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I Will Protect You: A True Story of Twins Who Survived Auschwitz
by Eva Mozes KorThe illuminating and deeply moving true story of twin sisters who survived Nazi experimentation, against all odds, during the Holocaust.Eva and her identical twin sister, Miriam, had a mostly happy childhood. Theirs was the only Jewish family in their small village in the Transylvanian mountains, but they didn't think much of it until anti-Semitism reared its ugly head in their school. Then, in 1944, ten-year-old Eva and her family were deported to Auschwitz. At its gates, Eva and Miriam were separated from their parents and other siblings, selected as subjects for Dr. Mengele's infamous medical experiments.During the course of the war, Mengele would experiment on 3,000 twins. Only 160 would survive--including Eva and Miriam.Writing with her friend Danica Davidson, Eva reveals how two young girls were able to survive the unimaginable cruelty of the Nazi regime, while also eventually finding healing and the capacity to forgive. Spare and poignant, I Will Protect You is a vital memoir of survival, loss, and forgiveness.
In Myrtle Peril (Myrtle Hardcastle Mystery #4)
by Elizabeth C. BunceThis twisty, cozy murder mystery finds Amateur Detective Myrtle Hardcastle investigating the case of an heiress lost at sea—an inquiry that runs aground when a murder in plain sight has no apparent victim. When a mysterious girl attempts to stake her claim to the Snowcroft family fortune, Myrtle Hardcastle&’s father, a lawyer, is asked to help prove—or disprove—the girl&’s identity. Is this truly Ethel Snowcroft, believed to be lost at sea with her parents, or a con artist chasing a windfall? Mr. Hardcastle&’s pursuit of the case takes a detour when he&’s hospitalized for a tonsillectomy—only to witness a murder. Or does he? With no body at the scene, Myrtle and her governess, Miss Judson, fear the so-called murder was a feverish delusion—until a critical piece of evidence appears. But where&’s the victim? And who at the hospital could be harboring murderous intent? Myrtle is determined to find out before the killer comes after her father. With stakes this high, her sleuthing has put Myrtle, her family, and the patients and staff at the Royal Swinburne Hospital In Myrtle Peril.
J.R. Silver Writes Her World
by Melissa DassoriJ.R.&’s struggles to navigate the torments of middle school and her secret power to write wishes into existence in this magical story about finding your voice, perfect for fans of From The Mixed-Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. Sixth grade is off to a difficult start for Josephine Rose Silver. Her best friend, Violet, returns from camp with a new best friend; her parents refuse to grant her more independence; and her homeroom teacher, Ms. Kline, is full of secrets. When Ms. Kline unveils a collection of old Gothamite magazines and tells her students to build their writing skills by crafting short stories inspired by the iconic covers, J.R. discovers a peculiar power: The stories she writes come true. Soon J.R. is getting a cell phone, scoring game-winning goals, and triggering school cancellations. But it's not long before she realizes that each new story creates as many conflicts as it does solutions. And when J.R. tries to write about her fallout with Violet, all of her problems converge. With a pinch of magic, mystery, art history, and language arts woven into a journey of growth and self-confidence, this promising debut is a heartfelt and satisfying tribute to the power of words.
The Junior Tarot Reader's Handbook: A Kid's Guide to Reading Cards (The Junior Handbook Series)
by Nikki Van De CarLearn how to read tarot cards and understand what the past, present, and future have to say about your life, especially as it pertains to friendships, family, and school. From Nikki Van De Car, author of The Junior Witch&’s Handbook and The Junior Astrologer&’s Handbook, this third book in the Junior Handbook series teaches young readers how to use tarot to get answers to questions about life, friendships, family, school, and more. The book offers a step-by-step guide to everything from how to choose a deck to how to do a reading and includes detailed explanations of what each card in a tarot deck represents and how to apply these meanings to your own life. Maybe you need to focus more at school or examine how you've been treating your friends. Perhaps you simply need more love and support from family. Whatever the need, whatever the question, let the cards be a source of wisdom in how to handle anything that comes your way. With beautiful illustrations from Uta Krogmann, this is an empowering guide of self-discovery. Whether reading on your own or with friends, The Junior Tarot Reader's Handbook is the perfect guide for budding mystics.
