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Pearl: A novel
by Siân HughesLONG-LISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE • Heartbreaking and redeeming, Pearl is the story of a young woman in a small English village who is struggling with the disappearance of her mother, what feels like a lifetime ago."A masterful novel, shot through with legend and song. It can be read on many levels: as a mystery, as a story of grief and healing, as a response to a poem. But most of all, it can be read as a story of love." —The Boston Globe"A gorgeous, swirling, haunted and haunting potion of a book...How utterly moving, to be under its beautiful, artful spell." —Paul Harding, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Tinkers and This Other EdenMarianne is eight years old when her mother goes missing.Left behind with her baby brother and grieving father in a ramshackle house on the edge of a small village, she clings to the fragmented memories of her mother&’s love; the smell of fresh herbs, the games they played, and the songs and stories of her childhood.As time passes, Marianne finds it difficult to adjust, fixated on her mother&’s disappearance and the secrets she&’s sure her father is keeping from her. Yet, in one of her mother&’s dusty old books, she discovers a medieval poem called Pearl, and, trusting in the promise of its consolation, it seems as if her life begins to parallel the poem's course.But questions remain. Marianne is ever more tormented by the unmarked gravestone in the abandoned chapel and the tidal pull of the river, and as her childhood home begins to crumble, the past leads her down a path of self-destruction. Can Marianne ever come to understand her mother&’s choices? And will her own future as a mother help her find her peace?
Pearl: A sweeping love story of 1920s Ireland
by Deirdre PurcellTo find happiness, they must reconcile the past and present... Pearl is a moving and powerfully engaging story of three sisters, marked by a family tragedy, from acclaimed author Deirdre Purcell. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy and Catherine Dunne.'A sweeping love story... Fans of Purcell are bound to welcome Pearl into their lives like an old friend, and will enjoy catching up' - Irish Independent In 1920s' rural Ireland, Pearl Somers lives happily with her parents, her sisters Opal and Ruby, and her little brother Willie, in the gate lodge of Kilnashone Castle, where her father is chauffeur to Lord and Lady Areton. But one dreadful night, a series of dramatic events unfold and the lives of all - elite and ordinary - are changed forever. Over 40 years later, Pearl has become a successful writer. Yet there is one story she has never told, until her young cousin Catherine confesses a secret of her own that opens a door to Pearl's past - one she thought had been firmly sealed forever. When Catherine discovers Pearl's story of heartbreak and yearning, she determines to do her best to reconcile past and present. But is it too late for Pearl to find her own happy ending? What readers are saying about Pearl: 'A unique story line [with] rich characters''Tragic, yet enchanting. A totally different kind of love story; not clichéd or predictable but unique and beautiful''Five stars'
Pearl: A sweeping love story of 1920s Ireland
by Deirdre PurcellTo find happiness, they must reconcile the past and present... Pearl is a moving and powerfully engaging story of three sisters, marked by a family tragedy, from acclaimed author Deirdre Purcell. Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy and Catherine Dunne.'A sweeping love story... Fans of Purcell are bound to welcome Pearl into their lives like an old friend, and will enjoy catching up' - Irish IndependentIn 1920s' rural Ireland, Pearl Somers lives happily with her parents, her sisters Opal and Ruby, and her little brother Willie, in the gate lodge of Kilnashone Castle, where her father is chauffeur to Lord and Lady Areton. But one dreadful night, a series of dramatic events unfold and the lives of all - elite and ordinary - are changed forever. Over 40 years later, Pearl has become a successful writer. Yet there is one story she has never told, until her young cousin Catherine confesses a secret of her own that opens a door to Pearl's past - one she thought had been firmly sealed forever. When Catherine discovers Pearl's story of heartbreak and yearning, she determines to do her best to reconcile past and present. But is it too late for Pearl to find her own happy ending?What readers are saying about Pearl: 'A unique story line [with] rich characters''Tragic, yet enchanting. A totally different kind of love story; not clichéd or predictable but unique and beautiful''Five stars'
Pearl and Her Bunch: Celebrating every kind of family
by Momoko AbeA warm and witty book about what makes a family - featuring fruit, veg and families of all shapes and sizes! When little Pearl makes the startling discovery that she's not a grape like the rest of the bunch, she begins to question EVERYTHING!Can they really be her family if she doesn't look like them?An adventure around the house might just help her find the answer she's looking for... From the creator of Avocado Asks comes another brilliantly original exploration of identity, celebrating all family structures - including chosen families, blended families and adoptive families.
