Most Popular Books by Marti Dumas

"Girls running for office, secret leadership lessons from the past, and a dash of mysterious mailbox magic? Yes please!" ÑKate Messner, New York Times best-selling author of Breakout and the History Smashers series A school election. A mysterious mailbox. And a letter from . . . Cleopatra? Middle school is so weird. Nina is determined to help her best friend Maya win the race for 6th grade representative. But when she uses her robotics skills to spy on MayaÕs opponent, the girls wind up in detention. There, they are asked to write a letter to a woman from history. Nina pours her heart out to Cleopatra, and instead of throwing the letter away so her parents donÕt find it, she slips it into a battered old mailbox she and Maya find in the woods. It was all just a game . . . until a giant scroll arrives at NinaÕs house, signed by Cleopatra herself! Do the girls really have a pen pal from 2,000 years ago? Will their friend Zoe ever speak to them again? Why is their science teacher acting so oddly? And what on Earth is a time taco? Original story and characters by Anna McCleery

Book two in the exciting fantasy chapter book series from Rebel Girls has more adventures in store for Nina and her friends! An after-school job. A sinister superintendent. And advice from...Ruth Bader Ginsburg? Growing up is getting complicated! Now that the Three Musketeers (and Kai) are best friends again, this is going to be the best year ever! But Nina’s friends all seem to want her to take charge when all she wants to do is blend in. And on top of all that pressure, she’s keeping two fluffy little secrets from her moms... When the school’s new superintendent ignores what the kids want, bringing in uniforms, shutting down clubs, and getting the best teachers in trouble, it’s time for action! Luckily, Nina and her friends can turn to the mysterious mailbox for answers, and soon they have Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s advice in hand. Will it be enough to save Ada Lovelace Middle School and Ms. Jupiter? And will Nina finally feel ready to be a leader? Don’t miss the first book in the Secret Society of Rebel Girls series: Nina and the Mysterious Mailbox

Many women of different backgrounds lived together in the American West. Former enslaved women left the racism of the Southern states to find a new life. White settlers traveled alone or with their families seeking their fortune as farmers, teachers, or gold miners. They met Mexican and Native American women who already lived in the territory. They were later joined by Japanese and Chinese immigrant women. All these women faced hardship and an unfamiliar life as they fought for their rights, their freedom, and their land in the American West. This book tells their story. Women are sometimes called the silent protagonists of history. But since before the founding of our nation until now, women have organized, marched, and inspired. They forced change and created opportunity. With engaging text, fun facts, photography, infographics, and art, this new set of books examines how individual women of differing races and socioeconomic status took a stand, and how groups of women lived and fought throughout the history of this country. It looks at how they celebrated victories that included the right to vote, the right to serve their country, and the right to equal employment. The aim of this much-needed set of five books is to bring herstory to young readers!

Fortunes & Frenemies is the third book in Marti Dumas’s Creole tradition inspired, fun middle-grade contemporary Wildseed Witch fantasy series, about a social-media-loving tween witch In the past year, Hasani has learned she’s a witch, been accepted by Les Belles Demoiselles, and formed her own coven—and her YouTube followers for her makeup channel are growing every day. Now that she’s in eighth grade, she’s ready to rule the school with all her witch powers and best friends by her side. But frenemy LaToya is still at Riverbend Middle causing trouble, both magically and socially. LaToya’s determined to befriend every single possible witch at school (and turn them against Hasani), and Hasani can’t help but wonder if she’s got another scheme going. Witches aren’t supposed to interfere in each others’ business—but what if LaToya is going to hurt someone? Or herself? Hasani and her friends Dee, Angelique, and Luz have to figure out for themselves when it’s right to let things lie—and when it’s their responsibility to stand up for their community. The Wildseed Witch series: Wildseed Witch (Book 1) Charmed Life (Book 2) Fortunes & Frenemies (Book 3)

Jaden Toussaint is a five year-old who knows it all. I mean, really knows it all. Animal Scientist. Great Debater. Master of the art of ninja dancing. There's nothing Jaden Toussaint can't do. This time our hero must face his greatest fear: another amazing 5 year-old. Has Jaden Toussaint finally met his match?

Giant Afro. Even Bigger Brain. Jaden Toussaint is a five year-old who knows it all. I mean, really knows it all. Animal Science. Great Debater. Master of the art of ninja dancing. There's nothing Jaden Toussaint can't do. The only problem is that grown-ups keep trying to convince him that, even though he's really smart, he doesn't know EVERYTHING. The thing is...he kind of does. This time our hero must use all his super-powered brain power to convince the grown-ups that he needs more screen time.

Jaden Toussaint, 5 year-old scientist and all around cool dude, must survive 5 whole days with his sister at sleepaway camp. He'll be all alone with only his mother, his father, and all his friends to keep him company. His sister being gone is bad enough, but now that she is, who will protect him from...The Swamp Thing?

