Like a broken starfish that miraculously regenerates in ocean waters, "Ocean Star" is an inspiring memoir of how God healed the author after she experienced a childhood filled with chaos and pain.

A magical middle grade debut, inspired by Filipino folklore, about a ten-year-old girl who embarks on a quest in the world of gods and spirits to save her and her family from a sinister shadow god. Perfect for fans of The Girl Who Drank the Moon and When You Trap a Tiger. A Junior Library Guild Selection Marikit is used to wearing recycled clothes. Her mother, the best seamstress in the barrio, has become an expert at making do ever since Marikit’s father and brother were lost at sea. But for her tenth birthday, all Marikit wants is something new. So when her mother gifts her a patchwork dress stitched together with leftover scraps from her workshop, Marikit vows to never wear it. That is, until the eve of her birthday, when shadow creatures creep into their home, attempt to take Marikit away, and upend the very life she knew. When she’s swept away from the human world, Marikit discovers that her dress is a map, one lovingly crafted to lead her to safety in the magical lands of the Engkantos. She trudges through the enchanted lands of mythical creatures, making friends out of monsters and challenging gods. With the help of her friends, including an exuberant firefly and a cursed boy, Marikit journeys through the land of the Engkantos to find the key to saving her family, all without being eaten alive.

Step back in time with Cuban-American author Maday Martinez de Osaba as she recounts her family's rich history-the trials, joys, triumphs, and the life that happens in between. She beautifully unravels the elaborate details of her family and how they overcame the tragedies that life sometimes throws at us. Martinez de Osaba's intricately woven words and stories remind the reader to celebrate the journey rather than the destination. She exposes layers of the human spirit and the intangible longing a soul has to find love and make it a home. Follow along on this epic journey-from 1930s Cuba to an escape to Spain from Castro's oppression, and finally to freedom in the United States. Martinez de Osaba chronicles her family lineage and history with honesty and authenticity. This is a story about what we find when we seek to discover our family's past. We always find more than we knew-both the good and bad-which make our life stories worth telling.

The powerful new novel from Kimberley Freeman. A rich and satisfying story of two women with indomitable spirits and the high costs they have to pay for being strong-minded, from the author of the bestselling LIGHTHOUSE BAY and EMBER ISLAND. A story about love, motherhood, and learning whom you belong to in the world. In 1874, wild and willful Agnes Resolute finally leaves the foundling home where she grew up on the bleak moors of northern England. On her departure, she discovers that she was abandoned with a small token of her mother: a unicorn button. Agnes had always believed her mother to be too poor to keep her, but Agnes has been working as a laundress at the foundling home and recognises the button as belonging to the imperious and beautiful Genevieve Breakby, daughter of a local noble family. Agnes had only seen her once, but has never forgotten her. She investigates and discovers Genevieve is now in London. Agnes follows, living hard in the poor end of London until she finds out Genevieve has moved to France. This sets Agnes off on her own adventure: to Paris, Agnes follows her mother's trail, and starts to see it is also a trail of destruction. Finally, in Sydney she tracks Genevieve down. But is Genevieve capable of being the mother Agnes hopes she will be? A powerful story about women with indomitable spirits, about love and motherhood, and about learning whom you belong to in the world.Praise for Kimberley Freeman's writing: GOLD DUST 'A rich saga with characters you'll never forget. I couldn't put it down.' Kate Morton, author of THE SECRET KEEPER WILDFLOWER HILL 'Utterly engaging.' THE COURIER-MAIL LIGHTHOUSE BAY 'an enchanting love story' MiNDFOOD EVERGREEN FALLS 'Eerie and fascinating ... the plot is brilliant in both time zones.' NEWCASTLE HERALD