From National Book Award longlisted author Sherri Winston comes an important middle grade novel about a girl's tumultuous journey to keep her family together, even when she's falling apart.

Schneider Family Book Award: Best Middle Grade Honor Book
Kirkus Prize Finalist
Lone Star Reading List Selection
Named a Best Book of the Year by Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, and School Library Journal

Sharkita Kita Hayes is always waiting.
Waiting for her mama to mess up.
Waiting for social services to be called again.
Waiting for her and her siblings to be separated.
Waiting for her worst fear to come true.

But Mama promises things are different now. She's got a good job, she's stopped drinking, stopped going out every night-it's almost enough to make Kita believe her this time. But even as Kita's life is going good, she can't shake the feeling that everything could go up in flames at any moment. When her assistant principal and trusted dance coach starts asking questions about her home life, Kita is more determined than ever to keep up appearances and make sure her family stays together-even if it means falling apart herself.

As the threat of her family being separated again circles like a shark in the water, the pressure starts to get to Kita. But could it be that Kita's worst fear is actually the best thing that could happen to her family . . . and to her?

In a world where fitting in can be confusing for children, I Am Vape unveils the truth behind a seemingly harmless trend. This powerful picture book creatively exposes the dangers of vaping to young readers in a non-scary way that they can understand.

Key Benefits:

• Age-appropriate information: Written in a clear and engaging style, this book provides a factual understanding of vaping's dangers for young minds.
• Empowering children: By arming children with knowledge, this book helps them make informed decisions about their health.
• Promoting prevention: This book can be used as a valuable tool in schools and homes to prevent vaping initiation and addiction.
• Supporting conversations: I Am Vape provides a starting point for important conversations about substance abuse and peer pressure.

With clever artwork and clear language, this book is a must-read for parents, educators, and anyone concerned about the health and well-being of young people.

Life was good
before I
met
the monster.

After,
life
was great,
At
least

for a little while.

Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble.

Then, Kristina meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul--her life.

Then he meets Meg and Charlie, who have likewise been stranded by circumstances beyond their control. As the trio explores the blackwater river that runs nearby, Reese discovers new beauty and joy in nature and these fresh connections. His dad is also doing better, holding things together, and talking to his mom again. But how long can the good times last? And what will Reese do if -- when -- they end?

In the United States today, an estimated one in eight kids live with a parent with a substance-abuse problem. Written with bracing honesty, deep sympathy, and tenderness for all its characters, Breaking into Sunlight offers readers a powerful affirmation that no one is alone.

Fiona has always looked up to her big brother, Dylan. But lately, Dylan has stopped spending time with her. He's always hiding in his room or fighting with Mom and Dad, and sometimes the way he acts makes Fiona feel afraid. As Fiona uncovers the truth behind the changes in her sibling, she'll also learn to look past his struggles and remember that he'll always be the Dylan she loves--a big brother who needs help and support from his family to get through a tough time.

With soggy, boggy wings and a heart full of wonder, Juice Bug grapples with sharing her tale but soon realizes facing her fears and telling her story at some point is the way forward. Maybe her story can help us share our story someday.

In this groundbreaking William C. Morris Award winner for a YA debut, Gabi's life is a mess--her family, her friends, her attempts at a love life--but writing helps, especially since it turns out she's pretty good at poetry.

Gabi Hernandez chronicles her last year of high school in her diary: college applications, Cindy's pregnancy, Sebastian's coming out, the cute boys, her father's meth habit, and the food she craves. And best of all, the poetry that helps forge her identity.

July 24

My mother named me Gabriella, after my grandmother who, coincidentally, didn't want to meet me when I was born because my mother was unmarried, and therefore living in sin. My mom has told me the story many, many, MANY, times of how, when she confessed to my grandmother that she was pregnant with me, her mother beat her. BEAT HER! She was twenty-five. That story is the basis of my sexual education and has reiterated why it's important to wait until you're married to give it up. So now, every time I go out with a guy, my mom says, Ojos abiertos, piernas cerradas. Eyes open, legs closed. That's as far as the birds and the bees talk has gone. And I don't mind it. I don't necessarily agree with that whole wait until you're married crap, though. I mean, this is America and the 21st century; not Mexico one hundred years ago. But, of course, I can't tell my mom that because she will think I'm bad. Or worse: trying to be White.

