Search Results: 182 books from 19 publishers. Learn more

Ransom

Mary Kate Dorman (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781612477053

These traditional reads are brimming with spirited characters and positive values--but with a little extra excitement and bite, so hold on to your hats! Written expressly for the middle grade struggling reader, the series does not contain strong language, edgy themes, or dysfunctional families. In fact, family is the main theme of these titles. And one particular Latino family is the focus with their uncanny knack for finding humor, hope, and colorful personalities--even in unusual circumstances. Written at the lowest reading levels, the 50-page story structure is straightforward and moves the reader through the text quickly and efficiently. The bus should have arrived at the Heights at five o'clock. Two hours later, there was no sign of it. Everyone was scared and confused. A bus full of students had vanished.

Twister

Saddleback Educational Publishing (author)

Publisher: Saddleback Educational Publishing ISBN: 9781612473116

Antonio slid down the rope. He held on for dear life. It got darker as the twister moved closer. It was loud. Like a giant freight train! These traditional reads are brimming with spirited characters and positive values—but with a little extra excitement and bite, so hold on to your hats! Family is the main theme of these titles. And one particular Latino family is the focus with their uncanny knack for finding humor, hope, and colorful personalities—even in unusual circumstances.

Iggy's World

Gail Anderson-Dargatz (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459821408

Fourteen-year-old Iggy comes from a famous family. Well, sort of. His dad directs a cheesy sci-fi Web series, his mom writes for it, and his sister has a successful YouTube channel. Iggy doesn’t have the acting bug, so he feels like an outsider. Wanting to prove himself, Iggy starts his own podcast about what interests him: insects. But it’s not until Iggy embarrasses his famous sister on air that his podcast really takes off. He’s thrilled with his own success, until she fires back. Now it’s all-out war. Iggy’s World is an exploration of the age-old problem artists face: when we find inspiration from our real lives, what will our friends and family think? And, of course, just how much of our private lives do we really want to reveal online?

Frappee par la foudre

Deb Loughead (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781554694259

La vie de Claire a besoin d'un changement radical. Elle coule en math, sa mère déprimée ne veut pas se lever du sofa et le gars de ses rêves est avec sa rivale Lucy. Au moment où Claire fait le souhait d'une vie meilleure, la foudre frappe. Bientôt sa vie se transforme et Claire obtient tout ce qu'elle a souhaité. Elle se demande bientôt si le prix à payer pour cette chance n'est pas trop élevé. Claire's life is a mess. She's failing math, her depressed mother won't get off the couch, Eric, the boy of her dreams, is dating her nemesis Lucy. While Claire is wishing her life were better, lightning strikes. Soon afterward, everything changes. With Lucy in the hospital and out of the way, Claire attracts Eric's attention and gets the starring role in the school play. But good fortune has a cost: her newly energized mother reconciles with her deadbeat dad, the dream boy turns out to be a dud and Claire feels terrible guilt about gaining everything Lucy has lost. But how can Claire turn it around when lightning only strikes once?

Eye Sore

Melanie Jackson (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459807730

The last thing Chaz wants is to spend his summer working on his father’s Eye, a Ferris wheel with glass-bottomed gondolas set up to view scenic North Vancouver. For one thing, Chaz would prefer to pursue his own passion: dance in the style of the late, great Gene Kelly. More important, Chaz suffers from vertigo, and even the thought of the Eye makes him want to lose his lunch. But when a crowd of angry protestors and a mysterious vandal threaten his father’s dream, and the family’s livelihood, Chaz is forced to overcome his own fears to help out.

Don't Stand So Close to Me

Eric Walters (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459827882

Thirteen-year-old Quinn and her friends can't believe their luck when spring break is extended an extra two weeks—even if it's because of some virus. But when the impact of the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic becomes apparent, everyone, not just the students, has to learn to adjust to their new reality. Quinn’s father is an ER doctor and has to self-isolate to protect his family from the virus. Isaac’s mother is the chief of police and now has to enforce new physical-distancing bylaws. Reese can’t visit her grandmother in her care home anymore. And their entire school has moved to online classes. Sacrifices have to be made to keep everyone safe, but there’s more to life than rules and scary news reports. In an effort to find some good in all this uncertainty, Quinn comes up with an idea that she hopes will bring the entire community together.

Pia's Plans

Alice Kuipers (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459823792

Ever since her parents got divorced, Pia has worked hard to make sure everything in her life is Perfect, with a capital P. But everything keeps going wrong. She and her sister get into a fight. Pia falls down the stairs and hurts her ankle. She spills chocolate milk all over her lucky outfit. She accidentally studied for the wrong test. And her best friend still isn’t speaking to her since she got mad at him for throwing her a surprise birthday party. Now Pia has a big race this afternoon and she’s pretending her ankle is fine. But she has to win the race. She has to!

