Helen Plum Library

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt is publishing a monthly series of e-only essays to correspond with Katherine Paterson's two-year term as the National Ambassador for Young People's Literature. The subjects of the essays include: writing and literature for young people, the wonder and imagination found within great books, common questions novice writers ask, and Katherine's own personal experiences throughout her historic career.

Every generation inherits the problems created by the ones before them, but no generation will inherit as many problems--as many crises--as the current generation of young people. From the devastations of climate change to the horrors of gun violence, from rampant transphobia to the widening wealth gap, from the lack of health care to the lack of housing, the challenges facing the next generation can feel insurmountable. But change, even revolution,...

"This nonfiction book for teen readers is a guide to understanding mental health and coping with mental illness, trauma and recovery. It features real-life stories of resilient teens and highlights innovative approaches to mental-health challenges."-- Mental health is a complex issue. It affects everything that we do, but can be hard to talk about. Siebert shines a light on the troubled history of thinking about and treating mental illness. She tells...

Heroes are all around us. They may be famous for their deeds, or they could be our friends and neighbors. What sets heroes apart from the crowd is courage. It takes courage to save a life, help others, or fight for what you believe in. How have heroes made an impact on your life? Space 8, a Hi-Lo nonfiction series for young adults, reads like an infinity of facts. This series is full of high-interest topics that grab readers from the first page. Each...

The U.S. criminal justice system is designed to convict criminals, but sometimes innocent people are wrongfully accused and sentenced. Some are cases of mistaken identity. Others are due to police work. Many of these individuals live for years behind bars before being freed. Tragically, some have died before having their names cleared. What would you do if you were wrongly accused? Space 8, a Hi-Lo nonfiction series for young adults, reads like an...

Six million Jewish people were killed in the Holocaust. Children were not spared. But some managed to survive. Large numbers were sent to concentration camps. Others were hidden by friends and neighbors. Some were smuggled across borders. Many lost their families. Still, they did not give up. These are their stories of survival. Take a look inside White Lightning Nonfiction, a hi-lo nonfiction series for students in the middle grades. Mature, high-interest...

"Botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer's best-selling book Braiding Sweetgrass is adapted for a young adult audience by children's author Monique Gray Smith, bringing Indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life to a new generation"--

"A contemporary poetry anthology that offers girls and young women wisdom and compassion for a vital, formative time in their lives."-- Poetry awakens your inner world and makes all your feelings come alive. The poems in this collection-- chosen with girls in mind-- sing of diversity, self-discovery, and self-acceptance. Grouped by emotional experience, the poems give the reader permission to let go of shame and perfectionism. By accepting your own...

Iranian cinema has an extraordinary history that has been marked by religion and ever-shifting political, economic, and social environments. This addition to “Intellect's Directory of World Cinema” series turns the spotlight on the award-winning cinema of that nation, with particular attention to the major movements, historical turning points, and prominent figures that have helped shape it. A wide range of genres are presented, including comedy,...

In Bihac, Bosnia, in 1992, sixteen-year-old Amra and her family face starvation and the threat of brutal ethnic violence as Serbs and Bosnians clash, while a stray cat, Maci, provides solace