A fun middle-grade contemporary fantasy with an all-BIPOC cast, about a social-media-loving tween who gets sent to an ultra-private witch camp Hasani’s post-seventh-grade summer to-do list is pretty simple: get a bigger following for her makeup YouTube channel and figure out how to get her parents back together. What she does NOT expect is that an emotional outburst will spark a latent magical ability in her. Or that the magic will be strong enough to attract the attention of witches. Or that before she can say #BlackGirlMagic, she’ll be shipped off on a scholarship to a fancy finishing school for talented young ladies. Les Belles Demoiselles is a literal charm school. Here, generations of young ladies from old-money witch families have learned to harness their magic, and alumnae grow to become some of the most powerful women across industries, including politicians, philanthropists, CEOs, entrepreneurs—and yes, even social media influencers. Needless to say, admission to the school is highly coveted, very exclusive . . . and Hasani sticks out like a weed in a rose bouquet. While the other girls have always known they were destined to be witches, Hasani is a Wildseed––a stray witch from a family of non-witches, with no background knowledge, no way to control her magic, and a lot to catch up on. "Wildseed" may be an insult that the other girls throw at her, but Wildseeds are more powerful than they know. And Hasani will learn that there are ways to use magic and thrive that can never be taught in a classroom.

Jaden Toussaint, 5 year-old scientist and all around cool dude, must save his school from a (possible) alien invasion. His only weapons are science, ninja dancing, and the super-powered brain power of his seriously awesome group of friends. Can JT and his crew come up with a plan that doesn't involve (dunh-dunh-dunh...) the EXTERMINATOR?

Now back at Riverbend Middle, social media loving tween Hasani tries to prove her former friend, and fellow witch, LaToya, is responsible for the recent chaos at school.

Le scuole medie possono essere un bel problema. Lo sa bene Nina, genio della robotica e studentessa modello: tra la turbolenta campagna elettorale della sua migliore amica Maya per diventare rappresentante di classe e i continui litigi tra le sue due mamme, la vita non è mai stata così difficile. Come se non bastasse, tutto si complica quando, lungo la strada che attraversa il bosco, Nina e Maya si imbattono in una curiosa cassetta delle lettere e decidono di spedire un messaggio a... Cleopatra! Il giorno seguente, Nina trova un enorme rotolo di papiro indirizzato a lei: è la risposta inviata da nientemeno che l'ultima regina d'Egitto in persona. Ma com'è possibile che quella lettera abbia viaggiato nello spazio e nel tempo? Chi, oltre a loro due, sa della cassetta dagli strani poteri? E come mai la pietra luccicante raccolta nel bosco sembra essere la chiave di questo mistero? Un'avventura all'insegna delle amicizie, vecchie e nuove, della magia e dei problemi di tutti i giorni, grandi e piccoli, che ci ricorda ciò che Cleopatra sapeva bene: per far sentire la propria voce, occorre essere disposti ad ascoltare quella degli altri. «Un'offerta a Cleopatra.» Maya poggiò sulla lettera la pietra che avevo trovato e fece un inchino cerimonioso. Un soffio di vento le scompigliò i capelli e mi solleticò la schiena. «Un'offerta a Cleopatra.» Sorrisi, inchinandomi a mia volta. Lei richiuse la cassetta in modo solenne. Pensavo che fosse finita lì. Mi sbagliavo. Era solo l'inizio.

Charm Schooled is the third book in Marti Dumas's Creole tradition inspired, fun middle-grade contemporary Wildseed Witch fantasy series, about a social-media-loving tween--and witch! In the past year, Hasani has learned she's a witch, been accepted by Les Belles Demoiselles, and formed her own coven--and her YouTube followers for her makeup channel are growing every day. Now that she's in eighth grade, she's ready to rule the school with all her witch powers and best friends by her side. But frenemy LaToya is still at Riverbend Middle causing trouble, both magically and socially. LaToya's determined to befriend every single possible witch at school (and turn them against Hasani), and Hasani can't help but wonder if she's got another scheme going. Witches aren't supposed to interfere in each others' business--but what if LaToya is going to hurt someone? Or herself? Hasani and her friends Dee, Angelique, and Luz have to figure out for themselves when it's right to let things lie--and when it's their responsibility to stand up for their community.

Have you ever dreamed of being a wolf? Jala has. And she thinks her magical mother has found a way to make her dream come true. Her mother won't actually come right out and say she is magic. That's not how magic works. But Jala knows magic when she sees it, so she is not a bit surprised when a mysterious mirror appears in her room one day. Like Alice's looking glass, the mirror opens a portal to a new world. A world of wolves.

Giant Afro. Even Bigger Brain.Jaden Toussaint is a five year-old who knows it all. I mean, really knows it all. Animal Scientist. Great Debater. Master of the art of ninja dancing. There's nothing Jaden Toussaint can't do. The only problem is that grown-ups keep trying to convince him that, even though he's really smart, he doesn't know EVERYTHING. The thing is...he kind of does.This time our hero must use all his super-powered brain power to convince the grown-ups that he needs more screen time.

Jaden Toussaint is a five year-old who knows it all. I mean, really knows it all. Animal Scientist. Great Debater. Master of the art of ninja dancing. There's nothing Jaden Toussaint can't do.This time there is an alien invasion at school. (They may look like caterpillars, but you can never be too safe.) Our hero must use all his super-powered brain power to save the people and (possible) aliens from each other!