Non-Fiction

Discover 902 amazing non-fiction books in our collection — page 7 of 10

All Non-Fiction Books

902 books — page 7 of 10
Cover of STOLEN HISTORIES

STOLEN HISTORIES

Nuru, an ancient shapeshifter from a hidden colony, who asks them to retrieve a stolen artifact hidden in the Empire\u002Dcontrolled Archive—an ethereal realm of lost knowledge. What begins as a job for hire unfolds into a layered journey involving magic, politics, and mythic lore. Michaels crafts a vivid world where elemental magic hums through every object and ritual, and where ambient power bleeds into city streets and backroom deals. The friendship between Amari and Taliya is the novel’s emotional heart—equal parts banter, strategy, and fierce loyalty. Both characters are well developed with clear voices and complementary strengths that balance action with emotional nuance. The prose is rich and often lyrical, particularly in the worldbuilding: Castor pulses with life, from the haunted Kiyoshi Crater to floating market districts and magically enhanced restaurants: “In the Upper District, the ambient magic is a touch calmer and flows around her like a fast\u002Dmoving stream.” The magic system—based in singing, runes, and time manipulation—feels both unique and intuitive, integrated naturally into daily life. Although the novel features frequent exposition and a large cast of minor characters, it remains grounded in Amari and Taliya’s dynamic, making even the slower\u002Dpaced chapters feel purposeful. By the end, the story sets the stage for even more expansive world\u002Dsaving adventures."

This powerful work of investigative nonfiction uncovers suppressed narratives and forgotten voices from across the globe, piecing together a compelling alternative history that challenges conventiona...

Cover of Storybook Art

Storybook Art

MaryAnn F. Kohl

"Storybook Art" is the long awaited literacy connection to art with 100 easy art activities inspired by 100 great picture book illustrators and their award-winning books -- both favorite classics and classics to be. Each activity has a personal quote by the illustrator, a child-sketched portrait, cl

Cover of STORYTELLER

STORYTELLER

Genre

This collection of critical reviews offers young readers and aspiring writers an insider's perspective on what makes literature compelling, examining narrative techniques, character development, and ...

Cover of STRONG GROUND

STRONG GROUND

Wambach. Sometimes these chapters transcribe interviews, such as one with Fifth Dimensional Leadership creator Ginny Clarke, interrupted by descriptions of Brown’s psychological reactions. (“Big pause while Ginny watches me get reflective and more emotional than I thought I would.”) More often, they simply quote, paraphrase, or condense long swathes of the various authors’ books, without much explication, critical questioning, or refinement of the ideas. She also throws in, seemingly at random, poems by authors including David Whyte and Clint Smith. Sports analogies abound, whether it’s Brown recounting in detail what she learned from her physical therapist while recovering from an excruciating pickleball injury (“Use your mind and your body, Brown”) or transferring the theory of “pocket presence” from football to the boardroom. Readers who are not occupants of what Brown calls “the C\u002Dsuites” are not likely to find much of value here. Most of her assertions are so amorphous that it’s hard to argue with them. But they’re also so abstract that it’s difficult to imagine how to put them into action."

This action-packed survival adventure follows a group of teens who must rely on their wits and each other when a catastrophic earthquake strands them in the wilderness. The narrative masterfully buil...

Cover of SUDDENLY LIGHT

SUDDENLY LIGHT

Canadian author Dunic is a story collection centered on people who get tripped up while just trying to go about their lives." />

This luminous collection of poetry explores the sudden moments of clarity and transformation that illuminate our lives, offering young readers a gateway to understanding complex emotions through acce...

Cover of SUGAR SHACK

SUGAR SHACK

Genre

This vibrant picture book transports young readers to the heart of a bustling maple sugar farm, capturing the entire process from tapping the trees to pouring the sweet, sticky syrup. The narrative f...

Cover of SUMMER PEOPLE

SUMMER PEOPLE

tragedy\u003B and various “summer people” renting out the next\u002Ddoor cottage, such as teenager Bree, whose interactions with locals have disastrous consequences. By novel’s end, Catharine follows through on a promise to a special person in her life. This latest novel by Finigan may remind readers of such short story cycles as Sherwood Anderson’s classic Winesburg, Ohio (1919) and Elizabeth Strout’s Olive Kitteridge (2008), given its sweeping presentation of several characters in a small town. The narrative explores their relationships to one another in ways that are sometimes\u002Dglancing but often profound. Catharine, Tom, and Toby receive the most attention, but Finigan’s chapter on Bree, and her return later in the novel, allows for a striking demonstration of how one person’s actions can resonate across several lives. The book’s most effective element, though, is its heartbreaking portrayal of mental illness. Catharine believes that Tom is brilliant, as do his awful parents (portrayed in several memorably chilling scenes), and he experiences periods of “whirlwind of hope and possibility,” then increasingly wonders “how long he could stave off what he knew would follow. Each descent worse than the last.” A scene in which Tom holds Toby aloft as a child, during a Christmas Revels dance, serves as a well\u002Ddrawn example of how Tom’s exuberance has a dangerous edge\u003B so, too, do some of his worrying musings: “More and more his thoughts seemed to wander to the borderline, the edge of the beyond. What was out there?” His loved ones’ uncertainty about him, and his intentions, becomes a fitting element of this cross\u002Dcutting story, which effectively examines the wide\u002Dranging impact of individual actions."

This compelling novel explores the complex dynamics of a wealthy family's summer community, where the arrival of an unexpected visitor disrupts the carefully maintained social order and exposes long-...

Cover of SUPER BOBA CAFÉ

SUPER BOBA CAFÉ

Hamada’s attractive color palette, heighten the humorous and heartfelt moments. Fascinating facts about San Francisco’s history are woven into the monster’s story. The previous book established that Aria is Taiwanese and Indian American. The ending tantalizingly sets the stage for the next series entry."

This vibrant graphic novel serves up a delightful blend of supernatural mystery and bubble tea, following a young teen who discovers her family's boba shop holds magical secrets. The story bubbles ov...

Cover of Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokémon)

Super Duper Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook (Pokémon)

Scholastic

The latest edition of the bestselling Super Extra Deluxe Essential Handbook is here -- and it includes all-new Pokemon! With 640 color pages and info on more than 1,000 Pokemon, this is a must-have for Pokemon fans of all ages. Gotta catch 'em all! This revised and updated edition of the mega-bestse

Cover of SUPER NATURAL

SUPER NATURAL

recycling their waste products. Turtles in Canada pass months on the bottom of frozen ponds without breathing. Wood frogs in Alaska freeze solid throughout the winter. Beetles and ground squirrels in Alaska survive these months but never freeze. Using antifreeze proteins and cryoprotectants, they “supercool”—their body fluids remain liquid despite temperatures far below zero. Under Antarctic ice, fish and other sea life thrive under subzero conditions. Few natural history writers fail to warn that global warming threatens a mass extinction in these waters, and Riley too sounds the alarm. Saving “extremophiles” for later pages, he delivers vivid descriptions of spectacularly normal or amazingly grotesque creatures that live in boiling hot springs, poisonous mine wastes, the stratosphere, deep inside the earth’s crust, or miles down at the bottom of the ocean. It turns out that life itself may have originally been an extremophile that appeared almost four billion years ago on a planet without oxygen and survived on heat and toxic chemicals generated deep in the ocean as the earth’s tectonic plates pulled apart, freeing superheated magma below to mix with seawater above."

This vibrant exploration of the natural world reveals the extraordinary science behind everyday phenomena, transforming ordinary observations into captivating discoveries. Young readers will uncover ...

Cover of SUPER VISIBLE

SUPER VISIBLE

Genre

This vibrant picture book offers an empowering exploration of identity and self-expression for young readers navigating the complexities of growing up. Through its compelling narrative and striking i...

Cover of SUPERPERFORMANCE

SUPERPERFORMANCE

staying focused on the things that matter, the resources at hand, and the time available rather than getting bogged down paying disproportionate amounts of attention to issues offering far less return on the time invested. He effectively illuminates these discussions with charts, illustrations, and a collection of endnotes for further reading. Some of the author’s precepts remain untenably vague even after elaboration, and he’s prone to some of the nonsense\u002Dspeak that tends to fill business books: “It’s not how you can walk the walk or how you can talk the talk. It’s how you can walk the talk.” Fortunately, Pesansky’s energetic optimism makes up for this at every turn\u003B he ultimately comes across as the kind of HR development coach you wish your company had."

This guide to peak performance psychology offers young adults practical strategies for developing mental toughness, building resilience, and achieving their personal best in academics, sports, and cr...

Cover of SURVIVING PARIS

SURVIVING PARIS

2020, she was in her fifth apartment. But her biggest challenge was medical. In 2018, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The title Davis chose for her memoir refers to physical as well as emotional survival: nine surgical procedures over five years in a health care system that made her feel unheard, “dragged along without agency over my body, my health,” she writes. After a mastectomy, reconstruction, and removal of lymph nodes, impending chemotherapy and radiation finally incited her to speak up. Fearing that chemotherapy would compromise her fertility, she insisted on freezing her eggs. Davis also writes about dating and forging a sense of community as a Black woman in a new culture. “Living in France,” she notes, “I’d had my fair share of ‘Was this person racist to me or just rude?’—even more than I did in the US.” Still, she has persisted, determined to survive and thrive in a place she has grown to love."

This gripping young adult novel plunges readers into the chaotic aftermath of a devastating earthquake that levels the City of Light, following a group of international teens who must navigate collap...