Pearl Buck #3: Jewel of the East (The Treasure Chest)
by Ann HoodReturn to The Treasure Chest with Felix and Maisie . . . When Felix Robbins gets a crush on Lily Goldstein, a classmate who is adopted from China, he decides to try to take her back in time so that she can see the country where she was born. Maisie discovers his plot, and foils it. But the twins end up in a small village on the Yangtze River, where they meet a girl named Pearl Buck in the days just before the Boxer Rebellion. With bandits chasing them, will they ever find safety . . . and return home?
The Pearl Hunter
by Miya T. BeckSet in a world inspired by pre-Shogun era Japan, this is a stunning debut fantasy in the vein of Grace Lin about how a young pearl diver goes to the ends of the earth to rescue her twin sister, who has been stolen by a ghost whale.Kai and Kishi share the same futon, the same face, and the same talent for pearl diving. But Kishi is the obedient daughter, while Kai tries to push the rules, and sometimes they fight. Still, when Kishi is stolen and killed by the legendary Ghost Whale, nothing will stop Kai from searching for her, deep in the ocean, hoping for a way to bring her back to life.But such a rescue is beyond the power of an ordinary mortal. Kai strikes a deal with the gods: she’ll steal a magic pearl in exchange for her sister’s soul. As she journeys across treacherous land scape, Kai must navigate encounters with scheming bandits, a power-hungry war lord, and a legion of conniving fox spirits. And when a new friendship becomes something almost as powerful as her love for her sister, Kai must make impossible choices and risk everything just to get home again.Woven through with Japanese culture and legends, this many-layered story will grip readers of all ages.
Pearl of Pit Lane: A powerful, romantic saga of tragedy and triumph
by Glenda Young'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Jane Garvey, Woman's HourIf you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My WeeklyWhat readers are saying about Glenda's dramatically powerful and romantic sagas of tragedy and triumph:'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review'Put me to work on the pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?' When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lane at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company. As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit to life on the pit lane, Pearl runs away. She has nothing and nowhere to go, but Pearl is determined to survive on her own terms... Praise for Glenda Young:'The feel of the story is totally authentic... Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition is Pearl... Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'I really enjoyed Glenda's novel. It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere...a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she's such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish' Jenny Holmes 'I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as "brilliant" was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret Kaine Look for Glenda's other compelling sagas, Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon and The Paper Mill Girl - coming soon!
Pearl of Pit Lane: A powerful, romantic saga of tragedy and triumph
by Glenda Young'Real sagas with female characters right at the heart' Jane Garvey, Woman's HourIf you love Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin, you'll LOVE Glenda Young's 'amazing novels!' (ITV's This Morning presenter Sharon Marshall)'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My WeeklyWhat readers are saying about Glenda's dramatically powerful and romantic sagas of tragedy and triumph:'Better than a Catherine Cookson' 5* reader review'Wonderful read, full of rich characters, evocative description and a touch of romance' 5* reader review'Just wanted it to go on forever and read more about the characters and their lives' 5* reader review'Put me to work on the pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?' When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lane at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company. As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit to life on the pit lane, Pearl runs away. She has nothing and nowhere to go, but Pearl is determined to survive on her own terms...Praise for Glenda Young:'The feel of the story is totally authentic... Her heroine in the grand Cookson tradition is Pearl... Inspirationally delightful' Peterborough Evening Telegraph 'I really enjoyed Glenda's novel. It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere...a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga and I loved Meg; she's such a strong and believable character. A fantastic debut' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life and Meg is a likeable, loving heroine for whom the reader roots from start to finish' Jenny Holmes 'I found it difficult to believe that this was a debut novel, as "brilliant" was the word in my mind when I reached the end. I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret KaineLook for Glenda's other compelling sagas, Belle of the Back Streets, The Tuppenny Child, The Girl with the Scarlet Ribbon and The Paper Mill Girl - coming soon!
