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Barakah Beats by Maleeha Siddiqui
After years of attending Islamic school, twelve-year-old Nimra Sharif begins classes at a public middle school. She quickly discovers that it's not what she thought it would be, and worse yet, her best friend Jenna has distanced herself from Nimra. Nimra decides that to fit in and draw Jenna back, she will join the school's boy band, Barakah Beats, even though Nimra was taught that music isn't allowed in Islam. She decides to participate as long as it takes to win Jenna back, then she will quit before her parents find out. However, as time goes on, Nimra enjoys being in the band. When the band enters a talent show to benefit refugees, Nimra's plan goes awry. Now Nimra will have to decide whether to disappoint the band or herself.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by Janae Marks
On her birthday, twelve-year-old aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a letter from her biological father, who is in prison for murder, telling her he is actually innocent. Determined to discover the truth, Zoe tries to investigate herself, perform well in her baking internship, and achieve her dream of auditioning for the Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
The Bridge Home by Padma Venkatraman
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal UnboundFour determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom. Nancy Paulsen Books.
The House That Lou Built by Mae Respicio
Longing for an escape from her extended Filipino family, Lou plans to build a tiny house on land she inherited from her father, but difficulties quickly arise.
Each Tiny Spark by Pablo Cartaya
Emilia Torres thought her life would return to normal when Dad returned from deployment, but instead she finds it unraveling. Dad shuts himself off from Emilia and her mom and abuela, spending his time working on his classic car. One day, though, Dad invites her in to help him work, and begins teaching Emilia how to weld. Unfortunately, at the same time, one of her classmates, her best friend Gus, finds himself in the middle of a community-rupturing conflict.
Fly on the Wall by Remy Lai (Illustrator)
Tired of being babied by his mother, sister, and grandmother, Henry Khoo is proving his independence in two ways: First, he's the author of an anonymous gossip cartoon about the kids at school. Second, he's taking a plane trip to see his father in Singapore by himself--even though his mother canceled the annual family trip.
Barakah Beats by
After years of attending Islamic school, twelve-year-old Nimra Sharif begins classes at a public middle school. She quickly discovers that it's not what she thought it would be, and worse yet, her best friend Jenna has distanced herself from Nimra. Nimra decides that to fit in and draw Jenna back, she will join the school's boy band, Barakah Beats, even though Nimra was taught that music isn't allowed in Islam. She decides to participate as long as it takes to win Jenna back, then she will quit before her parents find out. However, as time goes on, Nimra enjoys being in the band. When the band enters a talent show to benefit refugees, Nimra's plan goes awry. Now Nimra will have to decide whether to disappoint the band or herself.
From the Desk of Zoe Washington by
On her birthday, twelve-year-old aspiring baker Zoe Washington receives a letter from her biological father, who is in prison for murder, telling her he is actually innocent. Determined to discover the truth, Zoe tries to investigate herself, perform well in her baking internship, and achieve her dream of auditioning for the Food Network's Kids Bake Challenge.
The Bridge Home by
"Readers will be captivated by this beautifully written novel about young people who must use their instincts and grit to survive. Padma shares with us an unflinching peek into the reality millions of homeless children live every day but also infuses her story with hope and bravery that will inspire readers and stay with them long after turning the final page."--Aisha Saeed, author of the New York Times Bestselling Amal UnboundFour determined homeless children make a life for themselves in Padma Venkatraman's stirring middle-grade debut.Life is harsh in Chennai's teeming streets, so when runaway sisters Viji and Rukku arrive, their prospects look grim. Very quickly, eleven-year-old Viji discovers how vulnerable they are in this uncaring, dangerous world. Fortunately, the girls find shelter--and friendship--on an abandoned bridge. With two homeless boys, Muthi and Arul, the group forms a family of sorts. And while making a living scavenging the city's trash heaps is the pits, the kids find plenty to laugh about and take pride in too. After all, they are now the bosses of themselves and no longer dependent on untrustworthy adults. But when illness strikes, Viji must decide whether to risk seeking help from strangers or to keep holding on to their fragile, hard-fought freedom. Nancy Paulsen Books.
Each Tiny Spark by
Emilia Torres thought her life would return to normal when Dad returned from deployment, but instead she finds it unraveling. Dad shuts himself off from Emilia and her mom and abuela, spending his time working on his classic car. One day, though, Dad invites her in to help him work, and begins teaching Emilia how to weld. Unfortunately, at the same time, one of her classmates, her best friend Gus, finds himself in the middle of a community-rupturing conflict.
Fly on the Wall by
Tired of being babied by his mother, sister, and grandmother, Henry Khoo is proving his independence in two ways: First, he's the author of an anonymous gossip cartoon about the kids at school. Second, he's taking a plane trip to see his father in Singapore by himself--even though his mother canceled the annual family trip.
