Showing results by author "Nikki Shannon Smith" in All Categories

A contemporary My Side of the Mountain, Stranded is the story of a wilderness-hungry Black girl from Manhattan whose journey in the Adirondack mountains becomes a nail-biting story of courage, independence, and survival.

Twelve-year-old Ann understands there is only one thing to be grateful for as a slave: having her family together. But when the master falls into debt, he plans to sell both Ann and her younger brother to two different owners. Ann is convinced her family must run away on the Underground Railroad. Will Ann's family survive the dangerous trip to their freedom in the North? This Girls Survive story is supported by a glossary, discussion questions, and nonfiction material on the Underground Railroad, making it a valuable resource for young listeners.

Colette only wants three things: to prove she isn't weak, to get a job, and to uncover the mystery surrounding her father. All her life she's heard that he died in a factory accident, but she's haunted by dreams of bitter cold and a sea of stars—and part of her knows it's somehow connected to him. Colette is not to work, is not to leave the house, and is to never speak of her father. But when Colette secretly gets a job, she becomes fascinated by the stories that Walter, the store owner, tells.

Azaleah's big sister, Nia, has been cast as Willa Wonka in the school musical, and the entire Lane family is looking forward to the show. Azaleah has even helped plan a surprise dinner party for Nia at Avec Amour, Mama's restaurant. But then the real drama starts. At the first rehearsal, all sorts of things go wrong: missing batteries, sets falling over, props misplaced . . .

Mama and Daddy are heading out of town, which means Azaleah and her sisters get to spend the weekend at Auntie Sam's. The girls can't wait for their special weekend! Azaleah even decides to bake cookies to surprise her parents when they return. After all, as Mama says, "Cooking for someone is like giving them a gift."

Azaleah can't wait for her class field trip to the National Zoo in Washington D.C., especially when her teacher announces the chance to earn extra credit. But when Azaleah gets home, she quickly realizes extra credit isn't as easy as she thought. Azaleah's younger sister Tiana can't find Greenie, her stuffed animal, and she's sure he's been stolen. With Mama at the restaurant and Daddy at work on a big case, it seems Azaleah is the only one available to track down the stolen stuffie. Can Azaleah get to the bottom of the mystery in time to finish her extra credit?

It’s a big week for Azaleah Lane. The principal, Ms. Li, is choosing a third grader to be the STEM lab monitor, and Azaleah’s name is the one picked! But the week doesn’t go quite as planned. First Azaleah gets paired up with a bossy classmate for a group project. Then the STEM lab guinea pig goes missing—on Azaleah’s watch! Can she use her scientific thinking and detective skills to get to the bottom of things before it’s too late? Or will Azaleah Lane go down as the worst STEM lab monitor ever?

New York Times bestselling author and first black female American Ballet Theatre principal dancer Misty Copeland offers “[a]ffirming life lessons to encourage athletes, creatives, and everyday dreamers” (Kirkus Reviews) based on letters she’s received over the years from fans. As the first...