New Releases by KEKLA MAGOON

Bringing her talents to a younger audience, the award-winning Kekla Magoon kicks off a fun chapter book series about a ten-year-old boy enlisted as a spy—along with his two savvy cats. Alfie Hazard is thrilled when his big sister, Mika, comes home from college to live with their family at the embassy in Washington, DC. Usually her visits mean endless games, lots of laughter, and spontaneous late-night dance parties, but this time there’s something strange about the way Mika is acting. Bonnie and Baxter, Alfie’s talented cats, detect a suspicious smell on her shoes, and she’s spending an unusual amount of time locked in her bedroom closet. Mika definitely has a secret, and Alfie and the cats are determined to get to the bottom if it. When Alfie’s mom, the ambassador, tells the family that some classified documents have been stolen, it’s up to Alfie, Bonnie, and Baxter to investigate! Surely Mika couldn’t be the spy . . . or could she? Engagingly illustrated in black-and-white and featuring two fabulous cat characters, this series will appeal to fans of young chapter books like Ivy + Bean, Jasmine Toguchi, and Judy Moody—and may have kids dreaming about what their own furry companions are up to.

Ready? Okay! It''s time for school at the brand new Curiosity Academy, and there''s a certain third grade classroom that stands out from the rest. It''s got a cool teacher named Mrs. Z, who wears high-tops and science earrings, and is full of unique classmates from all over Peppermint Falls, who all have a secret. Emma just wants to makes friends at her new school, but an old friend-turned-enemy might ruin her chance at a fresh start. Rohan opens a pet care company to raise money for a school garden, but it''s hard to care for pets when you''ve never done it before and might be a little afraid of them! Poppy tries out a new candy recipe for her class, but she''s distracted by her grandma, who''s suddenly forgetting things she used to know by heart. Memo is thrilled to be going to a sci-fi fantasy convention with his friend, but his Spanish-speaking abuela has to take them there and Memo doesn''t speak Spanish. In a crowded space with no way to talk to each other, nothing could go wrong, right? Wyatt usually keeps to himself and chats with his best friend, Lizzie, who happens to be a stuffed lizard. But as he''s growing older, is it still okay for him to bring Lizzie to school? What if someone sees? And lastly, when Mrs. Z''s class is getting ready for a variety show, Ayana, who likes blending into the background, is having enough trouble deciding what she could perform center stage when she realizes her loud, bad-joke-telling, all-eyes-on-me dad is a variety show volunteer! Will she ever figure out her performance when she''s feeling this embarrassed by her dad? Join the kids in Mrs. Z''s class in these six exciting tales of friendship and family, which can be read in any order you choose! Emma McKenna, Full Out Rohan Murthy Has a Plan Poppy Song Bakes a Way The Legend of Memo Castillo Wyatt Hill''s Best Friend Is a Lizard Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage

Meet the kids in Mrs. Z''s wacky and wonderful third grade class! In the first six books of this playful chapter book series, perfect for fans of Andrew Clements, My Weirdtastic School, and The Questioneers. ★ Emma McKenna, Full Out: Emma just wants to makes friends at her new school, but an old friend-turned-enemy might ruin her chance at a fresh start. ★ Rohan Murthy Has a Plan: Rohan opens a pet care company to raise money for a school garden, but it''s hard to care for pets when you''ve never done it before...and might be a little afraid of them! ★ Poppy Song Bakes a Way: Poppy tries out a new candy recipe for her class, but she''s distracted by her grandma, who''s suddenly forgetting things she used to know by heart. ★ The Legend of Memo Castillo: Memo is thrilled to be going to a sci-fi fantasy convention, but his Spanish-speaking abuela has to take him there and Memo doesn''t speak Spanish. Nothing could go wrong, right? ★Wyatt Hill''s Brings a Lizard to School: Wyatt usually keeps to himself and chats with his best friend, Lizzie, who happens to be a stuffed lizard. But as he gets older, is it still okay for him to bring Lizzie to school? ★ Ayana Ndoum Takes the Stage: Ayana doesn''t know what to perform at the upcoming variety show. Even worse, her dad is a variety show volunteer! How can she figure out her act when he keeps embarrassing her? With six exciting tales of friendship and family packaged together, and six all-star children''s authors, this series is perfect for getting early readers hooked on books! The Kids in Mrs. Z''s Class can be read in any order you choose. For more Mrs. Z''s Class: Olive Little Gets Crafty (#7) Synclaire Fields Knows the Score (#8) Theo Chang is Not a Cat (#9) Thunder Nelson and the Impossumble Dream (#10)

