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Daughter of Dragons (The Legacy of Dragons #1)
by Jack CampbellThe legacy of Mari and Alain blazes ahead in this brand-new sequel to The Pillars of Reality series.The Great Guilds had conspired for centuries to keep Dematr unchanged. The Mechanics Guild kept secret the technolgy for steam locomotion, rifles, and far-talkers, leaving most people to live in a world of oil lamps, crossbows, and horse cavalry, while the Mages treated all others as if they were nothing — until Master Mechanic Mari, dragon slayer and pirate queen, and Master of Mages Alain raised the army of the new day to free their world.Kira of Pacta Servanda, the daughter of the two greatest heroes of her world, was six years old the day she stood on a battlement in Dorcastle, kept safe from the nearby crowds by bodyguards as she stared up at a statue of her mother. As the morning sun cast the shadow of Mari’s statue over Kira, she realized that she would spend the rest of her life in that shade.Then the world of Dematr learned that a new kind of ship had left the far-distant world of Urth. The ship would take just 10 years to cover the immense distances between stars. Of all the colony worlds, the ship was coming to Dematr. But for what purpose? Kira was 16 when the ship from Urth arrived, and she discovered that her world still needed heroes.
Blood of Dragons (The Legacy of Dragons #2)
by Jack CampbellTwenty years after the war that overthrew the Great Guilds, the Empire is vowing to avenge the massive defeat of the Imperial legions at Dorcastle. Aiding the Imperials are renegade Mechanics and Mages still loyal to the old Guilds or employed by the Empire.But before they can launch an all-out war, the Imperials must eliminate a major threat: Kira, daughter of Master Mechanic Mari and Master of Mages Alain. Kidnapped and imprisoned, Kira has to escape and avoid recapture as the full might of the Empire is aimed at her. Her only hope lies in the skills she has mastered; her indomitable spirit; and the unfailing aid of Jason, her boyfriend from the distant world of Urth.With the Imperial legions closing in and thousands of lives riding on her efforts, Kira has to use every weapon available to her, including special abilities she has kept secret until now - abilities that may prove to be as dangerous as the enemy forces. Mari and Alain must come to Kira's aid and work to create an alliance against the Empire.If they fail, a deadlier new war will erupt, with every soldier carrying a rifle instead of a sword or crossbow - and the Peace of the Daughter will end in a bloodbath."A fun and action packed adventure ... Steampunk and fantasy are probably two of my most favorite genres so it’s always fun to read a book that mashes them together in interesting ways." - The Arched Doorway
Fair Coin (Coin #1)
by E. C. MyersWhen you have magic on your side, anything is possible. At least that’s what Ephraim Scott thinks when he first discovers the unusual coin that grants his wishes. With it Ephraim overhauls his troubled home life and also his nonexistent love life. He even tries to help his friends with their problems.But every wish comes with a twist. Each flip of the coin gives Ephraim what he wants, but bad things happen too--ripples of dark consequences he doesn’t intend and can’t predict. The more Ephraim tries to fix the situation, the worse it gets. The people closest to him are changing in terrible ways and Ephraim must figure out how to harness the coin’s power before anyone gets hurt…or worse.Fair Coin is the winner of the 2012 Andre Norton Award and was a finalist for both the 2013 British Fantasy Award and the 2013 Compton Crook Award.
