Posts

Posted on

YA Poetry Recs

We’ve been reading a lot of novels-in-verse lately, so to celebrate National Poetry Month, here’s a list of some of our faves!

Amber and Clay
By Laura Amy Schlitz
Illustrated by Julia Iredale
544 Pages | Ages 10-14 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536201222 | Candlewick
In a warlike land of wind and sunlight, “ringed by a restless sea,” live Rhaskos and Melisto, spiritual twins with little in common beyond the violent and mysterious forces that dictate their lives. A Thracian slave in a Greek household, Rhaskos is as common as clay, a stable boy worth less than a donkey, much less a horse. Wrenched from his mother at a tender age, he nurtures in secret, aided by Socrates, his passions for art and philosophy. Melisto is a spoiled aristocrat, a girl as precious as amber but willful and wild. She’ll marry and be tamed – the curse of all highborn girls – but risk her life for a season first to serve Artemis, goddess of the hunt. Bound by destiny, Melisto and Rhaskos – Amber and Clay – never meet in the flesh. By the time they do, one of them is a ghost. But the thin line between life and death is just one boundary their unlikely friendship crosses. It takes an army of snarky gods and fearsome goddesses, slaves and masters, mothers and philosophers to help shape their story into a gorgeously distilled, symphonic tour de force. Blending verse, prose, and illustrated archaeological “artifacts,” this is a tale that vividly transcends time, an indelible reminder of the power of language to illuminate the over- and underworlds of human history.

Chlorine Sky
By Mahogany L. Browne
192 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593176399 | Crown BFYR
She looks me hard in my eyes
& my knees lock into tree trunks
My eyes don’t dance like my heartbeat racing
They stare straight back hot daggers.
I remember things will never be the same.
I remember things.
With gritty and heartbreaking honesty, Mahogany L. Browne delivers a novel-in-verse about broken promises, fast rumors, and when growing up means growing apart from your best friend.

Closer to Nowhere
By Ellen Hopkins
416 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593108611 | Putnam BFYR
For the most part, Hannah’s life is just how she wants it. She has two supportive parents, she’s popular at school, and she’s been killing it at gymnastics. But when her cousin Cal moves in with her family, everything changes. Cal tells half-truths and tall tales, pranks Hannah constantly, and seems to be the reason her parents are fighting more and more. Nothing is how it used to be. She knows that Cal went through a lot after his mom died and she is trying to be patient, but most days Hannah just wishes Cal never moved in. For his part, Cal is trying his hardest to fit in, but not everyone is as appreciative of his unique sense of humor and storytelling gifts as he is. Humor and stories might be his defense mechanism, but if Cal doesn’t let his walls down soon, he might push away the very people who are trying their best to love him. Told in verse from the alternating perspectives of Hannah and Cal, this is a story of two cousins who are more alike than they realize and the family they both want to save.

Concrete Kids
By Amyra León
Illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
96 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780593095195 | Penguin Workshop
Concrete Kids is an exploration of love and loss, melody and bloodshed. Musician, playwright, and educator Amyra León takes us on a poetic journey through her childhood in Harlem, as she navigates the intricacies of foster care, mourning, self-love, and resilience. In her signature free-verse style, she invites us all to dream with abandon – and to recognize the privilege it is to dream at all.

Every Body Looking
By Candice Iloh
416 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780525556206 | Dutton BFYR
When Ada leaves home for her freshman year at a Historically Black College, it’s the first time she’s ever been so far from her family – and the first time that she’s been able to make her own choices and to seek her place in this new world. As she stumbles deeper into the world of dance and explores her sexuality, she also begins to wrestle with her past – her mother’s struggle with addiction, her Nigerian father’s attempts to make a home for her. Ultimately, Ada discovers she needs to brush off the destiny others have chosen for her and claim full ownership of her body and her future.