Since Grandpa died, Dally''s days are dull and restricted. She''s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envel

Mrs. Z''s class is holding a variety show, and everyone has signed up to demonstrate their special talent! Everyone that is, except Ayana Ndoum. She''s good at reading, but someone''s already reciting a poem out loud. She''s good at synchronized swimming, but they can''t get a pool onstage. What could her talent be? Before she can figure it out, she has an even bigger problem to deal with: Why is her dad at school? Turns out her dad--a professor who gets excited about schedules and has lots of goofy sayings--is a variety show volunteer! He talks to everyone and asks too many questions. It''s embarrassing for Ayana, who likes to be quiet and help from the sidelines. And with her dad taking up the spotlight, will she ever find her own way to shine?

Eine abenteuerliche Zeitreise in die eigene Familiengeschichte Als ihr geliebter Großvater stirbt, hinterlässt er seiner elfjährigen Enkelin Dally eine geheime Nachricht und eine Karte. Dally folgt dieser (natürlich) und entdeckt die ›Bibliothek der Geheimnisse‹, ein uraltes mächtiges Gebäude, in dem die Bücher zwar nicht ausgeliehen werden können, aber Portale sind zu großen Abenteuern – auch ins eigene Leben. Dally taucht tief ein in die Geheimnisse ihrer eigenen Familiengeschichte, geht mit ihren Piraten-Vorfahren im 19. Jahrhundert auf Kaperfahrt, wird aber auch Zeugin, wie ihre Familie Diskriminierung in den 60er Jahren des 20. Jahrhunderts erdulden muss. So lernt sie ihren Großvater, aber auch ihren Vater und die scheinbar so unnahbare Mutter neu und besser kennen.

A compelling, multi-generational novel from the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and The Minus-One Club, Prom Babies chronicles the stories of three teen girls who become pregnant on prom night. Eighteen years later, their three babies, now high school seniors, are headed to prom and facing their own set of complicated issues and questions. Mina, Penny, and Sheryl have the typical expectations of prom night in 2005: dresses, dancing, and of course some coming of age moments. None of them plans to get pregnant, but when all three do, they band together as they face decisions that have the power to shape the rest of their lives. In 2024, their three children--Blossom, Amber, and Cole--are high school seniors, gearing up to go to prom and facing some big decisions of their own. As they seek to understand who they are and who they want to be, they grapple with issues that range from consent to virginity, gendered dress codes, and the many patriarchal, heteronormative expectations that still come along with prom. A generation later, will this prom night change lives too?

When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they start off as rivals, but eventually join forces to be superheroes when an influential foe with money, power, and lies threatens their school''s culture. In graphic novel format.

When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who spoke up and rose up against the odds--including Simone Biles! Simone Biles was raised by her grandparents and had to overcome many hardships as a child. After trying gymnastics for the first time on a field trip from elementary school, Simone continued with the sport, working hard and reaching professional levels. She persisted in the field and went on to become the most decorated US gymnast of all time. Through it all, she inspired kids everywhere to follow their dreams. In this chapter book biography by NAACP Image Award-winning author and Coretta Scott King Honor recipient Kekla Magoon, readers learn about the amazing life of Simone Biles--and how she persisted. Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Simone Biles''s footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum. And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Florence Griffith Joyner, Ruby Bridges, Diana Taurasi, and more!