Kristina thinks she can control the urge, the addiction, the monster trying to drag her down. Now with a baby to care for, she's determined to be the one deciding when and how much, the one calling the shots. But the monster is too strong, and before she knows it, Kristina is back in its grips. She needs the monster to keep going, to face the pressures of day-to-day life. She needs it to feel alive.

Once again the monster takes over Kristina's life and she will do anything for it, including giving up the one person who gives her the unconditional love she craves--her baby.

A vivid portrait of a victim to addiction, this sequel to Crank is the continuing story of Kristina and her descent back to hell. Told in verse, it's a harrowing and disturbing look at addiction and the damage that it inflicts.

NO ...And I mean NO, let's say NO to drugs provides adults with a proactive tool that will encourage open dialogue with children, three and up, about courageously saying NO to drugs as well as how to deal with peer pressure. In addition, the book will help adults have courageous conversations about good drugs vs. bad drugs. It has more than 40 sight words for rising kindergarten students. Most importantly, the book will empower kid-sized superheroes to activate their superpower-courage-immediately when someone tries to offer them drugs.

Kandra Albury was raised in Crescent City, FL. She is married to James Albury and is the proud mother of three courageous children, and one courageous grandson, Kenzy. She earned a bachelor's degree in communications from the University of North Florida and a master's degree in mass communications from the University of Florida. She has a Ph.D. in ministerial education from Truth Bible University. Kandra is also a certified Darkness to Light Sexual Abuse Prevention Training Facilitator.

Kandra believes that courage is the new superpower (TM) For more information about Kandra or The Feisty Four Children's Book Series, visit: www.kandraalbury.org.

Is it too much to ask for an ordinary, boring life?

Bai Jian is a typical Chinese boy growing up in a big city. But his life is far from typical: his mother abandoned him when he was a baby, and his father, Hei Jian, is always out of work, always fighting with his long parade of girlfriends, always getting the two of them involved in some harebrained scheme.

The latest idea involves spending every last dime they have putting Bai Jian up in a posh boarding school so that Hei Jian can leave, and pursue his dream of becoming a big-time movie director. All Bai Jian has ever wanted is a warm bed to sleep in, a safe place to return to at the end of the day, enough food to fill his belly...and a family who's not just going to abandon him on a whim.

He soon realizes: while he may not have been born into this sort of family, maybe he can find one out there in the world himself?

From author Yao Emei and translator Kelly Zhang comes a heart-rending, emotional middle grade novel about a contemporary boy in China searching for a home - and whose resourcefulness and generous heart carry him through. Readers who fell in love with Because of Winn-Dixie and Ghost will discover an inimitable voice in Bai Jian that will stay with them forever.

P R A I S E

Intimate and introspective.
-Kirkus

Readers attracted to international novels in translation or stories about resilient, precocious teens who don't get into too much trouble will find lots to like here.
-Booklist

This boxed set makes a perfect gift and features trade paperback editions of Crank, Glass, and Fallout with striking new covers and special bonus content, including an essay from author Ellen Hopkins on the true story behind Crank and an essay from her daughter, the real Kristina.

In Crank you'll meet Kristina--and Kristina will meet crank. Acting under the guise of her alter ego, Bree, Kristina explores drugs, sex, and her own dark side. A new mother struggling--and failing--to stay clean, Kristina's downward spiral continues in Glass, and the outcome is chronicled in Fallout, which follows the lives of three of her children. They find themselves pulled toward the one person who links them together, yet discover that it is in each other, and in themselves, that they find the trust, the courage, the hope to break the cycle.

This stunning trilogy from a master poet and #1 New York Times bestselling author with nearly 3.5 million books in print is a testament to the harsh reality that addiction is never just one person's problem.

Life was good
before I
met
the monster.

After,
life
was great,
At
least

for a little while.

Kristina Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble.

Then, Kristina meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul--her life.

