A discussion guide inspired by The Girl Who Wasn’t There by Penny Joelson. About the book: For fans of Karen M. McManus and Kara Thomas comes this riveting new young adult crime thriller packed with mystery and suspense, from the acclaimed author of I Have No Secrets Nothing ever happens on Kasia’s street. And Kasia would know, because her chronic illness keeps her stuck at home, watching the outside world from her bedroom window. So when she witnesses what looks like a kidnapping, she’s not sure whether she can believe her own eyes… There had been a girl in the window across the street who must have seen something too. But when Kasia ventures out to find her, she is told the most shocking thing of all: There is no girl. Emotional and full of twists, The Girl Who Wasn’t There is perfect for readers looking for: •    teen mystery books •    diverse, complex characters •    chronic illness representation from an #ownvoices author •    books for teens that deal with social issues •    young adult suspense novels

An educator’s guide inspired by Nothing Left to Burn by Patty Blount. About the book: From the YALSA and RITA Award-nominated author of Some Boys, a smoldering new contemporary YA about love, loss and finding a place to belong. Dear Dad,  I promised Matt I’d do this—become a Junior Cadet. That I wouldn’t let you break me down. I know you hate me. Blame me for everything you lost. But that day I lost my brother and my dad. You could never be proud of me, could you? I was too “different.” So, just in case you haven’t figured it out yet, I’m saying goodbye. Maybe someday, you’ll miss me. Reece Reece’s words make her ache. Amanda understands wanting to belong. As a foster kid, the firehouse where she volunteers is the only place that feels like home. She wants to help Reece, but his dad is her boss. And she won’t risk her place as a Junior Cadet—it’s all that she has. But when a string of arsons suddenly point to Amanda, her whole world is about to go up in flames. And the only way to save themselves is to risk getting burned.

A discussion guide designed to go alongside The Nightmare Thief by Nicole Lesperance. About the book: For fans of A Snicker of Magic and The Miscalculations of Lightning Girl comes a suspenseful dark fantasy duology, perfect for middle school readers that love stories of magic and sisterhood with a dash of danger. Maren Partridge loves working in her family’s dream shop where she can hand-craft any dream imaginable. The shop has only one rule. Dreams cannot be given to a person without their consent. Maren has no problem with this — until her sister, Hallie, has an accident that leaves her in a coma. Maren’s certain she can cure Hallie with a few well-chosen dreams. And when no one is watching, she slips her a flying dream. But a strange new customer from the shop has been following Maren and knows what she did. Now she’s laid the perfect trap to blackmail Maren into creating custom nightmares for a dark and terrible purpose. As Maren gets drawn further into the sinister scheme, she must make a choice: to protect her family or to protect the town from her family’s magic.

A discussion guide inspired by Someone I Used to Know by Patty Blount. About the book: From the award-winning author of Some Boys comes an unflinching examination of rape culture that delves into a family torn apart by sexual assault. It’s been two years since the night that changed Ashley’s life. Two years since she was raped by her brother’s teammate. And a year since she sat in a court and watched as he was given a slap on the wrist sentence. But the years have done nothing to stop the pain. It’s been two years of hell for Derek. His family is totally messed up and he and his sister are barely speaking. He knows he handled it all wrong. Now at college, he has to come to terms with what happened, and the rape culture that he was inadvertently a part of that destroyed his sister’s life. When it all comes to head at Thanksgiving, Derek and Ashley have to decide if their relationship is able to be saved. And if their family can ever be whole again.

Download a free educator guide for grades 6, 7 and 8 based on THE RADIUM GIRLS: YOUNG READERS’ EDITION by Kate Moore! About the Book Explore the unbelievable true story of America’s glowing girls and their fight for justice in the young readers edition of the New York Times and USA Today bestseller The Radium Girls. This enthralling new edition includes all-new material, including a glossary, timeline, and dozens of bonus photos. Amid the excitement of the early twentieth century, hundreds of young women spend their days hard at work painting watch dials with glow-in-the-dark radium paint. The painters consider themselves lucky—until they start suffering from a mysterious illness. As the corporations try to cover up a shocking secret, these shining girls suddenly find themselves at the center of a deadly scandal. The Radium Girls adapted for young readers tells the unbelievable true story of these incredible women, whose determination to fight back saved countless lives. About the Author KATE MOORE is the Sunday Times-bestselling author of more than fifteen books across the genres of gift, humor, biography, history and children’s brand publishing. While writing The Radium Girls, Kate’s research took her all over America—to Newark and Orange, New Jersey; to New York and Washington, DC; and to Chicago and Ottawa, Illinois. She lives in London, England with her husband. Reviews A fine, moving, important work for young readers.” —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review “Moore’s personal, captivating prose [renders] this shining piece of history unforgettable.” —Booklist, STARRED review "An impeccably written young readers’ edition of an excellent work of history.” —School Library Journal “[A] lesson in corporate greed, bystander ignorance, and the power of perseverance that will inspire and educate all young revolutionaries.” —The Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books “This thrilling young readers’ edition is an essential purchase for all middle school and high school libraries." —Youth Services Book Review

