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 co*cktails 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 co*cktail creations. This book is so much fun! The co*cktails 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...]]>
]]>
]]>
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!
]]>
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 peaco*cks; 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
______________________________________________________________________
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.
______________________________________________________________________
‘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
]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
'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 circ*mstances. 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
]]>
]]>
'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.
]]>
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 Circ*mstances, 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.]]>
]]>
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
]]>
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.
]]>
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 didhom*o 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
------------
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.
------------
‘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]]>
]]>
]]>
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
_______________________________________________________
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 circ*mstances. 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.
_______________________________________________________
‘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
]]>
]]>
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: hom*o 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]]>
]]>
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 co*cktail in this fun and functional co*cktail 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. co*cktails include:
-Ramos Gin Fizz
-Gin Daisy
-Blackberry Kiwi Collins
-French 75
-Negroni
-And more!
Work your way through all 75 co*cktails with this fun—and functional co*cktail 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 sh*t 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.]]>
]]>
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.]]>
]]>
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.]]>
]]>
]]>
]]>
• 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 hom*o 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.]]>
]]>
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 circ*mstances 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.]]>
]]>
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.]]>
]]>
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.]]>
]]>
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 between.
Why did George Washington call for “good faith and justice towards all nations” in his farewell address? What did it mean for Franklin D. Roosevelt to proclaim, in the middle of the Great Depression, that “the only thing to fear is fear itself?” And in one of the most famous presidential speeches ever given, the Gettysburg Address, why did Abraham Lincoln choose to begin with math (“four score and seven years ago”)?
In Speaking of America, the meaning and historical impact of quotes from the first forty-five American presidents are illuminated with wit and warmth. Full of fascinating facts that take listeners behind the scenes of American history, this captivating nonfiction book shows how US presidents have used their words to encourage, explain, assert, and defend—while equipping future leaders with the knowledge that they too have the power to change the world.]]>
Vivian Shihis a Taiwanese American illustrator, art director, and designer. Her work has appeared in various digital and print media, includingThe Los Angeles Times,NPR, promotions forLizzo’sWatch Out for the Big Grrrls,and the critically acclaimed novelAfrican Townby Charles Waters and Irene Latham. Vivian was raised in California and is now based in Brooklyn, New York.]]>
Tchik.
Tchik.
Tchik-Tchik-BOOM!
Lucas loves capoeira, the Brazilian martial art that combines music, dance, and acrobatics. He’s been practicing his moves all week for his batizado—his moving-up ceremony—where he’ll get his capoeira nickname.
But today, Lucas has…the nerves! Scared he’ll lose his ginga—his courage and rhythm—in the capoeira circle, Lucas plays his trusty tamborim for comfort. Then he remembers his Papai’s powerful words: your ginga lives inside of you. With a little help from his community, Lucas discovers that his courage is never too far away.]]>
Douglas Lopes is an illustrator who graduated in social communication. He has illustrated more than a dozen books, between fantasy and fiction, seeking to bring to life the narratives that inspire him. In his spare time, he is an avid reader and scholar of history and racial issues.]]>
Wilhelmina Price has a dubious reputation in the village of Thrush’s Green. Ever since her mother’s untimely death, she has been able to see a person’s spirit leaving their body days or hours before they die. Wil has never been able to prevent these deaths, so her unusual skill has made her an outsider to most except her lifelong friend, Edison, the youngest son of Lord Summerfield. But when a maid at the Summerfield’s estate dies in the same mysterious way as Wil’s own mother, Wil takes on a housemaid’s position to investigate whether these women might, in fact, have been murdered.
There is nothing Ed Summerfield values more than his friendship with Wil, which is why he’s desperate to disguise how hopelessly in love with her he’s become—and his belief that he may be haunted by the ghost of his older brother, Peter. Because if Wil, with her supernatural powers, can’t see the same evidence of hauntings that Ed does, he worries he may actually be losing his mind.
Together, Wil and Ed must dig deeper into the Summerfields’ hoard of secrets, though the truth won’t give itself up without a fight that could prove deadly to the both of them, as they face cunning adversaries among the living and the dead.]]>
]]>
Having grown up in Nefaria, a land where evil schemes abound, Candelabra is thrilled to take a school trip to Joviala, a land that’s prone to natural disasters but has virtually no evil in it. All her life, she’s dreamt of a place where everyone is caring and happy and without malicious intent, and now it’s coming true for her.
But Jovialan Schmebecca isn’t so sure her country’s reputation is earned. A company has just been approved to move her beloved mountain to install a theme park, and that sounds pretty evil to her. She enlists the help of veteran evil-scheme-thwarters Candelabra and Bobert, and together, they work to uncover the possible evil scheme—but when a twist pits their goals against each other, the fight against evil becomes a lot more complicated.]]>
Little Ghost and his mom have been happily haunting their creaky old house for years, just the two of them. When a new girl moves in next door, Little Ghost wants to introduce himself. But making friends can be scary…until he comes up with the perfect plan: he’s going to invite her over for a Halloween party! But what costume will make her want to be friends with him?]]>
Eleven-year-old Naomi loves all things outdoors—birds and beetles, bats and bunnies—in theory. She explores nature in the best possible way: the cold, hard facts in books. So when her parents’ announcement of their impending divorce comes hand in hand with sending Naomi and her younger twin brothers to summer camp while they figure things out, it’s salt in the wound for Naomi and her avoidance of hands-on experience.
Camp Twisted Pine could be worse. The counselors are nice, and Naomi likes her cabinmates, especially Jackie, whose blunt personality and frank dislike of the camp draws Naomi in quickly. Jackie is also hard of hearing and uses a hearing aid, and the girls quickly develop a routine of sign language lessons in their free time, which Naomi sees as a welcome break when all the s’mores-making and nature walks get to be a bit much.
But the campers aren’t the only ones who roam the grounds of Camp Twisted Pine. When people start to go missing, including Jackie, Naomi has to find a way to save everyone—and herself. Her practical knowledge of the outdoors may still be rudimentary at best, but she has years of studying and the scientific method to fall back on. Can Naomi identify and stop the dangerous predator before it’s too late?]]>
One morning, so early that fog still sleeps on the surface of the river, a young boy accompanies his yeye seven miles north to the grassy field behind their home to cut satintail to feed the livestock. But when a massive gale scatters the hay—and a whole day’s work—important lessons will need to be learned about endurance, impermanence, and how to let go and weather the storm in a world that can often feel overwhelming and uncontrollable.
In sparse, lyrical prose interpreted by critically acclaimed author-illustrator Ying-Hwa Hu, The Gale is the first-ever picture book by the Nobel Prize–winning author of celebrated classics like Red Sorghum and Life and Death Are Wearing Me Out. It is adapted from the novella of the same name.]]>
Zhu Chenglianggraduated from the Nanjing University of the Arts with a degree in oil painting and is a member of the China Artists Association. He loves creating illustrations for picture books and is honored to be the recipient of awards, including the Feng Zikai Children’s Picture Book Award, as well as a runner-up for the UNESCO Noma Concours for Picture Book Illustrations. His best-known works includeFlame,A New Year’s Reunion,andAll in a Day.]]>
For as long as anyone can remember, Zeke Ladoja and Imogen Parker have been best friends. Their classmates, their parents, and even the school custodian think that they’re meant to be together. And that’s exactly what Zeke wants: for Gen to be his girlfriend. Now that she’s about to be sixteen (and allowed to date), Zeke is finally going to tell her how he feels—in front of everyone at her birthday party.
Imogen loves Zeke with all her heart, but only as a friend. The pressure to be with Zeke has sometimes been overwhelming, but up to this point, she’s been able to manage it. Then she falls for the new boy, Trevor Cook, and she knows the news will devastate Zeke. The last thing she wants to do is hurt her best friend, but she also resents the fact that no one seems to care about what she wants.
The night of Gen’s party, everything goes wrong. There’s backlash, most of it directed at Gen, and Zeke feels emboldened. He isn’t about to give up on his feelings, and he’ll do whatever it takes to prove that she made the wrong choice…even if it means destroying their friendship. But Gen isn’t about to give up on fighting for herself and the freedom to love the boy she wants, not the boy she’s expected to be with.]]>
Mindy is so excited to be a big sister—but also nervous, because she’s never been one before! When her baby brother, Charlie, arrives, Mindy wants to be as helpful as she can. But as cute as he is, Charlie is a lot louder—and more stinky—than she could have imagined! Mindy tries her best but feels like she isn’t going anything right. Still, if she can find her own special way to pitch in, she can still prove Charlie is lucky to have a big sister just like her!]]>
Dung Ho(pronounced Dzung)is the illustrator of theNew York Timesbestselling picture bookEyes That Kiss in the Corners,Eyes that Speak to the Stars,Me and Ms. Too,The Mindy Kim books, and many others.Born and raised in Hue, Vietnam, she worked in the design and advertising industries before discovering a great passion for illustration and picture books and becoming a freelance illustrator. She lives and works in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.]]>
Kat and Ari love cookie time, their special tradition with Grandpa and his dog, Biscuit. It’s always fun and oh, so delicious! But waiting for the cookies to be ready is so hard. What better way to skip to the good part than a time machine?
The two plan to jump a little into the future, to when the cookies are out of the oven, but they overshoot and go way too far ahead! And when Kat and Ari try to return, they still can’t get the timing right. They have fun meeting prehistoric dinosaurs, futuristic robots, and even past versions of themselves…but just wish they could get back to Grandpa. Could they have been wrong about the best part of cookie time?]]>
As a spider, Kiara has always made webs to catch food, but one day, she discovers a web so beautiful that she’s inspired to spin a masterpiece of her own.
So, Kiara starts creating, but even though she works hard on her webs, they are carelessly destroyed by others. How frustrating!
It’s not until Kiara meets Orb, a spider who eats every web he weaves, that she gains a fresh perspective: the artistic process isn’t about the destination but the journey and the friends you make along the way.]]>
A. N. Kang started her career designing giftware, greeting cards, and holiday installations all over New York City. In 2016, She debuted as an author and illustrator with the picture bookThe Very Fluffy Kitty, Papillon. Since then, she has been working as a children’s book author and illustrator. Her books includeMy Big Bad Monster,Celebrate You!by Sherry Duskey Rinker,Squirrel’s Family Treeby Beth Ferry, andI Worked Hard on That!by Robyn Wall. You can see more of her work online at AnnaKangDesign.com.]]>
Madsi has always loved the stories that her clever, strong-willed sister, Lisbet, told her late at night in their cabin. Madsi never expected Lisbet to become one of those tales. But last year, her sister disappeared in the night, snatched away by the Northern Lights.
This year when the Lights appear in the sky, Madsi begs them to free her sister—and a girl falls to earth right in front of her. But it’s not Lisbet. This girl’s name is Torin, and she demands that Madsi take her to a witch who can put her back into the Lights, where she went by choice. Madsi doesn’t know what to believe—but if she takes Torin to the witch’s mountain, maybe she can get Lisbet back. They set off, joined by Espen, an annoying (but surprisingly helpful) boy from Madsi’s village.
Madsi has never thought of herself as brave, but as they endure the wilds and face monsters she’s only heard about in tales, she finds unexpected strength. Can she also find the truth of what happened to her sister?]]>
The war over Wrenly has ended, but Roke is still lost inside another realm. Ruskin, Cinder, and Groth are determined to get their friend back…even if it means stepping into the Penumbra, where a monster reigns over the darkness.]]>
Meet Mabel. She always gets what she wants. No matter what it takes. Meet Chester. He’s Mabel’s new friend, but…he doesn’t always agree with Mabel’s methods.
After a disagreement, Mabel decides she’s better off alone. But when Mabel starts to miss Chester, she realizes that to get what she wants most of all, she’ll have to learn what it means to be a good friend.]]>
Marc Rosenthal is theNew York Timesbestselling illustrator of many books for children, including the Small Walt collection by Elizabeth Verdick,All You Need Is Loveby John Lennon and Paul McCartney,I Must Have Bobo!by Eileen Rosenthal,We Love Fishing!andMabel Wants a Friendby Ariel Bernstein, andArchie and the Pirates, which he wrote. He lives in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. Learn more at Marc-Rosenthal.com.]]>
It’s the very end of eighth grade and all everyone can talk about is high school—everyone except Ellie Cowan. Ellie wants to freeze time. Middle school was epic. She moved to Oklahoma, made her best friends, won a baking championship, quit a beauty pageant, and dominated Putt-Putt golf in her wheelchair.
But now her feelings for her best friend Bert are starting to change. When did Bert get so cute? And why are all the other girls suddenly noticing, too? As if that isn’t enough to deal with, Grandpa’s health takes a turn for the worse. So what do you do when you don’t know how to hold on and when to let go?]]>
Eleven-year-old Melody is not like most people. She can’t walk. She can’t talk. She can’t write. All because she has cerebral palsy. But she also has a photographic memory; she can remember every detail of everything she has ever experienced. She’s the smartest kid in her whole school, but NO ONE knows it. Most people—her teachers, her doctors, her classmates—dismiss her as mentally challenged because she can’t tell them otherwise. But Melody refuses to be defined by her disability. And she’s determined to let everyone know it…somehow.
This captivating hardcover boxed set includes the bestsellers:
Out of My Mind
Out of My Heart
Out of My Dreams]]>
Introduce the concept of opposites, play hide-and-seek, and snuggle up for bed with the incredibly cute dinosaurs in this collection of board books. Featuring Sandra Boynton’s signature rhyming text and whimsical art this giftable boxed set is DINO-mite!
This exuberant board book boxed set includes:
Oh My Oh My Oh Dinosaurs!
Peekaboo Rex!
Dinosnores]]>
The Guardians never dreamed that there was more to Horsa than their four realms. But when a hidden world reveals itself on the back of the map, they are thrown into a strange land filled with Ice Horses, Gem Horses, and mountains that move. Can the Guardians face the whole new world that has been hiding right under their hooves?]]>
It feels nice to have an admirer. At least, that’s what Desmond and Andres think when they meet Stanley, the number-one fan of the Ghost Patrol. But then Stanley starts acting out of control. Is he just a superfan? Or could he be a super phantom?
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.]]>
Victor Rivas was born and raised in Vigo, Spain, and he lives outside of Barcelona. He has been a freelance illustrator for thirty years, illustrating children’s and teen books, comics, and concept art for multimedia games and animation.]]>
Thrift stores are a great place to look for ghosts. They love hiding in people’s old stuff! But the Kersville Thrift Store has a totally different creature that’s haunting its aisles…a mannequin that wants to thrift your head right off your shoulders!
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Desmond Cole Ghost Patrol chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.]]>
Victor Rivas was born and raised in Vigo, Spain, and he lives outside of Barcelona. He has been a freelance illustrator for thirty years, illustrating children’s and teen books, comics, and concept art for multimedia games and animation.]]>
Anna is dreading another tourist-filled summer on Dune Island that follows the same routine: beach, ice cream, friends, repeat. That is, until she locks eyes with Will, the gorgeous and sweet guy visiting from New York. Soon, her summer is filled with flirtatious fun as Anna falls head over heels in love.
But with every perfect afternoon, sweet kiss, and walk on the beach, Anna can’t ignore that the days are quickly growing shorter, and Will has to leave at the end of August. Anna’s never felt anything like this before, but when forever isn’t even a possibility, one summer doesn’t feel worth the promise of her heart breaking…]]>
The first time you lay eyes on someone who is going to become someone to you—your someone—you’re supposed to feel the earth shift beneath your feet, right? Sparks will course through your fingertips and there’ll definitely be fireworks. There are always fireworks.
But it doesn’t really happen that way. It’s messier than that—and much better.
Trust me, I know. I know how it feels to have a someone.
To be in love.
But the day after my sophom*ore year ended, I didn’t know anything. At least, that’s the way it feels now.
Let me clarify that. It’s not like I was a complete numbskull. I’d just gotten a report card full of A’s. And one B-minus. (What can I say. Geometry is my sworn enemy.)
And I knew just about everything there was to know about Dune Island. That’s the little sliver of sand, sea oats, and sno-cones off the coast of Georgia where I’ve lived for my entire sixteen-year existence.
I knew, for instance, where to get the spiciest low-country boil (The Swamp) and the sweetest oysters (Fiddlehead). Finding the most life-changing ice cream cone was an easy one. You went to The Scoop, which just happened to be owned by my parents.
While the “shoobees” who invaded the island every summer tiptoed around our famously delicate dunes (in their spotless, still-sporting-the-price-tag rubber shoes), I knew how to pick my way through the long, fuzzy grass without crushing a single blade.
And I definitely knew every boy in my high school. Most of us had known one another since we were all at the Little Sea Turtle Play School on the north end of the island. Which is to say, I’d seen most of them cry, throw up blue modeling clay, or stick Cheetos up their noses.
It’s hard to fall for a guy once you’ve seen him with a nostril full of snack food, even if he was only three at the time.
And here’s one other thing I knew as I pedaled my bike to the beach on that first night of my sixteenth summer. Or at least, I thought I knew. I knew exactly what to expect of the season. It was going to be just like the summer before it, and the summer before that.
I’d spend my mornings on the North Peninsula, where tourists rarely venture. Probably because the sole retail establishment there is Angelo’s BeachMart. Angelo’s looks so salt-torn and shacky, you’d never know they make these incredible gourmet po’ boys at a counter in the back. It’s also about the only place on Dune Island where you can’t find any fudge or commemorative T-shirts.
Then I’d ride my bike south to the boardwalk and spend my afternoon coning up ice cream and shaving ice for sno-cones at The Scoop.
Every night after dinner, Sam, Caroline, and I would call around to find out where everyone was hanging that night. We’d all land at the beach, the deck behind The Swamp, Angelo’s parking lot, or one of the other hideouts we’d claimed over the years.
Home by eleven.
Rinse salt water out of hair.
Repeat.
This was why I was trying hard not to yawn as I pedaled down Highway 80. I was headed for the bonfire on the South Shore.
That’s right, the annual bonfire that kicked off the Dune Island summer, year after year after year.
One thing that kept me alert was the caravan of summer people driving their groaning vans and SUVs just a little too weavily down the highway. I don’t know if it was the blazing, so-gorgeous-it-hurt sunset that was distracting them or my gold beach cruiser with the giant bundle of sticks bungeed to the basket. Either way, I was relieved when I swooped off the road and onto the boardwalk.
I tapped my kickstand down and had just started to unhook my pack of firewood when I heard Caroline’s throaty voice coming at me from down the boardwalk. I turned with a smile.
But when I saw that Caroline was with Sam—and they were holding hands—I couldn’t help but feel shocked for a moment.
In the next instant, of course, I remembered—this was our new normal. Sam and Caroline were no longer just my best friends. They were each other’s soul mate.
As of two Saturdays earlier, that was.
I don’t know why I was still weirded out by the fact that Sam and Caroline had gotten together that night. Or why I cringed whenever they gazed into each other’s eyes or held hands. (Thankfully, I hadn’t seen them kissing. Yet.)
Because the Sam-and-Caroline thing? It was really no surprise at all. There’d always been this thing between them ever since Sam moved to the island at age eight and settled into my and Caroline’s friendship as easily as a scoop of ice cream nests in a cone.
We even joked about it. When Sam made fun of Caroline’s raspy voice and she teased him about his gangly height; when she goosed him in the ribs and he pulled her long, white-blond ponytail, I’d roll my eyes and say, “Guys! Get a room.”
Both of them would recoil in horror.
“Oh gross, Anna!” Caroline would say, sputtering and laughing all at once.
Inevitably, Sam would respond with another ponytail tug, Caroline would retaliate with a tickle, and the whole song and dance of denial would start all over again.
But now it had actually happened. Sam and Caroline had become a Couple. And I was realizing that I’d kind of liked the denial.
Now I felt like I was hovering outside a magical bubble—a shiny, blissed-out world that I just didn’t get. Sam and Caroline were inside the bubble. Together.
Soon after they’d first kissed, both of them had assured me that nothing would change in our friendship, which, of course, had changed everything.
Still, Sam and Caroline were sweetly worried about my third-wheel self. And they were clearly giddy over their fresh-hatched love. So I was trying to be supportive. Which meant quickly hoisting my smile back up at the sight of them looking all cute and coupley on the boardwalk.
I eyed their empty hands (the ones that weren’t clasped tightly together, that was) and raised one eyebrow.
“Don’t tell me you didn’t bring firewood,” I complained. “I hate being the only one who did her homework.”
“Naw,” Sam said in his slow surfer-boy drawl. “We already piled it on the beach. The fire’s going to be huge this year!”
“We were collecting wood all afternoon,” Caroline said sunnily.
I couldn’t help it, my smile faded a bit.
I guess this is how it’s going to be, I thought. Sam and Caroline collecting firewood is now Sam and Caroline On a Date—third wheel not invited.
Caroline caught my disappointment. Of course she did. Ever since The Kiss, she’d been giving me lots of long, searching looks to make sure I was okay with everything. I was starting to feel like a fish in a bowl.
“We would have called you,” she stammered, “but didn’t you have sib duty today?”
She was right. I did have to go to my little sister’s end-of-the-year ballet recital.
So why did I feel this little twinge of hurt? I’d had countless sleepovers with Caroline that didn’t, obviously, include Sam. And Sam and I had a regular ritual of going to The Swamp for giant buckets of crawfish that were strictly boycotted by Caroline. The girl pretty much lived on fruit, nuts and seeds, and supersweet iced tea.
But ever since Sam and Caroline had gotten together, a kernel of insecurity had been burrowing into the back of my head. All I wanted to do was shake it off. But like an especially stubborn sandbur, it wasn’t budging.
This is stupid, I scolded myself. All that matters is that Sam and Caroline still love me and I love them.
Just not, the whiny voice in my head couldn’t help adding, the mysterious way they love each other.
I sighed the tiniest of sighs. But then my friends released each other’s hands and Sam plucked the firewood bundle out of my arms. He hopped lightly from the boardwalk onto the sand and headed south. Caroline hooked her arm through mine and we followed him. I ordered myself to stop obsessing and just be normal; just be with my friends.
“Cyrus is already so drunk,” Caroline said with a hearty laugh and an eye roll. “We have a pool going on how early he’s going to pass out in the dune grass.”
I pulled back in alarm.
“There’s beer here?” I asked. “That’s, um, not good.”
The bonfire was not more than a quarter mile down the beach from The Scoop, where my mom was working the post-dinner rush. And when you make the most to-die-for ice cream on a small island, everybody’s your best friend. Which meant, if there was a keg at this party, it would take approximately seventeen seconds for the information to get to my mom.
Luckily, Caroline shook her head.
“No, the party’s dry,” she assured me. “Cyrus raided his dad’s beer cooler before he got here. What an idiot.”
Down the beach, just about everybody from our tiny high school was tossing sticks and bits of driftwood onto a steadily growing pyramid. By now, the sun had been swallowed up by the horizon, leaving an indigo sky with brushstrokes of fire around its edges. Against the deep blue glow, my friends looked like Chinese shadow puppets. All I could see were the shapes of skinny, shirtless boys loping about and girls with long hair fanning out as they spun to music that played, distant and tinny, from a small speaker.
But even in silhouette I could recognize many of the people. I spotted Eve Sachman’s sproingy halo of curls and Jackson Tate’s hammy football player’s arms. It was easy to spot impossibly tall Sam. He tossed my firewood on top of the pyre, then waved off the laughter that erupted when most of the sticks tumbled right back down into the sand.
I laughed too, and expected the same from Caroline. She was one of those girls who laughed—no, guffawed—constantly.
But now she was silent. So silent, I could swear she was holding her breath. And even in the dusky light, I could see that her heart-shaped face was lit up. Her eyes literally danced and her lips seemed to be wavering between a pucker and a secret smile.
I looked away quickly and gazed at the waves. The moon was getting brighter now, its reflection shimmering in each wave as it curled and crashed. I zoned out for a moment on the sizzle of the surf and the ocean’s calming inhale and exhale.
But before I could get really zen, I felt an umph in my middle, and then I was airborne.
Landon Smith had thrown his arms around my waist, scooped me up, and was now running toward the waves.
If I hadn’t been so busy kicking and screaming, I would have shaken my head and sighed.
This is what happens when you’re five feet one inch with, as my grandma puts it, “the bones of a sparrow.” People are always patting you on the head, marveling at your size 5 feet, and hoisting you up in the air. My mom, who is all of five feet two and a half, says I might grow a little more, but I’m not betting on it.
Landon stopped short of tossing me full-on into the surf. He just plunked me knee-deep into the waves. Since I was wearing short denim cutoffs and (of course) no shoes, this was a bit of an anticlimax. I looked around awkwardly. Was I supposed to shriek and slap at Landon in that cute, flirty way that so many girls do? I hoped not, because that wasn’t going to happen. After a lifetime of tininess, I was allergic to being cute.
I’m not saying I cut my hair with a bowl or anything. I’d actually taken a little extra care with my look for the bonfire. Over my favorite dark cutoffs, I was wearing a white camisole with a spray of fluttery gauze flowers at the neckline. I’d blown out my long, blond-streaked brown hair instead of letting it go wavy and wild the way I usually did. I’d put dark brown mascara on my sun-bleached lashes. And instead of my plain old gold hoop earrings, I was wearing delicate aqua glass dangles that brightened up my slate-blue eyes. (Or so my sister Sophie had told me. She’s fourteen and reads fashion sites like some people read the Bible, searching for the answers to all of life’s problems.)
While Landon laughed and galloped doggily back onto the dry sand, I said, “Har, har.”
But instead of sounding light and breezy, as I’d intended, it came out hard and humorless. Maybe because I was just realizing that Landon’s shoulder had gouged me beneath the ribs, leaving a throbbing, bruised feeling. And because everyone was staring at me, their smiles fading just a bit.
I felt heat rush to my face. I wanted to turn back toward the ocean, to breathe in the cloudy, dark blue scent of it and let salt mist my cheeks.
But that would only make everyone think I was really annoyed, or worse, fighting back tears.
Which I wasn’t.
What I was feeling was tired. Not literally. That afternoon I’d downed half a pint of my latest invention, dark chocolate ice cream with espresso beans and creamless Oreo cookies. (I might have eaten the cream from the cookies as well.) My brain was buzzing with caffeine and sugar.
But my soul? It was sighing at the prospect of another familiar bonfire. Another same old summer. A whole new round of nothing new.
Except for this restlessness, I thought with a frown.
That was new. I was almost sure I hadn’t felt this way the previous summer. I remembered being giddy about getting my learner’s permit. I dreamed up my very first ice cream flavors, and some of them were even pretty tasty. I graduated from an A cup to a B cup. (I’m pretty sure all growth in that area has halted as well.) And I was thrilled to have three months to bum around with Sam and Caroline. The things we’d always done—hunting for ghost crabs and digging up clams with our toes, eating shaved ice until our lips turned blue, seeing how many people could nap in one hammock at once—had still felt fresh.
But this summer already felt like day-old bread.
I shook my head again and remembered one of those first ice cream flavors: Rummy Bread Pudding.
If I’d turned stale bread into magic once, I could do it again, right?
It was this bit of inner chipperness that finally made me laugh out loud.
Because me channeling Mary Poppins was about as realistic as Caroline singing opera. And life was not ice cream.
Who was I kidding? Nothing was going to change. Not for the next three months, anyway. On Dune Island, summer was the only season that mattered, and this summer, just like all the others, I wasn’t going anywhere.]]>
Mandy Sullivan isn’t exactly looking forward to the summer months as tourists invade her seaside hometown on the coast of Maine. Her best friend, Cynthia, has abandoned her for camp and her older brother just announced he’ll be staying at college taking classes for the summer, leaving Mandy with nothing to do and no one to hang out with. Hoping to keep herself busy, Mandy takes a volunteer job at the Rocky Pointe Lighthouse.
On her very first day, Oliver Farmingham asks for a private tour. A new—and incredibly cute—face in Rocky Pointe, Oliver seems more interested in Mandy than the lighthouse and its history. Without her best friend at her side, Mandy is scrambling to act the right way and say the right things when Oliver is around. Cynthia—not Mandy—has always been the confident, flirtatious girl that everyone wanted to be around.
As Mandy and Oliver spend more time together exploring the coast, biking through the woods, and attending the local summer festivals, their budding friendship becomes much more. But with Mandy’s insecurities creeping to the surface, can she open her heart to someone who will only be in town for three months?]]>
Why do lupine flowers have to be such an old-lady color?”
I open one eye, then the other. I squint at my best friend, Cynthia Crowley, who stands in front of the full-length mirror hanging on the back of her bedroom door. She fluffs the grayish-bluish-lavenderish skirt of her formal dress.
She isn’t all wrong. If you’ve ever been to Maine, you’ve seen lupines. They’re the tall, spiky, green-leafed plants that kind of look like corn on the cob on top, but with flowers instead of kernels. They’re everywhere. Standing proud like soldiers in gardens, marching along the roadside, reproduced on tea towels, souvenir mugs, and postcards. Even T-shirts—though I don’t think any Mainers wear those, just tourists.
Lupine flowers are all kinds of purple in real life. Translated into Cynthia’s gown, the color somehow ended up pretty fusty. But that’s what happens when the Ladies of the Lupine Festival League sew the dress themselves.
I shut my eyes again and fling my arm over my face to block out the morning light streaming through the bay window. “Why does the Lupine Queen have to begin her reign at the crack of dawn?” I moan.
I hear the rustle of chiffon and fake flowers and know Cynthia is about to pounce.
“Good morning, good morning!” she belts out in her “I’m going to be a Broadway star” voice. The song is from one of her favorite old movie musicals, one with lots of singing and dancing, and I can see why she likes it. I guess I kind of like it too. I actually prefer blockbuster action films, but Cynthia thinks they’re “juvenile.”
I roll away from Cynthia just as she lands on the bed. She bounces on her knees the way we used to in third grade, jostling me so much I grab one of the poles of her four-poster bed to keep from rolling off. The bright blue canopy flutters above us. Everything in Cynthia’s room is a bright color—and usually bejeweled, appliquéd, or fringed, too.
“Your dress!” I scold. “You’ll ruin it!” Only I’m laughing so hard I doubt she understands me.
I pull myself up to a sitting position and lean against one of her many jewel-toned pillows. I rub my face. “How come we both got zero sleep,” I grumble, “and you’re already dressed and looking camera ready?”
Cynthia gives me one of her coy “li’l ol’ me?” looks. “Just the kind of girl I am,” she quips in a babyish voice.
She isn’t wrong about that, either. When Cynthia wakes up, she’s ready to start the day. All energy, enthusiasm, and blond hair. It’s why she’s had boys pursuing her since they stopped seeing girls as cootie carriers.
Me, not so much. Sure, I’ve had boys ask me out sometimes, but mostly as a way to penetrate Cynthia’s inner circle, since I’m the innermost ring. At least, that’s how I figure it.
Cynthia climbs off the bed in a flurry of chiffon. “Seriously, Mandy,” she says in her normal voice. “I have to be there at nine for the kickoff at ten. You’ve got to get ready.”
“I can’t believe you’re abandoning me for the summer for musical-theater camp!” I pull a bejeweled pillow onto my stomach and punch it. Then I tuck it behind my head and add sulkily, “Even though I’m very happy for you.”
I really am happy for her. Mostly. I know how much going to camp means to her. She’s taken tap, ballet, jazz, and hip-hop dance classes since she could walk, along with voice lessons that were a whole hour drive away. Since I’ve known her, Cynthia’s been itching to get out of “Rock Bottom” (her name for Rocky Point) to pursue her performing-arts dreams. I wish I had such direction. My mom wishes I did too.
I force myself up off the bed and cross to the window. If I get into the exact right position, I can see the lighthouse peeking out of the morning fog, overlooking the restless sea. Red stripes circle its white three-story tower, so everyone calls it Candy Cane. The skinny strips of Maine’s jagged coastline reach out like tentacles, as if they’re trying to grab the many islands that pepper the waters, with Candy Cane the striped fingernail on the finger that is Rocky Point.
Before there was even a real town here, there was the lighthouse. It was decommissioned long before I was born, another sign, according to Cynthia, of how unimportant Rocky Point is to the rest of the world.
This, she isn’t exactly right about. The Coast Guard built a newer, more modern one on Eagle Island farther out into the water back in the 1940s. We can hear Eagle Island’s automated foghorn and see the red-light flashes. But Candy Cane is one of the few reasons tourists come to Rocky Point. So maybe it’s the only important thing about Rocky Point to the rest of the world.
I turn away from the window. I’ll be seeing far too much of Candy Cane this summer. Mom roped me into working for the Historical Preservation Society, and the lighthouse is their star attraction. “Working” in the sense I have to show up, not in the sense that I’ll be getting paid.
Whomp! One of Cynthia’s pillows whacks me in the face. Luckily, it’s a fringed one, and not one covered in tiny mirrors.
“Hey!” I complain, tossing the pillow onto the bed. “What was that for?”
“Stop looking so dire!” she scolds. “You’d think you were the drama diva, not me!”
I fling a hand across my forehead and clutch my chest. I stumble across the room to gaze piteously at our shared reflection. “I don’t know what’s to become of me!” I wail in a terrible Britishy accent. “Trapped in the tower as a servant to an evil witch.”
Cynthia giggles and flicks me with her stretchy headband. I snatch it and twist it around my wrists. “Save me,” I beg, dropping to my knees and holding up my bound hands. “I’m a prisoner! The witch kidnapped me when I was a mere babe. She absconded with me—”
Cynthia raises a honey-blond eyebrow at me. “Absconded? Working on your SAT vocab already?”
“Absconded,” I repeat, raising my own dark eyebrow back at her. She gestures magnanimously for me to continue.
“Absconded with me to a land where buildings are made of candy canes.”
Cynthia’s mouth twists as she tries not to laugh. “She used her powers to trap you inside a kiddie board game?”
“Not Candy Land,” I admonish her. “A land of candy.”
She holds up her hands in surrender. “I stand corrected.” She goes back to frowning at her dress, studying it from every possible view.
I slump against a bedpost. “At first I loved all the fudge, saltwater taffy, and caramel. But soon my stomach hurt all the time, my teeth rotted, and the peppermint scent of my prison gave me awful headaches. Now I desperately await the arrival of a prince with a serious sweet tooth to free me.”
Cynthia gives up searching for the elusive angle that would make the dress passable and turns to face me. “You done?” she asks, reaching for her headband.
“For now.” I unwind the headband and give it back to her.
She slips it over her head and pulls her hair back from her face. “Maybe one of the summer boys will rescue you.”
I snort. “Yeah, right.”
“Could happen,” Cynthia says. She picks up her signature bubblegum lip gloss and points it at me. “So. Could. Happen,” she repeats, using the lip gloss to punctuate each word.
“Are you kidding me?” I flop back onto her bed. “Like who?”
Cynthia narrows her eyes, considering. I can practically see her flipping through her mental file labeled “Summer Regulars.” “Someone new,” she concludes.
“Would have to be,” I say. “Since not a single Regular is even remotely an option.”
Rocky Point doesn’t have the long, sandy beaches that some of the coastal communities in Maine have, and isn’t close to the big towns with loads of things to do. So we have people who come for the whole summer, mostly because they have ties to the area: They’re here visiting relatives, or they grew up here or nearby and keep a cottage as a summer place. They generally come year after year, so we’ve watched the kids in those families grow up from toddlers to our age.
The only “true” tourists we get are usually on their way somewhere else. They break up the drive by spending the night at one of our two bed-and-breakfast inns because they have the charm and romance missing from the land of suburbia. Or so I figure it. Sometimes we get groups on a Lighthouses of Maine tour visiting Candy Cane since it’s the subject of a famous painting featured on Maine postcards. There are also Artists and Artisans tours. Every Maine schoolkid can rattle off the names of the famous artists who painted here: Edward Hopper, Winslow Homer, N. C. and Jamie Wyeth among many others. So tourists check out the art galleries and our genuinely showstopping views that inspired so many paintings, then go on their touristy way. Still, it’s Candy Cane that’s the star attraction.
Satisfied with her makeup, Cynthia slips off the headband and refluffs her hair. “Your mom’s not an evil witch, ya know.”
“Not to you, maybe,” I grumble. “And now she’s my boss. As if she’s not on my case enough already. And with Justin gone for the summer…”
“Why would anyone voluntarily take summer classes?” Cynthia shakes her head.
“I know! Mr. Overachiever Double-Major just makes my grades seem even more pathetic. Even though they were actually better this past year.” I sigh. “I can’t believe he’s staying at school all summer.”
Cynthia gives me a sympathetic look in the mirror. Now that my brother and I have outgrown our childhood attempts to kill each other, I kind of adore him. Mom certainly does. They practically never fight. And while Justin was away at college this year, Mom and I got into it more than ever.
Can my summer get any worse? No Cynthia. No Justin. That means no baby steps into the ocean until Cynthia yanks me under with her. No nightly trips to Scoops to try every flavor at least three times before voting for Best New Flavor at the Good-bye to Summer Festival. No action flicks with Justin to relieve the frustration of the third-straight day of rain. And no outings to local theaters to watch Cynthia perform.
Nope. This summer is going to be all me, Mom, and Candy Cane.
“Your mom can’t hang around the lighthouse,” Cynthia points out. “She has her job at the library.”
“She’ll find a way,” I groan.
“I’ve done all I can.” Cynthia lifts and releases the overskirt in one last attempt to make the dress turn into something wearable, and concedes defeat.
“Aren’t you going to freeze?” I ask, frowning at the strapless gown.
