Chapter One with HPL

Cilla Lee-Jenkins is 50% Chinese, 50% Caucasian, and 100% destined for literary greatness! In this middle grade novel, she shares stories about a new sibling, being biracial, and her destiny as a future author extraordinaire. Priscilla "Cilla" Lee-Jenkins is on a tight deadline. Her baby sister is about to be born, and Cilla needs to become a bestselling author before her family forgets all about her. So she writes about what she knows best―herself! (description from publisher) This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Square Fish, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

A freshman at MIT, seventeen-year-old Mei Lu tries to live up to her Taiwanese parents' expectations, but no amount of tradition, obligation, or guilt prevent her from hiding several truths--that she is a germaphobe who cannot become a doctor, she prefers dancing to biology, she decides to reconnect with her estranged older brother, and she is dating a Japanese boy. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Simon Pulse, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library's catalog.

Told that they will have to move out of their Harlem brownstone just after Christmas, the five Vanderbeeker children, ages four to twelve, decide to change their reclusive landlord's mind. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library's catalog.

While staying at the remote and reputedly haunted Maine inn run by her father and pregnant stepmother, sixteen-year-old Cynda feels increasingly isolated from her father's new family and finds solace in the attentions of a charming but mysterious guest. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

1944. Elizabeth's mother works at Dresden Zoo, where her favorite animal is an elephant named Marlene. When the zoo director tells her the dangerous animals must be shot to prevent them running amok when the town is bombed, Elizabeth's mother moves Marlene into the back garden to save her. And then the bombs start to fall... This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Feiwel & Friends, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Gwyneth comes from a special family. A family that passes that time-traveling gene through the female line. Her cousin, Charlotte, is supposed to be the gene bearer but a dizzy spell sends Gwyneth tumbling through time into a different era! Why did her mother lie about her birthday thus hiding her gene-bearing fate? Can she trust Gideon, a fellow time traveler? And how will she get back home? This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Macmillan.

Best friends Sophie and Agatha couldn't be more different and they're excited to start their fable training at the School for Good and Evil, where regular kids train to become the heroes and villains of legend. Sophie is certain she'll get top marks and follow in the footsteps of heroines like Rapunzel and Cinderella while Agatha is looking forward to villain classes. But when school starts they find their fortunes reversed! Is it a mistake? Or the first step in discovering who they're really meant to be? This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recording made with permission of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

First love, grief, and time travel help Jack realize that actions have consequences. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Katherine Tegan Books, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Rory becomes convinced that he and his nemesis have become superheroes after they both turn green and land in the same hospital ward. This title is intended for tweens and is suitable for most audiences. Recorded with permission of Walden Pond Press, an imprint of HarperCollins. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.

Eight smuggled books and one teenage prisoner chosen to protect them, Librarian of Auschwitz is based on the true story of Dita Kraus. This title is intended for teens, however, it may contain language or themes that some readers may find offensive. Recorded with permission of Henry Holt, an imprint of Macmillan. Click here to see this title in the Houston Public Library catalog.