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Billboard Express (Orca Limelights)
by null Sigmund Brouwer null Cindy MorganElle has come to Nashville to become a star. She has what it takes, but her agent and all the label executives want to change everything about her—her hair, her body, her clothes and, most important, her music. So Elle becomes a blond, sings about cookin' for her man and wears tiny shorts and revealing tank tops. Then a chance meeting with an established female songwriter makes Elle realize that she's paying too high a price for success. Billboard Express continues the story that began in Rock the Boat by Sigmund Brouwer. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Offbeat (Orca Limelights)
by null Megan ClendenanFourteen-year-old Rose is sure she's going to become a folk-music sensation, with her best friend, Shilo, at her side. But first Rose needs to convince her mom to keep paying for her expensive violin lessons. Her mom wants her to join the youth symphony and focus on classical music, in preparation for a music degree at university. When Rose enters a fiddle competition with a unique prize for the winner, she hopes to show her mom she can really can make it as a folk musician. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Hot New Thing (Orca Limelights)
by null Laura LangstonLily is discovered by a big-name director when she’s auditioning for a role in a toothpaste commercial. He wants her for his new movie, which is great except for the fact that it’s shooting in Los Angeles and Lily lives in Vancouver. With the help of her Chinese grandmother, she convinces her parents to let her go to LA with her agent as a chaperone. But when she gets there, she finds out that if she wants to be more than the flavor of the week, she’s going to have to pay a price that may be way too high. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Pop Quiz (Orca Limelights)
by null Tom RyanFifteen-year-old Aiden is a minor cast member on a long-running high school "dramedy" with a low budget and a loyal following. Aiden and his friends are excited that they're being promoted to lead roles for the upcoming tenth season of Pop Quiz. But then they learn the show is being canceled. According to the producers, no one even watches TV anymore, with kids preferring the antics of YouTube stars. With the help of some former cast members and a group of hardcore fans, Aiden and his friends attempt to create a movie special to wrap up the storylines and give the series the send-off it deserves. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
The Frail Days (Orca Limelights)
by null Gabrielle PrendergastSixteen-year-old drummer Stella, guitarist Jacob and bassist Miles need a wild singer for their old-school rock band. When they discover nerdy Tamara Donnelly, who nails the national anthem at a baseball game, Stella is not convinced Tamara’s sound is right for the band. Stella wants to turn Tamara into a rock goddess, but Tamara proves to be a confident performer who has her own ideas about music and what it means to be epic cool. When their band, the Frail Days, starts to build a local following, Stella and Tamara clash over the direction the band should take, forcing them to consider what true musical collaboration means. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Slip Jig Summer (Orca Limelights)
by null Elizabeth J. WalkerFifteen-year-old Natalie is obsessed with ballet and plans to spend the entire summer in dance class with her two best friends. But when her mom gets a job out of town, Natalie gets shipped off to stay with cousins she barely knows. Natalie is thrilled when her cousins invite her to join them at the local dance studio. But it turns out it's not a ballet class; it's Irish dance. Skeptical at first, Natalie is surprised to learn she really enjoys the new dance style and agrees to take part in an upcoming competition. But this new passion could result in Natalie having to leave her ballet dreams behind. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Casting Lily (Orca Limelights)
by null Holly BennettOne bad decision jeopardizes Ava's chances of being able to perform on opening night. Fourteen-year-old Ava is thrilled when she lands a part in a play based on the true story of orphans sent to Canada in the 1800s to work on farms. But is she good enough to hold her own in a professional production? As the rehearsal pressures crank up, Ava struggles with her character, with the vocal demands of outdoor theater and with the annoying ego of her castmate Kiefer. But as she learns more about the historical Lily on which her part is based, things begin to fall into place. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
POV (Orca Limelights)
by null Ted StauntonOne small fib snowballs into dozens of lies, and soon Spencer finds himself in way over his head. When first-year film student Spencer O'Toole is asked to make a music video for a band, he leaps at the chance. But Jerry, Spencer's dad, shows up, and somehow the band assumes he's in charge, despite the fact that he has zero background in film. And then there's Scratch, violent gang member turned sleazy music producer, who keeps making big promises but fails to deliver on a single one. Spencer has no idea how he's going to get this thing made. When the band invites him and his dad up to a cottage for the weekend, Spencer takes the opportunity to ditch Jerry. What could go wrong? Everything! This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Cut the Lights (Orca Limelights)
