India Hill Brown meets Sharon Draper in a spooky, poignant, tour-de-force from Shakirah Bourne -- an ode to Black Boy friendships, the richness of Caribbean history, and the power that comes from reclaiming your past.

Jermaine is NOT destined to be popular at his new elite school. First, he's the poorest kid in class -- no phone, no cool sneakers, no chance. Second, he loves science and can't keep himself from gushing about geology. But after being bullied at his old school, he's desperate for the status and protection that comes from joining the "Turbo Jets"... even if that means abandoning Brody, a fellow outsider who truly wants to be Jermaine's friend.

As part of a hazing ritual, the Turbo Jets dare Jermaine to break into the notorious "haunted Chase Vault" -- the crypt that once housed one of the cruelest enslavers in Barbados and his family. Then they lock him inside as a "joke."

Luckily, Jermaine makes it out unscathed. There's just one problem.

Someone else left the crypt with him.

Someone desperate to learn how she died... and get her revenge.

Jermaine is relieved someone else can see the ghost: his ex-best friend Brody. But freeing her won't be easy. It means ditching the Turbo Jets, teaming up with Brody, and unearthing ugly secrets from the island's colonial past. Will Jermaine really risk everything to help the suffering spirit find peace?

Discover prehistoric animal battles in this exciting bindup featuring four action-packed Who Would Win? books!

Which prehistoric creatures would win in a head-to-head battle? What if there was a dinosaur tournament? Which pterosaur will be the champion?

Find out all this and more in this awesome bind-up of four books in the popular Who Would Win? series. The collection features a range of prehistoric battles to satisfy all kinds of dinosaur fans, including Triceratops vs. Spinosaurus, Tyrannosaurus Rex vs. Velociraptor, Ultimate Pterosaur Rumble, and Ultimate Dinosaur Rumble.

Kids will learn about each animal's anatomy, behavior, and more alongside photos, charts, illustrations, and amazing facts.

These wild poems for two voices offer young readers an up-to-date peek at an intriguing array of symbiotic partnerships in nature.

Most upper-elementary students are familiar with mutually beneficial partnerships in nature--butterflies and milkweed, for example, or clownfish and anemones. But award-winning science poetry author Leslie Bulion has delved into recent research on mutualism and found fresh examples of these relationships for young readers to investigate, including the egg-laying carrion beetle and its hitchhiking mite passengers, as well as the little goby fish that guards the pistol shrimp from predators in exchange for a safe haven.

Reading aloud these clever verses for two voices will help young learners engage with and enjoy these marvels of nature, and notes in the back of the book shed more light on the diversity of poetic forms. In addition, brief science notes accompanying each featured partnership, and comprehensive back matter provides more opportunities for study.

Robert Meganck's witty drawings add another layer of fun to this humorous gallery of perfect partners. This collection is ideal for cross-curricular learning, including units on biology, mutualism, and poetry. Other popular science poetry collections by this creative team are Superlative Birds, Amphibian Acrobats, and Spi-ku, a book about the trick-filled world of spiders.

A Junior Library Guild Gold Standard Selection

Discover the incredible true stories of children who have changed how we see the world.

From fossilized creatures and ancient treasures to mysterious scrolls and glimmering gems, Young Discoverers is a thrilling collection of real-life tales about some of the most astonishing discoveries ever made and the young people who made them.

Travel through time and across continents to uncover:

• A glittering gold nugget that sparked America’s first gold rush - found by twelve-year-old Conrad
• A prehistoric monster hidden in the cliffs of England
• The boy who uncovered the first step to the tomb of Tutankhamun, leading to one of the most famous archaeological discoveries of all time
• A Viking Sword pulled from a lake in Sweden by an eight-year-old girl
• The world’s biggest star sapphire, once used as a doorstop in Australia!

…And many more jaw-dropping discoveries!

In each of the twelve tales, you meet the young person at the heart of the discovery – following them through the twists and the turns of their adventure. The children and teenagers you meet may have come from different places and lived at different times in history, but they all have something in common – a curiosity about the world around them! 

Some of our young discoverers saw something that seemed out of the ordinary and went to take a closer look, while others felt something strange with their fingers or toes or heard an unexpected sound. One of our heroes even followed his nose all the way to an incredible find.

Fun and engaging, packed with fascinating facts and perfect for fans of history, science, and treasure hunts, this book will inspire curiosity and confidence in young readers and show them that anyone – no matter their age or experience – can make an extraordinary discovery. Find out how in Young Discoverers and get ready to see what mysteries are waiting to be uncovered in your own world.


 

It's a mystery, my dear Watson! Detective Squirrel Lock Holmes and her trusty sidekick Mole Watson are on the hunt for a missing pet rock in this first book of the hilarious early graphic chapter book series.

THE CASE OF THE MISSING PET ROCK

Victim: Reggie the Rabbit's Pet Rock, Dwayne (aka, "the Rock")
Scene of the Crime: Pet Rock Obedience School
Suspects: Reggie's classmates -- and even his teacher! 

Detective Squirrel Lock Holmes and her partner in crime-solving -- Mole Watson -- are experts in finding lost things. But can they find Reggie's pet rock? Or will they hit rock bottom? 

Early chapter book readers will laugh along at the problem-solving skills of the silliest sleuths in the forest in this full-color graphic novel.

Keep your eyes peeled for the next Squirrel Lock Holmes Mystery: A Corny Maze Mystery -- coming Fall 2026!

Celebrating teamwork and friendship, Cool Buds: Treasure Map! is the latest in I Can Read Comics, an early reader line that familiarizes kids with the world of graphic novel storytelling and teaches visual literacy to emerging readers. Treasure Map! is a Level Three book, meaning it's a complex story for an independent reader.

Welcome to Cozy Cove, population: 4! Blue, Puff, Tip, and Sealy are four cool buds living in the Arctic.

When Tip finds a treasure map, the friends set out on an adventure to locate where X marks the spot. What will they find--gold Jewels A crown It's up to the Cool Buds to find out!

Extra! Extra! New York Times bestselling author and Fox News senior correspondent Benjamin Hall reminds readers that we all have the power to make a difference in this heartwarming picture book about a hedgehog tasked with warning the forest about a hungry bear.

Hedgehog can't wait to be big enough to report the news like his dad does. So when he notices that a baby owl has fallen out of a tree and is in serious trouble, Hedgehog doesn't hesitate to spring into action! But can a little hedgehog like him save the day and warn the forest in time?

From award-winning senior correspondent Benjamin Hall, the New York Times bestselling author of Saved and Resolute, comes a heartwarming story, inspired by the toy his daughters gave him to carry whenever he was reporting away from home, about speaking up and daring to make a difference.

From Dav Pilkey, creator of the New York Times bestselling Dog Man, Cat Kid Comic Club, and Captain Underpants series, comes Dragon Tales: A Friend for Dragon, Dragon Gets By, and Dragon's Fat Cat in a single chapter book that's perfect for beginning readers.

Dragon Tales contains three hilarious, warmhearted, and loveable friendship stories about Dragon, a hero that everyone will cheer for! With easy-to-read text, a short story format, plenty of humor, and full-color artwork throughout, these books will boost reading confidence and fluency.

A Friend for Dragon:

Lonely Dragon has made a friend and he loves spending time with his new buddy! He enjoys telling scary stories, cracking funny jokes, and fixing a midnight snack for them to share.

But when his friend appears to be ill, Dragon demonstrates what it means to be a true friend.

Dragon Gets By:

When Dragon is tired, he accidentally reads an egg and fries his morning newspaper! And when Dragon goes grocery shopping, he buys more food than he can fit into his car!

Using his trademark humor and heart, Dav Pilkey illustrates the fun side of chores and responsibility.

Dragon's Fat Cat:

When Dragon finds a stray cat in his yard, he brings it inside to escape the cold. He likes living with his new feline friend, but Dragon soon realizes that he doesn't know how to take care of it. He doesn't know how to train the cat, what to feed the cat, and what to do about all the yellow puddles the cat leaves behind!

Dav Pilkey illustrates the highs and lows of having a new pet in this tender story about care and responsibility.

Birds of a feather solve crime together in this exciting middle grade mystery! When eight endangered macaws are stolen from a bird sanctuary in the Mayan ruins of Copán, four sleuthing cousins must find out who took them—and why.

Nico and his cousins don't have much in common, but they're all excited to visit the Mayan ruins at Copán and witness the release of the scarlet macaws. Nearly extinct in Honduras, eight of these majestic birds are about to be introduced to a brand new bird sanctuary. But on the eve of the big day the birds are stolen!

Who could have planned this bewildering bird heist—and why? Nico and his cousins are determined to find out—and anyone could be a suspect: poachers, developers, Mama's annoying novio . . . The investigation will take them from bustling downtown Copán to the mist-shrouded ruins of Macaw Mountain, uniting the cousins as they unravel a plot far stranger than any of them could have imagined.

The FGTeeV family is in for a rollercoaster of adventure in The Big Shrink!, the sixth graphic novel in the awesome, action-packed, New York Times bestselling series by YouTube's favorite gamer family!

The FGTeeV family is headed to Playtime Fun Park. Roller coasters, arcade games, and gurkey turkey, here they come! The only thing is, Glitch, Xyle, and Boomer are at the park, too. And they've got more important things to do than ride the rides--they're on the hunt for the Power of Imagination gemstone. Housed at the park, the gemstone would allow the evil trio to take over the world!

So when Duddy, Moomy, Lexi, Mike, Chase, Shawn, and the dogs cross paths with these villains, it's instant trouble. And when Shawn makes an accidental wish on a magic pinball machine, Glitch suddenly turns the rest of the family into miniature versions of themselves! Can Shawn reverse the curse, stop Glitch from taking over the world, and finally grow tall enough to ride the roller coasters?

Ride the rides into the fun-filled graphic novel adventure from YouTube sensations FGTeeV, with almost 50 MILLION subscribers and over 50 BILLION views!

An Amazon February 2026 Best of the Month Pick
A Kids IndieNext Pick

Perfect for fans of Jeff Kinney and Terri Libensen, A Kid Like Me is a timely exploration about finding your place in the ever-evolving social landscape that is middle school, written and illustrated by award-winning graphic novelist Norm Feuti.

Ethan doesn't want to stand out, he just wants to fit in. But fitting in is tough when your peers call out your ancient cell phone, busted backpack, and discount clothing. To make matters worse, his best friend, Ricky, insists on hanging out with a group of guys who just don't get him . . . they're more interested in playing pranks than playing his favorite card game Bio Battle. Things start looking up, though, when Ethan befriends Aiden, a new kid in school, but it's only matter of time before even that goes sideways.

Can Ethan figure out where he belongs without forgetting who he is and who he wants to be?

The girls of PAWS have a bone to pick with a group of rival dog walkers in the fifth book of this heartwarming and hilarious graphic novel series that is the Baby-Sitters Club for pets!

It's been seven whole dog years of PAWS (or just one if you're a human), and business is at an all-time high! But after a regrettable run-in with Gabby's arch-nemesis, Leo, things take an unfortunate turn. The two have an argument and Leo leaves the girls with an ominous message: "You're not the only one who can walk dogs..." 

It's not long before the girls notice flyers advertising a new dog walking business, SCAMPS. Sure enough, Leo and friends Brandon and Nolawi are behind it. And when Gabby and Mindy take some not-so-righteous retribution on these PAWS copycats, what could just be a little healthy competition turns into an all-out turf war.

In the midst of it all, Mindy gets stuck doing a group project with Brandon, bringing her face to face with the enemy. But is it possible they have more in common than not? As the battle between the two groups escalates, and neither side is playing fair, the girls are forced to reconsider who the true villain of this story might really be.

Welcome to the Nice Age! Wally is looking for his friend, Wolf. It's time to play hide-and-seek! Come out, come out, wherever you are! A giggle-inducing, unjacketed, lower-priced hardcover picture book about friendship and competition that is perfect for emerging readers by the multiple Geisel Award-winning Corey R. Tabor and illustrator Dalton Webb. For fans of Elephant and Piggie and Narwhal and Jelly.

Wolf and Wally are playing hide-and-seek. But hiding is hard for mammoths, and seeking is even harder! Especially when Wolf has a superpower: snow white fur that camouflages perfectly with the snowy Arctic landscape.

