Gennifer Choldenko

A twelve-year-old boy named Moose moves to Alcatraz Island in 1935 when guards’ families were housed there, and has to contend with his extraordinary new environment in addition to life with his autistic sister Natalie. A Newbery Honor Book &amp;amp;amp; ALA Notable Book. Reprint. Jr Lib Guild &amp;amp;amp; Children’s BOMC.

Al Capone Does My Shirts

Alcatraz Island in the 1930s isn’t the most normal place to grow up, but it’s home for Moose Flanagan, his autistic sister, Natalie, and all the families of the guards. When Moose’s dad gets promoted to Associate Warden, despite being an unlikely candidate, it’s a big deal. But the cons have a point system for targeting prison employees, and his dad is now in serious danger. After a fire starts in the Flanagan’s apartment, Natalie is blamed, and Moose bands with the other kids to track down the possible arsonist. Then Moose gets a cryptic note from the notorious Al Capone himself. Is Capone trying to protect Moose’s dad too? If Moose can’t figure out what Capone’s note means, it may be too late.

Al Capone Does My Homework

Lori Haskins

Janet Hamlin

An easy-to-read study of Alcatraz, “The Rock,” describes how America’s renowned prison housed some of the country’s most notorious criminals.

Breakout! Escape from Alcatraz 

Melanie Crowder

mother-daughter relationships

feelings and emotions

foster care

A girl in foster care tries to find her birth mother before she loses her forever in this “tender tale” (School Library Journal, starred review) about last chances and new opportunities. For a kid bouncing from foster home to foster home, The Book of Changes is the perfect companion. That’s why Marin carries three pennies and a pocket-sized I Ching with her everywhere she goes. Yet when everything in her life suddenly starts changing—like landing in a foster home that feels like somewhere she could stay, maybe forever—the pennies don’t have any answers for her. Marin is positive that all the wrongs in her life will be made right if only she can find her birth mother and convince her that they belong together. Marin is close, oh so close—until she gets some unwelcome news and her resolve, like the uneasy earth far beneath the city of San Francisco, is shaken

Three Pennies

Hello, World is an exciting board book series that pairs early learning concepts with colorful, stylish illustrations of cities around the world. 

From the Golden Gate Bridge to seals to cable cars, there’s no shortage of bright, bold, and interesting things to count in San Francisco. Explore numbers through the best the city has to offer in this gorgeous board book!

San Francisco: A Book of Numbers

Joanne Ryder

Laurence Yep

Mary GrandPré

Fans of How to Train Your Dragon will love this whimsical tale, the first in a series, by a Newbery Honor winner, featuring charming illustrations and pet “training tips” in each chapter. 

Crusty dragon Miss Drake has a new pet human, precocious Winnie. Oddly enough, Winnie seems to think Miss Drake is her pet—a ridiculous notion! 

Unknown to most of its inhabitants, the City by the Bay is home to many mysterious and fantastic creatures, hidden beneath the parks, among the clouds, and even in plain sight. And Winnie wants to draw every new creature she encounters: the good, the bad, and the ugly. But Winnie’s sketchbook is not what it seems. Somehow, her sketchlings have been set loose on the city streets! It will take Winnie and Miss Drake’s combined efforts to put an end to the mayhem . . . before it’s too late. 

This refreshing debut collaboration by Laurence Yep, a two-time Newbery Honor winner and a Laura Ingalls Wilder Award winner, and Joanne Ryder features illustrations by Mary GrandPré.

A Dragon's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Humans

San Francisco

Little ones will love exploring the museums, monuments, and more with the help of this handy guide to the city of San Francisco.

Whether they’re San Francisco natives or on vacation, this board book is ideal for young children who want to learn more about this incredible city. Colorful images of famous landmarks such as the Golden Gate Bridge engage the attention of young readers, while fascinating facts help to engage children’s interest in their surroundings. For instance, did you know that when the Golden Gate Bridge was built, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world? Or that the city is built on more than 50 hills?

