A mesmerizing historical novel of suspense and intrigue about a teenage girl who risks everything to save her missing brother.
Poland, July 1944. Sixteen-year-old Maria is making her way home after years of forced labor in Nazi Germany, only to find her village destroyed and her parents killed in a war between the Polish Resistance and Ukrainian nationalists. To Maria’s shock, the local Resistance unit is commanded by her older brother, Tomek—who she thought was dead. He is now a “Silent Unseen,” a special-operations agent with an audacious plan to resist a new and even more dangerous enemy sweeping in from the East.
When Tomek disappears, Maria is determined to find him, but the only person who might be able to help is a young Ukrainian prisoner and the last person Maria trusts—even as she feels a growing connection to him that she can’t resist.
Tightly woven, relentlessly intense, The Silent Unseen depicts an explosive entanglement of loyalty, lies, and love during wartime, from Amanda McCrina, the acclaimed author of Traitor, a debut hailed by Elizabeth Wein as “Alive with detail and vivid with insight . . . a piercing and bittersweet story.”
School Library Journal Best Young Adult Books of the Year
“McCrina soars in her writing as she depicts this complicated piece of forgotten history. Well researched, accurate, and smartly written, this is a page-turner, weaving together the horrors of war and its psychological consequences beautifully. With a touch of romance thrown in, this suspenseful thriller is . . . a must-buy.” —School Library Journal, starred review
“[A] well-researched, thrilling account of two teens in 1944 Poland . . . Clever plot twists highlight this fast-moving tale of espionage, loyalty, and survival, plus a budding romance. Readers will no doubt be drawn to the Ukrainian element, given current events, and better appreciate that country's situation in light of its history.” —Booklist
“Fierce and astonishing. It has the sweep and scale of a big historical novel, yet is filled with exquisite nuances that make this a powerfully affecting work. You will finish The Silent Unseen glad for what you have heard and seen in this quietly devastating yet ultimately uplifting novel.” —Andrew Fukuda, author of This Light Between Us
“Taut, twisting, and eloquently gritty, The Silent Unseen brings the shifting realities of post-war Europe to harrowing, heartbreaking life.” —Sharon Cameron, author of The Light in Hidden Places and Bluebird
“Maria and Kostya are complex characters with realistic romantic chemistry, maintaining different agendas and using lies to get what they want in a world where surviving is more important than romance . . . A historical, high-stakes novel with a fitting romantic subplot.” —The Bulletin
“Vividly wrought. ” —Publishers Weekly
“McCrina paints a vivid post-war world that expertly shows the true and ugly complexities of conflict, told in such a gripping way that readers will race through each page to find out the fate of characters that quickly become beloved . . . She is a master of YA historical fiction.” —Cindy Otis, former CIA analyst and author of True or False: A CIA Analyst’s Guide to Spotting Fake News and At the Speed of Lies
“The Silent Unseen is an exquisite tale filled with terror and beauty on every page. McCrina’s fully-realized characters search for moments of mercy amidst their desperate circumstances, and find compassion for their enemies in the face of great suffering. A powerful piece of WWII history that is richly and painfully brought to life.” —Carolyn Tara O’Neil, author of Daughters of a Dead Empire
“The Silent Unseen transported me to a corner of Eastern Europe during World War II and its forgotten slice of history. With the two main characters pitted against each other and the reader immediately pulling for both of them, this fast-paced story drew me in from the first page and refused to let go. Absolutely riveting.” —Kip Wilson, author of White Rose and The Most Dazzling Girl in Berlin
“A haunting gem of a story, steeped in sorrow and hope. McCrina draws you into a perilous world of heartbreak and hope—and keeps you ensnared until the very last page.” —Cory Anderson, author of What Beauty There Is
“The Silent Unseen is a historical fiction that is both incredibly immersive and well researched. McCrina has spun a haunting and captivating tale.” —June Hur, author of The Silence of Bones, The Forest of Stolen Girls, and The Red Palace
Mason and Ty have been best friends since they were old enough to form thoughts. But one day an atomic warhead walks into their seventh-grade classroom ready to annihilate their friendship: Ava Petrakis, the new transfer student from New York.
Mason finds himself competing against his best friend for the first time in his life, and it’s not pretty. So they make a pact: a non-Ava treaty. If it worked for the Romulans and the Klingons, it has to work for them. At least that’s what Mason thought until he realized Ava might actually like him back. Before he realizes it, he’s kissing Ava beside the wrecked Tilt-a-Whirl sign in the middle of a freak storm, and his friendship with Ty is obliterated.
Five years later, Mason’s life is a mess. He has no friends, no girlfriend, his dog has been hit by a Roto-Rooter truck, his parents are divorced and he has just been expelled from school in his senior year. Everything has gone wrong and he can trace all of it back to that one day by the Tilt-a-Whirl sign. If he could go back he would do everything differently. That’s exactly what he’s thinking when his Volkswagen crashes into a furniture van.
When he wakes up, he’s 12 years old again. This is his chance for a do-over. Will Mason be able to fix everything, or are some things just a matter of fate?
A #1 New York Times Bestseller!
Judy I. Lin's sweeping debut A Magic Steeped in Poison, first in a duology, is sure to enchant fans of Adrienne Young and Leigh Bardugo.
I used to look at my hands with pride. Now all I can think is, "These are the hands that buried my mother."
For Ning, the only thing worse than losing her mother is knowing that it's her own fault. She was the one who unknowingly brewed the poison tea that killed her—the poison tea that now threatens to also take her sister, Shu.
