Michael Arroyo has a pitching arm that throws serious heat. But his firepower is nothing compared to the heat Michael faces in his day-to-day life. Newly orphaned after his father led the familyas escape from Cuba, Michaelas only family is his seventeen-yearold brother Carlos. If Social Services hears of their situation, they will be separated in the foster-care systemaor worse, sent back to Cuba. Together, the boys carry on alone, dodging bills and anyone who asks too many questions. But then someone wonders how a twelve-year-old boy could possibly throw with as much power as Michael Arroyo throws. With no way to prove his age, no birth certificate, and no parent to fight for his cause, Michaelas secret world is blown wide open, and he discovers that family can come from the most unexpected sources.

More than anything Boots Raymond wants to be a quarterback for the Apollos. But because of his size, the coach assigns him to a tackle position—and there's no arguing with the coach. Boots rebels and almost quits the team. It seems that nothing can change his mind, but his brother Tom intercepts and teaches Boot something valuable he learned from playing football and being a soldier.

Matty is the team captain of the local soccer club, the Strikers. His team is talented, well-funded, and polished -- but Matty can't help but feel that something's missing. He hasn't improved his own skills in a while, and wonders if he needs to switch things up in order to keep improving. So, he decides to head out to the local park to kick it with some of the street ball kids. Matty figures he'll run right through the disorganized teens. Instead, he gets a swift kick in the pants! These kids are talented -- and they play hard and fast -- making Matty wonder what matters most when it comes to soccer skills . . .

Ready, set, go! Layla and the Bots are heading to the races! Pick a book. Grow a Reader!This series is part of Scholastic's early chapter book line Branches, aimed at newly independent readers. With easy-to-read text, high-interest content, fast-paced plots, and illustrations on every page, these books will boost reading confidence and stamina. Branches books help readers grow!Blossom Valley is hosting a go-kart race! The go-karts are provided for all the kids in town. Layla and the Bots can't wait for race day! But one racer, Tina, needs their help. She needs a new cart that uses hand-controls and other cool features. Layla and the Bots know just what to do... they will build her a brand-new cart that's even faster than her wheelchair! But will Tina's go-kart have enough speed to win the race? With full-color artwork on every page and speech bubbles throughout, this early chapter book series brings kid-friendly STEAM topics to young readers!

"A timeless and triumphant story of courage in the face of opposition." -Foreword Reviews (starred review) "20 Super Sports Books for Kids of All Ages!" -We Are Teachers It's 1974. Title IX has passed two years ago, but Louisa's high school still refuses to fund an all girls' basketball team. After hearing Gloria Steinem speak, Louisa learns an important lesson: "The truth will set you free, but first it will piss you off." Now what can she do but stand up and fight back? When Louisa asks her principal to start a girls team, she's soon viciously targeted by male coaches at her school, lied to by the school board, and dismissed as "out of line" as she fights for a fair chance to be an athlete. No Stopping Us Now is a story about finding one's own voice through the joys of sports, love, and the power of sisterhood. Based on the author's true story, it is a compelling examination of the courage it takes to stand up for what's right. Young adult, LGBTQ historical fiction perfect for the 50th anniversary of Title IX.

Pedro Morales loves playing basketball, but he's more of a team guy than a star - that would be Ned Hancock, the best player in their entire town. The two boys get along well, but their friendship is threatened when Pedro decides to run against Ned for class president. The election starts to affect their team, and Pedro learns who his real friends are and the best way to work together on and off the court.

Ben is at his happiest playing for United and is getting top marks from the coach. But every day at school is a trial for Ben, as he struggles to hide a huge secret from his teachers and classmates. Ben's secret is starting to affect his game - can he swallow his pride and ask for help before he sidelines himself - for good?

The 7th book in the bestselling Fly Guy series--with fun foil covers
When Fly Guy and Buzz play hide-and-seek, Fly Guy hides in his favorite place--the garbage can. But as Buzz finishes counting, the garbageman drives away with the garbage and Fly Guy, too A very worried Buzz follows the truck to the dump, where he sees zillions of flies. Where is Fly Guy?
Time after time, Buzz thinks he spies Fly Guy, only to be snubbed, boinked, or bitten. Then he realizes they've been playing a game. He yells, "I give up. You win " And Fly Guy leaves his new hiding place--he was on top of Buzz's hat all along

Jim Nardi could be the Vulcans' number one linebacker. He's fast and strong, and he has good hands. But he also has one major problem: He's afraid of being tackled. His teammates are disgusted with him, and his older brother, the Vulcans' coach, is disappointed. Then one person steps forward to give Jim the help he needs—but will it be enough?

A fun and playful seasonal twist on "The Itsy Bitsy Spider" makes this favorite nursery rhyme perfect for wintertime! The itsy bitsy snowman went sledding into town, looking at the snowflakes softly falling down. Out came his friends to lend a happy hand. And everything was perfect in his winter wonderland. Little ones will love this fresh winter spin on a classic nursery rhyme, as one little snowman sleds through a winter wonderland.

In this third installment of the Pup Detectives graphic novel series, the pup detectives have to collect clues to find their school’s missing mascot before the big game!

When the beloved Pawston Elementary School mascot goes missing, Rider Woofson and his fellow pup detectives smell trouble on the soccer field. But when the star player on the team also goes missing just before the biggest match of the season, they know they have a super-foul mystery on their paws. There are more suspects than there are clues, but these persistent pups won’t give up until they score a win for good guys everywhere!

