Books
When twelve-year-old Michael Rosario meets a mysterious boy from the future, his life is changed forever. From bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly, winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this novel explores themes of family, friendship, trust, and forgiveness. The First State of Being is for fans of Rebecca Stead’s When You Reach Me.
“Endearing … with a delicious, thought-provoking twist.”
— Publishers Weekly
“A warm-hearted blend of nostalgia and futurism.” — Kirkus Reviews
“A masterful science fiction story full of wonder and heart. This book will remind you to love your own unique place in history.” — Nicole Valentine, author of A Time Traveler’s Guide to Relativity
NAIBA Book of the Year | Booklist Best Books of the Year | Horn Book Fanfare | Kirkus Best Books of the Year | SLJ Best Books of the Year | Five Starred Reviews
Every day in Fawn Creek, Louisiana, is exactly the same—until Orchid Mason arrives. From Erin Entrada Kelly, the winner of the Newbery Medal for Hello, Universe and a Newbery Honor for We Dream of Space, this contemporary school story set in small-town Louisiana is about friendship, family, deception, and being true to yourself and your dreams.
“A raw, real exploration of belonging that’s also sweetly hopeful.” Publishers Weekly
A Newbery Honor Book | BookPage Best Books | Chicago Public Library Best Fiction | Goodreads Choice Awards Nominee | Horn Book Fanfare | New York Times Notable Children’s Book | School Library Journal Best Book | Today Show Pick | An ALA Notable Book
“A 10 out of 10! Anyone interested in science, sibling relationships, and friendships will enjoy reading We Dream of Space.” —Time for Kids
Newbery Medalist and New York Times–bestselling author Erin Entrada Kelly transports readers to 1986 and introduces them to the unforgettable Cash, Fitch, and Bird Nelson Thomas in this pitch-perfect middle grade novel about family, friendship, science, and exploration. This acclaimed Newbery Honor Book is a great choice for readers of Kate DiCamillo, Rita Williams-Garcia, and Rebecca Stead.
2018 Newbery Medal | Texas Bluebonnet Award Nominee | Junior Library Guild Selection | IBBY Outstanding Books for Children with Disabilities | ALSC Notable Book | Best of 2018: NPR, BookPage, Booklist, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, and others.
“A charming, intriguingly plotted novel.” — Washington Post
Readers will be instantly engrossed in this relatable neighborhood adventure and its eclectic cast.” — Booklist (starred review)
“Folklore, fairy tales, astrology, mysticism and dreams all mingle together to create a wonderful, fantastical and unique world…there is so much for every reader contained within.” — BookPage
Mythopoeic Award for Fantasy Finalist | Junior Library Guild Selection (2019) | Best of 2019: BookPage, School Library Journal, New York Public Library, Horn Book, Booklist, and others.
“Fast-paced and full of wonder, this is a powerful, gripping must-read.” — Kirkus (starred review)
“A lush and mysterious fable, full of beauty, full of wonder.” — Rebecca Stead, Newbery Medal–winning author of When You Reach Me
Newbery Medalist Erin Entrada Kelly’s debut fantasy novel is a gorgeous, literary adventure about bravery, friendship, self-reliance, and the choice between accepting fate or forging your own path.
South Carolina Book Award Nominee | Bluestem Book Award Nominee | Goodreads Choice Award Nominee for Middle Grade & Children’s | Junior Library Guild Selection | New York Times Bestseller
Twelve-year-old Charlotte Lockard and eleven-year-old Ben Boxer are separated by more than a thousand miles. On the surface, their lives seem vastly different—Charlotte lives near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, while Ben is in the small town of Lanester, Louisiana. Charlotte wants to be a geologist and keeps a rock collection in her room. Ben is obsessed with Harry Potter, presidential history, and recycling. But the two have more in common than they think. They’re both highly gifted. They’re both experiencing family turmoil. And they both sit alone at lunch.
A well-crafted, entertaining call for middle schoolers to find their voices and remain accountable in shaping their own social spheres.” — Kirkus Reviews (starred review)
Winner of the APALA Award for Children’s Literature | Junior Library Guild Selection | Dorothy Canfield Fisher Book Award Nominee (2018) | Parents Gold Choice Award
Two sisters from the Philippines, abandoned by their father and living in impoverished circumstances in Louisiana, fight to make their lives better.
“Kelly’s .. novel is both hopeful and heartfelt, but strong emotions are only part of the successful equation here. Told in Sol’s true voice, the direct dialogue brings the diverse characters to vivid life.” – Booklist (starred review)
“An enchanting plot propelled by delightful narration. This book will appeal to a broad array of readers, as it has a little bit of everything-fantasy, realism, sisterhood, friendship, suspense, and humor. A charming and affecting novel about sisterhood, the magic of imagination, and perseverance.” – School Library Journal (starred review)
SCBWI Golden Kite Award | Cybils Award Nominee | Asian/Pacific American Award for Literature for Children Honor | Best Children’s Books of the Year | Junior Library Guild Selection
Children’s literature has been waiting for Apple Yengko. — Kirkus
Apple has always felt a little different from her classmates. She and her mother moved to Louisiana from the Philippines when she was little, and her mother still cooks Filipino foods, makes mistakes with her English, and chastises Apple for becoming “too American.” It becomes unbearable in middle school, when the boys—the stupid, stupid boys—in Apple’s class put her name on the Dog Log, the list of the most unpopular girls in school.