Pardalita
by Joana EstrelaMILDRED L. BATCHELDER HONOR WINNER School Library Journal Best of the Year BCCB Best of the Year (Blue Ribbon Selection) A beautiful slice-of-life story that is This One Summer meets Ursula K. Le Guin’s Very Far Away from Anywhere Else, told in flashbacks 16-year-old Raquel lives in a small town in Portugal, the kind of place where everyone knows everyone else’s business. Her parents are divorced and she’s just been suspended for cursing out a school aide asking about her father’s new marriage. She has two best friends, Luísa and Fred, but wants something more. Then, from afar, she sees Pardalita, a senior and a gifted artist who’s moving to Lisbon to study in the fall. The two girls get to know each other while working on a play. And Raquel falls in love. Using a gorgeous blend of prose poems, illustrations, and graphic novel format, author and artist Joana Estrela captures the feeling of being a teenager in a way that feels gentle, joyful, and real. P R A I S E ★ "Intimate…Through a fledgling queer romance, the creator presents a story of change, connection, and transformation." —Publishers Weekly (starred) ★ "The elegant simplicity of this book belies the artistic depth and emotional resonance contained within. Will leave readers in quiet, piercing satisfaction." —Booklist (starred) ★ "A leisurely, emotional stroll through a slice-of-life story that explores identity and sexuality in an authentically sweet and subtle way." —School Library Journal (starred) ★ "The writing style is intriguing and deliberate...the slice-of-life approach working perfectly with Estrela’s creative vision in switching up formats to best convey Raquel’s intense and powerful self-discovery…this tender, warm book will likely enchant all romantic fans." —BCCB (starred) "Effectively conveys adolescent turmoil, the heady intoxication of first love, and sweet moments of connection as young queer love blossoms. The book’s strength lies in its careful presentation of telling details. Quietly resonant and sincerely told." —Kirkus Reviews
Tornado (Orca Soundings)
by Sharon JenningsCam must battle extreme weather conditions to find his brother, as his already fragile family is being torn apart by secrets. When a distant storm knocks out the power at his high school, Cam and his friends head out for burgers. On their way back to pick up Cam's little brother, Peter, at the bus stop, they are caught up in the middle of a deadly tornado. Cam manages to survive and makes his way home only to discover that his house has been destroyed and his parents are locked in an argument that ends in a startling revelation. And Peter is still missing.
Stella Rising (Orca Soundings)
by Nancy BelgueStella Connors has spent her whole life bouncing around from one town to the next, following the latest musician her mother has fallen in love with. She has always vowed she will never become a pathetic groupie like her mother, Viv. But then her best friend uploads a video of Stella singing a cover of her favorite band’s biggest hit. It goes viral, and suddenly Stella’s ideas about who she is and what she wants take a real hit. As a publicity stunt, the band’s manager asks Stella to perform with them when they come to town. Stella is thrilled and agrees immediately. Soon she finds herself in the spotlight, with everyone after her for interviews and photo ops. And unless she’s reading things wrong, she’s pretty sure the band’s lead singer has a thing for her. When she gets invited to go on the road with the band and perform in another concert, Stella forgets every bad thing she ever thought about being a groupie. After all, she’s nothing like her mother. She’s a star. Isn’t she?
Forensic Science: Fundamentals And Investigations, Volume 2 (Forensic Science, Fundamentals And Investigations Ser.)
by Anthony J. Bertino Patricia Nolan BertinoNIMAC-sourced textbook
The Rule of Threes
by Marcy CampbellPart family drama, part contemporary thriller, Rule of Threes is a middle grade story about what happens when "perfect" is out of your control.An interior design enthusiast, twelve-year-old Maggie Owens is accustomed to living her life according to her own precise plans. But when she learns about Tony, a mysterious half-brother her own age who needs a place to stay, any semblance of a plan is shattered. Tony's mom struggles with an addiction to opioids, and now she's called upon Maggie's dad—who is also Tony's dad—to take him in. On top of everything, Maggie must also come to terms with the Alzheimer's afflicting her beloved grandmother.While Maggie can strive for—and even succeed in—a picture perfect design, when it comes to family, there is no such thing as perfection. To work through the sudden struggles rocking her world, Maggie must learn the importance of having an open heart.• A heart-wrenching, authentic, and darkly funny coming-of-age story• Addresses hard-hitting topics—such as divorce and substance abuse—with care and honesty• From Marcy Campbell, author of Adrian Simcox Does NOT Have a HorseMerci Suárez Changes Gears meets The Thing About Jellyfish in this compulsively readable novel.• Perfect for ages 10 and up• Appeals to those interested in stories about friendship and non-traditional families• Great for readers who love a bold and self-aware protagonist
