The Candy Mafia
by Lavie Tidhar
illustrated by Daniel Duncan

Nelle Faulkner is a preteen private detective solving cases in a city where candy is a crime and kid-led gangs are thriving. So when notorious candy gangster Eddie de Menthe asks for her help finding a missing teddy bear, Nelle Faulkner is on the case. But when the teddy turns up, Eddie himself goes missing, and Nelle and her friends quickly find themselves swept up in a shady underworld of sweets smugglers, back alley deals, and storefront firebombs. If Nelle has any hope of tracking down her missing client, she’ll first have to unmask the true faces behind the smuggling ring. Can she and her friends find a way to take the cake? Or will they come to a sticky end?

Mr. Penguin and the Catastrophic Cruise
by Alex T. Smith

Dashing detective Mr. Penguin and his adventuring gang board a luxury cruise ship for some much-needed rest and a little entertainment. With Colin, his kung fu spider sidekick, preparing to perform with the Ladies Choir and fish finger sandwiches available twenty-four hours a day, Mr. Penguin isn’t even bothered by the fact that he can’t swim and is deeply afraid of water. But when a series of odd events infiltrates a façade of glamorous parties filled with a who’s who of film stars and politicians, Mr. Penguin can’t help but feel that something shifty is happening on board. And when he befriends a young stowaway with a mystery of her own, he soon finds that adventures are lying in wait.

Save the Crash-test Dummies
An Action-Packed Journey through the History of Car Safety Engineering
by Jennifer Swanson
illustrated by TeMika Grooms

Cars take us to work. To school. To soccer practice. To the grocery store and home again. Can you imagine a world without them? It’s not so easy! One of the reasons we can use cars so much in our everyday lives is because they are safe to drive. But that hasn’t always been the case. If it weren’t for the experiments conducted over decades that involved all kinds of crash test volunteers―dead, alive, animal, or automated―cars as we know them might not be around. And then how would you get to school?

Pretty Funny for a Girl
by Rebecca Elliott

Haylah Swinton is a stellar best friend, a loving daughter, and an incredibly patient sister to a four-year-old nutcase of a brother. But she has a big secret: one day, she’ll be a stand-up comedian star. So when impossibly cool and thirstalicious Leo reveals he’s also into comedy, Haylah jumps at the chance to ghost-write his sets. But is Leo as interested in returning the favor? Even though her friends warn her of Leo’s intentions, Haylah’s not ready to listen―and she might just be digging herself deeper toward heartbreak. If Haylah’s ever going to step into the spotlight, first she’ll need to find the self-confidence to strut like the boss she really is.

Sing Like No One’s Listening
by Vanessa Jones

Nettie Delaney is a young singer who has just lost her mother and, despite a dreadful audition, has been accepted into a prestigious performing arts school―the very same school her superstar mother attended. With her mother’s shadow hanging over her, Nettie has her work cut out for her―and everyone is watching. To make matters worse, she hasn’t been able to sing a single note since her mother died. Whenever she tries, she just clams up. If Nettie’s going to survive a demanding first year and keep her place in a highly coveted program, she’ll have to work through her grief, find her voice, and deliver a showstopper. Or face expulsion.

New Middle Grade Books

Middle grade favorite Nina Soni returns for some Halloween hijinks in this fourth installment in author Kashmira Sheth’s award-winning series. Halloween brings out Nina Soni’s competitive spirit, so, naturally, she has to come up with the best costume idea. Plus, a bunch of old boxes hold the makings of an impressively scary haunted house, so what could possibly go wrong for the Halloween Queen? Illustrator Jenn Kocsmiersky brings this endearing heroine to life in this fun read for STEAM enthusiasts!

Pre-order Nina Soni, Halloween Queen today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Avid soccer players Aiden, Ava, and Daniel have just learned their county league soccer trophy mysteriously disappeared forty years ago from the town library and was never recovered. So between games and practices for the town’s soccer championships, the three friends try to solve the case. Award-winning author and Washington Post KidsPost sports columnist Fred Bowen returns with another installment in his Sports Story Series, this time tackling important topics like equal recognition for women in sports. At the end of the book, Bowen includes “The Real Story” behind the disappearance of the original World Cup trophy.

Pre-order Soccer Trophy Mystery today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

When her mother dies, fifteen-year-old Mari and is desperate to avoid being caught up in the foster system. Again. And to complicate matters, she is now the only one who can take care of her super-smart and on-the-spectrum nine-year-old stepbrother, Conor. So in a desperate move, Mari takes Conor and sets out to find the one person who might take them in. A beautiful exploration of identity and family, this heartwarming and engaging middle grade novel comes from renowned storyteller and two-time Grammy Award winner Bill Harley.

