Melanie Crowder

Love can be many things – all-consuming, fleeting, vengeful, selfless, toxic, uplifting, and always, a core part of the teen experience that leaves an indelible mark. This enchanting, genre-crossing anthology delivers something for every reader with unique characters, global settings, and a dazzling mixture of myth, historical, speculative, and contemporary fiction. With the turn of a page, get swept away by unexpected love blooming between two princes from enemy Mesoamerican nations in the 15th century, who'd rather make music rather than war; cheer for a timid bearded lady who was shunned by her family and runs away to find belonging and safety at the circus during the 1800s experience the heartbreak of saying goodbye to a beloved pet; breathlessly watch a myth unfold as a siren bound to the water falls in love with a winged forest spirit, their love seemingly impossible from the start. Root for a girl who emerges from grief and battles with chronic pain to discover how to love herself and life again. Love is complicated, and this anthology embraces the messiness and the joy of all kinds of love. Contributors include: Alexandra Alessandri David Bowles Melanie Crowder Margarita Engle Eric Gansworth Robin Gow Mariama J. Lockington Laura Ruby Padma Venkatraman Jasmine Warga Charles Waters Kip Wilson

This lyrical, stunningly illustrated book explores the sea wolf--an apex marine mammal evolved from the gray wolf--as it navigates the coastline, eats seafood, and lives its extraordinary, unusual life. Sea Wolves: Keepers of the Rainforest is the astonishing story of a wolf species that calls the shores of western Canada and southeastern Alaska home. Here, wolves crack clams, feast on fish roe, swipe salmon from rivers, and swim miles between islands--as long observed by the First Nations communities that have lived alongside them for thousands of years. However, with the rise of industrial logging, pipeline projects, and other threats, sea wolves face a troubled future. Wildlife experts and First Nations members agree: these majestic creatures are a vital part of the ecosystem and need to be protected. Through beautiful verse and striking illustrations, Sea Wolves captures the fascinating life of an animal with great cultural and scientific significance--one that will inspire awe in young readers.

Meet the winds of the world in this beautifully illustrated collection of poems from MIT Kids Press. Journey across the world and discover the many different winds in this enchanting poetic picture book. Meet Italy's swaggering Maestro who sweeps along the coast on hot summer days; join the penguins in Antarctica as the icy Katabatic blusters and blows; and hear the resounding BOOM and CLASH of the Sumatra Squall. Each spread includes scientific information on how each wind is formed, where it blows and the weather systems it heralds. With charming illustrations by an award-winning artist, this is a fascinating picture book to inspire wonder.

From Antarctica's biting katabatic gusts to Hawai'i's sweet-smelling moani, discover fourteen winds of the world through poetry, scientific facts, and transporting illustrations. Lift your face to the breeze--let it bathe your cheekssift through your hairtease your fingertips. In a dynamic collection of poems, Melanie Crowder and Megan Benedict explore the world's winds, from Italy's swaggering maestro to Libya's fierce ghibli to Canada's howling squamish. The poetic styles used reflect the characteristics and sometimes the location of each wind: Japan's blustery oroshi is celebrated in haiku, for example, while the poem about Britain's helm uses iambs in a nod toward the iambic pentameter of English sonnets. Sidebars relay the science behind how each wind forms, where it blows, and the weather systems it heralds, and the airy art from award-winning illustrator Khoa Le is overlaid with scientifically accurate wind lines that show the path of each gust. More meteorological details can be found in the back matter, which includes explorations of the origin of wind and how winds are named, a world map pinning the winds' locations, a glossary, and books for further reading.

In a ripped-from-the-headlines story, nineteen-year-old Blair's passion for fighting fires lands her a spot with the Forest Service and sets her on a wilderness adventure that quickly turns catastrophic. How far would you go to save yourself? Blair Scott is in her second season as a wildland firefighter when the Forest Service puts out a call for an additional class of smokejumpers. She and her best friend Jason both apply, though neither expects to get in since they're only nineteen. But it's been a devastating fire season, and they are both accepted. But going to training camp is only the first step--everyone expects the teenage rookies will wash out in the first week. Blair has always been touchy about people telling her she isn't good enough, so she begins taking unnecessary risks to prove herself. It doesn't take long before everything spins out of control, leaving Blair struggling to cope. A story of courage, self-knowledge, and ultimate triumph over the elements, Jumper is a dramatic wilderness adventure that explores what it takes to survive--in every sense of the word. Never less than riveting. -Kirkus, starred review Blair is a fierce and dynamic narrator, and Crowder's (Mazie) immersive prose, crisp dialogue, and haunting descriptions of devastating fires enlivens this pulse-pounding thriller. -Publisher's Weekly, starred review

