WHO IS ROCKPOOL PUBLISHING?
Rockpool Publishing is an Australian owned publisher, specialising in spirit & wellness books, oracle cards, gifts & journals.
We love to:
- publish products that make a difference and touch a chord in society
- be niche, clever at marketing, promotion and develop long term relationships with authors, customers and suppliers
- publish products we can take pride in, that help people and promote thought
WHY THE NAME ROCKPOOL PUBLISHING?
The team all love water; we feel that the name denotes calmness, serenity, a community that is niche, happy but safe among bigger seas. A self sufficient, stable ecosystem.]]>
We believe making cocktails should be hassle-free, so we've prepared OVER 100 classic and creative recipes to make in a flash! Spend less time making and more time enjoying your drink with these easy-to-follow recipes. Each recipe is effortless to make for yourself or to treat your guests. Includes recipes for delicious non-alcoholic mocktails as well as 40 recipes for canapes to accompany your cocktail creations. This book is so much fun! The cocktails and canapes are so easy to make: no detailed recipes, just follow the photos! Bright and fun step-by-step instructions with beautiful photography.]]>
WHO IS ROCKPOOL PUBLISHING?
Rockpool Publishing is an Australian owned publisher, specialising in spirit & wellness books, oracle cards, gifts & journals.
We love to:
- publish products that make a difference and touch a chord in society
- be niche, clever at marketing, promotion and develop long term relationships with authors, customers and suppliers
- publish products we can take pride in, that help people and promote thought
WHY THE NAME ROCKPOOL PUBLISHING?
The team all love water; we feel that the name denotes calmness, serenity, a community that is niche, happy but safe among bigger seas. A self sufficient, stable ecosystem.]]>
Without her twin brother, Clara doesn't know who she is. Then she meets a girl who lives within the fern-filled valleys below Mount Buffalo. Clara is surprised to discover the girl is actually Guide Alice, a rebel of her time, an adventurous non-conformist who spent much of her life boldly leading people along rugged trails between granite tors and misty mountain peaks.
When Clara and Alice come face-to-face with danger on the mountain, Clara must rediscover the courage she has always had and become the person she was always meant to be...]]>
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I wrote my story to share my perspective of what it is like to be controlled by a need for perfection.
I wanted to be a boxing world champion. I wanted to be noticed. I wanted to be known. I put expectations of perfection on myself and over time, this obsession blinded me to reality and brought me down into a dark hole of depression.
I suppose I’d never really got over my fear of fighting. I wasn’t scared of being hit – far from it – I was scared to lose and scared to let anyone down. I trained hard and did everything to the best of my ability but I was constantly worried about disappointing the people who supported me. I put unrealistic expectations on myself.
When I realised I would never achieve my dream of becoming a boxing world champion, I was devastated.
But I’m one of the fortunate ones. I overcame the torment my mind put me through. It wasn’t easy and there were many false starts yet I did it. I now understand that achieving one goal is only a small part of life when you compare it to the bigger picture.
These are the lessons I’ve learnt. If I did it – you can too!
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WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022
WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023!
'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.'–The TimesChildren's Book of the Week
‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ –Louie Stowell, author of Loki and Otherland
‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathlessmoment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author of The Storm Keeper’s Island and co-author of Twin Crowns
‘The best book I’ve ever read.’–Patrick, age 10
Thirteen-year-old Skandar Smith has only ever wanted to be a unicorn rider. To be one of the lucky few selected to hatch a unicorn. To bond with it for life; to train together and race for glory; to be a hero.
But just as Skandar’s dream is about to come true, things start to take a more dangerous turn than he could ever have imagined. A dark and twisted enemy has stolen the Island’s most powerful unicorn – and as the threat grows ever closer, Skandar discovers a secret that could blow apart his world forever . . .
Get ready for unlikely HEROES, elemental MAGIC, sky battles, ancient secrets, nail-biting races and FEROCIOUS UNICORNS, in this EPIC ADVENTURE series that will have your heart soaring.
THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES . . .PRE-ORDER SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS, THE UNMISSABLE BRAND NEW BOOK IN THE SERIES, NOW!
Praise forSkandar and the Unicorn Thief:
‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’–Dominique Valente, author of the Starfell series
‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’–Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey
‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’–Hannah Gold, author of The Last Bear
‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’–Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn
‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’–Tọlá Okogwu, author of Onyeka and the Academy of the Sun
'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’sHis Dark Materialstrilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' –The Sunday Times]]>
Don’t miss this sequel to Waterstones Children’s Book of the Year 2022 Skandar and the Unicorn Thief. Skandar and the Phantom Rider is the second book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, an unmissable adventure for listeners age 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Fireborn.
The Island shall have its revenge . . .
Skandar Smith has achieved his dream to train as a unicorn rider.
But as Skandar and his friends enter their second year at the Eyrie, a new threat arises. Immortal wild unicorns are somehow being killed, a prophecy warns of terrible danger, and elemental destruction begins to ravage the Island.
Meanwhile, Skandar’s sister, Kenna, longs to join him – and Skandar is determined to help her, no matter what. As the storm gathers, can Skandar discover how to stop the Island tearing itself apart – before it’s too late for them all?
THE EPIC ADVENTURE CONTINUES...PRE-ORDER SKANDAR AND THE CHAOS TRIALS, THE UNMISSABLE BRAND NEW BOOK IN THE SERIES, NOW!
ONE OF THETHE SUNDAY TIMESBEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023
SKANDAR AND THE UNICORN THIEF WAS THE WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023
'Epic, unforgettable and endlessly exciting, Steadman’s masterful sequel soars even higher than her debut.' –Aisling Fowler, author of the Fireborn series
Praise for Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series:
'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.'–The TimesChildren's Book of the Week
‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’–Louie Stowell,author ofLokiandOtherland
‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathlessmoment of it!’–Cat Doyle,author ofThe Storm Keeper’s Islandand co-author ofTwin Crowns
‘The best book I’ve ever read.’–Patrick, age 10
‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’–Dominique Valente,author of the Starfell series
‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’–Laura Ellen Anderson,author of Amelia Fang and Rainbow Grey
‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’–Hannah Gold, author ofThe Last Bear
'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’sHis Dark Materialstrilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' –The Sunday Times]]>
In Wonders in the DeepMensun Bound, the renowned archaeologist who was Director of Exploration on the team that discovered Ernest Shackleton’s ship Endurance, argues that the history of the world is as much about maritime exploration and trade as it is about what happens on land. Using the many treasures Bound has discovered at the bottom of the sea and working with journalist Mark Frary, he sets out to write a maritime history of the world from 3000 BC to the present by way of the Ancient Romans and Egyptians, the Vikings and the Chinese, the Portuguese and Spanish and Dutch, through to the US Navy.
The objects include skeletons and sewing pins; cannonballs and peacocks; all preserved in shipwrecks hundreds – sometimes thousands – of years old. From Phoenician fertility statues to Corinthian helmets, a Chinese porcelain dish to a Nazi Eagle, the stories of these treasures tell us as much about these amazing objects as the people who used them, shining a light on how and why they found themselves at the bottom of the sea.
Interwoven throughout with beautiful photographs, Wonders in the Deep is a riveting story of human ambition, defeat and ingenuity.]]>
'Gripping'THE TIMES, Best Technology Books of 2023
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What if you could be identified by anyone with just a blurry photo?
When Kashmir Hill stumbled upon Clearview AI in 2019, a facial recognition platform with an alleged 98.6% accuracy rate, the implications were terrifying.
But that was just the beginning.
Clearview AI would quickly rise to the top, sharing its app with billionaires, law enforcement and even Hollywood actors. In this gripping true story, Hill dives deep into its shadowy journey, and explores how facial recognition technology is already a part of our everyday lives – and where it’s going next.
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‘Thedystopian future portrayed in some science-fiction movies is already upon us. Kashmir Hill’s fascinating book brings home the scary implications of this new reality’JOHN CARREYROU, author of Bad Blood
'I loved this. A dark and gripping story, meticulously researched and stylishly told' JENNY KLEEMAN, author of Sex Robots & Vegan Meat
'A walk down the street will not quite feel the same again'THE ECONOMIST
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'Illuminating' OBSERVER
We've all had our share of mould, dodgy landlords and awkward house shares.But Kieran Yates has had more than most: by the age of twenty-five she'd lived in twenty different houses across the country.
In her coming-of-age memoir, she charts the heartbreaks and joys of a life spent searching for home.Sparkling with warmth and wit, this is a story of finding beauty in our interiors, friendships in cramped flats, and home even in the most fragile circumstances. All the Houses I’ve Ever Lived In is at once a rallying cry for change and a love letter to home in all its forms.
'A beautiful exposition of home. Stunning'BOLU BABALOLA
‘So incisive it’s hard to put down’PANDORA SYKES
‘Yates manages the unthinkable: she makes the housing crisis funny’i
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'A stunning, ingenious, truly immersive mystery. The Turnglass is a thrilling delight'Chris Whitaker
Stuart Turton meets The Magpie Murders in this immersive and unique story for fans of clever crime fiction.
Imagine you’re holding a book in your hands. It’s not just any book though. It’s a tête-bêche novel, beloved of nineteenth-century bookmakers. It’s a book that is two books: two intertwined stories printed back-to-back.
Open the book and the first novella begins. It ends at the middle of the book. Then flip the book over, head to tail, and read the second story in the opposite direction.
Both covers are front covers; and it can be read in either direction, or in both directions at once, alternating chapters, to fully immerse the reader in it.
1880s England. On the bleak island of Ray, off the Essex coast, an idealistic young doctor, Simeon Lee, is called from London to treat his cousin, Parson Oliver Hawes, who is dying. Parson Hawes, who lives in the only house on the island – Turnglass House – believes he is being poisoned. And he points the finger at his sister-in-law, Florence. Florence was declared insane after killing Oliver’s brother in a jealous rage and is now kept in a glass-walled apartment in Oliver’s library. And the secret to how she came to be there is found in Oliver’s tête-bêche journal, where one side tells a very different story from the other.
1930s California. Celebrated author Oliver Tooke, the son of the state governor, is found dead in his writing hut off the coast of the family residence, Turnglass House. His friend Ken Kourian doesn’t believe that Oliver would take his own life. His investigations lead him to the mysterious kidnapping of Oliver’s brother when they were children, and the subsequent secret incarceration of his mother, Florence, in an asylum. But to discover the truth, Ken must decipher clues hidden in Oliver’s final book, a tête-bêche novel – which is about a young doctor called Simeon Lee . . .
PRAISE FOR THE TURNGLASS:
'An intricate and thoroughly mesmerising tale of family plots and schemes across several generations'Guardian
'Highly atmospheric and hectic searches for terrible truths.Rubin has pulled off the difficult trick of writing an ambitious novel that is also an easy, enjoyable read' The Times, Crime Book of the Month
'Your initial amazement at his ingenuity comes to sit alongside an appreciation of the heart and depth he brings to his stories. A risky idea, beautifully executed' The Telegraph
'Murder, mystery and secrets combine to create a dazzling achievement that will hook you in’ Best
‘If immersive fiction is for you, you’ll adore this tête-bêche novel . . . Expect two very different stories that magically come together'Belfast Telegraph
‘Rubin deserves top marks for originality and for braving such a niche literary format…what really stands out is the masterful way the tales are cemented together. Believable characters and accomplished characterization add to the suspense, and with Rubin’s expressive and easily digestible prose both stories can appreciated as old-fashioned murder mysteries'The Lady
‘This is one of the most enjoyable books I’ve read this year’ Bay Tales
‘It’s an incredible book, it’s so different. It’s unlike anything I’ve read before’ Quick Book Reviews Podcast
‘Wildly clever & evocative, I adored it’ Angela Clarke]]>
Can you solve the mystery before the greatest detective of all time?
Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises. Is something sinister going on and, if so, what?
Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up.
But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted and will any of them survive?
Praise for The Turnglass:
'Not just a book, but an experience - one in which twists and turns are both on the page and in the very act of reading itself. Two haunting narratives conspire to create a dark, menacing tale that spans half a century of secrets as they echo back and forth' Janice Hallett
'A stunning, ingenious, truly immersive mystery. The Turnglass is a thrilling delight' Chris Whitaker
'An intricate and thoroughly mesmerising tale of family plots and schemes across several generations'Guardian
‘Murder, mystery and secrets combine to create a dazzling achievement that will hook you in'Best
'Your initial amazement at his ingenuity comes to sit alongside an appreciation of the heart and depth he brings to his stories. A risky idea, beautifully executed'Telegraph]]>
Sherlock Holmes and his faithful friend, Dr John Watson, have been hired by actor George Reynolds. George wants them to find out why the audience who comes to see him perform every night are the same people, only wearing disguises. Is something sinister going on and, if so, what?
Meanwhile, Holmes’ archenemy, Professor James Moriarty is having problems of his own. Implicated in the murder of a gang leader, Moriarty and his second, Moran, must go on the run from the police in order to find out who is behind the set-up.
But their investigation puts them in the way of Holmes and Watson and it’s not long before all four realise that they are being targeted by the same person. With lives on the line, not just their own, they must form an uneasy alliance in order to unmask the true villain. With clues leading them to a hotel in Switzerland and a conspiracy far greater than any of them expected, who can be trusted and will any of them survive?
Praise for The Turnglass:
'Not just a book, but an experience - one in which twists and turns are both on the page and in the very act of reading itself. Two haunting narratives conspire to create a dark, menacing tale that spans half a century of secrets as they echo back and forth' Janice Hallett
'A stunning, ingenious, truly immersive mystery. The Turnglass is a thrilling delight' Chris Whitaker
'An intricate and thoroughly mesmerising tale of family plots and schemes across several generations'Guardian
‘Murder, mystery and secrets combine to create a dazzling achievement that will hook you in'Best
'Your initial amazement at his ingenuity comes to sit alongside an appreciation of the heart and depth he brings to his stories. A risky idea, beautifully executed'Telegraph]]>
'Ingenious, creepy and compelling. Sam Ripley is an exciting new voice in the field of chilling thrillers' ALEX NORTH
The Whisper Man meetsThe Chalk Man with the paranoia ofThe Blair Witch Project in this chilling suspense thriller.
That’s the one.
That’s the girl who’s going to die.
I didn’t believe in the Rule of Three. Not at first.
It was just one of those urban myths you hear about all the time.
A story my boyfriend told me about a girl cursed by the number three.
A girl whose parents had killed themselves after her sibling had died in an accident.
Which meant that she was doomed to die too because that’s the Rule of Three.
Bad things always happen in threes, they say, and they are right.
Because it’s happening again.
But this time the curse is coming for me.
And worst of all?
It’s coming for you, too.
'How rare it is todevour a new thriller with a truly new premise told in a truly new way. In The Rule of Three, Sam Ripley has achieved the near impossible, blending innovative storytelling with fresh, surprising characters fighting for their lives against the very narrative we are racing to read and keep up with. This twisty, dark delight plumbs our all-too-human paranoias and proclivities, upending our expectations of what a thriller can be' GREGG HURWITZ
'The Rule of three is an excellent, twisty thriller that keeps you glued to the page right the way through. Definitely mykind of book!' SIMON KERNICK
‘TheRule of Three is a completely original, nuanced, one-sitting read that blew me away. Whip-smart dialogue, characters that haunt your dreams and a plot you might just die for. I loved it’CHRIS WHITAKER]]>
‘The Rule of Three is a sinister tale that deftly blends paranoia, conspiracy and a rash of mysterious deaths to create a dizzying and gripping thriller. The story sucked me in from page one and I was caught up in this just-one-more-chapter read until I raced to the conclusion – making sure to read in a well-lit room at all times!’ ROD REYNOLDS
'Ingenious and compelling in equal measure' KEVIN WIGNALL
'Athrilling concept told in a gripping, unique voice' CLAIRE MCGOWAN]]>
Abiola Bello is a Nigerian-British, prize-winning, bestselling children’s and YA author who was born and raised in London. She is an advocate for diversity in books for young people. She’s the author of the award-winning fantasy series Emily Knight and was nominated for the CILIP’s Carnegie Award, won London’s BIG Read 2019, and was a finalist for the People’s Book Prize Best Children’s Book. Abiola contributed to The Very Merry Murder Club, a collection of mysteries from thirteen exciting and diverse children’s writers which published in October 2021 and was selected as Waterstones Children’s Book of the Month. Her debut YA, Love in Winter Wonderland, published in November2022 andwas an Amazon’s Editor’s Choice and was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels. Only for the Holidayspublished in October 2023 and was The Bookseller One To Watch, one of Waterstones Best Paperbacks of 2023 and was featured in The Guardian’s Children’s and Teens Best New Novels.
