The second edition of this bestselling book is designed for mental health professionals, educators, and the parent/caregiver, this book provides specific ideas and techniques to work with children in various areas of complicated grief. It presents words and methods to help initiate discussions of these delicate topics, as well as tools to help children understand and separate complicated grief into parts. These parts in turn can be grieved for and released one at a time. A new chapter is included, called "Communities Grieve: Involvement with Children and Trauma." It includes information on The Taiwan Earthquake and how the community worked with children, a school bus accident in which 36 elementary school children witnessed the death of the bus driver that was driving and how the school system worked with these children and their families; a boy who was running on a cross country team and got hit by a car, which was witnessed by teammates; and how a non-profit community grief agency worked with family, school, and community. The last study is from the Oklahoma bombing and the outgrowth of a place for the traumatized children and how they still work with kids and family today. This chapter then contains new activities to work with traumatized grieving children. The new edition also includes updated resources, books, curriculums, websites, hotlines and another new chapter on bullying and victimization issues. The chapter for educators has been expanded, including the coverage of topics such as at-risk students, gay and lesbian issues, and self-injurious behaviors.
In the small suburban community of Hope's Point , Long Island something has gone horribly wrong. A series of arsons in landmark homes, now run down and over run by Latino immigrants, is destroying the community. Ellie Sinclair, is the troubled publisher of a small town newspaper struggling to make ends meet. The arsons are just another story until Ellie's estranged mother, Hortensia Borgias Sinclair returns to town and dies in the latest fire. Ellie wonders if it is destiny, as Hortensia always claimed, or something more insidious? Now Ellie must find out who is behind the arsons and why. She must shine a light in the dark places of her town – the slums and factories, where Latino immigrants struggle to make a life in suburban America. Then there is a larger mystery to be solved. All the women in Ellie's family are born with a small red birthmark on their left arm, a signature called the Fingerprint of Destiny. In a series of flashbacks interspersed throughout the novel, we learn about the violent fate of the other women in Ellie's family. These stories are filled with adventure, magic, murder, retribution, love, war and an obsession that spans the centuries and takes the reader from the jungles and plains of Venezuela to suburban Long Island. Can Ellie carve out a life for herself or will she succumb to the Fingerprint of Destiny? Editorial Reviews Review Reviewed by Lit Amri for Readers' Favorite In The Fingerprint of Destiny, Elena Borgias Sinclair is a struggling reporter and editor of The Hope's Point Gazette, a small-town newspaper. A series of landmark homes are destroyed by fire and the community believes that the Latino immigrants are the culprits. It is supposed to be just another arson and a story for Ellie to cover. Everything changes when she finds out that her estranged mother, Hortensia Borgias Sinclair, is one of the latest victims. It might be a destined fate as her mother often claimed, but Ellie suspects that there must be something more to it; something more sinister. She must find out who is the real arsonist and their reason for the crime. This gripping mystery tale is written by Laura Schofer. The Fingerprint of Destiny is a fascinating mystery with a protagonist who I couldn't get enough of. Author Laura Schofer has certainly got me intrigued with her story. While mystery fiction sometimes has a tendency to lose steam, it is definitely not the case here. Schofer's inside knowledge of journalism and the setting serves her well, and her skill in crafting page-turning scenarios also helps. She doesn't beat around the bush, thus making The Fingerprint of Destiny very well paced. Her no-frills prose lends itself well to this flawless tale because she just gets down to business without excessively long pauses while the characters examine their motives or engage in some pace-killing reflection. Overall, this is a marvelous read that kept me guessing and entertained until the very end. From the Author OnlineBookClub.org review written by HOLDONThere Elena Sinclair has a good nose. Yes, she's a reporter for a small-town newspaper on Long Island. But she doesn't just have a nose for news, she can actually smell emotion. And sometimes danger. Many scenes in The Fingerprint of Destiny mention smells. In the opening scene of the book, Elena approaches a house fire and can smell the fire (of course), but also "human scents of scorched old clothing and furniture and the fetid smell of something dead, rotten." Later, at a funeral, "the lobby smelled of aftershave and perfume, of soap and water and something else. ... It was relief, perhaps even joy. Death had passed them by." I mention this not because Elena's sense of smell is particularly important to the plot, but because it can give you a sense of how the book is written. Laura Schofer, the author, builds a scene with concrete details, and these blend smoothly into a revelation of the emotional and even spiritual dynamics at work in the scene ... which in