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Black Hills National Forest: Harney Peak and the Historic Fire Lookout Towers
by Jan Cerney Roberta SagoOnce vital to fire prevention and detection, most of the Black Hills National Forest historic lookout towers now serve primarily as hiking destinations. The first crude lookout structures were built at Custer Peak and Harney Peak in 1911. Since that time, more than 20 towers have been constructed in the area. The first lookout towers were built of wood, most replaced by steel or stone. The Civilian Conservation Corps was instrumental in constructing fire towers during the 1930s and 1940s. One of the most famous and architecturally and aesthetically valued towers is the Harney Peak Fire Lookout--situated on the highest point east of the Rocky Mountains. Harney Peak is among a number of Black Hills towers listed on the National Historic Lookout Register. Over 200 vintage images tell the story of not only the historic fire towers but those who manned them. Perched atop high peaks in remote locations, fire lookout personnel spent countless hours scanning the forest, pinpointing dangers, often experiencing the powerful wrath of lightning strong enough to jolt them off their lightning stools.
Black Holes: The Weird Science of the Most Mysterious Objects in the Universe
by Sara LattaIn 2015 two powerful telescopes detected something physicists had been seeking for more than one hundred years—gravitational waves from the collision of two black holes. This announcement thrilled the scientific community. Since the eighteenth century, astronomers have predicted the existence of massive, invisible stars whose gravity would not let anything—even light—escape. In the twenty-first century, sophisticated technologies are bringing us closer to seeing black holes in action. Meet the scientists who first thought of black holes hundreds of years ago, and learn about contemporary astrophysicists whose work is radically shaping how we understand black holes, our universe, and how it originated.
Black Night Falling
by Teri TerryThe explosive finale to The Circle trilogy by Teri Terry.The fate of the natural world lies in the hands of three teenagers.Captured by The Circle, Tabby is taken to their headquarters, Undersea. She learns about their ancient sisterhood, sworn to protect the planet, and that she is one of "the Chosen."In London, Hayden finds herself at the centre of a coming together of disparate climate change groups. Denzi is missing, and Hayden's path to finding him is laced with danger.People all around the world are demanding clean air and blue skies, and on the cusp of humanity making change for the good, Tabby, Hayden, and Denzi's paths draw closer together.But as old friends arrive to help, old enemies resurface. The Circle's endgame comes into focus and Tabby, Hayden, and Denzi must race to prevent the destruction ahead. Can they learn how to harness Tabby and the Chosen's power in time before the world is changed forever?
Black Snake: Standing Rock, the Dakota Access Pipeline, and Environmental Justice
by Katherine Wiltenburg TodrysThe controversial Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) made headlines around the world in 2016. Supporters called the pipeline key to safely transporting American oil from the Bakken oil fields of the northern plains to markets nationwide, essential to both national security and prosperity. Native activists named it the &“black snake,&” referring to an ancient prophecy about a terrible snake that would one day devour the earth. Activists rallied near the Standing Rock Reservation in North Dakota for months in opposition to DAPL, winning an unprecedented but temporary victory before the federal government ultimately permitted the pipeline. Oil began flowing on June 1, 2017. The water protector camps drew global support and united more than three hundred tribes in perhaps the largest Native alliance in U.S. history. While it faced violent opposition, the peaceful movement against DAPL has become one of the most crucial human rights movements of our time.Black Snake is the story of four leaders—LaDonna Allard, Jasilyn Charger, Lisa DeVille, and Kandi White—and their fight against the pipeline. It is the story of Native nations combating environmental injustice and longtime discrimination and rebuilding their communities. It is the story of a new generation of environmental activists, galvanized at Standing Rock, becoming the protectors of America&’s natural resources.
Black Stallion's Shadow (Black Stallion)
by Steven FarleyIt has all the makings of a glorious day--the Black has just won the America's Cup! But the fruits of victory quickly sour when it is learned that the Black's challenger, shying at a shadow on the track, has suffered a fatal fall. Now, the Black himself is hobbled by a fear of shadows, a problem that could end his brilliant racing career. Will the Black become the next victim if he is not cured of his fright?From the Trade Paperback edition.
