Kat Stephenson may have inherited her mother’s magical talents, but not everyone in the Order of the Guardians is ready to accept her. When she is tricked into losing her temper in front of the most powerful Guardian in England, she finds herself expelled without a single magic lesson. After a devastating accusation shatters her sister Angeline’s romance, their stepmama whisks the family away to the fashionable city of Bath and orders Angeline to find a new fiance. But as Angline plays a dangerous game with a scandalous rake, their brother, Charles, tumbles headlong into danger…and Bath’s wild magic gets rady to explode. With more than one life at stake, will Kat’s untrained magic be enough to reunite Angeline with her true love, conquer the danger at bath, and prove she truly has what it takes to be a Guardian?
Young Adult (ages 14-18)
Material appropriate for young adults
Pandemonium
Acclaimed author Chris Wooding’s first graphic novel — fun fantasy-adventure with a macabre twist! Seifer’s life is about to become a royal pain. . . . As captain of the local skullball team, Seifer Tombchewer is the envy of his peers. He’s fast, he’s strong, and he flies circles around the competition. But Seifer’s always dreamed of more–of leaving his tiny, remote village for a new life beyond the mountains. He just never dreamed it would happen like this. Knocked unconscious and abducted, Seifer awakens in the royal palace to learn that Prince Talon Pandemonium has gone missing. And since Seifer is a ringer for Talon, it’s his duty to replace the missing royal in his roles of diplomat, warrior, and Lord Defender of the Realm. He might fool Talon’s sisters. He might fool Talon’s army. But Seifer has little hope of fooling Talon’s enemies. . . .Chris Wooding and debut artist Cassandra Diaz team for a classic tale of mistaken identity set against the breathtakingly original backdrop of the Darkling Realm.
Alek
A very small boy called Doup once came with the Crow-girl to make his home in Crow Cave, a tine community nestled by the sea. Now he has grown and is ready to leave behind childish things: he reclaims his birth name, Alek, and travels away from Crow Cove to the fishing village of Last Harbor to visit his older brother. One night, Alek awakens from a deep sleep to see two points of light at the end of the beach, where all should be dark. When he investigates, he witnesses a terrible crime: shipwreckers have lured a boat to crash upon the rocky shore and are in the process of killing all the survivors. He is not the only witness. A beautiful girl has escaped…at least for now. Alek must keep her safe while waiting for the chance to bring the murders to justice. Dramatic, poignant, and moving, this is the final book in the much-acclaimed Children of Crow Cove series.
Australia
Australia’s emergence as an important multicultural society in the twentieth century is examined in context with the unique geography and history of this island continent.
The Invaders
“Hal and the other Herons face many perils as they track down the pirates who stole Skandia’s most prized artifact, the Andomal”–
Liberator
Col Porpentine has come a long way from begin the pampered future leader of Worldshaker. Just a few short months ago he helped Riff free the Filthies from generations of servitude, and created a new balance on the massive juggernaut, newly christened Liberator. Now the Filthies command Liberator, and many Swanks, former members of the upper class, have remained to teach them how to operate the juggernaut , and to build a new society together. But all is not peaceful on Liberator. A rising anti-Swank sentiment among the more fanatical Filthy factions grows increasingly violent and dangerous. And an anti-Filthy saboteur is loose aboard the ship. Even the one thing Col thought he could always depend upon–his friendship with Riff– is beginning to crumble. As tensions run high and the coal supply runs low, Liberator is on the verge of a crisis. Col and Riff are faced with their most challenging task yet: unifying a divided people…before it’s too late.
Richard Harland returns to the world of Worldshaker withe a heart-stopping sequel that will take readers on a ride to places they’ve never imagined.
Brave Music of a Distant Drum
Ama is a slave. She is old and dying and has an incredible story to tell. It is about violence and heartaches, but it is also a story of courage, hope, determination and ultimately, love. Since Ama is blind, she cannot write down her story for future generations. Instead, she summons the son from whom she has been long separated. at first he thinks she’s old and tiresome. But as Ama’s astonishing journey unfolds in her own words, his world changes forever, until he can never see it with the same eyes again. Nor will those who read Ama’s story.
Sacred Stories
Sacred Stories is a priceless collection of thirty-five spellbinding stories from distinctive backgrounds and faiths. Author Marilyn McFarlane takes you on a respectful, engaging, and educational journey through seven major belief systems:
Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, Judaism, Native American, Sacred Earth.
Enhanced by beautiful illustrations and intriguing facts, Sacred Stories draws from a rich storehouse of history, tradition, and symbols of humanity’s deepest needs and longings. Each captivating story and illustration brings to life the key tenets of a particular belief system, from creation myths to miraculous visions, from gods and goddesses to the Golden Rule. Appealing to young and old alike, Sacred Stories will expand your understanding of human spirituality in all its wonder.
Now
Felix is a grandfather. He has accomplished much in his life and is widely admired in the community. He has mostly buried the painful memories of his childhood, but the resurface when his granddaughter, Zelda, comes to stay with him. Together, armed only with their gusto and love, they face a cataclysmic event, one that can help them achieve salvation from the past, but also brings the possibility of destruction.
Set in the present day, this is the final book in the final book in the series that began with Once and continued with Then. It is…Now.
To Hope And Back
Sol and Lisa are two children aboard the St. Louis, a ship full of Jewish passangers escaping Europe to save their lives.
The St. Louis, a luxury ocean liner, leaves Germany in 1939, taking its almost one thousand passangers to a safe haven across the ocean. They will be making a fresh start in countries like Cuba and the United States, away from the Nazi regime that is trying to destroy them.
Lisa and her family have a large cabin in first class, while Sol and his parents are below in tourist class. They don’t know each other, but they share a mix of feelings: excitement to be crossing the ocean, hope for the future, and sadness at leaving everything they know behind.
Sol and Lisa’s optimism is threatened when the ship is not allowed to dock in Cuba. What the children don’t know is that their chance for refuge is in jeopardy and a darker future might lie ahead for the jewish passangers on board.