by null Karen KrossingBriar has a vision for the one-act play she's been chosen to direct at her performing arts high school. Briar is going to create a masterpiece. If only everyone involved in the production shared her vision. Her leading lady is gifted but troubled, her leading man has a crush on the leading lady, her stage manager doesn't have a clue, and her best friend, who wrote the play, is worried that Briar's production is cursed. As Briar struggles to motivate her cast and crew, she learns some important truths about the fine art of directing—and about herself. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Breaking Big (Orca Limelights)
by null Penny DraperWill his big break kill his career before it even starts Robin’s got everything it takes to be a principal dancer: the body, the feet, the strength and the passion. But his devil-may-care attitude plays havoc with discipline at the Premier Dance School. One more prank may be one too many. That’s why everyone is shocked when he’s the only student dancer picked to understudy with the company, even though the choice makes sense—Robin is cast as Puck, the annoying trickster fairy in A Midsummer’s Night Dream. Shock turns to horror when the principal dancer is injured and Robin has to perform instead. The other dancers don’t think he can pull it off, and even Robin wonders if it’s too much too soon. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Nova in New York (Orca Limelights)
by null Katherine RichardsWith a coveted apprenticeship up for grabs, Nova isn't sure she'll make it in the big leagues, and now she's not even sure she wants to. Seventeen-year-old Nova Abbott grew up dancing barefoot in the backyard with her aunt Ivy, whose dreams of becoming a professional ballerina were cut short by cystic fibrosis. Nova is invited to attend a prestigious ballet school's summer intensive program. She is a bit overwhelmed by New York City: the bustle of people, the talent of the other dancers, the demands of the instructors and being separated from her beloved aunt, whose health is deteriorating rapidly. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Raising the Stakes (Orca Limelights)
by null Trudee RomanekIt’s the start of a new season for Harrington High’s improv team—and Chloe is determined that this will be the year they make it all the way to the top. Chloe's teammates (who also happen to be her closest friends) are a talented bunch, and she knows they can do it. They have to. Because getting to nationals is Chloe’s best chance to prove—to her parents, to the improv scouts and, most of all, to herself—that she has what it takes to succeed. Chloe is doing everything she can to help her teammates perform better. So why are they all mad at her? This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Off Pointe (Orca Limelights)
by null Leanne LiebermanWhen Meg’s summer ballet program is canceled and her ballet teacher suggests she attend Camp Dance to learn new dance styles, Meg is devastated. Worse still, Meg's teacher thinks she lacks stage presence and needs to connect more with her audience. At camp, Meg struggles to learn contemporary dance. A girl named Logan, who is jealous of Meg’s ballet technique and her friendship with Nio, a cute contemporary dancer, makes Meg’s life even more difficult. When Meg, Nio and Logan have to work together to create a piece for the final show, arguments threaten to ruin their dance. Unless they are able to overcome their differences, Meg’s time at Camp Dance will have been a disaster from start to finish. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
The Middle of Everywhere
by null Monique PolakNoah Thorpe is spending the school term in Kangiqsualujjuaq, in Quebec's Far North, where his dad is an English teacher in the Inuit community. Noah's not too keen about living in the middle of nowhere, but getting away from Montréal has one big advantage: he gets a break from the bully at his old school. But Noah learns that problems have a way of following you—no matter how far you travel. To the Inuit kids, Noah is a qallunaaq—a southerner, someone ignorant of the customs of the North. Noah thinks the Inuit have a strange way of looking at the world, plus they eat raw meat and seal blubber. Most have never left the George River area—and it doesn't even have its own doctor, let alone a McDonald's. But Noah's views change when he goes winter camping and realizes he will have to learn a few lessons from his Inuit buddies if he wants to make it home. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
High Note (Orca Limelights)
by null Jeff RossIs landing a role worth losing a best friend? Hailey McEwan has many interests—soccer, field hockey, animation. She'd probably never have started singing if her best friend, Crissy, hadn't persuaded her to take singing lessons and join her choir. No one had any idea that Hailey would be such a natural, least of all Hailey herself. A shared love of music—from pop to opera—has been a big part of the girls' friendship, but when the two face off in a competition for a role in a production of The Marriage of Figaro, their closeness turns into a bitter rivalry. Hailey will have to make a tough decision. Is opera as important to her as it is to Crissy? This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Forcing the Ace (Orca Limelights)
by null Erin ThomasAlex wants to enter the Silver Stage magic competition, but he needs a sponsor. Jack, a veteran card wizard, is willing to take on the role, but only if Alex agrees to team up with Zoe, another young magician—and Alex’s rival. Working with Jack and sharing the spotlight with Zoe, Alex comes to see that there are other ways to be a magician besides competing—and that magic is about entertaining people, not fooling them. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Rock the Boat (Orca Limelights)