Cracking the code isn’t all it’s cracked up to be in this scavenger-hunt adventure from a Coretta Scott King Honor–winning author. Chester Keene takes great comfort in his routines. After school Monday to Thursday is bowling, and Friday, the best of days, is laser tag! But most special of all is when Chester gets secret spy messages from his dad, who is always on covert government assignments, which is why Chester has never met him. Then, one day at lunch, Chester’s classmate Skye approaches him with a clue. They’ve been tasked with a complex puzzle-solving mission. Chester takes their assignments very seriously, but Skye treats it like a big game. Skye proves to be a useful partner and good company, even if her haphazard, free-wheeling ways are disruptive to Chester’s carefully curated schedule. As Chester and Skye get closer to their final clue, they discover the key to their spy assignment: they have to stop a heist! But cracking this code might lead to a discovery Chester never saw coming.

From the Coretta Scott King and Printz Honor-winning author of How It Went Down, Light It Up, and Revolution In Our Time comes a moving contemporary YA novel about the bonds between a group of teens whose lives have been upended by tragedy. Fifteen-year-old Kermit Sanders knows grief and its all-encompassing shadows. After losing his beloved older sister in a tragic car accident, nothing quite punctures through the feelings of loss. Everywhere Kermit goes, he is reminded of her. But then Kermit finds a mysterious invitation in his locker, signed anonymously with "-1." He has no idea what he''s in for, but he shows up to find out. Dubbed the "Minus-One Club," a group of his schoolmates has banded together as a form of moral support. The members have just one thing in common—they have all suffered the tragic loss of someone they loved. The usual dividing lines between high school classes and cliques don''t apply inside the Minus-One Club, and Kermit''s secret crush, the handsome and happy-go-lucky Matt (and only out gay student at school), is also a part of the group. Slowly, Matt''s positive headstrong approach to life helps relieve Kermit of his constant despair. But as Kermit grows closer to Matt, the light of his new life begins to show the cracks beneath the surface. When Matt puts himself in danger by avoiding his feelings, Kermit must find the strength to not only lift himself back up but to help the rest of the group from falling apart. ★ "Magoon thoughtfully includes themes relating to depression, suicide, identity and religious expression as she compassionately builds Kermit''s complicated, sensitive inner life and depicts the various ways people might respond to the loss of a loved one." – Shelf Awareness, starred review "This evocative exploration of grief, sexual identity, and personal spirituality will be a boon to any teen grappling with these issues." – Horn Book

"When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself. At school, Maya joins Robotics Club and Riley bonds with fellow gymnasts. Just when they start to feel at home, their school culture is threatened by an influential foe in disguise. Joining student council feels like a way to help, so both cousins toss their hats in the ring for sixth-grade class president. But when they realize what they''re up against--money, power, and lies--they quickly shift from competition to cooperation, joining forces as superheroes. Riley is savvy with people; Maya is a whiz with gadgets. In no time, this dazzling duo is off to save the day! Relatable and rich in themes of family, community, and compromise, the Blue Stars series will entertain and empower, inspiring readers to be the stars they are."--Amazon.

Inspired by the #1 New York Times bestseller She Persisted by Chelsea Clinton and Alexandra Boiger, a chapter book series about women who stood up, spoke up and rose up against the odds! In this chapter book biography by NAACP Image Award-winning author and Coretta Scott King Honor recipient Kekla Magoon, readers learn about the amazing life of Ruby Bridges--and how she persisted. As a first grader, Ruby Bridges was the first Black student to integrate William Frantz Elementary School in New Orleans, Louisiana. This was no easy task, especially for a six-year-old. Ruby''s bravery and perseverance inspired children and adults alike to fight for equality and social justice. Perfect for back-to-school reading! Complete with an introduction from Chelsea Clinton, black-and-white illustrations throughout, and a list of ways that readers can follow in Ruby Bridges''s footsteps and make a difference! A perfect choice for kids who love learning and teachers who want to bring inspiring women into their curriculum. And don’t miss out on the rest of the books in the She Persisted series, featuring so many more women who persisted, including Oprah Winfrey, Harriet Tubman, Claudette Colvin, Coretta Scott King, and more! Praise for She Persisted: Ruby Bridges: "Bridges’ voice, quoted from various sources, gives readers access to her own perspective. A context-offering complement to Bridges’ own books for children." --Kirkus Reviews "Given the more relatable perspective of starting first grade, this volume makes Bridges’s story poignant for the intended audience." --School Library Journal