Black Storm: A Horse of the Kansas Hills
by Thomas C. HinkleNo one could ride Black Storm--no one but Joe Bain, the only cowboy the great horse trusted Then one night the black gelding was stolen. He was beaten and starved, but his proud spirit remained unbroken. At last he escaped to a desperate freedom haunted by man and wolf. And while Joe Bain searched the Kansas hills, a defiant Black Storm dodged bullets and timber wolves to find the only man he would serve.
Black Sugar
by Miguel BonnefoyHigh up in the rainforest canopy sits a stranded pirate ship, many miles from the sea. On board, Captain Henry Morgan lies dying, surrounded by magnificent jewels, artefacts and coins accumulated over a lifetime. Centuries later, Severo Bracamonte arrives in a remote Venezuelan village in search of the captain's legendary hoard. He is given lodging by the Otero family, to whom he promises a share of his find, but, despite his relentless efforts, the treasure seems destined to remain undiscovered...Miguel Bonnefoy's captivating fable on the evils of greed is also a fascinating portrait of Venezuela's development in the twentieth century.
Black Water Lilies: 'A dazzling, unexpected and haunting masterpiece' Daily Mail
by Michel BussiTHE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER 'Ends with one of the most reverberating shocks in modern crime fiction' The Sunday Times 'A dazzling, unexpected and haunting masterpiece' Daily Mail 'A work of genius... Stunning' Daily Express Jérôme Morval has been found dead in the stream that runs through the gardens at Giverny, where Monet did his famous paintings. In Jérôme's pocket is a postcard of Monet's 'Water Lilies' with the words: Eleven years old. Happy Birthday.Entangled in the mystery are three women: a young painting prodigy, the seductive village schoolteacher and an old widow who watches over the village from a mill by the stream. All three of them share a secret. But what do they know about Jérôme's death? And what is the connection to the mysterious 'Black Water Lilies', a rumoured masterpiece by Monet that has never been found?MICHEL BUSSI: THE MASTER OF THE KILLER TWIST ''A novel so extraordinary that it reminded me of reading Stieg Larsson for the very first time' The Sunday Times on After the Crash'Inventive, original and incredibly entertaining' Sunday Mirror on Don't Let Go 'Combines an extraordinarily inventive plot with characters haunted by long-ago events - and demonstrates why he has such a hold on readers' The Times on Time Is A Killer
Black Water Lilies: 'A dazzling, unexpected and haunting masterpiece' Daily Mail
by Michel BussiGiverny. During the day, tourists flock to the former home of the famous artist Claude Monet and the gardens where he painted his Water Lilies. But when silence returns, there is a darker side to the peaceful French village.This is the story of thirteen days that begin with one murder and end with another. Jérôme Morval, a man whose passion for art was matched only by his passion for women, has been found dead in the stream that runs through the gardens. In his pocket is a postcard of Monet's Water Lilies with the words: Eleven years old. Happy Birthday.Entangled in the mystery are three women: a young painting prodigy, the seductive schoolteacher and an old widow who watches over the village from a mill by the stream. All three of them share a secret. But what do they know about the discovery of Jérôme Morval's corpse? And what is the connection to the mysterious, rumoured painting of Black Water Lilies?(p) 2016 Orion Publishing Group
Black Wave
by Jean Silverwood John SilverwoodThe heart-pumping true story of one family's terrifying battle for survival after disaster strikes on the high seas. It was a case of now or never for Jean and John Silverwood when they decided to give their four young children a taste of adventure on the high seas. Their bold decision to leave behind their everyday lives to sail across the world on a catamaran tested them all in ways they could never have imagined. Living off the grid could be paradise one day, a race to escape pirates the next, but perhaps the most difficult challenge of all in this brave new world was living and working together in such close quarters. Their voyage of discovery ended suddenly and tragically almost two years later on a remote atoll in French Polynesia. On a calm and moonless night, without warning their beloved floating home Emerald Jane suddenly crashed onto a jagged coral reef. Within minutes, the seemingly indestructible twin-hulled yacht was being smashed to pieces. Gradually, in the dark crucible of the sea, the Silverwoods became a crew. Then they became a family again. But just as it seemed that they had mastered every challenge, their world was shattered in a split second of unimaginable horror. Now the real test began, forcing them to fight for their lives.