Elatsoe
by Darcie Little BadgerA National Indie BestsellerTIME's Best 100 Fantasy Books of All TimeAn NPR Best Book of 2020A Booklist's Top 10 First Novel for YouthA BookPage Best Book of 2020A CPL "Best of the Best" BookA Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2020A Buzzfeed Best YA SFF Book of 2020A Shelf Awareness Best Book of 2020An AICL Best YA Book of 2020A Kirkus Best YA Book of 2020A Tor Best Book of 2020PRAISE"Groundbreaking." —TIME"Deeply enjoyable from start to finish." —NPR"Utterly magical." —SyFyWire"Atmospheric and lyrical...a gorgeous work of art." —BuzzFeed"One of the best YA debuts of 2020. Read it." —Marieke NijkampFIVE STARRED REVIEWS★ "A fresh voice and perspective." —Booklist, starred review★ "A unique and powerful Native American voice." —BookPage, starred review★ "A brilliant, engaging debut." —Kirkus Reviews, starred review★ "A fast-paced murder mystery." —Publishers Weekly, starred review★ "A Lipan Apache Sookie Stackhouse for the teen set." —Shelf-Awareness, starred reviewA Texas teen comes face-to-face with a cousin's ghost and vows to unmask the murderer.Elatsoe—Ellie for short—lives in an alternate contemporary America shaped by the ancestral magics and knowledge of its Indigenous and immigrant groups. She can raise the spirits of dead animals—most importantly, her ghost dog Kirby. When her beloved cousin dies, all signs point to a car crash, but his ghost tells her otherwise: He was murdered.Who killed him and how did he die? With the help of her family, her best friend Jay, and the memory great, great, great, great, great, great grandmother, Elatsoe, must track down the killer and unravel the mystery of this creepy town and its dark past. But will the nefarious townsfolk and a mysterious Doctor stop her before she gets started?A breathtaking debut novel featuring an asexual, Apache teen protagonist, Elatsoe combines mystery, horror, noir, ancestral knowledge, haunting illustrations, fantasy elements, and is one of the most-talked about debuts of the year.
Apple: (Skin to the Core)
by Eric GansworthNational Book Award LonglistTIME's 10 Best YA and Children's Books of 2020NPR's Best Book of 2020Shelf Awareness's Best Books of 2020Publishers Weekly's Big Indie Books of FallAmazon's Best Book of the MonthAICL Best YA Books of 2020CSMCL Best Multicultural Children's Books of 2020PRAISE"Stirring…. Raw and moving." —TIME"Beautiful imagery and with words that soar and scald." —The Buffalo News"Easily one of the best books to be published in 2020. The kind of book bound to save lives." —LitHub"A powerful narrative about identity and belonging." —Paste MagazineFOUR STARRED REVIEWS★ "Timely and important." —Booklist, starred review★ "Searing yet dryly funny." —The Bulletin, starred review★ "Exceptional." —Shelf-Awareness, starred review★ "Captivating." —School Library Journal, starred reviewThe term "Apple" is a slur in Native communities across the country. It's for someone supposedly "red on the outside, white on the inside."In APPLE (SKIN TO THE CORE), Eric Gansworth tells his story, the story of his family—of Onondaga among Tuscaroras—of Native folks everywhere. From the horrible legacy of the government boarding schools, to a boy watching his siblings leave and return and leave again, to a young man fighting to be an artist who balances multiple worlds.Eric shatters that slur and reclaims it in verse and prose and imagery that truly lives up to the word heartbreaking.
Big Questions Book of Sex & Consent
by Donna FreitasWhat this book is NOT:The fear-based How-To on sex and consent, oversimplified and focused on technicalities, that represents so much of our sexual education today.What this book IS:A journey into the Big Questions that will turn you into a thinking person about sex and consent, with the ability to wrestle towards the answers that work for YOU and continue to wrestle towards them for the rest of your life.What is the meaning and purpose of sex? How does it intersect with who I am? Why are people so afraid of it? What does a healthy and joyful approach to sex look like for me? Why is consent so much more than a yes or no question?Who this book is FOR:Everybody!! No matter your sexuality, gender, religion, or race.What could be more essential?
