Becoming Brianna

New York Times bestseller! Terri Libenson returns with another endearing, relatable story of friendship and finding confidence. Perfect for fans of Raina Telgemeier and Jennifer L. Holm. Middle school is full of challenges. Everyone knows how much brainy Bri likes the spotlight (not). So why did she ever agree to something that forces her to learn a new language, give a speech, help organize a party, and juggle drama at school and home?! As the big event inches closer, Bri wonders if it’s all worth it. . . . Told in alternating past and present chapters, Bri’s heartwarming story unfolds over the eight months leading up to her bat mitzvah—as well as over the course of the big day itself. Plus don't miss Terri Libenson's Invisible Emmie, Positively Izzy, and Just Jaime!

Winner of the National Jewish Book Award A Sydney Taylor Notable Book Tablet Magazine's Best Jewish Kids Books of the Year A young teen falls in with the mob, and learns a lesson about what kind of person he wants to be. In The Prince of Steel Pier, Joey Goodman is spending the summer at his grandparents’ struggling hotel in Atlantic City, a tourist destination on the decline. Nobody in Joey’s big Jewish family takes him seriously, so when Joey’s Skee-Ball skills land him an unusual job offer from a local mobster, he’s thrilled to be treated like “one of the guys,” and develops a major crush on an older girl in the process. Eventually disillusioned by the mob’s bravado, and ashamed of his own dishonesty, he recalls words of wisdom from his grandfather that finally resonate. Joey realizes where he really belongs: with his family, who drive him crazy, but where no one fights a battle alone. All it takes to get by is one’s wits...and a little help from one’s brothers.

Bri of Positively Izzy prepares for her bat mitzvah as she navigates other challenges and humorous situations. In graphic novel format.

Shauntae Randall knows she's not smart or talented at much of anything, but she also knows she's gorgeous and can handle herself around a man. So, she's made a career of it. She thought she had struck gold a few years back when she was lucky enough to get pregnant by Devon Wright. She knew they'd get married, he would take care of her and her baby, and she'd be set for life. What Shauntae didn't know was that it's much harder to keep a man than it is to catch him. Now she's lost custody of the child and the child support check and has to go back to hustling. Shauntae is lucky enough to get herself pregnant by Gary Jackson. She knows she has to figure out how to be a good wife to Gary and a good mother to their child to keep herself in his big, fancy house and his big, fancy car. She has to learn to talk "proper" and say all the right things at the right time. The absolute worst thing is that Shauntae must learn how to be a "church girl." When issues with Gary's ex-wife and kids threaten Shauntae's "get married and stay married" plan, it's actually God that helps her out. Shauntae decides that instead of hustling God, she might want to get to know Him. But can an ex-hustler really shed her old ways and become a true Christian, and a good wife and mother?

Leaving a Narcissist can be painful, confusing, and scary. They do not like being left, by anyone. It’s a major fracture to their ego. If you have dated or loved a Narc, you know what comes next. This book is a collection of experiences, written by brave women who loved, and eventually left their Narcs. For years, they lived through dizzying cycles of gaslighting, ghosting, triangulation, love bombing, devaluing, and in some instances, discarding. Like many of us, they tricked themselves in to believing things will get better, if they worked and loved harder. Each author had game-changing moments. They fought to regain control of their lives, and have transformed towards joy, hope, and healing. The Game Changer Chronicles is HERSTORY.

Now in paperback, in the bestselling tradition of E. Lynn Harris, a gripping novel about a group of high-powered millionaires who each harbors a secret about their sexuality. Juice is a music mogul with the midas touch, so it’s no surprise that his fianceé is not just the queen of hip-hop—she is a multi-platinum-selling, six-time Grammy winner and also a fashion icon. Her father, a retired police officer, doesn’t approve of their relationship. While perhaps a bit overprotective, he sees through the luxurious lifestyle and feels like something is not quite right with Juice. But his suspicions are not enough to stop their wedding, the event of the year with all of hip-hop royalty attending. What the world doesn’t know is that Juice is the leader of an underground world of the most powerful men in the country who are on the DL, or down low, and hide their true sexuality from their public lives. The members are powerful and famous men worry that their true sexual preferences would take down the lives they’ve built. These men are mega church pastors, NBA stars, Fortune 500 businessmen, magazine publishers, fashion designers, and senators. Just as King’s bestselling book On the Down Low put the provocative topic of men who lie about their sexuality on the map, this new novel will have readers wondering if there is a real-life persona behind these fictional characters.

