"His friends warned him not to try the fried pudding at the carnival, but Dan didn’t listen. A short story in comics from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka."
"There’s nothing better than taking your timid little cousin Thad to one of those sweet haunted houses the 4-H Club decorates for Halloween. Except, of course, if the house turns out to actually be haunted. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka."
"Tim Diamond—the world’s worst private detective—takes on his most dangerous case yet, and it’s going to be up to his brother to keep him out of trouble. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka."
"River and Niko find their dad is missing, and they have no choice but to track him down. But when they discover the clues lead to a shady reptile dealer, they start to think they might have gotten in over their heads. A short story from Guys Read: Thriller, edited by Jon Scieszka."
"A body on the tracks
A teenage terrorist
A mysterious wish-granting machine
The world’s worst private detective
The second volume in the Guys Read Library of Great Reading is chock-full of mystery, intrigue, and nefarious activity. Featuring some of the best writers around, and compiled by certified guy Jon Scieszka, Guys Read: Thriller is a pulse-pounding collection of brand-new short stories, each one guaranteed to keep you riveted until the final page."
"The story of America and African Americans is a story of hope and inspiration and unwavering courage. Kadir Nelson's award-winning Heart and Soul is about the men, women, and children who toiled in the hot sun picking cotton; it's about the America ripped in two by Jim Crow laws; it's about the brothers and sisters of all colors who rallied against those who would dare bar a child from an education. It's a story of discrimination and broken promises, determination, and triumphs.
Kadir Nelson's Heart and Soul—the winner of numerous awards, including the Coretta Scott King Author Award and Illustrator Honor, and the recipient of five starred reviews—is told through the unique point of view and intimate voice of a one-hundred-year-old African-American female narrator.
This inspiring book demonstrates that in striving for freedom and equal rights, African Americans help our country on the journey toward its promise of liberty and justice—the true heart and soul of our nation."
"The Bed and Biscuit is going wild! Kids will laugh at — and learn from — this adventure, as Grampa takes in some ailing critters who are anything but tame.
Ever since Grampa Bender opened his doors (and veterinary skills) to a despondent Canada goose, a cranky muskrat, and two tiny but rebellious fox kits, his animal boarding house has been turned upside down. Luckily, Ernest the mini-pig is on hand to marshal the other animals into being good hosts — but since wild things are, well, wild by nature, it has been trickier than he imagined. Plus Ernest is trying to train Sir Walter, the Scottish terrier puppy who is the newest addition to the family. But what if Sir Walter doesn't want to be told what to do and decides that running wild like a fox sounds like lots of fun?"
"Dead End in Norvelt is the winner of the Newbery Medal for best contribution to children's literature and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction!
Melding the entirely true and the wildly fictional, Dead End in Norvelt is a novel about an incredible two months for a kid named Jack Gantos, whose plans for vacation excitement are shot down when he is 'grounded for life' by his feuding parents, and whose nose spews bad blood at every little shock he gets. But plenty of excitement (and shocks) are coming Jack's way once his mom loans him out to help a fiesty old neighbor with a most unusual chore—typewriting obituaries filled with stories about the people who founded his utopian town. As one obituary leads to another, Jack is launched on a strange adventure involving molten wax, Eleanor Roosevelt, twisted promises, a homemade airplane, Girl Scout cookies, a man on a trike, a dancing plague, voices from the past, Hells Angels . . . and possibly murder.
Endlessly surprising, this sly, sharp-edged narrative is the author at his very best, making readers laugh out loud at the most unexpected things in a dead-funny depiction of growing up in a slightly off-kilter place where the past is present, the present is confusing, and the future is completely up in the air."
"Are you a Belieber? Justin Bieber’s meteoric rise from a regular kid in small-town Canada to “the most famous teenager on the planet” has captivated the imagination of a generation of young devotees known as “Beliebers.” With record-setting album sales, more than 11 million followers on Twitter and the highest-grossing concert film of all time, the 17-year-old pop star has legions of fans around the globe who hang on his every word. Is there something more to Bieber’s unprecedented success than his innate cuteness and preternatural musical talents? Could a powerful spiritual yearning be lurking behind all the purple and puppy-love lyrics? With the keen eye of a veteran religion journalist and culture watcher, Cathleen Falsani takes an in-depth look at how the bold yet humble faith of this teenage uber-celebrity is not only a key to his staggering popularity, but an influence that is shaping the lives and hearts of young people (and more than a few of their parents) worldwide."
"Praised as 'a breath of fresh air' (Booklist), Karen Healey's debut novel Guardian of the Dead received a starred review from School Library Journal and was a finalist for the William C. Morris Award. Healey's second novel The Shattering stars Keri, a 17-year-old trying to come to terms with her brother Jake's death. Although authorities believe Jake committed suicide, Keri cannot accept that her brother would take his own life. And when she's approached by her classmate Janna, whose brother also committed suicide years earlier, the two team up in search of answers. Soon the girls come to a grim realization-that their brothers weren't the first in town to die under mysterious circumstances."
"Stupid Fast is playwright Geoff Herbach's first book for young adults. No one's more shocked than shy 15-year-old Felton Reinstein himself when he undergoes a tremendous growth spurt. After dusting the football jocks in a race, Felton marvels at his new athletic ability. Everything isn't looking up, however. Felton must also come to grips with his mother's sudden depression and his bratty younger brother. And then Felton learns a shocking secret about his past that helps put things in perspective."
