A humorous coming-of-age middle-grade novel set in 1960s Florida. Battling obxious siblings, sunburns, and a corporate millionaire, Norman is determined to help an old comedian save his career.It's the winter of 1965. Norman Fishbein is enduring not only a cold winter but also the usual torments and annoyances from his two older brothers. When Norman wins a thousand dollars in the "Count-the-Doozy-Dots Contest" his parents let him choose how to spend it, strongly suggesting a new car is what the family needs. But Norman decides what his family really needs is their first vacation that doesn't mean camping in a tent—a trip to Miami Beach. A snowstorm almost wrecks their plans, but in the end Norman gets his first plane ride (with both brothers air-sick on either side of him). Miami strikes him as a paradise—warm weather, palm trees, beaches, and ocean. They stay in luxury at the Royal Palm Hotel, owned by the mysterious millionaire Herbert Spitzer.... Views: 12
A New York Times–bestselling novel by the author of The Good Earth: An affecting portrait of interracial love in postwar Japan. Pearl S. Buck's The Hidden Flower centers on the relationship between a Japanese student and an American soldier stationed in postwar Japan. The Japanese student's father worked in the United States as a doctor, but had to flee to Kyoto to avoid imprisonment in an internment camp. The American soldier has inherited his family's estate in Virginia, where interracial marriage is forbidden. Against such forces, and without the help of their families, how can the love between the young pair—and the future of their child—flourish? The Hidden Flower is an emotionally astute and moving exploration of a taboo love across cultures. This ebook features an illustrated biography of Pearl S. Buck including rare images from the author's estate. Views: 12
A million innocent lives rest on a single child’s ability to believe... The first full-length work from one of Britain’s most exciting new talents in children’s literature, Aurelius and I is a story of magic, belief, destiny, and sherbet-filled Yorkshire puddings. Charlie Crumplebum is an ordinary boy, whiling away the long days of an ordinary summer holiday until his life is changed forever after a chance meeting with a flamboyant stranger by the name of Aurelius Octavius Jumbleberry-Jones. Having befriended the young boy over a mutual appreciation for ice-cream, Aurelius proceeds to reveal to Charlie the secret magical world that lives within the shadows of our own. He explains that the local forest is enchanted and provides home to a wealth of magical creatures, the lives of whom are being placed in imminent danger by the evil Professor Balzanfjoord – and that their only chance of survival rests on Charlie’s young shoulders. Before Charlie is able to convince himself of the existence of magic or his own importance, Aurelius is kidnapped by The Professor’s henchmen. Armed only with his Grandfather’s supposedly magical watch and some jam sandwiches, the young boy ventures into the dark forest in search of a mythical scimitar which may hold the key to overcoming The Professor and his evil henchmen. But on a journey which will see him face many fearsome foes that should not exist outside of fairytales, Charlie soon comes to realise that the most powerful weapon at his disposal is his own self-belief. Views: 12
Kelsey is feeling very frustrated. Her dad's girlfriend's twin daughters are very loud and are always taking over. If only it was just Kelsey and her dad again. But when cute King Charles puppy, Storm, appears suddenly things don't seem quite so bad after all...
