After sixty-six days of a catastrophic global blackout, life in the suburbs is not what it used to be for Adam and his fortified neighborhood of Eden Mills. Although an explosive clash has minimized one threat from outside the walls, Adam's battle-hardened mentor, Herb, continues to make decisions in the name of security that are increasingly wrenching and questionable. Like his police chief mom and others, Adam will follow Herb's lead. But when the next threat comes from an unexpected direction, nobody is ready for it. And someone is going to pay the price--because of Adam's mistakes and mistaken trust.
In The Rule of Three: Fight for Power by Eric Walters, the gripping second book in the Rule of Three series, everything Adam has fought for is at stake.So what if Harmony has to be the grown-up?
After months living in a foster home (again), Harmony convinces a judge that she can move back in with her mother. Her mom even finds an apartment that the social worker, Gloria, can't find fault with. But now Harmony has an even bigger battle ahead--trying to keep her mom on the straight and narrow, or at least keep Gloria from finding out when she slips. Which she does. A lot. Often left to fend for herself, Harmony finds an ally in Mr. Khaled, the owner of the convenience store across the street. He helps Harmony out with food in exchange for some part-time work. And at school, her principal seems to be on her side. Even so, it feels like Harmony's life is always one step from falling apart, and she can't really trust anyone.
Harmony knows the question is less about whether she'll return to foster care and more about when she's ready to do it.
Finding Harmony is the prequel to the Governor General's award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
★ Tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended. --School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review for The King of Jam Sandwiches
One shocking afternoon, computers around the globe shut down in a viral catastrophe. At sixteen-year-old Adam Daley's high school, the problem first seems to be a typical electrical outage, until students discover that cell phones are down, municipal utilities are failing, and a few computer-free cars like Adam's are the only vehicles that function. Driving home, Adam encounters a storm tide of anger and fear as the region becomes paralyzed. Soon--as resources dwindle, crises mount, and chaos descends--he will see his suburban neighborhood band together for protection. And Adam will understand that having a police captain for a mother and a retired government spy living next door are not just the facts of his life but the keys to his survival, in The Rule of Three by Eric Walters.
When all technology breaks down and he's far from home, thirteen-year-old Jamie learns he's stronger (and braver) than he thought he was in this dystopian adventure.
Thirteen-year-old Jamie's plane is just taking off when something goes terribly wrong. The lights go out, communications halts and the engine stops. After a bumpy landing, Jamie realizes it's not just his flight. All the other planes have been grounded too. And every car on the road has stopped in its tracks. And no one's cell phone is working. Technology has shut down, and no one knows why. Soon, it becomes clear that this disaster is anything but local, and people begin to panic. Jamie is now stranded 1,200 miles away from home and the world is in chaos. With the help of the plane's flight crew, a group of fellow passengers and a rescued dog named Godzilla, Jamie must make the long, perilous journey home.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Redheaded, orphaned, and temperamental, Sam's already tragic life takes a worse turn when a run-in outside a corner store ends with him smashing a high school football star in the face with a soda can, landing him an assault with weapon charge and a six-week stint at Johnson Blue Gables Juvenile Center. Sam must stay here and stay out of trouble while being assessed and awaiting trial, but his rage flares again when he becomes targeted by a juvie long-termer.
Sam navigates juvie with the help of his shy cellmate, Nigel, and his caring teacher, Mrs. Martinez, who assigns him a book about a certain redheaded orphan girl.
Over forty-two days, Sam learns to temper his temper, make friends in unlikely places, and live with an open heart. His past has been tragic, but his future can still be bright.★A profound, realistic story of a multiracial family...This brilliantly written tale is a lovely introduction to the important topics of wildfires and animal sanctuaries for young readers. Great for animal lovers and children curious about nature.--School Library Journal, starred review
On returning to their home after a massive wildfire, nine-year-old Jasmin and her seven-year-old brother, Hunter, thought the biggest surprise would be whether their fire-resistant house had survived.
Jasmin and Hunter did not expect to find an orphaned bear cub stuck in the neighbors' well. Rescuing the tiny cub from the well was the easy part; now they need to care for it until the people from the bear-rescue sanctuary can make it safely through the fires to pick it up. The cub turns out to be exactly what one would expect of a wild animal--a huge handful!
The latest Orca Echoes early chapter book from award-winning author Eric Walters was inspired by Eric's visit to a wildlife sanctuary in Northern British Columbia. Bear in the Family tells the fictionalized story of a bear cub found by a family after the forest surrounding their home was destroyed by a wildfire.
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Can Ian stand up for what he believes in?
When Ian and his classmates watch a documentary about the health concerns of eating fast food, Ian decides to start a boycott and stop everyone he can from eating at Frankie's, a huge fast-food chain with a questionable menu. The boycott takes off and Frankie's gets concerned. The company's lawyers threaten Ian and his friends and try to force them to stop the boycott. Ian must convince others that the boycott is a good idea, but can he do it?