This board book highlights child-friendly attractions and features fun activities for kids to do. From famous landmarks and beautiful parks, to the cable cars and amazing buildings, this board book is the perfect children’s guide to the unique attractions of San Francisco.

Little Cities: San Francisco

Katie Zhao

Inspired by Chinese mythology, this high-action middle-grade fantasy follows an outcast as she embarks on a quest to prove herself–perfect for fans of Aru Shah and the End of Time and The Serpent’s Secret. As a member of the Jade Society, twelve-year-old Faryn Liu dreams of honoring her family and the gods by becoming a warrior. But the Society has shunned Faryn and her brother Alex ever since their father disappeared years ago, forcing them to train in secret. Then, during an errand into San Francisco, Faryn stumbles into a battle with a demon–and helps defeat it. She just might be the fabled Heaven Breaker, a powerful warrior meant to work for the all-mighty deity, the Jade Emperor, by commanding an army of dragons to defeat the demons. That is, if she can prove her worth and find the island of the immortals before the Lunar New Year. With Alex and other unlikely allies at her side, Faryn sets off on a daring quest across Chinatowns. But becoming the Heaven Breaker will require more sacrifices than she first realized . . . What will Faryn be willing to give up to claim her destiny? This richly woven contemporary middle-grade fantasy, full of humor, magic, and heart, will appeal to readers who love Roshani Chokshi and Sayantani DasGupta.

The Dragon Warrior

Michelle Millar Fisher

Kat Kuang

Flags are brilliant and clever works of art and design, and they bring people together under a common banner. This colorful story follows a group of friends who helped dye and sew strips of cloth to create the first Rainbow Flags for the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Parade in 1978.

Led by a young artist named Gilbert Baker, the friends set out to create a flag that people could march behind during the Pride Parade. They knew the flag needed to be bright, in order to be seen by everyone as they marched. It needed to be bold, to lead the crowd. And it needed to be beautiful, like the love celebrated by the parade! The result is an iconic flag that has become an international symbol of the gay pride movement.

The Rainbow Flag: Bright, Bold, and Beautiful

Claire Rudolf Murphy

Stacey Schuett

An inspiring story of the fight for women’s suffrage, based on the experiences of a real girl All Bessie wants is to go hiking with her father and brothers. But it’s 1896, and girls don’t get to hike. They can’t vote either, which Bessie discovers when Susan B. Anthony comes to town to help lead the campaign for women’s suffrage. Stirred to action, Bessie joins the movement and discovers that small efforts can result in small changes–and maybe even big ones. Inspired by the diary of the real Bessie Keith Pond, a ten-year-old girl who lived in California during the suffrage campaign, author Claire Rudolf Murphy and illustrator Stacey Schuett offer a thought-provoking introduction to the fight for women’s rights. A story of hope and determination, Marching with Aunt Susan reminds readers that society cannot evolve unless people–even young people–dare to take a stand

Marching With Aunt Susan

Mary Pope Osborne

Sal Murdocca

An adventure that will shake you up! That’s what Jack and Annie get when the Magic Tree House whisks them back to California in 1906. As soon as they arrive, the famous San Francisco earthquake hits the city. Can Jack and Annie save the day? Or will San Francisco be destroyed first?

Earthquake in the Early Morning

Laura Ingalls Wilder

This fascinating firsthand account of life and travel in the early twentieth century includes 24 pages of photographs.

“It is like a fairyland.” So Laura Ingalls Wilder, author of the beloved Little House series, described her 1915 voyage to San Francisco to visit her daughter, Rose Wilder Lane. Laura’s husband, Almanzo, was unable to leave their Missouri farm; her faithful letters home, vividly describing every detail of her journey, have been gathered here.

Perfect for supplementary classroom or homeschool research.