by null Sigmund BrouwerBring the roof down. Rock the boat. Webb believes that if you want to reach your dreams, you have to live life loud. Make sure that when you look back, you have no regrets. But when a shady music producer steals one of Webb’s songs, Webb finds out how hard it is for a kid on his own in Nashville to get justice. With the help of an unlikely ally, Webb discovers that he has what it takes to succeed: talent, determination and some good friends. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Shimmy (Orca Limelights)
by null Kari JonesLila has always wanted a career in belly dance, so she is thrilled when she is invited to join Dana Sajala’s competitive and prestigious studio. But dancing at the new studio isn’t quite what she expected. Dana Sajala is a tough teacher, and Lila finds the constant criticism stressful. On top of that, Lila misses the dancers from her old troupe, and a rift is developing between her and her best friend, Angela, who is not altogether sympathetic to Lila’s struggles. Lila has always loved belly dance—the music, the costumes, the choreography—but when she realizes that none of it is as much fun as it used to be, she starts to question whether she has made the right choice. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read!
Plant Biotechnology and Genetics: Principles, Techniques, and Applications
by C. Neal StewartDiscover the latest edition of this authoritative textbook on plant biotechnology and genetics Plant biotechnology is a field of research and development in which scientific techniques are brought to bear on the creation and modification of new, beneficial plants and strains. Biotechnological techniques can be used to add nutritive value, increase resistance to diseases and pests, increase yields, and more. The production of biotech crops has increased over one hundred times since their introduction into commercial agriculture in 1996, making them the most rapidly-adopted crop category in the history of modern agriculture. Plant Biotechnology and Genetics is the essential introduction to this thriving research subject. Beginning with an overview of basic plant biology and genetics, it then moves to the fundamental elements of biotechnology. Now fully updated to reflect the latest research advances and technological breakthroughs, it continues to be a must-own for readers interested in the future of food production and more. Readers of the third edition of Plant Biotechnology and Genetics will also find: New chapters covering topics like genome editing, chloroplast genome engineering, and synthetic biologyUpdates throughout to incorporate increased coverage of haploid production, genomic selection, and moreSummary and discussion questions in each chapter, along with a companion website incorporating images and lecture materials Plant Biotechnology and Genetics is ideal for advanced undergraduate and masters students in plant biotechnology courses, as well as professionals seeking a helpful reference guide.
Sustainability Programs: A Design Guide to Achieving Financial, Social, and Environmental Performance
by William Borges John GrosskopfGo-to guidance for designing, implementing, and managing effective sustainability programs and their management systems Moving past vague concepts, buzzword overloads, superficial efforts, and flavor-of-the-month misdirections, Sustainability Programs presents a pragmatic, step-by-step approach to creating and managing adaptable, organization-wide sustainability programs to achieve People, Planet, and Profit (3P) objectives with least cost, effort, and risk. Key steps covered in this book include reaching a programmatic “Go” decision, developing sustainability policies, designing an organizational framework, defining the most pressing sustainability needs, and cascading 3P goals, tactics, targets, and initiatives into business units, functions, and departments to create new capabilities and improve performance. By following the principles and practices in this book, any organization can better achieve sustainability’s full promise of social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and financial performance. Written by authors with a wealth of practitioner experience in the field, Sustainability Programs explores topics including: Creating social, environmental, and financial strategies, tactics, targets, and initiatives that create new capabilities and resolve 3P performance issuesAvoiding ad hoc projects that fail to address critical sustainability issues, wasting valuable resources and squandering competitive advantagesOvercoming technical professionals’ lack of business management experience and helping management professionals understand sustainability’s benefits and intricaciesUnderstanding sustainability through the management lenses of risk reduction, improved efficiencies through eradication of wastes, increased revenues via innovation, and enhanced competitive advantages fueled by greenwash-free transparency.Responding to the demanding data capture, analysis, and reporting challenges of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). Acknowledging that one size does not fit all, this book delivers individual concepts and methods adaptable across any organization’s value chains. It is an essential read for leaders and practitioners working within private and public enterprises of all types and sizes, especially those with 2,000 to 5,000 employees.