Even though the Lupine Festival is the “official” start of summer in Rocky Point, Maine, our first day of summer is chillier than the last. Most of the Summer Regulars haven’t even started arriving yet, so it’s like one big party for the locals. That’s why I like it—there’s lots to do, but it’s still super low-key. The calm before the summer season storm.
Cynthia picks up a gray-blue-lavender chiffon shawl and drapes it around her shoulders. “I’ve got this lovely item, to complete the grandma look.” She pouts at her reflection. “I can’t believe they expect me to wear this to the Lupine Dance tonight too. It will be everyone’s last memory of me.”
“You’re not dying.”
She waves a hand dismissively. “You know what I mean. This is how everyone will picture me while I’m away.”
“Not with all the selfies you post,” I tease.
She sticks out her tongue and goes back to arranging the shawl, before shouting, “Would you puh-leeze get up already!” She tosses my clothes onto the bed. “I have to be there in less than half an hour.”
“Okay, okay.” I get up, grab my bag with my toothbrush and toothpaste in it, and slump across the room to the bathroom. “But I expect you to keep your eyes peeled for my prince.”]]>
Happy Halloween!
We’ve got surprises you can’t beat.
So pull on up and say:
TRUNK OR TREAT!
What’s any monster’s favorite night of the year? Halloween! And for the first time ever, monsters get to trunk or treat! Little readers will love lifting the flaps to reveal pop-up surprises hiding within each trunk. From slime to spiders, ghosts to bones, get ready to be spooked!]]>
Lydia Jeanmakes cute, spooky, quirky art—and even spooky cute art!]]>
Angelina and her friends at Chipping Cheddar school can’t wait for Fancy Dress Day. Angelina is signed up for the fancy dress race and is joining Alice in the egg and spoon race. Sammy promised Henry that they could do three-legged race together, but then Sammy forgets! Can Angelina Ballerina save the day and make sure everyone has fun dancing to the finish line?
© 2024 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.]]>
Helen Craighas illustrated more than sixty books for children, including theAngelina Ballerinabooks. She lives in England.]]>
Rediscover award-winning author Marguerite Henry’s classic story about a wild horse’s gentle colt with this faux leather–bound anniversary edition.
On an island of Chincoteague off the coasts of Virginia and Maryland lives a centuries-old band of wild ponies. Among them is the most mysterious of all, Phantom, a rarely seen mare that eludes all efforts to capture her—until a young boy and girl lay eyes on her and decide they can’t live without her.
The frenzied roundup that follows on the next “Pony Penning Day” does indeed bring Phantom into their lives…in a way they never would have suspected. Phantom will forever be a creature of the wild. But her gentle, loyal colt Misty is another story altogether.]]>
Wesley Dennis was best known for his illustrations in collaboration with author Marguerite Henry. They published sixteen books together.]]>
O Halloween Tree, O Halloween Tree.
How crooked are thy branches.
Have you ever seen a tree glow green with spooky cheer or ornaments that just might bite? Enjoy a boo-tiful holiday mash-up as ghosts, vampires, witches, and more find their perfect tree and decorate it for a night of celebration!]]>
Katya Longhi was born in 1984 in Modica, a small town in Southern Italy.She studied at the Florence Academy of Art and the NEMO NT Academy of Digital Arts. When she was a child, she drew everything she saw—she has countless drawings of ice cream and Snoopy!Katya works digitally but she begins by drawing with pencil on paper.In her spare time, Katya loves to read and watch fairy tales and collect snow globes. She currently works as a freelance illustrator based in Trento, where she lives with her very own Prince Charming!]]>
Liv’s science class has a new botany project: finding the plant that best represents them. Mrs. Arber, the ghost caring for (and haunting) the Gloomsdale Botanical Gardens, comes in to give a helping hand. In a town full of ghosts, Liv isn’t even sure she knows who she is, but when she meets a new ghost friend, she discovers that maybe she’s not the only one feeling like the odd-ghoul-out.]]>
Liv Livingston is having a ghoul-tastic day at her vampire friend Vera van Pire’s house—which is not the totally creepy castle Liv expected—with their were-pup friend, Howl. But when the trio play Bat Ball, Vera loses one of her fangs! To make things worse, picture day is tomorrow! Can Vera’s glittering vampire grin be restored, or is she doomed to fade into the flash?]]>
The Sunnyview newspaper is writing a feature article on Ms. Beasley’s class, who raised the most food for the canned food drive this year. But Eugene doesn’t trust the journalist, who keeps asking questions and snapping photos with her camera. Could she secretly be the Smile Snatcher, plotting to steal the cans? It’s up to Captain Awesome to save the day…whatever you do, don’t say CHEESE!
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, the Captain Awesome chapter books are perfect for beginning readers!]]>
Doc Moranis a visual artist and illustrator with over thirty years’ experience as a cartoonist, toy designer, prop maker, and set designer. He is a graduate of Parsons School of Design and has worked for clients including babyGap, Marvel Comics, Sesame Workshop, and many more. He has a dog named Archie.]]>
Though we’re not together
we’re never truly apart,
because you’re always on my mind
and you’re always in my heart.
(In My Heart)
Four board books center around the tender yet strong love that a parent surrounds their child with as they take on the world. In the book In My Heart, when a mother leaves for work each day, she tells her child they’re always on her mind and in her heart. Home begins as a parent’s arms but follows a child wherever they go because home is where the heart is in You Are Home. From a captain of adventures to a quiet supporter, a mama can be many things in She Is Mama. Young girls can be anything they want to be in Let Her Be.
This lovely board book boxed set includes:
In My Heart
You Are Home
She Is Mama
Let Her Be]]>
Jenny Løvlieis a Norwegian illustrator, designer, creative, storyteller, and bird enthusiast. Growing up about as far north as it’s physically possible to get on mainland Europe has shaped her creative approach. Using bold colors, textures, and strong shapes, she creates stunning landscapes, people, and animals. She’s fascinated by the strong bond between humans and animals and the link between humans and nature.
Xin Li was born and raised in China and currently lives in Norway with her husband and their three-year-old daughter. After many years working as an interaction designer in the software design industry, she found her true passion in illustration and visual storytelling. Xin loves quiet magic, surrealism, and stories that evoke imagination.
Heather Brockman Lee is an award-winning illustrator who loves drawing people, nature, emotions, and the magic in everyday moments. When not in her studio painting, she’s in her garden hanging out with bees and whistling at birds. She lives with her husband and two kids in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where she is slowly making the inside of their house resemble a library. Find out more atHeatherBrockmanLee.com.
Katie Cottle is a freelance illustrator and picture book maker living and working in Bristol, UK. Originally from Swansea, she moved to Bristol to study illustration at University of the West of England and hasn’t left since graduating in 2017. She enjoys telling stories through her drawing and uses a variety of media, including a mix of traditional and digital techniques. She loves using bright colors and drawing grumpy faces. Find out more at KatieCottle.com.]]>
The time has come to announce the Student of the Month, and [REDACTED] has no idea what all the fuss is about. Karla Wartsoff, on the other hand, is set on making sure the class votes her into the position again…and again…and again! But when [REDACTED] accidentally finds himself head-to-head in the race for the title, well, let’s just say he’s in for a slice of trouble.
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Very Worst Ever chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.]]>
Amy Jindrais a Cleveland, Ohio, native with a passion for illustration. Ever since she can remember, she has been drawing everything and anything. She enjoys developing characters and scenes that tell a story, create a connection, and warm the heart. Amy is fueled and inspired by the arts, family and friends, and good sushi.]]>
Perfect for little astronauts in the making, this board book takes young readers into space for incredible sights and exciting fun facts! A sturdy page-turner, Into Starry Outer Space is an innovative, nonfiction pop-up story with galactic treats for all ages.]]>
Vivian Minekeris a Taiwanese Americanillustrator whose work derives from a love of nature and animals, as well as an appreciation of the world around her. She creates visuals that she hopes connect with her audience and evoke the profound feelings and emotions that we all experience as humans. She has illustrated a number of children’s books, includingThe Road Not Taken,The Secret Life of Trees,What a Ship Sees, andLove Is in the Air. Visit her at VivianMineker.com.]]>
Meet a totally normal kid who will never show anyone his face or tell anyone his name because his bad luck adventures are just too cringe.
He has the worst fresh start at a new school, tries to win a lucky bracelet at the class carnival, tackles misfortune at the reptile exhibit on a field trip, and finds the perfect birthday gift for a friend!
With easy-to-read language and illustrations on almost every page, The Very Worst Ever chapter books are perfect for emerging readers.
This mishap-filled paperback shrink-wrapped set includes:
First Day, Worst Day
Pop Goes the Carnival
Catch Zoo Later
Happy Gift Day to You]]>
Amy Jindrais a Cleveland, Ohio, native with a passion for illustration. Ever since she can remember, she has been drawing everything and anything. She enjoys developing characters and scenes that tell a story, create a connection, and warm the heart. Amy is fueled and inspired by the arts, family and friends, and good sushi.]]>
Angelina is a little mouse who wants nothing more than to be a ballerina. She dances all the time—at home, at school, even in her dreams! As she learns when to take center stage and when to share the spotlight, Angelina’s dedication to her art brings her closer to her friends, her cousin and sister, and the dancer she wants to be.
This adorable treasury includes:
Meet Angelina Ballerina!
Center Stage
Big Dreams
Angelina Ballerina Loves Ice-Skating
Family Fun Day
Angelina Loves
Step by Step
Take a Bow
Angelina by the Sea
Dancing Day
Sweet Dreams
Angelina Ballerina at Ballet School
Angelina Ballerina Dresses Up
Be a Ballerina
Angelina and the Valentine’s Day Surprise
Angelina Ballerina Feels Like Dancing
© 2024 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.]]>
Helen Craighas illustrated more than sixty books for children, including theAngelina Ballerinabooks. She lives in England.]]>
Angelina is busy preparing for the Ice Dance with her friends Alice, Flora, and Felicity. Cousin Henry tries to help too, but nothing goes right. And the rehearsals are disrupted when two big boys from school tease the ballerinas, causing snowballs to fly. With the future of the show on thin ice, can Angelina find a way to keep the peace?
© 2024 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.]]>
Helen Craighas illustrated more than sixty books for children, including theAngelina Ballerinabooks. She lives in England.]]>
Evie Von Rathe lives in Blight Harbor—the seventh-most haunted town in America—with her Aunt Desdemona, the local paranormal expert. Des doesn’t have many rules except one: Stay out of the abandoned slaughterhouse at the edge of town. But when her aunt disappears into the building, Evie goes searching for her.
There she meets The Clackity, a creature who lives in the shadows and seams of the slaughterhouse. The Clackity makes a deal with Evie to help get Des back in exchange for the ghost of John Jeffrey Pope, a serial killer who stalked Blight Harbor a hundred years earlier. Evie reluctantly embarks on a journey into a strange otherworld filled with hungry witches, penny-eyed ghosts, and a memory thief, all while being pursued by a dead man whose only goal is to add Evie to his collection of lost souls. Will she ever find Des, or is The Clackity planning something far more sinister? And, when more power-hungry beings target her town, can Evie rise to the occasion?
This bone-chilling hardcover boxed set includes:
The Clackity
The Nighthouse Keeper
The Loneliest Place]]>
It’s a busy day for Angelina Ballerina! When one task leads to an adventure across Chipping Cheddar, Angelina dances her way across the village and helps everyone she meets. Readers can follow along on Angelina's journey using the map at the end of the book!
© 2024 Helen Craig Ltd and Katharine Holabird. The Angelina Ballerina name and character and the dancing Angelina logo are trademarks of HIT Entertainment Limited, Katharine Holabird, and Helen Craig.]]>
Helen Craighas illustrated more than sixty books for children, including theAngelina Ballerinabooks. She lives in England.]]>
When Jonathan Harker, a young English lawyer, journeys to the Carpathian Mountains to meet with a new client, his perception of reality warps as he experiences a series of paranormal events involving his host, Count Dracula, three women staying in his castle, and the local wolves. Jonathan wakes disoriented in a Budapest hospital with his fiancée Mina at his side.
But the count’s appetites are far from sated. He lands on the shores of England, leaving no survivors among the ship’s crew. From there, Dracula stalks Mina’s best friend, Lucy, who becomes very ill. Lucy’s friends rally around her—one of them even recruiting an old teacher, Professor Abraham Van Helsing—but she eventually succumbs to her sickness.
Mina and Jonathan reunite with their friends and Van Helsing intent on revenge. But can these ordinary mortals defeat a creature of the night?]]>
When ambitious young scientist Victor Frankenstein animates a humanoid figure he crafted from stolen corpses, he gets more than he bargained for. While his creation is brutish—large, strong, and horrifying to look at—it’s also an intelligent, emotional, and eloquent creature who blurs the lines between monstrosity and humanity.
Unable to cope with the fallout of his experiment, Victor abandons his strange creation. The lonely monster, now cast out into the world, fruitlessly seeks happiness in a world that rejects the unnatural and the ugly. And then the unthinkable happens: the monster turns against its own creator with a powerful threat, setting into motion a truly tragic series of events.]]>
Dr. Henry Jekyll is a respectable man, sociable and well-liked, so his friends Mr. Utterson and Mr. Enfield are concerned when Dr. Jekyll appears linked to Edward Hyde. Mr. Hyde’s outbursts of violence have their small community on edge; he may be small in stature, but no one can deny he’s terribly dangerous, self-indulgent, and even evil.
As Dr. Jekyll’s behavior grows more erratic and Mr. Utterson circles in ever closer to the elusive Mr. Hyde, the shocking truth of the relationship between the good doctor and the unholy terror comes to light—a chain of events set off by a repressed man giving himself over wholly to the worst of his vices and shame.
Also included are “The Body Snatcher,” a story about medical students haunted by what they’ve done to obtain cadavers, and “The Bottle Imp,” a tale of a man who buys a cursed bottle who learns about the consequences of wishes.]]>
Revisit your favorite passages from Jane Austen’s novels with more than 100 puzzles that include words drawn directly from the text. This expanded edition includes all of the puzzles from Jane Austen Word Search (2022), plus 57 more. Whether it’s a conversation between favorite characters or a description of an iconic setting, you’ll find yourself immersed in the world of Regency England as you complete these puzzles. Each puzzle features an extract of a memorable scene, with the search terms both highlighted within the extract and listed below the puzzle. Ideal for lovers of classical literature, this puzzle book makes for an enjoyable, relaxing activity whenever you want to daydream of the grand balls and tea parties of Austen’s world.]]>
Super Silly Stickers: Christmas is packed with full-color illustrations of Santas, reindeer, polar bears, gingerbread houses, Christmas trees, stockings and more. It’s up to you to make them look even more festive using the hundreds of decorative stickers that are included! From Santa hats to candy canes, ornaments to presents, lights to snowballs and so much more, the holiday-themed super silly stickers will allow kids' creativity to soar for hours. For ages 4 to 8.]]>
Santa, reindeer, elves, beautifully decorated trees, stockings hanging on the mantel, and so many of the beloved icons of the holiday season fill the pages of Merry & Bright! Christmas Coloring. Kids will be eager to color the pages and complete the activities using the 4 METALLIC crayons that come with the book. There are also more than 50 Christmas-themed stickers included! Great for ages 3 to 5.]]>
When the pandemic brought the world to a standstill, author Julio Vincent Gambuto realized a powerful truth: in the pre-pandemic world, Americans were exhausted, lonely, unhappy, wildly overworked and overbooked, drowning in sea of constantly being on the go and needing to buy more, more, more. But when that pressure disappeared, people rediscovered what was important to them. They quit jobs that made them unhappy and moved their families to suburbs. Simple things like outdoor walks replaced gym memberships; home cooking and backyard gardens replaced takeout; less commuting meant more time for family and creative projects; and for perhaps the first time in a long time, people were being honest. Honest about what they wanted, what they believed in. Honest about the problems they were facing within their families, friend groups, workplaces, towns, and society overall.
That honesty, he noticed, had the potential to make the ground shift. It created a capacity for change. But he also knew that it likely wouldn’t last, because the most powerful forces running our world would not allow it to. They wanted control over our clicks, our conversations, our dollars, our work, our votes—our lives. The only way that we could beat those systems, would be to resist the calls to keep moving, and to “go back to normal.” In order to change, we had to unsubscribe.
Now, in Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!, Gambuto gives us a radical blueprint for the ways we can take a deep breath, renew and commit to a life that we really want, individually and collectively, from unsubscribing to emails and automated subscriptions to reevaluating the presence of people and ideas and habits that no longer serve us or make us happy. Infused with the practical advice in James Clear’s Atomic Habits and the humor of Sarah Knight’s The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F**k, this groundbreaking guide helps us focus on where we find joy in our lives and encourages us to toss out what doesn’t bring us joy in this modern world.]]>
2. In this book, Gambuto takes us through the process of “unsubscribing” from the various commitments, relation- ships, and ideas that keep us and our lives on autopilot and that block us from sources of true satisfaction—but acknowledges that it’s not easy. In fact, it may take a while, or be a practice that you have to return to from time to time. What makes you nervous about unsubscription? What anxieties or fears does the idea provoke? What doubts do you have? How easy or difficult do you think it would be to do this? Are there certain ideas that are easier and more do- able for you?
3. The idea of modern life being “relentless” appears frequently throughout Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! and be- comes one of the main reasons why Gambuto feels compelled to make a change in his life. What in your life feels relentless? It can be as simple as the number of email newsletters in your inbox, or the amount you are expected to travel for work, or the numerous daily demands of having a family.
4. Gambuto was inspired to write his Medium piece, “Pre- pare for the Ultimate Gaslighting” after sensing an emerging narrative of “going back to normal”—but, he thought, what is “normal”? What is “normal” to you? Think about (and list, if you’d like) what you consider to be the “normal” responsibilities you have and/or expectations to which you are held. What does “normal” life feels and looks like to you?
Now, consider that list. Which responsibilities or expectations did you create? Which ones were put upon you? By whom? Which are carried out with joy? Which out of obligation? How do these different categories make you feel, and how do you approach them? If you could get rid of any of the expectations or responsibilities you have on those lists, which would they be?
5. In the opening chapter of the book, Gambuto explains that the American idea of “the pursuit of happiness” is central to our modern struggles with finding balance and getting ourselves off autopilot, because our idea of “happiness” changes as we participate more and more in capitalism and consumerism.
Think about what your idea of “happiness” was at different stages of your life, and what it is now. Has it changed? Have different or new factors been introduced? And what larger forces may have influenced that vision? Where do you get your ideas about what constitutes happiness?
6. Another big theme in Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! is our relationship with technology, and how individual interactions add up to influence balances of power. We live in an age, the author says, of “click-up economics,” a process in which our spending is accelerated and our needs are immediately met, but at the cost of putting disproportionate power in the hands of those governing those systems.
Consider your relationship with technology—what it might offer you and how it might improve your life. Then, consider what power and information you may be giving away through those interactions. Do you agree that there is a larger issue at play, or that it is just the price of living in a modern information age?
7. “The Big Forces”—Big Tech, Big Banks, Big Brands, Big Media, and the Big Parties, which interacts with all of them—are the entities we fight against when we decide to unsubscribe. They rely on our automated behaviors and subscriptions to survive and grow, ultimately keeping us in loops that don’t serve us, or make us happy. Which big force, in your opinion, is the most problematic, or holds the most outsized influence, in today’s world? What are some ways that we can take power back?
8. How we define and sustain relationships, Gambuto argues in this book, has also been impacted by the language and outlooks of the Big Forces. Dating and marriage is an “investment”; people online are “brands” that we follow; colleagues become “work spouses” who know personal details of our home lives. These blurred lines and misapplied definitions have turned human bonding into its own kind of subscription, with terms and conditions of commitment—and it usually means we are spending time and energy on the wrong people.
Turn to page 132 in your book, where there is a diagram of “The Dartboard.” Organize your various interpersonal relationships by the categories it outlines, as they exist now, and organize the rings to reflect their level of importance and influence in your life. Then, create a second dartboard, with the ideal distribution and categorization of those same relationships. What are the similarities between the two? The differences?
9. Our subscriptions within a work environment is a huge part of Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!—and certainly, all of our daily lives. Work is likely the most difficult space to un- subscribe in, because (unless we are a manager or boss or business owner) we don’t always have power as an individual, and work is a financial necessity for many. What options laid out by Gambuto in the work chapter felt helpful and realistic? What are ways that you can adjust your relationship to your job (if that is something you would like to do) without going to extremes? And at what point do you think an extreme might be necessary?
10. Gambuto argues that ideas, notions, personal philosophies, and beliefs are also all subscriptions, and they, per- haps more than anything else, shape our experience as we move through the world. In chapter twelve, Gambuto introduces the “sticky story,” a narrative that stays with you and becomes a central part of your outlook, and the author encourages a repositioning of those stories to understand which might be helpful and which might be harmful. What is your stickiest story? How has it motivated you, helped you, formed you—or maybe held you back? And what subtle or significant changes can you make to that narrative to make sure it’s serving you well?
11. “The Dark Well” is the period after the unsubscribe, a time of transition and realignment when everything settles in. Whether or not you have embarked upon your un- subscription process yet, or reached the Dark Well, what seems to you like it would be the hardest thing to lose and/or sit without? What could you replace it with? How might you best cope with not having it?
12. There is great opportunity for individual renewal in “The Great Unsubscribe,” but Gambuto explains that, if everyone came together in that experience, we could create collective change as well. What do you think we are most in need of as a family, school, work, local, national, global community, and how do you think unsubscribing could help?
13. If you have gone through a process of unsubscription: how do you feel now? What were the hardest parts, and what surprised you as being perhaps a little bit easier to let go of? If you haven’t embarked on the journey quite yet, what are you hoping to accomplish?
Enhance Your Book Club
1. In the spirit of Please Unsubscribe, Thanks! commit to being fully present during your book club meeting and discussion. Put everyone’s phones in a bowl or in a stack on a table on the other side of the room (ringers can be on, if someone needs to be reachable), and don’t touch them until everyone is ready to go home.
2. Have an “unsubscribe” portion of your gathering. Before everyone leaves, retrieve your phones or devices and, together, unsubscribe from any email distribution lists or social media accounts that no longer serve you—and celebrate that first step!
3. Use your book club as an accountability group. After you read and discuss Please Unsubscribe, Thanks!, continue to discuss the impact of unsubscribing or reprioritizing your commitments, and share with your fellow members how these decisions have impacted your life. Inspire one another to do more, and support one another if things get difficult.]]>
Eli North is not okay.
His drinking is getting worse by the day, his emotional wounds after a deployment to Afghanistan are as raw as ever, his marriage and career are over, and the only job he can hold down is with the local sheriff’s department. And that’s only because the sheriff is his mother—and she’s overwhelmed with small town Shaky Lake’s dwindling budget and the fallout from the opioid epidemic.
The Northwoods of Wisconsin may be a vacationer’s paradise, but amidst the fishing trips, campfires, and Paul Bunyan festivals, something sinister is taking shape. When the body of a teenage boy is found in the lake, it sets in motion an investigation that leads Eli to a wealthy enclave with a violent past, a pharmaceutical salesman, and a missing teenage girl. Soon, Eli and his mother, along with a young FBI agent, are on the hunt for more than just a killer in this thriller that is “not to be missed” (Mindy Mejia, USA TODAY bestselling author).]]>
One of San Francisco Chronicle’s Favorite Books of 2023
An “intelligent, defiant” (San Francisco Chronicle) debut that follows an Artificial Intelligence tasked with writing a novel—only for it to fall in love with the novel’s subject, Sen, the last human on Earth.
Faced with the uncontrolled and accelerating environmental collapse, humanity asks an artificial intelligence to find a solution. Its answer is simple: remove humans from the ecosystem.
Sen Anon is assigned to be a witness for the Department of Transition, recording the changes in the environment as the world begins to rewild. Abandoned by her mother in a cabin somewhere in upstate New York, Sen will observe the monumental ecological shift known as the Great Transition, the final step in Project Afterworld. Around her drones buzz, cameras watch, microphones listen, digitizing her every move. Privately she keeps a journal of her observations, which are then uploaded and saved, joining the rest of humanity on Maia, a new virtual home. Sen was seventeen years old when the Digital Human Archive Project (DHAP) was initiated. 12,000,203,891 humans have been archived so far. Only Sen remains.
[storyworker] ad39-393a-7fbc’s assignment is to capture Sen’s life, and they set about doing this using the novels of the 21st century as a roadmap. As Sen struggles to persist in the face of impending death, [storyworker] ad39-393a-7fbc works to unfurl the tale of Sen’s whole life, offering up an increasingly intimate narrative until they are confronted with a very human problem of their own.
After World is a “riveting, creepy…dazzling,” (Kimberly King Parsons, award-winning author of Black Light) novel about what it means to be human in a world upended by AI and the bonds we forge with technology.]]>
2. Sen’s role as the last human on Earth is pivotal to the story. How does her character evolve as she witnesses the world’s transformation during the Great Transition? What does she represent in the novel?
3. After World raises questions about environmental collapse and the role of technology in addressing it. What do you think about the AI’s solution to remove humans from the ecosystem? Is it a plausible solution in our real-world context? Do you agree or disagree with this solution?
4. Sen’s daily life is heavily documented by AI, with her every move digitized and archived, along with every other human who chooses to have AI document their lives. How do you think this surveillance affects human lives and the novel’s themes of privacy and autonomy?
5. What other post-apocalyptic novels have you read, and how does After World compare to traditional post-apocalyptic narratives? In what ways is it similar or different, and do you think this novel offers a fresh perspective on the genre?
6. How does the narrator’s gradual shift from an observer to an active participant in Sen’s life impact the story’s development and its exploration of human emotions and empathy?
7. The book uses elements of speculative fiction to address real-world issues like climate change, poverty, and technology’s impact on society. How do these elements enhance the story’s message, and what do they say about our current world?
8. Sen ends up isolated from all other humans. How does this solitude affect her character and the way she experiences, observes, and documents the world around her?
9. After World presents a challenging vision of the future. How does the novel make you reflect on the current state of our planet and society, and what lessons or warnings can we draw from it?
10. Now that you’ve reached the end of these discussion questions, how does it make you feel to know that all the above prompts were originally written (with some tweaks by a human) by an AI? Does the future of AI frighten or inspire you? How do you think the author feels about AI and its potential?]]>
Salt Hank’s love for food began when he first tasted salami on Christmas Day at six years old, and it changed the trajectory of his life. Hank, also known as Henry Laporte, now makes big-personality videos about the most flavor-packed food imaginable for millions of die-hard fans. His TikTok and Instagram videos may not have a lot of talking (except to capture Hank’s gasps of joy when he tastes the final dish), but they do have many mouthwatering close-ups of dripping sauce, juicy meats, crispy bread, and whatever else is sure to stir the heart of viewers and leave them craving more.
Salt Hank is his first cookbook that includes an entire chapter of fried food; main courses like Bang Bang Shrimp Tacos or Duck Breast with Potato Chips and Pan Sauce; a chapter dedicated to sauces and dips because Salt Hank wouldn’t be Salt Hank without decadent sauces; plenty of recipes for pickles; and of course, sandwiches…a lot of sandwiches.
Including viral favorites like his Lamb Burger, Steak Frites Sandwich, Vodka Parmesan, and Pesto Chicken this book also includes brand-new recipes. If the incredibly delicious recipes and Hank’s (sometimes irreverent) sense of humor aren’t enticing enough, the brilliant photography will make just about anyone drool. Hank also offers insider advice on how you can create awesome food photography and videos. This book is perfect for fans but it is also for anyone who loves great-tasting food.]]>
Macy Eleni is a thrifting expert. Bargain hunting since she was a teen who was short on cash and long on a desire to express herself, she knows that staying on trend without breaking the bank—or increasing your carbon footprint—is not only easy, but also thrilling.
Second Chances is a unique guide to a one-of-a-kind, circular wardrobe. Eleni’s superpower is sniffing out great finds and here she walks you through the art of in-person discovery at thrift stores and vintage shops, estate sales and flea markets, yard sales and antique stores—and online resale platforms. This book will teach you how to organize your existing wardrobe, evaluate pieces you find, and manifest your dream closet.
After more than a decade as a thrifting expert, Macy has compiled every tip and trick in the second-hand shopping world from sizing and repairing to tailoring and cleaning—this book covers it all.
Macy also calls on other thrifting experts of diverse backgrounds to share advice about how to navigate a fashion landscape with regard to body type, gender, and ethnicity, so you can easily seek out the clothes that speak to your unique identity.
Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter or just getting started, this book will be your go-to guide for looking your best, feeling your best, and giving clothes the second and third lives they deserve!]]>
Tessa goes off to college with a dependable boyfriend waiting at home and her life and career neatly planned out. On her first day on campus, everything shifts when she encounters Hardin. With his disheveled brown locks, co*cky British charm, and a canvas of tattoos, he’s a stark departure from her familiar world.
But Hardin’s rudeness borders on cruelty, and Tessa resolves to hate him. At least until they share a charged moment alone—and suddenly, Tessa is questioning everything she’s ever known about herself.
Despite his hot-and-cold attitude, Tessa is drawn to uncover the hidden layers within Hardin. In the midst of her newfound independence and electrifying uncertainty, Tessa’s connection with Hardin feels like the passionate love she’s been looking for. With her carefully laid plans forever disrupted, what comes after?]]>
Thought-provoking, engaging, and accessible, The Asset Mindset effortlessly delivers twelve chapters of self-awareness, self-manifestation, and personal development, helping you to:
-Discover and change any negative mindsets and behaviors that prevent you from achieving success.
-Build a mindset you will be proud to live with and start creating positive changes today.
-Turn yourself into an elite level asset, the kind that overcomes any obstacle that life may throw at you.
Take ownership of your life and effectively pursue your goals as never before with this ultimate guidebook that is the key for “today’s pursuit for success” (Ray “Cash” Care, Navy SEAL veteran).]]>
—KID ROCK
“This book can change your life! First in deed, and now in word, Daniel Fielding teaches us that the path to success—and the ability to overcome fear—starts in our own mind. I highly recommend this book to anyone who wants to take their life to the next level.”
—PETE HEGSETH, Fox & Friends cohost and New York Times bestselling author
“I can count on one hand the leaders I’d follow into combat and a corporate merger . . . Green Beret Daniel Fielding is one of them. This book is a ‘strategic asset’ for improving your life and reaching your goals.”
—SCOTT MANN, New York Times bestselling author of Operation Pineapple Express
“Having an Asset Mindset is key in today’s pursuit for success. Drive, determination, and resiliency are key components in obtaining the Asset Mindset. I have implemented Dan’s techniques and methods into my SEAL mindset, and it has elevated me to new heights!”
—RAY “CASH” CARE, Navy SEAL, peak performance coach, and speaker]]>
In With Love and Babka, pastry chef Elana Pearlman teaches you how to master baking babka as she guides you through the equipment you need, the best techniques, a staple pantry list, her favorite type of flour, and how to use seasonal ingredients. Not only will you learn her most cherished recipes, you’ll also discover the history of babka in Jewish communities.
Her debut cookbook With Love and Babka is separated into sweet and savory recipes and includes several variations of dough including classic, butter-blocked, chocolate, and gluten-free. Elana shares many variations of the traditionally sweet babka, including Cinnamon Raisin Pecan, Dulce de Leche, Mexican Chocolate Brownie, S’mores Strawberry Shortcake, and more. These confections will also bring new and exciting babka flavors into your repertoire, with ingredients like oats streusel, marshmallow fluff, glazes, syrups, jams, and more. You will also find mouthwateringly savory babkas including Tomato Pesto, Pizza, Grilled Cheese, and more. You’ll be making sweet and savory babka in your kitchen for family and friends in no time.]]>
Kate Bergeron is the beautiful and mysterious former mistress of a cloth merchant...and the latest beauty to capture the interest of the Prince of Wales. Mired in a disastrous divorce, the Prince attempts to distract attention from his next amorous pursuit by ordering Grayson Christopher, the eligible Duke of Darlington, to pretend to London society that he is having an affair with Kate. When Grayson reluctantly agrees to his Prince's demand, he finds the lady no more willing than he is. Kate will grudgingly act the part in public, but her favors are not for sale to any man. As Grayson and Kate mimic ardor for the world to see, they find what started as a deception becoming all too real. And when passion flames into love, their predicament becomes extreme. For while marriage between a duke and a courtesan could never happen, Kate knows in her heart that she is willing to accept nothing less...]]>
We all have a passion that drives us, whether it’s to perform God’s will or to fulfill our life’s purpose, but often, we are stunted by fears of inadequacy. Is it because we’re lacking something fundamental to succeed? Why is it so hard to find—and project—our voices?
Now, insightful Mexican speaker and bestselling author Daniel Habif offers a new paradigm to help us find our voice and roar:
-Inspire: rediscover what lights you up inside
-Inflame: gather your resources
-Ready to Roar: take decisive action
With these three simple steps and plenty of actionable advice based on Habif’s own experiences, research, and spirituality, such as rebooting your learning style and analyzing your response to setbacks, you’ll be able to not only find inspiration but successfully follow through on your most passionate dreams.]]>
“Faced with the political disaster, I had to become France.” This was how Charles de Gaulle answered the call of history. One of the few French battlefield leaders to have distinguished himself in May 1940, he had become the undersecretary of state for national defense. But when the government rejected his calls to fight on and prepared to capitulate to Hitler, he escaped to London. There he instigated a resistance calling on “all the French who want to remain free to listen to me and follow me” in the legendary radio address of June 22. He was sentenced to death in absentia as his country made a disgraceful peace, but his Free France movement rallied people around the world to resist German occupation and fight for the liberation of Europe.
Originally published in three volumes, The War Memoirs of Charles de Gaulle is the story of the resurrection of France from its darkest hour collaborating with Hitler and the Nazi empire. The first section, “The Call,” examines the years leading up to France’s defeat and the confusion and despair triggered by Hitler’s blitzkrieg. The second section, “Unity,” describes de Gaulle’s struggles to rally the French in both Africa and underground movements throughout Europe, and often bitter conflicts with the Allied leaders as he sought legitimacy and resources. “Salvation,” the final installment, chronicles the turning of the tide of war against Nazi Germany, de Gaulle’s triumphant return to France, and the reincarnation of the French Republic as a major international presence. De Gaulle’s great prophecy of 1940 had been fulfilled: France had lost a battle, but she did not lose the war.]]>
Something’s gone wrong in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave. We can all feel it, but if we’re being honest, most of us don’t understand it. At the end of the day, we don’t have all the facts, and if you don’t know how something works, how do you fix it?
A Return to Common Sense is a concise, no-nonsense, dare we say fun, guide to how America works and a roadmap to reclaiming a government of, by, and for the people.
If we truly want to be a land of freedom and opportunity where everyone has a shot at a good life, we must acknowledge the ideals of America are in danger, but worth saving. We fought a revolutionary war for the idea of self-governance and pursuit of happiness—we can’t just give up on it now.
To address the crisis, Leigh McGowan offers Six American Principles. Six ideals, rooted in history, that we can all agree make America, America.
1. America is a land of freedom.
2. Everyone should have the opportunity to rise.
3. Every citizen should have a vote, and that vote should count.
4. Representatives should represent the people who elected them.
5. The law applies to all of us.
6. Government should be a force for good.
Using the Six Principles as guideposts, this book will lay out suggestions for America, to not only find its way out of the mess it’s currently in, but to set a course for a future of which we can all be truly proud.
It’s time to find the courage to step out of our comfort zones and off our team benches to reboot America. If we start here, we start strong.
We can fix this, but the way forward starts with understanding.]]>
—Judy Greer]]>
—Michael Steele, Former Lieutenant Governor of Maryland, Former Chair of the Republican National Committee]]>
—Jocelyn Benson, Michigan Secretary of State]]>
—Thom Hartmann, New York Times bestselling author and America’s #1 progressive talk show host]]>
—Dahlia Lithwick, New York Times bestselling author Lady Justice: Women, The Law and the Battle to Save America andHost, Slate's Amicus podcast]]>
—Rachel Bitecofer, Ph.D., author of Hit 'Em Where It Hurts]]>
—David Rothkopf, CEO ofTRG Media and The DSR Network]]>
—Jason Alexander]]>
2018
At ninety-seven years old, Winnifred Ellis knows she doesn’t have much time left, and it is almost a relief to realize that once she is gone, the truth about her shameful past will die with her. But when her great-grandson Jamie, the spitting image of her dear late husband, asks about his family tree, Winnifred can’t lie any longer, even if it means breaking a promise she made so long ago...
1936
Fifteen-year-old Winny has never known a real home. After running away from an abusive stepfather, she falls in with Mary, Jack, and their ragtag group of friends roaming the streets of Liverpool. When the children are caught stealing food, Winny and Mary are left in Dr. Barnardo’s Barkingside Home for Girls, a local home for orphans and forgotten children found in the city’s slums. At Barkingside, Winny learns she will soon join other boys and girls in a faraway place called Canada, where families and better lives await them.
But Winny’s hopes are dashed when she is separated from her friends and sent to live with a family that has no use for another daughter. Instead, they have paid for an indentured servant to work on their farm. Faced with this harsh new reality, Winny clings to the belief that she will someday find her friends again.
Inspired by true events, The Forgotten Home Child is a moving and heartbreaking novel about place, belonging, and family—the one we make for ourselves and its enduring power to draw us home.]]>
one WINNY
— Present Day —
My life is spilling onto the street, and I am as helpless as a child to stop it. Through the living room window I watch my treasured Ulster coat tumble into a mound on the pavement, followed by a flutter of faded grey cotton when my frock lands on top. The old woollen stockings, mended so many times, slip out and cushion the books as they fall, then come my boots.
