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William Kowalksi Ebook Bundle (Rapid Reads)
by William KowalskiThis ebook bundle offers three gritty urban tales by William Kowalski. In The Barrio Kings, Rosario Gomez struggles to stay out of the gang life that killed his brother while finishing his high school diploma and preparing for the birth of his first son. But when his old friend Juan gets out of jail, his past returns to haunt him. In The Way It Works, A young bi-racial man who suddenly finds himself homeless, struggles to maintain his dignity and to make his own place in the world. In Something Noble, a single mom must try to convince a selfish drug dealer to donate one of his kidneys to his half-brother.
The William Posters Trilogy: The Death of William Posters, A Tree on Fire, and The Flame of Life (The William Posters Trilogy #1)
by Alan SillitoeThe bestselling author of The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner takes his examination of British working-class rebellion into the 1960s. In his best-known works of fiction, British novelist Alan Sillitoe “powerfully depicted revolt against authority by the young and working class” (The Washington Post). Both The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner and Saturday Night and Sunday Morning were international bestsellers and made into acclaimed films. Following those acknowledged masterpieces, Sillitoe continued to explore rebellion against an oppressive society in three novels linked by anarchist antihero Frank Dawley. In these powerful novels, Sillitoe would continue to prove himself “one of the best English writers” (The New York Times) and “the most quietly eloquent of his cohort of postwar British novelists” (Jonathan Lethem). The Death of William Posters: Frank Dawley has finally quit his soul-crushing factory job in Nottingham, left his alienating marriage, burned his possessions, and sold his car. Now he is hitching a ride to wherever the road will take him. Haunting Frank’s physical and existential travels is a ubiquitous inscription painted on nearly every street corner in England: BILL POSTERS WILL BE PROSECUTED. Relentlessly hounded by authorities, whoever William Posters is, he becomes a symbol of the servile proletariat—exactly what Frank hopes to escape. He finds his way from England to Spain to Morocco—and into the beds of several married women along the way. Finally, in Algeria, he meets a revolutionary American, whom he joins in a high-stakes gunrunning mission. A Tree on Fire: Jewish dilettante Myra Bassingfield is returning to England from Gibraltar with her four-week-old son. The child’s father, Frank Dawley, has disappeared into the African desert, where he is fighting for Algerian independence against French troops. Greeting Myra is Frank’s friend, Albert Handley, an idealistic painter living in a chaotic home with a large family. But after Albert’s brother burns down the house, the Handley brood moves in with Myra in Buckinghamshire. By the time Frank finally returns to England, they have formed a commune—a domestic cell of protest that may just plant the seeds of a new revolution. The Flame of Life: Collective cohabitation soon reveals its downfalls within the commune that has set up camp at the home of wealthy Myra Bassingfield. Painter Albert Handley is pursuing a whirlwind existence of art, sex, and chaotic domestic life. Frank Dawley, returned from gunrunning in Algeria, has brought his wife and two kids from Nottingham to live in the Buckinghamshire kibbutz. And when a young Spanish anarchist arrives with assassination on her mind, her trunk full of notebooks may condemn Frank for a sin committed in the African desert. As the community begins to unravel, the very notion of revolution comes under scrutiny.
William S. and the Great Escape
by Zilpha Keatley SnyderTwelve-year-old William S. Baggett is one of eight Baggett children, and he is ready to escape his negligent family. Since his very first day of school in 1931, he has been saving up money to run away. That's exactly what he does--along with three of his younger siblings--after his older brothers flush a pet guinea pig down the toilet. The four children are headed to their aunt Fiona's house, but the trip doesn't go exactly as planned--especially when a lonely rich girl decides to "help" them. Will they ever make it to Aunt Fiona's? And if they do, will she let them stay?
William's Midsummer Dreams
by Zilpha Keatley SnyderFrom three-time Newbery Honor author Zilpha Keatley Snyder, "an adventure story with a lot to say about identity, ambition, and character" (Kirkus Reviews).After a year living with Aunt Fiona, William is off to audition for the role of Puck in a summer production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. But getting the part is just the beginning. Now William has to deal with a jealous rival out to sabotage him, a not-so-secret admirer, and the way the Baggetts still haunt him in nightmares. William's summer is filled with acting and costumes and applause, but he still worries sometimes that he and his younger siblings will never be able to shake off the past. But when the Baggetts show up again, William realizes that he is braver than he thought, and that all will turn out okay.
