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A Short History of Nearly Everything (Bryson Ser. #5)
by Bill BrysonOne of the world's most beloved writers and bestselling author of One Summer takes his ultimate journey--into the most intriguing and intractable questions that science seeks to answer.In A Walk in the Woods, Bill Bryson trekked the Appalachian Trail--well, most of it. In A Sunburned Country, he confronted some of the most lethal wildlife Australia has to offer. Now, in his biggest book, he confronts his greatest challenge: to understand--and, if possible, answer--the oldest, biggest questions we have posed about the universe and ourselves. Taking as territory everything from the Big Bang to the rise of civilization, Bryson seeks to understand how we got from there being nothing at all to there being us. To that end, he has attached himself to a host of the world's most advanced (and often obsessed) archaeologists, anthropologists, and mathematicians, travelling to their offices, laboratories, and field camps. He has read (or tried to read) their books, pestered them with questions, apprenticed himself to their powerful minds. A Short History of Nearly Everything is the record of this quest, and it is a sometimes profound, sometimes funny, and always supremely clear and entertaining adventure in the realms of human knowledge, as only Bill Bryson can render it. Science has never been more involving or entertaining.
A Side of Sabotage: A Quinnie Boyd Mystery (Quinnie Boyd Mysteries #3)
by C. M. SurrisiFor decades, Gusty's Café has been a beloved staple in Maiden Rock, Maine. Quinnie Boyd's dad runs the café, just like Quinnie's granddad before him. But the family business has new competition when a bad-boy chef from Boston opens his own place in the small vacation town. The new restaurant takes fancy dining to the extreme. Still, that's not a crime . . . but when things start to go wrong at Gusty's, Quinnie suspects foul play. Are the people behind Restaurant Hubert trying to squash the Boyds' family café? Quinnie is about to find out if it is a coincidence—or sabotage.
A Sight for Sore Eyes: A Novel (Paragon Softcover Large Print Bks.)
by Ruth RendellA Sight for Sore Eyes tells three stories, and for the longest time, the reader has no inkling of how they will come together. The first is a story of a little girl who has been scolded and sent to her room when her mother is brutally murdered; as Francine grows up, she is haunted by the experience, and it is years before she even speaks. Secondly, we become privy to the life of a young man, Teddy, born of unthinking young parents, who grows up almost completely ignored. Free of societal mores, he becomes a sociopath, who eventually discovers that killing can be an effective way to get what he wants. Thirdly, we meet Harriet, who from an early age has learned to use her beauty to make her way in the world. Bored by marriage to a wealthy, much older man, she scans the local newspapers for handymen to perform odd jobs around the house, including services in the bedroom.When these three plots strands finally converge, the result is harrowing and unforgettable. A Sight for Sore Eyes is not just the work of a writer at the peak of her craft. It is an extraordinary story by a writer who, after 45 books, countless awards, and decades of international acclaim, is still getting better with every book.From the Hardcover edition.
A Simple Case of Angels
by Caroline AddersonNicola’s adorable little dog, June Bug, keeps getting into trouble. She steals the neighbor’s turkey, yanks down the Christmas tree and destroys Mum’s almost-finished giant crossword. Everyone is mad, and it looks as though June Bug’s days are numbered.Will doing a good deed make up for June Bug’s bad behavior?Nicola certainly hopes so. And when she and June Bug come across a new nursing home in the neighborhood, it feels like a Sign. They volunteer to become regular visitors at Shady Oaks, certain that June Bug’s cute tricks will cheer up the elderly residents.In fact, they could all use some cheering up. It’s the holiday, and yet everyone seems to be cranky and off balance. Nobody has put up any lights, Nicola’s grade five teacher is inexplicably crabby, and Nicola’s big brother Jared stays holed up in front of the computer playing Inferno 2, eagerly sending winged creatures into a fiery abyss. Even Nicola is not herself, and when a new girl, Lindsay, tries to be her friend, Nicola finds herself being uncharacteristically mean, because Lindsay seems to be one of those hair-and-jewelry girls who wants her own subscription to Bride magazine for Christmas.But Nicola’s mother won’t let her visit Shady Oaks by herself, so when Lindsay offers to go with her, Nicola agrees. And the girls discover that something unusual is going on at the home, where it seems that a few of the more remarkable patients are being kept against their will. Freeing them will bring out the very best in Nicola, and especially in June Bug.
