Books by Matt de la Peña

A Nation's Hope: the Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

by Matt de la Peña

The magnificent, inspiring story of an
AMERICAN SPORTS HERO, by Newbery Award-winning author Matt de la Pena.

On the eve of World War II, African-American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title. For much of America, their fight came to represent America’s war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers on this historic fight in which the American people came together to celebrate our nation’s founding ideals.

New York Times Best Illustrated Children’s Book Award
Booklist Editor's Choice Best Books of 2011
School Library Journal Best Books of 2011

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Ball Don't Lie

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Matt de la Peña's Ball Don't Lie "is a must-read." [The Bulletin]

Sticky is a beat-around-the-head foster kid with nowhere to call home but the street, and an outer shell so tough that no one will take him in. He started out life so far behind the pack that the finish line seems nearly unreachable. He’s a white boy living and playing in a world where he doesn’t seem to belong.

But Sticky can ball. And basketball might just be his ticket out . . . if he can only realize that he doesn’t have to be the person everyone else expects him to be.

Matt de la Peña's breakout urban masterpiece, Ball Don’t Lie takes place where the street and the court meet and where a boy can be anything if he puts his mind to it.

★ "[An] inspiring story. Sticky is a true original, and de la Peña has skillfully brought him to life." --School Library Journal, Starred

"Riveting.... Teens will be strongly affected by the unforgettable...basketball action; and the questions about race, love, self-worth, and what it means to build a life without advantages." --Booklist

"Stunningly realistic." --VOYA

"Gritty and mesmerizing." --Kirkus Reviews

"I have never before seen blacktop ball depicted so well. In this novel, you will find its flash, its power, and its elegance without chains. This is powerful stuff." --Antawn Jamison, forward for the Los Angeles Clippers

"Truly authentic in its examination of both the game I love and the invariable missteps toward manhood. You cannot fail to be moved by the eloquence and truth of this story." --Rick Fox, former forward for the Los Angeles Lakers

An ALA Best Book for Young Adults

An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

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I Will Save You

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña’s I Will Save You is a "heartwarming, root-for-the-underdog novel." [SLJ]

Kidd is running from his past and his future. No mom, no dad, and there’s nothing for him at the group home but therapy. He doesn’t belong at the beach where he works either, unless he finds a reason to stay.
Olivia is blond hair, blue eyes, rich dad. The prettiest girl in Cardiff. She’s hiding something from Kidd—but could they ever be together anyway?
Devon is mean, mysterious, and driven by a death wish. A best friend and worst enemy. He followed Kidd all the way to the beach and he’s not leaving until he teaches him a few lessons about life. And Olivia.

"A taut psychological novel...[with] intriguing, well-developed characters...[that] will stay with readers."-Booklist

"De la Peña skillfully captures the slippery sides of a schizophrenic personality in this heartwarming, root-for-the-underdog novel."-SLJ

An Amelia Elizabeth Walden Award Finalist

ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Readers

An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick

A Junior Library Guild Selection

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We Were Here

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Award-winning author Matt de la Peña's We Were Here is a "fast, funny, smart, and heartbreaking" novel [Booklist].

When it happened, Miguel was sent to Juvi. The judge gave him a year in a group home—said he had to write in a journal so some counselor could try to figure out how he thinks. The judge had no idea that he actually did Miguel a favor. Ever since it happened, his mom can’t even look at him in the face. Any home besides his would be a better place to live.
But Miguel didn’t bet on meeting Rondell or Mong or on any of what happened after they broke out. He only thought about Mexico and getting to the border to where he could start over. Forget his mom. Forget his brother. Forget himself.
Life usually doesn’ t work out how you think it will, though. And most of the time, running away is the quickest path right back to what you’re running from.
From the streets of Stockton to the beaches of Venice, all the way to the Mexican border, We Were Here follows a journey of self-discovery by a boy who is trying to forgive himself in an unforgiving world.

"Fast, funny, smart, and heartbreaking...The contemporary survival adventure will keep readers hooked."-Booklist

"This gripping story about underprivileged teens is a rewarding read."-VOYA

"A furiously paced and gripping novel."-Publishers Weekly

"A story of friendship that will appeal to teens and will engage the most reluctant readers."-Kirkus Reviews

An ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Readers

An ALA-YALSA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Copies

No copies available.

The Living (The Living Series)

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Award-winning author Matt de la Peña's The Living is "a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.” [Entertainment Weekly, A-]

Shy takes the summer job to make some money. A few months on a luxury cruise liner--how bad can it be? Bikinis, free food, maybe even a girl or two . . . every cruise has a fresh crop of passengers, after all. He'll rake in the tips and be able to help his mom and sister out with the bills.
But then, an earthquake more massive than any ever recorded hits California and Shy's life is changed forever.
The earthquake is only the beginning. Twenty-four hours and a catastrophic chain of events later, Shy is lost at sea, fighting to survive--and stuck with her.
She's blond and she's rich, and never in her life would she have dreamed she'd be adrift in the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by death and completely dependent on a guy like Shy.
And Shy hasn't even faced the worst yet.
Look for the thrilling sequel, The Hunted, in bookstores now!