Cover of Susan B. Anthony (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1/Co-Reader)

Susan B. Anthony (National Geographic Kids Readers, Level 1/Co-Reader)

Kitson Jazynka

Meet one of the most important figures in women's and U.S. history. Just in time for the 100th anniversary of the 19th amendment giving U.S. women the right to vote, learn about Susan B. Anthony's remarkable life, from her childhood to her groundbreaking work. National Geographic Kids Readers have b

Cover of SWALLOWS

SWALLOWS

Genre

This beautifully crafted nature guide offers young readers an intimate look into the world of swallows, exploring their migration patterns, nesting behaviors, and remarkable aerial acrobatics. Throug...

Cover of Sweet Dreams, My Love (Turkish English Bilingual Children's Book)

Sweet Dreams, My Love (Turkish English Bilingual Children's Book)

Shelley Admont

Turkish English Bilingual book. Perfect for kids learning English or Turkish as their second language. Alice doesn't want to go to sleep. Mom calms her down by reminding her of all the things they did together that evening.

Cover of SWITCHEROO

SWITCHEROO

two brilliant but eccentric scientists who desperately wanted offspring only to disappear from their lives several years later, leaving them in the care of a radio newscaster they know as Aunt Margie. So it’s no coincidence that Fran and Ken have made a specialty of helping adoptees reconnect with their birth families. Austin Cobb, who’s on the autism spectrum, doesn’t exactly want to reconnect with his birth parents\u003B instead, he wants Fran and Ken to carry out the very specific mission of finding out whether they gave him up because of his autism. But Austin’s adoption is shrouded in mystery, and even Fran’s long\u002Destablished connections in the child welfare world can’t give her a line on who Austin’s parents were, much less why they surrendered him. The case gets curiouser and curiouser as Fran finds that a woman who might have been Austin’s mother was murdered and her husband disappeared. Add Fran and Ken’s parents’ eternal nemesis, Malcolm X. Mitchell, to the mix, and you have the kind of freewheeling nightmare only Copperman could concoct. It’s not clear whether it’s a family saga, a science\u002Dfiction tale, a murder mystery, or a love story. Even Fran and her maybe\u002Dboyfriend, NYPD Det. Richard Mankiewicz, are unclear about the latter."

This clever counting book offers young readers a delightful twist on number recognition through its engaging switcheroo concept, where familiar objects transform into unexpected items with each turn ...

Cover of SYNAP

SYNAP

Shiloh’s father, Director Raguel, oversees each new robot\u002Doperating “Driver.” Shiloh, like others before them, uses something called the Axon Connection to power the machine (or try to), but that link weakens or goes away entirely when Drivers reach the age of 25 (“Your connection is strongest before your brain finishes developing”). So, Synap must continually train new Drivers, like Shiloh’s sister Angeline, Driver Six. In the virtual reality–like Axon, Shiloh keeps seeing images of Vivian, Synap’s very first Driver. If these are just memories, how is Vivian interacting with Shiloh? Meanwhile, Earth anticipates a visitor from the sky—perhaps an alien race that wants its machine back. Moses’ story is jampacked with goodies, including dynamic characters and a vivid backstory. Readers are treated to such unforgettable scenes as Angeline in a submersible deep in the Pacific Ocean and Vanessa (another former Driver) leading a team of armed soldiers on a mission in Xinjiang. Relationships fuel the narrative of this graphic novel as Synap’s Lynne Seti actively trains Shiloh, and Angeline and Vanessa appear to have a falling out. The action and mystery pick up as the story progresses and readers learn more about the mysterious Vivian (and an even more enigmatic glowing figure that suddenly emerges). Everything leads to a stellar cliffhanger that will surely leave readers eagerly awaiting further installments. Giannini’s sleek artwork outfits the diverse cast with chicness, from the stylish Synap uniforms to Vanessa’s eyebrow slits to Vivian’s lilac hair."

This innovative guide to brain science and neural pathways offers young readers a fascinating journey into the workings of the human mind, exploring how thoughts form and memories are created through...

Cover of Tabbed Board Books: My First Playtime

Tabbed Board Books: My First Playtime

DK

My First Playtime: Let's Get Busy! is filled with familiar playthings that toddlers will love to look at. This book has bright, busy activity-themed spreads, including: Cuddly Toys, Play House, Busy Town, On the Farm, Choo-Choo!, In the Yard, Let's Build!, Let's Go! Music Time, Let's Sort and Stack!

Cover of TALES OF MILITANT CHEMISTRY

TALES OF MILITANT CHEMISTRY

Genre

This provocative collection of chemical warfare narratives blends scientific precision with military history, offering young readers a sobering look at how chemistry has shaped modern conflict. The s...

Cover of TALL WATER

TALL WATER

Genre

This compelling coming-of-age novel plunges readers into the turbulent world of a teenager navigating the treacherous currents of high school, family secrets, and first love. The narrative flows with...

Cover of Tassajara Stories

Tassajara Stories

Shunryu Suzuki, the abbot of the San Francisco Zen Center, and subsequently witnessed a revolving door of people looking for inspiration, enlightenment, or simply an alternative way of living for a while. The author walks readers through the minutiae of daily life at the monastery, which included a “complex oryoki eating ritual and chanting, which dragged the meal out to an hour with little time for the actual eating.” He also recalls various anecdotes and visitors, explaining different phrases and terminology along the way (“Kobun wore a black monastic work outfit he called samue. Samu was monastic work and ‘e’ meant clothes”). While the stories largely unfold chronologically, there is no particular thread to connect them other than their shared time and place. Chadwick uses short, choppy sentences with minimal adornment, creating a strange sense of monotony—but one that is occasionally broken up by a beautiful description of nature or a particularly memorable event. One such highlight is when the poets Allen Ginsberg, Lawrence Ferlinghetti, and Daniel Moore came to meditate, read verse, sing, and chant mantras. This performance sparks what is surely one of the more delightfully bizarre sentences ever written: “Ginsberg played his harmonium with Ferlinghetti and Moore on Chinese horn and Hindu bells.” Surprisingly (and a bit disappointingly), the book’s focus consistently remains on the physical details of Tassajara and the everyday actions of its inhabitants, with very little personal or spiritual introspection. Still, the thorough and enlightening work achieves its ultimate goal of being an “oral history” by providing unparalleled access to daily life in a remarkable time and place."

This counting book offers young learners a vibrant journey through numbers with engaging illustrations and clever rhymes that make early math concepts accessible and fun. Each page introduces a new n...

Cover of Teaching Children Memory Verses

Teaching Children Memory Verses

Mary J. Davis

Help kids put God's Word into their hearts and minds with these activities. Each book includes a variety of projects that take kids through the Old and New Testaments. Kids will memorize Scripture and learn Bible stories as they participate in fun activities and crafts that reinforce God's Word!

Cover of Teaching Children to Pray

Teaching Children to Pray

Mary Davis

Through the use of cut, color, and paste projects, children will learn about the various types of prayer to help them begin and grow their own dynamic prayer life. Complete lesson plans are included.

Cover of TECH

TECH

striking statistics. Despite the focus on startup success, 4% of IPOs fail. Alexandre notes that “a startup is less an organization than an ethos” embedded in an “innovation\u002Dfocused culture.” Although his research includes nearly 150 interviews and a survey, the book isn’t centered on well\u002Dknown tech leaders—and many respondents chose to remain anonymous. The perspectives of workers, hiring managers, and entrepreneurs reveal a deeply secretive work environment governed by nondisclosure agreements. While organizational size—whether a nimble startup or a more established firm—clearly influences workplace culture and the practice of programming or entrepreneurship, Alexandre largely sidesteps this distinction. He embarks on a side quest into the history and culture of Burning Man, the desert festival that has significantly influenced the tech world. Nevertheless, academics and seasoned insiders will find new perspectives in studying this intricate ecosystem of blended work and leisure—a place and a culture that has created technologies with an outsize impact on our lives."

This comprehensive guide to modern technology offers young readers an accessible entry point into understanding the digital world that shapes their daily lives, covering everything from basic coding ...

Cover of TED'S TALES THREE

TED'S TALES THREE

a bunch of tentacles rather than legs.” What their actions might mean for humanity’s future is an unanswered question. In “Cured,” a narrator with a rare blood type is the subject of a future, experimental plague treatment from helpful extraterrestrials with unforeseen side effects. In “Treestones,” a virtuous young pioneer\u002Dsettler couple in the 1880s do a good turn to a Kiowa shaman, who rewards them with practically eternal life. However, the couple must deal with the fallout of remaining conspicuously unchanged. The more earthbound stories include “The Bread Problem,” in which a young Italian American proudly takes charge of the family bread\u002Dbaking business but resorts to extreme measures when faced with a mob shakedown. A similar gangland background appears in “Funny You Should Ask,” in which a former wise guy thinks, mistakenly, that he’s gotten out of the syndicate without repercussions. The narrator of “From Head to Toe,” meanwhile, escapes dire peril on a wilderness hike but is exhilarated, not traumatized, by the experience. “Making a Difference” follows the routine of a military sniper who’s recruited for the war on drugs. Not all the tales feature such deadly dramatics\u003B the protagonist of “Wound Up,” for instance, gains self\u002Dconfidence by being thrust into the unplanned role of opening for a rock band who’s late in setting up. The author calls his oeuvre “books to read before bed for grownups” though not in the bawdy sense, but rather in the notion of uncomplicated, nongraphic, plainspoken narratives that wrap up in a minimum of pages. A few of the pieces, such as “Test Day” and “Red Hot,” intriguingly have the mien of the story genre known as the conte cruel, in which nasty conclusions await main characters who don’t really seem to deserve such terrible fates. However, most of these stories in this collection don’t seem to aspire to O. Henry\u002Dstyle head\u002Dspinning twists\u003B indeed, many of them bring down the curtain as early as possible, at the point at which the reader realizes what the plot is. In the stories in the horror/SF/fantasy vein, Delgrosso most recalls an unsung and prolific short\u002Dstory master of yesteryear: William Sambrot, who was anthologized only once, in 1963’s Island of Fear and Other Science Fiction Stories, but is worth seeking out. Other works feel like flash fiction—workshop\u002Ddeveloped, bite\u002Dsized pieces—and they generally come across as the types of tale that used to fill up fiction pages when popular family magazines like The Saturday Evening Post were newsstand mainstays."