Jake and Kamik are finally ready to run their first dog sled race with a full team! But there is a lot to do to prepare, and Jake must follow his uncle's lead if he and his dogs are going to be ready for the early spring race. Kamik Takes the Lead is the fourth installment in the Kamik series of books following Kamik: An Inuit Puppy Story, Kamik's First Sled, and Kamik Joins the Pack. Books in this series share traditional dog-rearing practices and dog-training techniques from the remote community of Arviat, Nunavut, through the life memories of community members. These books preserve the rich history of working dogs in Nunavut and celebrate the traditional bond between Inuit and their sled dogs. Building on the dog-training practices outlined in Kamik Joins the Pack, Arviat, Nunavut, author and dog musher Darryl Baker shares with young readers the basic information needed to prepare a dog team for a race.

Cam Jansen and her best friend Eric are spending three weeks at Camp Eagle Lake, and they couldn't be more excited. But mysteries seem to follow supersleuth Cam everywhere, and it isn't long before she's using her photographic memory to "Click, Click" and save the day

In "The First Day of Camp Mystery, " Cam's and Eric's parents have just brought them to camp when the lockbox with everyone's spending money goes missing. Can Cam find the thief? Then, in "It's a Raid , " Cam's bunk is raided. She and her new friends search out the culprit, and might even raid them back In "The Basketball Mystery, " Cam and Eric discover that all the sports equipment has been stolen, along with the prizes for the end-of-season banquet. Can Cam solve the case in time?

These three Cam Jansen mysteries are super special indeed, and make for perfect summer reading

It's tough being the new kid at Carver Elementary. Gavin had lots of friends at his old school, but the kids here don't even know that he's pretty good at skateboarding, or how awesome he is at soccer. And when his classmate Richard comes over and the boys end up in trouble, not only does Gavin risk losing his one new friend, he has to take care of his great aunt Myrtle's horrible little dog as punishment.To make matters worse, Gavin seems to have attracted the attention of the school bully. Will he be able to avoid getting pounded at the skate park? And how is he ever going to prove he's cool with a yappy little Pomeranian wearing a pink bow at his side?

Lissa is obsessed with Ancestral, the latest and greatest battle arena co-op game out there-and she's really good at it. If she wants to get to the top, she will have to band together with her best friend Ji-Soo-and their friends Ray, Zio, Jae-Jin and Lucas-to become Team Phoenix. With the support of former pro Esport-player, Devon, Team Phoenix trains day and night for the upcoming Regional Championships. But the road to victory has its twists and turns: Lissa is haunted by the loss of her brother, Ji-Soo's got a crush on Jae-Jin, and they're up against the number one team in the region, Mastermind, a group of frat boys who aren't afraid to play dirty. The odds feel stacked against them, but Team Phoenix is determined to rise from the ashes.

New dog, no tricks! Becket Branch has one birthday wish--a dog! Dogs are outgoing and friendly, and they live life loud, just like Becket. Becket's twin, Nicholas, wants a pet more like him--a peaceful, quiet indoor cat. When their parents take them to the shelter to choose a dog and a cat, it should be Becket's biggest BEAUTIFUL ALERT ever. But Becket's dream dog, Dibs, turns out to be a super-shy scaredy-pooch. Meanwhile, Nicholas's kitty, Given, loves being the center of attention and greeting visitors to Blackberry Farm. Can Becket and Nicholas learn how to love Dibs and Given as they are--even if they aren't exactly the pets the twins dreamed of? With black-and-white drawings throughout by award-winning illustrator LeUyen Pham (Real Friends), this second volume of the Blackberry Farm series offers a gentle message about embracing new friends who may not match preconceived expectations.

A wordless picture-book journey through the Boundary Waters, canoeing and camping with a family as they encounter the northwoods wilderness in all its spectacular beauty It's a place of wordless wonder: the wilderness of the Boundary Waters on the Minnesota–Canada border. Travel its vast distances, canoe its streams and glacial lakes, take shelter from rain under a rocky outcropping (or in your tent), camp in its vaulting forests as stars embroider the darkening sky. Is this your first visit? Or is it already your favorite destination?  Come along—join a family of three as their journey unfolds, picture by picture, marking the changing light as the day passes, the stillness before the gathering storm, the shining waters everywhere, rushing here, quietly pooling there, beckoning us ever onward into nature’s infinite wildness one summer up north.

Nikko loves bedtime. That's because his bed turns into a magical wrestling ring for the masked luchadores that he loves. They bounce up and down like crazy. His mom, of course, doesn't believe Nikko. She accuses him of jumping on his bed. But that's just not true at all. She just can't see what Nikko sees. And to prove his point-zoosh! Here comes luchador numero UNO with a golden mask and a silver cape. Oh, wow. Number TWO wears an orange mask with yellow flames. Another looks like a jaguar and he growls! A rooster! A bull with horns! And a dragon that breathes fire! And so it goes until TEN luchadores are jumping on Nikko's bed. That's when the Great and Mighty Nikko puts on his mask, taking on all ten wrestlers at once and defeating them soundly. Ahh, a fresh victory under his belt, now it's time for Mighty Nikko to catch some zzzzzs! Artist and storyteller Xavier Garza is celebrated for his lucha libre picture books and chapter books. Maxmillian and the Mystery of the Guardian Angel was a Pura Belpre Honor Book, 2012, and a ALA Notable Book, 2012. Xavier, who is a much requested storyteller for schools, has been a featured speaker at the American Library Association (REFORMA), the Tucson Book Festival, and the Texas Library Association.