Discussion & Activity Guide for Grades K, 1, 2 and 3 Prepared by We Love Children’s Books About the Book Giraffe and Zebra meet every day under their favorite tree to walk to the watering hole. But today, Giraffe isn’t there! Where could he be? Zebra spots him hiding in the tree; Giraffe has seen a spider and is scared silly. Zebra patiently talks to Giraffe and does the very best thing: supports Giraffe for as long as Giraffe needs it. About the Author Lisa Katzenberger started writing for a creative writing assignment in third grade—and she hasn’t stopped since then! She has a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and worked as a technical writer, but then she started writing short stories, novels—and now picture books! Visit her at lisakatzenberger.com. About the Illustrator Jaclyn Sinquett grew up playing in her dad’s garden, feeding worms to box turtles, and tossing french fries to seagulls at the Jersey shore. She now spends her time painting shells with her little daughter, dancing in the living room with her husband, and illustrating books for children. Her favorite color is yellow ocher. Visit her at jaclynsinquett.com. Reviews “Katzenberger tells the tale simply and directly, emphasizing the friends’ kindness and patience… Sinquett’s brightly hued cartoons delightfully express the characters’ emotions and personalities, lightening the message of the text without diminishing it.” —Kirkus Reviews

A hilarious, heartwarming picture book with subtle lessons about the importance of sharing, home, and friendship. Gil the Goldfish lives in a fishbowl with 138 pebbles—he counts them every day—and a castle. It feels TOO CROWDED! When Gil leaves his bowl in search of open spaces, he finds a world full of many interesting…and loud … and possibly dangerous creatures. It turns out that life outside the bowl might not be right for a fish. Thank goodness for Turtle, a citizen of the not-so-great outdoors who comes to Gil’s rescue! Will Gil make peace with his home sweet home, and maybe even find room for a friend in the process? “The story is a satisfying balance of familiar and fresh, with an endearing protagonist and an especially timely message about isolation and connection… Utterly delightful.”** —Kirkus Reviews, STARRED review**

A Discussion Guide for ages 14+ (grades 8+) around The Castle School (for Troubled Girls). From New York Times bestselling author Alyssa Sheinmel comes the emotional story of a grieving teenager sent to a boarding school that is nothing like she expected. When Moira Dreyfuss’s parents announce that they’re sending her to an all-girls boarding school deep in the Maine woods, Moira isn’t fooled. She knows her parents are punishing her; she’s been too much trouble since her best friend, Nathan, died—and for a while before that. At the Castle School, isolated from the rest of the world, Moira will be expected to pour her heart out to the odd headmaster, Dr. Prince. But she isn’t interested in getting over Nathan’s death or befriending her fellow students. On her first night there, Moira hears distant music. On her second, she discovers the lock on her window is broken. On her third, she and her roommate venture outside…and learn that they’re not so isolated after all. There’s another, very different, Castle School nearby—this one filled with boys whose parents sent them away, too. Moira is convinced that the Castle Schools and the doctors who run them are hiding something. But exploring the schools will force Moira to confront her overwhelming grief—and the real reasons her parents sent her away. Praise for The Castle School (for Troubled Girls): “Achingly beautiful. Moira’s story gripped me from the first page and held me fast long after I finished reading.” —Gilly Segal, New York Times bestselling co-author of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight "Hooked me from page one. I couldn’t stop reading until I had every single answer.”—Francesca Zappia, author of Eliza and Her Monsters* “Beneath the trappings of a fast-paced mystery, this novel holds a heartrending exploration of adolescent grief… Memorable.”—Booklist “Complex and layered… A heartfelt exploration of grief, guilt, and recovery.”—School Library Journal “Mental health awareness wrapped in a captivating storyline.”—Kirkus “An effective exploration of mental illness, and it will share a coveted place on reading lists with Laurie Halse Anderson and Patricia McCormick.”—BCCB Also by Alyssa Sheinmel: ***A Danger to Herself and Others * What Kind of Girl

