Maizy Chen’s Last Chance

When her grandfather falls ill, Maizy Chen and her mother move to Last Chance, Minnesota, to help run the family restaurant, The Golden Palace. But life here is far different from Maizy’s home in Los Angeles. To help Maizy understand why they are the only Asian Americans in town, her grandfather begins to share stories about his own grandfather’s journey to America. As they follow Maizy’s experiences, readers will learn about early Chinese American history and how elements from that era still linger in the present day.

Behind Rebel Lines: The Incredible Story of Emma Edmonds, Civil War Spy

When the Civil War began in 1861, thousands of volunteers answered President Lincoln’s call to fight. Disguising herself as a man, Canadian-born Emma Edmonds became a spy for the Union Army. This fictionalized biography takes readers on Edmonds’s adventures as she goes undercover behind Confederate lines, all while concealing her true identity. A short read, this book is perfect for students who love historical fiction.

The Seventh Most Important Thing

After attacking an eccentric local known as the Junk Man, 13-year-old Arthur thinks he’s going to juvie. But instead, he’s sentenced to community service working with his victim. The Junk Man tasks Arthur with collecting what he calls the Seven Most Important Things: cardboard, glass bottles, foil, wood pieces, lightbulbs, cans, and mirrors. Arthur soon realizes the Junk Man has an incredible plan for their pickings. Inspired by the work of American folk artist James Hampton, this historical novel offers lessons on redemption and the power of art.

Solo

Blade never asked for a life of luxury, nor the drama surrounding his washed-up rockstar father’s failures. His only solace is Chapel, his girlfriend, but her parents refuse to let them date. Between the possibility of losing Chapel and his father’s battle with addiction, Blade feels like life is hopeless—until a long-held family secret comes to light. This novel follows Blade’s journey of self-discovery through Kwame Alexander’s signature verse writing. Themes of substance abuse and death make this book better suited for older readers.

In the Wild Light

Having lost his mother to an opioid addiction, Cash’s life hasn’t been easy, but he finds comfort in the nature surrounding his small Appalachian town and in his best friend, Delaney. But when Delaney secures them full scholarships to an elite East Coast prep school, Cash must decide whether or not he should leave behind his ailing grandparents and the town he loves for a chance at a better life.

Girl in Pieces

Charlotte Davis has lost so much: her father, her best friend, her mother, and her home. After a suicide attempt and time under psychiatric care, Charlotte goes to live with a friend in Arizona. Determined to get her life back on track, Charlotte tries her best in this new environment, but challenges threaten to drive her back to self harm. With depictions of cutting, physical abuse, and substance use, Girl in Pieces is better suited for mature readers.

Firekeeper’s Daughter

Daunis Fontaine feels like an outcast, both in her hometown and on the nearby Ojibwe reservation. She dreams of going to college and starting fresh, but after witnessing a shocking murder, her life is upended. Agreeing to go undercover for the FBI, Daunis must use her knowledge of chemistry and Ojibwe traditional medicine to aid their investigation into a lethal new drug. But as she draws closer to the truth, Daunis must decide how far she’ll go to protect her community.

Available May 2, 2023!

Answers In the Pages

After fifth-grader Donovan’s mother reads a book he brought home from school, she tries to get it removed from the curriculum, all because she believes the main characters are gay. Soon, the whole community is up in arms over the book. Through three connected storylines that middle grade readers will enjoy, Answers in the Pages explores the issue of book banning and the importance of standing up for your beliefs.

Available May 9, 2023!

These Violent Delights

This imaginative retelling of Romeo and Juilet takes readers to the streets of 1920s Shanghai. Two rival gangs fight for control of the city: the Scarlets, led by the former flapper Juliette Cai; and the White Flowers, led by Roma Montagov, Juliette’s former lover turned enemy. But after mysterious forces cause the violent deaths of gang members on both sides, Juliette and Roma must set aside their grudges to stop the carnage.

Available May 30, 2023!