Praise for The Living:

“De la Peña has created a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.”-Entertainment Weekly, A-

“Action is first and foremost. . . . De la Peña can uncork delicate but vivid scenes.” —The New York Times

“[The Living] is special because of its extraordinary protagonist, Shy, who I haven’t been able to shake from my mind in the weeks since I read the book.”-John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars

"There's no way to classify The Living. It's everything I love mixed into one fantastic, relentless, action-packed story. As always with Matt, the characters are the best part. So real. I loved this book."-James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Maze Runner series

[STAR] "An addictive page-turner and character-driven literary novel with broad appeal for fans of both."-Kirkus Reviews, Starred

[STAR] "An excellent, enthralling ride...a great read for those looking for adventure and survival stories."-VOYA, Starred

A Pura Belpré Author Honor Award Winner

An ALSC Notable Children's Book Pick

Copies

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The Hunted (The Living Series)

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña’s The Hunted is a high-energy, action-packed survival story and the sequel to The Living.

“De la Peña has created a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.”-Entertainment Weekly review of The Living, A-

When the Big One hit, Shy was at sea in style. The Paradise Cruise luxury liner he worked on was a hulking specimen of the best money could buy. And now it's at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean, along with almost all of its passengers.
Shy wasn't the only one to survive, though. Addie, the rich blond daughter of a mysterious businessman, was on the dinghy he pulled himself into. But as soon as they found the rest of the survivors, she disappeared.
The only thing that filled the strange void of losing her was finding Carmen, his hot coworker, and discovering a way to get back home. But Shy's luck hasn't turned. Not yet.
Back on the dinghy, Addie told him a secret. It's a secret that people would kill for--have killed for--and she has the piece that could turn everything on its ear. The problem? Shy has no idea where Addie is. Back home in California seems logical, but there are more ways to die back home then Shy could ever have guessed.
And thanks to what Shy now knows, he's a moving target.

Praise for The Hunted:

“Readers will be drawn to the raw and gritty setting, fast-moving plot, and diverse characters worth rooting for.“—School and Library Journal

"Between [the] fast-paced plot and meaningful, diverse character development, this is a great crossover for fans of both thrillers and more character-driven novels."-Booklist

An International Latino Book Award Best Young Adult Fiction Honorable Mention Book

Praise for The Living:

“De la Peña has created a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.”-Entertainment Weekly, A-

“Action is first and foremost. . . . De la Peña can uncork delicate but vivid scenes.” —The New York Times

“[The Living] is special because of its extraordinary protagonist, Shy, who I haven’t been able to shake from my mind in the weeks since I read the book.”-John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars

[STAR] "An addictive page-turner and character-driven literary novel with broad appeal for fans of both."-Kirkus Reviews, Starred

[STAR] "An excellent, enthralling ride...a great read for those looking for adventure and survival stories."-VOYA, Starred

A Pura Belpré Author Honor Award Winner

An ALSC 2014 Notable Children's Book Pick

Copies

No copies available.

The Hunted (The Living Series)

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña’sThe Hunted, the sequel to The Living, is a high-energy, action-packed survival story.

“De la Peña has created a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.” —Entertainment Weekly on The Living, A-

For those left living, it’s kill or be killed. When Shy pulled himself from the wreckage of the Paradise Cruise luxury liner, he met Addie. Addie was rich and blond, and with no one else to trust, she told Shy a secret she never should have revealed.
It’s a secret that people would kill for—have killed for—and she has the piece that could turn everything on its ear. The problem? Shy has no idea where Addie is. Back home in California seems logical, but there are more ways to die back home than Shy could ever have guessed. And thanks to what Shy knows now, he’s a moving target.

Praise for The Hunted:

“Readers will be drawn to the raw and gritty setting, fast-moving plot, and diverse characters worth rooting for.“—School and Library Journal

"Between [the] fast-paced plot and meaningful, diverse character development, this is a great crossover for fans of both thrillers and more character-driven novels."-Booklist

Praise for The Living:

“De la Peña has created a rare thing: a plot-driven YA with characters worthy of a John Green novel.”-Entertainment Weekly, A-

“Action is first and foremost. . . . De la Peña can uncork delicate but vivid scenes.” —The New York Times

“[The Living] is special because of its extraordinary protagonist, Shy, who I haven’t been able to shake from my mind in the weeks since I read the book.”-John Green, author of The Fault in Our Stars

"There's no way to classify The Living. It's everything I love mixed into one fantastic, relentless, action-packed story. As always with Matt, the characters are the best part. So real. I loved this book."-James Dashner, #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Maze Runner series

[STAR] "An addictive page-turner and character-driven literary novel with broad appeal for fans of both."-Kirkus Reviews, Starred

[STAR] "An excellent, enthralling ride...a great read for those looking for adventure and survival stories."-VOYA, Starred

A Pura Belpré Author Honor Award Winner

An ALSC 2014 Notable Children's Book Pick

Copies

No copies available.

Last Stop on Market Street

by Matt de la Peña

#1 New York Times Bestseller
A USA Today Bestseller
Winner of the Newbery Medal
A Caldecott Honor Book
A Coretta Scott King Illustrator Honor Book

This award-winning modern classic—a must-have for every child’s home library—is an inclusive ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places, and celebrates the special bond between a curious young boy and his loving grandmother.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.

