Elissa Brent Weissman crafts engaging narratives for young readers, celebrated for her popular Nerd Camp series. Her writing delves into the complexities of adolescence and the dynamics of friendship with a signature blend of humor and empathy. Weissman excels at exploring themes of self-discovery and belonging, creating relatable characters who navigate the challenges of growing up. Her distinctive voice and insightful portrayal of youthful experiences resonate deeply with her audience.
From their homes in New York and New Zealand, cousins Noah and Nora have a competition to decide who can have the world's best Hanukkah, winter or summer, but as the eight nights of Hanukkah go on, they realize they have more in common than they thought.
When Ash gets kicked off her school's news show, she becomes a renegade reporter--and makes a big discovery about technology and her fellow students' privacy. Ash and her friends are reporters. They were ready to lead their school news show, The News at Nine, sponsored by Van Ness Media, when an unfortunate incident involving a dancing teacher, an irresponsibly reported story, and a viral video got them kicked off the crew. So Ash, Maya, and Brielle decide to start their own news show, The Underground News. And soon they stumble on a big lead: Van Ness Media, the educational company that provides their school's software, has been gathering data from all the kids at school. Their drawings, their journals, even their movements are being recorded and cataloged by Van Ness Media. But why? Ash and her friends are determined to learn the truth and report it.
This collection showcases childhood works from prominent children’s authors and illustrators, highlighting their early creativity and the unique perspectives that shaped their storytelling. Award-winning author Elissa Brent Weissman curates these quirky and insightful pieces, offering a glimpse into the formative experiences that influenced these writers and artists, while celebrating the inspiration they continue to provide in the literary world today.
Imani is adopted, and she's ready to search for her birth parents. Anna has left behind her family to escape from Holocaust-era Europe to meet a new family--two journeys, one shared family history, and the bonds that make us who we are. Perfect for fans of The Night Diary. Imani knows exactly what she wants as her big bat mitzvah gift: to find her birth parents. She loves her family and her Jewish community in Baltimore, but she has always wondered where she came from, especially since she's black and almost everyone she knows is white. Then her mom's grandmother--Imani's great-grandma Anna--passes away, and Imani discovers an old journal among her books. It's Anna's diary from 1941, the year she was twelve and fled Nazi-occupied Luxembourg alone, sent by her parents to seek refuge in Brooklyn, New York. Anna's diary records her journey to America and her new life with an adoptive family of her own. And as Imani reads the diary, she begins to see her family, and her place in it, in a whole new way.
The continuation of the beloved Nerd Camp series introduces bite-size stories that capture the essence of camp life and the adventures of nerdy kids. These brief tales promise humor, friendship, and relatable experiences, appealing to both fans of the series and new readers alike. Each story highlights the charm and excitement of being a nerd at camp, making it an engaging read for young audiences.
Gabe eagerly anticipates returning to Nerd Camp for another fun-filled summer, but his excitement wanes when he discovers that a wildfire has forced his camp to share its grounds with the camp attended by his cool stepbrother, Zack. This unexpected twist sets the stage for potential rivalry and adventure, as Gabe navigates the challenges of blending the two camps. The story is enhanced with illustrations, adding a visual element to Gabe's summer experience.
A twelve-year-old protagonist navigates the complexities of the stock market in this engaging middle grade novel. As the young character dives into finance, the story explores themes of ambition, responsibility, and the challenges of growing up while managing money. Publishers Weekly highlights it as a clever choice for young readers, blending education with entertainment in a relatable way.
For ten-year-old Gabe, the Summer Center for Gifted Enrichment is all that he dreamed it would be, but he must work hard to write about the fun in letters to Zach, his cool future stepbrother, without revealing that it is a camp for "nerds."
Fara's journey of self-expression begins with her decision to wear mismatched socks at the end of fifth grade. However, as she transitions to middle school, she grapples with the desire to be recognized for her ideas instead of her unique fashion choice. This internal conflict highlights her struggle for identity and the pressure of fitting in, as she seeks to redefine herself beyond her initial statement of individuality.