The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling

The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling
Author: Wai Chim
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Total Pages: 279
Release: 2020-11-10
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1338656120

An authentic novel about growing up in an Asian immigrant family with a mother who is suffering from a debilitating mental illness. Anna Chiu has her hands full. When she's not looking after her brother and sister or helping out at her father's restaurant, she's taking care of her mother, whose debilitating mental illness keeps her in bed most days. Her father's new delivery boy, Rory, is a welcome distraction and even though she knows that things aren't right at home, she's starting to feel like she could be a normal teen.But when her mother finally gets out of bed, things go from bad to worse. And as her mother's condition worsens, Anna and her family question everything they understand about themselves and each other.The Surprising Power of a Good Dumpling is a heart-wrenching, true-to-life exploration through the often neglected crevices of culture, mental illness, and family. Its strong themes are balanced by a beautiful romance making it a feel-good, yet important read.

Freedom Swimmer

Freedom Swimmer
Author: Wai Chim
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Total Pages: 201
Release: 2021-11-02
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1338656147

A powerful story of friendship, bravery, and a desperate bid for freedom, inspired by true events. Ming survived the famine that killed his parents during China's "Great Leap Forward", and lives a hard but adequate life, working in the fields. When a group of city boys comes to the village as part of a Communist Party re-education program, Ming and his friends aren't sure what to make of the new arrivals. They're not used to hard labor and village life. But despite his reservations, Ming befriends a charming city boy called Li. The two couldn't be more different, but slowly they form a bond over evening swims and shared dreams. But as the bitterness of life under the Party begins to take its toll on both boys, they begin to imagine the impossible: freedom.

The Most Beautiful Thing

The Most Beautiful Thing
Author: Kao Kalia Yang
Publisher: Millbrook Press
Total Pages: 39
Release: 2020-10-06
Genre: Juvenile Nonfiction
ISBN: 1728404800

A warmhearted and tender true story about a young girl finding beauty where she never thought to look. Drawn from author Kao Kalia Yang's childhood experiences as a Hmong refugee, this moving picture book portrays a family with a great deal of love and little money. Weaving together Kalia's story with that of her beloved grandmother, the book moves from the jungles of Laos to the family's early years in the United States. When Kalia becomes unhappy about having to do without and decides she wants braces to improve her smile, it is her grandmother—a woman who has just one tooth in her mouth—who helps her see that true beauty is found with those we love most. Stunning illustrations from Vietnamese illustrator Khoa Le bring this intergenerational tale to life. "A deep and moving reflection on enduring hardship and generational love. . . . Poignant storytelling with stunning visuals."—starred, Kirkus Reviews "A sincere narrative that centers on the power of family love."—starred, School Library Journal Minnesota Book Award Finalist, ALA Notable Children's Book, New York Public Library Best Book for Kids, NPR Best Book of the Year

Vanilla

Vanilla
Author: Billy Merrell
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Total Pages: 304
Release: 2017-10-10
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 1338100939

A bold, groundbreaking novel about coming out, coming into your own, and coming apart. Vanilla and Hunter have been dating since seventh grade. They came out together, navigated middle school together, and became that couple in high school that everyone always sees as a couple. There are complications and confusions, for sure. But most of all, they love each other.As high school goes, though, and as their relationship deepens, some cracks begin to show. Hunter thinks they should be having sex.Vanilla isn't so sure. Hunter doesn't mind hanging out with loud, obnoxious friends.Vanilla would rather avoid them. If they're becoming different people, can they be the same couple?Falling in love is hard.Staying in love is harder.

The Other Side of Perfect

The Other Side of Perfect
Author: Mariko Turk
Publisher: Poppy
Total Pages: 286
Release: 2021-05-11
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0316703427

For fans of Sarah Dessen and Mary H.K. Choi, this lyrical and emotionally driven novel follows Alina, a young aspiring dancer who suffers a devastating injury and must face a world without ballet—as well as the darker side of her former dream. Alina Keeler was destined to dance, but then a terrifying fall shatters her leg—and her dreams of a professional ballet career along with it. After a summer healing (translation: eating vast amounts of Cool Ranch Doritos and binging ballet videos on YouTube), she is forced to trade her pre-professional dance classes for normal high school, where she reluctantly joins the school musical. However, rehearsals offer more than she expected—namely Jude, her annoyingly attractive castmate she just might be falling for. But to move forward, Alina must make peace with her past and face the racism she experienced in the dance industry. She wonders what it means to yearn for ballet—something so beautiful, yet so broken. And as broken as she feels, can she ever open her heart to someone else? Touching, romantic, and peppered with humor, this debut novel explores the tenuousness of perfectionism, the possibilities of change, and the importance of raising your voice.