Black to Nature: Pastoral Return and African American Culture
by Stefanie K. DunningIn Black to Nature: Pastoral Return and African American Culture, author Stefanie K. Dunning considers both popular and literary texts that range from Beyoncé’s Lemonade to Jesmyn Ward’s Salvage the Bones. These key works restage Black women in relation to nature. Dunning argues that depictions of protagonists who return to pastoral settings contest the violent and racist history that incentivized Black disavowal of the natural world. Dunning offers an original theoretical paradigm for thinking through race and nature by showing that diverse constructions of nature in these texts are deployed as a means of rescrambling the teleology of the Western progress narrative. In a series of fascinating close readings of contemporary Black texts, she reveals how a range of artists evoke nature to suggest that interbeing with nature signals a call for what Jared Sexton calls “the dream of Black Studies”—abolition. Black to Nature thus offers nuanced readings that advance an emerging body of critical and creative work at the nexus of Blackness, gender, and nature. Written in a clear, approachable, and multilayered style that aims to be as poignant as nature itself, the volume offers a unique combination of theoretical breadth, narrative beauty, and broader perspective that suggests it will be a foundational text in a new critical turn towards framing nature within a cultural studies context.
Black, Bay and Chestnut
by C. W. AndersonThis book gives profiles of twenty of the most famous horses of the day. From Man O'war, king of the race track, to Heatherbloom horse able to jump like Pegasus, to Bob the great milk horse these stories bring to light the personality and beauty of our four footed equine friends.
Blackbeard's Aliens
by Robert T. Jeschonek Ben BaldwinCannonballs and laser beams fly as blazing battle rages between a fleet of pirate ships and a squadron of alien fighters. Demonic aliens board the ships and let loose high-tech ray beams on hardened pirates armed with pistols and cutlasses. In the heart of the flame and fury roars fearless Blackbeard himself, commanding his men in a last-ditch struggle to save all humankind from bloodthirsty conquerors from another world. Perhaps Blackbeard's own dark connection to the aliens will give him an edge against them, if his own closest ally, Stede Bonnet, does not mount a mutiny against him first. Can Blackbeard and the greatest pirates of his day use their seafaring savagery to win the war for the future of humanity? It all comes down to pirates versus aliens as the greatest battle ever to rock the seven seas rushes toward an explosive finale. Don't miss this exciting tale by award-winning storyteller Robert T. Jeschonek, a master of hard-hitting science fiction that really packs a punch.Reviews"Robert Jeschonek is a towering talent..." - Mike Resnick, Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author"Robert Jeschonek is the literary love child of Tim Burton and Neil Gaiman..." - Adrian Phoenix, critically acclaimed author of The Maker's Song series and Black Dust Mambo"Jeschonek´s stories are delightfully insane, a pleasure to read..." - Fabio Fernandes, Fantasy Book Critic
Blackhearts: Ecology in Outback Australia
by Richard SymanskiThis fascinating book is a firsthand account of the adventures of an ornithological field team studying long-tailed finches in outback Australia. In 1991, Nancy Burley, a noted behavioral ecologist, and her husband, Richard Symanski, went to Australia with their one-year-old son and four American students hired as field assistants and babysitter. The social relationships and problems that developed among these individuals in confined and exotic settings and the scientific discoveries that did -- and did not -- take place form the heart of the book. Symanski begins by telling how he and his wife set up this elaborate field expedition -- including the hiring of what seemed to be qualified, compatible, and knowledgeable field assistants. He then describes the harsh realities of their circumstances in Australia: primitive living conditions on an outback cattle station; field sites and subjects for study that were not as expected; and students who were not prepared for the rigors of field life and who became unenthusiastic about the work for which they had been hired. And he tells how he and his wife strove to overcome all the different challenges with which they were confronted. The book provides insight into the demands of professor-student-based fieldwork, particularly when generational conflicts, differing expectations, and culture shock complicate the "business" of doing science.
