A ten-year-old girl learns the importance of family and community in this tale of love and hope set during the Hurricane Katrina disaster. Armani Curtis can think about only one thing: her tenth birthday. All her friends are coming to her party, her mama is making a big cake, and she has a good feeling about a certain wrapped box. Turning ten is a big deal to Armani. It means she’s older, wiser, more responsible. But when Hurricane Katrina hits the Lower Nines of New Orleans, Armani realizes that being ten means being brave, watching loved ones die, and mustering all her strength to help her family weather the storm. A powerful story of courage and survival, Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere celebrates the miraculous power of hope and love in the face of the unthinkable. Praise for Upside Down in the Middle of Nowhere “Lamana goes for and achieves realism here, carefully establishing the characters and setting before describing in brutal detail, beyond what is typical in youth literature, the devastating effects of Katrina—loss of multiple family members, reports of attacks in the Superdome, bodies drifting in the current and less-than-ideal shelter conditions. An honest, bleak account of a national tragedy sure to inspire discussion and research.” —Kirkus Reviews “I recommend the book because I think it does a good job of capturing what life was like in New Orleans both before and after Katrina and because Armani’s journey will give readers a lot to think about and discuss. But parents will want to know that it doesn’t flinch when describing the death and destruction that hit New Orleans during that time and be cautious with younger, sensitive readers.” —Cindy Hudson, author of Book by Book

Inspired by True Events One mother. One daughter. One adventure of a lifetime that will change their relationship forever. When her troubled teenage daughter, Nova, is hell-bent on self-destruction, Tessa Donahue makes a desperate bid to save their future. Together they will leave behind the familiar and step into a world of whimsical wonder. Nestled amidst the lush greenery of the Great Smoky Mountains, four unique treehouses offer a breathtaking escape as they embark on a journey filled with self-discovery and reconnection. It will force Tessa and Nova to face their demons and fight for understanding as they realize this may be the last chance to repair their relationship before Nova graduates from high school. This poignant and heartwarming contemporary women's fiction novel of a mother’s unconditional love and a child’s fight for independence will remind you that life’s greatest adventures are often found in the most unexpected places. For fans of Kristin Hannah, Sherryl Woods, Barbara O’Neal, Mary Kay Andrews, Jennifer Weiner, Emily Giffin, Pamela Kelley, Mary Ellen Taylor and Colleen Hoover. This best selling contemporary women's fiction novel features lovable characters over 40 in the prime of midlife.

When her mother dies from a snake bite, Comity's life in the Australian outback changes for ever. With her father lost in his grief, Comity makes friends with Fred, the Aboriginal yard boy. But then the evil Quartz Hogg arrives, who delights in playing cruel games. And when he sets his murderous sights on Fred, it's up to Comity to stop him. A gripping tale that builds to an explosive climax from much-loved storyteller, Geraldine McCaughrean.

Shortlisted for the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize, the CLA Book of the Year for Children Award, and selected as an OLA Best Bet for 2012 a poignant and gently funny middle - grade novel about two maybe orphans and their unlikely friendship with a cranky old neighbor. Set in Vancouver and the B.C. wilderness, this is a book that reflects Caroline Adderson's many writerly strengths - her ''wit and a facility for dialogue, good pacing and a brisk, clean prose style'' ("Globe and Mail"), her ''close observation of telling details'' ("Quill & Quire") and her ability to ''celebrate a child's imagination in a realistically humorous way'' ("Canadian Materials").

Nowhere is a fast-paced conspiracy thriller by debut author Jon Robinson. 'No one's coming for us. Not our families, not the police. No one.' Alyn, Jes, Ryan and Elsa are Nowhere. A concrete cube in the middle of a dense forest. Imprisoned inside are one hundred teenagers from all over the country. They're all criminals. But none of them remember committing any crimes. Who has put them there. What do their captors want? And how will they ever break free . . . ? ***an intensely gripping conspiracy thriller for 11+ readers*** *** a phenomenal debut novel, for readers who love Jason Bourne and Alex Scarrow*** Jon Robinson was born in Middlesex in 1983. When he's not writing, he works for a charity in central London. NOWHERE is his debut novel. Find out more about Jon at www.facebook.com/jonrobinsonbooks

This memoir stands out as a beautifully written account of a mostly happy, mostly normal, fully real life at once both ordinary and extraordinary. Sheirer explores intensely personal experiences and relationships with humor, surprise, awe, suspense, and deep insight. With the depth of a memoir and the flow of a novel, Sheirer chronicles how his simple youth of farm, sports, school, nature, and family led him to an unlikely adulthood as an author and college professor.