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Superman: Dawnbreaker (DC Icons Series)

by Matt de la Peña

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES!
DC Icons continues with the coming-of-age story of the world's first super hero, SUPERMAN, from Newbery award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author MATT DE LA PEÑA.

When the dawn breaks, a hero rises.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger--better--than everyone around him. But it's not like he's earned his powers . . . yet. Lately it's difficult to hold back and keep his heroics in the shadows. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he comes across Gloria Alvarez and learns that people are disappearing from the Mexican-American and undocumented worker community in Smallville. Teaming up with his best friend, Lana Lang, Clark discovers that before he can save the world, he must save Smallville.

“In his brilliant take on Superman, de la Peña shows us that there’s a chance we’ll all need to step up like Clark Kent—with or without a cape.”
—Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Miles Morales: Spider-Man and Long Way Down

"A wonderful, bold interpretation of a DC icon that aspires to embrace all readers, new and old."
—Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

"Matt de la Peña’s Superman is the quintessential American alien. Despite being caught between two worlds, he’s everything we love about the Man of Steel: courageous, compassionate, and full of hope."
—Gene Luen Yang, author of New Super-Man and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature

Act fast! The first printing includes a poster of Clark Kent! Each first printing in the DC Icons series has a limited-edition poster--collect them all to create the full image!

Don't miss the rest of the DC Icons series! Read the books in any order you choose:
* Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
* Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu
* Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

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Superman: Dawnbreaker (DC Icons Series)

by Matt de la Peña

THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES: DC ICONS!

Don't miss the coming-of-age story of the world's first super hero, SUPERMAN, from Newbery award-winning and #1 New York Times bestselling author MATT DE LA PEÑA.

"In his brilliant take on Superman, de la Peña shows us that there's a chance we'll all need to step up like Clark Kent--with or without a cape." --Jason Reynolds, New York Times bestselling author of Miles Morales: Spider-Man and Long Way Down

"Everything we love about the Man of Steel: courageous, compassionate, and full of hope." --Gene Luen Yang, author of New Super-Man and National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

When the dawn breaks, a hero rises.

Clark Kent has always been faster, stronger, better than everyone around him. He knows drawing attention to himself could be dangerous, but lately it’s difficult to stay in the shadows. And he’s not the only one with something to hide. When Clark follows the sound of a girl crying, he comes across Gloria Alvarez and learns that people have been disappearing. With his best friend, Lana Lang, at his side, Clark is determined to discover what evil lies below the surface of their town. Before he can save the world, the future Man of Steel must save Smallville.

"A wonderful, bold interpretation of a DC icon that aspires to embrace all readers, new and old." --Kirkus Reviews, STARRED REVIEW

Continue with the rest of the DC Icons series! Read the books in any order you choose:
* Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo
* Batman: Nightwalker by Marie Lu
* Catwoman: Soulstealer by Sarah J. Maas

Copies

No copies available.

Milo Imagines the World

by Matt de la Peña

The team behind the Newbery Medal winner and Caldecott Honor book Last Stop on Market Street and the award-winning New York Times bestseller Carmela Full of Wishes once again delivers a poignant and timely picture book that's sure to become an instant classic.

Milo is on a long subway ride with his older sister. To pass the time, he studies the faces around him and makes pictures of their lives. There's the whiskered man with the crossword puzzle; Milo imagines him playing solitaire in a cluttered apartment full of pets. There's the wedding-dressed woman with a little dog peeking out of her handbag; Milo imagines her in a grand cathedral ceremony. And then there's the boy in the suit with the bright white sneakers; Milo imagines him arriving home to a castle with a drawbridge and a butler. But when the boy in the suit gets off on the same stop as Milo--walking the same path, going to the exact same place--Milo realizes that you can't really know anyone just by looking at them.

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Carmela Full of Wishes

by Matt de la Peña

An Instant New York Times Bestseller!

In their first collaboration since the Newbery Medal- and Caldecott Honor-winning Last Stop on Market Street, Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson deliver a poignant and timely new picture book that's sure to be an instant classic.

When Carmela wakes up on her birthday, her wish has already come true--she's finally old enough to join her big brother as he does the family errands. Together, they travel through their neighborhood, past the crowded bus stop, the fenced-off repair shop, and the panadería, until they arrive at the Laundromat, where Carmela finds a lone dandelion growing in the pavement. But before she can blow its white fluff away, her brother tells her she has to make a wish. If only she can think of just the right wish to make . . .

With lyrical, stirring text and stunning, evocative artwork, Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson have crafted a moving ode to family, to dreamers, and to finding hope in the most unexpected places.

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Mexican WhiteBoy

by Matt de la Peña

Newbery Award-winning and New York Times bestselling author Matt de la Peña's Mexican WhiteBoy is a story of friendship, acceptance, and the struggle to find your identity in a world of definitions.

Danny is tall and skinny. Even though he’s not built, his arms are long enough to give his pitch a power so fierce any college scout would sign him on the spot. Ninety-five mile an hour fastball, but the boy’s not even on a team. Every time he gets up on the mound, he loses it.

