A lazy small town summer in 1970s Texas turns treacherous when Cal Long’s mother goes missing. Cal and her best friend Rachel, along with sophisticated new friend Jane, use every trick in their teenage arsenal to get to the bottom of the mystery. Along the way, Cal is drawn to Jane in ways she’s never felt before while Rachel struggles to understand her best friend’s new attraction. From Amarillo to Palo Duro Canyon to Ft. Worth and back, the girls puzzle through the connections surrounding the mystery of Cal’s mother’s disappearance. But their shocking discoveries are soon eclipsed by the explosive consequences of Cal’s surrender to her feelings for Jane. Girl Squad is a story of friendship, of betrayal, of passion, of awakening. And ultimately, a story of transformation.

Finding a girl squad that's as unique and special as you are starts with finding YOURSELF. Friendships are SO difficult to get right - and when rumours swirl or dramas unfold, your confidence vanishes and the worries start to take over. In this essential guide to navigating friendships you'll meet Poppy, who's juggling all sorts of dilemmas at school. But whether it's coping with feeling left out, handling bullies or embracing her true weird and wonderful self, friendship expert Dr Angharad Rudkin and author Ruth Fitzgerald are there to help with positive, practical advice. As you follow Poppy's trials and tribulations, you'll discover the secrets to finding your own ultimate girl squad - one which loves you for YOU.

Girls mean business in a brand-new series about friendship and entrepreneurship that Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan, calls “A great read!” All the great leaders had to start somewhere. And Teresa (“Resa” for short) is starting with the lemonade stand competition her teacher assigned to the class—but making it a success is going to be a lot harder than Resa thinks. The prize: line-skipping tickets to Adventure Central. The competition: Val, Resa's middle school nemesis. And the biggest obstacle to success: Resa's own teammates. Harriet is the class clown, Amelia is the new girl who thinks she knows best, and Didi is Resa's steadfast friend—who doesn't know the first thing about making or selling lemonade. The four of them quickly realize that the recipe for success is tough to perfect—but listening to each other is the first step. And making new friends might be the most important one... The back of each book in this middle-grade series features tips from the Startup Squad and an inspirational profile of a girl entrepreneur! An Imprint Book "An inspiring story about entrepreneurial girls. I loved this story of girls finding their way in the world of entrepreneurship." —Ann M. Martin, author of the Baby-Sitters Club series and Newbery Honor winner A Corner of the Universe “The Startup Squad encourages girls to dream big, work hard, and rely on each other to make good things happen. It teaches them how to succeed—and reminds all of us that girls mean business!”—Sheryl Sandberg, COO of Facebook and founder of LeanIn.Org and OptionB.Org “A great read that is fast-paced, fun, and empowering. The Startup Squad comes complete with a treasure trove of tips for starting a business.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Medal-winning author of The One and Only Ivan This title has common core connections.

A fun and feisty tour of famous girl BFFs from history who stuck together and changed the world. Spanning art, science, politics, activism, and sports, these 20 diverse profiles show just how essential female friendship have been across history and around the world. In this engaging and well-researched book, Sam Maggs takes you on a tour of some of history's most fascinating and bravest BFFs, including: • Anne Bonny and Mary Read, the infamous lady pirates who sailed the seven seas and plundered with the best of the men • Jeanne Manon Roland and Sophie Grandchamp, Parisian socialites who landed front-row seats (from prison) to the French Revolution • Sharon and Shirley Firth, the Indigenous twin sisters who went on to become Olympic skiers and barrier breakers in the sport • The Edinburgh Seven, the band of gal pals who became the first women admitted to medical school in the United Kingdom • The Zohra Orchestra, the ensemble from Afghanistan who defied laws, danger, and threats to become the nation's first all-female musical group Fun, informative, and delightful to read—with fresh illustrations by Jenn Woodall—it's perfect for you and every member of your own girl gang.

*A Barnes & Noble Teen Blog's Most Anticipated LGBTQAP YA Book of 2019* Jenna Watson is a cheerleader. And she wants you to know it’s not some Hollywood crap: they are not every guy’s fantasy. They are not the “mean girls” of Marsen High School. They’re literally just human females trying to live their lives and do a perfect toe touch. And their team is at the top of their game. They’re a family. But all that changes when Jenna’s best friend stops talking to her. Suddenly, she’s not getting invited out with the rest of the squad. She’s always a step behind. And she has no idea why. While grappling with post-cheer life, Jenna explores things she never allowed herself to like, including LARPing (live action role playing) and a relationship with a trans guy that feels a lot like love. When Jenna loses the sport and the friends she’s always loved, she has to ask herself: What else is left?

What if you could get a second chance at The One That Got Away? Mia’s mother just got married – again. But Mia can’t seem to find her own special person, despite her best efforts. When she meets someone through a new dating app for gamers, she's disappointed by the lack of attraction. His cousin, on the other hand, makes her want to level up. Marcia lost everything when she was outed to her family at eighteen. Thank goodness her cousin was there to help her rebuild her life. But when he brings home a girl he met through a dating app, she comes face to face with her past — her first kiss, who ghosted her the next day. Can they make up for lost time? Or is this game over before they’ve even begun?

Fake it ‘til you make it... Olivia counts herself lucky to have a steady job in graphic design. She's focused on climbing the ladder, but her mom keeps hounding her about finding a man. In an effort to keep her from matchmaking, Olivia lies and says she's seeing someone. Now her mom insists she introduce this boyfriend to the family at the big reunion, but how is she supposed to bring someone who doesn't exist? After his last girlfriend betrayed him, Jake wants nothing to do with relationships. Most women look at him and only see the jock. The thing is, he has a nerdy secret: his love of anime. He can’t jeopardize his reputation as a sports anchor. After meeting Olivia at a work picnic, he’s completely smitten. When Olivia comes to him, worried about showing up dateless to the family reunion, he offers to stand in as her fake boyfriend – but he wishes it were real. Can a smart, ambitious woman, and a closet otaku-jock fake it long enough to make a lasting connection? Beach Book Festival 2022 Romance Category Honorable Mention