iBoy

iBoy
Author: Kevin Brooks
Publisher: Penguin UK
Total Pages: 227
Release: 2010-07-01
Genre: Young Adult Fiction
ISBN: 0141961996

An electrifying novel from the Carnegie medal-winning Kevin Brooks. Now a Netflix movie starring Maisie Williams (Game of Thrones). Before the attack, sixteen-year-old Tom Harvey was just an ordinary boy. But now fragments of a shattered iPhone are embedded in his brain and it's having an extraordinary effect... Because now Tom has powers. The ability to know and see more than he could ever imagine. And with incredible power comes knowledge - and a choice. Seek revenge on the violent gangs that rule his estate and assaulted his friend Lucy, or keep quiet? Tom has control when everything else is out of control. But it's a dangerous price to pay. And the consequences are terrifying. . . 'A compulsive, atmospheric mystery' Sunday Times 'A masterly writer, and this book would put many authors of 'grown up' detective fiction to shame' Mail on Sunday Kevin Brooks is the award-winning author of nine gripping teenage novels, usually with a thrilling detective twist. His novels, Being, Black Rabbit Summer, Killing God (published as Dawn in the USA) and Naked are also available from Penguin. Kevin's brand new novel, The Bunker Diary, will be published in 2013. If you enjoyed iBoy and want to get inside more of your favourite books, then check out spinebreakers.co.uk for exclusive author interviews, competitions, and much more.

Teachers Speak Up!

Teachers Speak Up!
Author: Sonia Nieto
Publisher: Teachers College Press
Total Pages: 273
Release: 2024-04-26
Genre: Education
ISBN: 0807782300

In the past several years, we have witnessed unprecedented political, racial, economic, and health-related ruptures in society. The resulting turmoil has had an inevitable and negative impact on students, teachers, the profession of education, and especially marginalized and vulnerable populations. Academics and policymakers have had their say in how to address today’s volatile issues, but teachers and other practitioners closest to students have not had the same visibility or access. This volume is an attempt to remedy that absence resulting in a compelling picture of education today. Chapters highlight essays written by a diverse group of K–12 classroom teachers who share their vision for education and describe their empowering classroom practices. At times hopeful and full of joy, at other times angry and full of frustration, these essays speak to what classrooms and schools based on social justice might mean for our nation. Teachers Speak Up! presents a bold vision of what education could be if teachers were to have a more direct influence on the purpose and aims of learning and teaching. Book Features: Offers grounded accounts about creating classrooms filled with hope and promise amid the many challenges to everyday practice. Addresses the harm done by universal school closures due to the pandemic, growing political divisions, the ugly specter of racism, book bans, and more. Gives voice to classroom teachers who describe their vision for education, as well as their successful practice teaching diverse students. Includes chapter authors who are diverse in their identities, the subject matter they teach, and their time in the profession.

Guiding Gifted Students With Engaging Books

Guiding Gifted Students With Engaging Books
Author: Thomas P. Hebert
Publisher: Routledge
Total Pages: 74
Release: 2022-02-14
Genre: Education
ISBN: 1000493229

Guiding Gifted Students With Engaging Books supports teachers and counselors in facilitating book discussions designed to guide bright young people to self-understanding through high-quality literature. This exciting resource: Covers social-emotional issues in the lives of gifted students. Features examples of lessons and menus of discussion questions for successful book discussions alongside enrichment activities to extend students' learning. Includes an annotated bibliography of children's and young adult books ideal for social-emotional learning. Engaging lessons and activities support learners as they process their feelings regarding issues highlighted in the selected books and class discussion. The book examines this approach with whole classrooms, as well as with small groups of students, and features considerations for special populations of gifted students, including twice-exceptional students, culturally diverse students, and children and teens facing serious adversity in their lives.