Pre-order Now You Say Yes today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

New YA

Big, bold, and funnier than a cat in a onesie playing bagpipes, Haylah Swinton’s been busy proving she’s an all-star comedian through her new YouTube channel. But proving she’s funny is tougher than she thought it’d be! Plus, her new boyfriend Dylan hasn’t even tried kissing her yet, and when her deadbeat dad decides to turn up, life as she’s known it is tossed into one big, colossal mess. Rebecca Elliott’s follow up to the hilarious Pretty Funny for a Girl fires on all cylinders for YA readers. Family drama, boy drama, and a budding comedian at the center of it all makes for a laugh-out-loud, binge-worthy read.

Pre-order Pretty Rude for a Girl today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

You Were Made for Me
by Jenna Guillaume

Sixteen-year-old Katie Camilleri can’t believe she’s accidentally created a teenage boy. What began as a clay sculpture mixed with a secret formula and a flash of lightning has turned into a boy six-feet tall with floppy hair and eyes like the sky on a clear summer’s day. A boy whose lips taste like cookie dough and whose skin smells like springtime. A boy completely devoted to Katie. But silly antics with her best friend, Libby, have definitely taken a whimsical twist into something bigger than Katie could have ever daydreamed. Turns out the consequences of making the perfect guy in your kitchen are rather complicated… Will this spontaneous creation solve all of Katie’s romantic problems or lead to more unintended effects? Does Guy, the golden Adonis she created, really, truly like her because he wants to or because he has to? And will Katie actually get her first kiss?

From the author of What I Like About Me (coming in paperback April 1st!) comes a hilarious and modern feminist twist on the 1985 pop cult film Weird Science, loaded with laughs, mishaps, and plenty of 80s and 90s pop-culture callbacks. Jenna Guillaume’s lighthearted and thought-provoking novel is a binge-worthy read for fans of rom-coms and Jenny Han. Featuring a humorous voice and cast of diverse, relatable characters, Jenna’s newest YA is the perfect book to kick off summer book clubs and reading lists.

Read an excerpt, and dive into this hilarious new rom-com.

Download a free discussion guide, perfect for spring and summer YA book clubs, and get to know author Jenna Guillaume in this Q&A!

“Plenty of early 2000s rom-com vibes and lighthearted mishaps… Guillaume’s cinematic story weaves together beloved romantic comedy tropes touched with magic—or is it science?—and drops them into a fresh, contemporary setting. Despite the playful tone, this isn’t without nuance, taking on serious topics such as male body image, friendship, and asexuality.” —Booklist

“[Katie’s] friendship with Libby is heartwarming and relatable, and her character grows throughout the story.…a quick escape of a story that emphasizes the lesson that our idea of ‘perfection’ isn’t always what we’re looking for…. Younger teens will likely enjoy Katie’s shenanigans.” —School Library Journal

Add some romance, comedy, and magic—or is it science?—to your reading list when You Were Made for Me arrives April 1st at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble. And don’t forget to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Not only do our YA book picks feature some great love stories, but the stars of these romances—an independent young girl with Down syndrome, a plus-size teen who’s just entered a beauty pageant, and a teenage math whiz of Sri Lankan descent—are protagonists you’re guaranteed to fall in love with. Explore new perspectives with these diverse YA romances.

Rosie Loves Jack
by Mel Darbon

“The plot is so engrossing that the book is almost impossible to put down. Yes, Rosie loves Jack, and readers are going to love Rosie.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

Sixteen-year old Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even defy her parents’ orders and run away from home. Even struggle across London and travel to Brighton on her own, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie, who has Down syndrome, could never survive on her own.

Debut author Mel Darbon introduces a strong and determined protagonist who’s fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love, giving readers an underrepresented but much-needed point of view with a voice-driven, heartfelt story of finding your place an often big and intimidating world.

Author Q&A and discussion guide available.

What I Like About Me
by Jenna Guillaume

“This is the book I would hand to teen me.” —Becky Albertalli, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing over vacation is entering a beauty pageant. Not when she’s spent most of her life hiding her body from everyone. Not when her Dad is AWOL and her gorgeous older sister has returned to rock Maisie’s already shaky confidence. And especially not when her best friend starts flirting with the boy she’s always loved. But Maisie’s got something to prove.

Jenna Guillame’s American debut features a plus-size protagonist with a compelling, funny, and authentic narrative voice. This relatable and charming novel about friendship, confidence, and self-love will draw readers in as Maisie’s realistic emotional journey unveils the importance of embracing one’s body and celebrating one’s self. Coming in paperback April 1st!

Author Q&A and discussion guide available.