Home Is Not a Country
By Safia Elhillo
224 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593177051 | Make Me A World
Nima doesn’t feel understood. By her mother, who grew up far away in a different land. By her suburban town, which makes her feel too much like an outsider to fit in and not enough like an outsider to belong somewhere else. At least she has her childhood friend Haitham, with whom she can let her guard down and be herself. Until she doesn’t. As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen, the name her parents didn’t give her at birth: Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might be more real than Nima knows. And more hungry. And the life Nima has, the one she keeps wishing were someone else’s . . . she might have to fight for it with a fierceness she never knew she had.

October Mourning: A Song for Matthew Shepard
By Lesléa Newman
144 Pages | Ages 14+ | Paperback
ISBN 9781536215779 | Candlewick
On the night of October 6, 1998, a gay twenty-one-year-old college student named Matthew Shepard was kidnapped from a Wyoming bar by two young men, savagely beaten, tied to a remote fence, and left to die. Gay Awareness Week was beginning at the University of Wyoming, and the keynote speaker was Lesléa Newman, discussing her book Heather Has Two Mommies. Shaken, the author addressed the large audience that gathered, but she remained haunted by Matthew’s murder. October Mourning, a novel in verse, is her deeply felt response to the events of that tragic day. Using her poetic imagination, the author creates fictitious monologues from various points of view, including the fence Matthew was tied to, the stars that watched over him, the deer that kept him company, and Matthew himself. More than a decade later, this stunning cycle of sixty-eight poems serves as an illumination for readers too young to remember, and as a powerful, enduring tribute to Matthew Shepard’s life. Back matter includes an epilogue, an afterword, explanations of poetic forms, and resources.

The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country
By Amanda Gorman
Foreword by Oprah Winfrey
32 Pages | All Ages | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593465271 | Viking BFYR
On January 20, 2021, Amanda Gorman became the sixth and youngest poet to deliver a poetry reading at a presidential inauguration. Taking the stage after the 46th president of the United States, Joe Biden, Gorman captivated the nation and brought hope to viewers around the globe. Her poem “The Hill We Climb: An Inaugural Poem for the Country” can now be cherished in this special gift edition. Including an enduring foreword by Oprah Winfrey, this keepsake celebrates the promise of America and affirms the power of poetry.

We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire
By Joy McCullough
400 Pages | Ages 14+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780525556053 | Dutton BFYR
Em Morales’s older sister was raped by another student after a frat party. A jury eventually found the rapist guilty on all counts – a remarkable verdict that Em felt more than a little responsible for, since she was her sister’s strongest advocate on social media during the trial. Her passion and outspokenness helped dissuade the DA from settling for a plea deal. Em’s family would have real justice. But the victory is short-lived. In a matter of minutes, justice vanishes as the judge turns the Morales family’s world upside down again by sentencing the rapist to no prison time. While her family is stunned, Em is literally sick with rage and guilt. To make matters worse, a news clip of her saying that the sentence makes her want to learn “how to use a sword” goes viral. From this low point, Em must find a new reason to go on and help her family heal, and she finds it in the unlikely form of the story of a fifteenth-century French noblewoman, Marguerite de Bressieux, who is legendary as an avenging knight for rape victims. We Are the Ashes, We Are the Fire is a searing and nuanced portrait of a young woman torn between a persistent desire for revenge and a burning need for hope.

Posted on

Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field Blog Tour Recap

A few weeks ago, the lovely people at Hear Our Voices Book Tours hosted a blog tour for Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field! We’ve rounded up their contributions below, make sure to check them out!

    • Hanna put together a lesson plan and classroom décor.
    • Musfira recreated the cover and did a fantastic job (in our humble opinion).

  • Komal interviewed author Angela Ahn.
  • Caroline posted a photo of Peter Lee with some snacks.

