Middle Grades

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  • Sugar Plum Ballerinas: Toeshoe Trouble by Whoopi Goldberg
    $6.99

     

    *ships in 7 -10 business days *
    The second book of the award-winning and bestselling Sugar Plum Ballerinas series by Whoopi Goldberg—now featuring brand-new illustrations!
     
    At the Nutcracker School of Ballet in Harlem, young dancers learn to chassé, plié, and jeté with their Sugar Plum Sisters—but things don't always go to plan! As the girls encounter challenges both on and off stage, they'll need the support of their classmates to carry them through with aplomb.
     
    Brenda Black prides herself on her logical and orderly mind. She studies anatomy books and idolizes Leonardo da Vinci. But things go haywire when her spoiled cousin Tiffany comes to visit. Fed up with Tiffany's bragging, Brenda snaps when Tiffany implies that Brenda is not cultured enough to know who Miss Camilla Freeman is—Miss Camilla Freeman, the very famous prima ballerina. Brenda tells Tiffany that not only does she know who Camilla Freeman is, but she happens to own an autographed pair of her toeshoes.
     
    The problem? Those shoes actually belong to Ms. Debbé, the headmistress of the Nutcracker School! Brenda's anatomy books might get her into medical school one day, but they can't get her off of this ballet slipper-y slope—for that, she'll need the help of her Sugar Plum Sisters!
  • Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun

    by Tolá Okogwu

    $17.99

    Black Panther meets X-Men in this action-packed and empowering middle grade adventure about a British Nigerian girl who learns that her Afro hair has psychokinetic powers—perfect for fans of Amari and the Night Brothers!

    Onyeka has a lot of hair­—the kind that makes strangers stop in the street and her peers whisper behind her back. At least she has Cheyenne, her best friend, who couldn’t care less what other people think. Still, Onyeka has always felt uncomfortable with her vibrant curls…until the day Cheyenne almost drowns and Onyeka’s hair takes on a life of its own, inexplicably pulling Cheyenne from the water.

    At home, Onyeka’s mother tells her the shocking truth: Onyeka’s psycho-kinetic powers make her a Solari, one of a secret group of people with super powers unique to Nigeria. Her mother quickly whisks her off to the Academy of the Sun, a school in Nigeria where Solari are trained. But Onyeka and her new friends at the academy soon have to put their powers to the test as they find themselves embroiled in a momentous battle between truth and lies…

  • The Awakening of Malcolm X: A Novel

    by Ilyasah Shabazz and Tiffany D. Jackson

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    *ships in 7-10 business days

    In Charlestown Prison, Malcolm Little struggles with the weight of his past. Plagued by nightmares, he drifts through days unsure of his future. Slowly, he befriends other prisoners and writes to his family. He reads all the books in the prison library, joins the debate team and the Nation of Islam. Malcolm grapples with race, politics, religion, and justice in the 1940s. And as his time in jail comes to an end, he begins to awaken--emerging from prison more than just Malcolm Little: Now, he is Malcolm X.

  • March: Book Two

    by John Lewis

    $19.95

    *ships in 7 - 10 days*

    Ages 13-16

    Congressman John Lewis, an American icon and one of the key figures of the civil rights movement, continues his award-winning graphic novel trilogy with co-writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell, inspired by a 1950s comic book that helped prepare his own generation to join the struggle. Now, March brings the lessons of history to vivid life for a new generation, urgently relevant for today’s world. After the success of the Nashville sit-in campaign, John Lewis is more committed than ever to changing the world through nonviolence - but as he and his fellow Freedom Riders board a bus into the vicious heart of the deep south, they will be tested like never before. Faced with beatings, police brutality, imprisonment, arson, and even murder, the movement’s young activists place their lives on the line while internal conflicts threaten to tear them apart.

    But their courage will attract the notice of powerful allies, from Martin Luther King, Jr. to Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy…and once Lewis is elected chairman of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, this 23-year-old will be thrust into the national spotlight, becoming one of the “Big Six” leaders of the civil rights movement and a central figure in the landmark 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom.

