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When I First Held You
by Brian Gresko"One of the first things I learned about fatherhood was that my father was right: it was hard and it kicked the shit out of your life plan."--Lev Grossman "I wanted to hold him. I wanted to hold him close and never let go. But we have to let go, don't we?"--Andre Dubus III From some of today's most critically acclaimed writers comes a rich collection of essays on what it means to be a dad. Becoming a father can be one of the most profoundly terrifying, exhilarating, life-changing occasions in a man's life. Now 22 of today's masterful writers get straight to the heart of modern fatherhood in this incomparable collection of thought-provoking essays. From making that ultimate decision to have a kid to making it through the birth to tangling with a toddler mid-tantrum, and eventually letting a teen loose in the world, these fathers explore every facet of fatherhood and show how being a father changed the way they saw the world--and themselves. "Bridges are engineered. Children are worked toward, clumsily, imperfectly, with a deep and almost religious faith in trial and error."--Ben Greenman "If you counted up the nights I've spent dancing to 'Strangers in the Night,' those hours would stretch three times around the equator."--Garth Stein "The most surprising aspect of parenting has been how much my pre-parenting life looks like a cloud in the rearview."--Dennis Lehane Contributors include André Aciman, Chris Bachelder, David Bezmozgis, Justin Cronin, Peter Ho Davies, Anthony Doerr, Andre Dubus III, Steve Edwards, Karl Taro Greenfeld, Ben Greenman, Lev Grossman, Dennis Lehane, Bruce Machart, Rick Moody, Stephen O'Connor, Benjamin Percy, Bob Smith, Frederick Reiken, Marco Roth, Matthew Specktor, Garth Stein, and Alexi Zentner
When I Found Grandma
by Saumiya BalasubramaniamMaya longs to see her grandmother, but when Grandma arrives from far away for a visit, she is not quite what Maya expected.When Maya’s grandma makes a surprise visit from thousands of miles away, Maya is delighted. But her excitement doesn’t last long. When Grandma picks her up from school, she wears fancy clothes and talks too loudly. Grandma’s morning prayer bells wake Maya up, and she cooks with ingredients Maya doesn’t usually eat. Plus, Maya thinks cupcakes taste better than Grandma’s homemade sweets. Maya and Grandma try to compromise, and on a special trip to the island Grandma even wears an “all-American” baseball cap. But when Maya rushes off to find the carousel, she loses sight of her mother, father and grandmother. She is alone in a sea of people … until she spots something bobbing above the crowd, and right away she knows how to find her way. Saumiya Balasubramaniam’s story is an insightful and endearing portrayal of a grandparent-grandchild relationship that is evolving and deeply loving, as Maya and Grandma navigate cross-cultural contexts and generational differences. Qin Leng’s sweet, evocative illustrations complement the story and illuminate Grandma and Maya’s growing closeness.Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts:CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.6Identify who is telling the story at various points in a text.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.9Compare and contrast the adventures and experiences of characters in stories.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.3Describe how characters in a story respond to major events and challenges.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.5Describe the overall structure of a story, including describing how the beginning introduces the story and the ending concludes the action.CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.2.6Acknowledge differences in the points of view of characters, including by speaking in a different voice for each character when reading dialogue aloud.
