Voodoo Shack
Join Iris and the Voodoo Shack gang as they investigate a mysterious death and an unsolved crime! (For ages 9 and up)When 11-year-old Iris Weston discovers a ramshackle hunting cabin deep in Hazard Swamp, she and her friends decide it's perfect for a secret clubhouse. The gang dubs it the Voodoo Shack and meets there to swap stories and play card games. Ol' Man Hazard, the former owner, died under mysterious circumstances, and the kids speculate whether it was an accident, suicide or maybe even murder! The gang believes that cash from an unsolved crime may have been stashed within feet of the cabin. Even as things go badly awry, feisty Iris learns how to use her wit and independence to put things right, discovering what family really means in this adventurous and often humorous coming-of-age story set in rural Michigan in 1962."Set in the early 1960s, Martin's novel traces a girl's journey toward understanding the true meaning of love, family and friendship. Iris is an appealing character whose relationships with friends and family are realistically portrayed as she struggles to find her place." --School Library Journal"Martin has drawn on her childhood memories to create an engaging, feisty heroine, lively supporting characters and an easy-to-visualize early 1960s rural Michigan setting. And, although Iris doesn't solve all her mysteries, she finds the answers to the most important ones in this fast-paced story." --ALA Booklist"Readers fond of lightweight mysteries solved by spunky heroines will take to this fiction debut, though a heavy ballast of tragedy and near-tragedy keeps it low to the ground. Some of the dialogue and set pieces show a promising authorial gift for comedy. (Fiction. 10-12)" --Kirkus Reviews"...add to this drama that Iris's grandmother is ill, maybe dying in her fears, and she has messed absolutely everything up. Of course, the obvious thing is to admit all her messes to her parents, but who of us at that age ever did that? Any of us 'grownups' who are the least bit honest know exactly how Iris feels. Kids that age today (in the middle of their hopes, dreams, and fears) find a heroine in Voodoo Shack who they identify with and will begin to feel: If she can do it, I can, too." -- Deborah K. Frontiera, U.P. Book ReviewThis book was originally released as A Family TraitLearn more at www.TerriLynnMartin.comFrom Modern History Press www.ModernHistoryPress.com
Rowdy
In this momentous coming-of-age western, Rowdy must fight between his heart and what is lawful.When rustlers steal from a ranch on the outskirts of Lincoln, Rowdy is called to join the hunt and bring them in. But after a fight breaks out and one of the bandits ends up dead, a family member sets out for revenge.With love chasing Rowdy's heels, tragedy strikes when his new beloved is attacked in an act of revenge by the dead rustler's brother, and the town becomes tangled in turmoil.Rowdy, accompanied by new and old friends, sets out to track down those responsible for the attack and secretly hopes to find the attacker first so he can decide the lawful course of action...even though his heart craves revenge.As the manhunt rides on, each must do their part if they hope to catch a killer.
Thecla, the First Woman Evangelist
The story of Thecla brings to light the dangers, bravery and complications of spreading The Word in the early Christian Church-bandits, nay-sayers, powerful leaders and the ever-present Romans, to name a few. Thecla followed Paul. His teaching spoke to her so completely, she accepted Paul's anointing as the first woman evangelist. The eventual question the reader will ask, did she love Paul or his message. Read the story, you decide.
The History Of The Peloponnesian War
The Peloponnesian War, fought between the Peloponnesian League (headed by Sparta) and the Delian League (431-404 BC), is chronicled in The History of the Peloponnesian War (led by Athens). It was written by the Athens-born historian Thucydides, who served as a general in the battle for his nation. One of the first academic histories, and largely regarded as a classic, is his account of the battle. Eight books make up the history discipline. History analysis typically falls into one of two categories. On the one hand, the work is viewed as impartial and scientific by some academics, including J. B. Bury. Bury's assessment of history is consistent with the conventional idea that it should be "severe in its detachment, written from a strictly intellectual point of view, unfettered with cliches and moral judgments, frigid and critical." On the other hand, History can be understood as a work of literature rather than an impartial account of historical events, in line with more modern readings that are related to reader-response criticism. W. R. Connor's description of Thucydides as "an artist who responds to, selects and expertly arranges his material, and develops its symbolic and emotional potential" embodies this point of view.
Ava & Carol Detective Agency
Join over 20,000 children, teens and adults who've read the Ava & Carol Detective Agency series.Ava and Carol, teen detectives, can find a mystery just about anywhere, so why should Cairo, Egypt be any different?While Ava's mom, a world-renowned journalist is investigating the historical records behind King Tut's discovery, Ava and Carol accidentally, on purpose, become entangled in their own mystery.They witness an older Egyptian man attempting to convince a police investigator that he is being watched, but his words fall on deaf ears. Ava, who can't stand to see sad old men, offers their assistance. Omar, the old man, warns them that it's too dangerous, but that only makes the girls more anxious to help.Once on the case, the girls discover why Omar is being watched. He has an ancient map with clues that lead to a stolen treasure that had been passed down from King Tut's grandfather to the boy king himself. As the girls unravel the clues, the thieves become more desperate. If Ava and Carol find the treasure first, they'll turn it over to the Egyptian government. In a twisty game of cat and mouse, the girls must use all their investigative skills and creativity to find the treasure before the bad guys, and rescue Omar, who had suddenly disappeared.Follow teen sleuths Ava and Carol through the streets and pyramids of Egypt as they attempt to solve a mystery over a century old.The Mystery of the Egyptian Pyramid is a fun, mystery adventure and is chock full of historical facts about the life and death of King Tut.