Willie, the Frog Prince
by C. S. Adler[from inside dust jacket flaps] "Eleven-year-old Willie Feldman has a hard time pleasing his perfectionist father. When he doesn't forget his chores or bring home poor grades because he has difficulty concentrating, his irrepressible dog Booboo gets him into trouble. It doesn't help that Dad is between jobs, with plenty of time to keep an eye on Willie. Then a new girl, Maria, turns up in school. For the first time, Willie has an urge to concentrate, as he seeks ways to impress her. But when they do become friends Willie realizes that Maria has more serious problems than he does: her father constantly moves the family around, and her mother, with her migraine headaches, is in bed most of the time. Can Willie find a way to help Maria out? With genuine warmth and humor, C. S. Adler creates a touching story of a boy who, to his surprise, proves himself to be as much of a prince as the fairy-tale frog."
Willie Wins
by Almira Astudillo GillesWillie's father tells him there is something special in an old coconut bank brought from the Philippines, but Willie is embarrassed to take it to school for a contest, especially since he knows that one of his classmates will make fun of him.
Williwaw!
by Tom BodettFrom humorist, storyteller, author, and the voice of Motel 6 commercials, here is an exciting middle-grade adventure novel set in rural Alaska. <p><p> Ivan and September Crane, ages 12 and 13, are left alone for a couple of weeks while their fisherman Dad is away at sea. In typical adolescent fashion, they quickly proceed to ignore his only two instructions--don't run down the batteries on the portable short-wave radio, their only means of communication, and don't cross the bay to town. <p> Through a series of bad decisions they find themselves crossing Bag Bay in their skiff when they are suddenly overtaken by a sudden and fierce autumn storm known as a williwaw. Ivan and September must use every ounce of strength, courage, and ingenuity they posses to keep themselves afloat until help comes. <p> Williwaw contains rich descriptions of Alaskan geography and wildlife. Its likable characters and taut suspense will keep readers riveted until the last page.
Willodeen
by Katherine ApplegateFrom #1 New York Times bestseller Katherine Applegate, a singular middle-grade novel about a girl who risks everything to help a handmade creature who comes to life.The earth is old and we are not, and that is all you must remember . . .Eleven-year-old Willodeen adores creatures of all kinds, but her favorites are the most unlovable beasts in the land: strange beasts known as “screechers.” The villagers of Perchance call them pests, even monsters, but Willodeen believes the animals serve a vital role in the complicated web of nature.Lately, though, nature has seemed angry indeed. Perchance has been cursed with fires and mudslides, droughts and fevers, and even the annual migration of hummingbears, a source of local pride and income, has dwindled. For as long as anyone can remember, the tiny animals have overwintered in shimmering bubble nests perched atop blue willow trees, drawing tourists from far and wide. This year, however, not a single hummingbear has returned to Perchance, and no one knows why.When a handmade birthday gift brings unexpected magic to Willodeen and her new friend, Connor, she’s determined to speak up for the animals she loves, and perhaps even uncover the answer to the mystery of the missing hummingbears.A timely and timeless tale about our fragile earth, and one girl’s fierce determination to make a difference.
The Willoughby Spit Wonder
by Jonathon Scott FuquaIn a poignant story of a family struggling against loss -- and a boy who would be a superhero -- Jonathon Scott Fuqua evokes, in rich detail, the long-ago era of the 1950s. He looked at her. "Minnie, have you ever wondered if maybe Mom's from Atlantis? We've only seen her parents twice, ever, and her dad looked funny and had to breathe out of that mask. See what I mean? Have you ever thought of that?" It's 1953 and the Korean War is over, but Carter Johnston loves to watch the navy bombers come and go, their great gray bodies skimming the waters of Chesapeake Bay as they guard against the Communist threat. With his family facing a threat of a different kind, Carter dreams of being a superhero. Could he be like the Sub-Mariner, and become the Boy Who Swam Across Hampton Roads, the Willoughby Spit Wonder? Carter's sister, Minnie, says he'll get himself killed, but Carter needs to show their ailing father that success comes to those who try. If his dad wants to stay alive as badly as Carter wants to be like the Sub-Mariner, it can happen. Can't it?