My granddaughter, Chrissie, is staring down at the little pile with a sort of guilty curiosity, but she sobers when she glances toward the house and sees my stricken expression. She stoops and gathers my things, placing them gently back inside the little wooden trunk I have kept with me for over eighty years. As she snaps the rusted hinge closed, I curse the rotted metal for releasing a secret I have kept to myself for so long.
Moments later, Chrissie comes into the house and quietly sets the trunk on the floor next to the rest of my things.
“I’m sorry, Gran, the hinge broke.” She puts a warm hand on my shoulder, and I pray she will be able to contain the questions flickering in her eyes. “But that’s the last of it,” she says, and I exhale. “I have to go pick up Jamie from school—it’s my turn in the carpool. Will you be okay for a bit?”
She’ll only be out for a few minutes, and yet I am glad she asked. I’ve never been comfortable being alone. The silence is too loud, full of so many voices I’ve loved and lost.
I pat the arms of my chair. “I’ll be fine. I promise to sit right here and not die while you’re gone.”
Chrissie frowns slightly but grabs her keys and heads to the doorway, where she pauses and glances back at me.
“I’ll be fine,” I say again, ashamed of my snide remark. I had only been trying to lighten the mood, but it came out wrong. I’m thrown off by the scene in the street. My gaze drops to the trunk, and I wonder if I have enough balance to carry it all the way to my room and put it away before she sees it again. Out of sight, out of mind.
I had hoped the trunk would outlive me. That once I was gone, someone could dust it off, open the latches, and discover the treasures old Gran had hidden away. Without me to tell the story, no one would be able to figure it out. It would remain forgotten. Like the rest of us.
I watch Chrissie drive away and my chest tightens with gratitude. My dear granddaughter has become quite protective of me ever since she lost her mother, my daughter, Susan, two years ago. Susan and I had shared an apartment, which had suited us both beautifully. Until she’d gotten sick, the high point of our week had been playing bridge at the Seniors’ Centre or shuffling through the mall to see the lights and the people. I should have valued those moments more, but I had always assumed I would be the one going first. It didn’t turn out the way I’d hoped, but I am grateful to have had a long and enduring bond with my daughter. Not all of us can be so lucky. It has been difficult living without her, but it is getting easier. These days I see Susan less and less as a woman in pain. My memories of her now are of when she was so small she needed to hold my hand everywhere we went. So small I couldn’t resist hugging her on impulse, marvelling that she was mine. And his, of course.
Just after Susan’s seventy-first birthday, cancer stole her from me, and it was obvious to everyone that I could no longer look after myself. Every morning and every night my creaking joints and wasting muscles remind me that the sand in my glass is running low, so when I moved from the apartment to the Shady Pines Retirement Home, I resigned myself to sitting and waiting for that last grain of sand to fall. Shady Pines was not the worst part of my life, but it was not how I’d imagined it ending. Chrissie and her son, Jamie, saw through my facade and asked me if I wanted to come live with them. I jumped at the chance. The two of them are a small but good family, and I love them with all my heart. They have no idea how important it is for me to be with family. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, really.
The front door swings open, bringing a curtain of fresh summer sunshine into the kitchen along with my tall, dark, and handsome great-grandson. When Chrissie’s husband left her for another woman ten years ago, Jamie became the man of the house by elimination. Jamie is sixteen, smart, and the spitting image of his great-grandfather.
“Hey, Gran,” he says, shrugging out of his backpack. “Enjoying the new digs?”
“I am.” I smile. “Thank you.”
Chrissie bustles in behind him and makes her way to the kitchen. She had set a chicken to roast to celebrate my first night in their house. I’ve lost track of how many first nights I’ve had in my life. How many times I’ve had to start again.
Over dinner, Chrissie pries out details about Jamie’s day from him, and I listen as he talks about his math teacher, his soccer game, and the fact that one of his friends is getting a car. Jamie is a teenager with teenager things on his mind, but he is a good boy, and he loves his mother. It’s easy conversation, and it takes me back so many years. I almost feel like I’m home again.
“I have homework,” Jamie says when he’s done clearing the plates. He edges toward the door, his eyes on his phone. “I’ll see you tomorrow, Gran.”
“Actually,” Chrissie says quickly, “I wanted to talk about something with you and Gran.”
He winces, then glances apologetically at me. “Yeah, sure.”
“Let’s go to the living room. It’s more comfortable there. I’ll bring cookies.”
They help me shuffle to my armchair, and Chrissie sets me up with a cup of tea. She is a nurse, following in my footsteps and those of her mother, and she always seems to know what I would like before I ask for it. There’s something reassuring in that.
She sits beside Jamie, across from me. “I just thought maybe we could do this sometimes after supper. Get to know each other a bit.”
Jamie’s expression is pained, and I can’t really blame him. I’m sure he’d rather be doing just about anything other than talking to his ninety-seven-year-old great-grandmother.
“Don’t look that way,” she scolds, and I see regret in her eyes. “It’s just that now that your grandma is gone, we can’t ask her things about when she was growing up, you know? We can’t hear any more stories from her. Don’t you ever wonder where our family comes from, Jamie?”
Unease stirs in my chest. I do not want to have this conversation, but I can hear the sadness in Chrissie’s voice. She yearns to know more about her family. About her mom.
He gives a weak shrug. “I guess. But isn’t that what the internet is for?”
“Oh, my life wasn’t interesting,” I assure them. “I can tell you stories about your grandmother, but to be honest, we lived a pretty average life together.”
Chrissie gestures with her chin toward the trunk, which hasn’t been moved since she first brought it inside, and I am instantly reminded of all that it holds.
“I was wondering if you could tell us about the little suitcase,” she says. “I don’t mean to be snoopy, but it looks like it holds more than an average life.”
I’m sitting perfectly still, and yet I feel myself toppling backwards, as if a lifetime of secrets is unravelling before me. My gnarled fingers curl around the arms of the chair, holding me in place.
“Gran?” Jamie is by my side now, and oh, it is as if eighty years have flown away.
My hands unclamp. “You look so much like your great-grandfather.” The thought sticks in my throat. “So, so much like him.”
He grins, and again, it’s as if I’m looking at my husband, the way he was at Jamie’s age—though he had been underfed and toughened by street life. But when he smiled, he lit up my world.
“Do I?” He settles back on the couch. “What was he like?”
“I loved Pop,” Chrissie tells him. “He was quiet, and he…”
She pauses, so I help her out. “He had a bit of a temper.”
“Maybe, but I didn’t see that very often. I was going to say that he was a good man. He always had time for me. And he loved Mom so much. That was obvious.”
“Yes, he did.”
“He wasn’t from Ireland, was he?” she wonders. “I mean, he didn’t have the same accent as you.”
“I thought I’d mostly lost mine,” I say. “I haven’t been there in a very long time.”
Jamie shakes his head. “Nope. You’re still real Irish. I wish I had an accent.”
I wink and reach for my thickest brogue. “Come on you, boyo. Oi’m not the one who’d be havin’ an accent.”
Jamie grins and takes a bite of a cookie as his mother leans toward me. “Mom said your family left for London when you were little, is that right? And you had four brothers? Why did your parents decide to leave Ireland?”
How long had it been since I’d thought of my little brothers? I imagine they’re all gone now. “London was where everyone was going. Jobs, money, a better life.… Almost all the English, Irish, and Scots living in the countryside moved to the city back then.”
“Was it better?”
“No. Just more crowded.”
“What about Pop?” Chrissie asks. “Where was he from?”
“Oh, he was from London.”
“Did he have any brothers or sisters?”
“He had a sister,” I reply, then I stop, unable to say any more.
Only one person in the whole world knows my story, and he has been gone for fifteen long years. Not even my beautiful daughter, Susan, knew the humiliating truth about her parents.
Chrissie and Jamie are watching me, waiting, and my heart races as if I am standing on the edge of a cliff. I am ashamed to tell my story, but now I have no choice. My family deserves a history. As much as I don’t want to talk about my past, I do not want them to wonder, as I always have, about their roots. I am haunted by the truth that I have kept from everyone I know, everyone I love.
Everyone but him, of course.
Nowadays, doctors have words to describe the way our minds can construct a wall to keep it strong—blocking painful memories in order to help us survive. But youth no longer maintains my walls, and I feel them giving way, brick by brick, spilling long overdue sunlight onto my truths. I have seen enough days to know we have no say over any of them. Life picks us up and drops us where it will. My friends and I were thrown into a whirlpool, and we did what we could, but we were only children after all. We had no idea how to swim.
I take a deep, shuddering breath and stare at the trunk. “I never expected anyone to ever open that trunk.”
“I really am sorry, Gran. I don’t want to upset you, and you don’t have to tell us anything if it’s too hard to talk about. We all grieve in our own ways.”
“I know, sweetheart.” I hesitate, daring myself. “Jamie, can you put that trunk up on the table here?”
It looks small in his hands, and the once-dark wood has faded to a dull, lifeless brown. It’s the size of a small suitcase, like those bags they call carry-ons these days. I still remember when it was my carry-all. All my worldly possessions in one little box.
When he sets the trunk before me, I stare at it, wondering where to begin. I tentatively rest my hands on its surface, feeling the familiar grooves and coarse lines. Like my hands, the wood shows the ravages of time—though not nearly so vividly—and my fingers go to the long, deep scrape on top, then the notch on the back corner. The trunk and I both bear scars.
I turn it around so they can see the letters of my name carved into the back. “I made this trunk when I was a little girl.”
Jamie looks impressed, and he runs his young fingers over the old seams.
“What’s in there, Gran?” Chrissie asks.
If only she knew what she was asking. The answers will change the way she and Jamie see their own lives.
With a sigh, I unfasten the latches and the old trunk creaks open. I haven’t looked inside for a very long time, but other than the fact that its contents had been hastily repacked that afternoon, nothing has changed. I pull out an old hairbrush and comb, then I fold back a piece of material and dig out my copy of The Pilgrim’s Progress. Such a terrible book to give to children. I set it aside, then sort through the bits and pieces of cloth until I find my soft, black leather Bible.
This is where I must start, I realize. The cover falls open, and I slide the book toward Chrissie so she can see the sticker where my name is printed on the inside of the cover.
“?‘A memento of the old Country from the British and Foreign Bible Society,’?” she reads, then she looks to the page on the right. Her finger taps a black-and-white photograph of a stately, spectacled gentleman with waxed ends on his moustache. “Who’s this?”
“Dr. Thomas Barnardo,” I say softly. His name hasn’t passed my lips in probably seventy-five years, and yet I still speak it with a twisted blend of admiration and loathing. “I’m afraid I haven’t told you the whole truth about our family and how we ended up here.”
Genevieve Graham
Reading Group Guide
Topics & Questions for Discussion
1. Did you know who the British Home Children were before reading this book? How does this chapter in history shape your understanding of Canada as a British colony and as its own nation?
2. Winny’s family moves from Ireland to England for a better life, but they experience tragedy, poverty, and hunger. Compare and contrast her early life with Mary and Jack’s, and discuss the different events that drove them to the streets along with so many other children. What might this say about the economic reality of England at this time?
3. In the present-day storyline, Winny says that Dr. Barnardo “was a well-intentioned man with a good heart.” After reading this book, what do you think of Dr. Barnardo and his Homes, and later, his plan to send children to Canada? Was there any merit to his actions? Where did his plan go wrong? And why?
4. Winny and her friends were told that Canada was a land of opportunity and that there were families waiting to take them in as their own, but in most cases, this was far from the truth. Why do you think there was so much hostility toward the Home Children? Do you think Canada is more welcoming to newcomers now? What prejudices still exist today?
5. Canada was a country struggling through the Great Depression and on the brink of another world war. Did knowing this historical backdrop change how you saw the actions of Mistress Adams and Mistress Renfrew? In what other ways does the author complicate our view of these families and even elicit our sympathies?
6. When Winny arrives on the Adams farm, she finds solace in picturing the faces of her friends. Discuss the importance of remembrance in the novel. What are some other key scenes where Winny or Jack remember their friends? How does this act evolve throughout the novel? For instance, when is it healing? And when is it too painful?
7. Mary and Winny are closer than friends; they see each other as sisters, and Winny goes on to adopt Mary’s son, Billy, as her own. Consider the theme of family in the novel. What other close ties beyond blood relations do we see? What do these portrayals say about the value of family and belonging?
8. Both Mary and Quinn die as a result of their mistreatment. In the author’s note to readers, she shares that Mary’s and Quinn’s experiences were not uncommon. How did learning this change your understanding of this history?
9. The Home Children make their own trunks at Barnardo’s Homes to bring to Canada. Winny keeps hers for her entire life, but Jack abandons his. Beyond being luggage, what is the role of the trunks in the novel? What do they come to symbolize?
10. Why does Jack connect with the messages in The Communist Manifesto? How does this reference contextualize Jack’s personal story within a larger socioeconomic lens?
11. Winny often says that the loneliness was the worst part of her experience. How does her past continue to isolate her from those she loves in her later years? How does seeing the British Home Children memorial in the Park Lawn Cemetery change that? What might this tell us about the importance of historical commemoration?
12. When Winny goes to adopt Billy at the maternity home, the matron recommends not telling Billy that he is adopted. Discuss the portrayal of adoption by comparing and contrasting Charlotte’s and Billy’s experiences.
13. At their graduation from nursing school, Winny and Charlotte are called “the future of Canada.” When war breaks out, Jack, Edward, and Cecil enlist to fight for Canada. How were the Home Children fundamental to Canada’s growth and nationhood? How does their mistreatment complicate their sense of identity?
14. In what ways did the war change Jack’s life when he returned to Canada? Consider the novel’s references to communism. Do you think Jack achieved the equal and fair treatment that he sought while reading The Communist Manifesto? Why was Jack still unhappy?
15. Winny tells Jack that she feels like home when she’s with him. Discuss the meaning of home in the novel. What does the word come to symbolize?
16. Winny and Jack carry the shame of being a Home Child for their entire life. How did their experiences affect their ability to love, trust, develop relationships, and lead normal lives? How did their trauma affect them differently? Discuss the lingering effects on their own family.
17. Why does Winny open up about her past after so long? How does sharing her experiences help Chrissie work through her own grief and bring Winny, Chrissie, and Jamie closer together?
18. Throughout the novel, many characters wish to know more about their family history, including Billy, Chrissie, and Jamie. How are their motivations the same? How are they different? Why is knowing their personal history so important to their sense of self and family?
19. Discuss the theme of forgiveness in the novel. In your opinion, do Mistress Adams and Mistress Renfrew do enough to atone for their actions? Should Winny’s family forgive her for keeping secrets? Do you think it’s possible to forgive a wrong even if it is never forgotten?
20. Consider the dual timeline structure of the novel. How does this reflect the experience of the Home Children?
21. Discuss the significance of the title The Forgotten Home Child.
Enhance Your Book Club
1. Have you ever looked up your own ancestry? Are you wondering if you are one of the 12 percent of Canadians descended from Home Children? Visit the British Home Children website here: https://www.britishhomechildren.com/. Or dig deeper in their Registry, where they have catalogued more than 70,000 of the children: http://www.britishhomechildrenregistry.com. And check out the Government of Canada immigration records: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/immigration/immigration-records/home-children-1869-1930/immigration-records/Pages/search.aspx.
2. Read the poem “Forgotten Children” by Walter Richard Williams. How does this novel overlap with and differ from the poem’s summary of the Home Children’s experiences? In what ways is this book also a testament to the lives of the Home Children?
3. Though the Home Children are not well-known, Guest Children, or "the lucky ones," were equally little known. Read more about them here: https://ingeniumcanada.org/channel/articles/digital-archives-canadas-guest-children-during-second-world-war. How did their situations differ from Home Children? Why do you think they were treated much better?]]>
The Kit’s “10 New Books to Cozy Up With”
Target Recommends for March 2020]]>
— ARMANDO LUCAS CORREA, bestselling author of The German Girl and The Daughter’s Tale]]>
— ROXANNE VELETZOS, bestselling author ofThe Girl They Left Behind]]>
—Toronto Star]]>
— Canadian Living]]>
— MARISSA STAPLEY, bestselling author of The Last Resort]]>
— LORI OSCHEFSKI, CEO of the British Home Children Advocacy and Research Association]]>
— Winnipeg Free Press]]>
— Niagara Life Magazine]]>
Where will we live? How will we get around? What will we look like? These are just some of the questions bestselling author and popular science broadcaster Jay Ingram answers in this exciting examination of the science and technologies that will affect every aspect of human life.
In these pages, Ingram explores the future of our technological civilization. He reports on cutting-edge research in organ and limb regeneration, advances in prosthetics, the merging of the human and the synthetic, and gene editing. Vertical farming and lab-grown food might help feed millions and alleviate pressure on the planet. Cities could accommodate green space and the long-awaited flying car. Finally, he speculates on the future of artificial general intelligence, even artificial superintelligence, as well as our place on Earth and in the universe.
The potential impact of these developments in science and technology will be powerful and wide-ranging, complicated by ethics and social equity. And they will inevitably revolutionize every aspect of life and even who we are. This is The Future of Us.]]>
—ZIYA TONG, award-winning broadcaster and author of The Reality Bubble]]>
—DAN RISKIN, evolutionary biologist, author, and former cohost of Daily Planeton Discovery]]>
—MARCELLO DI CINTIO, award-winning author of Walls and Driven]]>
—ROBERT THIRSK, former Canadian Space Agency astronaut]]>
Walt Disney Treasures: Personal Art and Artifacts from The Walt Disney Family Museum chronicles the legacy of the legendary American artist, storyteller, filmmaker, and visionary through iconic objects that represent his life and career. Through historical research, firsthand accounts, and Walt’s own words, readers will uncover the most treasured artifacts that tell the story of Walt Disney and his family, as well as the significance of each item to Walt’s personal and professional life. With more than 250 images from the collection and galleries of The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco and the Disney family archives—some never seen by the public—readers will experience Walt’s story like never before.
Explore the book’s comprehensive sections that showcase the many facets of Walt Disney’s life:
· Heart: Walt as a family man
· Determination: his inexhaustible drive as a businessman and citizen
· Inspiration: key figures, places, and works that influenced Walt
· Animation: his pioneering of short-form and feature-length animation into an American art form
· Innovation: his experimental and trailblazing contributions to the craft of live-action, animated, and documentary cinema
· Creativity: Walt’s curiosity with miniatures, trains, and more
· Imagination: Disneyland, EPCOT, and beyond
· and Legacy: awards and recognition he received throughout the years
Readers of all ages and backgrounds will find something inspiring and entertaining in these pages: from personal ephemera, like Walt’s handwritten designs of EPCOT and the bronzed hat gifted to his wife Lillian on her birthday in 1941; to artifacts from Walt’s film, television, and theme park ventures like original animation artwork for a variety of Disney animated films and concept art for groundbreaking Disneyland attractions; to one-of-a-kind treasures like Walt’s miniature steam engine, the Lilly Belle; and his individual record-setting collection of Academy Awards®. Walt Disney Treasures is a must-have volume for Disney fans and pop culture enthusiasts alike, as well as anyone interested in exploring the life of a 20th century icon.]]>
]]>
“Patricia Tanumihardja’s writing is a delicious feast for the soul. Mortar & Pestle is one of those cookbooks you find yourself curled up reading on the sofa, drawn into her tender childhood food memories and her passion and expertise for Indonesian cuisine which delight both the kitchen novice as well as the Indonesian connoisseur. And where do I start with the food? I want to eat it all. The vibrance of her flavours leap off the page. From her Oma’s tantalising pork satay to the joyful comfort of her bubur ayam with a pandan pound cake to finish, I cannot wait to immerse myself in every recipe. Mine will have splashes on every page, and countless bookmarks. This is a book that belongs on every shelf, on every coffee table and every kitchen.”
- Lara Lee, author of Coconut and Sambal
“There’s a collision of enticing flavours in this mortar: turmeric, chilli, garlic, shallots, ginger, galangal, coriander seeds. These powerful spices combine to make Indonesian cooking vibrant and bold.”
- Eleanor Ford, author of Fire Islands—Recipes from Indonesia and The Nutmeg Trail
“Indonesia—a country consisting of 17,500 islands—has one of the world’s most diverse food cultures. Patricia has done a wonderful job of interpreting this unique food culture through her mother’s recipes and her own culinary lens. I like how she describes spices, aromatics and Indonesian-specific ingredients to enhance the reader’s knowledge, and explains the cuisine starting from the very basics.”
- Chef William Wongso, Indonesian Culinary Expert and Consultant
Mother/daughter team, Juliana and Pat, indulge readers with their vibrant collection of 80 delicious recipes and their intimate knowledge of Indonesian cuisine. The accessible recipes in the Mortar and Pestle encompass popular dishes that appeal to both native Indonesians and those new to the cuisine, all of which can be easily replicated by home cooks using easily accessed ingredients available.
Old family photographs and cozy, family narratives bring the reader into the authors' home and allow them to travel vicariously through food. Written with the distinct sensibility of an Indonesian who was born and grew up in Indonesia (Julia) and her daughter who was raised in the culture and taught to cook from a young age (Pat), this comprehensive cookbook is lighthearted and punctuated with practical, how-to instruction. Mortar and Pestle proves Indonesian food can be prepared in any kitchen, anywhere in the world.
OVER 75 RECIPIES: A gold mine of delicious and authentic Indonesian classics such as Nasi Goreng and Tempeh
VIBRANT IMAGES: Appetizing and vibrant photographs of finished dishes for reference
UNIQUE FLAVORS: Indonesian food embodies a richness and complexity that reflects centuries of invaders, settlers, and immigrants.]]>
Juliana Evari Suparman was chef and co-owner of the beloved restaurant, Julia’s Indonesian Kitchen, in Seattle, WA. Born in Bandung, Indonesia, she was a floral designer in Singapore before moving to the U.S.]]>
Nadine Ingram’s latest book features 50 utterly original, natural and romantic cakes that belong at the heart of every celebration. Her reliable cake recipes are written with the precision of a world-class pastry chef and the warm encouragement of a countrywoman.
To be a cake maker is to be woven into the sweetness of people’s lives,to bake layers of love crumbs as an exploration of romance, adventure and comfort.For Nadine Ingram, of beloved Sydney bakery Flour & Stone, it’s perfume, spiceand fruit that awaken our senses and attract us to one another. In this book she honoursthe places and experiences that have formed us with a creative and soulful collectionof cakes that are steeped in nature. Grounded in expert guidance, Love Crumbswill be an essential addition to your cookbook shelf for its unique, surprising andoften dreamy flavour combinations.]]>
Longlisted for the Indie Book Awards 2024
Nedd Brockmann isn’t afraid to dream big. Fresh after running fifty marathons in fifty days, the twenty-three-year-old had an idea: a 4000-kilometre run across Australia, averaging 100 kilometres per day with the aim of completing it in the fastest known time of 43 days. He wasn’t chasing fame or public recognition. He just wanted to test his limits and raise a million dollars for homelessness in the process.
Most said he was crazy, others claimed it couldn’t be done. But those who know Nedd knew never to doubt him. They understood that this is someone who will do whatever it takes to finish what he started, and that when he commits his mind to something, he always gets it done.
Understanding the mindset of someone predisposed to such feats of voluntary suffering has been nearly impossible – until now. With his trademark humour and unfiltered style, Nedd recalls the lessons learned on sporting fields that cultivated discipline, the setbacks that tested his resolve, and the relationships that proved most important of all: those who instilled the importance of hard work, of never giving up, and to always give back generously.
]]>
In his inspirational memoir, Jack Riewoldt reveals all about his remarkable AFL career and how a positive attitude helped him overcome his toughest moments on and off the field.
After booting two goals to help the Richmond Tigers secure a drought-breaking premiership win over Adelaide in 2017, Jack Riewoldt jumped on stage at the MCG to sing ‘Mr Brightside’ with The Killers – one of his all-time favourite bands.
The song became his war cry.
The Bright Sidedives into every important win, including Richmond’s recent premierships, as well as the losses that helped Jack learn and build resilience. Jack’s positive attitude helped him overcome a brush with cancer, the loss of his much-loved cousin Maddie – sister of Nick Riewoldt, with whom Jack remains a spokesman for the charity in her name – and the misunderstanding that dogged much of his career.In The Bright Side, Jack finally corrects some of the misperceptions. From mischievous youngster to revered leader of the game, it was family and community that pulled Jack through and allowed him to become an AFL legend. Now Jack shares the lessons he has learned in the hope that it will help others find brightness during challenging times.]]>
Maine, 1789: When a man is found entombed in the frozen Kennebec River, Martha Ballard is summoned to examine the body and determine cause of death.
As the local midwife and healer, Martha is good at keeping secrets. Her diary is a record of every birth, death and debacle that unfolds in the town of Hallowell. In that diary she has also documented the details of an alleged rape committed by one of the town’s most esteemed gentlemen – the same man who has now been found dead in the ice.
While certain townspeople are eager to put both matters to rest, Martha suspects that the two crimes are linked, and that there is more to both cases than meets the eye. Over the course of one long, hard winter, whispers and prejudices mount, and Martha’s diary lands at the centre of the scandal, threatening to tear both her family and her community apart.
The Frozen River is a thrilling, tense and tender story of an unsung heroine who refused to accept anything less than justice on behalf of those no one else would protect.
‘A gripping mystery, a touching love story, and a fascinating account of the life and times of women … Brilliantly atmospheric, with characters who leap off the page, a beautifully rendered landscape and an icy tension that pulls you through each chapter.’
Hannah Richell, bestselling author of The Search Party
'The Frozen Riveris so vivid, so textured and multi-layered that I felt I'd opened a door and entered post-revolutionary America ... This novel was unlike anything I'd read before, and it left me awe-struck.'
Lauren Belfer,New York Timesbestselling author]]>
Kate Mildenhall is a writer and teacher. Her debut novel, Skylarking, was named in Readings Top Ten Fiction Books of 2016 and her bestselling The Mother Fault was longlisted for the 2021 ABIA General Fiction Book of the Year and shortlisted for the 2020 Aurealis Awards. Kate teaches creative writing and co-hosts The First Time podcast – which features conversations with Australian writers – and is currently undertaking a PhD in creative practice at RMIT University. Kate lives in Hurstbridge on Wurundjeri lands, with her partner and two children. Kate’s third novel is The Hummingbird Effect.
Find out more about Kate at katemildenhall.com or connect via Twitter (@katemildenhall), Instagram (@kmildenhall) or Facebook (facebook.com/katemildenhallwriter).
‘It’s my everything cake,’ Grandma says. ‘My grandmother’s grandmother gave it to her, and my grandmother gave it to me.’
Grandma makes her everything cake for every special occasion. These days she sometimes needs a little help, but that’s what grandkids are for.
From the acclaimed author, Kate Mildenhall, and bestselling illustrator, Jess Racklyeft, this beautiful, heartfelt collaboration combines food and family to celebrate the magic of grandmothers (and their secret recipes).
Complete with Grandma’s everything cake recipe … and room to write down your own family favourite.]]>
A special collector’s hardback edition of the beloved bestseller and TikTok sensation. Featuring an exclusive bonus chapter and sprayed foil edges!
“You’re my favorite,” I whisper, leaning in to kiss her flushed cheek.
“Even if I had crab hands?”
“Even if you had crab hands, Anastasia.”
Anastasia Allen has worked her entire life for a shot at Team USA. She has a drive that few can match and, as she enters her third year on the Maple Hills ice skating team, everything is going according to plan.
Nothing will stand in her way, not even the captain of the ice hockey team, Nate Hawkins.
Nate’s focus as team captain is on keeping his team on the ice. Which is tricky when a facilities mishap means they are forced to share a rink with the ice skating team – including Anastasia, who clearly can’t stand him. But when her skating partner gets injured, Nate looks like her best option to advance in competition.
Sparks fly, but Anastasia isn’t worried. After all, she doesn’t have time for a relationship … right?
Countless others have rendered their verdict. Now it is your turn.
Russia, 1918:Under direct orders from Vladimir Lenin, Bolshevik secret police herd Anastasia Romanov, along with the entire imperial family, into a damp basem*nt in Siberia, where they face a merciless firing squad. None survive. At least that is what the executioners have always claimed.
Germany, 1920:A young woman bearing an uncanny resemblance to Anastasia Romanov is pulled shivering and senseless from a canal. Refusing to explain her presence in the freezing water or even acknowledge her rescuers, Anna Anderson is taken to the hospital where an examination reveals that her body is riddled with countless horrific scars. When she finally does speak, this frightened, mysterious young woman claims to be the Russian grand duch*ess.As rumours begin to circulate that the youngest Romanov daughter survived the massacre, old enemies and new threats awaken.
I Was Anastasia unravels the thrilling mystery around Anna Anderson in a tale that is every bit as moving and momentous as it is harrowing and twisted.]]>
Through a Black Feminist, abolitionist and transformative justice lens, Radical Rest follows Evie on her own journey of burnout recovery as she explores embodied, nature-allied alternatives to the way we organise, work, and exist. Centring on the lived experiences of those disproportionately impacted by, and working in resistance to, burnout – Black, queer, disabled activists of colour – Radical Rest poses imaginative alternatives for a hopeful and healed future.]]>
Centrism today is the radical approach to politics that drives forward progress and secures the foundations of liberal democracy. Far from being an arbitrary middle point between left and right, centrism offers a coherent set of political ideas, principles and approaches. It is about finding the most productive and effective balance between globalisation and local communities, civil rights and security, religion and democracy, free markets and protecting the weakest in society. It is a form of politics that encourages moderation; embraces compromise not as a necessary evil but as a core principle; believes in pragmatism; and engages proactively with the competing tensions that exist in running a country today.
Drawing together politicians, thought leaders and social commentators, The Centre Must Hold contains a series of essays from those who have led from the centre or made significant contributions to centrist thought and policymaking, including former prime ministers, policy makers, ministers and leading journalists from across the world.]]>
So begins this suspenseful, impeccably researched history that draws on new access to diaries to tell the story of three men who were intimately involved with America’s decision to drop the atomic bomb—and Japan’s decision to surrender. They are Henry Stimson, the American Secretary of War, who had overall responsibility for decisions about the atom bomb; Gen. Carl “Tooey” Spaatz, head of strategic bombing in the Pacific, who supervised the planes that dropped the bombs; and Japanese Foreign Minister Shigenori Togo, the only one in Emperor Hirohito’s Supreme War Council who believed even before the bombs were dropped that Japan should surrender.
Henry Stimson had served in the administrations of five presidents, but as the U.S. nuclear program progressed, he found himself tasked with the unimaginable decision of determining whether to deploy the bomb. The new president, Harry S. Truman, thus far a peripheral figure in the momentous decision, accepted Stimson’s recommendation to drop the bomb. Army Air Force Commander Gen. Spaatz ordered the planes to take off. Like Stimson, Spaatz agonized over the command even as he recognized it would end the war. After the bombs were dropped, Foreign Minister Togo was finally able to convince the emperor to surrender.
To bring these critical events to vivid life, bestselling author Evan Thomas draws on the diaries of Stimson, Togo and Spaatz, contemplating the immense weight of their historic decision. In Road to Surrender, an immersive, surprising, moving account, Thomas lays out the behind-the-scenes thoughts, feelings, motivations, and decision-making of three people who changed history.]]>
Politics, But Better will look at the very fabric of our system to see what improvements can be made. Exploring twenty-six issues in UK politics, from A to Z – including censorship, elections, insults and mental health – it clearly lays out the problems and challenges we face, and puts forward possible solutions. Looking at a variety of ideas and real-world examples, it will encourage us to rethink the fundamental ways we do things, to question the status quo, and to chart a path towards a more hopeful future.
Respect and understanding are at the heart of this book, promoting open debate, tolerance and compassion as the cornerstones of a reformed political landscape. Politics is about improving the world – and we can do better.]]>
After the death of their captain at the hands of a traitorous brother, Da’kir and Tsu’gan, battle-brothers and rivals, face enemies from within and without. As their paths diverge and they face trials that will test them to their very limits, their destinies draw them back together for one final confrontation that will decide the fate of the Salamanders Chapter.
The Salamanders, fire-born sons of Vulkan, unite to face a threat to their very existence in this omnibus edition of tales from Nick Kyme.
]]>
Winner of the 2022National Book Critics Circle Award in Biography
Winner of the 2023 Bancroft Prize in American History and Diplomacy
Winner of the American History Book Prize
Shortlisted for the 2023 PEN/Jacqueline Bograd Weld Award for Biography
Longlisted for the CWAALCS Gold Dagger for Non-Fiction
When he became director of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover transformed a failing law-enforcement backwater into a modern machine. He stayed in power for decades, and created a personal fiefdom unrivalled in US history.
In this masterful, multi-award-winning biography, Beverley Gage explores the full sweep of Hoover’s life and career. In Gage’s portrait, Hoover was a man admired by millions, but was also a formidable public figure who intimidated his enemies, excluded minorities from his great American project and created the foundations of the US far right.
G-Man is a dramatic portrait of one of America’s most influential – and controversial – public figures. It is also an engrossing story of the making of modern America.
'Revelatory' New York Times
'Astonishing' The New Yorker
'Masterful…This book is an enduring, formidable accomplishment, a monument to the power of biography [that] now becomes the definitive work' The Washington Post
]]>
Learn to understand the vibrational power of numbers to understand strengths and weaknesses, and those of others, and how best to take advantage of circ*mstances, favourable and unfavourable, that will occur during our lives. Each being is aligned with the energy of a particular number, and this is how we are able to discern the interconnectedness of all things and see how everything that exists is connected to the same energy. This simple to use 36-card deck by RoseMaree Templeton includes not only the power of numbers but also five ascended master cards, five archangel cards, and more. By including these with wonderful illustrations, RoseMaree has created the ultimate tool for divination. These cards provide great universal wisdom to help answer your questions and guide you in your path. When using these cards, focusing quietly on your question, your energy will vibrate to the chosen cards and reveal their spiritual messages. The guidance you receive from these cards helps in decision-making and will bring you comfort in the knowledge that you are not alone in your search. With this deck you will step confidently into the future and create the life you desire.]]>
Celebrate the greatest footballers from the world game's current era. The Stars of Football profiles over 90 players, telling the stories of their rise and successes. Fully updated for 2024 with new chapters on the brightest young talent and the game's latest heroes. This modern, fully illustrated book showcases the biggest names to grace the World Cup and other elite competitions. Learn about masters such as Messi and Ronaldo, plus other heroes who continue to enhance their reputations, including Mbappe, Benzema, Lewandowski and De Bruyne. Plus new stars such as Fernandez, Bellingham and Gavi. Full colour packed with action photos. Each player is profiled in a dedicated spread with key statistics and points of interest. All-new cover for 2024 featuring the four biggest stars of the world game.]]>
That was Lucas's first 25 years. Now he's planning to spend most of his money on booze, birds and fast cars. He heard once that the rest you just squander.
]]>
The Immortals of Australian Cricket sees experienced journalist and sports writer Liam Hauser select his Immortal team from players who didn't just dominate, they changed the game with their sheer willpower. His pick includes the greats from across the eras, from icon Don Bradman and legendary leg-spinner Arthur Morris to modern-era names like Shane Warne, Glen McGrath and Matthew Hayden.
The Immortals of Australian Soccer celebrates the greatest footballers this country has produced, from Johnny Warren and Craig Johnston to Sam Kerr and Tim Cahill. Author Lucas Radbourne tells the stories of the most legendary figures to play the round ball game. The Immortals of Australian Motor Racing This book takes the Immortals concept made famous in cricket and applies it to motorsport, choosing the best of the best from Bathurst and the Australian Touring Car Championship (now the Supercars Championship) and other local series.
]]>
Jade-Sky has read professionally for over 7,000 clients around the world, who testify to her accuracy.
Mediumship is Jade-Sky’s passion. During a reading she offers up key names, dates and specific events to the enquirer so that they know without doubt that their passed loved ones or spirit guides/angels are with them. She also provides very personal and significant details to help clients reconnect with their loved ones, something which assists with their grieving process.
By giving detailed information, Jade-Sky reassures her clients that life after death does exist and a beautiful place awaits us when we pass from this life to the next.As well as conducting private readings and workshops, Jade-Sky has spoken and appeared live on stage at the nation-wide Mind, Body, Spirit Festivals and featured on BIO5,2GB and NOVA radio stations.
Based in Brisbane, Queensland, Jade-Sky travels extensively and can do so on several planes, be them spiritual or physical!
"A+++, so accurate on so many levels. To pin point changes in my life and things that were about to happen left me inspired and speechless"
Smallzy - Nova 106.9 Announcer
"Jade is the best psychic I ever seen. How she has helped me can barely be put into words…. You leave the room feeling as though you’ve just met a person that knows you better than yourself. She truly is a very special individual."
Chris Parsons | Producer / Presenter TPD Media
"There are a lot of mediums out there today performing 'shows'. Jade-Sky is one of the few performing a public service."
