Eric Walters

Redheaded orphan Sam can’t seem to stay out of trouble. His latest incident — defending himself by hitting the high school quarterback in the face with a can of soda — lands him in the Johnson “Blue Gables” Juvenile Center while he awaits trial. Sam needs to keep his nose clean, but can he control his temper when he’s targeted by a long-term Gables resident? When Sam is given a reading assignment, he thinks he’ll have no interest in a classic book about another redheaded orphan. But he soon realizes that he’s found a kindred spirit in the book, and maybe even an unexpected source of hope.

A child donates a can of food to their school food drive. But in an unexpected twist, they come to understand what it means to give and receive. A child is excited to donate a can of their favorite Zoodelicious to the school food drive. Their teacher has explained that the food will be given to people in need, along with mittens from the “mitten tree.” In the classroom, there’s a carpet with one hundred squares, and the goal is to fill each square with a can of food. When the child places their can of Zoodelicious on square 100, everyone cheers, and the teacher puts a snowflake sticker on top to celebrate. But a few days later, the child finds the same can of Zoodelicious among the groceries their mom has brought home. And there’s a pair of red mitts, too. “Mom, are we the people in need?” the child asks. The next morning, after having thought of all the people who will receive food from the school and wondering what else they might need, the child donates their too-small blue mittens to the mitten tree at school. Created by an award-winning team, One Can tells a timely and touching story of a child who learns to give and receive—and wants only to give again in return. Key Text Features dialogue illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details.

When all technology breaks down and he's far from home, thirteen-year-old Jamie learns he's stronger (and braver) than he thought he was in this dystopian adventure. Thirteen-year-old Jamie's plane is just taking off when something goes terribly wrong. The lights go out, communications halts and the engine stops. After a bumpy landing, Jamie realizes it's not just his flight. All the other planes have been grounded too. And every car on the road has stopped in its tracks. And no one's cell phone is working. Technology has shut down, and no one knows why. Soon, it becomes clear that this disaster is anything but local, and people begin to panic. Jamie is now stranded 1,200 miles away from home and the world is in chaos. With the help of the plane's flight crew, a group of fellow passengers and a rescued dog named Godzilla, Jamie must make the long, perilous journey home. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Dramatic, gripping, and moving, this sequel to the award-winning We All Fall Down will captivate readers. It's September 12th, 2001, and New York City is at a standstill: somber, bleak and shocked in the aftermath of the World Trade Center attacks. Will knows he and his father are lucky to have escaped; others, like his best friend James' father are still missing . . . and soon presumed to be dead. Poignant and dramatic, United We Stand is a young adult novel about heartache, self-discovery, and the power of friendship.

When a Division One coach comes to their smaller school to bring the football program up to contender status, Moose and the rest of the players on the team are pumped. Coach Barnes has new ideas and a vision for the future--nothing is too good for his players. With a new training regimen, everything seems to be on a winning track. But when Moose and others are offered steroids, tempers start to fray and the teammates have to decide whose side they are on. Juice is a compelling story about the pressures and temptations that are faced by many in the competitive world of high-school athletics. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

It's just a normal day in Daniel's small town until reports go out about an accident at the shipping canal. Thirteen-year-old Daniel and his friend Noah race to the banks and see that two container ships have collided and are blocking the canal. Daniel watches as first responders pull the crew from the ships, and soon they discover more people on board: refugees trafficked in a shipping container. While the refugees are taken to hospital, where Daniel's mom is the head nurse, an investigation is launched, led in part by Daniel's dad, a police detective. Daniel is visiting his mom at the hospital when he meets Bol, a refugee his age from South Sudan. When Bol is too scared to be given an IV he desperately needs, Daniel offers up his arm for an IV with saline solution, and shows Bol it won't hurt. The two boys form a friendship playing video games together and communicating by learning new words in each other's language. But not everyone is so welcoming. Outside the hospital, protesters gather, chanting "Go home " Still, Daniel sees others ready and willing to help. Can the community rally and prove that love is stronger than hate? Praise for Danson Mutinda and Eric Walters: ★ "This simple story of discovery, sport, and friendship is filled with likeable characters and innocently joyful moments...Delightful."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review for Hockey Night in Kenya

Nine-year-old Andrew's parents run an animal rescue center from their home. When they get a call about a wolf hit by a vehicle, they rush to the scene to find the wolf's three orphaned wolf pups. The pups are unable to survive on their own, and the family brings them home to care for them. Andrew forms a strong bond with the pups, feeding them and even sleeping outside their pen so they feel less scared. He promises to do everything he can so the pups can be re-released into the wild. With the help of a local trapper, Andrew and his family locate the pups' old den and leave a blanket with their scent to help the pack remember them. Soon the pups are old enough for release. Even though Andrew wants them to be free, it's hard to let them go. He will miss them, but this was always the plan: for the wolves to get back to their wilderness home and rejoin their pack. Praise for Eric Walters: ★"A profound, realistic story of a multiracial family...This brilliantly written tale is a lovely introduction to the important topics of wildfires and animal sanctuaries for young readers. Great for animal lovers and children curious about nature."--School Library Journal, starred review for Bear in the Family

