Afraid of the Light
By Cynthia Ruchti
Kregel Publications

"Ruchti's best work yet." ―Publishers Weekly, starred review
Camille Brooks is an expert at helping those with hoarding disorders, and her growing podcast audience, along with new recognition for her creative coaching methods, have her convinced she's got the right answers—until a client who looks uncannily like her mother raises long-dormant issues, sending Camille's carefully crafted life spinning sideways.

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The Beautiful Ashes of Gomez Gomez
By Buck Storm
Kregel Publications

When his wife is killed in a head-on collision, Gomez Gomez feels he can't go on—so he doesn't. Instead, he seeks a slow, sure suicide in the bushes by the crash site, with no one for company but his wife's ashes, the snakes, Elvis's ghost, and a strange kid named Bones.

"Solidifies Buck Storm's place among the unique literary voices of our day. Infused with humor, imagination, and poetic beauty, his writing is an absolute delight."—Ann Tatlock, novelist
Fiction: Literary, faith-based

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Before She Was Helen
By Caroline B. Cooney
Poisoned Pen Press (Sourcebooks)

Clementine Lakefield leads a simple life in her retirement community, but Clemmie is not who she says she is. Behind her carefree facade, she is hiding a lifetime of secrets. When her curmudgeonly neighbor goes missing, Clemmie is thrust into the spotlight at the center of a dangerous conspiracy and finds she must confront her own past to solve the mystery.

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The Bitch
By Pilar Quintana
World Editions

"A searing psychological portrait of a troubled woman contending with her instinct to nurture is at the heart of Colombian writer Quintana's slim, potent English-language debut. Damaris, a lonely married woman, adopts a puppy from her neighbor and brings her to the small shack she shares with her husband(…). Quintana's vivid novel about love, betrayal, and abandonment hits hard." Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

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Blind Vigil
By Matt Coyle
Oceanview Publishing

Blind Vigil is Lefty and Shamus Award winning author Matt Coyle's newest installment in the Rick Cahill series. Blinded by a gunshot wound, former private investigator Rick Cahill agrees to help his old partner, Moira MacFarlane, on a simple case that involves his onetime best friend. The case turns deadly—Rick is forced to confront his own capabilities and a shadowy killer who lurks in the darkness.

Perfect for fans of Michael Connelly and John Sandford

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Blood of Zeus
By Meredith Wild and Angel Payne
Waterhouse Press

Mysterious Kara Valari dodges the paparazzi and her famous family's dramas by hiding in the lecture halls of the college she's attending. Cursed with inexplicable strength and godlike stature, literature professor Maximus Kane knows all about darkness. Stars collide when Kara walks into his class. She's Hollywood royalty and forbidden fruit, and Maximus is sure she's the answer to everything.
Book Category: romance/general, romance/contemporary, romance/suspense

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Burying Daisy Doe
By Ramona Richards
Kregel Publications

Every small town has one unsolved case that haunts its memory, festering for generations below the surface with the truth of humanity's darkness. Star Cavanaugh is obsessed with the one that tore her family apart.

Combining sharp suspense, faith, humor, and authentic regional flavor, this is perfect for fans of Terri Blackstock, Jaime Jo Wright, and J.T. Ellison.
Fiction: Mystery, faith-based

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Cross Shadow
By Andrew Huff
Kregel Publications

When journalist Christine Lewis hears that her stepbrother has been arrested for murder in Texas, she teams up with former CIA agent turned pastor John Cross to discover the truth. Untangling a web of conspiracy, the couple finds themselves in the center of another dangerous situation—and in trouble far deeper than they expected. Book two in the Shepherd Suspense series.
Fiction: Thriller, faith-based

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Daughters of Darkness
By Sally Spencer
Severn House Publishers

Oxford, 1975. Three years ago, world-renowned anthropologist Grace Stockton was slain in a brutal, unprovoked attack which left the police baffled. But Grace's daughter refuses to accept that the trail has run cold. Determined to find out who killed her mother, she knows just the woman for the job: private investigator Jennie Redhead.

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Death Comes to Durham
By Jeanne M. Dams
Severn House Publishers

American Anglophile Dorothy Martin and her husband are enjoying a pleasant stay in historic Durham with their old friend David Tregarth, when David's elderly great-aunt is accused of murder. Dorothy is determined to clear her name – but how can she, when Aunt Amanda can't remember if she did it or not?