But at his private school, they don’t expect much else from him. Danny is brown. Half-Mexican brown. And growing up in San Diego that close to the border means everyone else knows exactly who he is before he even opens his mouth. Before they find out he can’t speak Spanish, and before they realize his mom has blond hair and blue eyes, they’ve got him pegged. But it works the other way too. And Danny’s convinced it’s his whiteness that sent his father back to Mexico.

That’s why he’s spending the summer with his dad’s family. But to find himself, he may just have to face the demons he refuses to see--the demons that are right in front of his face. And open up to a friendship he never saw coming.

Matt de la Peña's critically acclaimed novel is an intimate and moving story that offers hope to those who least expect it.

"[A] first-rate exploration of self-identity." --SLJ

"Unique in its gritty realism and honest portrayal of the complexities of life for inner-city teens...de la Peña poignantly conveys the message that, despite obstacles, you must believe in yourself and shape your own future." --The Horn Book Magazine

"The baseball scenes...sizzle like Danny's fastball. Danny's struggle to find his place will speak strongly to all teens, but especially to those of mixed race." --Booklist

"De la Peña blends sports and street together in a satisfying search for personal identity." --Kirkus Reviews

"Mexican WhiteBoy...shows that no matter what obstacles you face, you can still reach your dreams with a positive attitude. This is more than a book about a baseball player--this is a book about life." --Curtis Granderson, New York Mets outfielder

An ALA-YALSA Top Ten Best Book for Young Adults

A Junior Library Guild Selection

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Curse of the Ancients (Infinity Ring, Book 4) (4)

by Matt de la Peña

Fix the past. Save the future.
What is the secret history connecting the SQ to the Ancient Maya?Book includes an all-new, full-color Hystorian's Guide - your key to unlocking the fourth episode of the action-packed Infinity Ring game.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

Influential artist Carson Ellis makes her solo picture-book debut with a whimsical tribute to the many possibilities of home.

Home might be a house in the country, an apartment in the city, or even a shoe. Home may be on the road or the sea, in the realm of myth, or in the artist’s own studio. A meditation on the concept of home and a visual treat that invites many return visits, this loving look at the places where people live marks the picture-book debut of Carson Ellis, acclaimed illustrator of the Wildwood series and artist for the indie band the Decemberists.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

Ten years after the high-profile kidnapping of two young boys, only one returns home in this gripping #1 New York Times bestselling Myron Bolitar thriller from the bestselling author and creator of the hit Netflix drama The Stranger.

A decade ago, kidnappers grabbed two boys from wealthy families and demanded ransom, then went silent. No trace of the boys ever surfaced. For ten years their families have been left with nothing but painful memories and a quiet desperation for the day that has finally, miraculously arrived: Myron Bolitar and his friend Win believe they have located one of the boys, now a teenager. Where has he been for ten years, and what does he know about the day, more than half a life ago, when he was taken? And most critically: What can he tell Myron and Win about the fate of his missing friend? Drawing on his singular talent, Harlan Coben delivers an explosive and deeply moving thriller about friendship, family, and the meaning of home.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

Beloved comedian and talk show host Ellen DeGeneres shares her passion for home design, a look at her homes, and the secrets she has learned over twenty-five years of renovation and decoration.

Ellen DeGeneres has bought and renovated nearly a dozen homes over the last twenty-five years, and describes her real-estate and decorating adventures as "an education." She has long cared deeply about design: "I think I wanted to be an interior designer when I was thirteen."

This deluxe edition of Home is printed on extremely high quality paper, printed on a sheet-fed press, and bound in a real cloth covered case with a tipped in photo of Ellen DeGeneres' living room featuring her Picasso.

In Home, DeGeneres will, for the first time, share her passion for home design and style. She believes, "You don't have to have money to have good taste," and she is eager to share what she has learned over the years. DeGeneres offers a personal look at every room in each of her homes. Included are seven of her homes past and present, from the famous "Brody House" up to her current homes, and she offers tips and advice on what each house taught her. An added bonus is a look at the homes of her friends and collaborators-some of the finest designers in the country. They share their advice on home design, furnishings, as well as a glimpse at their awe-inspiring rooms.

Full of beautiful photographs, this book is a treasure trove of amazing California architecture, unique home furnishings, breathtaking art, and hundreds of ideas on putting together the home you've always dreamed of.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

Four best friends all live happily together in a house they call home, until each decides to go their separate ways, taking various parts of the house with them, and eventually they learn the difference between a house and a home.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long, the powerhouse duo behind the #1 New York Times bestseller Love, comes a moving meditation on the places we feel most comfortable, loved, and protected—wherever that might be.

Home is a tired lullaby
and a late-night traffic that mumbles in
through a crack in your curtains.

Home is the faint trumpet of a distant barge
as your grandfather casts his line
from the edge of his houseboat.

With lyrical text and expressive artwork, Matt de la Peña and Loren Long celebrate the beauty and love found in every home, no matter its size. They show how a home is more than just a place . . . People can be a kind of home—a family and a community that cares for one another. And the natural world is another kind of home, a refuge we share with every living thing on Earth.