Her mom moved them across the country for a fresh start on life after the divorce, but sixteen-year-old Julia Anderson sure feels like her life is over. Campbell River, the small coastal town known as the Salmon Capital of the World, is a world away from the big city, the friends, and the boyfriend Jules left behind. Then Jules meets Cody, a cute and charming guy who soon becomes a friend, then something more. Their budding romance becomes complicated, however, once Jules learns that Cody’s family, the Romanos, owns a lumber mill that’s locked in a legal battle against the environmental agency Jules’s mom leads — an issue that’s divided the community in half. Hiding secret dates from parents and small-town gossips, Jules and Cody strive to navigate — or even deescalate — the mounting tension between their families, lest their relationship ends before they can find out how far it could go.

Les orphelins k nyans Kitoo et Nigosi occupent leurs journ es tudier, jouer au soccer, participer aux t ches de l'orphelinat et lire les livres de la s lection bien limit e de leur biblioth que. Quand la biblioth caire offre Kitoo un exemplaire de Les sports dans le monde, le gar on est fascin par une image de l' quipe canadienne masculine de hockey sur glace. Par un heureux hasard, Kitoo trouve une paire de vieux patins roues align es tout ab m s. Il apprend par lui-m me patiner, et r ve de jouer un jour au hockey comme les hommes dans son livre. Mais il est impossible de jouer au hockey sur glace au Kenya, n'est-ce pas ?

So what if Harmony has to be the grown-up? After months living in a foster home (again), Harmony convinces a judge that she can move back in with her mother. Her mom even finds an apartment that the social worker, Gloria, can't find fault with. But now Harmony has an even bigger battle ahead--trying to keep her mom on the straight and narrow, or at least keep Gloria from finding out when she slips. Which she does. A lot. Often left to fend for herself, Harmony finds an ally in Mr. Khaled, the owner of the convenience store across the street. He helps Harmony out with food in exchange for some part-time work. And at school, her principal seems to be on her side. Even so, it feels like Harmony's life is always one step from falling apart, and she can't really trust anyone. Harmony knows the question is less about whether she'll return to foster care and more about when she's ready to do it. Finding Harmony is the prequel to the Governor General's award-winning The King of Jam Sandwiches. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. ★ "Tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended." --School Library Journal (SLJ), starred review for The King of Jam Sandwiches

Timmy’s family might think he’s too old to misbehave, but Timmy is also the relative of wild wolves, the descendant of daring dingoes, the friend of fearless foxes, and the cousin of cunning coyotes. He’s seen other rambunctious dogs at the park, and in his wildest dreams, Timmy wonders: Why can’t he be a bad boy too? The award-winning duo of Eric Walters and Eugenie Fernandes team up to bring Timmy’s dreams to life. Though Timmy fantasizes about acting out, at the end of the day, his love for his family helps him realize that he’d rather choose to be good.

“A strong, accessible, and relevant story about modern families.” — Kirkus Reviews Jax has big plans for grade eight: seeing if his maybe-girlfriend, Samantha, will become his actual girlfriend, and being first trumpet in the school band. Enter Liv, the new girl Jax meets at band auditions. Liv’s a star on the trumpet too. In fact, she might be better than Jax. When Jax and Liv start rehearsing together, they go from duet partners to fast friends. Soon, they learn that they share something more than a love of music — something that will change their whole world and make them rethink what it means to be “family.”

Ali is an eighth-grade kid with a lot going on. Between the pressure from his immigrant parents to ace every class, his crush on Melissa, who lives in the rich area of town while he and his family live in a shabby apartment complex, and trying his best to fit in with his friends, he feels like he's being pulled in too many different directions. But harder still, Ali is becoming increasingly aware of the racism around him. Comments from his friends about Pakistani food or his skin color are passed off as jokes, but he doesn't find them funny. And when Ramadan starts, Ali doesn't tell anyone he's fasting because it just seems easier. Luckily he finds solace in putting his feelings into words--and poems. But his father is dead set against him using art as a distraction when he's got schoolwork and a future career as a doctor to focus on. Ali's world changes when he, his mom and his little brother are assaulted by some racist teens. Ali must come to terms with his roiling feelings about his place in the world, as a Pakistani immigrant, a Muslim and a teenager with his whole life ahead of him. With help from his grandfather, an inspiring teacher and his friend, Ali leans on his words for strength. And eventually he finds his true voice. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Une histoire inspirante sur les hauts et les bas dans les familles. Dylan, quatorze ans, doit aller vivre avec son grand-p re qu'il conna t peu, Angus. Les deux, qui sont pratiquement des trangers, s' vitent le plus possible. Un jour, Dylan d couvre un jeune paulard (ou orque) chou sur une plage rocheuse. Il court pr venir son grand-p re qui lui dit qu'il n'y a rien faire. Le soleil chauffe de plus en plus et l'orque risque de mourir de chaleur. Mais Dylan doit essayer de sauver l'orque. Il prend des draps et des serviettes pour couvrir la peau d licate de l'animal et se met transporter des seaux d'eau de mer pour le garder hydrat . C'est une t che puisante et il faudra des heures avant que la mar e remonte et que l'eau soit assez haute pour que l'orque se d gage des rochers et se lib re. Angus est mu par la d termination de son petit-fils et l'aide du mieux qu'il peut. Ensemble, ils esp rent que l'orque puisse aller rejoindre sa famille qui l'appelle au loin. Cet ouvrage en format ePub est enti rement accessible. galement disponible sous le titre On the Rocks en anglais.

