Award: 2024 American Legacy Book Award Winner in Children's Fiction Award: 2023 Royal Dragonfly Book Award Grand Prize Winner Award: 2023 Reader's Favorite Golden Medal Winner in Children Grade 4th-6th Genre Award: 2023 Royal Dragonfly Book Award First Place Middle-Grade Fiction Award: 2023 Royal Dragonfly Book Award First Place Cultural Diversity Twelve-year-old Moraline Reed is about to run away from her problems—again. Moraline pushes against a hot, dry wind whenever trouble happens. Running is the only way she feels in control, so she runs. When Moraline ends up on the wrong end of a cruel prank during a school camping trip, she does the only thing she feels like she can do. She instinctively seeks refuge into the local woods. But this turns into the chance of a lifetime, as Moraline meets a Lakota holy man who tells her that she’s destined to be the girl who runs against the wind. It’s Moraline’s fate to put the winds back into balance by combating injustice wherever she finds it. A breath of magic leads her to new friends and a mysterious stray fox who support her as she advocates for building peace both close to home and throughout her community. Together, they face some of the biggest issues of their time head-on. "This is a powerful but not preachy middle-grade fiction that speaks from the heart and invites readers to share in a better future." — Kirkus Reviews "Cintia Alfonso's well-rounded approach to bullying is crucial for our youth." — The Chrysalis BREW Project, Australia "Twelve-year-old Moraline Reed has recently moved from New York City to San Diego. Moraline is compulsively fidgety, which draws her teachers' ire and makes her a target for bullying. The bullying comes to a head during a school camping trip to California's Portola Redwoods State Park. Running away from her classmates, Moraline takes refuge beneath a sequoia tree. Here she encounters a Native American spirit—Mahkah of the Lakota tribe. He whispers to Moraline of her heritage and strength—and of the need to restore balance between the four winds. Moraline makes friends—bookish Serenity Wilson, Congolese refugee Amani Nkulu, and Mexican immigrant Edmundo Rivera. When Moraline and her friends adopt a stray fox cub, they bond as its caretakers and start to truly look out for one another." — Kirkus Reviews "Moraline is a gentle, empowering novel in which young advocates find their work enhanced by moments of magic." — Foreword Clarion Review "Through her eyes, the reader will enjoy a moving and exciting magical realist story and learn fundamental strategies for allyship and advocacy."— The Children's Book Review "Fior has skillfully created strong, complex, relatable characters in her racially diverse cast." — BlueInk Review "Moraline is highly recommended...to instill higher-level thinking about peace, social justice, life and community connection in young readers." — The Midwest Book Review "The book will captivate its readers with thrilling adventures and exploits, as well as rich depictions of nature and mystical characters." — Reader's Favorite "Moraline is a story about children's voices and agency, and it speaks loudly about children's rights and their power and responsibilities. Issues ranging from child labor and political violence to grief and environmental sustainability are explored with honesty and sensitivity through the adventures of Moraline and her friends."— T he Children's Book Review "The prose is simple but elegant: "Sometimes standing tall meant bending a little when the wind blew, just like the sequoia trees." The story moves at a good pace, infused with the vivacity and inquisitive spirit of its protagonists." — Kirkus Reviews "Although Moraline and her friends contend with real-world problems and develop logical solutions to them, earning themselves the titles of "little advocates," the story includes elements of magic to support its themes, too. A crow doll, gifted to Moraline by the Lakota messenger, resides in her pocket and grows warm when she is on the right path." — Foreword Clarion Reviews "There are instances of caring and kindness that support the book's messages of hope, and gentle lessons regarding conflict resolution and stewardship." — Reader's Favorite "Community, diversity and ecological centered- a book for building bridges."— Customer's Review "Libraries and adults looking for reading beyond entertainment will find that Moraline lends to group or classroom discussion and individual pursuit." — The Midwest Book Review "Moraline shows that you don't have to be an adult to make a difference in the world, which I found inspiring to young readers. It's a fantastic book for schools, libraries, and families". — Literary Titan "Moraline is a thought-provoking story that will inspire a new generation of movers and shakers." — The Children's Book Review "Moraline is a captivating delight! It is a beautifully inspir