Will Wally find Wolf Will Wolf find Wally And what about Otto the great auk, who discovers his own unique (and silly) hiding spot Who knows! But there will be sweet treats all around for this sweet group of Ice Age friends.

Wally Mammoth: Hide-and-Seek is the second title in a laugh-out-loud funny, comic-inspired series about a group of unforgettable friends--created by friends themselves, illustrator Dalton Webb and the Geisel Award-winning author Corey R. Tabor. These unjacketed, lower priced, picture books make reading fun and are a perfect choice for emerging readers, for developing visual literacy, and for sharing together.

A tender story with exquisite illustrations, Ours will resonate with families who have endured unexpected pregnancy loss and are beginning to heal together.

In late summer, a young boy's parents share the happy news that he's going to be a big brother. As Mama's belly grows and Papa builds a crib, the boy wonders what it will be like to share his favorite toys with his new sibling. Then one cold winter day, Mama and Papa return from the hospital with some devastating news--the baby is not coming anymore. This sudden loss leaves the boy and his parents feeling empty inside.

As spring begins, the grieving family starts a garden together to help their hearts heal. By seeing how some seeds take root and flourish and how some seeds never come to be, the boy grows in his understanding of his family's experience and their resilient love.

Ours is a heartfelt story for families who have experienced unexpected loss and are healing and processing their grief together.

Pizzasaurus cares about one thing and one thing only: PIZZA! And he’s inviting you to a prehistoric pizza party in this hilarious picture book from the beloved author of Wordy Birdy and Mary Had a Little Glam.

Meet Pizzasaurus, a dinosaur with a unique twist! While other dinosaurs are famous for their size, strength, or spikes, Pizzasaurus is known for his love of pizza.

But what if Pizzasaurus's friends are feeling a bit left out? Luckily, pizza is perfect for sharing, and that makes Pizzasaurus a special dinosaur indeed. 

Bursting with "cheesy" puns and bright, zany dinosaur scenes, this supremely silly and sweet story is the perfect treat for any kid who loves dinosaurs and pizza. Get ready for a fun-filled adventure that celebrates friendship, sharing, and the joy of everyone's favorite food!

This companion title to Natalia Shaloshvili’s award-winning book Bear is a funny and comforting take on how to cope with constant worrying. With a little help from his friend Duck, Bear finds that even when his biggest (cookie-related!) worries do come true, it’s not the end of the world.  

At first, Bear is happily munching his cookie, until a thought creeps in: what if it’s the last cookie? When this turns out to be true, he sets off for the stores—and his worries mount and mount. He worries about missing the bus . . . and it leaves without him. He worries he’ll get lost . . . and gets lost. By the time he finds the cookie line, he’s at the very back; and his worst worry comes true. The very last cookie goes . . . to Duck! 

But just when Bear thinks his worst fears have been realized, Duck gently shows him that worries don’t have to end in disaster. By sharing his cookie and reminding Bear that ‘what ifs’ can lead to happy endings too, Duck helps his friend see that things often turn out better than expected. 

Complete with Natalia Shaloshvili’s expressive, playful illustrations and a story that balances humor with warmth, Bear Worries captures the familiar experience of children (and adults) whose imaginations run away with them. Both entertaining and reassuring, this picture book is the perfect springboard for conversations about anxiety, resilience, and friendship. 

Whether shared at storytime, used in classrooms, or given as a thoughtful gift, Bear Worries is an essential addition to every child’s bookshelf. It offers the reminder that no worry is too big when faced together. 

After years of taking her human family on summer vacations, a little camper is left alone in a backyard, feeling sad and lonely.

Hattie is a happy little camper. She has extra-cozy beds, sturdy little tires, and colorful tin siding that gently pings when it rains. Each summer Hattie's human family hitches her up and drives out from their city home to a campsite in the woods. Hattie enjoys these vacations with her family, and she especially loves watching the children laugh and play. Hattie keeps her family warm and safe and dry.

But as the years pass, the children grow up and move on to busy lives. No one has time for camping trips or Hattie anymore, and she is left all alone in the backyard. As seasons come and go, vines grow around Hattie; she's dusty, dirty, and a little run-down. Now woodland animals make their homes inside her walls. Hattie doesn't mind. She likes the company but it's not the same as keeping her human family safe and warm. She misses them. She misses the children and their laughter. Will Hattie ever know that love and happiness again?

A hilarious new read aloud from Caldecott Honor-winning author/illustrator David Ezra Stein, about a grumpy bear whose animal friends are determined to wake him up after a long hibernation. Pairs perfectly with Grumpy Monkey and Ryan T. Higgins's Bruce books.

Spring is here. The world is awake and abuzz, but one animal is still sleeping. Bear! When will he finally wake up from his slumber--and what sort of mood will he be in?

Caldecott Honor artist David Ezra Stein dares to poke the bear with hilarious results and reveals that spring is indeed the best season to be out and about.

Get ready to sing and laugh along with this intergalactic twist on the classic children's song "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" in a rollicking picture book from author Zach von Zonk and beloved illustrator Benjamin Chaud!



Old MacDonald had a farm--that is, until an alien spirits his animals away in a UFO. Now, Old MacMartian has a farm--in space--and young readers will delight in the out-of-this-world hijinks that result when cows, pigs, sheep, and more create chaos in his spaceship. 



With a zerp zap and a zerp zap there, colorful and detail-rich illustrations bring this hilarious tale to life as Old MacMartian and his faithful three-eyed dog get a bit more than they bargained for with their messy, hungry, noisy, and mischievous new barnyard companions. E-I-UFO!



A LAUGH-OUT-LOUD TAKE ON "OLD MACDONALD": From a UFO abduction of farm animals to the playfully reworked nursery rhyme we all know and love, the delightful chaos that ensues in this rhyming picture book delivers heaps of humor and outrageous scenarios.



STANDOUT READ-ALOUD: A familiar children's song paired with a space twist makes E-I-UFO the perfect read-aloud. Kids will love singing along, making animal noises, and saying "E‑I‑UFO!" again and again.



FARM ANIMALS + SPACE = HILARITY: Farm animal antics! A UFO! A Martian managing a farm in space! There's so much for kids to love. E-I-UFO takes the popular farm animal theme to new heights with a space setting, resulting in unexpected and ticklishly funny mayhem.



Perfect for:

• Fans of "Old MacDonald Had a Farm" song and books
• Parents seeking a laugh-out-loud picture book
• Educators, librarians, and caregivers in search of a picture book with a farm theme
• Kids who are learning about (and love) farm animals or space (or both!)
• Fans of Benjamin Chaud's books, including The Bear's Song and I Didn't Do My Homework Because ...

From learning how tractors are made to cooling off in the ice cream capital of the world, there's lots to see and do in Iowa! Additional features include maps on each spread, state symbols, famous people, fact bubbles, and informative captions that highlight some of the things that make Iowa special. A table of contents, sources for further research, a phonetic glossary, and an index support readers and extend learning.

Join Winnie the Pooh, Tigger, and all their friends as you search for hidden things in 7 busy scenes! Then flip to the end of the book for even more Look and Find challenges. Learning concepts include counting, rhyming, shapes, and more!

Every day is magical for Ariel, Belle, Cinderella, Rapunzel, Aurora, Tiana, Snow White, and Merida! Search for hidden surprises in 8 busy scenes, then turn to the back of the book for even more Look and Find challenges.

Do you think hoglets or porcupettes are cuter? Learn more about these spiky babies and cast your vote! In this title, young readers will dive into simple sentences about the body parts and behaviors of baby hedgehogs and baby porcupines. Colorful photos with clear labels support the leveled text. The book concludes with a compare-and-contrast summary.

Change how you see our world with this book of mind-blowing and beautiful maps for children.

Curiosity meets cartography in this brilliant book of maps for children aged 9-12, showcasing different countries and habitats from around the world.

From the Roman Empire to medieval sea monsters to shipwrecks, Maptastic! showcases the craziest, most mind-blowing, and most spectacular maps you've ever seen. Children can explore ingenious and detailed maps that turn data into captivating visual stories.

This map book for kids offers:

• A collection of diverse maps from all over the world that show children unique and fresh perspectives on each place.
• Diagrams and annotations on each map to break down different concepts and topics.
• An educational and entertaining book that sparks curiosity in geography, history, and data science.

Where do swallows go for winter? What's under Antarctica's ice? Where on Earth would you find the most money, the deadliest animals, the strangest place names, or the best place to see a tornado or a volcano?

Delve into the wonders of science with maps on geology, climate, astronomy, and nature, and find out how the world's worst maps led to some of the greatest discoveries of history. This map book is perfect for trivia lovers and map geeks of all ages.

What’s behind the eerie St Elmo’s Fire phenomenon? 
What was the mysterious explosion that tore through a Siberian forest in the early 1900s? 
And can fish and frogs really rain from the sky?

Travel around the globe and even into space with this dazzling natural history book, discovering the stories of nature’s rarest events and best-kept secrets.

From strange marvels of the night sky to the world’s weirdest weather events; from the most peculiar plants to rare and elusive animals; this book gathers together a jaw-dropping collection of natural wonders. Eclipses, ball lightning, pizzly bears . . . each stunningly illustrated spread explores a different phenomenon, including those that have baffled scientists through the centuries. 

Presented in five chapters – Amazing Space, Peculiar Plants, Unusual Animals, Weird Weather and Unique Wild Places – this is a celebration of nature at its quirkiest and most wonderful. Written by best-selling author Emily Hawkins and brought to life in glorious detail by illustrator Vlad Stankovic, this spectacular collection is the perfect title to gift, share and treasure for years to come.

A beautifully illustrated overview of the history of languages around the world, filled with maps, sidebars, and unusual facts that will satisfy curious kids



Where did the word "banana" originate? What is the world's most secret language? Which word is universally understood?



This book answers all these questions and more, taking the reader on a journey across the globe to explore the complexity, beauty, and variety of languages. It includes:

• Fun facts and language trivia
• Beautifully illustrated maps to pore
• Intricate language family trees that show how different languages have grown and connected over time
• Eye-catching infographics

*A JUNIOR LIBRARY GUILD Gold Standard Selection

*A 2025 MOONBEAM AWARD gold medalist for Best Book by Youth

We Run This House: The Girls' Guide to Flag Football is the go-to book for girls looking to fall in love with America's favorite sport.

Flag football is one of the fastest growing sports today! There are 20 million players in 100 countries, and the number of girls playing in the US keeps rising thanks to club, high school, and college leagues operating in dozens of states. Plus, flag football is set to make its Olympic debut for both men and women at the 2028 games in Los Angeles.

Against this backdrop is AnnaSofia Dickens, a 15-year-old student athlete playing on the top-ranked girls' flag team in the nation. In this first-of-its-kind guide written for teen girls by a teen girl, AnnaSofia welcomes players to the game she loves, sharing helpful tips and relatable advice from her own experience alongside interviews with football greats like Diana Flores, Jared Goff, and Michael Strahan.

As AnnaSofia puts it, she was in the right place at the right time to get involved with flag. Now millions of young readers (and the people who love them) looking to do the same can benefit from this sensational book.

Let's hear it for females in flag!

Yellowjackets meets Smile in this atmospheric sapphic horror debut, in which a group of troubled girls are stalked through the Appalachian wilderness by a frightening monster that feeds on their deepest fears.

Penny's abusive father is dead...but she still hears his voice in her head, encouraging her to hurt those around her. She can't go to school or be around her friends or even draw with a sharp pencil without her intrusive thoughts urging her toward violence. Desperate to get a handle on her OCD, she agrees to spend the summer at Camp Whitewood--an exclusive therapy retreat in the woods.

She feels optimistic when she arrives. The other girls all have their reasons for being there, which makes Penny feel a little less alone. But then she starts seeing things that can't possibly be there: the gold watch her father was buried with, his favorite whiskey spilled on her cabin floor...a terrifying figure she calls the Shadow Man looming at the foot of her bed. Penny thinks she is losing her mind, but when a girl goes missing, and is later found dead, it's clear that whatever is happening at Camp Whitewood isn't all in her head.

As the hallucinations become increasingly intense and more girls wind up dead, Penny must work with whoever is left standing to figure out what is real before the Shadow Man uses their traumas against them and claims their lives.

A genius humanoid escapes the university lab where she was made and gets a job at a local coffee shop in this “hilarious...excellent” (School Library Journal, starred review) young adult graphic novel perfect for fans of Giant Days and Heartstopper.