Broken Promises
2022 SFWC YA Fiction Writing Contest Winner"The tightlywound plot flows effortlessly from one moment to the next.... readers will find themselves inspired by the future Sparrow creates for herself and those aroundher." - Kirkus Reviews"Young Sparrow's dilemma had me wondering how she was going to make her way through such a tension-filled situation. I could almost see her growing up, finding unexpected allies, and using her mama's native skills as she faced the political firestorm of the 1840s in California." -Stephanie Foster, author of Take Action: Fighting for Women & GirlsIn 1844, fifteen-year-old Sparrow fears what dilemmas her grown-up life will encounter. Sparrow's mother is from the Chumash nation whose territory borders the Pacific. Her father is an American trapper and trader sent by his government to explore the rich California land owned by Mexico. Sparrow's difficulties are compounded when she learns her father also has an American wife and daughter. Then, she overhears him making plans to overthrow the Mexican Governor of Alta California and acquire the Mexican lands for the United States. Sparrow's tribal family and indigenous customs are threatened. She must decide if she will keep her father's secret and lose her homeland, or warn her mother and the Mexican authorities but suffer the loss of her father's love.
Ukrainian Air
A book designed to help parents and teachers explain the Russian War in Ukraine created for children ages 3-10.Sunny Sonechko melts the snow and pours warmth and love on the flowers making them grow strong and tall. When a storm cloud covers the village in darkness, the sunflowers rise in a wall to defend their home as Good triumphs over Evil.The book helps readers see why the Ukrainians hold so much love for their homeland. The rich traditions of Eastern Ukrainian folklore and contemporary village life are echoed in Cossack dress, mouth-watering dishes, Ukrainian spring, and above all the love for grandmothers who grow and eat sunflowers, the national flower. The nation's historical life cycle of war and tragedy leading to reconstruction and prosperity is demonstrated.Ukrainian Air follows the pattern of all books in Folkerts' series "Rural Life Around the World" showing contemporary rural life and traditions: it is a visual gem, both entertaining and educational. A poetic story integrated with colorful illustrations, all carefully researched, enables young children, parents, and teachers to discover a unique cultural geography. Come and sense the sounds, aromas, visual details, and emotions of people with whom you have more in common than you thought. A picture glossary is available at the back.
Deetjen's Closet
❖ First Place Winner: Gertrude Warner Middle Grade Fiction Awards (CIBA)❖ Best Book Awards Finalist 2025❖ Fiction Cover Design Awards Shortlist (CIBA)It's bad enough being the new kid, but now Sara's secret belief in magic is about to go viral all over school, thanks to the Terrible Twins. To save her own skin-and even magic itself-she must prove magic exists. And fast!Help comes from some ghostly allies she literally stumbles into, deep in an old hotel closet-ghost clothes. Yes, ghost clothes! Worn by real historical characters.Together, the ghost clothes and Sara come up with a plan. And it just might work! Now, whether Sara has the courage to carry it out and face her tormentors...that's another matter. But what really does matter? Being right or being a friend?Reviews: "...a fascinating, original supernatural twist to historical facts, adding real-world substance with coastal travel highlights, a grade-schooler's relatable issues, and a touch mystery from the distant past."-Kirkus Reviews"There's never been a trip up California's Highway One...filled with such adventure. An overnight stop at the real Deetjen's Inn in Big Sur uncovers a series of supernatural encounters with an amazing cast of historical characters." -Dan Krieger, Professor Emeritus of History, Calif. Polytechnic Univ. and Liz Krieger, Retired County Librarian
The Story of Patsy Salt and Johnny Pepper
As he was about to return them to the box, suddenly a tremor went through his hands, up his arms and through the whole of his body.John cannot explain or dismiss the experience he had in the Op-Shop; it will be with him forever.Enjoy the heartwarming journey of family life as seen through the eyes of Patsy Salt and Johnny Pepper.Patsy narrates the story from the very first Christmas they joined the Marshal family.Many happy Christmases pass until the day their lives changed forever.
The Story of Patsy Salt and Johnny Pepper
As he was about to return them to the box, suddenly a tremor went through his hands, up his arms and through the whole of his body.John cannot explain or dismiss the experience he had in the Op-Shop; it will be with him forever.Enjoy the heartwarming journey of family life as seen through the eyes of Patsy Salt and Johnny Pepper. Patsy narrates the story from the very first Christmas they joined the Marshal family. Many happy Christmases pass until the day their lives changed forever.
A Spoonful of Murder
Hazel and Daisy find themselves embroiled in a mystery while in Hong Kong--and one of them winds up on the suspect list--in this gripping sixth novel of the Murder Most Unladylike Mystery series. When Hazel Wong's beloved grandfather passes away, Daisy Wells accompanies her best friend (and Detective Society vice president) to Hazel's family estate in beautiful, bustling Hong Kong. But when they arrive, they discover something they didn't expect: a new baby brother for Hazel! Hazel and Daisy think a surprise sibling is enough to be getting on with, but where they go, mystery always follows. And when tragedy strikes very close to home, this time Hazel isn't just the detective on the case... She's been framed for murder! Now the girls must work together to confront dangerous gangs, mysterious suspects, and sinister private detectives to solve the murder and clear Hazel's name before it's too late.