The principal announces that the school is implementing uniforms, and Ian finds himself caught in a conflict. Julia, the student body president and Ian's friend, wants Ian to devise a plan to fight the decision, but the principal is determined to convince Ian the uniforms are a good idea. Ian doesn't see the problem with uniforms and wants nothing to do with the issue, but while doing research for a social-justice class, Ian learns that the manufacturer of the uniforms is on the top-ten list in the industry for human-rights violations. When he tells the principal their clothing is being made in sweatshops using child labor, all he gets is a reminder that the penalty for refusing to wear the uniforms is expulsion. Ian finds himself caught in a whole new conflict--one with himself. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

★"A profound, realistic story of a multiracial family...This brilliantly written tale is a lovely introduction to the important topics of wildfires and animal sanctuaries for young readers. Great for animal lovers and children curious about nature."--School Library Journal, starred review On returning to their home after a massive wildfire, nine-year-old Jasmin and her seven-year-old brother, Hunter, thought the biggest surprise would be whether their fire-resistant house had survived. Jasmin and Hunter did not expect to find an orphaned bear cub stuck in the neighbors' well. Rescuing the tiny cub from the well was the easy part; now they need to care for it until the people from the bear-rescue sanctuary can make it safely through the fires to pick it up. The cub turns out to be exactly what one would expect of a wild animal--a huge handful The latest Orca Echoes early chapter book from award-winning author Eric Walters was inspired by Eric's visit to a wildlife sanctuary in Northern British Columbia. Bear in the Family tells the fictionalized story of a bear cub found by a family after the forest surrounding their home was destroyed by a wildfire. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Thirteen-year-old basketball star Jordan Ryker feels like his life is falling apart. All Jordie wanted was for his parents to stop fighting. Soon, he gets his wish. His parents separate and then his dad announces he's gay. Shocked, Jordie struggles with how to process all this. His dad taught him everything he knows about basketball, and there's an important championship game coming up. He needs him more than ever. But Jordie feels like his dad has abandoned his family. He doesn't want anything to do with him now and he definitely doesn't want to meet his dad's new boyfriend. It takes a new girl with wicked basketball skills and a revelation from his best friend to help Jordie realize that while some things change, other things never do. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.

Can Ian stand up for what he believes in? When Ian and his classmates watch a documentary about the health concerns of eating fast food, Ian decides to start a boycott and stop everyone he can from eating at Frankie's, a huge fast-food chain with a questionable menu. The boycott takes off and Frankie's gets concerned. The company's lawyers threaten Ian and his friends and try to force them to stop the boycott. Ian must convince others that the boycott is a good idea, but can he do it? This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for teen readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don't like to read The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Available in Spanish as A reventar.

Thirteen-year-old Houston Williams is smart. Very smart. So no one is surprised when he earns a scholarship to attend a prestigious NASA space camp. At the training facility he immediately bonds with his new team, including a girl named Teal. He also clashes with a girl on a rival team named Ashley, who matches or beats him in every exercise. The three of them impress the directors so much they are invited to join a top-secret research project that studies how space travel affects people of different ages. But only two of them will actually be going into space. Houston will do whatever it takes to make sure he's picked. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible. Praise for Eric Walters's previous work: "The King of Jam Sandwiches pulls us into the unforgettable friendship of hard-working Robbie and tough-as-nails Harmony in an exceptionally honest survival story that is also compulsively readable and emotionally gripping. Walters has written a heart-wrenching novel about what it is like to grow up amidst poverty and mental illness, one that speaks to contemporary young readers and offers them hope."--Governor General's Literary Award Peer Assessment Committee for Winner The King of Jam Sandwiches ★ "Tug at the heartstrings and tickle the funny bone...This warm tale is definitely one for the keeper shelves. Highly recommended."--School Library Journal, starred review for The King of Jam Sandwiches "Navigates the experience of this unique time period with heart. I couldn't put it down. My students won't be able to either."--Kim Moss, Teacher-Librarian, Creekside Middle School, Bentonville, AR, review for Don't Stand So Close to Me "This is the perfect book for these pandemic times. It presents the difficulties families face but gives hope that creativity can find solutions. Middle school students will love it. A quick read."--Must Read Literature, review for Don't Stand So Close to Me