  • Coach (5) (Track)
    $17.99

    In this companion to Jason Reynolds’s award-winning and New York Times bestselling Track series, meet Coach as a boy striving to come into his own as a track star while facing upheaval at home.

    Before Coach was the man who gave caring yet firm-handed guidance to Ghost, Lu, Patina, and Sunny on the Defenders track team, he was little Otie Brody, who was obsessed with Mr. 9.99 (a.k.a. Carl Lewis) and Marty McFly from Back to the Future. Like Mr. 9.99—and his own dad—Otie is a sprinter. Sprint free or die is practically his motto.

    Then his dad, who is always away on business trips, comes home with a pair of Jordans. JORDANS. Fine as fine can be. Otie puts them on and feels like he can leap to the moon…maybe even leap like Mr. 9.99 when he won the Olympic gold medal in the long jump. But one morning he wakes up to find his brand-new secret weapon kicks are missing—right off his feet! And Otie just might have a fuzzy memory of his dad easing them off as Otie was sleeping, but that can’t be right, can it?

    Unless all the reasons for his dad’s “gone’s” are very different from what he’s been told… Because now, not only are the Jordans missing, but so is his father.

  • The Incredibly Human Henson Blayze

    Derrick Barnes

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    "Derrick Barnes takes all forms of storytelling available to him­—allegory, folktales, and classics—to weave a novel that is empowered, empowering, and incredibly human. You won't be the same after reading it."
    —Erin Entrada Kelly, two-time winner of the Newbery Medal

    National Book Award finalist and Newbery Honoree Derrick Barnes tackles timely issues of race and prejudice in this powerful, nuanced novel about an accomplished Black boy who strives to be seen as human.

    In the small town of Great Mountain, Mississippi, all eyes are on Henson Blayze, a thirteen-year-old football phenom whose talents seem almost superhuman. The predominately white townsfolk have been waiting for Henson to play high-school ball, and now they’re overjoyed to finally possess an elite Black athlete of their own.

    Until a horrifying incident forces Henson to speak out about injustice.
    Until he says that he might not play football anymore.
    Until he quickly learns he isn’t as loved by the people as he thought.

    In that moment, Henson’s town is divided into two chaotic sides when all he wants is justice. Even his best friends and his father can’t see eye to eye. When he is told to play ball again or else, Henson must decide whether he was born to entertain people who may not even see him as human, or if he’s destined for a different kind of greatness.

    Written for children ages 10 and up, Derrick Barnes’s groundbreaking novel masterfully combines a modern-day allegory with classic-style tall tales to weave a compelling story of America’s obsession with relegating Black people to labor or entertainment. Spanning the 1800s to today, this exceptional story shows how much has changed over centuries. . . and, at the same time, how little.

  • Marvel After-School Heroes Ultimate Adventure Collection!: Miles Morales Untangles a Web; Ghost-Spider's Unbreakable Mission; Shuri Takes Control; Reptil & Ghost-Spider Join Forces!

    Terrance Crawford

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    Save the day with this paper over board bind-up of the first four original chapter books in the Marvel After-School Heroes series with black-and-white illustrations throughout!

    New York City has no shortage of villains putting young heroes to the test in these exciting stories. First, Miles Morales teams up with Princess Shuri of Wakanda to save the Stark Center. Then, Gwen Stacy has to balance her responsibilities as a super hero and a student, and Princess Shuri uses her technological know-how to save her friends. Finally, Ghost-Spider teams up with an unlikely ally.

    This bind-up is perfect for Marvel fans beginning to read on their own or for reading aloud!

    This action-packed paper over board bind-up includes:
    Miles Morales Untangles a Web
    Ghost-Spider’s Unbreakable Mission
    Shuri Takes Control
    Reptil & Ghost-Spider Join Forces!

    © 2025 MARVEL

  • The Misadventures of Max Crumbly 1: Locker Hero (1)
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    Meet Max Crumbly in this series from #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries author Rachel René e Russell!