A Columbus Of Space
'A Columbus of Space' is a glorious story of adventure on Venus, published in 1909 and written by Garrett P. Serviss. This is first story ever reported about an atomic powered spacecraft. It is an precarious thriller written at a time when Venus was still doubted to only show one hemisphere to the Sun and Venusian life was still regard to be possible. The heroes of this, were in the middle of the cosmos, they were amazed when they saw the Earth. He is the first to take edge to the power of inter-atomic energy, which allows him to steer the Ocean of Ether and sale to the beaches of another world than ours. He builds a curious spool-shaped machine and sets sail into space, arriving with his companion on the planet Venus. Courageous travellers from each journey to the planet Venus, which always has one side facing the Sun. The night side is a frozen polar wasteland occupied by Neanderthal like humanoids, while the light side has an advanced, Greco-Roman classical type civilization. This is a tour to Venus on a craft that can travel a superb speed and is charged by something that sounds perhaps nuclear.
Rose Spoke Out: The Story of Rose Schneiderman
"An inspiring portrait of a woman committed to making a difference and whose influence is still felt to this day." --Kirkus Reviews A young Jewish immigrant from Poland, Rose Schneiderman went to work in a cap factory in New York City when she was just thirteen years old. She saw that women workers earned much less than men, that the factory was cold and dirty, without even clean water for the workers to drink. Rose spoke up for better conditions, and organized 20,000 women to walk out, leaving factories all over the city empty and still. Following the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in 1911, Rose's speech at the Metropolitan Opera House galvanized support for better working conditions. The International Ladies Garment Workers Union was born.Includes historical photos and bibliography, plus a note to families about tikkun olam, repairing the world, a core element of Jewish tradition.
Underground Scouts
Warsaw, PolandSeptember 8, 1939Their scoutmaster's chair squeaked as he shifted his weight. "What I am about to ask from all of you is a personal sacrifice on behalf of Poland. Your final decision is, of course, up to you. You must each make your own decision."A hush filled the room. The Scouts' pale faces betrayed the struggle that plagued them all.Tadzio broke the spell. "I mean no disrespect, Professor. I don't know why my father had to leave, but since he's gone, my family is my priority."Squaring her shoulders, Magdalena inched forward on her chair. "And earlier this week my father's brother and his wife were killed when a bomb hit their apartment building in Warsaw." Her voice quivered. "Now, we're also caring for our orphaned 11-year-old cousin, J籀zefina."Tadzio nodded. "Since I am the eldest son, my first responsibility is to my family.""Well spoken, son." Professor Handelsman studied Tadzio over the top of his glasses. "What about the rest of you?"Tadzio's patrol leader, Andrzej, spoke first. "This is what we've prepared for all summer. The Scout training we received in the Kampinos Forest these past few months-first aid, food storage, water purification, map reading skills, Morse Code, riflery-it all prepared us for this moment. I will give my all for Poland."Lech smoothed back his thick, black hair. "Andrzej's right. It's time to take a stand."First Lech, then Andrzej, and finally Lech's younger brother, Stefan, rose to their feet with raised chins, they punched their fists into the air and shouted in unison. "Czuwaj!Be vigilant! Stay awake! Be prepared!"Tadzio and Magdalena weren't prepared for their Polish Scoutmaster's challenge. Not until their parents disappeared. A Young Adult historical novel, Underground Scouts brings to light the brave efforts of Polish Boy Scouts and Girl Guides who fought alongside the Polish Underground during World War II.
Rowdy
Excitement runs high, and anxious emotions tug at Rowdy as the saga continues from award-winning author Chris Mullen.Life at the Circle 'R' stops abruptly with news that little Thomas and Anne Marie have been kidnapped by an old enemy, Cain. Shocked and enraged, Rowdy and Roberson set off to follow their trail, tracking the children over a mountain pass to the Tularosa Valley.With an early winter storm threatening their pursuit and a gang of relentless brigands on their trail, every moment is precious as they race to save the children's lives.But Cain has other plans in mind for his captors. Money and revenge are the only two things that matter, and-once he reaches the valley-nothing will stop him from having both.Forced to ignore pleas for help by a group of stranded travelers as desperation sets in, Rowdy must remember that he has one mission-save the children. But can he get there in time?"A rollicking western with plenty of heart." -Early Reader
Ellie and the Nubb Lane Players
Forced to beg, owned and misused, abused and pursued, Ellie is alone in the big, cruel city.Until she finds unlikely friends, in unlikely places, doing unlikely things.Ellie and her friends will never give in.