The Secret Science of Magic
by Melissa Keil

“Neuroatypical characters, nerdiness, social anxiety, intelligence, and magic make this book stand out among other contemporary romances.” ―School Library Journal

Meet Sophia: former child prodigy and 17-year-old math mastermind who really doesn’t have the patience for games right now. And she especially doesn’t have the patience to figure out why all these mysterious playing cards keep turning up inside her textbooks.

Meet Joshua: highly intelligent and cheerfully unambitious amateur magician who’s admired Sophia for as long as he can remember. He thinks the time is perfect to tell Sophia how he feels, but he doesn’t know how wrong he is.

From award-winning author Melissa Keil comes this heartwarming tale of unconventional romance, perfect timing, and finding your own magic, featuring a relatable protagonist and diverse cast of characters.

Author Q&A available.

Q: Rosie Loves Jack is your debut novel. How did you settle on writing for young adults after working in theater and as a teacher?

A: For as long as I can remember I wanted to be a writer. I read constantly as a child and I loved that writers could take me to other worlds and experience different people’s lives. I wanted to be able to do this myself. Of course, life doesn’t always work out the way you want it to, and it took me some time and a stern word from my children until I finally put pen to paper. It felt like I had come home, and everything I had learned working in the theater, where stories are brought to life, and working with inspirational young people was invaluable for my writing and hopefully made it much richer.

The reason I settled on writing for a teenage audience was because I’ve always loved that age group. At this age you are finding out about the world and your place in it and who you want to be as an adult, which is exciting and motivating. Teenagers are free from the lethargy that creeps into our lives as we get older—they keep us on our toes! It seemed natural for me to begin my writing career with them.

Q: Is Rosie Tremayne based on a real person or real experiences?

A: Rosie is based on a real person, although she is also my invention and an amalgamation of different teenagers who I know.

I was lucky to work with a group of very compelling young people a few years back, who all had Down syndrome. One of them, a girl called Rosie, was feisty, funny, and fiercely independent. I always wanted to write her story and share the voice that she so wanted to be heard. In my MA course in Creative Writing, she popped back into my head for a character workshop we had to do. She wouldn’t let me go after that and I knew it was time to introduce her to the world. Her voice guided me through the story.

Some of Rosie’s experiences are based on real ones that I was told about by friends or the young people I worked with, and some are based on my brother’s experiences as a person with a developmental disability. For example, there is a scene where Rosie and her boyfriend Jack are in town getting something to eat from McDonald’s®. While they are there a group of children mimic how they speak and throw food at them. Sadly, this is a true story.

Q: How did your experiences growing up with a brother with Autism influence Rosie Loves Jack?

A: Growing up with my brother had a huge influence on my writing. As a child there was no indication that anything was wrong with him, which caused confusion when he had his meltdowns. One day, when I was nine years old and my brother was five, we were out shopping in town when he had a major tantrum, shouting, kicking, and screaming. Several people came up to us, not to offer help, but to berate my mother, telling her that she was a disgrace, that my brother’s behavior was disgusting, and that he ought to be put away.

I couldn’t understand why some people were so judgmental. I wanted to tell them to “put on my brother’s shoes” for a moment and try to comprehend what it was like to be him, locked in a world that made no sense to him, where even in his sleep he’s tortured by his dreams and is unable to let us know when he’s in pain. I wanted to use these experiences in my book Rosie Loves Jack to highlight what it is like to have to deal with injustices such as these, sometimes on a daily basis.

But I also knew that I wanted to write my book so people could see that life with a developmental disability is definitely not unworthy; we need to look beyond disability to ability. My brother’s life has fueled my desire to help dispel any myths about disability because I want to make it clear that when you have a brother like mine, the positives far outstrip the negatives. My brother has taught me compassion, kindness, patience, and the ability to empathize. My character Rosie became my agent to demonstrate this, through her journey to find her boyfriend and her autonomy.

Q: Why did you choose to have a main character with Down syndrome instead of a different developmental disability?

A: This is something I am asked a lot and it isn’t surprising considering I have a brother who is profoundly autistic. I wasn’t ready to put my brother in a book just yet. I felt a huge responsibility to honor him and his life but knew that with his very limited language it would be difficult to navigate this as an inexperienced writer. I was nervous I wouldn’t get it right and that I would feel I had let him down. Working with young teenagers with Down syndrome made me realize how much of an inspiration they are. I got to know them as individuals and work with them in college and on their work placements. I became close to them all and realized that one girl in particular, who became my character Rosie, would be an incredible ambassador for demonstrating what we both wanted to say, that just because someone has difficulty communicating doesn’t mean they have nothing to say.

