Young Readers Fiction

Hunger Games for short stories! Paranormal, steampunk, fantasy, and sci-fi! Twelve young adult short stories compete for the coveted spot: a novel that will tell us What Happens Next!

Are you brave? When the mysterious Amelia Pigeon turns up at Kirby's bedroom window in the dead of night, this is the question she asks him, right before they tumble into a world of ancient malevolent spirits. Kirby isn't feeling brave at all. His mother is in a coma, and he's hardly talking to his dad. He's convinced a spider is spying on him, and now a weird girl is dragging him into unknown danger....

"The Reluctant Dragon" is an 1898 children's story by Kenneth Grahame, originally published as a chapter in his book Dream Days. It is Grahame's most famous short story, arguably better known than Dream Days itself or the related The Golden Age. It can be seen as a prototype to most modern stories in which the dragon is a sympathetic character rather than a threat.

July 20, 1969. It’s a day that has earned a spot in history. It’s the day that America was the first nation to succeed in sending two astronauts - Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong - to the moon. But what led to this unforgettable event? What were the stakes riding on the Apollo 11’s safe landing? In acclaimed author Douglas Brinkley’s first young readers' edition, space fans will get the riveting and factual backstory of arguably the most significant achievement of the 20th century.

A story of friendship, courage and a bit of crime. Bridget wants a quiet life, including, if possible, keeping her parents out of prison. Then a boy called Menzies makes her an offer she can't refuse, and they set off on a job of their own. It's a desperate, daring plan, to rescue two kids, Jamal and Bibi, from a desert detention centre. Can Bridget and Menzies pull off their very first jail break, or will they end up behind bars too? Sometimes to help a friend, you have to dig deep.

In the young readers’ edition of his New York Times best-selling book, Fox News anchor Bret Baier examines the historic transition and Eisenhower’s last chance to lead the country he loved through his legendary farewell address and his personal appeals to Kennedy. Baier paints a vivid picture of the contrasts between old and new at the beginning of a decisive decade in American history. Eisenhower and Kennedy were very different men.

When Christy travels alone to a nearby mountain, she vows to discover the truth behind the terrifying legend of a strange mountain creature. But what she finds seems worse than anything she could ever have imagined!

"Marry me, Christy," David whispered. Christy should be thrilled when David, the handsome minister, proposes marriage. So why do thoughts of Doctor Neil MacNeill keep popping into her head? Before she can answer David, Christy is blinded in a terrible riding accident, and all her dreams are threatened.

Jack knows every wrestling move there is to know, and his dreams come true when he's recruited as a training assistant to Waldo's Wrestling Trolls. Little does Jack know that he's actually part troll, and that when his new family is in trouble he morphs into the terrifying Thud! He'll have to build a team of wrestling trolls to take on Lord Veto's evil orcs at the tournament of tournaments.

Twelve-year-old Ann understands there is only one thing to be grateful for as a slave: having her family together. But when the master falls into debt, he plans to sell both Ann and her younger brother to two different owners. Ann is convinced her family must run away on the Underground Railroad. Will Ann's family survive the dangerous trip to their freedom in the North? This Girls Survive story is supported by a glossary, discussion questions, and nonfiction material on the Underground Railroad, making it a valuable resource for young listeners.

Winner of the Catholic Writer's Guild Seal of Approval, Martyrs is the story of Father Sebastian Rale, a little-known missionary who lived among the Abenaki people from 1689-1724. In this riveting adventure, listeners travel into the Maine wilderness and witness the heart of a true martyr for the faith. In the aftermath of the bloody war between the British and indigenous people of Massachusetts, the conflict moved north where British aggression into Abenaki lands fueled fierce battles. Martyrs is an unforgettable account of courage, faith, and enduring friendship.

En Bruno i l’Andy són cosins i són idèntics, i com als nois de la seva edat, de tant en tant, els agrada fer ximpleries. Així, al primer se li acut que durant les vacances es podrien intercanviar els papers: l’Andy marxarà a Sicília amb els pares d’en Bruno i en Bruno anirà a Menorca amb els pares de l’Andy. Però la rebuda dels cosins sicilians no és com l’Andy s’esperava. Què devia fer-los en Bruno l’estiu passat?

A New York Times Outstanding Book of the Year.Joe's decision to leave home is prompted by despair over his Mother's blindness to his younger brother's talents and his older brother's drug addiction.

When a new kid comes to Queen's school, riding a broken bike and wearing run-over shoes, he immediately becomes the butt of everyone's jokes. Queen's parents insist she be nice to Leroy, but Queen doesn't see why she should. Leroy isn't just smelly; Queen thinks that he tells fibs - whoppers, in fact. And when he says he's an African prince from Senegal, sparks begin to fly. Queen is determined to prove that Leroy is an impostor.

Everyone in Peter Powers' family has super awesome superpowers. His dad controls fire with his mind, and his mom can fly. His big brother makes copies of himself, and his little sister is super strong. And his baby brother even turns invisible! But all Peter can do is - this is really embarrassing - make ice cubes with his fingertips. When Captain Tornado comes to town and begins robbing banks, will Peter Powers and his totally lame abilities step up to save the day - or will he get cold feet?

Everyone in Peter Powers' family has super awesome superpowers - except Peter. All he can do is make ice cubes and freeze little stuff. He's also afraid of insects. (And why wouldn't he be? The pests are creepy and crawly and like to bite.) Too bad that two new villains have come to town, bringing swarms of bugs with them. With the town overrun by hordes of insects, will Peter be able to chill out and conquer his fear? Or will he let the insects - and his fears - get the best of him?

Born into slavery, young Booker T. Washington could only dream of learning to read and write. After emancipation, Booker began a 500-mile journey, mostly on foot, to Hampton Institute, taking his first of many steps toward a college degree. When he arrived, he had just 50 cents in his pocket and a dream about to come true. The young slave who once waited outside of the schoolhouse would one day become a legendary educator of freedmen.

Growing up as the child of former sharecroppers in a segregated Baltimore, Elijah Cummings saw firsthand how injustice could run rampant, even in a democracy that promises fairness and equality. But with a strong support system and fiery self-discipline, Elijah utilized the momentum of the civil rights movement to overcome the obstacles of poverty and racism to effect change at a time when our country so badly needed it.

This young readers’ edition from New York Times best-selling author and Fox News anchor Bret Baier dives into the first of the secret World War II meetings between President Franklin Roosevelt, Winston Churchill, and Joseph Stalin, which would shape the world for decades to come.

As she grows up in a generation that is busier and more distracted than ever, your tween girl will love the fun vibe and practical ideas in Grace, Not Perfection for Young Readers by best-selling author, creator of the Simplified Planner, and organizational expert Emily Ley.