From Jas Hammonds, award-winning author of We Deserve Monuments, comes a gripping read about a girl willing to risk it all for the chance to join an underground sorority with her wealthy best friends—perfect for fans of the show Euphoria and Girl in Pieces by Kathleen Glasgow.
It’s the summer before college and Blake Brenner and her girlfriend, Ella, have one goal: join the mysterious and exclusive Serena Society. The sorority promises status and lifelong connections to a network of powerful, trailblazing women of color. Ella’s acceptance is a sure thing—she’s the daughter of a Serena alum. Blake, however, has a lot more to prove.
As a former loner from a working-class background, Blake lacks Ella’s pedigree and confidence. Luckily, she finds courage at the bottom of a liquor bottle. When she drinks, she’s bold, funny, and unstoppable—and the Serenas love it. But as pledging intensifies, so does Blake’s drinking, until it’s seeping into every corner of her life. Ella assures Blake that she’s fine; partying hard is what it takes to make the cut . . .
But success has never felt so much like drowning. With her future hanging in the balance and her past dragging her down, Blake must decide how far she’s willing to go to achieve her glittering dreams of success—and how much of herself she’s willing to lose in the process.
This month’s Author Spotlight highlights Allen R. Wells, author of It’s Pride, Baby!, a joyful picture book debut encouraging kids to take pride in themselves and know they are loved no matter what.
We are proud to share our 2024 ALA Award winners, honorees, and finalists from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, announced at the 2024 Youth Media Awards!
We are proud to share our 2023 ALA Award winners, honorees, and finalists from Macmillan Children’s Publishing Group, announced at the 2023 Youth Media Awards!
Discussion Guide: A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix by C.B. Lee
Download the discussion guide for A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix, part of our new Remixed Classics brand! In Remixed Classics, authors from diverse backgrounds take different literary classics from centuries past and reinterpret them through their own unique cultural lens. This collection will serve YA readers as both a series of fun, engaging reads as well as a subversive overall look at what our society has deemed “classic” works that are overwhelmingly cishet, white, and male.
Two intrepid girls hunt for a legendary treasure on the deadly high seas in this YA remix of the classic adventure novel Treasure Island.
1826. The sun is setting on the golden age of piracy, and the legendary Dragon Fleet, the scourge of the South China Sea, is no more. Its ruthless leader, a woman known only as the Head of the Dragon, is now only a story, like the ones Xiang has grown up with all her life. She desperately wants to prove her worth, especially to her mother, a shrewd businesswoman who never seems to have enough time for Xiang. Her father is also only a story, dead at sea before Xiang was born. Her single memento of him is a pendant she always wears, a simple but plain piece of gold jewelry.
But the pendant’s true nature is revealed when a mysterious girl named Anh steals it, only to return it to Xiang in exchange for her help in decoding the tiny map scroll hidden inside. The revelation that Xiang’s father sailed with the Dragon Fleet and tucked away this secret changes everything. Rumor has it that the legendary Head of the Dragon had one last treasure the plunder of a thousand ports that for decades has only been a myth, a fool’s journey.
Xiang is convinced this map could lead to the fabled treasure. Captivated with the thrill of adventure, she joins Anh and her motley crew off in pursuit of the island. But the girls soon find that the sea—and especially those who sail it are far more dangerous than the legends led them to believe.
Praise for A Clash of Steel: A Treasure Island Remix:
“Vividly realized and brimming with romantic adventure. Rooted in the legend of Chinese pirate queen Ching Shih, C.B. Lee’s A Clash of Steel is richly imagined and thrilling to the end.” Malinda Lo, bestselling author of Last Night at the Telegraph Club
“Lavishly drawn and studded with jewels from the original, C.B. Lee has written a remix that delves deep into questions of family, love, and treasure. This is a book I wish I’d had as a young, queer teen and it deserves a spot in any collection.” Natalie C. Parker, author of the Seafire trilogy
“A Clash of Steel is an action-packed tale of fierce friendship and queer found family, with a playful sapphic romance that will make your heart flutter! C.B. Lee immerses you in the world of the Qing dynasty with vivid and authentic detail you will feel the danger of the waves and yearn for the tastes and smells of the markets.” Julia Ember, author of Ruinsong
In honor of Pride Month, we’re interviewing Mike Curato, creator of Flamer, his debut graphic novel! With five starred reviews, this is a powerful story about a young boy’s path to self-discovery and acceptance. Mike shares more about his inspiration for the story and his advice for aspiring writers and illustrators here.
Meet the author of the middle grade graphic novel Snapdragon by Kat Leyh. Kat shares more about her inspiration for this book, her most memorable teachers and librarians, her favorite childhood books, and more!
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