'Tracy Rees writes from the heart' Kathryn Hughes, author of The Letter. Perfect for fans of The Keeper of Lost Things and The Villa in Italy. Blue lives a charmed life. From her family's townhouse in Richmond, she lives the life of luxury and couldn't want for anything - well, on the surface at least. Then on the night of her twenty-first birthday her father makes a startling toast: he will give his daughter's hand to whichever man can capture her heart best in the form of a love letter. But Blue has other ideas and, unwilling to play at her father's bewildering games, she sets out on her own path to find her own destiny...
Featuring scripts for well known classical fantasy stories, as well as more current entries into the genre, Wings of Fancy addresses subgenres such as: Fairies and Enchanted Creatures; Fantastic Beasts and Talking Animals. Each script offers a summary of the story with background information on the author and story, plus suggested further readings. Staging and presentation directions are included, as is a glossary of new and unfamiliar terms. Unlike most other books of this type, lesson plans and project ideas are also included for each story. Grades 4-8 The Readers Theatre series presents original scripts written for the purpose of teaching a specific literary genre. Each book is composed of 24-28 scripts, keyed to published books, plays, poems or stories in that genre, encouraging students to read the originals to accomplish the correlated project. Staging and presentation directions are included. Two-leveled (lower and higher level) projects with all needed lesson plans, forms and discussion are also provided for each script.
Meet Aunt Molly Jackson (1880-1960), one of American folklore's most fascinating characters. A coal miner's daughter, she grew up in eastern Kentucky, married a miner, and became a midwife, labor activist, and songwriter. Fusing hard experience with rich Appalachian musical tradition, her songs became weapons of struggle. In 1931, at age fifty, she was "discovered" and brought north, sponsored and befriended by an illustrious circle of left-wing intellectuals and musicians, including Theodore Dreiser, Alan Lomax, and Charles Seeger and his son Pete. Along with Sarah Ogan Gunning, Jim Garland (two of Aunt Molly's half-siblings), Woody Guthrie, Leadbelly, and other folk musicians, she served as a cultural broker, linking the rural working poor to big-city left-wing activism. Shelly Romalis draws upon interviews and archival materials to construct this portrait of an Appalachian woman who remained radical, raucous, proud, poetic, offensive, self-involved, and in spirit the "real" pistol packin' mama of the song. "Mr. Coal operator call me anything you please, blue, green, or red, I aim to see to it that these Kentucky coalminers will not dig your coal while their little children are crying and dying for milk and bread." -- Aunt Molly Jackson
The Depression brought unprecedented changes for American workers and organized labor. As the economy plummeted, employers cut wages and laid off workers, while simultaneously attempting to wrest more work from those who remained employed. In mills, mines, and factories workers organized and resisted, striking for higher wages, improved working conditions, and the right to bargain collectively. As workers walked the picket line or sat down on the shop floor, they could be heard singing. This book examines the songs they sang at three different strikes: the Gastonia, North Carolina, textile mill strike (1929), Harlan County, Kentucky, coal mining strike (1931-32), and Flint, Michigan, automobile sit-down strike (1936-37). Whether in the Carolina Piedmont, the Kentucky hills, or the streets of Michigan, the workers' songs were decidedly class-conscious. All show the workers' understanding of the necessity of solidarity and collective action. In Flint the strikers sang: The tr
In folk tradition, stories of love lost, betrayal, jealousy, conflict, emigration, and the supernatural are often immortalized in songs of many traditions, demonstrating that singing has been a universal vehicle for the human condition. the criteria for this wonderful collection of prose and melodies is from Celtic traditions that have been with us for hundreds of years. These compositions have been arranged so that each will work both as an air and as a song. All of the selections in the book appear on the companion CD.
Discover the history behind more than 250 dolls, with photos, fabric panels, and ephemera that bring America’s past to life. Since the day a simple rag doll was carried off the Mayflower, dolls have captured our hearts, and thrifty Americans have always made dolls for their children. As the centuries progressed, early homemade dolls with painted faces gave way to commercial cut-and-sew versions. Then advertisers jumped in with dolls printed on flour sacks and fabric panels—which became precious possessions of little girls during the dark days of the Great Depression and World War II. In this book, you’ll find history and photographs of more than 250 dolls, fabric panels, and doll ephemera, many rarely seen items, careful collected and documented by historian Gloria Nixon.