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Destroyer of Worlds
By Larry Correia
Baen Books

Military epic fantasy – the Saga of the Forgotten Warrior – continues.
From New York Times best-selling author and Monster Hunter Series creator Larry Correia comes the third volume of the highly acclaimed Saga of the Forgotten Warrior series. In a world of intrigue, suspense, corruption and rebellion Ashok Vadal is now known as a traitor. He and the Sons of the Black Sword are being hunted, but Vidal will not wait meekly. If it's a war the Capitol wants, Vadal will be all too willing to give it to them. The Great Extermination Begins.

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Escape to Exile (Stonecroft Saga Book 1)
By B.N. Rundell
Wolfpack Publishing

Gabriel Stonecroft and his friend begin a journey to the far wilderness. Their journey would be fraught with danger and adventure as they face bounty hunters, renegade Indians and river pirates. What started as a brother defending the honor of his sister led to a bloody duel and a man of a prominent family lying dead in the dirt.

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Finding Wings
By Deborah Raney
Kregel Publications

"With a deft hand, the author tackles true-to-life family issues and shows how faith and strength of character can bring hope and healing."
— Robin Lee Hatcher, best-selling author

"Britt, the youngest Chandler sister, finally gets her story—and her man—in a swoon-worthy romance that wraps up this marvelous series."
—Tamera Alexander, USA Today best-selling author of With This Pledge
Fiction: contemporary romance, faith-based

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The Gentleman Spy
ByErica Vetsch
Kregel Publications

To thwart the plans of the rest of his scheming family after his father's death, the new Duke of Haverly impulsively marries a wallflower. After all, she's meek and mild; sequestering her in the country and getting on with his work as a secret agent for the Crown should be easy.

His new bride has other ideas. . . .

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Joy to the World: A Regency Christmas Collection
By Carolyn Miller, Amanda Barratt, Erica Vetsch
Kregel Publications

Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three heartwarming novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.
Fiction: Regency romance, faith-based

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Life and Other Shortcomings
By Corie Adjmi
She Writes Press

Is a collection of linked short stories. Through each character's intimate journey in these succinct, slice-of-life tales, specific truths are revealed about what it means to be a woman—in a relationship with another person, in a particular culture and era—and how these conditions ultimately affect her relationship with herself.

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Obsidian Detective
By Michael Anderle
LMBPN

On the fringes of human space, a murder will light a fuse that sends two people on a collision course. She is from the powerful, the elite. He is with the military. She lives on Earth, where peace among the population is a given. He is on the fringe of society where authority is how much firepower you wield.
When the two rebels' worlds collide on a planetary level, both want the truth – but is revealing the truth good for society?

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Old Abe: A Novel
By John Cribb
Republic Book Publishers

John Cribb's novel recounts the final years of Abraham Lincoln's life, the most cataclysmic years of America's history. Bound to Lincoln's side, every page of this vivid novel details the President's struggles. Old Abe spans from spring of 1860 in Illinois, to Lincoln's election and the calamity of the Civil War, to his assassination at the height of his power.

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Once We Were Here
By Christopher Cosmos
Skyhorse Publishing

As World War II intrudes upon their home, three young friends risk everything for freedom, love, and a chance at a better life.

In a small village nestled against the radiant waters of the Aegean Sea, we find Alexei, the son of a local fisherman, and his best friend Costa, who were both born on the same night eighteen years earlier and have been like brothers ever since, though now, like all the other young men in their village and throughout Greece, they will leave their homes to bravely fight for their country.

But before they go, Alexei asks Philia, the girl that he's loved his entire life, to marry him, which sets into motion the events which will change the lives of these three and their family and friends forever, and begins an epic and unforgettable story of courage, survival, sacrifice, and the strength of the human spirit, and a love and friendship that will echo across time and generations.

Once We Were Here introduces the reader not only to the heart-pounding dangers and horrors of war, but also to the heart-breaking emotions and sacrifices of those who fight and whose lives war intrudes upon.

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Return of the Wizard King: The Wizard King Trilogy Book One
By Chad Corrie
Dark Horse

"The wizard king seeks a return to Tralodren after eight centuries of exile. But it requires mercenaries oblivious to his goals. Betrayal and magic fill the Wizard King Trilogy, introducing tales of adventure, of which this story is but one of many. ""… an exciting epic fantasy saga filled with intriguing characters and unexpected twists.""
-Richard Knaak, NYT bestselling author"

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So You Had to Build a Time Machine
By Jason Offutt
CamCat Books

"...Offutt's plotting delights as the consequences of the characters' trips through time ripple forward to build a satisfying puzzle." –Publishers Weekly

Circus runaway Skid meets theoretical physicist Dave in a bar and punches him in the nose. When Dave disappears before he hits the floor, Skid finds herself in a dimension-hopping race to shut down a time machine gone rogue.

