Showing results by narrator "Nekia Renee" in All Categories

TJ Young spent last summer fighting to unlock the secrets behind his sister's mysterious death but found himself battling the magic of the ancient Orishas instead. And some of the answers he sought came with a promise he may not be able to keep: to dismantle new human construction on the coastline of Lagos, Nigeria, by the start of spring. But how does a teenager do away with decades of infrastructure in only half a year? He’ll need to enlist the help of new allies, mortal and immortal alike.

TJ Young has been surrounded by magic his entire life, yet he has never tapped into it...until now. Fourteen-year-old TJ grew up normal in a secret community of gifted diviners in the heart of modern-day Los Angeles. His powerful sister was ordained to lead his people into a new age of prosperity, but her mysterious death in Nigeria threatens to destroy the very foundations of TJ’s world. Desperate to pick up where his sister left off and uncover the secrets behind her questionable death, TJ commits himself to unlocking the magical heritage that has always eluded him.

In this three-story collection, you’ll find magical tales of deities among mortals from the Sky Realm, New York City, and Cosmic Planes too far to reach. Find out if Eshu, the gatekeeping trickster, can hoodwink the creation deity, Obatala, to craft him a human body. If he fails, he may never get in contact with a mortal that needs his help. Journey with Oya, the windweaving warrior, as she battles to communicate an important message to one of her divine children on Earth.

For as long as Mera can remember, she and her sister Darina have feared the Beast who lurks in the castle above their village. On countless nights they have locked themselves into their home while the Beast led his hounds on the Wild Hunt, preying on anything in his path. Now Darina has been kidnapped by the Beast, and only Mera can save her. But she soon finds that in the Beast’s eerie, magic-haunted castle, nothing is quite what it seems—including her own sister. Here, Mera will discover the dark secrets that have bound her village to the Beast for so long.

Since Grandpa died, Dally’s days are dull and restricted. She’s eleven and a half years old, and her exacting single mother is already preparing her to take over the family business. Starved for adventure and release, Dally rescues a mysterious envelope from her mother’s clutches, an envelope Grandpa had earmarked for her. The map she finds inside leads straight to an ancient vault, a library of secrets where each book is a portal to a precise moment in time. As Dally “checks out” adventure after adventure she begins to dive deep into her family’s hidden history.

These stories wrestle with the experience of loss—of loved ones, of relationships, of a sense of self, of health—and forge a path to hope as characters fight their way forward. From bestsellers and SPFBO finalists to rising voices, 13 exceptionally talented authors explore the many facets of grief and healing through the lens of fantasy and sci-fi.

Luz De Los Santos thought her job was easy. Being the Sex and Relationship Director of Modern Magazine, no one knew the art of dating and hookups like she did. When the commitment-phobe beauty gets singled out by her editor to write a challenging column for the coveted, annual Valentine's issue, Luz is forced to confront her issues about relationships with her newly pitched project.

Seventeen-year-old Noelle Layne knows horror. Every trope, every warning sign, every survival tactic. She even leads a successful movie club dedicated to the genre. Who better to throw the ultimate, most exclusive Halloween party on all of Long Island? With some of the top influencers in her school on the guest list, including gorgeous singer-songwriter Archer Mitchell, her popularity is bound to spike. She could really use the social boost for an upcoming brand expansion. Nothing is going to ruin this party.

Oya, the deity of storms, must convey a message. But how can she do it when no Orisha has communicated with a mortal in centuries? To succeed, she must break the ancient rules that have shackled her for ages. The world’s hope rests on the shoulders of her holy child, young Manny Martinez, but she’s proving fiendishly hard to reach with a crowded mind full of family reunions, social media, and a city rife with distractions.

