Books with author M.G. Higgins

Logan's grandparents own a store in the middle of nowhere. He's devoted to them, even to the point of giving up his own dreams. Until one hitchhiker changes it all. Brooke. She's young. Too young to be alone. As Logan watches, she shoplifts. After chasing her down, he realizes hitchhiking is the least of Brooke's issues. Not knowing why, Logan is drawn to her. He insists on driving the young teen to her grandmother's in Oklahoma. What begins as a road trip ends with life-altering realizations. About family. Obligations. Forgiveness. From the Great Plains to the borderlands to the Mississippi Delta, rural America is struggling. The population is shrinking. And the economy is shifting away from agriculture. Without a safety net, rural families struggle with depression, drug abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. Gravel Road Rural addresses the contemporary issues affecting rural America in an unflinching way.

Diego is determined to escape his small town where animals far outnumber people. He wants to go to art school, even though his father thinks an artist's life is a road to nowhere he didn't come to the U.S. so his son could become a starving artist. It s Diego's dream, and he slowly saves for his future by dealing weed, which is easy to come by in the Emerald Triangle. He's the dealer everyone turns to at school, but he refuses to deal in the hard stuff, like meth. His girlfriend's entire family is addicted to drugs; so he's seen its destructive power.From the Great Plains to the borderlands to the Mississippi Delta, rural America is struggling. The population is shrinking. And the economy is shifting away from agriculture. Without a safety net, rural families struggle with depression, drug abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. Gravel Road Rural addresses the contemporary issues affecting rural America in an unflinching way.

Series Name: White Lightning NonfictionThe Olympics began thousands of years ago in ancient Greece with just one event. Today, athletes from around the world compete in hundreds of events to win honor for themselves and their home countries. The Olympics unite the world, but they are not without serious problems. What does the future hold for the Olympic Games?Take a look inside White Lightning Nonfiction, a hi-lo nonfiction series for students in the middle grades. Mature, high-interest topics pull in readers and engage them with interesting information; full-color photographs and illustrations; detailed graphic elements including charts, tables, and infographics; and fascinating facts. A 20-word glossary is included for vocabulary support.

Themes: Responsibility, Mental Illness, Divorce, Teen Runaways. Logan’s grandparents own a store in the middle of nowhere. He’s devoted to them, even to the point of giving up his own dreams. Until one hitchhiker changes it all. Brooke. She’s young. Too young to be alone. As Logan watches, she shoplifts. After chasing her down, he realizes hitchhiking is the least of Brooke’s issues. Not knowing why, Logan is drawn to her. He insists on driving the young teen to her grandmother’s in Oklahoma. What begins as a road trip ends with life-altering realizations. About family. Obligations. Forgiveness. From the Great Plains to the borderlands to the Mississippi Delta, rural America is struggling. The population is shrinking. And the economy is shifting away from agriculture. Without a safety net, rural families struggle with depression, drug abuse, alcoholism, and other problems. Gravel Road Rural addresses the contemporary issues affecting rural America in an unflinching way.

It's the start of a new soccer season, and Lacy Sheridan is anxious. She spent the winter recovering from a knee injury that still gives her nightmares. But Lacy is trying not to let fear get the best of her. She needs to bring her A-game if she wants to impress soccer recruiters. Raven McAlister is a tough-as-nails player who plays the same position as Lacy―and she's going after Lacy's starting spot. Will Raven move to sabotage her teammate? And can Lacy ignore the pressure and play the way she used to?

Series Name: White Lightning NonfictionThe Olympics began thousands of years ago in ancient Greece with just one event. Today, athletes from around the world compete in hundreds of events to win honor for themselves and their home countries. The Olympics unite the world, but they are not without serious problems. What does the future hold for the Olympic Games?Take a look inside White Lightning Nonfiction, a hi-lo nonfiction series for students in the middle grades. Mature, high-interest topics pull in readers and engage them with interesting information; full-color photographs and illustrations; detailed graphic elements including charts, tables, and infographics; and fascinating facts. A 20-word glossary is included for vocabulary support.