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Available in Spanish as A reventar.
A strong, accessible, and relevant story about modern families. -- Kirkus Reviews
Jax has big plans for grade eight: seeing if his maybe-girlfriend, Samantha, will become his actual girlfriend, and being first trumpet in the school band.
Enter Liv, the new girl Jax meets at band auditions. Liv's a star on the trumpet too. In fact, she might be better than Jax.
When Jax and Liv start rehearsing together, they go from duet partners to fast friends. Soon, they learn that they share something more than a love of music -- something that will change their whole world and make them rethink what it means to be family.An inspiring story about the ups and downs of family.
Fourteen-year-old Dylan is sent to live with his estranged grandfather, Angus. Basically strangers, the two avoid each other as best they can. One day Dylan discovers a young orca stranded high up on the rocky beach. Dylan runs to tell his grandfather. There's nothing that can be done, says Angus. The sun is coming up, and soon the orca will die of exposure.
But Dylan knows he has to try to save the whale. He collects towels to cover the delicate skin of the orca and begins transporting buckets of water from the ocean below to keep it hydrated. It's grueling work, and it will be hours before the tide comes back in and the water is high enough for the orca to swim free. Angus is moved by his grandson's determination and helps as best he can. They both desperately hope that soon the orca will be able to join its family, who have been calling out to it just offshore.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Available in French as Échoué.
A street race ends in a tragic accident. Jake's friends tell him to run, but he doesn't know if he can--or should--run from the truth.
Jake has finally got his driver's license, and tonight he has his brother's car as well. He and his friend Mickey take the car out and cruise the strip. When they challenge another driver to a street race, a disastrous chain reaction causes an accident. Jake and Mickey leave the scene, trying to convince themselves they were not involved. Jake finds he cannot pretend it didn't happen and struggles with deciding on the right thing to do. Should he pretend he was not involved? Or should he go to the police?
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Available in Spanish as A toda velocidad.
The principal announces that the school is implementing uniforms, and Ian finds himself caught in a conflict.
Julia, the student body president and Ian's friend, wants Ian to devise a plan to fight the decision, but the principal is determined to convince Ian the uniforms are a good idea. Ian doesn't see the problem with uniforms and wants nothing to do with the issue, but while doing research for a social-justice class, Ian learns that the manufacturer of the uniforms is on the top-ten list in the industry for human-rights violations. When he tells the principal their clothing is being made in sweatshops using child labor, all he gets is a reminder that the penalty for refusing to wear the uniforms is expulsion. Ian finds himself caught in a whole new conflict--one with himself.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Timmy's family might think he's too old to misbehave, but Timmy is also the relative of wild wolves, the descendant of daring dingoes, the friend of fearless foxes, and the cousin of cunning coyotes. He's seen other rambunctious dogs at the park, and in his wildest dreams, Timmy wonders: Why can't he be a bad boy too?
The award-winning duo of Eric Walters and Eugenie Fernandes team up to bring Timmy's dreams to life. Though Timmy fantasizes about acting out, at the end of the day, his love for his family helps him realize that he'd rather choose to be good.
Jake consiguió por fin su licencia de manejo y esta noche además puede usar el auto de su hermano. Junto con su amigo Mickey, Jake sale a pasear en el auto. Cuando desafían a otro conductor a una carrera callejera, una desastrosa reacción en cadena provoca un accidente. Jake y Mickey abandonan el lugar y tratan de convencerse de que son inocentes. Pero Jake no puede simplemente hacer como si nada hubiera pasado y se siente muy confundido. Debería fingir que no estuvo involucrado o ir a la policía?
Disponible en inglés Overdrive.
Edward is a classic slacker.
He's got better ways to spend his time than toiling over homework, and as long as he gets passing grades he's happy. When his fifty percent average is threatened he has to find a way to pull up his grades without applying himself. Edward discovers that special education students get more time to complete tests, and he thinks he's found the perfect scam. Little does he know that manipulating everyone around him will take more work than he ever imagined.
This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read! Also available in French as Ed spécial.
★ Will tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended.--School Library Journal, starred review
Thirteen-year-old Robbie leads a double life. It's just Robbie and his dad, but no one knows that his dad isn't like most parents. Sometimes he wakes Robbie up in the middle of the night to talk about dying. Sometimes he just leaves without telling Robbie where he's going. Once when Robbie was younger, he was gone for more than a week. Robbie was terrified of being left alone but even more scared of telling anyone in case he was put into foster care. No one can know. Until one day when Robbie has to show the tough new girl, Harmony, around school. Their first meeting ends horribly and she punches Robbie in the face. But eventually, they come to realize that they have a lot more in common than they thought. Can Robbie's new friend be trusted to keep his secret?
The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.