Synopsis: “This rich volume is a national treasure.” —Kirkus Reviews (starred review)“Captivating, informative, and inspiring…Easy to follow and hard to put down.” —School Library Journal (starred review)The inspiring autobiography of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson, who helped launch Apollo 11.As a young girl, Katherine Johnson showed an exceptional aptitude for math. In school she quickly skipped ahead several grades and was soon studying complex…

Synopsis: Three starred reviews!“Harrowing but deeply illuminating.” —School Library JournalA young boy gets detained by ICE while crossing the border from Mexico to the United States in this timely and unflinching novel by award-winning author Alexandra Diaz.The bed creaks under Santiago’s shivering body. They say a person’s life flashes by before dying. But it’s not his whole life. Just the events that led to this. The important ones, and the ones…

Synopsis: In this utterly transporting debut about the power of words, the importance of friendship, and the magic of wonder, Curley Hines must decide whether to fight to save the mountain he calls home. Having lost most of his family to coal mining accidents as a little boy, Curley Hines lives with his grandfather in the Appalachian Mountains of Wonder Gap, Kentucky. Ever since Curley can remember, Papaw has been giving him a word each week to learn and…

Synopsis: Shares the story of how a plow horse about to go to slaughter became a champion show jumper and the winner of the 1958 show jumping Triple Crown.

Synopsis: Trapped for eleven days on a deserted island, Jane, Buzz, Carter and Vanessa must venture deeper into the jungles of the island, where they discover a secret and find danger at every turn.

Synopsis: A heartfelt contemporary middle grade novel about a girl who must try to save her aunt's failing pie shop, perfect for fans of The Thing About Jellyfish, Fish in a Tree--and The Great British Baking Show. When Cady Bennett is sent to live with the aunt she didn't even know she had in the quaint mountain town of Julian, she isn't sure what to expect. Cady isn't used to stability, after growing up homeless in San Diego with her dad. Now she's…

Synopsis: African Americans have resisted oppression from the moment they were first enslaved and transported to the New World of America in the 1600s. During the 1950s and 1960s, this resistance led to a widespread movement for civil rights in the United States. Readers will find out how the movement began, what obstacles activists faced, what impact the movement had on the country, and much more.

Synopsis: In this young readers' edition, a rising New York Times reporter tells the compelling story of the Compton Cowboys, a group of African-American men and women who defy stereotypes and continue the proud, centuries-old tradition of black cowboys in the heart of one of America's most notorious cities. In Compton, California, ten black riders on horseback cut an unusual profile, their cowboy hats tilted against the hot Los Angeles sun. They are…

Synopsis: Last summer, Quinnen was the star pitcher of her baseball team, the Panthers. They were headed for the championship, and her loudest supporter at every game was her best friend and older sister, Haley. This summer, everything is different. Haley's death, at the end of last summer, has left Quinnen and her parents reeling. Without Haley in the stands, Quinnen doesn't want to play baseball. It seems like nothing can fill the Haley-sized hole in…

Synopsis: STARRED REVIEW *“This powerful introduction to a great warrior and leader invites readers to ponder the meaning of ‘hero.’” ―Kirkus Reviews“Seamlessly integrates Lakota history and oral tradition. . . . A moving narrative that should be required reading for all students of American history.” ―School Library JournalThrough stories of Lakota leader Crazy Horse, a boy learns about his heritage and himself in this American Indian Youth Literature…

Synopsis: Presents information about the Great Depression that left millions of Americans without jobs, including how people struggled to make a living in a time of high unemployment and how the government tried to solve the country's economic troubles.

Synopsis: A little tree grows all alone on a cliff, by a vast and mighty sea. Through thundering storms and the cold of winter, the tree holds fast. Sustained by the natural world and the kindness and compassion of one little boy, eventually the tree grows until it can hold and shelter others. The resilience of the Hugging Tree calls to mind the potential in all of us: To thrive, despite times of struggle and difficulty. To nurture the little spark of…

Synopsis: Ten-year-old Marcus plans to become a professional basketball player, but when he, his twin sister, and their classmates meet a real star on a school field trip, they learn the importance of dreaming more than one career dream.

Synopsis: "This tender fable of peace will linger with both younger and older readers." -- PUBLISHERS WEEKLY (starred review) One morning in France during World War I, two young sisters stumble upon an astonishing find in the woods: a soldier who has walked away from battle longing to see his ailing younger brother. As the girls care for the soldier, he repays them by telling four tales about a humble donkey -- from the legend of Bethlehem to a myth of…

Synopsis: Twelve-year old Leah Nevins is NOT a fan of change. So when her parents start whispering about sending her beloved great-grandpa Zaide to an assisted living facility (hospital jail!), she is very resistant. Zaide's house, where her family gathers on Saturday afternoons, is the only place where Leah feels like she truly belongs. Sending Zaide away would change everything. Luckily Leah remembers a story Zaide once told her. To protect their family…

Synopsis: From the author of the Newbery Honor Book Everything on a WaffleWhen his mother decides on a whim to be a missionary in Africa and drags his unwilling father with her, Henry is left in the care of his Aunts Magnolia and Pigg. Henry's sure they dislike him and he's trying to keep his distance, but that becomes more difficult when Mag decides they should take a destination-less road trip. Mag, convalescing from an illness that makes her look like…

Synopsis: From the award-winning author of THE GREAT WALL OF LUCY WU comes a beautifully written and poignant story of family and loss, healing and friendship, and the great American pastime, baseball.Twelve-year-old Chinese American Peter Lee and his family always shared a passion for baseball, bonding over backlot games and the Pittsburgh Pirates. But when a devastating tragedy strikes, the family flies apart and Peter's mom becomes paralyzed by grief,…

Synopsis: The year is 1955, and there’s nothing that Paul and his best friends, Oz, Arnie, and Crank, love more than horror movies. So when Invasion of the Body Snatchers starts filming in their small California town, they couldn’t be more excited. But when their acquaintance with Laura and Darryl, extras on the movie, leads to an involvement in a possible Communist conspiracy, Paul is afraid that they’re in too deep. It’s not a horror movie anymore—this…