists against Fascism and War and the Suppression of Culture.” Its founders included several artists who had been to the Soviet Union and returned to England inspired by the mutual support among artists in that country. Fearful of the growing threat of fascism throughout Europe, they proclaimed that “now was the time for their generation of artists to organize” in order “to serve shared political goals through their art” and support progressive causes. Focusing on the activities of the AIA from 1933 to 1943, Friend investigates similar organizations outside of England: the International Bureau of Revolutionary Artists in Moscow, for example, and in the U.S., the John Reed Clubs, the Unemployed Artists Group, the Public Works of Art Project, and the American Artists’ Congress. The AIA forged connections with these groups as it grew to become an increasingly visible force in British culture, producing publications and mounting exhibitions, many to raise funds for combatants in Spain and Russia. In its first year, membership tripled\u003B the roster included Julian and Quentin Bell, Augustus John, Henry Moore, and art critics Herbert Read and Kenneth Clark, along with scores of other painters, sculptors, writers, and illustrators whose work appears in the book’s more than 200 illustrations. Many contributors to the AIA’s efforts were 20th\u002Dcentury stars, such as Picasso, who sent his Guernica to be exhibited in London\u003B muralist Diego Rivera\u003B surrealists Joan Miró and Paul Klee\u003B Ben Shahn\u003B and Virginia and Leonard Woolf, who supported the organization. A biographical appendix identifies less familiar participants."

This compelling history of the Artists International Association delivers a powerful exploration of art as activism during the turbulent 1930s, when creative professionals united against the rising t...

CONFRONTING EVIL

Judeo\u002DChristian standards, Genghis was the devil incarnate, but the Mongols apparently liked him just fine. O’Reilly holds that Mao Zedong was history’s worst mass murderer, “although his evil role model, Genghis Khan, might have surpassed him.” Naturally, while ticking down a rogue’s gallery that includes a few Judeo\u002DChristian figures, O’Reilly tries to own liberals: The Obama administration “does little to halt the Crimea aggression,” encouraging Vladimir Putin to invade Ukraine, while Ayatollah Khomeini makes Jimmy Carter his plaything, and so on."

This powerful exploration of evil's nature and manifestations offers young readers a thoughtful framework for understanding darkness in the world, from historical atrocities to contemporary moral cha...

Counting & Sequencing, Ages 3 - 6

Spectrum

This is where the learning begins! Counting & Sequencing introduces numbers 0 to 20 one at a time through pictures, rhymes, and stories, so children can master counting each number before moving on. The fun activities help children recognize and count numbers 0 to 20 while also developing their sequ

Counting Butterflies 1-2-3

Brian Enslow

"Learn about bugs, and counting to ten"--

COVEN OF ANDROMEDA

Genre

This spellbinding fantasy novel introduces readers to a secret sisterhood of young witches navigating the treacherous waters of magic, friendship, and self-discovery. When ancient powers awaken and t...

CROOKS

the rules.” So says small\u002Dtime criminal Raymond “Buddy” Mercurio as he rises through the ranks of the Vegas mob and courts and marries Lillian Ott, a glamorous salesgirl and nimble pickpocket. Ten years and four kids later, they’re on top of the world when Buddy gets a midnight phone call: “Go.” They escape a shootout and retreat to Lillian’s hometown of Oklahoma City. With another baby on the way, it seems like a place where they can lie low “till [they] get back on [their] feet.” Then, a comedy of errors during a restaurant robbery elevates Buddy as a local hero, and he capitalizes on his celebrity by opening up a disco that becomes a surprising hit. Gangsters be gangsters, though, and when one of his investors discovers Buddy’s skimming from the profits, it looks like it could be time to cut and run—until he realizes it’s his wife behind the takedown. After a chase, a gunshot, and a heavy kiss in the freezing rain, they make up (in full view of the children). The rest of the novel follows each of the five children and the effect of their unconventional upbringing on their own choices and paths in life. From beautiful idiot hustler Jeremy to restless adrenaline chaser Tallulah to staid and earnest mob enforcer Ray to tight\u002Dlaced strategic planner Alice and lonely writer Piggy, they’re all shaped by their criminal parents in different ways. They also move in and out of each other’s stories in appealing ways, emphasizing their loyal bonds even as they keep getting pulled back into their own versions of criminality. As is almost always true in anthology\u002Dstyle works, some stories are more engaging and effective than others, but Berney continues to expand the genre of Western noir with style, humor, and a deep understanding of human frailty and flaw."

This gritty crime thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of professional heists and the complex moral codes of those who operate outside the law. The narrative follows a crew of skilled ...

CROSSING THE CACTUS

laying out the “three key ingredients” for commercialization—great ideas, great people, and capital—and argues that good ideas are abundant everywhere, but management and funding deserts prevent them from growing. Section 2 offers a pragmatic blueprint for building an ecosystem in resource\u002Dlimited environments: identifying clusters, attracting talent, raising capital, and navigating political barriers, all illustrated with ample real\u002Dlife examples. Section 3 grounds these principles in case studies of success and failure, showing patterns that work (and don’t work) beyond the coasts. Blivin draws on decades of experience managing venture funds in the Southeast U.S., New Mexico, and Northwest Europe, showing how injecting early\u002Dstage capital, convening ecosystems, and targeted recruitment can catalyze lasting regional impact. He emphasizes that by securing two of the three ingredients—most accessibly, ideas and capital, though throwing in a ski trip might not hurt, either—hinterland regions can then attract experienced management. Engineering the right conditions works better than waiting for Silicon Valley–magic to migrate. Blivin’s writing is a clear, informed, and well\u002Dorganized. He avoids jargon without oversimplifying, making the material accessible to economic developers, investors, and founders. The book’s regional\u002Ddevelopment focus might narrow its direct applicability for those in established hubs. But the case studies are all\u002Daround practical, offering sober takes on why companies falter and how ecosystems stall. At times, the “three ingredients” mantra can feel reductive, but it reinforces the core takeaway: commercializing a startup outside Silicon Valley is possible but requires its own playbook. "

This gripping survival adventure follows a young protagonist's harrowing journey through a treacherous desert landscape after a catastrophic vehicle breakdown. With only limited supplies and the rele...