Duke's Den

Becky Citra (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459809024

Amelia’s world came crashing down when her parents separated and she was forced to relocate with her mother to a new part of town. When Duke and Gabriella move into the suite downstairs with their menagerie of exotic animals, Amelia feels like she’s been thrown a lifeline. Helping care for the animals gives Amelia a sense of purpose, and she’s determined to keep Duke and Gabriella’s secret. But eventually her mother discovers the animals and refuses to let them stay. To make matters worse, Winston, a sulcata tortoise, has fallen ill, and the medical bills are piling up. Can Amelia figure out a way to help save Winston and keep her newfound family together?

Chick: Lister

Alex Van Tol (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459810020

Chick is a popular fourteen-year-old who is essentially on this earth to live up to his father’s impossible expectations, or at least that’s how he feels. This pressure is a grinding source of anxiety for him, which he copes with by making lists. He itemizes every aspect of his life, from his daily routine to the things that make him nervous. But as the pressure of school and his budding romance with his debating teammate Audrey builds, his compulsion starts to feel impossible to control or conceal.

Where's Burgess?

Laurie Elmquist (author) David Parkins (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459814790

Reece Hansen is missing two things: his father and his frog. His parents are newly separated, and his dad is now living in another city, fighting forest fires. Reece struggles to get used to daily life without him. When he loses his pet frog, Burgess, Reece puts posters up around the neighborhood. But frogs are difficult to find. It takes an unusual classmate, the boy who wears a bathrobe to school, to pull Reece's attention away from Burgess. Through his new friend and a camping trip with his mom, Reece learns that friends can come in human form and families are resilient even when things change.

Bigfoot Crossing

Gail Anderson-Dargatz (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459834774

Jay doesn't believe in Bigfoot. His dad loves hunting for Bigfoot, but searching for a mythical creature in the dark isn't Jay's idea of fun. Especially because he always gets stuck looking out for his little sister while his dad plays with the cool gear, like night-vision goggles. But while out on a camping trip, a large creature starts hunting them, and then Jay’s father goes missing. Jay is forced to start tracking the creature himself while still keeping his sister safe. It turns out that not only is Bigfoot real, but it isn't the only threat in the woods. There’s a different kind of monster out here, one who is armed with a gun. Jay must act fast to save his father before it’s too late. And he needs Bigfoot’s help to do it.

Broken Arrow

John Wilson (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459805415

Steve thinks he made the right choice turning down a snowy week with his cousins at a cabin in northern Ontario in favor of a relaxing (and perhaps romantic) time under the Spanish sun with his friend, Laia. But when an email from his brother DJ arrives, implicating their grandfather in some shadowy international plots involving nuclear bombs, Steve and Laia immediately put aside all thoughts of a lazy, sun-drenched vacation. In a desperate attempt to find out if Steve’s grandfather was a Cold War-era spy, they crack mysterious codes, confront violent Russian mobsters, dodge spies, unearth a bomb and avoid nudists. But the more they uncover, the more Steve wonders: whose side was Grandpa really on? Broken Arrow is the sequel to both The Missing Skull, part of The Seven Prequels and Lost Cause, part of Seven (The Series).

Black Gold

Sara Cassidy (author) Helen Flook (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459814233

Cyrus and Rudy spend the last days of summer selling dahlias, blackberries and tomatoes at their roadside stand. When a neighbor drops off a bin full of red wigglers, California earthworms that break down compost into fertilizer, Rudy and Cyrus become worm moguls as they discover just how in demand the Eisenia fetida are. Black Gold is the third book featuring Cyrus and Rudy’s adventures on the farm, following Not for Sale and Blackberry Juice.

Bagels on Board

Joan Betty Stuchner (author) Dave Whamond (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459806962

All aboard! The Bernsteins are heading off on a cruise, and Aunt Sharon offers to take care of the family pets, Lox (the fish), Creamcheese (the cat) and Bagels, an energetic puppy with a talent for escaping. Trouble is, Bagels is up to his usual disappearing act. When he turns up unexpectedly on the cruise ship, Josh and his little sister, Becky, must keep Bagels hidden. But when an onboard mystery begins to unfold involving two potential spies and a mysterious woman with a secret envelope, Bagels just might be able to help crack the case! Bagels on Board is the third book in the series about Bagels Bernstein, following Bagels Come Home and Bagels the Brave.

The Boy, the Cloud and the Very Tall Tale

Heather Smith (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459836044

Two years after the death of his mother, Ewan's father was swept away by a magical cloud. Now Ewan lives with his little sister, Flora, his Grumple and his mischievous cat, Kipper. But something about his father's disappearance has never felt right to Ewan. He is certain his father wouldn't leave willingly. When he meets Mr. So-and-So, the owner of the mysterious Notion Shop, he is inspired to take destiny into his own hands. With his grandfather’s most reliable horse, the normally timid Ewan sets off from his home in Bucket Cove on a journey that will test his belief in himself while unraveling the secrets of his father's disappearance. When he is joined by Flora and Mr. So-and-So, he comes to understand that even grown-ups sometimes struggle to process their feelings, and that showing compassion to others is the mechanism through which we can begin to show compassion to ourselves.