This collection of short fiction delivers a satisfying variety of speculative and contemporary tales, from alien encounters and magical curses to gritty mob dramas and wilderness survival. The storie...

Cover of Ten Apples Up on Top

Ten Apples Up on Top

Seuss

Learn to count with a dog, a lion and a tiger, as they show off and have fun! Following the crazy antics of a lion, a dog and a tiger as they show off how many apples they can balance on their heads - and learn to count at the same time!A classic Dr. Seuss title, illustrated by the wonderful Roy McK

Cover of Thanksgiving/Acción de Gracias

Thanksgiving/Acción de Gracias

Bonnie Hinman

Americans love Thanksgiving, and they celebrate it with gusto. Many American families watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, eat too much turkey, and after dinner collapse in front of the television to watch football. Most Americans don’t know that thanksgivings were celebrated long before the Pi

Cover of THAT DEVIL, AMBITION

THAT DEVIL, AMBITION

Genre

This gripping exploration of ambition's double-edged sword follows a protagonist's relentless climb to the top, only to confront the moral compromises and personal costs incurred along the way. The n...

Cover of THE 1929 KELSEY QUILTERS

THE 1929 KELSEY QUILTERS

22 additional unsewn blocks, was discovered by the author’s family in the estate of her husband’s aunt in 2018. In tracing the mysterious origins of the quilt—both sewn and unsewn blocks featured the same eight\u002Dpoint star pattern, but with a different name embroidered on each—the narrative puts together lost pieces of both Hamberlin’s extended family history and that of an entire Southern community of families belonging to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter\u002DDay Saints. The quilt, as the author learned, was made by a tight\u002Dknit group of women who lived in the Mormon community of Kelsey, Texas. While now a ghost town, at the turn of the 20th century Kelsey served as a haven for Mormon converts from the religiously oppressive South. (Even after the church banned polygamy, which was used by its opponents as justification for their persecution, its members continued to be met with hostility.) Exploring the lives of the women who worked on the quilt in 1929, this work uncovers a rich history of Kelsey’s town life, from its public school staffed by Mormon missionaries to its stores, farms, and mills built by the faithful. The text is at times hagiographic, written by a believer in the church’s teachings (the study of Kelsey, Hamberlin notes, “has strengthened [her] testimony of [her] Savior and the Atonement”), which may not resonate with those from different faith traditions. The study nevertheless draws on an impressive array of primary sources—from family oral histories to archival materials—to paint a vibrant portrait of life in Kelsey from the perspective of its women. Supplemented by a wealth of photographs, this is an accessible, engaging local history."

This historical novel transports readers to the heart of the Great Depression, following a determined group of women in a small town who turn to quilting as a means of survival and solidarity. The na...

Cover of THE ACADEMY

THE ACADEMY

Cunningham as co\u002Dauthor. As their delicious new book opens, it’s Move\u002DIn Day at Tiffin Academy, and Head of School Audre Robinson is warmly welcoming the returning and new students to the New England campus, the latter group including a rare midstream addition to the junior class. Brainiac Charley Hicks is transferring from public school in Maryland to a spot that opened up when one of the school’s most beloved students died by suicide the preceding year. She will be joining a large, diverse cast of adult and teenage characters—queen bees, jealous second\u002Dstringers, boozehounds young and old, secret lesbians, people chasing the wrong people chasing other wrong people—all of them royally screwed when an app called Zip Zap appears and starts blasting everyone’s secrets all over campus. How the heck…? Meanwhile, it seems so unlikely that Tiffin has jumped up to the No. 2 spot in the boarding\u002Dschool rankings that a high\u002Dprofile magazine launches an investigation, and even the head is worried that there may have been payola involved. The school has a reputation for being more social than academic, and this quality gets an exciting new exclamation point when the resident millionaire bad boy opens a high\u002Dstyle secret speakeasy for select juniors in a forgotten basement. It’s called Priorities. Exactly. One problem: Cinnamon Peters’ mysterious suicide hangs over the book in an odd way, especially since the note she left for her closest male friend is not to be opened for another year—and isn’t. This is surely a setup for a sequel, but it’s a bit frustrating here, and bobs sort of shallowly along amid the general high spirits."

This gripping YA thriller plunges readers into the cutthroat world of an elite boarding school where perfection is mandatory and secrets are deadly. When a new student arrives at the prestigious inst...

Cover of The ADHD Parenting Handbook

The ADHD Parenting Handbook

Colleen Alexander-Roberts

A compilation of practical advice and tips for handling day-to-day activities that routinely become problematic for ADHD children, such as getting dressed for school, going to bed, performing chores, completing homework, and playing with other children.

Cover of THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT

THE AFTERLIFE PROJECT

day. Great vees of migrating geese fill the air with their throaty honking.” The final act takes a noticeable but not entirely drastic turn, culminating in an extraordinary and befitting denouement. "

This gripping young adult novel plunges readers into a high-stakes scientific mystery when a brilliant teen coder discovers her late father's secret research: a project capable of digitally preservin...

Cover of The Amazing World of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

The Amazing World of Julia Donaldson and Axel Scheffler

Julia Donaldson

This vibrant exploration of creative partnership offers young readers an intimate look at how beloved picture books come to life, tracing the collaborative magic between author Julia Donaldson and il...

Cover of THE ARCHITECT'S EPIPHANY

THE ARCHITECT'S EPIPHANY

the dastardly Zhehe people, but that just means that the stage is set for a City Builder—in this case the young Ocean Hacklin, heir to the great City Builder Yishan Hacklin—to rebuild Aye\u002DShan City all over again, using his superhuman Naoyang skills. Before that can happen, however, Ocean must team up with Shaman Ling Tiber\u003B together, the duo, along with a comical company of other Aye\u002DShan City refugees, set out to locate the fabled Guardian Beast. Readers may see parallels between Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings series and the story of the fallen city of Aye\u002DShan: Both set technology and the natural world at odds with each other. The Kwong brothers take the premise one step further in positing that war itself is just part of the natural cycle of things. There is a lyrical quality in both the writing (“The fighting song is loud and clear, the sound of nature changes the world”) and the illustrations. The latter seem to shift and morph into varying styles, some vibrant and colorful, others stark and black \u0026amp\u003B white. At one point, speaking through imaginative speech balloons in prose that gives it an ethereal air of nobility, the mighty Guardian Beast laments how it was overcome after the Zhehe people “tempted Aye\u002DShan people to engage in lewd acts, which generated negative energy and weakened my power.” Will the Zhehe people and the inhabitants of Aye\u002DShan City ever break free of this cycle of destruction and creation? That depends on what the Kwong brothers next have in store for readers."

This architectural adventure follows a young designer's journey through a world of impossible structures and gravity-defying forms, where buildings come alive with personality and purpose. The narrat...

Cover of THE ART OF VANISHING

THE ART OF VANISHING

Jean Matisse, who lives with two of his siblings and his mom in a painting by his father, Henri. The “Elizabeth Bennet” in question is Claire, a new night\u002Dshift cleaning person at a private museum seemingly modeled on the Barnes Foundation in Philadelphia, where hundreds of paintings are hung edge to edge in a giant mansion. Ever since she was a little girl, Claire\u0027s had the feeling that there’s a way to cross over into the world of a painted image, and she’s about to find out she’s right. Later, after the pair has fallen in love: “We played cards with Cézanne’s farmhands, shot the breeze with Seurat’s models, and swam in the Medi­terranean Sea.” As the subjects of the paintings skip from one canvas to the next to get some variety in their frozen lives, one of the most popular hangouts is “Le bonheur de vivre,” a Matisse which depicts a clothing\u002Doptional seaside bacchanal. This escapist adventure and beautiful love affair is deeply satisfying, almost therapeutic, for young Claire, who has a lot of responsibilities and complications in the real world. At one point, she starts to realize she could be missing important calls while she’s over there in La La Land. “Of course there’s no cell reception in—what year is it in this paint­ing?” “1905 or 1906, I think.”  In addition to the details of Claire’s backstory, Pager throws two big real\u002Dworld developments into the mix—Covid\u002D19 and a museum heist. But the real joy of this book is the world she has invented on the other side of the canvas, a kind of Phantom Tollbooth for grown\u002Dups."

This imaginative novel offers a breathtaking escape into the world of art, where a young woman discovers she can literally step into the paintings she cleans at a private museum. Claire's journey fro...

Cover of THE ASCENSION DIRECTIVE

THE ASCENSION DIRECTIVE

Genre

Women in the Koran and the holy scriptures of other religions.

Cover of THE AUSTEN AFFAIR

THE AUSTEN AFFAIR

Genre

For readers who love historical fiction with a dash of romance and a modern twist, this novel cleverly transports its protagonist into the world of Jane Austen. When a contemporary teen finds herself...

Cover of THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS

THE BEAST IN THE CLOUDS

two sons of Theodore Roosevelt." />

This gripping adventure novel follows two young brothers on a perilous expedition into uncharted wilderness, where they must confront both the harsh realities of nature and a mysterious creature rumo...

