The Red Umbrella is a moving tale of a 14-year-old girl''s journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro''s revolution.

In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. And soon, Lucía''s parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.

Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?

The Red Umbrella is a touching story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.“Captures the fervor, uncertainty and fear of the times. . . . Compelling.” –The Washington Post   “Gonzalez deals effectively with separation, culture shock, homesickness, uncertainty and identity as she captures what is also a grand adventure.” –San Francisco Chronicle

The 2022 Edgar Award Winner for Best Juvenile Mystery!

What if you had no name, no past, and no home?

Ivette. Joanna. And now: Katrina

Whatever her name is, it won’t last long. Katrina doesn’t know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program. Whenever her parents say they have to move on and start over, she takes on a new identity. A new name, a new hair color, a new story.

Until their location leaks and her parents disappear. Forced to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, Katrina and her new friend Parker set out to save her parents—and find out the truth about her secret past and the people that want her family dead.

But every new discovery reveals that Katrina's entire life has been built around secrets covered up with lies and that her parents were actually the ones keeping the biggest secret of all. Katrina must now decide if learning the whole truth is worth the price of losing everything she has ever believed about herself and her family.

Accelerated Reading Level 4.4

An instant Indie bestseller!

From the author of the USA Today and Indie bestselling Invisible, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who may just have more in common than they thought.

Can you get ahead if it means leaving everyone behind?

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed--thanks to Nicky's determination. Now Nicky and Fabiola are on a team with Al, Palmer, Seba, and the rest of the boys . . . but that doesn't mean they're all on the same side. Team captain Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky's rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone's going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there's a bigger problem than what's on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team.

An instant Indie bestseller!

From the author of the USA Today and Indie bestselling Invisible, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who may just have more in common than they thought.

Can you get ahead if it means leaving everyone behind?

Al, Nicky, Palmer, Fabiola, and Seba are all on the school soccer team. But that doesn't mean they're all on the same side.

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed thanks to Nicky's determination. But Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky's rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone's going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there's a bigger problem than what's on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This Breakfast Club-inspired story by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Mari Costa is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team.

The Red Umbrella is a moving tale of a 14-year-old girl''s journey from Cuba to America as part of Operation Pedro Pan—an organized exodus of more than 14,000 unaccompanied children, whose parents sent them away to escape Fidel Castro''s revolution.

In 1961, two years after the Communist revolution, Lucía Álvarez still leads a carefree life, dreaming of parties and her first crush. But when the soldiers come to her sleepy Cuban town, everything begins to change. Freedoms are stripped away. Neighbors disappear. And soon, Lucía''s parents make the heart-wrenching decision to send her and her little brother to the United States—on their own.

Suddenly plunked down in Nebraska with well-meaning strangers, Lucía struggles to adapt to a new country, a new language, a new way of life. But what of her old life? Will she ever see her home or her parents again? And if she does, will she still be the same girl?

The Red Umbrella is a touching story of country, culture, family, and the true meaning of home.“Captures the fervor, uncertainty and fear of the times. . . . Compelling.” –The Washington Post   “Gonzalez deals effectively with separation, culture shock, homesickness, uncertainty and identity as she captures what is also a grand adventure.” –San Francisco Chronicle

The 2022 Edgar Award Winner for Best Juvenile Mystery!

What if you had no name, no past, and no home?

Ivette. Joanna. And now: Katrina

Whatever her name is, it won’t last long. Katrina doesn’t know any of the details about her past, but she does know that she and her parents are part of the Witness Protection Program. Whenever her parents say they have to move on and start over, she takes on a new identity. A new name, a new hair color, a new story.

Until their location leaks and her parents disappear. Forced to embark on a dangerous rescue mission, Katrina and her new friend Parker set out to save her parents—and find out the truth about her secret past and the people that want her family dead.

But every new discovery reveals that Katrina's entire life has been built around secrets covered up with lies and that her parents were actually the ones keeping the biggest secret of all. Katrina must now decide if learning the whole truth is worth the price of losing everything she has ever believed about herself and her family.

Accelerated Reading Level 4.4

An instant Indie bestseller!

From the author of the USA Today and Indie bestselling Invisible, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who may just have more in common than they thought.

Can you get ahead if it means leaving everyone behind?

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed--thanks to Nicky's determination. Now Nicky and Fabiola are on a team with Al, Palmer, Seba, and the rest of the boys . . . but that doesn't mean they're all on the same side. Team captain Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky's rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone's going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there's a bigger problem than what's on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team.

An instant Indie bestseller!

From the author of the USA Today and Indie bestselling Invisible, a must-have graphic novel about five very different students who may just have more in common than they thought.

Can you get ahead if it means leaving everyone behind?

Al, Nicky, Palmer, Fabiola, and Seba are all on the school soccer team. But that doesn't mean they're all on the same side.

For the first time ever, the Jackson Middle School soccer team is going co-ed thanks to Nicky's determination. But Al is going to do whatever he can to keep the girls off the team, just the way his father wants.

When Al and Nicky's rivalry threatens to tear the team apart, everyone's going to have to pick sides. That is, until Palmer looks into why Nicky joined the team, and he starts to realize that there's a bigger problem than what's on the field. . .

And maybe the only way to truly win is together.

With text in English and Spanish, Offside features the groundbreaking format used in Invisible, paired with engaging, accessible, and entertaining storytelling. This Breakfast Club-inspired story by Christina Diaz Gonzalez and Mari Costa is a must-have graphic novel about soccer, friendship, and what it really means to work as a team.