    Max Crumbly is about to face the scariest place he’s ever been: South Ridge Middle School.

    There’s a lot that’s great about his new school, but there’s also one big problem—Doug, the school bully whose hobby is stuffing Max in his locker. If only Max could be like the hero in his favorite comics. Unfortunately, Max’s uncanny, almost superhuman ability to smell pizza from a block away won’t exactly save any lives or foil bad guys.

    But that doesn’t mean Max won’t do his best to be the hero his school needs!

  • Blue Stars: Mission One: The Vice Principal Problem: A Graphic Novel (The Blue Stars)

    Kekla Magoon

    $12.99

    Two everyday superheroes set out to save the world—starting with their school—in an exciting new middle-grade graphic series from two award-winning authors and a debut illustrator.

    When cousins Riley Halfmoon and Maya Dawn move to Urbanopolis to live with their activist grandma, they get off to a rocky start. Outgoing Riley misses her Muscogee cousins but is sure that she and Maya will be instant BFFs. Meanwhile, introvert Maya misses her parents, on active duty in Japan, and just wants some space to herself. At school, Maya joins Robotics Club and Riley bonds with fellow gymnasts. Just when they start to feel at home, their school culture is threatened by an influential foe in disguise. Joining student council feels like a way to help, so both cousins toss their hats in the ring for sixth-grade class president. But when they realize what they’re up against—money, power, and lies—they quickly shift from competition to cooperation, joining forces as superheroes. Riley is savvy with people; Maya is a whiz with gadgets. In no time, this dazzling duo is off to save the day! Relatable and rich in themes of family, community, and compromise, the Blue Stars series will entertain and empower, inspiring readers to be the stars they are.

  • New Kid 3-Book Box Set: New Kid, Class Act, School Trip

    Jerry Craft

    $40.97

    From critically acclaimed New York Times bestselling author-illustrator Jerry Craft comes a new special box set that includes all three books in his award-winning collection of graphic novels.

    In New Kid, winner of the Newbery Medal, the Coretta Scott King Author Award, and the Kirkus Prize, you’ll meet twelve-year-old Jordan Banks as he starts seventh grade at the prestigious Riverdale Academy Day School—where diversity is low and expectations are high.

    In Class Act, Jordan’s friends Drew and Liam have their own struggles as they enter their eighth grade year. Can two kids who are really so different still be friends? 

    And the saga soars to new heights in School Trip, where Jordan, Drew, Liam, and the rest of their friends all feel like the “new kid” as they spend an entire week in Paris.

    Middle school is hard enough without being the new kid…

  • Way Off Track (A Nansi Graphic Novel, 1)

    Carl Brundtland

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    Step aside for a fresh and funny new voice in middle-grade graphic novels.

    Nansi has never lost a race … until snobby Tania beats her in an unofficial event. Surely it’s Tania’s flashy shoes that gave her the edge. Nansi has to get a pair before the track tryouts! But how will she kick up $338?

    Incorporating Jamaican culture and the West African trickster character, Anansi, debut author Carl Brundtland has created an endearingly self-absorbed heroine who always goes the distance – even if it’s the wrong way. With award-winning illustrator Claudia Dávila’s expressive art, Way Off Track hits the ground running with humor, hijinks and a whole lot of heart.

  • Halfway to Somewhere

    Jose Pimienta

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    New school, new country, but only half a family?! Embark on a coming of age journey with a middle school teen navigating their parent’s divorce while moving to a new country in this stunning graphic novel.

    Ave thought moving to Kansas would be boring and flat after enjoying the mountains and trails in Mexico, but at least they would have their family with them. Unfortunately, while Ave, their mom, and their younger brother are relocating to the US, Ave's father and older sister will be staying in Mexico...permanently. Their parents are getting a divorce.

    As if learning a whole new language wasn't hard enough, and now a Middle-Schooler has to figure out a new family dynamic...and what this means for them as they start middle school with no friends.

