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The Very Short, Entirely True History of Mermaids
by Sarah Laskow Reimena YeeFrom Ariel to the current craze for Sirens, mermaids have captivated our imaginations. But what's true and what's fairy tale? For centuries, mermaids have appeared in the folklore of cultures from around the world, including the Near East, Europe, Asia, and Africa. And Disney made everyone want to dive under the sea with Ariel when the movie The Little Mermaid hit theaters in 1989. But what are mermaid stories based on? Many myths say these creatures are half human and half fish, while others claim they are simply manatees mistaken for something more magical. Some grant wishes and fall in love, yet others have lured sailors to their doom. Although we can't say for sure where the tales of these elusive figures first originated, author Sarah Laskow separates the fact from the fiction. This full-color, fully illustrated book tells you all you need to know about the myths, science, and history that surround mermaids.
The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns
by Sarah LaskowFrom cuddly pool floats to rainbow-colored toast toppings, unicorns--the darlings of Instagram--have never been more exciting or more popular.Are unicorns real? Their popularity and enduring role in human culture certainly is. How can you win a fight against a unicorn? Why do some unicorns have wings? Why are unicorns often pictured with rainbows? Get answers to these questions and more in this fun look at unicorns throughout history. This four-color, fully illustrated book provides everything you always wanted to know about the myths, science, and history that surround the unicorn, a creature that has grown even more popular in the twenty-first century. With its stylish design and fresh, captivating illustrations, The Very Short, Entirely True History of Unicorns will appeal to readers--children and adults alike--who can't get enough of the world's most elusive animal.
The Very Unfortunate Wish of Melony Yoshimura
by Waka T. BrownIn this magical and chilling Coraline-esque retelling of the Japanese folktale “The Melon Princess and the Amanjaku," one girl must save herself—and her loved ones—from a deceitful demon she befriended.Melony Yoshimura’s parents have always been overprotective. They say it’s because a demonic spirit called the Amanjaku once preyed upon kids back in Japan, but Melony suspects it’s just a cautionary tale to keep her in line. So on her twelfth birthday, Melony takes a chance and wishes for the freedom and adventure her parents seem determined to keep her from.As if conjured by her wish, the Amanjaku appears. At first, Melony is wary. If this creature is real, are the stories about its destructive ways also real? In no time, however, the Amanjaku woos Melony with its ability to shape-shift, grant wishes, and understand her desire for independence. But what Melony doesn’t realize is that the Amanjaku’s friendship has sinister consequences, and she quickly finds every aspect of her life controlled by the demon’s trickery—including herself.Melony is determined to set things right, but will she be able to before the Amanjaku turns her life, her family, and her community upside down?
The Very, Very Far North: A Story For Gentle Readers And Listeners (The Very, Very Far North)
by Dan Bar-el&“Wonderfully follows in the tradition of A. A. Milne&’s Winnie the Pooh stories...Endearing...Will win over young readers in a heartbeat.&” —Booklist (starred review) &“Quirky and imaginative—postmodern storytelling at its best.&” —Kirkus Reviews An inquisitive polar bear named Duane befriends an array of animals as he discovers where he belongs in this charming classic-in-the making.In the Very, Very Far North, past the Cold, Cold Ocean and just below the hill that looks like a baby whale, you&’ll find Duane and his friends. Duane is a sweet and curious young bear who makes friends with everyone he meets—whether they&’re bossy, like Major Puff the puffin, or a bit vain, like Handsome the musk ox, or very, very shy, like Boo the caribou. For these arctic friends, every day is a new adventure!
Very, Very, Very Dreadful: The Influenza Pandemic of 1918
by Albert MarrinFrom National Book Award finalist Albert Marrin comes a fascinating look at the history and science of the deadly 1918 flu pandemic--and the chances for another worldwide pandemic.In spring of 1918, World War I was underway, and troops at Fort Riley, Kansas, found themselves felled by influenza. By the summer of 1918, the second wave struck as a highly contagious and lethal epidemic and within weeks exploded into a pandemic, an illness that travels rapidly from one continent to another. It would impact the course of the war, and kill many millions more soldiers than warfare itself.Of all diseases, the 1918 flu was by far the worst that has ever afflicted humankind; not even the Black Death of the Middle Ages comes close in terms of the number of lives it took. No war, no natural disaster, no famine has claimed so many. In the space of eighteen months in 1918-1919, about 500 million people--one-third of the global population at the time--came down with influenza. The exact total of lives lost will never be known, but the best estimate is between 50 and 100 million. In this powerful book, filled with black and white photographs, nonfiction master Albert Marrin examines the history, science, and impact of this great scourge--and the possibility for another worldwide pandemic today.