A Skateboard Cat-astrophe (Hardy Boys Clue Book #6)
by Franklin W. Dixon Matt DavidDetective brothers Frank and Joe must figure out who sabotaged Skeeter the Skateboarding Cat in the sixth book in the interactive Hardy Boys Clue Book series.Everyone in Bayport is talking about the first annual skateboard contest. The winner gets free mac and cheese balls from The Easy Cheesy food truck for the whole year! Frank and Joe just wish there was someone to beat the school’s biggest bully, and best skateboarder, Diesel Diffendorfer. Then their best friend Chet shows them a video of Skeeter the skateboarding cat…a cat that happens to belong to the new kid in town, Carlos Martinez. Suddenly, a plan is hatched. Carlos agrees to enter Skeeter, in the contest. Who wouldn’t want free mac and cheese for a year? But just when Skeeter hits his final trick, a mouse runs across his path! Distracted, Skeeter hops off his skateboard and chases after his furry foe. When Frank and Joe run to catch him, they discover the mouse was a toy. Could someone have sabotaged Skeeter’s big day? It’s up to the Hardy Boys—and you—to find out!
A Sky Full of Dragons (The Wand Keepers #1)
by Tiffany McDanielFor younger fans of Witchlings and Eva Evergreen comes a light-hearted and whimsical middle grade fantasy about a young girl who must save her witch aunt from an uncommonly voracious hat.Where dragons take flight, through the dark of the night. Where the fire ignites, you will find the light. Aunt Cauldroneyes is always looking into cauldrons. She&’s found everything from giggling moons to troll nose rings, but when she looks inside a purple cauldron one stormy night, she finds a girl with blue freckles. The old witch raises the girl and names her Spella. They live in Hungry Snout Forest in a crooked house with doors enchanted to smell like chocolate. In the attic full of floating fabric and biting buttons, Aunt Cauldroneyes teaches Spella how to make magical hats for creatures like unicorns and dragons, giants and goblins. When Spella turns eight, she receives an invitation to Dragon&’s Knob, a school for wand witchery and wizardry. But on the very night Spella is set to leave, a stranger appears with a growling hat that swallows Aunt Cauldroneyes and steals her away! To rescue her aunt, Spella must go up into a sky full of dragons and to her new school. With protesters outside the gates threatening the school&’s academic freedom and a deepening mystery within the walls, Spella and her new friend Tolden are thrust into the mystery of her aunt&’s disappearance and a long-buried secret hidden somewhere in the school.
A Sky Full of Kindness
by Rob RyanRob Ryan's papercut prose is so exquisitely intricate, it begs closer examination—and always captures a lingering eye. The story Ryan tells in this jacketed hardcover is a celebration of love and family just as heartfelt as it is visually arresting: two songbirds eagerly anticipate the arrival of their first child, and as they tend to their nest, they can't help but worry about becoming parents. It's the generosity and support of their avian friends and neighbors that confirms the world awaiting their unborn chick is indeed full of kindness. Brimming with poetic verse, each page is a work of art that will charm new parents and longtime fans of Ryan's evocative imagery.
A Sky Full of Song
by Susan Lynn MeyerThis heartwarming, beautifully written middle-grade historicalnovel about an untold American frontier story is destined to be a cherished classic. North Dakota, 1905 After fleeing persecution in the Russian Empire, eleven-year-old Shoshana and her family, Jewish immigrants, start a new life on the prairie. Shoshana takes fierce joy in the wild beauty of the plains and the thrill of forging a new, American identity. But it&’s not as simple for her older sister, Libke, who misses their Ukrainian village and doesn&’t pick up English as quickly or make new friends as easily. Desperate to fit in, Shoshana finds herself hiding her Jewish identity in the face of prejudice, just as Libke insists they preserve it. For the first time, Shoshana is at odds with her beloved sister, and has to look deep inside herself to realize that her family&’s difference is their greatest strength. By listening to the music that&’s lived in her heart all along, Shoshana finds new meaning in the Jewish expression all beginnings are difficult, as well as in the resilience and traditions her people have brought all the way to the North Dakota prairie.