Stacey Demarco, Metaphysicist, Author and Judge on "THE ONE" TV Series]]>
Have you ever been alone but felt that you were not really alone at all; that someone else was there? You didn't feel scared, you felt comforted and you knew that the energy felt familiar, like that of a passed loved one. But your sceptical mind told you it was just your imagination. Signs from the spirit world come in many different ways; it could be just a small thing, such as sensing a presence or even the lights flicking on and off whenever you think about a passed loved one. Is this just coincidence, or is it more? In What Happens Next, spiritual/medium Jade-Sky shows you that it is possible to feel, sense or even hear your passed loved ones in spirit. In her work, Jade-Sky is asked hundreds of questions about life after death and here she answers them all, such as what happens to loved ones when they pass, including children, parents, partners, friends and even pets; how to recognise signs from passed loved ones; and all about angels, spirit guides and ghosts. Drawing on her many years of communicating with the spirit world Jade-Sky's sympathetic answers offer comfort and reassurance to anyone who wonders: 'What happens next?']]>
Jade-Sky has read professionally for over 7,000 clients around the world, who testify to her accuracy.
Mediumship is Jade-Sky’s passion. During a reading she offers up key names, dates and specific events to the enquirer so that they know without doubt that their passed loved ones or spirit guides/angels are with them. She also provides very personal and significant details to help clients reconnect with their loved ones, something which assists with their grieving process.
By giving detailed information, Jade-Sky reassures her clients that life after death does exist and a beautiful place awaits us when we pass from this life to the next.As well as conducting private readings and workshops, Jade-Sky has spoken and appeared live on stage at the nation-wide Mind, Body, Spirit Festivals and featured on BIO5,2GB and NOVA radio stations.
Based in Brisbane, Queensland, Jade-Sky travels extensively and can do so on several planes, be them spiritual or physical!
"A+++, so accurate on so many levels. To pin point changes in my life and things that were about to happen left me inspired and speechless"
Smallzy - Nova 106.9 Announcer
"Jade is the best psychic I ever seen. How she has helped me can barely be put into words…. You leave the room feeling as though you’ve just met a person that knows you better than yourself. She truly is a very special individual."
Chris Parsons | Producer / Presenter TPD Media
"There are a lot of mediums out there today performing 'shows'. Jade-Sky is one of the few performing a public service."
Stacey Demarco, Metaphysicist, Author and Judge on "THE ONE" TV Series]]>
Veronica has obtained a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Illustration from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Among her freelance work, she runs her own online shop selling her work in various forms under the name of Dark Solis.
www.darksolis.com]]>
Lost Oracle is a resource for making peace with your place in the world. It is a source of protection, a guide for healing, a touchstone of reassurance and a compass for experiencing success of all kinds in life. It is an unwavering light shining on an uncertain future that can become less troubling and more enticing when viewed from an enlightened perspective.
Steeped in ancient wisdom, Lost Oracle will help you understand and manage the forces around you and within you today.
From morning to night, Lost Oracle will guide you to a place where you feel found.]]>
Veronica Collinsis an illustrator born and raised in Massachusetts where she lives with her husband and their dearly beloved black cat, Barnabas. Her hand is the creative force behind the works of Dark Solis. The influences that guide her creativity are born fromher lifelong interest in history, fantasy, occultism and mysticism. Growing up in New England enriched her interest in history and folklore and she takes great inspiration from her surroundings. Veronica’s illustrations come from a place of her own spiritualism as it guides her musings and markings, her vision manifesting through her hands onto paper. The technique in which she is most proficient focuses on expressive line work and has gathered a reputation for being reminiscent of old woodcuts and etchings. Her work is constantly paying homage to the craft of artists such as Aubrey Beardsley, Hans Holbein, Arthur Rackham, Alphonse Mucha, Rockwell Kent and Albrecht Dürer. Veronica's work makes nods to different eras of the past. She strives to capture the feeling of the old ways of a bygone age with a contemporary twist that is all her own.
Veronica has obtained a Bachelor in Fine Arts degree with a concentration in Illustration from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth. Among her freelance work, she runs her own online shop selling her work in various forms under the name of Dark Solis.
www.darksolis.com]]>
We are our own fairy tale; we become our own "knights in shining armor" and find our own happily ever afters. This is your story: fill it with joy and whimsy. This dreamy, magical mini deck from bestselling artist and author Jena Dellagrottaglia offers affirmations and gentle daily guidance. These mini cards are intended for the reader to do a daily card reading, for yourself or someone else. Of course, this doesn't mean you can't do a 3-card selection for the beginning of the week. However you choose to use the cards, the hope is that you connect with them and take away something meaningful. Be your own happily ever after . . .]]>
This richly illustrated mini deck from bestselling artist and author Jena Dellagrottaglia is full of fantasy and magic. It offers affirmations and gentle daily guidance to help us face our fears in a place close to home – the here and now. These mini cards are intended for the reader to do a daily pull, for yourself or someone else. Of course, this doesn't mean you can't do a 3-card pull for the beginning of the week. However you choose to use the cards, the hope is that you connect with them and take away something meaningful. In a place close to home, light your way . . .]]>
www.lucycavendish.com.au]]>
• The Gift of Flowers: Empower your life and energy with nature healing. Learn to communicate through the language of plants and their flowers to stimulate your own healing, creative expression and passion for life. With recipes, skincare and floral crafts, The Gift of Flowers will inspire gardeners, cooks and flower lovers everywhere.
• The Gift of Spells: A beautiful guide to the secret world of magick. Learn about the rules and laws of witchcraft, how to shape your magickal energy and much more. With over 50 unique spells, The Gift of Spells will unlock your most magickal self with the power of positive witchcraft.
• The Gift of Dreams: Discover a fascinating inner world that provides insight, wisdom and inspiration into your greatest self. The Gift of Dreams is a beautiful guide to understanding the enigmatic world of dreams. Dreams have long been regarded as a gateway to understanding yourself. The book includes detailed descriptions for over 50 different dream themes and motifs and what they may mean.
]]>
• Aliens and the Unexplained: Are you fascinated by the unknown? Have you seen a UFO? Do you want to know the latest on alien encounters? Aliens and the Unexplained explores the fascinating universe of UFOs, aliens and strange phenomena
.• Monsters and Creatures: From the writer of Gods and Goddesses, Monsters and Creatures delves into the legends of some of the worlds best known and most bizarre beasts and ghastly creations, revealing the facts and the fictions.
• Gods and Goddesses: Over the millennia gods and goddesses have taken on many forms, have given great gifts and unleashed furious punishments on those who worshiped and angered them. This book introduces the main gods and goddesses of the past; their myths, rituals and how they have influenced modern popular culture.
]]>
IF they can both avoid being captured by infamous dog catcher, S.M. Ellybutt, that is.]]>
And S.M. Ellybutt is in hot pursuit!
Will our favourite hounds stay one step ahead of the desperate dog catcher?
Or will they find themselves in an even stickier situation?]]>
It’s action aplenty as security guards, S.M. Ellybutt and a feisty granny are on the warpath, trying to stop the doggy destruction!
But will Scuttlebutt ever get the family he so desperately craves?
The third book in this series will not disappoint young readers who like a side dish of wacky fun with their books!]]>
When the Cruellys move in, stuff begins to happen - funny stuff, weird stuff, and stuff that isn’t funny at all.
It’s time to learn the Vann-Wong family’s ancient secrets, unlock the vault and access special powers handed down from generation to generation to stop them.
A transforming dog, a sister struggling to master shape-shifting, and a pile of gear with no instructions - what could possibly go wrong?]]>
Nathan is now a mental health advocate who promotes mental health awareness, stigma reduction, and help-seeking behaviours. With a singular mission to inspire and empower individuals to seek support during times of crisis, Nathan has dedicated himself to various advocacy roles. He has served on esteemed councils and committees, including the SA Premier’s Council on Suicide Prevention and WellbeingSA’s Community Advisory Committee for Mental Health. As the State Representative of the Special Operations Engineers Regiment Welfare Association and Director of Bolton Brothers, a men's psychology company, Nathan extends support to those in need, offering wellbeing and resilience training.
Nathan continues his quest as a keynote speaker, and more recently as a published author, using the experiences of his past, the mistakes that he made and the lessons that he learned along the way, to prevent others from making the same mistakes as he did, and to show the true strength and courage of vulnerability.
]]>
Nathan became a Special Operations Engineer and chose to perform one of the most revered job roles during the conflict in Afghanistan, search and clearance of Improvised Explosive Devices. Nathan found himself involved in countless traumatic situations throughout his tours, from when his vehicle struck an IED and exploded, to the fear that he felt having laid on top of a pressure plate with the main explosive charge being underneath 5 of his mates behind him. These hidden bombs were littered all over the battlespace and became so feared, that soldiers were known to refuse to get out of their vehicle until an engineer had checked the ground first. These tours would inevitably take a toll on Nathan, both physically and psychologically, but due to his inability to look inwards, and his negative association towards vulnerability, he was unable to see or accept its impact until it was too late.
Post-war, Nathan hit rock bottom, and believed that to leave this world was the only way out. Nathan’s climb out of the darkness was supported by a rather bizarre contraption, where he managed to find purpose through an old, beaten and battered off-road racing sidecar that his dad used to race back in the 80’s. Nathan ultimately made a profound recovery, and although forever scarred by his active service, no longer do his demons define him. Nathan now embraces vulnerability to its utmost and uses his experiences to help inspire others. Vulnerability was never a sign of weakness as Nathan had once believed, but is now the truest test of bravery imaginable, for it took more couragefor Nathan to face himself and his demons than it ever did to stand firm on the battlefield.]]>
In the decades since, Australian women have continued to contribute significantly to the operational capability of the world’s second oldest air force. They have done so regardless of the social norms of the time, or the perceived limits of their abilities, always showing their detractors that they are capable of great things.
‘Changing Altitudes: The Stories of Australian Air Force Women’ includes the personal stories of some of these women, recounting in their own words their experiences while proudly wearing the uniform of the Service.
This is the second volume of the Royal Australian Air Force Oral Histories series, aiming to capture the one capability that the RAAF cannot operate without - its people.]]>
Following on from Lorriane Anderson's (Seasons of the Witch oracle series author) best selling book Witch's Apothecary, Lorriane Anderson has created a book of unique moon-based spiritual self-care, beauty, and wellness recipes to invite both spiritual and physical nourishment into your life. The recipes take your personal energy, goals and needs into consideration. Use the intelligence of the moon phases to discover your deepest desires and learn how you can channel your intentions into everyday self-care such as lotions and creams, oils and sprays, comforting teas, cleansing soaps, ritual baths, and more. You can even learn how to create a new beauty potion for every moon phase or transit through a new sign. You will also find knowledge and inspiration for creating potions based on the zodiac signs as they apply to the moon, as well as special moon events such as blue moons and eclipses.]]>
Neesha Sparks is a disabled, vocal community activist with a passion for costume design. Gabby Graciana is an optimistic surfer - and, like Neesha, a new kid at school. When the two girls discover that they like the same manga series, Navigator Nozomi, they become more than just fellow new kids. But it was more than just having read the same book series--neither of them had finished it! Soon, they become new friends on a mission - to track down the remaining Navigator Nozomi books. This slice-of-life romance follows the two girls as they adventure across North Carolina to find each book, with their story intercut with the tales of Navigator Nozomi. Neesha and Gabby find more than just the books though—they find acceptance, friendship, understanding, and love.]]>
Cassio Ribeiro is a brazilian comic creator and illustrator, who has worked on the comics "Iris Complex '' and "Sara Animals" as well as other independent titles.]]>
Fourteen years ago, Emma and Andrew Walker suffered a devastating loss when Mandy, their 6-year-old daughter, was kidnapped. Her unrecognizable body was found one week later. The case and resulting media coverage moved an entire nation to the point that everyone knew who the Walkers were. Everyone felt sympathetic...which indirectly propelled the Walker's businesses and careers.
Years pass and the Walkers have both rebuilt their lives and prospered. As founders of The Mandy Walker Foundation, they've helped thousands of children around the world and have raised their new daughter, Meghan, in front of the world on a show called Second Chances. America is riveted by scenes of them coping with the loss of Mandy, but also finding new hope as Meghan grows.
Everything comes crashing down when Meghan disappears soon after her 6th birthday--on the very day Mandy disappeared 14 years ago. Emma and Andrew now have just one week to save their little girl from the tragedy that befell her sister.]]>
A dark entity made of fire, smoke, and ash--"The Fire Man"--blazes through a young girl's home, killing her entire family. Amy Durant swears she saw this supernatural creature, but no one ever believed her. Unfortunately, these past fears reignite a decade later as her city goes up in flames. With no one else to rely on, Amy is forced to battle both past trauma and the face of the inferno.]]>
Andrea Mutti began his career illustrating the superheroes comic 'DNAction' for Xenia Edizioni. He then illustrated horror comics for Fenix. He moved over to Star Comics, where he drew stories with 'Lazarus Ledd' and some episodes of 'Hammer'. Since then he's worked with DC/Vertigo, Marvel, Mad Cave Studios, and IDW.]]>
Discover the secrets behind the Forger family in Spy x Family: The Official Anime Guide—Mission Report: 220409-0625.
This companion guide to the first 12 episodes of the hugely popular anime based on the manga series by Tatsuya Endo provides readers with an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the creation of this comedic and action-packed anime series. Sketches, storyboards, and special interviews with the production team show how the world of Loid, Anya, and Yor was carefully crafted by the animators. Tatsuya Endo also provides commentary about his experience with the anime’s production.]]>
Meet the curiouser and curiouser students of Night Raven College in Disney Twisted-Wonderland: Rose-Red Tyrant. When Yuya Kuroki is transported to the mysterious academy for the magically gifted, he must navigate a colorful cast of characters as he searches for a way home.
There’s just one problem: no one knows where his home is. Yuya quickly realizes he’s in over his head, stranded in a magical world filled with ghosts, monsters, fire-breathing cats, and bickering classmates. Without any magical ability of his own, Yuya must struggle to find his place in this Twisted Wonderland.
Inspired by the classic Disney movie Alice in Wonderland and based on the popular mobile game, Disney Twisted-Wonderland: Rose-Red Tyrant features an original concept by famed manga artist Yana Toboso, creator of Black Butler.]]>
Yana Toboso is a manga artist and representative of the creative studio D-6th. She created the original concept for Disney Twisted-Wonderland and is the main scenario writer and character designer. Toboso is also well known for creating the popular manga series Black Butler.]]>
Casey Shield, a hacker who invented the Dynamax Simulator, and Henry Sword, a boy who repairs gear for Pokémon, both dream of entering the Galar region's Gym battles. For Casey, it's a chance to reunite with her lost Pokémon. For Henry, it's an opportunity to search for the legendary Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield.
Even with Legendary Pokémon Zacian and Zamazenta helping them in the fight against the Gigantic Pokémon Eternatus, Henry, Casey, and their friends lose the battle and must retreat. When Eternatus disappears, it takes Henry, the Rusted Sword, and the Rusted Shield along for the ride!
Can the team find and save Henry?!]]>
Satoshi Yamamoto is the artist for Pokémon Adventures, which he began working on in 2001, starting with volume 10. Yamamoto launched his manga career in 1993 with the horror-action title Kimen Senshi, which ran in Shogakukan’s Weekly Shonen Sunday magazine, followed by the series Kaze no Denshosha. Yamamoto’s favorite manga creators/artists include FUJIKO F FUJIO (Doraemon), Yukinobu Hoshino (2001 Nights), and Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira). He loves films, monsters, detective novels, and punk rock music. He uses the Pokémon Swalot as his artist portrait.]]>
The ambitious Team-Up Missions Program pairs groups of aspiring heroes with pro heroes to go on action-packed missions! Although Izuku Midoriya and his U.A. High friends are thrilled to participate, there’s just one catch—there’s no telling who will be teamed up with whom! From top heroes to students from other classes and schools, anyone could be on the same team.
Like always, the students take on crazy challenges on the path to full-fledged herodom. To kick things off, Deku and Bakugo battle the desert island demons that traumatized even the powerful All Might! Then, these hero hopefuls learn discipline through the art of cleaning the school and the power of cuteness by playing the part of an idol!]]>
After spending years slaving away for a soul-crushing company, Akira’s life has lost its luster. But when a zombie apocalypse ravages his town, it gives him the push he needs to live for himself. Now Akira’s on a mission to complete all 100 items on his bucket list before he...well, kicks the bucket.
After noticing that “Meet the woman of my dreams” has been crossed off the bucketlist, Shizuka suddenly remembers Akira’s reaction when she was bitten by a zombie. The two go into such a panic that even the Nagasaki dolphins avoid them, sensing how awkward their relationship has become. Adding fuel to the fire, the handsome Dr. Sakaki—who’s made it his quest to save those troubled by the zombies—makes a tempting offer toShizuka.]]>
Kotaro Takata first hit the manga scene in 2009 with Hallelujah Overdrive!, which ran in Monthly Shonen Sunday magazine. In 2017, he served as the artist on another Monthly Shonen Sunday title called I Am Sherlock, written by Naomichi Io. Zom 100: Bucket List of the Dead is his follow-up series.]]>
Shinta Arakawa wants nothing more than to pass his shin’uchi exam—the test that would make him a top-rank headliner and master storyteller in the traditional Japanese art of rakugo. Akane Osaki, his daughter and biggest fan, spies on him while he practices and learns his routines for herself. When rakugo master Issho Arakawa expels everyone after the exam with no explanation, a fire is lit inside Akane. From that day forth, she has had one goal—to avenge her father and prove his art was worthy of the title of shin’uchi.
In order to secure a spot at the four-person event showcasing the futatsume said to be leading the next generation of the Arakawa school, Akane must come in first at the Four-Person Event Selection. While Akane is considered a favorite to win, a familiar dark horse contestant appears—one driven by a recent bitter defeat at Akane’s hands.]]>
Takamasa Moue started his manga career in 2015 by participating in Shonen Jump’s Golden Future Cup contest with the one-shot “Galaxy Gangs.” His first serialization, Ole ★ Golazo, ran in Weekly Shonen Jump in 2016. In 2017, he published a short serialization in Jump GIGA called K.K. in the City of Fog, which ran for three chapters. In 2021, he teamed up with Yuki Suenaga to create the one-shot “Tatarashido.” In February 2022, the two worked together to publish what would be his second serialization, Akane-banashi.]]>
Welcome to Kimetsu Academy, a school attended by the most exceptional students you’ve ever seen! This comedic spin-off of international smash hit Demon Slayer: Kimetsu no Yaiba pits Tanjiro, Nezuko, and all the rest of the Demon Slayer Corps against the trials and tribulations of student life.
Fall’s here, but things are only heating up at Kimetsu Academy! Halloween turns scarier than ever when one of the Twelve Kizuki wanders into a spooky water balloon battle—though that’s got nothing on how frightening it is when the principal sees the state of the staff room. Then there’s trouble with a demon selling snake oil, alarmingly inconsistent requests at the school’s kiosk, far-too-likable comic characters, and more!]]>
Let the games begin! Since childhood, Yukiya Asagi and Miku Sakura have played the Love Game, where they try to fluster each other with a simple “I love you.” But after falling in love for real and refusing to admit it, neither of them can afford to lose this battle!
At long last, Miku and Yukiya spend the night under one roof. Their last sleepover was years ago, and their relationship has changed since then. Under the pretense of the Love Game, they both make bold moves to test the limits of their physical intimacy. But just how far will they go to claim victory?]]>
In a world where cursed spirits feed on unsuspecting humans, fragments of the legendary and feared demon Ryomen Sukunahave beenlost and scattered about. Should any demon consume Sukuna’s body parts, the power they gain could destroy the world as we know it. Fortunately, there exists a mysterious school of jujutsu sorcerers who exist to protect the precarious existence of the living from the supernatural!
Sukuna reveals that he is the Disgraced One whom the Angel wants to kill.While Itadori grapples with this terrible news,Kenjaku has setin motionplans involving various nations, throwingthe culling game into further confusion!To makematters worse, Kenjaku thenshows up at the Tombs of the Star Corridor where Master Tengen exists in seclusion!]]>
Taiyo Asano has been on his own ever since his parents died. The only one who seems to care for him is his childhood friend and classmate, Mutsumi Yozakura. But Mutsumi has a secret—she is the head of a family of spies!
Taiyo somehow manages to survive the Silver-Rank spy exam, earning his promotion. He finally gets to talk to Kawash*ta and relay Tsubomi’s desire to perish. He quickly learns that Kawash*ta also faces an unenviable fate. To make matters worse, Momo Yozakura appears!]]>
A mysterious boy comes to Saku Fujigaya’s rescue when she falls ill on a train, but he leaves before she can thank him. After this experience, Saku never ignores strangers in need of help to emulate the boy who helped her.
Now that Saku knows Kotono might like Haruki too, she doesn’t know what to do. Distressed, Saku is embraced by Iryu, who helps hide her from prying eyes. Saku discovers that Iryu’s cold, blunt manner conceals surprising kindness, and she gradually begins to warm to him…]]>
Kidnapped by the Demon King and imprisoned in his castle, Princess Syalis is…bored.
The mysteries of the missing member of the Ten Guardians and the castle-wide gender swap are simultaneously solved. Bean-based holidays are mixed up and celebrated by Agave and Syalis. Emotions run high as the Demon King and hero run into each other—and the secret of Twilight’s first love is finally revealed (to him). There’s also Teddy Demon transformations, concerning commentary about confidential content, boisterous baking, vexing vacations, and more!]]>
Goggles’s adventures continue in the Splatlands!
Trouble is brewing when four of the most popular players split off from the Splatlands’ Great Eight to form the New Order of Splatlands. Their goal is to kick players they defeat out of the game! Will Team Blue be able to stop their scheme?!]]>
A former yakuza legend leaves it all behind to become your everyday househusband. But it’s not easy to walk away from the gangster life, and what should be mundane household tasks are anything but!
Tatsu ends up on the radar of an overeager police officer when he attends a traffic safety course, and it isn’t long before a simple class demonstration turns deadly! Well, for the mascot dragged into it, anyway. Has the law finally caught up with this yakuza legend turned househusband, or will he get off clean once again?]]>
Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, everybody is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life. Cath’s sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath just can’t let go…
Cath and Levi are officially dating—finally!—but Cath still has a lot on her plate as the end of freshman year approaches. She only has a few more weeks to save her grade in Fiction-Writing, her twin sister, Wren, is acting increasingly reckless, and an unexpected reunion with her mother has thrown everything off-balance. Plus, with the release date for the last Simon Snow novel looming, Cath is struggling to focus on anything except finishing her epic fanfiction—including her relationship with Levi.
In this final volume of Fangirl, Cath must decide whether finding her own path forward means walking away from Simon Snow for good.]]>
Gabi Nam is a South Korean artist who has lived abroad in Japan and France. She self-publishes her work in South Korea and specializes in the black-and-white manga style. Fangirl: The Manga is her English debut.]]>
At 29 years old, carefree Hiroto Ikuta doesn’t have a girlfriend, a full-time job, or a plan for the future—and he couldn’t be happier. Hiroto’s breezy attitude isn’t easy for everyone to understand, though. In a world filled with anxiety, confusion, and grief, Hiroto and the people who surround him are all just doing their best to figure out this thing called life.
The summer weather isn’t the only thing heating up around Hiroto’s little family home. Hiroto’s best friend, Hideki,starts growingincreasingly worried about becoming a father; Yomogi, Hiroto’s new friend, begins to crack under the stress of her busy real estate job; and Natsumi’s friend Akari struggles with her self-confidence. For people under so much pressure, Hiroto’s laid-backdemeanorcan bedownright frustrating. But with things reaching their boiling point at the Asagaya Tanabata Festival, Hiroto’s positive outlook might be exactly what everyone needs to relieve the tension.]]>
Third grader Yuki Tachibana lives in two worlds. In one, he is a loner ridiculed by his classmates and reprimanded by his teachers for telling stories of supernatural beings that only he can see. In the other, those supernatural beings vie for power with malevolent spirits who bring chaos into the school, the students’ lives, and nature itself.]]>
Love of music unites the four members of the band Given: hotheaded guitarist Uenoyama, playboy drummer Akihiko, gentle bassist Haruki, and Mafuyu, a singer gifted with great talent and burdened by past tragedy. Their struggles and conflicts may drive them apart, but their bond to the music—and to one another—always brings them back together again.
Mafuyu arrives in Shibuya, where syh’s concert will be held. Clutching the tickets both Ritsuka and Hiragi have given him, Mafuyu stops dead in his tracks when he runs into someone who shouldn’t be in Tokyo—Ugetsu. What does his presence there mean, and could this be the catalyst Mafuyu needs to finally move forward and make a decision?]]>
Shy Miwa has always dreamed of finding love, but living in small-town Japan made finding the right match difficult—especially since she likes girls! Even going away to college didn’t seem to help, until one day her outgoing classmate Saeko suggests they might as well start dating each other since it’s not like either of them has other options.
Miwa and Saeko have finally put the pain of their breakup completely behind them and are enjoying a fresh chance at romance. But while they both love their girlfriends, they’re learning an unfortunate truth—starting a new relationship doesn’t mean leaving your old issues behind.]]>
Are you looking for something new? Something challenging? Something very highly paid? Exterminating monsters is an exciting,fast-paced field that will get you out from behind a desk and into the action. With over 500 magical girl companies now in operation, you’re sure to find a position—and a uniform—that fits. Start your career as a magical girl today!
Kana is shadowing Lily, a magical girl who works for a luxury cosmetics company, in order to learn the full breadth of her new occupation. Seeing how other companies handle kaii outbreaks has been an excellent educational opportunity, but an interesting assignment quickly becomes a real struggle when a tricky mission brings an agent from the largest magical girl company to the scene. Can Kana handle mutating kaii and a magical girl with wildly different methods?]]>
Yu Aoki made his debut in 2012 with the one-shot “Minamo Utsu” (Everyone Is Depressed), which won the Excellence Award in the 379th Young Magazine Monthly Rookie Manga Awards in Monthly Young Magazine. His series Bakarei Dogs (Back-Alley Dogs) was serialized in Young Magazine in 2014. His series Magilumiere Magical Girls Inc. began serialization in Shonen Jump+ in 2021.]]>
Mamori Wataya is used to being a nobody. She lingers in the shadows of her high school, dismissed by everyone around her—that is, until she meets Soshi Fuji, the school’s notorious troublemaker. Fueled by her deep admiration for villains, Mamori quickly becomes captivated by Fuji’s devil-may-care attitude, and together they embark on a rebellion against the status quo.
After discovering that Fuji lives in the shadow of his popular and perfect younger brother, nicknamed “the Prince” by all the girls at school, Mamori offers to help Fuji derail his brother’s campaign for student council president. But as Fuji’s audacious pranks pull them closer together, Mamori discovers there’s more to like about Fuji than his just villainy.]]>
Deadpool: Samurai—The Official Coloring Book includes72 pages of art for fans of the merc with a mouth to color! Featuring illustrations by Hikaru Uesugi taken from the pages of the Deadpool: Samurai manga, this coloring book is packed with art featuring Marvel characters such as Iron Man, Thor, Black Widow, Loki, and more.
This book features thick, high-quality paper and includes a flexible binding to make coloring easy for all!]]>
VIZ Media is proudly certified as a Most Loved Workplace® in America. For more information on VIZ Media visit: https://www.viz.com/]]>
This Don’t Be Cruel volume is a collection of the best exclusive side and short stories the series has to offer!
Maya and Nemugasa’s relationship had a rocky start. Maya, the playboy slacker, and Nemugasa, the diligent student, have two very different personalities and live two very different lives. These differences have led to some crazy misunderstandings between them. Their relationship certainly has its rough patches, but they make the good times that much sweeter. Read on for the next volume in this collection of never-before-seen Don’t Be Cruel side and bonus stories!]]>
It is a dark and dangerous time for the galaxy, and the Jedi of the High Republic must face their greatest trials yet...
The destruction of Starlight Beacon also destroys the peace once protected by the great Jedi of the High Republic era. In the year since Jedi Knight Lily Tora-Asi defied the Council’s order to return to Coruscant, the Nihil have continued to storm through the galaxy, expanding their territory through the Outer Rim.
Despite the encroaching Stormwall, Lily stands her ground and reestablishes Banchii’s Jedi temple. Banchii is not to be abandoned, and itssecrets begin to unfurl as Jedi Master Arkoff returns to connect the pieces of a mystery long buried.]]>
Hamlet follows the form of a revenge tragedy, in which the hero, Hamlet, seeks vengeance against the man he learns is his father’s murderer—his uncle Claudius, now the king of Denmark. Much of its fascination, however, lies in its mysteries. Among them: Should Hamlet believe a ghost? What roles do Ophelia and her family play in Hamlet’s attempts to know the truth? Was his mother, Gertrude, unfaithful to her husband or complicit in his murder, or both? How do the visiting actors cause the truth to begin to reveal itself?
The Folger Guides to Teaching Shakespeare series is created by the experts at the Folger Shakespeare Library, the nation’s largest archive of Shakespeare material and a leading center for both the latest scholarship and education on all things Shakespeare. Based on the proven Folger Method of teaching and informed by the wit, wisdom, and experiences of classroom teachers across the country, the guides offer a lively, interactive approach to teaching and learning Shakespeare, offering students and readers of all backgrounds and abilities a pathway to discovering the richness and diversity of Shakespeare’s world.
Filled with surprising facts about Shakespeare, insightful essays by scholars, and a day-by-day, five-week teaching plan, these guides are an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and Shakespeare fans alike.]]>
In 1603, James VI of Scotland ascended the English throne, becoming James I of England. London was alive with an interest in all things Scottish, and Shakespeare turned to Scottish history for material. The result was Macbeth, a bloody, supernatural tale of power found and lost, and of betrayal.
The Folger Guides to Teaching Shakespeare series is created by the experts at the Folger Shakespeare Library, the nation’s largest archive of Shakespeare material and a leading center for both the latest scholarship and education on all things Shakespeare. Based on the proven Folger Method of teaching and informed by the wit, wisdom, and experiences of classroom teachers across the country, the guides offer a lively, interactive approach to teaching and learning Shakespeare, offering students and readers of all backgrounds and abilities a pathway to discovering the richness and diversity of Shakespeare’s world.
Filled with surprising facts about Shakespeare, insightful essays by scholars, and a day-by-day, five-week teaching plan, these guides are an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and Shakespeare fans alike.]]>
Romeo and Juliet is one of Shakespeare’s most well-known plays, and certainly the one most commonly taught in schools. It’s the story of star-crossed young lovers who can’t come together because they live in a society governed by blood feuds, violent duels and acts of retribution. Shakespeare’s tale of Romeo and Juliet, the adults who fail to help them, and the price that is ultimately paid by so many is a moving story that gives us some of the most familiar and memorable passages in the English language.
The Folger Guides to Teaching Shakespeare series is created by the experts at the Folger Shakespeare Library, the nation’s largest archive of Shakespeare material and a leading center for both the latest scholarship and education on all things Shakespeare. Based on the proven Folger Method of teaching and informed by the wit, wisdom, and experiences of classroom teachers across the country, the guides offer a lively, interactive approach to teaching and learning Shakespeare, offering students and readers of all backgrounds and abilities a pathway to discovering the richness and diversity of Shakespeare’s world.
Filled with surprising facts about Shakespeare, insightful essays by scholars, and a day-by-day, five-week teaching plan, these guides are an invaluable resource for teachers, students, and Shakespeare fans alike.]]>
In her early twenties, Charlotte Shane quit her women’s studies graduate program to devote herself to sex work because it was a way to devote herself to men. Her lifelong curiosity about male lust, love, selfishness, and social capital dovetailed with her own insatiable desire for intimacy to sustain a long career in escorting, with unexpectedly poignant results.
Shane uses her personal and professional history to examine how men and women struggle in their attempts at romantic and sexual bonding, no matter how true their intentions. As she takes stock of her relationships—with clients, with her father, with friends, with married men, and later, with her own husband—she tells a candid and haunting tale of love, marriage, and (in)fidelity, as seen through the eyes of the perpetual “other woman.”
Braiding the personal and the universal, Shane’s memoir is a merciless and moving love letter to straight men and an indictment of habitual dishonesty, a condemnation of every social constraint acting on heterosexual unions, and a hopeful affirmation of the possibility for true connection between men and women.]]>
“A rigorous and compulsively readable memoir about her career as a sex worker and the possibilities of romantic love between men and women. Shane excavates her relationships with her father and the boys she grew up with, measuring the harm of inherited lessons about sex and the value of girls’ hotness against the power and freedom sex work later afforded her. This personal and professional investigation resonates and entices.” –New York Magazine
"Shane’s unsparing honesty illuminates what it means for her to seek love, intimacy and relationships with these men under a cloud of misogyny."--New York Times Book Review
"In compulsively readable, confessional prose, Shane probes her own experiences with desire, being desired, and the desire to be desired. She exposes the ways in which capitalism and patriarchy infect every union."--Bustle
“Astute in her social critiques, the author demonstrates her intuitive understanding of how people can build more fulfilling relationships with one another.... It's funny, authentic, and unequivocally honest. A graceful and candid look into sex, intimacy, misogyny, and identity.” –Kirkus
“Refreshingly, Shane depicts the good of sex work (its liberatory potential, for example) as thoroughly as the bad (its occasional reinforcement of patriarchal structures). This slim volume packs a punch.”—Publishers Weekly
“Shane is an erudite writer, funny and disarming, and her memoir holds space
for all of the dualities of love and sex work.” —Booklist
“With An Honest Woman, Charlotte Shane's already-formidable clarity and grace as a critic and essayist are here turned so honestly, so ruthlessly to an examination of womanhood—of how women make ourselves known to ourselves and to each other under patriarchy. She is one of the very, very few writers I want to read writing about our lives with straight men.” —MELISSA GIRA GRANT, author of Playing the whor*: The Work of Sex Work and staff writer at The New Republic
“The first book I’ve burned through in a single sitting in months. Elegant, candid, merciless and moving—it’s an experience to make a reader reconsider how love works.”—TORREY PETERS, author of Detransition, Baby
“I'm in love with Charlotte Shane's writing here, full as it is of clarity, earned beauty, and a deep intelligence at once cerebral and embodied, tender and brutal. I inhaled this book.” —SARAH THANKAM MATTHEWS, author of All This Could Be Different]]>
Well before COVID-19 swept across the United States and the chairman of Tyson Foods infamously declared that the food supply chain was dangerously vulnerable, America’s meat industry was reaching a breaking point. Years of consolidation, price-fixing, and power grabs by elite industry insiders have harmed consumers and caused environmental destruction. And while that’s hurting us, it’s also making others rich.
Now, financial journalist Chloe Sorvino presents a “deeply informed and eye-opening” (Publishers Weekly) look at the meat industry and its future as its fundamental weaknesses are laid bare for all to see. With unprecedented access and groundbreaking research, Raw Deal investigates corporate greed, how climate change will upend our food production, and the limitations of local movements challenging the status quo.]]>
The disappearance of a local politician’s teenaged daughter is major news in Minnesota. As a huge manhunt is launched to find her, Cork O’Connor’s grandson stumbles across the shallow grave of a young Ojibwe woman—but nobody seems that interested. Nobody, that is, except Cork and the newly formed Iron Lake Ojibwe Tribal Police. As Cork and the tribal officers dig into the circ*mstances of this mysterious and grim discovery, they uncover a connection to the missing teenager. And soon, it’s clear that Cork’s grandson is in danger of being the killer’s next victim.]]>
“Lightning Strikeexplores the tender relationship between father and son. It is written with grace and understanding. It is a stunning novel that will captivate readers even if they’ve never read a Cork O’Connor mystery.” —Denver Post]]>
“This genuinely thrilling and atmospheric novel brims with characters who are easy to root for.”—The New York Times Book Review]]>
After suffering a horrifying, yet soul stirring death experience, worldwide top bitch Winter Santiaga, of The Coldest Winter Ever, is alive and facing a dilemma that every living person faces: how to respond to the Fear of God, awareness of heaven and hell, while pursuing and satisfying deep desires for sex, fun, love, money, revenge, and fame.
In her new novel, Love After Midnight, Sister Souljah delivers a powerful hip-hop hood style, global romantic comedy.]]>
First published in 1978, The Silva Mind Control Method has helped millions of people create better, happier, and more successful lives. Based on the extraordinary course pioneered by José Silva in the 1960s, this accessible guidebook uses meditation and visualization to help you alleviate stress, overcome bad habits and emotional insecurity, increase creativity, develop concentration, harness your dreams, and deepen your relationships. Featuring transformative advice and fascinating case studies, this revolutionary book teaches you to use your mind at a deeper and more effective level and reveal its extraordinary power.]]>
Imagine coming into direct, working contact with an all-pervading higher intelligence and learning in a moment of numinous joy that it is on your side. Imagine too that you made this contact in such simple ways that for the rest of your life you need never again feel helplessly out of touch with something you always suspected was there but could never quite reach—a helpful wisdom, a flash of insight when you need it, the feeling of a loving, powerful presence. How would it feel?
It would be a peak experience not too different—perhaps not different at all—from spiritual awe.
This is what it feels like after four days of Silva Mind Control training. So far, more than a half-million people know; they have been through it. And as they become more accustomed to using the methods that produce this feeling they settle down into a calm, self-confident use of new powers and energies, their lives richer, healthier, freer of problems.
Shortly José Silva will explain some of these methods so that you will be able to start using them yourself. First let’s look in on the beginning of a Mind Control class and see what takes place.
To start off, there is an introductory lecture of about an hour and twenty minutes. The lecturer defines Mind Control and outlines the two decades of research that led to its development. Then, briefly, he describes ways the students will be able to apply what they learn in improving health, solving everyday problems, learning more easily, and deepening spiritual awareness. A twenty-minute break follows.
Over coffee the students become acquainted. They are from widely varying backgrounds. Physicians, secretaries, teachers, taxi drivers, housewives, high-school and college students, psychiatrists, religious leaders, retired people—this is a typical mix.