This deeply moving ode to the universal pull of home, whatever its form, is destined to become a new classic that will be cherished by readers of every age.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

From Tiktok phenomenon Whitney Hanson, a revised edition of her bestselling Home, now with a new introduction and more than a dozen new poems

"the bees aren’t going to go away
but they are going to change with you
sometimes they will be chaotic
sometimes they will rest
sometimes they will give you sweet honey
and sometimes they will remind you
of how much love can sting
but if you can find a home within yourself
and make peace with your bees
you will be alright”
--from Home

Resonant, raw, and vibrant, Home is a lyrical map to navigating heartbreak. Tracing the stages of healing—from the despair that comes with the end of a relationship to the eventual light and liberation that comes with time—the poems in Home provide comfort and solace, while revitalizing your soul—and helping you make peace with your bees.

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Home

by Harlan Coben, Whitney Hanson, Matt de la Peña, Ellen DeGeneres, Alex T. Smith, Carson Ellis, Tonya Lippert PhD

In the brown house, Claire and Wes were home. But home turned to nowhere and nowhere turned to anywhere. Then somewhere finally came, and finally, always.

This lyrical story is timely and thoughtful, depicting the life of two children thrust into homelessness and uncertain housing situations as they move out of their house, to a motel, to a shelter, and finally another more permanent home. Throughout, the duo is challenged by uncomfortable new places and inquiries from strangers, but ultimately, never lose their optimism or determination. They have each other, no matter at home, nowhere, anywhere, or somewhere—always.

Includes a poignant Reader's Note on how homelessness affects children and what we can do to help.

Featured in the National Building Museum in Washington, DC, Exhibition called Building Stories

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The Perfect Place

by Matt de la Peña

From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street comes this moving picture book about the perils of perfectionism.

Lucas goes to the perfect school in the perfect neighborhood. And when he gets perfect grades, he feels like he fits right in.

But life at home is not so perfect. His dad’s old work truck keeps breaking down. His mom works long hours at her job at the diner. And Lucas has to share his small room with his baby sister.

One night, Lucas is awakened by a strange light, which he follows all the way to the place where the perfect people live. Everything there is more beautiful than he could have imagined. But the longer Lucas stays, the more he wonders what it really means to be perfect. Does it mean never making mistakes? Does it mean rejecting his bustling neighborhood and his loving family? And what’s so great about being perfect, anyway?

From award-winning talents Matt de la Peña and Paola Escobar comes this heartwarming, uplifting picture book about a boy, at home in two worlds, discovering what it means to be at home with himself.

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Retazos (Spanish Edition)

by Matt de la Peña

Del autor ganador de la Medalla Newbery Matt de la Peña y de la ilustradora bestseller del New York Times Corinna Luyken llega esta oda profundamente conmovedora a las posibilidades infinitas dentro de cada niño y niña:

Una joven bailarina podría convertirse un día en programadora.

Un jugador de baloncesto podría convertirse en poeta.

La chistosa de la clase podría llegar a ser una maestra inspiradora.

Y la niña silenciosa y solidaria de hoy podría ser la gran líder del mañana.

Un clásico nuevo, profundo y edificante, con un mensaje de empoderamiento para lectores de todas las edades: tu historia aún se está escribiendo.

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A Nation's Hope: The Story of Boxing Legend Joe Louis

by Matt de la Peña

On the eve of World War II, African American boxer Joe Louis fought German Max Schmeling in a bout that had more at stake than just the world heavyweight title; for much of America their fight came to represent America's war with Germany. This elegant and powerful picture book biography centers around the historic fight in which Black and White America were able to put aside prejudice and come together to celebrate our nation's ideals.

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Flying Lessons & Other Stories

by Kwame Alexander, Soman Chainani, Jacqueline Woodson, Grace Lin, Matt de la Peña, Meg Medina, Kelly J. Baptist, Tim Tingle

Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold short story collection—written by some of the best children’s authors including Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina, Jacqueline Woodson, and many more and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books—celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us.

"Will resonate with any kid who's ever felt different—which is to say, every kid." —Time

Great stories take flight in this adventurous middle-grade anthology crafted by ten of the most recognizable and diverse authors writing today. Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander delivers a story in-verse about a boy who just might have magical powers; National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson spins a tale of friendship against all odds; and Meg Medina uses wet paint to color in one girl’s world with a short story that inspired her Newbery award-winner Merci Suárez Changes Gear. Plus, seven more bold voices that bring this collection to new heights with tales that challenge, inspire, and celebrate the unique talents within us all.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Kwame Alexander, Kelly J. Baptist, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Tim Federle, Grace Lin, Meg Medina, Walter Dean Myers, Tim Tingle, Jacqueline Woodson

“There’s plenty of magic in this collection to go around.” —Booklist, Starred

“A natural for middle school classrooms and libraries.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“Inclusive, authentic, and eminently readable.” —School Library Journal, Starred

“Thought provoking and wide-ranging . . . should not be missed.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

“Read more books by these authors.” —The Bulletin, Starred

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Flying Lessons & Other Stories

by Kwame Alexander, Soman Chainani, Jacqueline Woodson, Grace Lin, Matt de la Peña, Meg Medina, Kelly J. Baptist, Tim Tingle

Whether it is basketball dreams, family fiascos, first crushes, or new neighborhoods, this bold short story collection—written by some of the best children’s authors including Kwame Alexander, Meg Medina, Jacqueline Woodson, and many more and published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books—celebrates the uniqueness and universality in all of us.