Told in short chapters with illustrations by the author on nearly every page, Maybe, Maybe Marisol Rainey is a must-have for early elementary grade readers.
“A book of truths, witty insights and metaphors, and — for the first time — Kelly’s own illustrations, which are lightheartedly poignant.” —New York Times
“A delightful, relatable story about friendship and courage . . . Anyone who has ever had trouble feeling brave will be empowered by Marisol.” — NBC News
“[Marisol] makes lists of favorite and least favorite things, with gym class—specifically the kickball unit—topping the latter. . . . Kelly shows her deep understanding of the emotional lives of her characters. . . . The action takes place over two weeks, during which Marisol tries a variety of techniques to first avoid and then overcome (at least a little) her fears. . . . A lively, realistic, and emotionally honest story.” — Horn Book (starred review)
“Both Marisol and Jada, her best friend, keep lists of their favorite and least favorite things. Topping each girl’s ‘Least Favorite Things to Do’ list is gym class. . . . An engaging choice for independent readers or for teachers reading aloud to their classes.” — Booklist
“Surely surely a book readers will enjoy.” — Kirkus
A dangerous beast is on the loose in Marisol Rainey’s neighborhood! At least, Marisol thinks it’s a dangerous beast. She’s never actually met the neighbor’s dog officially, but surely a big German shepherd can’t be anything else. That’s why she and her BFF Jada nicknamed him “Daggers.”
When the Missing Dog posters around town reveal that his real name is Gregory, Marisol’s fears don’t ease up one bit. He may be Gregory at home, but when he’s freely roaming the neighborhood with nothing to hold him back, he’s Daggers and nothing else.
When Marisol tries to sleep, the image of Daggers and his sharp teeth comes to mind. Marisol doesn’t even want to ride her bike anymore. What if Daggers leaps out of the bushes, knocks her over, and eats her? She feels like she can’t rest until she knows Daggers has been returned to her neighbor’s backyard. Strangely, no one else seems all that concerned for their safety. Only Marisol.
Is Daggers big and super scary looking? Maybe. Is Marisol afraid? Surely. Will she eventually learn that there’s more to Daggers than meets the eye? Only if she faces her fears.
An essential, highly relatable collection of short fiction and poems around the topic of menstruation, written exclusively by authors who are Black, Indigenous, and/or people of color.
This collection of 16 stories by celebrated BIPOC middle-grade authors captures the onset of menses from culturally diverse perspectives. . . Readers will find common threads of honesty, vulnerability, and often humor. Through the uplifting messages of self-discovery and affirmations of identity, readers are encouraged to think beyond the social stigma attached to menstruation and are offered assurance and connection with others going through similar experiences. An essential, compelling, and unique addition addressing a universal topic from a wide range of perspectives.
—Booklist (starred review)
With contributions by:
Hilda Eunice Burgos * Veeda Bybee * Susan Muaddi Darraj * Saadia Faruqi * Nikki Grimes * Leah Henderson * Mason J. * Erin Entrada Kelly * Guadalupe Garcia McCall * Elise McMullen-Ciotti * Yamile Saied Méndez * Emma Otheguy * Aida Salazar * Christina Soontornvat * Padma Venkatraman * Ibi Zoboi
With twenty stories that center and celebrate the multiracial and multicultural experience from your favorite award-winning and bestselling authors, this is a groundbreaking anthology perfect for fans of COME ON IN and BLACK ENOUGH.
From platonic and romantic love to grief and heartbreak, these stories explore navigating life at the intersection of identities, and what it means to grow up surrounded by a multitude of traditions, languages, cultures, and interpersonal dynamics.
Featuring original stories from: Adi Alsaid, Rebecca Balcárcel, Akemi Dawn Bowman, Anika Fajardo, Shannon Gibney, I.W. Gregorio, Veera Hiranandani, Nasugraq Rainey Hopson, Emiko Jean, Erin Entrada Kelly, Torrey Maldonado, Mélina Mangal, Goldy Moldavsky, Randy Ribay, Loriel Ryon, Tara Sim, Eric Smith, Jasmine Warga, Ismée Williams, Karen Yin
A powerful and engaging exploration of contemporary Asian American identity through interwoven stories set in a teeming Chicago airport, written by award-winning and bestselling East and Southeast Asian American authors including Linda Sue Park, Grace Lin, Erin Entrada Kelly, Traci Chee, and Ellen Oh. Flying Lessons meets Black Boy Joy.
“The individual narratives are consistently engaging and rewarding, and together they form a unique collection of interconnected stories about young, contemporary Asian American characters.”—Booklist, Starred Review
Twelve powerhouse Asian American authors explore themes of identity and belonging in the entwined experiences of young people whose family roots may extend to East and Southeast Asia, but who are themselves distinctly American.
Written by Linda Sue Park, Erin Entrada Kelly, Grace Lin, Traci Chee, Mike Chen, Meredith Ireland, Mike Jung, Minh Le, Ellen Oh, Randy Ribay, Christina Soontornvat, and Susan Tan, and edited by Ellen Oh.
