Sherri L. Smith

What if your locker was a wormhole to the past? On the first day back to school, Candace Wells opens her locker and is astonished when an unusual bird flies out. Soon after, a notebook mysteriously appears on the top shelf, labeled Tracey Auburn, 1988. Stranger still, as Candace reads the notebook, new messages start to appear. Professor Tracey Auburn only vaguely remembers a bird flying into her locker in school, way back in 1988, and losing a notebook she could have sworn she put on the top shelf. Until Candace shows up at her office with the missing notebook forty years later. Quantum physicist Loretta Spencer will never forget the bird flying out of her locker in school in 1948. Her life’s work has been to study the portal and others like it, and now she needs Tracey’s and Candace’s help to complete her research. So begins an unlikely friendship and a hunt around Chicago and the state of Illinois to uncover the secrets of the locker, the universe, and everything. One thing’s for sure: School will never be the same again.

Five comics stories set in James Cameron's expansive world that take place before, during, and after the 2009 multiple Academy Award-winning film Avatar. In the year 2154, on the moon Pandora, in a galaxy far from earth, Marine Jake Sully joined the native Na'vi through an avatar body and became their leader in the fight against the destructive RDA organization and human colonization. In Tsu'tey's Path experience these events--events of the first Avatar movie--from the perspective of Na'vi Omatikaya warrior Tsu'tey Then, in the short story "Brothers," Jake connects with the flying Toruk by remembering the depth of his bond with his twin brother and great partnerships of history and legend. In The Next Shadow, set immediately after the events of Avatar, Jake navigates his position as both leader of the Omatikaya and former Marine as tensions ramp up between the Na'vi and the humans who remain on Pandora. Meanwhile, in Frontiers of Pandora: So'lek's Journey, young Na'vi warrior, So'lek, finds himself one of the last survivors of his clan after the Battle of the Hallelujah Mountains. He searches for his place on Pandora and struggles with waking nightmares of war. This is the origin story of So'lek, a key character in Ubisoft's AA PC/console video game. Finally, set years before the events of Avatar, in Adapt or Die, Dr. Grace Augustine wants to build a bridge between the occupying humans and the Na'vi, but her plans hit a wall as a mysterious illness among Na'vi and avatars is blamed on the humans. Seize the opportunity to delve further into the world of Avatar with these canon stories from writers Sherri L. Smith (Pearl: A Graphic Novel), Jeremy Barlow (Star Wars: Darth Maul), Ray Fawkes (Constantine), and Corinna Bechko (The Space Between), and artists Jan Duursema (Star Wars: Legacy), Doug Wheatley (Fire & Blood: 300 Years Before A Game of Thrones), Josh Hood (Star Trek: Resurgence), Gabriel Guzm n (StarCraft: Scavengers), and Beni R. Lobel (Fragmentation).

From the acclaimed author of Flygirl and the bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies. "This beautiful and brilliant history of not only what it means to be Black and dream of flying but to, against every odd, do so, completely blew me away." --Jacqueline Woodson, National Book Award Winner for Brown Girl Dreaming In the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings? American Wings follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield south of Chicago. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible. Featuring rare historical photographs, American Wings brings to light a hidden history of pioneering Black men and women who, with grit and resilience, battled powerful odds for an equal share of the sky.

With five starred reviews and numerous accolades, a beautifully crafted and captivating graphic novel from award-winning writer Sherri L. Smith and Eisner-nominated artist Christine Norrie about a Japanese-American girl who must survive years of uncertainty and questions of loyalty in Hiroshima during World War II.Amy is a thirteen-year-old Japanese-American girl who lives in Hawaii. When her great-grandmother falls ill, Amy travels to visit family in Hiroshima for the first time. But this is 1941. When the Japanese navy attacks Pearl Harbor, it becomes impossible for Amy to return to Hawaii. Conscripted into translating English radio transmissions for the Japanese army, Amy struggles with questions of loyalty and fears about her family amidst rumors of internment camps in America -- even as she makes a new best friend and, over the years, Japan starts to feel something like home. Torn between two countries at war, Amy must figure out where her loyalties lie and, in the face of unthinkable tragedy, find hope in the rubble of a changed world.