    Jose Pimienta's stunningly illustrated and thought provoking middle graphic novel is about exploring identity, understanding family, making friends with a language barrier, and above all else, learning what truly makes a place a home.

  • The Science of Friendship

    by Tanita S. Davis

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    A friendship hypothesis—and one failed experiment—leads one girl to investigate the science of middle school friendship makeups and breakups in this hopeful and heartwarming story from Tanita S. Davis, author of Partly Cloudy and Serena Says.

    Rylee Swanson is beginning eighth grade with zero friends.

    A humiliating moment at the end-of-seventh-grade pool party involving a cannonball, a waterlogged updo, and some disappearing clothes has Rylee halfway convinced she’s better off without any friends—at least friends like those.

    The one question Rylee can’t shake is . . . why?

    When a group assignment in journalism pairs Rylee with science geek DeNia Alonso, DeNia’s annoyingly know-it-all, nerdy personality is both frustration and fuel to Rylee’s search for answers. Together they conduct research, run surveys, and write their way toward even more questions about what makes friendships—and breaks them. Between her shaky new partnership with DeNia, an annoying brother, and a friend from the past, Rylee’s got a lot to think about. But the more she learns, the more Rylee wonders: Could there be a science to friendship? And can it keep her from losing friends ever again?

    With warmth, heart, and resonance, Tanita S. Davis’s deep dive into middle school friendships is perfect for fans of Dear Friends, Let's Pretend We Never Met, and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl.

  • A Whisper of Curses

    by J. Elle

    $17.99

    *ships/ready for pick-up in 7-10 business days*

    New York Times bestselling author J. Elle continues her magical middle grade series with our favorite witches from Park Row Magick Academy! While the new Magick Academy is under construction, an invitation to Enrichment Week arrives! Before the students leave Park Row, Kyana is grabbed by an Available and, even after she slips from the spirit's grasp, can't stop either laughing or crying. Ashley thinks whatever it is, Dr. Minzy, a famous teacher at the camp, will know what to do. But when the portal to the retreat suddenly collapses, trapping everyone, Ash realizes: Availables are involved. With Kyana acting weird and Russ live-casting everything to the Magick World, Ash must choose: say something to the directors (even though she isn't sure she's right) or mind her business and trust that Dr. Minzy will fix it? In this adventurous sequel to A Taste of Magic, perfect for fans of The Marvellers, can Ashely, Kyana, and Russ figure out what the spirits are up to and save the day?

  • Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: One Girl Can Make a Difference

    by Michelle Meadows

    $6.99

    *ships in 7 - 10 business days*

    Perfect for fans of the Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur series, this novelization helps readers understand how Moon Girl manages her life: junior high school student by day; crime-fighting Super Hero by night--not to mention the guardian of a 10-ton red dinosaur who lives in her secret lab.

    This paperback novelization follows the 13-year-old Marvel Super Hero around her Lower East Side of Manhattan neighborhood, where her family owns and runs a roller-skating rink. As Moon Girl explores the cause of so many unexplained neighborhood power blackouts lately, readers will  learn how Moon Girl came to be, meet her sidekick, a giant red T-Rex, and follow them on their first adventure fighting against the evil villain who is bringing darkness to her beloved community.

    If you like this book, you might also like: 

    • Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur: Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
    • The Unstoppable Wasp
    • Shang-Chi and the Legend of theTen Rings: Who Guards My Sleep
    • Gravity Falls Journal 3
    • Descendants 3 Novelization
    • Gabby Duran Alien Babysitting Adventures
  • The Playbook: 52 Rules to Aim, Shoot, and Score in This Game Called Life by Kwame Alexander
    $8.99

    From New York Times best-selling author and Newbury Medal–winner Kwame Alexander, comes this motivational playbook filled with poetry and uplifting life lessons that inspired a generation of young readers and the rules featured in the Disney+ The Crossover TV show.

    What can we imagine for our lives? What if we were the star players, moving and grooving through the game of life? What if we had our own rules of the game to help us get what we want, what we aspire to, what will enrich our lives?