West from Home: Letters of Laura Ingalls Wilder, San Francisco, 1915

Alessia Trunfio

Veeda Bybee

survival stories

disasters

Lily is a twelve-year-old Chinese American girl living in San Francisco’s Chinatown when an earthquake destroys her home and sets her neighborhood on fire. Separated from her parents, Lily must help her younger brother and neighbor escape San Francisco. As the city burns, Lily struggles to keep her group close as they face peril and racism. Will Lily be reunited with her parents and make it across the bay to the safety of Oakland? Readers can learn the real story of the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake from the nonfiction backmatter in this Girls Survive story. A glossary, discussion questions, and writing prompts are also provided.

Lily and the Great Quake: A San Francisco Earthquake Survival Story

Amy Novesky

David Diaz

Like a tiny bird in a big city, Frida Kahlo feels lost and lonely when she arrives in San Francisco with her husband, the famous artist Diego Rivera. It is the first time she has left her home in Mexico. And Frida wants to be a painter too.  But as Frida begins to explore San Francisco on her own, she discovers more than the beauty, diversity, and exuberance of America. She finds the inspiration she needs to become one of the most celebrated artists of all time.  Me, Frida is an exhilarating true story that encourages children to believe in themselves so they can make their own dreams soar. Praise for Me, Frida”The writing is lucid, the emotions are universal, and the illustrations soar. Glowing with warm, vibrant colors, the charcoal and acrylic paintings create distinctive, statuesque people within imaginatively conceived landscapes, cityscapes, and interiors.” -Booklist

Me, Frida

Over the years the earth has moved many times under San Francisco. But it has been thirty-eight years since the last strong earthquake. People have forgotten how bad it can be. But soon they will remember. Based on actual events of the 1906 San Francisco earthquake and told from the alternating perspectives of two young friends, the earth dragon awakes chronicles the thrilling story of the destruction of a city, and the heroes that emerge in its wake.

Earth Dragon Awakes: The San Francisco Earthquake of 1906

Adam Gamble

Good Night San Francisco highlights the San Francisco Bay, sea lions, Golden Gate Bridge, cable cars, Lombard Street, Stow Lake, Conservatory of Flowers, Cliff House, sandy beaches, Aquarium, Exploratorium, historic ships, fishing boats, Palace of Fine Arts, The Thinker statue, and more. What could be more exciting for young readers than touring the fascinating city of San Francisco? Children will be lulled into a peaceful night’s sleep while visiting the city’s famous landmarks and attractions. This book is part of the bestselling Good Night Our World series, which includes hundreds of titles exploring iconic locations and exciting, child-friendly themes. Many of North America’s most beloved regions are artfully celebrated in these board books designed to soothe children before bedtime while instilling an early appreciation for North America’s natural and cultural wonders. Each book stars a multicultural group of people visiting the featured area’s attractions as rhythmic language guides children through the passage of both a single day and the four seasons while saluting the iconic aspects of each place.

Good Night San Francisco

In The City on the Other Side,  a young girl stumbles into a pitched war between two fairy kingdoms, and the fate of San Francisco itself hangs in the balance!Sheltered within her high-society world, Isabel plays the part of a perfectly proper little girl–she’s quiet, well-behaved, and she keeps her dresses spotlessly clean. She’s certainly not the kind of girl who goes on adventures.But that all changes when Isabel breaches an invisible barrier and steps into another world. She discovers a city not unlike her own, but magical and dangerous. Here, war rages between the fairies of the Seelie and Unseelie Courts. Only Isabel, with the help of a magical necklace and a few new friends, stands a chance of ending the war before it destroys the fairy world, and her own.From Mairghread Scott and Robin Robinson comes a colorful fantasy graphic novel set in early twentieth century San Francisco.