Abiola won The Black British Business Awards 2023 for Arts and Media and The London Book Fair Trailblazer Awards 2018. She is the co-founder of Hashtag Press, Hashtag BLAK, The Diverse Book Awards and ink! Shehas appeared in Cosmopolitan, Female First Magazine, The Mirror, BBC1XTRA to name a few. As well as being a writer, Abiolais a professional dancer. She performed for more than a decade in prestigious venues including The Royal Opera House, The Barbican, Sadler's Wells, Hammersmith Apollo and Unicorn Theatre. Abiola has also appeared on BBC's The Apprentice, Got To Dance and Street Dance AllStars The Movie.
Popular girlEva Òjó is used to boys falling for her without her even trying. So when her friend dares her to dance with a random guy at Notting Hill Carnival, she meets Saint.
Comic obsessed Saint Rowe-Falade thinks Eva is cute, but he's not interested in her in that way. He’d rather get lost in stories than look for romance.
When Eva’s birthday party gets out of control and causes damage to her dad’s beloved car, her friends set the ultimate dare: get Saint to take her on one date and they’ll help her pay to fix her dad’s car. Operation fall-in-love-with-Eva is set in motion and Eva makes it her mission to make Saint fall head over heels. But just as Saint starts to warm to Eva, and her own feelings towards him grow, Saint finds out about the dare. Can Eva convince Saint she’s truly into him, or has she lost him for good?
PRAISE FOR ABIOLA BELLO'S LOVE IN WINTER WONDERLAND:
‘A screen-worthy holiday romance.’Joya Goffney, author of Excuse Me While I Ugly Cry
‘Gorgeous writing, witty dialogue, a magical setting and two characters you'll fall head over heels for.’Jennifer Niven, author of All the Bright Places
‘I devoured this delicious YA rom-com. A treat to read any time of year.’Katherine Webber, author of Twin Crowns
‘A wonderfully warm love story.’Candice Brathwaite, author of Cuts Both Ways
‘A warm and cosy read that pulls you into the perfect winter romance. Abiola has given us all a gift to swoon over.’Benjamin Dean, author of The King is Dead]]>
Danny Wallace is an award-winning writer who’s done lots of silly things. He’s been a quiz show host. A character in a video game. He’s made TV shows about monkeys, robots, and starting his own country. He has written lots of books for grown ups, in which he uses words like ‘invidious’, and he pretends he knows what they mean but he doesn’t. He thinks you’re terrific. Danny’s first book for children,Hamish and the Worldstoppers, was the first in a bestselling series, and his recent standalones,The Day the Screens Went BlankandThe Luckiest Kid in the Worldare highly acclaimed.The Boss of Everyoneis his latest novel for readers age 8+.
]]>That's exactly what happens to 11-year-old Ryan in this brand-new comedy adventure from bestselling author, comedian, and presenter Danny Wallace, perfect for readers age 8+ and fans of Stephen Mangan, Andy Griffiths, Jenny Pearson, Helen Rutter, David Walliams and David Baddiel.
Separated only by a garden fence, Ryan and Tom have been best friends since they were two years old. But while Ryan is looking forward to starting secondary school together, Tom doesn't seem to want anything to do him with anymore. Suddenly, he’d rather hang out with mean Minnie and horrible Simon!
Ryan sets out to repair their friendship . . . but everything he tries backfires spectacularly. So Ryan decides that there’s only one thing for it – he must exact terrible revenge on his ex-best friend. Cue: Operation Evil Genius.
There’s only one problem… every time Ryan tries to make Tom lookBAD,he ends up lookingGOOD.As it turns out, Ryan is terrible at being terrible!
Don’t miss this hilarious and heart-warming comedy adventure about the magic of true friendship from the bestselling author ofThe Day the Screens Went Blank. Fully illustrated throughout by Gemma Correll.
From the author of highly acclaimed adult bestsellersYES MAN,JOIN MEand the eagerly anticipatedSOMEBODY TOLD ME.
Other books by Danny Wallace:
The Boss of Everyone
The Luckiest Kid in the World
The Day the Screens Went Blank
Hamish and the Worldstoppers
Hamish and the Neverpeople
Hamish and the Gravity Burp
Hamish and the Baby Boom
Hamish and the Terrible Terrible Christmas and Other Stories
Hamish and the Monster Patrol
Praise forThe Day the Screens Went Blank:
'So funny'Noel Fielding
'Brilliantly funny'Shappi Khorsandi
'Hilarious'Tim Minchin
'Warm and funny'Frank Cottrell-Boyce]]>
Perfect for readersaged 5+ and fans of Isadora Moon, Claude and My Little Pony.
A star shower is a once-in-a-lifetime event for the residents of Lollyland! As Itty Bitty Princess Kitty learns, a star shower means that everyone has the chance to wish upon a star and release it back into the sky. Then their wish is granted! But things go very wrong when a huge gust of wind causes all the wishes to get mixed up! Will Itty be able to help fix the problem? And will Lollyland's wishes ever come true?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on every page, the Itty Bitty Princess Kitty chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
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Finn Longman is a queer disabled writer and medievalist, currently based in Cambridge. By day, they’re a library assistant; by night, they kill (fictional) people in their YA and Adult novels. With a degree in Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic and an MA in Early and Medieval Irish, they spend the rest of their time having extremely niche opinions on the internet.
]]>‘An immersive, fast-paced thriller’TheIrish Times
'
Moth to a Flame is abrave, brilliant and blistering conclusionto anexceptional YA trilogy… Finn Longman has craftedone of the best YA trilogiesI’ve ever read…'A Short Book Lover Isabel Ryans has fled Espera, leaving behind her identity as teen assassin the Moth. Now she’s trying to adjust to the reality of the outside world. But her grief and trauma are catching up with her, and surrounded by civilians who will never understand what life is like in the walled city, she feels more alone than ever.
When a journalist is murdered nearby, suspicion automatically falls on Isabel. And inside Espera’s walls, the abolitionist movement is gaining strength. When Isabel’s search for the killer leads to an unexpected reunion, she’s forced to decide whether she can really leave the city behind, and what part the Moth might have to play in the uprising.
Is Isabel Ryans the city’s saviour . . . or its scapegoat?
From award-winning author Finn Longman, an exhilarating voice in YA fiction, comes an addictive trilogy for fans of global phenomena The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, Killing Eve and The Hunger Games.
PRAISE FOR THE BUTTERFLY ASSASSIN:
‘This dark, enthralling thriller is a compulsive debut’TheGuardian
‘An electrifying debut!’Chelsea Pitcher, author ofThis Lie Will Kill You
‘A heart-in-your-mouth thriller that grips you from the first page until the very last.’Benjamin Dean, author ofThe King is Dead
‘A bold, jagged and uncompromising thriller that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.’Tom Pollock, author ofWhite Rabbit, Red Wolf
‘Sharp and layered, with a bright beating heart.The Butterfly Assassinwill lure you deep into a fascinating and dangerous new world.’Rory Power, author ofWilder Girls
‘An utterly addictive story. I told myself "just one more chapter" well into the night.’Emily Suvada, author ofThis Mortal Coil
‘Fierce, thrilling, and impossible to put down. Packed full of amazing friendships, plot twists and a desperate fight to survive’C. G. Drews, author ofThe Boy Who Steals Houses]]>
Uglies/Pretties/Specials/Extras
by Scott Westerfeld
About the Books
Living in a future where sixteen-year-olds are surgically transformed from "uglies" to "pretties," Tally Youngblood struggles with a choice: to become beautiful and content forever living in a high-tech paradise, or to leave the world she knows and keep her own identity. Tally's decisions lead her on an incredible journey, which forces her to grow, change, and learn.
Set a few years after the end of Specials, Extras follows a new girl, Aya Fuse, in a new town. As Tally did, Aya has some problems being a fifteen-year-old ugly, but this new world is filled with new technologies and new challenges as well. Now the focus of society is on fame. The world is like a gigantic game of American Idol. Whoever is getting the most buzz gets the most votes and the highest rank. Popularity rules. Everyone wants to be famous, and Aya is prepared to do almost anything to bring her face rank up from 451,369, a number so low, she’s a total nobody. An extra. She has no idea what kind of fame she can achieve propelling her into a world of fame, celebrity, and extreme danger.
Discussion Topics
1. On your sixteenth birthday, how would you feel about being forced to have the surgery to become pretty? Would you feel like Tally—looking forward to being beautiful and bubbly—or like Shay—wanting to escape the surgery and stay ugly, but remain herself? If your best friend asked you not to have the surgery, what do you think you would have chosen to do?
2. What elements of the Smoke remind you of a camping trip you've taken or one you've seen on TV or in a movie? What advice would you give the Smokies about living in the wild?
3. Tally has three important guys in her life: Peris, David and Zane. How does her relationship with each of the three affect her decisions at different points in the story? Which of the three do you think made the greatest impact on Tally?
4. Compare Tally's society with our society today. What are the similarities between Dr. Cable's controls and our own government? Just as Tally and her friends were brought up learning about the failure of the Rusties' society, what lessons can be learned from the future portrayed in the series?
5. The author created new worlds, new technology, and new language for the books. Which location—New Pretty Town, the Smoke, or Diego—would you want to make your home? Which of Tally's futuristic possessions—a hoverboard, a sneak suit, SpagBol—would you like to own? What were your favorite slang words in the series?
6. What do you think was the pivotal point in each of the four books? What would you change about them?
7. What are Tally's strongest assets and her tragic flaws? What about Shay? David? Zane?
8. Is Dr. Cable a protagonist or an antagonist? At what points in the series does she seem more good than evil or more evil than good? Does she have the best interests of the people of Pretty Town at heart or is she simply trying to gain power and prestige?
9. If the Uglies series was made into a movie, who would you cast to play the part of Tally? Shay? David? Zane? Peris? Dr. Cable? Where in the world do you think it should be filmed? Who would be the best director for this project?
10. Who was your favorite character in the series? How did you feel about how they ended up at the end of Specials? Which character do you think is the most like you or your friends?
11. Imagine that David decided to live in the city of Diego. What challenges would he face there, having grown up in the wild? What would a day in the life of David in Diego be like? Do you think he'd get used to his new life, or decide to return to his old one?
12. Before reading Extras, where do you see Tally two years after the end of Specials? How about Shay? Peris? What do you think Pretty Town and Diego would be like?
13. If you were suddenly famous like Aya, what would you spend all of your credits on? Would you have moved into Shuffle Mansion?
14. Many of the issues that are current hot topics in our world are tackled within the pages of Extras. Compare the hovercam frenzy and Tally’s obsession with fame to our tabloids and paparazzi and the Lindsay Lohans of the world. What comparisons can be made between our concerns about the environment and Tally’s concerns about the inhumans’ treatment of natural resources?
15. Would you have had the guts to surf on the mag-lev trains like Aya and the Sly Girls? Do you think they were daring or crazy? Would you have gone that far just to find out the Sly Girls’ secrets so you could kick their story?
16. Discuss the relationships in Extras—Aya and Hiro, Aya and Frizz, Aya and the Sly Girls, Aya and Tally—and how they change throughout the course of the book.
17. Who do you relate to more: Tally or Aya? How are the two different and how are they alike? Would you rather be Tally’s friend or Aya’s? Why?
18. How would you feel if your every move was filmed by a hovercam? Would you want to own a Moggle of your own?
19. Would you be willing to try Radical Honesty? Do you think total honesty at all times is possible? How long do you think you would last without lying?
20. List all of the Japanese items and references in Extras. If Scott Westerfeld were to write another book in this series, where should the book be set? Why? What unique qualities of that location would make it an interesting choice?
21. Were you happy with the ending of Extras? If not, how would you have ended it? Which of the books in this series is your favorite? Why?
Research and Activities
1. Design your own hoverboard. First make a blueprint including what kinds of gadgets you would put in its secret compartments, then make a prototype using cardboard, paper towel rolls, markers, etc.
2. Act out a scene from one of the books. Assign parts to each participant and choose your favorite scene—maybe Tally's first trip to New Pretty Town to visit Peris, the invasion of the Smoke by Special Circumstances, or the destruction of the Armory.
3. Put a pretty spin on a sport (think about the suspended ice skating rink in Pretties) and come up with your own bubbly rules and regulations.
4. Put yourself in Dr. Cable's shoes. Take turns telling the Specials story from her point of view and include what you think her motives were behind her actions in the previous two books.
5. Look at the covers of Uglies, Pretties, Specials, and Extras. Then redraw your own version of each of the covers highlighting your favorite scene from each book.
6. Map Aya and Tally’s journey, starting in Tokyo. Use clues you find in Extras to help you determine the route they took.]]>
A joyfully queer and stunningly romantic graphic novel inspired by the work of Jane Austen and perfect for fans of Heartstopper, Bloom and Lex Croucher.
George has always been in love with their best friend, Eleanor – and has always tried to ignore it.
Now Eleanor is coming of age and expected to marry a suitable man, it doesn’t matter how George feels – they have to let her go. Besides, George is busy avoiding their aunt’s matchmaking, taking over the failing family estate, and trying to keep their dressing in men’s clothes a secret.
Eleanor has always wanted to do everything ‘right,’ including falling in love – but she’s never met a boy she’s interested in. She’s more concerned with finding the perfect match for her cousin Charlotte, and working out why George is suddenly pulling away. But Eleanor’s friendships seem to be falling apart, and she’s beginning to realise that she likes George more than any man she’s met at a ball…
With a swoon-worthy friends-to-lovers romance, I Shall Never Fall in Love shines a light on what it means to be true to yourself and rewrites the rules of Happily Ever After.
'An instantly compelling, deeply satisfying whirlwind of romance, friendship, and Regency manners. I couldn't put it down! With funny, sharp dialogue and skillful cartooning, Conner has done something extraordinary –they've made the queer past feel vibrant, relevant, and deeply alive.' Molly Knox Ostertag, author ofGirl from the Sea]]>
Liminal, transformative and increasingly elusive – far from a simple cloud of water droplets, fog is a state of mind. As mist drifted through a copse of trees, turning a familiar place strange and otherworldly, Laura Pashby snapped a photograph and an obsession began.
Pashby hunts for fog, walks and swims in it, explores its often pivotal role in literature, mythology and history, as well as its environmental significance. There has been a 50 per cent drop in 'fog events' in the past fifty years, fog is drifting away without us noticing and the ecological impact could be calamitous.
As she journeys to the foggiest places she can find, Pashby immerses herself in Dartmoor’s dangerous fog, searches for the Scottish haar, experiences Venice’s magical mist, tell us the myths behind the River Severn’s fog and the shipwrecks it hides.
It’s easy to get lost in fog, but sometimes it’s where imperceptible things can be found, including in ourselves. Chasing Fog is a captivating meditation on fog and mist, a love song to weather and nature’s power to transform.]]>
'For the ultimate pick-me-up, book a table at the Cosy Cat Café immediately! I adored it!' FIONA COLLINS
New Beginnings at The Cosy Cat Café tells the story of Tori who, after being dumped and left stranded by her long-term boyfriend Ryan on a trip of a lifetime to Asia, returns home to the sleepy Sussex village of Blossom Heath with her tail between her legs and her dreams shattered. Donning her frilly apron to help her Mum, Joyce, behind the counter at The Cosy Cup Café, Tori starts to believe – with the help of a hunky fireman and a clowder of rescue cats - that perhaps the secret to her future happiness might lie closer to home than she ever thought possible.
If you love your romance with a side order of cake, cats and cosy community dynamics, this is the purrfect uplifting, feel-good read from the winner of the RNA Katie Fforde Debut Novel of the Year 2023.
Your favourite authors love Julie Haworth's books:
'A warm, romantic story about community, friendship and following your heart,Always By Your Sideis a feel-good delight, I adored it!'HOLLY MARTIN
'Always By Your Sideengages the reader from the very first page, and immerses you into the lives of Rose and her aunt, in the delightful setting of Blossom Heath. Ilovedit'PATRICIA SCANLAN
'Heartfelt and a joy to read'ROSA TEMPLE
'‘Heart-warming and delightful. I completely devoured it!’LAURIE ELLINGHAM]]>
In the mid-19th century, the British Empire was at its height, France’s Second Empire flourished and the industrial vigour of the USA was catapulting the republic towards the Gilded Age. Sara and Jennie, raised with privilege but subject to the constraints of women’s roles at the time, learned how to take control of their destinies, Sara in the prosperous Hudson Valley and Jennie in the glittering world of Imperial London.