    Illustrated with photographs by Thai Neave, The Playbook is intended to provide inspiration on the court of life. Each rule contains wisdom from inspiring athletes and role models such as Nelson Mandela, Serena Williams, LeBron James, Carli Lloyd, Steph Curry, and Michelle Obama. Kwame Alexander also shares his own stories of overcoming obstacles and winning games in this motivational and inspirational book for readers of any age and for anyone needing a little bit of encouragement.

    You gotta know the rules to play the game. Ball is life. Take it to the hoop. Soar.

  • African Elephant (Young Zoologist): A First Field Guide to the Big-Eared Giant of the Savanna

    by Mireille Miller-Young

    $15.99

    *ships in 7 -10 business days*

    A beautiful first guide to African elephants, part of an exciting new series of animal books.

    Head on safari to the grasslands of Africa to study African elephants in this beautiful nonfiction field guide for kids.

    You might know that African elephants are the largest land animals on Earth, but there’s so much more to learn about these tusked creatures. Turn the pages to find out why the grandmother is in charge of an elephant family, and why big ears help elephants cool down! Meet a baby elephant as it takes its first steps, and discover how to tell the difference between an African elephant and an Asian elephant. The book also looks at the conservation challenges these iconic animals face due to climate change and ivory poaching.

  • Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland by Kelly Starling Lyons
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    A Geisel Award Honor Book– winning series! Join Ty on an imaginative adventure to the North Pole in this My First ICR featuring rhythmic text by Kelly Starling Lyons and joyful, bright art by Nina Mata.

    Experience the magic of Ty’s big imagination! After seeing the North Pole in his snow globe, Ty and Momma embark on a wonderful trip to the North Pole. Ty sees amazing things like a sparkling Christmas tree, waving snowmen, and even a singing polar bear. Will Ty’s wish to see Santa come true? Beginning readers will enjoy this irresistible, charming My First winter wonderland adventure. Readers who loved Ty's Travels: All Aboard! and Ty's Travels: Beach Day! will be excited to dive back into Ty’s limitless imagination for the holiday season.

    Ty’s Travels: Winter Wonderland, a My First I Can Read! book, is carefully crafted using basic language, word repetition, sight words, and sweet illustrations—which means it's perfect for shared reading with emergent readers.

  • Serwa Boateng's Guide to Vampire Hunting by Roseanne Brown
    $17.99

    Best-selling author Rick Riordan presents best-selling YA author Roseanne A. Brown's middle grade debut about a pre-teen vampire slayer with a strong helping of Ghanaian folklore.

    For most kids, catching fireflies is a fun summer activity. For twelve-year-old Serwa Boateng, it's a matter of life and death.

    That's because Serwa knows that some fireflies are really adze, shapeshifting vampires from the forests of Southeastern Ghana. Adze prey on the blood of innocents, possessing their minds and turning them into hulking monsters, and for generations, slayers like Serwa and her parents have protected an unknowing public from their threats.

    Serwa is the best adze slayer her age, and she knew how to use a crossbow before she could even ride a bike. But when an obayifo (witch) destroys her childhood home while searching for a drum, do Serwa's parents take her with them on their quest to defeat her? No. Instead, they dump Serwa with her hippie aunt and cryptic-obsessed cousin in the middle of Nowheresville, Maryland "for her own safety." Now, instead of crossbows and battle armor, she's dealing with mean girls and algebra, and for the first time in her life she doesn't have to carry a staff everywhere she goes, which is . . . kind of nice, actually.

    Just as Serwa starts to get the hang of this whole normal girl who doesn't punch vampires every day thing, an adze infiltrates her school. It's up to her to whip some of her classmates into monster-fighting shape before all of them become firefly food. And when she uncovers a secret that upends everything she thought she knew about her family's role in the slayer vs. adze war, Serwa will have to decide which side of herself--normal girl or slayer--is the right one.

    After all, seventh grade is hard enough without adding vampires to the mix.

