Author: Yoo Kyung Sung

Yoo Kyung Sunghttp://wowlit.org/communities/members/nersum/

Sondok: Princess of the Moon and Stars, Korea, A.D. 595 (The Royal Diaries)

During the seventh-century, the land which is now Korea was fraught with political and religious intrigue. The country was split into Three Kingdoms, each fighting for supremacy: Silla, Koguryo, and Paekche. Besides the warring kingdoms, there are three religions in conflict: Shamanism, the ancient female-dominated faith wherein Shamanist priestesses wield great power at court, foretelling the future, performing important national rituals, and healing sickness; Buddhism, the contemplative State religion; and Confucianism, a recent import from powerful China.  Written as a first-person diary, a young princess expresses her frustrations at not being able to study astronomy because she is a girl.

The Island on Bird Street

During World War II a Jewish boy is left on his own for months in a ruined house in the Warsaw Ghetto, where he must learn all the tricks of survival under constantly life-threatening conditions.

Mable Riley: A Reliable Record of Humdrum, Peril, and Romance

It is 1901 and Mable Riley dreams of adventure and of becoming a writer. When her older sister leaves home to become a schoolmistress in the small town of Stratford, Ontario, Mable is sent along too. Mable hopes her new world will be full of peril and romance. But life at the Goodhand Farm (where the sisters board), is as humdrum as the one she’s left behind.Then Mable encounters the mysterious Mrs. Rattle, a peculiar widow with a taste for upsetting the townspeople with her strange opinions. Mrs. Rattle is a real writer, and Mable eagerly accepts her invitation to a meeting of the Ladies Reading Society. But the ladies are not discussing books at all, and Mable may soon have more peril than she’d bargained for!Composed of the letters Mable sends home, the poems she writes for her classmates, and chapters from her own work-in-progress, Mable Riley is the funny, inspiring, (and reliable) record of a young girl finding her voice, and the courage to make it heard.

The Fall of the Amazing Zalindas (Sherlock Holmes and the Baker Street Irregulars)

This series provides a unique new twist on Sherlock Holmes by having him assisted by a band of devoted boys, street urchins who love to solve mysteries, called the Baker Street Irregulars. These boys go everywhere, see everything, overhear everyone undetected.  In this exciting tale, Wiggins, Ozzie, Simon, and the rest–with the aid of Pilar, a gypsy girl–help Sherlock Holmes solve the case of the deaths of the Amazing Walendas,  a family of circus tightrope walkers.

The Mirror Of Fire And Dreaming: The Brotherhood of the Conch

In a pristine valley hidden in the Himalayas, Anand has a disturbing vision. His mentor and spiritual guide, the Master Healer Abhaydatta, is apparently in grave danger. What should he do? If he conveys this information to his elders, he’ll waste precious time. But is it wise to take matters into his own hands? Anand makes his choice and embarks on a spectacular adventure that takes him not only across contemporary India but also several hundred years into the past to the time of the Moghul rulers. There he encounters powerful sorcerers, a haughty and arrogant prince, and a jinn capable of unspeakable magic.  A sequel to Brotherhood of the Conch

Thailand (Discovering Cultures)

This book provides a comprehensive look at the country of Thailand.  Surrounded by Cambodia, Laos and Burma, Thailand is at the center of Southeast Asia.  This country offers a mix of cities working farms and a history deep in tradition.  The book is illustrated with color photography which highlights everyday life and cultural events..

Pippi Longstocking

In 1950, Viking published the original English version of Pippi Longstocking, the story of an irrepressible red-haired, freckle-faced girl who lived with a monkey and a horse, slept with her feet on the pillow, and found her way into the hearts of children all over the world. Now, Astrid Lindgren’s best-selling book has been given a sparkling new translation by the awardwinning Tiina Nunnally and delightful full-color illustrations by the critically acclaimed Lauren Child. This large-format gift book is sure to become the definitive edition of a favorite classic.

Benin

This book provides a comprehensive look at the country of Benin which gained independence in 1961. Located between Nigeria and Togo, Benin is working to strengthen itself with a free press and a growing economy. The text offers chapters on the geography, the history, the formation of its new government and its structure, the economy, the environment, the people of Siera Leone, their religion and culture. The book is illustrated with color photography.