Pearl of Pit Lane: A powerful, romantic saga of tragedy and triumph
by Glenda Young'In the world of historical saga writers, there's a brand new voice' My WeeklyA dramatically powerful and romantic saga of tragedy and triumph, perfect for fans of Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.'Put me to work on the pit lane, would you? Is that all you think I'm worth?'When her mother dies in childbirth, Pearl Edwards is left in the care of her aunt, Annie Grafton. Annie loves Pearl like her own daughter but it isn't easy to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table. Annie knows the best way to supplement their meagre income is to walk the pit lane at night, looking for men willing to pay for her company.As Pearl grows older she is unable to remain ignorant of Annie's profession, despite her aunt's attempts to shield her. But when Pearl finds herself unexpectedly without work and their landlord raises the rent, it becomes clear they have few choices left and Annie is forced to ask Pearl the unthinkable. Rather than submit to life on the pit lane, Pearl runs away. She has nothing and nowhere to go, but Pearl is determined to survive on her own terms...Praise for Glenda Young: 'Will resonate with saga readers everywhere...a wonderful, uplifting story' Nancy Revell'I really enjoyed... It's well researched and well written and I found myself caring about her characters' Rosie Goodwin 'All the ingredients for a perfect saga' Emma Hornby 'Glenda has an exceptionally keen eye for domestic detail which brings this local community to vivid, colourful life' Jenny Holmes 'I enjoyed it enormously, being totally absorbed from the first page. I found it extremely well written, and having always loved sagas, one of the best I've read' Margaret Kaine(P)2019 Headline Publishing Group Ltd
The Pearl that Broke Its Shell: A Novel
by Nadia HashimiA luminous and unforgettable tale of two women, destiny, and identity in AfghanistanKabul, 2007: The Taliban rules the streets. With a drug-addicted father and no brothers, Rahima and her sisters can rarely leave the house or attend school. Their only hope lies in the ancient Afghan custom of bacha posh, which allows young Rahima to dress and be treated as a son until she is of marriageable age. As a boy, she has the kind of freedom that was previously unimaginable . . . freedom that will transform her forever.But Rahima is not the first in her family to adopt this unusual custom. A century earlier, her great-great-grandmother Shekiba, left orphaned by an epidemic, saved herself and built a new life in the same way--the change took her on a journey from the deprivation of life in a rural village to the opulence of a king's palace in the bustling metropolis of Kabul.Crisscrossing in time, The Pearl That Broke Its Shell interweaves the stories of these two remarkable women who are separated by a century but share the same courage and dreams. What will happen once Rahima is old enough to marry? How long can Shekiba pass as a man? And if Rahima cannot adapt to life as a bride, how will she survive?
Pearls and Pitfalls in Pediatric Imaging
by Heike E. Daldrup-Link Beverley NewmanThis collection of over 90 highly-illustrated case studies explores major and confusing problems in pediatric imaging. All relevant imaging modalities are covered, including ultrasound, conventional radiography, fluoroscopy, CT, MR, Nuclear and Molecular Imaging, and Interventional Radiology. The authors present a strategy for recognizing key information in order to reach an accurate diagnosis, and each case includes differential diagnoses and key teaching points, alerting the reader to common pitfalls in the interpretation of pediatric radiological images. This is a highly valuable resource for trainee pediatric radiologists, and general radiologists who encounter pediatric patients. It will particularly help people preparing for exams, including the core exam, the certifying exam or CAQ exams, as well as pediatric radiologists who want to refresh their knowledge on particular topics. It will also be of interest to pediatricians who wish to improve their diagnostic proficiency and understanding of imaging studies.
The Pearls of the Stone Man
by Edward Mooney Jr.A Promise made. A Love that will Last Forever. If you've ever loved someone to the depth of your being, someone who for one reason or other needed to move on, you know the power of a parting wish. The story of Joseph and Anne, his wife of fifty-three years, is the story of just such a wish-one that only true love could try to achieve. And for Joseph the strength to build the stone wall-a special reminder from Anne's childhood-will take him places he never expected and that you will never forget. The Pearls of the Stone Man takes us beyond generations and our own stone walls to the very humanity that unites us all-and shows us the incredible power of one couple's love to last beyond parting and forever change the lives of those they touched. "Mooney writes such a compelling story that it must be read word for word all the way to the end." -Antelope Valley Press "It's a very gentle tale, but it has an extraordinary power." -S. Rubin, Fast Carrier Pictures What Readers are Saying: "This is by far one of the best books that I have ever read." "Mooney is a masterful storyteller." "Mooney creates a beautiful portrait of a relationship. 5 stars." "A simple and profound message." "After you start reading this book, just try to put it down!"