Ruby is a genius humanoid who was grown in a secret lab at the local university, created to solve science’s greatest problems. But Ruby suspects she can’t fulfill her function while trapped inside, so she breaks out.

Now living among humans, Ruby attempts to lie low and fit in as a barista at the university coffeehouse, Inkcap. Working there gives her plenty of opportunity to figure out what problems people need solving. And as far as she can tell, most humans’ biggest problem is struggling to find happiness. And what makes them happy? Love! So, Ruby uses her superpowered brain to play cupid.

As Ruby sets to work pairing up the staff and regulars at Inkcap, she feels more and more human herself: she’s got a community now, maybe even a crush. But the lab believes she’s dangerous, and it wants her back. When pursuing her own happiness leads Ruby straight into a trap, she’ll need her new motley crew of coffeehouse friends to save her from the scientist who only want to use her.

"Full of compelling twists and high-stakes magic . . . a captivating romantic fantasy that had me rooting for the protagonists from the very first page." —Kelly Andrew, New York Times-bestselling author of Your Blood, My Bones on The Beasts We Bury

Marry her enemy. Save her realm. Forsake her heart. The heart-shattering conclusion to this dark fantasy duology is perfect for fans of Adrienne Young, Tricia Levenseller, and Brigid Kemmerer.

Newly-appointed Prime Mancella is desperate to keep the peace within her realm and within herself. Having recently acquired the power to physically split into separate versions of herself, her identity is beginning to fracture—along with her land, which is on the brink of war. The only semblance of normalcy in her life is her budding romance with thief-turned-confidant, Silver. . . at least until the mysterious Prime Reltas arrives at her doorstep asking, or rather demanding, her hand in marriage.

If Mance wants to avoid a fight that will devastate her realm, she’ll have to consider the proposal. Even if it destroys Silver. But Mance isn't ready to give up just yet. Desperate to free herself from the betrothal, Mance must seek allyship from other Primes and learn to control her new magic. If she fails, her decision to refuse Reltas's proposal will implode the delicate state of affairs across the realms, setting off a catastrophic war—and shatter two hearts in the process.

From Emmy Award–winning documentary filmmaker James Robinson comes a breathtaking illustrated memoir for readers ages 10 and up—inspired by the viral, Emmy-nominated short film Whale Eyes.

WINNER OF THE SCHNEIDER FAMILY BOOK AWARD • AN ORBIS PICTUS RECOMMENDED BOOK • A BEST BOOK THE YEAR: School Library Journal, NPR, BCCB, New York Public Library, and Chicago Public Library

Told through an experimental mix of intimate anecdotes and interactive visuals, this book immerses readers in James’s experiences growing up with strabismus, allowing them to see the world through one eye at a time.

Readers will get lost as they chase words. They’ll stare into this book while taking a vision test. They’ll hold it upside down as they practice “pretend-reading”…and they’ll follow an unlikely trail toward discovering the power of words. 

With poignant illustrations by Eisner Award–nominated artist Brian Rea, James’s story equips readers of all ages with the tools to confront their discomfort with disability and turn confused, blank stares into powerful connections.

New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly bestseller from the acclaimed author of the Shatter Me series! Clashing empires, forbidden romance, and a long-forgotten queen destined to save her people--Tahereh Mafi's first in an epic romantasy series inspired by Persian mythology.

To all the world, Alizeh is a disposable servant, not the long-lost heir to an ancient Jinn kingdom forced to hide in plain sight.

The crown prince, Kamran, has heard the prophecies foretelling the death of his king. But he could never have imagined that the servant girl with the strange eyes, the girl he can't put out of his mind, would one day soon uproot his kingdom--and the world.

Perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Leigh Bardugo, and Sabaa Tahir, this is the explosive first book in a new romantasy series from the New York Times bestselling and National Book Award-nominated author Tahereh Mafi.

"In a tale as exquisitely crafted as one of Alizeh's own garments, Mafi weaves a spell of destiny and danger, forbidden love and courtly intrigue, magic and revolution." --Cassandra Clare, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Last Hours

"This Woven Kingdom is an exquisite fantasy. Rich with clever prose, delicious twists, and breathtaking world building. Prepare to be destroyed--this one will wrench at your heart and make it pound, and in the end it will leave you entirely speechless." --Stephanie Garber, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Caraval series

From the award-winning author of the Kate Shugak Mysteries, a thrilling new detective series set during America's wild boom time of the nineteenth century.

WELCOME TO THE GILDED AGE. WHERE NOT EVERYTHING GLITTERS.

1890. The New Mexico Territory is a lawless frontier where criminals steal money and land alike with impunity. Everyone wears a six-gun and is ready and willing to draw it.

In the new city of Montaña Roja, Fred Harvey's growing empire is threatened by the robberies plaguing his newest Harvey House restaurant. To get justice, he needs a skilled detective to go undercover and procure answers to questions the law will not ask.

The assignment falls to Clare Wright, a young Pinkerton agent. Disguised as one of Harvey's famous hostesses, Clare travels west where she risks being exposed at every step of her investigation. To get answers – and to get out alive – there are only two things she can trust: her instincts, and her derringer.

Reviewers love The Harvey Girl

'Smooth writing, interesting characters, and a mystery to boot... I love this book' Joe R. Lansdale
'An absolute gem of a novel – a gripping story with great characters and fascinating history' C.J. Box
'A richly researched, masterly plotted historical mystery' Sara Donati
'I adored this novel and can't wait for the next one' Douglas Preston

"A twisty and pacy thriller." --Nita Prose, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Maid series



A woman's brunch with friends quickly turns dark in this gripping thriller from New York Times bestselling author Lisa Unger



Ana Blacksmith has gathered her closest friends and sister Vera for a brunch to celebrate her recent breakup from her boyfriend Paul. But when shocking news about Paul arrives, all eyes are on Ana, the angry ex with a bad reputation. Suspicions only intensify when Ana's best friend falls deathly ill after the brunch.



But Ana is not the only one who had a score to settle with Paul. As the investigation unfolds, rumors of a secret network that uses ancient methods to obtain justice begin to emerge. Vengeance is sweet, but it can also be deadly. Ana and Vera are determined to find the truth before Ana takes the fall and their own long-buried history comes to light.

 

There's a killer inside all of us...

In the remote hills of western Ireland, fear spreads as the locals struggle to make sense of a killer who is seemingly one of their own...

Dr. Alexander Gregory, a psychologist recovering from the collapse of a high-profile criminal profiling unit, wants nothing more than a quiet life to finally sit and think things through. but his rare ability to understand the minds of violent offenders makes him hard to ignore--especially when a small town is shaken by a brutal murder. Reluctantly pulled into the case, Gregory finds himself confronting not only a cunning predator, but the darkest corners of his own mind.

From internationally bestselling author LJ Ross comes a tense, atmospheric thriller that explores how far we'll go to understand--and survive--the darkness around us.

After a decades-long stint in prison, former serial killer Carol is looking to kick back and relax in her new retirement home...until a fellow resident drops dead and Carol has to prove she actually didn't do it this time....

Carol is delighted to be leaving her tiny prison cell behind to take her place in a luxury retirement home. She's hoping her past as a serial killer won't come to light so she can make a few friends and find some murder-free hobbies. But it's not long before a fellow resident—who happens to be a former police commissioner—drops dead, and Carol's true identity is leaked—making catching up over daily activities of bingo and baking rather awkward. 

Just her luck, Carol soon realizes that the victim wasn't the only former law enforcement officer at Sheldon Oaks—it's filled to the brim with former cops, barristers, and government representatives, her newfound friends included. And everyone thinks Carol's guilt is a no-brainer, but she is ready to prove them dead wrong...without killing anyone, for once.

A LibraryReads pick! An Indie next pick!

DELUXE EDITION—the hardcover edition of The Red Winter features beautiful red sprayed edges!

A devastating love story. A bewitching twist on history. A blood-drenched hunt for purpose, power, and redemption. 

In 1785, Professor Sebastian Grave receives the news he fears most: the terrible Beast of Gévaudan has returned, and the French countryside runs red in its wake. 

Sebastian knows the Beast. A monster-slayer with centuries of experience, he joined the hunt for the creature twenty years ago and watched it slaughter its way through a long and bloody winter. Even with the help of his indwelling demon, Sarmodel – who takes payment in living hearts – it nearly cost him his life to bring the monster down.

Now, two decades later, Sebastian has been recalled to the hunt by Antoine Avenel d’Ocerne, an estranged lover who shares a dark history with the Beast and a terrible secret with Sebastian. Drawn by both the chance to finish the Beast for good and the promise of a reconciliation with Antoine, Sebastian cannot refuse. 

But Gévaudan is not as he remembers it, and Sebastian’s unfinished business is everywhere he looks. Years of misery have driven the people to desperation, and France teeters on the edge of revolution. Sebastian’s arcane activities – not to mention his demonic counterpart – have also attracted the inquisitorial eye of the French clergy. And the Beast is poised to close his jaws around them all and plunge the continent into war. 

Debut author Cameron Sullivan tears the heart out of history with this darkly entertaining retelling of the hunt for the Beast of Gévaudan. Lifting the veil on the hidden world behind our own, it reimagines the story of Europe, from Imperial Rome to Saint Jehanne d’Arc, the madness of Gilles de Rais and the first flickers of the French Revolution.

“An absolute feast of a book: rich, red, sinfully delicious. I've rarely been this satisfied—or this hungry for more.” —Alix E. Harrow, New York Times bestselling author of Starling House

“So bloody good. The Red Winter is absolute ripper entertainment—miss it at your peril!” —Shelley Parker-Chan, bestselling author of She Who Became the Sun

“A gorgeous tangle of history and fresh-made myth. You'll eat this one up.” —Cassandra Khaw, bestselling author of Nothing But Blackened Teeth

“Charming, haunting, ambitious, and a great deal of fun.” —T. Kingfisher, New York Times bestselling author of A Sorceress Comes to Call

USA TODAY BESTSELLER!

A most anticipated book from Harper’s Bazaar, Goodreads, Woman’s World, and more!

For fans of Daisy Jones & the Six and In Five Years—a powerful and transportive new novel about a music executive desperately trying to bring a rock band back from the brink, from bestselling author Ashley Winstead. 

The best love stories are the ones you don’t expect.

When record executive Theo meets the Future Saints, they’re bombing at a dive bar in their hometown. Since the tragic death of their manager, the band has been in a downward spiral and Theo has been dispatched to coax a new—and successful—album out of them, or else let them go.

Immediately, Theo is struck by Hannah, the group’s impetuous lead singer, who’s gone off script by debuting a whole new sound, replacing their California pop with gut-wrenching rock. When this new music goes viral, striking an unexpected chord with fans, Theo puts his career on the line to give the Saints one last shot at success with a new tour, new record, and new start.

But Hannah’s grief has larger consequences for the group, and her increasingly destructive antics become a distraction as she and her sister Ginny—her lifelong partner in crime—undermine Theo at every turn. Hannah isn’t ready to move on or prepared for the fame she’s been chasing, and the weight of her problems jeopardize the band, her growing closeness with Theo, and, worst of all, her relationship with her sister—all while the world watches closely. The Future Saints’s big break is here—if only they can survive it.

A novel about sisterhood, friendship, and the ghosts that haunt us, The Future Saints is “a mesmerizing look at grief, love, and the music industry that's so raw and emotional, you’ll want to play it on repeat” (Laura Hankin, author of One-Star Romance).

THE DEFINITIVE BIOGRAPHY OF THE FIRST AMERICAN POPE

The Life, Teachings, Rise and Leadership Qualities of Pope Leo XIV.

"Kengor's deep understanding of both Catholicism and America make him the right scholar to introduce Americans to a deeper understanding of the first American Pontiff."--HON. NEWT GINGRICH

From New York Times bestselling author and noted Catholic historian Dr Paul Kengor: A portrait of Robert Francis Prevost, his background and life, theological beliefs and teachings, relationship with his predecessors and fellow cardinals and clergy, and surprising rise to become the 267th elected Pontiff and first American Pope, and the challenges he will face and how he is likely to lead the Catholic Church, including interviews with Catholic and papal experts.