Cover of The Beginner's Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions

The Beginner's Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions

The Beginner's Bible,

Snuggle up for some special time with God and your little one! The Beginner’s Bible 100 Bedtime Devotions contains sweet, meaningful devotions that are fun and accessible for young children, so you can end the day by reassuring your child of God’s amazing love for them. The Beginner’s Bible 100 Bedt

Cover of THE BELLES

THE BELLES

her housecleaner grandmother—Deena hopes to learn her peers’ ways while she keeps a secret that might ruin her chances for a Bellerton\u002Dapproved future. If this territory has been mined by other writers, it doesn’t matter much as debut novelist Dunham juggles gothic elements including a nasty poetry professor, a drunken misery of a housemother, and glimpses of ghosts in the campus trees. Queen Bee Ada May Delacourt\u003B closeted Winifred (Fred) Scott and her bestie, Sheba Wyatt\u003B Nell Lawton\u002DPeters\u003B and Prissy Nicholson from Texas at first hew so closely to the expectations of Mrs. Tibbert, the wife of the college’s president, that she declares them the Belles of their class. But small things start to go missing from the girls’ rooms and as they snipe at each other, they also discover how good it feels to be bad, brandishing their signature hair ribbons like battle standards and roaming the woods at night, damn the consequences. Deena begins to encounter the apparition of a 19th\u002Dcentury student, Mary Burden, and wonders why only she can see her\u003B even if readers guess, they’ll already be under the spell of this isolated school. As the Belles prepare for their 50th reunion in 2002, their 21st\u002Dcentury lives offer bitter commentary on the real lessons they learned."

In a world where beauty is a commodity and the ability to transform appearance is a coveted magic, one Belle's journey uncovers the dark secrets behind the opulent court of Orléans. This lush, high-s...

Cover of THE BEWITCHING

THE BEWITCHING

a haunting of her own." />

This supernatural thriller delivers a chilling exploration of grief and the lingering power of memory, wrapped in a ghost story that will keep readers turning pages long past bedtime. The narrative m...

Cover of The Big Book of Reading Comprehension Activities, Grade 4

The Big Book of Reading Comprehension Activities, Grade 4

Susan B. Katz

Make reading comprehension a blast with 100 activities for 4th graders Show 4th graders how much fun practicing their reading comprehension can be. This workbook is full of exercises that help kids develop essential reading skills while exploring fun stories. Get kids primed for school with engaging

Cover of THE BIG HAPPY

THE BIG HAPPY

the fads and whims of smin knowed as the Vox Popeye.” In Las Vegas, she teams up with Bogart Wham, the “Numero Uno Celeb Influsser in PopRep” (that’s the Popular Republic, the populist\u002Dcapitalist federation that now occupies Europe and North America). Together, they will prove whether a detective assembled from middling novels can catch a very real serial killer. According to Chadwick’s inventive lore, Earth was plunged into a 1500\u002Dyear Dark Age in the middle of the 21st century, and the newly revived civilization of 4050 therefore reveres American culture—and Donald Trump in particular—in the way that Renaissance thinkers revered the Romans\u003B this is the reason “freddykrueger” and Family Guy remain coherent references. (Some still manage to feel dated, however: Common profanities include “zuck”—for Mark Zuckerberg—and “Trump in Stormy!”) Numerous Trump jokes aside—two countries in 4050 are modeled on his teachings, including one called Trumpia—the novel’s premise and its execution are quite brilliant. Readers will end the book hoping more Serial Killer Miller cases are in the works."

This rhyming children's story carries with it a message about finding happiness that is as relevant for the children reading it, as it is for the adults that may be reading it to children. Posie the Penguin begins to feel that she is not contented with her life in Antarctica and decides that there m

Cover of THE BIZARRE BAZAAR

THE BIZARRE BAZAAR

friends, crush Ginny Mendoza, and even his busy, overworked mother, Abel stumbles upon the Bizarre Bazaar one day and finds a charm bracelet that’s perfect for Ginny. It’s out of his price range, but Babs is willing to take a trade. Back home, Abel rummages through his absent father’s old things for possibilities but comes up empty\u003B after he does manual labor for his grumpy neighbor, she lets him take a mirror as payment. Before he can swap his new find for the bracelet, he falls into the mirror and enters a seemingly perfect world where his parents are together and everyone, including Ginny, adores him. But Abel quickly realizes that something isn’t right. In this start to a new graphic novel series, Nayeri’s cleverly structured narrative, paired with Enright’s bright, retro\u002Dstyle cartoons, sets a tone that’s by turns cavalier and chilling, delighting in mortal foibles and offering unexpected revelations. Brown\u002Dskinned Abel’s surname suggests that he’s of Iranian descent, Ginny is Latine, and the supporting cast is diverse."

This vibrant counting book transforms a bustling marketplace into an immersive mathematical adventure, where young readers encounter everything from seven shimmering scarves to ten towering pyramids ...

Cover of THE BLOOD IN WINTER

THE BLOOD IN WINTER

nobles. The crux of the dispute was over “Remonstrances,” a series of objections to Charles the First’s desire for absolute rule. Paramount among these were Parliament’s right to assemble and whether bishops should be allowed to sit in the House of Lords. No issue arose without provoking opposition. “Ship money,” a levy on coastal communities to fund the Royal Navy, was a classic example. The king tried to extend the levy to inland counties without parliamentary consent. This galvanized such opposition that when Charles and his army turned up at Parliament searching for five members whom Charles regarded as traitors, they had already fled downriver. They’d been tipped off by Lucy Hay, close companion to the queen and one of history’s great eavesdroppers. It is to Healey’s credit that, while giving a detailed discussion of the complex arguments, he also evokes the many colorful characters involved. Alongside a king who teeters between pomposity and timidity, a queen who sells her jewelry in exile, and the humble\u002Dborn Sir John Bankes, stuck “between a sow’s ear and the silken purse,” readers are treated to a portrait of a smoke\u002D, smog\u002D, and mud\u002Dfilled London, together with its inhabitants. Water poets and priggish Puritans may dominate, but who can forget a particular candidate for Constable of the Tower: Thomas Lunsford, who was “heavily in debt, rarely seen at church. Some said he was a cannibal.”"

This gripping survival thriller plunges readers into a brutal winter landscape where a group of teenagers must confront not only the deadly cold and scarce resources but also the terrifying creatures...

Cover of The Blue Day Book for Kids

The Blue Day Book for Kids

Bradley Trevor Greive

Featuring the same style of delightful black-and-white animal photos found in its "New York Times" bestselling predecessor "The Blue Day Book," this special edition for children is accompanied by compassionate words of wisdom written especially for children.

Cover of THE BOOK OF CHAOS

THE BOOK OF CHAOS

land and sea), establish an impressive pace that rarely lets up. The ending provides resolution and a welcome tease for yet another series entry."

This middle-grade fantasy novel plunges readers into a world where ancient magic and modern-day chaos collide, following siblings who discover their family's mysterious legacy holds the key to preven...

Cover of THE BOOK OF GUILT

THE BOOK OF GUILT

German conspirators in 1943\u003B since then, British scientists have had access to studies “of immense scientific value” made in “the camps,” as they are called with pointed vagueness. In 1979, this history is taught to 13\u002Dyear\u002Dold triplet brothers—mercurial William, softhearted Lawrence, and thoughtful, watchful Vincent, who narrates most of the book. They live in a group home for boys, part of the Sycamore Homes program established by the government in 1944 to raise parentless children. Doted on by a threesome of Morning, Afternoon, and Night mothers, taught from the encyclopedic Book of Knowledge (an actual publication) and in weekly ethics discussions, the Sycamore boys have had happy if isolated childhoods marred only by incessant sickliness. Those who recuperate from “the Bug” get to move to “the Big House in Margate,” which, according to the brochure, is a wonderful place next to an amusement park. Only the triplets still remain when a new Conservative government decides to discontinue the Sycamore program to cut costs. Soon the Prime Minister puts the well\u002Dmeaning but clueless Minister of Loneliness in charge of rehoming the triplets. But where? That these children have been part of a creepy scientific experiment is obvious early on, but one shocking, horrifying surprise follows another in what is, at its most basic, a cat\u002Dand\u002Dmouse thriller. Meanwhile, Chidgey forces readers to delve into moral questions concerning science (and by extension, technology), pragmatism, personal responsibility, and institutional evil. Then there’s the novel’s unavoidable, disquieting contemplation of just who is given equal right in any given society (including ours). Chidgey, a New Zealander, borrows elements from Philip Roth’s The Plot Against America and Kazuo Ishiguro’s Never Let Me Go, but the character Vincent most resembles is Pinocchio. Broad themes and issues become deeply personal as his coming\u002Dof\u002Dage becomes a monumental struggle toward self\u002Ddiscovery."

This psychological thriller plunges readers into the suffocating world of a teenager grappling with a life-altering secret, masterfully weaving suspense with the raw emotional turmoil of adolescence....

Cover of THE BOOK OF SEA MONSTERS

THE BOOK OF SEA MONSTERS

either a maritime reference (fish, boats, sea monsters) or a representation of the featured author. It functions as a sort of Great Books seminar for readers with a short attention span. The book reminds us of how great some of the poems are and where “water, water everywhere / and not a drop to drink” actually comes from. The anthology also prompts musings about erotic and psychological elements pertaining to sea monsters\u003B an example may be a possible feminist critique of mermaids. Just as Thoreau escaped the desperate city for the desperate country, so humankind fled the monsters among us only to succumb to their nautical cousins—escaping the devil, so to speak, for the deep blue sea."

This vividly illustrated guide plunges young readers into the mysterious depths of the ocean, introducing them to a captivating menagerie of marine creatures both real and legendary. From the colossa...

