Bøger udgivet af Astra Publishing House

When the Russians come, where do you go? Fritz loves his vegetable garden. His tomatoes are delicious, he's attentive to the asparagus, and he remembers how to keep slugs off the strawberries. But his tranquil life on the family farm is about to endthe Russians are near, Hitler has died, and known Nazi sympathizers like the Friedrich family brace for the Bolsheviks to take over their town. Local German supporters of the Bolshevik regime seize the Friedrich farm in the name of Communism, forcing Fritz's family to flee to the distant house of his grandmother, Oma Clara. Life there for Fritz is horrible, made even worse when Communists arrest his mother and Lech, the Polish farmhand who has tended the Friedrich land, for hiding weapons. Though there is no evidence to support the accusation, Gertrude and Lech are taken away, and Fritz commits to finding where they are imprisoned. Despite the boy's heroic efforts, the story ends with one of the war's ambiguities: that Lech and Gertrude may not return home.

Ten-year-old Celie's grandmother has moved in with her family, and Granny's forgetfulness is starting to worry Celie. In the meantime, she can tell her parents are keeping secrets, but she can't talk to her best friend Lula or her sister Jo, because they're both keeping secrets, too! Why is Lula not sharing with Celie? Who is Jo texting all the time? And what is Celie supposed to do when special time with her grandmother becomes much more complicatedand possibly dangerousthan Celie can manage on her own? Once again Celie turns to her diary as she tries to sort this all out, filling the pages with heartfelt and often humorous entries, notes, drawings, and pages from her top-secret spy notebook.

Lola's mom is home but not home, because she's frantically working all the time. Lola's friends are here but not here as allegiances among the foursome change faster than you can forget your lines for a school play. Lola means well but can't help acting on her emotions and getting into trouble. She'll need to dig for bravery as she deals with a possible ghost next door, stage fright, and, hardest of all, making amends with her friends. Lola is braver than she thinks and her friendships are stronger than she realizes in this funny, heartwarming tale.

A Kirkus Reviews Best Book of the YearA School Library Journal Best Book of the YearGarvey's father has always wanted Garvey to be athletic, but Garvey is interested in astronomy, science fiction, readinganything but sports. Feeling like a failure, he comforts himself with food. Garvey is kind, funny, smart, a loyal friend, and he is also overweight, teased by bullies, and lonely. When his only friend encourages him to join the school chorus, Garvey's life changes. The chorus finds a new soloist in Garvey, and through chorus, Garvey finds a way to accept himself, and a way to finally reach his distant fatherby speaking the language of music instead of the language of sports. This emotionally resonant novel in verse by award-winning author Nikki Grimes celebrates choosing to be true to yourself.

Lola's back! She patched things up with frenemy Amanda Anderson, but it's not happily ever after for these two best friends, at least not yet. Lola doesn't want to share Amanda, especially not with Jessie, who seems to be around . . . all the time. Can there be more than two best friends? And what does a wild chicken have to do with anything? Hint: The answer involves a class trip to a farm. When Lola is around, you never know what will happen next. This second book in Christine Pakkala's dynamic series is sure to capture the hearts of readers who love a spunky heroine and some unexpected antics.

In this unique, fast-paced twist on the time-travel genre and the first book in a trilogy, sixteen-year-old Alex is a Spinner--one of a rare few who can rewind time to review past events. Alex's society uses Spinners to help solve crimes, but their powers come with a price: no Spinner ever lives past the age of twenty. This title is perfect for fans of author Jennifer Lynn Barnes (The Naturals; Killer Instinct) and Vivian Vande Velde (23 Minutes). Sixteen-year-old Alex is a Spinner--she has the ability to rewind time to review past events. Hated and feared because of their ability to find the truth, the small population of Spinners is restricted to Centers--compounds created to house and protect them. Alex's society uses the Spinners' skills to solve major crimes, but messing with time comes with consequences: no Spinner lives past the age of twenty. At sixteen, Alex is in her prime--until time sickness strikes early. When she is offered an experimental treatment, Alex sees a future for herself for the first time. But the promising medication offers more than just a cure--it also brings with it dire consequences.

For fans of Stuart Little and Poppy, here is a middle-grade adventure in which a mouse and a shrew, lost at sea, try to navigate to their home in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Braving multiple dangers, they discover they have more in common than they could ever have imagined. Mr. Popli, the mouse Mayor of Garbage Island, is always at odds with Archibald Shrew, a brilliant but reckless inventor. When Garbage Island splits apart, they're trapped together in Mr. Popli's houseboat, desperate to find their way home. At first, they only argue, but when they face a perilous thunderstorm and a series of predators, they begin to work together and recognize--in themselves and in each other--strengths they didn't know they had. Nonstop action and deep emotion intertwine in this tale of opposites who discover that with bravery, creativity, and friendship, they can triumph.

As World War II threatens the United States in 1941, fourteen-year-old Junior Bledsoe fights his own battles at home. Junior struggles with school and with angerat his father, his insufferable granddaddy, his neighbors, and himselfas he desperately tries to understand himself and find his own aim in life. But he finds relief in escaping to the quiet of the nearby woods and tinkering with cars, something he learned from his Pop, and a fatherly neighbor provides much-needed guidance. This heartfelt and inspiring prequel to the author's Blue and Comfort also includes an author's note and bibliography.

This memoir, told in poetry and prose, explores Grimes harrowing past, showing how words helped her conquer the hazards of life.

This picture-book biography illuminates the life of activist Belva Lockwood, a woman who fought for equality for women in the classroom, the courtroom and politics.

This nearly wordless picture book tells a heartwarming and hopeful story of loss and new beginnings as a little girl and her dog, Antonia, journey with their family across a river to start a new life.