Debbi Michiko Florence

Keiko, Audrey, and Jenna have always been best friends, and Keiko desperately wants it to stay that way, but now they are starting seventh grade, and everything seems to be changing; Audrey is obsessed with the idea of them all securing boyfriends, but when she and Jenna focus on the same boy their friendship starts to break apart--and then Keiko finds herself attracted to Audrey's brother, Conner (who has generally been cast as the enemy), and suddenly she finds herself having to choose between the two.

Keep It Together, Keiko Carter

Fans of Lauren Myracle and Wendy Mass are sure to fall head-over-heels for this funny, sweet story of crushes, competition, and the confusing reality of middle school. Heartbreak is for suckers. When Jenna Sakai gets dumped over winter break, it confirms what she learned from her parents' messy divorce: Relationships are risky and only lead to disappointment. So even though she still has to see her ex-boyfriend Elliott at newspaper club, Jenna is going to be totally heartless this semester -- no boys, just books. But keeping her cool isn't always easy. Jenna's chief competition for a big journalism scholarship is none other than Elliott. Her best friend Keiko always seems busy with her own boyfriend. And cute-but-incredibly-annoying Rin Watanabe keeps stealing her booth at the diner she's been hiding at every day after school. Rin is every bit as stubborn and detached as Jenna. And the more Jenna gets to know him, the more intriguing a mystery he seems. Soon Jenna is starting to realize that being a loner is kind of, well, lonely. And letting people in might just be a risk worth taking.

Just Be Cool, Jenna Sakai

A heartfelt middle-grade novel about ex-best friends, betrayals, and revenge that is best served sour. Revenge is sweet! For as long as she can remember, Mai has spent every summer in Mystic, Connecticut visiting family friends. And hanging out with her best-friend-since-birth, Zach Koyama, was always the best part. Then two summers ago everything changed. Zach humiliated Mai, proving he wasn't a friend at all. So when Zach's family moved to Japan, Mai felt relieved. No more summers together. No more heartache. But this year, the Koyamas have returned and the family vacation is back on. And if Mai has to spend the summer around Zach, the least she can do is wipe away the memory of his betrayal... by coming up with the perfect plan for revenge! Only Zach isn't the boy he used to be, and Mai's memories of their last fateful summer aren't the whole truth of what happened between them. Now she'll have to decide if she can forgive Zach, even if she can never forget.

Sweet and Sour

A Junior Library Guild Fall 2017 Selection An Amazon's Best Children's Books of 2017 An Evanston Public Library's 101 Great Books for Kids List 2017 A Chicago Public Library's Best of the Best Books 2017 A 2017 Nerdy Book Club Award Winner A We Are Kid Lit Collective 2019 Summer Reading List Pick The first book in a new chapter book series featuring a spunky Japanese-American heroine! Eight-year-old Jasmine Toguchi is a flamingo fan, tree climber, and top-notch mess-maker! She's also tired of her big sister, Sophie, always getting to do things first. For once, Jasmine wishes SHE could do something before Sophie—something special, something different. The New Year approaches, and as the Toguchi family gathers in Los Angeles to celebrate, Jasmine is jealous that her sister gets to help roll mochi balls by hand with the women. Her mom says that Jasmine is still too young to join in, so she hatches a plan to help the men pound the mochi rice instead. Surely her sister has never done THAT before. But pounding mochi is traditionally reserved for boys. And the mochi hammer is heavier than it looks. Can Jasmine build her case and her mochi-making muscles in time for New Year's Day?

Jasmine Toguchi, Mochi Queen

Eager to do something her big sister has not done first, Jasmine Toguchi, eight, decides to pound mochi with the men and boys when her family gets together for New Year's.

Jenna ja hänen ensimmäinen poikaystävänsä eroavat, ja pettynyt Jenna päättää, että ei enää anna ihastumiselle mahdollisuutta. Mieluummin hän keskittyy opiskeluun ja ennen kaikkea tutkivan journalistin tehtävään, jossa palkintona on stipendi jatko-opintoihin. Mutta ei ole helppoa pitää pää kylmänä, kun joutuu jatkuvasti tapaamaan Elliottia koulun sanomalehden toimituksessa ja lisäksi söpö, mutta ärsyttävä Rin Watanabe tuntuu ilmestyvän kaikkialle, minne Jennakin menee. 

Onneksi on myös paras ystävä Keiko, joka suuttumatta kestää Jennan oikuttelut ja kilpailuhenkisyyden. Jenna Sakain tarina on itsenäinen jatko-osa Homma hallussa, Keiko Carter -kirjalle.

