Intermediate

R. J. Palacio, #1 New York Times bestselling author of WONDER, hails this adventure series as "Mind-blowingly beautiful. . . . A must-read."

Think Star Wars meets Avatar: The Last Airbender!

The Five Worlds are on the brink of extinction unless five ancient and mysterious beacons are lit. When war erupts, three unlikely heroes will discover there's more to themselves--and more to their worlds--than meets the eye. . . .

- Oona Lee, the clumsiest student at the Sand Dancer Academy, is a fighter with a destiny bigger than she could ever imagine.

- An Tzu, a boy from the poorest slums, has a surprising gift and a knack for getting out of sticky situations.

- Jax Amboy is the star athlete who is beloved by an entire galaxy, but what good is that when he has no real friends?

When these three kids are forced to team up on an epic quest, it will take not one, not two, but 5 WORLDS to contain all the magic and adventure!

"A magical journey, as fun as it is beautiful!" --Kazu Kibuishi, #1 New York Times bestselling creator of AMULET

"Bang-zoom . . . a series that promises to be epic."--The New York Times

"This stellar team has created a gorgeous and entrancing world like no other!" --Noelle Stevenson, New York Times bestselling author of Nimona

"Epic action, adventure, and mystery will draw you in, but the heartfelt characters and their seemingly impossible journey will keep you turning the pages." --Lisa Yee, author of the DC Super Hero Girls(TM) series

The Acadia Files: Summer Investigations

A determined 12-year-old girl bikes across the country in this quirky and charming debut middle grade novel.

Introverted Bicycle has lived most of her life at the Mostly Silent Monastery in Washington, D.C. When her guardian, Sister Wanda, announces that Bicycle is going to attend a camp where she will learn to make friends, Bicycle says no way and sets off on her bike for San Francisco to meet her idol, a famous cyclist, certain he will be her first true friend. Who knew that a ghost would haunt her handlebars and that she would have to contend with bike-hating dogs, a bike-loving horse, bike-crushing pigs, and a mysterious lady dressed in black. Over the uphills and downhills of her journey, Bicycle discovers that friends are not such a bad thing to have after all, and that a dozen cookies really can solve most problems.

The triumphant finale in the bestselling trilogy is now in paperback!

It's 1955, and Benjamin Burrows and Janie Scott are trying to live a safe, normal life in America. It's not easy, when they have the power to prevent nuclear disaster, and sinister forces are circling. Soon the advice of a mysterious, unscrupulous magician propels Janie and Benjamin into danger, and toward the land of the dead. Meanwhile, their friend Jin Lo washes up on a remote island where an American spy is stationed, and finds herself on the trail of a deadly threat in China. But she's on the other side of the world--how can Janie and Benjamin reach her? The triumphant finale in the trilogy that began with Maile Meloy's bestselling, critically acclaimed The Apothecary, and continued in its captivating sequel, The Apprentices, The After-Room is full of enchantment and heart, with Ian Schoenherr's stunning illustrations throughout.

The impressive life story of Muhammad Ali is interwoven with vital moments in American history in this visually stunning, full-color biography.

The story of famed boxing champion Muhammad Ali is more appealing and accessible than ever before when told as though it's happening in real time, through photographs and ephemera such as report cards and training regimens, and through newspaper articles, interviews, letters to the editor, and "breaking news" radio and TV transmissions that have been created by the author based on his extensive research.

From the Civil Rights Movement to the Rome Olympics, from joining the Nation of Islam to refusing to fight in Vietnam, Muhammad Ali's fascinating life is interwoven with historical moments throughout the twentieth century to today.

All Summer Long, a coming-of-age middle-grade graphic novel about summer and friendships, written and illustrated by the Eisner Award-winning and New York Times-bestselling Hope Larson.

Thirteen-year-old Bina has a long summer ahead of her. She and her best friend, Austin, usually do everything together, but he's off to soccer camp for a month, and he's been acting kind of weird lately anyway. So it's up to Bina to see how much fun she can have on her own. At first it's a lot of guitar playing, boredom, and bad TV, but things look up when she finds an unlikely companion in Austin's older sister, who enjoys music just as much as Bina. But then Austin comes home from camp, and he's acting even weirder than when he left. How Bina and Austin rise above their growing pains and reestablish their friendship and respect for their differences makes for a touching and funny coming-of-age story.

In this quirky and heartfelt middle-grade debut, a girl determined to free her mother from wrongful imprisonment discovers saving grace in the form of her estranged aunt, an ornery silent nun.

Twelve-year-old Ruby Clyde Henderson's life turns upside down the day her mother's boyfriend holds up a convenience store, and her mother is wrongly jailed for assisting with the crime. Ruby and her pet pig, Bunny, find their way to her estranged Aunt Eleanor's home. Aunt Eleanor is an ornery nun who lives in the midst of a peach orchard on Paradise Ranch. With a little patience, she and Ruby begin to get along--but Eleanor has secrets of her own, secrets that might mean more hard times for Ruby.