Blackjack: A Ranch Dog
by Thomas C. HinkleBlackjack's mother was a huge black dog, probably part Newfoundland, and so Jack was also a huge dog. Clark Preston claimed Jack as his own and the pair did a lot of hunting together. Wild dogs were a menace to the cattlemen in the area and Blackjack proved that he could stand up to any of them on the day of reckoning.
Bless Ye the Lord: Praise Song of the Three Holy Children
by Frances TyrrellHere is the song of three children who are calling upon all of creation—the angels, heavenly bodies, seasons, waters, hills, plants, animals, birds, and men—to exalt and glorify the Lord. &“Bless ye the Lord; praise Him, and magnify Him forever . . .&” Their lyrical song of praise and gratitude—reminiscent of St. Francis of Assisi's &“Canticle of the Sun&”—appears in the Book of Daniel in the oldest versions of the Christian Bible, and in the Apocrypha of later editions. Their Hebrew names were Ananias, Azarias, and Misael, and they were also known by their Babylonian names of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. Radiant illustrations by artist Frances Tyrrell show scenes of their idyllic childhood days, when the three children were free to explore the hills, fields, and streams of their homeland.
Bless the Earth: A Collection of Poetry for Children to Celebrate and Care for Our World
by June Cotner Nancy Tupper LingA beautifully illustrated collection of poems and prayers to help children develop an appreciation for the natural worldBless the Earth, our faithful friend,her mountain range and river bend,her forest green and canopy,the hidden world of bended trees. Bless the Earth shows the miracle of our planet Earth through beautiful imagery and delightful poetry, calling all people, young and old, to care for our wonderful world. This sweet and welcoming anthology for children ages 3-7 knits together our common humanity and the natural world in an engaging way that is simple for young readers to understand.Bless the Earth contains approximately sixty selections of original as well as classic poems, divided into five chapters each:Dreams for My WorldEarth and SkyAll Creatures, Big and SmallSeasonsCaring for Our World Bless the Earth calls us again and again to understand how important it is to care for our world, respect our neighbors—humans, plants, and animals alike—and reimagine a world that is healthy and whole.
Blessed Unrest
by Paul HawkenOrganizations working to restore the environment and foster social justice collectively comprise the largest movement on earth. This movement with no name, leader, or location is a creative expression of people's needs worldwide.
Blight: Fungi and the Coming Pandemic
by Emily MonossonWinner of the 2024 Phi Beta Kappa Award for Science A New York Times Editors' Choice A Science News Favorite Book of 2023 "Fungi sicken us and fungi sustain us. In either case, we ignore them at our peril." —Elizabeth Kolbert, New York Review of Books A prescient warning about the mysterious and deadly world of fungi—and how to avert further loss across species, including our own. Fungi are everywhere. Most are harmless; some are helpful. A few are killers. Collectively, infectious fungi are the most devastating agents of disease on earth, and a fungus that can persist in the environment without its host is here to stay. In Blight, Emily Monosson documents how trade, travel, and a changing climate are making us all more vulnerable to invasion. Populations of bats, frogs, and salamanders face extinction. In the Northwest, America’s beloved national parks are covered with the spindly corpses of whitebark pines. Food crops are under siege, threatening our coffee, bananas, and wheat—and, more broadly, our global food security. Candida auris, drug-resistant and resilient, infects hospital patients and those with weakened immune systems. Coccidioides, which lives in drier dusty regions, may cause infection in apparently healthy people. The horrors go on. Yet prevention is not impossible. Tracing the history of fungal spread and the most recent discoveries in the field, Monosson meets scientists who are working tirelessly to protect species under threat, and whose innovative approaches to fungal invasion have the potential to save human lives. Delving into case studies at once fascinating, sobering, and hopeful, Blight serves as a wake-up call, a reminder of the delicate interconnectedness of the natural world, and a lesson in seeing life on our planet with renewed humility and awe.