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The Spiderling
By Marcia Preston Preston
The RoadRunner Press

Kiwi Seager knows two things: She's going to hell and, even worse, her mother can no longer love her. As mother and daughter flee their California home, Kiwi can't help but wonder: Can they run fast enough and far enough to lose the evil following them? Or does new danger await them, wearing the face of a Good Samaritan?

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The Taxidermist's Lover
By Polly Hall
CamCat Books

Perfect for fans of Wuthering Heights and The Loney.

When Scarlett meets taxidermist Henry, a passionate love affair commences. One year later, Scarlett tries to unravel her obsession with Henry, his taxidermy creatures, and the influence of his rival. Drenched in the torrential rains of rural Somerset, The Taxidermist's Lover, lures you ever deeper into Scarlett's eerie world.

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The Valkyrie Protocol
By David Weber & Jacob Holo
Baen

Untangle the past to save the future!
From New York Times best selling author David Weber and Jacob Holo,
The Gordian Protocol series continues.

Time is running out!
After the shocking discovery of a temporal implosion claiming two entire universes, Agent Raibert Kaminski and the crew of the Kleio return to their home universe of SysGov, while former colleagues of Raibert plan an expedition into the past to prevent the Plague of Justinian—one of the worst pandemics in history. Meanwhile their xenophobic neighbor amasses a fleet of heavily armed time machines. And SysGov is in their crosshairs.

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White Ivy
By Susie Yang
Simon & Schuster

Ivy Lin is a thief and a liar—but you'd never know it by looking at her. White Ivy is a dazzling debut novel about a young woman's dark obsession with her privileged classmate and the lengths she'll go to win his love—from prizewinning Chinese American author Susie Yang.

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The White Rose Resists: A Novel of the German Students Who Defied Hitler
Amanda Barratt
Kregel Publications

Inspired by the incredible true story of a group who dared to stand against evil.
The ideal of a new Germany swept up Sophie Scholl in a maelstrom of patriotic fervor—until she realized the hideous reality underneath. Now she and other students in Nazi Germany have banded together to form a group to fight for the truth: the White Rose.
Fiction: Historical suspense, faith-based

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Will Destroy the Galaxy for Cash
By Yahtzee Croshaw
Dark Horse

The sequel to Will Save the Galaxy for Food is the latest hilarious science fiction tale by Yahtzee Croshaw (Mogworld)! With the age of star pilots and galactic villains completely killed by quantum teleportation, ex-star pilot Dashford Pierce is struggling to find his identity. What could go wrong? If you need to ask--you don't know Dashford Pierce.

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1957: The Year That Launched the American Future
By Eric Burns
Rowman & Littlefield

From Sputnik and the beginning of the space race to Little Richard and the underappreciated influence of rock n' roll in bringing blacks and whites closer together, to President Eisenhower's Interstate Highway Act, which forever changed the landscape, 1957 represents the year when all of the energy and anxiety that had followed the end of World War II exploded.

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The ABCs of Diversity: Helping Kids (and Ourselves!) Embrace Our Differences
By Carolyn B. Helsel and Y. Joy Harris-Smith
Chalice Press

How do we teach children to respect and learn from those who look and think differently than they do? Written by two mothers and educators—one black, one white—The ABCs of Diversity equips parents and teachers to address kids and teens on race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. Includes diversity reading lists and activities to encourage compassion and empathy.

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Aftershocks
By Nadia Owusu
Simon & Schuster

This poetic, genre-bending work—blending memoir with cultural history—from Whiting Award winner Nadia Owusu grapples with the fault lines of identity, the meaning of home, black womanhood, and the ripple effects, both personal and generational, of emotional trauma.

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Belabored
By Author: Lyz Lenz
Bold Type Books

Written with a blend of wit, snark, and raw intimacy, Belabored is an impassioned and irreverent defense of the autonomy, rights, and dignity of pregnant people. The book is an urgent call for us to trust women and let them choose what happens to their own bodies, from a writer who "is on a roll" (Bitch Magazine).