When I Hit the Road
by Nancy J. CavanaughFrom the award-winning author of This Journal Belongs to Ratchet comes an uplifting, hilarious, illustrated middle grade story about a girl on a madcap road trip. Told in journal entries, When I Hit the Road explores making unexpected friends, multigenerational relationships, and finding out that maybe journaling your adventures isn't so bad after all.Samantha is not exactly excited to spend her entire summer vacation in Florida with her grandma. Or to have to write to her future self in the journal her mom insists she use. But it turns out that Gram has some not-so-boring plans up her sleeve…Gram and her friend Mimi are going to audition for the Seniors Have Got Talent Karaoke Contest!A road trip in Gram's new Mustang turns into a series of hilarious mishaps that flip Samantha's summer on its head, especially because, an unexpected person is sharing the ride: a super cute, muscular, athletic-looking, dimple-faced, middle-school boy named Brandon.It looks like her journal might be worth keeping after all because this summer will be one Samantha will never want to forget.Follow along with Sam, Gram, Mimi and Brandon in all their road trip shenanigans, including:A GIANT alligator and the grossest swamp mud you'll ever seeThe safe-haven Glory Bound Baptist Church (and cat burglar)The hilarious (and terrifying) Kooky Karaoke ContestThe Friendly Fill-up Gas Station (and the Restroom of Horror)And morePerfect for summer reading, middle school girls, and students grades 3rd to 8th that want a fun, lighthearted read!
When I Hit You: Or, A Portrait of the Writer as a Young Wife
by Meena KandasamyThe widely acclaimed novel of an abused woman in India and her fight for freedom: &“A triumph.&” —The GuardianNamed a Best Book of the Year by the Financial Times, the Guardian, the Daily Telegraph, and the ObserverShortlisted for the Women&’s Prize for FictionLonglisted for the Dylan Thomas PrizeShortlisted for the Jhalak Prize Based on the author&’s own experience, When I Hit You follows the narrator as she falls in love with a university professor and agrees to be his wife. Soon, the newlywed experiences extreme violence at her husband&’s hands and finds herself socially isolated. Yet hope keeps her alive. Writing becomes her salvation, a supreme act of defiance, in a harrowing yet fierce and funny novel that not only examines one woman&’s battle against terror and loneliness but reminds us how fiction and stories can help us escape.
When I Pray for You
by Matthew Paul TurnerFrom the author and illustrator of the best-selling When God Made You comes a new illuminating message about God's design affirming young readers.With lyricism, whimsy, and heartfelt emotion, Matthew Paul Turner reveals the tender emotions connected with watching a beloved child grow up and experience the world. Paired with Kimberley Barnes's vivid and playful illustrations, When I Pray for You is a beautifully affirming book, in which children and parents will see their own stories come to life. When I Pray for You celebrates the dreams, hopes, and longings parents pray over their children, and shares with the little ones how much care and concern a loved one feels for them. This is a book you will read to your child again and again. Perfect for any occasion, as well as for milestones including baby showers, birthdays, and graduations. From the moment I saw you, I started to pray.Big prayers and small ones I have sent God's way.I prayed you felt safe,full of joy and content.When I whispered "I love you,"you knew what I meant.
When I See Blue
by Lily BaileyNew town, new school, but the bully is in Ben's head ...There are 4 things you should know about Ben: 1. He's 12 years old 2. He's the new kid at school3. His special number is 44. He has a bully in his brainSometimes Ben's brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all.An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and The Goldfish Boy.