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From FIFA World Cup Champion, Olympic gold medalist, and bestselling author Alex Morgan comes the ninth book in an empowering and fun-filled middle grade series that inspired the Amazon original series, The Kicks!After an easy win against the Roses, Devin is reminded of how the Kicks were playing when she first joined and how far they have come since then. Devin runs into Sasha, a summer league teammate of hers, who confides that the Roses' coach doesn't seem to care that they're losing and asks Devin for help. She invites the Roses to a weekend soccer clinic that the Kicks are going to. But when the eighth graders find out that Devin is helping another team in their league, they are not pleased and accuse Devin of helping the competition—especially when the Roses begin to win. Meanwhile, Zoe and Emma haven't been seeing eye-to-eye, and their friendship seems to be in trouble, putting Devin and Jessi in the middle of their fights. When they begin to... Views: 12
From soccer star, Olympic gold medalist, and bestselling author Alex Morgan comes the sixth book in an empowering and fun-filled middle grade series about believing in yourself and working as a team.Devin is finally catching her stride with the winter soccer league, and as the championships approach, Devin and Jessi's team has a real shot at coming out on top! Only, Zoe's team does too, and suddenly things get awkward between the Kicks. Devin tries to keep her head, but she's torn—she wants her friend to be happy, but she wants to win, too! And Zoe's too busy strategizing with her new teammates to make time for the Kicks. As the finals get closer, tensions rise until even Frida and Emma don't know who to root for. Maybe this time the Kicks can't stand up under the weight of competition. Views: 12
Named to the Bluebonnet Award and Mark Twain Award Master Lists: Cole isn't happy about his great-uncle coming to live with his family . . . until Daney's in danger of losing his beloved horseCole Tatro has never met his great-uncle Daney. But after he's injured in a logging accident, he comes to live with Cole's family on their Vermont farm. Cole isn't sure how he's going to feel about having a stranger around all the time. Then he meets Daney's horse, Nip. A big red workhorse with a tousled blond mane and a sleepy face, Nip is the pride of Daney's life. Except Daney no longer has a job. Cole's parents work hard—his dad at a paper mill and his mom sewing doll dresses at a local factory—but they aren't sure they have the money to take care of Nip. That's when Daney comes up with the perfect solution. But he'll need Cole's help to carry it out. Uncle Daney's Way is a story of grit, determination, and one family's ingenuity... Views: 12
Fans of Junie B. Jones and Ivy and Bean will love this new story about the spunky little rascal with big ideas. The star of Dory Fantasmagory is starting first grade. Her older siblings, Luke and Violet, warn her to leave her imaginary friend, Mary, at home—or better yet, leave her whole imagination at home! Dory is determined to behave like a "regular old girl who never gets in trouble," but on her very first day she meets a new friend, a girl whose imagination and style are just about as wild as her own. Now she just has to convince her siblings that she's not making it all up! Filled with plenty of funny pictures, this book bursts with charm and impudence, making this a must-read for the chapter book set. Views: 12
Last year, Anna learned how to be a good friend. Now that her family has adopted a baby girl from China, she wants to learn how to be a good sister. But the new year proves challenging when the doctor warns that the baby isn't thriving. Can Anna and her best friends, Laura and Camille, create a science project that saves the day? In this heartwarming sequel to The Year of the Book, readers will be just as moved by Anna's devotion to her new sister as they will be inspired by her loving family and lasting friendships. Views: 12
When NZDF Sergeant Taine McKenna and his squad are tasked with escorting a bunch of civilian contractors into Te Urewera National Park, it seems a strange job for the army.
Militant Tūhoe separatists are active in the area, and with its cloying mist and steep ravines, the forest is a treacherous place in winter.
Yet nothing has prepared Taine for the true danger that awaits them. Death incarnate.
They backtrack toward civilisation, stalked by a prehistoric creature intent on picking them off one by one. With their weapons ineffective, the babysitting job has become a race for survival.
Desperate to bring his charges out alive, Taine draws on ancient tribal wisdom. Will it be enough to stop the nightmare? And when the mist clears, will anyone be left? Views: 12
A darkly irresistible new fantasy set in the infamous Gomorrah Festival, a traveling carnival of debauchery that caters to the strangest of dreams and desires. Sixteen-year-old Sorina has spent most of her life within the smoldering borders of the Gomorrah Festival. Yet even among the many unusual members of the traveling circus-city, Sorina stands apart as the only illusion-worker born in hundreds of years. This rare talent allows her to create illusions that others can see, feel and touch, with personalities all their own. Her creations are her family, and together they make up the cast of the Festival's Freak Show. But no matter how lifelike they may seem, her illusions are still just that—illusions, and not truly real. Or so she always believed...until one of them is murdered. Desperate to protect her family, Sorina must track down the culprit and determine how they killed a person who doesn't actually exist. Her search for answers leads... Views: 12
Stevie Lake is in big trouble. She's failing classes and has to pull up her grades or it's summer school and no riding. She has one last chance to redeem herself: Write a report explaining why she hasn't done her schoolwork--and make the explanation good. She's serious and committed. She's going to get this assignment done if it kills her. Her friends will help with encouraging emails, phone calls--whatever it takes to get Stevie through this crisis. But it's up to Stevie--can she do it? Views: 12