Blind Descent: The Quest to Discover the Deepest Place on Earth
by James M. TaborThe deepest cave on earth was a prize that had remained unclaimed for centuries, long after every other ultimate discovery had been made. This is the story of the men and women who risked everything to find it, earning their place in history beside the likes of Peary, Amundsen, Hillary, and Armstrong.In 2004, two great scientist-explorers attempted to find the bottom of the world. Bold, American Bill Stone was committed to the vast Cheve Cave, located in southern Mexico and deadly even by supercave standards. On the other side of the globe, legendary Ukrainian explorer Alexander Klimchouk - Stone's opposite in temperament and style - had targeted Krubera, a freezing nightmare of a supercave in the Republic of Georgia.Blind Descent explores both the brightest and darkest aspects of the timeless human urge to discover - to be first. It is also a thrilling epic about a pursuit that makes even extreme mountaineering and ocean exploration pale by comparison. These supercavers spent months in multiple camps almost two vertical miles deep and many more miles from their caves' exits. They had to contend with thousand-foot drops, deadly flooded tunnels, raging whitewater rivers, monstrous waterfalls, mile-long belly crawls, and much more. Perhaps even worse were the psychological horrors produced by weeks plunged into absolute, perpetual darkness, beyond all hope of rescue, including a particularly insidious derangement called 'The Rapture'.Blind Descent is a testament to human survival and endurance - and to two extraordinary men whose relentless pursuit of greatness led them to heights of triumph and depths of tragedy neither could have imagined.
Blind Mountain
by Jane Resh ThomasUnsure of himself and annoyed at having to spend a day climbing a Montana mountain with his bossy father, twelve-year-old Sam must become the guide on their perilous journey down when his carelessness temporarily blinds his father. This story deals with father son conflict. Ages 9-12. This book would appeal to boys age 11-13. The boy in the story uses a few swear words, but it is not adult content.
Blind Reef: A Nautical Adventure Set In North Africa (The Richard Mariner Nautical Adventures #30)
by Peter TonkinA couple&’s quest to rescue a kidnapped girl leads them into the perilous heart of the Sinai desert: &“A sure bet for adventure fans&” (Booklist). Nautical entrepreneurs Richard and Robin Mariner are relaxing off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt when their boat flounders on Shaab Ruhr Siyoul—known as the Blind Reef—and they suddenly find themselves saving the lives of several refugees. One of the survivors, Nahom, tells them that his twin sister Tsibekti has been kidnapped and is being held for ransom by smugglers. Shocked by Nahom&’s story, Richard and Robin travel into the heart of the Sinai in a quest to find the lost girl. Now they must evade Egyptian police, Bedouin smugglers and militant Islamists in order to rescue Tsibekti and get out of the desert alive . . . Blind Reef is a ripped-from-the-headlines installment in a seafaring thriller series that &“resembles a mixture of Ian Fleming and Hammond Innes&” (Publishers Weekly).
Blitzed by a Blizzard! (Disaster Survivors)
by Joyce MarkovicsOn December 29, 2007, a fierce blizzard hit Olympia National Park in Washington State. Cross-country skier Randy Kraxberger, traveling alone, was caught by himself in the severe winter storm. Park rangers knew they had to save the lost skier. Could their daring rescue effort succeed through blinding snow, high winds, freezing temperatures, and the threat of avalanches? Safety tips show young readers how to stay out of harms way during a blizzard.
Blizzard
by John RoccoBlizzard is based on John Rocco's childhood experience during the now infamous Blizzard of 1978, which brought fifty-three inches of snow to his town in Rhode Island. Told with a brief text and dynamic illustrations, the book opens with a boy's excitement upon seeing the first snowflake fall outside his classroom window. It ends with the neighborhood's immense relief upon seeing the first snowplow break through on their street. In between the boy watches his familiar landscape transform into something alien, and readers watch him transform into a hero who puts the needs of others first. John uses an increasing amount of white space in his playful images, which include a gatefold spread of the boy's expedition to the store. This book about the wonder of a winter storm is as delicious as a mug of hot cocoa by the fire on a snowy day.
Blizzard (The Heights)
by The Editors at the Saddleback Educational PublishingThis book that talks about Latino family--who have an uncanny knack for finding humor, hope, and colorful personalities--even in unusual circumstances. The light snow got heavier. The road was slippery. Soon snow covered the ground. The car struggled to get up the hill. It got hard to see. Everything was white.