    • Melancholic Blithe‘s review also included a playlist, mood board, and bookmarks.
    • Anniej also interviewed Angela Ahn.
    • Sammie wrote a thoughtful review with some great quotes from the book.
    • Shenwei created fan art along with a review.
    • Fall Into Reading listed 15 thoughts while reading.
    • Laina gives the book a big recommendation.
    • Jenn is thinking of sharing the book with her classroom.
View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Jenn Gee (@jens.bookden)

Have you met Peter Lee yet? Let us know! And if not, we highly recommend getting to know him and his family – you can pick up Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field from your favorite bookstore now!

Peter Lee’s Notes From the Field
By Angela Ahn
Illustrated by Julie Kwon
312 Pages | Ages 9-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735268241 | Tundra Books
Eleven year-old Peter Lee has one goal in life: to become a paleontologist. Okay, maybe two: to get his genius kid-sister, L.B., to leave him alone. But his summer falls apart when his real-life dinosaur expedition turns out to be a bust, and he watches his dreams go up in a cloud of asthma-inducing dust. Even worse, his grandmother, Hammy, is sick, and no one will talk to Peter or L.B. about it. Perhaps his days as a scientist aren’t quite behind him yet. Armed with notebooks and pens, Peter puts his observation and experimental skills to the test to see what he can do for Hammy. If only he can get his sister to be quiet for once – he needs time to sketch out a plan.

Posted on

Journaling for Kids

Are you looking for ways to help your kids work through their thoughts and feelings? We recommend journaling! Here are some great books that will help them to express themselves creatively and encourage some mindfulness and reflection.

Find Your Happy Place: A Book of Mindful Activities
By Rodale
128 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593373705 | Rodale Kids
The ultimate mindfulness activity book for 5-8 year-olds. Includes more than 200 stickers! Jam-packed with exercises to help children manage their breath, thoughts, and feelings, this is the perfect activity book for those seeking tranquility in our turbulent times. Split over two sections that focus on mindfulness and emotions, Find Your Happy Place aims to help kids find calm, be present, and make sense of the jumble of feelings within. Each section is bursting with puzzles, games, drawing prompts, things to color, stickers, and other fun activities!

Me: A Compendium
By Wee Society
96 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780553459791 | Clarkson Potter
With design-savvy, yet completely kid-friendly illustrations, they’re asked to draw or write about a bunch of interesting things – like what their hair looks like, what their band name would be, what they’d bring to outer space, and how they feel about lightning, lizards and pickles. There may or may not be a place for super-secret stuff inside the book jacket. Whether kids complete their entire compendium on a rainy day, or finish it over a year, it’ll become a treasure to look back on and smile. Ideal for the holidays, rainy days and happy occasions of all kinds, this is an imagination-building gift will engage kids for hours on end!

Peaceful like a Panda
By Kira Willey
Illustrated by Anni Betts
96 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593179246 | Rodale Kids
These easy-to-follow exercises help kids calmly and mindfully navigate their day, from sunrise to sunset. With sections dedicated to key activities in a child’s routine – waking up, traveling, learning, playing, eating, and bedtime – kids can learn techniques for managing their bodies, breath, and emotions anywhere, anytime. Wake up bright and sunny, no matter the weather! Explore the world around you during travel. Boost your brain before learning, Make the most of your imagination at playtime.

Q&A A Day For Kids
By Betsy Franco
368 Pages | All Ages | Hardcover
ISBN 9780307952967 | Potter Style
Children’s author Betsy Franco poses a question each day with only a few lines provided for a response, making this journal the ultimate no-fuss record keeper. Simply turn to today’s date and record your child’s answer. When you finish the year, move on to the next section. The diary can be started on any day of the year and makes a terrific keepsake or gift for parents. As the years go by you’ll notice how your child’s answers evolve, sometimes silly, sometimes precocious, but always interesting.