Yet their personalities and choices were dramatically different. A vivacious extrovert, Jennie married Lord Randolph Churchill, rising politician and scion of a noble British family. Her deft social and political manoeuvrings helped not only her mercurial husband but, once she was widowed, her ambitious son, Winston. By contrast, deeply conventional Sara Delano married a man as old as her father. But once widowed, she made Franklin, her only child, the focus of her existence. Thanks in large part to her financial support and to her guidance, Franklin acquired the skills he needed to become a successful politician.
Set against one hundred years of history, Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons is a study in loyalty and resilience. Gray argues that Jennie and Sara are too often presented as lesser figures rather than two remarkable individuals who were key in shaping the characters of the sons who adored them, and preparing them for leadership on the world stage.
A masterful biographer and acclaimed historian, Charlotte Gray breathes new life into Sara and Jennie. Impeccably researched and filled with intriguing social insights, Passionate Mothers, Powerful Sons offers a fascinating and fulsome portrait of how leaders are not just born but made.]]>
Catherine Doyle is an award-winning author of children’s literature, including the best-selling Storm Keeper trilogy and the best-selling Twin Crowns series, co-authored with Katherine Webber. Catherine holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. Her published work, which includes ten novels for children and teenagers, has been published all around the world, and translated into over 25 languages. She currently lives in the West of Ireland with her husband Jack and their dog, Cali.
]]>In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…
In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy guilds: the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?
Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before…
Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?]]>
Charlie encounters many of the struggles familiar to everybody from their school days, from making friends, first crushes, experimenting with drugs and sexuality, but he must also deal with his best friend's suicide and a shocking realisation about his beloved late Aunt Helen which challenges his very grip on reality.
This is a funny, touching, memorable first novel which captures with resounding accuracy the voice of a boy teetering on the brink of adulthood.]]>
Introduction
First published in 1999, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a modern classic that captures the aching, confusing, and glorious experience of being a teenager—all through the eyes, ears, and letters of the book’s narrator, Charlie. We don’t know where Charlie lives and we don’t know to whom he is writing. But Charlie’s haunting letters, addressed only to “Dear Friend,” bring readers straight to the heart of his struggles to fit in, to find the will to “participate” in life, and to cope with the realities of the larger world as he learns how to grow up.
Topics & Questions for Discussion
1. Discuss the epistolary format of the book. Why do you think Chbosky chose to use letters as his narrative structure? How did this structure affect the book, both in terms of the story and in terms of your reading experience? How would the book have been different if Chbosky had written it in first-person or third-person narrative?
2. Who do you think Charlie was writing to? Does it ultimately matter whom, or even if he is, writing to someone? Why or why not?
3. Who did you identify with the most? Did you see parts of yourself in any one specific character?
4. Discuss Charlie’s character. Is he sympathetic? Would you be friends with Charlie? Why or why not?
5. What do you think kept Charlie from “participating” when he entered high school? What held him back? Have you ever felt this way before?
6. Who is Charlie’s greatest ally? Who is his worst influence?
7. From Naked Lunch by William S. Burroughs to Harold and Maude to The Beatles’ song “Dear Prudence,” Charlie references numerous pieces of literature, film, and music. How did these references shape your reading? Why are they so important to Charlie?
8. When Bill invites Charlie over for lunch Charlie observes, “He was talking for real. It was strange.” (p. 181) What do you think Charlie means by “real”? How does he discern between what is real and what is not real?
9. Sam confronts Charlie before she leaves for college, pleading: “You can’t just sit there and put everybody’s lives ahead of yours and think that counts as love.You just can’t.You have to do things.” (p. 200) Do you agree with Sam? How does this exchange relate to their relationship on a grander scale?
10. Discuss Aunt Helen’s character and presence in the novel. Were you surprised when the truth about her relationship with Charlie was revealed? In what other ways did seemingly positive aspects of Charlie’s life turn out to be negative?
11. After watching an art film with Mary Elizabeth Charlie says: “The movie itself was very interesting, but I didn’t think it was very good because I didn’t really feel different when it was over.” (p. 124) Do you agree with Charlie that in order to be “good,” creative works must make you feel differently? How did you feel after reading The Perks of Being a Wallflower?
12. Discuss the following passage: “Maybe it’s good to put things in perspective. Sometimes, I think that the only perspective is to really be there.” (p. 213) How has Charlie’s outlook shifted from the beginning of the story?
13. The Perks of Being a Wallflower grapples with a complex, universally difficult stage of life. What reflections did it inspire about your own life? What parts of the story resonated most deeply with you?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. The Perks of Being a Wallflower was released as a major motion picture starring Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, and Ezra Miller in September 2012. Host a movie night with your book club and watch the adaptation! How did the movie differ from the book? How did the casting of the movie match the characters you’d formed in your mind from reading the book? Which felt more authentic to you?
2. The Perks of Being a Wallflower has been included on the American Library Association’s annual “10 Most Frequently Challenged Books” list five times in the past ten years. Check out the other books listed on the ALA’s list at www.ala.org/advocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/21stcenturychallenged . What are your thoughts on the issue of censorship? Consider choosing one of the other listed titles for your next book club meeting.
3. Take part in the time-honored tradition of writing letters with your book club. Write letters to your fellow book club members, family members, loved ones, or even to yourself. Or consider participating as a group with one of the following organizations to write letters to those in need. As you write together, share your notes. How do you feel after reaching out to someone with pen and paper?
www.MoreLoveLetters.com—An organization that coordinates a community of “love letter writers” with a mission to deliver love letters to those in need of a positive word or encouragement. www.AMillionThanks.org —A year-round campaign to show appreciation to U.S. military troops through letters, cards, and emails.]]>
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Martha was raised on her nana’s stories. Even if no one else believes them, Martha knows that they’re magic. Now those stories are helping Martha hold things together when everything around her is falling apart – out-of-towners moving into her family’s old house, her nana’s mysterious illness, and the tourists flooding the town who don’t seem to care about the sea or the animals it’s home to.
But Martha has found one creature who understands – a black seal pup that seems to appear whenever Martha needs it most. Could she be the key to fixing everything that's wrong, or will Martha need to fight her way through the storm herself?
Illustrated by the award-winning Sharon King-Chai, Sarah Ann Juckes’ emotional novel follows a young girl trying to protect her family and her community, who must learn that not all changes are bad. For fans ofThe Last BearandJulia and the Shark.
Praise for Sarah Ann Juckes
‘Will break your heart and mend it together again’ ―Piers Torday onThe Hunt for the Nightingale
‘Full of hope, beauty & ultimately a healing song to nature’ ―Hannah Gold on The Hunt for the Nightingale
‘An incredibly moving story of feeling lost and finding your way again’―Lisa Thompson on The Hunt for the Nightingale
'An iridescent story that shines with hope and love' ―Katya Balen onThe Night Animals
'A beautiful story about ghosts, friendship, and the courage it takes to ask for help' ― Emma Carroll onThe Night Animals
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Isabelle Goodrow has been living in self-imposed exile with her daughter Amy for 15 years. Shamed by her past and her affair with Amy's father she has submerged herself in the routine of her dead-end job and her unrequited love for her boss. But when Amy, frustrated by her quiet and unemotional mother, embarks on an illicit affair with her maths teacher, the disgrace intensifies the shame Isabelle feels about her own past. Throughout one long, sweltering summer as the events of the small town ebb and flow around them, Amy and Isabelle exist in silent conflict until a final act leads ultimately to the understanding they both crave.]]>
Don’t miss the unputdownable new book in the international bestselling SKANDAR series, for readers ages 9 to 99 and fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson, Eragon and Impossible Creatures.
Skandar and the Unicorn Thief was WATERSTONES CHILDREN'S BOOK OF THE YEAR 2022 and WINNER OF THE INDIE BOOK AWARDS 2023!
Skandar and the Phantom Rider was one of THE SUNDAY TIMES BEST BOOKS FOR CHILDREN 2023
The Island always wins…
Skandar and his sister Kenna are finally both at the Eyrie, but tensions are high.
To survive their third year of training, Skandar and his friends must complete a series of terrifying trials across the Island’s elemental zones. Friendships, allegiances and rider-unicorn bonds will be pushed to the limit – only the strongest will make it.
Meanwhile Kenna’s forged bond to a wild unicorn has left her alienated and alone. And when a terrible discovery puts the future of the Island in peril, all fingers point in one direction . . . As dark forces assemble, Skandar must decide how far is he willing to go – for Kenna, and for the Eyrie.
Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out!
Have you read Skandar and the Unicorn Thief, the first book in the SKANDAR series?
'Steadman has a vast imagination, her world-building is a joy, the battle scenes are thrilling and her characters charm.'–The TimesChildren's Book of the Week
‘Pacy, enthralling and epic, a gripping read.’ – Louie Stowell, author ofLoki
‘A dazzling feat of imagination. I loved every breathless moment of it!’ – Cat Doyle, author ofThe Storm Keeper’s Islandand co-author ofTwin Crowns
‘The best book I’ve ever read.’– Patrick, age 10
‘My book of the year. Not since Harry Potter have I felt this excited about a series. Readers are sure to be clamouring for the next book. You’ll never look at unicorns the same way again, nor will you want to!’ – Dominique Valente, author of Starfell
‘Never have unicorns been so ferocious, fearsome and thrilling! A fantastically gripping read!’ – Laura Ellen Anderson, author of Rainbow Grey
‘A magnificent book. I raced through it – at turns enthralled, delighted, amazed. It’s everything I could have wanted and more. No doubt this book is going to fly.’ – Hannah Gold, author ofThe Last Bear
‘Skandar and the Unicorn Thief brims with wild adventure, fierce sky battles, elemental magic, ferocious unicorns and a terrifying enemy. Steadman's cinematic writing draws you in from the very first page, creating a hugely compelling, unforgettable read. Endlessly thrilling, unputdownable and utterly unmissable.’ – Aisling Fowler, author ofFireborn
‘A. F. Steadman has created a stunning new world that feels both familiar and fresh, with a cast of characters that will stay with you long after you’ve finished reading.’ –Tọlá Okogwu, author ofOnyeka and the Academy of the Sun
'Perfect for those who have consumed the Harry Potter books and Philip Pullman’sHis Dark Materialstrilogy and are looking for their next fictional feast.' –The Sunday Times]]>
Paula Bowles is an award winning illustrator, who graduated from Falmouth University in 2005. She now lives by the sea in Weston-super-Mare. Her publisher list includes Simon & Schuster, Nosy Crow, OUP, Bonnier, and many more.Paula won The Portsmouth Picture Book Award 2023 for her picture book ‘Tiny Crab is a Tidy Crab’. She won the Lancashire School Library Service ‘Brilliant Book Award’ 2023 for her book ‘Marv and the Mega Robot’ (written by Alex Falase-Koya). She was also shortlisted for many more including The Indie Book Awards 2023, The Alligator’s Mouth Award 2023, and The Week Junior ‘Children’s illustrated book of the year’.
When she’s not working, she enjoys going to the theatre, seeing live music, being outside and looking for wildlife.
]]> “The door burst open with an almighty crash!
Poo ran up the walls with a big smelly splash!
Mam and Dad gasped, the boys gave a yell
They didn’t know what was happening . . . until . . . the SMELL!”
Meet the Randal Family: Mam, Dad, Robert and Ralph. One night, Robert’s friend comes to stay, and Ralph decides he wants to stay up with the big boys. What better way to derail bedtime than with a giant poo?
But the rumbling in Ralph’s nappy doesn’t stop there. It’s a POONAMI, and it’s taken over the house. HELP!
Bedtime family fun, brought to life in POOTASTIC colour from illustrator Paula Bowles]]>
This hilarious new illustrated series will make you laugh-out-loud AND grow your brain. Perfect for readers age 8+ and fans ofDiary of a Wimpy KidandThe 13-Storey Treehouse.
Hi, I’m Oliver! I know what you’re thinking: what does an 11-year-old kid know about the universe? Am I a famous scientist? No. Am I a super-genius? Not really.
I’m just trying to figure out the usual stuff: newschool, newfriends, how to avoid myannoying sister. But there’s one thing that DOES make sense:science!Outer space is totally my thing and I can tell you EVERYTHING you need to know about awesome stuff like:
- time-bending black holes
- how the Big Bang is like a fart
- aliens! (Well, there could be aliens.)
‘An absolute gem!’ Lincoln Peirce, author of the bestselling series BIG NATE.
‘A stellar confluence of comic episodes and cosmic information. In addition to brilliantly integrated comic moments – surprising plot twists add narrative pizzazz to a serious raft of data about the universe. An irresistibly entertaining introduction to astrophysics.’– Kirkusstarred review&★]]>
The epic adventure continues.
Don’t miss the unputdownable new book for fans of Harry Potter, Percy Jackson,EragonandImpossible Creatures.
As Skandar and his friends begin their fourth year at the Eyrie, the Island’s unicorns are struck by a terrible curse that threatens to change everything. Between a Commodore determined to eliminate the spirit element for good, and a sister hellbent on revenge, nowhere is safe for Skandar.
As more and more unicorns are affected by the curse, the clock is ticking for Skandar and his quartet, who find themselves literally racing for their lives. Can they stop the curse in its tracks before the Island is lost forever?
Get ready for unlikely heroes, elemental magic, sky battles, ancient secrets and ferocious unicorns in this highly anticipated adventure that will keep you reading after lights out!]]>
Catherine Doyle is an award-winning author of children’s literature, including the best-selling Storm Keeper trilogy and the best-selling Twin Crowns series, co-authored with Katherine Webber. Catherine holds a first-class BA in Psychology and a first-class MA in Publishing. Her published work, which includes ten novels for children and teenagers, has been published all around the world, and translated into over 25 languages. She currently lives in the West of Ireland with her husband Jack and their dog, Cali.
]]>In the dark underbelly of a beautiful city, two rival assassins are pitted against each other in a deadly game of revenge, where the most dangerous mistake of all is falling in love…
In Fantome, a kingdom of cobbled streets, flickering lamplight, beautiful buildings, and secret catacombs, Shade-magic is a scarce and deadly commodity controlled by two enemy guilds: the Cloaks and the Daggers – the thieves and the assassins. On the night of her mother’s murder, 17-year-old Seraphine runs for her life. Seeking sanctuary with the Cloaks, Sera’s heart is set on revenge. But are her secret abilities a match for the dark-haired boy whose quicksilver eyes follow her around the city?
Nothing can prepare Sera for the moment she finally comes face-to-face with Ransom, heir to the Order of Daggers. And Ransom is shocked to discover that this unassuming farmgirl wields a strange and blazing magic he has never seen before…
Among rumours of monsters stalking the streets and the rival guilds grappling for control of Fantome’s underworld, Sera and Ransom are drawn together by something more than just magic and must face a deadly choice - forgiveness or vengeance? Kiss or kill? Dagger or Flame?]]>
Wes had his dream girl but then he lost her – and the only way to get her back is to scheme like a rom-com hero…
For a few beautiful months, Wes and girl-next-door Liz were together. But right as the two were about to set off to UCLA together, tragedy struck and their relationship ended.
Flash forward and Wes and Liz find themselves in college, together. In a healthier place now, Wes knows he broke Liz’s heart, but is determined to make her fall back in love with him. And he has a foolproof plan to win her back with the rom-com worthy big gestures she loves. Only … Liz will have none of it. Wes has to scheme like a rom-com hero to figure out how to see her. Even worse, Liz has a new friend…a guy friend.
Still, Wes won’t give up and is determined to win back Liz’s affection. But after his best efforts get him nowhere, he’s is left wondering if their relationship is really over for good.
Nothing Like the Movies is perfect for hopeless romantics, lovers of grumpy x sunshine energy and for fans of Emily Henry and Ali Hazelwood!
Don’t miss The Do-Over, Betting on You and where it all started in Better Than the Movies from Lynn Painter!]]>
Laura Batesis a Sunday Times bestselling author and the founder of the Everyday Sexism Project, a collection ofover 200,000 testimonies of gender inequality. Her non-fiction books includeEveryday Sexism,Girl Up,Misogynation, Men Who Hate Women and Fix the System, Not the Women.She writes regularly forTheGuardianand theTelegraph, among other publications, and won a British Press Award in 2015.