Ghost Girl

Brooke Carter (author) Alyssa Waterbury (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459836891

Ten-year-old Sly is spending the weekend with their fortune-telling grandmother at the mysterious Madsen Mansion. It’s Samhain, a time when the spirits can cross over into the living world, and the old mansion has secrets whispering in the rafters and unused rooms. When Sly and their grandmother hear a voice calling, Sly unlocks a cabinet that reveals a ghost girl who is trapped in a mirror. Then they accidentally speak the words of the spell that enchanted the girl in the first place, and Sly and their grandmother risk being imprisoned in the mirror as well. With the clock ticking till the end of Samhain, it’s up to Sly to solve the ghost’s riddles and puzzles and locate a long-lost book of spells in hopes of freeing them all.

Échoué

Eric Walters (author) Rachel Martinez (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459835795

Une histoire inspirante sur les hauts et les bas dans les familles. Dylan, quatorze ans, doit aller vivre avec son grand-père qu’il connaît peu, Angus. Les deux, qui sont pratiquement des étrangers, s’évitent le plus possible. Un jour, Dylan découvre un jeune épaulard (ou orque) échoué sur une plage rocheuse. Il court prévenir son grand-père qui lui dit qu’il n’y a rien à faire. Le soleil chauffe de plus en plus et l’orque risque de mourir de chaleur. Mais Dylan doit essayer de sauver l’orque. Il prend des draps et des serviettes pour couvrir la peau délicate de l’animal et se met à transporter des seaux d’eau de mer pour le garder hydraté. C’est une tâche épuisante et il faudra des heures avant que la marée remonte et que l’eau soit assez haute pour que l’orque se dégage des rochers et se libère. Angus est ému par la détermination de son petit-fils et l’aide du mieux qu’il peut. Ensemble, ils espèrent que l’orque puisse aller rejoindre sa famille qui l’appelle au loin.

Beatrice More and the Perfect Party

Alison Hughes (author) Helen Flook (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459817104

Hyperorganized perfectionist Beatrice More is determined to plan a spectacularly professional birthday party for her little sister, Sophie. But she is foiled at every turn: her mother insists on making a homemade cake (disaster!), her father offers up discount mismatched decorations (debacle!), guests are hard to find in their new neighborhood (dire!), and no gift seems remotely special enough (defeated!). Will Beatrice's organizational skills be enough to turn this party around, or will she need a little help from her friends and maybe even from Sophie herself?

Beatrice More Moves In

Alison Hughes (author) Helen Flook (illustrator)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459807624

Beatrice More is no average third-grader. She is a list-making, hyperorganized perfectionist whose laid-back parents and messy little sister consistently frustrate her high standards. And when a new house, a new neighborhood and new friends are thrown into the mix, Beatrice sends the family into a comic tailspin, all in the name of “professionalism.” Despite her most feverish organizational efforts, Beatrice ultimately discovers that some of the best experiences are the ones you can’t control.

Better Together

Nikki Tate (author)

Publisher: Orca Book Publishers ISBN: 9781459813014

Better Together explores how people gather in groups of all kinds to fulfill the basic human need for companionship. From the smallest units of parents, siblings and friends to global organizations that try to build on a foundation of common human experience to meet their goals, people working together are a powerful force for change. Too often, we look at someone and see all the ways we are different. People all around the world come together to build things, teach and entertain each other, and provide everything from better health care to good food to security and education. Better Together examines the many ways we are the same, no matter where we live.

The Smart Kid's Guide to Moving

Christine Petersen (author) Ronnie Rooney (illustrator)

Publisher: The Child's World ISBN: 9781631435416

Explores what happens when a family decides to move and provides strategies for adjusting to a new home, neighborhood, and school.

The Smart Kid's Guide to Losing a Pet

Christine Petersen (author) Ronnie Rooney (illustrator)

Publisher: The Child's World ISBN: 9781631435409

Discusses what happens when a pet dies, explores ways to remember a pet, and provides strategies for coping with grief.

The Smart Kid's Guide to Divorce

Christine Petersen (author) Ronnie Rooney (illustrator)

Publisher: The Child's World ISBN: 9781631435393

Explores what happens when parents divorce and provides strategies for coping with a changing family.

Dealing with Family Changes

Steph Giedd (author)

Publisher: The Child's World ISBN: 9781503885592

Explores how to handle family changes such as divorce, illness, loss, new siblings, and more. Additional features include a table of contents, sidebars, an infographic, Fast Facts, questions to inspire further thought, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.

Dealing with Divorce

Steph Giedd (author)

Publisher: The Child's World ISBN: 9781503885585

Explores how to process and cope with the divorce of one's parents. Additional features include a table of contents, sidebars, an infographic, Fast Facts, questions to inspire further thought, a phonetic glossary, an index, and sources for further research.