Welcome back to the journey. The journey of Writology! Writology takes you, the reader, on a chronological journey of evolutionary writing. Using all original creations, the author showcases how writing does not happen overnight. Just as coals turn into diamonds, so too does writing take time to become polished to perfection. Volumes II and III continues the journey by collecting his Freshmen and Sophmore years of high school level works. Volume II encompasses early attempts at research works and a brief flirt of a spirtiual quest. Volume III, considered to be the richest part of the entire planned Writologist Series (by the author himself) truly establishes writing becoming a core passion for H.A. Calahan. As with Volume I, these collected volumes contain original sketches and artwork created by the author. Accented with author commentary.Several suggested exercises based on original assignments or creations are also included to help readers continue their own journey. This journey continues now!

Despite growing attention to the importance of grit and other character traits for achievement, developing them in students rarely finds its way into secondary school curricula. Authors Barbara Cervone and Kathleen Cushman investigate the exceptions, telling the stories of five high schools with a national reputation for infusing rigorous academics with social and emotional learning, which results in demonstrable benefits for students. Based on extensive interviews and on-site visits, the book identifies six elements that all of these schools have in common, including advisories and other structural supports for students and teachers; rituals and other means for establishing an intentional, reflective, and respectful community as well as a firm commitment to restorative justice; and a broad and engaging curriculum that includes service learning. Featuring the voices of educators and students alike, Belonging and Becoming not only shows how these schools stand out for their high degree of caring and success, but makes a strong case for why other schools should be inspired to take up the challenge and replicate their efforts.

Lexi has a secret. She never meant for her mom to find out. And now she's afraid that what's left of her family is going to fall apart for good. Lexi knows she can fix everything. She can change. She can learn to like boys. New Horizons summer camp has promised to transform her life, and there's nothing she wants more than to start over. But sometimes love has its own path... "A powerful indictment of reparative therapy—a sweet love story—and an unforgettable main character!"—Nancy Garden, author of Annie on My Mind "Unflinching honesty and unfaltering compassion...A gem of a novel."—RT Book Reviews, 4 1⁄2 stars, Top Pick of the Month on My Life After Now

Brianna has been helping her father realize his dream of running an idyllic lakeside resort. But when he passes, she must fend off the constant flow of real estate brokers wanting to snatch up their prime acreage—including mogul Scott Gibson. Will the pair discover the treasure worth fighting for is love? Brianna is the youngest of the three Porter sisters and the only one who chose to stay in the small town of Splendid Lake, North Carolina. She followed in her father’s footsteps and became an expert boat mechanic, helping him run their small resort with cabin rentals, a convenience store, and a marina. When Brianna’s father unexpectedly dies, Brianna is steeped in grief and guilt—and left alone to clean up the mess. To make matters worse, a constant stream of real estate brokers begin marching through her property, pressuring her to sell off the family land. In particular, she keeps running into handsome real estate mogul Scott Gibson. As Brianna struggles to keep it all together, Scott finds his way into her heart. And as the two fight against their feelings, they just might find themselves forging a surprising and exciting new love at Splendid Lake. Bestselling author Amy Clipston transports readers to a picturesque lakeside town in this heartwarming contemporary romance. Sweet, stand-alone contemporary romance Book length: 93,000 words Includes discussion questions for book clubs Also by Amy Clipston: the Kauffman Amish Bakery, Hearts of Lancaster Grand Hotel, Amish Heirloom, Amish Homestead, and Amish Marketplace series