Laura works closely with organisations from the Council of Europe to the United Nations to tackle gender inequality. She was awarded a British Empire Medal for services to gender equality and has been named a woman of the year by Cosmopolitan, Redand The Sunday Times.
]]>Having won the battle against Mordaunt’s men, the sisterhood is left dealingwith grief and banishment.Cass has become a leader but her blossomingnew powers threaten to overwhelm her. The fellowship will be tested to theirlimits as they fight off invading forces and come face to face with Arthur.
Get ready for bigger battles, destiny and old magic in this spectacular sequel!]]>
‘Chilling . . . Poignant . . . Haunting and gripping . . . gets into worlds that are otherwise invisible to us’
Daily Mail
A Polish detective tries to determine whether an author planted clues to a real murder in his post-modern novel
An arson investigator races to prove whether a man about to be executed is innocent
Scientists stalk a sea monster …
In this engrossing collection, David Grann sets out to unravel the truth of twelve great, real-life mysteries.
Each of these mesmerising stories is true; the protagonists are mortal and pieces of the puzzle often elude them. Some of the characters are driven by deception and murder. Others go mad.
After all, as Holmes puts it, ‘Life is infinitely stranger than anything which the mind of man could invent.’]]>
SHORTLISTED FOR THE ANDREW CARNEGIE MEDAL FOR EXCELLENCE IN NON-FICTION
SHORTLISTED FOR THECWA ALCS GOLD DAGGER FOR NON-FICTION
**NOW A MAJOR MOTION PICTURE DIRECTED BY MARTIN SCORSESE STARRING LEONARDO DICAPRIO AND ROBERT DE NIRO**
‘A riveting true story of greed, serial murder and racial injustice’ JON KRAKAUER
‘A fiercely entertaining mystery story and a wrenching exploration of evil’ KATE ATKINSON
‘A fascinating accountof a tragic and forgotten chapter in the history of the American West’ JOHN GRISHAM
From the bestselling author of The Lost City of Z,now a major film starring Charlie Hunnam, Sienna Miller, Robert Pattinson and Tom Holland, and the Number One international bestseller The Wager,comes a true-life murder story which became one of the FBI’s first major homicide investigations.
In the 1920s, the richest people per capita in the world were members of the Osage Indian nation in Oklahoma. After oil was discovered beneath their land, they rode in chauffeured automobiles, built mansions and sent their children to study in Europe.
Then, one by one, the Osage began to be killed off.As the death toll climbed, the FBI took up the case. But the bureau badly bungled the investigation. In desperation, its young director, J. Edgar Hoover, turned to a former Texas Ranger named Tom White to unravel the mystery. Together with the Osage he and his undercover team began to expose one of the most chilling conspiracies in American history.
‘David Grann has a razor-keen instinct for suspense’LOUISE ERDRICH]]>
‘A riveting, exciting and thoroughly compelling tale of adventure’JOHN GRISHAM
The story of Colonel Percy Harrison Fawcett, the inspiration behind Conan Doyle'sThe Lost World
Fawcett was among the last of a legendary breed of British explorers. For years he explored the Amazon and came to believe that its jungle concealed a large, complex civilization, like El Dorado. Obsessed with its discovery, he christened it the City of Z. In 1925, Fawcett headed into the wilderness with his son Jack, vowing to make history. They vanished without a trace.
For the next eighty years, hordes of explorers plunged into the jungle, trying to find evidence of Fawcett's party or Z. Some died from disease and starvation; others simply disappeared. In this spellbinding true tale of lethal obsession, David Grann retraces the footsteps of Fawcett and his followers as he unravels one of the greatest mysteries of exploration.
‘A wonderful story of a lost age of heroic exploration’ Sunday Times
‘Marvellous ... An engrossing book whose protagonist could out-think Indiana Jones’Daily Telegraph
‘The best story in the world, told perfectly’Evening Standard
‘A fascinating and brilliant book’ Malcolm Gladwell]]>
In The Art of Power, Pelosi describes for the first time what it takes to make history – not only as the first woman to ascend to the most powerful legislative role in our nation, but to pass laws that would save lives and livelihoods, from the emergency rescue of the economy in 2008 to transforming health care. She describes the perseverance, persuasion, and respect for her members that it took to succeed, but also the joy of seeing America change for the better. Among the best-prepared and hardest working Speakers in history, Pelosi worked to find common ground, or stand her ground, with presidents from Bush to Biden. She also shares moving moments with soldiers sent to the front lines, women who inspired her, and human rights activists who fought by her side.
Pelosi took positions that established her as a prophetic voice on the major moral issues of the day, warning early about the dangers of the Iraq War and of the Chinese government’s long record of misbehaviour. This moral courage prepared her for the arrival of Trump, with whom she famously tangled, becoming a red-coated symbol of resistance to his destructive presidency. Here, she reveals how she went toe-to-toe with Trump, leading up to January 6, 2021, when he unleashed his post-election fury on the Congress. Pelosi gives us her personal account of that day: the assault not only on the symbol of our democracy but on the men and women who had come to serve the nation, never expecting to hide under desks or flee for their lives – and her determined efforts to get the National Guard to the Capitol. Nearly two years later, violence and fury would erupt inside Pelosi’s own home when an intruder, demanding to see the Speaker, viciously attacked her beloved husband, Paul. Here, Pelosi shares that horrifying day and the traumatic aftermath for her and her family.
The woman who has been lauded by her opposition as “the most powerful Speaker” ever shows us why she is not afraid of a good fight. The Art of Power is about the fighting spirit that has always animated her, and the historic legacy that spirit has produced.
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In long gone days of olde.
They LOVED to wear big underpants
In colours bright and bold.
With flaming holes in their undies, a pack of pant-loving dragons embark on a knicker-nicking adventure through the Kingdom of Pantasia in this hilarious new story from the creators of the bestselling Aliens Love Underpants!
Laugh your pants off at the other books in the series:
Aliens Love Underpants
Dinosaurs Love Underpants
Aliens in Underpants Save the World
Aliens Love Panta Claus
Pirates Love Underpants
Monsters Love Underpants
Aliens Love Dinopants]]>
From the bestselling author of The History of Bees
Longyearbyen, 2110: Far to the North, buried deep in the mountains, is a massive vault filled with seeds from every corner of the Earth. Tommy grows up in the brutal landscape of Spitzbergen alongside his two brothers, for whom he would do anything, and his grandmother, the seed keeper of the vault. Life just to the South of the North Pole is demanding, but their tiny community has found its shape.It has been many years since they cut off contact with other countries, and in their isolation, they live in harmony with nature.
When Longyearbyen is hit by a disaster, Tommy, his brothers, and his grandmother are among the few survivors. Six lonely people in a deserted landscape, in possession of a treasure the world thought forever lost.
At the same time, in a place far, far away, Tao subsists on the memories of her son Wei-Wen, whom she lost twelve years ago. Every day is the same; she is numb with sadness. And she is starving, like the rest of her people, trapped on a barren, impoverished land where countless species have disappeared.
But everything changes the day Tao is asked to lead an expedition to the North. The destination is Spitzbergen and its legendary seeds.
From acclaimed Norwegian author Maja Lunde,The Dream of a Treeis a chilling and gripping tale about our responsibility to this planet, both as a species and as individuals. Past, present and future are woven together, and the novel poses questions that our age is striving to answer: How didhomo sapiensbecome the species that changed everything? Do we deserve to be masters of nature? And are we, too, an endangered species?
]]>Maja Lunde (b. 1975) is the most successful Norwegian author of her generation. Her books are translated into 40 languages and has sold more than 4 million copies.
Lunde’s debut novelThe History of Bees(2015) was an instant hit and sold to several territories before Norwegian publication. It won The Norwegian Bookseller’s Prize as well as multiple international awards. It was the best selling book in any genre in Germany in 2017 and has so far spent 3 consecutive years on the Der Spiegel official German bestseller list.
The sequelBluewas launched in the fall 2017, as part of the author’s planned Climate Quartet. Book 3Przewalskis Horsewas published in the fall of 2019, both to equal acclaim.
Lunde has written several books for children and young adults. The children’s Christmas bookThe Snow Sister(2018) illustrated by Lisa Aisato, was a record-breaking success, printed in 250 000 copies in Norway and published in 30 languages.
]]>*Shortlisted for The ALCS Gold Dagger Award for Non-Fiction*
'A breath-taking read, as compelling as a Highsmith novel.I loved it' -Maggie O'Farrell
'Brilliant… A thrilling heist caper along the lines of Ocean’s Eleven’ - Sunday Times
‘Gripping'-Observer
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Aspellbinding portrait of obsession and flawed genius, from the bestselling author ofThe Stranger in the Wood.
For centuries, works of art have been stolen in countless ways from all over the world, but no one has been quite as successful at it as the master thief Stéphane Breitwieser. Carrying out more than 200 heists over nearly ten years - in museums and cathedrals all over Europe - Breitwieser, along with his girlfriend who worked as his lookout, stole more than 300 objects, until it all fell apart in spectacular fashion.
InThe Art Thief,Michael Finkel brings us into Breitwieser’s strange and fascinating world. Possessed of a remarkable appreciation for art and an innate ability to assess practically any security system, Breitwieser managed to pull off a breathtakingly number of audacious thefts. Yet these strange talents bred a growing disregard for risk and an addict’s need to score, leading Breitwieser to ignore his girlfriend’s pleas to stop - until one final act of hubris brought everything crashing down.
This is a riveting true story of art, crime, and an insatiable hunger to possess beauty at any cost. As a real page-turner that seems almost unbelievable in its twists and turns, TheArt Thief explores the true story of the art collector who went to extreme lengths to expand his personal collection – and the thrill of the heist that kept him going.
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‘Thrilling’ - Economist
'Enthralling' - The Wall Street Journal
‘A thrilling read’ -The New Yorker
A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR:The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Lit Hub]]>
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Is your doctor a donkey? Is your postman a platypus? Probably not, that would be . . . amazing! But bee-lieve it or not, many animals do have jobs. Get ready for a whirlwind tour around the globe where you'll meet some of those amazing animals and learn all about the incredible jobs they do – from bomb-sniffing bees and detector dolphins to caddy llamas and the bodega cats of New York City.
Readers will discover:
- The role of therapy animals in helping people feel more calm in airports (including LiLou – San Fransisco’s superstar therapy pig!)
- How llamas can help golfers get around the course (without ever leaving a mess behind!)
- How bees can be trained to detect illnesses (Un-bee-lievably!)
- And much, much more!
Simon Philip’s witty, fact-filled text pairs perfectly with Adam Ming’s captivating contemporary art, making this book the perfect gift for any child who loves animals.]]>
It’s time for Arlo’s family to leave their winter den and journey to Spring Valley, buthe isn’t so sure about all this change. Arlo likes their home just as it is; and after all,his sister, Eva, is the brave one. But when a snowstorm separates them as they travelthrough the Great Wood, Arlo finds that when it’s his turn to be brave, being afraid won’tstop him from saving the day.
With heartwarming illustrations, this tender story by internationally acclaimed picturebook creator Steve Small is perfect for anyone who has ever been afraid of change.
Other books by Steve Small:
The Duck Who Didn't Like Water
Wellington's Big Day Out
Written by Smriti Halls and illustrated by Steve Small:
I'm Sticking With You
I'm Sticking With You Too]]>
The maddest, baddest, mischief-making cat in history. . . .
When Magic Magda takes in villainous Moggie McFlea, things do not go well as Moggie tinkers with Magda’s every spell, resulting in cream in every fountain and a tabby on TV. Mags is in despair! But even Moggie McFlea doesn’t want to make poor Magda cry, so will they find a way to get the most out of beingboth naughty and nice?
Discover tricks and treats galore in this funny and affectionate story from the bestselling author of Dogs Don't Do Ballet, with irresistiblyspiky illustrations from Adam Beer.
Other books by Anna Kemp and Adam Beer:
Mammoth
Other books by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie:
Dogs Don't Do Ballet
Rhinos Don't Eat Pancakes
The Worst Princess
Sir Lilypad
Dave the Lonely Monster
Other books by Adam Beer:
Solo]]>
The maddest, baddest, mischief-making cat in history. . . .
When Magic Magda takes in villainous Moggie McFlea, things do not go well as Moggie tinkers with Magda’s every spell, resulting in cream in every fountain and a tabby on TV. Mags is in despair! But even Moggie McFlea doesn’t want to make poor Magda cry, so will they find a way to get the most out of beingboth naughty and nice?
Discover tricks and treats galore in this funny and affectionate story from the bestselling author of Dogs Don't Do Ballet, with irresistiblyspiky illustrations from Adam Beer.
Other books by Anna Kemp and Adam Beer:
Mammoth
Other books by Anna Kemp and Sara Ogilvie:
Dogs Don't Do Ballet
Rhinos Don't Eat Pancakes
The Worst Princess
Sir Lilypad
Dave the Lonely Monster
Other books by Adam Beer:
Solo]]>
‘Equally entertaining and insightful’YANIS VAROUFAKIS
‘If, as David McWilliams complains, economists take the fun out of money, then he is the exception that proves the rule: a man who could not write a boring sentence if he tried’TOM HOLLAND
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MONEY.
The object of our desires.
The engine of our genius.
Humanity’s greatest invention.
Money is everything. It brings freedom and it takes it away. It inspires and corrupts us. But what is money? Is it the main thing holding us back from utopia or is it the one constant that’s driven us to success?
In his illuminating, entertaining and often surprising book, economist David McWilliams charts the relationship between humans and money – from clay tablets in Mesopotamia to coins in Ancient Greece, from mathematics in the medieval Arab world to the French Revolution, and from the emergence of the US dollar right up to today’s cryptocurrency. Along the way, we meet ahost of characters who have innovated with money, disrupting society and changing the way we live. Like humanity, money is ever changing, adapting to its time and circumstances. The question is, over the last 5000 years, have we changed money or has money changed us?
Money tells an astonishing new story of our species. Taking the reader on an epic journey through the history of money, McWilliams reveals its fundamental role in our society.
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‘David McWilliams is the best explainer of economics I know. Here he explains the world through money, and it's fantastically entertaining’SIMON KUPER, author of Chums
‘A timely, fascinating account of how money has powered life on our planet’MARIELLA FROSTRUP
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The object of our desires.
The engine of our genius.
Humanity’s greatest invention.
Whether we like it or not, our world revolves around money, but we rarely stop to think about it. What is money, where does it come from, and can it run out? What is this substance thatdrives trade, revolutions and discoveries; inspires art, philosophy and science?
In this illuminating, sometimes irreverent, and often surprising journey, economist David McWilliams charts the relationship between humans and money – from a tally stick in ancient Africa to coins in Republican Greece, from mathematics in the medieval Arab world to the French Revolution, and from the emergence of the US dollar right up to today’s cryptocurrency and beyond. Along the way, we meet a host of characters who have innovated with money, disrupting society and changing the way we live, in an ongoing monetary evolution that has, for the last 5000 years, animated human progress.
McWilliams unlocksthe mysteries and power of money, explaining why it mattersand how it shapes our world.The story of money is the story of earth’s most inventive, destructive, and dangerous animal: Homo sapiens. It is our story.
‘McWilliams has a great knack for bringing a complex economics story to life. He is also funny. In economics, that's a rare and persuasive combination’Irish Times]]>
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Sports is a religion.
No, really. From pilgrimages and cathedrals, gods and fallen angels, holy wars and holy ghosts, organized sports has every aspect of an organized faith. In fact, it might be even better: all it takes to believe is to stand and cheer.
Nobody knows this better than the preeminent sports documentarian Gotham Chopra, who just so happens to be the son of world-renowned spiritualist Deepak Chopra. While his father taught him to find faith through prayer, Gotham felt pulled towards the Boston Garden and Larry Bird instead. Tracing his unique path from being a diehard fan to witnessing miracles alongside the gods of sport, Gotham makes a compelling case for sports as a modern-day faith. And like any worthy religious text, he also doles out wisdom, which comes in the form of never-before-heard stories about some of the biggest names in sports.
Rarely has anyone had such an up-close view of greatness as Chopra, and now, he lets you come with him behind the scenes to learn how legendary quarterback Tom Brady managed the end of his career, gold medal gymnast Simone Biles struggled with the pressure of the Tokyo Olympics, Golden State Warriors sharpshooter Stephen Curry developed the greatest three-point shot of all time, and much more. Chopra weaves together stories from Kobe Bryant, Alex Morgan, LeBron James, Michael Strahan, Shaun White, and more into modern-day parables that unlock secrets of competition—and of life.
