After seventeen year old Summer’s parents go on the run, she is placed in the care of Olu, a cousin she barely knows, but with Olu and friends’ efforts, stoic Summer eventually learns to open up.
Self acceptance
The Most Important Thing
“The animals are holding a meeting to decide which is the most important thing. They each advocate for their particular trait, but in the end the owl helps them realize they are all different and each have something unique to contribute.”
Fat Chance, Charlie Vega
People sometimes have a problem with that last one. Especially her mom. Charlie wants a good relationship with her body, but it’s hard, and her mom leaving a billion weight loss shakes on her dresser doesn’t help. The world and everyone in it have ideas about what she should look like: thinner, lighter, slimmer-faced, straighter-haired. Be smaller. Be whiter. Be quieter.
But there’s one person who’s always in Charlie’s corner: her best friend Amelia. Slim. Popular. Athletic. Totally dope. So when Charlie starts a tentative relationship with cute classmate Brian, the first worthwhile guy to notice her, everything is perfect until she learns one thing–he asked Amelia out first. So is she his second choice or what? Does he even really see her?
Sulwe
When five-year-old Sulwe’s classmates make fun of her dark skin, she tries lightening herself to no avail, but her encounter with a shooting star helps her understand there is beauty in every shade.
Featured in WOW Review Volume XIII, Issue 4.
The Water Bears
Thirteen-year-old Newt Gomez must confront his fears and accept uncertainty while coping with aftereffects of a bear attack and deciding between attending middle school on the mainland or his Pacific Northwest island home.
Such A Good Boy: (Dog Books For Kids, Pets For Children)
Buzz is a very good boy, who lives in a fancy house, eats well, and has equally well-behaved (boring) friends–but sometimes he would really like to break free, run fast, dig holes, and play with the other dogs.
Son of Happy
The boy in this story never wants to go to his friends’ birthday parties, because Happy the Clown is always there. And Happy is … his dad.
David Jumps In
It is David’s first day at his brand-new school. He doesn’t know anyone. At recess, he stands alone and watches the other children enjoying their activities on the playground, from practicing soccer moves and climbing monkey bars to playing hopscotch and daydreaming in the grass. Bundled deep inside David’s pocket is a string of rubber bands, knotted and ready for a game of elastic skip.
Leila in Saffron
Shy and unsure of herself, Leila discovers all the things that make her special with the loving help of her Naani.
Mira’s Curly Hair
Mira doesnt like her hair. It curls at the front. it curls as the back. It curls everywhere! She wants it be straight just like her mama’s. But then something unpredictable happens… and Mira will never look at her Mama’s hair the same again!