The City on the Other Side

Virginia Lee Burton

Mike Mulligan and More: A Virginia Lee Burton Treasury

Ron Roy

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose tackle an out-of-this-world mystery–in the twelfth A to Z Mysteries Super Edition! Mystery takes off in 3. . . 2. . . 1! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in Florida, visiting a space museum, Alice’s Space Shuttle. There, they get to check out cool NASA gear! But someone is sneaking around Alice’s house, and not because they want a tour. They want Alice’s property! Why? Only Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose can solve this Jupiter-size mystery! Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! From The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, there’s a mystery for every letter of the alphabet, plus super editions with even more A to Z fun. And don’t miss Ron Roy’s series for younger readers, Calendar Mysteries!

Space Shuttle Scam

Soon to be an animated movie! Don’t miss this middle grade fantasy adventure about a boy, a magical tiger, an outlaw dragon, and a mischievous monkey who carry the fate of the world on their shoulders. From two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Laurence Yep (Dragonwings, Dragon’s Gate), now with an all-new cover and introduction!  Tom Lee’s life changes forever the day he meets a talking tiger named Mr. Hu and discovers that he has magical powers and great responsibilities that he never imagined. Despite his doubts and fears, Tom joins Mr. Hu’s ragtag band of creatures in their fight to keep an ancient talisman out of the hands of the worst possible enemy. This action-packed fantasy from two-time Newbery Honor-winning author Laurence Yep reveals a hidden world within our own where animals take human form, where friendship is the final weapon in the battle between good and evil, and where a young boy is responsible for saving the world he knows . . . and the one he is just discovering. This updated edition includes an all-new introduction by Laurence Yep!

The Tiger's Apprentice

Tom hadn’t wanted the apprenticeship . . . but having accepted, he at least had to try to be worthy . . .  Powerful magic saves Tom’s life but weakens the Guardian of the phoenix egg, the tiger Mr. Hu. The egg can bring peace to the world – or its destruction. Only the tiger’s apprentice, Tom, can now keep the egg safe. But Tom is just a beginner at magic and is more likely to make a mistake than save the world.  So Tom, Mr. Hu, and their motley crew of friends flee to the underwater dragon kingdom with the egg. They soon discover that nothing is as it seems and an unstoppable evil is advancing. When the egg is stolen, Tom and his friends must risk everything to recover it.  In this second book of The Tiger’s Apprentice trilogy, two-time Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep returns to the magical world hidden within our own, where good and evil battle for control and the test of a friendship can decide the fate of both worlds.

Tiger's Blood

Tom has always been a reluctant apprentice. But since his grandmother’s death, he’s assisted the tiger Mr. Hu in guarding the magical phoenix egg. When the phoenix hatches prematurely, Tom faces his greatest challenge of all. The phoenix believes Tom is his mother, and suddenly it’s Tom’s turn to be a good teacher and parent, which is especially hard when your child has the power to destroy the earth.A full-blown war has erupted between evil Lord Vatten’s troops and the Alliance led by Mr. Hu. Tom and his motley crew of friends are in for the battle of their lives–and the hardest part may be keeping their allies united in the fight. In this exciting conclusion to the Tiger’s Apprentice trilogy, Laura Ingalls Wilder Award recipient and two-time Newbery Honor author Laurence Yep reveals the ultimate strength of loyalty, friendship, and family and how the true power of magic is knowing when to use it.

Tiger Magic

“A powerful read.” –Ahmed Rashid, New York Times Bestselling author of Taliban “By the end of the book, young readers will be cheering for Fadi as a good friend.” –Mitali Perkins, author of Tiger Boy and You Bring the Distant Near “Senzai has brought a whole new world to life for young readers. It is a world they won’t soon forget.” –Reza Aslan, author of No God but God In the summer of 2001, twelve year old Fadi’s parents make the difficult decision to illegally leave Afghanistan and move the family to the United States. When their underground transport arrives at the rendezvous point, chaos ensues, and Fadi is left dragging his younger sister Mariam through the crush of people. But Mariam accidentally lets go of his hand and becomes lost in the crowd, just as Fadi is snatched up into the truck. With Taliban soldiers closing in, the truck speeds away, leaving Mariam behind.  Adjusting to life in the United States isn’t easy for Fadi’s family and as the events of September 11th unfold the prospects of locating Mariam in a war torn Afghanistan seem slim. When a photography competition with a grand prize trip to India is announced, Fadi sees his chance to return to Afghanistan and find his sister. But can one photo really bring Mariam home?  Based in part on the Ms. Senzai’s husband’s own experience fleeing his home in Soviet controlled Afghanistan in the 1970s, Shooting Kabul is a powerful story of hope, love, and perseverance.