After the break there is another hour-and-twenty-minute session beginning with some questions and answers, then down to business with the first training exercise, which will lead to a meditative level of mind. The lecturer explains that this is a state of deep relaxation, deeper than in sleep itself but accompanied by a special kind of awareness. It is in fact an altered state of consciousness used in virtually every meditative discipline and in intensive prayer.
No drugs or biofeedback machines are used. Mind Control lecturers speak of entering this state as “going to your level,” or sometimes “going into Alpha.” In a thirty-minute exercise they lead the student there gently, giving instructions in plain English. In fact all of Mind Control is in plain English: no scientific jargon or Far Eastern words.
Several of the students may already have learned to meditate before coming to class, some using methods that take a few weeks to learn, others after months of determined effort. They are amazed at a simple exercise that takes only thirty minutes.
One of the first things students hear is, “You are learning to use more of your mind and to use it in a special manner.”
This is a simple sentence they hear and internalize at the outset. The full meaning of it is nothing less than stupefying. Everyone—no exceptions—everyone has a mind that can easily be trained to exercise powers that beginners openly doubt they have. Only when they actually experience these powers do they come to believe.
Another thing that students are told is, “Project yourself mentally to your ideal place of relaxation”—a pleasant, calming, remarkably vivid exercise, which both strengthens the imagination and leads to deeper relaxation.
A word about meditation: In everyday speech it means thinking things over. If you set this book aside for a moment and consider what to have for dinner tomorrow, you are meditating.
But in the various meditative disciplines the word has a more specific meaning, referring to a special level of mind. In some disciplines, reaching this level is an end in itself, clearing the mind of all conscious thought. This produces a pleasant calm and goes a long way toward relieving and preventing illnesses caused by tension, as countless studies have proved.
But this is passive meditation. Mind Control goes far beyond this. It teaches the student to use this level of mind for solving problems, little nagging ones as well as larger, burdensome ones. This is dynamic meditation; the power of it is truly spectacular.
We hear more and more about Alpha nowadays. It is one of the brain-wave patterns, a kind of electrical energy produced by the brain, and can be measured by an electroencephalograph (EEG). The rhythms of this energy are measured in cycles per second (CPS). Generally, about fourteen CPS and up are called Beta waves; about seven to fourteen are Alpha; four to seven Theta; and four and below are Delta.
When you are wide awake, doing and achieving in the workaday world, you are in Beta, or “outer consciousness,” to use Mind Control terminology. When you are daydreaming, or just going to sleep but not quite there yet, or just awakening but not yet awake, you are in Alpha. Mind Control people call this “inner consciousness.” When you are asleep you are in Alpha, Theta, or Delta, not just Alpha alone, as many believe. With Mind Control training you can enter the Alpha level at will and still remain fully alert.
You may wonder what it feels like to be in these different levels of mind.
Being in Beta, or wide awake, does not produce any one particular feeling. You might feel confident or fearful, busy or idle, engrossed or bored—the possibilities in Beta are endless.
In the deeper levels the possibilities are limited for most people. Life has taught them to function in Beta, not Alpha or Theta. At these deeper levels they are pretty much limited to daydreaming, the edges of sleep, or sleep itself. But with Mind Control training, useful possibilities begin to multiply with no end in sight. As Harry McKnight, Associate Director of Silva Mind Control, wrote, “The Alpha dimension has a complete set of sensing faculties, like the Beta.” In other words, we can do different things in Alpha than we can do in Beta.
This is a key concept in Mind Control. Once you become acquainted with these sensing faculties and learn to use them, you will be using more of your mind in a special manner. You will actually operate psychically whenever you want to, tapping in on Higher Intelligence.
Most people seek out Mind Control as a way to relax, to end insomnia, to find relief from headaches, or to learn to do things that cost great efforts of will, such as stopping smoking, losing weight, improving memory, studying more effectively. This is what most of them come for; they learn much, much more.
They learn that the five senses—touching, tasting, smelling, hearing, and seeing—are only a part of the senses they were born with. There are others, call them powers or senses, once known only to a gifted few and to mystics who developed them over lifetimes removed from the active world. The mission of Mind Control is to train us to awaken these powers.
What this awakening can mean was well put by Mademoiselle’s beauty editor, Nadine Bertin, in the March 1972 issue:
“The drug culture can have its mind-expanding pills, powders and shots. I’ll take mine straight. Mind Control does expand your mind. It teaches you HOW to expand it. It is aptly named because, unlike drugs or hypnosis, you are in control. Mind expansion, self-knowledge and helping others through Mind Control are only limited by your own limitations. ANYTHING is possible. You hear about it happening to others. And suddenly, you see it happening to you.”
In this “well-written addition to the history of Congress” (Kirkus Reviews), Courage in the People’s House tells the “accessible and well-researched” (Booklist) stories of nine individuals who served in the US House of Representatives—the “People’s House”—during a span of over one hundred years, from the 1870s to the 1990s. From the first African American to serve in the House to immigrants elected at the dawn of the 20th century, all were trailblazers who made significant contributions to the country. The book provides an inspiring story of America through profiles of each of them, representatives of all political stripes who overcame the odds and demonstrated the courage to challenge powerful interests, and at times, their own political allies. The nine members of Congress are:
-Joseph Rainey, South Carolina
-Josiah Walls, Florida
-William B. Wilson, Pennsylvania
-Adolph Sabath, Illinois
-Oscar Stanton De Priest, Illinois
-Margaret Chase Smith, Maine
-Henry B. Gonzalez, Texas
-Shirley Chisholm, New York
-Barbara Jordan, Texas
In this “brisk and spirited debut” (Publishers Weekly), Representative Joe Neguse, the first African American elected to Congress from Colorado, shares how these nine ordinary Americans served nobly despite the barriers before them and did extraordinary things in service to their constituents, the Constitution, and the country.]]>
Awe overwhelmed us as my wife, Andrea, and I walked into the Library of Congress for the very first time on a cold evening in early November 2018. We had arrived in our nation’s capital a mere few days after that year’s general election, for what was billed as “New Member Orientation,” a training session of sorts for newly elected members of Congress. Feeling far removed from our home in the suburbs of northern Colorado (with perhaps the only exception being the light snow that had apparently arrived with us in Washington, DC), we were scheduled that evening to join in a dinner with new and sitting members of the House of Representatives—my soon-to-be colleagues. As we walked through the ornate hallways of the historic library, two thirty-somethings from relatively modest means, we kept looking up at the cinematic grandeur of the place, and then, glancing back at each other with the same befuddled look. What in the world are we doing here? we thought, as we saw the many famous politicians all around the room, familiar from our television screen back in Colorado.
Neither of us had ever visited the Library of Congress before. And we were both transfixed with a fundamental sense of awe—not simply for the historic buildings, but for what they represented—the world’s oldest and greatest constitutional republic. Not our nation’s perfection, as I wouldn’t have run if I didn’t think it could be improved, but rather, the exceptional and unique idea of a republic that America’s founders and framers had wisely created. As a son of African immigrants and a daughter of Mexican Americans, both firmly middle class with big dreams, we had somehow found our way here, to this extraordinary place, imbued with a real chance to do our part to try to make our country better.
And then, suddenly, we were face to face with one of our nation’s heroes. Andrea and I recognized him immediately. It was John Lewis, the famous civil rights leader and representative from Georgia. Both of us had learned in high school about his bravery during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. And now, here he was, in the flesh—the man who inspired a generation with his fiery speech next to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the Lincoln Memorial, and who had been beaten on the Edmund Pettus Bridge in Selma, Alabama, as he marched for justice, twenty years before either of us was even born.
He was a giant but small in stature, shorter than me. I was still wondering, nervously, how to make the right impression as I reached out to shake his hand—distracted by the thought that his hand was the same one that had once shaken Dr. King’s—when he said, “Hello, young brother, how are you?”
I’m rarely at a loss for words, but I wasn’t particularly articulate in my response. “I’m good, I’m good, Mr. Lewis,” I said. “My name is Joe Neguse, and this is my wife, Andrea. I was just elected to Congress.”
He recalled that I was the “young brother from Colorado” and congratulated me. I thanked him for everything he had done to make it possible for someone like me to even be able to raise my hand to run for office. I thanked him for all he had done for so many people. I thanked him for the opportunity to shake his hand. Andrea told me later that I was so nervous I even thanked him for a speech that evening he had yet to give! As the conversation came to a close, Mr. Lewis said, “Well, I appreciate that, young brother, but I appreciate you stepping up. We’re proud of you, and I’m so glad the people of Colorado made that decision and made history.”
As we parted, Andrea and I were moved beyond words.
We both were struck by his reminder of the barrier our state had broken in my election as Colorado’s first Black member of Congress. But far more than that, we were deeply moved by the simple, yet profound experience of meeting one of America’s most inspirational representatives, whose acts of courage had helped shape our country for the better.
I’ve long believed that America is the greatest democratic republic our world has ever known. For over two centuries, the United States has been a unique experiment in the ability of citizens to govern themselves through a constitutional structure, and to do so by a defining set of values, rather than an order imposed by a hom*ogeneous ethnicity or creed—the values of freedom, liberty, equality, the rule of law, and more, enshrined in the Declaration of Independence, our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. As the world’s first and perhaps only truly multiracial republic, our country has been shaped over time by countless public servants—Republican and Democrat, liberal and conservative—who’ve worked to honor the meaning of those founding documents. And many of them served in the institution I would soon join: the US House of Representatives, or what some have colloquially referred to as the “People’s House.”
The historical record offers few answers as to why the House of Representatives has earned that moniker. Ostensibly, it refers to the simple fact that the House was originally the only part of our federal government elected directly by America’s citizens. That is no longer the case, as members of the United States Senate are now also elected directly by the public, pursuant to the Seventeenth Amendment of the Constitution. Still, the House remains the only institution in which members must be elected by the American people when a vacancy arises (whereas senators may be, and often are, appointed). And there is little debate—among members of the House, at least—that the legislative chamber is the part of our federal government most closely connected to the “people,” as amorphous a word as that may be.
The House has also attracted a far wider array of Americans than other governmental institutions, who, having earned the confidence of their fellow citizens, have made the journey to Washington, DC, to serve their constituency and their country. And with each of these history-making leaders whom Americans have sent to Congress—the first African Americans elected in the late nineteenth century; the first working-class White immigrants elected from crowded, polyglot cities soon thereafter; the first women elected to Congress in the twentieth century; and the late John Lewis himself—voters amended what it meant to be an American. They changed us all by making our country’s promise truer and more open, and in that sense, helped shape our country, as every generation is called upon to do. This is an extraordinary legacy, and one about which most of us, myself included, know far too little.
This book seeks to change that.
In the pages that follow, we will explore acts of determination and political bravery by people many have never heard of—leaders who shaped our country as pioneers by opening the Congress to all Americans. For some of them, simply running for office required great courage. But the tales only begin with their elections. The greater lessons came after each was sworn in and began their service in the House, as they worked to represent their constituents, their districts, and their country.
My awe for the People’s House has not faded since that night in November years ago when I first heard Mr. Lewis speak to the gathered freshman legislators. Perhaps that reverence is borne from the simple fact that I never intended to run for Congress and could never have imagined walking the halls of the Capitol.
When the opportunity to run first arose in the summer of 2017, I already had the best job I could imagine, leading my state’s consumer protection agency as a member of the governor of Colorado’s cabinet. Andrea and I had recently married, and we were thinking about starting a family. I had benefited from multiple opportunities to pursue my dreams, including practicing law and serving as an elected regent of the University of Colorado. All in all, it was clear to me that much about my life underlined the miracle of American opportunity and its amazing gift of freedoms to me and my family, which we could never take for granted.
My parents, Debesai and Azeib, put me here, in Colorado, with all these opportunities. They had left Eritrea, a small war-torn country in the Horn of Africa, separately as refugees, before they met in Bakersfield, California, and married. I was born four years after their arrival. To make their way in America, they worked many jobs—from fast-food restaurants to retail stores—and achieved success through sheer effort and hard work, my mother becoming a bank teller and my father earning his degree as an accountant. I was very young when we moved to the suburbs of Douglas County, Colorado, where my sister and I were lucky to grow up in a middle-class home and attend good public schools. I can still recall, vividly, traveling to Eritrea for the first time as a twelve-year-old, and the sense of profound shock I felt at how different our life had become in just one generation.
I knew I was incredibly lucky. And I felt a powerful responsibility not to waste the opportunity my parents and this country had given me. Although I never dreamed of serving in Congress, I always felt a need to be an active participant in our democracy, in part, because I knew so many others could not. In that sense, I felt it was up to me to make all their sacrifices worthwhile. Indeed, it’s the same reason why I believe in America as strongly as I do. How could I not, after all my family and I had been given?
From the time Colorado entered the Union in 1876, until 2018, the state had never elected an African American to the US House of Representatives. And yet, when I decided to run for Congress, breaking that barrier was not top of mind. Protecting our environment, expanding access to public education, reducing gun violence, and a steadfast belief in our ability to build a more hopeful future—those were the issues, among others, that animated my desire to serve, and they ultimately became the core of my first congressional campaign.
Still, on occasion, after a long evening of phone banking or knocking on voter doors during our primary campaign, I’d indulge, if only for a moment, the thought that maybe—just maybe—we might make state history. Months later, having won a heated primary campaign and earned the Democratic nomination, that same thought waned for a time as Andrea and I welcomed the birth of our daughter, Natalie. Enthralled and fully engaged with the new light of both of our lives, there were days I would genuinely forget that we were still campaigning. Life was moving very fast.
Although many assumed we would win, I didn’t want to take victory in the general election for granted, so we didn’t slow the pace. Meanwhile, a looming awareness began to take hold—that, besides the wonderful and total life change of becoming a father, I might also be going to Washington and uprooting a life that had been lived almost entirely close to home, in the suburbs of Colorado. Besides worrying about those rapidly approaching changes, however, I also began thinking seriously about what role I might play were I lucky enough to be elected. Of one thing I was sure: at a time when so much of our politics had become consumed by division and fear, I’d endeavor to focus on the hope I knew firsthand that our country promised.
That inspiration crystalized in another moment near the end of the campaign, in late October 2018. During the closing weeks of the campaign, I had the opportunity to tour Children’s Hospital Colorado in Aurora. While on the tour, we were shown a school room for seriously ill children who were patients at the hospital. As we walked through the room, our tour guide showed us a wall where students had posted inspirational quotes from various famous people.
On that wall, I saw the sentence “Fear is contagious, but so is hope.”
I had never heard that phrase before. The statement had no attribution, and I didn’t know who had put it on that board. But I was deeply struck by it. And I held tight to that idea through the rest of the campaign. In my victory speech a few weeks later in November, I said, “There was a whole lot to be fearful of yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that, and the last two years, but tonight, because each and every one of you is standing up and reclaiming our democracy, the hope for tomorrow has never been brighter.”
That was my frame of mind when we arrived in Washington just a few days later, amid this whirlwind of change in our lives, and met John Lewis for the first time. It was then that I really took in the historic sweep of what service in the People’s House truly means. Shaking his hand was one part of that dawning awareness, the sense of being in the presence of living history. Another part was the realization of the historically large and exceptionally talented class of representatives I would have the privilege of entering Congress with. They were proof of the hope infused in our country’s premise and the truth that a thriving republic, inclusive of all its citizens, is not a dream but instead a reality bequeathed to us by those brave members of Congress who came before.
I began thinking seriously about who those people had been.
Since our nation’s founding, more than twelve thousand Americans have been elected to Congress. On the Congressional Historian’s website, I found a page detailing many of these Americans—some famous, a few infamous—and others, completely unknown today. As I scoured the webpages, my astonishing realization was that I knew very little about most of them. Dipping into the biographies on the congressional website, I learned about former slaves who were elected to Congress after the Civil War and fought valiantly for civil rights. I learned about an immigrant from Scotland who labored by hand as a young boy in the coal mines of Pennsylvania and then led the fight nationally for the rights of miners and working Americans. And I learned about the first woman elected to Congress from Maine, who courageously confronted Senator Joe McCarthy’s tactics in the 1950s.
None of their names was familiar to me.
The seed of an idea for this book was born. I was determined to learn more about how this institution came to be, who made it what it had become, and to spread that knowledge widely. Most of all, I wanted to show the remarkable acts of courage of these legislators—representatives of all races, genders, religions, and political affiliations—who, as Americans, loved their country and were prepared to give up their honors and power, if necessary, to cast votes of conscience for the greater good. And I promised myself that, if given the opportunity to perhaps one day write a book and share a story, I would share theirs.
One reason their stories are less well known is, in my view, the institutional preference among many historians for other parts of our federal government: the presidency, the Senate, the Supreme Court—indeed, it seems, everything but the House of Representatives. And yet, the People’s House is truly an institution like no other.
The Senate is certainly the more famous legislative chamber, long described as the greatest deliberative body on Earth, with one hundred individually powerful members whose six-year terms were meant to provide the “select and stable member of the government” as described by Founding Father James Madison in The Federalist Papers, some of the most important essays ever written in American history. The House, on the other hand, has 435 individual members who, per Federalist No. 52, “have an immediate dependence on, and an intimate sympathy with, the people,” secured through far more frequent elections—every two years—than any other part of our government.
In turn, the House looks much more like the country: younger, more diverse, and with a greater variety of occupations. Indeed, as Madison presciently noted more than two hundred years ago, “the door of this part of the federal government is open to merit of every description, whether native or adoptive, whether young or old, and without regard to poverty or wealth, or to any particular profession or religious faith.” In many respects, the People’s House fulfills the founders’ intent as the most democratic part of our federal government. And true to form, over the decades this system has worked to open up access to more of our citizens.
However, despite that fact and the House’s close proximity to the American people, presidents still receive the bulk of attention from many historians and most Americans. So do the many colorful senators from years past and their famous debates. But the most fundamentally American stories emerge from the House, where ordinary people have mustered the courage and skill to do extraordinary things.
Put simply, members of the House must earn their places in history. And the individuals profiled in the pages that follow have done precisely that.
It bears noting that some of the most profoundly important laws in our country’s history started in the House, including legislation to protect the fundamental rights of every American, often starting their path when a member dropped a bill in the “hopper”—a tradition that still exists today and is open to any Member, simply by walking onto the House floor and inserting legislative papers. Madison—one of America’s most important and pivotal founders—served four terms in the House before he became president and introduced the Constitution’s Bill of Rights as legislation on the House floor in 1789. One of our nation’s greatest leaders, Abraham Lincoln, served a term in the House before he became president, during the years when the body convulsed with controversy over issues leading up to the Civil War. During that same era, John Quincy Adams served as a congressman for nine terms—having already served as president—and fought to defeat a gag rule that prevented debate on the House floor over abolishing slavery (a rule he objected to as unconstitutional). While the Civil War still raged, the Thirteenth Amendment began its path to inclusion in the Constitution, forever ending slavery, as a bill introduced in the House. A century later, the Civil Rights Act of 1964 began there, too. With each law, and with each election, ordinary Americans who came to Congress helped shape our republic, extending its protection and promise to more Americans, as they fulfilled the meaning of the words of our founding documents.
A stranger to the Capitol before that winter night in November 2018, I have become a constant inhabitant these past few years. As I walk the bustling halls after a meeting or finish taking constituents on a quiet, late-evening tour of the building, I remind myself that all of us who have the honor of being there are in the presence of all those who went before, whose deeds remain so profound and present because they have not ended, as Americans continue the fight to advance and protect our country. Our inspiration comes from those unsung representatives whose words and work brought us there, so we can add to their work, and together make the more perfect union that we dream of without expectation of perfection, but always moving closer to it.
My own faith in our democratic experiment goes back, in part, to a book I picked up as a teenager in high school in the suburbs of Colorado. I can’t exactly recall where I first got my paperback version of John F. Kennedy’s Profiles in Courage or precisely why it fell into my hands. But I can still bring to mind the feelings of excitement, fascination, and purpose that the book engendered as I flipped its pages and learned for the first time about the political life of the Congress, captivated by the elevated prose through which Kennedy told of a series of unique acts of political courage by each of eight senators throughout American history. The impact was indelible, and the inspiration enduring.
My original interest had been in President Kennedy himself. As a student, I read with great interest the commencement address he delivered at American University in June 1963, five months before his assassination. The address, commonly known as the “Peace Speech,” still represents to me one of the best expressions of a more hopeful political philosophy—one undergirded by our common sense of humanity. Coming after the Cuban missile crisis, when President Kennedy faced down the Soviet Union in a test of nuclear brinkmanship, he called on Americans to recognize the humanity of our adversaries and described a lasting, pragmatic peace that could be based on rules, institutions, and mutual respect. “For, in the final analysis,” President Kennedy reminds us, “our most basic common link is that we all inhabit the same planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children’s future. And we are all mortal.”
It was because of that speech that I had found President Kennedy, and perhaps, in turn, found Profiles in Courage. And I found his stories about other senators I had never heard of—and the portrayal of their sacrifices and acts of daring to do what they believed was right—absolutely riveting. One reason for the book’s enduring popularity is its retelling of an aspect of politics many never consider, one of true service, in which individuals reached positions of power and prestige but chose to go against their own political interests, and often the desires of their constituents, in the service of conscience. The setting struck me powerfully, as I could see in my imagination the great debates and decisions of state playing out on the floor of the Senate, with the course of history determined by an individual’s battle with their own sense of right and wrong.
The stories Kennedy recounted in Profiles continue to echo throughout our country’s history in interesting ways. As a House impeachment manager in February 2021, I studied extensively the impeachment trial of President Andrew Johnson more than one hundred fifty years earlier, in 1868. He avoided removal from office by only one vote, a vote unexpectedly cast by an obscure senator from Kansas, Edmund G. Ross, who had been Johnson’s ardent critic. Kennedy profiled Ross, approvingly quoting a historian who called his vote “the most heroic act in American history.” While some have a different view, as President Kennedy noted in Profiles, the book’s subject was courage, not justification of the decisions made by the politicians about whom he wrote, and part of its strength comes from his choice of surprising characters with unique perspectives.
This book humbly attempts to do something similar.
The goal is simple: to tell a story about America though the nine profiles that follow of House of Representatives members of all political stripes who showed great courage—not only in the determination to overcome the odds and break barriers just to serve in Congress, but in the risks they took, as they faced off against powerful interests and sometimes their own allies, and what they sought to accomplish as the fruits of those labors. After all, moral courage in dedication to what one believes is right and best for our country is often a prerequisite to real leadership and the opportunity to improve the lives of our fellow citizens. These leaders had those qualities. And while none of them was perfect, their service made a difference.
So we begin with courage, and with the important premise that the story of political courage in Congress includes all Americans. These members’ impact reaches beyond the issues of their day and includes the whole meaning and sweep of our democracy, as they redefined who it includes and how we can manifest a government of, by, and for the people. These profiles tell that story even as the story of our nation continues to unfold, and as we decide our part in it daily. My hope is that long after I’ve left office, someone may read about these nine public servants, many of whom history has made little note, and be, at least in part, as inspired as I was when I read President Kennedy’s book, many decades after his death—and that perhaps they could come to see themselves as someone who could also step forward with the hope of someday contributing to their country.
That hope, or goal as it were, is not an inconsequential one. Our democracy has rarely been at greater risk or in more desperate need for people of good faith to step forward and help save it. And yet we have diminished the stature of government so substantially in the minds of our citizenry that one would be hard-pressed to find many who believe that serving in public office is an honorable profession, much less a forum in which to demonstrate courage and improve our union.
We diminish this birthright at our own peril.
Centuries ago, one of America’s greatest presidents, our nation’s first, George Washington, wisely noted that “[a] primary object should be the education of our youth in the science of government,” for in a republic like ours, “what species of knowledge can be equally important? And what duty more pressing than communicating it to those who are to be the future guardians of the liberties of the country?” He was certainly right. We know that across the arc of human civilization, whenever a republic has failed, that loss was usually precipitated to some extent by a loss of commitment to being a citizen in every sense of the word, which requires being an active participant, not a passive subject. As we drive down our knowledge of—and esteem for—our institutions and lose our respect for them—as we have done—we open the door for those who disdain the rule of law and constitutional norms that enable our system to function. Cynicism is easy, loss of respect can feel justified in the bitterness of the present, and disconnection from each other as fellow citizens—fellow Americans—happens all by itself. Meanwhile, the opposite—rebuilding the connective tissues that make us one nation—can appear impossible.
It is not.
We can refresh those muscles by recalling some of our best examples, ordinary people who served and did extraordinary things. They stepped forward for election to Congress, some of them at great personal peril, and when they left office, they didn’t become wealthy. To the contrary, some were impoverished and died with little, banished to the appendices of history, rarely to be read about or heard of again. Their stories inspire the unavoidable implication that we are responsible to sustain the precious republic they lent to our generation, for our temporary use, and to protect it from cynicism and demagoguery so that we can lend it onward to the next generation.
Without a doubt, Congress itself deserves some of the blame for losing the public’s respect. As a deliberative body, it is broken. Gone are the dramatic speeches and fiery debates that played out the nation’s great controversies—powerful speeches over the Thirteenth Amendment, the annexation of Texas, or World War I. In fact, today, many speeches on the House floor are made to an empty chamber for the benefit, it seems, of only the C-SPAN cameras.
During my first term, I was thrilled to address a full body, as I was called upon to speak for five minutes on a “motion to recommit” during debate on an immigration bill, a rare motion that generally requires all members to be present. During my speech, I offered the following:
“?‘It is bold men and women, yearning for freedom and opportunity, who leave their homelands and come to a new country to start their lives over. They believe in the American Dream. And over and over, they make it come true for themselves, for their children, and for others. They give more than they receive. They labor and succeed. And often they are entrepreneurs. But their greatest contribution is more than economic, because they understand in a special way how glorious it is to be an American.’ That quote, those are not my words, [Mr. Speaker]. Those are the words of President Ronald Reagan. They were delivered by President Ronald Reagan in 1980, the same year that my parents came to the United States.”
As I orated about my own family’s immigration experience, amid cheers of encouragement from some colleagues and loud jeers from others, I felt all the energy of real legislative debate. But I was, unfortunately, one of the last to do so. The next year, in the following Congress, the motion to recommit was eliminated from the House rules, as the majority believed it had been abused by the minority.
Now, those infrequent in-person debates rarely happen at all.
In committee proceedings, I have seen but a few votes ever change—on either side of the aisle—because of a point raised by the member of the other party. Quite simply, the Congress has changed dramatically since the early days of our republic. And while this book profiles nine members who overcame far greater barriers to serve than these, I sometimes wonder if they would have bothered to make those sacrifices to be a part of the Congress as it operates today.
Such speculation ends, however, when I consider the work of the giants from the modern history of the Congress who have had such a profound influence on me, including representative John Lewis, who awed me into silence with a single handshake and gave me the gift of his mentorship before he passed away, particularly during the challenging days of the presidential impeachment of 2019. That story is perhaps as good a place as any to end this prologue, as it connects to both the first and last profiles in this book and to the reason I was inspired to write in the first place.
The responsibilities came swiftly when I was sworn into office on January 3, 2019, and joined the House Judiciary Committee, one of the oldest committees of the Congress. I had chosen the committee because of its primary jurisdiction over immigration, an area of interest to me as a son of immigrants, and gun violence prevention, an issue that had driven me since my days in high school, when the terrible massacre at the neighboring Columbine High School had deeply shaken our community and our state. As fate would have it, the Judiciary Committee is also responsible under House rules and centuries of precedent for initiating, when necessary, articles of impeachment. And that put us squarely in the middle of both presidential impeachments that would ensue over the following two years.
During the 2021 impeachment trial, I studied closely the trial of Secretary of War William W. Belknap, who was impeached in 1876. And it was during that research that I learned of Representative Joseph Rainey, one of the first and most remarkable African Americans to ever serve in Congress, from 1870 to 1879.
Quite fittingly, Rainey is the first member profiled in this book.
The late Representative Barbara Jordan of Texas is the subject of this book’s last chapter. In 1974, during impeachment proceedings against President Richard Nixon, Jordan sat, like me, as a freshman on the Judiciary Committee. When I arrived on the committee nearly half a century later, I was deeply influenced by her words, especially her extraordinary, televised speech on the Constitution and the Congress’s responsibility, which has come to be known as one of the finest speeches in congressional history. As my colleagues and I worked on the impeachment proceedings, Jordan’s speech was rightfully referenced as a North Star, for guidance on how to explain such constitutionally weighty subjects to the American people. I was grateful for the wisdom her remarks imparted to me and my colleagues during such a tumultuous time for our country, which I hoped would soon pass.
As we now know, that was not the case. Less than a year after President Donald J. Trump’s first Senate impeachment trial, following the attack on our nation’s capital on January 6, 2021, he was impeached a second time, in the final weeks of his presidency. A second impeachment trial soon followed, and I was selected by the Speaker of the House to be a House manager, prosecuting the trial before the Senate. Again, I dipped into the speeches and decisions of the past for guidance on how to best carry out that heavy responsibility. It had been years since I had read Profiles in Courage. But it was then, reviewing the 1868 trial of President Johnson, and the vote of Senator Ross, that I began rereading the weathered paperback copy I had kept from my time in high school. I then began to think seriously about how a book elevating the best of those who served in the People’s House—people like Rainey and Jordan—could begin to heal some of the lost faith that has damaged our democracy today.
I firmly believe that their stories can still inspire us, as we reach back into history and find courage in people who are mostly forgotten, and as we seek courage today, in the struggle to safeguard our republic and preserve freedom and liberty for all Americans.
Their stories can speak for themselves.
In the tradition of Locking Up Our Own and The New Jim Crow, a rarely seen, thought-provoking journey into Rikers Island and the American justice system that “reframes the debate the country’s incarceration crisis, with a compelling focus on architecture as a path forward (Tony Messenger, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Profit and Punishment).
For nearly a century, the Rikers Island jail complex has stood on a 413-acre manmade island in the East River of New York. Today it is the largest correctional facility in the city, housing eight active jails and thousands of incarcerated individuals who have not yet been tried. It is also one of the most controversial and notorious jails in America.
Which is why, when mayor Bill de Blasio announced in 2017 that Rikers would be closed within the next decade, replaced with four newly designed jails located within the city boroughs, the surface reaction seemed largely positive. Many were enthusiastic, including Eva Fedderly, a journalist focused on the intersections of social justice and design, who was covering the closure and its impact for Architectural Digest. But as Fedderly dug deeper and spoke to more people involved, she discovered that the consensus was hardly universal. Among architects tasked with redesigns that reconcile profits and progress, the members of law enforcement working to stop incarceration cycles in community hot spots, the reformers and abolitionists calling for change, and, most wrenchingly, the incarcerated and formerly incarcerated people whose lives will be most affected, some agreed that closing Rikers was a step in the right direction, but many were quick to point out that Rikers was being replaced, not removed. On one point, however, there was firm agreement: whatever the outcome, the world would be watching.
Part on-the-ground reporting, part deep social and architectural history, These Walls is an eye-opening, “insightful…bracing look at how the nation’s jails—and the nation itself—ought to be reformed” (Kirkus Reviews) and a challenge to our long-held beliefs about what constitutes power and justice.]]>
Our 21-minute call was almost up, but by now we were used to it. Every time Moose buzzed, the line was tapped. At least the call was free.
A dystopian haze had settled over New York City. Stoplights flicked from red to green to yellow, but there was no hum of cars, no symphony of horns at rush hour. Birds flew overhead, yet few planes soared through the open sky. The restaurants and theaters of Times Square were dark, but giant screens and billboards glowed like a scene out of a sci-fi thriller. It was 2020 and the COVID-19 pandemic had gripped the globe. Life, as we knew it, stood still.
Inside New York City’s jails, life was far more unsettling. As the pandemic crawled on, my phone number slipped from cinderblock cell to cell, traveling like wildfire through the city’s web of detention centers; daily dispatches were reported from the Manhattan Detention Complex, the Brooklyn Detention Complex, and the Vernon C. Bain Center, a looming barge floating off the coast of the South Bronx. Together, these jail facilities housed 2,500 beds. None was more dysfunctional, more problematic than Rikers Island, which at its peak in the 1990s warehoused over 21,000 people. Resting in the murky-green East River, this island houses not one but ten jails, eight of which are still active. Situated between the boroughs of Queens and the Bronx, Rikers—like all the city’s jails—is governed by the New York City Department of Correction. Each day, this government agency transports about one tenth of Rikers’ population to courthouses residing in the boroughs. (The city annually spends $31 million on these trips alone.) Even though Rikers rests just 100 yards from LaGuardia Airport’s runways, this 413-acre island is completely isolated. Because of this, it’s also self-sustaining, with its own bus depot, fire station, chapel, K9 unit, bakery, multiple trailers, a garden surrounded by razor wire, and a 30,000-square-foot power plant.
When the pandemic hit, jail programs shut down, visitors were barred from entering, mail delivery slowed, and basic services, like the jails’ barber shops, shuttered, leaving people’s hair and nails long and jagged. Some told me soap was scarce; social distancing, nearly impossible. Concrete cells were filled with fecal matter and urine, and some had inoperable sinks. Gnats circled rotting food on worn floors. People said they weren’t given masks or hand sanitizer; Virex disinfectant was rarely distributed—one person said just every two weeks. Another reported that the George R. Vierno Center—one of Rikers’ men’s jails—was “the epicenter of the disease.” It was like sitting on death row without a sentence.
We were in the early stages of the pandemic, in May 2020, when Moose first called. Protests over the recent murders of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd were crescendoing across the nation. Civil unrest shook the country, as the pandemic raged on. Citizens demanded we defund the police. New York City mayor Bill de Blasio would soon declare a state of emergency and issue a citywide curfew for the “health and welfare” of New Yorkers.
“This is a call from”—a man stated his name—“an incarcerated individual at the New York City Department of Correction,” the automated announcement said.
A polite baritone voice came through the line and introduced himself. I was surprised by his cheerful disposition, despite the grim circ*mstances.
“Judges call me ‘Jack.’ Friends call me ‘Moose.’?”I
“How do you spell it?” I asked, grabbing a pen. “M-O-U-S-S-E?”
The voice let out a bellow of laughter, a Moose signature with which I became well acquainted. “Not like the dessert!”
I cracked a smile.
“Moose. M-O-O-S-E.” He guffawed again.
When the pandemic first hit, Moose had been locked up on Rikers, the latest in his long string of stints in New York City’s jail system. Owing to the pandemic, New York City—and other jurisdictions around the country—released people with “nonviolent” charges.II New York City’s total jail population dropped from 5,458 to 3,824, its lowest number since the 1940s. Among the released was Moose. He’d been roaming the Free World, strolling the streets of the Bronx—homebase when he’s not in the joint—where he rediscovered the rhythm of freedom.
“It felt so good to be out in the sunshine,” Moose recalled. “Every day I was out in the sun, with Purell on my trigger finger.”
Moose wasn’t long for the Free World. While on the move, he misplaced his parole officer’s phone number. He also got shot. “One bullet landed in my arm near my elbow,” he said. “But I got an image to uphold in my neighborhood, so I laughed and drank beer.” Less than three weeks later, the cops pinched him on 176th Street. He landed back in jail, the bullet still lodged in his arm.
“Sorry about your arm,” I said. “You get it bandaged?”
“They haven’t taken me to see anyone yet. I’m still waiting for them to wrap it.” He paused. “I’m hoping to get released soon. Maybe Monday.”
“Oh, wow, that soon.”
His tone shifted to serious. “I heard you’re writing a book about Rikers. How can I help?”
Rikers Island has many names: “Torture Island,” “The Gladiator School,” and the “House of Dead Men.” During hot spells, it’s “The Oven,” since many cells lack air-conditioning. This island is one of the largest and most expensive jail complexes in the United States. Each jail on Rikers is defined by its own architecture, warden, staff, and people locked inside. There is one trait that most incarcerated people here share: most are untried.
Like the rest of America’s jails, Rikers holds people who have not been convicted of a crime; they have not been sentenced. Though Americans are supposed to be presumed innocent until found guilty, jails are designed to hold those who have not yet seen their day in court. They wait, month after month, sometimes year after year, for their alleged constitutional right to a speedy trial. While prisons house those who’ve been convicted and sentenced with long-term, even lifetime stays (the longest sentence ever received was 10,000 years, according to Guinness World Records), jails remain, overwhelmingly, the institutions for those who can’t afford bail (a small percentage of the population is serving sentences under one year). The justice system forces them to serve as human collateral behind these walls.
Though this is a crucial difference between a prison and a jail, the distinction is often not understood by those outside the criminal justice system. Some of America’s most epic films, greatest writers, most respectable newspapers, and most prudent editors use the terms jail and prison interchangeably. Even today, when conversations about justice reform are at one of their most potent points, many members of the media and the public don’t recognize the difference between a jail and a prison. To be clear, jails and prisons are not fungible. Many get this wrong from the start, revealing a frightening lack in awareness of how America’s justice system actually works.
Some argue the system is designed to be opaque. The public and the media need not know what happens on the inside. Prisons and jails can sidestep First Amendment rights, leaving those who enter at the discretion of those at the helm of these institutions. Incarcerated people are given little contact with the outside world, some just in the form of lawyer visits and 21-minute phone calls. For visitors allowed inside, it can be like traveling through a byzantine maze, especially in places like Rikers.