The Pearly Queen: a heartwarming and touching saga you won’t want to put down…
by Mary Jane StaplesA wonderfully warm, uplifting and moving saga from multi-million copy seller Mary Jane Staples. Perfect for fans of Maggie Ford, Kitty Neale and Katie Flynn. Perfect to settle down with!READERS ARE LOVING THE PEARLY QUEEN!'I couldn't put it down' - 5 STARS'I really enjoyed this book from start to finish' - 5 STARS'Good plot and believable characters. Thoroughly enjoyed this book' - 5 STARS'Fantastic' - 5 STARS'A very light and refreshing story!' - 5 STARS*******************************************************************CAN SHE BE THE MOTHER THEY SO DESPERATELY NEED?The Pearly Queen is really Aunt Edie. Everyone in Camberwell Green loves her Aunt Edie - especially the Andrews family.Jack Andrews is having a tough time. Not long after he came back from the First World War, his wife decides to leave him and their three children to join Father Peter's League of Repenters - never to return.Jack and the children manage as best they can, but things are pretty tough until Aunt Edie turns up. Having failed to convince her cousin, Maud Andrews, to come back, Edie moves in and takes over the Andrews family. For the first time in years life begin to look good again.Aunt Edie: warm, generous, kind, and, above all, their very own Pearly Queen.
Pears on a Willow Tree
by Leslie PietrzykThis “rich, intricate, heartfelt novel” follows generations of women as they grapple with the family roots that bind and sustain us all (The Washington Post).The Marchewka women relish the joys of family, from preparing traditional holiday meals to throwing lively, homespun weddings. They are the foundation of a proud Polish-American family—one that has survived the hardships of emigration and assimilation in the 20th century. But as the older women keep traditions alive, the younger women face modern problems that require more than a kind word from mother.Amy is separated by four generations from her immigrant great-grandmother Rose. Rose’s daughter Helen adjusted to the family’s new home in a way her mother never could, while at the same time accepting the importance of Old Country ways. But Helen’s daughter Ginger finds herself suffocating within the close-knit family, the first Marchewka woman to leave Detroit for a life beyond the reach of her family.It’s in the American West that Ginger raises her daughter Amy—who finds herself uprooted from the recipes, memories, and tangled relationships of previous generations. But Amy is about to realize that there may be room in her heart for both the Old World and the New.
Peas and Carrots
by Tanita S. DavisA rich and memorable story from a Coretta Scott King honor award-winning author about a teenage foster girl looking for a place to call home. Dess knows that nothing good lasts. Disappointment is never far away, and that's a truth that Dess has learned to live with. Dess's mother's most recent arrest is just the latest in a long line of disappointments, but this one lands her with her baby brother's foster family. Dess doesn't exactly fit in with the Carters. They're so happy, so comfortable, so normal, and Hope, their teenage daughter, is so hopelessly naïve. Dess and Hope couldn't be more unlike each other, but Austin loves them both like sisters. Over time their differences, insurmountable at first, fall away to reveal two girls who want the same thing: to belong. Tanita S. Davis, a Coretta Scott King Honor winner, weaves a tale of two modern teenagers defying stereotypes and deciding for themselves what it means to be a family.
Peas and Thank You: Simple Meatless Meals the Whole Family Will Love
by Sarah MathenyOver eighty-five “recipeas” = one very happy family. “A wonderfully accessible cookbook designed to help kids learn to love veggies from day one.” —The OregonianWhen Sarah Matheny, creator of the popular blog Peas and Thank You, decided to eliminate animal products from her diet, she knew there’d be skeptics. Her husband was raised on the standard American diet. Her grandpa was a butcher. Her mom was the best home cook around, with a generous pat of butter here and a crumble of bacon there. But now Sarah is a mom who wants to feed her children right.Out went the diet soda. In came the smoothies.Out went the “nutrition” bars. In came the nutritious cookies.Out went a tired, caffeine-fueled mom. In came Mama Pea.Peas and Thank You is a collection of recipes and stories from a mainstream family eating a not-so-mainstream diet. Filled with healthy and delicious versions of foods we’ve all grown up enjoying, but with a Mama Pea twist—no meat, lots of fresh ingredients and plenty of nutrition for growing Peas. From wholesome breakfasts to mouth-watering desserts, there’s plenty here to satisfy the pickiest Peas in your life. It’s easier than ever to whip up crowd-pleasing meals that will have the whole family asking for, “more, Peas.”“Good for your health and I am all for that.” —Tosca Reno, New York Times–bestselling author of Your Best Body Now“This will breathe new life into your kitchen.” —Isa Chandra Moskowitz, author of The Superfun Times Vegan Holiday Cookbook“Even meat lovers will want to take a seat at her table.” —Babble
Pebble & Dove: A Novel