“A thought-provoking pleasure for spiritually minded sports fan” (Kirkus Reviews), The Religion of Sports is also for anyone who’s ever believed in something greater than themselves.]]>
Joe Levin is a writer based in Austin, Texas, via the bleachers of Wrigley Field. His work has appeared in Texas Monthly, Wildsam, and more.]]>
—Booklist, starred review]]>
—Kirkus Reviews]]>
Bring the magic of Disney’s holiday celebrations straight to your kitchen with The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook! From festivals and holidays to other special events throughout the year, this book features 100 recipes for the best food items Disney’s annual celebrations have to offer. You’ll learn to make:
-Valentine Swirl Dole Whip from The Tropical Hideaway for Valentine’s Day
-Frozen Apple Cider from ABC Commissary at Halloween
-The Patriots Platter at Liberty Tree Tavern for a classic Thanksgiving meal
-The Lock Shock and Barrel Sundae from Auntie Gravity’s at Christmas
-And much more!
Perfect for everyone from Disney experts who miss those familiar flavors in between trips to fans who have never visited the Parks but still have Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party on their bucket list, The Unofficial Disney Parks Holidays Cookbook has all the recipes you need to make a celebratory dish worthy of the Mouse himself.]]>
—Meg DiLeo, Magic with Meg]]>
—Diana Hughes, Being Mommy with Style]]>
—Sarah Lemp, Motor City Mouse]]>
—Alyssa Stander, Lemon Drop Travels]]>
—Rebecca Schler, Miracles on Main Street]]>
—Karyn Ormston, @awesomemagicfam]]>
—Sadie Fournier, former Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser Cast Member]]>
—Sarah Carroll, Pixie Powered Travel]]>
—Ashley Silverthorn,Show Me Ashley]]>
—Lauren Roddick, Scrimpy Scottie]]>
Too often, writing about social security turns the noteworthy details of the benefits into boring details about regulations or biased political arguments that would put even a diehard bureaucrat to sleep. Social Security 101, 2nd Edition, cuts out the tedious explanations and instead provides a hands-on lesson that keeps you engaged as you learn all you need to know about the federal program that’s been around since the Great Depression.
From the history of social security to its likely role in the future, this primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining tidbits and concepts that will keep you on track as you learn how to maximize your benefits.
Whether you want to learn about calculating your retirement age or estimating your projected payments, Social Security 101 has all the answers—even the ones you didn’t know you were looking for.]]>
Alfred Mill has a deep interest in personal finance and economics. He is the author ofPersonal Finance 101,Economics 101, andSocial Security 101.]]>
Get ready to Crush Your Money Goals and turn to the power of habits to make lasting financial changes!
When it comes to building financial health, adopting good money habits that will last (and dropping bad ones) can insure financial freedom. In Crush Your Money Goals, you will find information on the psychology behind why habits work to achieve goals, and twenty-five simple habits to adopt, and which to drop, to help you invest properly, budget, save, climb out of debt, and so much more.
Join expert money coach Bernadette Joy as she guides you through her C.R.U.S.H. approach to financial wellness, a program she’s been using for years to help her followers get in financial shape. With C.R.U.S.H., you will learn to:
-Curate Your Accounts
-Reverse into Independence
-Understand Your (Net) Worth
-Spend Intentionally
-Heal Your Money Wounds
Each letter covers 5 easy-to-implement habits you will use to take control of your finances. From trying the $1 rule and facing your financial fears to holding a digital detox and decluttering your calendar, Crush Your Money Goals will have you saving money in no time! By changing your patterns with better habits, you’ll be on your way to making financial changes not just for today, but for tomorrow!]]>
If you want to understand your finances, you need to understand your taxes. Learn everything you need to know about the US tax system and become more financially independent with Taxes 101. As people become more motivated to be as financially literate as possible, understanding every part of their financial wellness is key.
With Taxes 101, you will learn the basics of the US tax system, from the system structure and kinds of taxes to all the tax laws that lead to deductions and credits and the forms associated with filing. This all-in-one financial resource lays the foundation with basic information about the tax system so you can make better choices about your financial wellness.]]>
From constant overthinking and doubt to self-sabotaging your relationships, you’ve recognized that you’re experiencing relationship anxiety. But, now what?
It’s time to take the next steps to understanding and healing your relationship anxiety. With Overcoming Relationship Anxiety, you’ll learn more about what relationship anxiety is and what can cause it, as well as how it can negatively impact the long-term health of your relationship. Then, it’s time to build your personalized path to healing yourself and your relationships. You’ll learn new strategies for coping with the symptoms of relationship anxiety, develop new skills and behaviors to overcome those old, unhelpful habits, and strengthen your connection with your partner.
As you work to let go of the anxiety that’s been holding you and your relationship back, you’ll also learn to build your own self-esteem and confidence and prioritize a healthy connection, open communication, and a supportive relationship with your partner. It’s time to create the partnership you’ve always wanted with the help of Overcoming Relationship Anxiety.]]>
Oh Captain, My Captain! is a short form worldbuilding role-playing game (RPG) that explores heroism and the complicated relationships we have with people we admire. It’s approachable for players who have never tried an RPG before and satisfying for players who have been gaming for years. It’s also compact enough to tell unforgettable stories in just thirty minutes.
The game revolves around players drawing from a deck of cards with open-ended questions. Each question players answer helps them learn about their character, their world, their captain, and the complicated relationship they have with a living legend. Players use these answers to make connections between their stories leading up one of three final questions that end the game. Groups can change their final question based on the tone they desire for their experience.
The open-ended nature of the game allows players to explore any genre or story they can imagine, from a swashbuckling pirate adventure to a space opera with the starship crew, or the adventures of a high school football team or even a team of superheroes! No matter what story you want to tell, Oh Captain, My Captain! helps you create an exciting adventure to entertain your whole game group.]]>
Whether you’re sipping a G&T in the summer or a juniper-forward drink during the holidays, gin is the star of each cocktail in this fun and functional cocktail deck that celebrates the botanical buzz of gin you’ll be able to enjoy all year round.
Each recipe card features a full color photo to show what your drink will look like in the end. Cocktails include:
-Ramos Gin Fizz
-Gin Daisy
-Blackberry Kiwi Collins
-French 75
-Negroni
-And more!
Work your way through all 75 cocktails with this fun—and functional cocktail card deck!]]>
Are you prepared for a widespread electrical grid failure? What would you do if there was a sudden tornado warning? Will you be ready when disaster strikes?
In Disaster Survival 101, survival expert and bestselling author Creek Stewart cuts through the panic and fear emergency situations can create so you can ensure all safety measures are in place should you ever need them.
In this guide, you’ll learn how to understand disaster preparedness and develop a prepared mindset that will help you make important, well-informed decisions in an emergency. With detailed chapters on food storage, water sourcing, heating, power generation, first aid, and an overview of self-sufficient living so you’ll be fully prepared to shelter in place at your home. And with evacuation chapters that explain what to take, where to go, and how to get there safely you’ll be well prepared with a plan for any kind of emergency.
You’ll also find step-by-step plans that help you take action and survive when caught in the midst of more than twenty likely emergency scenarios including natural disasters, physical safety threats, technology and grid failures; and other emergencies including pandemics and nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Organized by scenario, each entry gives an overview of the situation, a checklist of immediate actions to take to ensure safety, and checklists to assess whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate and how to successfully execute either decision.
When every moment and decision counts, you will be ready with Disaster Survival 101.]]>
When it’s time to invest, it’s time to turn to Adams 101 Series. With its easy-to-understand approach and informative, entertaining content, this series provides you with exactly what you need to know to start investing today. This boxed set includes:
-Investing 101: A crash course in managing personal wealth and building a profitable portfolio—from stocks and bonds to IPOs and more.
-Real Estate Investing 101: A comprehensive, accessible, and easy-to-understand guide to everything you need to know about real estate investing.
-Stock Market 101, 2nd Edition: A reference full of understandable definitions, tips, and real-life examples, this book contains everything you need to know about buying and selling stocks.
Investing doesn’t have to be scary. With The Investing 101 Boxed Set, you will overcome your fears and set yourself up for investing success.]]>
A year after losing their best friend, JD and Danny are still brokenhearted. JD’s impetuous decision to join the Air Force only makes him yearn for “before” more than ever. Danny, who’d rather paint murals than open a book and certainly never thought of himself as college material, makes the equally impulsive choice to do what Juan will never be able to and enrolls in a community college.
Danny’s father, The Sarge, is proud of him for the first time ever for living out Sarge’s own dream of being a first-generation college student, but Danny can’t shake the thought that it should be Juan, not him. And studying hasn’t gotten any easier for him despite his new academic goals. When Danny is on the verge of flunking out and JD gets notified of imminent deployment, the two are forced to confront their shared grief that led them to these paths. Can they learn to live lives that are their own in honor of Juan, rather than for him?]]>
The Broke Hearts
By Matt Mendez
About the Book
In the aftermath of police murdering their best friend Juan, Danny and JD’s friendship suffers amidst distance and the demands of their separate lives post high school. JD has enlisted in the Air Force, learning how to fix fighter jets and feeling his dream to go to film school slipping away while waiting for deployment. Meanwhile, Danny is failing college and losing his love of art when he gets a call about his father’s declining health. Told in two points of view, including tastes of JD’s screenwriting and vignettes of Danny’s and his father’s childhoods, this work of contemporary fiction examines the impacts we have on one another’s lives and the process of grieving. How do we honor the dead while still living our lives?
Discussion Questions
1. What does Apá mean when he tells Daniel, “‘Being afraid makes you do the easy, and usually wrong, thing.’” (El Soldado) Do you agree with this statement? Think of an example of a time when fear has influenced your decision, and share your thoughts with the class.
2. After Danny has an outburst in class that breaks the student code of conduct, his professor, Pablo, gives Danny a second chance to pass the class. Does Danny deserve this second chance? Why does Pablo offer Danny compassion and help? Explain your answers.
3. Consider the various ways chapters are written in the book, from titles to snippets of JD’s screenplay. How are JD’s and Danny’s chapters different and why? How do the different writing styles help to tell the story?
4. Danny learns his dad’s heart is literally broken and leaking. Discuss how this relates to the title of the book and what else the title might be referencing. Use examples to justify your answer.
5. Their boss Rowe constantly berates JD and Raines, claiming he has his hands full with them even though Raines knows “‘the whole time we’re over there, we’ll be the only ones doing all the actual work, his crew—the Black guy and the Mexican kid?’” (Chapter sixteen) How does Rowe get away with his behavior? Why does it take JD until the end of the book to realize Rowe tells on himself when he puts JD down? These are situations that occur in real life. What actions can we take so that people don’t take advantage of others?
6. After Fabi gives Danny the deck of Lotería cards, she tells him, “‘It means the past is all anyone really cares about. Fixing it. No one gives a shit about tomorrow.’” (Chapter five) Explain what she means. Pick some scenes in the book that prove this statement correct. With a partner, discuss what current events are repeating history. Why does history repeat itself?
7. The army recruiter matter-of-factly says he gets “‘a bunch of recruits like that . . . or ones with a stepdad. Kids really hate stepparents.’” (El Cazo) Why is that the case? Does it help kids who are likely alone to join the army? What kind of support do kids without parents or without adequate care need? Think about how the race and class of the characters in the book affected their decisions to join the army. What do you think about Daniel’s dad’s opinion that a draft should be brought back?
8. Pablo tells Danny, “‘Sending you to school is maybe the only way your dad knows to show you that he loves you.’” (Chapter twelve) In pairs, describe the different ways characters express love in the book. Discuss how you express love and how you want to receive love. Are you influenced by your culture, family, media, society, or something else?
9. Why does JD keep encountering a coyote? What does the coyote symbolize? Research the meaning behind coyotes and use examples from the book to support your answer.
10. After JD and Tomás sneak into the school to play basketball on a nice court, JD has the beginnings of a panic attack. Why does he get so scared and anxious?
11. Sometimes friends drift apart, like when Danny describes how his friendship with JD slowed down from texting almost every day to barely any communication. What caused their friendship to begin dissolving? Use evidence from the text along with any personal experiences you’ve had growing distant from a friend. Can people become close again? Provide specific reasons for your answer.
12. JD and his mom get into an argument after JD returns home. Does his mom blame him for the divorce? Why do they clash so much? Back up your answer with examples from the text.
13. The Sarge didn’t want Danny to join the army or to always be fighting losing battles, yet Danny still feels he must do what the Sarge wants. Do you feel pressure from the adults in your life about your future? Take some time to reflect and write your response. Share with the class if you would like.
14. Throughout the book, various characters make comments about what it means to be Mexican and, more specifically, what it means to be a Mexican man. Cite examples from the text. Where do these beliefs stem from? Are there beliefs about your culture and gender? Do you agree or disagree? Does it make a difference if someone with a shared identity makes generalized statements like this versus someone on the outside? Expand on your answers.
15. One theme in The Broke Hearts is the relationship between fathers and sons and the effects fathers, whether present or not, have on their children. What expectations and pressures are placed on fathers? How does gender, ethnicity, class, and race play a role in how a father is portrayed or what a father is “supposed” to be? Use evidence from the text, your own experiences, media representation, and stories from your community to justify your answers.
16. JD reveals to Danny that he and Juan thought Danny “‘talked too much crap about your old man. Maybe he’s some kind of asshole, but you have one. All the dude wants is for you to not suck.’” (Chapter nine) JD also has a father, so why does he imply that isn’t the case? Did JD have a right to be upset when Danny complained about his dad? What was your reaction to this scene?
17. Roxanne, Danny, JD, and Fabi all lost Juan and ran away from the grief. Name the ways each person ran away both literally and figuratively. How might their lives have been different if they had faced their grief directly? Is there a correct way to grieve? What helped each person begin to heal, if anything?
18. Danny creates remixed versions of Lotería cards to tell a story about his family and community, choosing to represent important people and moments in each card. What does each card represent? What does Danny learn about himself and other characters as he paints the mural?
19. In a flashback, Daniel fixes Adán’s car. What is the significance of this scene, knowing Adán was Daniel’s bully? Why does it matter that Daniel’s father and the army recruiter watched? How does this moment change Daniel and influence his style of parenting?
20. The Broke Hearts ends with a flashback to the Sarge meeting his son, Daniel, after his birth. Why does the book end with a beginning?
Extension Activities
1. Isa writes her number inside a copy of Winesburg, Ohio by Sherwood Anderson, which JD buys along with Dominicana by Angie Cruz; The Sentence by Louise Erdrich; Sing, Unburied, Sing by Jesmyn Ward; How to Live Safely in a Science Fictional Universe by Charles Yu; and The People of Paper by Salvador Plascencia. Choose one of these books to read, then write a short essay describing what themes the book shares with The Broke Hearts and what the characters of The Broke Hearts could learn from reading the same book.
2. There are many iterations of Lotería cards. Find a version online and use the cards to tell a story about a pivotal moment in your life or a current event in your community. You can choose to paint your own renditions, print and cut out a collage, create a story map using the cards, or write a poem or short story inspired by the cards you chose. Be prepared to present your project with the class.
3. Interview a family member or community elder about their teenage years and their life after leaving their childhood home. Create a checklist like Daniel’s to tell the story they shared with you. Consider this a work of creative nonfiction and fill in any gaps that might be missing.
4. There are arguments that the US Military acts in a predatory manner by recruiting in high schools. Read the article in Teen Vogue titled “The Military Targets Youth for Recruitment, Especially at Poor Schools.” (https://www.teenvogue.com/story/the-military-targets-youth-for-recruitment) How does this article connect with JD’s experience in the book? Discuss the article as a class and locate the thesis, the main arguments, any counterarguments, any recommendations made, and what your overall thoughts are about the issue.
5. JD joins the Air Force not only for a chance at film school, but to get “as far away from where Juan was killed, from his parents’ divorce, as he could.” (Chapter two) Describe how he deals with these issues throughout the book. How do you deal with difficult issues in your own life? Where do you find support? What about your classmates? Is there a way you can offer support? Work with a partner to create a list of local resources and tangible actions to help folks who feel alone.
6. Write an epilogue for the book that takes place five years later. Make sure to include the main characters and use textual evidence that will give context to the epilogue.
