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A scarred sequoia and an ancient aspen are at the heart of "When Giants Burn" by Beth Vrabel.

From the youngest readers to the ones who read them, this gift guide has books for every age group.

By Nina Hamza (Quill Tree Books, $16.99, June 22.) When 12-year-old Ahmed and his family move from Hawaii to his father’s Minnesota hometown, he is immediately on guard, aware that he has to explain the color of his skin and an Indian American heritage he only knows secondhand. He isn’t swayed by his dad’s warm memories of growing up in Farthing and the yearly box of Pearson’s Nut Goodies, maple syrup and autumn leaves sent by a childhood friend. A welcome letter from his sixth-grade English teacher, Mrs. Gaarder, along with a reading list, also put Ahmed on guard. “F...

‘Ahmed Aziz’s Epic Year’