The Kaya Girl
by Mamle WoloAn extraordinary tale of two teenagers from vastly different walks of life, this page-turner transports readers to a bustling market in Ghana&’s capital city where one friendship transforms two lives. Writing with effortlessly engaging prose, Wolo showcases the interweaving layers of Ghanaian culture to create a prismatic, multifaceted world in which two young girls, against all odds, are able to find each other. When Faiza, a Muslim migrant girl from northern Ghana, and Abena, a wealthy doctor&’s daughter from the south, meet by chance in Accra&’s largest market, where Faiza works as a porter or kaya girl, they strike up an unlikely and powerful friendship that transcends their social inequities and opens up new worlds to them both. Set against a backdrop of class disparity in Ghana, The Kaya Girl has shades of The Kite Runner in its unlikely friendship, and of Slumdog Millionaire as Faiza&’s life takes unlikely turns that propel her thrillingly forward. As, over the course of the novel, Abena awakens to the world outside her sheltered, privileged life, the novel explores a multitude of awakenings and the opportunities that lie beyond the breaking down of barriers. This is a gorgeously transporting work, offering vivid insight into two strikingly diverse young lives in Ghana.
Kids Cook Dinner: 23 Healthy, Budget-Friendly Meals from the Best-Selling Cooking Class Series (Cooking Class)
by Deanna F. CookIt's kids' cooking night—and they&’re in charge of making dinner! This selection of 25 easy, budget-friendly dinner recipes from the best-selling Cooking Class series teaches kids how to make tasty, healthy meals with easy-to-follow step-by-step photos. The recipes feature a range of kid favorites, including Popcorn Chicken, Easy Cheesy Quesadillas, Pasta with Tomatoes & Fresh Mozzarella, Black Beans & Rice, Pizza, Meatballs with Creamy Sauce, Super Sliders, and Supper Salad have been specially selected for their budget-friendliness (averaging $2 a serving) and use of easy-to-find pantry staples, as well as their nutritional value. With instructions on basic cooking skills, like chopping vegetables and stir-frying, grocery shopping, and kitchen safety, Kids Cook Dinner offers aspiring chefs ages 8 to 12 everything they need to know to successfully—and proudly—put a healthy, homecooked meal on the table that the whole family will love.
Kids Cook Gluten-Free: Over 65 Fun and Easy Recipes for Young Gluten-Free Chefs (No Gluten, No Problem)
by Kelli Bronski Peter BronskiA fun, foolproof guide to gluten-free cooking for the kid chef in your kitchen—from the authors of No Gluten, No Problem Pizza Are you ready for the best gluten-free biscuits you&’ve ever had? How about gluten-free mac and cheese? Or brownies? Kids Cook Gluten-Free teaches children to make all these and more. From crowd-pleasing favorites like Chocolate Chip Pancakes and Hamburger Sliders to more adventurous options like Crispy Dover Sole and Red Lentil Dal, kids will love trying something new. Each recipe has kid-friendly instructions with a list of common kitchen terms and tools. Guides to gluten-free eating, safety tips, and basic techniques help young readers get comfortable in the kitchen. Kids can make delicious food with a parent or all by themselves. No matter what, it&’ll be a whole lot of fun—and taste great!
The Last Hope in Hopetown
by Maria TureaudStranger Things meets Fake Blood in this deliciously charming and spooky debut novel about one girl&’s choice to save her vampire parents or do what&’s right for the greater good.Twelve-year-old human Sophie Dawes lives a good life in Hopetown. There, vampires and humans live in harmony and Sophie and her adoptive vampire moms are living (or unliving) proof. There are a lot of rules that vampires must follow to keep the humans they live around feeling safe, but if regular visits from child protective services and abiding by a nightly curfew keeps their family together, Sophie will do anything to stay with her loving vampire parents. But then, normal, law-abiding vampires begin to go rogue. After Sophie&’s own mother— the sweetest person she knows— goes rogue, Sophie decides it&’s up to her to find a cure. But taking matters into her own hands might be way more than she bargained for if it means braving a secret council of vampires, executing epic heists, and facing the true bad guys head on. With her best friend by her side, Sophie will fight for hope, freedom and a family bonded by a love that&’s thicker than blood.
