Abbas Vali

Abba Jacob is a peaceful monk who lives on a beautifully remote island with his very best friend: a loyal little rat terrier named Snook. From the early dawn hours until the sun drops below the sea, Snook keeps Abba Jacob company while he tends the island gardens and fixes up their small home. But everything changes when a ferocious, howling storm tears across the island. In the chaos of the wild weather, the two best friends are suddenly separated. Swept into a world of both wonder and fierce danger, little Snook must quickly learn how to fend for himself in the wild. As he faces the vast elements, he watches and waits, hoping to hear the loving voice of his owner once again. With warm, sweeping illustrations and a lyrical voice, this is a deeply moving story about the unbreakable bond between a dog and his owner. It is a captivating adventure of survival, loyalty, and holding onto hope against all odds.

Anne is a queer, Japanese American high schooler with a fierce love for ABBA, a talent for writing disco operas, and an absolute desperate need to be recognized for her artistic genius. When her mothers relocate the family to the seemingly middle of nowhere town of Greenville, Anne is forced to start over at a new school. She brings her usual dramatic flair, a tendency to fall in love deeply and instantaneously, and a total inability to back down when confronted by bullies. Her grand Greenville debut goes spectacularly off the rails when the local soccer team mercilessly boos her disco performance. However, this disaster leads her straight to her new best friend, Berry, and soon after, to the girl of her dreams, Gilly. Anne falls fast into the classic trap of ignoring her loyal best friend to chase a thrilling new crush. She quickly becomes tangled in a messy web of misunderstandings, high school drama, and a surprisingly complicated love triangle. This modern, unapologetically bold reimagining of a classic tale follows Anne as she navigates identity, true friendship, and the chaotic, effervescent joy of first love.