Shooting Kabul

John Steven Gurney 

Celebrate 20 years of A to Z Mysteries! No foolin’!  It’s the first of April in Green Lawn! Mr. Paskey, owner of the Book Nook, plays an April Fools’ Day prank on Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. They hatch a plan to get back at him, but then the bookstore is robbed–no joke! Can the kids track down the crook? Or will this April Fools’ be an April fail?  The alphabet may be over, but the mysteries continue in this ninth A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, featuring a 26-letter secret message hidden in the illustrations.

April Fools' Fiasco

Suzanne Nelson

Now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie!Tessa loves working at the trendy food truck owned by her aunt Cleo, a feisty, up-and-coming young chef. Together, Tessa and Cleo serve yummy sandwiches like their special BLTs to the crowd. Tessa feels like she’s living the dream. Then the dream turns into a nightmare: Popular, arrogant Asher starts working at the truck! He can’t make a sandwich to save his life, and he’s frustratingly cute.But when the city’s big food-truck festival is canceled, the future of the truck is suddenly at stake. Can Tessa and Asher set aside their differences and work together to help save Cleo’s beloved truck? And will Tessa finally admit to herself how she really feels . . . about Asher?

You're Bacon Me Crazy

Z was just the beginning! With A to Z Mysteries(R) Super Editions, chapter book readers keep on collecting clues and solving mysteries with Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose. Now with over 8 million copies in print, this classic kid-favorite series is back with a bright new look!  Fireworks and dragons and . . . a missing girl? Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are in San Francisco, home of the biggest Chinatown outside Asia. They plan to watch the famous Chinese New Year parade and see Miss Chinatown ride by in a giant float. But during the parade, Miss Chinatown disappears, and so does her crown! Can the kids crack the case?  Look for hidden messages inside A to Z Mysteries(R) Super Editions!

The New Year Dragon Dilemma

Thar she blows! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are on an Alaskan whale watching adventure. On their first day, they see a mother orca and her calf. But the next day, the baby orca is missing! The calf needs its mother’s milk. Can the kids solve this whale of a mystery?  The alphabet is over, but the mysteries continue in this seventh A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, featuring a 26-letter secret message hidden in the illustrations.

Operation Orca

It’s Valentine’s Day in Green Lawn! But Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose just aren’t feeling the love this year.   Valentine’s Day was so much more fun when they were little. Then they each start getting messages and clues from a secret admirer! Can the kids figure out who wants to be their Valentine?  The alphabet may be over, but the mysteries continue in this eighth A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, featuring a 26-letter secret message hidden in the illustrations.

Secret Admirer

In the tenth A to Z Mysteries Super Edition, Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose have a sleepover . . . with a Spinosaurus! It’s sleepover night at a science museum in Boston. Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose can’t wait to settle their sleeping bags near the museum’s colossal fossil–a giant Spinosaurus skeleton–and tour the exhibits long after closing time. But after they fall asleep, they wake to a terrible crash! Is the dinosaur fossil damaged? Or is there another big problem at the science museum? Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! From The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, there’s a mystery for every letter of the alphabet, plus ten super editions with even more A to Z fun. And don’t miss Ron Roy’s series for younger readers, Calendar Mysteries!

