New Releases by Laura Resau

An inspiring true story about how an activist in the Amazon worked with other Indigenous communities to protect and preserve their sacred lands and forests. Patricia (Paty) Gualinga grew up in her Kichwa village in the Amazon of Ecuador where mystical beings called Amazanga help protect the forest. Paty traveled away from home for school until she was called back—companies that said the government sold them property were destroying her people’s lands to look for oil. The Kichwa community worked with other Indigenous groups to bring the Ecuadorian government to the Court of Human Rights. Lyrically told and beautifully illustrated, this moving story will remind readers of the importance of nature conservation, perseverance, and standing up for your community. “A gorgeously told true story, full of lyricism, wonder, beautiful artwork, and most importantly, HOPE. Stand as Tall as the Trees makes my heart swell every time I read it. We need more stories like this—in life and in our libraries.” —Todd Mitchell, Green Earth Book Award Honor Winner and Author of The Namer of Spirits “This moving and inspirational story of Patricia Gualinga''s fight for her community''s Amazon rainforest is an urgent call to action to protect the wilderness, which, in the poignant words of the authors, keeps us all alive. Stand as Tall as the Trees is an ode to the power of ordinary people to affect change. Lovingly written and illustrated, it is a book that will inspire a new generation of activists.” —Lea Aschkenas, bilingual librarian and author of Arletis, Abuelo, and the Message in a Bottle “This picture book will capture your heart and imagination alike.” – Alda P. Dobbs, Winner of the Pura Belpré Honor Award and Author of The Other Side of the River “This gorgeous book will surely delight youngsters, but it will be on my syllabus for graduate students studying Nature Writing as well. After all, books for younger readers influence our cultural conversation about the environment. Who doesn’t remember their favorite nature-based picture book? I think we all do, because they were seared into our brains at a powerful moment. This book deserves to be one of those memorable classics, worth studying for its important story, delightful art, inclusion, and environmental ethic.” —Laura Pritchett, PhD, Director of the MFA in Nature Writing at Western Colorado University and PEN USA Award Winning Author "A true story full of wisdom and hope, this book''s stunning beauty ranges from the gorgeous illustrations to the powerful messages of bravery, strength, and perseverance. Stand as Tall as the Trees is a poetic and soulful gem that offers inspiration for readers of all ages." — Bailey Cates, NYT bestselling author

A beating heart. A talking tree. The rain forest. Love. Mysticism. Harvest. And above all, chocolate. Dear Coco and Leo,I miss you! We all miss you! The whole forest misses you! I hear their thanks and wishes in my dreams. I hope you do, too. Prepare for a journey into a world filled with what so many crave -- the sweet savoring of a chocolate drop. A drop that can melt even the most troubled realities. But in this nuanced, heartrending story, before good can emerge, there is destruction, the bombarding of a people, their culture, heritage, sacred beliefs, and the very soul that drives their traditions. This urgent, beautiful novel takes readers into the ugly realities that surround the destruction of the Amazon rain forest and its people. Acclaimed author Laura Resau shows us that love is more powerful than hatred, and that by working together, hope can be magically restored, root and branch.

A stunningly rendered mystical novel, set in the remote mountains of Mexico in the 1950s, illuminates the power of an unlikely friendship that blends cultures, magic, and possibilities.

Zitlally''s family is undocumented, and her father has just been arrested for speeding and deported back to Mexico. As her family waits for him to return—they’ve paid a coyote to guide him back across the border—they receive news that he and the coyote’s other charges have been kidnapped and are being held for ransom. Meanwhile, Zitlally and a new friend find a dog in the forest near their trailer park. They name it Star for the star-shaped patch over its eye. As time goes on, Zitlally starts to realize that Star is her father’s “spirit animal,” and that as long as Star is safe, her father will be also. But what will happen to Zitlally’s dad when Star disappears? “A vibrant, large-hearted story.”—Publishers Weekly, Starred (on Red Glass)

For fans of I Am Malala comes this poignant novel based on the true story of one girl''s unforgettable journey to self-discovery. *An ALA Amelia Bloomer Selection* *An ALA-YALSA Best Fiction for Young Adults Book* Born in an Andean village in Ecuador, Virginia lives with her family in a small, earthen-walled dwelling. In her Indigenous community, it is not uncommon to work in the fields all day, even as a child, or to be called a longa tonta—stupid Indian—by members of the privileged class of mestizos, or Spanish descendants. When seven-year-old Virginia is taken from her home to be a servant to a mestizo couple, she has no idea what the future holds. In this poignant novel based on her own story, the inspiring María Virginia Farinango has collaborated with acclaimed author Laura Resau to recount one girl''s unforgettable journey to find her place in the world. It will make you laugh and cry, and ultimately, it will fill you with hope.

Down-to-earth Zeeta and her flighty mom, Layla, have spent years traveling the globe and soaking up everything each new culture has to offer. Now they''ve settled in the beachside town of Mazunte, Mexico, where Zeeta''s true love, Wendell, has an internship photographing rare sea turtles. At first glance, Zeeta feels sure that Mazunte is paradise—she envisions dips in jade waters, sunsets over sea cliffs, moonlit walks in the surf. And she is determined to make Mazunte her home . . . for good. But as she and Wendell dig deeper to unearth her elusive father''s past, Zeeta finds that paradise has its dark side.