In this first major biography of the new American pontiff, Editor of The American Spectator, chief academic fellow at the Institute for Faith & Freedom, professor of political science at Grove City College, historian and New York Times bestselling author of over twenty books, including A Pope and a President, The Divine Plan, and God and Ronald Reagan, Dr Paul Kengor delivers an engaging and gripping deep dive into the life and times of Robert Francis Prevost, whose election to the Chair of St. Peter on May 8, 2025, stunned the world. There had never been an American pope, and until this book, there has not been an in-depth examination of the new American pontiff and his extraordinary election. Professor Kengor takes readers on a spiritual sojourn from the very first pope, Peter, through the Medieval popes, through the turbulence of the Francis years, and through today's pope and the figures who influenced him, from St. Augustine to Pope Leo XIII. He shows how this so-called "least American American" among the cardinals is actually quintessentially American, and yet also, remarkably, is quintessentially universal--ideally so for the head of the universal Roman Catholic Church.

In this definitive biography, Dr. Kengor provides fascinating information on Prevost's sudden rise from priest to bishop to cardinal and the inside story on how the vote went down in the Conclave, leading to the highly unexpected and yet overwhelming choice of Prevost on the fourth ballot. Kengor also provides a detailed treatment of the very revealing opening 40 days of Leo XIV's pontificate and offers unique insights into where the world might expect the pope to proceed hereafter. The pope's first word from the Loggia was "peace," and he has committed himself to a mission of peace and unity for the Church and the wider world.

If you want to get to know this mystery man who became pope--who became the first American pontiff--this is the book, a must-read for every Catholic and for non-Catholics as well.

A NATIONAL BESTSELLER!

From the New York Times bestselling author of Tokyo Ever After comes “an endearing, lightly magical romantic comedy” (Kirkus Reviews) about a girl who starts receiving letters from the love of her life—writing to her from years in the future.

What if your true love could write to you from the future?

Seventeen-year-old Emma Nakamura-Thatcher doesn’t believe in love, not after her parents’ bitter divorce. So when she attends the festival of Tanabata, her wish is simple: proof that love is real and can last.

Emma thinks little of her wish. . . . until she finds a note from someone claiming to be her greatest love writing to her from the future. It has to be a prank, right? But as the notes pour in, each revealing secrets only she knows, Emma is forced to accept the impossible: This is really happening. Someone is actually reaching out to her from across time.

But who? Ezra, the musical prodigy who makes her pulse race? Theo, the literal boy next door who’s known her since childhood? Or Colin, the overly confident, overly handsome, overly rich kid she meets while cleaning his mega-mansion?

As Emma races to uncover the identity of the letter writer, she’ll discover that love is more than real—it’s the most powerful force in the universe. And it’s been waiting for her all along.

A whip-smart and darkly funny crime novel—perfect for fans of My Sister, the Serial Killer and The Maid—that follows a wife and mother with a deadly secret that she must suppress if she wants to maintain her picture-perfect façade. 

Meet Lalla Rook. Lalla has a lot on her plate: She needs to guarantee her husband makes partner, secure her dream house in Hampstead, and get her daughter into a prestigious prep school. And on the afternoon she stabs a stranger seven times after he breaks into her living room, she has a four-year-old’s birthday party to host. 

With an unambitious partner, two demanding children, and a barely adequate large house in a nice (if not quite fashionable) part of town, Lalla’s life isn’t quite perfect yet. And she can’t pretend she hasn’t missed the adrenaline rush that comes with transgressing. Besides, as a wife and mother, she’s already an expert multi-tasker. So, disposing of a body, framing a friend, and being the world’s best mother can easily be managed alongside the usual domestic minutiae. 

It’s just that her husband Stephen seems distracted, her daughter’s drowning of the class hamster is affecting her academic future, and then there is the unexpected intruder. Who is this man and what does he want from her? Because Lalla has a past she’d rather keep hidden—and the sudden appearance of the police means that avoiding them will be yet another task to cross off her to-do list. 

Funny, calculating, hypercompetent, and ambitious, Lalla is your next favorite antiheroine. Just don’t mention it to her mother-in-law.

DELUXE EDITION―featuring gorgeous stenciled edges, a foil case stamp, a detailed map, and designed endpapers!

“J.R. Ward is a powerhouse in the genre and never disappoints!”--Rebecca Yarros, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

"Absolutely unputdownable!"--Jennifer Armentrout, #1 New York Times Bestselling Author

Crown of War and Shadow is a brand new, sweeping, slow-burn romantasy from #1 New York Times bestseller J. R. Ward, perfect for fans of Sarah J. Maas, Rebecca Yarros, and Jennifer Armentrout!

An outcast burdened with a curse. A mercenary out for himself. A kingdom that must be saved.

In the deep, dark, dead of night, passions rise, and empires fall...

The Fulcrum is failing, and demons are slipping into the mortal world.

No one is safe.

Especially not Sorrel. An orphan and an outcast within the walls of her small village because of her mystical abilities. She wants to survive...and find somewhere she can call her true home. But Fate has other plans.

Sorrel has been chosen. Cursed.

She must cross the Badlands to return the Queen's crown and convince the fearsome female to save their world from destruction.

Well aware she’s no brave hero, Sorrel makes a dangerous deal with Merc, a brooding, commanding mercenary known only by his unscrupulous profession.

The deal? A night in his bed that she will never forget, in exchange for her safe passage.

But Merc has secrets of his own, and even though desire runs hot between them, adventure, danger, and betrayal lurk around every corner.

Crown of War and Shadow is the first book in the Kingdoms of the Compass series.

Crown of War and Shadow
*Forced proximity/Only one bed
*Chosen mates
*Dark mercenary
*Who did this to you?
*Touch her and die
*I'll die for you
*Hidden magic

"PAWSSIBLY the sweetest books on the shelf!"

-- Ben Clanton, bestselling author of the Narwhal and Jelly series

Follow the antics of Squash and Ginny in the sixth installment of Cat & Cat Adventures from popular webcomic creator Susie Yi! This chapter book graphic novel series is perfect for fans of Catstronauts, Babymouse, and Catwad.

Into the belly of the beast! After recovering the orbs of the Past and Present, Squash, Ginny, and the rest of the crew head to the zoo to secure the Orb of the Future from their greatest enemy yet: the Owl King. But their mission will be no easy feat. After all, the Owl King holds the Orb of the Future, which means he knows their next move even before they do. Their best plan of attack: to have no plan at all!

Armed with nothing but their wits (and some snacks, of course) the Spirit Squad must find a way to rescue the third orb and restore the Staff of Knowledge. If not, the Spirit Realm, Human World, and the future of snacking all hang in the balance!

A vividly rendered graphic novel adaptation of Lauren Tarshis's bestselling I Survived the California Wildfires, 2018, with text adapted by Georgia Ball and art by Cassie Anderson.

All across California, deadly wildfires rage . . .

Still reeling from the life-changing challenges that propelled him and his mother across the country, Josh finds solace in the California wilderness and in the newfound friendship with his cousin Holly.

But on a trip into the nearby forest, Josh and Holly suddenly find themselves in the middle of a frighteningly powerful firestorm, one which threatens to burn down everything in its path. Josh needs to confront the family issues burning him up inside, but first he'll have to survive the flames roaring all around him.

Lauren Tarshis's New York Times bestselling I SURVIVED series blazes to life in this graphic novel edition. Perfect for readers who prefer the graphic novel format, or for existing fans of the I Survived chapter book series, these graphic novels combine historical facts with high-action storytelling that's sure to keep readers turning the pages. Includes a nonfiction section at the back with facts and photos about the real-life event.

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • THE SECOND BOOK IN THE LANDMARK NEW FANTASY SERIES THAT BEGAN WITH IMPOSSIBLE CREATURES

“Rundell is back with a sequel . . . which offers magical thrills for young readers and adults alike.”—The New York Times

Return to the magic of the Archipelago in the dazzling sequel to the runaway, smash hit Impossible Creatures, hailed as “an instant classic” (Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal Winner for The One and Only Ivan)!

*This spectacular book features foil and embossing on the jacket, full-color designed endpapers, and brilliant stained edges*

Christopher Forrester woke to find a dragon chewing on his face—and his heart leapt for joy! He’d been dreaming of going back to the Archipelago, the secret cluster of islands where all the creatures of myth still live, and here was his summons.

But there is a poison spreading in the Archipelago. Rooting it out will involve a daring rescue mission on the back of a sphinx, a stealthy entrance to a dragon’s lair, and a death-defying plan to save a prisoner held in the heart of a castle. At the center of this storm is Anya: a small girl with a flock of birds at her side, a new-hatched chick in her pocket, and a ravenous hunger for justice.

Katherine Rundell’s second thrilling installment in the Impossible Creatures series involves castles, dragons, and revenge—the things of which great stories are made. The splendors within are brought to life with fifty illustrations, including a map and a bestiary of magical creatures.

A GOOD HOUSEKEEPING KIDS' BOOK AWARD • A WALL STREET JOURNAL BEST CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR

For fans of Catwad and The First Cat in Space, here is a hilariously over-the-top middle-grade graphic novel about a cat and his genius hairball who accidentally destroy the universe.



Huck does NOT like change. In fact, he lives the same day on repeat. Same canned cat food. Same indoor luxury. Same time spent with his brainy, yet insecure, best friend Hairball--a damp lump of hair that Huck hacked up.



But when Hairball invents a time machine with the hopes of gaining the respect of the scientific community, Huck accidentally sets in motion a series of events that breaks the universe and ruins his string of unchanging days. Oops.



With the end of the world in balance, it's up to these unlikely heroes to save it. What they find out is that the key to saving the world is also what they want most of all ...



Rich Moyer's take on time travel is without-a-doubt hilarious, and the duo he's crafted is perfectly suited for kids who are searching for a good laugh. And his vibrant colors and energetic panels add the perfect amount of visual humor to the story, making Huck 'N' Hairball a rip-roaring graphic novel.

An Instant New York Times Bestseller and Indie Bestseller

“Lucas DuBois is proof that a mere kitten can be the bravest of lions by always standing up for what's right.” —Alan Gratz, New York Times bestselling author of Refugee

The acclaimed, New York Times bestselling author of Pax delivers an historical novel about an orphan during WWII who discovers unexpected courage within himself when he becomes involved with the Resistance. 

Petit éclair. That’s what the other boys at the orphanage call Lucas DuBois. Lucas is tired of his cowardly reputation, just as he’s tired of the war and the Nazi occupation of his French village. He longs to show how brave he can be. 

He gets the chance when he saves a litter of kittens from cruel boys and brings them to an abandoned stable to care for them. There he comes upon a stranger who is none too happy to see him: Alice, the daughter of a horse trainer, who is hiding her filly from German soldiers.

Soon Lucas begins to realize they are not the only ones in the village with secrets. The housekeeper at the German maternity home and a priest at the orphanage pass coded messages; a young mother at the home makes dangerous plans to keep her baby from forced adoption; and a neighbor in town may be harboring a Jewish family.

Emboldened by the unlikely heroes all around him, Lucas is forced to decide how much he is willing to risk to make the most courageous rescue of all.

Perfect for fans of Alan Gratz, Ruta Sepetys, and Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, this accessible novel, told in short chapters, illuminates a little-known aspect of World War II history.

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman comes the funny and heartwarming sequel to the word-of-mouth hits UNGIFTED and SUPERGIFTED.

School has never been a problem for twelve-year-old super-genius Noah Youkilis--at least not until he gets an admission letter to the prestigious Wilderton University. The last thing Noah wants is to go straight from eighth grade into college. Will his life ever just be normal!

Meanwhile, Noah's best friend, Donovan, has been looking forward all year to a summer of doing nothing. But when Wilderton allows Noah to bring a friend for the summer term, Donovan's parents jump at the chance. Suddenly, Donovan's summer of slack has turned into hanging with Noah and working as a summer camp counselor for professors' kids.

Once they arrive on campus, Noah's determined to fit in--and to him, that means joining the top-secret Society of the Gavel. But becoming a Gaveler is harder than it seems, and it's made all the harder when Noah and Donovon smuggle Wilderton's mascot, a two-hundred-pound pig named Porquette, into their dorm. Now Noah and Donovan must combine all their middle-school smarts to keep their pig-sized secret, fix a haywire AI program before it pretty much ends the world, and keep track of Donovan's campers.

It's going to be a summer to remember in the newest book from #1 New York Times bestselling author Gordon Korman.

Newbery Honoree Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.