Q: Tell us about your approach to writing about a character with Down syndrome. How would the story differ if Rosie didn’t have Down syndrome?

A: I thought very hard before deciding I would write a book featuring a character with Down syndrome. It is a difficult area to cover unless you know what you are talking about; even though you can research any topic in great depth, it’s never the same as if you truly understand or experience something for yourself. It is an especially sensitive area, so a lot of writers might hesitate to embark on a story with a character such as Rosie, for fear of getting it wrong and misrepresenting them. There were challenges that presented themselves, so I had to ensure that I was respectful and considerate before I even began writing. And despite having a lot of experience with people with Down syndrome, I still did thorough research.

I realized I wanted to write a love story that demonstrated how my character Rosie is a teenage girl first, and not just a person defined by her Down syndrome. I wanted Rosie to help the reader understand that human emotions don’t discriminate between those who are able and those who are disabled. Rosie is an individual who shares the same universal desires to love, and to be loved and accepted without limitations. It is the universality of these desires that connects Rosie to her reader.

It became evident that I had to make sure my character was simply part of the landscape and focus on Rosie’s ability and not disability. I had to make her a fully rounded individual and not just a channel to display her disability. As an author I needed to bear in mind that it is not the child with a learning disability who prevents themselves being fully included in society, it is the barriers in society that do that.

Rosie is a typical teenager consumed by her love for Jack and she has the same hopes and aspirations as anyone else. Rosie doesn’t see her Down syndrome as a shortcoming and wants to be treated equally. I avoided stereotyping Rosie by dismissing her Down syndrome as my starting point, which then meant I avoided any obstructions.

I was confident I could portray a realistic picture of Down syndrome, as I’ve personally known people with this condition for many years and learned that there are varying levels of capabilities. Basically, I treated Rose like a normal teenager, then considered the common characteristics of a person with her condition. It soon became apparent that your average sixteen-year-old might be more streetwise and confident alone in London, but might also be just as vulnerable and gullible; Rosie, because of her innocence and trust, is much like a typical teenager because they think they know it all and think they are therefore infallible.

Ultimately, I think that the differences for my story, if Rosie didn’t have Down syndrome, are not as big as it might at first seem. She is above all else a teenager, and many of the young people I have spoken to in schools have said, “Rosie is just like me,” which is what I wanted. A neurotypical teenager might be more worldly wise, they might not take everything so literally, and their speech patterns might be a bit more sophisticated, but not necessarily as poetic. They might be more self-aware and probably more self-obsessed, because that’s how the media programs them to be, but it certainly doesn’t stop them from being just as kind and sensitive as Rosie.

Q: Why did you choose to write this book with first person narration? What are some of the challenges of writing from this perspective?

A: I wrote Rosie Loves Jack with first person narration because I really wanted my reader to see the world through the eyes of someone with Down syndrome. We hear all the time that children need to see the world they live in reflected in the books they read and yet books are still often exclusive in some ways. It isn’t just important for those children who are disabled to see themselves as the protagonist, the hero, but for all children to see every type of representation. My aim in having a character such as Rosie was to enable young people to put on someone else’s shoes and truly understand what life is like for that other person. From that comes empathy, understanding, acceptance, and the realization that we all have value and deserve to be heard.

Using first person narration presented specific challenges. I had to consider the view of the world from someone with Down syndrome. Many people with Down syndrome have incredible empathy and are very in-tune with the feelings and the needs of others—something I witnessed when I worked at Henley College and through knowing a friend’s daughter who has Down syndrome. Alongside this comes a very innocent view of the world that is lived in the moment. I had to be constantly aware of this, yet at the same time show how easily it is possible for any young person to be fooled into believing that a person is good and trying to help them, when in fact they are being conned, or even, as in Rosie’s case, being lured into a very frightening situation. I had to be aware of this balance between Rosie’s worldview and a more streetwise teenager who would probably navigate getting lost in London more easily, but in their own way wouldn’t cope any better than Rosie did in the grooming house.

Q: How did you pick Jack as Rosie’s boyfriend?

A: I wanted someone like my brother, who looks neurotypical and yet has a developmental disability, to highlight the difficulties of a hidden disability. He was an invention in my head but his character and looks are loosely based on people I know. All my characters become real people to me, and I believe they actually exist in the world! I know them inside out, right from birth, even my minor characters. The events in people’s lives are what make and shape them, so to me it is all important to do this—then they come alive.

Q: How did you decide to depict Rosie’s speech patterns and Jack’s spelling? Why did you choose to differentiate between Rosie’s narration and the occasionally jumbled way she speaks to others out loud?

