A touching and funny story of one girl’s journey to discover where she came from and the unlimited possibilities of who she can become, from Crystal Allen, the acclaimed author of How Lamar’s Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy and The Magnificent Mya Tibbs: Spirit Week Showdown. Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultracute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school teases her for being overweight, and Troy won’t give her a second glance. Until one day, their history teacher announces a field trip to the run-down slave shack on her grandmother’s property. Heck to the power of no way! Her grandmother insists that it’s more than just an old shack; it’s a monument to the strong women in their family—the Laura Line. But Laura knows better: her classmates will never accept her once they see the shack. So she comes up with the perfect plan to get the trip canceled . . . but when a careless mistake puts the shack—and the Laura Line—in jeopardy, Laura must decide what’s truly important to her. Can Laura figure out how to get what she wants at school while also honoring her family’s past?

Tween readers who loved the warmth and humor Crystal Allen brought to How Lamar's Bad Prank Won a Bubba-Sized Trophy will find the same winning combination in her new middle-grade novel, The Laura Line. Thirteen-year-old Laura Dyson wants two things in life: to be accepted by her classmates and to be noticed by ultra-cute baseball star Troy Bailey. But everyone at school makes fun of her for being overweight, and Troy won’t give her a second glance. But a school assignment changes that. Laura is forced to learn the history of the slave shack on her grandmother’s property, and she discovers she comes from a line of strong African-American women. Through understanding her roots, Laura finds the self-esteem she’s been missing.

In the follow up to her popular novel CROSSING THE LINE, Laura Castoro continues to tackle the difficult and universal issues surrounding race and family in these modern times, in the deeply emotional journey of a mother and daughter trying to find their place in the world Thea Morgan—no, Thornton—is thrilled about starting life with her new husband Xavier, After so many years apart, it was truly a blessing that they found each other again. But the new life is going to take some adjustment. Used to being high-powered businesswoman, Thea is having difficulty balancing that with her new role as the preacher’s wife. And the townspeople in Xavier new parish are watching her life a hawk. With her corporate job and light skin, Thea will have to go far to prove to the people of St. Hurrican AME Church that she can be who she is and still be one of them. Jesse, Thea’s daughter, is having an identity crisis of her own. Off at college and away from those who’ve known her her entire life, Jesse has the chance to reinvent herself. But is it a chance worth taking? The child of a light-skinned black woman and a white man, Jesse has blond hair and blue eyes. No one would know her heritage if she didn’t tell them, leaving Jesse to face a difficult realization: is she forging a new path in life, free of any preconceived notions? Or is she hiding her identity and denying her roots?

Various shapes vie for an important job at the library, but imperfect Line ultimately proves that being perfectly imperfect is the ideal qualification.

Follow the line on a journey from the city to the country, from the sky to the ocean, from morning till night. Laura Ljungkvist uses her trademark continuous line style to create the perfect counting book for young children. Each scene contains questions designed to get children looking, counting, and thinking. For example, in the underwater picture, children can count seashells, turtles, and the legs on an octopus. Each page is packed with colorful, artful objects and animals—and young counters can follow the line from the front cover to the back cover, through each stunning scene.

Follow the line from the science corner to the library, from recess to show-and-tell. This new Follow the Line book-illustrated in Laura Ljungkvist's signature line style-takes children on a colorful, comforting, and altogether fun romp through the school day. With its unique modern design and engaging interactive text, Follow the Line to School is sure to appeal to both new and returning students.