“A strong, accessible, and relevant story about modern families.” — Kirkus ReviewsJax has big plans for grade eight: seeing if his maybe-girlfriend, Samantha, will become his actual girlfriend, and being first trumpet in the school band.Enter Liv, the new girl Jax meets at band auditions. Liv’s a star on the trumpet too. In fact, she might be better than Jax.When Jax and Liv start rehearsing together, they go from duet partners to fast frie...

Key Selling PointsIn The King of Jam Sandwiches , ayoung teen is afraid to let anyone know what is going on at home.This book examines the effects of mental illness, poverty and parental neglect.This is a very personal story for Eric Walters, informed by his own experience.Eric Walters has written over 100 books and is an avid presenter visiting thousands of students each year.

Thirteen-year-old Houston Williams is smart. Very smart.So no one is surprised when he earns a scholarship to attend a prestigious NASA space camp. At the training facility he immediately bonds with his new team, including a girl named Teal. He also clashes with a girl on a rival team named Ashley, who matches or beats him in every exercise. The three of them impress the directors so much they are invited to join a top-secret research project that studies ...

From the bestselling coauthor of Broken Strings, "a sensitive and supportive approach to . . . the universal, ageless experiences of love and loss" ( Quill & Quire).A heartfelt new picture book from bestselling children's author Eric Walters ( From the Heart of Africa) and Halifax-based artist Carloe Liu. In this poignant story, we follow young Emily who has recently lost her grandfather. As she grows, she discovers a ser...

Thirteen-year-old Quinn and her friends can't believe their luck when spring break is extended an extra two weeks—even if it's because of some virus.But when the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic becomes apparent, everyone, not just the students, has to learn to adjust to their new reality. Quinn’s father is an ER doctor and has to self-isolate to protect his family from the virus. Isaac’s mother is the chief of police and now has to enforce new physical-di...

A child donates a can of food to their school food drive. But in an unexpected twist, they come to understand what it means to give and receive.A child is excited to donate a can of their favorite Zoodelicious to the school food drive. Their teacher has explained that the food will be given to people in need, along with mittens from the “mitten tree.”In the classroom, there’s a carpet with one hundred squares, and the goal is to fill each square with a can ...

So what if Harmony has to be the grown-up?After months living in a foster home (again), Harmony convinces a judge that she can move back in with her mother. Her mom even finds an apartment that the social worker, Gloria, can't find fault with. But now Harmony has an even bigger battle ahead—trying to keep her mom on the straight and narrow, or at least keep Gloria from finding out when she slips. Which she does. A lot. Often left to fend for herself, Harmony finds ...

Nine-year-old Andrew’s parents run an animal rescue center from their home. When they get a call about a wolf hit by a vehicle, they rush to the scene to find the wolf's three orphaned wolf pups.The pups are unable to survive on their own, and the family brings them home to care for them. Andrew forms a strong bond with the pups, feeding them and even sleeping outside their pen so they feel less scared. He promises to do everything he can so the pups can be re-rele...

"Each plotline has something in it to challenge readers . . . Cliffhangers and elephants will keep readers engaged"—from the award-winning author ( Kirkus Reviews).We Bought a Zoo meets Jurassic Park in a gripping story featuring the evergreen appeal of human-animal friendships and set in an elephant sanctuary, about a thirteen-year-old girl, a cast of elephants, and a surprising new arrival—a woolly mammoth.Sam was born and raised ...

Ali is an eighth-grade kid with a lot going on.Between the pressure from his immigrant parents to ace every class, his crush on Melissa, who lives in the rich area of town while he and his family live in a shabby apartment complex, and trying his best to fit in with his friends, he feels like he’s being pulled in too many different directions.But harder still, Ali is becoming increasingly aware of the racism around him. Comments from his friends about Pakis...

When all technology breaks down and he’s far from home, thirteen-year-old Jamie learns he’s stronger (and braver) than he thought he was in this dystopian adventure.Thirteen-year-old Jamie’s plane is just taking off when something goes terribly wrong. The lights go out, communications halts and the engine stops. After a bumpy landing, Jamie realizes it’s not just his flight. All the other planes have been grounded too. And every car on the road has stopped in its t...

★ “This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful.”—Kirkus Reviews, starred reviewKenyan orphans, Kitoo and Nigosi, spend their days studying, playing soccer, helping their elders with chores around the orphanage and reading from the limited selection of books in their library. When the librarian gives Kitoo a copy of Sports Around the World he becomes fascinated b...