If there is one thing you can say with absolute certainty, it’s that ten-year-old Faith Smyth is no hero. Her father is a brain-surgeon, her mother is a kick-boxer, her sister is a beauty queen and her little brother is a chess champion, but all Faith is good at is forgetting her P.E. kit. Which makes it all the more remarkable that she alone has been chosen to save the mythical world from its certain doom. A mystery informer is planning to expose famous folkloric characters as charlatans who actually have very normal lifestyles, beset with petty concerns and insecurities, just like the rest of us. He has stolen a pile of correspondence from various well-known mythical characters and he intends to send it all to the newspapers in exchange for a giant chocolate cake and a dancing penguin. Faith intercepts the letters and reluctantly sets about returning them to their senders. But as she encounters assorted perils along her journey, Faith beings to discover an inner strength she never knew she had. As her adventure progresses, it becomes apparent that she is not the ordinary little girl she thought she was...
Do you have the heart of an adventurer and the mind of a magician? If so, renowned magician Joshua Jay is looking for an apprentice—and it just might be you! Joshua Jay writes letters and postcards from every place he performs—more than 50 countries around the world—to test aspiring apprentices' resolve with riddles, codes, and ciphers, and to share the life of a traveling magician. Readers will be amazed when a new postcard appears—as if by magic—in their very own magical mailbox. • Packed with exciting stories and fun facts, a magic trick lesson, origami instructions, a recipe, and more • Set includes box shaped like mailbox with 26 postcards, 6 letters and envelopes and a poster-sized map • Magic Mail promises an unforgettable journey that exposes our world for what it is—truly magical Fans of My Little Mailbox, The Jolly Postman, and Joshua Jay's Amazing Book of Cards will love this set. This set is perfect for: • Gift-givers looking for a unique and deluxe package • Kids who love magic and parents wanting to bring magic into their kids' lives • Families who love traveling
During the early twentieth century, a diverse group of African American women carved out unique niches for themselves within New York City's expansive informal economy. LaShawn Harris illuminates the labor patterns and economic activity of three perennials within this kaleidoscope of underground industry: sex work, numbers running for gambling enterprises, and the supernatural consulting business. Mining police and prison records, newspaper accounts, and period literature, Harris teases out answers to essential questions about these women and their working lives. She also offers a surprising revelation, arguing that the burgeoning underground economy served as a catalyst in working-class black women TMs creation of the employment opportunities, occupational identities, and survival strategies that provided them with financial stability and a sense of labor autonomy and mobility. At the same time, urban black women, all striving for economic and social prospects and pleasures, experienced the conspicuous and hidden dangers associated with newfound labor opportunities.
A long, long time ago, before email and texting, the mail was delivered in a much slower way-it was called Snail Mail (because some thought it was delivered by a snail). Although it took much longer, everyone agreed that letters were a little more special when they were delivered by Snail Mail. They might be handwritten. They might include a drawing. They might even contain a surprise inside! One such letter was sent by a Girl to the Boy she loved, and it was up to four special snails to deliver her card across the country. The snails trek across the country-through desert heat and dangerous blizzards, across mountains and plains, through cities and forests-and along the way, they find that taking time to slow down and look around makes the journey all the more beautiful. Snail Mail's playful and educational story encourages kids to have slow living, and to approach life with determination and wonder. Julia Patton's rich illustrations showcase America's diverse terrain and national monuments from coast to coast. Kids and parents alike will delight in this celebration of America's beauty and the power of a simple handwritten letter.
"Highly recommended... Perfect for readers of Wonder and Erin Entrada Kelly's Hello, Universe."— Booklist magazine, starred review Etan has stopped speaking since his mother left. His father and grandfather don’t know how to help him. His friends have given up on him. When Etan is asked to deliver a grocery order to the outskirts of town, he realizes he’s at the home of Malia Agbayani, also known as the Creature. Malia stopped going to school when her acute eczema spread to her face, and the bullying became too much. As the two become friends, other kids tease Etan for knowing the Creature. But he believes he might have a cure for Malia’s condition, if only he can convince his family and hers to believe it too. Even if it works, will these two outcasts find where they fit in?
