CURRENT BOOKS
by Sherry Garland

The books listed below are available from the publishers, from bookstores, or from an Internet bookseller such as Amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com. If your local bookstore does not have a copy in stock, they will be happy to order it for you. I also have some of my older books available for sale. For more information about the books available from the author, please click here: Out-of-Print Books
For a list of book honors and awards click here: Honors & Awards

For information about recent releases, click here:

Novels for Middle Grade and Young Adult Readers

In the Shadow of the Alamo (Harcourt). The coming-of-age story of a 15 year old boy from central Mexico who is drafted into General Santa Anna's army in 1835-36. Lorenzo's horrifying journey to Texas, the Battle of the Alamo, the Battle of San Jacinto, and the tragic retreat back to Mexico are entwined with the stories of the women and children who followed the soldiers. NY Public Library Best Book for the Teen Age. Ages 12 up. Just went out of print, but publisher is considering it for a paperback edition.

Valley of the Moon: The Diary of Maria Rosalia Milagros, Sonoma Valley, CA, 1846 (Scholastic, 2001). With the arrival of white settlers in northern California, and the Bear Flag Revolt as the background, this is the diary of an orphaned Mexican girl writing about life on a grand rancho during turbulent times, and her struggle to find out who she is and where she belongs. Ages 9-12

A Line in the Sand: The Alamo Diary of Lucinda Lawrence, Gonzales, TX 1836 (Scholastic, 1998) Lucinda lives in a log cabin in a small Texas colony when Texas was part of Mexico. Through her young eyes Texas history is brought to life -- the struggle of colonists, their fight for independence, the tragic fall of the Alamo, and the fateful retreat of women and children. Made into HBO movie. Ages 9-12. For more information about the Dear America series, click below: www.Scholastic.com/dearamerica This title is now out of print. It may be broiught back into print in the future.

	The Last Rainmaker (Harcourt, 1997) In 1900, a 13 year old girl runs away from her strict great-aunt and joins a Wild West show in search of the truth about her mother. Through her friendship with an old Native American rainmaker, she learns about her heritage and about the treatment of Native Americans in wild west shows. NY Library Best Book for the Teen Age. Ages 11 and up. [hard cover and paperback ] Out of print. Available from author. See Out of print books
	Letters from the Mountain (Harcourt, 1996) A troubled city boy who partakes in a gang initiation that goes wrong, is sent to live with elderly relatives on top of a mountain. He is torn between loyalty to his old gang vs. doing what is right. After meeting a poor post-cutter family, he learns the meaning of true friendship. His innermost feelings are revealed through letters written to his friends back home. NY Library Best Book for the Teen Age. Ages 11 and up.[hard cover and paperback] Out of print
	Cabin 102 (Harcourt, 1995) 13 year old Dusty struggles to hide his fear of water from family and friends, but when he goes on an ocean cruise with the family it seems to be a losing battle. When he discovers an Arawak Indian girl crying in the cabin next door (is she a ghost or a figment of his imagination?), Dusty learns of the fate of the native people of the Caribbean Islands. A sudden storm at sea forces Dusty to face his phobias. Ages 10 and up. [hardcover and paperback] Out of print.
	Indio (Harcourt, 1995) The life of a Native American girl living along the Rio Grande in the Big Bend area of Texas is changed forever by the arrival of Spaniards in late 1500s. Winner of Western Writers of America Spur Award; ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Amer. Bookseller "Pick of the Lists." Ages 12 and up. [hardcover and paperback] Out of print Available from author. See Out of print books
	Shadow of the Dragon (Harcourt, 1993) A Vietnamese teen living in Houston is trying to fit into American society, but the arrival of his cousin from Vietnam throws him into a conflict between gang violence, family loyalty, and the love of an American girl. ALA Best Book for Young Adults; Booklist "Top of the List;" NY Public Library Best book for the Teen Age; Texas Lone Star Reading List; California Young Readers Medal. Ages 12 and up. [hardcover and paperback]
	The Silent Storm (Harcourt, 1993) A girl, mute since the tragic death of her parents at sea, struggles with inner turmoil and family problems as a hurricane approaches Galveston Island. With the help of the son of a poor shrimper, she faces the demons of her past. (Girls love this book!). Starred reviews; Junior Library Guild selection; NY Library Best Book for Teen Age; National Lamplighter Award. Ages 10 and up. [hardcover and paperback] Out of Print, but still available from publisher as POD
	Song of the Buffalo Boy (Harcourt,1992) A 17 year old Amerasian girl living in a farming village in the mountains of central Vietnam runs away to Saigon to avoid an arranged marriage and to search for the truth about her American father. After weeks of struggling to stay alive and making friends with a street urchin, she finds acceptance with herself. ALA Best Book for Young Adults; CBC Notable Children's Book in the Field of Social Studies; NY Library Best Book for the Teen Age; Amer. Bookseller "Pick of the Lists;" Texas Lone Star Reading List; Texas Institute of Letters Award; RWA RITA Award. Ages 12 and up. [hardcover and paperback]