The Willoughbys (The Willoughbys)
by Lois LowryAbandoned by their ill-humored parents to the care of an odious nanny, Tim, the twins, Barnaby A and Barnaby B, and their sister, Jane, attempt to fulfill their roles as good oldfashioned children. Following the models set in lauded tales from A Christmas Carol to Mary Poppins, the four Willoughbys hope to attain their proscribed happy ending too, or at least a satisfyingly maudlin one. However, it is an unquestionably ruthless act that sets in motion the transformations that lead to their salvation and to happy endings for not only the four children, but their nanny, an abandoned baby, a candy magnate, and his long-lost son too. Replete with a tongue-in-cheek glossary and bibliography, this hilarious and decidedly old-fashioned parody pays playful homage to classic works of children’s literature.
The Willoughbys Return (The Willoughbys)
by Lois LowryIt's been 30 years and with rising temperatures melting icy mountain tops the previously frozen Willoughbys have thawed out and are about to return! From living legend and Newbery medalist Lois Lowry comes a hilarious sequel to New York Times bestseller The Willoughbys—soon to be an animated film starring Ricky Gervais, Maya Rudolph, Terry Crews, Martin Short, Jane Krakowski, and Sean Cullen on Netflix!Although they grew up as wretched orphans, the Willoughby siblings also became heirs to the the Melanoff candy company fortune. Everything has turned out just splendidly, except for one problem: Richie Willoughby, son of Timothy Willoughby, is an only child and is quite lonely.Winifred and Winston Poore have long admired the toys of their neighbor Richie Willoughby and finally befriend the mysterious boy next door. But just as Richie finally begins to make friends, selling sweets is made illegal, and the family's fortune is put in jeopardy. To make matters worse, Richie's horrible Willoughby grandparents—frozen atop a Swiss mountain thirty years ago—have thawed, remain in perfect health, and are making their way home again.What is the point of being the reclusive son of a billionaire when your father is no longer a billionaire? What is the future without candy in it? And is there any escaping the odiousness of the Willoughbys? These are the profound questions with which Newbery medalist and ignominious author Lois Lowry grapples in The Willoughbys Return.
Willow
by Julia HobanSeven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen-year- old Willow's parents drank too much wine and asked her to drive them home. They never made it. Willow lost control of the car and her parents died in the accident. Now she has left behind her old home, friends, and school, and blocks the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when Willow meets Guy, a boy as sensitive and complicated as she is, she begins an intense, life-changing relationship that turns her world upside down.Told in an arresting, fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl's struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy's refusal to give up on her.
Willow
by Julia HobanSeven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year-old Willow's parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy one sensitive, soulful boy discovers Willow's secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the safe world Willow has created for herself upside down. Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl's struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy's refusal to give up on her.
Willow
by Julia HobanSeven months ago, on a rainy March night, sixteen year- old Willow?s parents died in a horrible car accident. Willow was driving. Now her older brother barely speaks to her, her new classmates know her as the killer orphan girl, and Willow is blocking the pain by secretly cutting herself. But when one boy ?one sensitive, soulful boy?discovers Willow?s secret, it sparks an intense relationship that turns the ?safe? world Willow has created for herself upside down. Told in an extraordinary fresh voice, Willow is an unforgettable novel about one girl?s struggle to cope with tragedy, and one boy?s refusal to give up on her. .
Willow Grove Abbey: A Historical World War II Romance Novel (Somerville Trilogy #1)
by Mary Christian PayneIn this epic tale of friendship, family, and romance in World War II England, a young noblewoman must choose between her inheritance and the man she loves.To many, Lady Sophia Somerville appears to live a privileged life. Still, it’s a life full of obstacles to be overcome . . .As a student at The Ashwick Park School, Sophia meets classmate Edwina Phillips. The two become the best of friends, but it is all put to the test by an unbelievable betrayal . . .Sophia’s debutante season is much anticipated. Yet when she falls in love with physician and RAF Group Captain Spencer Stanton, theirs is a relationship her parents cannot bless . . .Sophia’s parents appear to be the epitome of grace, charm and dignity, but that’s far from the truth. Her father is charismatic but unscrupulous, while her beautiful mother is prone to fits of rage. And as terrible as they may seem, Sophia still yearns for their approval—even as her values begin to turn away from theirs.Soon, long held family secrets emerge and threaten to destroy the Somervilles. Sophia is faced with an untenable decision: whether to hold fast to her beliefs and cut ties with her family or continue to be the dependent little girl her parents insist she is. Ultimately, Sophia must face the challenge of comprehending, forgiving, and loving her profoundly imperfect family.
