A Kirkus Best Book of 2017 * A New York Public Library Best Book of the Year * An ALA/YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Selection Read the book Morris Award finalist Sonia Patel called "a brilliant, subtle debut," and Kirkus hailed as "heart-wrenching, funny, hopeful, and not-to-be-missed" in a starred review! The Closest I've Come is a must-read from talented first-time author Fred Aceves, in the tradition of Walter Dean Myers. Marcos Rivas yearns for love, a working cell phone, and maybe a pair of sneakers that aren't falling apart. But more than anything, Marcos wants to get out of Maesta, his hood, away from his indifferent mom and her abusive boyfriend-which seems impossible. When Marcos is placed in a new after-school program, he meets Zach and Amy, whose friendship inspires Marcos to open up to his Maesta crew, too, and starts to think more about his future and what he has to fight for. Marcos ultimately learns that bravery isn't about acting tough and being macho; it's about being true to yourself. The Closest I've Come is a story about traversing real and imagined boundaries, about discovering new things in the world, and about discovering yourself, too.

Open a dialogue with the children in your life about the importance of love and acceptance with this Silver Moonbeam Award Winner story celebrating open mindedness, diversity, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Perfect for your family library or a storytime read-aloud for any day of the year. It's love that makes a family. When a boy confides in his friend about bullies saying he doesn't have a real family, he discovers that his friend's parents-a mom and a dad-and his two dads are actually very much alike. Dr. Michael Genhart's debut story is the perfect resource to gently discuss discrimination with kids. This sweet and straightforward story shows that gay families and straight families and everything in between are all different kinds of normal. What makes a family real is the love that is shared. Love Is Love is the book for you if you're looking for: LGBTQ+ books for kids Books about diversity for kids Books about equality for kids

My Skin Your Skin is a powerful book to help children and adults have meaningful discussions about race and anti-racism. Most importantly, the book empowers children to be the best versions of themselves; to have self-love, self-esteem and self-worth, irrespective of their skin colour. This book was specifically written by Early Years expert and children's media creator, Laura Henry-Allain MBE, to support parents, teachers and carers to explain what racism is, why it is wrong, and what children can do if they see it or experience it. It also explores how important it is for children to celebrate their achievements and greatness. Fully-illustrated throughout by talented illustrator Onyinye Iwu, My Skin, Your Skin is aimed at children aged four and above. Containing explanations on key words and concepts written in child-friendly, accessible language, with relatable examples, this book supports children's understanding in building an anti-racist stance from an early age. It is perfect to read at home, and in classrooms, to support your child's life-long learning journey.

Mia and her best friends are up against a major super bully in this third adventure of the Mia Mayhem chapter book series!

When a super annoying villain (who’s actually another superhero) arrives at THE PITS and accuses Mia of not belonging, Mia doesn’t know what to do. Will she be able to hold her ground when she goes up against the Super Bully?

With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Mia Mayhem chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.

Fourteen-year-old Emily Prince has just moved to Windsor, Ontario. As if trying to make friends in a new school is not stressful enough, Emily's abusive mother does not care if she ever fits in. Emily is her victim.

With a vanished father and a mother who hates her, it seems there is no one who can rescue Emily from her fate-until she meets her neighbor across the street. Dean Bouche is drop-dead gorgeous and blessed with an intoxicating laugh. Better yet, he attends St. Gervase's Catholic High School, just like her. As Emily and Dean begin a complicated relationship, her secret life is exposed and she discovers that Dean is not who he appears to be. But when all her new friends suddenly become obsessed with the bird-like birthmark she sports on her shoulder and Dean goes missing, Emily suddenly realizes that something is wrong-very wrong.

"Shapeshifter's Mark" is the gripping story of one girl's struggle to overcome abuse as she is unwittingly immersed into a strange new world where she soon discovers the truth about her destiny.

From the author of On the Edge and Snitch comes a dangerous, sexy novel perfect for fans of Simone Elkeles. With romance, action, and realistic friendships, this is a gripping story about finding out where you belong, discovering the power to make a difference, and finding true love along the way. When Gabby Perez is almost drugged at a nightclub, she decides to take action. Teaming up with a mysterious stranger known as X, the two go after a gang that's drugging and kidnapping innocent girls off the Miami streets and forcing them into prostitution. As their search deepens, Gabby and X can't ignore their undeniable attraction to each other. Then Gabby discovers the truth about who X really is and the danger that surrounds him. Can their love survive the light of day? Light of Day is set in the same world as On the Edge (readers will recognize some of their favorite characters in this book) and features a diverse cast.

