Synopses & Reviews
Ten-year-old Star Mackie lives in a trailer park with her flaky mom and her melancholy older sister, Winter, whom Star idolizes. Moving to a new town has made it difficult for Star to make friends, when her classmates tease her because of where she lives and because of her layered blue hair. But when Star starts a poetry club, she develops a love of Emily Dickinson and, through Dickinsonandrsquo;s poetry, learns some important lessons about herself and comes to terms with her hopes for the future.
With an unforgettable voice with a lot of heart, Hope Is a Ferris Wheel is the story of a young girl who learns to accept her family and herself while trying to make sense of the world around her.
Praise for Hope is a Ferris Wheel
STARRED REVIEW
andquot;Herreraandrsquo;s first novel is quite accomplished, with plenty of heart and humor, especially apparent in the spelling assignments Star has to complete but refuses to turn in, as she uses them as a sort of journal. Star is a unique, determined, and loving child making the best of a bad situation; readers cannot help but root for her.andquot;
--School Library Journal, starred review
andquot;Well-constructed, thought-provoking and appealing, this first effort bodes well for the authorandrsquo;s future.andquot;
--Kirkus Reviews
andquot;In her debut, Herrera has created a delightful narrator with a memorable voice and surrounded her with a unique supporting cast. Got fans of Joan Bauer in your neck of the woods? Send them this way.andquot;
--Booklist
andquot;A tender and truthful novel that addresses stereotypes without promising easy answers or cookie-cutter closure.andquot;
--Publishers Weekly
andquot;First-time author Herrera, telling the story from Starandrsquo;s point of view, gives readers a front-row seat to all the embarrassment and angst of Starandrsquo;s jumbled lifeandmdash;and all of the triumphs. Hereandrsquo;s hoping we hear more from this author.andquot;
--The Horn Book Magazine
andquot;Starandrsquo;s contemplation, through poetic metaphors and real-life relationships, of what really matters in her life is compelling. Additionally, the poetry angle offers food for thought for those just coming to understand the power and purpose of metaphor, and Starandrsquo;s vocabulary assignments, occasionally interspersed between chapters, provide inspiration and entertainment for word-lovers.andquot;
--Bulletin of the Center for Childrenandrsquo;s Books
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Review
Praise for Buddy by M.H. Herlong: "A touching tale of hope, of holding on when you can, and of letting go when it's the right thing to do." —Kirkus
Review
Praise for Buddy by M.H. Herlong: "A touching tale of hope, of holding on when you can, and of letting go when it's the right thing to do." —Kirkus
“…more than just a dog story…” —School Library Journal
Review
Praise for A Blue so Dark:
"Breathtakingly, gut-wrenchingly authentic..." —Booklist, starred review
"So powerful is the empathy the author has built for her main character." —School Library Journal
“An excellent first novel—a definite must-read. Schindler's debut novel is a lyrical tapestry...a work of poetry.” —VOYA
A Booklist Top 10 First Novels for Youth
Praise for Playing Hurt:
“If youre a fan of romance, good luck putting this one down. Playing Hurt is a delicious, tantalizing love story that will captivate you until the final, satisfying sigh. Holly Schindlers lyrical writing is an absolute delight to read.” —Kristin Walker, author of A Match Made in High School
“The book speaks to personal struggles and triumphs and the ability of the human spirit to heal. Playing Hurt is a good read.” —VOYA
Review
"Salamon's breezy but sophisticated chapter book has New York down cold—street musicians, subway rats, ridiculous rents, and all... Weber's glossy, full-color spot illustrations have plenty of Greenwich Village quirk... A sweet love letter to New York, cats, and what it means to be 'home.'"—
Booklist "Bittersweet and meaningful, Cat in the City shows the solemnity and inevitability of change and the importance of finding a family and a home to call your own."—School Library Journal
"[Weber's] stylist spot illustrations are little love letters to the Big Apple that also capture the bohemian bonhomie of Pretty Boy's circle."—Publisher's Weekly
Review
"Axioms like “One mans trash is another mans treasure” and “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” come gracefully to life in Schindlers tale about the value of hard work and the power of community." -
Publishers Weekly "The story shines...with vibrant themes of community, self-empowerment and artistic vision." - Kirkus Reviews
"Auggies rich engagement with her community and willingness to stand up for her beliefs are inspiring, while her struggle to stay true to herself, even when her best friend gets absorbed in the cool crowd at their new school, will resonate with many readers." - School Library Journal
"In Auggie, Schindler creates a spunky, sympathetic character young readers will engage with and enjoy." - The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books
"The book is well-written and would make a good classroom read-aloud for upper grade levels...will appeal to both girls and boys." - Library Media Connection
Synopsis
An unforgettable first novel about coming of age one sweet summer—and learning to love what you have.The summer Opal and her father, the preacher, move to Naomi, Florida, Opal goes into the Winn-Dixie supermarket—and comes out with a dog. A big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor. A dog she dubs Winn-Dixie. Because of Winn-Dixie, the preacher tells Opal ten things about her absent mother, one for each year Opal has been alive. Winn-Dixie is better at making friends than anyone Opal has ever known, and together they meet the local librarian, Miss Franny Block, who once fought off a bear with a copy of WAR AND PEACE. They meet Gloria Dump, who is nearly blind but sees with her heart, and Otis, an ex-con who sets the animals in his pet shop loose after hours, then lulls them with his guitar.