When Ning hears of a competition to find the kingdom's greatest shennong-shi—masters of the ancient and magical art of tea-making—she travels to the imperial city to compete. The winner will receive a favor from the princess, which may be Ning's only chance to save her sister's life.
But between the backstabbing competitors, bloody court politics, and a mysterious (and handsome) boy with a shocking secret, Ning might actually be the one in more danger.
Praise for A Magic Steeped in Poison:
A USA Today Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
An ABA Indie Bestseller
An ABA Indies Introduce Selection
An ABA Indies Next Pick
"Beautifully written, from the setting to the magic system, A Magic Steeped in Poison is sure to enchant both fantasy lovers and cdrama aficionados. I’ll be inhaling whatever Judy I. Lin brews up next." —Joan He, New York Times-bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find
"Ning’s unforgettable voice and the lush, atmospheric settings will enchant readers in this high-stakes story of deadly magic. ... Lin blends Chinese folklore with a thrilling mystery. It's the perfect recipe for a page-turner." —Booklist, starred review
Praise for A Magic Steeped in Poison:
A #1 New York Times Bestseller
A 2022 PEOPLE Magazine Best Book of Summer
A Cosmopolitan Best YA Book of 2022
A USA Today Bestseller
A Publishers Weekly Bestseller
An ABA Indie Bestseller
An ABA Indies Introduce Selection
An ABA Indies Next Pick
An Indigo Best YA Book of 2022
A Chicago Public Library Best Book of 2022
A BookRiot Best YA Book of 2022
A YALSA Best YA of 2022 Selection
A 2023 ALA Rise List Selection
"Ning’s unforgettable voice and the lush, atmospheric settings will enchant readers in this high-stakes story of deadly magic. ... Lin blends Chinese folklore with a thrilling mystery. It's the perfect recipe for a page-turner." —Booklist, starred review
"[A] fast-paced, immersive debut ... The Chinese mythology–inspired world captivates and enthralls, and Lin’s lush descriptions—combined with Ning’s calm yet determined voice—are a feast for the senses." —Publishers Weekly, starred review
"Beautifully written, from the setting to the magic system, A Magic Steeped in Poison is sure to enchant both fantasy lovers and cdrama aficionados. I’ll be inhaling whatever Judy I. Lin brews up next." —Joan He, New York Times-bestselling author of The Ones We're Meant to Find
"Blend threads of Chinese and Taiwanese mythology with a generous pinch of courage, a hint of romance, and a underlying note of mystery, then steep in a pot of court intrigue and serve in a bowl of evocative storytelling … Who could resist a fantasy about the magic of tea? In her remarkable debut novel, Judy I. Lin creates a world rich in folkloric magic, in which a young woman must stand up against the machinations of the powerful, centuries of protocol, and her own feelings of guilt in order to save a loved one." —Juliet Marillier, award-winning author of the Sevenwaters series
"A breathtaking tale with a stunning magic system rooted deep in Chinese mythology and tea-making traditions. Lin's originality truly blew my mind. Love and magic overflows past the brim in this work of beauty." —Xiran Jay Zhao, New York Times-bestselling author of Iron Widow
"Lush, descriptive prose sells the well-built magic system of this world, and every plot twist surprises and delights, making this a rich fantasy page-turner. As much a political thriller as a fantasy, this is a quieter, excellent companion to Xiran Jay Zhao’s Iron Widow and Chloe Gong’s These Violent Delights. The ending will have readers begging for the sequel." —School Library Journal
"Vivid descriptions of foods and scents of tea delight the senses, while cinematic prose captures the beauty of the landscapes ... The magic system is unique, and the tea competition, with its well-established importance to the protagonist, adds tension. ... This sophisticated fantasy is as refreshing as a freshly brewed pot of tea, and readers will eagerly await the sequel." —The Bulletin
"Creative and compelling ... Food as magic is a favorite trope of mine, and tea, with all its variations and real-life medical applications, is a very clever medium to focus on." —NPR
"Blends traditional tea-making with familiar tropes about magic and medicine to create something that feels wonderfully new." —Paste Magazine
"With intrigue, inventive magic, and the sequel scheduled for August, make reading this one a priori-tea!" —Buzzfeed
Ever since her father was lost at sea, Sophia has been moping around Aqualand, the marine theme park her dad and uncle created. But Sophia's world is turned upside down when an "aquanaut" breaks into the park's research lab.
To her amazement, Sophia discovers that the aquanaut is not what it seems -- inside lives a band of four goofy sea creatures! And when they all realize that Aqualand has evolved into something much darker than Sophia's dad had envisioned, Sophia is determined to help the aquanaut crew free the park's captive marine life before it's too late.
An American Library Association Best Graphic Novel for Children
★ "Kinetic panel artwork impresses throughout, with smart pacing that swings between hilarity and suspense." -- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The art in this graphic tale is something special... Santat's vividly expressive visuals are, even more than usual, riveting." -- Kirkus Reviews
"An endearing tale of love, loss, and the value of family -- biological and found." -- School Library Journal
"Poignant and often funny, The Aquanaut is Santat's triumphant return to the graphic novel genre." -- NPR
"A spirited and thrilling story." -- Shelf Awareness
"A humorous and heartwarming tale." -- BookPage
Praise for Sidekicks:
"Hilarious and heartfelt... a charming and well-told tale about friendship." -- Kazu Kibuishi, creator of Amulet
"The lovable menagerie of crime-fighting pets offers lots of laughs and a boisterous and exuberant storyline; Santat's illustrations are clear, engaging, and neatly stacked into easy-to-read panels." -- Kirkus Reviews
"Lively, insightful, and just plain fun, this convergence of capes and creatures will find a wide audience in animal lovers and superhero fans alike." -- Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books