Wreck This Journal 
By Keri Smith
224 Pages | All Ages | Paperback
ISBN 9780399161940 | Penguin Books
For anyone who’s ever had trouble starting, keeping, or finishing a journal or sketchbook comes this expanded edition of Wreck This Journal, a subversive illustrated book that challenges readers to muster up their best mistake- and mess-making abilities to fill the pages of the book – or destroy them. Through a series of creative and quirky prompts, acclaimed guerilla artist Keri Smith encourages journalers to engage in destructive acts – poking holes through pages, adding photos and defacing them, painting pages with coffee, coloring outside the lines, and more – in order to experience the true creative process. With Smith’s unique sensibility, readers are introduced to a new way of art- and journal-making, discovering novel ways to escape the fear of the blank page and fully engage in the creative process. To create is to destroy. Happy wrecking!

Wreck This Picture Book
By Keri Smith
64 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593111024 | Dial BFYR
What if there were a book that changed every time you read it? Actually, every book does this. We are all part of the books we read, because our individual reactions, ideas, and emotions make the book whole, and these things are changing all the time. Keri Smith has helped millions of people free their creativity and find their own voice with her interactive books, and now she brings that sensibility to children and to the act of reading. This picture book is an invitation to honor your own vision and to welcome imperfection. Kids will discover that reading can engage all five senses, and that what they themselves bring to a book is an important contribution. (And of course they’ll be invited to do a bit of harmless “wrecking”!)

Yoga for Kids
By Susannah Hoffman
Foreword by Patricia Arquette
72 Pages | Ages 6-9 | Paperback
ISBN 9781465475411 | DK Children
This book is packed with yoga activities for kids and mindful games. Kids can stretch into tree pose, bend into butterfly pose, learn how to make a mindfulness jar, and find out why and how we should stretch through a series of fun yoga poses and sequences. With more than 50 poses and activities, Yoga for Kids has everything you need to know about yoga for children. Children are guided through each pose, to make sure they achieve maximum fun and mindfulness in their yoga practice. Parents are given notes on each pose, to let them know what benefits it brings and how to stay safe. Yoga for kids shows that supporting a child’s positive mental health doesn’t need to be expensive, time-consuming, or difficult. Poses and activities help children to de-stress, focus, and get moving while having fun.

Posted on

Earth Day Books

Earth Day is coming up on April 22! Here’s a great list of new books to encourage awareness, action, and discussion with young readers.

A World of Plants
By Martin Jenkins
Illustrated by James Brown
64 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536215328 | Candlewick
Covering more than twenty-five subjects, from photosynthesis and permaculture to the hidden world of Victorian plant hunters, this stylish illustrated guide is packed with scientific insight into the critical role plants play in the drama of life on Earth. Did you know that some plants steal while others defend themselves against attack? That the largest cacti can reach sixty-six feet tall and weigh more than a car? That there are meat-eating plants the size of footballs? Readers young and old will marvel at the wondrous diversity and adaptability of plants, from trees and tropical species to those that have evolved to master extreme conditions. A brisk narrative bursting with facts – all carefully organized with maps and charts in richly patterned vintage-style illustrations – make for a vivid guide to all that grows . . . and a beautiful gift book for anyone interested in the environment.

How to Change Everything: The Young Human’s Guide to Protecting the Planet and Each Other
By Naomi Klein and Rebecca Stefoff
336 Pages | Ages 10+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780735270060 | Puffin Canada
Temperatures are rising all over the world, leading to wildfires, droughts, animal extinctions, and ferocious storms – climate change is real. But how did we get to this state, and what can we do next? What if we could work to protect the planet, while also taking action to make life fairer and more equal for the people who live on it? We can – if we’re willing to change everything. In her first book written for young readers, internationally acclaimed, bestselling author and social activist Naomi Klein, with Rebecca Steffof, lays out the facts and challenges of climate change and the movement for climate justice. Using examples of change and protest from around the world, including profiles of young activists from a wide range of backgrounds, Klein shows that young people are not just part of the climate change movement, they are leading the way. How to Change Everything will provide readers with clear information about how our planet is changing, but also, more importantly, with inspiration, ideas, and tools for action. Because young people can help build a better future. Young people can help decide what happens next. Young people can help change everything.