Pride and Prejudice: The Complete Novel, with Nineteen Letters from the Characters' Correspondence, Written and Folded by Hand
by Barbara HellerThis deluxe edition brings to life the letters exchanged among Jane Austen's characters in Pride and Prejudice.Glassine pockets placed throughout the book contain removable replicas of 19 letters from the story.These powerful epistles include Lydia's announcement of her elopement, Mr. Collins's obsequious missives, and of course Darcy's painfully honest letter to Elizabeth.• Nothing captures Jane Austen's vivid emotion and keen wit better than her characters' correspondence.• Each letter is re-created with gorgeous calligraphy.• Letters are hand-folded with painstaking attention to historical detail.Perusing the letters will transport readers straight to the drawing room at Netherfield or the breakfast table at Longbourn.For anyone who loves Austen, and for anyone who still cherishes the joy of letter writing, this book illuminates a favorite story in a whole new way.• Step inside the world of Pride and Prejudice, one of the most beloved novels of all time.• Great Mother's Day, birthday, or holiday gift for diehard Jane Austen fans• A visually gorgeous book that will be at home on the shelf or on the coffee table• Add it to the shelf with books like What Would Jane Do?: Quips and Wisdom from Jane Austen by Potter Gift, Jane-a-Day: 5 Year Journal with 365 Witticisms by Jane Austen Edition by Potter Gift, and The Real Jane Austen: A Life in Small Things by Paula Byrne.
Space Mathematics: Math Problems Based on Space Science (Dover Books on Aeronautical Engineering)
by Bernice KastnerCreated by NASA for high school students interested in space science, this collection of worked problems covers a broad range of subjects, including mathematical aspects of NASA missions, computation and measurement, algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, exponential and logarithmic functions, trigonometry, matrix algebra, conic sections, and calculus. In addition to enhancing mathematical knowledge and skills, these problems promote an appreciation of aerospace technology and offer valuable insights into the practical uses of secondary school mathematics by professional scientists and engineers.Geared toward high school students and teachers, this volume also serves as a fine review for undergraduate science and engineering majors. Numerous figures illuminate the text, and an appendix explores the advanced topic of gravitational forces and the conic section trajectories.
Midnight Frost (The Mythos Academy #5)
by Jennifer EstepWarrior-in-training Gwent Frost is out to find an antidote to save her friend&’s life in the New York Times bestselling author&’s YA urban fantasy novel. Just when it seems life at Mythos Academy can't get any more dangerous, the Reapers of Chaos manage to prove me wrong. It was just a typical night at the Library of Antiquities—until a Reaper tried to poison me. The good news is I'm still alive and kicking. The bad news is the Reaper poisoned someone else instead. As Nike's Champion, everyone expects me to lead the charge against the Reapers, even though I'm still hurting over what happened with Spartan warrior Logan Quinn. I've got to get my hands on the antidote fast--otherwise, an innocent person will die. But the only known cure is hidden in some creepy ruins. And the Reapers are sure to be waiting for me there.
August and Everything After
by Jennifer DoktorskiOne last summer to escape, to find herself, to figure out what comes next. Fans of Sarah Dessen and Jenny Han will love this contemporary, coming-of-age romance.Graduation was supposed to be a relief. Except Quinn can't avoid the rumors that plagued her throughout high school or the barrage of well-intentioned questions about her college plans. How is she supposed to know what she wants to do for the next four years, let alone the rest of her life? And why does no one understand that it's hard for her to think about the future—or feel as if she even deserves one—when her best friend is dead?Spending the summer with her aunt on the Jersey shore may just be the fresh start Quinn so desperately needs. And when she meets Malcolm, a musician with his own haunted past, she starts to believe in second chances. Can Quinn find love while finding herself?