by Amy JonesIn the tradition of Karen Russell&’s Swamplandia!, a once-famous but now-abandoned aquarium-in-a-ship in Florida is the captivating backdrop for a novel of family secrets and dysfunction, and the ways in which it can sometimes take an animal to remind us how to be human.This is the story of a family falling apart, only to be brought back together again by an unlikely champion—a 1,000-pound aquatic mammal named Pebble. Lauren&’s life is a mess. She has a storage unit full of candles she can&’t sell, a growing mountain of debt, and a teenage daughter, Dove, who barely speaks to her. Then her husband sends her a text that changes everything. Eager to escape her problems, she drives herself and Dove south to her late mother&’s rundown trailer in Florida. While keeping her eccentric new neighbours at Swaying Palms at bay, Lauren begins to untangle the truth about her estranged mother. How did world-famous portrait photographer Imogen Starr end up at Swaying Palms?And what happened to her fortune and her photographs?Meanwhile, Dove has secrets of her own. A mysterious photograph leads her to discover the abandoned Flamingo Key Aquarium and Tackle, where she meets Pebble, the world&’s oldest manatee in captivity. It is Pebble, a former star attraction, and her devoted caretaker, Ray, who will hold the key to helping Lauren and Dove come to terms with Imogen&’s unexpected legacy. Darkly funny and sharply observed, Pebble & Dove is a moving novel about the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters, and learning how to choose between what&’s worth saving and what needs to be let go.
Pebbles to the Sea
by Marie-Andrée ArsenaultTwo children feel adrift between the separate worlds of their parents … With their father at the marina, and their mother in the workshop, Flo and Fée aren’t sure where they belong. But at least they can still have fun painting the treasures that wash up on the shore. One day they hear a noise and see a stone trace an arc across the sky — it must be from Henri’s giant slingshot! They decide to go see him, but first stop at the café, where they chat with the piano player, then visit their artist-friend in her shop. When they finally reach Henri, he lifts them up onto ladders where they can see two islands that were once connected by an ice bridge. “Have the two islands separated? Like Maman and Papa?” Flo asks. But Henri tells them there’s a sand bridge underwater that links the islands, just as the girls still link their parents. Then he, like the piano player and artist, walks away with a brush and can of paint. Where can they all be going? This richly nuanced story is inspired by the geography and close-knit coastal community of La Grave heritage site on Quebec’s Îles de la Madeleine. The French edition, Des couleurs sur la grave, won the prix Harry Black de l’album jeunesse. Key Text Features dialogue explanation illustrations photographs vignettes Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.K.3 With prompting and support, identify characters, settings, and major events in a story. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.2 Retell stories, including key details, and demonstrate understanding of their central message or lesson. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
Pecan Pie Baby
by Jacqueline WoodsonA sweet addition to the family is coming! Written by National Book Award-winning author Jacqueline Woodson. Illustrated by Caldecott Award-winning illustrator Sophie Blackall. All anyone wants to talk about with Mama is the new &“ding-dang baby&” that&’s on the way, and Gia is getting sick of it! If her new sibling is already such a big deal, what&’s going to happen to Gia&’s nice, cozy life with Mama once the baby is born? &“[An] honest story about jealousy, anger, displacement, and love [that] will touch kids dealing with sibling rivalry and spark their talk about change.&”—Booklist &“Fresh and wise.&”—Kirkus Reviews
Pecan Pie Baby
by Jacqueline Woodson Sophie BlackallAll anyone wants to talk about with Mama is the new "ding-dang baby" that's on the way, and Gia is getting sick of it! If her new sibling is already such a big deal, what's going to happen to Gia's nice, cozy life with Mama once the baby is born?
The Pecking Order A Bold New Look at How Family and Society Determine Who We Become
by Dalton ConleyThe family is our haven, the place where we all start off on equal footing — or so we like to think. But if that’s the case, why do so many siblings often diverge widely in social status, wealth, and education? In this groundbreaking and meticulously researched book, acclaimed sociologist Dalton Conley shatters our notions of how our childhoods affect us, and why we become who we are. Economic and social inequality among adult siblings is not the exception, Conley asserts, but the norm: over half of all inequality iswithinfamilies, notbetweenthem. And it is each family’s own “pecking order” that helps to foster such disparities. Moving beyond traditionally accepted theories such as birth order or genetics to explain family dynamics, Conley instead draws upon three major studies to explore the impact of larger social forces that shape each family and the individuals within it. From Bill and Roger Clinton to the stories of hundreds of average Americans, here we are introduced to an America where class identity is ever changing and where siblings cannot necessarily follow the same paths. This is a book that will forever alter our idea of family.
