Inspired by the true story of an African childhood lived on the edge of destitution, award-winning Elizabeth Laird's The Garbage King takes readers on an unforgettable emotional journey. When Mamo's mother dies, he is abandoned in the shanties of Addis Ababa. Stolen by a child-trafficker and sold to a farmer, he is cruelly treated. Escaping back to the city, he meets another, very different runaway. Dani is rich, educated - and fleeing his tyrannical father. Together they join a gang of homeless street boys who survive only by mutual bonds of trust and total dependence on each other.

Everyone has something to brag about in EllRay's third-grade class. Corey's on the swim team, Kevin is super tall, Jared's dad has an ATV (with flames ). But what about EllRay? He isn't about to gloat about how his geologist dad collects rocks. Boring Or is it? The crystals in his dad's office are really cool looking. And if EllRay just "borrows" them to show his classmates, he knows they be impressed. He'll be a rock star-literally And his dad will never have to know. It's a fail-safe plan . . . until everything doesn't go according to plan.

Luisa is repeatedly teased and called "weird" by her classmate Sam, even though she is simply being herself--laughing with her friends, answering questions in class, greeting her father in Spanish, and wearing her favorite polka-dot boots. Luisa initially reacts to the bullying by withdrawing and hiding her colorful nature. But with the support of her teachers, parents, classmates, and one special friend named Jayla, she is able to reclaim her color and resist Sam's put-downs.
The Weird Series
These three books tell the story of an ongoing case of bullying from three third graders' perspectives. Luisa describes being targeted by bullying in "Weird "Jayla shares her experience as a bystander to bullying in "Dare "And in "Tough , "Sam speaks from the point of view of someone initiating bullying. Kids will easily relate to Luisa, Jayla, and Sam, as each girl has her own unique experience, eventually learning how to face her challenges with the help of friends, peers, and caring adults.
Part of the Bully Free Kids(TM) line

A riveting graphic novel that reminds us to never stop dreaming. This honest, engrossing graphic memoir tells the story of professional athlete and activist Akim Aliu's incredible life as a hockey prodigy in Canada. Akim Aliu - also known as "Dreamer" - is a Ukrainian-Nigerian-Canadian professional ice hockey player whose career took him all around the world and who experienced systemic racism at every turn. Dreamer tells Akim's incredible story, from being the only Black child in his Ukrainian community, to his family struggling to make ends meet while living in Toronto, to confronting the racist violence he often experienced both on and off the ice. "With honesty and courage, Akim Aliu's Dreamer will inspire readers of all ages to move confidently in the direction of their future." - Colin Kaepernick Full-colour illustration Sure to inspire young readers everywhere Akim has partnered with the Time to Dream Foundation and the Hockey Diversity Alliance to help their mission to eradicate racism and intolerance in hockey Akim continues to play hockey professionally in Europe

A troubled teen. A rescued Rottweiler. An unlikely friendship. JD Dobbs is back in town after spending the summer upstate. No one believes his story about visiting his aunt, and it's pretty clear that he has something to hide. It's also pretty clear that his mom made a new friend while he was away a rescued Rottweiler that JD immediately renames Johnny Rotten (yes, after that guy in the Sex Pistols).Both tough but damaged, JD and Johnny slowly learn to trust each other, but their newfound bond is threatened by a treacherous friend and one snap of Johnny's powerful jaws. As the secrets JD has tried so hard to keep under wraps start to unravel, he suddenly has something much bigger to worry about: saving his dog.This is a heart-stealing story about a boy and his dog from New York Times bestselling author Michael Northrop.

The Same Inside is a sweet and thoughtful collection of poems about friendship, empathy and respect by three of the nation's best-loved poets, Liz Brownlee, Matt Goodfellow and Roger Stevens.

These fifty poems deal sensitively with feelings, empathy, respect, courtesy, bullying, disability and responsibility. They are the perfect springboard to start conversations.

Fifteen-year-old Muzna Saleem is passionate about writing and dreams of becoming a novelist. There’s just one problem - her super-controlling parents have already planned her life out for her:

Step 1) Get educated

Step 2) Qualify as a doctor

Step 3) Marry a cousin from Pakistan. Oh, and boyfriends are totally haram.

No one is more surprised than humble Muzna when high school hottie, Arif Malik, takes an interest in her. But Arif and his brother are angry at the West for demonizing Islam and hiding a terrible secret. As Arif begins to lead Muzna down a dark path, she faces a terrible choice: keep quiet and betray her beliefs, or speak up and betray her heart?

I Am Thunder is the debut novel from stunning YA voice, Muhammad Khan, which questions how far you'll go to stand up for what you believe.

The wonderful long-awaited second novel from Pam Smy, the celebrated author and illustrator of Thornhill. Covering themes of families, childhood, domestic violence, being separated and reunited, this is an important and beautifully illustrated book for middle grade readers right up to adults. 'The Hideaway by Pam Smy is a work of art. Smy is the genius writer and illustrator of the stunning Thornhill. Smy takes children's books to another level. Highly recommend.' - David Walliams The wonderful long-awaited second novel from Pam Smy, celebrated author and illustrator of Thornhill. The Hideaway tells the story of a boy, Billy McKenna, who runs away from a difficult situation at home and takes refuge in an overgrown graveyard. While hiding there he meets an elderly man who is tending the graves in preparation for a day in November when something magical is set to happen. The book is written in two alternating narratives, both different aspects of the same story. One thread tells of Billy's experience of hiding away in the graveyard, his mixed-up feelings and emotions, and the supernatural events he eventually witnesses. The other tells of his mother's situation at home and the police search for Billy. Covering themes of family, childhood, separation and reunion, domestic violence and doing the right thing, this is an important and beautiful book for middle grade readers right up to adults. Billy's story is illustrated throughout with tonal and textured black and white drawings, until the event on All Souls' Eve, when the text gives way to a series of double page images of the supernatural happening. The Hideaway is a compelling, exciting and emotional story that will stay with you long after you finish the last page.