From the acclaimed author of Flygirl and the bestselling author of Code Name Verity comes the thrilling and inspiring true story of the desegregation of the skies. In the years between World War I and World War II, aviation fever was everywhere, including among Black Americans. But what hope did a Black person have of learning to fly in a country constricted by prejudice and Jim Crow laws, where some previous Black aviators like Bessie Coleman had to move to France to earn their wings? American Wings follows a group of determined Black Americans: Cornelius Coffey and Johnny Robinson, skilled auto mechanics; Janet Harmon Bragg, a nurse; and Willa Brown, a teacher and social worker. Together, they created a flying club and built their own airfield on Chicago's South Side. As the U.S. hurtled toward World War II, they established a school to train new pilots, teaching both Black and white students together and proving, in a time when the U.S. military was still segregated, that successful integration was possible. Complete with black-and-white photographs throughout, American Wings brings to light a hidden history of pioneering Black men and women who, with grit and resilience, battled powerful odds for an equal share of the sky.

**Not Final Cover** Jake Sully's fears have come crashing to Pandora, guns blazing. The Sky People are planet-side, and taking Hell's Gate by storm. Jake and Neytiri's children are still on base, surrounded and outgunned. Years of advancement on Earth means they'll be bringing more firepower than Jake could anticipate. Unable to fully rely on his intel, Jake will have to improvise and risk it all to protect his family, his people, and their home. The battle is underway and every Na'vi is in danger. Experience the epic finale of James Cameron's original story "The High Ground" in this graphic novel adaptation written by award-winning author Sherri L. Smith (The Toymaker's Apprentice, Orleans) and illustrated by Agustin Padilla (Suicide Squad, Transformers, Borderlands, Predator: Hunters II) and Miguel Angel Ruiz (The Passing, Crossed Badlands). The exciting conclusion to Avatar The High Ground leads you directly into the opening of the long-awaited film sequel Avatar 2

Humans have returned to Pandora--with an armada of starships--but Jake Sully and the Na'vi are ready for them Knowing this day would come, Jake has trained his Na'vi warriors with a plan that should make it too costly for the humans to try again . . . if the plan works. But, any chain of events is only as strong as the weakest link, and in this case the weak link is human nature. As the plan unravels, Jake and Neytiri must race against time to return to Pandora and save their children before the starships land. James Cameron's epic original story "The High Ground" continues in this graphic novel adaptation written by award-winning author Sherri L. Smith (The Toymaker's Apprentice, Orleans) and illustrated by Diego Galindo (Stranger Things The Tomb of Ybwen, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers). Avatar The High Ground Volume 2 takes fans to parts of the Avatar universe never anticipated

Reconstruction - the period after the Civil War - was meant to give newly freed Black people the same rights as white people. And indeed there were monumental changes once slavery ended - thriving new Black communities, the first Black members in Congress, and a new sense of dignity for many Black Americans. But this time of hope didn’t last long and instead, a deeply segregated United States continued on for another hundred years. Find out what went wrong in this fascinating overview of a troubled time.

In the same style as the New York Times Best-Selling Who Was? series, What Was? focuses on compelling historical events, great battles, protests, and discoveries. Learn about a pivotal time in American history and its momentous effects on civil rights in America in this enlightening title about Reconstruction. Reconstruction -- the period after the Civil War -- was meant to give newly freed Black people the same rights as white people. And indeed there were monumental changes once slavery ended -- thriving new Black communities, the first Black members in Congress, and a new sense of dignity for many Black Americans. But this time of hope didn't last long and instead, a deeply segregated United States continued on for another hundred years. Find out what went wrong in this fascinating overview of a troubled time.