Reprint of the original, first published in 1858. The publishing house Anatiposi publishes historical books as reprints. Due to their age, these books may have missing pages or inferior quality. Our aim is to preserve these books and make them available to the public so that they do not get lost.
This story provides an intriguing glimpse into the life of its protagonist, Sevyn, from her humble beginnings growing up in the Cabrini Green housing projects of Chicago all the way to her current status as a billionaire transgender businesswoman living in an opulent mansion in Dubai. The narrative seamlessly jumps between the present and flashes back to Sevyn’s childhood, painting a picture of how she has risen from nothing to achieve immense success against all odds. From the very first chapter, the author establishes Sevyn as a strong, driven woman who hasn’t let her past hold her back. We find her waking up beside her loving husband Rich in their sprawling Dubai estate, but even amid this life of luxury, the scent of coffee and bacon takes her back to memories of her grandmother’s kitchen in Cabrini Green. These glimpses into Sevyn’s childhood highlight the grit and resilience she developed early on, traits that would serve her well on her journey. Despite everything she endured growing up in such an impoverished environment, she has never stopped believing in herself or her ability to make her dreams a reality. After reconnecting with memories of her family and upbringing over breakfast, Sevyn begins to open up to Rich about her history, hinting at secrets from her past that will alter their understanding of who she is. This sets the stage for what is sure to be a revealing tale of Sevyn’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment. I’m eager to learn more about the obstacles she had to overcome to reach her current position of wealth and influence. Her determination to keep striving despite facing adversity serves as an inspiration. That night, Sevyn has another taping of her show “SS Diaries,” though she neglects practicing her monologue as ghosts from her past resurface. Through the description of her silhouette dancing in the mirror fragments cast by the chandelier, the author builds an evocative sense of the inner turmoil Sevyn feels as her demons emerge. But she is able to channel her memories of poverty and homelessness into finding her voice, and delivers a passionate speech touching on themes of perseverance that resonates with her massive global audience. After filming, Sevyn and Rich retreat to the secret cellar chamber of their mansion, where in addition to cannabis and music, they keep priceless works of art, family portraits, and evidence of their philanthropic ambitions. Sevyn’s successful career has clearly provided rich material comforts, but her history still haunts her as she gazes at photos reminding her of harsher times. Rich remains devotedly by her side, supporting her through the resurfacing of painful recollections. Their loving relationship, established family, and hopes for the future offer rays of light amid the shadows of Sevyn’s past that continue emerging. I’m left wanting to know more about the specific hardships she faced and how she was finally able to overcome them. Her journey seems sure to inspire with its message of empowerment and achieving the impossible through grit, resilience and an unbreakable spirit. The author provides vivid sensory details that transport the reader directly into Sevyn’s lavish yet conflicted world. From the scents and sounds that transport her back to her childhood, to the reflection of her quivering form in the mirrors as trauma resurfaces, one can feel the visceral experience of Sevyn’s memories and emotions. The interweaving of flashbacks with the present day also builds engaging dramatic tension, making me eager to watch as more of Sevyn’s history is revealed piece by piece. Both Sevyn and Rich come across as complex, multilayered characters, and I appreciate the glimpses into Rich’s background and support of Sevyn that help balance the focus on her experiences. Their caring partnership serves as a strong foundation that clearly played a role in helping Sevyn achieve all she has. Her determination to keep growing in her philanthropy work despite struggles with her past shows an evolved character who wants to use her platform to help others facing similar adversity. In summary, this novel introduction draws the reader deeply into Sevyn’s intriguing world through vivid sensory storytelling and bits of mystery surrounding her past. Both the present-day scenes of luxury and the historical flashes back to harder times feel richly realized. Sevyn emerges as a compelling protagonist whose journey of perseverance through challenge upon challenge promises to hold inspiration. I look forward to seeing how the author continues to peel back the layers on Sevyn’s history while advancing the engaging plotlines of her marriage, career, and philanthropic ambitions. This shows great promise as a story of empowerment and overcoming the odds through grit and resilience.