  • The New Baby by Christine Platt
    $9.95
    Ana & Andrew are always on an adventure! They live in Washington, DC with their parents, but with family in Savannah, Georgia and Trinidad, there’s always something exciting and new to learn about African American history and culture. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards.

    Ana & Andrew are always on an adventure! They live in Washington, DC with their parents, but with family in Savannah, Georgia and Trinidad, there’s always something exciting and new to learn about African American history and culture. Aligned to Common Core standards and correlated to state standards.
  • The Dragon Thief (Dragons in a Bag: Book 2) by Zetta Elliott
    $7.99

    *ships in 7-10 business days

    Stealing a baby dragon was easy! Hiding it is a little more complicated, in this second book in the critically acclaimed Dragons in a Bag series.

    Jaxon had just one job--to return three baby dragons to the realm of magic. But when he got there, only two dragons were left in the bag. His best friend's sister, Kavita, is a dragon thief!

    Kavita only wanted what was best for the baby dragon. But now every time she feeds it, the dragon grows and grows! How can she possibly keep it secret? Even worse, stealing it has upset the balance between the worlds. The gates to the other realm have shut tight! Jaxon needs all the help he can get to find Kavita, outsmart a trickster named Blue, and return the baby dragon to its true home.
     
    Dragons in a Bag continues! Don't miss the next book in the series, The Witch's Apprentice.

  • African Icons: Ten People Who Shaped History

    by Tracey Baptiste

    $19.95
    Heroic full-color portraits illustrate the stories of ten people who helped shape the African continent from ancient times through the tumultuous sixteenth century. In a richly designed work including profiles of rulers, educators, inventors, scholars, and explorers with additional maps and graphics, an award-winning author introduces reader to underrepresented stories of Black history.
  • The Last Mirror On The Left by Lamar Giles
    $16.99

    In this new Legendary Alston Boys adventure from Edgar-nominated author Lamar Giles, Otto and Sheed must embark on their most dangerous journey yet, bringing a fugitive to justice in a world that mirrors their own but has its own rules to play by.

    Unlike the majority of Logan County's residents, Missus Nedraw of the Rorrim Mirror Emporium remembers the time freeze from The Last Last-Day-of-Summer, and how Otto and Sheed took her mirrors without permission in order to fix their mess. Usually that’s an unforgivable offense, punishable by a million-year sentence. However, she’s willing to overlook the cousins’ misdeeds if they help her with a problem of her own. One of her worst prisoners has escaped, and only the Legendary Alston Boys of Logan County can help bring the fugitive to justice.

    This funny and off-the-wall adventure is perfect for readers of Jonathan Auxier and Lemony Snicket.

  • One Crazy Summer

    by Rita Williams-Garcia

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    *Ships in 7-10 business day*

    Rita Williams-Garcia’s Newbery Honor Book, Coretta Scott King Award winner, and New York Times bestseller One Crazy Summer tells the moving story of three sisters who travel to turbulent Oakland, California, in 1968 in search of the mother who abandoned them.
     
    Eleven-year-old Delphine has it together. Even though her mother, Cecile, abandoned her and her younger sisters, Vonetta and Fern, seven years ago. And even though Delphine must look after her sisters during a summer trip to California to visit Cecile. When they arrive on the West Coast, their mother decides that they will attend a day camp run by the Black Panthers. Unexpectedly, the three sisters learn much about their family, their country, and themselves.

    Acclaimed author Rita Williams-Garcia writes with insight and humor about family and identity in this brilliant, award-winning middle grade novel. This book won the Coretta Scott King Award and the Scott O'Dell Award for Historical Fiction, and was a Newbery Honor Book and a National Book Award Finalist.
     
    EXTRAS will include a portion of Rita Williams-Garcia's Coretta Scott King Award acceptance speech, a deleted chapter, and more!

  • Jax Freeman and the Tournament of Spirits

    Kwame Mbalia

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    All Aboard! The sequel to Jax Freeman and the Phantom Shriek has pulled into the station!