Vespers Rising (The 39 Clues #11)
by Rick Riordan Peter Lerangis Jude Watson Gordon KormanThe Cahills aren't the only family searching for the Clues. . . .The Cahills thought they were the most powerful family the world had ever known. They thought they were the only ones who knew about Gideon Cahill and his Clues. The Cahills were wrong. Powerful enemies -the Vespers- have been waiting in the shadows. Now it's their time to rise and the world will never be the same. In Vespers Rising, a brand new 39 Clues novel, bestselling authors Rick Riordan, Peter Lerangis, Gordon Korman and Jude Watson take on the hidden history of the Cahills and the Vespers, and the last, terrible legacy Grace Cahill leaves for Amy and Dan.
The Vespertine
by Saundra MitchellIt's the summer of 1889, and Amelia van den Broek is new to Baltimore and eager to take in all the pleasures the city has to offer. But her gaiety is interrupted by disturbing, dreamlike visions she has only at sunset--visions that offer glimpses of the future. Soon, friends and strangers alike call on Amelia to hear her prophecies. However, a forbidden romance with Nathaniel, an artist, threatens the new life Amelia is building in Baltimore. This enigmatic young man is keeping secrets of his own--still, Amelia finds herself irrepressibly drawn to him.When one of her darkest visions comes to pass, Amelia's world is thrown into chaos. And those around her begin to wonder if she's not the seer of dark portents, but the cause.This book features a teaser chapter from Saundra Mitchell's third novel, The Springsweet.
Vessel
by Sarah Beth DurstThis atmospheric fantasy is, "from the gripping first line, a fast-paced, thought-provoking, and stirring story of sacrifice" (Kirkus Reviews, starred review).Liyana has trained her entire life to be the vessel of a goddess. The goddess will inhabit Liyana's body and use magic to bring rain to the desert. But Liyana's goddess never comes. Abandoned by her angry tribe, Liyana expects to die in the desert. Until a boy walks out of the dust in search of her. Korbyn is a god inside his vessel, and a trickster god at that. He tells Liyana that five other gods are missing, and they set off across the desert in search of the other vessels. For the desert tribes cannot survive without the magic of their gods. But the journey is dangerous, even with a god's help. And not everyone is willing to believe the trickster god's tale. The closer she grows to Korbyn, the less Liyana wants to disappear to make way for her goddess. But she has no choice: She must die for her tribe to live. Unless a trickster god can help her to trick fate--or a human girl can muster some magic of her own.
Veterinarian (Careers With Character)
by John RiddleFind out what it takes to be a veterinarian with character... Veterinarians need many skills, including: *The ability to analyze problems; *Knowledge of new developments and techniques in veterinarian medicine; *The confidence to handle animals who are sick or injured; and *Communication skills for speaking with animal owners and other professionals. Veterinarians don't only work with animals; they also work with people. That's why these professionals need the core qualities of good character-- Integrity... Compassion... Courage... Responsibility... A sense of fairness... Self-discipline... And citizenship. A career in veterinary medicine can be both rewarding and exciting. Veterinarian will tell you more.
Vets and Pets: Wounded Warriors and the Animals That Help Them Heal
by Barbara Bush Dava Guerin Kevin Ferris Andrea ArdenExperience firsthand the inspiring and heartwarming bonds between wounded veterans and their service and companion animals."Vets and Pets tells fifteen emotional and entertaining stories of the incredible bonds between wounded warriors, veterans, and other service members and their service and companion animals. Whether these special relationships are with dogs, cats, horses, pigs, or even birds of prey, readers will discover how these remarkable animals help veterans return to civilian life and live independently while simultaneously bringing joy and confidence into their lives. Tyler struggled to adjust to civilian life after losing both of his legs in Afghanistan, until he met his intelligent and willfully disobedient red European Doberman pinscher, Apollo. Vietnam veteran Patrick regained a sense of well-being and hope through the study of birds of prey. Max the horse has helped numerous veterans learn to trust, improve their communication, and increase their self-confidence and self-esteem. Mandi discovered that the intelligence and unconditional love of pigs were exactly what she needed to heal from an abusive past and a disappointing army-training injury. These are just a few of the uplifting stories that are featured in this striking collection. In addition to exploring the unique, lifelong bonds that can develop between veterans and their animal companions, Vets and Pets spotlights extraordinary nonprofits that unite wounded warriors with service and companion animals, including Pets for Patriots, Hooves Marching for Mercy, Horses Helping Heroes, and Avian Veteran Alliance, among others. A portion of the proceeds from this book will be donated to Pets for Patriots.