Threads That Bind (Threads That Bind #1)
by Kika Hatzopoulou&“Dripping with atmosphere and edged with danger, Threads That Bind weaves together a gorgeous dark tapestry of mystery, fated romance, and modern myth. You won&’t be able to put this one down.&” —Alexandra Bracken, New York Times bestselling author of LoreIn a world where the children of the gods inherit their powers, a descendant of the Greek Fates must solve a series of impossible murders to save her sisters, her soulmate, and her city, for fans of Song of Achilles.Descendants of the Fates are always born in threes: one to weave, one to draw, and one to cut the threads that connect people to the things they love and to life itself. The Ora sisters are no exception. Io, the youngest, uses her Fate-born abilities as a private investigator in the half-sunken city of Alante.But her latest job leads her to a horrific discovery: somebody is abducting women, maiming their life-threads, and setting the resulting wraiths loose in the city to kill. To find the culprit, she must work alongside Edei Rhuna, the right hand of the infamous Mob Queen—and the boy with whom she shares a rare fate-thread linking them as soul mates before they&’ve even met.The investigation turns personal when Io's estranged oldest sister shows up on the arm of her best suspect. Amid unveiled secrets from her past and her growing feelings for Edei, Io must follow clues through the city&’s darkest corners and unearth a conspiracy that involves some of the city&’s most powerful players before destruction comes to her own doorstep.
Red Winter (Red Winter Trilogy Ser. #Vol. 1)
by Annette MarieEmi is the kamigakari. In a few short months, her life as a mortal will end and her new existence as the human host of a goddess will begin. Carefully hidden from those who would destroy her, she has prepared her mind, body, and soul to unite with the goddess—and not once has she doubted her chosen fate. Shiro is a yokai, a spirit of the earth, an enemy of the goddess Emi will soon host. Mystery shrouds his every move and his ruby eyes shine with cunning she can’t match and dares not trust. But she saved his life, and until his debt is paid, he is hers to command—whether she wants him or not. On the day they meet, everything Emi believes comes undone, swept away like snow upon the winter wind. For the first time, she wants to change her fate—but how can she erase a destiny already wrought in stone? Against the power of the gods, Shiro is her only hope … and hope is all she has left.
Immortal Fire (Red Winter Trilogy Ser. #Vol. 3)
by Annette MarieOnce, Emi believed the heavenly gods were righteous and wise, while the earthly yokai spirits were bloodthirsty and evil. But with a traitorous deity poised to destroy her world, and the yokai standing as humanity's only defense, the lies of her upbringing have toppled to reveal a far more terrifying reality. Despite the looming threat, Emi can't escape her greatest distraction: Shiro, the fox yokai who has so deftly claimed her heart for his own. Soon—too soon—she will have to break the curse that binds his magic and memories. And once the ancient power inside him awakens, the yokai she loves will be changed forever. As the earthly gods gather to wage war against the heavens, Emi and Shiro must gamble everything to turn the tide against their immortal, all-powerful foes. Together, they will find a way to save her world—even if it means losing each other.
Diary of a Dying Girl: Adapted from Salt in My Soul
by Mallory SmithThis collection of one girl's real, unflinching diary entries about slowly dying of a terminal illness is an unparalleled exploration of the human spirit and what it means to truly live.Many of the feelings I write about are too difficult to share while I'm alive, so I'm keeping everything in my journal password-protected until the end.Mallory Smith was no ordinary girl, and this is no ordinary story. At age three, Mallory was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis--a disease that attacks the internal organs and would eventually kill her. Despite living on borrowed time, Mallory pursued her passions: volleyball; writing; the environment; her boyfriend, family, and friends. Most importantly, every day she chose to embody the mantra "live happy." Mallory also had her struggles--everything from love and sex to living with illness and just being a human on this planet. And she chronicled every bit of it, writing thousands of diary entries before her death in her twenties. This is the poignant, true story of a young woman who refused to be defined by chronic illness. Her light and her life are shared here in her own words to encourage everyone to live life to the fullest, as she did, even as she was dying.