    From the award-winning author of the best-selling Tristan Strong trilogy comes a magical series about a special boy who is granted summoning powers from his ancestors.

    Seventh grader Jackson "Jax" Freeman recently learned two important facts: one, he's a summoner—someone who can call on the magical powers of his ancestors to help him do amazing things—and two, he isn’t the only person with this ability.

    After much training, Jax and four of his summoner classmates from DuSable Middle school in Chicago are thrust into a competition called the Tournament of Spirits where they'll face the most skilled summoners from around the world.

    But while everyone is focused on winning, Jax is given a special side quest by the elders of the four magical families: he has to spy on each of the competitors—including his own teammates—in order to uncover who is releasing endangered, and very dangerous, cryptids into the arena.

    Can Jax take the top spot in the tournament and save himself and his friends from a mysterious foe?

    Kwame Mbalia's incredible imagination and world-building talents are on full display in this thrilling adventure that's packed with magic, friendship, non-stop action, and a lot of heart.

  • Dork Diaries 14: Tales from a Not-So-Best Friend Forever (14)

    Rachel Renée Russell

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    Nikki Maxwell’s summer is packed with drama in this fourteenth installment of the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series!

    Nikki and her bandmates are looking forward to an AWESOME summer on tour as the opening act for the world famous Bad Boyz! Nikki is a little worried when her frenemy, MacKenzie Hollister, weasels her way into a social media intern position with the tour. But she has a total MELTDOWN when she learns that MacKenzie is her new roommate! Will Nikki survive her dream tour as it quickly goes from AWESOME to AWFUL?!

  • Link + Hud: Sharks & Minnows (Link & Hud, 2)

    Jerome Pumphrey

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    Link and Hud are back with more mischief and mayhem in the series “full of Black boy joy, brother love, and silliness” (Book Riot).

    Deep sea treasure hunting. Supersonic water walking. Swimming with sharks.

    Lincoln and Hudson Dupré are brothers with active imaginations. When one of their imaginary adventures leads to the outdoor pool at the recreation center being closed, they’re faced with a choice: join the Sharks swim team or miss out on swimming altogether. But Coach Strickler is old-school and runs his team by the rules. Will the boys outwit their coach, make practice fun―and make the team?

    Black-and-white illustrations throughout

  • Detective Beans: Adventures in Cat Town

    Li Chen

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    The world's cutest cat detective is back on the case in this indie bestselling series. Li Chen's newest Detective Beans adventures are a must-read for anyone who loves mystery stories, cute animals, and hilarious original storytelling.

    Detective Beans is back on the case! In this series of mysteries and adventures, the world's cutest cat detective comes to the aid of her fellow villagers, searching for a cooky thief (with surprising results!), aiding a deceptive duck in the recovery of lost goods, and even doing his best to help a confused bear prove that the moon is made of cheese. In addition to these small capers, Adventures in Cat Town features behind-the-scenes footage of the crime-solving documentary directed by Beans best friend, Biscuits, as well as comics, stories, and even horoscopes illustrated by Beans himself. Called a "must-read" by School Library Journal and "absurdly funny and clever" by Kirkus, it's no mystery why this new series is such a hit!

  • Rizos (Frizzy, Spanish language edition) (Spanish Edition)

    Claribel A. Ortega

    $14.99

    Una novela gráfica de grado medio sobre Marlene, una joven que deja de alisarse el pelo y acepta sus rizos naturales.

    Marlene ama tres cosas: el arte, a su adorada tía Ruby y pasar el tiempo con Camilla, su mejor amiga. Pero su mamá piensa que se debería enfocar solamente en sus estudios y en madurar; y esto último implica alisarse el pelo todos los fines de semana para que se vea “presentable” y “bueno”. Pero Marlene odia ir al salón y no entiende por qué nadie a su alrededor piensa que sus rizos naturales son bonitos. Después de algunos desafíos y momentos vergonzosos, además de la ayuda imprescindible de Camilla y tía Ruby, poco a poco Marlene emprende el camino de aprender a apreciar su pelo rizo y llevarlo con orgullo.
    __

    A middle grade graphic novel about Marlene, a young girl who stops straightening her hair and embraces her natural curls.