"Will resonate with any kid who's ever felt different—which is to say, every kid." —Time

Great stories take flight in this adventurous middle-grade anthology crafted by ten of the most recognizable and diverse authors writing today. Newbery Medalist Kwame Alexander delivers a story in-verse about a boy who just might have magical powers; National Book Award winner Jacqueline Woodson spins a tale of friendship against all odds; and Meg Medina uses wet paint to color in one girl’s world with a short story that inspired her Newbery award-winner Merci Suárez Changes Gear. Plus, seven more bold voices that bring this collection to new heights with tales that challenge, inspire, and celebrate the unique talents within us all.

AUTHORS INCLUDE: Kwame Alexander, Kelly J. Baptist, Soman Chainani, Matt de la Peña, Tim Federle, Grace Lin, Meg Medina, Walter Dean Myers, Tim Tingle, Jacqueline Woodson

“There’s plenty of magic in this collection to go around.” —Booklist, Starred

“A natural for middle school classrooms and libraries.” —Kirkus Reviews, Starred

“Inclusive, authentic, and eminently readable.” —School Library Journal, Starred

“Thought provoking and wide-ranging . . . should not be missed.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred

“Read more books by these authors.” —The Bulletin, Starred

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

Winner of the 2022 National Jewish Book Award for Hebrew Fiction in Translation

An incendiary tale of sex work from a young literary provocateur

Love is a fever dream of a novel about a young sex worker whose life blurs the boundaries between violence and intimacy, objectification and real love. Startlingly vulnerable and lyrically deft, Maayan Eitan’s debut follows Libby as she goes about her work in a nameless Israeli city, riding in cars, seeing clients, meeting and befriending other sex workers and pimps. In prose as crystalline as it is unflinching, Eitan brings us into the mind of her fierce protagonist, as Libby spins a series of fictions to tell herself, and others, in order to negotiate her life under the gaze of men. After long nights of slipping in and out of the beds of strangers, in a shocking moment of violence, she seizes control of her narrative and then labors to construct a life that resembles normalcy. But as she pursues love, it continually eludes her. She discovers that her past nights in cheap hotel rooms eerily resemble the more conventional life she’s trying to forge.

A literary sensation in Israel, Maayan Eitan’s debut set off a firestorm about the relationship between truth and fiction, and the experiences of women under the power of men. Compact and gemlike, this is a contemporary allegory of a young woman on the verge.

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

This charming book will delight―and touch―all readers.
Its sweet, heartbreaking story is told on pages of vibrant colors and uneven widths, pages with cut-outs and strip-ins, pages with peepholes―pages of all shapes and colorful varieties. This story is a simple one about a little girl. She has parents, naturally, but they went away when she was nine. And as she has no relatives to care for her, she is taken in by an orphanage. Lonely and a bit unusual, she stares at people with her big eyes. She often does things that aren't very nice, and people aren't very nice to her. In fact, they want to send her away. Until, one day...
Part story, part visual play, Love will surprise and enchant all who turn its pages. Illustrated throughout

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

WINNER OF THE 2019 PEN TRANSLATION PRIZE

FINALIST FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD FOR TRANSLATED LITERATURE

A mother and son move to a village in northern Norway, each ensconced in their own world. Their distance has fatal consequences.

Love is the story of Vibeke and Jon, a mother and son who have just moved to a small place in the north of Norway. It's the day before Jon's birthday, and a travelling carnival has come to the village. Jon goes out to sell lottery tickets for his sports club, and Vibeke is going to the library. From here on we follow the two individuals on their separate journeys through a cold winter's night - while a sense of uneasiness grows. Love illustrates how language builds its own reality, and thus how mother and son can live in completely separate worlds. This distance is found not only between human beings, but also within each individual. This novel shows how such distance may have fatal consequences.

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

Universally desired and uniquely experienced, love finds expression in every land and culture. This enchanting new book celebrates the depth and diversity of love—at many moments in history, and at every human age—in an exquisite collection of photographs from National Geographic’s famous archives and beyond. Each picture tells a tantalizing story and captures an intimate, unforgettable glimpse of love’s many facets, from courtship to friendship to charity and more.

As life-affirming and surprising as its namesake, the book is a beautiful keepsake for lovers and a must-have for all who admire classic photography. Masters of the art, such as Henri Cartier-Bresson, Elliott Erwitt, August Sander, Mary Ellen Mark, Eugene Richards, and William Allard, are among those who have traveled the globe to capture love’s nuances. Showcasing evocative black-and-white portraits and gorgeous color images, Love follows in the tradition of bestselling photography titles including Work, Through the Lens, In Focus, and Wide Angle.

More satisfying than candy and more affordable than a bouquet of flowers, Love is perfect for Valentine’s Day, anniversaries, weddings, birthdays—and every occasion for gifts between those who love.

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

#1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER

"[A] poetic reckoning of the importance of love in a child's life . . . eloquent and moving."—People

"Everything that can be called love -- from shared joy to comfort in the darkness -- is gathered in the pages of this reassuring, refreshingly honest picture book."—The New York Times Book Review, Editors' Choice / Staff Picks From the Book Review

“Lyrical and sensitive, ‘Love’ is the sort of book likely to leave readers of all ages a little tremulous, and brimming with feeling.”—The Wall Street Journal

From Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long comes a story about the strongest bond there is and the diverse and powerful ways it connects us all.

