Showing results by narrator "Imani Parks" in All Categories

A boyband fandom becomes a conduit to coming out. A former bully becomes a first-kiss prospect. One nonbinary kid searches for an inclusive athletic community after quitting gymnastics. Another nonbinary kid, who happens to be a pirate, makes a wish that comes true - but not how they thought it would. A tween girl navigates a crush on her friend's mom. A young witch turns herself into a puppy to win over a new neighbor. A trans girl empowers her online bestie to come out. 

Many of us as women feel conflicted about Jesus’s calling on our lives because a woman trying to love God beyond her heart and soul, with her mind and strength, can be thought of as crossing some line or unspoken boundary. Bible teacher Kat Armstrong challenges us to ask, “Why am I allowing limitations on my pursuit of Jesus’s calling?”

When Michelle runs away from her drug-addicted mother, she has just enough money to make it to New York City, where she hopes to move in with a friend. But once she arrives at the bustling Port Authority, she is confronted with the terrifying truth: She is alone and out of options. Then she meets Devon, a good-looking, well-dressed guy who emerges from the crowd armed with a kind smile, a place for her to stay, and eyes that seem to understand exactly how she feels. But Devon is not who he seems to be.

This unforgettable novel tells a universal coming-of-age story about Taja Brown, a young African American girl growing up in Houston, Texas, and deftly and beautifully explores the universal struggles of growing up, battling family expectations, discovering a sense of self, and finding a unique voice and purpose. Told in 53 short, episodic, moving, and iridescent chapters, Calling My Name follows Taja on her journey from middle school to high school.

This book spotlights female scientist Temple Grandin, whose experience being on the autism spectrum has informed her advocacy and her work as an animal behaviorist. Temple Grandin's pride in being different and how it shaped her world is celebrated in this biography.

Garvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, reading - anything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus Garvey finds a way to accept himself and a way to finally reach his distant father.

Benjamin Banneker STEM Academy is the top middle school in Denver. Let’s just say the kids are . . . competitive. When Principal Yee announces the start of an epic Team Competition for the school, Frederick Douglass Zezzmer knows that trophy’s got his name on it. That’ll show his sports-obsessed Dad that he’s worthy, right? Only problem is, it’s a TEAM competition … and Doug isn’t so great working in a team environment (except with his best friend Huey, of course).

The school year is over, and it is summer in Atlanta. The sky is blue, the sun is blazing, and the days brim with possibility. But Leah feels...lost. She has been this way since one terrible afternoon a year ago, when everything changed. Since that day, her parents have become distant, her friends have fallen away, and Leah’s been adrift and alone.

Pablo, Violet, and their classmate Garry are on a field trip to the Environmental Science Center when they are transported to the Maker Maze! In the maze, they’ll work with wacky scientist Dr. Crisp to complete three challenges all about wind, solar, and tidal energy. But then Violet begins to feel bad about how much energy she’s been using. Can she, Pablo, and Garry learn how to use energy in a way that doesn't hurt the earth?

Pablo, Violet, and twins Devin and Skylar are zapped back to the Maker Maze for a weather-themed challenge! This time, they get to learn all about wind, the water cycle, and how storms are created. But even though the Maker Maze is as exciting as ever, Devin seems to be a little blue.

Violet and Pablo are best friends who love science! So when they discover a riddle that opens a magic portal in the brain fair at school, they can't wait to check it out! In this adventure, the friends enter the Maker Maze - a magical makerspace - along with a set of twins who are interested in learning all about the brain. The kids can't wait to solve science puzzles...if first, they can learn to work together!

Being a human at the prestigious Dungeon Academy is strictly forbidden. That’s why Zelli Stormclash must keep her identity a secret! Disguised as a minotaur, Zelli does her work, tries her best to blend in with her monstrous surroundings all the while keeping to herself. Unless it involves bullies. Zelli hates bullies and has no problem putting a stop to their antics.

In class, Violet and Pablo have been learning about the icky world of germs! Violet has been out sick, and is excited she's feeling better...achoo! Well, she's mostly feeling better. She and Pablo are paired up with another classmate, Aria, who is a bit nervous that Violet keeps sneezing. When another riddle appears to transport them back to the Maker Maze - a magical makerspace - to learn all about bacteria, viruses, and fungi, Violet and Pablo find out why Aria is so nervous. 

As a child, horses consumed Halimah Marcus' imagination. When she wasn't around horses she was pretending to be one, cantering on two legs, hands poised to hold invisible reigns. To her classmates, girls like Halimah were known as "horse girls," weird and overzealous. Decades later, when memes about "horse girl energy" began appearing across social media, Halimah reluctantly recognized herself. The stereotypical horse girl is also white, thin, rich, and straight, a daughter of privilege. Yet so many riders don't fit this narrow, damaging ideal.

Mira is starting over at Saint Francis Prep. She promised her parents she would at least try to pretend that she could act like a functioning human this time, not a girl who can't get out of bed for days on end, who feels awake only when she's with Sebby.

When it comes to every monster’s favorite game, Goreball, Zelli and the Danger Club are no match against the undefeated Waterdeep dragons. When all hope seems lost for the gang of misfits, an unlikely new friend steps up to teach them how to unlock their hidden talents. Zelli and her friends will need to trust their new coach’s advice if they plan to defeat the fearsome Waterdeep team. But it won’t be easy—especially since their new coach is a dragon!

Amari Peters knows three things. Her brother, Quinton, has gone missing. No one will talk about it. His mysterious job holds a clue. So when she’s invited for a trail at the Bureau of Supernatural Affairs, Amari is certain this is her chance to save him. But first she has to get her head around the new world of the Bureau where mermaids, aliens and magicians are real - and her roommate is a weredragon. Amari must compete for a spot against kids who’ve known this world their whole lives.

Eden has always had two loves: her best friend, Lacey, and her crush, Will. And then, almost simultaneously, she loses them both. Will to a car accident and Lacey to the inevitable growing up and growing apart. Devastated by the holes they have left in her life, Eden finds solace in an unlikely place. Before he died, Will set up an account with In Good Company, a service that uploads voices and emails and creates a digital companion that can be called anytime, day or night.

Ren Yu is a swimmer. Her daily life starts and ends with the pool. Her teammates are her only friends. Her coach, her guiding light. If she swims well enough, she will be scouted, get a scholarship, go to a good school. Her parents will love her. Her coach will be kind to her. She will have a good life. But these are human concerns. The concerns of those confined to land. Ren grew up on stories of creatures of the deep, of the oceans and the rivers. Stories that called sailors to their doom. Stories that dragged them down and drowned them.

Layla wakes up nervous to go to her new school, so she looks to Mama to help her feel better. The mother and daughter duo head to the kitchen and combine all the necessary ingredients—kindness, hope, warm hugs, and prayers—to create a new tradition of confidence and happiness. This tender book serves as a boosting reminder to trust in God, to have faith, but most importantly, to believe in your ability to turn a bad day around.