7. When JD tells Danny and Roxanne about his deployment, Roxanne is upset and replies, “‘Like, some kind of war has been going on for our entire lives. Like for what this time?’” (Chapter eleven) Although her question is rhetorical, how would you answer her? With a group, research the wars that have taken place in your lifetime, involving the US or not. Are there ways the US is involved in violence that does not involve an actual war? Are there activists who speak out against war? What do they have to say? Have a small group discussion about your findings and what your beliefs are regarding the issue of war. What is the most effective way to share what you have learned with others?
Guide written by Cynthia Medrano, Librarian at the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, and committee member of Rise: A Feminist Book Project.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.]]>
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Bella loves ballet class and listens hard to the music so she can tippy-toe turn, point, and plié in perfect time. When Madame announces a recital, Bella is determined to do her best. But when she tries to stretch up to leap lightly like a cloud, she wobbles and almost topples—luckily, a friend catches her.
Now, Bella’s nervous; maybe she can’t do this like she thought she could. On recital day, when the curtain goes up and the dancers get in position, Bella freezes. Can she find her courage in time to take the stage?]]>
Ebony Glenn is a children’s book illustrator whose whimsical and expressive imagery can be found inMommy’s KhimarandBrave Ballerina: The Story of Janet Collins, among others.Passionatefor the arts and great storytelling, she lives in theoutskirts of Atlanta with her family.]]>
When an angel comes to his home to deliver a message, Malachi immediately knows what’s going on. The seraph Cassandra who helped his squad recapture Samuel Parris’s wayward soul has finally set a date for her interdimensional mixer! With fae, angels, and hell dwellers alike on the invite list, it promises to be an event of a lifetime.
Mal can’t wait to go to the hot new fashion salon in town and have Morgan, its fabulous fae owner, help him create the perfect look. But Mal’s parents and even some of his squad mates are not quite as excited for the soiree. And when Mal overhears another fae talking to Morgan, he starts to wonder if there’s something at play other than a simple party.
But the mixer gives everyone the opportunity to get to know people from different dimensions and form new connections…what could possibly go wrong?]]>
Emilio Sloth may not be the fastest of animals, but he is always punctual for his friends. After all, it is the well-mannered thing to be. And Emilio is very fastidious about his manners, from his carefully timed arrivals to his perfectly tied cravat.
On his way to meet his friend for scones, Emilio journeys through Westminster Abbey in London smelling the roses and treating everyone he meets with courtesy. But he never loses track of time because he knows showing up for friends is the best way of showing them how much they are loved.]]>
Alea Marley was born in the UK, and her family roots are from Barbados. She loves creating whimsical scenes that are filled with plant life, texture, and bursts of color! Her favorite mediums to work with are mechanical pencils, watercolor crayons, and digital brushes.]]>
Tony likes spending time with his friends Rudolph and Rudolph’s little sister, Anna, and he doesn’t mind if Anna wants to be his girlfriend. But things get a little complicated when Rudolph’s fearsome Great-Aunt Dorothy introduces him to the creepy young vampire Olga and Rudolph the little vampire falls head over heels for her!
But does she like him, too? And what could these romantic entanglements mean for Tony and Rudolph’s friendship?]]>
Rudolph the Little Vampire and his family live a fairly quiet life in their crypt tucked away in the back of the local cemetery. But then they discover the night watchman plans to dig up their section and turn it into a garden…which would mean the end of the vampires! Can Tony help figure out a way to rescue his friends from this terrible fate?]]>
Galaxy Jones lives on the very, very edge of a star system in an inn run by her dads. She loves her home and her little family, but ever since the train station that serviced their part of the universe went defunct, tourists have stopped coming, and Lexi’s on the verge of losing it all. When the royal family stops at their inn on the way to a neighboring star system, Lexi’s dads hope for some good business, but Lexi knows from past experience with spoiled Prince Weston—and his annoying dog, Comet—to expect nothing but trouble.
Turns out, that “trouble” is a whole lot bigger than she anticipated. Weston has stolen something. Even worse, he’s stolen it from notorious pirates—former followers of Lexi’s idol, the famous pirate Astro Bonny—who have tracked him straight to her house. Problem is, Weston has lost the trinket somewhere in deep space. And now the pirates are holding all the adults hostage with the threat of destroying the inn if they can’t find what they’ve come for.
Lucky for Weston, Lexi has a plan. In exchange for his help saving the family business, she will use all her skills and embrace the adventurous spirit of the great Astro Bonny to help him find whatever it is the pirates are after. With some pluck, and a whole lot of luck, she might just pull it off—and make an unexpected friend along the way.]]>
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Recently, he became co-Founder of the AW YEAH COMICS comic shop and co-Creator of the AW YEAH COMICS comic book series starring ACTION CAT and ADVENTURE BUG!]]>
Recently, he became co-Founder of the AW YEAH COMICS comic shop and co-Creator of the AW YEAH COMICS comic book series starring ACTION CAT and ADVENTURE BUG!]]>
Recently, he became co-Founder of the AW YEAH COMICS comic shop and co-Creator of the AW YEAH COMICS comic book series starring ACTION CAT and ADVENTURE BUG!]]>
Recently, he became co-Founder of the AW YEAH COMICS comic shop and co-Creator of the AW YEAH COMICS comic book series starring ACTION CAT and ADVENTURE BUG!]]>
Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, make every day of their summer vacation an adventure. From ambitious new inventions to helping those in need, they always get into something fun. Meanwhile, across town, the wannabe-evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz continually attempts to take over the Tri-State Area with his various "inator" devices, and Perry the Platypus, the boys' pet and a secret agent, consistently foils his plans on behalf of the O.W.C.A and his commanding officer, Major Monogram.]]>
Follow Tinker Bell and the rest of the Fairies in this giant four-in-one collection that features classic stories originally published in the volumes titled Prilla's Talent, Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani, Tinker Bell and the Day of the Dragon, and Tinker Bell to the Rescue. It's always the perfect time to return to Never Land!]]>
Phineas Flynn and his stepbrother, Ferb Fletcher, make every day of their summer vacation an adventure. From ambitious new inventions to helping those in need, they always get into something fun. Meanwhile, across town, the wannabe-evil scientist Dr. Doofenshmirtz continually attempts to take over the Tri-State Area with his various "inator" devices, and Perry the Platypus, the boys' pet and a secret agent, consistently foils his plans on behalf of the O.W.C.A and his commanding officer, Major Monogram.]]>
Follow Tinker Bell and the rest of the Fairies in this giant four-in-one collection that features classic stories originally published in the volumes titled Prilla's Talent, Tinker Bell and the Wings of Rani, Tinker Bell and the Day of the Dragon, and Tinker Bell to the Rescue. It's always the perfect time to return to Never Land!]]>
Hefty Smurf and Brainy Smurf discover an ancient amphora at the bottom of a pond. Upon opening it, they unleash a powerful genie. Unfortunately, the genie has lost his memory and does everything half-heartedly! The Smurfs will soon understand why…
Other tales include another comedy adventure from Johan and Peewit and short stories showcasing the whole Smurfs Village. A perfect tie-in opportunity with the all-new Smurfs animated series on Nickelodeon!]]>
Hefty Smurf and Brainy Smurf discover an ancient amphora at the bottom of a pond. Upon opening it, they unleash a powerful genie. Unfortunately, the genie has lost his memory and does everything half-heartedly! The Smurfs will soon understand why…
Other tales include another comedy adventure from Johan and Peewit and short stories showcasing the whole Smurfs Village. A perfect tie-in opportunity with the all-new Smurfs animated series on Nickelodeon!]]>
Flash Gordon: Classic Collection Volume 1 reprints all of Alex Raymond's Sunday strips from January 1, 1934 to April 18, 1937, and includes additional background material and an introduction from Alex Ross]]>
Because we see the world from a physical perspective, we often don’t notice that our bodies, emotions, thoughts, and spirits are all made of energy. In fact, each of us has a personal vibration that accurately communicates who we are to the world and helps shape our reality. Frequency shows you how to feel your own personal vibration, improve it, and use it to shift your life from ordinary to extraordinary. A simple change in frequency can turn depression to peace, anger to stillness, and fear to enthusiasm.
Weaving together ideas from quantum physics with proven intuition development techniques, Frequency helps clear negative energy, develop conscious sensitivity, and center into your “home frequency” that facilitates clarity and compassion. Providing a reassuring, step-by-step roadmap into the positive state of awareness in what Peirce calls the Intuition Age, Frequency can help you to improve relationships, find upscale solutions to problems, and materialize a high-frequency life that contains everything you want and need to live your destiny.]]>
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• Explores the evolving state of humanity, the 12 spectral dimensions of experience, and the cosmic mechanics of our physical and metaphysical reality
• Presents Pleiadian methods to develop your psychic abilities and channeling capacities, as well as techniques for reading the Akashic records, safely traversing the etheric realms, and lucid dreaming
• Examines the Mind Stream, how our consciousness interacts with our physical reality, as well as the Heart Beam, which enables access to the highest dimensions and connects us to the Cosmic Heart
Humanity is undergoing a cosmic rebirth. Profound cosmic shifts have precipitated this awakening, stimulating our DNA and kundalini energies while also bringing us into chaotic challenges, all pushing us toward an eventual future of unimagined harmony. We must learn to maximize our role in this new aeon to embrace our potential and achieve enlightenment for all sentient beings.
Sharing Channeled wisdom from the Cosmic Christ and our celestial guardians the Pleiadians, Joshua Reichmann explains how light, vibration, form, formlessness, and mind all swirl in concert to create the cosmos. He presents Channeled knowledge on the evolving state of humanity, the 12 spectral dimensions of experience, the Akashic records, and the cosmic mechanics of our physical and metaphysical reality. He examines the mind stream, which includes the perceptual entanglement of our consciousness with reality. He explains how life force energy is superanimated at this time, activating and enhancing our multitude of senses, including our extrasensory capacities. He shows how to move through the darker saturnal realms of Satan, the samsaric force, where we must neutralize evil to be free. He details how the highest dimensions we access come through the heart beam, which expresses itself through the chakra system and the auric layers of the rainbow body and connects us to the cosmic heart.
Revealing what we can do during this precious time of rapid energetic change, the author presents advanced methods to develop your psychic abilities and Channeling capacities as well as techniques for reading the Akashic Records, safely traversing the etheric realms, lucid dreaming, and recognizing the unseen beings—angels, buddhas, and Cosmic Christ—within and around us. Presenting a Pleiadian guide to cosmic, planetary, and consciousness upgrades, this book reveals how the cosmic rebirth is occurring, where we are headed, and how to navigate it all.]]>
A New Era for HumanityONE
Kundalini Awakened Logos
Opening to Full Cosmic Potential
TWO
Nexus of the Fully Embodied Channeler
Channeling for the Benefit of Others
THREE
Our Celestial Family
Solar Beings, Pleiadians, and Plasma Minds
FOUR
Noetics
The Obsession with the Tree of Knowledge
FIVE
Communication Codes
Activation through Symbols
SIX
The Twelve Dimensions and the Rainbow Body
Conscious Manifestation through Self-Evolving Energetic Forms
SEVEN
The Cosmic Christ
Living the Revelatory and Oracular Inner Path to Salvation
EIGHT
The Entropic Chaotic Darkness
Satan, Mara, and Evil
NINE
AI
The Disincarnation of Humanity
TEN
Spiritual Beings in Physical Bodies
How We Experience Being Human
ELEVEN
The New Technology Within
Magnifying Our Consciousness
TWELVE
The Golden Age
The Growth of Light and Human Liberation
THIRTEEN
Remembering the Future
Jumping Timelines by Eclipsing the Self
Index]]>
• Explores how chemicals and nanotechnology are being continuously delivered via chemtrail aerosols by jets, drones, and rockets in the guise of “climate change”
• Examines the public-private partnerships behind transhumanism, including Big Pharma, GMO agribusiness, DARPA/IARPA, corporations, and foundations
• Reveals the reality of the secret space program (SSP) and the planetary “smart grid” of 5G/6G, the Internet of Things (IoT), and artificial intelligence (AI)
What if the degradation of the planet is not just a byproduct of human greed but the explicit intention of government agencies bought off by corporations? What if their intent is to create a “post-human” global government run by AI, populated by a genetically and electromagnetically altered Homo sapiens loaded with nanotechnology and run by 5G/6G/7G transceivers from space?
Building on decades of research, Elana Freeland offers a comprehensive exposé of the transhumanist agenda—the transformation of humanity into a slave class by means of biotechnology, genetic engineering, molecular nanotechnology, and artificial intelligence. She reveals that weather control is already a global reality, thanks to the aerosol chemtrails that maintain the ionized atmosphere needed for a myriad of military and civilian wireless operations like weather modification, delivery of nanotechnology and synthetic biology (synbio) by jets, drones, and rockets, and pulses that alter human behavior, bodies, and brains. The air we breathe, the soil we grow our food in, and the water we drink have all been altered away from Nature and toward a synthetic “metaverse.” Meanwhile, Big Pharma injects nano-sized hardware and software in vivo that activate a transhumanist brain-computer interface with AI. The author also examines the public-private partnerships behind transhumanism, including Big Pharma, GMO agribusiness, DARPA/IARPA, corporations, and foundations, and reveals the reality of the secret space program (SSP) and the planetary “smart grid” of 5G/6G.
The eons-old global dream of power seems to be coming of age in this overwhelmingly technological era of domination by the wealthy. And yet by exposing the transhumanist agenda and studying the technology being employed to subjugate the human race, we have the opportunity to begin to find ways not just to resist becoming machines ourselves but also to become self-responsible creators who utilize our technologies not for power but for restoring a high civilization in service to the Good, the Beautiful, and the True.]]>
• Reveals how herbalism is a powerful way to participate in the green transformation underway in our culture
• Examines the radical and non-hierarchical roots of herbalism, the growth of spiritual awakening and social radicalism
• Looks at the most recent research in herbalism, revealing the exponential growth in peer-reviewed literature covering phytotherapy and other herbal-oriented healing modalities
Providing a comprehensive guide to the dynamic new landscape of modern herbalism, renowned medical herbalist David Hoffmann explores how ancient healing modalities are once again becoming prominent.
Using the concept of viriditas—the understanding of nature as divinely intelligent—Hoffmann examines biodiversity and chemodiversity, elaborating on the ecological role of human-herb interactions and coevolutionary relationships between species. Presenting evidence of medicinal plant use by animals and early humans, he reviews herbalism from its ancient roots to the modern varieties in practice today, emphasizing how herbalism that developed outside of the dominant culture laid the foundations for the effective, simple techniques relevant for our modern world. He examines the radical and non-hierarchical roots of herbalism, considering the parallels between the field’s development and the growth of spiritual awakening and social radicalism.
Exploring herbalism through the modern scientific lens, Hoffmann reveals the exponential growth in recent research and peer-reviewed literature on phytotherapy and herbs. He describes the problems inherent in herbalism’s integration into the global marketplace, emphasizing that herbalism must stay rooted in the health of the people to avoid becoming commodified. He offers a range of herbal approaches to support personal and cultural resilience during the myriad crises humanity is facing. Ultimately, Hoffmann says, a vibrant culture of herbalism can have critical implications for the future, serving as a crucial force for health and resilience.]]>
Radicle and Radical: My Path to Herbalism
INTRODUCTION
Embrace of the GreenPART ONE
Context
1 The Deep Roots of Modern Herbalism
2 Using Herbs in the Context of a Therapeutic System
3 Names and Numbers: Defining Herbalism
PART TWO
The Science
4 An Old Herbalist Looks at the New Science
5 The Ecological Theater and the Evolutionary Play
6 The Pharmacology of Herbal Synergy
PART THREE
A Path Forward
7 Herbalism Today
8 Reality Check
9 What Is a Simple Herbalist to Do?
CONCLUSION
Herbalism in the Anthropocene
Educational Resources
References
Index
About the Author]]>
Born Vincent Capuccio on December 3, 1955, Vinnie Stigma—as his countless friends and fans lovingly refer to him—is the founder and guitarist of New York City’s legendary hardcore band Agnostic Front. He’s also one of the Big Apple’s earliest punk rockers, having frequented such eclectic downtown haunts as Max’s Kansas City, The Electric Circus, and of course, CBGB while it was still known as Hilly’s on the Bowery during the early 1970s.