The Illiterate Daughter
In war torn Laos, thirteen-year-old Nou daydreams of the legendary heroes and mythical beings who live in the folklore stories she loves to hear. Remembering them helps her ignore physical pain as she struggles through the endless chores expected of a dutiful daughter. Each night, she examines the two books given to her by her ex-soldier father and prays for an end to the Vietnam War. Only peace will allow her to attend school and learn to read the secrets locked inside her wondrous books. In a late-night Communist attack on her village, Nou's home, books, and illusion of safety are lost in the deadly flames and rifle fire that follow. Although her family escapes into the jungle, they leave behind unknown numbers of dead and missing friends and neighbors. As her father desperately searches for a place to rebuild their home, he learns that the Communist soldiers who control the country are intent upon killing any man who fought alongside the Americans. Nou's family must flee their homeland or live under constant threat of imprisonment and torture. But escape from Laos requires a guide able to smuggle large numbers of refugees through the jungle's high mountain passes and across the Mekong River into Thailand, routes watched by patrols instructed to shoot to kill. While the number of dead who litter their escape route increases, Nou increasingly draws upon her "worthless" folklore heroes for help in getting her surviving family members closer to freedom.
The Bronze Dagger
Ina and Alan live in dangerous times, when many of the villages around them are rebelling against the Roman military occupation, and are frequently harassed by Roman soldiers looking for rebels. Ina finds a wounded fugitive who has a beautiful and unusual bronze dagger. Grandmother recognises it as the work of the children's father, who was taken away by the Roman soldiers many years before. Can the dagger lead Ina and Alan to their father? This unusual story is set in Lincolnshire at the time of Boudicca's uprising. The past comes to life in this exciting adventure story of the children's search for their father. Many of the places they visit and the roads they use are still exist today - but it was very different back then.
Flight of the Bumblebee
Nanjing, China, 1937. Eight-year-old Orange is uprooted from her comfortable home when the family is forced to flee from Japanese bombing raids. They take refuge in Chengdu, West China, where she grows up with her professor father, hard-working mother, two sisters, two brothers and Tianlu, a war orphan. At first, the irrepressible Orange hardly notices how hard life is for the adults around her. She is much too busy having adventures and getting into the inevitable scrapes. Her life is full of laughter, and the music that her family and their friends make. But as she comes of age and the war creeps closer, she begins to learn the joys and heartbreak of love and loss.About the Author: Huang Beijia is one of China's most important children's writers. Born in 1955. Writer, known in the 1980s for her stories about intellectuals, their emotional lives and Chinese masculinity. More recently better known for her children's books. Nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award 2020.About the Translator: Nicky Harman lives in the UK and is a full-time translator of Chinese literary works. She has won several awards, including the 2020 Special Book Award, China, the 2015 Mao Tai Cup People's Literature Chinese-English translation prize, and the 2013 China International Translation Contest, Chinese-to-English section. When not translating, she promotes contemporary Chinese fiction through teaching, blogs, talks and her work on Paper-Republic.org.
The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series
An adventure series filled with suspense, mystery, and fantasy - for kids ages 9-12 and teensNote: The paperback edition collects books 7-9 in a single volume and is not a boxed set.When word suddenly arrives about Xavier's most recent conquest-news so horrifying that it threatens to upend the lives and allegiance of all Sevlarians-Peter and his team are forced into action. But how will they stand a chance against the ruthless and unpredictable Xavier?To give themselves a fighting chance, Peter needs to come up with a way to take away Xavier's advantage, or at least level the playing field. Good meets evil head-to-head, and wit and ingenuity just might offer Peter's team a chance at victory. A very, very slim chance...Get all 3 books for the price 2 in one 500+ page volume!This Puzzled Series Collection includes: - Outrageously Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series: Book 7)- Ridiculously Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series: Book 8)- Unbelievably Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series: Book 9)The Puzzled Series is a one-of-a-kind mystery adventure that will capture the interest of kids, teenagers, and adults. You'll be scratching your head as you try to solve the puzzles and riddles along with the characters!
The Blood Years
Winner of the Sydney Taylor Book AwardNamed a best book of the year by the Boston Globe, Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, SLJ, ALA Booklist, the Horn Book, and moreRecipient of five starred reviewsFrom Michael L. Printz honoree & National Book Award finalist Elana K. Arnold comes the harrowing story of a young girl's struggle to survive the Holocaust in Romania.Frederieke Teitler and her older sister, Astra, live in a house, in a city, in a world divided. Their father ran out on them when Rieke was only six, leaving their mother a wreck and their grandfather as their only stable family. He's done his best to provide for them and shield them from antisemitism, but now, seven years later, being a Jew has become increasingly dangerous, even in their beloved home of Czernowitz, long considered a safe haven for Jewish people. And when Astra falls in love and starts pulling away from her, Rieke wonders if there's anything in her life she can count on--and, if so, if she has the power to hold on to it.Then--war breaks out in Europe. First the Russians, then the Germans, invade Czernowitz. Almost overnight, Rieke and Astra's world changes, and every day becomes a struggle: to keep their grandfather's business, to keep their home, to keep their lives. Rieke has long known that she exists in a world defined by those who have power and those who do not, and as those powers close in around her, she must decide whether holding on to her life might mean letting go of everything that has ever mattered to her--and if that's a choice she will even have the chance to make.Based on the true experiences of her grandmother's childhood in Holocaust-era Romania, award-winning author Elana K. Arnold weaves an unforgettable tale of love and loss in the darkest days of the twentieth century--and one young woman's will to survive them.
