Coming April 14, 2026
Laleh and the Language of the Birds
by Perin Gurel
WINNER of the 2026 A. Orr Fantasy Prize
Laleh and the Language of the Birds is an eco-fantasy feminist retelling of Sufi legend, in which the studious Iranian-American teen Laleh and her unpredictable older cousin Ivy follow two goofy scientist crows to the realm of birds to save Laleh's dad from an evil bent on destroying the natural world. It's a race against time full of dangerous tests, moments of rich depth and lighthearted, nerdy joy, and a final twist that will smash you to bits and build you back up from the rubble.
Author and Notre Dame professor Perin Gurel seamlessly blends her love of learning and logic with fun fantasy and gorgeous prose to tell a story that educates, inspires, and engages readers from an action-packed beginning to its dazzling end.
“Gurel offers a fantastical, empowering story of a girl who hears truth in birdsong—a soaring debut!” —Amy Makechnie, author of the critically acclaimed middle-grade novel The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair
“A stunning flight into myth and imagination, Laleh's skyward quest is as heartfelt as it is thrilling. This enchanting debut novel will sweep readers into a world of magic, led by a delightfully witty pair of talking crows. Bravo!” —Lisa Schmid, author of Ollie Oxley and the Ghost and Hart & Souls
Author and Notre Dame professor Perin Gurel seamlessly blends her love of learning and logic with fun fantasy and gorgeous prose to tell a story that educates, inspires, and engages readers from an action-packed beginning to its dazzling end.
“Gurel offers a fantastical, empowering story of a girl who hears truth in birdsong—a soaring debut!” —Amy Makechnie, author of the critically acclaimed middle-grade novel The Unforgettable Guinevere St. Clair
“A stunning flight into myth and imagination, Laleh's skyward quest is as heartfelt as it is thrilling. This enchanting debut novel will sweep readers into a world of magic, led by a delightfully witty pair of talking crows. Bravo!” —Lisa Schmid, author of Ollie Oxley and the Ghost and Hart & Souls
Middle-Grade Fantasy / Science & Nature / Middle-Eastern Mythology
Out now!
We Have Reached the End of Our Show
by Ali Gordon
“A beautiful, explosive little book . . .”
“In 160 pages, Ali Gordon has managed to write a story that is going to stay with me for years.”
“We Have Reached the End of Our Show is a beautiful and heartrending journey toward an inevitable, but profoundly meaningful, conclusion. Gordon’s debut burns with a fundamental truth: that lives, loves, and worlds all eventually end, likely sooner than we think—which only makes what we do along the way matter even more.”
—Jason Pargin, NYT-bestselling author of I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom
“I can’t wait to reread this. I think people should read this in schools. I’m gonna infiltrate 100 book clubs just to get them to read this book. It’s that good. Obviously, 5 stars, for sure.”
“A beautiful, explosive little book . . .”
“In 160 pages, Ali Gordon has managed to write a story that is going to stay with me for years.”
“We Have Reached the End of Our Show is a beautiful and heartrending journey toward an inevitable, but profoundly meaningful, conclusion. Gordon’s debut burns with a fundamental truth: that lives, loves, and worlds all eventually end, likely sooner than we think—which only makes what we do along the way matter even more.”
—Jason Pargin, NYT-bestselling author of I’m Starting to Worry About This Black Box of Doom
“I can’t wait to reread this. I think people should read this in schools. I’m gonna infiltrate 100 book clubs just to get them to read this book. It’s that good. Obviously, 5 stars, for sure.”
Speculative Fiction / LGBTQ+ Love / Grief / Art
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