Picture Books

_____________	Voices of Gettysburg (Pelican Publishing, 2010) illustrated by Judith Hierstein First person narratives depicting the events leading up to the famous American Civil War battle at Gettysburg, PA, descriptions of the three-day battle, and aftermath. Voices include famous generals such as Robert E. Lee and George Meade, common soldiers, civilians caught in the terror of war, and eye-witnesses to the Gettysburg address. Winner of the 2011 Storytelling World Resource Award (Category 3).. _____________________________________________________________________________ The Buffalo Soldier (Pelican Publishing, 2006) illustrated by Ronald Himler. American history. This first person narrative follows the life of a "Buffalo Soldier," from the day he is emancipated as a slave, joining the US Army, training, serving in western forts, daily duties, hardships, encounters with Native Americans, and fighting in the Spanish-American War. Covers time period from 1865 through 1945, with extensive Author's Note about the formation of African-American regiments and the important role they played in the "wining of the West." National Council of Social Studies-Children's Book Council Notable Book; Texas Institue of Letters (Honor); Storytelling World Award (Honor). Teacher's Guide _____________________________________________________________________________ Voices of the Alamo (Scholastic, 2000) picture book illustr. by Ronald Himler. Texas history, from ancient times to present, told through historical voices -- Native American, Spanish, Mexican, Texian, Tejano, and more up until modern times. An NCTE Orbis Pictus recommended book; San Antonio Conservation Society Award. Ages 6 and up. This title was reprinted by Pelican Publishing in 2004. Teacher's Guide
	My Father’s Boat (Scholastic, 1998) picture book illustrated by Ted Rand. Story about a Vietnamese father & son shrimping along the Gulf coast; topic is fathers and sons, separation from loved ones, and passing on of family traditions.. CBC Notable book in the Field of Social Studies. Ages 6 and up. Out of print. Available from author only.
	The Summer Sands (Harcourt, 1995) Illustrated by Robert Lee. Beautiful illustrations depict the life cycle of sand dunes along the Gulf coast and recycling of old Christmas trees to rebuild dunes destroyed by storms. Great book for nature lovers and those concerned with the environment. Ages 6 and up. Out of print. Available from author. See Out of print books
_______________	The Lotus Seed (Harcourt, 1993) Illustrated by Tatsuro Kiuchi. A Vietnamese girl tells the story of her grandmother’s life in Vietnam and how she came to America as a refugee. A story of passing on family traditions and hope for a new future. ALA Notable Book; Amer. Bookseller "Pick of the Lists;" Texas Bluebonnet List; Children's Book-of-the-Month Club; Reading Rainbow Main Feature. All ages. Teacher's Guide: ______________________________________________________________________ Children of the Dragon: Selected Stories from Vietnam (Harcourt, 2001). Illustrated by the late Caldecott medalist Trina Schart Hyman. A collection of six Vietnamese folk tales with fabulous illustrations. Junior Library Guild book club selection; Parents Choice recommended book; CBC Notable Book in Field of Social Studies; two starred reviews. A condensed version of one of the stories appeared in TIME (for Kids) magazine (Winter, 2001). OUT OF PRINT

Books for Adults

Writing for Young Adults (Writer's Digest Books, 1998) How-to book with information for those who would like to write books for young adults. Age level: adult. Paperback only. Available from author. See Out of print books.

For information about older, Out-of-Print books available from the author, please click below:
Books Available from Author

ABC Children's Bookseller's Choice Award
ALA Notable Children's Book
ALA Best Book for Reluctant Readers
ALA Best Book For Young Adults
American Bookseller's "Pick of the Lists"
California Young Reader's Medal
CBC Notable Children's Book in the Field of Social Sciences
Guilded Quill Award
HBO movie (Dear America series TV program)
International Association of Teachers Top Ten Books of the Year
Lamplighter Award (National Christian Schools Association)
National Council of Social Studies - Children's Book Council Notable Book
NCTE Orbis Pictus Recommended Book
NY Library Best Book for the Teen Age
Parents Choice Book
Publisher's Weekly Cuffy Award for Best Treatment of a Social Issue
Reading Rainbow Main Selection
RITA Award for Best Young Adult Novel
San Antonio Conservation Society Award
SCBWI - Judy Blume YA Work in Progress Grant
Storytelling World Award -- pre-adolescent category (Honor) and adolescent category (winner)
Texas Bluebonnet Master List
Texas Institute of Letters Award
Texas Institute of Letters Award (Honor)
Texas Lone Star Reading List
Western Writers of America Spur Award
And .... several starred reviews in major review journals such as SLJ and PW.
Plus....finalist on Reader's Choice lists in several states across the USA