Series Name: White Lightning NonfictionRobots may seem new, but their roots trace back more than 2000 years. Today, we have more robots than ever before. They work in factories, cook our meals, and even perform surgery. What new changes will robots bring to our world?Take a look inside White Lightning Nonfiction, a hi-lo nonfiction series for students in the middle grades. Mature, high-interest topics pull in readers and engage them with interesting information; full-color photographs and illustrations; detailed graphic elements including charts, tables, and infographics; and fascinating facts. A 20-word glossary is included for vocabulary support.

It's the school holiday break, and Iggy is going to Las Vegas to spend time with her dad and stepmom Tiffany. How exciting! Her dad must be planning something big. The Strip. Amusement parks. Thrilling roller coaster rides. But that's not what happens. Iggy is stuck at home in suburbia with Tiffany while her dad works. Then she meets Lucas. His mom is a showgirl, and his dad is an Elvis impersonator. Their house is loud. Colorful. One night Iggy sneaks out and goes with Lucas on an adventure. Her seemingly meek stepmother boldly rescues them when the kids' plan goes awry.White Lightning Books addresses a wide variety of themes and interests in a narrow range of reading levels, no higher than a 2.5. Middle school is a time of self-discovery, high energy, and hormonal change. It can also be a time of self-assertion and defiance. Students who struggle to read will often not recover from low reading achievement in elementary school if their particular interests are not addressed. Encouragement and finding the theme to hook them is key. There is a broad range of interest and abilities in this age group, even with struggling readers. These are not YA or elementary books--a fact younger teens will appreciate.Each book is approximately 100 pages with covers that will appeal to young teen readers. The titles in the White Lightning series are designed in a similar style. Students will know what to expect when they pick up a book: a fast-paced story, mature and age-appropriate topics, short chapters, and achievable reading success.

Gabby Herrera is not like her perfect sister, Celia--straight-A student, obedient, responsible. Her parents don't get it. They don't get er C-average report card. Her love for basketball. "The three of them think anything is possible if you just try hard enough. Well, I've tried. It's not possible." She can't be who she is unless she is just like them. And if she's not like them, she's not a real person. She's a broken person. A broken Herrera. And that is unacceptable.

No way will Tiggs and Jess be able to raise $700 for soccer camp. Time is running out. Tiggs may be replaced as keeper on her team, something she does not want to happen. At the last minute, the girls are asked to clean an old and possibly haunted house. The job will pay exactly what they need. But what they find inside may keep them trapped there ... forever.

FOR USE IN SCHOOLS AND LIBRARIES ONLY. This series of short novels was designed to engage a broad spectrum of struggling readers. No longer will upper-elementary students have to read material junior to their maturity and interests. Characters are age appropriate and come from diverse cultures and backgrounds. Science fiction, sports, paranormal, realistic life, historical fiction, and fantasy are just a few of the many genres. Books are no higher than a 1.5 reading level, with illustrations on every spread that support visual literacy and draw kids into the text. When Eric Peters learns that a once famous World War II pilot has a P-51 Mustang stored at the local airstrip, he knows he must see it. So he goes to the nursing home to introduce himself to the now ninety-five-year-old pilot, Leo Foster. Now too old to see his dream of restoring the Mustang to flying shape, Mr. Foster encourages Eric to find someone who can fulfill his wish. But Eric's dad balks at having his son anywhere near danger. Will Eric be able to convince him otherwise?

When Eric Peters learns that a once famous World War II pilot has a P-51 Mustang stored at the local airstrip, he knows he must see it. So he goes to the nursing home to introduce himself to the now ninety-five-year-old pilot, Leo Foster. Now too old to see his dream of restoring the Mustang to flying shape, Mr. Foster encourages Eric to find someone who can fulfill his wish. But Eric’s dad balks at having his son anywhere near danger. Will Eric be able to convince him otherwise?