Best Selling Books by Sharon Dennis

When she goes looking for "something beautiful" in her city neighborhood, a young girl finds beauty in many different forms.

Some call it Freedom Day; some call it Emancipation Day; some call it Juneteenth. Learn more about this important holiday that celebrates the end of chattel slavery in the United States in this Step 3 History Reader. On June 19, 1865, two years after the Emancipation Proclamation, a group of enslaved men, women, and children in Texas gathered. Order Number 3 was read, proclaiming that they were no longer enslaved--they were free. People danced, wept tears of joy, and began to plan their new lives. Juneteenth became an annual celebration that is observed by more and more Americans with parades, picnics, family gatherings, and reflection on the words of historical figures, to mark the day when freedom truly rang for all. Step 3 Readers feature engaging characters in easy-to-follow plots and popular topics--for children who are ready to read on their own.

"Daughter--that''s my name. Daughter McGuire--I''m eleven." When Daughter McGuire, her mother, and her younger brothers, Satchel and Jerry Lee, move next door to her grandparents, she''s faced with starting over in a new school, making new friends, and keeping clear of troublemakers like the Avengers. Life would also be easier if her father hadn''t run off to Colorado. If her parents were together again, her mother''s creepy friend Jim Signet wouldn''t be hanging around. But things pick up when Daughter and her classmates Connie and Anna discover Topknot Cave and start the Explorers Club. And at school Mrs. Jackson, Daughter''s teacher, suggests an exciting family heritage project. The hitch is that some people think that Daughter''s family heritage is too "mixed-up". According to her family tree she is African-Italian-Irish-Jewish-Russian-American. One of the Avengers calls her a "zebra", because one of her parents is black and the other is white. Daughter is so upset, she begins to wonder what she should call herself. As her project comes together, Daughter learns more about her background and the story of the courageous woman whose name she carries. Little does Daughter McGuire know that her own courage will soon be tested in a way she had never dreamed of. Sharon Dennis Wyeth wrote The World of Daughter McGuire because she wanted to issue a challenge. As she says, "Daughter McGuire''s world is by no means perfect. Parents don''t behave the way you want them to and there are cruel acts of bias. But there is also humor in this world and love aplenty in Daughter, Satch and Jerry Lee''s not-so-typical, typical extended family. I want my readers to make connections in spite of external bias, to celebrate ourselves as individuals in a world where conscience counts more than color."

Over the winter holidays, four roommates at a girls'' boarding school agree to keep journals to share their vacation activities, and their pen pal letters, with their friends.

A young teenager deals with her family''s disintegration with the help of a teacher who gives her a summer job working in his garden. Haley''s excited about turning 13, but her teenage years start off with a thud when, shortly after her birthday, her mother checks herself into the hospital for severe depression. Her older brother, Otis, is busy with his job selling clothes, and Haley tries to keep her mind off the family problems with her own job, helping a music teacher clean up his backyard garden. As Haley''s family life becomes more and more unstable, it''s her work and her growing friendship with her employer that sustain her. When Otis gets arrested for selling stolen goods and a social worker takes Haley into a group home, it''s her employer she turns to to help her pick up the pieces.

In 1858, nine-year-old Corey Birdsong and his family, fugitive slaves from Kentucky, build a new life in Amherstburg, Canada, while still hoping to help those they left behind.

Kirk is thrilled to get a job as a junior lifeguard, but soon the 14-year-old finds out that the job''s not quite what he hoped it would be. It does have its perks, however, and those include being able to boss people around--including his 12-year-old sister, Kristy, and her friends. Pretty soon, Kirk thinks he''s the king of the community pool, and Kristy decides it''s time to sink her brother''s big ego!

Evette is a nature-lover full of crafty ideas for reusing and upcycling clothes. When she finds a vintage swimsuit in Gran E''s closet, she also uncovers a family secret that could explain why her mother''s family, which is Black, and her father''s, which is White, don''t spend time together. When she visits the river where her grandmother used to swim, she realizes how polluted it''s become. She rallies her new friends Makena and Maritza along with her whole family for a cleanup day. She''s determined to heal the river--and maybe even heal the division in her family. But will it work? The book includes reader questions, an essay by the author on growing up biracial, and ideas for helping the planet and fighting racism.

Illustrated in full color. Though Dad moves around a lot and his jobs keep changing, a young girl and her brother hold fast to memories of his magical, unexpected visits in this portrait of an African-American family held together by a special bond of love.

The girls of Suite 3D--Shanon, Palmer, Amy, and Maxi--are having a hard time keeping themselves together as best friends because of Amy''s latest heartthob. But Palmer doesn''t think he''s such a great guy, and tells Amy so. . . . Is she just jealous, or is she right about Amy''s older guy?

HOT ICE Taboo to the touch A fire in the cold That was us Welcome to a stage, where a soaring painting takes shape before your eyes, a big-booty poet stands at the mike, and there’s a seat right in front, just for you. This is a place where wise old ladies live and boys act like horses. This is a vision of love that was crushed and brought back to life. And this is my story. I’m Orphea Proud. Welcome to the show. As Orphea, who discovers her sexuality as a lesbian, shares her story, powerful questions of family, prejudice, and identity are explored.

A student reporter from the Pewter School for Boys comes to Alma Stephens to write an article about life at a girls'' school. Shannon falls for him. Has she forgotten about Mars?.

Too shy for love?

An anthology that features four stories about true love and first love.

Annie K. and her friends plan and rehearse their variety show. They find a trunk filled with costumes and props that will be perfect for their parts, and before they know it, it''s almost Halloween. Includes a script in the back of the book so you can put on your own show.

Annie K. and her friends are in the middle of rehearsing for one play when suddenly everyone begins to see spots. The script for Annie K.''s play is in the back of this book.

The play script is printed in the back of the book.

Beware of conjurers and voodoo queens! In their wake, strange things happen. Witches shrink to the size of peas, and children are transformed into bugs or birds. But if fear hides in the folds of the voodoo queen''s cloak, so does power. Conjure women and conjure men--versed in spells and potions to cure any ill--were once familiar figures in America. The occupation has dwindled, but the fascination remains. Their feats live on in folktales and history. "Vampire Bugs presents an assortment of funny and frightening magicians and an array of young heroes and heroines. Both provocative and entertaining, these stories will give readers the opportunity to reflect on their fears and on their own power.

The riveting historical novel of a young black girl''s shocking discovery of her true heritage. "A shattering story . . . Young people will be caught by the history and will want to find out more about it".--"Booklist". "A rewarding novel . . . with a shaking secret".--"Publishers Weekly".