A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone: Twenty-Four Days of Science at Sea
by Michelle CusolitoWant a front-row seat to cutting-edge ocean twilight zone technology? Climb aboard for twenty-four days of photo-illustrated science at sea! A fascinating middle-grade STEM book.Join scientists from Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) and international partner organizations on a research trip to study the ocean twilight zone using the newest technologies. Science writer Michelle Cusolito takes you along for the voyage of a lifetime. From moving onto the ship and unpacking equipment to facing massive storms while in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, this book details the fascinating equipment used to study the deep ocean as well as day-to-day details such as what you eat on a Spanish research ship. Meet people and animals and learn more at sea than you ever imagined!&“From word one, Cusolito puts the reader smack into the action. Captivating creatures abound, coupled with important insights that impact our understanding of the ocean&’s role in our planet&’s sustainability. Perfectly titled, this book throws a window wide open, giving us an intimate look into the twilight zone.&” —Tanya Lee Stone, Sibert Medalist & NAACP Image Award Winner&“Michelle Cusolito captures the essence of high-seas research in A Window into the Ocean Twilight Zone. She skillfully guides the reader through what it&’s like to be a scientist at sea—the anticipation of departure, the challenges of heavy weather, and the thrill of discovery in one of the ocean&’s most remote and mysterious regions. In the process, she underscores the urgency behind advancing knowledge of Earth&’s last frontier—the ocean.&”—Peter de Menocal, President and Director of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution&“This spellbinding, real-life adventure will whisk you away with a team of scientists as they explore the wonders of the twilight zone. Michelle is a perfect guide to this remote realm and brilliantly shows what it's like to be a scientist working in challenging conditions. You&’ll learn about the importance of teamwork and patience, find out about the exciting technologies scientists use to study the deep sea, and see how discoveries about our living planet are made. This book will spark curiosity and is perfect for budding scientists.&”—Dr. Helen Scales, marine biologist and author of books for kids and adults, including What a Shell Can Tell and The Brilliant Abyss
The Kid
by JEFF SCHILLThe Kid is the quickest draw in the West. Little does anyone know he isn&’t real. A fast-paced, cleverly woven, witty middle grade western adventure.It's 1881 in Destiny, Colorado. Fourteen-year-old Henry Upton&’s parents have died, and he&’s trying to keep his three younger brothers together on the farm. Henry writes a story about The Kid, the fastest draw in the West, to keep people away from their parts. But his stories will soon put more than his family and the farm at risk.Meanwhile, Herbert might lose his job as an editor at Gunslinger Magazine in Philadelphia if he can't find out why the author of The Kid stories recently stopped sending them. The soft city slicker is headed out west to find the author.And Snake-Eye Sam has set his sights on The Kid, whom he thinks is real. Sam has evil in his heart and jealousy in his veins. Breaking out of prison to shoot down The Kid is about the only thing that can cure the itch running down Sam's spine.Three storylines—plus Gunslinger Magazine&‘s The Kid stories—intertwine and come together just as Snake Eye Sam and Herbert both arrive in Destiny. On Main Street at high noon, a master plan is put in place at the same time that Henry and the Destiny sheriff get what they need to keep the Upton brothers together.Pull up for a tall frothy glass of sarsaparilla and enjoy this engaging and satisfying Western tale, full of quirky characters, snappy dialogue, and heart.
