The Together Tree

The Together Tree
by Aisha Saeed (Author) and LeUyen Pham (Illustrator)
@ Amazon | Bookshop

Booktalk: At his new school, quiet Rumi feels small and unwelcome, and a few kids bully him for being different and wearing bright shoes. He finds refuge beneath the old willow tree by the playground and builds his own world of hope and dreams of belonging.

One day, when Rumi is made a target again, one of his classmates bravely steps in to defend him. It’s in that moment of solidarity Rumi’s class finally realizes that under the shade of the willow tree, all are welcome, and they create a space they can all play in–together.

Snippet:

Copyright © 2023 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.

The Hunt for the Hollower

The Hunt for the Hollower
by Callie C. Miller (Author)
@ Amazon | Bookshop

Booktalk: The great wizard Merlyn prophesized that his seventh descendant would do wonderful, miraculous things–baffling everyone when his great-great-many-times-great grandchild turns out to be twins. Soon enough, however, it becomes clear which sibling is the Septimum Genus: Percy is a natural with magic. Merlynda (to put it simply) is not.

But Merlynda doesn’t mind. Percy has always been by her side to cheer her up (and clean up) after her magical bungles–until the twins attempt a forbidden spell to help her control her magic, and Percy vanishes through a portal and straight into the clutches of the magic-stealing, mythical Hollower.

Aided by her best friend (who longs to be a knight), a wandering musician (who is fleeing from his past), and her brand-new, fierce familiar (who yearns for a taste of funnel cake), Merlynda sets off on a quest to rescue her brother. But to defeat this ancient evil, she must discover and embrace her true powers–or else lose her brother for good.

Snippet:

Copyright © 2023 Anastasia Suen All Rights Reserved.