A Sky Full of Stars
by Linda Williams Jackson"Filled with teachable moments that are perfect for modern-day discussions of race and justice, this is also a story about the complexities of family and choices." –Kirkus "There is also much inspiration to be found in Rosa&’s resilience and her determination to make something good of her life and not leave her beloved South for a &“safer&” part of the country. Jackson presents a raw and frank look at what growing up in the deep South during Jim Crow was really like. A powerful and well-crafted novel that will spark deep discussion of this era in U.S. history— and its contemporary repercussions." –School Library Journal "Readers will be left with much to consider and discuss."-Publishers Weekly "This de facto sequel to Jackson&’s first novel, Midnight without a Moon (2017), is equally successful at dramatizing the lives of black people in the pre–civil rights South and capturing the sensibility of its setting, which together ensure the book will be a valuable classroom resource."--Booklist "With captivating characterization, the author has again credibly woven real historical events into a poignant story of hope, friendship, and aspiration, resulting in an insightful historical novel that could serve as a resourceful complement to contemporary discussions about social justice."--Horn Book Praise for Midnight Without a Moon: "This nuanced coming-of-age story by a debut author is deftly delivered, with engaging characters set against a richly contextualized backdrop of life for African Americans during the Jim Crow era. It&’s also an authentic work of historical fiction (supported by Southern vernacular in both dialogue and vocabulary that accurately reflects the era) about a pivotal incident in the civil rights movement."—Horn Book "Jackson pulls no punches in the characters&’ heated discussions and keeps dialogue raw and real..." —Bulletin "Jackson&’s debut does an excellent job dramatizing the injustice that was epidemic in the pre–civil rights South and capturing the sounds and sensibilities of that time and place. Her sympathetic characters and their stories will make this thoughtful book especially good for classroom use."—Booklist "A powerful story."—Kirkus &“Midnight Without a Moon offers readers an unflinching bird's eye view of 1955 Mississippi. Young Rose Lee has one foot steeped in the segregated South and the other in the new world where Negroes and girls are expecting more, doing more, and willing to risk all to live lives of their own choosing. Bravo to Jackson, for a magnificent piece of writing!&” —Sharon G. Flake, Coretta Scott King Award winning author of Unstoppable Octobia May and The Skin I'm In &“Rose shines bright in the darkness -- brave, beautiful, and full of hard-won hope. She'll be an inspiration to every reader who meets her, as she has been to me.&” –Caroline Starr Rose, author of May B and Blue Birds —
A Sky That Sings
by Anita Sanchez George SteeleMia, a blind girl who enjoys identifying birds by their distinct calls and songs, leads her aunt through the park on a bird-listening adventure!Mia and her tía are spending a sunny afternoon at the park bird-listening! Some people enjoy bird-watching but as a blind person, Mia uses her other senses to identify different birds by their unique calls and songs. She calls it bird-listening. Mia loves naming each of the birds that she hears. Sweet! Sweet! Sweet! Is that the chipper call of a yellow warbler? At first Mia's aunt doesn't know what to expect, but with Mia's guidance, she learns to listen and enjoy the bright melodies pouring from the sky. Their adventure will take them past a lively pond, through the hush of the quiet woods, and up a breezy hilltop for a soaring encounter with Mia's favorite bird of all! Perfect for bird lovers of every feather, A Sky That Sings invites us to open our senses to life's everyday treasures--the delights of nature and spending time with loved ones.
