Second graders Ethan and Ella are sad about moving away from their hometown to travel the world with their mom, a journalist, and dad, who will home school them, but before they go they have a mystery to solve.
Determined to steal an old woman's gold coin, a young thief follows her all around the countryside and finds himself involved in a series of unexpected activities.
The Cam Jansen books are perfect for young readers who are making the transition to chapter books, and Cam is a spunky young heroine whom readers have loved for over two decades. Now the first ten books in the series have updated covers that bring new life to these perennial best-sellers. Old fans and new readers will love Cam's cool, modern look!
In 1945, US intelligence officers in Manila discovered that the Japanese had hidden large quantities of gold bullion and other looted treasure in the Philippines. President Truman decided to recover the gold but to keep its riches secret. These, combined with Japanese treasure recovered during the US occupation, and with recovered Nazi loot, would create a worldwide American political action fund to fight communism. This 'Black Gold' gave Washington virtually limitless, unaccountable funds, providing an asset base to reinforce the treasuries of America's allies, to bribe political and military leaders, and to manipulate elections in foreign countries for more than fifty years.
"The journey from the head to the hand is perilous and lined with bodies. It is the road on which nearly everyone who wants to write-and many of the people who do write-get lost."So writes Ann Patchett in "The Getaway Car", a wry, wisdom-packed memoir of her life as a writer. Here, for the first time, one of America's most celebrated authors ("State of Wonder", "Bel Canto", "Truth and Beauty"), talks at length about her literary career-the highs and the lows-and shares advice on the craft and art of writing. In this fascinating look at the development of a novelist, we meet Patchett's mentors (Allan Gurganas, Grace Paley, Russell Banks), see where she made wrong turns (poetry), and learn how she gets the pages written (an unromantic process of pure hard work). Woven through engaging anecdotes from Patchett's life are lessons about writing that offer an inside peek into the storytelling process and provide a blueprint for anyone wanting to give writing a serious try. The bestselling author gives pointers on everything from finding ideas to constructing a plot to combating writer's block. More than that, she conveys the joys and rewards of a life spent reading and writing. "What I like about the job of being a novelist, and at the same time what I find so exhausting about it, is that it's the closest thing to being God that you're ever going to get," she writes. "All of the decisions are yours. You decide when the sun comes up. You decide who gets to fall in love..."In this Byliner Original by the new digital publisher Byliner, "The Getaway Car" is a delightful autobiography-cum-user's guide that appeals to both inspiring writers and anyone who loves a great story.
The Last Gold Coin tells the story of a young prince who returns from an adventure to find his Kingdom in ruins. All seems lost as a wicked witch plots against him and steals all the gold from the castle vault - all except one last gold coin.The arrival of a beautiful stranger brings a change in fortune, but are the people ready to change their ways? And who is brave enough to tackle the wicked witch? The Financial Fairy Tales are a series of inspirational children's books designed to help teach kids positive money values and skills. The Last Gold Coin contains important money messages of saving, investment and how money can grow. Plus positive values and ideas such as generosity and self reliance.