Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas

Control Freaks by J.E. Thomas

J.E. Thomas spent her early summers stuffing grocery bags with books at the local library, reading feverishly, then repeating the process week after week, so it's not surprising that she thinks books + imagination are the best streaming service around. A Colorado native, she has bachelor degrees in Mass Communications and Political Science, and a master’s degree in Public Communications. Control Freaks, published by Levine Querido, is her first book. She's now beginning work on her debut YA novel. Fun fact: She includes the name of at least one of her dogs in every book.

Jamari by Christine Kendall

Jamari by Christine Kendall

Mama looked off down the street. “How was it at school without your brother?” she said. Her voice sounded different. It sounded like it did after she finished talking to the principal about Miss Anderson. I said school was okay 'cause I didn’t want to make her mad again. I didn’t want to see her get so mad and then sad and then cry like she did when I told her Jamari got handcuffed by the School Resource Officer, so I didn't say how Miss Anderson wouldn't look at me the whole day. “He didn’t do anything wrong, you know. There’s nothing wrong with asking questions.”

The Writer's Dream by Cynthia Leitich Smith

The Writer's Dream by Cynthia Leitich Smith

"THE WRITER’S DREAM” was the last poem in a collection I wrote during sixth grade.

I spent countless hours in my room, on my canopy bed, pecking away at typewriter keys. I bound the pages with white satin ribbon. I made the front and back covers out of cardboard and heart-dotted red calico.
 

Show and Prove by Sofia Quintero (NOVEL EXCERPT)

Show and Prove by Sofia Quintero (NOVEL EXCERPT)

She puts my cap back on, and we go on like this as I chase her with the cart to the register.  Just my luck, Sara chooses the one handled by Blue Eyes.  To make matters worse, Cutter is standing at the end of the conveyor belt, waiting to bag groceries. Blue Eyes and I been long done, but I still get nervous as those dots of ice bounce between Sara and me. Sara doesn’t notice anything, placing groceries on the belt. I feel damned if I do and damned if I don’t, but I’d rather do something than nothing.