Things Too Huge to Fix by Saying Sorry


Book Description

"A family mystery leads Dani Beans to investigate the secrets of Ole Miss and the dark history of race relations in Oxford, Mississippi"--




Me and Sam-Sam Handle the Apocalypse


Book Description

“Deeply smart and considerate.” —BCCB “An absorbing mystery.” —Kirkus Reviews “A strong addition to help diversify realistic fiction collections to include neuroatypical characters and heroines.” —School Library Journal Jesse is on the case when money goes missing from the library and her dad is looking like the #1 suspect in Edgar Award­–winning author Susan Vaught’s latest middle grade mystery. I could see the big inside of my Sam-Sam. I had been training him for 252 days with mini tennis balls and pieces of bacon, just to prove to Dad and Mom and Aunt Gus and the whole world that a tiny, fluffy dog could do big things if he wanted to. I think my little dog always knew he could be a hero. I just wonder if he knew about me. When the cops show up at Jesse’s house and arrest her dad, she figures out in a hurry that he’s the #1 suspect in the missing library fund money case. With the help of her (first and only) friend Springer, she rounds up suspects (leading to a nasty confrontation with three notorious school bullies) and asks a lot of questions. But she can’t shake the feeling that she isn’t exactly cut out for being a crime-solving hero. Jesse has a neuro-processing disorder, which means that she’s “on the spectrum or whatever.” As she explains it, “I get stuck on lots of stuff, like words and phrases and numbers and smells and pictures and song lines and what time stuff is supposed to happen.” But when a tornado strikes her small town, Jesse is given the opportunity to show what she's really made of—and help her dad. Told with the true-as-life voice Susan Vaught is known for, this mystery will have you rooting for Jesse and her trusty Pomeranian, Sam-Sam.




Better with Books


Book Description

Featuring 500 diverse book recommendations covering a wide range of subjects, this preteen and teen reading guide is a “go-to resource for parents, students of young adult literature, teachers, and librarians” (School Library Journal). Needed now more than ever: a guide that includes 500 reading recommendations for preteens and teens with the goal of inspiring greater empathy for themselves, their peers, and the world around them. As young people are diagnosed with anxiety and depression in increasing numbers, or dealing with other issues that can isolate them from family and friends—such as bullying, learning disabilities, racism, or homophobia—characters in books can help them feel less alone. And just as important, reading books that feature a diverse range of real-life topics helps generate openness, empathy, and compassion in all kids. Reading lists are organized around topics, including: • Adoption and foster care • Body image • Immigration • Learning challenges • LGBTQIA+ youth • Mental health • Nature and environmentalism • Physical disability • Poverty and homelessness • Race and ethnicity • Religion and spirituality Each chapter explores a particular issue affecting preteens and teens today and includes a list of recommended related books—all published within the last decade. Recommendations are grouped by age: those appropriate for middle-grade readers and those for teens. Better with Books is a valuable resource for parents, teachers, librarians, therapists, and all caregivers who recognize the power of literature to improve young readers’ lives.




L.O.S.T. Box Set


Book Description

L.O.S.T. Bren’s on his way to the beach when he stops in a tiny desert town. He begins to realize that something isn’t right—and it might be that girl in the general store. Jasmina has a big problem. Bren may be the solution. Her magic tells her that he could help her defeat a creature so evil it threatens to destroy the witching world. Too bad he hates her on sight. Too bad she might have to kill him. Shadow Queen It’s coming for Jazz. It’s huge, it’s evil, and it wants what’s left of her soul. Bren’s coming for his girl. He must hurry or he could be too late. All he has to do is turn his back on everyone who believes in him, find a passage no one has seen, unlock it with a key no one understands, defeat a monster no one can name, cross through a gate that doesn’t exist, and die without dying. Witch Circle Bren and Jazz are finally together, and finally safe. Safety turns to desperate danger when a shapeshifting dwarf kidnaps Bren's brother, the sanctuaries erupt in riots and bloodshed, and Bren and Jazz face a crisis of trust that threatens to tear apart their relationship--and the witching world. Bren and Jazz must find a way to stand together or watch everything they have built tear itself apart.




Witch Circle


Book Description

King of the Witches. Queen of the Witches. Bren and Jazz are finally together, and finally safe. They should have it made, right? Except for Bren's terrifying vision of the Shadowmaster escaping her prison, Jazz's nightmares and growing jealousy, mysterious girls with special abilities showing up at random, and old witch factions going to war with peaceful refugees... Safety turns to desperate danger when a shapeshifting dwarf kidnaps Bren's brother, the sanctuaries erupt in riots and bloodshed, and Bren and Jazz face a crisis of trust that threatens to tear apart their relationship--and the witching world. It's obvious something dreadful has descended upon L.O.S.T., but what? Bren and Jazz must find a way to stand together, or watch everything they have built tear itself apart.