If You Take Away the Otter
By Susannah Buhrman-Deever
Illustrated by Matthew Trueman
32 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763689346 | Candlewick
On the Pacific Coast of North America, sea otters play, dive, and hunt for sea urchins, crabs, abalone, and fish in the lush kelp forests beneath the waves. But there was a time when people hunted the otters almost to extinction. Without sea otters to eat them, an army of hungry sea urchins grew and destroyed entire kelp forests. Fish and other animals that depended on the kelp were lost, too. But when people protected the sea otters with new laws, their numbers began to recover, and so did the kelp forests. Susannah Buhrman-Deever offers a beautifully written account of a trophic cascade, which happens when the removal of a single element affects an entire habitat. Asides that dig deeper are woven throughout Matthew Trueman’s dynamic illustrations, starring a raft of charismatic sea otters. Back matter includes more information about sea otters and kelp forests, including their importance and current status, the effects of the international fur trade on indigenous peoples, and a list of books and websites for readers who wish to continue to explore.

Kids Fight Plastic: How to Be a #2minutesuperhero
By Martin Dorey
Illustrated by Tim Wesson
128 Pages | Ages 7-10 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536212778 | Candlewick
Every kid can be a superhero, fighting plastic waste at home, at school, and in their community. This engaging guide is chockfull of facts, vibrant art, graphics, and #2minutesuperhero missions – practical ways to take action now. Some ideas may spring to mind right away, such as picking up trash. Others are surprising, such as learning to cook with fresh ingredients or mending clothes. Readers will learn not only how to combat plastic waste head-on, but how to advocate for a cleaner world, beginning at home. Anti-plastic campaigner Martin Dorey brings both extensive experience and boundless enthusiasm to this essential book for young people who want to create a better world.

Maxine and the Greatest Garden Ever
By Ruth Spiro
Illustrated by Holly Hatam
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780399186301 | Dial BFYR
After sketching and plotting and planting, Maxine and Leo know they’ve made The Greatest Garden Ever! But they’re not the only ones who think so. Soon, all sorts of animals make their way in, munching on carrots and knocking over pots. When Leo and Maxine can’t agree on a way to deter these unwelcome critters, it looks like there’s more on the line than saving their garden – they just might need to save their friendship too.

My Nana’s Garden
By Dawn Casey
Illustrated by Jessica Courtney-Tickle
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536217117 | Templar
A lyrical, stunningly illustrated book about love, loss, and the healing power of nature.  A little girl visits her grandmother in summer and winter, and together they explore the wonders of her garden. Until, one day, Nana isn’t there anymore. But as winter gives way to spring, the girl learns that life goes on, and so does the memory of those we love.

Rocket Says Clean Up!
By Nathan Bryon
Illustrated by Dapo Adeola
40 Pages | Ages 3-7 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593118993 | Random House BFYR
Rocket, is off to the islands to visit her grandparents. Her family loves nothing better than to beach comb and surf together . . . but the beach is clogged with trash! When she finds a turtle tangled in a net, Rocket decides that something must be done! Like a mini Greta Thunberg, our young activist’s enthusiasm brings everyone together . . . to clean up the beach and prevent plastics from spoiling nature.

Stand Up! Speak Up! A Story Inspired by the Climate Change Revolution
By Andrew Joyner
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593301586 | Schwartz & Wade
Celebrate young climate change activists in this charming story about an empowered girl who shows up, listens up, and ultimately, speaks up to inspire her community to take action against climate change. After attending a climate march, a young activist is motivated to make an effort and do her part to help the planet . . . by organizing volunteers to work to make green changes in their community, from cleaning a lake, to planting trees, to making composting bins, to hosting a clothing swap, and more! Here is an uplifting picture book that is an important reminder that no change is too small – and no person is too young – to make a difference.

