A. LaFaye

When Dede sees a notice offering land to black people in Kansas, her family decides to give up their life of sharecropping to become homesteading pioneers in the Midwest. Inspired by the true story of Nicodemus, Kansas, a town founded in the late 1870s by Exodusters--former slaves leaving the Jim Crow South in search of a new beginning--this fictional story follows Dede and her parents as they set out to stake and secure a claim, finally allowing them to have a home to call their own.

Bartholomew Botts loves pets—but his teacher, Mr. Patanoose, says No Frogs in School! So what will happen when Bartholomew’s beloved creatures meet up with Mr. Patanoose’s rules? Lots of FUN! Hoppy pets, hairy pets, scaly pets: Bartholomew Botts loves them all. And he doesn’t want to go to school without one. Unfortunately, when Bartholomew brings his brand-new frog to class, his teacher, Mr. Patanoose, declares: "No frogs in school!" How will Bartholomew keep his animal friends close at hand . . . and follow Mr. Patanoose's rules, too?Illustrated with energetic and humorous artwork, this back-to-school story will be a favorite with every animal-loving kid!

Born into a family with artistry in their fingers, Lyza laments that her only talent is carving letters into wood. That is until her life is turned upside down when her mother succumbs to the influenza pandemic of 1918, which is devastating their small coastal town in Maine. With her mother gone, Lyza must protect her eccentric father, who runs the risk of being committed, especially now that he claims he's waiting for the return of his dead wife. Can Lyza save her father and find her own path in the process?

Having been sent from New York City via the Orphan Train in order to help a man work his farm, young John isn't received well by the biological son who, due to his physical limitations, is unable to fulfill his duties alongside his father, but with time, both boys come to an understanding and accept that there is more than enough room for the two of them to live in peace and friendship. Reprint.