Peculiar Ground: A Novel
by Lucy Hughes-Hallett“Sophisticated and erudite. . . . Hughes-Hallett is a natural heir to A.S. Byatt, delivering a densely patterned novel that shimmers with human interest as it probes our cultural story.”—Wall Street JournalThe Costa Award-winning author of The Pike makes her literary fiction debut with an extraordinary historical novel in the spirit of Wolf Hall and Atonement—a great English country house novel, spanning three centuries, that explores surprisingly timely themes of immigration and exclusion.It is the seventeenth century and a wall is being raised around Wychwood, transforming the great house and its park into a private realm of ornamental lakes, grandiose gardens, and majestic avenues designed by Mr. Norris, a visionary landscaper. In this enclosed world everyone has something to hide after decades of civil war. Dissenters shelter in the woods, lovers rendezvous in secret enclaves, and outsiders—migrants fleeing the plague—find no mercy.Three centuries later, far away in Berlin, another wall is raised, while at Wychwood, an erotic entanglement over one sticky, languorous weekend in 1961 is overshadowed by news of historic change. Young Nell, whose father manages the estate, grows up amid dramatic upheavals as the great house is invaded: a pop festival by the lake, a television crew in the dining room, a Great Storm brewing. In 1989, as the Cold War peters out, a threat from a different kind of conflict reaches Wychwood’s walls.Lucy Hughes-Hallett conjures an intricately structured, captivating story that explores the lives of game keepers and witches, agitators and aristocrats; the exuberance of young love and the pathos of aging; and the way those who try to wall others out risk finding themselves walled in. With poignancy and grace, she illuminates a place where past and present are inextricably linked by stories, legends, and history—and by one patch of peculiar ground.
The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin: A Novel
by Stephanie KnipperIn the spirit of Vanessa Diffenbaugh’s The Language of Flowers--and with a touch of the magical--The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a spellbinding debut about a wondrously gifted child and the family that she helps to heal. Sisters Rose and Lily Martin were inseparable when growing up on their family’s Kentucky flower farm yet became distant as adults when Lily found herself unable to deal with the demands of Rose’s unusual daughter. But when Rose becomes ill, Lily is forced to return to the farm and to confront the fears that had driven her away. Rose’s daughter, ten-year-old Antoinette, has a form of autism that requires constant care and attention. She has never spoken a word, but she has a powerful gift that others would give anything to harness--she can heal with her touch. She brings wilted flowers back to life, makes a neighbor’s tremors disappear, and even changes the course of nature on the flower farm. Antoinette’s gift, though, comes at a price, since each healing puts her own life in jeopardy. As Rose--the center of her daughter’s life--struggles with her own failing health and Lily confronts her anguished past, the sisters, and the men who love them, come to realize the sacrifices that must be made to keep this very special child safe. Written with great heart and a deep understanding of what it feels like to be different, The Peculiar Miracles of Antoinette Martin is a novel about what it means to be family and about the lengths to which people will go to protect the ones they love. “This is the kind of book that invites you home, sits you down at the kitchen table, and feeds you something delicious and homemade. You will want to stay in this world where new relationships bloom out of broken ones, sisters find one another again, and miracles really do occur.” —Tiffany Baker
The Peculiar Pig
by Joy Steuerwald* "An excellent, gently told addition to anti-bullying, adoption, and individuality storytimes."--Kirkus Reviews, starred review There was a different sort of piglet in the pigpen one cool spring morning.That "different" one is named Penny, and she's really not a piglet at all . . . she's a puppy. A puppy who gets longer and longer as her piglet siblings get bigger and bigger. Penny doesn't understand why she's different--she only knows that Mama Pig loves her just the same as the rest of the litter. Penny's siblings are baffled by her peculiar behavior--like digging with her paws instead of her snout, and especially her loud, sharp oink. Good thing Penny likes all the sounds she can make, and when danger strikes and her peculiarities prove to be strengths, the piglets see that sometimes it's good to be a little different!
Peder's Flute
by Mark OlsonPeder works hard every day, taking care of his family’s farm with no help from his lazy brothers. He doesn’t mind, though—he gets to play his flute while he works. After his playing attracts the attention of a wealthy troll king, his brothers become jealous of the rewards the king offers to him. They hatch a plan to collect Peder’s reward for themselves. Will the king see through their ploy?