When I See Blue
by Lily BaileyNew town, new school, but the bully is in Ben's head… <p><p>There are 4 things you should know about Ben: 1. He's 12 years old. 2. He's the new kid at school. 3. His special number is 4. 4. He has a bully in his brain. <p><p>Sometimes Ben's brain makes him count to 4 to prevent bad things happening. Sometimes it makes him tap or blink in 4s. Mostly it makes the smallest things feel impossible. And with a new school, a moody big brother, an absent dad and a mum battling her own demons, Ben feels more out of control than ever. But then he meets April, and with his new friend, Ben might finally figure out how to stand up to the bully in his brain, once and for all. <p><P>An authentic and affecting #ownvoices story about living life with OCD, from the inspiring author and mental health activist, Lily Bailey. Perfect for readers of A Kind of Spark and The Goldfish Boy. <p>(P) 2022 Hodder & Stoughton Limited
When I Talk to God, I Talk About You
by Chrissy Metz Bradley Collins Lisa FieldsFrom Chrissy Metz, star of the hit NBC television show This Is Us, and Bradley Collins comes a gorgeous, heartwarming picture book of faith, prayer, and the loving bond between parent and child. <p><p>When I talk to God, guess what I do?It's really quite simple: I talk about you. From bears and otters to rabbits and raccoons, these animals describe the many things they pray to God for as their little ones grow right before their eyes. <p><p>With stunning illustrations from Lisa Fields, this is a touching ode to unconditional love and the perfect book to help introduce little ones to prayer. Perfect for fans of Matthew Paul Turner's When God Made You, Rachel Held Evans's What Is God Like?, Lisa Tawn Bergren and Laura J. Bryant's God Gave Us You, Ainsley Earhardt's I'm So Glad You Were Born, and Joanna Gaines's The World Needs Who You Were Made to Be. <p> <b>New York Times Bestseller</b>
When I Visited Grandma
by Saumiya BalasubramaniamMaya is excited to be in India visiting Grandma, but their time together isn’t quite what she expected … A companion book to When I Found Grandma. It’s Maya’s first morning in India, but Grandma is already rushing her — it’s market day and they must make the most of Maya’s visit. When Maya comes out of her room wearing her favorite ripped jeans, Grandma wants to sew them! Maya finds the market too hot, too loud, and it’s full of Grandma’s nosy neighbors. Even back at home, Grandma’s friends keep dropping by. Maya just longs to be left alone. But the next morning the house is unusually quiet. Dad explains that Grandma has had to go to the hospital. And suddenly Maya begins to see things differently … Once again Saumiya Balasubramaniam explores the challenges of cross-cultural and intergenerational relationships in this sweet story with vivid illustrations by Kavita Ramchandran. Key Text Features dialogue illustrations Correlates to the Common Core State Standards in English Language Arts: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.3 Describe characters, settings, and major events in a story, using key details. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.4 Identify words and phrases in stories or poems that suggest feelings or appeal to the senses. CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.RL.1.7 Use illustrations and details in a story to describe its characters, setting, or events.
When I Was a Child
by Andy StantonThis beautifully illustrated book is a celebration of the the special bond between a grandparent and child as they share the magic, joy and love in the world, both past and present. There is magic in everything.The world is a spinning star, No matter how old you are.A heartwarming, tender story, perfect for sharing together.
When I Was Little: A Four-year-old's Memoir of Her Youth
by Jamie Lee Curtis"When I was little, I could hardly do anything. But now I can do lots of things, like braid my own hair and go to nursery school. I'm not a baby anymore. I'm me!" Jamie Lee Curtis and Laura Cornell perfectly capture a little girl's simple, childlike celebration of herself, as she looks back on her childhood from the lofty height of four and a half years. This spirited view of growing up is perfect for the youngest readers.
When I Was Older
by Garret Freymann-WeyrSophie Merdinger is convinced that she's a wretched daughter, a nonexistent girlfriend, and a sister who can't remember one tiny thing about her brother. Two years ago her little brother, Erhart, died of leukemia, and Sophie finds her memories of him fading. And she can't seem to forgive her father for having an affair while Erhart was dying. Added to all of this, Sophie is trying to handle the normal pains and confusions of adolescence. Enter Francis. With a dead mother, a teardrop tattooed on his face, and a curiosity that is almost nosy, he has a lot to teach Sophie about losing someone and saving memories. But things get confusing when Sophie realizes that Francis wants to be more than friends. Is she finally ready to let go of the past? In this memorable novel, Garret Freymann-Weyr presents us with the unique story of one girls attempt to understand life, death, and the time that passes in between.
When I Was Otherwise
by Stephen BenatarTwo women looking back over fifty years: one full of regret, the other not admitting to mistakes and continuing to be fiercely positive. Which approach, in the end, is likely to prove more satisfying--both for Daisy herself and for those who live around her?