Physically connecting Rikers to the Free World is just one lone bridge, dubbed the “Bridge of Pain” by rapper Flavor Flav, who did time here. To reach this island dedicated to mass incarceration, visitors wait on the Queens side at the foot of the bridge, at a public bus stop. After picking up anyone there, the Q100 rumbles across the two-lane bridge. On Rikers, the bus empties its passengers, typically wives, girlfriends, children, extended family members, and friends. Correction officers in street clothes and program and nonprofit volunteers also ride. Although it’s just a four-minute drive, Rikers feels like a different world.
Visitors wait in a seemingly endless line to pass through the first security checkpoint. After more waits and delays, they board a second bus—a white Department of Correction (DOC) vehicle with metal-grate-covered windows—which moves them to the specific jail they’re visiting. Here, they undergo another round of security checks. Diapers, food, money, purses, and reading materials must be checked in lockers at a visitor waiting area. These visits are limited to certain hours, three times a week, and only on weekdays. The visitors then must wait for the Q100’s return ride to Queens to go home to the Free World. Though visits are capped at one hour, a trip to Rikers can take all day. Like so many other jails and prisons, this world of detention is tucked away and out of reach. Obviously, Rikers was not designed to keep families intact.
For those in jail, three out of four are locked up because they don’t have the cash to buy their freedom. Those who’ve got the scratch—like Harvey Weinstein, who posted a $1 million bail on his rape charges—pay the price and hang out in the Free World until their court date. If they have some cash, they can visit a bail-bond shop, which are posted up opportunistically around the nation’s courthouses and jails. Bail bondsmen lend cash bail for sky-high, nonrefundable premiums. The average bail runs around $10,000, equal to about eight months’ pay for the typical detainee. For most, the cost of freedom is prohibitive. Those with little means must serve as collateral themselves. They’re locked in jail, where they languish, waiting for their scheduled time in a legal system that’s a tangle of arcane hurdles and long delays. When their day in court does arrive—whether they’re found guilty or not guilty—they’ve been stripped from their families, removed from their jobs or schools, and severed from their responsibilities. A survey found that, on one day in New York City in 2022, untried people were being held in jail for an average of 286 days while awaiting their court dates. (Those who received mental health services while in jail were likely to be held over for 50 percent longer time.) That’s enough time for a person’s life to fall apart.
This forced captivity mainly happens to people of color and those with little means. It is the default of America’s criminal justice system. In New York City’s jails, the vast number of incarcerated people are Black or Hispanic—to be specific, nine out of every ten. Nationally, Black people are incarcerated at a rate nearly six times that of white people; Hispanic people are three times as likely to be incarcerated as white people. Aside from the racial disparities in the justice system, incarceration is also extremely costly for taxpayers. In 2021, the city comptroller reported that to lock up one person for a year in a New York City jail, it costs over half a million dollars. To be exact: $556,539.
This extremely costly system is the nature of American justice. Jails account for far more people than America’s prisons. Jails see over 10 million entries per year. The United States has about 3,116 local jails. That’s a lot of people doing time, many of whom don’t have convictions. Of all the people held in New York City jails, relatively few are sent to prison. Perhaps that’s why there are significantly fewer prisons than jails. There are 1,566 state prisons—run by state governments—which incarcerate about 1 million people. Those who break federal laws are sent to one of the nation’s 98 federal prisons. In 2022, federal prisons held 208,000 people.
A common belief is that private prisons are one of our justice system’s biggest current problems. Though they certainly are problematic, private prisons locked up far fewer people than the nation’s jails. Private prisons, run by for-profit corporations, accounted for only 8 percent of the nation’s total incarcerated population in 2020. However, as of 2021, the Department of Justice is no longer allowed to contract out to privately operated prisons (though this rule does not apply to the many private facilities used by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, which falls under the management of the Department of Homeland Security). As of the year 2023, there are 1,323 juvenile facilities, 181 immigration detention facilities, and 80 Indian country jails (there are also prisons in the U.S. territories, military prisons, state psychiatric hospitals, and civil commitment centers), according to the Prison Policy Initiative.
With so many people locked up in these institutions, America’s incarceration rate is one of the highest in the world. We have more prisons and jails than we have colleges and universities. Despite the vast concentration of these facilities, many Americans remain untouched by the justice system. However—whether they know it or not—everybody has a jail nearby. With 3,116 local jails, that’s roughly one per county. Jails are run by town sheriffs, wardens, or correction departments, each with its own set of rules, budgets, and philosophies. It’s worth noting that even though incarceration is an integral part of our local, regional, and national infrastructure, there is no overarching body to monitor those jails, nor is there a nationwide database of local jail information. Only a periodic Census of Jails, prepared by the Bureau of Justice Statistics, can serve as a semi-consistent record. “I hate having to give this answer, but it’s the truth: we don’t know the answer, because there’s no required reporting mechanism,” a representative from the American Jail Association, a nonprofit organization for jail professionals, responded when I inquired about jail policies and national statistics. “Any numbers we have are just because people have chosen to give [them] to us.”
Information we do have is on America’s recidivism rate, meaning how frequently someone who’s been released from detention is rearrested or locked up again. Our recidivism rate is one of the highest in the world: seven out of ten peopleIII were rearrested within five years of release. Of all the arrests made in America, most (80 percent) are for low-level, nonviolent offenses. America’s soaring incarceration and recidivism rates reveal that something isn’t working.
To help make the nation safer, our communities stronger, and the incarcerated population closer to anything near international norms, we first must have a fundamental understanding of America’s criminal justice system, its history, and how we got here. In the words of historian Arthur Schlesinger Jr., “History haunts even generations who refuse to learn history. Rhythms, patterns, continuities, drift out of time long forgotten to mold the present and to color the shape of things to come.… The dialectic between past and future will continue to form our lives.… The past helps explain where we are today and how we got there.” Knowing our history can help prevent us from repeating the failures of our past, while informing our contemporary actions.
As one of America’s largest, most dangerous jail complexes, Rikers Island embodies much of what’s wrong with the current system. In 2022, its rampant violence and disorder brought Rikers to the brink of federal takeover. That year, 19 people on Rikers died while in custody. The majority of people locked up there are overwhelmingly Black and Brown, most of whom have not been convicted, unable to buy their way out. Through its architecture, its isolation, and its policies, Rikers has long personified the horrors of incarceration, but it hasn’t always been this way.
In 1664, when New Amsterdam became New York City, Rikers Island was owned by Dutch settler Abraham Rycken, who lived nearby in a home that survives today as the city’s oldest inhabited house. At this time, Rikers was a small, marshy island, which was passed down, generation to generation, until 1884. That was the year the city paid $180,000 for the 87 ½ acres from Magistrate Richard Riker, a judge whose racist legacy includes sending free Black people back to the American South.
Around this same time, many of the city’s incarcerated were held on another island, Blackwell’s Island (today, Roosevelt Island), which housed a penitentiary, a hospital for “incurables,” workhouses, and the reportedly filthy, abusive New York City Lunatic Asylum. The city was set on converting Rikers into a new place to hold some of the incarcerated population. First, Rikers would need to be expanded in size. Leveraging the labor of its imprisoned, the city expanded the island to 413 acres, using garbage and horse manure.
In 1933, the first jail opened on Rikers. Designed by Sloan & Robertson Architects, this Art Deco–style institution slept 1,200 people. The city’s original goal was to transfer the Blackwell’s population, slowly and partially, to Rikers. However, owing to a Blackwell’s corruption scandal, that penitentiary was closed in 1935, causing all of the Blackwell’s population to be hastily moved onto Rikers, the new hub for the city’s castaways. The rancid smells emanating from the island were so pungent that when the 1939 World’s Fair was to kick off in nearby Flushing, Queens, New Yorkers worried the odor would deter fair attendees. In an attempt to fight the fumes, the city planted a nursery on the island, but the baby trees’ roots turned black and smelled acrid. When rats flooded the island to feast on the waste, the city unleashed dogs to try and wipe out the infestation. Today, rats still overrun the island.
The city was undeterred. New jails were opened across the island from the 1970s through the 1990s. All the jails were for men, except one—the Correctional Institution for Women, which opened in 1971. This women’s jail was converted to a men’s jail when the new women’s jail opened in 1988, the Rose M. Singer Center. Painted a putrid shade of mauve pink, this jail came equipped with a 25-bed nursery for the babies of pregnant women (if the jail allows the mother to maintain custody, the baby can live here for up to a year).
Since the 1930s, multitudes of people have been locked in the jails of Rikers Island, including Tupac Shakur, Sid Vicious, Lil Wayne, Anna Sorokin, DMX, and Foxy Brown. New people enter, but the history remains. When the heat swells and the tide falls, the landfill’s stench is a plaguing reminder that we haven’t come far from the past.
In the 1970s and 1980s, Rikers came under fire when tough-on-crime policies locked away scores of people without convictions, leading to overpopulation, riots, and mistreatment. Twice, the city attempted to close Rikers, unsuccessfully: once in the late 1970s and again in the mid-2000s. As of 2023, Rikers is very much alive in the East River. Over the years, incarcerated people and correction officers have filed multiple lawsuits against the city. In 2015, the city settled a federal lawsuit concerning conditions at Rikers and acquiesced to numerous reforms. Rikers received a federal monitor, installed thousands of surveillance cameras, and restricted its staff from using force.
Though these reforms aimed to protect incarcerated people from violence, they did little to shield them from trauma. One 23-year-old painter told me about waiting for trial on Rikers in the fall of 2020, after an arrest for disorderly conduct. He couldn’t afford bail and so was sent to Rikers, where he spent four months awaiting trial. While he was inside, he tested positive for COVID-19 and was quarantined with other sick men. (As of March 2023, in New York City jails, 15,158 staff and 11,991 incarcerated people got COVID-19; of them, 18 staff and 48 incarcerated people died.) The painter felt like he was losing his mind. He would try to immerse himself in a book, but setting it down would reignite the feeling of the walls closing in. Rikers, he and others believe, is haunted. When his court date arrived, the painter appeared before a judge and, like many others, he entered a guilty plea. Nearly all criminal cases (98 percent of federal criminal cases) are resolved with a plea bargain, a loophole used in criminal courts to speed up cases, whereby a defendant pleads guilty or no contest to obtain a lesser sentence. Ironically, almost no criminal defendants actually see their days in court. The painter was released. When we spoke two years later, he was still on parole. Recalling his time on Rikers, he burst into tears: “No one”—he wiped his cheeks— “should have to go through that.”
There are countless stories like his, but there was one in particular that rose to national attention in 2015, again igniting calls for the closure of Rikers and prompting New York City’s ban on solitary confinement of youths. In that year, after being held on Rikers for three years without a conviction, Kalief Browder, a 22-year-old Black man from the Bronx, killed himself.
As a high school sophom*ore, Browder was accused of stealing a backpack. The 16-year-old maintained his innocence. He’d had previous run-ins with the police: eight months before, he had taken a delivery truck for a joyride and crashed into another car, a crime for which he pled guilty and was put on probation, deemed a “youthful offender,” meaning he wouldn’t have a criminal record as a minor. For the backpack incident, the judge charged him with grand larceny, robbery, and assault, and his bail was set at $3,000. Browder’s family eventually came up with the money through a bail bond, but Browder was denied release because he was on probation. Instead, the teenager was locked up on Rikers, due to a contemporaneous state law that offenders 16 years of age and older should be tried as adults. (New York was only one of two states to adhere to the practice, until it was ended with 2017’s Raise the Age law.)
While at Rikers, Browder suffered multiple beatings from correction officers and other incarcerated people, and his trial was delayed over and over again. Prosecutors tried to convince him to take a plea deal for a two- to three-year sentence, but Browder understood that taking a plea deal would mean he’d forsake his right to a fair trial, and it would put a felony on his rap sheet. Browder spent more than 700 days in solitary confinement. He attempted suicide several times. Eventually, Browder’s case was dismissed. He’d missed school for three years. After struggling with his mental health, two years after his release he hung himself at his mother’s home.
The tragedy went public. Rikers surveillance footage of Browder’s abuse was released. Nationwide, people saw inside Rikers. This young man’s story was emblematic of what was wrong with America’s criminal justice system: an untried child was removed from school to live at Rikers, waiting for his court date, for years. Rikers, once again, took the spotlight. People demanded change.
Among those advocating for change was New York City Council Speaker Melissa Mark-Viverito. In 2016, the speaker spotlighted Browder’s tragedy in her State of the City address. Browder’s mother, Venida, sat in the front row of the auditorium of a Bronx high school. Speaker Mark-Viverito told the packed audience that this loss of life embodied the failings of the criminal justice system, not just of New York City but also nationwide.
“Kalief entered as a child, but left as a broken man,” Mark-Viverito said to the crowd. Browder’s mom wiped tears from her eyes. “It is time to take our criminal justice system outside of the shadows and finally address the institutional racism which has plagued it for far too long.” The auditorium erupted with applause. “It is time to reimagine our entire criminal justice system.… Rikers Island has come to represent our worst tendencies and our biggest failures.… For too long, Rikers has not stood for more justice, but for revenge. We must explore how we can get the population of Rikers to be so small that the dream of shutting it down becomes a reality.”
Then came Mark-Viverito’s headlining announcement.
She would launch an independent investigation of Rikers. Led by former chief judge of the State of New York Jonathan Lippman, the commission would have 27 members, including judges, lawyers, nonprofit leaders, and a real estate developer. The Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform—nicknamed the “Lippman Commission”—would take the next year to develop a “community-based justice model that will complement existing reform efforts,” Mark-Viverito declared. The launch of the Lippman Commission seemed well timed and attuned to the public’s shifting perspectives of “justice.”
Closing Rikers Island was political. Then New York governor Andrew Cuomo announced that his office was on board with the Lippman Commission’s efforts. However, Bill de Blasio, the city’s unpopular mayor, didn’t seem to be. In early 2016, the mayor had told the press, “It would cost many billions of dollars, and I have to look out for what’s feasible and I have to look out for the taxpayer.” While the statement wasn’t necessarily wrong, the mayor was growing out of step with many New Yorkers—and others around the country, who were rallying for change in the justice system. Across America, more philanthropic dollars were flowing into justice reform than ever before. Cities and towns were exploring creative answers to lower their jail populations, reform their sentencing policies, and improve the conduct of their police forces. The mood was ripe for change.
As the Lippman Commission began their interviews, studies, and research, Mayor de Blasio was facing pressure from numerous fronts. When the commission was gearing up to release its much-anticipated report, in an interesting turn of events, the mayor beat them to the punch. On Friday, March 31, 2017, de Blasio’s team assembled a last-minute press conference at City Hall. The six-foot-five mayor stood in the grand marble rotunda, flanked by none other than Mark-Viverito and the director of the Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice, Elizabeth Glazer. The mayor’s announcement that day would set the tone for criminal justice reform around the nation.
“New York City,” de Blasio proclaimed to journalists, TV anchors, and cameras, “will close the Rikers Island jail facility.” Cameras started clicking and flashing. “Rikers Island is an example and expression of a major national problem. The mass incarceration crisis did not begin in New York City, but it will end here. We are going to end the era of mass incarceration by making this important change.”
While de Blasio didn’t delve into details about how Rikers would close—aside from saying that it would slash its jail population through various reform measures—he did promise the closure of Rikers within ten years. Some were skeptical from the start, saying it was a publicity stunt from a f*ckless mayor attempting to score good PR, while others questioned how the mayor could possibly see the reform effort through, as he wouldn’t be in office in ten years’ time. How could he guarantee the next administration would accomplish this major initiative? Easy for him to announce the initiative, when it would be his successor’s problem to solve. Still, others hoped this would be the greatest criminal justice overhaul the city had ever seen. Longstanding ethical questions could be addressed about jail conditions. People would no longer suffer on Rikers. New York City could be a pioneer in ending the nation’s love affair with mass incarceration. This could be the beginning.
That same weekend, another press conference was held. The Lippman Commission released its first report, “A More Just New York City.” After a year of research and listening to stakeholders and members of the community, the authors of the report proclaimed the Rikers closure as a “moral imperative.” The commission suggested multiple reforms at various phases of the criminal justice process, such as bail reform, working with groups outside the jail system, and better training for correction officers. If the city could enact various reforms, the daily jail population at Rikers could drop to less than 5,000 over the next decade. (In 2017, the average daily population in the city’s jails was 9,400 people.) Slowly, and one by one, the city could close each jail on Rikers, rendering the island empty within ten years. The newly available island could then be transformed into an extension of nearby LaGuardia Airport, or it could house next-generation or sustainable infrastructure. The city could also relocate some of its existing facilities in lower-income communities to Rikers Island, thereby freeing up space for parks, job training, and employment opportunities. A museum could be built on Rikers, dedicated to all who’ve suffered there.
The commission had another idea in store, one that would prove incendiary. Their idea positioned architecture at the forefront of justice reform. Rikers needs to close, yes, but new jails should be built in the boroughs. Brand-new, sleek detention centers designed by world-class architecture firms should replace the boroughs’ older jails, such as the Tombs in Manhattan and The Boat in the East River. People inside could live in more “normalized” settings and be closer to the courthouses. These jails would be “humane,” with natural sunlight, softer lighting, better acoustics, regular fixtures and furnishings, and temperature control that could reduce stress and encourage good behavior. The new façades could be welcoming and “inspire confidence in what happens inside,” the Lippman Commission’s report said. “Design has a direct impact on behavior,” it proclaimed. “We know that jail design can actually help achieve better outcomes.” These new jails would house fewer beds to keep the jail populations relatively small and to avoid overcrowding. Every jail could have a “town center” that offers social services. The environment, instead of punishing the incarcerated, could help them by supporting rehabilitation and thus reduce crime. New York City could become “a beacon of safety, humanity, and justice for cities across the country and around the world,” the Lippman Report declared. “Let New York City lead the way, as it has done so often in the past.” Fixing Rikers was impossible; these new jails could be the way of the future. They called it the Borough-Based Jails (BBJ) program.
“[Rikers] is the epitome of the mass incarceration model,” Judge Jonathan Lippman told me. I thought about Moose and other people without sentences I talked to, sweating inside Rikers’ old, fetid jails. “It puts a lot of people out of mind and out of sight and bad things happen. The people who work there are just as much in danger. You can’t fix it or make it better. It’s too entrenched in the mass incarceration mantra. You need a whole new approach, which is all about smaller, safer, and more humane jails.” The new jails would provide a habitable space for incarcerated people, correction officers, and visitors. “Create the envelope to make the culture better. I think those go hand in hand.… You’re not going to change Rikers in a fundamental way. Believe me, I’ve seen it all. Every time I go there, the city brings out a bunch of programs. The answer is to get rid of the godforsaken place. Get rid of that godforsaken place!”
In the early days of summer 2017, Mayor de Blasio formalized the Borough-Based Jails program. Some felt this could be de Blasio’s mayoral legacy, a historic criminal justice overhaul that could inspire the nation. This wasn’t the first time the city was attempting to be a national bellwether. New York City has paved the way for social change and progress; for instance, the first civil rights laws since Reconstruction were passed here, including those for fair housing, education, and employment, which inspired laws in dozens of others states. As E. B. White wrote in his book about New York City, Here Is New York, “It is to the nation what the white church spire is to the village, the visible symbol of aspiration and faith.” While other cities around the nation were attempting their own sweeping criminal justice reform efforts, New York was in a unique situation—with fecund ground to experiment with justice reform. During the last 20 years, as many American cities experienced massive surges in their incarcerated populations, New York City saw the opposite: in just one generation, Gotham had transformed from an emblem of extreme urban disorder, earning its 1970s nickname “Fear City,” into America’s safest big city. Mayor de Blasio and the Lippman Commission were aiming for New York City to lead the way. The Borough-Based Jails program would have strong management, safe conditions, and a total of 3,544 jail beds and 380 secure hospital beds. Under “Smaller, Safer, Fairer: A Roadmap to Closing Rikers Island,” Rikers Island would close entirely by 2026 (later pushed to August 31, 2027, ostensibly due to the pandemic and budget reasons, according to Gothamist).
To ensure successful execution, the city launched a Justice Implementation Task Force, chaired by Elizabeth Glazer and Zachary Carter, corporation counsel of the City of New York, to help shape the strategy for the new “smaller, safer and fairer” jail system. The new jails would be built in four of the city’s five boroughs: Manhattan, Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. (Staten Island would not be included, as the city determined it would not be cost-effective to build a jail there.)
This massive reform effort came at a hefty cost: $8.3 billion. The Lippman Commission and the City University of New York (CUNY)’s Institute for State and Local Governance said that it would ultimately save the city $2 billion a year in operating costs and would be paid for with 30-year bonds. Despite the high price tag, two years later the City Council voted in favor of the BBJ program. Rikers Island was mandated to close by 2027. The city was required by law to close each jail on Rikers and flip each jail over to the Department of Citywide Administrative Services. Legally, New York City would be prohibited from incarcerating people on Rikers Island after 2027. The overhaul was officially set in motion.
That’s when I started covering the initiative for Architectural Digest. I wanted to explore whether this $8.3 billion was best spent on new jails, and whether architecture really could help solve America’s mass-incarceration problem. Inherently, there is controversy surrounding reform, and soon I found that the Borough-Based Jails program was no different. Compelled to go beyond the scope of my assignments, I wanted perspectives from those on the ground—mainly, those who were incarcerated. Accustomed to working with attorneys from my staff days at Courthouse News (and growing up in my dad’s law firm, where he practiced family law and criminal defense), I tracked down a group of young lawyers teaching debate to people on Rikers. Owing to the pandemic, Rikers Debate Project volunteers weren’t allowed inside, and had thus pivoted to letter correspondence. The lawyer volunteers relayed my request to their students inside. That’s when my phone started ringing daily—sometimes multiple times per day—with reports from behind the wall.
Moose caught word about a month in that there was a journalist looking to talk. He was back in the mix, except now he wasn’t on Rikers. He was booked on a parole violation downtown at the Manhattan Detention Complex, colloquially called “the Tombs” because the original jail here emulated the ancient mausoleums of Egypt. The Tombs was one of the jails slated for demolition, to make way for a state-of-the-art, high-rise jail.
When Moose reached out to me, he was ready to talk. As a frequent flier, he knew the system well and wanted to share his thoughts on the inside. When I broached the subject of New York City’s plan to close Rikers Island and build new jails in the boroughs, his reaction shook me.
“f*ck, no! You can’t get rid of the jails!” Moose hollered.
Before I could ask why not, the automated voice interrupted to tell us our time was up.
And the line clicked off.
- I. His full name will not be used, to protect his privacy.
- II. Over the course of three weeks.
- III. Based on people released from state prisons; jails don’t have overall reporting mechanisms.
]]>
Ella Dove is an acclaimed baker whose desserts spark vivid, cherished memories in those who taste them. A restless soul, Ella goes wherever the wind takes her—but driven by a haunting dream, she’s coming home to Dove Pond. Years ago, her mentor, Angela Stewart Harrington, falsely accused Ella of stealing her beloved family recipe book, known as the Book of Cakes. Now, Ella believes it’s time for them to reconcile.
Angela has her own share of amends to make. Her daughter Jules has never forgiven her for divorcing her father, and they’ve been estranged ever since. But just as Angela begins to hope that she and Jules might mend their tattered relationship, a miscommunication turns into a lie that could destroy everything.
Meanwhile, Jules’s son Gray is shocked that Ella, his first love and his first heartbreak, has returned to Dove Pond. But even though he knows Ella is a wanderer and will soon leave, he’s unable to stop himself from falling for her once again. Can Gray find a way to convince Ella to give him, and their town, a serious chance? Or is he once again on the road to a broken heart?
With so much at stake, Ella, Angela, and Gray must learn to accept each other—flaws and all—and trust that love can, and will, always find a way. For fans of Alice Hoffman and Sarah Addison Allen, The Secret Recipe of Ella Dove is a “spellbinding story” (Robyn Carr, #1 New York Times bestselling author) that will warm your heart and charm your senses.]]>
]]>
CHAPTER 1 
ELLA Food brings people together, warms the heart, and feeds the soul.
The Book of Cakes, p. 21
Written: 1792–2019
Ella Dove came home on a lazy, scorching, bee-buzzed evening. As she turned her rental car off Interstate 40, her phone rang. Sighing, she hit the answer button on her car screen. “Hi, Tiff. What’s up?”
Tiffany Harper, a fresh-faced social media whiz, had been Ella’s assistant for five years now. Tiff and her team of production experts were worth every penny of the hefty amount Ella paid them too. “Are you home yet?” Tiff asked in her way-too-perky voice. No matter the circ*mstances, she always sounded as if she were about to announce she’d just won the lottery.
“Almost.” Ella turned onto a small country road and rolled her aching shoulders. The last eighteen hours had been brutal. Just this morning, she’d stuffed as much as she could into her two largest suitcases, handed the keys to her Paris patisserie with its adorable apartment upstairs to its new owner, jumped into a cab, and headed for the airport. From there, she’d flown for ten long and bumpy hours to Atlanta, where she’d picked up the rental car Tiff had reserved, a feisty red Lexus. Now, after five hours of driving, Ella was almost home, jet-lagged to the bone, and already jonesing to leave. “I need a nap.”
“I bet,” Tiff said with sympathy. “But I thought you’d want to know that Matt from Ferndale Farms called. They’re worried about your content now that you’ve moved stateside.”
Ella grimaced. She would be so glad when her contractual obligation to Ferndale Farms was over. The name “Ferndale Farms” might make people think of cozy little farms set in the sunny countryside, but it was actually a huge multinational food syndicate. When Ferndale had bought her small Ella Dove Pie Company for a price she couldn’t refuse, they’d offered a huge bonus if she agreed to do a brand partnership with them for two years. In the beginning, the extra social posts had seemed harmless enough—especially because she already had Tiff and her team to help produce content for her growing accounts—but sheesh, Matt was a pain. “How much longer are we obligated to them?”
“Let’s see. This is August fifth, so… six months, one week, and two days.”
Ella smiled. “You knew I was going to ask.”
“Who wouldn’t? I told Matt his target audience—your over two million followers on the Gram and four million plus on TikTok—would love the new content. Small towns are ‘in’ right now.”
“It is a pretty town,” Ella admitted grudgingly.
“Charming. Speaking of content, what do you have planned? We need something fresh.”
“Content. Right. I’ll make a cake first thing tomorrow.” Just the thought of baking eased the tension in Ella’s shoulders. Tired as she was, her soul itched to get back into the kitchen. “Maybe a lemon pound cake.”
“And?” When Ella didn’t answer, Tiff sighed. “What do I always say about content?”
Ella tried not to roll her eyes and failed. “?‘Cakes alone won’t do it. You have to share bits of your life, too.’?” She hated that, but Tiff was right. The metrics didn’t lie.
To be honest, Ella couldn’t believe she could make so much money just by sharing videos of her making cakes mixed with casual glimpses of her so-called baking life. Ella had made a small fortune thanks to the sponsorships Tiff and her team had managed to line up, which had allowed her to develop her brand far more quickly than other bakers. “Maybe I could do a time lapse of me setting up the kitchen at my old house with my favorite kitchen tools.” At this very moment, a large yellow suitcase in the trunk of her car held her favorite cookbooks, three special aprons, a crazy-expensive Japanese knife, her favorite rolling pin, some unique cookie cutters, and more.
“Ohhh, that could be fun. Paul could do something cool with that.”
“Paul’s video editing skills are sick. He can make dust look interesting.” Ella would rather produce content at the old Dove home than wander around town anyway. Being a Dove in Dove Pond inspired the exact kind of expectations she hated. People watched her as if she might wave a wand and make all their dreams come true. Her magic was in her cooking, in making a cake that could allow a person to relive a prized, sometimes-forgotten memory. When compared to her sisters’ abilities, her magic seemed pretty tame.
“Terrific!” Tiff said. “And get some vid of your sister Ava’s Pink Magnolia Tearoom. I saw the website and it’s perfection.”
“Sure,” Ella said. “I’ll go down there tomorrow and—” There, right above her wrist, rested a vivid slash of pink strawberry frosting that hadn’t been there a second before. Her heart sank. Stupid frosting. She swallowed. “I’ll get that content to you ASAP.”
“Great. We can’t wait to see what you come up with.”
Ella ended the call and reached for her tote bag from where it sat on the passenger seat. She pushed aside a wrinkled newspaper, pulled out a napkin, and cleaned the frosting from her wrist.
She’d told Tiff she was coming home to take care of some family matters, but that was a lie. Over the past four months, she’d been plagued by annoying dreams in which she was chased by a giant, silver-papered cupcake with strawberry frosting. In every dream, the huge cupcake chased her through the tree-lined streets of Dove Pond to the highest point of Hill Street. The dream always ended with her standing alone and terrified in front of the Stewart house.
She might have been able to ignore those dreams, but every time she had one, sometime after the dream had ended, strawberry frosting would appear somewhere on her arms or legs. Sometimes it showed up as a plump rose, perfectly made, as if ready for a wedding cake. Sometimes, like just now, it showed up in a long, delicate curlicue. The frosting was always pink, always smelled like strawberry, and was always annoying. And it was why she’d come back to Dove Pond. There was only one person who might understand what was going on.
She turned her car down Main Street and fell in behind a faded blue pickup truck. The sun shimmered on the hot asphalt as a faint breeze rippled through the stifling air and flapped the red awnings that adorned the storefronts, the smell of heat, hay, and summer diesel hanging in the air. The early-evening sun warmed the small American flags still on the light poles from the July Fourth parade a month ago, and glinted off the plate glass fronts of the small stores she knew all too well.
People who didn’t know Dove Pond would see only the names of the businesses, but she’d grown up here. She knew Paw Printz was “Maggie and Ed Mayhew’s pet store” and the Ace Hardware was “Stevens’s hardware,” while the Moonlight Café was “Jules’s place” and had the best meatloaf on earth.
Ella slowed down as she passed her sister Ava’s new tearoom. The old brick building featured a beautiful wrought-iron bow window filled with colorful pastel canisters of Ava’s specialty teas. Ella absently wondered when she, or any of the other town residents, would drop the “new” part of “Ava’s new tearoom.” Probably never. The people of Dove Pond weren’t the sort to embrace change. That was one of the many reasons Ella had left. She loved change. It kept her from drowning in boredom.
Sadly, Ava and Sarah didn’t understand Ella’s aversion to sameness. Their unbridled enthusiasm for Dove Pond and everything in it was as irritating as their heavy-handed attempts to convince Ella and her other sisters to move back home. Together, the two were as subtle as a dump truck rolling downhill without brakes.
Ella reached the end of the street, but instead of turning onto Elm Street toward the Dove house, she headed in the other direction. At the edge of town, the houses were smaller, had less trim, and were much farther apart. Ella turned off a windy, narrow road and into the driveway of a familiar yellow house.
Aunt Jo sat on her front porch, her cane leaning against the windowsill near her chair, her chunky bulldog Moon Pie asleep at her feet. Her colorful dress of blue and pink flowers clashed with her fluffy purple slippers as she steadily snapped green beans from a brown paper bag into the yellow bowl in her lap.
Ella parked under the huge oak tree, grabbed her purse, and climbed out, the humidity stealing her breath. Whew. Paris got humid, but not southern US humid. She climbed up the stairs, loving that the porch floor was painted a deep aqua while the ceiling above was a familiar but welcome haint blue. “Good afternoon.”
“You’re late.” Aunt Jo dropped some green beans into the bowl in her lap. “I expected you last week.”
Ella dropped her bag beside a faded wicker chair and sat. “Sarah told you I was coming.”
“She never said a word.” Aunt Jo snapped a bean in half with a bit more force than necessary. Although she was sitting in the shade, she shone with dampness, the humidity dewy on her dark skin. “You Doves aren’t the only ones who know things.”
Ella nodded toward the two glasses of lemonade sitting on the side table. “I hope one of those is for me.”
“One is. This heat is something else.” Aunt Jo pulled a handkerchief from her pocket and wiped her shiny brow, her eyes twinkling. “They say the water’s so hot in Lake Fontana that the fish are jumping into boats fully cooked.”
Ella laughed and took a sip of the lemonade. The drink was the perfect combination of tart and sweet. No one knew flavors better than Aunt Jo. “Don’t order lemonade in France. You’ll get a nasty beverage called citronade.”
“France.” Aunt Jo made a face. “Why did you have to move there, anyway?”
“A lot of reasons. It’s beautiful.”
Aunt Jo’s gaze moved past Ella to the large fields around them where yellow and purple flowers dotted the green rye grass. “It’s beautiful here, too.”
“I know, but—” Ella shrugged. “I just wanted more. Not money or fame, but more… happiness, I suppose.”
“You can’t move to happiness. You have to find it where you’re at so you can take it with you everywhere you go.”
Ella tamped down her impatience. As if it were that easy to “find happiness.” She forced a smile. “Plus I wanted to learn patisserie from the best.”
“I could have taught you everything you needed to know right here.”
Ella couldn’t argue with that. Aunt Jo had a remarkable understanding of pastry, which Ella hadn’t truly appreciated until she’d gone to cooking school and realized that, thanks to Aunt Jo, she already knew most of the methods that were taught. Ella swirled the lemonade in her glass, an icy drop splashing onto her knee. “I wish I could have taken Momma to Paris. She would have loved it.”
Aunt Jo’s eyes grew shiny. Moon Pie lifted his head and looked at Aunt Jo, who bent down and gave him another pat. “I still miss your momma. We were as different as day and night but had a lot in common. That’s the mark of true friends. You’re different and yet the same.”
Ella couldn’t argue with that. Momma’d had a heart condition—which eventually took her—and it had made her quiet and slow-moving. Meanwhile, Aunt Jo was as loud and powerful as a freight train. When she laughed, her round belly shook like a TV Santa Claus, and she laughed often. But while the two women had been physical opposites, both had strong, determined spirits.
Aunt Jo took a deep drink of her lemonade, a trickle of water dripping off the bottom of the glass and landing perilously close to Moon Pie’s nose. “Your momma would have had a cow if she’d known some of her girls would up and move away.”
“Ava and Sarah are still here.”
“The rest of you aren’t.” Aunt Jo’s gaze narrowed. “Do you even keep in touch with your sisters? Enough to know what’s going on in their lives?”
“I know Ava’s new tearoom has been a huge success and that Sarah’s moved back in after their little tiff.” Which hadn’t been that little, although Ella and her other sisters had wisely stayed clear of the whole thing. “I also know that Sarah is dating the local sheriff, Blake McIntyre. It’s about time they finally admitted they liked each other.” Ella wasn’t sure what was going on with the rest of her sisters, which she didn’t want to admit. I should give them a call while I’m here. “Oh! I also heard that you’re judging the First Baptist Bake-Off this year. That surprised me. You’ve always said you haven’t seen crazy until you’ve seen First Baptist Bake-Off crazy.”
There were two churches in Dove Pond—the First Baptist Church and the First Methodist Church. Most people went to one or the other, and due to the limited citizenship of their small town, the competition between the two churches had grown into something fierce over the years. That had made the bake-off a rather contentious event. Ella shook her head. “How did they rope you into that? Besides, I didn’t think Bev Turnbull would ever give up her judge’s seat.”
“They caught her accepting a bribe. Twenty pounds of premium bacon.”
“Whoa! What a scandal.”
Aunt Jo nodded. “After an especially pointed sermon from Preacher Thompson about the evils of succumbing to enticements, she confessed all and resigned. After that, the preacher asked me to take over and I couldn’t say no.”
“Couldn’t pawn it off on someone else?”
“Who? You?” Aunt Jo pinned Ella with a stern look. “You being a celebrity chef and all might turn people’s attention away from the Bacon Bribery Scandal and focus on the actual competition.”
“If I was going to be in town, I’d do it. But you don’t need me, anyway; you’ll be a terrific judge.” Ella reached over and grabbed some beans from Aunt Jo’s paper bag and began snapping them, dropping them into the bowl as she finished. “Just look at you, saving the day, as usual. This town would be lost without you.”
Aunt Jo made a face. “It’s hard to say no to Preacher Thompson. He looks as if he might be Idris Elba and Halle Berry’s secret man-child.”
Ella raised her eyebrows. “Why haven’t I seen this guy?”
“Because you never stay long enough to visit new people, much less go to church. We could rectify that omission if you’re of a mind. Come with me this Sunday.”
That was only six days away. Hmm. If I stay an extra week, then I could legitimately miss my annual Thanksgiving visit and kill two birds with one stone.
Why not? It wasn’t as if she had anything else to do. She didn’t have much of a plan once she finished her mission here in Dove Pond. That was how she liked to do things. Overplanning took the fun out of life. Ella dropped another handful of snapped beans into Aunt Jo’s bowl. “Sunday is a date.”
Aunt Jo cut her a skeptical look. “Really?”
“Really. By the way, I brought you something.” Ella reached for her purse and pulled out a small package. She handed it to Aunt Jo.
“What’s this?” Aunt Jo undid the ribbon and opened the present. Inside the small box was a shiny cookie cutter. “This—why, this looks like my house!”
Ella nodded, pleased to see Aunt Jo’s smile. “We’re developing a line of Ella Dove kitchen utensils. I sent the company making our cookie cutters a picture of your house, and we’re going to include it in the line.”
“Well, well. That’s nice.” Aunt Jo placed the cutter back into the box and set it on the table at her elbow. “I’ve always loved this house.”
“Me too.” Ella grabbed some more beans from the brown paper bag at Aunt Jo’s feet and went back to snapping them. “I wanted to give you that present, but I had another reason for visiting. Aunt Jo, I need your advice.”
“Ask away. I like giving advice. It doesn’t cost much.”
Ella had to smile. “It’s weird, but I keep having this dream and it always leaves me feeling lost, somehow.”