Crossword Puzzles for Kids

Lena Bidden

This engaging activity book offers young puzzlers a wonderful introduction to word games with carefully crafted crossword puzzles designed specifically for developing minds. Each puzzle features age-...

CRY OUT LOUD

Genre

This powerful collection of poetry gives voice to the raw emotions and complex experiences of teenage life, tackling everything from first heartbreak and friendship struggles to identity formation an...

CTHULHU FHCON

Jones, based around the work of H.P. Lovecraft." />

This eldritch horror adventure plunges readers into a chilling world where ancient cosmic entities threaten reality itself, channeling the unsettling atmosphere of Lovecraftian mythos into a fast-pac...

DAEMON PROTOCOL

his side, life was good. But when Castor starts guiding its own development and Promethean founding partner Robert Hayes suddenly dies of cardiac arrest, the future of the company becomes uncertain. When Regillus Global offers to buy the firm out and expand it into different markets, it seems like a saving grace. However, as Daniel adapts to the new company structure and direction, he soon finds himself troubled that Promethean’s original vision has been sidetracked. Then irregularities occur in Castor’s systems, indicating that something is very wrong\u003B soon, the situation results in lives being lost in the name of corporate success. Spears’ speculative novel features a large cast of characters and sector\u002Dspecific jargon (“When utilizing Shor’s Algorithm on the quantum chip, the encryption key’s period happened to match the number of physical qubits available to me,” notes Jimini, an AI built from Castor’s code, at one point), but readers will be carried along by the action\u002Dpacked, suspenseful narrative. It’s a disturbingly realistic thriller, as well\u003B as Daniel’s work demands increase, and he pours even more of himself into his work, his family life begins to suffer, and as he uncovers a web of power, deception, and greed, he must find a way to control the seemingly uncontrollable. The author has also clearly drawn on his professional experience as a software engineer to craft the story’s finer technical details, adding to its complexity and feeling of authenticity."

This gripping science fiction thriller plunges readers into a high-stakes world where advanced technology and human consciousness collide, exploring the dangerous consequences of a digital protocol d...

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 ...

Dav Pilkey

Kelli L. Hicks

"Presents the life and career of Dav Pilkey, including his childhood, education, and milestones as a best selling children's author"--Provided by publisher.

Day and Night (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1/Co-Reader)

Shira Evans

During the day, the sun shines, birds tweet, and bees buzz. Earth is awake! But what happens at night? The moon -- and a whole new group of animals come out to play! Adult and child readers can cuddle up and read aloud and learn together in this new "you read, I read" co-reader format, vetted by ear

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...

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...

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

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 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 (9 11 plus DIY)

Jeff Kinney

Books nine through eleven in Jeff Kinney's bestselling Diary of a Wimpy Kid series (The Long Haul, Old School, and Double Down), along with The Wimpy Kid Do-It-Yourself Book, are now available together in a specially designed collectible boxed set.

Dinosaur and Other Prehistoric Creatures Atlas

DK

Journey back in time and find out where dinosaurs roamed. This unique children's atlas explores each continent, revealing fossil sites and stories on every map. This atlas is packed with maps of early Earth and more than 40 profiles of dinosaurs and other prehistoric animals. Stare down a T-Rex in N

Dinosaur Dioramas to Cut and Assemble

Matthew Kalmenoff

Contains artwork of dinosaurs and plants to cut out and use to make dioramas of the Cretaceous and Jurassic Periods of the Mesozoic Era. Also contains text about dinosaurs

Dinosaur Discoveries (Third Edition)

Gail Gibbons

A new and updated introduction to different dinos--and the people who discover and study them--from beloved nonfiction picture book master Gail Gibbons! Who discovers dinosaurs? What happens to a dinosaur bone when it's found? What exactly were dinosaurs, anyway, and how many different kinds were th

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...

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. ...

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...

Dr. Seuss Discovers: Space

Dr. Seuss

Starring the Cat in the Hat, this rhymed nonfiction board book about space is perfect for nurturing a love of science in babies and toddlers too young for the Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series! The Cat in the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two tour the solar sytem in this sturdy board book that'

Dr. Seuss Discovers: The Human Body

Dr. Seuss

Starring the Cat in the Hat, this rhymed Dr. Seuss Discovers non-fiction board book about the human body is perfect for nurturing a love of science in babies and toddlers too young for The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library series! In this cheerful board book, the Cat and Things One and Two explore t

Dr. Seuss's Oh, What I've Learned: Thanks to My TEACHERS!

Dr. Seuss

Say thank you to a teacher with this small hardcover gift book featuring art by Dr. Seuss! An ideal choice in place of a greeting card, this charming keepsake includes unrhymed lines of appreciation for the many different ways that teachers help shape our lives! Illustrated throughout with art from

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 in the Desert

Michael Dahl

A new Age of Dragons is about to begin. The powerful creatures will return to rule the world once more, but this time will be different. This time, they will have allies. Who will help them? Around the world, some young humans are making a strange discovery.

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...

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...

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...

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...

Eric Carle's Opposites

Eric Carle

What's the opposite of ordinary? Eric Carle's Opposites! Unfold the full-page flaps to explore opposites with the art of Eric Carle. Short and tall, big and little, over and under!

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...