Help your little one dream big with a Little Golden Book biography all about Misty Copeland, the American Ballet Theatre's first Black principal dancer The perfect introduction to nonfiction for preschoolers This Little Golden Book introduces ballet prodigy Misty Copeland to the youngest readers. The first Black principal dancer in the history of the American Ballet Theatre--who didn't start dancing until she was almost thirteen--continues to impress the world and pave the way for young Black girls to chase their dreams. Look for these other Little Golden Book biographies: - My Little Golden Book About Kamala Harris - My Little Golden Book About Betty White - My Little Golden Book About Frida Kahlo - My Little Golden Book About Dolly Parton - My Little Golden Book About Ruth Bader Ginsburg - My Little Golden Book About Jackie Robinson - My Little Golden Book About Martin Luther King Jr. - My Little Golden Book About George Washington - My Little Golden Book About Abraham Lincoln - My Little Golden Book About Balto - My Little Golden Book About Johnny Appleseed

In this book from the #1 New York Times bestselling series, learn how this vibrant Black neighborhood in upper Manhattan became home to the leading Black writers, artists, and musicians of the 1920s and 1930s.Travel back in time to the 1920s and 1930s to the sounds of jazz in nightclubs and the 24-hours-a-day bustle of the famous Black neighborhood of Harlem in uptown Manhattan. It was a dazzling time when there was an outpouring of the arts of African Americans--the poetry of Langston Hughes; the novels of Zora Neale Hurston; the sculptures of Augusta Savage and that brand-new music called jazz as only Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong could play it. Author Sherri Smith traces Harlem's history all the way to its seventeenth-century roots, and explains how the early-twentieth-century Great Migration brought African Americans from the deep South to New York City and gave birth to the golden years of the Harlem Renaissance.With 80 fun black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ!

In this book from the #1 New York Times bestselling series, learn how this vibrant Black neighborhood in upper Manhattan became home to the leading Black writers, artists, and musicians of the 1920s and 1930s. Travel back in time to the 1920s and 1930s to the sounds of jazz in nightclubs and the 24-hours-a-day bustle of the famous Black neighborhood of Harlem in uptown Manhattan. It was a dazzling time when there was an outpouring of the arts of African Americans--the poetry of Langston Hughes; the novels of Zora Neale Hurston; the sculptures of Augusta Savage and that brand-new music called jazz as only Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong could play it. Author Sherri Smith traces Harlem's history all the way to its seventeenth-century roots, and explains how the early-twentieth-century Great Migration brought African Americans from the deep South to New York City and gave birth to the golden years of the Harlem Renaissance. With 80 fun black-and-white illustrations and an engaging 16-page photo insert, readers will be excited to read this latest addition to Who HQ

Japan 1945. Taro is a talented violinist and a kamikaze pilot in the days before his first and only mission. He believes he is ready to die for his country... until he meets Hana. Hana hasn’t been the same since the day she was buried alive in a collapsed trench during a bomb raid. She wonders if it would have been better to have died that day…until she meets Taro. A song will bring them together. The war will tear them apart. Is it possible to live an entire lifetime in eight short days?

Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn’t go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change. Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s. This book also features the fun black-and-white illustrations and engaging 16-page photo insert that readers have come love about the What Was? series!

Relive the moments when African Americans fought for equal rights, and made history.Even though slavery had ended in the 1860s, African Americans were still suffering under the weight of segregation a hundred years later. They couldn't go to the same schools, eat at the same restaurants, or even use the same bathrooms as white people. But by the 1950s, black people refused to remain second-class citizens and were willing to risk their lives to make a change.Author Sherri L. Smith brings to life momentous events through the words and stories of people who were on the frontlines of the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s.This book also features the fun black-and-white illustrations and engaging 16-page photo insert that readers have come love about the What Was? series!

A gorgeously imagined retelling of The Nutcracker from an award-winning author making her middle-grade debut.Stefan Drosselmeyer is a reluctant apprentice to his toymaker father until the day his world is turned upside down. His father is kidnapped and Stefan is enlisted by his mysterious cousin, Christian Drosselmeyer, to find a mythical nut to save a princess who has been turned into a wooden doll. Embarking on a wild adventure through Germany, Stefan must save Boldavia's princess and his own father from the fanatical Mouse Queen and her seven-headed Mouse Prince, both of whom have sworn to destroy the Drosselmeyer family.Based on the original inspiration for The Nutcracker ballet, Sherri L. Smith brings the Nutcracker Prince to life in this fascinating journey into a world of toymaking, magical curses, clockmaking guilds, talking mice, and erudite squirrels.