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Dalko: The Untold Story of Baseball's Fastest Pitcher
By Bill Dembski, Alex Thomas and Brian Vikander
Influence Publishers

For the first time, Dalko: The Untold Story of Baseball's Fastest Pitcher unites accounts from the coaches, analysts, teammates, and professionals who witnessed the game's fastest pitcher in action. The book gives definitive details of one of the inspirations for the character Nuke LaLoosh in the classic film Bull Durham. A major national media campaign will coincide with Dalko's publication.

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Deepest South of All
By Richard Grant
Simon & Schuster

Part history and part travelogue, The Deepest South of All offers a gripping portrait of a complex American place, Natchez, Mississippi, as it struggles to break free from the past and confront the legacy of slavery.

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Debt and Entanglements Between the Wars
Edited By Era Dabla-Norris
IMF Publications

World War I created a set of forces that affected the political arrangements and economies of all the countries involved. The large debt burdens and reparation payments that emerged in the interwar years amid financial turmoil, framed numerous political questions. This compelling book shows how the lack of effective collaboration and resolution mechanisms hurt the global economy, with disastrous consequences.

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Down Along with That Devil's Bones
By Connor Towne O'Neill
Workman Publishing

In Down Along with That Devil's Bones, journalist Connor Towne O'Neill deep dives into American history, exposing the raging battles over monuments dedicated to the notorious Confederate general, Nathan Bedford Forrest. Through the lens of these conflicts, O'Neill examines the legacy of white supremacy in a fascinating work sure to resonate with readers of Tony Horwitz, Timothy B. Tyson, and Robin DiAngelo.

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Felt Animal Families
Corinne Lapierre
Search Press

Make six beautiful animal families in felt including a raccoon, deer, mouse, fox, bear and rabbit. Made in lovely, soft colours, the animals have clothes and accessories, which Corinne also show us how to make. The book includes lovely, hand-drawn step-by-step illustrations and there are same-size templates at the back of the book for all the animals, clothes and accessories.

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Finance and Development
Edited By IMF
IMF Publications

The June 2020 F&D examines political economy and the pandemic. The issue features an overview by Jeff Frieden of Harvard and a "Straight Talk" by Kristalina Georgieva on the crisis as an opportunity to build a better world. Also included are articles looking at the long-term economic effects of pandemics and predictions for the post COVID-19 world.

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Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World
By Cole Brown
Skyhorse Publishing

Cole has heard it all before—token, bougie, oreo, Blackish—the things we call the kids like him. Black kids who grow up in white spaces, living at an intersection of race and class that many doubt exists. He needed to get far away from the preppy site of his upbringing before he could make sense of it all. Through a series of personal anecdotes and interviews with his peers, Cole transports us to his adolescence and explores what it's like to be young and in search of identity. He digs into the places where, in youth, a greyboy's difference is most acutely felt: parenting, police brutality, Trumpism, depression, and dating, to name a few.

Greyboy: Finding Blackness in a White World asks an important question: What is Blackness? It also provides the answer: Much more than you thought, dammit.

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The Heavenly Man
By Brother Yun with Paul Hattaway
Kregel Publications

This dramatic autobiography of one of China's courageous and intensely persecuted house church leaders is a watershed book that will turn your own heart to prayer and praise. The Heavenly Man deserves comparison with past classics such as Tortured for Christ by Richard Wurmbrand or Watchman Nee's The Normal Christian Life.
Non-fiction: Memoir & Autobiography

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How to Draw Kawaii in Simple Steps
Yishan Li
Search Press

Draw your own cuteness characters in 8 simple steps. Make your own Japanese-style Kawaii world! Let expert manga artist Yishan Li show you how to achieve adorable drawings in just a few simple steps. Each one of the 28 drawings is developed from basic shapes through to the finished drawing, making this book suitable for adults and children.

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Last Call: A True Story of Love, Lust, and Murder in Queer New York
By Elon Green
Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan

Last Call is the gripping true story, told here for the first time, of the Last Call Killer and the gay community of New York City that he preyed upon. David Grann, author of Killers of the Flower Moon, says, "Green has shed light on those whose lives for too long have been forgotten, and rescued an important part of American history." (March 2021)

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Modern Bargello
Tina Francis
Search Press

Famous for flame-like stitches that are as traditional and modern, bargello is quick to master, fast to achieve and very addictive. There is a project for everyone, whether you are new to bargello, or are an original bargello fan. Tina Francis shows you how to combine bold, bright colours in attractive, almost psychedelic patterns to create the illusion of 3-D.

