Packing up a little piece of home. The Light Within You introduces readers to Diya, a young immigrant girl struggling to fit into a new school. A holiday trip to India to celebrate Diwali with her grandmother changes everything.
Muddy paws and messy steps! I Stepped in Something turns a frustrating walk into a lesson on joy. As a young boy and his dog Harlee step into a series of sticky, gooey situations, they realize that minor messes don’t matter when you’re with your best friend. Featuring clever rhymes and vibrant illustrations, it’s a wonderful, relatable read-aloud celebrating resilience and pet companionship.
Poetry, secrets, and dangerous boundaries. Bright Red Fruit follows 16-year-old Samira as she navigates her Sudanese-American identity in Washington, D.C. When an online poetry forum leads her into a relationship with a predatory older man, her artistic dreams are put at risk. Written in gorgeous, lyrical free verse, this honest coming-of-age story masterfully explores family expectations, isolation, and the power of a young woman finding her true voice.
Three eras, one blood-drinking entity. The Bewitching weaves a multi-generational horror tale across 1900s Mexico, 1930s Massachusetts, and a 1998 graduate research project. As a dark indigenous force called the teyolloquani stalks three generations of women, the power of storytelling becomes their only shield. It’s a complex, atmospheric mystery that explores trauma, privilege, and the survival of cultural memory.
Stay away from the doll hospital! The Headless Doll takes readers to a spooky island in Maine where the toys don’t stay broken for long. When twelve-year-old Jennifer finds a headless vintage doll, she triggers a haunting that only teamwork and courage can stop. Perfect for fans of Goosebumps, this quick, chilling read is just the right amount of scary for middle-grade mystery lovers.