When I Was Summer
by J. B. HowardA relatable novel about unrequited love, rock 'n' roll, and what you find when you go searching for yourself.Sixteen-year-old Nora Wakelin has always felt like an outsider in her own family. Her parents and older sister love her, but they don't understand anything about her: not her passion for music, not her all-encompassing crush on her bandmate Daniel (who is very much unavailable), not her recklessness and impulsiveness. Nora has always imagined that her biological mother might somehow provide the answer as to why she feels like such an outsider. Through internet stalking and leaps of logic, Nora identifies three women living elsewhere in California who seem like they could be her biological mother. So she sets out to track them each down, one by one, under the pretense of a statewide tour with her rock band, Blue Miles. Three cities, three gigs, three possible birth mothers--it sounds so easy.But once they're on the road, of course, it's anything but easy. Nora wants to be with Daniel, she wants to find her birth mother, she wants to keep her parents happy, she wants the band to stay together, and she wants to know why she is the way she is. But she won't be the first musician to find out that, while you can't always get what you want, sometimes you get what you need.
When I Was Your Age: Life Lessons, Funny Stories & Questionable Parenting Advice from a Professional Clown
by Kenan ThompsonWhen I Was Your Age is a hilarious, heartwarming and surprising ode to growing up, getting older and wiser, and luck, life, and learning from the school of hard knocks, from SNL's longest-serving actor, Kenan ThompsonKenan Thompson is Saturday Night Live’s longest-ever-serving cast member and a star of such pioneering sketches as “Black Jeopardy” and is hugely beloved thanks to a tidal wave of nostalgic fans who grew up on early 2000s classics All That, Good Burger, and Kenan & Kel on Nickelodeon.He’s also a dad (to two girls) in his mid-40s living in suburbia, and whose universal, relatable, family-friendly humor has created unbelievable appeal and engagement from fans from middle America to coastal elites. Becoming a dad sucked the cool right out of him -- and he's OK with that!When I Was Your Age is packed with hilarious yet poignant essays that are aimed to offer any reader valuable advice on parenting, focusing on positivity, and having fun in life. Kids, new parents, fellow fathers, budding comics, and aunties who want to pinch his cheeks, can all learn from his biggest mistakes and most triumphant victories. There’s something for everybody here!
When I'm Bigger, Mama Bear (Mama and Bella Bear)
by Rachel BrightFrom Rachel Bright, the bestselling author and illustrator of Love Monster, comes a warm and relatable parent-child story about learning to love exactly who you are right now in When I'm Bigger, Mama Bear.The beloved mother-daughter bear pair from In a Minute, Mama Bear are back, making lunch and running errands. But Bella Bear wants to do BIG bear things, like bike to the store alone and chop up vegetables. Mama Bear tries to tell her she's too little to do these things by herself, but Bella doesn't want to listen. Luckily, when Bella climbs too high and needs help, Mama is right there to lend a helping hand.
When Impossible Happens
by Jane De SuzaA poignant story of life in India during the pandemic that mixes loss, hope, and even a mystery solved by imaginative, lively, almost-nine-year-old Swara.When the pandemic hits and India goes into lockdown, high-spirited Swara keeps up her daily chats with her just-as-imaginative grandmother, Pitter Paati, through video calls. But soon Pitter Paati becomes too ill to even call, and then Swara's parents say she has died of the virus. Swara can't believe it. Pitter Paati would not just leave! It's impossible! As Swara investigates the mystery of her grandmother&’s disappearance, she stumbles upon a neighborhood mystery as well. With help from her friends, usually-annoying brother, and clues she&’s certain came from Pitter Paati, Swara solves that very real mystery and, slowly, comes to terms with the truth about her grandmother. She also realizes Pitter Paati will be with her, in many important ways, forever.