Degradation, Stabilization, and Recycling of Packaging Materials
by Muhammad Rabnawaz Susan E. Selke Ian WymanPractical guidance to sustainable packaging and its challenges with analysis of various packaging materials and their interactions with different environments Degradation, Stabilization, and Recycling of Packaging Materials analyzes packaging materials and their interactions with different environments, discussing the degradation processes of different materials like plastics, wood, paper, glass, and metal, providing specific strategies to address these degradation processes, and exploring solid waste management, recent developments in recycling, and the principles of eco-friendly packaging design. Organized into two parts, the first section of this book provides a comprehensive examination of how environmental factors such as heat, shear, light, air, packaged products, and stress affect packaging materials, focusing on the chemistry of their deterioration and stabilization methods. The second section explores solid waste management, recent developments in recycling, and key principles of eco-friendly packaging design, culminating in an extensive discussion of legal and regulatory aspects. The book includes case studies and problem sets in each chapter, with solutions to the problems in an appendix in the back of the book. Written by a team of highly qualified authors, Degradation, Stabilization, and Recycling of Packaging Materials includes discussion on: Structure of tinplate and tin-free steel, corrosion in lacquered cans, and effects of producing, processing, and storing metalsRecyclable versus repulpable paper, uses of recycled papers, wet-strength papers, non-wood fibers as paper sources, and contamination issues with paper recyclingPlastic recycling rates, plastic scrap exports in the US and abroad, chemical versus mechanical plastic recycling, hydrocracking of plastics, and PE and PET recyclingLightweight glass bottles, strategies to modify or strengthen glass, and the real recyclability of glass Presenting advanced technical knowledge that demystifies the sustainable packaging landscape Degradation, Stabilization, and Recycling of Packaging Materials is a critical resource for researchers, students, and industry professionals in the field of materials science and packaging to evaluate challenges related to solid waste and devise effective disposal strategies.
Electric Vehicle Batteries: From Sourcing to Second Life and Recycling
by Bob Galyen Frank MenchacaUnderstand the batteries that will power the sustainable transition from innovators who are making it happen The transition from fossil-fuel based energy sources to electricity is one of the most crucial technological milestones in the world today. The surge of electric vehicle production will require hundreds of millions of electric vehicle batteries, the creation of which have environmental impacts of their own. There is an urgent need for resources which analyze these impacts, their role in the life cycle of a battery, and the broader challenges and opportunities of this electric transition. Electric Vehicle Batteries: From Sourcing to Second Life and Recycling meets this need with a thorough, accessible overview of batteries: how they are made, used, and re-used. Balancing theory and practice, and with coverage of all relevant vehicle types, it’s a crucial resource for engineers, scientists, students, and instructors. Created by some of the leading experts in the mobility industry, Electric Vehicle Batteries is a decisive contribution to the fight for a sustainable future. In Electric Vehicle Batteries: From Sourcing to Second Life and Recycling, readers will find: A programmatic structure for creating new engineering practices and teams that support them A safety-first approach to handling volatile materials An authorial and editorial team with extensive experience in both engineering and management Electric Vehicle Batteries: From Sourcing to Second Life and Recycling is ideal for reskilling engineers, undergraduate students, and other new entrants into the rapidly expanding field of electric vehicle production.