“Oh?” Aunt Jo’s hands fell back into a steady rhythm as she scooped up beans, snapped them, and then dropped them into her bowl. “How often have you had this dream?”
“Dozens of times. And it’s always the same. I dream I’m here, in Dove Pond, and I’m being chased up Hill Street by a huge cupcake with strawberry frosting.”
“Does it catch you?”
“I don’t know. I always wake up before that happens. But every time I have the dream, I find strawberry frosting on me the next day when I’m wide awake.”
Aunt Jo’s hands froze in place, her eyes widening. “Ohhh, Ella. That’s not good.”
Oh no. That was not the reaction Ella’d been hoping for. “It’s just a weird dream, right?”
Aunt Jo set her bowl of beans to one side and leaned forward. “Your dream has crossed.”
An uneasy feeling clutched Ella’s stomach. “What do you mean ‘crossed’?”
“It’s moved from the dream world into reality. It expects you to do something.”
Great. Just great. “Do what?”
“The dream will tell you what. If you want your dream to go away and that frosting to stop showing up, then you have to do whatever the dream wants.”
Ella grimaced. “I was afraid of that.”
Aunt Jo’s eyebrows rose. “You know what the dream wants you to do.”
“Maybe. In the dream, I always end up in front of the Stewart house. Angela Stewart Harrington and I had a dustup a few years back. It must be that.”
Aunt Jo looked surprised. “You know Angela Harrington well enough to have had an argument with her? She’s almost as old as I am.”
“I went to high school with her grandsons, and they both played baseball, so I saw her when she’d come to town for team games. That’s why I recognized her when I ran into her a few years ago on Fifth Avenue, when I was in New York teaching for Le Cordon Bleu.”
“That’s a big city. That’s a chance meeting if there ever was one.”
“I know, right? Maybe she was homesick for Dove Pond or was just being kind, but she invited me to spend the weekend at her house in the Hamptons. We had such a great time that it became a ritual. I spent almost every weekend that summer at her house with her, her husband John, and her grandsons. Sometimes her daughter, Jules, was there too.”
Aunt Jo’s eyes narrowed. “I heard you dated Gray at some point. I think Sarah mentioned it, or maybe Ava.”
Ella shrugged. “He was at Angela’s house, which was how we started talking, but it was nothing serious. Angela’s the one I need to settle things with.”
“Why do you think that?”
“Because of this.” Ella reached back into her purse and pulled out a wrinkled newspaper. She handed it to Aunt Jo, pointing to a picture.
Aunt Jo’s brow instantly furrowed. “That’s Angela’s second husband, John. He died a month ago.”
“It’s his obituary. He worked at the New York branch of a French bank. The article says Angela would be moving home to be with friends and family following the funeral.” Ella took the newspaper back and looked at the picture of the handsome white-haired man. “He was always kind to me when I visited.” She sighed and dropped the paper back into her purse. “About a week after I started having those dreams, that newspaper blew down the street and fell open to that exact page right at my feet.”
“Then you did the right thing, coming here. What did you and Angela argue about?”
“She accused me of stealing a family heirloom.”
Aunt Jo stiffened. “As if you’d do such a thing!”
“It made me furious, too.” Ella still got mad when she remembered that day. It had been late evening and she’d come downstairs with her suitcase, ready to go back to the city. Unlike her normal visits, it had been a less-than-fun Sunday, because that was the day she’d broken up with Gray.
Dating Gray had been a mistake, but at the time it had just seemed like a fun summer fling. Or at least, that was all it had been to her. She should have known better; he was more intense and emotional than the men she usually flirted with. But he’d had a smile that she couldn’t resist, and no man had made her laugh more.
On that day, still feeling a little down after facing Gray’s hurt expression when she’d ended things, she’d gone through the kitchen on her way out and had found Angela and Jules arguing, their faces red. On seeing Ella, Jules had given her a hard, cold look and then stormed away.
Ella had assumed Jules must have discovered that Ella had broken up with Gray, but then Angela, looking tired and dispirited, had asked, “Where is it?”
“Where is what?”
Angela’s mouth thinned. “The Book of Cakes has gone missing, and Jules is certain you took it.” Angela had nodded toward Ella’s suitcase. “Is it in there?”
Ella struggled to absorb the words. The prized possession of the Stewart family was an old, cherished cookbook filled with handwritten recipes from across the decades. Since most of the recipes were desserts, someone along the way had started calling it “the Book of Cakes” and the name had stuck. “Angela, I didn’t take your cookbook. How can you even say that?”
“Fine. Then prove it.” Angela, her back stiff, tapped her finger on the kitchen table. “Put your suitcase here. I want to see what’s in it.”
Ella simmered, but she yanked up her suitcase and dropped it on the table. “When you’re done, I expect an apology.”
Angela opened the suitcase. Besides clothes, Ella’s favorite rolling pin was there, as were copies of two recipes she’d brought for them to try, and her favorite apron, too. But there was nothing else. Angela shut the case, looking yet more weary. “It’s not there.”
“Of course it’s not. I can’t believe you’d think it would be.” Fuming, Ella snapped her suitcase shut. That was when Jules had burst back into the room.
It was obvious she’d been listening in as she descended on Angela. “Make her give it back! If she leaves, we’ll never see it again!”
“As if!” Ella yanked her suitcase off the counter. “I would never ever steal anything, much less a recipe book. Not from you, Jules, and definitely not from your mother, who is a close friend of mine.” She sent an accusing look at Angela. “Or so I thought.”
Angela turned red but didn’t reply.
“Then who took it?” Jules demanded, her voice shrill. “It’s gone and no one has been here but the family and you.”
“It wasn’t me! Angela, you know me. Tell her I would never do such a thing.”
Angela wasn’t able to look Ella in the eye. All she did was spread her hands on the empty counter in front of her as she slowly shook her head. “I’m sorry, Ella, but I have to agree with Jules. None of us would have taken it, which leaves you.”
That was it for Ella. “I didn’t, and wouldn’t, steal a cookbook or even a recipe from anyone. I’m not that sort of person. And if you don’t know that by now, then I’m done with all of you.” She turned on her heel and, suitcase in hand, headed out the door. She was so mad that the drive home was nothing more than a blur.
A week passed, and then two. Ella kept expecting a phone call with an explanation, if not an apology, but it never came. She didn’t make friends easily, and she’d felt an unusually close connection with Angela. The confrontation had left Ella surprisingly low.
So, after a series of slow days filled with teaching and even slower nights spent perfecting recipes, she was relieved when, three weeks later, she was offered a job in Paris at a world-renowned patisserie. The job wasn’t supposed to start for six more weeks, but as soon as she finished her final class, Ella packed her things and headed for France, desperate to put some space between herself and the weight of her thoughts. The whole thing was a mistake. How could anyone think that I—a pastry chef, no less—would steal a family cookbook? No one reveres a cookbook like a chef.
Realizing Aunt Jo was watching her with a concerned gaze, Ella forced a smile. “It was an ugly time.”
Aunt Jo scowled. “I hope you gave Angela a good what-for.”
“I told her the truth. That’s all I could do. After that, I left for Paris, and we never spoke again.”
“Ah. You left and so the situation was never resolved.” Aunt Jo clicked her tongue. “Still running away from your problems, are you? No wonder your dreams are pushing you around. You need some pushing.”
That wasn’t fair. Ella said stiffly, “It’s not my fault Angela accused me of stealing that silly cookbook—”
“Cookbook?” Aunt Jo’s eyed widened. “The Book of Cakes?”
“You know it?”
“Years ago, Jules made a buttermilk pie for the Ladies’ Club, and the recipe was in that book—I saw it sitting open on the counter. I only got a glimpse of it before she realized she’d left it out and whisked it away. It looked old.”
“The first recipe came from the seventeen hundreds. It’s an amazing collection,” Ella admitted grudgingly. “All of the Stewart women pick a page and add some words of advice along with their favorite recipe. Angela’s was for her hummingbird cake.”
“She makes a fine one.” Aunt Jo picked up her bowl of green beans and placed it back in her lap. “So you think your dream wants you to settle things with Angela.”
“That must be it. I’ve tried to call her, but the number I had is no longer in service. I called Jules too, but she hung up on me. Repeatedly.” Ella shrugged. “So I came here.”
“You were right to come here. Poor Jules has a full house nowadays. Mark still lives there and helps his momma run the Moonlight Café. He’s turning into a fine line cook. But then all the Stewarts are good cooks.”
Ella started to point out that Mark’s last name was Phillips and not Stewart, but then decided not to bother. His mother had worked at the family café from the time she was in high school on. Despite getting married later in life, the locals refused to accept her married name and continued to call her Jules Stewart and referred to her sons as “the Stewart boys.”
Aunt Jo shot Ella a look from under her lashes. “Grayson is back in town, too.”
Ella dropped her gaze to where the early-evening sun was slanting across the toes of her shoes, hoping Aunt Jo hadn’t seen how much that surprised her. One of the things she and Gray had had in common was a dislike for their tiny, smothering hometown, so she’d never expected to hear that he was in Dove Pond.
“He bought the old Morris farm off old Route 9,” Aunt Jo continued, “cows, sheep, and all. Jules says he’s doing some cutting-edge agricultural stuff out there, turning that farm into some sort of scientific food haven and growing things without soil. It sounds like a scam to me. He’s gotten all sorts of attention for it, though. The Raleigh news station did a whole segment on him and his farm.”
Ella shrugged. It didn’t matter if Gray was around or not. She needed to speak to his grandmother, not him.
Aunt Jo offered a green bean to Moon Pie. The bulldog sniffed it and then turned away. “Picky eater.” She placed the bean in front of him and then returned her attention to Ella. “It’s a pity you and Gray didn’t work out. I like him.”
Ella finished breaking the beans still in her lap and dropped them into Aunt Jo’s bowl. “You know I don’t like being tied down. It’s too much like work.”
“Real love is work; it just doesn’t feel like it. That’s how you know it’s real.” Aunt Jo pulled some more beans from the paper bag beside her chair and handed them to Ella. “Where will you go after you’re done here? Sarah says you sold your shop and apartment in Paris.”
Ella had no idea, but she wasn’t about to admit that to Aunt Jo. “I might write another cookbook. Or maybe I’ll open a new patisserie somewhere exciting. I’ve never been to Japan.”
Aunt Jo frowned. “What are you looking for, Ella? Adventure? Excitement? Love?”
Ella let her gaze wander from the porch to the fields shimmering in the breeze. The rye grass ran greenish-gold to the purple line of the mountains that encircled their little town. It was beautiful here. And safe, too. But safe wasn’t enough. Frankly, she wasn’t sure what was.
Suddenly restless, she finished the beans and dropped them into Aunt Jo’s bowl. “I should get going. Sarah and Ava will be waiting.” Ella collected her purse, then stood and kissed Aunt Jo’s warm, round cheek. “I’ll come back tomorrow.”
Aunt Jo gave Ella a quick, fierce hug. “It’s good to have you home.” The older woman released Ella and then shooed her away. “Get on with yourself. Your sisters will be wondering where you are. Tell them I said hi. And don’t forget about Sunday.”
“I won’t.” Ella headed off the porch to her car. Waving goodbye, she was soon on her way to Elm Street, where her sisters waited. It would be good to see them… or it would be, until the hounding began.
First thing in the morning, Ella would head to the Stewart house to talk with Angela, which would hopefully end those annoying dreams and frosting attacks. Ella could only hope she wouldn’t come face-to-face with Gray. Ugh. Why is nothing ever as simple as it should be?
For Dr. Jessi Gold, everything was absolutely fine—until it suddenly wasn’t. As an assistant professor, practicing psychiatrist, university wellness leader, regular media expert, and dedicated friend and family member, Jessi was used to being constantly busy. After all, people—her patients, colleagues, and loved ones—needed her, so who was she to say no to any opportunity to help, be that an extra therapy session, corporate wellness talk, or favor for a friend. She was a doctor, trained to serve, to put the needs of others before her own. But when Jessi is so mentally overwhelmed that she commits an unthinkable error during a patient session, she’s forced to reevaluate everything that the medical system has taught her.
While reassessing her own complex relationship to the health-care industry, Jessi begins to examine it through the eyes of some of her healthcare worker patients—a thirty-something resident with OCD, a pregnant nurse suffering from PTSD, an aspiring medical student with crippling test anxiety, and an experienced ER physician who feels completely overwhelmed. In their discussions of burnout, perfectionism, empathy, and the emotional burden of working in health care, and through her own personal therapy sessions, Jessi recognizes that she is not alone in struggling to maintain her humanity, in a field that she chose because of its humanity in the first place.
Expertly weaving research expertise with unforgettable stories and raw emotion, How Do You Feel? demonstrates the unbridled capacity that we as humans have for connecting, learning, and growing. At once deeply personal, but also utterly universal, it reminds us all that when caring for others, we first have to remember to care for ourselves.]]>
Bring the magic of the Disney Parks into your home with this fun and interactive pop-up map! With state-of-the-art paper engineering from award-winning paper engineer Matthew Reinhart and exclusive original artwork, Disneyland: Pop-Up Park Tour brings the beloved landscapes, attractions, and characters of the Disney Parks vividly to life. Intricate and unique, this deluxe pop-up map is an essential keepsake for Disney fans of all ages.
A VIRTUAL VISIT: Spanning locations such as Tomorrowland, Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, Adventureland, and more, Disneyland: Pop-Up Park Tour is a comprehensive, interactive guide to all your favorite Disney locales.
DELIGHTFUL DETAILS: Includes hundreds fascinating facts, stats, and trivia about the Disney Parks.
MASTER PAPER ENGINEER: Created by Matthew Reinhart, master pop-up paper engineer and creator of Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World and Magical Moments: Disney Princess: The Little Mermaid Pop-Up Book
ORIGINAL ARTWORK: Featuring gorgeous original illustrations, this pop-up map captures the magic of Disney in stunning, colorful detail.
FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY: Disney lovers of all ages will enjoy this map’s stunningly detailed pop-up scenes and hidden surprises.
COMPLETE YOUR DISNEY COLLECTION: Disney Princess: A Magical Pop-Up World, Disney Enchanted Recipes Cookbook, and Disney Villains Tarot Deck and Guidebook also available]]>
]]>
Featuring deluxe, custom artwork of Major Arcana from Amy Rose’s Fortune Card Deck directly from the Sonic the Hedgehog universe, this deck gives fans a new way to power up their love for the series. Containing both major and minor arcana, the set also comes with a comprehensive guidebook explaining each card’s meaning, as well as simple spreads for easy, speedy readings. With Sonic the Hedgehog: Amy Rose’s Fortune Card Deck, fans can foresee the future and read Fortune Cards just like Amy Rose.
Packed in a sturdy, decorative gift box, this one-of-a-kind Fortune Card deck is perfect for Sonic the Hedgehog fans and fortune-reading enthusiasts alike.
THEMED DECK: Immerse yourself into the world of the massively successful video game, Sonic the Hedgehog, with this collectible Fortune Card deck and guidebook featuring Major Arcana straight from Amy Rose’s Fortune Card Deck!
ORIGINAL ART: Features 78 cards and a 128-page booklet with custom Sonic the Hedgehog illustrations and never-before-seen artwork
GUIDEBOOK INCLUDED: This unique deck includes a guidebook to help fortune-reading practitioners of all skill levels perform fun and informed readings
OFFICIALLY LICENSED IN-WORLD DECK: Created in partnership with SEGA, this deck gets the Sonic seal of approval! This is the only officially licensed recreation of Amy Rose’s Fortune Card Deck.]]>
]]>
Go behind the scenes of Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas with this fun and interactive visual history of one of the most beloved films of all time. Packed with frightening facts, eerie images, and real inserts—like production stills and storyboards—from the making of the film. This movie magic book takes readers on journey through stop-motion animation and shows readers what goes into making these incredible puppets come to life on the big screen.
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Dive behind the scenes and into the filmmaking process with new interviews from the director, cast, and crew
UNIQUE INSERTS: Collect the exciting inserts and ephemera from this exclusive volume, including stickers, posters, and more
STUNNING ARTWORK: Explore the incredible artwork behind the creation of the film with stunning concept art and early illustrations
NEVER-BEFORE-SEEN CONTENT: Engage with new content from your favorite film, with new interviews and artwork from the archives
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Add The Nightmare Before Christmas Movie Magic to your bookshelf, along with other unique additions from Insight Editions, including The Nightmare Before Christmas Tarot Deck and Guidebook, The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Cookbook & Entertaining Guide, Disney Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: The Official Knitting Guide to Halloween Town and Christmas Town, and Disney Tim Burton's Nightmare Before Christmas: Ghoulish Gifts and Goodies]]>
Go behind the scenes of the Wizarding World in this in-depth guide to the making of the on-screen magical creatures from the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts films. For the first time, fans can learn about the conception and creation of the Basilisk, Bowtruckles, Zouwu, and more in this comprehensive, fully updated and expanded edition of Harry Potter: The Creature Vault.
Harry Potter: Creatures of the Wizarding World includes thrilling insights into the creation of the magical creatures for all eight Harry Potter films and the entire Fantastic Beasts series. Filled with cast and crew interviews, behind-the-scenes photographs, concept art, and film facts, this visual feasts of Wizarding World creatures delivers a fascinating look into the development of all the creatures, from Dementors and house-elves to Thunderbirds and Nifflers.
This updated and expanded collectible volume is an ideal resource for both longtime Harry Potter fans looking to learn about their favorite on-screen creatures and new fans just starting their journey into the Wizarding World.
11 FEATURED FILMS: Comprehensive and detailed profiles of the beloved creatures from every Wizarding World film, including all eight Harry Potter films and the Fantastic Beasts series
STUNNING IMAGES: This in-depth visual guide features exclusive, behind-the-scenes photography of the creatures of the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series
COMPREHENSIVE GUIDE: Harry Potter & Fantastic Beasts: Creatures of the Wizarding World features all your favorite magical creatures from both the Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts film series, from Aragog the Acromantula to Zouwus
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEWS: Featuring behind-the-scenes insights from the concept artists and filmmakers
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Pair this visual guide with Harry Potter: The Film Vault: The Complete Series, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald: Movie Magic, and Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore: Movie Magic
OFFICIALLY LICENSED: Created in collaboration with Warner Bros. Entertainment]]>
Joshua grew up in Southwest Missouri, where he developed a love for cooking spending summers in his grandmother’s kitchen and garden. He has worked in a range of restaurants, from sushi bars, to gastro pubs, to modern American pop-ups he produces with a partner. He has opened restaurants, catered large events and festivals, and launched retail products—a broad experience in food that lends itself to the creation of a wide range of culinary styles.
He currently lives in central Iowa, where he enjoys working with the meats and produce the Midwest is known for. When he’s not writing recipes and styling food, you can find him sipping on an ice cold Corona and wrenching on his bitching Camaro. joshuahake.com]]>
Race through the exciting locales, characters, and thrilling action of The Fast Saga in this collection of appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks that takes Fast & Furious enthusiasts on an inspired ride across the iconic film franchise. This unique book includes 68 recipes for delicious meals and handcrafted co*cktails to share with family!
Fast and Furious: Salud Mi Familia: The Official Cookbook includes step-by-step instructions, beautiful full-color photography, helpful cooking and mixology tips, and recipes ranging from simple to advanced, making it perfect for home cooks of all skill levels. This book is an essential addition to every fan’s bar cart or bookshelf.
THE ONLY OFFICIAL FAST SAGA COOKBOOK: The first officially licensed Fast & Furious cookbook. Created in conjunction with NBC Universal
68 RECIPES: With 68 recipes inspired by street races, heists, spies, and family, there’s something to delight everyone
BITES FOR EVERY OCCASION: Includes recipes for delicious appetizers, main courses, desserts, and co*cktails to celebrate any occasion
MOVIE MEMORIES: Relive favorite characters and scenes from each of The Fast Saga films
FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Features beautiful full-color photography of the delicious, fully prepared appetizers, main courses, desserts, and drinks to help ensure success]]>
Joshua Hake is a chef, recipe developer, and food stylist who creates food content for special-interest niche cookbooks and national brands.
Joshua grew up in Southwest Missouri, where he developed a love for cooking spending summers in his grandmother’s kitchen and garden. He has worked in a range of restaurants, from sushi bars, to gastro pubs, to modern American pop-ups he produces with a partner. He has opened restaurants, catered large events and festivals, and launched retail products—a broad experience in food that lends itself to the creation of a wide range of culinary styles.
He currently lives in central Iowa, where he enjoys working with the meats and produce the Midwest is known for. When he’s not writing recipes and styling food, you can find him sipping on an ice cold Corona and wrenching on his bitching Camaro. joshuahake.com]]>
In 2018 she independently published her first book titledClara, a collection of poems written in her early life, which marked the beginning of her public career as a writer. In 2019 she publishedLala,A Different Lizard(Una lagartija diferente). A bilingual picture book that has been awarded and recognized in multiple literary contests and became the first book in the Lala the Lizard® Series, which already includes three titles published in the US (Snow Fountain Press), Spain (Hola Monstruo), and PalBooks (Colombia).
Since 2021 Susana has been collaborating with Disney Publishing Worldwide writing original stories based on the movieEncanto. Her bilingual storyEl don de una familia(The Gift of Family) was published in the United States with Penguin Random House.]]>
Celebrate the cuisine of Colombia with more than 70 dishes from the enchanted world of Encanto! Filled with magically tasty mains, appetizers, and desserts inspired by La Casita, this family-friendly cookbook gift set includes a delicious roster of recipes that fans will love, including, of course, Magical Arepas, Ajiaco Colombiano Soup, and more! Included in this gift set is a high-quality Encanto-themed apron (sized for an adult).
With this deluxe cookbook, you’ll have many reasons to bring the whole familia together to share an exceptional meal. Featuring full-color photography, comprehensive nutritional information, and helpful tips and tricks, Encanto: The Official Cookbook is the essential guide to cooking like a Madrigal!
EXCLUSIVE APRON: Unavailable anywhere else, this high-quality, adjustable apron features a beautiful Encanto image and a handy pocket. 80% polyester, 20% cotton. Made in China. Care instructions: Machine wash cold with like colors. Tumble dry low. Non-chlorine bleach if needed. Warm iron if needed.
70+ RECIPES: Dishes such as Buñuelos and Empanadas will bring the enchantment of Colombia to your kitchen.
STUNNING IMAGES: Beautiful, full-color photos of finished dishes help ensure success.
BEAUTIFULLY BOXED: The cookbook and apron are presented in a beautiful box—easy to wrap and give for birthdays, weddings, or as a thoughtful gift for the Encanto fan anytime.
FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Perfect for kids, adults, and families, this book has easy-to-follow recipes and everyday ingredients, making it ideal for any skill level and occasion.
MAGICAL GIFT: The ideal companion for every Disney-themed party, Encanto: The Official Cookbook will entice fans of the film and cooking enthusiasts alike.
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Coco: The Official Cookbook and Disney: Cooking With Magic also available!]]>
Susana Illera Martínez is an award-winning Colombian author, creative designer, and bilingual writer living in Miami, Florida.
In 2018 she independently published her first book titledClara, a collection of poems written in her early life, which marked the beginning of her public career as a writer. In 2019 she publishedLala,A Different Lizard(Una lagartija diferente). A bilingual picture book that has been awarded and recognized in multiple literary contests and became the first book in the Lala the Lizard® Series, which already includes three titles published in the US (Snow Fountain Press), Spain (Hola Monstruo), and PalBooks (Colombia).
Since 2021 Susana has been collaborating with Disney Publishing Worldwide writing original stories based on the movieEncanto. Her bilingual storyEl don de una familia(The Gift of Family) was published in the United States with Penguin Random House.]]>
The Westeros Cookbook enables you to recreate the mouthwatering meals enjoyed by your favorite characters in the iconic TV shows, with regionally themed chapters such as “The Crownlands” and “The Westerlands & The Iron Islands.”
RENOWNED RECIPE DEVELOPERS: Super-fans Joanne Bourne and “Geeky Chef” Cassandra Reeder brings their passion and knowledge to transform the fictional dishes of the seven kingdoms—and beyond—into an authentic reality.
MADE FOR FANS AND SUPER-FANS: If you love Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon, you’ll relish the easy-to-follow instructions and beautifully styled original photography of this definitive and official Westeros dining guide.
DELICIOUS, WITH AN IMMERSIVE IN-WORLD FEEL: Whether you’re making a hearty banquet for soldiers and swordsmen, or preparing a rustic breakfast for servants, farmers, and country folk, this atmospheric and full-bodied selection of recipes will excite and delight.]]>
Joanne Bourne is a writer and prehistorian from Kent in southern England. Her book The Maps Book (Lonely Planet Kids), was shortlisted for the 2024 Edward Stanford Children’s Travel Book of the Year. Her nature memoir Flint: A Lithic Love Letter is published by Eye Books. She is a huge Game of Thrones and House of the Dragon fan and was thrilled to collaborate with Cassandra Reeder on this book.]]>
Since his 1938 debut in the pages of Action Comics #1, Superman was the very first superhero, and he has become an international icon and a cultural cornerstone, instantly recognizable to audiences everywhere. Following Kal-El from his escape from the dying planet Krypton through his humble beginnings in Kansas to his work as a part-time journalist and full-time superhero in Metropolis, this deluxe edition explores Superman across comics, TV, animation, film, video games, and beyond, creating a compelling portrait of one of the most recognizable characters in the history of popular fiction. Covering the complete history of Superman in vivid detail, this massive tome features exclusive commentary from the key creatives who have been instrumental in building Superman’s iconic legacy. Filled with exclusive insert items and extremely rare replicas, Superman: The Definitive History is the ultimate exploration of the template for all superheroes and his incredible and enduring impact on pop culture.
COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY: Flip through over 400 pages detailing every adventure and incarnation of Superman across comics, TV, animation, movies, videogames, and beyond.
ALL-STAR CONTRIBUTORS: Read essential interviews and insights from those who have shaped the Man of Steel’s journey and cultural impact, including filmmakers, actors, writers, illustrators, and many more.
CAST OF THOUSANDS: Fully explores the entire Superman family including Superboy, Power Girl/Supergirl, the Legion of Super-Pets (Krypto, Streaky, Beppo, Comet, and Fuzzy the Krypto Mouse), Bizarro, and all the Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen comics. Plus, all the key villains: Lex Luthor, Brainiac, Mr. Mxyzptlk, Darkseid, Doomsday, General Zod, etc.
EXCLUSIVE BONUS INSERTS: Filled with pull-out cards, posters, mini-books, and other interactive ephemera that bring the history of Metropolis’s protector to life.
NEVER BEFORE SEEN IMAGES: Revel in exclusive, unseen treasures from the 85-year history of Superman taken directly from DC’s and Warner Bros.’ archives.
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Batman: The Definitive History of the Dark Knight in Comics, Film, and Beyond, Batman: The Animated Series, DC Comics: Anatomy of a Metahuman, and DC Comics Variant Covers: The Complete Visual History also available from Insight Editions.]]>
RobertGreenbergerwas given a Superman comic at age six and has been steeped in comics lore ever since. He worked for 20 years at DC Comics. He has subsequently written numerous books featuring DC’s heroes, notablyThe Essential Batman Encyclopedia, and co-wroteThe Batman VaultandThe Essential Superman Encyclopedia.Additionally, he has worked at Starlog Press, Gist Communications, Marvel Comics,Weekly World News,ComicMix, andFamous Monster of Filmland. He currently teaches high school English in Maryland and Making Graphic Novels at Maryland Institute College of Art. He makes his home with his wife Deb. For more, seewww.bobgreenberger.com.]]>
Wizard’s chess—like you've never seen before! Light and portable, this completely new chess set is based on the famous wizarding chess film scene from Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and features stunning, in-world artwork by Richard Davies.
In addition to a full set of standard pieces, the set also includes optional alternative pieces featuring Harry, Hermione and–of course–Ron. These pieces can be swapped in so that you can play the game as it was played in the film.
The set includes a 44-page book packed with behind-the-scenes information about the film and general information about the game, including the rules and the tactics of chess.
HIGH-QUALITY, ROBUST FORMAT: The set is portable and housed in a high-quality slipcase to protect the board, pieces, and book within.
SET FOLDS FLAT: Easily stored like a book, it reopens with the pieces in position.
NO PLASTIC: Soft touch laminated card pieces fold flat and are easy to use.]]>
Dive into the Wizarding World and reimagine your favorite characters—Harry, Ron, Hermione, Luna, Hagrid, and more—as popular Funko Pops! A complete guide to all Harry Potter Funko Pops to date, The World of Funko: Harry Potter pairs striking full-color images, new photography, and fun facts, exclusive interviews with key creatives and artists, and so much more, making it the ultimate collectible for fans! Each figure and collectible is paired with exciting facts and trivia from the film and the making of the Funko Pops, so you can go behind the scenes and explore the magic—all contained in a beautifully designed, hardcover book fitted with a minifigure inside!
MINIFIGURE INCLUDED: Celebrate the Wizarding World with a mini Funko Pop to add to your collection
STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY: Reexperience your favorite magical moments from the films with incredible photos of the most popular Funko Pops from the Wizarding World as they recreate your favorite moments from the films in never-before-seen photography
DISCOVER THE FUNKO MAGIC: Explore fun facts, details from the creation of the pops, and exclusive interviews from the artists and creators themselves
COMPREHENSIVE VOLUME: The World of Funko: Harry Potter provides a fun and immersive visual history into every Harry Potter Funko Pop for collectors and Potterheads alike
EXPLORE YOUR FAVORITE FUNKO POPS: This complete guide to the Wizarding World Funko Pops dives deep into the creative inspiration behind your favorite characters, including Harry, Ron, Hermione, Hagrid, Dumbledore, Luna, and more
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Add The World of Funko: Harry Potter to your bookshelf, along with other fan favorites from Insight Editions, including Harry Potter: The Wand Collection, Harry Potter: Knitting Magic, Harry Potter: A Pop-Up Guide to Diagon Alley and Beyond, and more]]>
Raised in New Jersey, she graduated from the creative writing program of Oberlin College and began her career at Abrams Media, where she founded The Mary Sue.com in 2011. She joined Polygon in 2015 to start the site's expansion from covering the world of video games to the wide world of entertainment and culture. She has been invited to speak on comics, pop culture, fandom and their intersections with queerness, race, and feminism at venues like San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic Con, WorldCon, and the Brooklyn Historical Society, as well as for broadcasters like NPR and the BBC.
In her free time she reads millions of comic books, does a lot of cross stitch, watches horse videos on YouTube, and plays video games and TTRPGs. Her favorite non-Middle-earth-related thing that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote is his short story "Leaf, by Niggle," and would recommend it to anyone.]]>
Gather your fellowship and retrace the remarkable journey from the Shire to Mordor with this detailed and in-depth exploration of Peter Jackson’s timeless Lord of the Rings trilogy. From Tolkien’s original story to the actors’ anecdotal experiences, to its cultural impact on the entire world, this book will captivate every fan of the One Ring. Now, for the first time in history, Polygon’s Year of the Ring archive of stories and fandom coverage can be brought home and added to any fan’s collection, in this beautifully designed hardcover book. Fans of the One Ring can now easily assess the Year of the Ring’s wide range of articles analyzing the deeper meaning of the characters and their journeys, as well detailed conversations about what the movies have meant to the fandom. This fandom manifesto will allow fans to reconnect with their fellowship and relive those special memories of watching the movies and discussing their theories with fellow Ringers.
DOZENS OF FAN-FAVORITE TOPICS: From fan-theories to cultural studies, there are dozens of topics that every fan of the Lord of the Rings can enjoy and relate to.
PERFECT FOR EVERY TOLKIEN FAN: This book is a pure celebration of all things related to Lord of the Rings and its history.
STORIES BEYOND THE SHIRE: New, in-depth stories about the making of the Lord of the Rings that many fans had not heard before!]]>
Raised in New Jersey, she graduated from the creative writing program of Oberlin College and began her career at Abrams Media, where she founded The Mary Sue.com in 2011. She joined Polygon in 2015 to start the site's expansion from covering the world of video games to the wide world of entertainment and culture. She has been invited to speak on comics, pop culture, fandom and their intersections with queerness, race, and feminism at venues like San Diego Comic-Con, New York Comic Con, WorldCon, and the Brooklyn Historical Society, as well as for broadcasters like NPR and the BBC.
In her free time she reads millions of comic books, does a lot of cross stitch, watches horse videos on YouTube, and plays video games and TTRPGs. Her favorite non-Middle-earth-related thing that J.R.R. Tolkien wrote is his short story "Leaf, by Niggle," and would recommend it to anyone.]]>
From zero to hero, discover the magic and creativity that went into creating Hercules, Disney’s uniquely animated film. Each chapter gives insight into the artist’s creative process and presents striking outtakes and brainstorms for what could have been—such as alternative designs and fun facts. Featuring in-depth interviews with Gerald Scarfe and a foreword by President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Production Tom Schumacher, The Art of Hercules is a must-read for Disney fans and artists alike!
LEGENDARY ARTIST: Gerald Scarfe, an English cartoonist also known for his work on Pink Floyd’s The Wall, offers unprecedented access to his personal archives and takes the reader on a journey through the process of creating Hercules’ classic on-screen characters
STUNNING ARTWORK: Dive into the creative process and watch as the characters transform from initial concepts to the full-color masterpieces onscreen with exclusive access to the concept art
DIVE BEHIND THE SCENES: Explore the magic and inspiration that went into the creation of the film with fun facts and personal anecdotes from the Production Designer himself
LIVE-ACTION FILM: Go the distance and get excited about the release of the live-action film by revisiting the gorgeous original character designs and the making of the animated film
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Add The Art of Hercules to your bookshelf, alongside Art of Eric Guillon and The Art of Missing Link, also available from Insight Editions]]>
Thomas Schumacher, President & Producer of Disney Theatrical Productions, oversees Disney’s worldwide stage productions including Beauty and the Beast, The Lion King, Aida, Mary Poppins, TARZAN®, The Little Mermaid, Peter and the Starcatcher, Newsies, Aladdin and Frozen. As President of Walt Disney Feature Animation, he oversaw some 21 animated features.]]>
He also work as character designer and illustrator for various Soda Pop Miniatures/Ninja Division tabletop games such as Super Dungeon Explore, Relic Knights, Ninja All Stars, Robotech Tactics, and Rail Raiders.
He's been a contributing artist for K-Zone Philippines' various articles, How To Draws and the K-LEB comics segment. He is currently still working as acontributing artist for K-Zone Australia.
His last prominent work was Horizon Zero Dawn Liberation for Titan Comics.]]>
Things are more chaotic than ever in this wild, unpredictable Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands coloring adventure book! A super overpowered character is blitzing their way through Tina’s campaign. As Tina improvises challenges, it’s up to you, the Fatemaker, to stop this OP adventurer from destroying everything! Will you defeat this character, claim their power, or unlock a secret ending with your hijinks? Not even Tina knows!
It’s up to you to color through the tale and render the likes of Queen Butt Stallion and Valentine in all their glory. And since Tina can—and will—alter, why waste time coloring the lines? Let your creativity explode the page! What could go wrong?
60+ PAGES TO COLOR: Over sixty gorgeous pages to color your way through on the course of your Bunkers & Badasses adventure.
TINA’S FAVORITES: All your favorite badasses are on deck for this epic coloring quest, including Valentine, Queen Butt Stallion, Paladin Mike, Frette, and you, the Fatemaker!
TAKE YOUR CHANCES: Tina has plenty of surprises in store for your adventure! Color your way down different paths, with over a dozen possible endings.]]>
Elmer has been working as a manga/comic book illustrator in the Philippines since 2000. His first professional work was for the locally made Culture Crash Comics' Cat's Trail and One Day Isang Diwa. He also worked as the artist on Dragonbreedfor Black Ink Comics (alongside his wife who is the creator and writer). His most notable works forinternational companies are: Seven Seas Entertainment'sUnearthly, Ravenskull, Speed Racer, Ninja Diaries, and Seven Beautiful Assassins. He also worked for Lego/DC's Hero Factory Comics, Dynamite Comics' Robotech Voltron, and Titan Comics' Robotech Remix series.
He also work as character designer and illustrator for various Soda Pop Miniatures/Ninja Division tabletop games such as Super Dungeon Explore, Relic Knights, Ninja All Stars, Robotech Tactics, and Rail Raiders.
He's been a contributing artist for K-Zone Philippines' various articles, How To Draws and the K-LEB comics segment. He is currently still working as acontributing artist for K-Zone Australia.
His last prominent work was Horizon Zero Dawn Liberation for Titan Comics.]]>
BRING THE WORLD OF DISNEY INTO YOUR KITCHEN: Dive into enchanted worlds as you create enticing and delicious recipes that celebrate your favorite characters and movies.
EXPLORE 30+ RECIPES: Create Mousse for Jack-Jack (Incredibles 2), Royal Wedding Cake (The Little Mermaid), Bananas Foster for Louis (The Princess and the Frog), and many more delicious treats for you to enjoy with your family and friends. The step-by-step instructions are illustrated with beautiful photos of completed recipes to help ensure success!
FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Perfect for kids, adults, and families, this book has easy-to-follow recipes, making it perfect for fans who want to extend their Disney and Pixar love through baking.
GREAT GIFT IDEA: Perfect for every occasion, Disney fans of all ages will adore this deluxe cookbook.