A quirky kid donates her beloved panda sweater, and through this act of sacrifice gains a new friend. With whimsical, contemporary artwork, this story balances the topic of selflessness with humor and heart, while also offering an opportunity to talk about bullying, sharing and self-confidence.

Lily is having a tricky day at school. She is missing her Mum... and Boris Boreham and Trixie Temperton are being mean. Everything is going wrong, and Lily can't wait to get home for the weekend. But...the weekend goes too fast, and Lily has worries about the new school week. Joe has worries too, but luckily Mum and Dad have a clever way of helping the children feel confident and happier. Lily and Joe's parents share a magical way to manage life's tricky situations, using photos, drawing materials, imagination and LOVE! Together they create a special Bubble of Love, and think about what makes them unique, and all the people who love them. As they draw the 'walls' of their Bubbles, Lily and Joe feel safer and stronger... As they think about their special people, they feel absolutely loved. But things don't always go smoothly, and Lily must practice new ways of thinking and being. Watch as the children grow 'brave muscles'. Learn how Lily and Joe grow confidence and ability to deal with tricky people and situations. But above all, experience how the children carry the love of their family wherever they go!

'Lizzie has been able to embody the power of hope and compassion in everything she does. Stories like hers keep me inspired every day.' Michelle Obama 'Lizzie is making our culture a kinder one by encouraging people to undermine hate through self-acceptance and everyday acts of empathy. Her heart and humour shine through on every page!' -Lilly Singh, entertainer, comedian and author of How to Be a Bawse Celebrated motivational speaker and YouTube sensation Lizzie Velasquez shows us how we can learn to accept all parts of ourselves and others to create a culture of kindness and a more compassionate world. Born with a rare genetic condition, Lizzie Velasquez always knew she was different, but it wasn't until she was much older that she understood what that meant to others. At seventeen she came across a viral video entitled 'World's Ugliest Woman'- only to discover that it featured her. In response, she decided to stand up on behalf of victims everywhere and created one of YouTube's most popular motivational channels and a TEDx talk that has drawn tens of millions of viewers. In this daring, inspiring book, Lizzie reveals the hidden forces that give rise to self-doubt, shame and cruelty, and empowers us to redirect them to unlock empathy and kindness for ourselves and others. Through her own battles with anxiety and coping with disappointment, she demonstrates how we can overcome obstacles and move forward with greater positivity. Dare to Be Kind presents the path to acceptance, love and tolerance, and offers a blueprint for how to lead a resilient life and, ultimately, forge a radically compassionate world.

There are two sides to every story. It's friends-at-first-sight for Jessie and Annie, proving the old adage that opposites attract. Shy, anxious Jessie would give anything to have Annie's beauty and confidence. And Annie thinks Jessie has the perfect life, with her close-knit family and killer grades. They're BFFs . . . until suddenly they're not. Told through alternating points of view, How It Ends is the story of a friendship from first meeting to breakup, set against a tumultuous sophomore year of bullying, boys, and backstabbing. Catherine Lo makes her debut with an honest, nuanced tale about the intricacies of female friendship.

Every day Jimmy takes 'Skinny Kid's' lunch at school. No way will he be caught dead standing in that FREE LUNCH line. Even when he's called into the principal's office, Jimmy just shrugs. "Yeah. Whatever." Until a surprising act of kindness stops him in his tracks. For a split second a door cracks open into Jimmy's heart. Who knows? Maybe he'll just kick that door right open.

Jamie Kidding finds a semi-automatic handgun in an inner-city dumpster. An aspiring artist, Jamie initially resorts to his notebook to record the reality of his complicated life with his mother, his deadbeat stepfather and the bullies he faces daily at his high school. Gradually, the weapon takes over Jamie's life and his imagination, tantalizing him with deadly solutions to his personal troubles. Seduced by a sense of power, one fateful day he takes the gun to school. Jamie's Got a Gun is a hypbrid of novel, film noir, and comic/graphic novel.