The Vexatious Haunting of Lily Griffin
by Paula HayesWhen Lily Griffin finds a girl trapped inside a magic mirror, she uncovers a long-forgotten family secret and sets in motion a remarkable chain of events. Lily is a singular character, hilariously funny, sweetly poignant, and deeply daggy. Plagued by social doubts and her own peculiarities, she is the perfect person to investigate the many secrets of her grandfather's house and, along the way, mend some family relationships, discover enduring friendship, and learn to play netball.
Una vez fui tú -- Edición para jóvenes (Once I Was You -- Adapted for Young Readers): Cómo encontré mi voz y hoy paso el micrófono
by Maria HinojosaAhora para jóvenes lectores, la periodista ganadora de cuatro premios Emmy y presentadora de Latino USA de NPR, María Hinojosa, cuenta la historia de la inmigración en los Estados Unidos a través de las experiencias de su familia y décadas de hacer reportajes, con lo cual crea un retrato de un país en crisis.María Hinojosa es una periodista ganadora de premios Emmy y la primera latina en fundar una redacción independiente sin fines de lucro en los Estados Unidos. Pero, antes de todo eso, fue una niña con una gran melena y sueños aún más grandes. Nacida en México y criada en el vibrante barrio de Hyde Park, en Chicago, María siempre buscó la forma de comprender mejor el mundo que la rodeaba… y la manera de encajar en él. En este libro combina historias de su vida, desde la imborrable experiencia de pertenecer a una familia de inmigrantes hasta el momento en que escuchó su propia voz en radio nacional por primera vez, ofreciendo sus observaciones y percepciones sobre la larga y complicada relación entre los Estados Unidos y sus inmigrantes. Divertida, franca y colmada de sabiduría, la historia de María es una que querrás leer una y otra vez, y su voz te inspirará a encontrar la tuya.
Viaje al centro de la Tierra
by Jules VerneAxel y su tío, el testarudo profesor de mineralogía Otto Lidenbrock, descubren un misterioso pergamino entre las páginas de un libro antiguo. Detrás del extraño criptograma, que ha permanecido oculto durante siglos, se esconden las instrucciones de un sabio islandés para repetir su viaje al centro de la Tierra. De este hallazgo fortuito nace una expedición en la que Axel, su tío y Hans, un imperturbable guía, se embarcarán hacia las profundidades de nuestro planeta.Al adentrarse en las intrincadas galerías subterráneas y enfrentarse a la escasez de agua y las temperaturas extremas, comenzarán a comprender que el verdadero problema no será llegar al centro de la Tierra, sino el riesgo de quedarse atrapados allí para siempre...
Viaje al centro de la Tierra (Colección Alfaguara Clásicos)
by Jules VerneAlfaguara Clásicos nos trae este clásico de la literatura de aventuras, escrito por uno de los autores fundacionales de la ciencia ficción. Axel y su tío, el testarudo profesor de mineralogía Otto Lidenbrock, descubren un misterioso pergamino entre las páginas de un libro antiguo. Detrás del extraño criptograma, que ha permanecido oculto durante siglos, se esconden las instrucciones de un sabio islandés para repetir su viaje al centro de la Tierra. De este hallazgo nace una expedición en la que, junto a Hans, un imperturbable guía, se embarcarán hacia las profundidades de nuestro planeta. Al adentrarse en las intrincadas galerías subterráneas, pronto comenzarán a comprender que el verdadero problema no será llegar al centro de la Tierra, sino el riesgo de quedarse atrapados allí para siempre... Clásicos inolvidables para disfrutar, compartir y dejar volar la imaginación.
Viaje al centro de la Tierra: Prólogo Con Reseña Crítica De La Obra, Vida Y Obra Del Autor, Y Marco Histórico (La\brújula Y La Veleta Ser. #Vol. 4)
by Jules VerneUn clásico de Jules Verne. El obstinado profesor Lidenbrock descifra un criptograma del alquimista Arne Saknussemm y llega a la conclusión de que es posible viajar al centro de la Tierra. Por el cráter de un volcán apagado desciende junto a su escéptico sobrino Axel, y Hans Bjelke, un imperturbable guía. Su esfuerzo y su coraje son tan grandes como la perplejidad que sienten ante abrimos, mares de lava, rebaños de mastodontes o vegetación antediluviana.
