Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle

Ana María Reyes Does Not Live in a Castle
Author: Hilda Eunice Burgos
Publisher: Tu Books
Total Pages: 0
Release: 2018
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781620143629

"The Penderwicks" meets "In the Heights" in this sparkling middle-grade debut about a young Dominican American girl in New York City.

The Cot in the Living Room

The Cot in the Living Room
Author: Hilda Eunice Burgos
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 40
Release: 2021-06-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 059311048X

A young Dominican American girl in New York City moves from jealousy to empathy as her parents babysit children whose families work overnight shifts in this honest and warm picture book debut. Night after night, a young girl watches her mami set up a cot in the living room for guests in their Washington Heights apartment, like Raquel (who's boring) and Edgardo (who gets crumbs everywhere). She resents that they get the entire living room with a view of the George Washington Bridge, while all she gets is a tiny bedroom with a view of her sister (who snores). Until one night when no one comes, and it's finally her chance! But as it turns out, sleeping on the cot in the living room isn't all she thought it would be. With charming text by Hilda Eunice Burgos and whimsical illustrations by Gaby D'Alessandro, The Cot in the Living Room is a celebration of the ways a Dominican American community takes care of one another while showing young readers that sometimes the best way to be a better neighbor is by imagining how it feels to spend a night sleeping on someone else's pillow.

Miosotis Flores Never Forgets

Miosotis Flores Never Forgets
Author: Hilda Eunice Burgos
Publisher: Tu Books
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2021
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781643790657

"When Miosotis Flores discovers that her sister Amarilis's fiancé is physically abusive to her, she must decide how to help, while also caring for a rescue dog and pursuing better grades in school"--

An Orange in January

An Orange in January
Author: Dianna Hutts Aston
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 34
Release: 2007-10-18
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 0803731469

Plump, juicy oranges are one of the great pleasures of winter—and one that is usually taken for granted. Now here's an eloquent, celebratory picture of how those oranges have found their way to the grocery store shelves, and then into kids—tummies! With vivid, glowing paintings, this unique picture book offers a poetic lesson about a plant's growth cycle and about the produce industry. We follow an orange from blossom to ripe fruit, from tree to truck to market . . . and into the hands of a boy who shares this treat with his friends on the playground, —so that everyone could taste the sweetness of an orange in January. In the tradition of Apple Farmer Annie and Red Leaf, Yellow Leaf, this is a satisfying, celebratory look at an everyday object with a remarkable life story.

Midnight War of Mateo Martinez

Midnight War of Mateo Martinez
Author: Robin Yardi
Publisher: Carolrhoda Books ®
Total Pages: 150
Release: 2016-03-01
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1512404691

Life is confusing for Mateo Martinez. He and Johnny Ramirez don't hang out anymore, even though they used to be best friends. He and his new friend Ashwin try to act like brave, old-time knights, but it only gets them in trouble. And last night, two skunks stole Mateo's old trike. Wait—two skunks stole his trike? Mateo is too big for that rusty kid toy. He has a cool, shiny new bike anyway. But Mateo also has a neighborhood to protect. And he's about to begin a big, stinky quest to catch the thieves in the middle of the night! As Mateo protects his neighborhood, he also learns a few things about growing up and letting go. “Take this oath: I, [state your name], will do good, fight for those in need, and read The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez.”—Adam Rex, author of the Cold Cereal Saga

Orbiting Jupiter

Orbiting Jupiter
Author: Gary D. Schmidt
Publisher: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Total Pages: 197
Release: 2015
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 054446222X

The two-time Newbery Honor winner Gary D. Schmidt delivers the shattering story of Joseph, a father at thirteen, who has never seen his daughter, Jupiter. After spending time in a juvenile facility, he's placed with a foster family on a farm in rural Maine. Here Joseph, damaged and withdrawn, meets twelve-year-old Jack, who narrates the account of the troubled, passionate teen who wants to find his baby at any cost. In this riveting novel, two boys discover the true meaning of family and the sacrifices it requires.

Fighting Words

Fighting Words
Author: Kimberly Brubaker Bradley
Publisher: Penguin
Total Pages: 274
Release: 2020-08-11
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1984815695