    Marlene loves three things: books, her cool Tía Ruby and hanging out with her best friend Camila. But according to her mother, Paola, the only thing she needs to focus on is school and "growing up." That means straightening her hair every weekend so she could have "presentable", "good hair".

    But Marlene hates being in the salon and doesn't understand why her curls are not considered pretty by those around her. With a few hiccups, a dash of embarrassment, and the much-needed help of Camila and Tia Ruby―she slowly starts a journey to learn to appreciate and proudly wear her curly hair.

  • The Other Side of Imani

    Lisa Springer

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    Front Desk meets That Girl Lay Lay in this coming-of-age middle grade story about Imani, a thirteen-year-old aspiring designer who creates a virtual avatar to compete for a spot at a prestigious arts school after she discovers that a viral influencer has stolen her designs. 

    Ever since she could remember, thirteen-year-old Imani has wanted to be a fashion designer.

    But fashion designers are bold, out-there, and in your face. And despite her unique sense of style, Imani has trouble fitting in, let alone standing out. Entering her school’s design competition for a scholarship to the nearby arts high school seems like the perfect way to make new friends and get closer to her dream of being a designer.

    Then Imani’s designs are stolen by one of her classmates, and Imani is forced to enter the competition anonymously, under a virtual persona, “Estelle.” When Estelle goes viral, Imani must figure out how to be her “real” self as she makes new friends and finds her voice—all while hoping to win the competition.  

    A story about finding your voice alongside your real self, The Other Side of Imani is a heartfelt, fresh, and powerful middle grade contemporary debut that’s perfect for fans of A Soft Place to Land and Just Right Jillian.

  • Malcolm Little: The Boy Who Grew Up to Become Malcolm X

    Ilyasah Shabazz

    $19.99

    Malcolm X grew to be one of America’s most influential figures. But first, he was a boy named Malcolm Little. Written by his daughter, this inspiring picture book biography celebrates a vision of freedom and justice.

    Bolstered by the love and wisdom of his large, warm family, young Malcolm Little was a natural born leader. But when confronted with intolerance and a series of tragedies, Malcolm’s optimism and faith were threatened. He had to learn how to be strong and how to hold on to his individuality. He had to learn self-reliance.

    Together with acclaimed illustrator AG Ford, Ilyasah Shabazz gives us a unique glimpse into the childhood of her father, Malcolm X, with a lyrical story that carries a message that resonates still today—that we must all strive to live to our highest potential.

  • Squad Goals

    Erika J. Kendrick

    Sold out

    Don't miss Erika J. Kendrick's next book in the world of Valentine Middle School, Cookie Monsters! 

    Camp is in session in this cheer-tastic middle-grade novel about making new friends, finding your place, and learning to embrace your inner Magic.

    Magic Olive Poindexter has big shoes to fill. Her mother was a professional cheerleader, her father is a retired NBA legend, her big sister is the new face of the oh-so-glamorous Laker Girls, and her grandmother was the first black cheerleader ever on Valentine Middle School's HoneyBee cheer squad. Magic wants nothing more than to follow in their footsteps. But first, she has to survive Planet Pom Poms, the summer cheer camp where she'll audition for a spot on the HoneyBee squad. But with zero athletic ability and a group of mean girls who have her number, Tragic Magic is a long way from becoming the toe-touching cheerleader heroine she dreams of being.

    Things start to look up when her best friend Cappie joins her at camp—until Cappie gets bitten by the popularity bug, that is. To make matters worse, Magic's crushing hard on football star Dallas Chase. Luckily, Magic's not alone: with the help of a new crew of fabulous fellow misfits and her Grammy Mae's vintage pom poms by her side, Tragic Magic might just survive—and even thrive—at cheer camp.

    For more adventures at Valentine Middle, don't miss these school stories from Erika J. Kendrick: 
    Cookie Monsters
    Instafamous

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