When in French: Love in a Second Language
by Lauren CollinsA language barrier is no match for love. Lauren Collins discovered this firsthand when, in her early thirties, she moved to London and fell for a Frenchman named Olivier--a surprising turn of events for someone who didn't have a passport until she was in college. But what does it mean to love someone in a second language? Collins wonders, as her relationship with Olivier continues to grow entirely in English. Are there things she doesn't understand about Olivier, having never spoken to him in his native tongue? Does "I love you" even mean the same thing as "je t'aime"? When the couple, newly married, relocates to Francophone Geneva, Collins--fearful of one day becoming "a Borat of a mother" who doesn't understand her own kids--decides to answer her questions for herself by learning French. When in French is a laugh-out-loud funny and surprising memoir about the lengths we go to for love, as well as an exploration across culture and history into how we learn languages--and what they say about who we are. Collins grapples with the complexities of the French language, enduring excruciating role-playing games with her classmates at a Swiss language school and accidently telling her mother-in-law that she's given birth to a coffee machine. In learning French, Collins must wrestle with the very nature of French identity and society--which, it turns out, is a far cry from life back home in North Carolina. Plumbing the mysterious depths of humanity's many forms of language, Collins describes with great style and wicked humor the frustrations, embarrassments, surprises, and, finally, joys of learning--and living in--French.From the Hardcover edition.
When in Rome: A Novel
by Liam CallananFrom nationally bestselling, award-winning author Liam Callanan, the story of an opportunity to start over at midlife, a chance to save a struggling convent in the Eternal City, and the dramatic re-emergence of an old flame . . .Meet Claire: fifty-two, desperate to do something new and get a fresh start.Enter the chance to go to Rome: Home to a struggling convent facing a precipitous end, the city beckons Claire, who's long had a complicated relationship with religion, including a &“missed connection&” with convent life in her teens. Once in Rome, she finds a group of funny, fearless nuns in a gorgeous villa, beautiful runs throughout a color-saturated city, and a chance to reflect. It all leads her to an unexpected question—should she join the convent?—and an answer that startles her as much as it does those closest to her.It also startles Marcus, a once-buzzy actor, devastatingly handsome, who is eternally in love with Claire. Marcus has come and gone from Claire&’s life since college but now reappears in Rome just as she&’s about to decide what&’s next.As Claire searches for her higher calling, she finds the key to her future may lay in her past—and involves an actual key. The nuns swear it unlocks nothing, but on a night when choices and voices swirl, Claire finds a long-hidden lock.A look at faith, in oneself as much as a higher power, and love, romantic and familial, lost and found, this is the thoroughly charming story of one woman who sets out to rewrite her past and future, only to be surprised by the plot twists life plants . . . when in Rome.
When in Vanuatu: A Novel
by Nicki ChenWhen Diana quit her job and followed her husband to Manila, she believed the move would work for both of them: Jay would finally have his dream job, and she would take time off from her accounting career to start a family.Four years later, however, she&’s still not pregnant. Her fertility doctor advises her to relax—an undertaking that is easier said than done in one of the noisiest, most crowded cities in the world. Nevertheless, Diana tries. She takes up yoga and meditation. She buys goldfish. Then one day, while Jay is away on business, a violent coup d&’etat erupts. The rebels bomb the presidential palace and occupy parts of the city.Clearly, Diana decides, something needs to change. Determined to have a baby while she&’s still young enough, she convinces Jay to transfer to the small South Pacific nation of Vanuatu, said to be &“the most relaxing place on earth.&” It isn&’t long before she realizes that the island&’s tropical beauty hides dangers and disappointments that will test her courage, her marriage, and her ability to open herself up to new possibilities.
When Irish Guys are Smiling
by Suzanne SuppleeFor seventeen-year-old Delk Sinclair, studying abroad in Ireland means one thing: escape. Delk is tired of hearing about her friends' debutante parties, watching her pregnant stepmother redecorate her mother's house, and having to smile sweetly even though she doesn't think she'll ever get over losing her mother. Ireland is Delk's chance to be happy. With the stunning green landscape as backdrop, Delk revels in all things Irish, from living in a real Irish castle, to celebrating St. Paddy's Day in Galway, to enjoying Irish music and dance, to studying Yeats and shearing a sheep! So when Delk begins to fall for a very handsome Irishman, she wonders if there's more to the Emerald Isle than it first seemed. It is fun, to be sure, but will those smiling Irish eyes really be able to heal her broken heart?