The Last Hope in Hopetown
by Maria TureaudStranger Things meets Fake Blood in this deliciously charming and spooky debut novel about one girl&’s choice to save her vampire parents or do what&’s right for the greater good.Twelve-year-old human Sophie Dawes lives a good life in Hopetown. There, vampires and humans live in harmony and Sophie and her adoptive vampire moms are living (or unliving) proof. There are a lot of rules that vampires must follow to keep the humans they live around feeling safe, but if regular visits from child protective services and abiding by a nightly curfew keeps their family together, Sophie will do anything to stay with her loving vampire parents. But then, normal, law-abiding vampires begin to go rogue. After Sophie&’s own mother— the sweetest person she knows— goes rogue, Sophie decides it&’s up to her to find a cure. But taking matters into her own hands might be way more than she bargained for if it means braving a secret council of vampires, executing epic heists, and facing the true bad guys head on. With her best friend by her side, Sophie will fight for hope, freedom and a family bonded by a love that&’s thicker than blood.
Last Week
by Bill RichardsonA child cherishes every second of their grandmother's last week of life in this sensitive portrayal of medical assistance in dying (MAiD). “In this last week, there are seven days.” That's one hundred and sixty-eight hours. Or ten thousand and eighty minutes. Or six hundred four thousand and eight hundred seconds. A child counts every second because this is their grandmother’s last week of life. As friends and family come to call on Flippa—as Gran is fondly known—the child observes the strange mix of grief, humor, awkwardness, anger and nostalgia that attends these farewell visits. Especially precious are the times they have alone, just the two of them. Flippa, the child sees, has made up her mind. Like time, she is unstoppable. So as Sunday approaches, the child must find a way to come to terms with Flippa’s decision. What is the best way to say goodbye? Beautifully illustrated in black and white—with one unexpectedly joyful splash of color—Last Week is a nuanced look at what death with dignity can mean to a whole family, with an afterword and additional resources by MAiD expert Dr. Stefanie Green. Key Text Features illustrations afterword explanation resources Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution.
Learning to Fall
by Sally EngelfriedTwelve-year-old Daphne reconciles with her father, who left her stranded three years ago, and learns forgiveness one fall at a time in this heartwarming debut by Sally Engelfried. For fans of The First Rule of Punk.Daphne doesn't want to be stuck in Oakland with her dad. She wants to get on the first plane to Prague, where her mom is shooting a movie. Armed with her grandparents&’ phone number and strict instructions from her mom to call them if her dad starts drinking again, Daphne has no problem being cold to him. But there's one thing Daphne can't keep herself from doing: joining her dad and her new friend Arlo at a weekly skate session. When her dad promises to teach her how to ollie and she lands the trick, Daphne starts to believe in him again. He starts to show up for her, and Daphne learns things are not as black and white with her dad as she used to think. The way Daphne&’s dad tells it, skating is all about accepting failure and moving on. But can Daphne really let go of her dad&’s past mistakes? Either way life is a lot like skating: it&’s all about getting back up after you fall.
Maths — No Problem! Textbook 6B: (pdf)
by Adam Gifford Judy Hornigold"Maths — No Problem! is a series of textbooks and workbooks written to meet the requirements of the English National Curriculum and all subsequent non-statutory requirements. The focus of the series is on teaching to mastery. This research-based approach emphasises problem solving and utilises pupils’ core competencies to develop a relational understanding of mathematical concepts."
Maths — No Problem! Workbook 6B: (pdf)
by Adam Gifford Judy Hornigold"Maths — No Problem! is a series of textbooks and workbooks written to meet the requirements of the English National Curriculum and all subsequent non-statutory requirements. The focus of the series is on teaching to mastery. This research-based approach emphasises problem solving and utilises pupils’ core competencies to develop a relational understanding of mathematical concepts."