*Deserves a standing ovation. --Kirkus Reviews (starred review)* This is a terrific and realistic piece of historical fiction that is perfect for theater lovers and historical fiction fans. --SLC (starred review)*The peppy first-person narrative keeps the story zipping along, and adroitly placed period details make the setting come alive in this bighearted, exuberant novel. --Publishers Weekly (starred review) An eighteen-year-old aspiring actress trades in starry Nebraska skies for the bright lights of 1950s Broadway in this show-stopping novel from award-winning author Melanie Crowder. Mazie has always longed to be on Broadway. But growing up in her small Nebraska town, that always seemed like an impossible dream. So when an opportunity presents itself to spend six weeks auditioning, Mazie jumps at the chance, leaving behind everything--and everyone--she's ever known. New York City is a shock to the senses: thrilling, but lonely. Auditions are brutal. Mazie's homesick and she misses the boyfriend whose heart she broke when she left. Nothing is as she expected. With money running out, and faced with too many rejections to count, Mazie is more determined than ever to land a role. But when she discovers that booking a job might mean losing sight of herself, everything Mazie always thought she wanted is called into question. Mazie is the story of a girl caught between two lives--and two loves--as she navigates who she is, what matters most, and the cost of following her dream. Praise for Mazie Entertaining and heartfelt.-- Booklist Mazie's authenticity makes this novel stand out. Recommended for all collections, especially where theater is popular.- School Library Journal

Griffin and Fi continue on their quest to save all worlds from invasion in this fantastical follow-up to The Lighthouse between the Worlds, which School Library Journal called "a delicious tale of light and dark." There is more than just one world--and all of them are in grave danger. After a narrow escape from the battle-torn world of Somni, Griffin and his fierce, newfound ally Fi find themselves at the center of a war that threatens not only the people of Earth, but those of other worlds entirely. Connected by the lighthouse that acts as a portal, each world harbors a unique kind of magic that the greedy rulers of Somni are determined to capture for themselves. Unless Griffin and Fi can find a way to stop these would-be conquerors, everything they hold dear will be lost. Navigating magical worlds of mist, water, vines, and fire in search of an answer, the two friends will have to discover their own gifts before they can save not only themselves but the worlds--every single one of them.

"Readers will cheer...a fast read that ends too soon." --Kirkus Reviews Griffin must traverse dangerous new worlds if he hopes to save his father from a peril that threatens all of humanity in this fantastical novel from the acclaimed author of A Nearer Moon. Griffin and his father tend to their lighthouse on the craggy coast of Oregon with the same careful routine each day. There are hardly ever any visitors, but they like it that way. Which is why, when a group of oddly dressed strangers suddenly appears, Griffin begins to see just how many secrets his father has been keeping. He never imagined that his lighthouse contains a portal to strange and dangerous worlds, or that a Society of Lighthouse Keepers exists to protect the Earth from a fearsome enemy invasion. But then Griffin's dad is pulled through the lens of the lighthouse into one of those other worlds. With his father gone, nobody from the Society is giving Griffin any answers, so he's on his own. Armed only with a book of mysterious notes from his parents, Griffin is determined to find his dad, no matter what dangers lurk on the other side of the portal.

Griffin and Fi continue on their quest to save all worlds from invasion in this fantastical follow-up to The Lighthouse between the Worlds, which Kirkus Reviews called "a fast read that ends too soon." There is more than just one world--and all of them are in grave danger. After a narrow escape from the battle-torn world of Somni, Griffin and his fierce, newfound ally Fi find themselves at the center of a war that threatens not only the people of Earth, but those of other worlds entirely. Connected by the lighthouse that acts as a portal, each world harbors a unique kind of magic that the greedy rulers of Somni are determined to capture for themselves. Unless Griffin and Fi can find a way to stop these would-be conquerors, everything they hold dear will be lost. Navigating magical worlds of mist, water, vines, and fire in search of an answer, the two friends will have to discover their own gifts before they can save not only themselves but the worlds--every single one of them.