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Opening to Grief
By Claire B. Willis and Marnie Crawford Samuelson
Red Wheel Weiser

Perhaps more than ever we all feel alone, shocked, confused, and heartbroken by the losses we have experienced in recent times. Opening to Grief is a gentle guide to this experience. Like a loving friend, the authors invite readers to be with their grief, and offer a personal path to explore the ways that are most healing for you.

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Reconsidering Reagan: Racism, Republicans, and the Road to Trump
By Daniel S. Lucks
Beacon

A long-overdue and sober examination of President Ronald Reagan's racist politics that helped shape the modern conservative movement, Reconsidering Reagan reveals how his views, policies, and actions were devastating for Black Americans and racial minorities, how they set the blueprint for President Trump, and how they continue to resonate today.

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The Riches of This Land
By Jim Tankersley
Public Affairs

For The Riches of This Land a New York Times reporter busts the myths about the decline of America's middle class, showing how women and minorities played a far more crucial role in building our prosperity, and pointing a path toward rebuilding our economy.

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Serger 101
By Katrina Walker
C&T Publishing

Whether you are breaking your serger out of the box, or looking to sharpen your skills, this comprehensive guide has everything you need to confidently create with your serger.
Enhance your expertise working with an array of fabrics, from knits and wovens to sheers, and troubleshoot stitch issues with detailed how-tos.

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A Talent to Deceive
By William Norris
CamCat Publishing

The Lindbergh Kidnapping has been a major topic of controversy and fascination for almost 90 years. Who really committed the crime? What really happened that night? What was the motive to kidnap and murder the Lindbergh baby? Follow investigative journalist William Norris in this history-meets-mystery tale as he seeks the truth about The Case That Will Never Die.

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This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing
By Jacqueline Winspear
Soho Press

After fifteen novels in the New York Times bestselling Maisie Dobbs series, author Jacqueline Winspear has taken the bold step of turning to memoir. This Time Next Year We'll Be Laughing is a frank, touching account of a childhood in the English countryside after WWII, of working-class resilience and echoing war trauma, of artistic inspiration and the price of memory.

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The Ultimate SPAM Cookbook: 100+ Quick and Delicious Recipes from Traditional to Gourmet
By The Hormel Kitchen (Corporate)
Fox Chapel Publishing

The Ultimate SPAM® Cookbook is here, featuring over 100 elevated recipes for breakfast, appetizers, main courses, and snacks, all starring this key ingredient. From gyros and Hawaiian pizza to BBQ sliders, enchilada breakfast casseroles, pho, and so much more, each recipe is easy, quick, and delicious. Including official Hormel recipes and those contributed by Chopped champion Georgeann Leaming, Food Network guests Beth Esposito and Christian Gill, award-winning TV show host Martin Yan of Yan Can Cook, head chefs, restaurant owners, and other renowned industry leaders, this cookbook presents the little blue can in a whole new light!

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The Unanswered Letter: One Holocaust Family's Desperate Plea for Help
By Faris Cassell
Regnery Publishing

This is the story of the Bergers. Alfred and Hedwig. And their daughters Martha and Gretl. Journalist Faris Cassell travels the globe with family members in search of answers. Through letters, family archives, official documents, and firsthand accounts, The Unanswered Letter tells the story of life, love, loss, and survival. It is a true story of the Holocaust.

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The Uniform of Leadership: Lessons on True Success from My ESPN Life
By Jason Romano
Kregel Publications

Jason Romano learned incredible lessons during his seventeen years as a producer at ESPN--and these fundamentals for success on the field or court work just as well in other spheres of leadership, especially when you add God's direction to the playbook. Includes stories from Tony Dungy, Darryl Strawberry, Will Ferrell, Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, and many more.
Non-fiction: Sports & Leadership, faith-based

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When Anxiety Strikes: Help and Hope for Managing Your Storm
By Jason B. Hobbs and Dena Douglas Hobbs
Kregel Publications

This eight-week guide to managing anxiety, grounded in both Scripture and research, is structured for daily reading, with integrated practices for everyday life. Concise stories, readings, questions, and activities guide readers to tackle the realities of living with anxiety. When Anxiety Strikes offers real solutions to find a solid landing place when the storm of fear looms.
Non-fiction: Self-help, faith-based

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When Harry Met Minnie: A True Story of Love and Friendship
By Martha Teichner
Celadon Books, a division of Macmillan

When Harry Met Minnie by CBS Sunday Morning News correspondent and multi-Emmy-Award-winner Martha Teichner is a memoir of love and loss, of being in the right place at the right time, and of the mysterious ways a beloved pet can bring people together. (Feb 2021)

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Zakka Wool Appliqué
By Minki Kim
C&T Publishing

Admirers of Minki Kim's machine-sewn illustrations will adore her new Zakka motifs in wool, perfect for hand stitching and easy enough for beginners. Sixty-three impossibly cute designs celebrate the best of everyday life, from morning rituals to nature's beauty. Display your work on six heartfelt projects, including a pretty purse, patchwork coasters, and a boxy sewing case.