Colossal Fossil

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose get to the bottom of the Grand Canyon–and a mystery–in the eleventh A to Z Mysteries Super Edition! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are visiting the Grand Canyon when they spot Parker Stone–a famous TV star. They can’t wait to get his autograph, but before they can, Parker is kidnapped! Only a few clues–and his pet parrot–are left behind. It’s up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to find Parker–before it’s too late! Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! From The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, there’s a mystery for every letter of the alphabet, plus super editions with even more A to Z fun. And don’t miss Ron Roy’s series for younger readers, Calendar Mysteries!

Grand Canyon Grab

Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose catch a crypt criminal–in the thirteenth A to Z Mysteries Super Edition! Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose are headed to the Big Apple! They plan to spend time with Ruth Rose’s grandmother in Brooklyn. But their plans are foiled when a famous vase is stolen from the Greenwood Cemetery. And all evidence points to Ruth Rose’s grandmother as the culprit! Is she really a criminal? It’s up to Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose to clear her name. Help Dink, Josh, and Ruth Rose solve mysteries from A to Z! From The Absent Author to The Zombie Zone, there’s a mystery for every letter of the alphabet, plus super editions with even more A to Z fun. And don’t miss Ron Roy’s series for younger readers, Calendar Mysteries!

Crime in the Crypt

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter–but did you know he really lived? And his secrets aren’t safe! Discover the truth in book three of the New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel. The Problem: Perenelle Flamel is trapped.  What’s Worse: Sophie and Josh might soon be as well.  Paris was destroyed by John Dee and Niccolo Machiavelli, but the missing pages of the Book of Abraham the Mage are still protected from Dee and the Dark Elders. Except Perenelle is imprisoned on Alcatraz and now Scatty is missing, leaving a weakening Nicholas as Sophie and Josh’s only protection in Lond, a city Dee has under his control. The only hope of defeating Dee and escaping London is to find an Elder to teach the twins the third elemental magic–Water Magic. The bad news? The lone option is Gilgamesh the King, and he is absolutely insane. The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel has everything you loved about Harry Potter, including magic, mystery, and a constant battle of good versus evil.–Bustle Read the whole series!The AlchemystThe MagicianThe SorceressThe NecromancerThe WarlockThe Enchantress

The Sorceress

Nicholas Flamel appeared in J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter–but did you know he really lived? And his secrets aren’t safe! Discover the truth in book five of Michael Scott’s New York Times bestselling series the Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel.  The Oaths: Many have made them.  The Betrayals: Almost as many will undo them. The twins of prophecy have been divided–the end has begun. Josh Newman has chosen a side, and he will not stand with his sister, Sophie, or the Alchemyst, Nicholas Flamel. He will fight alongside Dee and the mysterious Virginia Dare. With San Francisco on the bring of ruin at the hands of Machiavelli, and Billy the Kid, Scatty, and Joan of Arc in another dimension called the Shadowrealm, the world stands at the edge of destruction. It is up to Sophie alone to find her twin before the battle begins pr all is lost–forever. “The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel has everything you loved about Harry Potter, including magic, mystery, and a constant battle of good versus evil.”–Bustle Read the whole series! The Alchemyst The Magician The Sorceress The Necromancer The Warlock The Enchantress

The Warlock

David A. Kelly

Mark Meyers

Time for a seventh-inning stretch! The San Francisco Splash is book #7 in our early chapter book mystery series, where each book is set in a different American ballpark!  Splash! A hit soars over the walls of the San Francisco ballpark on the bay and drops into the water. But then Mike and Kate hear another, much larger splash nearby . . . and this time it’s not a baseball. It’s a man overboard! And when he’s pulled from the water, the old-time ballplayer discovers his World Series ring is gone! Is it at the bottom of the bay? Or was it somehow stolen by a long-ago rival?  The San Francisco Splash includes several pages of Dugout Notes, fun facts about San Francisco’s recently built ballpark. Cross Ron Roy’s A to Z Mystery series with Matt Christopher’s sports books and you get the Ballpark Mysteries: fun, puzzling whodunits aimed at the younger brothers and sisters of John Feinstein’s fans.