Ruby believes that she's the only one who can find a way to help heal her loved ones, save her mother, and bring her family back together. But being in a family means that everyone has to work together to support each other, and being home doesn't always mean going back to where you came from. Corabel Shofner's Almost Paradise is a big-hearted middle grade novel about trust, belonging, and the struggles and joys of loving one another.

A Margaret Ferguson Book

Praise for Almost Paradise

"One undersized but indomitable tomboy tackles tough issues with wry humor as she attempts to create the home and family for which she yearns. Ruby's folksy precociousness and determination are as endearing as her realization that the world is not perfect and that love comes in pieces. . . . Rich in Southern flavor, loaded with biblical references and even a scattering of Dickens quotes: a rollicking read." --Kirkus Reviews

Meet twelve-year-old Liam McKenzie, who patrols his suburban neighborhood as the Masked Avenger--a superhero with powers so potent not even he can fully comprehend their extent.

Along with his sidekick, Richie the Powerbeagle, he protects the people of Franklin Street from chaos, mayhem, evil, and low tire pressure on their cars.

But when he attempts to rescue a damsel in distress from sadness, instead, he finds a powerful, unlikely friendship.

This perfect jewel of a book by Printz Honor Award-winning Craig Silvey will hold all readers in its irresistible power.

A newly updated version of our beloved dictionary for students in grades 6-10 (ages 11-16)

The American Heritage Student Dictionary, for students in grades 6-10 (ages 11-16), has been updated and contains more than 65,000 words, covering the vocabulary that students in this age group need to know. The definitions are clear and easy to read, and they are bolstered by abundant example sentences, letting readers see how words are used in context. Among the new words added in this latest update are science terms such as the newly discovered nihonium and oganesson and terms from popular culture and social media such as facepalm, stevia, and vlog.

This edition also has a full-color art program, with 2,000 color photographs and illustrations in the margins, retains its array of 400 feature notes, and also includes a carefully-crafted program of 200 fun-to-read quotations from young adult authors.

This is by far the best dictionary for this age group that is available today. At home or in class, it is the most useful and engaging resource on words a student could have.

The animals deal with a hair-raising haunting in this fifth zany novel in a chapter book series where the fur--and fun--flies at an animal spa and hotel.

The Animal Inn is an all-inclusive pet resort/hotel/center/spa for animals from dogs to rabbits, cats to ducks, parrots to lizards. From doggie and kitty daycare, to grooming, and group play--you name it, and the Animal Inn has it.

The Inn is run by the Tyler family along with their pets Leopold, the Macaw; Fuzzy and Furry, the gerbils; dogs Dash and Coco; felines Shadow and Whiskers; and a rollicking horde of animal visitors.

There are spooky shadows, creepy crawling critters, and spine chilling sounds all around the Animal Inn! Could it be haunted? The animals are in for a fur-raising adventure!

Schoolyard rivalries. Baking disasters. Puffed sleeves. Explore the violet vales and glorious green of Avonlea in this spirited adaptation.

The spirit of Anne is alive and well in Mariah Marsden's crisp adaptation, and it's a thrill to watch as the beloved orphan rushes headlong through Brenna Thummler's heavenly landscapes. Together Marsden and Thummler conjure all the magic and beauty of Green Gables. Like Anne herself, you won't want to leave.
-- Brian Selznick, author/illustrator of "The Invention of Hugo Cabret" and "The Marvels"

The magic of L.M. Montgomery's treasured classic is reimagined in a whimsically-illustrated graphic novel adaptation perfect for newcomers and kindred spirits alike.

When Matthew and Marilla Cuthbert decide to adopt an orphan who can help manage their family farm, they have no idea what delightful trouble awaits them. With flame-red hair and an unstoppable imagination, 11-year-old Anne Shirley takes Green Gables by storm.

Anne's misadventures bring a little romance to the lives of everyone she meets: her bosom friend, Diana Barry; the town gossip, Mrs. Lynde; and that infuriating tease, Gilbert Blythe. From triumphs and thrills to the depths of despair, Anne turns each everyday moment into something extraordinary.

From the author of the highly praised Canned and Crushed comes a new story about friendship, the consequences of bad decisions, and embracing what makes you different!
DeeDee's life is full of D's. Missing her dad, who's disappeared. Distracted by her sister's quinceañera and her brother dropping out of high school. Disappointing her family by struggling in her new school. Being diagnosed with diabetes. So many D's she worries she'll never fit in, and worse, never find the best friend she's always wanted.
Then she meets River, her new neighbor with cochlear implants and finds they have the same interests. Art. Dance. Skateboarding. And they both miss their dads. But while DeeDee struggles to adjust to her new circumstances and life with diabetes, River embraces life, even his differences. River offers to help search for DeeDee's dad and coach her in skateboarding and the two become friends. River even encourages her to participate in her school's Spring Fling talent show.
Then River transfers to DeeDee's new school. Instead of sticking up for him and risking being made fun of, DeeDee makes mistake after mistake until she's forced to decide: keep the best friend she's always wanted by standing up to her classmates, or stay silent and lose River forever? Before DeeDee can be a good friend she must learn to love differences--not just River's but also her own.