Named one of the Best Books of 2024 by Kirkus!

From award-winning author Sara Zarr comes a gorgeously crafted and deeply personal story about a young girl, her alcoholic mother, and the hope that ties them together.

Krya has always felt like she's a bit too much. Too tall. Too loud. Too earnest. But she's okay with that, because she's got her mom. Ever since Mom got sober about five years ago, she and Kyra have always been there for each other--something Kyra is thankful for every week when she attends her group meetings with other kids of alcoholics. When Mom is managing her cleaning business and Kyra is taking care of things at home, maybe, she thinks, she's not too much. Maybe, she's just enough.

Then seventh grade starts, and everything Kyra used to be able to count on feels unsure. Kyra's best friend, Lu, is hanging out with eighth graders, and Mom is unusually distant. When Mom starts missing work, sleeping in, and forgetting things, Kyra doesn't dare say relapse. But soon not saying that word means not saying anything at all--to Lu or to her support group. And when Kyra suspects that her worst fears might be real, she starts to question whether being just enough is not enough at all.

With sensitivity and candor, acclaimed author Sara Zarr tells a heartfelt, personal story about finding hope in even the most difficult places, and love in even the most complicated relationships.

Her street name is Maybe. She lives with a tribe of homeless teens--runaways and throwaways, kids who have no place to go other than the cold city streets, and no family except for one another. Abused, abandoned, and forgotten, they struggle against weather, hunger, and constant danger.

With the frigid winds of January comes a new girl: Tears, a twelve-year-old whose mother doesn't believe her husband is abusive. As the other kids start to disappear--victims of violence, addiction, and exposure--Maybe tries to help Tears get off the streets...if it's not already too late.

Ellie's mom did not come for their visit, and Ellie is stuck in a cloud of sadness and anger as she tries to understand why. Fortunately, Miss K. and Ellie's Uncle Finny are there to help her. Using the metaphor of a wave, they help Ellie talk about and understand her mother's ups and downs, recognize and hold on to loving memories, and know that she is not alone.

Millions of young children live in families with an adult who is struggling due to trauma (ACEs), mental illness (PTSD, depression, bipolar), substance abuse, or other addiction. Mama's Waves was written for any child who has a family member who struggles with emotional waves whether they live together or not.

The story was developed to open doors to conversations that young children need to have. When family members have challenges, young children worry about them and often have many difficult questions. They need the help of grown-ups within and outside their families

• To have language for the challenges that their parents face
• To know that they can talk about tough times and good times
• To better understand why their parent may not be around
• And, very importantly, to keep good memories alive because these memories shape their view of themselves as worthy of love

Mama's Waves shows us that these conversations are possible, important, and support healing and connection.

While the book was written specifically for children whose parents have struggled with addiction or mental illness, other children may benefit from having language and dialogue that helps them to empathically understand the challenges that too many families are facing.

Mama's Waves is the first book in the Ellie Bean series and was developed by the team that created Once I Was Very Very Scared, You Weren't With Me, Holdin Pott, and the Trinka and Sam story series as tools to help families heal after stressful or traumatic events.

This book was written for young children to help them understand why mommy or daddy has to go away for an extended time to a treatment center to get better. This can seem like a difficult conversation to have with a 3-6-year old. Children of this age may not understand why their parent is going away and can be confused and even frightened. In many cases, they may know on some level that there is something going on, and often a simple explanation will suffice, that mommy or daddy is going away for a while to get better and that they will return soon. Explaining to a child that they will be safe and taken care of while their parent is gone will help them feel confident in this new change in their life.

In this book, Spook's mommy is going to a treatment center so she can get better and doesn't have to drink her strange milk anymore. Parents going into treatment will also benefit by sharing this book with their 3-6-year old, opening up communication and making the explanation easier.

Often, children who lose a loved one to overdose are not truthfully told what happened to the person who died because of the stigma associated with this type of death.

They often assume that the death was their fault (rather than that it was the symptom of a disease) and that it's not okay to remember their loved one, nor is it okay to feel angry about the death. This book skillfully aims to help parents and practitioners address these specific areas and provide validation and normalization of these grief responses.