Taking on the Plastics Crisis
By Hannah Testa
Illustrated by Ashley Lukashevsky
64 Pages | Ages 12+ | Paperback
ISBN 9780593223338 | Penguin Workshop
Youth activist Hannah Testa, founder of Hannah4Change, shares how she led a grassroots political campaign to successfully pass state legislation limiting single-use plastics and how she influenced global businesses to adopt more sustainable practices. Through her personal journey, readers can learn how they, too, can follow in Hannah’s footsteps and lower their carbon footprint by simply refusing single-use plastics.

This Book is Not Garbage: 50 Ways to Ditch Plastic, Reduce Trash, and Save the World!
By Isabel Thomas
Illustrated by Alex Paterson
208 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593308677 | Random House BFYR
Our planet is in peril and needs your help! If you want to learn to reduce waste and save the Earth, here are practical tips and projects that make a difference! Do you worry about the world’s waste? The bad news is, humans throw away too much trash. But the good news is, there are lots of easy ways you can get involved and make a difference! From ditching straws and banning glitter to hosting a plastic-free birthday party, helping to save the planet is not as difficult as you think. So, take control of your future! Become an eco-warrior instead of an eco-worrier and do your part to save the world from GARBAGE!

This Book Will (Help) Cool the Climate: 50 Ways to Cut Pollution and Protect Our Planet!
By Isabel Thomas
Illustrated by Alex Paterson
192 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593308707 | Random House BFYR
Our planet is heating up, and it needs your help! If you want to learn to reduce your carbon footprint and cool the Earth, here are practical tips and projects that make a difference! Are you concerned about climate change? The bad news is, global warming is a real problem that won’t go away on its own. But the good news is, there are lots of easy ways you can get involved and make a difference! From swapping your stuff to assigning your school some eco-homework, helping to save the planet is within your reach. Arm yourself with info about our changing world, become an eco-hero and take control of your future. It’s time to do your part to cool the climate!

What is Climate Change?
By Gail Herman
Illustrated by John Hinderliter
112 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9781524786151 | Penguin Workshop
The earth is definitely getting warmer. There’s no argument about that, but who or what is the cause? And why has climate change become a political issue? Are humans at fault? Is this just a natural development? While the vast majority of scientists who study the environment agree that humans play a large part in climate change, there is a counterargument. Author Gail Herman presents both sides of the debate in this fact-based, fair-minded, and well-researched book that looks at the subject from many perspectives, including scientific, social, and political.

Who is Greta Thunberg?
By Jill Leonard
Illustrated by Manuel Gutierrez
56 Pages | Ages 8-12 | Paperback
ISBN 9780593225677 | Penguin Workshop
When she was just fifteen years old, Greta Thunberg knew she wanted to change the world. With a hand-painted sign that read “School strike for the climate” in Swedish, Greta sat alone on the steps of the Swedish parliament to call for stronger action on climate change. Her one-person strike would soon spark a worldwide movement. This exciting story details the defining moments in Greta’s childhood that led up to her now-famous strike and all the monumental ones that have fueled her revolution since, including being named Time’s Most Influential Person of the Year in 2019.

Zee Grows a Tree
By Elizabeth Rusch
Illustrated by Will Hillenbrand
32 Pages | Ages 5-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9780763697549 | Candlewick
On the morning little Zee Cooper is born, a Douglas-fir seedling emerges from the nursery bed at her family’s Christmas tree farm. As Zee and the tree grow up together, they experience many of the same milestones. When Zee starts preschool, her tree is ready to start life outside the nursery. As Zee outgrows all her clothes, her tree grows taller, too. When Zee gets a whole new look for kindergarten, her tree gets a spiffy transformation as well. And as the years go on, Zee takes loving care of her tree, watering it through heat waves and protecting it from winter winds. Combining interesting details about how trees are grown and cared for on a farm with the sweet story of a friendship between a girl and her special tree, Zee Grows a Tree offers a blend of fiction and nonfiction that will draw the interest of young nature lovers everywhere. In the back of the book, readers will find an index, bibliography, and an author’s note suggesting some ways to enjoy a holiday tree without cutting one down.