Cover of THE BOOK OF SHEEN

THE BOOK OF SHEEN

his umbilical cord, and goes on to a childhood in and around Los Angeles, where he made home videos with other showbiz kids. Along with his mother and three siblings, he frequently traveled to locations where his father, Martin Sheen, was filming, notably the set of Apocalypse Now. In an account laden with expletives and endearingly weird spelling choices (“dood,” “kool”), some of the actor’s most riveting chapters evoke his own stints on film sets, particularly his brutal experiences during the filming of Oliver Stone’s Platoon, in which the author starred. Though he went on to play parts in many more movies and in TV shows like Two and a Half Men, he turned his attention primarily to booze, drugs, gambling on sports, and encounters with sex workers. Don’t look for the usual redemption narrative here. Though Sheen does spend the last few pages of the book on what he says have been eight recent years of sobriety, undertaken for the sake of his children and grandchildren, he devotes most of the book to an exhaustive and sometimes exhausting survey of life on the edge. Despite many hours at meetings, he doesn’t have the respect for Alcoholics Anonymous—that “medieval gibberish club”—that he has for the many escorts he employed, whose charges he views as “a convenience\u002Dtax for a guaranteed outcome the other dating scenarios couldn’t offer.” Sheen’s three marriages zip in and out of the narrative with dizzying speed, leaving the reader no wiser about the women involved."

This vibrant collection of character studies and life lessons draws inspiration from the iconic actor Charlie Sheen, transforming his memorable quotes and public persona into thoughtful reflections o...

Cover of The Burden of Conscience

The Burden of Conscience

Henry A. Giroux

In The Burden of Conscience, Giroux confronts the insidious rise of fascism infiltrating today's politics and education, alongside the suffocating silence that paralyzes our will to resist and speak truth to power. He decries the moral apathy in the face of the slaughter of children in Israel and th

Cover of THE CALL OF ABADDON

THE CALL OF ABADDON

the United Earth Federation, and now Jason and Sam have psychic abilities. Jason, however, can’t control his, and he suppresses them with regular doses of the drug Osmium. Untreated, he hears the voice of the Abaddon Beacon, an alien obelisk that sat in the labs with the three when they were still test subjects. As Jason’s connection to the Beacon hurts him as well as others, the salvagers vow to retrieve the artifact, which promises Jason answers to his “psychic affliction.” That’s just one reason to brave the surface of New Toronto, where they’re classified as “Undocs”\u003B the other is to salvage parts to repair their damaged 14\u002Dfoot robot, the true muscle in the Village’s defense. Meanwhile, the ongoing Solar War may be nearing an end, with the very real possibility that the UEF will surrender to the Solar Empire. Cyborg Anne Oakfield, who has ties to the Village and the government’s experiments, has another idea: She sets out to kill the nefarious EmperorHadrian Mariko of the Solar Empire. All the while, the Nanophage, a plague of corrupted Nanites that infect humans and bots alike, threatens everyone.Searle’s extensive worldbuilding turns this tale into a richly detailed epic\u003B backstories include Anne’s murky past\u003B particulars on Julian Yamamoto, the Village’s governor and founder\u003B and several nods to the Great War from a century ago. The three protagonists—tortured, sympathetic Jason\u003B fiercely loyal David, whose reason for also being in the lab is eventually revealed\u003B and Sam, who’s refined her psionic skills—are superbly rendered. They lead an indelible cast, highlighted by the unshakable Anne, another few notable Oakfields, and the diabolical Emperor and his “augmented” Imperial legionnaires. While there are some solid action sequences, this story relies more on the buildup of tension as various groups of people come into conflict. Perpetual menaces abound as the war continues, the Abaddon Beacon’s voice proves merciless, and the Nanophage\u002Dinfected victims amass in zombie\u002Dlike hordes. Throughout the narrative there are signs of familiar tech, from cybernetic implants and parts (like Anne’s “cyber\u002Deyes”) to a variety of vehicles including an airbus and a Jetbike. While these are fun details, it’s just as entertaining to watch characters get by without fantastical tech at their disposal (Jason, David, and Sam must make a hefty jump sans jetpacks and confront bulky foes in New Toronto with no assistance from their own gigantic robot). It’s hard to imagine where the salvaging trio might go next—which makes a sequel all the more appealing."

This gripping YA fantasy plunges readers into a world where ancient prophecies and modern-day heroes collide, delivering a heart-pounding adventure filled with shadowy realms, forbidden magic, and a ...

Cover of The Children of the Children

The Children of the Children

chance—or perhaps divine intervention, as his new friends, The Fishermen, will insist—Danny winds up in San Francisco, learning the teachings of the charismatic Father Joseph. At first, his small group simply distributes Father Joseph’s letters around Haight Ashbury, trying to convert lonely hippies into new cult members. As their numbers grow and their philosophies and hierarchies evolve, The Fishermen move east to avoid scrutiny, eventually branching out all over Western Europe. Father Joseph begins bending rules of sexual conduct to fit his own personal (and abominable) desires and increase revenue via sex work. Danny finds himself in a love triangle with his wife, Martha (the eventual mother of David), and Deborah, a woman growing uncomfortable with the Fishermen’s increasingly disturbing sexual practices. But breaking out of Father Joseph’s psychic clutches is a tall order. As David comes of age and becomes a victim of physical and sexual abuse himself, he sets off on the path that will eventually lead him to Prague as he starts to question Father Joseph as well: “His instinct told him it was wrong, as his faith told him it was not.”McMillion’s subject and setting are fascinating, and the parallels between the protest energy of the late 1960s and the allure of a cult cut off from mainstream society lend a sharp and smart context to the novel. There are several scary and perfectly succinct explanations of how someone like Danny could get drawn into Father Joseph’s web. (“If deception is the art of convincing someone that what one knows to be false is true, then conversion is convincing him of what neither party can prove one way or the other,” the author writes in a truly standout moment.) However, the novel’s ambitious scope—the narrative spans two decades, a dozen complicated households, and too many countries to even list—overshadows the smaller, more disquieting moments. McMillion tries to pack in as much detail as possible, but this results in large chunks of writing that feel like nonfiction reportage rather than advancements of the engrossing emotional arcs already in place. This is felt most acutely in the various depictions of sexual abuse: Incidents conveyed from the point of view of characters such as Deborah or David are harrowing, while other scenes simply give cold factual accounts of Father Joseph’s horrendous proclivities. After the cult’s complicated history is filled in little by little, readers finally arrive back at the opening framing scene for an emotionally resonant conclusion that nevertheless feels too little and too late following such a dense history lesson."

This poignant multigenerational story explores the complex legacy of family history as it follows young protagonists grappling with the weight of their ancestors' experiences. Through alternating tim...

Cover of The Chronology of American Literature

The Chronology of American Literature

Daniel S. Burt

If you are looking to brush up on your literary knowledge, check a favorite author's work, or see a year's bestsellers at a glance, The Chronology of American Literature is the perfect resource. At once an authoritative reference and an ideal browser's guide, this book outlines the indispensable inf

Cover of THE CIA BOOK CLUB

THE CIA BOOK CLUB

the CIA, which, brought to Warsaw and other Polish cities by travelers to the West during the brief thaw following Stalin’s death, were circulated via a “system of covert lending.” As English writes, the CIA agents providing funds and books were discerning: They sent fashion magazines and books by the likes of John le Carré and Philip Roth but also by East European and Russian writers such as Boris Pasternak, Joseph Brodsky, and Czeslaw Milosz. Eventually the book smugglers became more daring, publishing samizdat editions through a carefully coordinated series of safe rooms scattered across the country. English celebrates homegrown heroes such as Miroslaw Chojecki, trained as a physicist, who had been arrested 43 times by March 1980 but kept it up all the same. Romanian\u002Dborn George Minden, also honored, concocted a series of ploys to get books and money inside the Iron Curtain, including, daringly, simply mailing banned literature to recipients chosen at random from the phone book. The program was highly effective\u003B as English notes, “By 1962 at least 500 organizations were sending books on the CIA’s behalf.” By the program’s end, thousands of books had been circulated, to the gratitude of their readers, one of whom exalted, “We read poetry and literature. It showed us that there are likeminded people who are above nationality, who we can empathize with, who admire beauty, who admire virtue.”"

This gripping espionage thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of teenage intelligence operatives, blending the familiar pressures of high school with the dangerous realities of internat...

Cover of THE CODE OF LIFE

THE CODE OF LIFE

“junk DNA” that doesn’t code for proteins. She’s convinced that it hides a secret, and her research attracts the attention of Carter Industries, an incredibly wealthy corporation involved in “tech, AI, and space dreams.” With their resources, Camille and her colleagues discover that a sequence in human DNA contains specific coordinates: “a celestial map, directing us to a specific location on Mars….written into our very genetic code for millennia, waiting for us to uncover it,” notes benefactor Nathaniel Carter. Camille then becomes a member of the first human crew ever sent to the red planet, where she finds an ancient Martian AI, which explains that there was an advanced civilization there, billions of years ago. The Martians created it when they were on the verge of extinction, it says, so that it could steer development of life on Earth. Now, the AI intends to “merge” its memories with humanity to form one united species. Camille and her crew are afraid that this will mean the destruction of humankind, so they alert the corporation back home, leading to a tense, frightening standoff. In many ways, Masip’s novel reads like a blockbuster SF movie\u003B the action is grand and sweeping, and a few preternaturally skilled characters risk peril and revelation to save the day. The story is exciting and tense throughout, and it’s easy to root for the main characters. However, the book has some of the problems that many movie blockbusters also have: Convenient coincidences occur as the plot demands, which saps the dramatic power, and the novel’s length worsens this problem, as it’s difficult to maintain escalating tension for nearly 500 pages. However, the story’s themes are heartening, and Masip takes care to give his characters rich internal lives and distinct perspectives. Despite its flaws, this novel is a lot of fun and clearly written with care."