Edited by National Book Award finalist Ibi Zoboi, and featuring some of the most acclaimed bestselling Black authors writing for teens today—Black Enough is an essential collection of captivating stories about what it''s like to be young and Black in America. A selection of the Schomburg Center''s Black Liberation Reading List. Black is...sisters navigating their relationship at summer camp in Portland, Oregon, as written by Renée Watson. Black is...three friends walking back from the community pool talking about nothing and everything, in a story by Jason Reynolds. Black is...Nic Stone''s high-class beauty dating a boy her momma would never approve of. Black is...two girls kissing in Justina Ireland''s story set in Maryland. Black is urban and rural, wealthy and poor, mixed race, immigrants, and more—because there are countless ways to be Black enough. Contributors: Justina Ireland Varian Johnson Rita Williams-Garcia Dhonielle Clayton Kekla Magoon Leah Henderson Tochi Onyebuchi Jason Reynolds Nic Stone Liara Tamani Renée Watson Tracey Baptiste Coe Booth Brandy Colbert Jay Coles Ibi Zoboi Lamar Giles Seventeen acclaimed authors. One essential question. Sibling Dynamics: Two sisters navigate their complicated relationship at a summer camp in Portland, learning there’s no such thing as a half-sister. #blackboyjoy: A walk home from the pool becomes an unforgettable conversation about everything and nothing between three best friends. LGBTQ Romance: In a quiet Maryland town, a first kiss between two girls challenges everything one of them thought she knew about herself. Intersectional Identity: From urban to rural, wealthy to poor, immigrant to multi-generational—these stories explore the infinite ways to be Black in America. Multiple Perspectives: Seventeen unique short stories from a masterful lineup of bestselling and award-winning Black authors, including Jason Reynolds, Nic Stone, and Renée Watson.

A CORETTA SCOTT KING HONOR BOOK AND THE WINNER OF THE BOSTON GLOBE HORN BOOK AWARD FOR FICTION! "Extraordinary friendships . . . extraordinary storytelling." --Rita Williams-Garcia, Newbery Honor and Coretta Scott King Award-Winning author of One Crazy Summer Meet Caleb and Bobby Gene, two brothers embarking on a madcap, heartwarming, one-thing-leads-to-another adventure in which friendships are forged, loyalties are tested . . . and miracles just might happen. Caleb Franklin and his big brother Bobby Gene are excited to have adventures in the woods behind their house. But Caleb dreams of venturing beyond their ordinary small town. Then Caleb and Bobby Gene meet new neighbor Styx Malone. Styx is sixteen and oozes cool. Styx promises the brothers that together, the three of them can pull off the Great Escalator Trade--exchanging one small thing for something better until they achieve their wildest dream. But as the trades get bigger, the brothers soon find themselves in over their heads. Styx has secrets--secrets so big they could ruin everything. Five best of the year lists! NPR, HornBook, Kirkus Reviews, SLJ, Shelf Awareness Five starred reviews!

Les parents de Malcolm ont toujours poussé à réaliser ses rêves. Mais comment Malcolm Little peut-il continuer à espérer après le meurtre de son père et l''internement de sa mère en hôpital psychiatrique ? D''autant que ses professeurs lui rient au nez lorsque Malcolm leur confie vouloir devenir avocat. Devenu orphelin, privé de ses frères et soeurs, Malcolm décide de fuir ce monde dominé par les blancs, d''abord à Boston, chez sa demi-soeur, pour s''étourdir de musique, d''alcool et de danse, avant de partir à Harlem, et de devenir un escroc accompli. Emprisonné pour vol à l''âge de 20 ans, Malcolm découvrira la religion musulmane, rencontrera la foi et deviendra Malcolm X, grand prêcheur militant pour la défense du peuple noir.

The action is on the page, on your device, and out of this world! This multiplatform series is part sci-fi and all action-adventure--and now the complete series is available in one far-out boxed set! Earth is in danger! The only thing that can save our planet is six essential elements that can fuse into a new source of clean energy. But the elements are scattered throughout the galaxy. And it is up to the Voyagers--a team of four remarkable kids and an alien--to gather them all and return to Earth. Do you have what it takes to be a Voyager? Find out at VoyagersHQ.com!