Vicarious (Vicarious Ser. #1)
by Paula StokesWinter Kim and her sister, Rose, have always been inseparable. Together the two of them survived growing up in a Korean orphanage and being trafficked into the United States. But they've escaped the past and started over in a new place where no one knows who they used to be.Now they work as digital stunt girls for Rose's ex-boyfriend, Gideon, engaging in dangerous and enticing activities while recording their neural impulses for his Vicarious Sensory Experiences, or ViSEs. Whether it's bungee jumping, shark diving, or grinding up against celebrities in the city's hottest dance clubs, Gideon can make it happen for you--for a price.When Rose disappears and a ViSE recording of her murder is delivered to Gideon, Winter is devastated. She won't rest until she finds her sister's killer. But when the clues she uncovers conflict with the digital recordings her sister made, Winter isn't sure what to believe. To find out what happened to Rose, she'll have to untangle what's real from what only seems real, risking her own life in the process.Paula Stokes weaves together a series of mysteries and the story of an unbreakable bond between sisters in this unforgettable high-tech thrill ride.At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Vicious Spirits
by Kat ChoNew romance and dangers abound in this companion to the crowd-pleasing Wicked Fox.After the events of Wicked Fox, Somin is ready to help her friends pick up the pieces of their broken lives and heal. But Jihoon is still grieving the loss of his grandmother, and Miyoung is distant as she grieves over her mother's death and learns to live without her fox bead. The only one who seems ready to move forward is their not-so-favorite dokkaebi, Junu.Somin and Junu didn't exactly hit it off when they first met. Somin thought he was an arrogant self-serving, conman. Junu was, at first, amused by her hostility toward him until he found himself inexplicably drawn to her. Somin couldn't deny the heat of their attraction. But as the two try to figure out what could be between them, they discover their troubles aren't over after all. The loss of Miyoung's fox bead has caused a tear between the world of the living and the world of the dead, and ghosts are suddenly flooding the streets of Seoul. The only way to repair the breach is to find the missing fox bead or for Miyoung to pay with her life. With few options remaining, Junu has an idea but it might require the ultimate sacrifice. In usual fashion, Somin may have a thing or two to say about that.In Vicious Spirits, Kat Cho delivers another beguiling and addictive read full of otherworldly dangers and romance.
Victor Dowd And The World War II Ghost Army: A Spy On History Book (Spy On History)
by Enigma Alberti Scott WegenerIt’s a true story of deception: Meet the top-secret Ghost Army, a group of artists and sound engineers trained to fake out the Germans in World War II with inflatable rubber tanks and loudspeakers broadcasting the sound of marching troops. And meet real-life Sergeant Victor Dowd, who served in the fight for Normandy, through France, and across the Rhine. It’s a mystery to solve: There are clues embedded in the story’s text and illustrations, and Spycraft materials come in an envelope at the beginning of the book. Now put on your own spy thinking cap and find out what happened to Victor Dowd’s missing sketchbook.
Víctor Jara: No to Dictatorship (They Said No)
by Bruno DouceyThe only story for young readers of the legendary Chilean songwriter and activist who became a symbol of peace amidst the brutality of Augusto Pinochet's regime.On September 11, 1973, in Santiago de Chile, Augusto Pinochet took power and installed a dictatorship in place of the democratic government of President Salvador Allende. That day Victor Jara, a young songwriter and activist, poet and playwright is arrested and imprisoned with hundreds of other people in the Santiago stadium because of his association with the socialist opposition. His hands, so crucial to playing music, are broken by one of Pinochet's soldiers. He is executed in the stadium days later, but his protest songs will continue to resound to this day, as does his defiance in singing, "Venceremos," We Will Overcome, in the stadium. Pinochet will die at an advanced age without having answered for his crimes that were committed in an effort to crush dissent. But we celebrate the brave and defiant artists and activists like Victor Jara who help us to remember our humanity in the face of oppressive dictatorships.
