Newly arrived from Kazakhstan, twelve-year-old Maya Alazova resents the way her mother babies her brother, but when she leaves her English Language Learner program for mainstream classes and has to deal with a boy, a bully, and conflict at home, she finds her brother can help with their new culture in ways their parents can't.

Albert is not only the runt of his herd, he was born with an extra long trunk - a trunk that makes him feel ashamed and ostracized, so Albert runs away to the city. Unfortunately, his troubles continue as people and other animals tease and humiliate him. Then one morning Albert has the opportunity to turn his "disability" into a very special "ability." Will Albert finally find the friends and respect he craves? Trey Martin's Albert the Elephant delivers a powerful message about being different and finding one's special talents in that difference. His book is a personal triumph over being differently-abled in our public education system. Albert the Elephant is a tender, informative, must-read book for all school-age children (and parents, too).

The roar came closer. Headlights turned the corner from the highway onto the street where Lakeesha and Nancy stood. They looked at each other and then turned in unison to look toward the headlights. Nancy saw a long stick emerge from the window of the oncoming car. The engine roared, and the car leaped forward. Nancy froze in space and time. Her mind floated somewhere just above her motionless body. "Broom handle," Nancy thought calmly, watching it move in exquisite slow motion toward Lakeesha. That second stretched out like a rubber band, hours long. A brilliant flash of light made Nancy duck and blink. Then the broom handle hit Lakeesha with an awful crack. Nancy heard it even over the growling car that sped toward her and the ugly shouting from inside it. The stick disappeared inside the window. Another flash of light came from somewhere behind her. The car swerved. Nancy came back to life and jumped away as it shot past her