In this sequel to Meeting Sophie, which tells the story of adopting Sophie as a single woman, Nancy McCabe picks up her family's story a decade later on a tour of China for adopted children. McCabe hopes that Sophie will find affirmation and connection in China, even as she sees firsthand some of the grim realities--overpopulation, pollution, and an oppressive government--but also worries about what that will mean for their relationship. Part travelogue, part memoir, Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge immerses readers in an absorbing and intimate exploration of place and its influence on the meaning of family.
Even before Nancy McCabe and her daughter, Sophie, left for China, it was clear that, as the mother of an adopted child from China, McCabe would be seeing the country as a tourist while her daughter, who was seeing the place for the first time in her memory, was “going home.” Part travelogue, part memoir, Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge immerses readers in an absorbing and intimate exploration of place and its influence on the meaning of family. A sequel to Meeting Sophie, which tells McCabe’s story of adopting Sophie as a single woman, Crossing the Blue Willow Bridge picks up a decade later with a much different Sophie—a ten-year-old with braces who wears black nail polish, sneaks eyeliner, wears clothing decorated with skulls, and has mixed feelings about being one of the few non-white children in the little Pennsylvania town where they live. Since she was young, Sophie had felt a closeness to the country of her birth and held it in an idealized light. At ten, she began referring to herself as Asian instead of Asian-American. It was McCabe’s hope that visiting China would “help her become comfortable with both sides of the hyphen, figure out how to be both Chinese and American, together.” As an adoptive parent of a foreign-born child, McCabe knows that homeland visits are an important rite of passage to help children make sense of the multiple strands of their heritage, create their own hybrid traditions, and find their particular place in the world. Yet McCabe, still reeling from her mother’s recent death, wonders how she can give any part of Sophie back to her homeland. She hopes that Sophie will find affirmation and connection in China, even as she sees firsthand some of the realities of China—overpopulation, pollution, and an oppressive government—but also worries about what that will mean for their relationship. Throughout their journey on a tour for adopted children, mother and daughter experience China very differently. New tensions and challenges emerge, illuminating how closely intertwined place is with sense of self. As the pair learn to understand each other, they lay the groundwork for visiting Sophie’s orphanage and birth village, life-changing experiences for them both.
On the banks of the Wen River, the legend of the Blue Willow is brought radiantly to life as two lovers face the storms that besiege them. Brilliant color illustrations highlight this warm story about undying love.
Rules. Balance. Consequences. War. Book 5 of 6 in The Soulkeepers Series When Fate gave Dane the water from Eden to drink, she did more than save his life. She changed his destiny. Since the beginning, a covenant between God and Lucifer has maintained a tenuous peace, balancing Soulkeepers and Watchers and the natural order of things. Dane upset that balance the day he became a Soulkeeper. Fate broke the rules. Now, Lucifer is demanding a consequence, requiring Fate to pay the ultimate price for her involvement. God intervenes on the immortal’s behalf but in order to save her soul must dissolve the covenant and with it the rules, order, and balance that have kept the peace. A challenge is issued. A contest for human souls begins. And the stakes? Earth. Winner take all. The Soulkeepers are at the center of a war between Heaven and Hell, and this time nobody, anywhere, is safe from Lucifer’s reach. Don't miss these other books in The Soulkeepers Series! The Soulkeepers, Book 1 Weaving Destiny, Book 2 Return to Eden, Book 3 Soul Catcher, Book 4 The Last Soulkeeper, Book 6 Read the bestselling series that readers call "captivating and exciting. A must read!" Classic story of good versus evil with kickass, love-to-hate, and inspiring characters who evolve with every story, making you wanna root for them when they are doing badass stuff, and cry with them when they go through periods of loss. The story is a web of events that ultimately all lead to one thing: who are you loyal to? The light? Or the darkness?? - M. Clem A read that kept me turning the pages and I was sad when it was finished. - Author Karly Kirkpatrick Doesn't disappoint! I ended up pulling an all nighter because there was no point in the book at which you can put it down. - Austin * * * Topics: Teen books, young adult paranormal fantasy series, young adult angel books, teen books for boys, teen religious fantasy, Young adult contemporary fantasy series, young adult fantasy romance series, first in series free, young adult contemporary fantasy series, magical realism, angels, devils & demons, action, adventure, teen, superhero, paranormal, fantasy, contemporary fantasy, horror, YA, young adult, mystery, romance, thriller, multicultural, multigenerational, free, series, teen, young adult, religious, contemporary, sword and sorcery, inspirational, free series starter Perfect for fans of: Stephenie Meyer, Sarra Cannon, Aaron Patterson, Brent Weeks, L.G. Castillo, JK Rowling, Cassandra Clare, Lauren Kate, and Becca Fitzpatrick
Two very different families. One love story. There had always been MacKenzies and Colebrooks on the land known as Blue Willow, their histories entangled like the graceful branches of the rare willow trees that thrived there. Artemas Colebrook and Lily MacKenzie shared more than that history, their souls bound to each other and to the land the day the boy held tiny Lily minutes after her birth. But the tragedy that has brought Lily back to the small farm where she spent her childhood has also made Artemas's brothers and sisters her bitter enemies. Torn between family loyalties and their shared sense of destiny, Artemas and Lily must come to terms with a childhood devotion that has turned to bittersweet desire, a passion that could destroy all they have struggled for - even Blue Willow itself.
Allan Drummond's classic tale unlocks the intriguing story that hides deep within one of the most distinctive and iconic china patterns ever created: the willow pattern.