AI-Based Advanced Optimization Techniques for Edge Computing
by Mohit Kumar Gautam Srivastava Ashutosh Kumar Singh Kalka DubeyThe book offers cutting-edge insights into AI-driven optimization algorithms and their crucial role in enhancing real-time applications within fog and Edge IoT networks and addresses current challenges and future opportunities in this rapidly evolving field. This book focuses on artificial intelligence-induced adaptive optimization algorithms in fog and Edge IoT networks. Artificial intelligence, fog, and edge computing, together with IoT, are the next generation of paradigms offering services to people to improve existing services for real-time applications. Over the past few years, there has been rigorous growth in AI-based optimization algorithms and Edge and IoT paradigms. However, despite several applications and advancements, there are still some limitations and challenges to address including security, adaptive, complex, and heterogeneous IoT networks, protocols, intelligent offloading decisions, latency, energy consumption, service allocation, and network lifetime. This volume aims to encourage industry professionals to initiate a set of architectural strategies to solve open research computation challenges. The authors achieve this by defining and exploring emerging trends in advanced optimization algorithms, AI techniques, and fog and Edge technologies for IoT applications. Solutions are also proposed to reduce the latency of real-time applications and improve other quality of service parameters using adaptive optimization algorithms in fog and Edge paradigms. The book provides information on the full potential of IoT-based intelligent computing paradigms for the development of suitable conceptual and technological solutions using adaptive optimization techniques when faced with challenges. Additionally, it presents in-depth discussions in emerging interdisciplinary themes and applications reflecting the advancements in optimization algorithms and their usage in computing paradigms. Audience Researchers, industrial engineers, and graduate/post-graduate students in software engineering, computer science, electronic and electrical engineering, data analysts, and security professionals working in the fields of intelligent computing paradigms and similar areas.
Evaluation Essentials: Methods for Conducting Sound Evaluation Research
by Beth Osborne DaPonteA nuts-and-bolts introduction to program evaluation for the nonprofit and public sectors Evaluation Essentials: Methods for Conducting Sound Research, 2nd Edition, is a substantial update to the popular overview of the evaluation process. Virtually every form of externally funded nonprofit activity must be periodically evaluated, and trained evaluators are in higher demand than ever before. This book offers a step-by-step introduction to the process and methods of program evaluation, with over 40 examples from public policy, public health, non-profit management, social work, arts management, education, international assistance, and labor. Evaluation Essentials covers updates in the field of evaluation, including contribution analyses, as well as current best practices for forming evaluation questions, applying program theory, performing literature reviews, collecting data, creating outcome measures, designing and conducting surveys, grant writing, and much more. This Second Edition also includes an expanded international context, examining evaluation in international organizations. The process outlined in this book is also applicable to policy evaluation and the evaluation of organizational performance, adding additional value to this timely update. Gain a foundational knowledge of the principles and practices of program evaluation Design evaluations and conduct research, including quantitative and qualitative analysis Generate data that can be used to demonstrate a program's impact to funders and stakeholders Learn from examples drawn from a broad range of nonprofit organizations This definitive guide to evaluation will appeal to professionals in fields as diverse as education, policy sciences, public administration, sociology, health, and beyond.
Building Medallion Architectures
by Piethein StrengholtIn today's data-driven world, organizations must manage and analyze vast amounts of information to deliver the insights that give them a competitive advantage. Many turn to the medallion architecture because it's a proven and well-known design. Yet implementing a robust data pipeline can be difficult, particularly when it comes to using the medallion architecture's bronze, silver, and gold layers—done wrong, it can hamper your ability to make data-driven decisions. This practical guide helps you build a medallion architecture the right way with Azure Databricks and Microsoft Fabric. Drawing on hands-on experience from the field, Piethein Strengholt demystifies common assumptions and complex problems you'll face when embarking on a new data architecture. Architects and engineers of all stripes will find answers to the most typical questions along with insights from real organizations about what's worked, what hasn't, and why. You'll learn:Lakehouse and medallion architecture fundamentals and key conceptsDesign considerations for Azure Databricks and Microsoft FabricScaling considerations, including governance, security, automation, and moreHow to make informed decisions when designing or implementing new data architecturesProven patterns for success that align with broader organizational objectives