Zonia’s Rain Forest
By Juana Martinez-Neal
40 Pages | Ages 4-8 | Hardcover
ISBN 9781536208450 | Candlewick
Zonia’s home is the Amazon rain forest, where it is always green and full of life. Every morning, the rain forest calls to Zonia, and every morning, she answers. She visits the sloth family, greets the giant anteater, and runs with the speedy jaguar. But one morning, the rain forest calls to her in a troubled voice. How will Zonia answer? Acclaimed author-illustrator Juana Martinez-Neal explores the wonders of the rain forest with Zonia, an Asháninka girl, in her joyful outdoor adventures. The engaging text emphasizes Zonia’s empowering bond with her home, while the illustrations – created on paper made from banana bark – burst with luxuriant greens and delicate details. Illuminating back matter includes a translation of the story in Asháninka, information on the Asháninka community, and resources on the Amazon rain forest and its wildlife.

Posted on

Meet the Flyy Girls

If you’re looking for a short, sweet, and totally addictive series to binge, let us introduce you to the Flyy Girls! Veteran author Ashley Woodfolk pens a gorgeous and dynamic series of four Harlem high schoolers, each facing a crossroads of friendship, family, and love and you can catch up with three of them right now!

Lux: The New Girl
By Ashley Woodfolk
144 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593096024 | Penguin Workshop
Lux Lawson is on a spree. Ever since her dad left, she’s been kicked out of every school that would take her, and this is her last chance: Harlem’s Augusta Savage School of the Arts. If this doesn’t work, Lux is off to military school, no questions asked. That means no more acting out, no more fights, and definitely no boyfriends. Focus on her photography and make nice friends. That’s the deal. Enter the Flyy Girls, three students who have it all together. The type of girls Lux needs to be friends with to stay out of trouble. And after charming her way into the group, Lux feels she’s on the right track. But every group has their secrets, including Lux. And when the past starts catching up with her, can she keep her place as a Flyy Girl? In this searing series opener, Lux takes center stage as she figures out just how hard it can be to start over.

Micah: The Good Girl
By Ashley Woodfolk
144 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593096055 | Penguin Workshop
Micah Dupree had always liked being the “good girl.” She was happy painting, going to church, and acing her school projects. After all, she had a perfect older brother to live up to. But when he unexpectedly dies, Micah’s world is turned upside-down. With her anxiety growing, a serious boyfriend in the picture, and new feelings emerging, Micah begins to question what being the “good girl” really means . . . and if it’s worth it, anyway.

Noelle: The Mean Girl
By Ashley Woodfolk
144 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593096086 | Penguin Workshop
There are only three things that matter to Noelle Lee: her family, school, and the cello. She doesn’t care if people see her as selfish or mean because she knows she has her priorities in order. That’s why when her dad loses his job, Noelle doesn’t hesitate to work more hours at her grandparents’ restaurant. Seeing her girls and dealing with her ex-boyfriend have to take a backseat so she can help her family and prepare for her school‘s fall showcase. But things get more complicated when Noelle realizes she can’t stop thinking about Tobyn, one of the other Flyy Girls. With her bad attitude getting even worse, Noelle starts to wonder if working hard even matters, especially if she can’t keep her life from falling apart around her.

Keep an eye out this August for the fourth installment to complete your collection!

Tobyn: The It Girl
By Ashley Woodfolk
144 Pages | Ages 12+ | Hardcover
ISBN 9780593096116 | Penguin Workshop
Tobyn Wolfe knows she’s destined to be a rock star. She sings, she dances, and she’s got that “It” factor. Her dreams are even closer within her reach when she meets Maybe Someday – an incredible all-female band – during a night out with her older sister, Devyn. Joining their band would be the perfect way to show off her amazing vocals. It’s too bad her mom can’t see this. She wants Tobyn to go to college and become a serious musician, not follow in Devyn’s footsteps and wind up a struggling artist. Can Tobyn prove to her mom that she knows what’s best, or will her dreams end up becoming a horrible nightmare?

Tundra Book Group