This compelling exploration of DNA and genetics takes young readers on a fascinating journey into the molecular blueprint that makes us who we are, from the double helix structure to how traits are p...

Cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books

Harold D. Underdown

Provides practical and timely advice on writing different types of children's books, working with publishers, understanding the publishing process, the importance of illustrators, and building a career in the field of children's literature. Original. 12,000 first printing.

Cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Publishing Children's Books, 3rd Edition

Harold D. Underdown

"Honest and precise... everything about writing for children there is to know." --Jane Yolen, author Here is the comprehensive guide to writing, publishing, and selling for the ever-expanding and always exciting children's market--now in a new and updated third edition. * Includes new chapters on se

Cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter

The Complete Idiot's Guide to the World of Harry Potter

Tere Stouffer

You're no idiot. You know the wildly popular Harry Potter series has captivated readers of all ages from the release of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stoneon. But did you recognize all the subtle references Rowling uses in her characters' names or in the magical creatures we encounter and places w

Cover of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing For Young Adults

The Complete Idiot's Guide to Writing For Young Adults

Deborah Perlberg

This comprehensive guide introduces aspiring storytellers to the ins and outs of writing fiction and nonfiction for young adults. Information includes an overview of writing, from dialogue and point of view to plot, setting, and character construction; choosing an agent and publisher; marketing the

Cover of THE CONJURING OF AMERICA

THE CONJURING OF AMERICA

tracing the transformations of the conjure woman from the Negro Mammy during slavery to the Candy Lady, a revered elder in Black communities during the Civil Rights Movement. Powerful figures in Blacks’ battles against racism and sexism, conjure women have inhabited many roles, among them, healers, spiritual guides, midwives and abortion providers, weavers and quilters, hairdressers, and cooks. Enslaved African women brought their ancestors’ use of natural medicine to the plantation, where Negro Mammies applied methods that were noninvasive and boosted the immune system, far different from medical doctors’ bloodletting and purging. Among one Negro Mammy’s remedies was a salve containing turpentine, which cleared airways so effectively it was sought after by whites, including one Southern man who made a fortune marketing it as Vicks VapoRub. In antebellum New Orleans, the Voodoo Queen was central to a community of free women of color who worshiped mermaids. Associated with rebellion and vengeance, Voodoo Queens inspired fear in their white neighbors. Stewart traces the connections of conjure to Aunt Jemima (whose image derived from a minstrel act), the invention of the blues, and even the creation of blue jeans, first made and worn by enslaved people and sewn from “negro cloth,” dyed with the West African plant indigo. Conjure emerges in the art of hairdressers, in cooks whose soul food has the power to bring good luck, and in quilters who designed “busy patterns” in their blankets to distract spirits that brought bad luck. Stewart melds personal reflections, African mythology, and abundant primary sources, most notably interviews conducted by the Federal Writers’ Project, to create a brisk, spirited narrative."

This gripping historical fantasy novel reimagines America's founding through a supernatural lens, blending authentic colonial history with magical elements that will captivate young adult readers. Th...

Cover of THE CREATIVE CTO

THE CREATIVE CTO

step, breaking concepts down into smaller, easily digestible segments. He lays everything out methodically and comprehensively, although his thoroughness sometimes leads him into statements of the obvious, such as: “It is important to track any specific risks that may affect your strategy” or “you must determine whether you’re making progress toward realizing your strategic objectives.” Still, the author covers all aspects of the CTO’s job in exhaustive detail, and both existing and prospective CTOs will find this breakdown valuable."

This insightful guide offers a rare and valuable perspective on technology leadership, exploring how chief technology officers can bridge the gap between technical execution and creative vision. The ...

Cover of THE DANDY

THE DANDY

looking the part. This “rowdyism and larking” ushered in the “masher” at the turn of the century, a ribald lothario who would lurk around burlesque shows to profess their love to the dancers. Later, Andersson keenly connects the dandy’s sharp suiting with trends in gangster fashion and the zoot suits of the swing movement. Present throughout this centuries\u002Dlong evolution is the sneering eye of the press, which spurned dandies as “effeminate members of a third sex.” Andersson pieces together details on styles and their offshoots through a relentless feed of sarcastic articles and cartoons, deftly using these baseless dismissals as keystones to better render the movement. Throughout each case study, the author artfully accounts for dandyism as an amalgamation of both a subculture and the public’s reaction to it, and he harnesses that clash to stitch together a formidable sociological history."

This gritty urban drama follows a charismatic young man navigating the treacherous intersection of street life and ambition in a city that offers few second chances. The narrative pulses with authent...

Cover of THE DEVIL IN FINE PRINT

THE DEVIL IN FINE PRINT

Genre

This legal thriller plunges readers into the high-stakes world of corporate malfeasance, where a young, idealistic lawyer discovers a sinister clause buried within a massive tech company's user agree...

Cover of THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY

THE DEVIL REACHED TOWARD THE SKY

Genre

This gripping novel plunges readers into a high-stakes supernatural conflict where the line between good and evil is terrifyingly blurred. The story masterfully builds a world where celestial forces ...

Cover of THE DEVIL TAKE THE BLUES

THE DEVIL TAKE THE BLUES

Genre

This gritty urban fantasy plunges readers into a world where the soulful ache of blues music holds literal, dangerous power, weaving a narrative rich with musical lore and supernatural stakes. The st...

Cover of THE DEVIL'S CASTLE

THE DEVIL'S CASTLE

the experience of two Germans. Paul Schreber (1842\u002D1911), a judge hospitalized repeatedly for schizophrenia, wrote a vivid memoir that captivated Sigmund Freud. Dorothea Buck (1917\u002D2019), an artist and writer sterilized by the Nazis, spent her postwar life as an advocate for psychiatric reform. As Antonetta writes, Adolf Hitler praised Americans who embraced eugenics—by the early 20th century 30 states followed Indiana’s first\u002Din\u002Dthe\u002Dnation sterilization law, which mandated sterilization for “criminals, imbeciles, idiots, and rapists.” The first section of the book is a detailed, gruesome history of eugenics, peaking in the 1930s with the Nazis’ industrial\u002Dscale sterilization and execution of the mentally ill, along with other “useless eaters.” This was plain common sense, according to Hitler, who proclaimed that nations that support the genetically “inferior” are committing national suicide by encouraging them to multiply when natural selection would normally eliminate them. Antonetta then turns her attention to postwar psychiatry, which began discarding Freudianism in favor of approaching mental illness as a brain disorder with treatments similar to those that worked with diseases of other organs. She maintains that certain afflictions (schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, autism) are not brain diseases but neurodivergence: different ways the psyche deals with the world. They require less “treatment” and more understanding and acceptance. As she writes, “The more kinds of minds we have, the richer our conscious ecosystem.”"

This gripping historical thriller plunges readers into the shadowy corridors of a foreboding fortress where ancient secrets and modern danger collide. A young protagonist, drawn to the castle's dark ...

Cover of THE DEVIL'S GRIN

THE DEVIL'S GRIN

an otherworldly presence. Dandelion works in a nursing home and seems constantly distressed. Her father torments her with repeated calls espousing paranoid conspiracies that may be connected to her inexplicable experiences. Robert and Dandelion’s neighbor Gary is an African American cartoonist who knew Robert’s mother and has the supernatural ability to direct real events via his cartoons—sometimes with deadly results. While Gary contends with racism and personal frustrations, his cartoons give him godlike powers—and he keeps his attention on Robert and Dandelion. The artwork and subject matter echo underground comix (R. Crumb is name\u002Dchecked), with cartoonish effects like bulging eyeballs and thumping hearts deployed in extensive and graphic sex scenes. With this as only Book 1 and no resolution to be found in these pages, Graham’s ability to bring these wild elements to a satisfying conclusion remains to be seen. But the energy and tapestry of the work is intriguing."

This gripping historical mystery plunges readers into Victorian London's foggy underworld, where a young detective confronts a series of chilling murders connected to the city's most notorious crimin...

Cover of The Dinosaur Atlas

The Dinosaur Atlas

Don Lessem

An up-close look at the habitats of a variety of dinosaurs.

Cover of The Disney Villains Cookbook

The Disney Villains Cookbook

Disney Books

Inspired by the Disney Villains, this bewitching cookbook for kids makes learning how to cook everything from hearty breakfasts to delicious desserts fun and downright magical. Featuring simple step-by-step instructions and mouth-watering photos of each dish, this cookbook invites readers to craft w

Cover of THE DRAGONKIN LEGACY

THE DRAGONKIN LEGACY

the Naga may be a sign of the Last War alluded to in a seer’s prophecy that also foretells of a “Team of Five” that will stand up to the Naga. One of these eventual Five is the recently orphaned 11\u002Dyear\u002Dold Sakura, whose late father was a Shrine\u002Ddefending Dragon Guardian. The others include seafarer and mage Myrriden the Traveler, who takes in Sakura as his ward\u003B Myrriden’s magic\u002Dschool student son Emrys\u003B the Archmage Hoth\u003B and the enigmatic Fire Mage Volcan. Crucial to their defense of Cynnahu is the unearthing of an enchantment called the Elder Song, though no one is quite certain what that spell does. Adler’s epic\u002Dlength tale comprises two seamlessly connected novels. The worldbuilding is superb, starting with the Dragonkin and their former continent Cynnahu. The many isles, though they look the same, prove distinct in other ways\u003B one contains Emrys’ school, with an exterior that’s magically different for each individual (to one it appears as a “mist\u002Dcloaked temple”), while another isle houses the formidable, gleaming Blue Fortress. The characters are just as memorable, especially the courageous, same\u002Daged Sakura and Emrys, who put everything into their training and fighting. The standout among the supporting cast is Myrriden’s brother Aneirin, a historian\u002Dlike Loremaster who helps track down the Elder Song. A handful of lengthy conflicts on land and sea reach a worthy climax and a gratifying payoff and epilogue. The author rounds out this story with a traitor or two, a series of magic spells, and at least one death that will hit readers hard."