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Addy's Cup of Sugar
By Jon J Muth
Scholastic Press

Jon J Muth presents an enlightening new picture book featuring Stillwater the Panda from Jon's Caldecott Honor Book and New York Times Bestselling book, Zen Shorts. When Addy's beloved pet kitten dies, she turns to her neighbor Stillwater for help. What follows is a lesson in consolation and compassion, based on a Buddhist tale of healing.

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Asterix Omnibus Volume 1
By Rene Goscinny, Illustrated by Albert Uderzo
PAPERCUTZ

Asterix is celebrating 60 sensational years as an international comics superstar, and in the first collected edition from Papercutz, the stories are newly translated into American English for a new generation of fans! The story of Asterix starts here. These are the first three adventures of Asterix as he defends his tiny village from the overwhelming forces of the Roman Empire. Join the short, spunky, and super-powerful warrior from Gaul and his faithful friends--including the boar-eating delivery man Obelix and the ecologically-minded canine, Dogmatix--as they battle to protect their village against impossible odds. Asterix Omnibus volume one collects "Asterix the Gaul," "Asterix and the Golden Sickle," and "Asterix and the Goths." Three classic adventures in one great volume.

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City of the Plague God
By Author Sarwat Chadda
Disney Publishing Worldwide

New in the Rick Riordan Presents imprint, thirteen year old Sikander, son of Iraqi immigrants, has to team up with the hero Gilgamesh in order to defeat the ancient god of plagues before the entire population of Manhattan is wiped out in this adventure based on Mesopotamian mythology.

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Cloud Hopper
By Beth Kephart
Penelope Editions (imprint)
Penny Candy Books

Set among old planes and majestic hot air balloons of a run-down municipal airport, Cloud Hopper is a high-flying adventure by National Book Award finalist Beth Kephart about a group of teenage friends who'll do whatever they can to help a stranger who falls into their lives, even if they are still learning how to help themselves.

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The Cycle of the Red Moon Volume 1: The Harvest of Samhein
By José Antonio Cotrina
Dark Horse

" The YA trilogy from Spain's bestselling fantasy writer, now available in English!
Twelve teens from around the world fall under the spell of a demigod and journey to a mystical realm where they must survive until the Red Moon returns. But an evil older than the kingdom itself awakens among the ruins, and the Red Moon approaches . . ."

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Daddy Daughter Day
By Jeff Bridges and Isabelle Bridges Boesch
Dark Horse

When Belle announces it's "Daddy Daughter Day," it sparks a daylong series of adventures. Jeff Bridges and his daughter Isabelle have created a book to inspire fathers and daughters--and whole families--to find the joy and closeness in their relationships. Written by Isabelle Bridges-Boesch and illustrated by Jeff Bridges himself.

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The Every Body Book: The LGBTQ+ Inclusive Guide for Kids about Sex, Gender, Bodies, and Families
By Rachel E. Simon, LCSW
Jessica Kingsley Publishers

This vibrant and beautifully illustrated book teaches children sex, gender and relationships education in a way that is inclusive of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Covering puberty, hormones, pregnancy, consent, sex, babies, relationships and families, it uses gender-neutral language throughout and celebrates diversity in all its forms, including race, ethnicity, faith, bodies, gender and sexuality. For use with children aged 8-12, it will help answer their questions and spark open discussion with parents, carers and teachers.

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Everything Sad Is Untrue (a true story)
By Daniel Nayeri
Levine Querido

The unforgettable voice of a young refugee gives this groundbreaking autobiographical novel its beating heart. Capturing the essence of a thousand and one stories, from middle school humiliations to wonderous Persian myths, into a powerful narrative, united by hope for a world that ought to be, Nayeri's powerfully layered novel poses the questions: Who owns the truth? Who speaks it? Who believes it?

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Flying Over Water
By N. H. Senzai and Shannon Hitchcock
Scholastic Press

Award-winning authors N.H. Senzai and Shannon Hitchcock expertly craft the intersection of the lives of two girls - one, a Muslim fleeing civil war, the other, an American from the South - as they are forced to examine their beliefs and the true meaning of friendship in the midst of the president's 2017 Muslim ban.