turn move the plot. This blending of concrete and spiritual characterizes the book as a whole. The Fingerprint of Destiny is a book with two faces. One face is that of a typical fast-paced mystery / crime drama involving a hard-boiled detective (or, in this case, newspaper woman) who chases down the story, while running from the bad guys, all the while fueled by a substance addiction because she's near the end of her rope. I've read quite a few of those, and Fingerprint is a really well-done addition to the genre. The other face of Fingerprint is that of an epic tale of that follows generations of strong but ill-fated Latina women, weaving in all kinds of horror, mysticism, superstition, magic and madness. I'm not sure what to call this, but maybe it belongs in the "magical realism" genre. Anyway, I enjoyed those parts very much as well. The fact that Elena is haunted by her grandmothers' tragic history adds an emotional depth to the book that goes beyond many crime dramas. Nor is it stuck on awkwardly. The history of Elena, her mother, and her mother's mothers in Venezuela is woven together masterfully with the contemporary mystery unfolding in Long Island. The writing about Venezuelan culture seems authentic. Schofer, a Latina herself just like her main character, does a great job with the language aspect as well. You don't need to understand Spanish to read this book, but if you do happen to speak it, you'll enjoy the few lines of poetry from Cesar Vallejo that a character quotes (then immediately translates), and the few other phrases that get thrown in. Also, when Venezuelan characters speak English, the phrases and grammar sound like those that a Spanish speaker would choose. Very well done. I do have one problem with the book; namely, I thought that Schofer tipped her hand much too obviously about who the villain was going to turn out to be. I don't think this was intentional, but in my case, it happened to tip me off, so I did not get to enjoy the shock of "No! Really? It couldn't be!" that we are meant to experience in the final scenes of such a book. However, just because I figured out who the villain was, did NOT mean that I immediately understood everything that was going on. The book still held some questions, mysteries, and surprises. I give the book four out of four stars.
The Third Edition of this renowned reference work illuminates African American contributions to the genre of books for children and young adults with the biographies of 274 authors and artists - including 121 new biographies not included in previous editions. The book presents the user with a rich source of accessible, in-depth biographical data on each individual author or artist, including birthplace, education, their approach to art or literature, career development, and awards and honors received. Over 160 photographs of the subjects bring the biographies to life, and 46 covers of important children's books are reproduced. Also included is a comprehensive index of books, an index of authors and illustrators, and useful listings of publishers, distributors, and bookstores arranged by state.
Life-Changing Devotions for Women by Women The NIV Women's Devotional Bible features hundreds of devotions written for a woman just like you. It includes guided reflections to help you apply Scripture to your daily life, and it will allow you to get to know the women of the Bible through candid portrayals, helping you to see them in both their victories and struggles. You'll dig deeper into the Scriptures Monday through Friday, and on the weekends, meet the women of the Bible on a more personal level. Pursue a fulfilling walk with Christ, guided by the wisdom of godly women. This group of contributors includes teachers, poets, ministry leaders, homemakers, conference speakers, missionaries, and authors. It includes wives, widows, and those who never married. It includes both those who raised children and those who remained childless. Together they offer hope, guidance, and encouragement on your journey. This inspiring devotional Bible is now available in the exclusive Zondervan NIV Comfort Print® typeface for smooth reading. Expertly designed specifically to be used for the New International Version (NIV) text, Comfort Print offers an easier reading experience that complements the most widely read modern-English Bible translation. Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) 260 weekday devotions and 52 weekend devotions, plus Scripture readings, questions for reflection, and more Contributions from Joni Eareckson Tada, Elisabeth Elliot, Sheila Walsh, Anne Graham Lotz, Thelma Wells, and others Multiple reading plans for year-after-year use Introductions for each book of the Bible Author index Subject index to help you locate topics easily Double-column format
The Standard in Women’s Devotional Bibles The NIV Women’s Devotional Bible helps you apply God’s Word to your everyday life. This Bible includes a full year of devotions written by women of God, who had a woman like you in mind. This group of women writers offers inspiration, candid perspectives, and guidance from the Bible. Some of them aren't names you'll recognize - they're ordinary women with extraordinary insights into the Scripture. Others are well-known contemporary and classic communicators and authors. All of the weekday and weekend devotions are engaging, practical and useful for your life today. During the week, there are guided reflections to help you apply Scripture to your daily life. On the weekends, you will have the chance to get to know the women of the Bible on a more personal level. After a year is up, there are reading plans that will lead you into the next year! Features: Complete text of the accurate, readable, and clear New International Version (NIV) A full year of weekday and weekend devotions with questions for reflection, additional Scripture readings, and more Devotions written by Elisabeth Elliot, Lenya Heitzig, Carol Kent, Ann Graham Lotz, Kathi Macias, Thelma Wells, and more Introductions for each book of the Bible Multiple reading plans for year-after-year use Author index with biographical information on each contributor Subject index to help you locate topics easily Double-column format