The San Francisco Splash

Jeff Brown

Macky Pamintuan

Flat Stanley is taking over the world, one city at a time! In this fantastic twelfth installment in the renowned Flat Stanley’s Worldwide Adventures chapter book series, the Lambchop family is ready to explore San Francisco, California! Don’t miss any of Flat Stanley’s worldwide adventures!Not only will kids love going on a fun adventure with Stanley, this installment of the Worldwide Adventures series has fun, fascinating facts about San Francisco in the back of the book, and is perfect for Common Core State Standards, like multicultural adventure, plot and character development story elements, and compare and contrast.This unforgettable adventure features fun, fascinating facts about San Francisco! And for parents and teachers, each Flat Stanley book is aligned to the Common Core State Standards, like multicultural adventure, plot and character development story elements, and compare and contrast! Don’t miss any of Flat Stanley’s worldwide adventures!

Escape to California

By recounting actual events in San Francisco’s effort to keep the city’s cable cars running, this classic story illustrates how the voice of the people can be heard in the true spirit of democracy. “The reissue of Maybelle the Cable Car, with original art retrieved from the San Francisco Public Library archives, is a happy occasion.” – The Five Owls

Maybelle the Cable Car

immortality

twins

The Alchemyst

Kate Messner

Ranger, the time-traveling golden retriever with search-and-rescue training, helps two new friends survive the Great San Francisco Earthquake!Ranger travels to San Francisco and meets Lily Chen. She was sent from China to America to work as a young servant, but she dreams of studying to be a doctor. When the Great Earthquake hits, Ranger arrives in time to rescue Lily from falling beams in the mission house where she lives. Together they flee to safety, stopping to help another girl, May Wong, save her little brother from the family’s collapsed market. Lily and May try to make their way through the ruined city with Ranger at their side. But can they escape crumbling buildings and raging fires, all while facing anti-Chinese discrimination?

Escape from the Great Earthquake

James Ponti

In this second installment in the New York Times bestselling series from Edgar Award winner James Ponti, the young group of spies returns for another international adventure perfect for fans of Spy School and Mrs. Smith’s Spy School for Girls. After thwarting a notorious villain at an eco-summit in Paris, the City Spies are gearing up for their next mission. Operating out of a base in Scotland, this secret team of young agents working for the British Secret Intelligence Service’s MI6 division have honed their unique skills, such as sleight of hand, breaking and entering, observation, and explosives. All of these allow them to go places in the world of espionage where adults can’t. Fourteen-year-old Sydney is a surfer and a rebel from Bondi Beach, Australia. She’s also a field ops specialist for the City Spies. Sydney is excited to learn that she’ll be going undercover on the marine research vessel the Sylvia Earle. But things don’t go exactly as planned, and while Sydney does find herself in the spotlight, it’s not in the way she was hoping. Meanwhile, there’s been some new intel regarding a potential mole within the organization, offering the spies a lead that takes them to San Francisco, California. But as they investigate a spy who died at the Botanical Gardens, they discover that they are also being investigated. And soon, they’re caught up in an exciting adventure filled with rogue missions and double agents! This mission is hot! The City Spies are a go!

Golden Gate

Jennifer Chambliss Bertman

Could books hidden through Book Scavenger be linked to an arsonist’s web of destruction? Find out in Book 2 of Jennifer Bertman’s Book Scavenger series. Mr. Quisling is definitely up to something mysterious, and Emily and James are on high alert. First, there’s the coded note he drops at a book event. Then they uncover a trail of encrypted messages in Mark Twain-penned books hidden through Book Scavenger. What’s most suspicious is that each hidden book triggers a fire. As the sleuthing friends dig deeper, they discover Mr. Quisling has been hunting a legendary historical puzzle: the Unbreakable Code. This new mystery is irresistible, but Emily and James can’t ignore the signs that Mr. Quisling might be the arsonist. The clock is ticking as the fires multiply, and Emily and James race to crack the code of a lifetime. A Christy Ottaviano Book