CORETTA SCOTT KING BOOK AWARD HONOREE
ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OF THE YEAR: Publishers Weekly, Kirkus Reviews, The Week Junior, Audible, Chicago Public Library
KIRKUS PRIZE FINALIST
NATIONAL BOOK AWARD LONGLIST SELECTION
WNDB WALTER AWARD WINNER
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD HONOR
ALSC NOTABLE CHILDREN'S BOOK
SOUTHERN BOOK PRIZE FINALIST

★ "Bold, extraordinary storytelling: not to be missed."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review
★ "A powerful tale." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
★ "A modern folktale that leaves a damning indictment." —BCCB, starred review
★ "This is Barnes at his best.” —School Library Journal, starred review

In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high school ball, and now they're overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.

Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought.

Overnight, Henson's town is divided into two chaotic sides—those that support his decisions, and those that don't—when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can't see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain those who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness.

Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes's groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America's obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional novel shows how much has changed over centuries . . . and, at the same time, how little.

With more than 36 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading! In this tenth book of the My Weirdtastic School arc, a safety expert is called to Ella Mentry School, but can she perfectly protect the kids from...well, everything

Ella Mentry School is dangerous! Kids are falling off their bikes, skateboards, and scooters. They're running into doors. Elephants are landing on their heads. Well, we made up that last one. But kids are getting hurt, and Principal Stoker is determined to do something about it. So she brings in Mrs. Granger, who runs Safety Town, a place that helps kids have fun and stay safe at the same time. But what happens when Mrs. Granger goes overboard Can A.J. and his friends snap her back to normal without ending up in the hospital

Perfect for reluctant readers and all kids hungry for funny school stories, Dan Gutman's hugely popular My Weird School chapter book series has something for everyone. Don't miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and his friends!

A NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FINALIST • A groundbreaking, action-packed, and ultimately uplifting adventure that intertwines elements of Jewish mythology with an unflinching examination of the impacts of transphobia, from Newbery Honor winner Kyle Lukoff.

“Rare and beautiful—a novel that combines wondrous fantasy, searing real-world relevance, and a frank empathetic understanding of the adolescent experience.”—Rick Riordan, author of Percy Jackson and the Olympians

★ “A stunning powerhouse of fantasy and real-world issues.”—Booklist, starred review

Lockdown is over, but A’s world feels smaller than ever. Coming out as trans didn’t exactly go well, and most days, he still barely leaves his bedroom, let alone the house. But the low point of A’s life isn’t online school, missing his bar mitzvah, or the fact that his parents monitor his phone like hawks—it’s the weekly Save Our Sons and Daughters meetings his parents all but drag him to. 

At SOSAD, A and his friends Sal and Yarrow sit by while their parents deadname them and wring their hands over a nonexistent “transgender craze.” After all, sitting in suffocating silence has to be better than getting sent away for “advanced treatment,” never to be heard from again. 

When Yarrow vanishes after a particularly confrontational meeting, A discovers that SOSAD doesn’t just feel soul-sucking…it’s run by an actual demon who feeds off the pain and misery of kids like him. And it’s not just SOSAD—the entire world is beset by demons dining on what seems like an endless buffet of pain and bigotry.

But how is one trans kid who hasn’t even chosen a name supposed to save his friend, let alone the world? And is a world that seems hellbent on rejecting him even worth saving at all?

A group of adventurous mice decides the family buffet is the perfect way to celebrate the holidays, as long as they can avoid the family cat.

'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a . . . Oops! As it turns out, one house has a lot of activity this Christmas holiday! A quartet of mice is wide awake and looking for some tasty treats. When what to their wondering eyes should appear, but a mouthwatering buffet and no humans near.

There are pies and pastries, cookies and tarts. A yummy gingerbread house offers the sweetest sugary treat of all. And there's a big bowl of punch to wash it all down. But when the mice try to escape with some grapes, one bounces toward a sleeping cat. Is their holiday caper over?

Rhyming text and lively artwork bring this fun treat to life!

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Reality proves more epic than fantasy in this family road trip story starring a reluctant young hero and his curmudgeonly grandfather.

A Pura Belpré Children’s Author Honor Book

Gonzalo Alberto Sánchez García has never considered himself the hero of his own story. He’s an observer, quietly snapshotting landscapes and drawing the creatures he imagines emerging from them. Forced to spend the summer with his estranged grandfather, Alberto William García—the very famous reclusive author—Gonzalo doesn't expect to learn that heroes and monsters are not only the stuff of fantasy.

But that’s precisely what happens when Gonzalo’s CEO mother, Veronica, sends Alberto on tour to promote the final book in his fantasy series for children and Gonzalo must tag along, even though he feels no connection to his grandfather or the books. Together, they embark on a cross-country road trip from Mendocino to Miami in a classic 1968 Oldsmobile Cutlass S convertible named Mathilde. Over the course of ten epic days on the highway, they will slay demons, real and imagined; confront old stories to write new ones; and learn what it truly means to show up for your family.

A bountiful celebration of community, teamwork, and gardening from bestselling author Ruth Spiro and award-winning artist Paola Escobar.

A child and a seedling find themselves at home in their local urban community garden. With the help of firefighters, chefs, shopkeepers, and many more members of their community, they grow alongside the flowers, vegetables, friendships, and more all summer long, together.

Perfect for readers of We Are the Gardeners and Dear Girl, young readers and gardeners will also love the backmatter with fun facts about the produce grown in the story.

Come dig in the dirt with your friends and your neighbors!

Food, family, love, and laughter make for the perfect recipe in this sweet picture book from acclaimed author Shauntay Grant.

Taking place over the course of a summer day, we follow a young girl as she and her family gather at her nana's house for a get-together where lessons are shared, food is prepared, and lifelong memories are created. Told in African proverbs, Where There Is Love explores the importance of familial bonds and their lasting impact while presenting proverbs to inspire readers long after the story ends. Throughout the book, Nana's house provides a safe space for our protagonist to make mistakes, learn lessons, and most importantly, find and feel love. This gorgeous picture book provides that same comforting space for readers page after page.

CORETTA SCOTT KING ILLUSTRATOR HONOR BOOK • A lyrical picture book from the award-winning author of Heavy, about three Black boys who form a deep connection during a transformative summer trip down South to visit family.

On the ground of that garden, covered in vegetables and dirt, coated in laughter, I want to say that the Mississippi and New York in our Black boy bodies were indistinguishable. 

Three Black boys spend one special summer exploring the Mississippi woods and woulds and coulds of sharing the kind of freeing friendship that is love.

Watched over and given space to discover by Grandmama and Mama Lara, New York, Country, and little C find camaraderie in their contrasts and all the unspoken things between them while playing games of marco polo in the thick garden and sledding on cardboard by the underpass. 

With text brimming with love by award-winning author Kiese Laymon and deeply evocative illustrations by Alexis Franklin, City Summer, Country Summer illuminates the tenuous and tender bonds of friendship Black boys forge with one another.

Sasha wants to join in on a playdate, but her shyness keeps getting in the way. A kindhearted, funny, reassuring story for anyone who needs more time warming up in this socially extroverted world. 

When Sasha arrives for a playdate at Leo's, she finds him charged up and ready to go. Waving a toy frying pan, he shouts, "I'm Chef Yummy. Step into my café!" Sasha pictures herself making fluffy pancakes, but her shyness quickly takes over. Leo is full of ideas, bouncing up and down as he invites Sasha to play rock stars or astronauts, but Sasha's reticence wins out every time. She wants to be Leo's friend, and she doesn't want to make him sad, but how can she get past this hurdle? With empathy, humor, and some truly adorable characters, Natalia Shaloshvili draws from her own childhood experiences to show that sympathy and understanding can go a long way--and might just lead to the start of a beautiful friendship. Anyone up for a game of space-rocker-pancake chef?

If one day buds bloom and birds chirp, and the next day a late snow falls from the sky, is it spring Will it ever be spring An evergreen, child-friendly picture book that explores themes of patience, hope, the seasons, and nature by the New York Times bestseller and Caldecott Medalist Kevin Henkes.

A flower in the garden down the street. Birds in the sky. Buds on the branches in the park. It must be spring.

But wait! What is this icy gust of wind Why are snowflakes falling from heavy gray clouds Will it ever be spring Yes, says the sun. Just be patient.

Kevin Henkes, the #1 New York Times bestseller who has been awarded the Caldecott Medal, two Caldecott Honors, two Newbery Honors, two Geisel Honors, the Children's Literature Lecture Award, and Children's Literature Legacy Award, among numerous other honors, has created a masterful and classic picture book that combines an evocative call-and-response text with delicate and lovely illustrations. Readers will be left assured that the sun--and spring--will always come again.

In this bold anthem, feminist organizer and bestselling author Gloria Steinem and Nobel Peace Prize winner Leymah Gbowee share their parallel journeys as activists.

We, sister-friends, working our way toward equality's front door. We, taking separate journeys, but walking in the same direction.

We ---- for peace. We ---- for love. We ---- for bravery.

Gloria Steinem and Leymah Gbowee's dual paths have inspired a friendship empowered by the principles of equality, progress, and hope for a new generation. Here, two friends come together to tell one uplifting story of girls and women strengthening one another and changing the world.

Perfect for fans of Hilo!

Created by real-life astronaut Leland Melvin! 

The action-packed space adventure continues!

The team of kids-turned-astronauts are back again and this time they are heading farther than any kid has traveled before...to the moon!

But ever since Steven got back from being injured and going through physical therapy, his friends are acting a little strange. They are extra courteous to him, almost tripping over themselves to help, and stuttering over the wrong words. They mean well but Steven just wants to be treated like a regular member of the team. Plus the moon is an unstable environment, and when moonquakes keep shaking things up, the lives of the entire team are danger. It’ll be up to the kids to trust each other’s wits, capabilities and strengths in order to get through the crisis and get each other home safely.

Crafted by the visionary minds of astronaut Leland Melvin, Joe Caramagna, and Alison Acton, dive into this riveting space odyssey, where the vastness of space tests the bounds of friendship and courage.

Join Pete the Kitty on a journey up the beanstalk in this My First I Can Read story from New York Times bestselling team Kimberly and James Dean.

Once upon a time, a kitty named Pete and his friend Callie climbed a beanstalk as tall as the sky. At the top, they heard "Fe! Fi! Fo! Fum!" But where are the sounds are coming from

Beginner readers will love this new Pete-tastic spin on the beloved fairy tale Jack and the Beanstalk!

This My First I Can Read book is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations--which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers. The active, engaging My First I Can Read stories have appealing plots and lovable characters, encouraging children to continue their reading journey.

For more groovy fairytale twists with Pete the Kitty check out Pete the Kitty and the Three Bears!

Grover needs your help! Discover six different jobs with Grover and your favorite Sesame Street friends in this fun and interactive guessing-game board book in which every hat becomes a clue!

Welcome to Sesame Street! What hat is that and who wears it? Help Grover guess the job using hats as a clues! Is that a magician's hat? Is it an astronaut's helmet? Lift the gatefold and find out! With playful text and colorful art, this sturdily constructed interactive board book is perfect for curious and playful toddlers!

From the creators of Turkeys in Disguise comes another hilariously fun read-aloud, this time the Easter Bunny is late for a very important date!

Egg hunt's starting at high noon!

That bunny has to hide eggs soon!

We must act now or they'll be late

for this important Easter date!

The Easter Bunny is late! Can a group of creative kids help this iconic rabbit get to the town's egg hunt in time all while keeping the famous bunny incognito and out of sight? The kids need to work together and hop to it if they're going to pull this off and save the holiday.

This is a perfectly funny and sweet read-aloud tale to share in every Easter basket!

★ "Captures a language's ability to connect one to places, ancestry, and cultural heritage through the sharing of stories, family recipes, and so much more. An inspiring addition to any collection." -- Booklist, starred review

Do you know my language? Have you heard the sounds it makes? Has it rocked you in its rhythms? Have you seen the roads it takes?

A parent invites a child to get to know their language. In a driving rhythm, they speak about the language blossoming in deserts and plains, building castles and forts and motoring over roadways. Not hemmed in by borders, this language holds ancient knowledge, medicines and nourishment within it, and has explored the farthest reaches of the universe. The parent realizes that teaching their heritage language to their child will connect them always and allow them to grow a garden of language together.