A: Rosie’s voice and language were central to my novel. I needed to convey the essence of the way she spoke, without making it hard to read. Many people with Down syndrome have anatomical differences in the mouth and throat region that affect feeding, swallowing, and oral motor skills. They can also often have poor muscle tone in the mouth area, so speech and language difficulties range from mild to severe, depending on the person. Sometimes I ran Rosie’s words together to indicate this, and to also show how Rosie’s thoughts could tumble over each other when she was anxious, stressed, or simply over-excited. I also had to show her personal outlook: an “orange-segment moon” or hair like “fuzzy, blond ropes,” for example.

It was important to me that I establish the lyrical voice inside Rosie’s head. Rosie might not be able to articulate everything she wants to, but this does not mean that she cannot do that internally. My thoughts on this came from living with my brother, whose language skills are that of a three-year-old, and yet he is capable of very complex statements. At nighttime when he is asleep, he shouts out constantly and it was while lying in bed listening to this that I realized how much more coherent he could be in his sleep, and it set me thinking, “How do we know what anyone with a cognitive impairment might actually be capable of expressing inside their minds?” It was an important lesson to learn. Rosie’s lyrical voice in her head came out of this and I was delighted that my sensitivity reader, someone with Down syndrome who was hired to read and assess my manuscript, felt that I had gotten Rosie’s voice exactly right and that at times she felt that Rosie was herself, in the way she spoke and how she saw things.

For Jack’s spelling I decided to make his level of ability at the stage where a child is learning to read and write using phonetics. He didn’t need sophisticated language, as with a child’s view of the world, it is simple but often beautiful. Jack is able to express himself more easily through his artwork—his pictures paint what is going on inside his head. Like Rosie, you have the balance of some words simply put or expressed juxtaposed with a much more complex way of thinking.

Q: Where did the idea of Jack writing postcards to Rosie come from?

A: It was an idea that came to me when I was deciding how Jack would be able to communicate with Rosie having smashed his phone. Jack is much better at expressing himself through his artwork, so postcards were an ideal way for him to do this, as well as write some short sentences. Also, Jack knows that Rosie can read but at times finds it difficult, so it was his way of helping her understand what he was saying. I wanted it to demonstrate his love and care for her.

Q: What is the significance of the little blue butterfly that visits Rosie and Jack?

A: The little blue butterfly is Rosie and Jack’s good luck charm—their special butterfly that watches over them. There is a scene in the book where Rosie remembers when she and Jack go to Chester Zoo and a tiny blue butterfly lands on her hand and then on Jack. They decide it’s significant for them and it must be good luck. After the visit, Jack gets his mother, who makes jewelry, to design a tiny, blue enamel butterfly brooch for Rosie, to watch over her always, which is why the butterfly helps keep her pushing on to find Jack. It is a symbol of their love for and devotion to each other.

Q: Rosie is treated very differently throughout the story by the variety of people she encounters. Did these interactions come from personal experience?

A: Yes, the majority of these interactions came from personal experience throughout my childhood, both good and bad. Times have changed and people’s attitudes and the understanding of someone with a developmental disability have changed too. People with Down syndrome, for example, are much more present in society, in schools, and in the media than they once were, so the fear and stigmas of the past are slowly being eroded. But we do still have quite a way to go. A couple of summers ago my parents decided to pop out in the car with my brother, only to find that there was a neighborhood street party going on further down from them. They were the only people who hadn’t been invited—because of my brother. My parents were devastated, and my brother would have loved, if not actively joined in, just sitting watching everyone and enjoying the atmosphere. I was heartbroken for them and it demonstrated that people still make unfair choices and judgements for people like my brother. And I knew it was important to show situations like this in my story.

Q: You cover very serious topic like sex exploitation and homelessness. Why did you choose to make these part of Rosie’s story? And why are these topics important to include for a young adult audience?

A: Rosie is part of our real world where these issues are there for us to see. I felt that any young person out in London by themselves and unsure of where to go is vulnerable, not just someone with Down syndrome, for example—though Rosie has an innocence and naivety that a lot of sixteen-year-olds might not have. But at sixteen you think you know it all, which can make you as vulnerable as someone who is as naïve as Rosie. It seemed a probable progression in the story that this could happen to my character and I felt I could use it to highlight these issues—because there will always be predators and although most of the time it won’t end like Rosie’s journey did, it can and does happen.

Sexual exploitation often hasn’t been thought of in the context of applying to a young person with a disability, until it was at the forefront of the news in the British media. People listened with horror to these terrible stories of abuse, but after the initial period of shock, the story faded away, kept within the parameters of the television and got left for others to sort out on their own, as it was too awful to even think about.

