Midnight War Of Mateo Martinez

Life is confusing for Mateo Martinez. He and Johnny Ramirez don't hang out anymore, even though they used to be best friends. He and his new friend Ashwin try to act like brave, old-time knights, but it only gets them in trouble. And last night, two skunks stole Mateo's old trike. Wait—two skunks stole his trike? Mateo is too big for that rusty kid toy. He has a cool, shiny new bike anyway. But Mateo also has a neighborhood to protect. And he's about to begin a big, stinky quest to catch the thieves in the middle of the night! As Mateo protects his neighborhood, he also learns a few things about growing up and letting go. “Take this oath: I, [state your name], will do good, fight for those in need, and read The Midnight War of Mateo Martinez.”—Adam Rex, author of the Cold Cereal Saga

A wild California mystery full of feathers, sprinkles, and more Ever since Mattie Waters lost her mother, she's been sharing a trailer with her aunt Molly, the proud owner of Owl's Outstanding Donuts. This hoot of a donut shop serves up delicious snacks to people driving down California's Highway One—treats like the Turkey Talon, the Banana Slug Bar, and the Strawberry Iced Classic. Mattie loves her aunt and the shop, even if she's still dealing with a life without her mom. But not everybody is a fan of Owl's Outstanding Donuts. When an owl taps on Mattie's window one night, Mattie looks out to see suspicious activity not far from the shop. A shady duo is dumping gloop near the highway. And soon people want to blame Aunt Molly! With help from her friends, Mattie sets out to find the real gloopers. Along the way, she'll face fears that have followed her since her mother's passing—and get to know Alfred, a stuffy, donut-loving owl who's also on the case. "Readers of all ages will be cheering—and hooting!—for Mattie and her friends as they track down the culprits in this brilliant, high-stakes mystery with heart. Owl's Outstanding Donuts is, well, simply outstanding!"—Kristen Kittscher, author of The Wig in the Window

* Chosen as a 2020 Kirkus Prize Finalist for Young Readers' Literature! * A Malaysian folk tale comes to life in this emotionally layered, chilling middle grade debut, perfect for fans of The Book of Boy and The Jumbies. I am a dark spirit, the ghost announced grandly. I am your inheritance, your grandmother’s legacy. I am yours to command. Suraya is delighted when her witch grandmother gifts her a pelesit. She names her ghostly companion Pink, and the two quickly become inseparable. But Suraya doesn’t know that pelesits have a dark side—and when Pink’s shadows threaten to consume them both, they must find enough light to survive . . . before they are both lost to the darkness. Fans of Holly Black’s Doll Bones and Tahereh Mafi’s Furthermore series will love this ghostly middle grade debut that explores jealousy, love, and the extraordinary power of friendship.

Mateo Martinez spots two skunks stealing his trike. Mateo is too big for that old toy, but he also has a neighborhood to protect. He begins a big, stinky quest to catch the thieves in the middle of the night!

A determined young girl joins forces with an adventure-loving street boy to save her father’s life in this “thoroughly entertaining” (Kirkus Reviews) magical murder mystery. In the spell-powered city of Tarreton, the wealthy have all the magic they desire while the working class can barely afford a simple spell to heat their homes. Twelve-year-old Isaveth is poor, but she’s also brave, loyal, and zealous in the pursuit of justice—which is lucky, because her father has just been wrongfully arrested for murder. Isaveth is determined to prove his innocence. Quiz, the eccentric, eyepatch-wearing street boy who befriends her, swears he can’t resist a good mystery. Together they set out to solve the magical murder of one of Tarreton’s most influential citizens and save Isaveth’s beloved Papa from execution. But is Quiz truly helping Isaveth out of friendship, or does he have hidden motives of his own?

PURA BELPRÉ HONOR BOOK ALA NOTABLE BOOK “An important, must-have addition to the growing body of literature with immigrant themes.” —School Library Journal (starred review) Twelve-year-old Jaime makes the treacherous and life-changing journey from his home in Guatemala to live with his older brother in the United States in this “powerful and timely” (Booklist, starred review) middle grade novel. Jaime is sitting on his bed drawing when he hears a scream. Instantly, he knows: Miguel, his cousin and best friend, is dead. Everyone in Jaime’s small town in Guatemala knows someone who has been killed by the Alphas, a powerful gang that’s known for violence and drug trafficking. Anyone who refuses to work for them is hurt or killed—like Miguel. With Miguel gone, Jaime fears that he is next. There’s only one choice: accompanied by his cousin Ángela, Jaime must flee his home to live with his older brother in New Mexico. Inspired by true events, The Only Road is an individual story of a boy who feels that leaving his home and risking everything is his only chance for a better life. The story is “told with heartbreaking honesty,” Booklist raved, and “will bring readers face to face with the harsh realities immigrants go through in the hope of finding a better, safer life, and it will likely cause them to reflect on what it means to be human.”

Celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2024, internationally bestselling author and literary icon Julia Alvarez's In the Time of the Butterflies is "beautiful, heartbreaking and alive ... a lyrical work of historical fiction based on the story of the Mirabal sisters, revolutionary heroes who had opposed and fought against Trujillo." (Concepción de León, New York Times) Alvarez’s new novel, The Cemetery of Untold Stories, is coming April 2, 2024. Pre-order now! It is November 25, 1960, and three beautiful sisters have been found near their wrecked Jeep at the bottom of a 150-foot cliff on the north coast of the Dominican Republic. The official state newspaper reports their deaths as accidental. It does not mention that a fourth sister lives. Nor does it explain that the sisters were among the leading opponents of Gen. Rafael Leónidas Trujillo’s dictatorship. It doesn’t have to. Everybody knows of Las Mariposas—the Butterflies. In this extraordinary novel, the voices of all four sisters--Minerva, Patria, María Teresa, and the survivor, Dedé--speak across the decades to tell their own stories, from secret crushes to gunrunning, and to describe the everyday horrors of life under Trujillo’s rule. Through the art and magic of Julia Alvarez’s imagination, the martyred Butterflies live again in this novel of courage and love, and the human costs of political oppression. "Alvarez helped blaze the trail for Latina authors to break into the literary mainstream, with novels like In the Time of the Butterflies and How the García Girls Lost Their Accents winning praise from critics and gracing best-seller lists across the Americas."—Francisco Cantú, The New York Times Book Review "This Julia Alvarez classic is a must-read for anyone of Latinx descent." —Popsugar.com "A gorgeous and sensitive novel . . . A compelling story of courage, patriotism and familial devotion." —People "Shimmering . . . Valuable and necessary." —Los Angeles Times "A magnificent treasure for all cultures and all time.” —St. Petersburg Times "Alvarez does a remarkable job illustrating the ruinous effect the 30-year dictatorship had on the Dominican Republic and the very real human cost it entailed."—Cosmopolitan.com

When a sixteen-year-old Spanish girl sees a religious vision while praying in a convent, she becomes involved in a series of humorous adventures. Catalina is a crippled girl, supposedly cured by divine intervention after witnessing a vision of the Virgin Mary. As a result of this, she is pressured into becoming a nun in a Carmelite convent. The Bishop of Segovia, himself undergoing a crisis of faith, becomes involved in the debate about the debt owed to god by Catalina for her cure, but the girl resists all attempts to control her life, determined to marry the man she loves. She joins a troupe of strolling players and becomes the most famous actress in all of Spain.

A comic tale written in verse which shows that more than good intentions are needed to succeed. Giant African Land Snails have invaded the tiny island of Bim. Ras Spear, farmer from Fairy Vale is at his wits end trying to cope with the invasion. A neighbour gives him advice. The young farmer follows this advice and imagines being hailed as a hero but finds himself in hot water instead. Set in the Caribbean the illustrations are colourful and detailed. Read Together: Ages 4 - 6; Read Alone: Ages 6 - 9.In this book Stoute combines a comic tale with information on the Giant African Land Snail. Her goal is to encourage children to be aware of the world around them. Although the first half of the books is fictional, she weaves many topical subjects into the story like fish migration and foods enjoyed by specific nations; she offers many topics which promote discussion long after the text has been read. Silva-Freimane's illustrations are detailed and authentically depict the plants, animals and landscapes of the Caribbean. She creates synergy by using emotionally expressive cartoon type characters to amplify the comic effect.Author Biography: Author, June Stoute was born and educated in Barbados. She has also lived in Curacao, St. Lucia, USA and the UK. She worked for twenty years in the toy industry. This and raising two children kindled an avid interest in education and child development. Stoute's poetry, short stories and picture books have won several awards in the Barbados National Independence Festival of Creative Arts, Barbados. Her interests are eclectic but her primary focus is family and social issues. Stoute's daughter, Jehanne Silva-Freimane, is the illustrator. A self-taught artist, Silva-Freimane, holds a BSc from the University of the West Indies and an MBA from the University of Leeds. She is also creator of an e-commerce art site, Just Some Lines. She resides in Europe with her husband and two young children. The first edition of this book (now out of print)received Silver Awards in the National Independence Festival - Barbados in two categories - poetry and book.