**Perfect for fans of You comes a classic sort of love story…except somebody may wind up dead. Logan thinks he and Delilah are meant to be. Delilah doesn’t know who Logan is. Logan believes no one knows Delilah like him. He makes sure of it by learning everything he can by watching her through a hidden camera. Some might call him a stalker. Logan prefers to be called “romantic”. Delilah is keeping secrets though, deadly ones. There’s so much more to her than meets the eye. Logan is determined to make Delilah the heroine in his twisted fantasy and he’ll do anything to get what he wants. Delilah is done with the men in her life controlling her. If Logan won’t let her go…she’ll make him. “Sutanto has crafted a page-turning work of suspense that questions the line between romantic “research” and stalking in the age of the internet, analyzing the roles played by abuse, misogyny, racism, and violence in contemporary relationships.” -Booklist “Set against a Northern California private school backdrop, the sensational plot is riddled with twists that come at a furious pace…A suspenseful page-turner.” -Kirkus Reviews “This tense, quick-moving thriller is also a thought-provoking story about the different shapes of abuse. Fans of high-drama fiction with a dark edge, like Karen McManus’s One of Us Is Lying or Gretchen McNeil’s #murdertrending, will be hooked.” -School Library Journal

From the #1 NEW YORK TIMES bestselling authors of P IS FOR PTERODACTYL comes another hilarious, fresh look at the English language! “Those who love wordplay are the natural constituency for No Reading Allowed: The Worst Read-Aloud Book Ever, a picture book that’s bright with comic scenes… [and] brilliant pairings of picture and word (and word with word).” - The Wall Street Journal The hero had super vision. The hero had supervision. Man, a tea sounds great. Manatee sounds great! Sir Francis Bacon Sir, France is bakin’! What is going on here?! You can’t believe everything you hear! A single word can have many different meanings. And sometimes two words that sound alike can be spelled completely differently. Ptolemy the pterodactyl is back to show us all how absurd and fun language can be when homophones, homonyms, and tricky punctuation are at play! No Reading Allowed allows children and their parents to laugh together while also learning something new. Perfect for baby gifts, birthday gifts, teacher gifts, and anyone who finds humor in the absurdity of the English language.

**“This book should be required reading. Not only is this message great for kids, but it’s also a powerful reminder of how caring adults can help children feel safer.” --Loanna Davis, director of children’s programs, Futures Without Violence You have the power to protect yourself and others!** What does it mean to be safe? Does it mean beating a throw to home plate? Does it mean never taking risks? No! Being safe is about feeling secure, feeling protected and being responsive—no matter the environment or situation. You can be safe in so many simple ways. From being aware of your limits to creating healthy boundaries. By not giving in to peer pressure and by standing up to bullies. And by being safe on the Internet, or knowing the right time to get a caring adult’s help. This addition to the award-winning What Does It Mean to Be…? series is the perfect book to spark meaningful dialogue and ensure every child knows what it means to be safe.

**“A beautiful, tender and thoughtful meditation on finding your way.” —Nicola Yoon, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Everything, Everything and *The Sun Is Also a Star * Sometimes the best path is the unexpected one.** Jack is on the verge for leaving for college, but before he does, he wants to track down his estranged brother, Alex and find some closure in the wake of their father’s death. Meanwhile, Hallie has just found out some upsetting news about a friend in Oregon, and she has a small window to go see him before it’s too late. Jack and Hallie are practically strangers. They shared a class together years ago and haven’t seen each other since, though they have more in common than they’d ever imagine. And when fate puts them into the same rideshare to the bus terminal, it kicks off an unconventional and hysterical adventure that may lead them to their own true selves…and maybe to each other. “A soul-filling, raw, love song of a novel.”**—Jennifer Niven, #1 New York Times bestselling author of All the Bright Places ** Additional praise for Where the Road Leads Us: ** “Robin Reul tackles tough topics with a nuanced, often hilarious, touch. A lovely, compassionate, compulsive read.” —Kathleen Glasgow, New York Times bestselling author of Girl in Pieces and How to Make Friends with the Dark “Propels you through a heartfelt adventure. I couldn’t put it down.”—Jeff Garvin, author of Lambda Literary Award finalist Symptoms of Being Human ** “Anyone who has faced loss and uncertainty in their life will relate to this emotionally honest, hopeful book.”—Misa Sugiura, author of It’s Not Like It’s a Secret and This Time Will Be Different Also by Robin Reul: My Kind of Crazy