Willow Run
by Patricia Reilly Giff1944 Meggie Dillon's life has been turned upside down by World War II. Her older brother Eddie enlisted and was shipped off to fight in Europe. And people say that anywhere else Grandpa would be turned in because he's German, and people might think he's a spy. Is it true? Could Grandpa be taken away? Meggie's father has announced that they must help the war effort and move to Willow Run, Michigan, where he'll work nights in a factory building important war planes that will help fight the enemy in Europe. Willow Run will be the greatest adventure ever, Meggie thinks. There she meets Patches and Harlan, other kids like her whose parents have come here to do their part in the war. And there she faces questions about courage, and what it takes to go into battle, like Eddie, and how to keep hope alive on the home front.
Willowleaf Lane: Willowleaf Lane Christmas In Snowflake Canyon Wild Iris Ridge (Hope's Crossing #5)
by RaeAnne ThayneSometimes going back is the best way to start over in this wholesome second chance romance from New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne!Charlotte Caine knows temptation—she owns a candy shop after all. But willpower doesn&’t come so easily when hell-raiser Spencer Gregory comes back to Hope&’s Crossing, bringing with him memories of broken promises and teen angst. A retired pro baseball player on the mend from injury—and a damaging scandal—he&’s interested in his own brand of reinvention.Now everything about Spencer&’s new-and-improved lifestyle, from his mission to build a rehab facility for injured veterans to his clear devotion to his preteen daughter, Peyton, touches Charlotte&’s heart. Holding on to past hurt is her only protection against falling for him—again. But if she takes the risk, will she find in Spencer a hometown heartbreaker, or the hero she&’s always wanted?Previously published
Willowood
by Cecilia GalanteTen-year-old Lily Sinclair is a bored latchkey kid, an ardent fan of decaf coffee, shoes, and anything to do with lizards. (She has a pet gecko, Weemis.) When her elderly neighbor, Mrs. Hiller, introduces her to the owner of the nearby Pet Palace and his adult son Nate, who has Down's syndrome, Lily finds herself with an unofficial after-school job. She forges a tentative friendship with Nate, but their bond is threatened by a dark secret that will change everything. Boasting a fresh, original voice, Willowood is a touching testament to the importance of friendship.
Willow's Flame: Do You Really Know Who You're Sleeping Next To?
by Stephanie Fields<p>A woman’s disappearance shakes up a love triangle in this “terrifyingly wicked psychological thriller” from the author of Mirror and Under (Alisa H. Klinger, author of The Perfect Move).<p> <p>So, what is it exactly that labels one a serial killer? Is it the amount of people that you kill, statistically speaking? What if the killing is within reason? Can the murder, or murders, be justified? If the world is a better place without the people who are killed, is it really such a tragedy?<p> <p>In what would seem to be a cozy home in Chicago, a young couple seem to have it all, Willow finds herself questioning the life she chose with her husband Neil. When his secrets begin to unfold, she gets caught up in a spicy affair with a man she meets at a book club. It turns out Neil isn’t the only one bearing secrets. Pauleen, who’s named The Nosey Neighbor, hears it all through the thin walls and starts to connect the dots herself when poor, sweet Willow goes missing.<p>
Willow's Way (A Sweet Life Novel #2)
by Sharon StruthThe breathtaking promise of the English countryside can lift even the heaviest spirits . . . Willow Armstrong, the once-famous “Queen of Weight Loss” and president of Pound Busters, succumbed to stress eating after her divorce. Now the scandal of getting caught on camera binging on pizza, and the internet-wide mocking of her new curves, may destroy her career. Add in a business advisor who drained her finances, and Willow is out of options—until she learns she’s inherited a house in England’s most picturesque locale, The Cotswolds. Willow’s trip across the pond to sell the property and salvage her company soon becomes its own adventure: the house, once owned by grandparents she never met, needs major work. Plus, single dad Owen Hughes, the estate’s resident groundskeeper and owner of a local tour outfit, isn’t thrilled about the idea of leaving . . . Yet as Willow proceeds with her plans, she’s sidetracked by surprising discoveries about her family’s history--and with Owen’s help, the area’s distinctive attractions. Soon, she’s even retracing her roots—and testing her endurance—amid the region’s natural beauty. And the more she delves into the past, the more clearly she sees herself, her future, and the way home . . .
