Janet Taylor Lisle

A heartwarming tale that's great for fans of Warriors When three kittens are thrown off the back of a truck, none of the highway cats knows what to make of them. They seem to have an appeal--an energy, even--that Khalia Koo, Jolly Roger, and the rest of the mangy, feral cats don't understand. But there are bigger issues to figure out when the bulldozers start coming, threatening to demolish their homes as well as several historical landmarks. Can three little kittens be the answer to saving the town?

The Past Has its Secrets Mary and her sister Elsie's violin teacher, the flamboyant Miss Fitch, lies in the hospital, recovering from a brutal attack. Elsie, Miss Fitch's favored, talented student, refuses to visit her, declaring her a fraud, and worse. What has turned Elsie against her formerly beloved teacher? Mary can't believe the shocking secret from Miss Fitch's past that her sister has unearthed. She insists that they confront the teacher to get to the truth. But the sisters discover that truth -- about the grim days in occupied France during World War II, about the mysterious incident that put Miss Fitch in the hospital, and even about themselves -- is not that simple.

An ALA Notable Book A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of 2017 "Striking, enigmatic, and haunting all around." --Booklist (starred review) "A suspenseful, realistic, finely crafted story exploring friendship, trust, and how we judge others." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review) Newbery Honor winner Janet Taylor Lisle's novel about a pivotal summer in two girls' lives explores the convictions we form, the judgments we make, and the values we hold. The pond is called Quicksand Pond. It's a shadowy, hidden place, full of chirping, shrieking, croaking life. It's where, legend has it, people disappear. It's where scrappy Terri Carr lives with her no-good family. And it's where twelve-year-old Jessie Kettel is reluctantly spending her summer vacation. Jessie meets Terri on a raft out in the water, and the two become fast friends. On Quicksand Pond, Jessie and Terri can be lost to the outside world--lost until they want to be found. But a tragedy that occurred many decades ago has had lingering effects on this sleepy town, and especially on Terri Carr. And the more Jessie learns, the more she begins to question her new friendship--and herself.

A Newbery Honor Book An American Library Association Notable Children's Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Janet Taylor Lisle's captivating Newbery Honor book explores how, like friendship, magic can emerge when you least expect it--and when you need it most. All you have to do is look deep. Anything might happen in Sara-Kate's backyard. For that matter, anything was happening. For nine-year-old Hillary Lenox, being friends with Sara-Kate Connolly is a complicated business. Sara-Kate's clothes don't match, her hair's a mess, and she's known to spit at people when they make her mad. But when Sara-Kate shows Hillary the tiny elf village in her overgrown backyard, Hillary decides she can't be as awful as all that. Hillary is amazed by the delicate houses, the miniature well, even an intricate Ferris wheel made of bicycle wheels and popsicle sticks. But the more time she spends in Sara-Kate's yard, the more questions she has. How come they never go inside Sara-Kate's house? Why is Sara-Kate sometimes missing from school? And why hasn't Hillary ever seen Sara-Kate's mom? If Hillary can just look deep enough, she hopes, she will uncover the secrets of the elves--and of her new friend.

A Newbery Honor Book An American Library Association Notable Children's Book A School Library Journal Best Book of the Year Janet Taylor Lisle's captivating Newbery Honor book explores how, like friendship, magic can emerge when you least expect it--and when you need it most. All you have to do is look deep. Anything might happen in Sara-Kate's backyard. For that matter, anything was happening. For nine-year-old Hillary Lenox, being friends with Sara-Kate Connolly is a complicated business. Sara-Kate's clothes don't match, her hair's a mess, and she's known to spit at people when they make her mad. But when Sara-Kate shows Hillary the tiny elf village in her overgrown backyard, Hillary decides she can't be as awful as all that. Hillary is amazed by the delicate houses, the miniature well, even an intricate Ferris wheel made of bicycle wheels and popsicle sticks. But the more time she spends in Sara-Kate's yard, the more questions she has. How come they never go inside Sara-Kate's house? Why is Sara-Kate sometimes missing from school? And why hasn't Hillary ever seen Sara-Kate's mom? If Hillary can just look deep enough, she hopes, she will uncover the secrets of the elves--and of her new friend.