For the parents and caregivers who want to share their heritage language with the children in their lives, E.G. Alaraj has crafted this celebratory and inspiring poem in hopes it will get more conversations started and encourage kids to see the joy in discovering their roots. Exploring the links between language, culture and the natural world, this book is a heartfelt celebration of the vitality and importance of our languages and how they bind us together.

Praise for E.G. Alaraj:

★"A stunning marriage of text and art that will linger with listeners as they slip into sleep...This melodic lullaby is warm and tender perfection."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review for When Stars Arise

Horned lizards puff up their bodies to scare off predators. Diamondback rattlesnakes use venom to defend themselves. Which North American predator will win this battle? This hi-lo title explores the fighting strengths of each of these predators through vibrant photos and action-packed text. Special features show off each animal's habitat, size, and range, along with secret weapons, and more. A final battle determines the winner. Readers will be on the edge of their seats!

Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker find an egg in this second book in the sweet and funny Level 1 Ready-to-Read series about the unlikely duo.

Rex the warthog and Oslo the oxpecker bird are friends who do everything together. One day, they find an egg. Could it belong to a fish, a turtle, or even a dinosaur? Rex and Oslo find out together!

Five Minecraft® Step Into Reading level 3 readers are collected in one book for even more action-packed adventures based on one of the world's best-selling video games! Perfect for children ready to read on their own.

Minecraft® is one of the best-selling video games of all time! And now learning to read has never been more fun. Players new and old can join Emmy, Birch, and their tame wolf Byte, as they explore mysterious biomes and encounter scary mobs in this collection of five exciting Step Into Reading Step 3 leveled readers.

Features the stories:

• Survival Mode! (Minecraft)

• Mobs in the Overworld! (Minecraft)

• Escape from the Nether (Minecraft

• The Sky's the Limit (Minecraft)

• Mobs in the Mansion! (Minecraft)

Step 3 readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots about popular topics for children who are ready to read on their own.

© 2024 Mojang AB. All Rights Reserved. Minecraft, the Minecraft logo, the Mojang Studios logo and the Creeper logo are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies.

Winner of the Theodor Seuss Geisel Award 

Chase a runaway mop in this hilarious, rhyming Level 1 Ready-to-Read by award-winning author-illustrator Jonathan Fenske!

Meet a mop. The mop does not want to mop the slop. See the mop run away. Can anyone stop this mop?

Spinning off HarperCollins's beloved I Can Read series, I Can Read Comics is an early reader line that familiarizes children with the world of graphic novel storytelling and encourages visual literacy in emerging readers.

It's hard to see in the dark...unless you're Firefly! Will Firefly be able to show their friends the beautiful moonflower, or will sleep win the night

Firefly Night also has a "Cartooning Basics" page at the front of the book and a "Nature Guide" page at the back, making it the whole package for emerging readers--and a great example of what I Can Read Comics is all about!

Tiny Tales: Firefly Night is a Level Three I Can Read Comic, meaning it's a more complex story for independent readers.

MUSICAL REVOLUTION SWEEPS NATION AND BEYOND
How did a bunch of young people from the inner city create a genre of music that became a global phenomenon? From its humble origins at house parties in the Bronx, where DJs mixed old records to create new sounds, charismatic MCs let their clever lyrics flow, and B-boys and B-girls pioneered inventive dance moves, hip-hop quickly became a musical and cultural revolution. 

Hip-Hop: The Beat of America

Meet Aaliyah, a hip-hop superfan who is about to get a lesson in all things “old school” courtesy of her dad, who grew up in the 1970s when rap music first hit the scene. The pair take a day trip to the Bronx where Aaliyah discovers the many unsung heroes who helped create the foundations of the hip-hop we all enjoy today. So get ready to drop the beat, bust a move, and get down with some fresh rap knowledge!

Perfect for readers of Can't Stop, Won't Stop and Nathan Hale's Hazardous tales.

We are Dragon Girls -- hear us roar!

Selena and her friends Charlotte and Layla are shocked to discover they are all Flower Dragons. They have been called to the Magic Forest because each girl has special talents this unusual place needs to survive. Selena is a Sunflower Dragon--she has traded her human form for powerful wings, glittering scales, and a roar that shakes the ground.

As a Dragon Girl, she must help break the evil spell that the Fury Queen has cast over the Magic Forest. The forest's animals are deep in a sleep they can't wake up from, unless the Flower Dragons can collect all the ingredients for a special perfume. Selena's hope glows as bright as the tallest sunflower and she's determined to lead her friends to success.

Read all the books in the Flower Dragon arc!

#19: Selena the Sunflower Dragon

#20: Charlotte the Rose Dragon

#21: Layla the Water Lily Dragon

We are Dragon Girls -- hear us roar!

Ash is returning to the Magic Forest, with her friends Maya and Eloise. There, they are able to turn into amazing Fire Dragons and use their special powers to protect the creatures there.

The Chaos Queen is still determined to take over the forest, no matter the cost. Ash must harness all her bravery to lead a quest into the Fire Realm. If she and her friends don't work quickly, the realm will cool completely -- and be lost forever!

Read all the books in the Fire Dragon arc!

#16: Eloise the Flame Dragon

#17: Ash the Blaze Dragon

#18: Maya the Ember Dragon

We are Dragon Girls -- hear us roar!

Maya has been called back to the Magic Forest to complete the quest she started with friends Eloise and Ash. When the girls transform into powerful Fire Dragons, they become the hope that the animals who live there desperately need.

The evil Chaos Queen has stolen the Forever Flame, and recovering it will be no easy task. Maya is scared to lead her fellow dragons in this adventure. But she's determined to save the land they love before it falls into the wrong hands.

Read all the books in the Fire Dragon arc!

#16: Eloise the Flame Dragon

#17: Ash the Blaze Dragon

#18: Maya the Ember Dragon

The familiars Aldwyn the cat, Skyler the blue jay, and Gilbert the tree frog are off on an all-new adventure in the series that Michael Buckley, bestselling author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDS series, says "combines the magic of Harry Potter and the adventure of Warriors." With inventive magic, laugh-out-loud humor, and a mysterious conspiracy that will take all the familiars' wits to unravel, Palace of Dreams is the familiars' most extraordinary adventure yet.

Peace has returned to the queendom of Vastia. Paksahara has been defeated, and the three familiars Aldwyn, Skyler, and Gilbert are the heroes to thank. But when a birthday celebration at the palace goes dreadfully wrong, and Queen Loranella falls victim to a curse, it seems the familiars are the prime suspects. After narrowly escaping the palace dungeons, they'll have to embark on a quest to clear their names—a quest that will lead them across Vastia and even into the magical land of dreams.

Get familiar with the familiars!

Chaos erupts in Vastia when the evil Paksahara steals the Shifting Fortress and casts a spell to rob all humans of their magic. Now it's up to the three chosen ones, Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert, to reverse the curse. Using only their wits, their magic, and their trust in one another, the three friends must embark on a dangerous quest to retrieve the Snow Leopard's Crown—their last hope to defeat Paksahara—before it's too late.

The familiars Aldwyn the cat, Skyler the blue jay, and Gilbert the tree frog are off on an all-new adventure in the series that Michael Buckley, bestselling author of The Sisters Grimm and NERDS series, says "combines the magic of Harry Potter and the adventure of Warriors." With inventive magic, laugh-out-loud humor, and a mysterious conspiracy that will take all the familiars' wits to unravel, Palace of Dreams is the familiars' most extraordinary adventure yet.

Peace has returned to the queendom of Vastia. Paksahara has been defeated, and the three familiars Aldwyn, Skyler, and Gilbert are the heroes to thank. But when a birthday celebration at the palace goes dreadfully wrong, and Queen Loranella falls victim to a curse, it seems the familiars are the prime suspects. After narrowly escaping the palace dungeons, they'll have to embark on a quest to clear their names—a quest that will lead them across Vastia and even into the magical land of dreams.

Get familiar with the familiars!

Chaos erupts in Vastia when the evil Paksahara steals the Shifting Fortress and casts a spell to rob all humans of their magic. Now it's up to the three chosen ones, Aldwyn, Skylar, and Gilbert, to reverse the curse. Using only their wits, their magic, and their trust in one another, the three friends must embark on a dangerous quest to retrieve the Snow Leopard's Crown—their last hope to defeat Paksahara—before it's too late.

"AN HOMAGE TO FEMALE FRIENDSHIP AND AMBITION." —LA TIMES

They were an unlikely pair—a blond bombshell and a photographer determined to be taken seriously—but Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold would make a deal that would change their lives in this dazzling new novel from the national bestselling author of Mrs. Poe and The Woman with the Cure.

In 1952, Norma Jeane Baker follows documentary photographer Eve Arnold into a powder room on the night they first meet. She has a proposition for her. Norma Jeane created Marilyn Monroe to be photographed, and she wants Eve to do it. Eve is better than anyone she’s seen at revealing a person’s inner truth. Together they can help each other. Together, she says, they can make something brilliant.

Skeptical of this cipher of a young woman, Eve demurs. She’s looking for more serious subjects than this ambitious starlet. But she keeps getting drawn back into Marilyn’s orbit, and the women come to recognize something in each other—something fundamental. Nothing will get in the way of what they want, and when Marilyn’s star takes off to teetering heights, neither will ever be the same.

A lavish and transporting novel, When We Were Brilliant captures the halcyon days of an icon and the grit of women determining their own futures as it explores the exceptional and complicated friendship between Marilyn Monroe and Eve Arnold.

From the two-time Emmy Award–winning producer and host of the Black and Published podcast comes a sweeping multi-generational epic following seven generations of Dupree women as they navigate love, loss, and the unyielding ties of family in the tradition of Homegoing and The Love Songs of W.E.B. DuBois.

It’s 1995, and fourteen-year-old Tati is determined to uncover the identity of her father. But her mother, Nadia, keeps her secrets close, while her grandmother Gladys remains silent about the family’s past, including why she left Land’s End, Alabama, in 1953. As Tati digs deeper, she uncovers a legacy of family secrets, where every generation of Dupree women has posed more questions than answers.

From Jubi in 1917, whose attempt to pass for white ends when she gives birth to Ruby; to Ruby’s fiery lust for Sampson in 1934 that leads to a baby of her own; to the night in 1980 that changed Nadia’s future forever, the Dupree women carry the weight of their heritage. Bound by a mysterious malediction that means they will only give birth to daughters, the Dupree women confront a legacy of pain, resilience, and survival that began with an enslaved ancestor who risked everything for freedom.

The Seven Daughters of Dupree masterfully weaves together themes of generational trauma, Black women’s resilience, and unbreakable familial bonds. Echoing the literary power of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie by Ayana Mathis, Nikesha Elise Williams delivers a feminist literary fiction that explores the ripple effects of actions, secrets, and love through seven generations of Black women.

GEORGE FALLS THROUGH TIME IS. . .

"Incredibly entertaining and intelligent." --GARRARD CONLEY

"Big-hearted and inspired." --STEVEN ROWLEY

"Funny, surprising, profound." --GRANT GINDER

"Unputdownable." --LUNA MCNAMARA

Less meets the year 1300 in this exhilarating and thoughtfully genre-defying literary novel about a man transported through time in a moment of extreme stress, whose modern anxieties are replaced by medieval brutalities

Newly laid off George's internet bill is in his ex-boyfriend's name. He's got a spider-infested apartment, and two of the six dogs he's walking in London have just escaped. It's pure undiluted stress that sends him into a spiral, all the way to the year 1300.

When he comes to, George recognizes the same rolling hills of Greenwich Park. But the luxuries and phone service of modernity are nowhere. In their place are locals with a bizarre, slanted speech in awe of his foreign clothes, who swiftly toss him in a dungeon. Despite the barbarity of a medieval world, a servant named Simon helps George acclimate to a simpler, easier existence--until a summons from the King threatens to send his life up in flames.

George Falls Through Time is as much an inward journey as an outward one: an immersive exploration of identity and dislocation that pits present-day sensibilities against a raw and alien backdrop, a strangely perfect canvas for the absurd anxieties of our modern lives. It's a profound meditation on the nature of desire perfect for fans of Madeline Miller and The Ministry of Time.

"Royal Spin is a hugely entertaining and engaging read that grabbed me and didn't let go. This workplace drama inside Buckingham Palace, with intrigue, gossip, and a soupçon of romance makes for a fun, page-turner of a book!" --Jasmine Guillory

The much-anticipated novel from preeminent journalist and royal biographer Omid Scobie and National Book Award-winner Robin Benway, two bestselling and beloved authors who are drawing from their real world expertise, an irresistibly entertaining story about a young American woman who takes a job at Buckingham Palace--where she finds herself tangled in a royal mess she might not be able to spin her way out of.