A Slave's Tale
by Erik Christian HaugaardA Slave&’s Tale, the sequel to Hakon of Rogen&’s Saga, is told from the point of view of a slave girl, Helga, who stows away on the longship when Hakon, the young Viking chieftain, sets sail for France on a voyage to return Rark, a freed slave, to his homeland. The voyagers&’ journey is perilous—they narrowly escape capture by an invading fleet, and their ship is severely damaged by a storm. Upon reaching France—where the Vikings are now hated, not feared—only tragedy ensues.
A Sliver of Stardust
by Marissa BurtFrom Marissa Burt, author of Storybound, comes a richly imagined middle grade fantasy full of magic, intrigue, and imaginative twists. A Sliver of Stardust is the perfect next adventure for fans of A Wrinkle in Time and The Emerald Atlas.Wren Matthews thought she'd outgrown nursery rhymes a long time ago. But that was before she knew that songs of twinkling little stars and four-and-twenty blackbirds were the key to an ancient, hidden magic.Wren's discovery catapults her into a world of buried secrets, strange dreams, and a mountain fortress under an aurora-filled sky. But just as she starts to master her unique abilities, her new world begins to crumble around her . . . and only she can save it.
A Small Zombie Problem (Zombie Problems #1)
by K.G. CampbellIn his fiction debut--and the start of a new series--celebrated illustrator K.G. Campbell brings a touch of Tim Burton to this singularly strange and wonderful story about a lonely boy whose life is about to get a whole lot more complicated when a zombie follows him home.August DuPont has spent his whole life inside a dilapidated house with his aunt Hydrangea. His lonely existence ends abruptly with the arrival of an invitation to meet an aunt--and cousins--he didn't even know existed. When Aunt Orchid suggests that August attend school with his cousins, it's a dream come true. But August has scarcely begun to celebrate his reversal of fortune when he is confronted by a small problem on his way home. So begins an adventure filled with a wild child, a zombie, a fabled white alligator, and an unimaginable family secret.
A Snicker of Magic
by Natalie Lloyd<P>Introducing an extraordinary new voice---a magical debut that will make your skin tingle, your eyes glisten . . .and your heart sing. <P>Midnight Gulch used to be a magical place, a town where people could sing up thunderstorms and dance up sunflowers. But that was long ago, before a curse drove the magic away. Twelve-year-old Felicity knows all about things like that; her nomadic mother is cursed with a wandering heart. <P>But when she arrives in Midnight Gulch, Felicity thinks her luck's about to change. A "word collector," Felicity sees words everywhere---shining above strangers, tucked into church eves, and tangled up her dog's floppy ears---but Midnight Gulch is the first place she's ever seen the word "home." And then there's Jonah, a mysterious, spiky-haired do-gooder who shimmers with words Felicity's never seen before, words that make Felicity's heart beat a little faster. <P>Felicity wants to stay in Midnight Gulch more than anything, but first, she'll need to figure out how to bring back the magic, breaking the spell that's been cast over the town . . . and her mother's broken heart.
A Snow Day for Plum!
by Matt PhelanThe animals of the Athensville Zoo are thrilled to be visiting a local school to star in a presentation—everyone except for a very nervous peacock named Plum. And then an unexpected blizzard strands the animals at the elementary school overnight—yikes! From award-winning author Matt Phelan, creator of Knights vs. Dinosaurs and its two sequels, this companion to Leave It to Plum! is a highly illustrated young middle grade novel perfect for reluctant readers and animal lovers everywhere. The animals of the Athensville Zoo are going to school! Lizzie the zookeeper has Plum the peacock and his friends loaded in the zoo van to travel to a nearby elementary school to give a presentation. Most of the animals are excited—especially Itch, who has always wanted to share his knowledge with the world. But Plum is nervous. What if he doesn’t like school? What if the students don’t like him? What if he messes up the whole presentation?Then an unexpected blizzard derails the whole trip, and Plum and his friends have to stay overnight in the empty school. They’ll meet new friends, such as the classroom mice who rule the school, and the wise old turtle who supervises the library. And when Itch gets himself into a whole snowdrift of trouble, Plum overcomes his nerves to save the day!With short chapters and humorous black-and-white art throughout, award-winning author-artist Matt Phelan’s young middle grade novels about bighearted Plum the peacock and the Athensville Zoo are just right for newly independent readers. The Plum books are fun and funny adventures that tackle relatable emotional themes such as performance anxiety and being a good friend. A Snow Day for Plum! continues the hilarious adventures of the young peacock with a big heart and the small mammal with a big ego. A Snow Day for Plum! is perfect for fans of the Princess in Black and the Mercy Watson series.