Everyone is already the spell of this funny series from Kaye Umansky... 'Umansky is one of our most delightful comic writers. Read aloud and chortle together...' The Sunday Times 'A Bewitching tale, charmingly told and is certain to delight any witch in the making' M.G, Leonard, award-winning author of Beetle Boy 'A gorgeous story that bubbles with charm, wit and magic' Abi Elphinstone, author of Sky Song 'Bursting with memorable characters, a huge sense of fun and a big dollop of honey, flowers and strawberry-scented magic!' Joe Berger, author of Lyttle Lies and Hubble Bubble 'A sulky raven, a grubby dog and a common-sense heroine with a strong sense of customer service. This is a funny, magical treat!' Holly Webb, author of Lost in the Snow It's summertime in Smallbridge, but, as always, nothing exciting is happening. Smallbridge doesn't do excitement. They do gossip, though. And now Elsie Pickles is the subject of the gossip as rumours spring up about her new magic skills … Things aren’t helped when Magenta Sharp, bored of running her mail-order service, Spells on Tap, opens up a pop-up magic shop next to Pickles’ Emporium. Soon the town is overrun with witches, much to the annoyance of the magic-hating people of Smallbridge! But maybe a little bit of magic is just the thing Smallbridge needs?
Welcome to Moon Grove, where magic and murder are in the air! When broke, desperate reporter Zoe Clarke takes a job in a tiny town to reboot her life, she discovers her new home is overflowing with magic, supernatural beings — and paranormal mysteries! This box set continues Lily Webb's spellbinding Magic & Mystery series of paranormal cozy mysteries with the full-length books 7-9 in one convenient bundle: Shifters and Sabotage Crystals and Criminals Witches and Witnesses Shifters and Sabotage, Book 7: All’s fair in love and roar… Zoe Clarke’s life is changing shape. After solving a litter of paranormal mysteries, Zoe’s ready to slow down and focus on domestics with her new live-in shifter boyfriend, Beau. But someone in Moon Grove is eaten up with jealousy about their relationship — as Zoe learns from the series of disturbing anonymous letters addressed to Beau in their mailbox. So when Zoe finds Beau trapped in his golden retriever form, it's up to her to sniff out what happened. From his obsessive co-workers to the secretive community of shifters surrounding him, Zoe's convinced the attacker is someone in Beau's pack — until another prominent shifter is found locked in their animal form. Can Zoe track down the culprit and reverse the shifter curse? Or will the attacker take a bite out of her too? Crystals and Criminals, Book 8: Sometimes the truth isn’t crystal clear... Head Witch Zoe Clarke has never believed in fate. She’s sure she's gotten all she has through her own hard work and determination… until a traveling psychic sets up shop in Moon Grove and superstition sweeps everyone in town. But when the seer accurately predicts the death of a prestigious client, Zoe snaps out of her spell and wonders if there’s more to the mysterious mystic than meets the eye. From the psychic’s shadowy past to her parade of paranormal patrons, Zoe’s certain the soothsayer has something to hide — especially when her crystal ball goes missing and more of her clients meet unfortunate fates. Will Zoe divine the identity of the culprit before they strike again? Or will this be her last case for the foreseeable future? Witches and Witnesses, Book 9: Leadership can be murder... Head Witch Zoe Clarke is heading to court. Since her election, a rash of magical mysteries have haunted her administration, and now Head Warlock Heath Highmore, Zoe’s partner and close friend, stands accused of murder. But when a prominent witness turns up dead and the court of public opinion accuses Heath of orchestrating the murder to silence his opponents, Zoe refuses to let her friend take the fall for a crime she’s certain he could never have committed. From the Head Warlock’s power-hungry family to the many political enemies he’s made over the years, Zoe’s convinced someone has framed Heath and left him to hang — especially when another witness drops dead. Can Zoe expose the real killer and prove Heath’s innocence? Or will the culprit be their judge, jury, and executioner? Other Books in the Magic & Mystery Series: Bloodmages and Blackmail, Book 10
PCMag.com is a leading authority on technology, delivering Labs-based, independent reviews of the latest products and services. Our expert industry analysis and practical solutions help you make better buying decisions and get more from technology.
