Kirjahaku

Sticks & Stones by Abby Cooper is a feel-good middle grade debut with just a dash of magic... Ever since she was a baby, the words people use to describe Elyse have instantly appeared on her arms and legs. At first it was just "cute" and "adorable," but as she's gotten older and kids have gotten meaner, words like "loser" and "pathetic" appear, and those words bubble up and itch. And then there are words like "interesting," which she's not really sure how to feel about. Now, at age twelve, she's starting middle school, and just when her friends who used to accept and protect her are drifting away, she receives an anonymous note saying "I know who you are, and I know what you're dealing with. I want to help." As Elyse works to solve the mystery of who is sending her these notes, she also finds new ways to accept who she is and to become her best self. Fans of Wonder by R.J. Palacio will enjoy this book for its similar writing style, compelling characters, and upbeat tone...A quirky, clever, and lighthearted look at what it means to accept oneself..." --School Library Journal

Author Kwame Alexander writes books for children of all ages. His book The Crossover won the Newbery Medal in 2015. Learn more about his writing success

Author Kwame Alexander writes books for children of all ages. His book The Crossover won the Newbery Medal in 2015. Learn more about his writing success

One creative middle-schooler discovers that the best friend a girl can have is the one she makes herself in this charming magical realism adventure. Jade's life hasn't exactly been normal lately, especially since her dad's cancer diagnosis. Jade wishes her family could leave their no-name town in Colorado already--everybody else does sooner or later, including every best friend Jade's ever had. So she makes one up. In the pages of her notebook, she writes all about Zoe--the most amazing best friend anyone could dream of. But when pretend Zoe appears in real life thanks to a magical experiment gone right, Jade isn't so sure if she likes sharing her imaginary friend with the real world. To keep her best friend (and even make some new ones), Jade learns how to cope with jealousy, that friends should let friends be true to themselves, and that maybe the perfect best friend doesn't exist after all.

In this book, readers will learn about anxiety in themselves and others, how and why they feel it, how to best respond to it, and how to communicate these feelings. Social and emotional learning (SEL) concepts support growth mindset throughout, while Try This and Grow with Goals activities at the end of the book further reinforce the content. Vibrant, full-color photos and carefully leveled text engage young readers as they learn more about states of mind and emotions. Also includes sidebars, a table of contents, glossary, index, and tips for educators and caregivers. I Feel Anxious is part of Jump 's States of Mind series.

Turning Red meets The Giver in this novel about a town where everyone agrees to think positively--but one girl, whose emotions manifest as colors, can't hide her true feelings. In Serenity, Minnesota, everyone looks on the bright side, and that's on purpose: to live in this town, people have to agree to talk positively and only focus on the good things in life. For twelve-year-old Mackenzie Werner, who has the rare gift of her emotions showing up as a colorful haze around her body, this town seems like the perfect place; she'll never face the embarrassment of a grumbly grapefruit smog if everyone and everything is set up to be happy. But when a documentary maker comes to town and starts asking questions, Mackenzie, overwhelmed with emotion, can't hold her haze back--and it explodes onto the whole town. Now everyone has their own haze, revealing their real feelings. As Mackenzie learns that emotions go beyond surface level, the whole town must reckon with what it means now that these true colors are on display.