Modern history unearthed as a boy becomes an innocent victim of corruption in Bolivia's crime world, where the power of family is both a prison and a means of survival. It's 1999 in Bolivia and Francisco's life consists of school, soccer, and trying to find space for himself in his family's cramped yet boisterous home. But when his father is arrested on false charges and sent to prison by a corrupt system that targets the uneducated, the poor, and the indigenous majority, Francisco and his sister are left with no choice: They must move into prison with their father. There, they find a world unlike anything they've ever known, where everything—a door, a mattress, protection from other inmates—has its price. Prison life is dirty, dire, and dehumanizing. With their lives upended, Francisco faces an impossible decision: Break up the family and take his sister to their grandparents in the Andean highlands, fleeing the city and the future within his grasp, or remain together in the increasingly dangerous prison. Pulled between two undesirable options, Francisco must confront everything he once believed about the world and his place within it. In this heart-wrenching novel, Melanie Crowder sheds light on a little-known era of modern South American history—where injustice still looms large—and proves that hope can be found, even in the most desperate places. Perfect for fans of Ruta Sepetys, Matt de la Pena, and Jacqueline Woodson. Praise for An Uninterrupted View of the Sky:? "Crowder delivers a disturbing portrait of innocent families trapped in corrupt systems, as well as a testament to the strength of enduring cultural traditions and the possibility of finding family in the unlikeliest places."—Publishers Weekly, starred review? "Readers will feel utterly invested in Francisco's various challenges... A riveting, Dickensian tale."—Kirkus, starred review? "Themes of poverty, social injustice...violence toward women, coming-of-age, romantic love, and a sliver of precarious hope are woven into the plot...[An] important addition to libraries."—School Library Journal, starred review"[A] trenchant novel... This hard-hitting, ultimately hopeful story will open readers’ eyes to a lesser-known historical moment and the far-reaching implications of U. S. policy."—Booklist"[This novel] is raw, gripping, poetic and bold.... Crowder takes you on an emotional pilgrimage that you won’t want to end."—RT Book Reviews, five-starred reviewPraise for Audacity:2015 National Jewish Book Award finalistWashington Post Best Children’s Poetry BookNew York Public Library Best Book for TeensILA Notable Book for a Global SocietyALA Top 10 Best Fiction for Young Adults PickALSC Notable Children's Book nominee? "Crowder breathes life into a world long past... Compelling, powerful and unforgettable."—Kirkus Reviews, starred review? "[An] impactful addition to any historical fiction collection."—School Library Journal, starred review? "With a thorough historical note, glossary of terms, and bibliography, this will make an excellent complement to units on women’s rights and the labor movement, but it will also satisfy readers in search of a well-told tale of a fierce heroine."—BCCB, starred review? "This is an excellent title that can open discussions in U. S. history and economics courses about women’s rights, labor unions, and the immigrant experience."—School Library Connection, starred review

A girl in foster care tries to find her birth mother before she loses her forever in this "tender tale" (School Library Journal, starred review) about last chances and new opportunities. For a kid bouncing from foster home to foster home, The Book of Changes is the perfect companion. That's why Marin carries three pennies and a pocket-sized I Ching with her everywhere she goes. Yet when everything in her life suddenly starts changing--like landing in a foster home that feels like somewhere she could stay, maybe forever--the pennies don't have any answers for her. Marin is positive that all the wrongs in her life will be made right if only she can find her birth mother and convince her that they belong together. Marin is close, oh so close--until she gets some unwelcome news and her resolve, like the uneasy earth far beneath the city of San Francisco, is shaken.

A 2015 National Jewish Book Award finalist The inspiring story of Clara Lemlich, whose fight for equal rights led to the largest strike by women in American history A gorgeously told novel in verse written with intimacy and power, Audacity is inspired by the real-life story of Clara Lemlich, a spirited young woman who emigrated from Russia to New York at the turn of the twentieth century and fought tenaciously for equal rights. Bucking the norms of both her traditional Jewish family and societal conventions, Clara refuses to accept substandard working conditions in the factories on Manhattan's Lower East Side. For years, Clara devotes herself to the labor fight, speaking up for those who suffer in silence. In time, Clara convinces the women in the factories to strike, organize, and unionize, culminating in the famous Uprising of the 20,000. Powerful, breathtaking, and inspiring, Audacity is the story of a remarkable young woman, whose passion and selfless devotion to her cause changed the world.

In this haunting, lyrical novel told from three perspectives, Sarel has just witnessed the violent murder of her parents. But she is not completely alone on the drought-ridden land. Nandi is the leader of a pack of dogs who looks out for her pups and for skinny Sarel-girl. Nandi knows they are all in trouble, and she knows, too, that a boy is coming--an escaped prisoner with the water song inside him. A hard-hitting but ultimately hopeful survival story.