The Most Interesting Man in the World stretches from Vinnie’s upbringing in Little Italy amongst the tight-knit Italian families, as well as some prominent wiseguys, to teaming up with Cuban-born vocalist Roger Miret to carry punk’s angrier successor across the globe; from no-show jobs in his youth obtained by people who “protected” him, to lighting up some of the world’s biggest stages. However, Vinnie Stigma is not your run-of-the-mill rocker of many decades. He has dabbled in cooking, professional wrestling, acting, martial arts, yoga, and other creative disciplines. He is a father and a cancer survivor who helped pioneer skinhead and tattoo culture in America, and has mentored hundreds of fledgling musicians and artists. Vinnie insists he is an entertainer first and foremost, which he learned from his childhood idols Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee, and Frank Sinatra.
Featuring vintage photos throughout, a handful of signature Italian recipes, even a four-page comic book and crossword puzzle, The Most Interesting Man in the World is a journey through a life unlike any other. No one sees or experiences the world quite like Vinnie Stigma.]]>
Howie Abramsis a former music business executive turned author. He co-authoredThe ABCs of Metallica and Finding Joseph I: An Oral History of H.R. from Bad Brains,and has written The Merciless Book of Metal Lists,Misfit Summer Camp: 20 Years on the Road with the Vans Warped Tour,Hip-Hop Alphabet, Hip-Hop Alphabet 2 and The ABCs of the Grateful Dead.]]>
In 1459 a Venetian monk named Fra Mauro completed an astonishing map of the world. Seven feet in diameter, Fra Mauro’s mappamundi is the oldest and most complete Medieval map to survive into modernity. And in its time, this groundbreaking mappamundi provided the most detailed description of the known world, incorporating accurate observation, and geographic reality, urging viewers to see water and land as they really existed. Fra Mauro's map was the first in history to show that a ship could circumnavigate Africa, and that the Indian “Sea” was in fact an ocean, enabling international trade to expand across the globe. Acclaimed anthropologist Meredith F. Small reveals how Fra Mauro’s mappamundi made cartography into a science rather than a practice based on religion and ancient myths.
Here Begins the Dark Sea brings Fra Mauro’s masterpiece to life as a work of art and a window into Venetian society and culture. In telling the story of this cornerstone of modern cartography, Small takes the reader on a fascinating journey as she explores the human urge to find our way. Here Begins the Dark Sea is a riveting testament to the undeniable impact Fra Mauro and his mappamundi have had over the past five centuries and still holds relevance today.]]>
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A blonde beauty queen, missing children, six suspicious deaths, and the twisted Mormon doomsday writings of her fifth husband are only the beginning of a tragic crime saga that gripped Americans and instigated frantic searches all over the country.
It all started when Lori Vallow met Chad Daybell at a doomsday prepper event. Their story grew like a wildfire that creates its own weather, and what happened next will shock even the most experienced true crime reader.
Clinging to and manipulating one another, Lori Vallow and Chad Daybell believed the return of Jesus Christ was imminent and that God had chosen them to lead the 144,000 and usher in the new millennium. When the people closest to them began dying, it became clear they would stop at nothing to be together and fulfill their mission. When the bodies of Lori’s missing children—J.J. and Tylee—were discovered in Chad’s backyard, the strange and complex story of their fundamentalist Mormon beliefs were revealed in all their true horror.
Author Lori Hellis, a retired criminal lawyer, had just moved to Arizona when news of J.J. and Tylee's disappearance broke, and there were reports about these missing children that linked them to a neighboring community. She began to follow the case closely, trying to understand this perfect storm of people and circumstances that culminated in the death of innocents. In Children of Darkness and Light, Hellis digs deep into the investigation, trial, and verdict to craft a haunting narrative that illuminates one of the most confounding crimes in recent memory.]]>
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On Nov. 22, 1963, William Clay Ford, the youngest grandson of auto pioneer Henry Ford, made a successful bid to buy the Detroit Lions of the National Football League for the unheard-of sum of $6 million. As Ford and his entourage settled down to a celebratory luncheon, their waitress delivered the news that President John F. Kennedy had been shot dead in Dallas.
"Born under a bad sign" is how Bill Ford’s ownership of the Lions began. After a decade of supremacy, Ford led the team on a half-century slog of mediocrity, the fruit of his mercurial nature and undying loyalty to the wrong people. The Lions Finally Roar is bursting with the colorful ruffians who have made the team one of America’s most beloved sports franchises despite its years of futility. Readers meet the hell-raising quarterback Bobby Layne, who is said to have put a curse on the team after he was traded to Pittsburgh; the rock-solid linebacker and future coach Joe Schmidt; the stars Charlie Sanders, Matthew Stafford, Calvin Johnson and, most spectacularly, Barry Sanders, the greatest running back in the history of the game, who grew so disgusted with losing and mismanagement that he walked away when he was on the threshold of shattering the NFL’s all-time rushing record.
But the tide is finally turning. The Lions Finally Roar culminates with the team’s recent turnaround and playoff run under the stewardship of Bill Ford’s daughter, Sheila Ford Hamp. Hamp hired savvy general manager Brad Holmes and charismatic coach Dan Campbell—and has stood behind them as they methodically returned the team to the ranks of the league’s elite and, at long last, have made the Lions roar.
Deeply researched and briskly written, The Lions Finally Roar is about much more than football. It explores the American class system, the linked histories of Detroit and its auto and music industries, the city’s changing racial dynamics, the rising power of television, and how all of it played into the NFL’s transformation from a fall sport into the multi-billion dollar, year-round entertainment behemoth that is a cornerstone of American popular culture.]]>
"[Morris] does a superb job of recounting a life amid a series of significant decades. His imaginative 'mongrel' approach—a mix of…biography, history, reportage, memoir, autobiography, and, when the record runs thin, speculation that flirts with fiction—is successful. An entertaining combination of domestic and world history."]]>
Though Cioma Schonhaus was only 11 years old when the Nazis first came to power, his cleverness and resourcefulness eventually made him an unlikely hero and bon vivant. As a young adult staying one step ahead of the S.S., Cioma would dine in swanky restaurants and frequent trendy bars and have plenty of romances—all while sabotaging weapons in the munitions factory where he worked. He even bought a sailboat and taught himself how to sail.
These hijinks never distracted Cioma from a deeper mission. Trained as an artist, Cioma’s masterfully forged fake ID's ensured that several hundred Jews survived the war. When he learned the Gestapo was closing in on him, Cioma masterminded a singularly daring escape: spending a month biking to Switzerland, he became the only person to cycle his way out of the Third Reich.
Beautifully written and deeply satisfying, Two Wheels to Freedom is a story of survival and resistance unlike any other. Arthur J. Magida captures Cioma’s exuberance, charm, spunk, and courage. His was a life lived with wonderment, one that the author sets seamlessly against the horrors of history while never losing sight of Cioma’s “wily ways, his zest for life, and his appetite for improbable adventures—all of them delighting in the magic that’s beyond the ordinary and the staid.” Two Wheels to Freedom is an exhilarating read that by turns illuminates and inspires.]]>
"Noor Inayat Khan is a woman for our age: a true heroine who faced down evil when she saw it and sacrificed her life for the cause of freedom. Arthur J. Magida’s biography is both a thrilling spy story and a moving portrait of her courage."]]>
• Shares the author’s interviews with four water elemental queens, also known as undines or mermaids, evocatively sharing their wisdom, magic, and love
• Reveals that the oceans of the earth are the outer expression of an inner kingdom of love that we each can experience
• Presents exercises and attunements to awaken your mermaid intuitive and empathic abilities and develop an inner connection to rivers, lakes, and oceans as well as the inexhaustible love of the mermaid kingdom
Taking you directly into the realm of the water spirits, William Mistele shares his profound encounters with mermaids, revealing spiritual truths about the elemental kingdom, universal love, and the necessity of empathy.
Using the magical methods of Hermeticist Franz Bardon, the author makes direct contact with four water elemental queens, also known as undines or mermaids, evocatively sharing their wisdom, magic, and love. Like their fellow elementals—salamanders (fire), sylphs (air), and gnomes (earth)—undines are united with, and personify, their element of water. Their energy is deeply feminine: cool, soothing, and gentle, yet also nurturing and supportive. Mermaids are deeply empathic, sensitive, and responsive. They accept, affirm, and seek to draw together, bond, join, and unite. The author shows how, even when incarnated in human form, mermaids do not lose this powerful feminine empathic magic.
Speaking through the author, the mermaids reveal that the oceans of the Earth are the outer expression of an inner kingdom of love. Personifying this magical love intertwined with profound empathy and compassion, mermaids are able to contain within themselves the soul of any being so as to shelter, inspire, and transform. The mermaids reveal how their abilities—especially empathy, harmony with nature, and a cooperative rather than combative relationship with the world—are latent in us all and crucial to humanity’s spiritual growth and survival.
Sharing elemental exercises and attunements, the author shows how we each can awaken mermaid intuitive and empathic abilities and develop an inner connection to rivers, lakes, and oceans as well as the inexhaustible love of the mermaid kingdom. When we experience this love, we will no longer perceive nature as external to ourselves. Rather, like these magical beings of water, we will feel united with nature from the core of our being.]]>
Preface to the Second Edition
Preface to the First Edition
PART I
Nature Spirits in Our World
1. The Five Elements and Their Elementals
2. Undines
3. The Franz Bardon Approach
PART II
Meetings with Undines
4. Dialogues with Istiphul
5. Istiphul’s Personality
6. Channeling Istiphul
7. Other Undines and a Merman
8. A Modern Undine
PART III
Connecting to the Undine Realms
9. Images of Water
10. The Difference between a Real and an Imagined Undine
11. A Study of Water and the Magnetic Fluid
12. A Study of Well-Being
13. How to Meet Undines
14. Exercises and Review
Afterword
Appendix A. Incarnated Mermaids
Appendix B. Messages from Sylphs, Gnomes, and Salamanders
Appendix C. Poems
Further Reading
Index
About the Author]]>
• Provides a full explanation for each character of the Celtic tree alphabets and their historic variants, including each symbol’s corresponding trees, colors, birds, cryptic codes, and esoteric inner meanings
• Explores the use of Celtic tree alphabets in spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art as well as the practice of Ogham cryptography
• Explains how, like Norse Runes, each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right and offers the possibility of deep psychic transformation
Emanating from the spiritual traditions of Celtic antiquity, Ogham is best known as a “tree alphabet.” It is a symbolic system that encapsulates the archaic skills and wisdom of ancient Ireland and Britain and is important in contemporary Druidry. Studying the Oghams enables us to engage with ancient ways of thinking and gain access to the elemental powers that speak to the inner nature of our being, the wildwood in our hearts.
Presenting a wide-ranging exploration of the Ogham tree alphabet, Nigel Pennick explores the traditional lore of the Celtic trees and their relationship to ancient, mythic beings from whom their understanding was legendarily derived. Each Ogham character is a meditative symbol in its own right, embodying a creative power available to all. Pennick provides a full explanation for each of the Ogham letters along with correspondences from historic Irish sources and considers their use in ciphers, spiritual invocation, divination, and symbolic art. He also discusses ceremonies that assist in reconnecting us with nature and the wilderness, including “Maying” and greenwood marriages and the use of colors and magical binding-knots in the Celtic tradition. Also included is a chapter on the little-known Coelbren y Beirdd, a cryptic system devised for the use of Bards and Druids.
This handbook for learning Ogham and Coelbren offers a comprehensive understanding of the ancient Celtic worldview, allowing you to apply their wisdom in modern life.]]>
Preface
Celtic Tree Alphabets, Ancient and Modern
1 The Irish Tree Alphabet
2 Meanings of the Ogham Feadha
3 Ogham Cryptography, Gall Ogham, and the Gaelic Alphabet
4 Deities of the Sacred Forest
5 Celtic Tree Lore of Birch, Thorn, and Oak
6 Welsh Bardic Scripts
Postscript
Through Woods to Wisdom
Appendix 1
Ogham Correspondences
Appendix 2
Classification of Celtic Tree Types
Appendix 3
The Bardic Hierarchy
Glossary of Terms
Bibliography and Resources for Further Study
Index]]>
• Connects the philosophy of the I Ching with key recent advances in cosmology, such as the Big Bang theory, Roger Penrose's cyclic conformal cosmology, and his and Stuart Hameroff's cosmic quantum brain dynamics
• Explains the Taoist cosmology of Heaven-Humanity Oneness in the context of Teilhard de Chardin’s evolutionism, Thomas Berry’s cosmogenetic trinity, and Brian Swimme’s 12 cosmological powers
• Examines the holographic unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind at microcosmic, mesocosmic, and macrocosmic scales
Is the universe inert and empty, or is it in some way responsive to consciousness? Breathing new life into a question that has perplexed philosophers since ancient times and scientists for the last century, physicist Zhen G. Ma, Ph.D., offers a quantitative “theory of everything” that beautifully integrates ancient I Ching philosophy, Eastern Taoism, modern cosmology, and the quantum brain dynamics of consciousness.
Sharing insights from his years of research on space physics and black-hole spacetime—complemented by studies in quantum brain dynamics and cosmological powers with Brian Swimme at the California Institute of Integral Studies—Ma explains how his integrated theory draws primarily on two key paradigms in the philosophy of cosmology and consciousness: Swimme’s cosmic creation story of the universe as a green dragon and Roger Penrose and Stuart Hameroff’s cosmic consciousness.
Extending these theories further, Ma shows how they harmonize not only with the ancient Eastern philosophy of the oneness of heaven and humanity, but also with a holographic cosmic principle that connects the quantum-plasma brain with the universe and earth with heaven. He then looks at this holographic unity in the cyclic process of birth, growth, decay, and death and shows how it resonates with Einstein-Friedmann’s cosmological dynamics and Hawking-Penrose’s quantum gravity model.
Demonstrating a quantitative paradigm of everything, Ma shows how humanity is inextricably and holistically blended into the cosmic fabric of the universe.]]>
by Brian Thomas Swimme, Ph.D.Acknowledgments
Introduction to the Holographic Unity of Heaven, Earth, and Humankind
1 Statement of the Problem
2 Historical Background
3 The Wisdom of Eastern Philosophy
4 Swimmean Spiritual Evolutionism
5 Quantitative Principles of the Holographic Universe
6 Holographic Theory of Everything—
A Conclusion
Appendix A: A Representative Set of 325 Cycles
Appendix B: Rule of the Distributions of Qi n the I-torus Topology
Compendium of Celebrities and Chinese Terms and Texts
References
Index]]>
Ma encourages readers to contemplate the boundless mysteries that go far beyond our current understanding of spacetime, urging us to consider humanity’s place in a vast multiverse of multiple dimensions. A must-read for thinkers seeking to comprehend our role in the cosmological reality.”]]>
This original cosmology—by a qualified scientist with a background in both astrophysics and Chinese philosophy—has the makings of a longstanding primary source.”]]>
• Explains the theoretical basis behind psychomagic, Jodorowsky’s shamanic healing technique
• Details the author’s technique of “psychotrance” to access his subconscious mind to discover the most suitable psychomagic remedy
• Shares passionate correspondence between Jodorowsky and patients and admirers who have successfully used psychomagic methods for personal healing
Through films, books, comics, and art spanning seven decades, legendary filmmaker Alejandro Jodorowsky has offered his singular surrealistic perspective on the fundamentally dreamlike nature of reality. This perspective also underlies his healing technique known as psychomagic, which uses the symbolism of the unconscious to understand and mend reality as if it were a dream.
In The Way of Imagination, the master offers a detailed exploration of the mechanisms by which psychomagic works to heal our most pressing emotional and spiritual wounds. He describes the initial stages of psychomagic’s development into a practice and how he crafted the first psychomagic prescriptions to speak directly to the subconscious through the language of dreams. Above all, Jodorowsky explains, psychomagic is a therapy of action, rather than one of words.
Sharing passionate correspondence between himself and patients and admirers in the form of 84 letters, the author demonstrates how people have successfully used psychomagic to make profound changes in their lives. He shares detailed accounts of how he uses Tarot readings to determine a diagnosis as well as how he uses a trance state—what he calls “psychotrance”—to access his subconscious mind to discover the most suitable psychomagic remedy.