Miraculous: Bubble Trouble (Miraculous Chapter Book #3)
by ZAG AMERICA, LLCJoin Ladybug and Cat Noir as they save the day in a full-color, action-packed chapter book series based on Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir. By day, Marinette and Adrien are teens living normal lives. But by night, they turn into Ladybug and Cat Noir and work together to keep Paris safe from the mysterious Hawk Moth. It's Adrien's birthday! Marinette and Adrien's best friend, Nino, are ready to celebrate! When Nino finds out that Adrien's father won't let Adrien have a birthday party, Nino is crushed...and angry! Hawk Moth uses Nino's negative emotions to transform him into the supervillain Bubbler. Claiming that all parents ruin kids' fun, Bubbler wreaks havoc around the city as he uses his bubble wand to capture adults and send them into space. Can Cat Noir and Ladybug pop Bubbler's plans before it's too late? Miraculous(TM) is a trademark of ZAG(TM) - Method(TM).© 2022 ZAGTOON(TM) - METHOD ANIMATION(TM) - TOEI ANIMATION - SAMG - SK BROADBAND - AB INTERNATIONAL - DE AGOSTINI EDITORE S.p.A. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Miraculous: Superhero Origins (Miraculous Chapter Book #1)
by Christy WebsterThis full-color illustrated chapter book tells the origin of how Marinette and Adrien became the spectacular superheroes known as Ladybug and Cat Noir! Based on Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, as seen on Disney! It's the first day of school! Marinette, a clumsy but sweet girl, is dreading going back to class and seeing the girl who bullies her. Meanwhile, Adrien, a famous model, wishes he could go to school like every other teenager, but his overprotective father refuses to let him! When the two receive mysterious Miraculouses, magical jewels that give them super powers, it turns their worlds upside down. Adrien is thrilled to transform into Cat Noir and get the freedom he craves, but Marinette struggles with becoming Ladybug--she lacks confidence and doesn't feel worthy of her powers. Can the two learn to work as a team when supervillain Hawk Moth sends a rock-solid foe named Stone Heart steal their Miraculouses and destroy Paris? Miraculous(TM) is a trademark of ZAG(TM) - Method(TM).© 2022 ZAGTOON(TM) - METHOD ANIMATION(TM) - TOEI ANIMATION - SAMG - SK BROADBAND - AB INTERNATIONAL - DE AGOSTINI EDITORE S.p.A. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
New Dragon City
by Mari MancusiSet off on a high-stakes, action-packed adventure in this story about friendship, survival, and fighting for ones you love, perfect for fans of Wings of Fire and How to Train Your Dragon. No one predicted the dragon apocalypse. The dragons came suddenly and decimated the world as we knew it, including New York City. Now, three years later, Noah, his hardcore survivalist father, and a ragtag group of survivors are barely scraping by in this new reality. Kids scavenge not only for materials in abandoned homes but also for leftover books at the library. Adults spend their time establishing a make-shift society and defending their shelter... with any means available. At least for the few months the dragons are hibernating, until it&’s no longer safe aboveground. Noah has seen the damage these creatures can do firsthand. When it comes to dragons: It's kill or be killed. But a chance encounter between Noah and a young dragon causes him to question everything he thought he knew. With rumors spreading that there&’s a group of survivors living in harmony with dragons instead of hiding underground, Noah teams up with his fire-breathing ally to find out if peace between humans and dragons is really possible. But the division runs deeper than scales versus skin because trying to follow his heart might just cost Noah his family too. If Noah and his father can&’t see eye to eye, can he really get humans and dragons to?
Odd Occurrences: Chilling Stories of Horror
by Andrew Nance"Sheer spooky fun." ―Kirkus Reviews Two best friends. One goes missing. And a paranormal podcast that hopes to reunite them, but not before unleashing horror in many forms. When Zeus&’s best friend gets trapped inside the House of Mystery and Mirrors at Carnival Nocturne, Tobin&’s existence is erased from the world, and Zeus is the only person who remembers that his best friend ever lived. Zeus is determined to return to the carnival and rescue his friend—that is, if he can only find it. Together with Tobin&’s sister, Jana, Zeus concocts a plan to conjure Tobin&’s captors on Halloween night via his paranormal podcast, Odd Occurrences. Listeners are invited to call in and share their supernatural experiences with the audience. From ghostly encounters to haunted dolls, terrifying escape rooms with deadly consequences to alien lake creatures, Zeus hopes that someone&’s story will produce a clue that leads him to the mysterious carnival—and ultimately, back to Tobin. But little does Zeus know that Tobin is almost out of time.