*Newbery Honor Book* *Boston Globe-Horn Book Honor* A nuanced and fierce middle grade novel about sisterhood and sexual abuse, by two-time Newbery Honor winner and #1 New York Times best seller Kimberly Brubaker Bradley, author of The War that Saved My Life "Fighting Words is raw, it is real, it is necessary, a must-read for children and their adults—a total triumph in all ways." —Holly Goldberg Sloan, New York Times bestselling author of Counting by 7s Ten-year-old Della has always had her older sister, Suki: When their mom went to prison, Della had Suki. When their mom's boyfriend took them in, Della had Suki. When that same boyfriend did something so awful they had to run fast, Della had Suki. Suki is Della's own wolf--her protector. But who has been protecting Suki? Della might get told off for swearing at school, but she has always known how to keep quiet where it counts. Then Suki tries to kill herself, and Della's world turns so far upside down, it feels like it's shaking her by the ankles. Maybe she's been quiet about the wrong things. Maybe it's time to be loud. In this powerful novel that explodes the stigma around child sexual abuse and leavens an intense tale with compassion and humor, Kimberly Brubaker Bradley tells a story about two sisters, linked by love and trauma, who must find their own voices before they can find their way back to each other. "Della’s matter-of-fact narration manages to be as funny and charming as it is devastatingly sad. . . . This is a novel about trauma [but] more than that, it’s a book about resilience, strength and healing. For every young reader who decides to wait . . . there will be others for whom this is the exact book they need right now." —New York Times Book Review "One of the most important books ever written for kids."—Colby Sharp of Nerdy Book Club "One for the history books."—Betsy Bird for A Fuse #8 Production/SLJ "Gripping. Life-changing...I am awe-struck."—Donna Gephart, author of Lily and Dunkin "Compassionate, truthful, and beautiful."—Elana K. Arnold, author of Damsel "I am blown away. [This] may be Kimberly Brubaker Bradley's best work yet."—Barbara Dee, author of Maybe He Just Likes You "A book that lets [kids] know they have never been alone. And never will be."—Kat Yeh, author of The Truth About Twinkie Pie "Meets the criteria of great children's literature that [will] resonate with adults too."—Bitch Media * "At once heartbreaking and hopeful."—Kirkus (starred review) * "Honest [and] empowering...An important book for readers of all ages."—SLJ (starred review) * "Sensitive[,] deft, and vivid."—BCCB (starred review) * "Prepare to read furiously."—Booklist (starred review) * "An essential, powerful mirror and window for any reader."—PW (starred review) * "Enlightening, empowering and--yes--uplifting."—BookPage (starred review) * "Unforgettable."—The Horn Book (starred review)

The Geography of You and Me

The Geography of You and Me
Author: Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher: Poppy
Total Pages: 269
Release: 2014-04-15
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0316254746

Lucy lives on the twenty-fourth floor. Owen lives in the basement. It's fitting, then, that they meet in the middle -- stuck between two floors of a New York City apartment building, on an elevator rendered useless by a citywide blackout. After they're rescued, Lucy and Owen spend the night wandering the darkened streets and marveling at the rare appearance of stars above Manhattan. But once the power is back, so is reality. Lucy soon moves abroad with her parents, while Owen heads out west with his father. The brief time they spend together leaves a mark. And as their lives take them to Edinburgh and to San Francisco, to Prague and to Portland, Lucy and Owen stay in touch through postcards, occasional e-mails, and phone calls. But can they -- despite the odds -- find a way to reunite? Smartly observed and wonderfully romantic, Jennifer E. Smith's new novel shows that the center of the world isn't necessarily a place. Sometimes, it can be a person.

Analee, in Real Life

Analee, in Real Life
Author: Janelle Milanes
Publisher: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Total Pages: 432
Release: 2019-09-17
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1534410309

“Milanes has created authentic characters with family issues that reflect the world we live in...Refreshing.” —The New York Times Book Review “Heartfelt and smart.” —Lilliam Rivera, author of The Education of Margot Sanchez “Funny and affecting, well-balanced, and simply fun.” —Kirkus Reviews “An entertaining novel for all teen collections.” —School Library Journal A Cuban-American teen navigates social anxiety, her father’s remarriage, and being torn between two very cute boys in this “genuine and humorous” (Booklist) contemporary novel—perfect for fans of Morgan Matson and Kasie West. Ever since her mom died three years ago, Analee Echevarria has had trouble saying out loud the weird thoughts that sit in her head. With a best friend who hates her and a dad who’s marrying a yogi she can’t stand, Analee spends most of her time avoiding reality and role-playing as Kiri, the night elf hunter at the center of her favorite online game. Through Kiri, Analee is able to express everything real-life Analee cannot: her bravery, her strength, her inner warrior. The one thing both Kiri and Analee can’t do, though, is work up the nerve to confess her romantic feelings for Kiri’s partner-in-crime, Xolkar—a.k.a. a teen boy named Harris whom Analee has never actually met in person. So when high school heartthrob Seb Matias asks Analee to pose as his girlfriend in an attempt to make his ex jealous, Analee agrees. Sure, Seb seems kind of obnoxious, but Analee could use some practice connecting with people in real life. In fact, it’d maybe even help her with Harris. But the more Seb tries to coax Analee out of her comfort zone, the more she starts to wonder if her anxious, invisible self is even ready for the real world. Can Analee figure it all out without losing herself in the process?

Girl in Reverse

Girl in Reverse
Author: Barbara Stuber
Publisher: Simon and Schuster
Total Pages: 352
Release: 2015-05-12
Genre: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 1442497351

"Lillian Firestone is Chinese, but the kids in her 1951 Kansas City high school can't separate her from the North Koreans that America is at war with. Sick of the racism she faces at school and frustrated that her adoptive white family just sees it as 'teasing,' Lily begins to search for her birth mother"