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For Beautiful Black Boys Who Believe in a Better World
By Michael W. Waters, Illustrated by Keisha Morris
Flyaway Books

In a story based on a real-life events, Jeremiah's response to gun violence in his community helps him and his family discover hopeful forms of activism and advocacy. Includes a discussion guide by the Muhammad Ali Center

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Freedom, We Sing
By Amyra León (author) and Molly Mendoza (illustrator)
Nobrow

"I wonder, then, what freedom is. Is it a place? Is it a thought? Can it be stolen? Can it be bought?"

As powerful as it is beautiful, Freedom, We Sing! is a lyrical picture book designed to inspire and give hope to readers around the world. Molly Mendoza's immersive, lush illustrations invite kids into the text, to ask themselves what it means to be free, while lyrical and emotive text is provided by musician Amyra León

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Furia
By Yamile Saied Méndez
Workman Publishing

A powerful, #ownvoices contemporary YA for fans of The Poet X and I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter set in Argentina, about a rising soccer star who must put everything on the line—even her blooming love story—to follow her dreams.

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Girl Giant and the Monkey King
By Van Hoang
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Eleven-year-old Thom Ngho is keeping a secret: she's super strong, and it's making it impossible for her to fit in at her new middle school. In a desperate bid to get rid of her super strength, Thom makes a deal with the Monkey King, a powerful deity and legendary trickster, to get back his magical staff if he'll take away her strength.

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I Love You to the Stars: When Grandma Forgets, Love Remembers
By Crystal Bowman & Douglas Groothuis; illustrated by Robert Sauder
Kregel Children's Books

With thoughtful, child-friendly language and warm, painterly illustrations, this is a picture book to help children understand the often-scary reality of a grandparent or older friend experiencing dementia. It can be read with an adult, along with included discussion questions, or pulled from the shelf by little hands whenever they need a reminder that love is always there.
Children's

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Illegal
By Francisco X. Stork
Scholastic Press

What does it mean to be illegal in the United States?

In this follow up to Disappeared, Francisco X. Stork delves into the injustice that hides under the guise of the law in the United States. This timely and moving story takes an unsparing look at the asylum process and the journey to find a new life in the US.

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Infinity
By Pablo Bernasconi
Penny Candy Books

What is infinity? A jar full of stories and white ink spilled on the snow? Maybe! Celebrated Argentinian author-illustrator Pablo Bernasconi, finalist for the 2018 Hans Christian Andersen Award, offers quirky, philosophical takes on what infinity could mean to us. Infinity works equally well as a bedtime story, a teaching prompt, or a graduation gift.

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In One Ear and Out the Other: Antonia Brico and Her Amazingly Musical Life
By Beth Kephart, illustrated by Morgana Wallace
Penny Candy Books

When men told her that women couldn't become conductors, Antonia Brico wasn't listening. The second title in Penny Candy's Amazing Women Series of nonfiction picture books, In One Ear and Out the Other: Antonia Brico and Her Amazingly Musical Life tells about one woman's fight to gain recognition as a conductor in an era when men dominated classical music.

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Instant Karma
By Marissa Meyer
Macmillan

Overachiever Prudence Daniels is always quick to cast judgment on others. When she wakes up with the sudden ability to cast instant karma on those around her, Pru giddily makes use of the power, but there is one person on whom her powers consistently backfire: Quint Erickson, her slacker of a lab partner. Her newfound karmic insights reveal how thin the line is between love and hate… and fate

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Izzy Newton and the S.M.A.R.T. Squad: Absolute Hero
By Valerie Tripp, Illustrations by Geneva Bowers
National Geographic

Science and tech reign supreme when five brainy buddies put their heads together!

It’s not easy starting middle school with 900 students. But the S.M.A.R.T. Squad relies on the value of friendship and the power of science to get them through all kinds of sticky situations.

Join Izzy Newton and her friends in the first adventure of this new middle-grade fiction series.

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Kind of a Big Deal
By Shannon Hale
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Josie Pye was kind of a big deal—she dropped out of high school to be a Broadway star! Too bad she failed. Desperate to escape, Josie gets into reading. Literally. She reads a book and suddenly she's inside it. It's alarming. But also . . . kind of amazing? But the longer she stays in a story, the harder it becomes to escape.