Omega Morales and the Legend of La Lechuza (Omega Morales #1)
by Laekan Zea KempFans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon, Paola Santiago and the River of Tears, and Disney's Encanto will be captivated by this fantastical novel about a girl who must learn to trust her ancestral powers when she comes face-to-face with the Mexican legend La Lechuza. Omega Morales&’s family has been practicing magic for centuries in Noche Buena. But over the years, the town's reputation for the supernatural is no longer one the people carry with pride. So Omega&’s family keeps to themselves, and in private, they&’re Empaths: diviners who can read and manipulate the emotions of people and objects around them. But Omega&’s powers don&’t quite work, and it leaves her feeling like an outsider in her own family. When a witch with the power to transform herself into an owl—known in Mexican folklore as La Lechuza—shows up unannounced, Omega, her best friend Clau (who happens to be a ghost), and her cousin Carlitos must conduct a séance under a full moon in order to unravel the mystery of the legend. Suddenly Omega&’s magic begins to change, and the key to understanding her powers is more complicated than she thought. Omega will have to decide what&’s more important—trusting the instincts of others or learning to trust in herself. This spooky middle-grade debut is full of magic, adventure, friendship, and a captivating heroine who isn&’t afraid of the monsters lurking around every corner—even the dangerous La Lechuza!
One More Mountain (Breadwinner Series #5)
by Deborah EllisIt’s 2021, and the Taliban have regained power in Afghanistan. Parvana and Shauzia, the brave protagonists of The Breadwinner, must now flee to escape new dangers from an old enemy. In Kabul, 15-year-old Damsa runs away to avoid being forced into marriage by her family. She is found by a police officer named Shauzia, who takes her to Green Valley, a shelter and school for women and girls run by Parvana. It has been 20 years since Parvana and Shauzia had to disguise themselves as boys to support themselves and their families. But when the Taliban were defeated in 2001, it looked as if Afghans could finally rebuild their country. Many things have changed for Parvana since then. She has married Asif, who she met in the desert as she searched for her family when she was a child. She runs a school for girls. She has a son, Rafi, who is about to fly to New York, where he will train to become a dancer. But Shauzia is still Parvana’s best friend. And Parvana is still headstrong, bringing her in conflict with her spoiled sister Maryam. While Asif tries to get Maryam and Rafi on one of the last flights out of Kabul, the Taliban come to the school, and Parvana must lead the girls out of Green Valley and into the mountains. All royalties will be donated to Canadian Women for Women in Afghanistan. Key Text Features dialogue literary references multiple POV alternating narrative Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.3 Describe how a particular story's or drama's plot unfolds in a series of episodes as well as how the characters respond or change as the plot moves toward a resolution. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.6.6 Explain how an author develops the point of view of the narrator or speaker in a text.
Practical Magic for Kids: Your Guide to Crystals, Horoscopes, Dreams, and More
by Nikki Van De CarFrom the bestselling author of The Junior Witch's Handbook comes an introduction to the charmed world of magic—featuring enchanted information on crystals, horoscopes, dreams, and more! From sparkly crystals and healing plants to the constellations that move across the night sky, the world is full of magic! In Practical Magic for Kids, author Nikki Van De Car teaches readers ages eight to twelve about the magic all around them. Kids will learn how to interpret their horoscopes, read their friends' palms, decode their dreams, and so much more in this approachable, age-appropriate guide. Full-color illustrations throughout will help young mystics explore the magic in plants, tarot cards, and even themselves, in chapters on: Chakras Auras Crystals Plant-based Magic Magical Holidays Magic Spells Tarot Astrology Palmistry Dream Interpretation An enchanted glossary and resources for further reading will help build upon the spark of magic.
Save the People!: Halting Human Extinction
by Stacy McAnulty"Save the People is engaging, funny, affecting and delightful. You&’ll never have more fun learning science." --Stuart Gibbs, bestselling author of the Spy School series "Serious science and great gags, with a bit of hope thrown in.&” --Steven Sheinkin, bestselling author of Bomb and FalloutAn action-packed look at past, present, and future threats to humanity&’s survival—with an ultimately reassuring message that humans probably have a few more millennia in us.Scientists estimate that 99% of all species that have ever existed are now extinct. Whoa. So, it's not unreasonable to predict humans are doomed to become fossil records as well. But what could lead to our demise? Supervolcanos? Asteroids? The sun going dark? Climate change? All the above?! Humans—with our big brains, opposable thumbs, and speedy Wi-Fi—may be capable of avoiding most of these nightmares. (The T. rex would be super jealous of our satellites.) But we're also capable of triggering world-ending events. Learning from past catastrophes may be the best way to avoid future disasters. Packed with science, jokes, and black and white illustrations, Save the People! examines the worst-case scenarios that could (but hopefully won&’t) cause the greatest mass extinction—our own!