Squirt Saves the Day tells a tale of friendship, heroism, and self discovery as Squirt, a lovable stinkbug, is confronted by bullies at his new school. In overcoming rejection he learns that the best way to deal with problems is head on. By doing what must be done, he gains the respect and admiration of the whole school. The book is full of colorful illustrations that will win children's hearts and teach them that, if a little stinkbug can conquer his fears, so can they.

Philly native Roberta Forest is a precocious rebel with the soul of a poet. The thirteen-year-old is young, gifted, black, and Catholic-although she's uncertain about the Catholic part after she calls Thomas Jefferson a hypocrite for enslaving people and her nun responds with a racist insult. Their ensuing fight makes Roberta question God and the important adults in her life, all of whom seem to see truth as gray when Roberta believes it's black or white. An upcoming essay contest, writing poetry, and reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X all help Roberta cope with the various difficulties she's experiencing in her life, including her parent's troubled marriage. But when she's told she's ineligible to compete in the school's essay contest, her explosive reaction to the news leads to a confrontation with her mother, who shares some family truths Roberta isn't ready for. Set against the backdrop of Watergate and the post-civil rights movement era, Malcolm and Me is a gritty yet graceful examination of the anguish teens experience when their growing awareness of themselves and the world around them unravels their sense of security-a coming-of-age tale of truth-telling, faith, family, forgiveness, and social activism.

This is an educational book about a real life story and contains some upsetting themes. It should be introduced in an environment where children can talk and learn in a supported way. For children with the cognitive age of 8+. Breck is a strong and fearless knight. When he is be-friended by a Troll called Lewis, all is not as it seems. Is it all just a fantasy? Or a terrible truth within? Based on the tragic events around the grooming of Breck Bednar. 'Breck and the Online Troll' is designed for special needs and lower age students to introduce basic online and grooming safety to children. This book has been created to be used with children with the cognitive age of 8+. Share the message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreckfoundation/ Instagram @breckfoundation Twitter: @thebreckfound Website: www.breckfoundation.org

This is an educational book about a real life story and contains some upsetting themes. It should be introduced in an environment where children can talk and learn in a supported way. For children with the cognitive age of 12+. Breck is a 14-year-old boy, with friends, family and a love for gaming. When he is befriended online by 18-year-old Lewis, the lies that Lewis constructs destroy Breck and his loved ones' realities forever. Based on the tragic events around the grooming of 14-year-old Breck Bednar the play 'Play Virtual, Live Real' is designed for special needs and lower ability children to introduce online safety and grooming awareness. This play has been created to be used with children with the cognitive age of 12+. Designed with a six-week scheme of work to support teachers and students through this heartbreaking story. Share the message on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thebreckfoundation/ Instagram @breckfoundation Twitter: @thebreckfound Website: www.breckfoundation.org

Massie's room is chock full of new things from Santa, including a roommate, Claire. However, Claire isn't the only one moving in on her territory. Alicia's hot, Spanish cousin, Nina, shows up from Spain and starts moving in on all the Briarwood boys.

Melody Sullivan is falling apart after the death of her mother. The 16-year-old pours her cynicism and grief into poetry and an intense relationship with her powerhouse best friend, Yasmina Khdour. When Melody's father drags her to an overseas archeology conference in Jerusalem, she is left to wander alone. Hanging out on a Tel Aviv beach, smoking dope with her Israeli cousins and their army buddies, sounds like fun until she is sexually assaulted by a friend of her cousin. She cannot share this devastating truth with her emotionally distant dad and impulsively flees to Hebron where Yasmina is visiting her family. As a Palestinian, Yasmina is unable to enter Jerusalem. Melody's only other source of solace is Aaron Shapiro, a shy, religious boy back home with an awkward crush on her, but Aaron's anxious texts make it clear he believes she's wandering into enemy territory. This is a story about trauma and taking emotional risks, about facing internal demons and the external realities of war and occupation, about finding oneself in the most unexpected places.

This powerful and poignant coming-of-age middle grade debut novel follows an Arab American girl named Yasmeen as she moves to San Antonio with her family and navigates finding friendship-and herself. Perfect for fans of Other Words for Home, Front Desk, and American as Paneer Pie. When twelve-year-old Yasmeen Khoury moves with her family to San Antonio, all she wants to do is fit in. But her classmates in Texas are nothing like her friends in the predominantly Arab neighborhood back in Detroit where she grew up. Almost immediately, Yasmeen feels like the odd girl out, and as she faces middle school mean girls and tries to make new friends, she feels more alone than ever before. Then Yasmeen meets her neighbor, Ayelet Cohen, a first-generation Israeli American. As the two girls grow closer, Yasmeen is grateful to know someone who understands what it feels like when your parents' idea of home is half a world away. But when Yasmeen's grandmother moves in after her home in Jerusalem is destroyed, Yasmeen and Ayelet must grapple with how much closer the events of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict are than they'd realized. As Yasmeen begins to develop her own understandings of home, heritage, and most importantly, herself, can the two girls learn there's more that brings them together than might tear them apart . . . and that peace begins with them? A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD GOLD STANDARD SELECTION!

Join some very enterprising mice in this funny, festive book from best-selling creator of Percy the Park Keeper, Nick Butterworth. A great Christmas gift! Christmas time, a happy time - or so it should be. But for two small mice, Lottie and Jack, Christmas Eve is overshadowed by one big problem... That Cat. How can they stop him from spoiling everything? Their friend, the wise rat, Ton Chee, has an idea involving a little golden bell ... but will it work?