The Middle East captures the richness and diversity of Middle Eastern culture, and places the region in its global context in a way that no other reference has done for this age group.
The Middle East
Religion
Islam (World Religions)
Provides an overiew of the history and origins, basic tenets and beliefs, organization, traditions, customs, rites, societal influences, and modern-day impact of Islam.
Roman Catholicism (World Religions)
An exploration of the origins and history, basic tenets and beliefs, organizations and structure, practices, influence, and contemporary role of the Catholic Church.
Buddhism (World Religions)
“Provides an overview of the history and origins, basic tenets and beliefs, organizations, traditions, customs, rites, societal and historical influences, and modern-day impact of Buddhism”–Provided by publisher.
A Faith Like Mine
A faith like mine is a 
celebration of the diversity of religious faith, as experienced through the daily lives of children around the world. What do other people believe? How do they pray? When are their holy days? What are the differences between churches, temples, & mosques? ” Come & visit us & our friends to find out what we believe in & how we practice our faith.”
Blue Flame: Book One of the Perfect Fire Trilogy
Many years have passed since the Occitanian knights killed Richard the Lionheart in a courageous battle to keep the Blue Flame–sparked at the moment of Christ’s death–from falling into the wrong hands. Now it is in danger once again, as enemies from the north draw near. In the midst of this looming battle, lifelong friends Raimon, son of a Cathar weaver, and Yolanda, daughter of a Catholic Count, are falling in love. But a new religious crusade is about to begin, setting boy against girl, family against family, neighbor against neighbor, south against north. Though many seek to possess the Blue Flame, only one person is destined to wield its power to save the people and the sovereignty of the Occitan.
A Stranger Calls Me Home
Set in New Zealand, this compelling, romantic tale is about three teenagers, Paul, Simon, and Fiona, who are trying to understand their past, their place in the present, and what the future holds for them. “[Deborah Savage’s] story explores some of the most interesting territory of YA fiction: identity and heritage, prejudice and acceptance . . . Her protagonists have the depth, character and complexity that mark a very good writer indeed.” — Publishers Weekly, starred review
Everything Beautiful
Riley Rose, atheist and bad girl, has been tricked into attending Spirit Ranch, a Christian camp. There she meets Dylan Kier, alumni camper and recent paraplegic, who arrives with a chip on his shoulder and a determination to perfect all of his bad habits. United in their personal suffering and in their irritation at their fellow campers, they turn the camp inside out as they question the meaning of belief systems, test their faith in each other, and ultimately settle a debate of the heart.
Out of the Shadows
Deep in the woods, a child with green-tinged skin and long matted hair awakens. She is Isabella Leland, daughter of a healer who was executed as a heretic some 300 years earlier. On her mother’s death, Isabella was taken in by the crow people—faierie folk—who can manipulate space and time. The first time she returned to the real world, Catholics ruled England. Now, those who follow the pope are regarded with suspicion and shunned. When Isabella emerges from her hiding place, she’s discovered by another outcast, Elizabeth Dyer, whose family follows the old ways. Elizabeth wants to befriend Isabella, but she has her own troubles. Her brother has brought home a priest in need of shelter. Hiding him is an act of treason, and his pursuers are closing in. Sarah Singleton has a gift for blending the seen and the unseen, the matter-of-fact and the magical, into a convincing whole. Here she offers a fast-paced plot—a cat-and-mouse game between hunter and hunted—while exploring questions about religious faith and fanaticism that will resonate with YA readers.
Alis
At fourteen, Alis has never been outside her strict religious community. But when her parents arrange for her to marry a forty-year-old man, she flees desperately to the dangerous, unfamiliar city. She learns quickly that the only way to survive there is to become a thief—or worse. Facing an impossible choice between a forced marriage or life on the streets, Alis seizes control of her own fate. But the path she chooses sets off a disastrous chain of events that leave her accused of murder. Steadfastly loyal, Alis must decide: will she betray a loved one or sacrifice herself?