Sixteen-year-old Zeeta and her flighty English-teaching mom, Layla, have traveled the world together, settling in a different country every year, making a whole new set of friends and adopting new customs. This year, they’ve chosen to live in Aix-en-Provence, France, an enchanting city full of fountains, creamy yellow light, and a fascinating group of scarlet-clad street performers. Zeeta soon begins to receive mysterious notes and gifts from someone she calls her fantôme, or ghost, admirer. But she is expecting her boyfriend, Wendell—the love of her life, as her friends call him—to arrive in Aix for a summer program very soon. Zeeta brushes off her curiosity about her fantôme, and her simmering attraction to one of the street performers, Jean-Claude, until Wendell arrives and she begins to fear that her feelings for him have truly changed. Perhaps—like Layla—she’s simply not made for long-term romance. As Zeeta tries to draw away from Wendell, however, circumstances seem to force them together. Zeeta’s friendship with a local antiques dealer and his reclusive artist friend leads to a dangerous adventure. When Zeeta and Wendell join forces to find a secret underground spring whose water is rumored to bring immortality, they are forced to reconsider their own desires, and their beliefs about true love. Yet as soon as Zeeta decides that her mind has cleared, she’s confronted with the biggest shock of her life: the incredible true identity of her fantôme. Vibrant, warmhearted, and evocative, The Ruby Notebook is a remarkable novel about learning to accept love in all of its wondrous and imperfect forms.

An exciting new series from the acclaimed author of Red Glass. Zeeta''s life with her free-spirited mother, Layla, is anything but normal. Every year Layla picks another country she wants to live in. This summer they’re in Ecuador, and Zeeta is determined to convince her mother to settle down. Zeeta makes friends with vendors at the town market and begs them to think of upstanding, “normal” men to set up with Layla. There, Zeeta meets Wendell. She learns that he was born nearby, but adopted by an American family. His one wish is to find his birth parents, and Zeeta agrees to help him. But when Wendell’s biological father turns out to be involved in something very dangerous, Zeeta wonders whether she’ll ever get the chance to tell her mom how she really feels—or to enjoy her deepening feelings for Wendell. Praise for Red Glass: *“A captivating read.”—School Library Journal, Starred

With a dazzling and thoughtful voice, this critically acclaimed novel deals directly with the challenges and dangers of immigration, exploring the ties that bind us together in an age when issues threaten to divide us. One night Sophie and her parents are called to a hospital where Pedro, a six-year-old Mexican boy, is recovering from dehydration. Crossing the border into Arizona with a group of Mexicans and a coyote, or guide, Pedro and his parents faced such harsh conditions that the boy is the only survivor. Pedro comes to live with Sophie, her parents, and Sophie''s Aunt Dika, a refugee of the war in Bosnia. Sophie loves Pedro—her Principito, or Little Prince. But after a year, Pedro’s surviving family in Mexico makes contact, and Sophie, Dika, Dika’s new boyfriend, and his son must travel with Pedro to his hometown so that he can make a heartwrenching decision. An IRA Award Winner An Américas Award Honor Book An ALA-YALSA Best Book for Young Adults A Colorado Book Award Winner A Cybil Award Finalist A School Library Journal Best Book An Oprah’s Kids’ Reading List Selection A CCBC Choice List Selection A Richie’s Pick ★ “A captivating read.”—School Library Journal, Starred Review ★ "The vivid characters, the fine imagery, and the satisfying story arc make this a rewarding novel." –Booklist, Starred Review ★ "The prose captivates from the first chapter ... a vibrant, large-hearted story." –Publishers Weekly, Starred Review

An intimate, award winning story of immigrants and their families, the borders they cross, and the ties that bind us all together. Fourteen-year-old Clara Luna''s name means "clear moon" in Spanish. But lately, her life has felt anything but clear. A letter has arrived from her grandparents in Mexico inviting her to stay with them for the summer. But Clara has never met her father''s parents. All she knows is that he snuck over the border from Mexico as a teenager. When she arrives, she''s stunned by how different her grandparents'' life is from her own in the United States. They live in simple shacks in the mountains of southern Mexico, where most people speak not only Spanish, but an indigenous language, Mixteco. Their village of Yucuyoo holds other surprises, too—like the spirit waterfall, which is heard but never seen. And Pedro, a young goatherder who wants to help Clara find the waterfall. But as Clara discovers more about where she comes from, what will it mean for who she is now? What The Moon Saw is an enchanting story of family, home, and discovering your true self in the most unexpected place. "Filled with evocative language that is rich in imagery and nuance and speaks to the connections that bind us all. . . . a thrilling adventure . . ."—Kirkus Reviews, Starred "Readers . . . will find themselves swept up in this powerful, magical story, and they’ll feel, along with Clara, ‘the spiderweb’s threads, connecting me to people miles and years away’."—Booklist, Starred