Opal spends all that sweet summer collecting stories about her new friends and thinking about her mother. But because of Winn-Dixie or perhaps because she has grown, Opal learns to let go, just a little, and that friendship—and forgiveness—can sneak up on you like a sudden summer storm.
Recalling the fiction of Harper Lee and Carson McCullers, here is a funny, poignant, and utterly genuine first novel from a major new talent.
Synopsis
A classic boy-and-dog tale in the tradition of
Old YellerTyrone "Li'l T" Roberts meets Buddy when his family's car accidentally hits the stray dog on their way to church. Buddy turns out to be the dog Li'l T's always wished for--until Hurricane Katrina comes to New Orleans and he must leave Buddy behind. After the storm, Li'l T and his father return home to find a community struggling to rebuild their lives--and Buddy gone. But Li'l T refuses to give up his quest to find his best friend. From the author of the BBYA Top Ten selection The Great Wide Sea comes a powerful story of hope, courage, and knowing when to let go.
Synopsis
Beasts of the Southern Wild” meets Because of Winn Dixie in this inspiring story of hope. August Auggie” Jones lives with her Grandpa Gus, a trash hauler, in a poor part of town. So when her wealthy classmates father starts the House Beautification Committee, its homes like Auggies that are deemed in violation.” Auggie is determined to prove that she is not as run-down as the outside of her house might suggest. Using the kind of items Gus usually hauls to the scrap heap, a broken toaster becomes a flower; church windows turn into a rainbow walkway; and an old car gets new life as spinning whirligigs. What starts out as a home renovation project becomes much more as Auggie and her grandpa discover a talent they never knew they hadand redefine a whole towns perception of beauty, one recycled sculpture at a time. Auggies talent for creating found art will remind readers that one girls trash really is another girls treasure.
Synopsis
A tender and beautifully illustrated debut childrens book from a New York Times bestselling team A city savvy stray cat named Pretty Boy has always managed to make it on his own. Hes as vain as they come, and he wont admit to being dependent on anyone. But as he discovers the pleasures of friendship, he learns that home really is where the heart is. Or, at the very least, home is where his friends are. And with friends all around New York City, Pretty Boy will always have a place to call home.
The author and illustrator team who brought us the New York Times bestseller The Christmas Tree introduce an unforgettable animal adventure in the tradition of A Cricket in Times Square and The One and Only Ivan. The result is a story that will captivate readers of all ages with its warmth and wit.
Synopsis
Nicky Flynns life just got a whole lot harder. His parents are going through a messy divorce, and as a result hes starting a new life, in a new city, in a new school. Now his mom has brought home Reggie, a German shepherd from the animal shelter. At first Nicky isnt sure about Reggie, but soon he discovers that Reggie—who used to be a seeing-eye dog—is a true friend he can rely on. But when Nick tries to reconnect with his dad, he puts everything on the line, including the life of his new best friend.
Art Corriveau is a brilliant voice in middle-grade fiction, and How I Got a Life and a Dog is a heartfelt and honest look at the effects of divorce and the wonders of friendship.
About the Author
Kate DiCamillo says of writing BECAUSE OF WINN-DIXIE, "I was living in an apartment where no dogs were allowed. As a result, I was suffering from a serious case of 'dog withdrawal.' One night, before I went to sleep, I heard this little girl's voice (with a Southern accent) say, 'I have a dog named Winn-Dixie.' When I woke up the next morning, the voice was still talking, and I started writing down what India Opal Buloni was telling me. The book is (I hope) a hymn of praise to dogs, friendship, and the South."