A Soft Place to Land
by Janae MarksJoy Taylor has always believed home is the house she lived in her entire life. But then her dad lost his job, and suddenly, home becomes a tiny apartment with thin walls, shared bedrooms, and a place for tense arguments between Mom and Dad. Hardest of all, Joy doesn’t have her music to escape through anymore. Without enough funds, her dreams of becoming a great pianist—and one day, a film score composer—have been put on hold. A friendly new neighbor her age lets Joy in on the complex’s best-kept secret: the Hideout, a cozy refuge that only the kids know about. And it’s in this little hideaway that Joy starts exchanging secret messages with another kid in the building who also seems to be struggling, until—abruptly, they stop writing back. What if they’re in trouble? <p><p> Joy is determined to find out who this mystery writer is, fast, but between trying to raise funds for her music lessons, keeping on a brave face for her little sister, and worrying about her parents’ marriage, Joy isn’t sure how to keep her own head above water.
A Song Called Home
by Sara ZarrFrom award-winning author Sara Zarr comes a story of the small moments that show us who we are, and how family is not just something you’re part of, but something you make.Lou and her family don’t have much, but for Lou it's enough. Mom. Her sister, Casey. Their apartment in the city. Her best friend, Beth. It would be better if Dad could stop drinking and be there for her and Casey, and if they didn't have to worry about money all the time. But Lou doesn’t need better—she only needs enough.What’s enough for Lou, however, is not enough for Mom. Steve, Mom's boyfriend, isn’t a bad guy, he's just…not what Lou is used to. And now, he and Mom are getting married, and that means moving. Packing up life as they’ve known it and storing it in Steve’s garage. Lou will be separated from everything in her small but predictable life, farther from Dad than ever.Their last night in the city, Lou receives a mysterious birthday gift: A guitar, left for her by their front door. There’s nothing saying who left it, but it must be from Dad. And as she leaves the only place she’s ever known, she starts to believe that if she can learn how to play it, maybe she can bring a piece of him, and of her old life, home.
A Song Only I Can Hear
by Barry JonsbergWhen Rob starts getting mysterious text messages from an unknown number with challenges designed to push him out of his comfort zone, he has to make a decision—stay under the radar, or risk being exposed in a way he&’s not prepared for—in this poignant middle grade novel that&’s perfect for fans of Wonder.Rob Fitzgerald is determined to impress Destry Camberwick, the perfect new girl who he&’s devastatingly in love with. But that&’s a difficult task for a painfully shy wallflower who&’s prone to panic attacks and would rather hang out with his grandad all day. That is, until he starts getting mysterious text messages from an unknown number with challenges designed to encourage him to get out of his comfort zone. Is Rob Fitzgerald on the road to getting the girl? Or will fear keep him out of the spotlight forever? Powerful, moving, and full of heart and humor, A Song Only I Can Hear is a delightful novel about dreaming big, being brave, and marching to the beat of your own drum.
A Song for Cambodia
by Michelle LordThe true story of Arn Chorn-Pond, Cambodian American musician and human rights activist, who as a young boy survived Khmer Rouge work camps by learning to play a musical instrument.When Arn was a young boy in Cambodia, his days were filled with love, laughter, and the sweet sounds of music. That all changed suddenly in 1975 when Arn's village was invaded by Khmer Rouge soldiers and his family was torn apart. Nine-year-old Arn was taken to a children's work camp, where he labored long hours in the rice fields under the glaring eyes of threatening soldiers. Overworked, underfed, and in constant fear for his life, Arn had to find a way to survive. When guards asked for volunteers to play music one day, Arn bravely raised his hand-taking a chance that would change the course of his life. A Song for Cambodia is the inspirational true story of Arn Chorn-Pond. His heartfelt music created beauty in a time of darkness and turned tragedy into healing.