"In the beginning there is light
and two wide-eyed figures standing near the foot of your bed
and the sound of their voices is love.
...
A cab driver plays love softly on his radio
while you bounce in back with the bumps of the city
and everything smells new, and it smells like life."

In this heartfelt celebration of love, Newbery Medal-winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long depict the many ways we experience this universal bond, which carries us from the day we are born throughout the years of our childhood and beyond. With a lyrical text that's soothing and inspiring, this tender tale is a needed comfort and a new classic that will resonate with readers of every age.

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Love

by Robert Sabuda, Ferdinand Protzman, Matt de la Peña, Maayan Eitan, Lowell A. Siff, Hanne Orstavik

The ideal gift for someone you love, from the #1 New York Times best-selling pop-up artist who brought us Believe and many other celebrated 3-D books.

Tender expressions of the different guises of love spring from the pages of this charming pop-up book from master paper artist Robert Sabuda. Brief passages beginning with the words “I love you because . . .” are illustrated with six captivating pop-up spreads, making for a warm bedtime story, a token of affection for loved ones, and a beautiful keepsake for readers of all ages.

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Coco: Miguel and the Grand Harmony

by Matt de la Peña

This jacketed picture book pairs Newbery Winner Matt de la Peña and Pixar artist Ana Ramírez with the highly anticipated Pixar Studios film, Coco. Featuring a beautiful original story based on the characters of the film, as well as vibrant stylized artwork, this title is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.
Disney*Pixar's Coco is the celebration of a lifetime, where the discovery of a generations-old mystery leads to a most extraordinary and surprising family reunion. Directed by Lee Unkrich (Toy Story 3) and produced by Darla K. Anderson (Toy Story 3), Disney*Pixar's Coco opens in U.S. theaters November 22, 2017.

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Patchwork

by Karen Osborn, Matt de la Peña

Two generations of women in a South Carolina mill town face the realities of family struggles and ties, unfulfilled dreams, rural working-class life, and lost, forbidden, and unfaithful love

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Patchwork

by Karen Osborn, Matt de la Peña

From a Newbery Medal-winning author and a New York Times bestselling illustrator comes a deeply moving ode to the complexity and uniqueness of every child.

In profound, uplifting verse and sumptuous artwork, beloved creators Matt de la Peña and Corinna Luyken explore the endless possibilities each child contains: A young dancer may grow into a computer coder; a basketball player might become a poet; a class clown may one day serve as an inspiring teacher; and today’s quiet empath might be tomorrow’s great leader. Here's a profound and uplifting new classic with an empowering message for readers of all ages: Your story is still being written.

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Last Stop on Market Street and Carmela Full of Wishes Box Set

by Matt de la Peña

The perfect gift for every occasion--the complete collection of picture books from Newbery Medal- and Caldecott Honor-winning duo Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson

The bestselling and award-winning team of Matt de la Peña and Christian Robinson have brought readers two new classics with Last Stop on Market Street and Carmela Full of Wishes. Lyrically written and vibrantly illustrated, these moving and timely picture books deserve a spot on every bookshelf. Packaged together for the first time, this boxed set is the perfect addition for any growing library and a must-have for readers young and old.

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Última parada de la calle Market (Last Stop on Market Street Spanish Edition)

by Matt de la Peña

Este galardonado clásico moderno —imprescindible en la biblioteca doméstica de todo niño— es una oda inclusiva a la bondad, la empatía, la gratitud y a encontrar alegría en lugares inesperados, y celebra el vínculo especial entre un niño curioso y su abuela cariñosa. Edición en español.

Cada domingo, Jackson y su abuela viajan en autobús a través de la ciudad hasta su parada en la calle Market. Pero hoy, Jackson no se siente contento al hacerlo. Hoy pregunta por qué tienen que esperar bajo la lluvia y por qué no tiene un coche, como sus amigos. Pero la abuela abre los ojos del joven Jackson y le muestra la belleza real en el mundo que los rodea: el espíritu de la bulliciosa ciudad, la música en la vida cotidiana y la magia de sus vecinos. Todas esas cosas que, a menudo, pasamos por alto.

De los galardonados creadores Matt de la Peña y Christian Robinson llega una brillante celebración del amor entre una abuela y su nieto.

This award-winning modern classic—a must-have for every child’s home library—is an inclusive ode to kindness, empathy, gratitude, and finding joy in unexpected places, and celebrates the special bond between a curious young boy and his loving grandmother. Now in a Spanish-language edition.

Every Sunday after church, CJ and his grandma ride the bus across town. But today, CJ wonders why they don’t own a car like his friend Colby. Why doesn’t he have an iPod like the boys on the bus? How come they always have to get off in the dirty part of town? Each question is met with an encouraging answer from grandma, who helps him see the beauty—and fun—in their routine and the world around them.

This energetic ride through a bustling city highlights the wonderful perspective only grandparent and grandchild can share, and comes to life through Matt de la Peña’s vibrant text and Christian Robinson’s radiant illustrations.