Ponderosa Pines
A fire begins in Deadwood, South Dakota and is soon raging through the Ponderosa Pine Forest of the Black Hills. Nine-year-old Annette, her siblings, and cousins are sent home from school early. Later in the evening, the children notice the smell of smoke. Turning on the television, they find out that the fire is actually very close. The newscast reveals that Annette's dad, uncle, and their fellow workers in the Homestake Gold Mine have been signaled to evacuate the mine and ordered to join the ranks of those fighting the fire. Radio and TV announcers let listeners know that Deadwood is being evacuated, and that residents in the nearby town of Lead, where Annette and her family live, should standby for further direction.It is a scary time for Annette, as her mom, aunt, siblings, and cousins, plan and prepare for possible evacuation. She must summon up the courage to go into the dreaded basement alone to collect supplies. Worse yet, when Mother experiences an asthma attack and sister Betty breaks her toe playing kickball, Aunt Dolly needs to drive them to the hospital, leaving Annette in charge of the other children. Annette faces her eleven siblings and cousins who look at her "like a bunch of lost puppies." In addition to coming up with ways to keep everyone occupied and calm, she must prepare supper for them, all the while worrying that they have no means of escaping, should they need to evacuate.
Outrageously Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series
An adventure series filled with mystery, suspense, and fantasy - for kids ages 9-12 and teensPeter's life, on the surface, is similar to most other kids in Grade 11: He's busy hanging out with friends, looking for new relationships, and studying hard to maintain good grades.But in reality, he has an enormous amount of responsibility on his shoulders now, namely his integral role in keeping Earth safe from evil weather gods.Although Peter and Zoltan's mission to recruit more "good" weather gods succeeded, meaning they might have finally assembled a big enough army to hold off Xavier, they have to remember one important thing: to always expect the unexpected...When word suddenly arrives about Xavier's most recent conquest-news so horrifying that it threatens to upend the lives and allegiance of all Sevlarians-Peter and his team are forced into action. But how will they stand a chance against the ruthless and unpredictable Xavier?
The Vanguards of Azad Hind
The year is 1943 in British India . . . Kayal is a 16-year-old freedom fighter who takes part in marches, burns British goods and sabotages trains-all without the knowledge of her law-abiding family. So, it comes as quite a surprise when Kayal discovers that her aunt Uma is a soldier in the Azad Hind Fauj, the all-volunteer Indian National Army from Southeast Asia led by Subhas Chandra Bose, which aims to free India! By what Kayal considers a huge stroke of luck, Uma agrees to take her along to a recruitment camp in Burma. Suddenly, the war, which had once seemed a distant thrill, now becomes a horrific reality. Packed with adventures of teenagers as they join military boot camps, and set off on the most exciting journey of their lives, The Vanguards of Azad Hind is an ode to the Azad Hind Fauj and its women's unit, the Rani of Jhansi regiment, whose soldiers proved to be trailblazers with their feisty passion to fight for India's freedom.
Ridiculously Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series
An adventure series filled with mystery, suspense, and fantasy - for kids ages 9-12 and teensPeter's school life and "relationship status" have become a roller coaster of unpredictable ups and downs. And these extremes often leave him totally confused about what to do and who to hang out with.A showdown with Xavier is imminent, but will be "for naught" if Peter's team can't get themselves ready in time. They know the atrocities the evil weather gods are capable of, and they realize how badly Zoltan needs more "fire power."And tensions are also starting to run high within those supporting Peter's cause. This head-butting threatens to damage the alliance they've formed, something Peter can't allow to happen.But thanks to a little-known secret about Sevlar's mysterious past, Peter sees the opportunity he has been hoping for. But one wrong move will spell disaster...
Unbelievably Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series
As badly as Peter wants to just enjoy being a normal kid in Grade 11-whose life would revolve around studying, working part-time, hanging out with friends, and going on dates-he knows he has an immense task to accomplish first: He has to defeat Xavier, once and for all.Peter's army of weather gods is extremely skillful, experienced, and crafty. But Xavier's troops-who significantly outnumber Peter's-are ruthless, unforgiving, and willing to go to any means to ensure Xavier gets what he wants.To give themselves a fighting chance, Peter needs to come up a way to take away Xavier's advantage, or at least level the playing field.Good meets evil head-to-head, and wit and ingenuity just might offer Peter's team a chance at victory. A very, very slim chance...
A Stroke of Magic
Ella and Alex are seven-year-old Italian American twins who often go to Discovery Casa, a retirement home where their mother works as a nurse. One day, while there, they meet Layla, a six-year-old Afro-Panamanian girl who goes to Discovery Casa to visit her Abuelita, who tells the three friends that there is a new resident named Art--but nobody knows anything about him because he doesn't speak to anyone. Curious, Ella, Alex, and Layla go on a mission to find out who he is and they soon discover that he is an artist who painted a rather unusual and, at first glance, incorrect painting: three dinosaurs on a beach, with a woman in the background. What is a woman doing among dinosaurs? They wonder. Before they know it, Art steps into his casa, wearing a white coat decorated with oil paint stains of different colors and a paintbrush in his pocket. Through a series of colorful and magical events, the paintbrush begins shimmering and shining, creating a glittery vortex that pulls the three friends into the painting and lands them on that very beach. This is when the real adventure begins: Ella, Alex, and Layla have traveled back in time thanks to Emet (which means Truth in Hebrew), the flamboyant, sarcastic, and knowledgeable paintbrush who, with a stroke of magic, will take them on many adventures throughout the series, where the children will meet pivotal figures that history has forgotten. In the first book, the pivotal figure is Mary Anning, the female paleontologist whose findings on England's Jurassic Coast contributed to the theory of evolution put forth by Charles Darwin and uncovered secrets about dinosaurs. However, many of her discoveries were unfairly credited to male paleontologists because of her gender, and as a result, history has overlooked her pioneering role.