My daughter works with young girls who have been groomed. I was shocked to discover that the larger percentage of these girls had a developmental disability. As an author I can allow my reader to explore difficult topics like this in the safety of a book, in a setting where the reader can ask questions or teachers can use it to open a discussion which sheds light on the situation. I hope that young people will find this valuable.

Sexual activity for people with a developmental disability is something that’s rarely ever discussed in a good, healthy, loving context either, as it’s sometimes seen as a taboo subject. If characters like Rosie were represented in more books and films, on television, and in advertising, then they would be seen as the human beings they are with the same emotions and desires, but also suffering the same terrible abuses. If people with developmental disabilities were more visible there would be more open discussions.

I was very conscious of the risk of raising too many issues and thus failing to do justice to any one of those issues, but I was also aware that Rosie is part of a world where these concerns are there for us to see, be it eating disorders, homelessness, sexual exploitation, or addiction, to name a few. And Rosie’s journey is a reflection of life. In Bath, where I live, the number of homeless young people is shocking. For Rosie to find a safe haven with a young homeless person seemed logical after she had been dumped by the river in London—and a very likely scenario. There is an unwritten rule amongst the homeless community to look out for each other. My inclusion of Tom, the homeless boy, wasn’t a device to raise this topic, he just happens to be there at the right time and right place, but, as a writer, there is nothing wrong in sowing small seeds of awareness on such matters, which could stimulate a dialogue that is productive. Through that knowledge come understanding and compassion.

Q: Which part of Rosie’s story is your favorite? Was there a scene we didn’t get to read that you wish made it into the final version of the book?

A: One of my favorite scenes is when Rosie is on the underground heading to Victoria and she stops to listen to a busker, who she asks to sing her special song. It’s a moment where Rosie disappears into her own head as she listens, and it is a very lyrical passage. For me it was a perfect moment when we understand the way Rosie thinks and feels in comparison to the Rosie we witness in the outside world and all that she has to deal with. It was also an important scene for me because Rosie dances with a lady who it turns out has a baby with Down syndrome. This lady has assumed that Rosie needs help navigating her journey, but she is moved to tears when she understands that her assumptions are wrong, and it changes the way she sees everything herself.

Actually, no, there wasn’t a scene I wish had been included, though I would have liked to have made the scenes longer in the grooming house, so that I could develop the relationship between Lisette, the teenager who is responsible for Rosie in the house. I had to hold back on that though, as it would have interrupted the pace too much and halted the momentum.

Q: Why did you choose to end the story with Rosie still in the hospital?

A: I chose to end the story at the hospital because it left the reader wondering what happens next. In many ways the loose ends are tied up because Rosie and Jack have been given the chance to be together again and, very importantly, Rosie has found her autonomy. I have left it open as to what happens next, so that the reader can decide. Perhaps we need Jack’s side of the story first before we journey further with Rosie and Jack.

Q: What do you hope readers take away from Rosie Loves Jack?

A: That they’ve read a great love story that entertains them, and they can relate to. I hope they take away a book with a character that stays with them and might raise healthy discussion on some of the issues presented in it. Perhaps they may look at the world through different eyes and understand more than anything that just because someone has difficulty communicating doesn’t mean they have nothing to say, and by putting on someone else’s shoes they take a step towards empathy and understanding.

Rosie Loves Jack
by Mel Darbon

“They can’t send you away. What will we do? We need us. I stop your angry, Jack. And you make me strong. You make me Rosie.”

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they’re separated, Rosie will do absolutely anything to find him. Even defy her parents’ orders and run away from home. Even struggle across London and travel to Brighton on her own, though the trains are cancelled and the snow is falling. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie, who has Down syndrome, could never survive on her own.

This March, get ready to fall in love with sixteen-year-old Rosie, a strong and determined protagonist who won’t let anything stand in the way of finding her Jack. It doesn’t matter that she doesn’t have the support of her parents or that many people can’t believe someone like Rosie would be traveling through London by herself. Rosie loves Jack, and she’ll do anything to be reunited with the boy who makes the sun shine in her head.

Debut author Mel Darbon delivers a stunning, beautifully insightful YA novel that features an underrepresented but much-needed point of view in a voice-driven, heartfelt story of fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love.

Dive deeper into Rosie’s inspiring story with this discussion guide, and get to know debut author Mel Darbon in this Q&A.

“The plot is so engrossing that the book is almost impossible to put down. Yes, Rosie loves Jack, and readers are going to love Rosie.” —Booklist, STARRED REVIEW

“An enthralling story of resolve and grit… a moving and uplifting novel.” –The Guardian

Find Rosie Loves Jack this March at your local library, indie bookstore, or Barnes & Noble, and be sure to check out the rest of our brand-new picture books and middle grade and YA titles coming to Peachtree this season!