When Is It Right to Die?: A Comforting and Surprising Look at Death and Dying
by Joni Eareckson TadaMore and more people who are terminally ill are choosing assisted suicide. When is it Right to Die? offers a different path with alternatives of hope, compassion, and death with real dignity. Joni Eareckson Tada knows what it means to wrestle with this issue and to wish for a painless solution. For the last 50 years she has been confined to a wheelchair and struggled against her own paralysis. And she sat by the bedside of her dying father, thinking, So much suffering, why not end it all quickly, painlessly? The terminally ill, the elderly, the disabled, the depressed and suicidal, can all be swept up into this movement of self-deliverance. Skip the suffering. Put a quick end to merciless pain and mental anguish. These are tempting enticements to the hurting. Joni doesn’t give pat answers. Instead, she gives warm comfort from God and practical help to meet the realities for those facing death. When Is It Right to Die tells the stories of families who have wrestled with end-of-life questions and found that death with dignity does not necessarily mean three grams of Phenobarbital in the veins. Behind every right-to-die situation is a family. A family like yours. In her warm, personal way, Joni takes the reader into the lives of families and lets them speak about assisted suicide. What they say is surprising.Whether you have a dying family member, facing moral and medical choices, or struggling with a chronic condition that feels overwhelming, this book will help you find practical encouragement and biblical advice to help you make difficult decisions.This book is revised and updated to examine the current events, trending issues, and the rising acceptance of assisted suicide in this country.
When Is Perfect, Perfect Enough? (Raise the Flag #6)
by Nancy RueShannon suffers in the shadow of her wild and uncontrollable younger sister Caitlin, who seems ready to tear their Christian family apart, and finds herself developing an eating disorder.
When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories
by Molly RingwaldTales of love, loss, and betrayal are at the heart of When It Happens to You, the debut story collection from actress and author Molly Ringwald.A Hollywood icon, Ringwald defined the teenage experience in the eighties in such classic films as Pretty in Pink, The Breakfast Club, and Sixteen Candles. Now the star of ABC Family’s hit series, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and author of the bestselling memoir Getting the Pretty Back, Ringwald brings that same compelling candor she displayed in her film roles to the unforgettable characters she has created in this series of linked stories about the particular challenges, joys, and disappointments of adult relationships.Here are stories that grapple with infertility and infidelity, fame and familial discord, in a magnificent collection that will resonate broadly with readers—from fans of Melissa Banks to Meg Wolitzer to Lorrie Moore.
When It's Real (Harlequin Teen)
by Erin WattWealth, fame and a real-life romance she never expected-seventeen-year-old Vaughn Bennett lands it all when she agrees to become a pop star's fake girlfriend in this smart, utterly addictive novel from #1 New York Times bestselling author duo Erin Watt Under ordinary circumstances, Oakley Ford and Vaughn Bennett would never even cross paths. There's nothing ordinary about Oakley. This bad-boy pop star's got Grammy Awards, millions of fangirls and a reputation as a restless, too-charming troublemaker. But with his home life disintegrating, his music well suddenly running dry and the tabloids having a field day over his outrageous exploits, Oakley needs to show the world he's settling down-and who better to help him than Vaughn, a part-time waitress trying to help her family get by? The very definition of ordinary. Posing as his girlfriend, Vaughn will overhaul Oakley's image from troublemaker to serious artist. In return for enough money to put her brothers through college, she can endure outlandish Hollywood parties and carefully orchestrated Twitter exchanges. She'll fool the paparazzi and the groupies. She might even start fooling herself a little. Because when ordinary rules no longer apply, there's no telling what your heart will do...