Halfway To Somewhere: (A Graphic Novel)

New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent’s divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel.

Madsi The True

Madsi has always loved the stories that her clever, strong willed sister, Lisbet, told her late at night in their cabin. Madsi never expected Lisbet to become one of those tales. But last year, her sister disappeared in the night, snatched away by the Northern Lights. This year when the Lights appear in the sky, Madsi begs them to free her sister and a girl falls to earth right in front of her. But it’s not Lisbet. This girl’s name is Torin, and she demands that Madsi take her to a witch who can put her back into the Lights, where she went by choice. Madsi doesn’t know what to believe but if she takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back. They set off, joined by Espen, an annoying (but surprisingly helpful) boy from Madsi’s village. Madsi has never thought of herself as brave, but as they endure the wilds and face monsters she’s only heard about in tales, she finds unexpected strength. Can she also find the truth of what happened to her sister?

The Perfect Place

Lucas goes to the perfect school in the perfect neighborhood. And when he gets perfect grades, he feels like he fits right in. But life at home is not so perfect. His dad’s old work truck keeps breaking down. His mom works long hours at her job at the diner. And Lucas has to share his small room with his baby sister. One night, Lucas is awakened by a strange light, which he follows all the way to the place where the perfect people live. Everything there is more beautiful than he could have imagined. But the longer Lucas stays, the more he wonders what it really means to be perfect. Does it mean never making mistakes? Does it mean rejecting his bustling neighborhood and his loving family? And what’s so great about being perfect, anyway?

Griso: The One And Only

The last of his kind, Griso travels the world searching for unicorn companions. He asks beetles, chameleons, and buffalos if they’ve seen any mythical creatures like him, and all send him on his way saying, “Neither here nor at the edge of the world.” Griso gallops across plains, marshes, and mountains, he trots into the sunset and chats with fearsome narwals by the sea. On each spread, we see Griso rendered in a new artistic style, portrayed as a shadowy cave painting, a chivalrous medieval stead, or lost along a mind-bending surrealist horizon.

The Queen Of Thieves (The Moonwind Mysteries)

Mika will do what it takes to uncover a string of thefts in the city―and keep her fellow orphans safe.After a merciless winter, spring has sprung in 1880 Stockholm, and the city awaits the arrival of the SS Vega, the first ship to have sailed the Northeast Passage. Life is busy at the orphanage, but twelve-year-old Mika quickly notices that the older orphans are up to something―and it doesn’t look good.When Constable Hoff approaches her with information about thefts around the city, Mika becomes even more concerned about what the other kids are up to―and what they might be planning for the Vega celebration. The police will have no sympathy for orphans, and she’d hate to see her friends condemned to life in jail.But Mika soon finds herself in a bind she can’t get out of―one that could condemn her own life. Can Mika uncover who is really behind the thefts in the city and keep her friends safe, without getting caught? Find out in this breathless sequel to The Night Raven.

Crash Landing

This YA debut is a searing ode to queer identity, growing up in an immigrant community, and carving a place for yourself in the world with the help of your friends. Jay Wong is spending the last languid days of summer 2010 trying to land a kickflip and begging for something (anything!) to make her senior year different―to finally give her some stories worth telling. When she meets Ash Chan, it seems like she’s getting what she asked for. Ash is confident, intensely independent, and hell on a skateboard―nothing like anyone Jay knows and exactly how she wishes she could be. Offering to film Ash’s submission to an upcoming skate contest introduces Jay to a side of Vancouver she’s never seen and gives her the chance to push back against the expectations placed on her. But Ash has a secret, and Jay is increasingly desperate to figure it out. As things between them ride the fine line between friendship and something more, Jay has to decide just how much Ash will impact all the choices she still has to make about where she’s going and who she wants to become.

Too Small Tola Makes It Count

In the fourth book of this irresistibly charming series, Tola finds creative solutions to her neighbors’ difficulties—but can Tola solve her own problem when her friends call her a liar?Lockdown is over and Too Small Tola is happy to be home with her family again in their apartment in Lagos, Nigeria. Tola loves solving problems, in both math and real life, and there are plenty of problems for her to tackle in their crowded building: Mrs. Shaky-Shaky is having trouble climbing the stairs to her apartment, Mr. and Mrs. Abdul need someone to watch sweet Baby Jide, and Grandmommy needs help deciding what to do on a day out with Tola. Luckily, Tola has ideas to help everyone! But how will Tola solve her own problem—the fact that her classmates don’t believe she worked for Mr. Diamond, the famous music star? One of the Odidi boys even calls her a liar! With support from her family, friends, and neighbors, Tola learns about true friendship and the power of self-belief. There’s no problem too big for Too Small Tola! Community, wit, and love abound in this latest story from award-winning author Atinuke, with whimsical illustrations by Onyinye Iwu.

Boozhoo! / Hello!

Hello! Who do you see and hear in the woods today? Meet a variety of woodland and water animals in this story written in Anishinaabemowin and English.Can you see a fox digging, spot two minnows dancing or hear a swarm of bees buzzing? Boozhoo! / Hello! introduces children to familiar animals as they go about their daily activities: walking, running, swimming, climbing and finally ― when the day is done ― sleeping! Illustrated in a vibrant and colorful woodland style that will appeal to readers young and old alike, and accompanied by an author’s note.Key Text FeaturesAuthor’s notetranslationsillustrationsCorrelates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.

Montezuma’s Tantrum (Aldana Libros)

Emperor Montezuma’s court tries everything to cure his bad mood in this delightful and hilarious story that sheds light on life in the Aztec empire—and the origins of hot chocolate.Montezuma is in a bad mood today. He doesn’t want to see anyone or do anything! The people in the palace are very worried. They try everything they can to make Montezuma smile. They bring gifts, make music, and even dance. What to do?This vibrantly illustrated picture book shares the enduring symbols of Aztec life, from Quetzalcóatl, the magnificent plumed serpent, to its temples, codices, drums, and Montezuma’s elaborate palace full of people and creatures. At the center of the story is xocolátl, a delicious treat enjoyed by Indigenous peoples of Mexico long before the Spaniards arrived. Today xocolátl (chocolate) is eaten, drunk, and enjoyed all over the world.But before all that happened, Montezuma had a tantrum…An Aldana Libros Book, Greystone Kids