Marjoke Henrichs, author-illustrator of No! Said Rabbit

“The most thrilling/exciting/unexpected part of getting my first book published is the thought that my book will be read by many children around the world, and bring a smile to their faces.”

No! Said Rabbit comes out March 1st!

Sandra Salsbury, author-illustrator of Best Friend in the Whole World

“The greatest joy of getting my first book published has been seeing comments and reviews from readers. For so many years, my book had only been seen by a handful of people close to me, so it’s amazing to see it being enjoyed by people I’ve never even met.”

Best Friend in the Whole World comes out March 1st!

Richard Jones, author-illustrator of Perdu

Ages 2 – 6

Curious About Insects
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

Perfect for the littlest bug buffs, this board book offers a first glimpse into the natural world of insects. Simple and clear descriptions of how insects look, where they live, what they eat, and how they move around make this third title in the Discovering Nature series a dependable and informative beginning resource for learning about insects and the wonders of the natural world.

Bird Show
by Susan Stockdale

Welcome to the Bird Show, a showcase of nature’s most dazzling colors, diverse patterns, and fashionable feathered features! Just like people, each bird contributes to our beautiful world, made more vibrant by their diversity. Amateur ornithologists of all ages will marvel at the gorgeous birds in this colorful picture book that brings these creatures, both familiar and exotic, to life with remarkable portraits and energetic, rhyming text.

Bring on the Birds
by Susan Stockdale

From the Blue-footed Booby to the Red-billed Oxpecker, the breadth of bird life depicted in this stunning book will captivate young ornithologists. Susan Stockdale’s brightly colored, richly textured illustrations and energetic rhyming text is sure to grab the reader’s attention.

Hat Tricks
by Satoshi Kitamura

Abracadabra, katakurico! Oh, goodness! Out pops a cat from Hattie’s magic hat. Can you guess what creature will appear from the magic hat next? Follow along as Hattie conjures up a parade of animals from her magic hat, and don’t miss the grand finale! This humorous story is a delightful choice for audience participation.

No! Said Rabbit
by Marjoke Henrichs

Rabbit is happy doing his own thing, and he doesn’t want to listen to anyone else. Or so he thinks. Then, Mom makes a suggestion he simply can’t resist! Everyone triumphs in this hilarious, relatable picture book celebrating the everyday struggles of parents and children. Perfect for bedtime!

Ages 3 – 7

About Hummingbirds
A Guide for Children
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

In this addition to the acclaimed About… series, easy-to-understand language and realistic paintings teach children what hummingbirds are, how they look, how they move, what they eat, and where they live. Perfect for casual exploration as well as for early childhood and elementary units in science and animal life.

About Marine Mammals
A Guide for Children
by Cathryn Sill
illustrated by John Sill

It Can’t Be Done, Nellie Bly
A Reporter’s Race Around the World
by Nancy Butcher
illustrated by Jen Singh

Nellie Bly was a newspaper reporter for The New York World who wrote about the social problems of her day, like poor job conditions, dilapidated housing, and dishonest politicians. If someone told her “It can’t be done, Nellie Bly,” she went right ahead and did it anyway. But when Nellie read Jules Verne’s novel, Around the World in Eighty Days, she was inspired to circle the globe even faster herself. Did the plucky young reporter go too far? Young readers will cheer for Nellie as she embarks on her 22,000-mile trip equipped only with one sturdy travel dress, a small satchel, and a pet monkey she picks up in Singapore as her traveling companion.  This delightful true story of a woman with an indomitable spirit will inspire a new generation of young readers and adventurers.

Lillian’s Fish
by James Menk
illustrated by Louisa Bauer

When Lillian turns six, her favorite gift is an extraordinary fish whose body shimmers with all the colors of the rainbow. But when the brand-new birthday fish disappears, Lillian is devastated. While she and her brothers try to unravel the mystery, the other family pets secretly band together to find out what has happened to the little fish. A trail of clues soon leads the animals on a fantastic adventure along the river and deep into the woods, where they encounter new places and strange creatures. James Menk’s delightful, lively tale of discovery and friendship will enchant readers of all ages. Louisa Bauer’s captivating drawings bring this charming story of children and their pets to life.

Nina Soni, Sister Fixer
by Kashmira Sheth
illustrated by Jenn Kocsmiersky

A long rainy stretch during spring break has Nina restless and hungry for a new project and aggravated with little sister Kavita’s embarrassing behavior. A fresh pile of dirt just delivered to the neighbor’s house for a landscaping project ends up being too tempting to resist. Can Nina fix Kavita and create something amazing at the same time? With her sister’s help, Nina launches a grand engineering project—with unexpected consequences. Readers are sure to relate to author Kashmira Sheth’s endearing, distractible Nina Soni and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems.