The fourth book in the internationally bestselling series that includes The Breadwinner, Parvana's Journey and Mud City. In this stunning sequel, Parvana, now fifteen, is found in a bombed-out school and held as a suspected terrorist by American troops in Afghanistan. On a military base in Afghanistan, after the fall of the Taliban in 2001, American authorities have just imprisoned a teenaged girl found in a bombed-out school. The army major thinks she may be a terrorist working with the Taliban. The girl does not respond to questions in any language and remains silent, even when she is threatened, harassed and mistreated over several days. The only clue to her identity is a tattered shoulder bag containing papers that refer to people named Shauzia, Nooria, Leila, Asif, Hassan -- and Parvana. In this long-awaited sequel, Parvana is now fifteen years old. As she waits for foreign military forces to determine her fate, she remembers the past four years of her life. Reunited with her mother and sisters, she has been living in a village where her mother has finally managed to open a school for girls. But even though the Taliban has been driven from the government, the country is still at war, and many continue to view the education and freedom of girls and women with suspicion and fear. As her family settles into the routine of running the school, Parvana, a bit to her surprise, finds herself restless and bored. She even thinks of running away. But when local men threaten the school and her family, she must draw on every ounce of bravery and resilience she possesses to survive the disaster that kills her mother, destroys the school, and puts her own life in jeopardy. A riveting page-turner, Deborah Ellis's final novel in the series is at once harrowing, inspiring and thought-provoking. And, yes, in the end, Parvana is reunited with her childhood friend, Shauzia. The paperback edition includes a new cover and map, and an author's note to provide background and context. Royalties from the sale of this book will go to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Parvana's Fund supports education projects for Afghan women and children. Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.5.3 Compare and contrast two or more characters, settings, or events in a story or drama, drawing on specific details in the text (e.g., how characters interact). CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.9 Compare and contrast texts in different forms or genres (e.g., stories and poems; historical novels and fantasy stories) in terms of their approaches to similar themes and topics.

There s a lot more going on in this town than meets the eye. This blended fiction mystery is served with a side order of the supernatural or is it science? All of this changes when his interest in robotics lands him an invitation to join four of his classmates in a secret group called The League of Scientists. John and his new friends Malene, Dev, Natsumi and Kimmey, pool their knowledge of biology, technology, logic, and chemistry to unravel mysteries that haunt the quiet town of East Rapids. The League is in a race against time to uncover the secret of the ghost who is terrorizing the middle school swimming pool. Join the League as they run out the clock in Ghost in the Water, the first adventure in this new and exciting The League of Scientists science mystery series "

In this striking new novel by the critically acclaimed author of Allegedly and Monday's Not Coming, Tiffany D. Jackson tells the story of three Brooklyn teens who plot to turn their murdered friend into a major rap star by pretending he's still alive. Brooklyn, 1998. Biggie Smalls was right: Things done changed. But that doesn't mean that Quadir and Jarrell are cool letting their best friend Steph's music lie forgotten under his bed after he's murdered-not when his rhymes could turn any Bed Stuy corner into a party. With the help of Steph's younger sister Jasmine, they come up with a plan to promote Steph's music under a new rap name: the Architect. Soon, everyone wants a piece of him. When his demo catches the attention of a hotheaded music label rep, the trio must prove Steph's talent from beyond the grave. As the pressure of keeping their secret grows, Quadir, Jarrell, and Jasmine are forced to confront the truth about what happened to Steph. Only, each has something to hide. And with everything riding on Steph's fame, they need to decide what they stand for or lose all that they've worked so hard to hold on to-including each other.

From the critically acclaimed author of Waiting for Normal and All Rise for the Honorable Perry T. Cook, Leslie Connor, comes a deeply poignant and beautifully crafted story about self-reliance, redemption, and hope.

Mason Buttle is the biggest, sweatiest kid in his grade, and everyone knows he can barely read or write. Mason’s learning disabilities are compounded by grief. Fifteen months ago, Mason’s best friend, Benny Kilmartin, turned up dead in the Buttle family’s orchard.

An investigation drags on, and Mason, honest as the day is long, can’t understand why Lieutenant Baird won’t believe the story Mason has told about that day.

Both Mason and his new friend, tiny Calvin Chumsky, are relentlessly bullied by the other boys in their neighborhood, so they create an underground haven for themselves. When Calvin goes missing, Mason finds himself in trouble again. He’s desperate to figure out what happened to Calvin and, eventually, Benny.

But will anyone believe him?

How can Ralph be so mean? Lucy is one of a kind and Ralph loves to point that out. Lucy's defining moment comes when Ralph truly needs help. Because she knows what she stands for, Lucy has the courage to make a good choice. This charming story empowers children to always do the right thing and be proud of themselves, even when they are faced with someone as challenging as Ralph. ?Como puede ser Ralph tan cruel? Lucy es especial, y Ralph no pierde ocasion de hacerlo notar. La oportunidad de Lucy se presenta cuando Ralph se encuentra en un apuro y necesita ayuda. Lucy sabe bien que debe hacer, y tiene el valor de tomar la decision correcta. Esta encantadora historia refuerza en los ninos la importancia de hacer siempre lo que es correcto y de sentirse orgullosos de ellos mismos, incluso cuando se enfrentan a alguien tan bravucon como Ralph.