We Are Wolves
This "hauntingly atmospheric" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review), heart-stopping middle grade novel follows three of the Wolfskinder, German children left to fend for themselves in the final days of World War II, as they struggle to hold onto themselves and each other while surviving in the wild.Sometimes it's good to be wild. Sometimes, you have to be. When the Russian Army marches into East Prussia at the end of World War II, the Wolf family must flee. Being caught by the Russians or the Americans would be the end for them. Liesl, Otto, and baby Mia's father has already been captured, and they get separated from their mother in a blizzard after only a few days on the run. Liesl had promised Mama that she'd keep her brother and sister safe, no matter what. They'll forage in the forests if they have to. Little do they know that there are hundreds of other parentless children doing the very same thing. And they far too quickly learn that, sometimes, to survive, you have to do bad things. Dangerous things. Wild things. Sometimes you must become a wolf.
The Lost Year
*A National Book Award Finalist*From the author of Nowhere Boy - called "a resistance novel for our times" by The New York Times - comes a brilliant middle-grade survival story that traces a harrowing family secret back to the Holodomor, a terrible famine that devastated Soviet Ukraine in the 1930s. Thirteen-year-old Matthew is miserable. His journalist dad is stuck overseas indefinitely, and his mom has moved in his one-hundred-year-old great-grandmother to ride out the pandemic, adding to his stress and isolation. But when Matthew finds a tattered black-and-white photo in his great-grandmother's belongings, he discovers a clue to a hidden chapter of her past, one that will lead to a life-shattering family secret. Set in alternating timelines that connect the present-day to the 1930s and the US to the USSR, Katherine Marsh's latest novel sheds fresh light on the Holodomor - the horrific famine that killed millions of Ukrainians, and which the Soviet government covered up for decades. An incredibly timely, page-turning story of family, survival, and sacrifice, inspired by Marsh's own family history, The Lost Year is perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys' Between Shades of Gray and Alan Gratz's Refugee.Lexile 710 L.
Chain of Iron
A #1 New York Times Bestseller! The Shadowhunters must catch a killer in Edwardian London in this dangerous and romantic sequel to the #1 New York Times bestselling novel Chain of Gold, from New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Cassandra Clare. Chain of Iron is a Shadowhunters novel. Cordelia Carstairs seems to have everything she ever wanted. She's engaged to marry James Herondale, the boy she has always loved; she has a new life in London with her best friend Lucie; and she bears the sword Cortana, a legendary hero's blade. But the truth is far grimmer. Cordelia's marriage is a lie, arranged to save her reputation, while James remains in love with the Grace Blackthorn. Cortana burns her when she touches it. And a serial murderer is targeting the Shadowhunters of London, killing under cover of darkness, then vanishing without a trace. Now Cordelia, James, and Lucie must follow the trail of the killer through the city's most dangerous streets. All the while, each is keeping a shocking secret: Lucie, that she is attempting to raise the dead; Cordelia, that she has sworn a dangerous oath of loyalty to a mysterious power; and James, that he himself may be the killer they seek.
Lizzie and the Guernsey Gang
Children's Christian Historical Fiction with educational appendix. Ages 7-12. Ideal for homeschoolers! Lizzie Browning loves her tiny, island-home of Guernsey. It's quaint and peaceful, but when Germans drop bombs on her beautiful beach, the island becomes a prison. For months, the big war in Europe has been nothing more than stories in the paper, but as the enemy marches in, those dreadful stories become her own. For Lizzie, younger brother Andre, and Cousin James, the time to escape is now, and they know just how to do it. Phillip Seifert, the odd boy from down the street, has all the makings of a genuine Nazi-lover. Lizzie knows better than to trust him, but somehow, he manages to worm his way into James's favor. With Hitler Youth menacing them, Lizzie can do little more than pray that Phillip doesn't get them all shot. Soon though, Lizzie learns her prayers aren't always answered the way she expects. God might actually plan for them to live under Nazi rule...forever.
28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto
Inspired by true events, David Safier's 28 Days: A Novel of Resistance in the Warsaw Ghetto is a harrowing historical YA that chronicles the brutality of the Holocaust. Warsaw, 1942. Sixteen-year old Mira smuggles food into the Ghetto to keep herself and her family alive. When she discovers that the entire Ghetto is to be "liquidated"--killed or "resettled" to concentration camps--she desperately tries to find a way to save her family. She meets a group of young people who are planning the unthinkable: an uprising against the occupying forces. Mira joins the resistance fighters who, with minimal supplies and weapons, end up holding out for twenty-eight days, longer than anyone had thought possible.
