This author finds joy in the craft of language and the immersive act of stepping into another's skin, transforming the blank page into a vibrant landscape of storytelling. Driven by a deep love for words and the infinite possibilities of narrative, she creates characters that resonate with genuine emotion, evoking both laughter and tears. Her writing is a celebration of imagination, fueled by a desire to share the boundless excitement found within the art of the tale.
The story follows eleven-year-old Hank as he faces the challenges of his mother's mysterious absence. Alongside his toddler sister, Boo, he embarks on a journey to find their emergency contact, a stranger who may hold the key to their situation. This quest leads them into the complexities of social services, a new school environment, and the emotional struggle of confronting secrets about their mother. The narrative explores themes of resilience, family bonds, and the search for stability in uncertain times.
The narrative follows three dogs and a mouse from Dogtown, a shelter for stray and misfit animals, as they embark on a quest for a forever home. Their journey is filled with danger and adventure, but also highlights themes of kindness and companionship. Through their experiences, the characters discover the true meaning of home and the bonds that form between them.
A humorous and moving middle-grade, illustrated novel about a shelter that
houses stray dogs - and robot dogs! - from powerhouse authors Katherine
Applegate and Gennifer Choldenko.
A funny story about a lovable family and the best dog ever from the Newbery Honor-winning author of Al Capone Does My Shirts and the Tales from Alcatraz series. Fifth grade is not for amateurs, according to Liam. Luckily, he knows that being more than one-third nerd is not cool. Liam lives in the Bay area near San Francisco with his mom and two younger sisters. Dakota is fascinated by science and has a big personality but struggles to make friends; Izzy, a child with Down syndrome, makes friends easily and notices things that go past everyone else. Dad lives across town, but he's over a lot. And then there's Cupcake, their lovable German shepherd, who guards their basement apartment. Recently, Cupcake has a problem--she's peeing in the house. The kids need to make enough money to take her to the vet before their landlord upstairs finds out. And Mom and Dad have said if Cupcake doesn't stop, they will find her a new home. But the kids will never let Cupcake go. Can they save her? "A smart, funny, sweet story about a wonderfully real family. And their leaky dog." --JON SCIESZKA, the first National Ambassador for Young People's Literature and the award-winning author of The Stinky Cheese Man and Other Fairly Stupid Tales and The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs
An engaging adventure from a Newbery Honor-winning storyteller for readers who love the circus, and anyone who has dreamed of finding the perfect home. Four orphans have escaped from the Home for Friendless Children. One is Lucy, who used to talk and sing. No one knows why she doesn't speak anymore; silence is her protection. The orphans find work and new friends at a traveling circus. Lucy loves caring for the elephants, but she must be able to speak to them, and to warn others of danger. If Lucy doesn't find her voice, she'll be left behind when the circus goes on the rails. Meanwhile, people are searching for Lucy, and her puzzling past is about to catch up with her. This lively, heartwarming novel by the award-winning author of the Tales from Alcatraz series is full of marvels and surprises.
Set against the backdrop of Alcatraz, this charming addition to the series follows the son of a prison guard as he navigates life in a unique environment. Newbery Honor-winning author Gennifer Choldenko brings to life the intriguing dynamics of the infamous island prison, blending historical elements with engaging storytelling. Readers can expect a mix of adventure, character development, and the exploration of family and friendship in this captivating narrative.
At the core of this narrative is the touching relationship between a father and son as they navigate challenges together. The story explores themes of bravery and the importance of confronting one's fears, highlighting the emotional bond that strengthens through shared experiences. Through their journey, both characters learn valuable lessons about courage and support, making it a poignant tale of growth and resilience.
Newbery Honor–winning author Gennifer Choldenko deftly combines humor, tragedy, fascinating historical detail, and a medical mystery in this exuberant new novel.San Francisco, 1900. The Gilded Age. A fantastic time to be alive for lots of people . . . but not thirteen-year-old Lizzie Kennedy, stuck at Miss Barstow’s snobby school for girls. Lizzie’s secret passion is science, an unsuitable subject for finishing-school girls. Lizzie lives to go on house calls with her physician father. On those visits to his patients, she discovers a hidden dark side of the city—a side that’s full of secrets, rats, and rumors of the plague.The newspapers, her powerful uncle, and her beloved papa all deny that the plague has reached San Francisco. So why is the heart of the city under quarantine? Why are angry mobs trying to burn Chinatown to the ground? Why is Noah, the Chinese cook’s son, suddenly making Lizzie question everything she has known to be true? Ignoring the rules of race and class, Lizzie and Noah must put the pieces together in a heart-stopping race to save the people they love.Winner of a Los Angeles Public Library FOCAL (Friends of Children and Literature) AwardNominated Pennsylvania Young Reader’s Choice AwardsTennessee Volunteer State Book Award (Middle School division)Missouri Association of School Librarians (MASL) Readers AwardCalifornia Library Association’s Beatty Award, Eureka List
A segregated town, a hidden boy, a courageous girl - and a mystery in
desperate need of solving. San Francisco, 1900. He says he's Jing's son -
although Lizzie's never heard of him - and although he's escaped the
quarantine, he can't risk leaving the house in case he gets rounded-up too.