In einem gigantischen Labyrinth unter der Oberfläche des Planeten Infinity müssen Dash und seine Freunde vom Team Alpha das dritte der sechs gesuchten Elemente finden. Doch dort lauern schreckliche Ungeheuer, und auch das Omega Team ist den Alphas nach wie vor auf den Fersen. Außerdem ist das gesuchte Element so gefährlich, dass ein einziger falscher Handgriff tödliche Folgen haben kann. Jeder Fehler, den das Alpha Team begeht, könnte sein letzter sein!

The action is on the page, on your device, and out of this world! This multiplatform series is part sci-fi, all action-adventure. And you don’t have long to wait—six books are coming all in one year! Earth is in danger! The only things that can save our planet are six essential elements scattered throughout the galaxy. And it is up to the Voyagers—a team of four remarkable kids and an alien—to gather them all and return to Earth. On the fourth planet, Infinity, the Voyagers journey deep underground, through a complex maze of tunnels. The tunnels are full of alien life—and danger. And before they can escape, one of their own will be taken from them. . . . Do you have what it takes to be a Voyager? Find out at VoyagersHQ.com.

When Nott City is taken over by a harsh governor, Ignomus Crown, and her parents disappear, twelve-year-old Robyn Loxley flees for her life and joins a group of children trying to take back what is rightfully theirs.

A 2016 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book Cowritten by Malcolm X’s daughter, this riveting and revealing novel follows the formative years of the man whose words and actions shook the world. Malcolm Little’s parents have always told him that he can achieve anything, but from what he can tell, that’s a pack of lies—after all, his father’s been murdered, his mother’s been taken away, and his dreams of becoming a lawyer have gotten him laughed out of school. There’s no point in trying, he figures, and lured by the nightlife of Boston and New York, he escapes into a world of fancy suits, jazz, girls, and reefer. But Malcolm’s efforts to leave the past behind lead him into increasingly dangerous territory. Deep down, he knows that the freedom he’s found is only an illusion—and that he can’t run forever. X follows Malcolm from his childhood to his imprisonment for theft at age twenty, when he found the faith that would lead him to forge a new path and command a voice that still resonates today.

A 2015 Coretta Scott King Author Honor Book When sixteen-year-old Tariq Johnson dies from two gunshot wounds, his community is thrown into an uproar. Tariq was black. The shooter, Jack Franklin, is white. In the aftermath of Tariq''s death, everyone has something to say, but no two accounts of the events line up. Day by day, new twists further obscure the truth. Tariq''s friends, family, and community struggle to make sense of the tragedy, and to cope with the hole left behind when a life is cut short. In their own words, they grapple for a way to say with certainty: This is how it went down. This title has Common Core connections.

In the aftermath of Dr. King''s assassination in 1968, Chicago fourteen-year-old Maxie longs to join the Black Panthers, whether or not her brother Raheem, ex-boyfriend Sam, or her friends like it, and is soon caught up in the violence of anti-war and civil rights demonstrations.

A poignant novel about a biracial girl living in the suburbs of Las Vegas examines the friendships that grow out of, and despite, her race.

Ellis only has four days of her sophomore year left, and summer is so close that she can almost taste it. But even with vacation just within reach, Ellis isn''t exactly relaxed. Her father has been in a coma for years, the result of a construction accident, and her already-fragile relationship with her mother is strained over whether or not to remove him from life support. Her best friend fails even to notice that anything is wrong and Ellis feels like her world is falling apart. But when all seems bleak, Ellis finds comfort in the most unexpected places. Life goes on, but in those four fleeting days friends are lost and found, promises are made, and Ellis realizes that nothing will ever quite be the same.

Traces the life of the civil rights leader, who fought for the rights of migrant workers and helped form the United Farm Workers union.

In 1968 Chicago, fourteen-year-old Sam Childs is caught in a conflict between his father''s nonviolent approach to seeking civil rights for African-Americans and his older brother, who has joined the Black Panther Party.