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COCO: MIGUEL Y LA GRAN ARMONÍA

by Matt de la Peña

A Spanish-language edition of MIGUEL AND THE GRAND HARMONY.This jacketed picture book pairs Newbery Winner Matt de la Peña and Pixar artist Ana Ramírez with the highly anticipated Pixar Studios film, Coco. Featuring a beautiful original story based on the characters of the film, as well as vibrant stylized artwork, this title is sure to appeal to readers of all ages.

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Los deseos de Carmela (Spanish Edition)

by Matt de la Peña

Hasta ahora el cumpleaños de Carmela no puede ser mejor. Hoy es lo suficientemente mayor para acompañar a su hermano en su recorrido por la ciudad. Y la tarde que pasan juntos se llena con la magia de lo que ven a su alrededor:
desde el brillante sol de los campos hasta las golosinas en la vidriera de la panadería. Pero cuando recoge un diente de león que crece en el concreto, se pregunta qué otra cosa podría desear ... y decide entonces salir en busca del deseo perfecto.

En esta nueva colaboración, Matt de la Peña y Christian Robinson, galardonados por su trabajo en Última parada de la calle Market, que ganó la Medalla Newbery y Mención de Honor Caldecott por la edición en inglés, han creado una oda, conmovedora y actual, al coraje de los soñadores y al poder de la esperanza.

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El lugar perfecto (The Perfect Place Spanish Edition)

by Matt de la Peña

Lucas asiste a la escuela perfecta en el vecindario perfecto. Y cuando obtiene calificaciones perfectas, siente que encaja perfectamente. Edición en español.

Pero la vida en casa no es tan perfecta. La vieja camioneta de su papá se sigue descomponiendo. Su mamá trabaja muchas horas como empleada en la cafetería. Y Lucas debe compartir su pequeña habitación con su hermanita.

Una noche, a Lucas lo despierta una extraña luz, la cual sigue hasta el lugar en donde viven las personas perfectas. Ahí todo es más bello de lo que se podría imaginar. Pero mientras más tiempo está ahí, más se pregunta lo que significa ser perfecto. ¿Significa nunca cometer errores? ¿Significa rechazar a su bullicioso vecindario y a su amorosa familia? ¿Y qué tiene de genial ser perfecto, de cualquier manera?

De los talentos galardonados de Matt de la Peña y Paola Escobar llega este conmovedor e inspirador libro ilustrado acerca de un niño, en casa en dos mundos, que descubre lo que es sentirse bien consigo mismo.

From the Newbery Medal-winning author of Last Stop on Market Street comes this moving picture book about the perils of perfectionism. Now in a Spanish-language edition.

Lucas goes to the perfect school in the perfect neighborhood. And when he gets perfect grades, he feels like he fits right in.

But life at home is not so perfect. His dad’s old work truck keeps breaking down. His mom works long hours at her job at the diner. And Lucas has to share his small room with his baby sister.

One night, Lucas is awakened by a strange light, which he follows all the way to the place where the perfect people live. Everything there is more beautiful than he could have imagined. But the longer Lucas stays, the more he wonders what it really means to be perfect. Does it mean never making mistakes? Does it mean rejecting his bustling neighborhood and his loving family? And what’s so great about being perfect, anyway?

From award-winning talents Matt de la Peña and Paola Escobar comes this heartwarming, uplifting picture book about a boy, at home in two worlds, discovering what it means to be at home with himself.

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Hogar (Home Spanish Edition)

by Matt de la Peña

Del autor ganador de la Newbery Medal Matt de la Peña y el ilustrador bestseller Loren Long, los creadores de Love, el bestseller número uno del New York Times, llega una edición en español de esta sumamente emotiva oda a los lugares en donde nos sentimos seguros, amados y fieles a nosotros mismos, dondequiera que se encuentren.
 
Hogar es una soñolienta canción de cuna
y un murmullo de tráfico que de noche
se cuela entre tus cortinas.
 
Hogar es la tenue sirena de una barcaza lejana
mientras tu abuelo lanza el sedal
desde el borde de su casa flotante.

 
Así comienza esta emocionante celebración del hogar en sus diferentes formas. Ya que el hogar es una idea más profunda que los muros que levantamos a nuestro alrededor. Es la familia que demuestra su amor por medio de pequeños gestos cada día. Es la comunidad que se apoya en los tiempos difíciles. Y es la maravilla del mundo natural, un refugio que compartimos con todo ser viviente en la Tierra.
 
From Newbery Medal winning author Matt de la Peña and bestselling illustrator Loren Long, the creators of the #1 New York Times bestseller Love, comes a Spanish language edition of this deeply moving ode to the places we feel safe, loved, and true to ourselves—wherever they might be.

Home is a tired lullaby
and a late-night traffic that mumbles in
through a crack in your curtains.

Home is the faint trumpet of a distant barge
as your grandfather casts his line
from the edge of his houseboat.
 
So begins this stirring celebration of home in its many forms. For home is an idea more profound than the walls we build up around ourselves. It’s the family that shows its love through small gestures every day. It’s the community that sees one another through hard times. And it’s the wonder of the natural world, a refuge we share with every living thing on Earth.

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