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This story of Robert Scott and his crew’s ill-fated expedition to reach the South Pole captures the hardships and dangers the adventurers faced. The inclusion of diary entries, letters, maps, and archival photography help capture the setting.

The author joins several field scientists to find the mysterious encantado, the pink dolphins of the Amazon said to seduce people to an enchanted city underwater. An informal narration draws readers into the rainforest travelogue to introduce amazing animals, environmental issues, and more. Full color photographs add rich detail. Montgomery’s experiences are also detailed for adults in Journey of the Pink Dolphins: An Amazon Quest.

A four-book series featuring reluctant princess Cimorene, warring factions of dragons and wizards, and tons of humor.

Blond-haired and blue-eyed Marisa loses her family at the hand of the Nazis when the Germans invade Poland. With the papers of a Christian Polish girl, she disguises her identity and goes to work as a servant for a Nazi family. As she spends more time and becomes closer with the family, she has to answer some tough questions about her basic beliefs of humanity.

Like her brother Liefer before her, Enna has discovered the key to wielding fire as a weapon in battle. Will the power consume her? This fantasy tale is a companion to other Books of Bayern titles listed here.

In 2007, reporter Sonia Nazario published Enrique’s Journey, a book based on her Pulitzer-Prize winning reports about a teenage boy’s harrowing trip north to the U.S. from Honduras to find his mother, who had immigrated to the U.S. eleven years earlier. Sonia traced his steps on the journey through Central America in her reporting. She has since published a Young Adult version of the compelling and gritty book adapted for readers 12 and older, which is also available in Spanish. The original edition is available in multiple languages.

This edition includes photos, notes on her journey, and updates on her current communication on Enrique and his family. Additional resources and materials related to the book and Enrique’s family can be found below:

• Interview with Sonia Nazario (Colorín Colorado)
• Enrique’s Journey: Official website with educator materials and author information
• Teaching Enrique’s Journey (Facing History)
• The Heartache of an Immigrant Family (The New York Times)

A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen Book of the Year.

It is December 17, 2010: Nadia’s twelfth birthday and the beginning of the Arab Spring. Soon anti-government protests erupt across the Middle East and, one by one, countries are thrown into turmoil. As civil war flares in Syria and bombs fall across Nadia’s home city of Aleppo, her family decides to flee to safety. Inspired by current events, this novel sheds light on the complicated situation in Syria that has led to an international refugee crisis, and tells the story of one girl’s journey to safety.

How did a poor boy named Ehrich Weiss became the famous escape artist, Harry Houdini? The author, best known for his original tall tales and novels, demonstrates his ability to tell a spellbinding true story and shares his appreciation for the mystery of magic.

Instead of celebrating her 13th birthday in her prosperous Mexican home as she expected, Esperanza must adjust to the murder of her father, the loss of her house and wealth, and her new life as a farm worker in California during the Great Depression. This readable coming-of-age novel is based on the life of the author’s grandmother.

Lewis “Shoe” Blake is used to the joys and difficulties of life on the Tuscarora Indian reservation in 1975: the joking, the Fireball games, the snow blowing through his roof. What he’s not used to is white people being nice to him — people like George Haddonfield, whose family recently moved to town with the Air Force. As the boys connect through their mutual passion for music, especially the Beatles, Lewis has to lie more and more to hide the reality of his family’s poverty from George. He also has to deal with the vicious Evan Reininger, who makes Lewis the special target of his wrath. But when everyone else is on Evan’s side, how can he be defeated? And if George finds out the truth about Lewis’s home, will he still be his friend? Awards and honors include Best Fiction for Young Adults List, Young Adult Library Services Association and Honor Book, 2014 American Indian Youth Literature Award.

After a family tragedy results in the loss of both father and home, 12-year-old Nora lives with her mother in Manila’s North Cemetery, which is the largest shantytown of its kind in the Philippines today. When her mother disappears mysteriously one day, Nora is left alone. With help from her best friend Jojo and the support of his kindhearted grandmother, Nora embarks on a journey riddled with danger in order to find her mom. Along the way she also rediscovers the compassion of the human spirit, the resilience of her community, and everlasting hope in the most unexpected places. 

Ada has never been away from her family until she starts her freshman year at a Historically Black College and begins to shed her family’s expectations and starts making choices for herself on her journey to find her place in the world.

Silverstein aficionados will delight in these never-before-published poems on a range of familiar topics.

My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla.

But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly.

Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Twelve-year-old Iranian refugee Khosrou, known as Daniel, models himself after the legendary storyteller Scheherazade as he weaves tales that reflect his perseverance and reinvention as he navigates life in Oklahoma.

What have you always wanted to know about Indians? Do you think you should already know the answers — or suspect that your questions may be offensive? In matter-of-fact responses to over 120 questions, both thoughtful and outrageous, modern and historical, Ojibwe scholar and cultural preservationist Anton Treuer gives a frank, funny, and sometimes personal tour of what’s up with Indians, anyway. Updated edition includes new questions, photos, and topics related to current events.

Have you ever wondered what exactly goes on inside 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue? Sure, the president of the United States works and resides there, but do you know who helps keep this historic house running?

It’s no simple task, especially when there are important state events and foreign dignitaries—in addition to presidential pups, mischievous children, and even a couple of ghosts. And its Residence workers and first ladies make sure everything is in check and running smoothly.

“A forced pen-pal exchange turns into an opportunity for real communication between Illinois sixth-grader Abby Carson and Sadeed Bayat, the best English-language student in his Afghan village. When Abby’s first letter arrives in Bahar-Lan, 11-year-old Sadeed is asked by the elders to compose his sister Amira’s reply; it isn’t proper for a boy and girl to correspond with one another. But soon Sadeed can’t resist telling Abby that it is he who has been writing to her. The third-person narrative alternates points of view, allowing for inclusion of intriguing details of both lives.” — School Library Journal

An engaging look at the many contributions of Frederick Douglass — including his work as a publisher, a diplomat to Haiti, a bank president, and a prolific writer. Chockful of quotes, excerpts from Douglass’s writing, and images that capture the atmosphere of the times.

For many years, Lekuton taught school in the DC area, but before that he grew up in the Kenyan desert. Now, he’s back in Kenya, serving in parliament. This is an autobiography of his Kenyan childhood.

Things aren’t always as they seem which propels Lenny Flem, Jr. into action. Join Lenny and Jody O’Rodeo as they thwart the dastardly plans of the hypnotic Fako Mustacho. Readers will recognize pop culture icons in this nefariously funny adventure.

This is the true story of one spirited Japanese-American family’s attempt to survive the indignities of forced detention as seen through the eyes of Jeannie, the youngest daughter of the Wakatsuki family. The family was detained for four years at the Manzanar Internment Camp during World War II.

Shenice Lockwood, captain of the Fulton Firebirds, is hyper-focused when she steps up to the plate. Nothing can stop her from leading her team to the U12 fast-pitch softball regional championship. But Shenice's focus gets shaken when her great-uncle Jack reveals that a career-ending — and family-name-ruining — crime may have been a setup. Her broken focus means mistakes on the field. And Shenice's teammates are beginning to wonder if she's captain-qualified. It's up to Shenice to discover the truth about her family's past — and fast — before secrets take the Firebirds out of the game forever.

What makes a boy into a man?

Courage.
Confidence.
Patience.
Integrity…

For more than one hundred years, this classic poem by Rudyard Kipling has inspired readers to reach for the best in themselves.

In pictures and words, here’s what every boy needs to know most.