Will's Choice: A Suicidal Teen, a Desperate Mother, and a Chronicle of Recovery
by Gail GriffithOn March 11, 2001, seventeen-year-old Will ingested a near-fatal dose of his antidepressant medication, an event that would forever change his life and the lives of his family. In Will's Choice, his mother, Gail Griffith, tells the story of her family's struggle to renew Will's interest in life and to regain their equilibrium in the aftermath.Griffith intersperses her own finely wrought prose with dozens of letters and journal entries from family and friends, including many from Will himself. A memoir with a social conscience, Will's Choice lays bare the social and political challenges that American families face in combating this most mysterious and stigmatized of illnesses. In Gail Griffith, depressed teens have found themselves a formidable advocate, and in the evocative and fiercely compelling narrative of Will's Choice, we all discover the promise of a second chance.
Will's Choice (The Orphan Train Children #2)
by Joan Lowery NixonIt's 1866, and twelve-year-old Will Scott is not happy to be riding the orphan train. That's because Will's not really an orphan. He has a father -- Jesse, a circus performer. But Jess tells Will that he'll have a better life with a new family out west. Will is placed with the kindly Dr. and Mrs. Wallace. Will assists Dr. Wallace on his rounds of the local farms and finds that he's really good at helping people who are sick or hurt. Still, Will misses his father terribly. Then one night Jesse's circus comes to town, and Will has to make a big decision.
Will's Surreal Period: A Novel
by Robert Steven GoldsteinA novel about a family even more dysfunctional than the one you grew up in. Will’s Surreal Period is a richly satisfying tale—at times laugh-out-loud hilarious and at times deeply moving—that features a rollickingly dysfunctional family, a seemingly endless array of succulent foodstuffs, and a brain tumor that transforms a mediocre painter into a virtuoso. Now toss in a smidgen of BDSM and a few beguiling tidbits exploring brain chemistry and human evolution, and you have a story that will hook you fast and captivate you till the end. “Will’s Surreal Period proves why works of fiction are high art. . . . Robert Steven Goldstein deftly converts our raw human foibles into emotive entertainment and, as he does, reminds us, sometimes painfully, sometimes hilariously, who we are.” —MICHAEL J. COFFINO, award-winning author of Truth Is in the House
Willy Vlautin Collection
by Willy VlautinFour novels including: The Free: Leroy Kervin is a 31 year old Iraqi War veteran living with a traumatic brain injury. Freddie McCall is a middle aged father working two jobs. He's lost his wife and kids, and is close to losing his house. Pauline Hawkins takes care of everyone else around her. The lives of these three characters intersect as they look for meaning in desperate times. The Free is an extraordinary portrait of contemporary America and a testament to the resiliency of the human heart. <P> Motel Life: The Motel Life explores the frustrations and failed dreams of two Nevada brothers — on the run after a hit-and-run accident — who, forgotten by society, and short on luck and hope, desperately cling to the edge of modern life.<P> Lean on Pete: Fifteen-year-old Charley Thompson wants a home, food on the table, and a high school he can attend for more than part of a year. But as the son of a single father working in warehouses across the Pacific Northwest, Charley's been pretty much on his own. When tragic events leave him homeless weeks after their move to Portland, Oregon, Charley seeks refuge in the tack room of a run-down horse track. <P> Northline: Fleeing Las Vegas and her abusive boyfriend, Allison Johnson moves to Reno, intent on making a new life for herself. Haunted by the mistakes of her past, and lacking any self-belief, her only comfort seems to come from the imaginary conversations she has with Paul Newman, and the characters he played. But as life crawls on and she finds work, small acts of kindness start to reveal themselves to her, and slowly the chance of a new life begins to emerge.
Wilson the Worrier
by Carol GreathouseWilson is a worrier. His sister, Katrina, never seems to worry about anything. That is, until they get to the park.