This epic fantasy adventure introduces readers to a world where ancient dragon magic has been awakened in a new generation of young heroes, thrusting them into a dangerous quest to save their kingdom...

Cover of The Educational Technology Handbook

The Educational Technology Handbook

Steven Hackbarth

Grade level: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, k, p, e, i, s, t.

Cover of THE ELEMENTS

THE ELEMENTS

inflicting her pain on new victims. And her former resident–turned–child psychologist, Aaron Umber, seeks to heal his own damaged psyche by embarking on a life\u002Dchanging journey back to Ireland with his teenage son. Originally published in the U.K. as separate novellas (Water, Earth, Fire, Air), these four interconnected stories pack a wallop when combined in one volume. If the format at times feels too tidy and contrived (especially in the final section), it doesn’t lessen the emotional impact of deeply wounded characters struggling to overcome their guilt and find redemption in the wake of catastrophic trauma. "

This comprehensive guide to the periodic table transforms abstract chemical concepts into an accessible visual journey, making atomic structure and elemental properties come alive for curious minds. ...

Cover of The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books

The Everything Guide to Writing Children's Books

Luke Wallin

Rev. ed. of: The everything guide to writing children's books / Lesley Bolton. c2002.

Cover of The Everything Kids' Scratch Coding Book

The Everything Kids' Scratch Coding Book

Jason Rukman

Teach kids the concepts of coding in easy-to-understand language and help them develop games of their own with The Everything Kids’ Scratch Coding Book! Understanding computer science is becoming a necessity in the modern age. As our world shifts towards becoming increasingly more technical and auto

Cover of The Everything Parent's Guide To Raising Siblings

The Everything Parent's Guide To Raising Siblings

Linda Sonna

A Simon & Schuster eBook. Simon & Schuster has a great book for every reader.

Cover of THE EXEMPLAR

THE EXEMPLAR

live audiences and those spectating from their heat\u002Dresistant dwellings. Will (the only Black competitor) is one such enhanced clone of a long\u002Dago original. As Will studies for the Crucible, he is disturbed by strange dreams, unanswered questions, and the gaps in his knowledge. Why do some Crucible faculty react emotionally to Will Herndon’s name? Why is his aged grandfather still alive, and being very evasive? (“Will’s heart was beating fast...could it be that everyone—from his grandpa to Amy—were trying to protect others from him? He knew himself. Or he thought he knew who he was at his core.”) The dilemmas and identity questions posed by the author are compelling ones, if somewhat familiar (and yes, The Hunger Games (2008)gets name\u002Dchecked). YA SF readers might also note resemblances to the Maze Runner series by James Dashner—this novel’s climax is literally a maze run—and a cold\u002Dcase mystery at the hot\u002Dclimate narrative’s heart is resolved off\u002Dpage. But at least this cli\u002Dfi dystopian thriller wraps up in one relatively compact volume."

In a climate-ravaged future where enhanced clones compete in a deadly tournament for survival, this science fiction thriller follows Will, the only Black competitor, as he prepares for the Crucible w...

Cover of The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years

The Experts' Guide to the Baby Years

Samantha Ettus

Read a little, learn a lot! Oh, baby! In one book, 100 leading parenting experts offer must-have advice for expecting and new parents. The Experts’ Guide to the Baby Years is the all-in-one companion to raising your baby with confidence, knowledge, and style, while maintaining your own sanity. As a

Cover of The Facts on Halloween

The Facts on Halloween

John Ankerberg

John Ankerberg, John Weldon, and Dillon Burroughs team up to revise and update The Facts on Halloween, a significant book from the popular Facts On Series (more than 1.9 million copies of books from this series sold). Known for their extensive research and Bible knowledge, these authors offer reader

Cover of THE FAERIE MORGANA

THE FAERIE MORGANA

Genre

This dark fantasy novel plunges readers into a world where ancient faerie magic collides with modern reality, following a protagonist who discovers a hidden lineage tied to the powerful and enigmatic...

Cover of THE FAIRLEY BROTHERS IN JAPAN

THE FAIRLEY BROTHERS IN JAPAN

request and performing in unconventional venues, such as the back of a souvenir shop at a flower store. An online interview they give about their past gradually helps them pick up more fans\u003B their answers are woven throughout the story, allowing the reader to learn more about the brothers’ personalities, ambitions, and unresolved tensions. (Reflecting on the past, Andy observes, “There’s been so much water under the bridge, the bridge itself washed away—decades ago. But the way you were talking this morning, it sounded like it all happened yesterday.”) The author does not shy away from presenting the flaws in his sibling characters: Andy once stole Chris’ girlfriend, the love of his life, and Chris struggles with dissatisfaction in comparison to his more adventurous sibling (amid reflection and regret, Chris begins to emerge from his shell and find some fulfillment in his present circumstances). Starkey deftly balances nostalgia, humor, and heartbreak throughout, providing authentic\u002Dseeming details about touring Japan while presenting a realistic story of two brothers coming to a better mutual understanding with age. "

This middle grade adventure follows two American brothers as they navigate the cultural wonders and challenges of modern Japan, from navigating Tokyo's bustling Shibuya Crossing to experiencing tradi...

Cover of THE FAIRY TALE FIXERS

THE FAIRY TALE FIXERS

Genre

This clever middle-grade fantasy introduces a secret society of magical repair specialists who work behind the scenes to fix classic fairy tales when they go wrong. When a technical glitch causes sto...

Cover of THE FALL OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

THE FALL OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION

Driver, a professor at Yale Law School, shows how the Supreme Court played the defining role in determining the place of race and gender in the fabric of American life. It focuses on the 2023 case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President and Fellows of Harvard College (abbreviated as SFFA) as the decision that effectively killed affirmative action as a legally enshrined practice. Driver argues that the tradition of taking race into consideration in college admissions created opportunities for historically underrepresented minority students. The author presents material from surveys and studies to show that classroom and workplace diversity enhances intellectual inquiry and fosters a productive competitiveness in the economy at large. He also reviews the arguments against affirmative action: that it privileges identity over accomplishment\u003B that it potentially advances students who are otherwise unprepared for “elite” institutions\u003B that it runs counter to a race\u002Dblind ideal of American meritocracy. SFFA was, in the author’s view, a radical decision, one made not transparently through argument and evidence, but disingenuously. Chief Justice John Roberts’ opinion “managed to violate virtually every tenet of the judicial approach that he announced [during his confirmation hearings]….The opinion evinced no willingness whatsoever to relinquish his own ideological priors in order to embrace the larger institutional considerations.” In short, SFFA was a product of changes in court personnel rather than of principled argument. It is now up to universities, the author argues, not to acquiesce in the face of judicial spinelessness or presidential extortion, but rather to fight vigorously for classrooms inclusive of all Americans, irrespective of the color of their skin or the thickness of their wallets."

This incisive examination of the legal and social history leading to the landmark Supreme Court decision dismantling race-conscious college admissions provides a crucial primer for young adults navig...

Cover of THE FARAWAY FOREST

THE FARAWAY FOREST

Genre

This enchanting middle-grade fantasy transports readers to a magical woodland where ancient trees whisper secrets and mythical creatures guard hidden realms. The story follows a young protagonist's j...

Cover of The Fascinating Engineering Book for Kids

The Fascinating Engineering Book for Kids

Jacie Maslyk

From acoustics to holograms—explore awesome engineering facts for kids ages 8 to 12 Did you know that computer chips can be thousands of times smaller than a grain of sand? Or that whale fins inspired the wind turbine? The Fascinating Engineering Book for Kids is packed with 500 incredible facts abo

Cover of THE FIRE-BREATHING DUCKLING

THE FIRE-BREATHING DUCKLING

Genre

This whimsical picture book introduces a young duckling who discovers an unexpected talent for breathing fire, turning the peaceful pond into a scene of delightful chaos. The vibrant illustrations ca...

Cover of The First-Time Parent's Guide to Potty Training

The First-Time Parent's Guide to Potty Training

Jazmine McCoy, PsyD

Potty train your child confidently, quickly, and successfully--even as a first-time parent! Are you nervous about potty training? Worried that you don't know enough to see it through to the end? Concerned that you don't have enough time to devote to it? This positive, practical, easy-to-follow guide

Cover of THE FLOATING LAKE OF DRESSA MOORE

THE FLOATING LAKE OF DRESSA MOORE

researchers. He also hopes that bringing along his lover, William Watts Worthwaddle, a linguist, will improve their faltering relationship. But the journey to Lake Connell spawns danger and obstacles at every turn. For one, Jonathan and William sail the Aquirren River on The Knotted Wood, a ship captained by Marta Bartolome, a pirate commanding an undead crew. Further complications abound, threatening to thwart their goal. The pirate ship is desperately pursued by Commodore Thomas Wilkes, who wants to kill Marta, believing she abducted his wife. The True Religionists don’t want Dressa Moore to be explored, fearing they’ll lose their tight control of the area. Fellow magilurgist Samson Sutter, jealous of Jonathan, tries to cut the funding for the expedition. Miller keeps his story hopping rapidly from one viewpoint to another, but his large pool of characters can sometimes be overwhelming. William, Jonathan, and Marta stand out from the crowd—flawed but somehow likable, capable of surprises. Heartless\u002Dseeming Marta reveals her code of ethics about human life: “I never take one without good reason.” Mocked for his useless linguistics studies (there’s only one language), William nevertheless finds a way to earn respect with his skills. A magical land is imaginatively depicted with airborne pigs eating a shower of lettuce and carrots while gliding above “seashell streets.” Roses rapidly bloom, die, and regenerate. Though there are battle scenes, the book’s tone is lighthearted. “It took me three months to find the perfect\u002Dsized vest!” Marta shouts after being shot in the shoulder. Miller’s riveting novel is so stuffed with characters and subplots that a sequel is announced at the end."

