MIDDLE GRADE

Summer of Brave

by AMY NOELLE PARKS

978-0-8075-7660-1 US $16.99 Ages 9–12/Grades 3–7 March 2021 5.5 x 8, 240 pages Jacked Hardcover with Matte Lamination Territory: World E-Book: 978-0-8075-7661-8 E-Book: US $9.99 NEW IN PAPERBACK

Quack

by ANNA HUMPHREY

978-0-8075-6704-3 US $9.99 Ages 9–12/Grades 3–7 April 2021 5.5 x 8, 240 pages Paperback Territory: World E-Book: 978-0-8075-6705-0 E-Book: US $7.99

A heartfelt coming-of-age story set in the time of academic pressure, divorce, and the #MeToo movement

Twelve-year-old Lilla Baxter-Willoughby doesn’t lie. She’s just a little bit…selective. To keep her parents and friends happy, she hides what she's really thinking and feeling until it's second-nature. So when her best friend dares her to start telling the truth as part of their Summer of Brave, Lilla hesitates. Because if she says out loud what she really wants, her whole life might crash down around her. And she doesn't need that. Except maybe she does.

What to Expect

• An endearing first-crush story told with humor and heart • Insightful look at divorce, academic pressure, and preteen angst • Frank discussion of gendered social norms and #MeToo issues

AMY NOELLE PARKS is a former elementary teacher and currently an associate professor in the College of Education at Michigan State University. She is the author of The Quantum Weirdness of the Almost-Kiss. Amy lives in Michigan with her husband and daughters.

A quirky, heartfelt story about anxiety, friendship, and finding your voice

Ten-year-old Shady Cook struggles with selective mutism caused by anxiety. His best friend, Pouya, understands— despite being the class clown, he has his own hang-ups lurking just below the surface. Shady’s parents, however, are eager to find a way to help their son start talking more, so when a duck waddles into their lives and Shady starts to respond, they reluctantly decide to give Svenrietta the emotional support duck a chance. Before long, Shady, Pouya, and their diaper-wearing duck are working to help all of the underdogs (or is it underducks?) at their school—and there are many.

What to Expect

• An affirming and inspiring middle grade novel told with great humor • Sensitively touches on childhood anxiety, income inequality, and LGBTQ rights while remaining upbeat • Told by four diverse well-drawn characters

ANNA HUMPHREY is the author of the Megabat and Clara Humble series for middle-grade readers. She lives in Ontario.