She can handle the press...but can she handle the Palace?
With the British monarchy reeling from a wave of scandals, young American politico Lauren Morgan is plucked from the White House press office to breathe new life into the Buckingham Palace communications team and improve the royal family's streak of bad headlines. But the Palace is an institution steeped in tradition and strict protocol, and Lauren quickly discovers that change is far from easy, or welcome, especially when you're dealing with culture clashes, displeased royal aides, and a risky new love interest--or two.
Just as Lauren finds her footing at work--and with a charming royal reporter who may be more than just a press contact--an unexpected encounter from her past threatens the career she's worked so hard to build. And when scandal looms over the dashing duke who Lauren has developed a special bond with, she finds herself torn between duty, loyalty, success, and happiness.
From London's high society clubs to the sacred corridors and rarely seen spaces of Buckingham Palace, Royal Spin is a fun, humorous, and heartfelt novel that reminds us of the importance of chasing your dreams, and that the most rewarding journeys are often the messiest.
 

A NEW YORK TIMES TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
A WASHINGTON POST TOP TEN BOOK OF THE YEAR
A LOS ANGELES TIMES TOP FIFTEEN BOOK OF THE YEAR

Shortlisted for the 2024 Booker Prize, a novel about forgiveness, grief, and what it means to be good, from the award-winning author of The Weekend.

“Stone Yard Devotional is as extraordinary as you’ve heard.” —The Washington Post

“An exquisite, wrenching novel of leaving your life behind.” —New York Times Book Review

"Meditative (but by no means uneventful)." —New York Times

"Riveting prose about how humans beat back despair."—Los Angeles Times

Burnt out and in need of retreat, a middle-aged woman leaves Sydney to return to the place she grew up, taking refuge in a small religious community hidden away on the stark plains of rural Australia. She doesn't believe in God, or know what prayer is, and finds herself living this strange, reclusive existence almost by accident.

But disquiet interrupts this secluded life with three visitations. First comes a terrible mouse plague, each day signaling a new battle against the rising infestation. Second is the return of the skeletal remains of a sister who disappeared decades before, presumed murdered. And finally, a troubling visitor plunges the narrator further back into her past.

Meditative, moving, and finely observed, Stone Yard Devotional is a seminal novel from a writer of rare power, exploring what it means to retreat from the world, the true nature of forgiveness, and the sustained effect of grief on the human soul.

A searing novel from the USA Today bestselling author of Such a Bad Influence, follows a young woman whose life is upended when a journalist uncovers her mysterious and hidden upbringing.

From the outside, Catharine West's childhood sounds idyllic--balmy days spent running barefoot through the gardens, plucking ripe tomatoes straight from the vine as sunlight warmed her skin. Her parents built a life that was simple and community-focused, an ethos that soon attracted others in need of a change. For a time, Catharine's magnetic father was enough to keep the farm thriving and temptation outside its gates. But as she grew older, the farm and family she was raised to love faded into something darker, forcing Catharine to evolve with it.



​It's now been a decade since Catharine abandoned the farm, and she has done her best to reinvent her life, until an email from a charismatic journalist interrupts her peace. Her first instinct is to ignore the stranger's prying questions--whether she knew about a mysterious "cult" in central Florida, whether she is the same "Catharine-with-an-A" who lived there for a time. But when she realizes the journalist knows far more than he's letting on, she reconsiders. If Catharine can stay one step ahead of him, she may be able to find the one person she never wanted to leave behind--her sister, Linna--and make sure her own secrets remain buried too.



Sharp-eyed and sweltering, Little One masterfully captures the dread of facing your deepest desires, when the hunger to become your best self threatens to drown out everything else. An achingly astute look at modern womanhood and wellness culture, it tackles the enduring question: How far would you go to be good?



"Taut and unflinching ... A dark, deeply engaging and emotionally charged ride from start to finish."―Ashley Audrain, New York Times bestselling author of The Push

NATIONAL BESTSELLER

A New York Times Book Review MOST ANTICIPATED Book

“Between the Taylor Swift effect, BTS fever, and the rise (and rise) of Heated Rivalry, fandoms are having a moment—making it the PERFECT TIME to dig into Zhang’s alternately HEARTRENDING AND THRILLING new novel.” —Vogue 

“Equally DARK AND DAZZLING, like a spotlight flickering on a dim stage. This is a book I’ll be recommending to all my coolest friends.” —LitHub

From National Book Foundation 5 UNDER 35 HONOREE Jenny Tinghui Zhang, a novel about a pop idol and his superfan, whose stories shockingly collide 

Freshman Minnie is adrift at college in Austin, Texas, when she discovers a boy band called HOURglass and the online forums that worship them. She especially loves Halo, whose sharp edges feel somehow familiar. After a brief romance goes painfully awry, Minnie pours everything into her new fandom, clinging to each livestream and bonding with other fans online. But when a scandal threatens to expose Halo to harm, Minnie decides that she is the only one who can save him.

Except Halo’s secret is darker than anything the tabloids could imagine. Before he was a superstar heartthrob, he was Eason: a high school dropout haunted by a tragic accident. When he is recruited for HOURglass, it feels like a chance to become someone else. And when he is onstage in front of his fans, he can almost forget the horrors of his past--until one of those very fans threatens to destroy everything.

Dazzling, entrancing, and deeply heartfelt, Superfan is about fandom in all its magic and its terror, and the extreme lengths to which we go to rid ourselves of loneliness.

From the award-winning author of Hula, a dazzling saga that moves from Hawaii to California and back, about the generations of women tasked with protecting the history and place that made them.

A young woman lies in a hospital bed in a coma, watched over by her estranged grandmother. Some say she jumped off the cliff; others say she was swept away by a wave. But her tutu at her bedside suspects something else is wrong, that the reason for the hardship and heartbreak in their family history is tied to a story that she's never told--one about a powerful stone, the pohaku, that her family was tasked with protecting generations ago. In fits and starts, the grandmother begins . . .

We travel back in time to the eighteenth century, when the explorer James Cook becomes the first European to visit the Hawaiian Islands. Cook arrives in pursuit of an ancient prophecy, a key that would unlock the mysteries of the world, but he is killed before he can learn about the mysterious stone--a stone born alongside future Hawaiian royalty, the key to something even more powerful than Cook could have imagined.

So begins a thrilling family saga of the women charged with protecting the pohaku, as it is taken from Hawai'i to California and possibly beyond, bringing fortune to the well-intentioned and misfortune to the bad. But with each successive generation, the fractures caused by its displacement widen until it becomes clear that the pohaku's story must survive if there is to be any hope at all of the family's--and a nation's--reconciliation with their home, with nature, and with each other.

Reminiscent of Yaa Gyasi's Homegoing, Min Jin Lee's Pachinko, and Tommy Orange's There, There, The Pohaku is an immersive and bold novel about the history, perseverance, and resilience of the Hawaiian people.

“A morally complex and life-affirming exploration of what it means to be alive, and of the enduring power of love to transform, reanimate, and redeem.” —Celeste Ng, New York Times-bestselling author of Our Missing Hearts

“The novel’s immersive quality and intricate structure is reminiscent of Liz Moore’s recent bestseller, The God of the Woods, while the boys’ lyrical voices, told from an obscure afterlife, harken back to such contemporary classics as Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.” —The Boston Globe

Caleb was driving home for Christmas. Steven was pounding beers at a local bar. Matthew was out looking for his ex-girlfriend. Leo was walking in the woods on a winter night. Then they disappeared.

Days, weeks, years later, their bodies turn up in icy rivers hundreds of miles apart. How did they get there? What, if anything, connects them? Some of their loved ones believe the official answers. Some are convinced the boys are victims of an insidious network called the Smiley Face Killers. Some are trying to forget them altogether. Meanwhile, Caleb, Steven, Matthew, and Leo find one other—and other boys like them—in the murky depths of the afterlife. Each tells his story in his own way, speaking his version of truth, confessing his desires and grievances and even his hopes for a future he still somehow believes belongs to him. Each revelation brings the reader deeper into their intertwined fates, along a journey through the landscapes of identity, intimacy, and the haunting echoes of unresolved grief.

A man with a deadly past marries into the perfect, most respectable family in this riveting thriller from New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh. . . .

A woman buried.
A woman broken.
A woman crashed.
A woman burned.
And the man who knew them all.

Love at first sight, a whirlwind Vegas wedding, a fairy-tale romance.

For forty-three days, Tavish Advani has been the happiest man in the world—until his new life turns to ash, his wealthy in-laws’ house going up in a fiery explosion. His badly injured wife lies in a coma, her family all but annihilated.

Tavish thought he'd left the sins of his Los Angeles life behind, but it’s not so easy to leave behind an investigation into the deaths of several high-profile women—all of whom he'd professed to love. Tragedy and death follow him no matter where he goes . . . but this time, he knows he’s innocent.

Desperately trying to clear his name as the authorities zero in, Tavish begins his own investigation into the fire—and learns that his wife’s picture-perfect family may have been nothing but a meticulously constructed mirage. The truth is much darker than anything Tavish could’ve imagined. . . .

In this locked-room mystery set in 1960, a washed-up actor puts his on-camera detective skills to the test when a suspicious death shatters the quiet peace for a group of strangers staying at an isolated Greek island resort. Perfect for fans of Knives Out, Benjamin Stevenson, and Anthony Horowitz.



"Perfect. . . Like taking a warm bath in the best of the Golden Age."― Janice Hallett



June, 1960. Rough weather at sea leaves a group of strangers stranded on the idyllic Greek island of Utakos, all guests of the only local hotel. Nothing could prepare them for what happens next: Edith Mander, a quiet British tourist, is found dead inside a beach cabana. What appears at first glance to be a clear suicide reveals possible signs of foul play to Ormond Basil, an out-of-work but still well-known actor who in his glory days portrayed the most celebrated detective of all time. Accustomed to seeing him display Sherlock Holmes' amazing powers of deduction on the big screen, the other guests believe that the actor is the best equipped to uncover the truth.



But when a second body is discovered, there is not a doubt in Basil's mind: a murderer walks among them. What's more, the killer is staging each crime as a performance, leaving complex clues that bear an eerie resemblance to those found in the pages of Conan Doyle stories. This is a criminal who knows every trick in the book and is playing a deadly literary game. As the storm rages, Basil must become the genius detective he has only pretended to be.



This clever, whip-smart, locked-room mystery from internationally bestselling author Arturo Pérez-Reverte is a love letter to golden-age detective novels. The Final Problem delights in exploring the tension between an investigator and his suspects, as well as a writer and his reader, delivering a revelatory twist that will shock even the sharpest of mystery fans.

A chilling horror-thriller debut where a mother's search for her missing daughter battles against the shadows of a historic, dangerous legend.

Single mother Jenna arrives on the tranquil shores of Athelsea fueled by the desperate hope to find Chloe, her teenage daughter who’s disappeared from their London home. She has no idea why–all she knows is that Chloe had changed in the previous two weeks, haunted by something, or someone, and the ferry ticket here is the only clue she has.

As she explores the village and interacts with the locals, Jenna soon realizes a macabre secret is being hidden in plain sight. A dark legend of a vengeful woman called the Bone Queen is spoken of in hushed tones amongst the villagers, some of whom are frantically trying to suppress the tale that has long terrorized their lives. 

As Jenna starts to learn more about the Bone Queen and her previous victims, the village’s grip on reality begins to loosen and no one can say for sure who, or what, is responsible for the deaths and disappearances on Athelsea. Suffering from what she can no longer distinguish between paranoid hallucinations or real manifestations, Jenna must act quickly before Chloe is next... 

The Bone Queen has left her mark, and one day she’ll collect.

The year is 1991. Eritrea is on the verge of liberation from Ethiopian rule and in Washington, D.C.'s tight-knit Eritrean community, change is in the air. Thirteen-year-old Lydia and her family are grappling with what peace after decades of war might mean for their future, just as they welcome Berekhet--a distant cousin newly arrived from Ethiopia to attend medical school in the States. With him comes a barrage of new ideas Lydia must confront for the first time, about the stories of nationhood and family she was raised on.