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Let's Visit Transylvania!: The Adventures of Bella & Harry
ByLisa Manzione
Bella & Harry, LLC

Join sibling Chihuahuas, Bella and Harry, as they travel to Transylvania and learn about Vlad III Dracula, search for mythical vampires, visit beautiful castles and explore hidden passageways.

Come along as we explore this region in Romania and visit Peles Castle, Poenari Castle and Bran Castle. Along the way we'll learn about (and be on the lookout for) vampires.

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A Little Blue Bottle
By Jennifer Grant, Illustrated by Gillian Whiting
Church Publishing

"You have collected all my tears in your bottle..." A child tells her story of losing a beloved neighbor and friend and wonders how God is near when we grieve.

"A powerful, beautifully poignant story . . . a must-have for all libraries, all therapists, and all families dealing with grief, past and present."
—Joy Jordan-Lake, PhD, author of the picture book A Crazy-Much Love

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Of Salt and Shore
By Annet Schaap
Charlesbridge

Asking herself, What if the Little Mermaid left a child behind? Annet Schaap weaves a fantastical story inspired by both the light and the dark of fairytales. Two children—abandoned by their community—join up with other misfits, mermaids, and pirates for a daring maritime adventure. They muster the courage to fight for the freedom to be different.

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One Step Further: My Story of Math, the Moon, and a Mission
By Katherine Johnson and her daughters, Joylette Hylick and Katherine Moore, Illustrations by Charnelle Pinkney Barlow
National Geographic

The only autobiographical picture book of NASA mathematician Katherine Johnson's remarkable life reveals what it was like for a young black mother of three to navigate the difficult world of the 1950s and 60s while succeeding in an unwelcoming industry and helping to put the first man on the moon.

Features a unique collage of rarely seen archival photos and original art.

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School for Extraterrestrial Girls Volume 1
By Jeremy Whitley, Illustrated by Jamie Noguchi
PAPERCUTZ

Tara Smith's parents are super strict with all their rules and routines, and Tara is a dutiful daughter. Rule #1: No friends her own age. Rule #2: keep her bracelet on, or else. But when she breaks her routine—and then loses her bracelet—she's in trouble.
Now outed as an extraterrestrial after wielding fire and losing her humanoid form, Tara is captured by the government. She's given two options: get shipped far away where she won't be a danger to anyone or stay on Earth and join a school for other extraterrestrial girls like her. Things at the school aren't easy—especially for the girl whose only friends were textbooks. But Tara's goal to learn how to control her powers is soon sidelined by the discovery that the people she's called Mom and Dad all these years aren't her parents.

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Shadow in the Dark (Harwood Mysteries Book 1)
By Antony Barone Kolenc
Loyola Press

Set in medieval England, a young boy awakes with no memory. Adopted by the monks of a local monastery, he embarks on an adventure to recover his memory and solve the mystery of the Shadow in the Dark.

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Spin With Me
By Ami Polonsky
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

In this elegant dual narrative, Essie is a thirteen-year-old girl feeling glum about starting a new school. Then she meets Ollie. At first, Essie thinks she has a typical crush on a beautiful boy. But as her crush blossoms, she soon realizes that Ollie is not a boy or a girl, but gender non-binary.

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Traitor: A Novel of World War II
By Amanda McCrina
Macmillan Children's Publishing Group

Poland, 1944. Seventeen-year-old Tolya Korolenko joins the Soviet Red Army to survive. When he shoots his unit's political officer in the street, he's rescued by a squad of Ukrainian freedom fighters. They might have saved him, but Tolya doesn't trust them. He especially doesn't trust Solovey, the squad's young leader. Then a betrayal sends them both on the run. .

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The Wanderer
By Peter Van den Ende
Levine Querido

Without a single word, a paper boat journeys across the Pacific Ocean. The little boat is all alone, which gives it plenty of time to wonder and dream about the world above and below the waves. Being alone also means the little boat must weather the ocean's storms on its own. A quietly powerful story about life's ups and downs.

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What Would You Do?
By Jennifer Moore-Mallinos
Loyola Press

What Would You Do? lets young readers practice making good choices. From what to do if you found a dog to what to do if you see something happening that you know is wrong, this book provides a safe place for children to learn the right thing to do in 46 different situations.

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A World Together
By Sonia Manzano
National Geographic

Sonia Manzano, Sesame Street's beloved character Maria, brings warmth and wit to this timely picture book that looks across cultures, generations, and countries around the world to celebrate what unites and enriches us, wherever we live. Kids learn that what we enjoy and value—friends, family, food, fun—may sometimes look different, but deep down is the same.

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