We love featuring books for young readers in the Small Press Spotlight, which is why we are excited to share a couple of new options from Astra Books. Take a look at what the publisher has available now.
A tale of wronged kids, rogue judges, and a town that looked away
An explosive, ripped-from-the-headlines YA account of the Kids for Cash scandal in Northeastern Pennsylvania.
“Shackled is a true story… and it’s also a bit of a horror story,” says author, journalist, and Pulitzer Prize finalist Candy J. Cooper. Through Cooper’s extensive research and original reporting, Shackled reveals a modern-day scandal that the Juvenile Law Center calls “one of the largest and most serious violations of children’s rights in the history of the American legal system.”
For readers in grades 8 to 12, this hardcover by Candy J Cooper details the true story from the early 2000s where “no-nonsense judges” Judge Mark Ciavarella and Judge Michael Conahan of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania delivered harsh punishments for juveniles in their courtrooms.
Astra details:
In the post-Columbine era, many people believed that was just what the county needed to ensure its children and teens stayed on the straight and narrow path. But as more and more children faced shocking sentences for seemingly benign crimes, and a newly built for-profit detention center filled up further and further, a sinister pattern of abuses and bribery emerged.
Through extensive research and original reporting leading into contemporary times, award-winning journalist Candy J. Cooper tells the story of a scandal that the Juvenile Law Center calls “one of the largest and most serious violations of children’s rights in the history of the American legal system.”
For readers ages 4 to 8, Lauren Paige Conrad’s This Is a Window puts children’s imaginations in the forefront. The picture book is about kids who build a make-believe world right in their home.
Read more:
Just look at what you can build out of ordinary stuff when you follow your imagination! Children and their caregivers will love this beguiling child-led tour of a make-believe world constructed from everyday household and backyard objects. Words and pictures work together cleverly to spark eureka moments: that “ship” is really a table, that “dark cave” is really a laundry basket, and more, as a day full of building, playing, and pretending turns into bedtime.
Children will use their own imaginations and storytelling skills as they figure out what the book’s busy characters are up to in the gorgeous collage-style art. With perfect rhymes that make it an irresistible read-aloud, this delightful book is a classic in the making perfect for a wide audience of parents and childcare professionals, especially anyone seeking a book that celebrates creative play.