Meanwhile her mother, Elsa, a former rebel fighter, and the family matriarch, Mama Zewdi, must grapple with regrets long buried in the time their country has been at war. Elsa's path from Eritrea to D.C. was paved with courage and loss, and figures from her past on the front lines of battle begin to resurface. Mama Zewdi, who runs a successful injera business out of her apartment, finds herself reexamining her place in their little family for the first time, while Lydia, emboldened by Berekhet, becomes committed to uncovering the secrets of her and her mother's past--including the truth about her father, who was martyred in the war.



A loving ode to an immigrant community on the cusp of a new age, I Hope You Find What You're Looking For boldly asks: How does our past define our present? And what stories must we let go of to be truly free?

A tense and twisty story of a woman who goes missing on a morning run and her wife's determination to both find her and clear her own name--from the bestselling author of Honor.



One night after a party, old grievances surface between married couple Aliya and Sam and the night ends badly with a heated argument. Sam goes for a run early the next morning to clear her head--and doesn't come back.



Aliya reports her wife missing, but as a gay, Muslim daughter of immigrants, she can't escape the scrutiny and suspicion of those around her. Scared and furious and feeling isolated as strangers and acquaintances alike doubt her innocence, Aliya makes one wrong choice after another. She must fight to prove her innocence in the public eye even as she is torn between her fear that Sam is dead and her desire to find and save her wife. But is safety ever truly possible for them?



A provocative examination of suburban mores, Missing Sam captures the terror manifested in today's political climate, and the real dangers, both physical and psychological, of being brown and queer in America.

 

“The tension, the atmosphere, the dread . . . This is a book that sticks in your head long after the last page.” —Lisa Jewell

“Extraordinary.” —Linwood Barclay

The heart-stopping second novel from the author of Nightwatching, in which a father-son ski weekend becomes a desperate fight for survival

Twelve-year-old Zach is cautiously optimistic. His father Bram, whose business is in dire need of cash, has put together a father-son backcountry ski weekend to wine and dine his biggest investors. Schooled in outdoor survival by his mother, Zach is eager to prove himself to the hypercritical Bram. Maybe if Zach shows how useful he is, he can earn his father’s love.

But Zach knows to be on high alert around Bram, and he sees the way the group ignores the increasingly threatening conditions. For the first time in his beloved mountains, he is faced with the unknown, convinced that something watches their cabin from the treeline. Something that leaves behind strange tracks and picks its prey clean.

As the adults recklessly test the limits of the outdoors, Zach worries he might be in even more danger than he realized. Could the men around him prove more violent than the unforgiving weather, and the strange creature lurking in the dark? Zach will have to rely on his wits if he hopes to make it home safely. But he knows all too well that the wilderness can be unpredictable even at the best of times. And at the worst? Deadly.

A Recommended Read from: Alta * Bustle * Electric Literature * Forbes * LitHub * Los Angeles Times * Kirkus * New York Times * Vulture

An exuberant, brutally hilarious novel about a young woman's insatiable quest to carve her own path--even if she needs to step over a few dead bodies along the way

It's 1974 and San Francisco is full of mystery and menace. Nineteen-year-old Celia Dent keeps telling herself how lucky she is to be working at the phone company and to be married to her Drew, a man who says he loves her. Celia's contentment with her little life is shattered, though, when a woman she knows from work is murdered in a love tryst gone awry. What would that be like, Celia wonders, to die for love--or to kill for love? What would it be like to live each moment passionately and with full awareness that each breath is bringing her closer to her last?
Before Celia knows it, her musings about love-and-death happenings are bleeding into daily life. Suddenly she's playing hooky from work and searching for a love tryst of her very own. She's practicing her marksmanship at a local gun range and thinking about how good it would feel to bury something sharp inside her domineering husband's ear. It's all pretend, though, until the night comes when Celia finally goes too far, and she and Drew are set on a deadly collision course.
Exhilarating, surreal, and bitingly clever, Evil Genius is a comic noir exploring obsession and desire--and what happens when a sweetly seditious young woman dares to imagine a better life.
 

NATIONAL BESTSELLER • A kaleidoscopic portrait of a modern American family—steadfast, complicated, begrudging, and loving—from the bestselling author of Isola

“Wise, witty . . . a deliciously readable book [about] the delicate minutiae of family life, played beautifully, boldly, brightly in a major key.”—The New York Times Book Review (Editors’ Choice)

“Goodman’s mature and deftly written book suggests that, in family as in art, there is no such thing as uncomplicated happiness.”—The Wall Street Journal

Was this just a brief skirmish, or the beginning of a thirty-year feud? In the Rubinstein family, it could go either way.

When their beloved sister passes away, Sylvia and Helen Rubinstein are unmoored. A misunderstanding about apple cake turns into a decade of stubborn silence. Busy with their own lives—divorces, dating, career setbacks, college applications, bat mitzvahs and ballet recitals—their children do not want to get involved. As for their grandchildren? Impossible.

With This Is Not About Us, master storyteller Allegra Goodman—whose prior collection was heralded as “one of the most astute and engaging books about American family life” (The Boston Globe)—returns to the form and subject that endeared her to legions of readers. Sharply observed and laced with humor, This Is Not About Us is a story of growing up and growing old, the weight of parental expectations, and the complex connection between sisters—a big-hearted book about the love that binds a family across generations.
 

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • In this gripping thriller, truth and justice are called into question when a Black man is gunned down in cold blood—the first novel in a riveting series from renowned civil rights attorney Ben Crump.

“A sensationally good crime and legal thriller . . . This is exactly what a book should be.”—Lee Child, #1 New York Times bestselling co-author of the Reacher series

It’s the night of November 4, 2008. America’s first Black president has just been elected. And fifty-three-year-old Hollis Montrose—a Black ex–police officer from the suburbs of Chicago—has become the latest victim of a brutal attack. As the result of a traffic stop gone wrong, Hollis is shot ten times in cold blood, by four white men who could have been his colleagues back in his police days.

Beau Lee Cooper was born serious, as if on an urgent mission with little time to waste. Raised in the tumultuous world of 1970s Texas, he always dreamed of becoming a lawyer and fighting for what’s right, ever since he was a little boy reading To Kill a Mockingbird. And now, ten years into running his own law firm with his best friend and partner in crime, Nelson “Nellie” Rivers, and his suave right-hand-man, Brent “Cape” Capers, he feels he’s finally making a difference. When Beau Lee learns about Hollis’s situation, he’s determined to help.

Miraculously, Hollis survives the encounter, but the Chicago police department has already spun the narrative in its favor, and Hollis is given a wrongful prison sentence with an unreasonable bail. What really happened that night the car was pulled over? Was it random or was Hollis targeted? Beau Lee knows he’s treading in dangerous waters, and finding evidence of the truth will be his biggest challenge yet, but with troubling powers at play, one innocent man’s life hangs in the balance.

"[A] poignant and perceptive coming-of-age story about two strangers who become star-crossed lovers . . . Belgrave Road shows us that, sometimes, the promise of a future is all it takes to fight the ghosts of one's past." --The Guardian

An unforgettable debut novel about two young people searching for better lives, and the blossoming forbidden romance between them that threatens their families and futures--a breathtaking story perfect for fans of Colm Tóibín and Monica Ali.
Mira's days are filled with duty and light on freedom. In a new country, living with a husband she barely knows--and who she fears she'll never love--Mira is desperate to discover all that her new life in England might offer.
And then there's Tahliil. The quiet, beautiful man she sees at work each day. With a depth in his eyes and a face full of questions. He's the first person in this new world who listens to Mira's hopes for who she yearns to become.
But beyond their lunchtime encounters, the pair couldn't lead more different lives: the duties that bind them, the homes they are trying to build threaten to subsume them. As Mira and Tahliil navigate the deep and turbulent waters of their new worlds, can they find a way to be together, and will finding each other set them free?
 

For fans of The Midnight Library and In Five Years, The Unwritten Rules of Magic is a spellbinding novel that blends magic and memory in an unforgettable journey through love, grief, and the hidden cost of perfection across three generations of women.

Emerson Clarke can’t remember a time when she felt in control. Her father—a celebrated author—was a chaotic force until he got Alzheimer’s. Her mother turned to gin. And recently, her teen daughter has shut her out without explanation. If only she could arrange reality the same way she controls the stories she ghostwrites, life could be perfect.

Or so she thinks.

After her father’s funeral, Emerson steals his vintage typewriter—the one he’d forbidden anyone to touch—and tests its keys by typing out a frivolous wish. When it comes true the very next day, she tries another. Then, those words also spring to life. Suddenly, she becomes obsessed with using the typewriter to rewrite happiness for herself and her daughter.

But the more she shapes her real-life, the more she uncovers disturbing truths about her family’s history and the unexpected cost of every story-come-true. She should destroy the typewriter, yet when her daughter’s secret finally emerges, Emerson is torn between paying the price for bending fate and embracing the uncertainty of an unscripted life.

AN INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • A man must fight for his planet against impossible odds when gamers from Earth attempt to remotely annihilate it in this epic, fast-paced novel from the New York Times bestselling author of the smash-hit Dungeon Crawler Carl.

All colonist Oliver Lewis ever wanted to do was run the family ranch with his sister, maybe play a gig or two with his band, and keep his family’s aging fleet of intelligent agriculture bots ticking as long as possible. He figures it will be a good thing when the transfer gate finally opens all the way and restores instant travel and full communication between Earth and his planet, New Sonora. But there’s a complication.

Even though the settlers were promised they’d be left in peace, Earth’s government now has other plans. The colossal Apex Industries is hired to commence an “eviction action.” But maximizing profits will always be Apex’s number one priority. Why spend money printing and deploying AI soldiers when they can turn it into a game? Why not charge bored Earthers for the opportunity to design their own war machines and remotely pilot them from the comfort of their homes?

The game is called Operation Bounce House.

Oliver and his friends soon find themselves fighting for their lives against machines piloted by gamers who’ve paid a premium for the privilege. With the help of an old book from his grandfather and a bucket of rusty parts, Oliver is determined to defend the only home he’s ever known.

An ordinary man discovers a hidden world of supernatural creatures—and an unexpected home—in this enchanting contemporary fantasy debut.

“Unique, haunting, riveting, and beautifully magical.”—Sarah Beth Durst, New York Times bestselling author of The Spellshop

“Anderson has conceived of such a rich world, and such a textured mythology. I can’t remember a time when cryptids felt more . . . real.”—Justin McElroy, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Adventure Zone series

Green trips on the curb, falls flat into the street, and sees the city bus speeding toward him. And then . . . blink. He’s back on the curb, miraculously still alive. A five-foot-tall crow watches him from atop a nearby sign, somehow unseen by the rushing crowd of morning commuters. 

Desperate for answers and beset by more visions of impossible creatures, Green finds his way to a remote campsite in the Appalachian Mountains, where he meets a centuries-old teacher and begins an apprenticeship unlike anything he could imagine. 

Under his new mentor’s grouchy tutelage, Green studies the time-bending rag moth, the glass fawn, and the menacing horned wolf. He begins to see past hidden nature’s terrors and glimpse its beauty, all while befriending fellow misfits—and finding connection and community. 

Along the way come clues about the forces that set him on this path—and, most incredibly, a sense of purpose and fulfillment like nothing he’s felt before.

But Green’s new happiness promises to be short-lived, because alongside these marvels lurks a deadly threat to this place he’s already come to love.

Creepy, cozy, and beautiful, Strange Animals is a fantasy about home, belonging, and the fearfully wonderous nature all around us.

I haven't cried one time since you disappeared. Not even at football practice when Paton Roper told the whole team you were probably dead. He said, "You know how sometimes a dog gets sick or bites somebody and you have to put it down?"

Somebody said, "Yep."

"That's probably what happened to Walker's daddy."

Walker Lauderdale hasn't cried once since his daddy went missing. And even though everyone says he's dead, Walker won't give up hope. He knows his father is out there, somewhere, cutting a wild trail through the Ozarks like always. But when a relative threatens to kick Walker and his momma out of the family home, Walker realizes he has no choice but to look for his daddy--a search that leads him straight to a drug-addled and dangerous man named Lukas Fisher. While attempting to balance life as a normal fifteen-year-old boy and star player on the football team, Walker begins a desperate search across the hills of the Ozarks for the man who, for better or worse, taught him everything he knows about strength.