The Man Who Loved Only Numbers: The Story of Paul Erdos and the Search for Mathematical Truth
by Paul Hoffman"A funny, marvelously readable portrait of one of the most brilliant and eccentric men in history." --The Seattle Times Paul Erdos was an amazing and prolific mathematician whose life as a world-wandering numerical nomad was legendary. He published almost 1500 scholarly papers before his death in 1996, and he probably thought more about math problems than anyone in history. Like a traveling salesman offering his thoughts as wares, Erdos would show up on the doorstep of one mathematician or another and announce, "My brain is open." After working through a problem, he'd move on to the next place, the next solution. Hoffman's book, like Sylvia Nasar's biography of John Nash, A Beautiful Mind, reveals a genius's life that transcended the merely quirky. But Erdos's brand of madness was joyful, unlike Nash's despairing schizophrenia. Erdos never tried to dilute his obsessive passion for numbers with ordinary emotional interactions, thus avoiding hurting the people around him, as Nash did. Oliver Sacks writes of Erdos: "A mathematical genius of the first order, Paul Erdos was totally obsessed with his subject--he thought and wrote mathematics for nineteen hours a day until the day he died. He traveled constantly, living out of a plastic bag, and had no interest in food, sex, companionship, art--all that is usually indispensable to a human life."The Man Who Loved Only Numbers is easy to love, despite his strangeness. It's hard not to have affection for someone who referred to children as "epsilons," from the Greek letter used to represent small quantities in mathematics; a man whose epitaph for himself read, "Finally I am becoming stupider no more"; and whose only really necessary tool to do his work was a quiet and open mind. Hoffman, who followed and spoke with Erdos over the last 10 years of his life, introduces us to an undeniably odd, yet pure and joyful, man who loved numbers more than he loved God--whom he referred to as SF, for Supreme Fascist. He was often misunderstood, and he certainly annoyed people sometimes, but Paul Erdos is no doubt missed. --Therese Littleton
The Dare
by Natasha Preston Natasha Green#1 New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Natasha Preston is back with another pulse-pounding, twisty read!Would you accept the dare?In Marley&’s town, seniors are given a prank as a rite of passage…a dare, if you will. The dares start out simple…egging houses, balloons filled with glitter, chickens running loose in the halls.But this is no child&’s play.Accepting a dare means you could be expelled, arrested, or worse. No one wants to back down from a dare. But saying yes has consequences, too…
Hot Boy Summer
by Joe JiménezFour gay teens in Texas have the summer of their lives while discovering important truths about realness, belonging, and friendship in this joyful young adult contemporary novel for fans of Adam Silvera and Becky Albertalli.Mac has never really felt like he belonged. Definitely not at home—his dad&’s politics and toxic masculinity make a real connection impossible. He thought he fit in on the baseball team, but that&’s only because he was pretending to be someone he wasn&’t. Finding his first gay friend, Cammy, was momentous; finally, he could be his authentic self around someone else. But as it turned out, not really. Cammy could be cruel, and his &“advice&” often came off way harsh. And then, Mac meets Flor, who shows him that you can be both fierce and kind, and Mikey, who is superhot and might maybe think the same about him. Over the course of one hot, life-changing summer, Mac will stand face-to-face with desire, betrayal, and letting go of shame, which will lead to some huge discoveries about the realness of truly belonging. Told in Mac&’s infectious, joyful, gay AF voice, Hot Boy Summer serves a tale as important as hope itself: four gay teens doing what they can to connect and have the fiercest summer of their lives. New friendships will be forged, hot boys will be kissed…and girl, the toxic will be detoxed.
And Then, Boom!
by Lisa FippsA gripping new novel in verse by the author of the Printz Honor-winning Starfish, featuring a poverty-stricken boy who bravely rides out all the storms life keeps throwing at himJoe Oak is used to living on unsteady ground. His mom can&’t be depended on as she never stays around long once she gets &“the itch,&” and now he and his beloved grandmother find themselves without a home. Fortunately, Joe has an outlet in his journals and drawings and takes comfort from the lessons of comic books—superheroes have a lot of &“and then, boom&” moments, where everything threatens to go bust but somehow they land on their feet. And that seems to happen a lot to Joe too, as in this crisis his friend Nick helps them find a home in his trailer park. But things fall apart again when Joe is suddenly left to fend for himself. He doesn&’t tell anyone he&’s on his own, as he fears foster care and has hope his mom will come back. But time is running out—bills are piling up, the electricity&’s been shut off, and the school year&’s about to end, meaning no more free meals. The struggle to feed himself gets intense, and Joe finds himself dumpster diving for meals. He&’s never felt so alone—until an emaciated little dog and her two tiny pups cross his path. And fate has even more in store for Joe, because an actual tornado is about to hit home—and just when it seems all is lost, his life turns in a direction that he never could have predicted.