Victoria: Portrait of a Queen
by Catherine ReefCatherine Reef brings history vividly to life in this sumptuously illustrated account of a confident, strong-minded, and influential woman. Victoria woke one morning at the age of eighteen to discover that her uncle had died and she was now queen. She went on to rule for sixty-three years, with an influence so far-reaching that the decades of her reign now bear her name—the Victorian period. Victoria is filled with the exciting comings and goings of royal life: intrigue and innuendo, scheming advisors, and assassination attempts, not to mention plenty of passion and discord. Includes bibliography, notes, British royal family tree, index.
The Victoria in My Head
by Janelle MilanesA shy, rule-following teen winds up joining a local rock band in this laugh-out-loud, heartfelt coming-of-age novel.Victoria Cruz inhabits two worlds: In one, she is a rock star, thrashing the stage with her husky voice and purple-streaked hair. In the other, currently serving as her reality, Victoria is a shy teenager with overprotective Cuban parents, who sleepwalks through her life at the prestigious Evanston Academy. Unable to overcome the whole paralyzing-stage-fright thing, Victoria settles for living inside her fantasies, where nothing can go wrong and everything is set to her expertly crafted music playlists. But after a chance encounter with an unattainably gorgeous boy named Strand, whose band seeks a lead singer, Victoria is tempted to turn her fevered daydreams into reality. To do that, she must confront her insecurities and break away from the treadmill that is her life. Suddenly, Victoria is faced with the choice of staying on the path she’s always known and straying off-course to find love, adventure, and danger. From debut author Janelle Milanes comes a hilarious and heartfelt tale of the spectacular things that can happen when you go after what you really want.
Victoria Rebels
by Carolyn MeyerQueen Victoria's personal journals inform this "intimate and authentic portrait" (Booklist) of one of history's most prominent female leaders.Queen Victoria most certainly left a legacy--under her rule as the longest reigning female monarch in history. But what was she really like? To be a young woman in a time when few other females held positions of power was to lead in a remarkable age--and because Queen Victoria kept personal journals, this historical novel from award-winning author Carolyn Meyer shares authentic emotional insight along with accurate information, weaving a fascinating story of intrigue and romance.
Victory
by Susan CooperTwo Children, Two Struggles, One Battle... One child is Sam Robbins, a powder monkey aboard HMS Victory, the ship in which Vice-Admiral Lord Nelson will die a hero's death at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805. The other is Molly Jennings, an English girl transplanted from London to the United States in 2006, fighting a battle of her own against loss and loneliness. Two different lives, two centuries apart, are linked by a tiny scrap of fraying cloth that's tucked into an old book. It draws Molly into Sam's world, to a moment in time that changed history -- a frightening shared moment that holds the key both to secrets from the past and hope for the future.<P><P> This extraordinary time-shifting adventure tells the interwoven stories of Sam and Molly, linked by a mystery. Sam is a farm boy, kidnapped at eleven years old by the "press gang" to serve in the Royal Navy. At first terrified and seasick, Sam is transformed gradually into a sailor. In the rowdy, dangerous world of a hundred-gun warship enduring the Napoleonic Wars, he meets both cruelty and kindness, and survives a fearsome battle whose echoes reach through the years to involve Molly as well. Like Sam, Molly has lost her childhood but will find her future, with help from a very unexpected source.<P> Separate yet together, Sam Robbins and Molly Jennings struggle through fear and excitement to a final ordeal that terrifyingly tests their courage. And the moving climax of the book shows two lives joined forever by the touch of Nelson, one of the greatest sailors of all time.
Victory
by Gary CrewSam sets off to the exotic isles of the Indian Ocean in search of a shell whose deadly venom could provide the antidote for all known toxin but one member of Sam?s expeditionary party has gone along for another reason - murder!
Victory On the Walls A Story of Nehemiah
by Frieda Clark HymanThirteen-year-old Bani, though born in Jerusalem, has lived from infancy with his uncle in beautiful Susa, the city of the Persian King Artaxerxes. Now, his Uncle Nehemiah wants to leave his position of high honor as Cupbearer to the King to return to Jerusalem, a city in ruins and beset by every kind of trouble! Nehemiah's request of the king, permission to return to help his own people, could so easily in an empire riddled with political intrigue be misconstrued as treasonous scheming. Bani himself is given an unexpected part to play, the outcome of which is to forever change his life. Seen through the eyes of Bani, this novel dramatizes a turning-point of history, in 445 BC, when through confrontation and daring risks Judaism was re-established in the Promised Land, and purified for her unfolding mission.