The Unbreakable Code

Cory Doctorow

civil rights

law and crime

prison or jail

Marcus, a.k.a w1n5t0n, is only seventeen years old, but he figures he already knows how the system works-and how to work the system. Smart, fast, and wise to the ways of the networked world, he has no trouble outwitting his high school’s intrusive but clumsy surveillance systems. But his whole world changes when he and his friends find themselves caught in the aftermath of a major terrorist attack on San Francisco. In the wrong place at the wrong time, Marcus and his crew are apprehended by the Department of Homeland Security and whisked away to a secret prison where they’re mercilessly interrogated for days. When the DHS finally releases them, Marcus discovers that his city has become a police state where every citizen is treated like a potential terrorist. He knows that no one will believe his story, which leaves him only one option: to take down the DHS himself.

Little Brother

Jim Averbeck

Nick Bertozzi

An intrepid boy teams up with Alfred Hitchcock himself in this rollicking mystery rife with action, adventure, intrigue, and all the flavor of film noir. After the mysterious death of his mother, eleven-year-old Jack Fair is whisked away to San Francisco’s swanky Fairmont Hotel by his wicked Aunt Edith. There, he seems doomed to a life of fetching chocolates for his aunt and her pet chinchilla. Until one night, when Aunt Edith disappears, and the only clue is a ransom note written…in chocolate? Suddenly, Jack finds himself all alone on a quest to discover who kidnapped Aunt Edith and what happened to his mother. Alone, that is, until he meets an unlikely accomplice—Alfred Hitchcock himself! The two embark on a madcap journey full of hidden doorways, secret societies, cryptic clues, sinister villains, and cinematic flair. Including an author’s note about the real Hitchcock and an appendix of film references, this “fine read” is a “love letter to all that Hitchcock stood for” (Kirkus Reviews).

A Hitch at the Fairmont

Belle Yang

“Based on her own immigration story, Yang’s offering is a winner — a spot-on depiction of the immigration experience in America.” — KIRKUS REVIEWS

It’s a long way from Taiwan to San Francisco, but Hannah’s family has made the journey because they want to make America their home. In America, Baba tells his daughter, people are free to say what they think, and children can grow up to be whatever they choose. As Hannah takes a new name, starts a new school, learns a new language, and adjusts to a new way of life, they all wait — and hope — for the arrival of the green cards that will assure they are finally home to stay.

Hannah Is My Name

Tim J Myers

Bonnie Pang

Inspired by the 1863 Egg War and the mad rush for murre eggs on the Farallon Islands near San Francisco, Yao Bai and the Egg Pirates is a high-seas adventure story celebrating the courage and history of Chinese immigrants in America through a fascinating yet little-known event during the California Gold Rush era.

Yao Bai and the Egg Pirates

sleuthing

books and reading

treasure hunts

secrets

Just after twelve-year-old Emily and her family move to San Francisco, she teams up with new friend James to follow clues in an odd book they find, hoping to figure out its secrets before the men who attacked Emily’s hero, publisher Garrison Griswold, solve the mystery or come after the friends.

Book Scavenger

Offers a look at the life of the children who grew up on this infamous island with their families throughout its long and diverse history as a military prison, maximum security prison, and site of a Native American uprising, enhanced with period photos, interviews, and first-hand accounts.

The Children of Alcatraz

Nico Medina

Who HQ

David Groff

The island of Alcatraz has always been a place that’s fascinated visitors, from the Native American tribes who believed it was home to evil spirits to the Spanish explorers who discovered the island. In modern times, it was a federal prison for only 29 years, but now draws over a million visitors each year. Learn the history of America’s most famous prison, from its initial construction as a fort in the 1800s, to its most famous residents such as Al Capone and “Machine Gun” Kelly. Where Is Alcatraz? also chronicles some of the most exciting escape attempts—even one that involved chipping through stone with spoons and constructing rafts out of raincoats!

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