**“Immersive and captivating. Thrilling in every sense of the word.” –KAREN M. MCMANUS, #1 New York Times bestselling author of One of Us is Lying and One of Us is Next From #1 *New York Times *bestselling author Marieke Nijkamp comes a shocking new thriller about a group of friends who go to a cabin to play a murder mystery game…only to have the game turned against them. ** FIVE friends go to a cabin. FOUR of them are hiding secrets. THREE years of history bind them. TWO are doomed from the start. ONE person wants to end this. NO ONE IS SAFE. For five friends, this was supposed to be one last getaway before going their separate ways—a chance to say goodbye to each other, and to the game they’ve been playing for the past three years. But they’re all dealing with their own demons, and they’re all hiding secrets. Finn doesn’t trust anyone since he was attacked a few months ago. Popular girl Liva saw it happen and did nothing to stop it. Maddy was in an accident that destroyed her sports career. Carter is drowning under the weight of his family’s expectations. Ever wants to keep the game going for as long as they can, at all costs. When the lines between game and reality start to blend with deadly consequences, it’s a race against time before it’s game over—forever. Are you ready to play? Perfect for readers who love: • teenage mystery books or YA horror • LGBT stories about intersectional groups of friends • Karen McManus, Gretchen McNeil, or Natasha Preston Praise for Even If We Break: “The darkly twisted ode to self-discovery briskly whisks an intersectionally inclusive group through a reasonably stormy, emotionally charged scenario that considers the sometimes-steep price of growing up and growing apart.”**—Publishers Weekly*** “An engaging read, providing readers with some solid suspense, and twists to sink their teeth into.”—Booklist *** “A fast-paced thriller that will leave you both gushing over the geekiness and gasping over the game.”—Rachel Strolle, Glenside Public Library District More Teen Thrillers by Marieke Nijkamp: This Is Where It Ends Before I Let Go

**A New York Times Bestseller A “page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end” (School Library Journal) about a road trip in a snowstorm that turns into bone-chilling disaster, from New York Times bestselling mystery author and “master of tension” (BCCB) Natalie D. Richards. She thought being stranded was the worst thing that could happen. She was wrong.** Mira needs to get home for the holidays. Badly. But when an incoming blizzard results in a canceled connecting flight, it looks like she might get stuck at the airport indefinitely. And then Harper, Mira’s glamorous seatmate from her initial flight, offers her a ride. Harper and her three friends can drop Mira off on their way home. But as they set off, Mira realizes fellow travelers are all total strangers. And every one of them is hiding something. Soon, roads go from slippery to terrifying. People’s belongings are mysteriously disappearing. Someone in the car is clearly lying, and may even be sabotaging the trip—but why? And can Mira make it home alive, or will this nightmare drive turn fatal? Perfect for readers who love: • YA horror books for teens • Mystery books for teens • Natasha Preston, Megan Miranda, Karen McManus and Ruth Ware Praise for Five Total Strangers: “A twisty thrill ride that will leave you breathless. I stayed up after midnight just to see how it all ended.”—April Henry, New York Times bestselling author of Girl, Stolen “Richards is a master of tension. Suspense fans will get all the ups-and-downs of a well-paced narrative, but they may never want to drive on a snowy road again.”*—BCCB*** “A page-turning thriller that will keep readers guessing until the very end. Just the kind of fun book one needs for a hot summer day or a cold winter’s night.”***—School Library Journal *** “High thrill factor.”***—Booklist*** Also by Natalie D. Richards: Six Months Later Gone Too Far My Secret to Tell One Was Lost We All Fall Down What You Hide

Based on a true story, the tale of one girl’s perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none. Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: “They’re like us barefoot peasants and indios – they’re not meant to go far.” But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border – a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality. “A brilliant and authentic historical novel about a young woman’s struggle for freedom. Petra Luna’s dream will fill your heart with courage” **—Francisco X. Stork, award-winning author of Illegal