Pää kylmänä, Jenna Sakai

Book four in this charming chapter book series, starring a spunky Japanese-American heroine!

Jasmine Toguchi, Flamingo Keeper

Book three in this charming new chapter book series, starring a spunky Japanese-American heroine, Jasmine Toguchi!

Jasmine Toguchi, Drummer Girl

Jasmine has looked forward to spending Girls Day with her family and best friend, Linnie, but first her sister says she will not participate, and then Jasmine upsets Linnie.

Jasmine Toguchi, Super Sleuth

Dorothy and Toto have found the perfect picnic spot. But each time Dorothy removes food from the picnic basket, it disappears! Time for sleuthing young readers to investigate: Is Toto a sneaky little dog with a big appetite? Or is some Land-of-Oz magic at

Dorothy and Toto The Disappearing Picnic

Includes discussion questions, an activity, glossary, and Author Talk with the real-life Kaita.

Apple and Annie, the Hamster Duo

Includes discussion questions, an activity, glossary, and Fact or Fiction section.

Truman the Dog

With more than 150,000 copies sold, the award-winning Jasmine Toguchi chapter book series starring a spunky Japanese American heroine returns with four new standalone books set on a family vacation in Japan! Eight-year-old Jasmine and her family travel to Hiroshima to visit her grandma and cousin Akari. After finally building a good relationship with her older sister, Sophie, Jasmine couldn't be more excited to spend time together in Japan -- and make a new friend in Akari. But Akari seems to only want to play with Sophie, and Jasmine's jealousy threatens to upend their visit. Can Jasmine befriend Akari and keep the peace? With humor and warmth, Debbi Michiko Florence tells a relatable story of new experiences, family drama, and kindness at every corner. Paired with Elizabet Vukovic's playful illustrations, readers can't help but root for Jasmine as you explore Japan alongside her.

Jasmine Toguchi, Peace-Maker

"How do you make the world's shyest kitten feel safe, so he can find a forever home?" --

Buttons the Kitten

Let the good times roll with this rom-com about sushi rolls, secret crushes, and a summer spent chasing your dreams! Susannah Mikami dreams of becoming a famous sushi chef like her dad. And this summer, she plans to learn everything about his traditional kitchen. Only he refuses to teach her, and won’t tell her why. Is it because he doesn’t want her to embarrass him in front of the documentary crew filming at his restaurant? Or worse, because she’s a girl? Either way, Sana decides he’s not the only one who can keep secrets. So when she meets Koji, a cute boy who wants to help her cook up some trouble in the kitchen -- and film online tutorials to show the world her mad skills -- Sana is all in. But sneaking around means lying to her parents, something Sana’s never done before. Can she take the heat, or will she get out of the kitchen for good?

This Is How I Roll: A Wish Novel

A heartfelt middle-grade novel about ex-best friends, betrayals, and revenge that is best served sour. Revenge is sweet! For as long as she can remember, Mai has spent every summer in Mystic, Connecticut visiting family friends. And hanging out with her best-friend-since-birth, Zach Koyama, was always the best part. Then two summers ago everything changed. Zach humiliated Mai, proving he wasn’t a friend at all. So when Zach’s family moved to Japan, Mai felt relieved. No more summers together. No more heartache. But this year, the Koyamas have returned and the family vacation is back on. And if Mai has to spend the summer around Zach, the least she can do is wipe away the memory of his betrayal... by coming up with the perfect plan for revenge! Only Zach isn’t the boy he used to be, and Mai’s memories of their last fateful summer aren’t the whole truth of what happened between them. Now she’ll have to decide if she can forgive Zach, even if she can never forget.

Annie and Apple are a pair of chatty, restless dwarf hamsters from the animal shelter who are being fostered by eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her family. Kaita can't wait to find forever homes for the inquisitive furballs--but first, she has to find them Bright, engaging illustrations and 1st-person narration invite early chapter-book readers into the nonstop fun and adventure.

Since the Takano family's new foster pet, Murray the ferret, arrived at their house, all sorts of things have gone missing: shoes, jewelry, keys, coins . . . Although eight-year-old Kaita enjoys solving the mysteries, she worries that finding a forever home for the lovable furry bandit will be near impossible! Playful illustrations and lots of sleuthing fun make this chapter book a treat for animal lovers and mystery fans alike.

Murray the Ferret

Dorothy and all her friends in the Land of Oz help her find her lost dog, Toto.

Dorothy and Toto Little Dog Lost

Dorothy and her dog, Toto, go on a picnic but are puzzled when their food goes missing.

Debbi Michiko Florence

Books

Your next favorite book is out there