Shadow Queen


Book Description

What if death is just another stop on the Path? Bren McAllister found his power as a witch and a warrior, but he’s lost everything that matters to him. The magical world won’t give him a break. Everyone depends on him for everything, but he can’t get past missing the girl who stole his freedom and his heart. He has to get Jazz back, even though it’s impossible. His family thinks he’s crazy. His friends think he’s going to get himself killed. As for Bren, he thinks maybe, just maybe, he’s earned a miracle. Jasmina Corey can’t believe death is such a pain. Dark skies, dark rivers, dark monsters, oh, yeah. Death is just one funfest after the other. She can’t get Bren off of her mind, except her mind seems to be leaving her in pieces. One day she knows who she is, but the next, she’s not sure. As for magic, forget it. She can’t even levitate a pebble, much less bind the beak of annoying peacock who won’t stop telling her to wake up, start thinking, move—run! In a race for life itself, there’s no such thing as second place. It’s win or die—forever.




L.O.S.T.


Book Description

How far can you go before you get lost forever? Brenden’s on his way to the beach when he makes a pit stop in a tiny desert town called Live Oak Springs Township. It’s a weird place, no question. Maybe even frightening. It doesn’t take long for Bren to realize that something in L.O.S.T. isn’t right—and it might be that witchy girl in the general store. Jasmina Corey has a secret, and a very big problem. Bren may be the solution. Her magic tells her that Bren has a warrior’s heart, that he might be the one to help her defeat a creature so evil it threatens to destroy the witching world and all of humanity, too. Too bad he hates her on sight. Too bad she might have to kill him.




How to Write a Mystery


Book Description

From 70 of the most successful mystery writers in the business, an invaluable guide to crafting mysteries—from character development and plot to procedurals and thrillers—“this is a writing guide that readers and writers will turn to again and again” (Booklist, starred review). Mystery Writers of America (MWA) is known for providing unparalleled resources on the craft, art, and business of storytelling, helping writers of all levels improve their skills for nearly a century. Now, this handbook helps authors navigate the ever-shifting publishing landscape—from pacing, plotting, the business side of publishing, to the current demand for diversity and inclusivity across all genres, and more. Featuring essays by a new generation of bestselling experts on various elements of the craft and shorter pieces of crowd-sourced wisdom from the MWA membership as a whole, the topics covered can be categorized as follows: —Before Writing (rules; genres; setting; character; research; etc.) —While Writing (outlining; the plot; dialogue; mood; etc.) —After Writing (agents; editors; self-pub; etc.) —Other than Novels (short stories; true crime; etc.) —Other Considerations (diverse characters; legal questions; criticism) Also included is a collection of essays from MWA published authors—including Jeffery Deaver, Tess Gerritsen, and Charlaine Harris—selected by bestselling authors Lee Child and Laurie King and arranged thematically answering, “What piece of writing advice do you wish you’d had at the beginning of your career?” “Everything you wanted to know about how to plan, draft, write, revise, publish, and market a mystery” (Kirkus Reviews), this inclusive manual provides practical, current, easily digestible advice for new and established authors alike.




Super Max and the Mystery of Thornwood's Revenge


Book Description

It's going to take more than a knack for electronics and a supercharged wheelchair for 12-year-old Max to investigate a haunted mansion in Edgar Award-winning author Vaught's latest mystery.




Elevating Child Care


Book Description

A modern parenting classic—a guide to a new and gentle way of understanding the care and nurture of infants, by the internationally renowned childcare expert, podcaster, and author of No Bad Kids “An absolute go-to for all parents, therapists, anyone who works with, is, or knows parents of young children.”—Wendy Denham, PhD A Resources for Infant Educarers (RIE) teacher and student of pioneering child specialist Magda Gerber, Janet Lansbury helps parents look at the world through the eyes of their infants and relate to them as whole people who have natural abilities to learn without being taught. Once we are able to view our children in this light, even the most common daily parenting experiences become stimulating opportunities to learn, discover, and connect with our child. A collection of the most-read articles from Janet’s popular and long-running blog, Elevating Child Care focuses on common infant issues, including: • Nourishing our babies’ healthy eating habits • Calming your clingy, fearful child • How to build your child’s focus and attention span • Developing routines that promote restful sleep Eschewing the quick-fix tips and tricks of popular parenting culture, Lansbury’s gentle, insightful guidance lays the foundation for a closer, more fulfilling parent-child relationship, and children who grow up to be authentic, confident, successful adults.