From the author of The Wolf of Cape Fen comes a beautiful and lyrical story about one family with magic in their bones, and what happens when we have to give up what we love most. For generations, Sybaline Shaw’s family has lived in an enchanted valley in the Appalachian Mountains, using their magic to help grow the land. But now the government has built a dam that will force the Shaws to relocate, and they’re running out of time before their home will be flooded. Syabline and her cousin Nettle can’t imagine life without the valley and its magic, so they decide to stay. Using magic, they build an invisible wall around their home. As the water rises, they learn a terrible truth: the water will continue to rise, leaving them to live beneath the lake itself. There is also a consequence to using magic selfishly, one that might transform both her and Nettle forever. If she can’t find a way to escape, Syballine and the ones she loves could be trapped in the valley forever. “[Kids] expecting a big move may find comfort in Sybaline’s eventual acceptance of her need to leave the valley.” —BCCB “A Wilder Magic, with its beautiful imagery, relevant themes and inspiring female characters, is vividly enchanting.” —Shelf Awareness

With pictures from the illustrator behind Last Week Tonight’s A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo, this delightfully punny story about ocean life, conservation, and cooperation is perfect for sparking conversations in the classroom and at home. Walt is a proud lobstah whose greatest dream is winning the annual Swell Gahdens contest. But year after year that honor always goes to his chowdah-head neighbor Milton. One day, when heaps of gahbage show up in their yahds, the rival lobstahs must join forces to save their beloved gahdens from the trash floating down from above. Our oceans are beautiful, colorful, diverse ecosystems that are home to over a million species of underwater creatures. Unfortunately, humans are putting our friends under the sea at risk by polluting Earth’s oceans daily. Lobstah Gahden will help kids understand the importance of conservation, and additional backmatter about sea life and pollution will give readers practical ways they can help preserve our oceans.

**“Fans of true-crime murder mysteries won’t want to miss this one.” —Booklist, STARRED Review Stalking Jack the Ripper meets Devil in the White City in this terrifying historical fiction debut about one of the world’s most notorious serial killers. ** In order to save her sister, Zuretta takes a job at an infamous house of horrors—but she might never escape. Zuretta never thought she’d encounter a monster. She had resigned herself to a quiet life in Utah. But when her younger sister, Ruby, travels to Chicago during the World’s Fair, and disappears, Zuretta leaves home to find her. But 1890s Chicago is more dangerous and chaotic than she imagined. She doesn’t know where to start until she learns of her sister’s last place of employment…a mysterious hotel known as The Castle. Zuretta takes a job there hoping to learn more. And before long she realizes the hotel isn’t what it seems. Women disappear at an alarming rate, she hears crying from the walls, and terrifying whispers follow her at night. In the end, she finds herself up against one of the most infamous mass murderers in American history—and his custom-built death trap. With real, terrifying quotes in front of each chapter, strong female characters, and unbearable suspense, The Perfect Place to Die is perfect for fans of true crime, horror, and the Stalking Jack the Ripper series.

**Featuring a rogue group of determined animals who love nothing more than a challenge and a flustered, helpless narrator, this hilarious picture book about animal habitats on every continent will have kids (and their adults!) laughing every time they pick it up. ** Turtles are found on every continent EXCEPT Antarctica. But not for long! When a David Attenborough-esque narrator explains that turtles are found everywhere except Antarctica, one determined turtle sets out to prove him wrong. After recruiting other non-Antarctic animals along the way—much to the narrator’s dismay—the turtle and his adventurous friends travel through fields, forests, and cross an entire ocean to reach their goal. But what exactly do they do once they get there? Perfect for anyone who’s ever gone a little too far to prove a point, this nature-documentary-gone-wrong is a gleefully funny lesson in persistence—and the beauty of having a contingency plan

Based on a true story, the tale of one girl’s perilous journey to cross the U.S. border and lead her family to safety during the Mexican Revolution It is 1913, and twelve-year-old Petra Luna’s mama has died while the Revolution rages in Mexico. Before her papa is dragged away by soldiers, Petra vows to him that she will care for the family she has left—her abuelita, little sister Amelia, and baby brother Luisito—until they can be reunited. They flee north through the unforgiving desert as their town burns, searching for safe harbor in a world that offers none. Each night when Petra closes her eyes, she holds her dreams close, especially her long-held desire to learn to read. Abuelita calls these barefoot dreams: “They’re like us barefoot peasants and indios—they’re not meant to go far.” But Petra refuses to listen. Through battlefields and deserts, hunger and fear, Petra will stop at nothing to keep her family safe and lead them to a better life across the U.S. border—a life where her barefoot dreams could finally become reality.