Books by Jenn Reese

Above World

by Jenn Reese

A suspenseful sci-fi escapade plucks two children out of the ocean for a thrilling adventure.

Thirteen-year-old Aluna has lived her entire life under the ocean with the Coral Kampii in the City of Shifting Tides. But after centuries spent hidden from the Above World, her colony’s survival is at risk. The Kampii’s breathing necklaces are failing, but the elders are unwilling to venture above water to seek answers. Only headstrong Aluna and her friend Hoku are stubborn and bold enough to face the terrors of land to search for way to save their people. But can Aluna’s fierce determination and fighting skills and Hoku’s tech-savvy keep them safe? Set in a world where overcrowding has led humans to adapt — growing tails to live under the ocean or wings to live on mountains — here is a ride through a future where greed and cruelty have gone unchecked, but the loyalty of friends remains true.

A Game of Fox & Squirrels

by Jenn Reese

A 2021 Oregon Book Award Winner
An NPR Best Book of 2020
A Finalist for the 2021-22 Maine Student Book Award
A 2021 Mythopoeic Awards Finalist

Andre Norton Award finalist Jenn Reese explores the often thin line between magic and reality, light and darkness in her enchanting middle grade standalone.

"Brings to life, viscerally, what it is like to live in fear of abuse―even after the abuse itself is over. But there is magic here too, and the promise of a better future that comes with learning to let people who care about you into your world." ―Alan Gratz, New York Times-bestselling author of Refugee

“A captivating and touching story… both whimsical and emotionally―sometimes frighteningly―compelling.” ―Ingrid Law, Newbery Honor-winning author of Savvy

"Magically creative and deeply honest, A Game of Fox & Squirrels merges games and grimness in a fantasy tale that tells the truth." ―Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of Damsel and A Boy Called Bat

After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they've never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were… before she spoke up about their father's anger.

When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called "A Game of Fox & Squirrels," Sam falls in love with the animal characters, especially the charming trickster fox, Ashander. Then one day Ashander shows up in Sam’s room and offers her an adventure and a promise: find the Golden Acorn, and Sam can have anything she desires.

But the fox is hiding rules that Sam isn't prepared for, and her new home feels more tempting than she'd ever expected. As Sam is swept up in the dangerous quest, the line between magic and reality grows thin. If she makes the wrong move, she'll lose far more than just a game.

Perfect for fans of Barbara O'Connor, Lauren Wolk, and Ali Benjamin, A Game of Fox & Squirrels is a stunning, heartbreaking novel about a girl who finds the light in the darkness... and ultimately discovers the true meaning of home.

A Game of Fox & Squirrels

by Jenn Reese

A 2021 Oregon Book Award Winner
An NPR Best Book of 2020
A Finalist for the 2021-22 Maine Student Book Award

Andre Norton Award finalist Jenn Reese explores the often thin line between magic and reality, light and darkness in her enchanting middle grade standalone.

"Brings to life, viscerally, what it is like to live in fear of abuse―even after the abuse itself is over. But there is magic here too, and the promise of a better future that comes with learning to let people who care about you into your world." ―Alan Gratz, New York Times-bestselling author of Refugee

“A captivating and touching story… both whimsical and emotionally―sometimes frighteningly―compelling.” ―Ingrid Law, Newbery Honor-winning author of Savvy

"Magically creative and deeply honest, A Game of Fox & Squirrels merges games and grimness in a fantasy tale that tells the truth." ―Elana K. Arnold, Printz Honor-winning author of Damsel and A Boy Called Bat

After an incident shatters their family, eleven-year old Samantha and her older sister Caitlin are sent to live in rural Oregon with an aunt they've never met. Sam wants nothing more than to go back to the way things were… before she spoke up about their father's anger.

When Aunt Vicky gives Sam a mysterious card game called "A Game of Fox & Squirrels," Sam falls in love with the animal characters, especially the charming trickster fox, Ashander. Then one day Ashander shows up in Sam’s room and offers her an adventure and a promise: find the Golden Acorn, and Sam can have anything she desires.

But the fox is hiding rules that Sam isn't prepared for, and her new home feels more tempting than she'd ever expected. As Sam is swept up in the dangerous quest, the line between magic and reality grows thin. If she makes the wrong move, she'll lose far more than just a game.

Perfect for fans of Barbara O'Connor, Lauren Wolk, and Ali Benjamin, A Game of Fox & Squirrels is a stunning, heartbreaking novel about a girl who finds the light in the darkness... and ultimately discovers the true meaning of home.

Seven Ways Through the Woods

by Jenn Reese

An Indie Next Pick

"Brimming with magic." --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

Are you brave? Are you curious? Are you ready for an adventure? Then you are invited on the most magical of journeys.

There are many ways through the woods. Some are long and winding. Some are as quick as a blink. You might encounter griffins, giants, serpents, sprites, and more along the way. Which path will you choose? What will you discover?

This sumptuous celebration of curiosity, imagination, and wonder from two award-winning creators is a timeless treasure for fans of Knight Owl, The Bakery Dragon, Endlessly Ever After, and Journey. A breathtaking and cozy fantasy for all readers--from the youngest to the wisest.

Starstuff: Ten Science Fiction Stories to Celebrate New Possibilities

by Maddi Gonzalez, Kekla Magoon, Eliot Schrefer, A. R. Capetta, David A. Robertson, Jenn Reese, Fran Wilde, Carlos Hernandez

In a thrilling follow-up to Tasting Light, ten best-selling and award-winning masters of the form use the possible--and the premise of hope--to explore how science and technology can reshape our world and defy assumptions.

At once a collection of hard science fiction for curious middle-graders and an antidote to despair in the face of dystopian uncertainty, these ten horizon-bending stories may seem unreal, but all follow the rules of physics and biology as we understand them today. These tales of space junk, multiverse navigation, an asteroid named Doomsday, and bees and marmots in space pulse with honesty and optimism. Whether home is a planet, a moon, a space station, or a fleet starship, relatable protagonists of different genders, classes, nationalities, ethnicities, and orientations face challenges--some harrowing, some hilarious--true to their moment in time and space. Brisk plots, resonant themes, and scientific rigor define these forward-facing stories by leading middle-grade authors. Taken together, the tales champion youth agency through characters who approach science in adventurous ways, underscoring that we are all, indeed, made of the same luminous stuff.

With stories by:
William Alexander * A. R. Capetta * Maddi Gonzalez * Carlos Hernandez * Kekla Magoon * Jenn Reese * David Robertson * Wade Roush * Eliot Schrefer * Fran Wilde