What I Like About Me
by Jenna Guillaume

The last thing sixteen-year-old Maisie Martin thought she’d be doing over vacation is entering a beauty pageant, but Maisie’s got something to prove. As she writes down all the ways this vacation is going from bad to worse in her school-assignment journal, what starts as a homework torture-device might just end up being an account of how Maisie didn’t let anything, or anyone, hold her back. Jenna Guillame’s American debut features a plus-size protagonist with a compelling, funny, and authentic narrative voice. This relatable and charming novel about friendship, confidence, and self-love will draw readers in as Maisie’s realistic emotional journey unveils the importance of embracing one’s body and celebrating one’s self.

New Illustrated Chapter Book

King, Kayla, Mason, and Asia are playing in the snow. Later, Asia discovers her new gold ring is missing. What happened to it? Detective team King & Kayla are on the case! With simple, straightforward language and great verbal and visual humor, the King & Kayla series from Geisel Honor Award-winning team Dori Hillestad Butler and Nancy Meyers is perfect for introducing mysteries and the important concepts of fact gathering, list making, clues, and analytical thinking to newly independent readers.

Preorder King & Kayla and the Case of the Gold Ring today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

New Middle Grade

Chaya, a nobleman’s rebellious, outspoken, no-nonsense daughter, just can’t resist the shiny temptations the king’s palace has to offer. But playing Robin Hood for her impoverished community doesn’t come without risks… After leaving her village as a thief, can Chaya return with her friends as a hero? Or will her sticky fingers be the beginning—or the end—of everything for the intrepid gang? Own Voices debut author Nizrana Farook spins an exciting, page-turning tale in a lush, vibrant, fictional Sri Lankan setting and featuring themes of friendship and loyalty, risk and reward, and heroism. A great middle grade escapist novel and readaloud!

Preorder The Girl Who Stole an Elephant today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Homing pigeon Homer and his parrot friend Lulu learn something is afoul when they witness four-legged criminals stealing valuables from both the animal and human communities. Using the sleuthing techniques he’s gathered from his favorite mystery comics, Homer and Lulu track down the bandits, but need human help to stop them for good. Can they find a way to communicate with their human keepers and lead them to the culprits’ hideout to stop the thieves? Award-winning author and illustrator Henry Cole delivers a fun, action-packed middle grade novel that will have every reader wishing they could join in the hunt.

Preorder Homer on the Case today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, or Bookshop.org.

In the third installment of the award-winning Nina Soni series, it’s Take Your Child to Work Day, and Nina, Kavita, and Jay are all going to work with Mom, a landscape architect, to learn how to start a garden. Naturally that’s not enough for Nina, who quickly develops big plans for a business selling the vegetables she plans to grow. But her plans don’t include managing the problems that inevitably arise, including rabbits, slugs, mosquitos, and more! Readers are sure to relate to Sheth’s endearing Nina Soni, her family and friends, and her slightly scatter-brained efforts to manage her life with lists, definitions, and real-life math problems. A great read for STEAM enthusiasts!

Preorder Nina Soni, Master of the Garden today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Preorder Spi-Ku: A Clutter of Short Verse on Eight Legs today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

New YA

“They can’t send you away. What will we do? We need us. I stop your angry, Jack. And you make me strong. You make me Rosie.”

Rosie loves Jack. Jack loves Rosie. So when they’re separated, Rosie will do anything to find the boy who makes the sun shine in her head. Even though people might think a girl like Rosie, who has Down syndrome, could never survive on her own. Introducing a strong and determined protagonist, debut author Mel Darbon gives readers an underrepresented but much-needed point of view with a voice-driven, heartfelt story of fighting for little freedoms, tolerance, and love and finding your place an often big and intimidating world.

Preorder Rosie Loves Jack today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.

Sixteen-year-old Katie Camilleri can’t believe she’s accidentally created a teenage boy. A boy completely devoted to Katie. But it turns out the consequences of fumbling a human being into existence are rather complicated. More importantly, does Guy, the golden Adonis Katie’s created, like her because he wants to, or because he has to? And will he be Katie’s very first kiss? From the author of What I Like About Me comes a hilarious and modern twist on a classic narrative, loaded with laughs, mishaps, and plenty of 80s and 90s pop-culture callbacks. Jenna Guillaume’s entertaining romantic comedy novel features a humorous and relatable voice and will appeal to fans of Jenny Han.

Preorder You Were Made for Me today through your local bookstore, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, or on Amazon.