A Song for Harlem
by Patricia C. Mckissack Gordon C. JamesIn this third title in the series, Gee shares with her three grandchildren the story of her aunt Lilly Belle, who kept journals and had a poem published in Crisis magazine. The aspiring author was 12 when she stayed in Harlem with her Aunt Odessa so that she could attend a writing worshop for young people conducted by Zora Neale Hurston. When Lilly Belle discovered that a snobbish classmate plagiarized the work of a published author, she confronted Alice and learned of her troubled home life. The book ends with Gee telling the children what eventually became of the two girls. End matter includes notes on the Harlem Renaissance. This easy-to-read novel has succinct chapters and sentences that, while simple, convey a feel for the characters and the time, and a vivid sense of place.
A Song for the Season (American Girl: Tenney Grant #4)
by Kellen HertzBuckle your seatbelts--In this fourth book in the series, Tenney & Logan are taking their show on the road! Christmas is just around the corner, and Tenney can't wait to share their music with fans all over Tennessee. But being on the road is harder than she expected--she's missing out on her favorite holiday traditions at home. . . and why is Logan being such a scrooge? After a series of disappointments, the duo begins to crack under pressure. Can they save the tour--and their holiday spirit--in time for Christmas?
A Special Thank You: Junior Discovers Integrity
by Dave Ramsey Marshall RamseyJunior, Billy, Amber and Michele take off after school to go get some Brain Chillers. When Junior stands up, he sees something shiny in the grass. Money! Now what do the three kids do with it? They first head out to the toy store but then the guilt begins to set in. The question becomes do they keep the toys they bought with the found money, or do they do THE RIGHT THING? A great lesson for kids.
A Spectacular Ride
by Drollene P. BrownThe true story of a courageous teenage girl, Sybil Ludington, who rode 40 miles in one night on horseback to muster the militia in response to an impending invasion by British soldiers.
A Spellbinding Guide to the Films (Follow Me Around... Ser.)
by Michael KoggeFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald is coming to theaters November 16, 2018! Explore the new film series and its connections to Harry Potter with this beautiful handbook!As Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald breaks new ground, it's time to get up to speed on the films of J.K. Rowling's wizarding world! This handy handbook has everything fans need to sort hippogriffs from horcruxes, trace the lineage of the most noble wizarding families, explore the different wizarding governments, and study Hogwarts from the early 1900s on. This beautiful guide is the perfect deep dive into Harry Potter and Fantastic Beasts and how the two worlds are connected, complete with family trees, infographics, and more.
A Split Second
by Janae MarksNew York Times bestselling author Janae Marks delivers a stunningly crafted and twisty mystery about the tests of friendships that examines what matters most when everything can change in a split second—perfect for fans of Rebecca Stead and Anne Ursu.That clock can’t be right. When Elise wakes up the morning after her birthday celebration, she’s surprised to find herself in her bedroom. Last she can remember, she had fallen asleep next to her best friends at her slumber party in her basement, and it was October. But now she’s alone, and her phone says it’s April 8. Elise doesn’t understand. How could she have woken up six months later?No one else is acting like anything strange has happened, yet Elise can't remember the last half year. To make matters worse, her friends refuse to talk to her and Elise doesn't know why. She also has no idea how she got signed up for photography club or why her former best friend, Cora, is talking to her again. Is it a memory problem? Could it be magic? Every day that passes takes Elise further from the world she knew. Thankfully, Elise has Cora to lean on in this new reality, and the two come together to investigate why Elise woke up in the future—and, more important, how to get her back to her past and away from this nightmare.