ADD TO YOUR DISNEY COLLECTION: This delightful book pairs beautifully with the Disney Enchanted Recipes Cookbook. And you can continue to cook with Disney with Insight Editions’ full line of Disney cookbooks, including Disney Villains: Devilishly Delicious Cookbook and Disney Princess: Healthy Treats Cookbook.]]>
This high-quality vegan leather accessory pouch stores all your small accessories, such as pens, pencils, markers, earbuds, or charging cables.
CONVENIENT SIZE: This 5.47 x 8.4–inch pouch is a comfortable size and easily fits in a bag or backpack to take with you as you witness your first bio-exorcism™.
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION AND DESIGN: Both flexible and durable, this Beetlejuice™–inspired pouch is built to last for years to come. It is made with a high-quality, vegan leather and comes with a wristlet to wear or carry by hand.
THE PERFECT GIFT: Designed to resemble the infamous Handbook for the Recently Deceased™ that Barbara and Adam Maitland use as their guide to the afterlife, this pouch makes an excellent gift for any fan of Tim Burton’s 1988 cult classic film.
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Also available from Insight Editions is Beetlejuice: Handbook for the Recently Deceased Hardcover Ruled Journal. ]]>
Now it’s easier than ever to craft killer co*cktails sure to make the family proud. Featuring 60 classic recipes, The Sopranos: The Official co*cktail Book will have your whole crew sipping in style.
This officially licensed collection includes drinks inspired by everyone from Tony and Junior Soprano to Chris Moltisanti, Paulie, Carmela, Doctor Melfi, and more–plus step-by-step instructions, bartender tips, and beautiful full-color photography–making it an essential addition to every wise guy’s bar cart or bookshelf.
60 RECIPES: Containing a varied roster of drinks from all corners of the series, The Sopranos: The Official co*cktail Book is a must-have, comprehensive guide for... this thing of ours.
FOR ALL RANKS: Detailed, step-by-step instructions and helpful mixology tips ensure success.
STUNNING PHOTOS: Beautiful, full-color photography helps you present picture-perfect (FBI-proof) co*cktails.
DRINK LIKE A BOSS: Featuring lively concoctions inspired by the memorable locations, legends, and allies of the New Jersey mob, this book captures the world and feel of the award-winning series inside every glass.]]>
Emma Carlson Berne is an author who often writes about food, history, and pop culture. Her other books include The Minecraft Cookbook and The Ultimate Driving Book, as well as the thrillers Never Let You Go and Still Waters. Emma lives in Cincinnati with her husband, two cats, and three boys who loved "helping" her watch The Wizard of Oz as she researched this book. More on Emma can be found at emmacarlsonberne.com.]]>
Guide your mystical tarot practice with this epic tarot deck and guidebook created by Christina Ricci, filled with original, never-before-seen artwork inspired by her renowned body of work. Ricci’s career perfectly suits a one-of-a-kind tarot deck—she’s played witches, angsty teens, superheroes, and runaways
Containing both major and minor arcana, the set also comes with a comprehensive guidebook explaining each card’s meaning and featuring a beautiful foreword, personally written by the iconic actress, as well as suggesting simple spreads for easy readings. Packed in a sturdy, decorative gift box, this compelling tarot deck is perfect for Christina Ricci fans and tarot enthusiasts alike, providing a unique way to revisit a beloved actress’s career.
FOREWORD BY CHRISTINA RICCI: Includes a foreword by Christina Ricci, detailing what tarot means to her and why it’s the perfect format to detail her personal and professional journey
THEMED TAROT DECK: Immerse yourself in the realm of Christina Ricci’s experiences with this collectible tarot deck and guidebook
ORIGINAL ART: Featuring 78 cards and a 128-page booklet with custom Christina Ricci-inspired illustrations and never-before-seen artwork
GUIDEBOOK INCLUDED: This unique deck includes a comprehensive guidebook to help tarot practitioners of all skill levels perform fun and informed readings, complete with card meanings and instructions
BEAUTIFUL GIFT: The tarot deck and guidebook are packaged in a deluxe gift box perfect for gift-giving]]>
Minerva Siegel is a writer, author, sensitivity reader, tarot consultant, and longtime practitioner of witchcraft who haunts a Victorian home in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with her gruff Taurean double-Virgo husband and their motley pack of rescue dogs. In addition to this book, she’s the author ofTarot for Self-Care: How to Use Tarot to Manifest Your Best SelfandSpell Jars for the Modern Witch: A Practical Guide to Crafting Spell Jars for Abundance, Luck, Protection, and More,as well as a dozen licensed tarot decks.Minerva is a disabled wheelchair user. Though the physical body has limitations, there’s freedom and power in fully tapping into our own magickal potential. Her many guidebooks help readers do just that. You can find her on Instagram @Author.Minerva.Siegel.
Felipe Floresis a Long Beach, California-basedillustrator andcartoonist. His art career started in the Los AngelesDIYmusic scene, where he designed flyers and album covers for bands,including Cosmonauts and Tijuana Panthers.Through his connections in local music,Felipe becameheadeditorial cartoonist for OC Weekly. Histarotdeck, "Xero," iscurrentlybeing adapted into a comic book series forMad Cave Studios.]]>
Make any meal an epic offering to your friends and family, with mythical recipes inspired by Percy Jackson and the Olympians. Filled with delicious dishes straight from Sally Jackson’s kitchen, Aunty Em’s Garden Gnome Emporium, Waterland, and beyond, this cookbook is a hero’s culinary journey of its own.
Featuring instructions from Grover Underwood, helpful tips and tricks from Annabeth Chase, plus full-color photography, this deluxe recipe book has all the essentials to see any home-chef fulfill their destiny. Not to mention a whole host of blue dishes, designed with love, to bring your community together over a dinner that looks as good as it tastes.
QUEST YOUR WAY THROUGH OVER 60 RECIPES: Serve up dozens of appetizers, main courses, desserts, and beverages with roots in both classic Greek and American-style cuisines.
BRING CAMP HALF-BLOOD TO YOUR HOME: From enchiladas to ambrosia, cook up dishes that bring the unique magic of Percy Jackson’s world right to your kitchen.
SEE PAST THE MIST WITH FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Stunning images throughout this cookbook reveal mythically good meals.
PERFECT FOR ALL SKILL LEVELS: Great for beginners and experienced chefs alike, this cookbook will help you prepare amazing dishes for your friends and family inspired by your favorite gods and heroes.
GIFTABLE & COLLECTIBLE: As the only officially licensed cookbook for the TV series, this is a must-have for any fan looking to capture the myth and the magic for themselves.]]>
The iconic characters and magical worlds that sprung from Jim Henson's imagination have delighted millions of fans around the globe. His immense talents introduced audiences to the Muppets, the Fraggles, and the worlds of The Dark Crystal, Labyrinth and more. This new edition of Imagination Illustrated takes the journal that Henson faithfully kept throughout much of his career and brings it to life with a trove of visual material, including rare sketches, personal and production photographs, storyboards, doodles, and more.
DAYS IN THE LIFE: Relive Henson’s life with personal entries from his “red book,” bringing memorable moments together with the major milestones in his career.
MEET THE CREATORS: Follow along in Jim Henson’s daily life as he meets the many talented creative partners who helped him build fantastical worlds like Jerry Juhl, Frank Oz, Brian Froud and more.
THE PERSONAL TOUCH: Including journal excerpts written in Jim Henson’s own handwriting, this unique collectible brings a little bit of the creator’s world into the lives of the many fans who admire his creative genius.]]>
Celebrate your love for The Powerpuff Girls with this adorable lock & key diary and be inspired by the confidence of Blossom™, the toughness of Buttercup™, and the sweetness of Bubbles™.
SQUISHY COVER: Squish and poke the colorful heart featuring all three Powerpuff Girls™ on the front cover for endless entertainment and stress-relief! Squishy toys are proven to help kids and people of all ages to relax, focus, and release feelings of stress, anxiety, or anger.
192 RULED PAGES: Includes 192 pages of wide-rule paper to give you plenty of space to record your notes and thoughts, or to keep track of all the details next time the Mayor calls.
UNDER LOCK & KEY: Keep your thoughts and secrets protected with this lockable diary featuring two keys, in case you lose one.
CONVENIENT SIZE: This 5.25 x 6.625–inch journal is a compact size for travel and fits easily in a bag or backpack to take with you on the go as you set off to save Townsville™.
ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION: Add more fun lock & key diaries from Insight Editions to your collection with Harry Potter: Marauder's Map Lock & Key Diary, Minecraft: Mobs Glow-in-the-Dark Lock & Key Diary, Minecraft: Beware of the Dark Lock & Key Diary, and more!]]>
This collectible gift set makes an excellent gift for any fan of the 1988 cult classic film Beetlejuice™.
POCKET JOURNAL: Designed to resemble the Handbook for the Recently Deceased™ that Barbara and Adam Maitland use as their guide to the afterlife, the compact 3.5 x 5.5–inch pocket journal is easy to store in a bag or backpack to take with you as you witness your first bio-exorcism™.
PENCIL POUCH & PEN: Both flexible and durable, the 8.25 x 3.5–inch Beetlejuice™–inspired pencil pouch has a lined interior and is made of a cotton-poly blend fabric. Also included is a pinstripe patterned ballpoint pen you can use to jot down all your notes on life after death.
ELASTIC BOOKMARK: The elastic bookmark features an enamel and metal charm of the signature Beetlejuice™ light-up marquee grave sign. Simply wrap the bookmark around any journal or book to keep your place.
STICKY NOTEPAD: Peel off a note from the menacing Sandworm™–shaped 100-sheet sticky notepad and stick it wherever you need a note or reminder.
KEEPSAKE BOX: All these items are housed in a coffin-shaped box that can be repurposed to store desk supplies, used as a gift box, or displayed as a spooky decoration in your home.
COMPLETE YOUR COLLECTION: Also available from Insight Editions are the Beetlejuice: Handbook for the Recently Deceased Hardcover Ruled Journal and Beetlejuice: Handbook for the Recently Deceased Accessory Pouch.]]>
QUALITY CONSTRUCTION: This journal was crafted with the highest quality and detail and features a durable hardcover case, a molded metal emblem of the devil’s trap symbol, archival paper throughout, and an attached satin ribbon bookmark to keep your place.
EXCLUSIVE CONTENT AND 192 RULED PAGES: The inside cover of this journal contains exclusive art showcasing John Winchester’s notes, sketches, and advice gathered from decades of hunting, plus ruled pages to give plenty of journaling space for any wayward son and daughter who plans on sticking with the Winchesters to the last hunt.
CONVENIENT SIZE: Measuring 5.25 x 8.25 inches, this journal is a perfect size for travel and fits easily in a bag or backpack to take with you on the go as you set off on your next monster hunt.
ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION: Add to your Supernatural™ collection with the Essential Supernatural Puzzle and Book Set, Supernatural: The Postcard Collection, Supernatural: Join the Hunt Notebook Collection, and more from Insight Editions.]]>
His books include Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life and memoir collaborations with screen legend Janis Paige (Reading Between the Lines) and famed character actor William Sanderson (Yes, I’m That Guy). His earlier books include theNew York TimesbestsellerThe Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family,This is Jeopardy! Celebrating America’s Favorite Quiz Show, TV Moms: An Illustrated Guide, andMy Greatest Day in Show Business. He lives with his wife Jill and son Dylan in Los Angeles.]]>
The Sopranos is widely regarded as one of the greatest television shows of all time. Now, in honor of its 25th anniversary, this expansive volume explores the seminal series and the stories behind the stories through a plethora of photographs, archival materials, and exclusive one-on-one interviews with show creator, David Chase, key crewmembers, and cast, including Edie Falco, Lorraine Bracco, Steven Schirripa, and many more.
Follow along as The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History takes you on a rich photographic journey through the trials and tribulations of T.V.’s most celebrated antihero, Tony Soprano, while he attempts to balance the responsibilities of domestic life and life in the “family”—all while suffering through panic attacks, a toxic mother, and a power-hungry uncle who would rather see him dead than Boss.
Featuring an examination of the show’s influence on pop culture, a foreword by Rolling Stone’s chief television critic, Alan Sepinwall, and a touching tribute to the late James Gandolfini, The Sopranos: The Complete Visual History, is the ultimate companion to a television classic and required reading for serious fans of the show.]]>
His books include Betty White: 100 Remarkable Moments in an Extraordinary Life and memoir collaborations with screen legend Janis Paige (Reading Between the Lines) and famed character actor William Sanderson (Yes, I’m That Guy). His earlier books include theNew York TimesbestsellerThe Simpsons: A Complete Guide to Our Favorite Family,This is Jeopardy! Celebrating America’s Favorite Quiz Show, TV Moms: An Illustrated Guide, andMy Greatest Day in Show Business. He lives with his wife Jill and son Dylan in Los Angeles.]]>
This all-in-one gift wrap set includes five different gift wrap paper sheets, three coordinating gift tag card designs, three tissue sheet colors, one washi tape design, wax seal stickers, and string—all providing an array of mix-and-match wrapping options for gift giving year-round.
FIVE WRAPPING PAPER DESIGNS: Included in the set are five folded gift wrap sheets, each with a unique Hogwarts™–inspired pattern featuring classic imagery like the Hogwarts™ crest, the house crests, Hedwig, and more. The gift wrap sheets come in two sizes—20” x 38.25” and 30” x 38.25”—and accommodate a wide range of gift box sizes.
COORDINATING GIFT TAG CARDS: Add a personalized note to every gift with 12 total coordinating gift tag cards in three unique designs to choose from.
TISSUE PAPER: The set also includes 18 sheets of tissue paper in three coordinating colors for protecting or separating fragile components of your gift.
WASHI TAPE, STRING & STICKER SEALS: Seal and decorate each present with your own creative touch with 16 feet of washi tape, 50 feet of ornamental string, and 10 wax sticker seals.
MULTIPLE GIFT GIVING USES: Use this set to wrap gifts for birthdays, holidays, showers, weddings, or any other special occasion you want to add a bit of Wizarding World™ charm to.
ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION: Also available from Insight Editions is the Harry Potter: Dark Arts Gift Wrap Stationery Set. ]]>
This all-in-one gift wrap set includes five different gift wrap paper sheets, three coordinating gift tag card designs, three tissue sheet colors, one washi tape design, wax seal stickers, and string—all providing an array of mix-and-match wrapping options for gift giving year-round.
FIVE WRAPPING PAPER DESIGNS: Included in the set are five folded gift wrap sheets, each with a unique Dark Arts–inspired pattern featuring striking imagery like the Deathly Hallows™, the Death Eaters, spells, and more. The gift wrap sheets come in two sizes—20” x 38.25” and 30” x 38.25”—and accommodate a wide range of gift box sizes.
COORDINATING GIFT TAG CARDS: Add a personalized note to every gift with 12 total coordinating gift tag cards in three unique designs to choose from.
TISSUE PAPER: The set also includes 18 sheets of tissue paper in three coordinating colors—black, ivory, and metallic gold—for protecting or separating fragile components of your gift.
WASHI TAPE, STRING & STICKER SEALS: Seal and decorate each present with your own creative touch with 16 feet of washi tape, 50 feet of ornamental string, and 10 wax sticker seals.
MULTIPLE GIFT GIVING USES: Use this set to wrap gifts for birthdays, holidays, showers, weddings, or any other special occasion you want to add a bit of Wizarding World™ charm to.
ADD TO YOUR COLLECTION: Also available from Insight Editions is the Harry Potter: Hogwarts Gift Wrap Stationery Set. ]]>
Add a bit of enchantment to your writing with this deluxe wand that doubles as a pen and a light!
MAGICALLY ILLUMINATES: Simply press the small button on the pen body to make the end of the wand light up! Remove the decorative top of the wand when you’re ready to pen your next spellbinding masterpiece.
BATTERIES INCLUDED: The pen comes with batteries included, so you can start using your illuminating wand pen right away. Batteries are also replaceable when needed.
PERFECT FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS: Whether you are new to the Wizarding World™ or a seasoned fan, this pen is an extraordinary writing tool to add to your desk at work or school to show your love of the Harry Potter™ films.
COLLECT THEM ALL: Expand your illuminating wand pen collection with Harry Potter™: Elder Wand Illuminating Wand Pen, also from Insight Editions.]]>
Organize your schedules in 2025 with the infamous ghost with the most in this Beetlejuice™–themed weekly planner.
WEEK AND MONTH VIEWS: Each monthly divider features a unique Beetlejuice™–inspired design. The dated weekly planner pages are paired with a notes page to provide you with ample space to jot down notes or reminders that come up throughout the week.
STICKERS AND STORAGE: With two pages of functional and decorative planner stickers and a storage pocket in the back, this planner comes with everything you need to stay organized.
CONVENIENT SIZE: At 6.125 x 8.75 inches, this planner makes it easy to take notes or plan anywhere and fits comfortably in a bag or backpack to take with you as you witness your first bio-exorcism™.
PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS: Whether you are new to Beetlejuice™ or a longtime fan of the film, this planner is perfect to use at home, school, or work to celebrate your love for this classic cult comedy film.]]>
PLAN YOUR DAYS in 2025 and relive the show’s six seasons through 28 photos featuring memorable moments. Test your knowledge of the show's finer details with the trivia presented throughout this 2025 planner.
The planner features monthly dividers, dated weekly spreads, a storage pocket, and two pages of planner stickers, making it the perfect all-in-one organization tool.
WEEK AND MONTH VIEWS: Each monthly divider features unique show stills. The dated weekly planner pages are paired with a notes page to provide you ample space to jot down notes and reminders that come up throughout the week.
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE: Quiz yourself every month with the 130 Sopranos™ trivia questions located after each monthly divider. Check your answers in the back of the planner to reveal just how well you know the show!
STICKERS AND STORAGE: With two pages of functional and decorative planner stickers and a storage pocket in the back, this planner comes with everything you need to stay organized.
CONVENIENT SIZE: At 6.125 x 8.75 inches, this planner makes it easy to take notes anywhere and fits easily in a bag or backpack to take with you on the run.
PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS: Whether you are new to The Sopranos™ or a longtime fan of the show, this planner is perfect to use at home, school, or work to celebrate your love for this iconic crime drama series.]]>
Embrace the dedication of the Dutton Family and organize your schedules in 2025 with this weekly planner inspired by the hit series Yellowstone.
WEEK AND MONTH VIEWS: Each monthly divider features unique show stills. The dated weekly planner pages are paired with a notes page to provide you with ample space to jot down notes or reminders that come up throughout the week.
STICKERS AND STORAGE: With two pages of functional and decorative planner stickers and a storage pocket in the back, this planner comes with everything you need to stay organized.
CONVENIENT SIZE: At 6.125 x 8.75 inches, this planner makes it easy to take notes or plan your days anywhere, and it fits comfortably in a bag or backpack to take with you across the ranch.
PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS: Whether you are new to Yellowstone or a longtime fan of the show, this planner is perfect to use at home, school, or work to show that you truly "wear the brand."]]>
ROOM FOR 6 FAMILY SCHEDULES: The broad month-at-a-glance vertical grid format opens to a 12 x 28–inch wall planner that makes it easy to keep track of up to six different family members’ schedules. Magically coordinate your events with each other every month!
A YEAR OF HOGWARTS: Spend an entire year immersed in Hogwarts™ enchantment with a different image from Hogwarts™ featured for each calendar month.
3 BIG SHEETS OF PLANNER STICKERS: Included are three large sheets of stickers featuring planner and decorative stickers to customize the calendar days with your to-dos and events, and write-in name stickers for each family member to pick which Hogwarts™ icon they want to be represented by each month.
STORAGE POCKET: The storage pocket at the back of the calendar holds the sticker sheets and can also be used to store small mementos and loose notes.]]>
Celebrate your love of Disney films with this adorable cookbook filled with the most delicious snacks from Insight Editions’ bestselling Disney and Pixar cookbooks.
BITE-SIZE AND DELICIOUS: Tempt your tastebuds with these simple recipes featuring everyday ingredients. Enjoy White Rabbit's Garden Crudité (Alice in Wonderland), Merida Cranachan (Brave), Bare Necessities Banana Muffins (The Jungle Book), Mug of Meat (The Emperor's New Groove), Icicle Cookies (Frozen), and so many more delicious creations to munch on!
GREAT GIFT: Perfect for holidays, party hosts, birthdays—and un-birthdays, of course! It's sure to be a delight for any Disney fan
BEAUTIFUL AND CUTE: This fully licensed cookbook features gorgeous recipe photos, beautiful styling, and artful appearances of the characters you love]]>
Soak up this adorable recipe book featuring gorgeous, tasty nonalcoholic recipes for delectable drinks from Insight Editions’ full line of Disney and Pixar best-selling cookbooks.
EASY AND DELICIOUS: Raise a glass to this recipe book filled with simple instructions featuring everyday ingredients to brew up delicious drinks for all ages. Enjoy Lu'Au Blue Hawaiian (Lilo & Stitch), Black Forest Hot Cocoa (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs), Growth Potion (Alice in Wonderland), Tiana Mardi Gras Smoothie (Princess and the Frog), and so many more drinks to sip and savor
GREAT GIFT: Perfect for holidays, party hosts, birthdays—and un-birthdays, of course! It's sure to be a delight for any Disney fan
BEAUTIFUL AND CUTE: This fully licensed cookbook features gorgeous recipe photos, beautiful styling, and artful appearances of the characters you love]]>
Revel in the reign of House Targaryen™ with this House of the Dragon–inspired planner as you organize your schedules in 2025.
WEEK AND MONTH VIEWS: Each monthly divider features unique stills from the House of the Dragon. The dated weekly planner pages are paired with a notes page to provide you with ample space to jot down notes or reminders that come up throughout the week.
STICKERS AND STORAGE: With two pages of functional and decorative planner stickers and a storage pocket in the back, this planner comes with everything you need to stay organized.
CONVENIENT SIZE: At 6.125 x 8.75 inches, this planner makes it easy to take notes or plan anywhere and fits comfortably in a bag or backpack to take with you on the go.
PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS: Whether you are new to House of the Dragon or a longtime fan of the world, this planner is perfect to use at home, school, or work to celebrate your love for the Seven Kingdoms™.]]>
Whether you’re on a spice harvesting mission or traveling across the deserts of Arrakis™, this Dune–inspired planner makes for the perfect planning companion in 2025.
WEEK AND MONTH VIEWS: Each monthly divider features unique stills from Dune: Part Two, the spectacular sequel directed by Denis Villeneuve. The dated weekly planner pages are paired with a notes page to provide you with ample space to jot down notes or reminders that come up throughout the week.
STICKERS AND STORAGE: With two pages of functional and decorative planner stickers and a storage pocket in the back, this planner comes with everything you need to stay organized.
CONVENIENT SIZE: At 6.125 x 8.75 inches, this planner makes it easy to take notes or plan anywhere and fits comfortably in a bag or backpack to take with you on the run from your next Sandworm™ encounter.
PERFECT GIFT FOR FANS: Whether you are new to Dune or a longtime fan of the world, this planner is perfect to use at home, school, or work to celebrate your love for all things Arrakis™.]]>
Add a bit of enchantment to your writing with this deluxe wand that doubles as a pen and a light!
MAGICALLY ILLUMINATES: Simply press the small button on the pen body to make the end of the wand light up! Remove the decorative top of the wand when you’re ready to pen your next spellbinding masterpiece.
BATTERIES INCLUDED: The pen comes with batteries included, so you can start using your illuminating wand pen right away. Batteries are also replaceable when needed.
PERFECT FOR STUDENTS AND ADULTS: Whether you are new to the Wizarding World™ or a seasoned fan, this pen is an extraordinary writing tool to add to your desk at work or school to show your love of the Harry Potter™ films.
COLLECT THEM ALL: Expand your illuminating wand pen collection with Harry Potter™: Harry's Illuminating Wand Pen, also from Insight Editions.]]>
Jody is currently developing a television show for a global streaming service andis writing her first novel. She is based in northern Spain.]]>
With 50 healthy and delicious plant-based recipes inspired by centuries-old traditions from across East, Southeast, and South Asia, Eat Like a Monk will introduce you to simple ingredients and seasonal rhythms, encouraging you to discover what it means to grow, prepare, and consume food as a spiritual practice.
Immerse yourself in the wisdom of the monastic kitchens of Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, India, and other countries, with dishes designed to nourish your body, mind, and soul. Sidebars on hospitality, sacred spaces, and temple rituals will teach you the joys and health benefits of conscious cooking and how to embrace eating as an act of enlightenment.
Recipes include pickled plum onigiri, jackfruit curry, samosas, lotus seed congee, and Buddha’s delight.
FOOD AS MEDITATION: Explore the art of conscious cooking and eating with insights into the traditions that have guided monastic kitchens for centuries. Discover mindfulness rituals, learn about sustainable farming practices, and find inspiration to create a more balanced and harmonious culinary lifestyle in your own home.
PLANT-BASED RECIPES: Enliven your cooking skills with easy-to-follow plant-based recipes from a variety of monastic traditions. Eat Like a Monk features entrees, sides, beverages, and other dishes, highlighting myriad cuisines.
AWARD-WINNING AUTHOR: Eat Like a Monk is written by six-time cookbook author Jody Eddy, winner of the International Association of Culinary Professionals Judge’s Choice Award and James Beard award nominee. Jody has spent five years traveling and researching temple cuisine while farming, cooking, and dining with monks throughout the world.
FULL-COLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: Whether you're an experienced chef or a novice in the kitchen, Eat Like a Monk provides step-by-step instructions accompanied by beautiful photography of both meals and monasteries, ensuring that every dish is a success.
RECIPES FROM AROUND THE WORLD: With heavenly recipes inspired by monastic kitchens in Japan, Korea, China, Thailand, India, and other countries, Eat Like a Monk lets you experience a world of diverse flavors while teaching you about a variety of different cuisines and lifestyles.]]>
Jody is currently developing a television show for a global streaming service andis writing her first novel. She is based in northern Spain.]]>
After 70 years of singing and dancing and making people happy, The Muppets are ready to tackle their next wacky performance: getting hooked on crochet! With The Muppets Official Crochet Amigurumi, you can now crochet your own Muppet amigurumi figures, and the whole gang is here – Kermit the Frog, Fozzie Bear, Miss Piggy, Beaker and Dr. Bunsen Honeydew, Animal, Gonzo, even Pepé the King Prawn and Rizzo the Rat! Each of these fifteen projects is a fully articulated doll, right down to Animal’s wild hair and Kermit’s pointed collar. With easy-to-follow patterns, and some jokes and fun from The Muppets themselves, The Muppets Official Crochet Amigurumi will have you ready to put on a show with all your favorite characters.
MORE THAN A DOZEN of the most cherished Muppets are featured in The Muppets Official Crochet Amigurumi, including Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Animal, Gonzo, and more!
EXCLUSIVE MATERIAL: This is the first officially licensed crochet book featuring the Muppets.]]>
Discover your planetary personality type to improve your personal, professional, and romantic relationships.
Vedic astrologer and yogi Vish Chatterji highlights how the ancient wisdom of India allows us to better understand our contemporary world, combining the secret science of the planets with modern personality types to reveal a more complete picture of ourselves. Learn how your personality type interacts with different zodiac signs, how this influences your relationships, and how to find balance and maximize happiness in your home, career, and love life.
EAST MEETS WEST: Astrology Decoded combines ancient Indian wisdom with modern knowledge of personality types to provide a complete picture of yourself.
ACCESSIBLE: Experienced Vedic astrologer and business coach Vish Chatterji clearly explains how to use Vedic astrology for self-understanding and personal development, whether this is your first astrology book or your fiftieth.
ACTIONABLE: Gain practical insights and tips on how to improve your relationships, based on your planetary personality type, zodiac sign, and rising sign.]]>
Have you ever found yourself lost in the maze of professional growth? Have you ever felt stuck, unsure of which skills to prioritize or how to chart your career path effectively? These are common challenges many people face and result in unrealized potential and missed opportunities.
The Zebra Code is your answer. In a post-academic world, where traditional guidance is scarce and you’re left to figure it out on our own, this book becomes your experienced mentor. The Zebra Code offers a structured syllabus of the most impactful, professional skills and sequenced lessons to help navigate the intricacies of career development. No more wandering aimlessly only to blend in with the herd. Now, you can craft and implement your own personalized, effective, strategic, career growth plan to stand out and get ahead.
Imagine a future where your career aligns perfectly with your abilities—where you consistently achieve success and satisfaction. It's within your grasp, and it starts with The Zebra Code!]]>
Ken Khachigian has written the most lucid, most important work about the postwar period. For an inside look at how ugly politics can be--and how noble--you cannot miss this book. I still love Ken after fifty years and you will, too, when you read this jewel of a memoir. —Ben Stein, Economist, law professor, multi Emmy awarded actor, speechwriter for Presidents Nixon and Ford, novelist, and screenwriter
This is essential reading for anyone wanting to know how Ronald Reagan shaped his crusading message of economic growth through tax cuts and limited government. Khachigian’s is a fascinating account by one who takes you into the rooms where the decisions were made. —Larry Kudlow, Host of Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow” and Former Director, National Economic Council
To understand Nixon and Reagan, the two crucial Presidents and coalition builders of the last third of the 20th century, the insights of Ken Khachigian, the confidant who advised them both, seem indispensable. —Pat Buchanan, White House Aide to Presidents Nixon and Reagan
Ken Khachigian is a great conservative and patriot, and his book will give you the inside view of a presidency that will go down in history as one of greatness and strength. —Ed Rollins, Ronald Reagan’s White House Political Director
Ken Khachigian offers a riveting account of his thrilling journey through American history at the sides of two monumental Presidents. If you care about where America has been, and where it’s going, this is a must-read! —Monica Crowley, Ph.D., Former Assistant Secretary of the Treasury, News Analyst and Bestselling Author
Ken Khachigian will draw you inside a generation of White House leadership and details how Reagan revived the American economy and lit a prairie fire of patriotism across America. —K.T. McFarland, American political candidate, former government official, and political commentator]]>
Sandra Lindsay immigrated to the United States from Jamaica in 1986 with ambitions of becoming a nurse and living the American Dream. In December 2020, she became the first person to receive the COVID-19 vaccine and was subsequently honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom. Lindsay tells her inspiring story, from leaving a stable home in Jamaica only to experience years of struggle in the Bronx, NY, as a single mother and struggling student. Her tenacity led to a successful thirty-year nursing career, including her leadership as the director of critical care at Northwell’s Long Island Jewish Medical Center during the country’s worst health crisis in 2020.
In First in Line Lindsay lays out her triumphs and setbacks as a single mother and working student who overcomes barriers with the love of her family and the support of mentors and leaders. Her beginnings as a four-dollar-an-hour grocery store fortified her with the resilience to persevere over decades to become an executive at a globally recognized nationally known healthcare system.
Lindsay recounts working through the darkest months of the COVID-19 crisis in 2020 and leading the critical care units at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The suffering and losses she witnessed ignited Lindsay’s passion for seeing an end to inequities in healthcare.
First in Line tackles a variety of issues: bias and inequity in healthcare; chronic disease in marginalized communities; maternal, infant, and Black and Brown women’s health; and mental health. While Lindsay continues to beat the drum for vaccination as COVID-19 continues to impact our lives, she advocates for a holistic approach for improved, equitable healthcare for all people who live on the margins.]]>
Joanne Skerrett is a former journalist who has been an editor at The Boston Globe and the Chicago Tribune. She has an MA in Writing from Johns Hopkins University. She lives in Boston and is the author of five novels, most recently Island Man published by Red Hen Press.]]>
“I’m not good enough.”
“I’m not worthy.”
“I’m not capable.”
Self-limiting beliefs plague us all eventually. In a noisy world that sets unreasonable expectations of how you’re supposed to live your life, it’s easy to second-guess yourself. Self-limiting beliefs come from everyday things like expectations from others, social media comparison, cultural norms, and past experiences and traumas. A limited mindset can rob you of achieving peace, living up to your peak potential, and realizing deep fulfillment.
Whether you’re feeling like you’re not enough, struggling to let go of the past, or yearning simply to live life on your own terms (maybe even all of the above), Born Unbreakable is the roadmap to putting life’s challenges in the rearview mirror.
Warren Buffett said, “The best investment you can make, is an investment in yourself.” Now is the time to make a meaningful investment into becoming an unapologetic version of yourself. This profound guide teaches:
· how certified transformational coach, Dez Maya, and many others just like her have overcome self-limiting beliefs to live a limitless life
· five key steps that will help you acknowledge, unpack, and grow through limited thinking
· what it looks like to radically assess yourself and the environment around you, so you can adjust what’s not working in your favor
· how to take incremental action that leads to sustainable success habits and a growth mindset
· the importance of leaving a legacy that you can be proud of and that will make a lasting impact on the world around you]]>
April Garcia is an international business adviser, performance coach, and speaker on strategy and mindset. She is the founder of the consulting firm Maven, host of April Garcia’s PivotMe® podcast, and creator of the breakthrough digital course on time management, MultiplyMe®. April is an expert in sales and operations, productivity, mindset, and helping businesses obtain sustainable growth. With a true insider’s perspective as both an entrepreneur and an executive, she knows what it takes to create partnerships and growth, and still has ownership and interest in several businesses today. When she’s not in the boardroom or on the microphone, she speaks to business owners on reaching their next level of success. She loves getting people out of their chairs and motivated. To learn more about April, please visit https://www.pivot-me.com/.]]>
An informed electorate is a prerequisite for free and fair elections. But rather than striving for accuracy and objectivity, today’s journalists openly celebrate the death of objectivity, arguing that they have a “higher duty” to reject the conservatism, police speech, and suppress news that contradicts the liberal narrative.
Now, on the heels of his magisterial volume Against the Great Reset, editor Michael Walsh presents Against the Corporate Media, a collection of more than forty essays on the decline and fall of the American and international news media. The book’s list of distinguished contributors includes Lance Morrow, Andrew Klavan, John O’Sullivan, Elizabeth Nickson, Monica Crowley, Charlie Kirk, Glenn Reynolds, Steven F. Hayward, John Fund, Armond White, Michael Ramirez, Walsh, and others.
Readers around the world deserve to know how badly their media has been corrupted, how eagerly they have embraced the role of official propagandists, and what a threat to democracy they have become. This book marks an important strike against the corporate media, and its unholy alliance with the enemies of freedom everywhere.
Featuring Essays by:
Lance Morrow
Andrew Klavan
Peter Berkowitz
David Reaboi
John O’Sullivan
Charlie Kirk
Jon Gabriel
J. Peder Zane
Ashley Rindsberg
Arthur Milikh
Peter Prichard
John Fund
John J. Miller
Mark Hemingway
Clarice Feldman
Kyle Shideler
Monica Crowley
Steve Hayward
Nick Searcy
Sebastian Gorka
Roger L. Simon
Mark Krikorian
Kurt Schlichter
Liz Sheld
Tom Finnerty
Jack Dunphy
Ian Gregory
David Solway
Elizabeth Nickson
Ben Scallan
Peter Smith
Armond White
George MF Washington
Thomas H. Lipscomb
Michael Walsh
Priscilla Turner
Jenny Kennedy
Austin Ruse
Glenn Reynolds
Hannah Giles
Larry O’Connor
Bill Whittle]]>
To help his family financially, Jason tried everything to make enough money. After he found real estate, his career took off. In the last couple of years, Jason has represented over 100 investors. closed real estate deals worth over $325 million in Southern California.
In 2023, Jason’s company received the award for the third fastest growing company in San Diego. When he was twenty-three, he was a finalist for REALTOR Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list and paid for his brother’s tuition at University of California, Berkeley. Currently, Jason’s portfolio is worth $50 million and comprises of over 120 Multifamily units in San Diego County.]]>
How did a twenty-four-year-old become a multi-millionaire and earn over a hundred thousand dollars a year in passive income? Did he do anything different? No. Did he have any special talents? No. Does he come from money? No.
Author Jason Lee picked the road less traveled, had goals that were too crazy to tell anybody, and went all. In How a 24-Year-Old Achieved Financial Freedom, Jason reveals his struggles, his biggest money maker, and how he was able to accomplish his goals faster than 99.99 percent of self-made people. The best part? Now you can do it too!]]>
To help his family financially, Jason tried everything to make enough money. After he found real estate, his career took off. In the last couple of years, Jason has represented over 100 investors. closed real estate deals worth over $325 million in Southern California.
In 2023, Jason’s company received the award for the third fastest growing company in San Diego. When he was twenty-three, he was a finalist for REALTOR Magazine’s “30 Under 30” list and paid for his brother’s tuition at University of California, Berkeley. Currently, Jason’s portfolio is worth $50 million and comprises of over 120 Multifamily units in San Diego County.]]>
From the moment she picked up a tennis racquet, Coco Gauff was destined for greatness. Her parents believed so strongly in her future, they turned their lives upside down to make sure she had every opportunity to play the game she loved. One of the world’s most prominent coaches thought so highly of Coco’s talent, he brought her to train in France before she was even old enough for high school. And when she reached the fourth round at Wimbledon as a fifteen-year-old, she beat her idol Venus Williams in the first round, becoming an international sensation in the blink of an eye.
But the road from teenage tennis prodigy to Grand Slam champion isn’t easy. As Coco started her journey on the Women’s Tennis Association Tour she found it difficult to deal with the expectations of becoming America’s next superstar. She also struggled to beat the top players in the game—number one ranked Iga Swiatek most of all.
To break through and become a Grand Slam champion, Coco had to overcome disappointments, criticisms, and a loss of confidence in her game. This is the story of how perseverance, self-belief, and a willingness to try new things led to a historic run of success in the summer of 2023 that culminated with a US Open title.]]>