This middle-grade fantasy adventure transports readers to a world where a mysterious floating lake holds ancient secrets and a young heroine must confront her destiny. When the lake's magical propert...

Cover of THE FROZEN PEOPLE

THE FROZEN PEOPLE

an expert in period dress, Ali’s ready to leave. Since so much about time travel remains unknown, it’s a dangerous trip. The team has learned, for example, that travelers must stand in the exact same place they landed in order to return. Proceeding to 44 Hawk Street, a boardinghouse owned by Cain Templeton, most of whose residents were artists, Ali is greeted by the sight of Cain standing over the body of a dead woman. Although people think Ali is odd, she manages to stay in the house and investigate. But her portal is accidentally used by someone else, rendering it inoperative for her and leaving Finn and her team desperate to find a way to retrieve her. The man who used her portal may be a murderer now living in Ali’s present. When Isaac Templeton is found shot to death by an old\u002Dfashioned gun and Finn is arrested for his murder, one of Ali’s colleagues takes her place so she can return to the present and help clear her son."

This chilling science fiction adventure plunges readers into a frozen dystopia where a mysterious cataclysm has flash-frozen most of humanity in crystalline stasis. The story follows a small band of ...

Cover of THE GAME DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY GUIDE

THE GAME DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY GUIDE

Genre

This comprehensive guide offers aspiring game creators a practical roadmap through the entire development process, from initial concept brainstorming to post-launch marketing. It systematically break...

Cover of THE GARDEN AND THE JUNGLE

THE GARDEN AND THE JUNGLE

side in the West, as Plenel chronicles while interrogating “those imperial claims to superiority, domination, and power which have not ceased causing barbarism to appear in the heart of civilization.” Two frequently evoked cases in point are Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Israel’s war on Gaza, abetted by numerous authoritarian regimes, not least of them Donald Trump’s, which break “with the ideal of a shared world, where human beings, just like the nature of which they are part, are in relationship, ineluctably interconnected, intermixed, and interdependent.” The modern West, Plenel makes plain, is founded on “criminal ideologies and destructive forces”\u003B another case in point is the system of French colonialism, which, alone of the European powers, continues today in far\u002Dflung “neocolonial” places such as New Caledonia—one of many apartheid states, a category in which he also places Trump’s America—and Chad. Plenel is unsparing of his homeland, locating in it the “great replacement” theory beloved of the MAGA right in the U.S. Ironically, Plenel notes, the true law of the jungle is the anarchist theoretician Peter Kropotkin’s theory of mutual aid, where the survival of the fittest gives way to the survival of all who apply. The translation renders many names in their French forms (Kropotkine, Carl Schmitt, Atila), which is a touch distracting, but Plenel’s defense of the Enlightenment ideals of liberté, égalité, and fraternité comes through quite clearly."

This powerful dual narrative follows two young protagonists from starkly different worlds—one cultivating a carefully tended garden, the other navigating the untamed wilderness—as their stories gradu...

Cover of THE GHOST OF WRECKERS COVE

THE GHOST OF WRECKERS COVE

their father’s tales of fictional girl detectives, Cristina and Martha form their own secret sleuthing society and set out to solve the mystery. Their search takes them to the village library, a forgotten museum, and even a crumbling cliffside cave, uncovering clues that tie together ghostly sightings, legendary land pirates called “wreckers,” and a priceless jewel lost at sea. The pair begin to suspect that they may need to help Ida accept the truth of what happened so many years ago—a fitting task for two girls who are also quietly processing the recent loss of their mother. Despite its ghostly apparitions and dark themes, Del Campo’s story is more sweet than spooky, and Liniers’ illustrations employ a muted palette and watercolor texture that matches the quietly emotional story. “I will always believe in fairies and magic,” Martha announces to dismissive Cristina at one point, and this tale of sisterly bonding does indeed feel like a fairy tale, at times. As such, slightly older readers may wish that there were more swashbuckling, ghostly adventure, Still, its quiet pace and subtle tone will resonate with younger, reflective readers who are drawn to atmosphere over action. "

This gripping middle-grade mystery plunges readers into a windswept coastal adventure where a young protagonist uncovers a century-old shipwreck legend while staying with relatives for the summer. Th...

Cover of THE GHOSTS OF GWENDOLYN MONTGOMERY

THE GHOSTS OF GWENDOLYN MONTGOMERY

Genre

A chilling ghost story unfolds when 17-year-old Gwendolyn Montgomery inherits her family's ancestral estate, only to discover it's haunted by generations of troubled spirits with unfinished business....

Cover of The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts

The Girl Who Trusted Ghosts

Genre

The key to my future is hidden in the past. But can I face the dark family secrets buried in 1591 and make it back in time to save everyone I love? The Kingsley, Mallory, Radcliffe heirs and I (the Langley heir) journey to our family estates on a mission. We must each gather a unique ingredient tied

Cover of The Giver Quartet - 101 Amazing Facts You Didn't Know

The Giver Quartet - 101 Amazing Facts You Didn't Know

G Whiz

What are the amazing facts of The Giver Quartet by Lois Lowry? Do you want to know the golden nuggets of facts readers love? If you've enjoyed the book, then this will be a must read delight for you! Collected for readers everywhere are 101 book facts about the book & author that are fun, down-to-ea

Cover of THE GLITCH

THE GLITCH

engineering an amicable settlement for all. It’s a settlement that involves lots of ice cream, too. Why? “Ice cream makes you happy when you are sad!” Rex doesn’t offer actual explanations for Fred’s software glitch or its timely disappearance, but this unexpected behavior does make the light\u002Dskinned, round\u002Dheaded pacifist seem a little less too good to be true, and his message therefore that much easier to accept."

This gripping science fiction thriller plunges readers into a world where a mysterious digital anomaly, known as The Glitch, begins erasing reality itself, forcing a group of tech-savvy teens to unco...

Cover of THE GLOOMLANDS CHRONICLES

THE GLOOMLANDS CHRONICLES

melodic fae, amusing chatty trees, and tiny, whimsical house trolls. The author balances fantastical elements with relatable ordinary life as the characters grapple with issues of identity, disharmony, and long\u002Dharbored family secrets while journeying toward self\u002Ddiscovery. The pacing could be improved by trimming some of the dialogue and day\u002Dto\u002Dday minutiae, but the novel’s diverse cast, fascinating folklore, and beautifully descriptive prose enrich the tale. (“Her long violet hair, adorned with colorful wildflower petals, cascaded down her back, and she wore an opal gown that shimmered like moonlight against her dark skin,” Rininger writes of a fae.) This imaginative debut will capture the heart and imagination of any adventure\u002Dloving middle\u002Dgrade reader."

In a world where magic has been outlawed and the sun is a fading memory, this fantasy novel plunges readers into the Gloomlands—a realm of perpetual twilight where ancient spells linger in the shadow...

Cover of THE GODS OF NEW YORK

THE GODS OF NEW YORK

his perceived mismanagement on numerous fronts. Corruption scandals undermined his administration. Homelessness surged, due in part to federal funding cuts, reductions in mental health in\u002Dpatient care, and local government failures. AIDS was killing thousands of New Yorkers. With City Hall slow to act on the latter, playwright and activist Larry Kramer tried to out the closeted mayor and lambasted federal health officials like Anthony Fauci. Conservative writer William F. Buckley Jr. said people with HIV should be tattooed to prevent its spread. Meanwhile, crack decimated poor neighborhoods, as “an inherently biased law” imprisoned many Black users and spared white users of powder cocaine. Violent crime and racial conflict stoked by tabloids made Al Sharpton famous and fueled international interest in Spike Lee’s Do the Right Thing. Rudy Giuliani’s profile rose as he prosecuted Wall Street crooks. And Donald Trump, after making some bad business deals, “was now refashioning himself into the city’s white id,” Mahler writes. When Trump made inflammatory statements after five Black and Latino teens were accused—falsely, it turned out—of raping a woman in Central Park in 1989, famed columnist Jimmy Breslin wrote that he had “destroyed himself” as “all demagogues ultimately do.”"

This urban fantasy adventure plunges readers into a New York City where ancient deities walk the streets disguised as ordinary citizens, blending mythic stakes with contemporary city life. The narrat...

Cover of THE GOLDEN AGE OF ITALIAN JEWS

THE GOLDEN AGE OF ITALIAN JEWS

men and women who take advantage of new freedoms and, by the 1930s, find their ways among old prejudices. Jewish Italians served their nation in many ways, “eager to prove that the faith the country had shown in their Italianitá (Italianess) was fully warranted.” Their courage stands in sharp contrast to “the cowardice shown” by the world’s initial reluctance “to take action against the rise of Fascism.” Italian Jewry offers a lesson in ambition and resilience, patriotism and bravery."

This compelling historical exploration chronicles the vibrant and intellectually fertile period for Jewish communities in Italy, spanning from the Renaissance to the Baroque era. The book masterfully...