Presenting a complete immersion in the techniques of psychotrance and psychomagic, this guide show how the dreamlike nature of reality can help us move forward on the path to healing.]]>
The Birth of Psychomagic
Psychomagic in Action
A Lecture at Jussieu University in Paris, 1987
Psychomagical Letters
Responses from My Tarot Readings at the Café Le Téméraire
AFTERWORD
The Psychotrance Process
Index
About the Author
]]>• Explains the Dark Man phenomenon through centuries-old folklore and mythology, testimony from British witch trials, and modern accounts
• Challenges the simplistic concept of the Devil as “evil,” explaining how encounters with this entity can reveal one’s life purpose and how the Dark Man can be an initiator into witchcraft
• Presents interviews with those who have witnessed the Dark Man firsthand, offering insights into how he can serve as a guide to a more positive life
From the fortean phantoms that terrorized Victorian England to the haunted crossroads of the Irish hinterlands, the Devil—also known as the Dark Man—has found countless novel ways to influence culture and bring us face to face with our fears. Tracing this enigmatic entity through the centuries via mythology, folklore, occult writings, and modern accounts, Darragh Mason shows how the Dark Man is more than just a myth: he is a real presence in our world.
Drawing on Irish manuscripts dating back to the 12th century, testimony from 17th-century Scottish witches, his own experiences, and interviews with contemporary witches and mystics, Mason builds the case for the pattern of the Dark Man phenomenon, showing what his presence can mean, what it’s like for those who experience him, and how his appearance serves as a calling to the path of witchcraft. In doing so, Mason challenges conventional understandings of the Dark Man as an evil presence, emphasizing his role in questioning authority and liberating individuals from the confines of strict social convention. He shows how the Dark Man’s presence serves as a potent illustrator of the battles between light and dark.
But, Mason emphasizes, these stories of the Dark Man are not necessarily just folktales. Sharing a series of interviews with contemporary figures, including Orion Foxwood and Peter Grey, who speak of the nature of this spirit and their experiences with him, the author illustrates how encounters with the Dark Man can challenge you to make changes—often painful ones—and how if you meet his challenges, you may be bestowed with mystical gifts and initiated into witchcraft. Ultimately, Mason shows how the Dark Man may be a liberating figure: if one faces him and moves beyond the fear, he can open the door to a richer, more fulfilling, and more magical life.]]>
Foreword by Peter Mark Adams
Introduction: Folkloric Footprints of a Nameless God
PART I
Folklore and Witchcraft
1
Fire in the Blood2 The Black Magician of the Men of God
3 Oisín, the Little Fawn
4 The Dark Interceptor
5 Tricky Trickster, Culture Changer
6 The Dark Womb and Rewilding the Soul
7 Confessions of Witches
PART II
Witnesses and Witches
8 Elise Oursa, Blood & Ink
9 Jessica Mitchell, Glastonbury Tor
10 Shullie H. Porter, Death and the Dark Man
11 Megan Rose, PhD
12 Orion Foxwood, the Dark Rider and the Crossroads
13 Peter Grey and Alkistis Dimech
14 David Beth on Master Leonard
15 Hearing His Song
Notes
Bibliography
Index]]>
Now that Franny and her newly sober mom have moved to a cozy apartment above a laundromat, Franny’s looking forward to a life where her biggest excitement is getting top grades in math class. But when Franny’s mom gets injured in a car accident, their fragile life begins to crumble. There’s no way her mom can keep her job cleaning houses, which means she can’t pay the bills. Franny can’t forget what happened the last time her mom was hurt: the pills that were supposed to help became an addiction, until rehab brought them to Mimi’s laundromat and the support group she hosts.
Franny will not let addiction win again, even if she has to blackmail a school rival to help her clean houses. She’ll make the money and keep her mom sober—there’s no other choice. But what happens if this is one problem she can’t solve on her own?]]>
Maid for It
By Jamie Sumner
About the Book
Franny Bishop worries about a lot of things: if she got all the answers on her math test right; if her bully, Sloan, is going to pick on her that day; or if she’s going to come home to find her mom abusing her prescription drugs again, despite being sober for years. When her mom is in a car accident, resulting in a broken leg, Franny has even more worrying on the horizon. How can her mom get to work if the car is totaled? How can they make money if her mom can’t work? Without money, how can they pay off the hospital bills and their rent, as well as pay for a new car? How can her mom ignore the pain pills the hospital sent her home with?
Franny is determined not to let the accident upset her family’s fragile stability, so she secretly takes over her mom’s cleaning jobs. Meanwhile, she’s counting pills to make sure her mom isn’t slipping back into addiction, and she’s trying to stay on top of extra credit in math class, the only place her life feels truly in control. Franny simply doesn’t have time for friends—not even Noah, who folds cute origami animals for her and doesn’t seem to care what anyone else thinks. But it’s not easy to juggle school and house cleaning, not even when she blackmails her rival Sloan into helping her clean. Will Franny manage to pull off this delicate balancing act and safeguard her mom’s sobriety, or will it all come crashing down again?
Discussion Questions
1. What did you learn in this book about how addiction impacts families and how support systems help people who are recovering from addiction? Were you surprised to learn any of this? Why or why not?
2. After her mom’s surgery, Franny frequently checks her pill bottles to make sure none are missing. Why does Franny have a hard time trusting her mom? Do you think this is fair? Why or why not?
3. Making amends, or apologizing to people for the ways in which you’ve wronged them, is an important step of recovery in Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous. What does it mean to make amends? Why do you think it’s so important for someone who is recovering from addiction? What are other situations in which people might need to make amends? Have you ever had to?
4. Why do you think Franny feels responsible for keeping her mom sober? Do you think this is a fair responsibility to take on herself? What does Franny’s mom think?
5. Early in the book, Franny says, “I have no circle. I am a dot.” (Chapter eight) What does she mean by this? Do you think she would still say she is a dot by the end of the book? Have you ever felt like this?
6. Why do you think Franny blackmails Sloan into cleaning houses with her, instead of turning her in for cheating? Do you think this is a good decision? Why does Sloan decide to keep cleaning houses with Franny, even after their deal is supposed to be over?
7. Why does Noah make origami animals for Franny? Why is she so reluctant to take them?
8. One thing Franny admires about Noah is the way he allows “other people’s opinions to roll off him.” (Chapter twenty-three) Why does Franny admire Noah for this? Do you think this is a good trait to have? Are you more like Noah or more like Franny in this regard?
9. Franny points out that “Even if Sloan and I are maybe-friends, she doesn’t know my secrets. She doesn’t understand how poor we are and what happens on Wednesday nights when the laundromat closes early. She only knows a slice of me, and it’s a carefully measured one.” (Chapter twenty-four) Why is Franny so reluctant to let other people see the real her? Do you think this is a good way to live? Over the course of the book, Franny learns that a lot of things aren’t quite as she thought—her mother’s financial planning, Sloan’s family life, Noah’s popularity. Have you ever learned something that surprised you about someone you thought you knew well?
10. Why do you think Sloan is mean to Franny at the beginning of the book? Were you surprised that Sloan and Franny became friends by the end? Do you have any friends who started out as enemies? What changed between you?
11. One key theme in this book is the importance of letting your community support you. How does Franny’s community support her? Does Franny like accepting this support? Why or why not? What support do you have in your life?
12. Why does Franny decide to secretly clean the houses of her mom’s clients after her mom gets hurt? Do you think this is a good decision? Franny secretly listens in on her mom’s Alcoholics and Narcotics Anonymous meetings. Is this allowed? Why do you think Franny does it? What is she hoping to learn?
13. Why does Franny keep a secret jar of money? What is she worried might happen? Does this seem like a reasonable worry to you?
14. Franny’s mom nicknames them Big Dipper and Little Dipper. What’s the meaning behind these nicknames? Does your family have any nicknames for each other? What are they, and where did they come from?
15. Franny thinks she needs to take care of and protect her mom. Does her mom agree? Do you ever feel like you need to protect the adults in your life?
16. Why do you think Franny likes math so much? How does she feel when she doesn’t do well on the extra credit her math teacher gives her? What does Mr. Jamison tell her?
17. Franny says that she doesn’t like surprises. Why not? Do you like surprises? Do you think Franny’s attitude toward surprises has changed by the end of the book? What good surprises does she end up experiencing?
18. Franny says, “I am invisible. And I like it that way.” (Chapter fifteen) What are the advantages to being invisible? What are the disadvantages? Have you ever wished that you could be invisible? Do you think Franny is still invisible by the novel’s conclusion?
19. Each morning, Franny makes a color-coded to-do list in her planner. What kinds of tasks does she include? Why do you think she feels the need to have this list?
20. After she gets caught, Franny must make amends by apologizing to the people she has lied to. She thinks “apologies are exhausting.” (Chapter thirty-two) Why do you think apologizing is so difficult? What else does Franny discover about apologies?
21. Mimi tells Franny, “‘You can’t make anybody else do the right thing. You just have to keep doing the right thing for you.’” (Chapter thirty) What does Mimi mean by this? Does Franny always do the right thing?
22. When does Franny feel most like herself? How can you tell? When do you feel most like yourself?
23. Mimi tells Franny: “‘We’ve got to keep giving people grace, Franny. Even when they don’t deserve it. Especially when they don’t deserve it.’” (Chapter thirty-one) What does Mimi mean by this? In what ways do the characters in this book show each other grace? Has anyone ever given you grace when you didn’t necessarily deserve it? Have you ever done the same for someone else?
24. What is Mimi’s role in Franny’s and her mom’s lives? Why do you think she helps them? What adults can you really count on in your life? How do they guide and support you?
Extension Activities
1. Maid for It shows how addiction doesn’t only affect the person who is abusing substances. It also has a huge impact on the people who love that person. Write a report or create a poster on the effects of parental addiction on kids. Be sure to include information about how experts recommend helping kids cope with a parent’s addiction, like the seven Cs Franny’s mom reminds her of in this story.
2. Throughout the book, Noah gives Franny hand-folded origami animals. Research the Japanese art of origami. What are the rules of origami? Why is it culturally meaningful? Then try making your own origami animals. An adult can help you find books or websites that will teach you how.
3. Imagine you are Sloan. Write a diary entry about what life is like for you at school and at home. What are your parents like? What things are hard for you right now? How do you feel about Franny and the other people around you?
4. Create a picture album of the book’s key characters, including Franny, her mom, Mimi, Sloan, Noah, and anyone else you’d like. You can use pencil, paints, markers, or even make a collage to illustrate what you think each character in the book looks like. Under each character’s picture, write a brief description of what they do in the book and what that tells you about what they are like.
5. Create a character analysis for a character of your choice from the book. Your analysis should describe the character, what motivates them, what they struggle with, and how they grow and change over the course of the novel. You can present your analysis as a poster or a written report. If you’d like, include an illustration of what you think the character looks like.
6. Create a musical soundtrack for Maid for It. What songs capture the things that happen in the book and the emotions of the characters? For example, what song do you imagine playing when Franny finds out her mom has been injured? When she goes to the dance with Noah? When she and Sloan first start cleaning houses together? List the name and artist for each song, and then write a brief explanation of why you included it. If you’d like, you can create a listenable version of your soundtrack on a music app.
Chris Clark is a writer and reading teacher who lives with her family in coastal Maine.
This guide has been provided by Simon & Schuster for classroom, library, and reading group use. It may be reproduced in its entirety or excerpted for these purposes.]]>
Everyone knows Fall Hollow is haunted. It has been ever since Abigail Snook went into the woods many years ago, never to be seen again. Since then, it’s tradition for the sixth graders at Beckett Elementary to play the Bellwoods Game on Halloween night. Three kids are chosen to go into the woods. Whoever rings the bell there wins the game and saves the town for another year, but if Abigail’s ghost captures the players first, the spirit is let loose to wreak havoc on Fall Hollow—or so the story goes.
Now that it’s Bailee’s year to play, she can finally find out what really happens. And legend has it the game’s winner gets a wish. Maybe, just maybe, if Bailee wins, she can go back to the way things used to be before her grandma got sick and everyone at school started hating her. But when the night begins, everything the kids thought they knew about the game—and each other—is challenged. One thing’s for sure: something sinister is at play…waiting for them all in the woods.]]>
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Siblings Tell and Wren barely escaped the treacherous city of Halfway with their lives, two new friends, and an unconscious sorcerer. With a massive bounty on their heads if they ever return, Tell and Wren have no choice but to return to their village…despite the punishment surely awaiting them for venturing outside their icy mountain home.
But treacherous power plays brew amongst the Villagers, and our heroes once again find themselves in the middle of a civil war, one that takes an almost deadly toll on the siblings. It also reveals an astonishing secret about Wren: she has magic, powerful magic. This startling revelation, combined with disturbing dreams that plague Rumi, drag the four back into Halfway, the very place they’re forbidden from entering upon penalty of death.]]>
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Cougars have been spotted nearby, but they haven’t hurt the ranch horses—yet. So Samantha is outraged when a neighboring rancher vows to kill the cats on sight. And her family’s horses may be safe, but out on the range, Sam spots a wild young stallion without a herd.
Being alone puts this horse in danger. But can Sam protect the rebellious mustang and still save the cougars?]]>
Athena can’t believe it’s almost her little sister Hebe’s birthday…or that it’s been a year since Athena found herself at Mount Olympus Academy. It turns out Athena and her BFFs, the Goddess Girls, remember very different versions of Athena’s first day at school. To see what really happened, they use a spell to travel back in time!
The girls go back a year earlier but to ancient Rome instead of Greece—where they meet the Roman equivalents of themselves! With time running out for them to get back to Greece—and for Hebe’s celebration!—can the Goddess Girls work with their new friends to find their way home?]]>
Suzanne Williams is a former elementary school librarian and the author of over seventy books for children, including the award-winning picture booksLibrary Lil(illustrated by Steven Kellogg) andMy Dog Never Says Please(illustrated by Tedd Arnold), and several chapter book and middle grade series. She also coauthors the Goddess Girls and Thunder Girls series with the fantastic Joan Holub. Visit her at Suzanne-Williams.com.]]>
Every day, Lord Tennyson the Miniature Schnauzer does his very best to care for the six McNiff children and keep them from destroying their pink New England farmhouse—and the rest of the town for that matter. But when summer vacation brings the kids home together all day, his chaos-containing skills are put to the ultimate test.
Baby Sweetums is still refusing to walk, nap, or listen to anyone; Ezra is trying to keep a snake as a secret pet; Annie and Mary’s fighting is worse than ever; and Pearl and Tate are scared of just about everything. And when a particularly tempting troop of baby chicks arrives at the house, even Lord Tennyson finds he can’t stay on his best behavior.
As the chaos begin to spiral out of hand, though, something truly awful happens: Mr. and Mrs. McNiff seem to be considering getting “a real nanny” to care for their big brood! Can Lord Tennyson get the McNiffs’ hijinks under control and teach them to behave before the summer’s out? Or will this most unusual nanny find himself out of a job and back in the doghouse?]]>
When Prunella is born with a purple thumb instead of a green one like her parents, everyone’s stumped. What could it mean? Before long, they find out. Prunella prefers corpse flowers to carnations, fungi to ferns, and poison ivy to petunias. The stickier and scarier the plant, the more Prunella loves it.
And if her poisonous and noxious garden keeps the other neighborhood kids away, it’s probably for the best. But then one day, a curious weed of a different sort pops up…
Should prickly Prunella uproot this tentative new friendship or allow it to flower?]]>
Claire Keanestudied graphic design at École Supérieure d’Arts Graphiques in Paris, France, where she lived for eight years, until she moved to Los Angeles to work at Walt Disney Animation Studios. During her ten-year tenure there, she designed forTangled,Frozen,Enchanted, and other films. In 2013, she left to dedicate her time to creating her own stories and to work on various book and animation collaborations at her studio in Venice Beach, California. Now, she is the author and illustrator of many books for kids, includingOnce Upon a Cloud,Love Is,Why?, andPrunella.]]>
Bash, a young ghost who’s never been good at “ghost stuff” is heading off to Scare School, the world’s leading institution for elementary scare instruction, and he’s not happy about it. In fact, he’s kind of scared! His older sister Bella, precocious in every way, was a star student there and he knows the classes are hard and the teachers are tough.
Even before his first day of school, Bash is worried about how he’s going to make it through the rigorous curriculum when he hasn’t been able to get the hang of basics like making himself invisible or passing through walls (without bonking his head!). Will the young ghost get booooted out of Scare School?]]>
From 1776 to the present day, the Presidents of the United States have been America’s most important public speakers. Their words have inspired change throughout the highs and lows of history, from the Declaration of Independence to declarations in support of civil rights, and everything in