Welcome to the Entrada, home to these everyday Americans, including the new kid on the block, who is both homesick and curious; a Popsicle-bridge builder, a ghost hunter, and a lion dancer; and their families, friends, and neighbors from all around the world! Published in partnership with We Need Diverse Books, this uplifting anthology features award-winning authors Tracey Baptiste, David Bowles, Adrianna Cuevas, Sayantani DasGupta, Debbi Michiko Florence, Adam Gidwitz, Erin Entrada Kelly, Minh Lê, Ellen Oh, Olugbemisola Rhuday-Perkovich, Andrea Wang, and Jasmine Warga.

My name is Elvisa, and on my 11th birthday, I went before the gods of the Old World. On that day, I was sacrificed, and in death I could travel through parallel worlds, take on different forms, and reincarnate over multiple lifetimes. In death, I could fight against the New World God Teufel and his league of masters. I could rescue witches, restore power, and ensure that the old gods lived once again. But in death I couldn’t love. That was until I met Pedro Juan. Together, we needed to form a bond that would allow us to overthrow Teufel for good.

Journey with children, fae creatures, and gods alike as they navigate the joy of friendship, the struggles of finding identity, and the unclear pathways of strange new worlds. From best sellers to rising voices, 11 terrifically talented authors explore the many faces of whimsy and wonder, mischief and misdoings.

My name is Nelly and I belong to one of the oldest cults in the world, The Cult of Mothers. For years, the Masters have been kidnapping witches, stealing our rituals, and forcing us to be their slaves. They took our spirits, our very ancestors, and turned them into shadow slaves. Now, the very spirits that helped us are out to destroy us. Yet, we Mothers are going to keep fighting. We will fight tooth and nail to lead the shadows back into the light.

The first collection in the ongoing series of fantasy stories from the world of Esowon. You'll find dastardly beasts, tortured monks, and unexpected lovers in a set of tales that'll transport you to lands lost to time. Delve into these companion novellas to The Kishi, an African fantasy based on Angola folklore.

She’s a princess. He’s a demon. Both are fighting for control. Princess Shanaki, second heir to the throne of Ya-Set, has journeyed to a foreign land to serve as a pawn in her father’s game. Ikenna, demonkin, has been betrayed by his own. When the demons make a target of the princess to claim what is rightfully theirs, Ikenna moves against her first. Caught between beast and man, how will Shanaki save herself from the dark?

Simone Biles was raised by her grandparents and had to overcome many hardships as a child. After trying gymnastics for the first time on a field trip from elementary school, Simone continued with the sport, working hard and reaching professional levels. She persisted in the field and went on to become the most decorated US gymnast of all time. Through it all, she inspired kids everywhere to follow their dreams.

It’s the first day of school for Zoe, a young girl with hearing loss who dreams of playing on her school’s soccer team. But, self-conscious of her hearing aids, Zoe is too nervous to try out. With the help of and perspectives from new friends, what begins as a bumpy, anxiety-filled start for Zoe, soon transitions into an eye-opening experience about what it means to be different—and what it means to be extraordinary. I Am Extraordinary teaches kids how to look inside themselves to find self-acceptance and the confidence to achieve any goal.

Uzoma, known throughout the land as the human's savior, the great and mighty, and the kishi killer, has been devastating the demons called "the kishi". After Yemi’s father becomes Uzoma’s latest casualty, Yemi realizes that he is all that is left of his kind. Set on avenging his father, he must begin a dark journey down a path he’s not ready for.

Orion’s the name, and moon-killing’s my game. It’s dangerous work, but the Goldilock Raiders have finished every contract we’ve taken on. We secure our credits by obliterating problematic space junk so the suits and ties at the Corporate Alliance can terraform new worlds.

The most powerful lesson we can teach our kids is the importance of gratitude. In today's fast-paced world, it's easy for kids to take the people and things in their lives for granted. But when we stop to say "thank you" for the everyday acts of kindness done for us, it reminds us to be grateful for what we have. Thank You, Mommy! is the first book in a series that teaches kids how to be grateful for the everyday acts of kindness done for them by their parents, siblings, and teachers. This charming book shows kids how a few simple words can make all the difference in the world.