A Star Explodes
An exploding star in the year 1054 creates fascinating remnants still seen today The supernova of 1054 was one of the brightest supernova events recorded in history. And its remnant, the Crab Nebula, is still studied today. Beginning at the moment of a supernova explosion thousands of years ago, this story travels forward in time to 1054, the year people around the world saw the unparalleled light of an exploding star appear in Earth's sky. The story then travels deep into space to see the remnant of this supernova--the Crab Nebula--followed by a continuing trip forward in time. Taking a unique approach integrating astronomy, cultural history, and advances in technology, the book encourages readers to think about the world around them and their place in the universe. Told in minimal, poetic text with stunning watercolor and ink illustrations, the book closes with an invitation for readers to imagine a time when they, too, might see the rare event of a supernova shining in the sky.
Unbelievably Puzzled (The Puzzled Mystery Adventure Series
As badly as Peter wants to just enjoy being a normal kid in Grade 11-whose life would revolve around studying, working part-time, hanging out with friends, and going on dates-he knows he has an immense task to accomplish first: He has to defeat Xavier, once and for all.Peter's army of weather gods is extremely skillful, experienced, and crafty. But Xavier's troops-who significantly outnumber Peter's-are ruthless, unforgiving, and willing to go to any means to ensure Xavier gets what he wants.To give themselves a fighting chance, Peter needs to come up a way to take away Xavier's advantage, or at least level the playing field.Good meets evil head-to-head, and wit and ingenuity just might offer Peter's team a chance at victory. A very, very slim chance...
The Sweetest Betrayal
In this heart-pounding conclusion to The Kinder Poison trilogy--which People magazine proclaimed a "delicious high-stakes adventure"--war looms over Orkena, but can Zahru save her people without losing herself?War has come to Orkena.Zahru has risen as Mestrah, and she is determined to peacefully end the escalating tensions with Wyrim, her country's long-time enemy. Yet diplomacy proves to be futile, and when Zahru turns to Orkena's allies for help, she finds that none are willing to come to her aid--not without Kasta ruling at her side.As Wyrim advances on the capital, Zahru is desperate to protect her people, even if that means accepting Kasta's help. But her enemy is merciless. And as ambushes and betrayals push Zahru to increasingly dark tactics, she wonders if perhaps Kasta had it right all along: maybe peace was never an option ... and maybe she was never meant to do this alone.Can Zahru spare her enemy without sacrificing her kingdom? Or will Orkena's salvation only come if Zahru becomes the monster her people need?
The King's Men
Danger and challenge awaits Helgi, the young Icelandic boy, when he joins the service of King Olaf of Norway. The Norweigians in 1025 were just emerging from their medieval allegiance to the old folk gods. Feudal lords, unwilling to relinquish their powers to a king, make the divided country easy prey for its powerful neighbor Denmark. Helgi serves King Olaf as he attempts to unite the country and point a way to a new Norway. Historically accurate and full of adventure.
The Shoah in Colors
The purpose of this book is to illustrate, educate, and remind people of the brutal horror of the Holocaust through the art of my mother, Eva Fischer. It's important to not judge this era as remote, because it does not deserve to be forgotten.We must remember this out of respect for all those who were killed solely for being Jewish.We have to do this out of respect for their descendants.We must remember that denial is a preview of repetition. This dark historical era - the annihilation of the Jews will always remain a scar in history. It must never be repeated to any people, any human being, regardless of their race, creed, ethnicity, and gender.
Being Clem
The final novel in the award-winning Finding Langston trilogy from Coretta Scott King Author Honoree and Scott O'Dell Award medalist Lesa Cline-Ransome. Clem can make anybody, even his grumpy older sisters, smile with his jokes. But when his family receives news that his father has died in the infamous Port Chicago disaster, everything begins to fall apart. Clem's mother is forced to work long, tough hours as a maid for a wealthy white family. Soon Clem can barely recognize his home--and himself. Can he live up to his father's legacy? In her award-winning trilogy, Lesa Cline-Ransome masterfully recreates mid-twentieth century America through the eyes of three boys: Langston, Lymon, and, now, Clem. Exploring the impact of the Great Migration, the Harlem Renaissance, Jim Crow laws, and much more, Lesa's work manages at once to be both an intimate portrait of each boy and his family as well as a landscape of American history. A Kirkus Reviews Best Middle Grade Book of the YearA Chicago Public Library Best Book of the YearA CCBC ChoiceA Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books Blue Ribbon Book! A CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Book of the YearA Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection---Praise for Finding Langston, a Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book and winner of the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction "There aren't any explosions in this spare story. Nor is there a happy ending. Instead, Langston discovers something more enduring: solace."--The New York Times * "This crisply paced book is full of historical details of the Great Migration and the role a historic branch library played in preserving African American literary culture."--The Horn Book, Starred Review * "This is a story that will stay with readers long after they've finished it."--School Library Journal, Starred Review * "The impact on the reader could not be more powerful. A memorable debut novel."--Booklist, Starred Review * "A fascinating work of historical fiction . . . Cline-Ransome at her best."--Kirkus Reviews, Starred Review * "Finding Langston is about cultural heritage and personal growth and, at its heart, about finding home wherever you land."--Shelf Awareness, Starred Review
The Windy Hill
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it.This work is in the "public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.
