NCW Libraries

Lila has always wanted a career in belly dance, so she is thrilled when she is invited to join Dana Sajala's competitive and prestigious studio. But dancing at the new studio isn't quite what she expected. Dana Sajala is a tough teacher, and Lila finds the constant criticism stressful. On top of that, Lila misses the dancers from her old troupe, and a rift is developing between her and her best friend, Angela, who is not altogether sympathetic to...

Matthew Swanbeck has a classic problem. Back in seventh grade, his dad talked him into playing the trumpet instead of the drums. Now he's a lowly brass player in the school marching band. Until one day, he has an epiphany: He can start his own band, play in all the cool rock venues, even go on tour...if only he can scrape together the cash to buy a drum set. But, how will he ever get the money together when The Man thwarts him at every turn, taking...

As USA TODAY, the Nation's No. 1 Newspaper, puts it, "Tupac Shakur saw himself as both artist and urban soldier, battling the media, the law, the courts and rival rappers." Tupac overcame poverty to become one of hip-hop's biggest stars. His life, death, and music were all surrounded by controversy. Raised by a single mother and ex-Black Panther in Harlem, Tupac grew up aware of the problems in society around him. His social conscience and creative...

An own-voices LGBTQ novel from the acclaimed author of Hurricane Season, about eighth-grader Brie, who learns how to be true to herself and to her relationships with family, friends, and faith. Introducing Brie Hutchens: soap opera super fan, aspiring actor, and so-so student at her small Catholic school. Brie has big plans for eighth grade. She's going to be the star of the school play and convince her parents to let her go to the performing arts...

Sixteen-year-old drummer Stella, guitarist Jacob and bassist Miles need a wild singer for their old-school rock band. When they discover nerdy Tamara Donnelly, who nails the national anthem at a baseball game, Stella is not convinced Tamara's sound is right for the band. Stella wants to turn Tamara into a rock goddess, but Tamara proves to be a confident performer who has her own ideas about music and what it means to be epic cool. When their band,...

Candace Park knows a lot about playing a role. For most of her life, she's been playing the role of the quiet Korean girl who takes all AP classes and plays a classical instrument, keeping her dreams of stardom-and her obsession with SLK, K-pop's top boyband-to herself. She doesn't see how a regular girl like her could possibly become one of those K-pop goddesses she sees on YouTube. Even though she can sing. Like, really sing. So when Candace secretly...

Sixteen-year-old Whisper, who has a cleft palate, lives in an encampment with three other young rejects and their caregiver, Nathanael. They are outcasts from a society (in the not-too-distant future) that kills or abandons anyone with a physical or mental disability. Whisper's mother visits once a year. When she dies, she leaves Whisper a violin, which Nathanael teaches her to play. Whisper's father comes to claim her, and she becomes his house slave,...

Audisee® eBooks with Audio combine professional narration and sentence highlighting to engage reluctant readers! On his sixteenth birthday, Parker discovers he's developed the power of telekinesis. He's excited to use his new ability to stop some high school bullies, forming a ragtag crew with his friends. But after almost hurting someone by accident, Parker questions whether or not he wants to use his powers at all. That is, until a bullying prank...

Mandy dreams of a career in the circus, working as an aerialist who specializes in rope climbing. When she is accepted into the prestigious Montreal Circus College summer program, she feels that she is finally on her way to fulfilling her dreams. At circus camp she is befriended-and challenged-by young circus performers from around the world. Circus camp turns out to be a magical combination of work and play, but when a veteran aerialist is killed...

Chester has taken to the road, traveling from village to village desperately searching for his father, who has disappeared. One night while fiddling to earn a few coins, he accidentally connects to the Song-the music that fuels every aspect of the world, and that it's illegal for him to interact with. He's caught and sentenced to death for his crime. Only a licensed Songshaper can bend music to his will. But someone in the crowd-a member of the infamous...