After experiencing the death of both parents, Margaret McSweeney recognized the importance of community like never before. Through these difficult times in life, she learned how God uses gritty circumstances to conform us to the stunning image of Christ. McSweeney also realized that she was not at all alone. It is for this reason that she decided to compile essays into an inspiring book: Pearl Girls: Encountering Grit Experiencing Grace. Through this collection, readers will be encouraged by the heartfelt writings that deal with loss and hardship in a real and honest way. Respected authors such as Shaunti Feldhahn, Melody Carlson, Debbie Macomber, Robin Jones Gunn and others help remind every woman that they are not alone and that no circumstance is beyond the grace of God. McSweeney uses the metaphor of a pearl in order to better describe the situations that ail us all. When an oyster takes in a piece of sand in order to create its coveted masterpiece, it is initially painful to the soft flesh of the creature. But after the pain, appears a clean, white symbol of simplicity, purity, and endurance that any woman would be proud to wear. McSweeney believes that each woman is a pearl and together, form a necklace of great worth. In this book, readers will discover community and encouragement: women are alone in neither their pain nor victories in life.
Like oysters, women often encounter unexpected grit during their everyday lives. In response, Gods love and grace covers this grit and transforms the pain into a precious pearl that leaves a layered, luminous lining within a shell: Mother of Pearl. This brilliant luster is strong, lasting, and purposefuljust like the love, lessons, and legacies left by the special women in our lives. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith. The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia. Mother of Pearl celebrates the collective iridescence of motherhood. Margaret McSweeney presents a collection of heartfelt vignettes from authors who communicate the importance of the unique relationships between mothers and their children, between granddaughters and grandmothers and between children and the mother-figures in their lives. These stories tell of the power of faith, prayer, and values, exploring coming of age, the joy of becoming a mother, the importance of motherhood, the ways to heal from a bad relationship with a mother and weathering the death of a special loved one. Poignant and thought-provoking, the stories serve to inspire, encourage, instill hope, and strengthen faith. The proceeds from the sale of Mother of Pearl will be donated to organizations helping struggling women and children. The charities include Wings (Women in Need Growing Stronger) to help fund the Safe House in the Chicago suburbs and to Hands of Hope to help build wells for schoolchildren in Zambia.
Love Inspired brings you three new titles! Enjoy these uplifting contemporary romances of faith, forgiveness and hope. THE COWBOY’S TEXAS FAMILY Lone Star Cowboy League: Boys Ranch Margaret Daley Rancher Nick McGarrett never wanted a wife and kids—he’s content volunteering with the troubled youths at the Triple C Ranch. That is, until Darcy Hill arrives and takes a special interest in an orphaned boy. Can he overcome his reservations to create a future with them? HER GUARDIAN RANCHER Martin’s Crossing Brenda Minton Cowboy Daron McKay promised his dying friend to watch over his wife and his child—but he never imagined he’d fall for the beautiful Emma Shaw. As they work to get daughter Jamie through a difficult surgery, can he convince Emma to accept love a second time around? SECOND CHANCE FATHER Willow’s Haven Renee Andrews Finding out that Jack Simon is the key to breaking through little Cody’s barriers, social worker Elise Ramsey refuses to let the reclusive widower hide from the world. Still healing from the loss of his family, can Jack embrace Elise and Cody as his second chance at happily-ever-after?
From a USA Today–bestselling author, a woman in search of her family of origin unexpectedly finds an orphan to care for and a Texas rancher to love. From Cowboy to Father Figure Rancher Nick McGarrett wants to help orphaned ten-year-old Corey Phillips, the brother of his late comrade. But he’s not fit to be a father—not with his troubled past. Thankfully, the child finds a home at the Lone Star Cowboy League Boys Ranch, where Nick volunteers. When wealthy newcomer Darcy Hill discovers she’s Corey’s cousin, she hopes to eventually take him in. Nick and Darcy couldn’t be more opposite—or more drawn to each other. But for Darcy, raising Corey in her hometown means leaving Texas . . . and Nick. It’ll take a special little boy to show these two grown-ups that the key to forging a new future is being together. LONE STAR COWBOY LEAGUE: Bighearted ranchers in small-town Texas