The Science of Being Angry
by Nicole MellebyFrom the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, an unforgettable story about what makes a family, for fans of Hazel&’s Theory of Evolution and Ivy Aberdeen&’s Letter to the World. Eleven-year-old Joey is angry. All the time. And she doesn&’t understand why. She has two loving moms, a supportive older half brother, and, as a triplet, she&’s never without company. Her life is good. But sometimes she loses her temper and lashes out, like the time she threw a soccer ball—hard—at a boy in gym class and bruised his collarbone. Or when jealousy made her push her (former) best friend (and crush), Layla, a little bit too roughly. After a meltdown at Joey&’s apartment building leads to her family&’s eviction, Joey is desperate to figure out why she&’s so mad. A new unit in science class makes her wonder if the reason is genetics. Does she lose control because of something she inherited from the donor her mothers chose?The Science of Being Angry is a heartwarming story about what makes a family and what makes us who we are.
Sisterhood of Sleuths
by Jennifer Chambliss BertmanIn this riveting mystery, an old photo found in a box of Nancy Drew books could be the key to unraveling a family secret—perfect for fans of Wendy Mass and Trenton Lee Stewart. Maizy always assumed she knew everything about her grandmother, Jacuzzi. So when a box full of vintage Nancy Drew books gets left at her mom&’s thrift store, Maizy is surprised to find an old photo of her grandmother and two other women tucked beneath the collection. Stranger still, when Maizy shows the photo to Jacuzzi she feigns ignorance, insisting the woman is someone else. Determined to learn the truth — and inspired by the legacy of Nancy Drew — Maizy launches her own investigation with the help of new friends, Nell and Cam. What they discover not only points to the origins of the iconic series, but uncovers a truth from the past that will lead to self-discovery in the present, connecting three generations of women. This intergenerational mystery filled with literary history, friendship, and family secrets delivers a captivating tribute to the world&’s most famous girl detective. An Indie Next Pick An Amazon Top 20 Children's Book of the Year A Barnes and Noble Most Anticipated BookA Common Sense Selection for Families "Sisterhood of Sleuths reminded me of everything I loved about the Nancy Drew books, and introduced me to a new heroine worth rooting for!" —Jennifer A. Nielsen, New York Times bestselling author of The False Prince
Step
by Deborah EllisIn this powerful collection of short stories, children around the world turn eleven and take a step into their futures. Each one is changed in ways both big and small. Annoyed at having to walk his sister’s dog on his birthday, Connor heads into an undeveloped subdivision, where he comes across chilling evidence of a stranger’s unhappiness. A girl sneaks away from her class camping trip to a local conservation area and experiences, for the first time, the terror and joy of fending for herself for the first time. Dom’s brother gives him a special crystal to boost his confidence, and the gift conjures up a child laborer from the impoverished area of Madagascar where the stones were mined. Mysterious voices at the local county fair prompt Aislynn to think twice after her older sister dumps her for her high-school buddies. While volunteering at his local soup kitchen, Len discovers that there are bigger shames than having the class bully seeing you in a hairnet. And on an historic bridge in Budapest, Lazlo’s dream of the perfect father-son birthday outing becomes a nightmare when his father introduces him to his Neo-Nazi friends. A companion to the critically acclaimed Sit. Key Text Features short stories table of contents dialogue
These Are Not the Words
by Amanda West LewisNew York City in the 1960s is the humming backdrop for this poignant, gritty story about a girl who sees her parents as flawed human beings for the first time, and finds the courage to make a fresh start. Missy’s mother has gone back to school to pursue her dream of becoming an artist. Missy’s father works in advertising and takes Missy on secret midnight excursions to Harlem and the Village so she can share his love of jazz. The two write poems for each other — poems that gradually become an exchange of apologies as Missy’s father’s alcohol and drug addiction begins to take over their lives. When Missy’s mother finally decides that she and her daughter must make a fresh start, Missy has to leave her old apartment, her school, her best friend and her cats and become a latchkey kid while her mother gets a job. But she won’t give up on trying to save her family, even though this will involve a hard journey from innocence to action, and finally acceptance. Based on the events and people of her own childhood, Amanda Lewis’s gorgeous novel is driven by Missy’s irresistible, optimistic voice, buoyed by the undercurrents of poetry and music. Key Text Features poems dialogue literary references epigraph vignettes