Afterward, Everything Was Different
STARRED Reviews in Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, Booklist, Shelf Awareness A Best Book of the Year--Kirkus, The Times of London This "beautifully illustrated, nearly wordless book" (New York Times) set in the dawn of human life imagines how art and storytelling were born from the power of one young girl's observation. Once upon a time, during the Pleistocene, somewhere between two-and-a-half million and ten thousand years ago, small groups of people traveled their known world, hunting for food, seeking shelter, and slowly becoming more like the people we are today. As far back as 40,000 years ago (and maybe even earlier) people began drawing pictures on cave walls. And a bit later, they carved images onto stones. Some pictures are of humans, usually drawn as stick figures, but most are of animals. We don't know their purpose, though in some cases, evidence seems to suggest they were used for storytelling. But when we look at these pictures, we can't help but admire the extraordinary talent of the first artists. They aren't just scratches on the wall. They are great art. In this book of few words, we follow a young girl who notices everything that happens around her as her people search for a cave to shelter for the winter. And we can believe that she feels the absolute necessity to draw what she has seen and to tell stories. Afterward, Everything was Different features: Backmatter explaining what we know--and don't know--about cave drawings.Stunning black and white illustrations of life during the Pleistocene.An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids
Flor Fights Back
After Flor's mother dies in early 1969, she is left with her grandmother who refuses to accept Flor's identity as a trans girl. Flor decides that in order to be true to herself, she must leave home. She makes friends with Tami, a trans teenager, and the two girls meet adults who help them make their way in the queer and trans community of New York City. Invited to meet up with some new friends, the girls sneak into the Stonewall Inn on a night that leads to a police raid and violence. Will Flor escape the riot and continue her fight to live as she is? Readers can learn the real story of the Stonewall Riots from the nonfiction back matter in this Girls Survive story. A glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts are also provided.
The Blue Castle
The story is set during the 1920s in the fictional town of Deerwood, located in the Muskoka region of Ontario, Canada. Deerwood is based on Bala, Ontario, which Montgomery visited in 1922. Maps of the two towns show similarities.This novel is considered one of L.M. Montgomery's few adult works of fiction, along with A Tangled Web, and is the only book she wrote that is entirely set outside of Prince Edward Island. It has grown in popularity since being republished in 1990. The book was adapted for the stage twice; in 1982 it was made into a successful Polish musical, and ten years later Canadian playwright Hank Stinson authored another version, The Blue Castle: A Musical Love Story.Colleen McCullough, author of The Thorn Birds, evidently used The Blue Castle as the basis of her novel The Ladies of Missalonghi-subconsciously, as she alleged-to the point of provoking accusations of plagiarism.
Acts of Resistance: A Novel
Between 1943 and 1944, nearly 50,000 Bulgarian Jews were rescued from the Holocaust, including thousands who had already been rounded up and put on trains bound for death camps in Poland. Dominic Carrillo's suspenseful novel Acts of Resistance is based on the true story of this incredibly heroic effort by the citizens of Bulgaria. In Carrillo's powerful account, he skillfully weaves together a thrilling tale told by three alternating teenage narrators: Misho, Peter, and Lily.Misho, an 18-year-old Jewish boy, is a prominent archbishop's driver, hiding his identity while helping his boss directly challenge the Bulgarian government's pro-Nazi policies.Peter, 17, is determined to save his Jewish neighbors by confronting parliament members in the capital, then taking up arms to fight with a partisan rebel communist group.Lily, 19, works for the collaborationist government office in charge of evicting and deporting Jews to concentration camps. When she witnesses the evil results of her desk job, Lily becomes a spy who leaks information to Jewish community leaders in order to prevent further atrocities.As the characters' lives become more endangered and their unsung roles in saving Jewish citizens are revealed, the reader is treated to a tension-filled adventure surrounding one of the greatest unknown acts of heroism associated with the Holocaust. Acts of Resistance will have you on the edge of your seat as Misho, Peter, and Lily face and overcome extremely perilous situations, ultimately triumphing as they each help to lead the people of Bulgaria to rise up against the Nazis and save their nearly 50,000-strong Jewish population from extinction.
The Lost Spy and the Green Dress
For twelve year-old Motti, growing up in Israel in the 1960s, the world is full of mysteries to be solved, while his town is full of spies to be caught. His parents are Holocaust survivors, struggling to build a new life for themselves but, to Israeli-born Motti, they are nothing but an embarrassment. Unlike them, he will not be a victim; he will be bold and strong and fearless.So, when Motti and his best friend Reuven identify a suspicious, elderly man in the neighborhood as a potential German spy, they set out to unmask him, determined to root out the enemy and defeat him. Thus ensues a series of adventures, investigations, near misses and the repeated appearance of a green dress.Aided by Reuven's sister Aviva, they finally solve the case and, in the process, Motti uncovers some secrets closer to home, secrets like: what does his mother hide away in her private drawer? Why did she have to go on a trip to Germany? And what exactly is she refusing to say about her past?An homage to classic children's mystery books such as Enid Blyton's Secret Seven, this is a tightly-plotted, funny, and complex story which explores heavy themes - the Holocaust, trauma, mental health and poverty - with nuance, a lightness of touch and a cast of compelling young characters.
