A woman returns to her small southern hometown in the wake of her mother’s sudden death—only to find the past upended by stunning family secrets—in this intimate debut novel, written with deep compassion and sharp wit. “A deeply moving work of Southern fiction that will appeal to fans of Where the Crawdads Sing . . . a story to remember long after the last page is turned.”—Susan Wiggs, #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Lost and Found Bookshop Lila Bruce Breedlove never quite felt at home in Wesleyan, Georgia, especially after her father’s untimely demise when she was a child. Both Lila and her brother, Henry, fled north after high school, establishing fulfilling lives of their own. In contrast, their younger sister, Abigail, opted to remain behind to dote on their domineering, larger-than-life mother, Geneva. Yet despite their independence, Lila and Henry know deep down that they’ve never quite reckoned with their upbringing. When their elderly mother dies suddenly and suspiciously in the muscadine arbor behind the family estate, Lila and Henry return to the town that essentially raised them. But as they uncover the facts about Geneva’s death, shocking truths are revealed that overturn the family’s history as they know it, sending the pair on an extraordinary journey to chase a truth that will dramatically alter the course of their lives. The Sweet Taste of Muscadines reminds us all that true love never dies.
A loud clap of thunder booms, and rattles the windows of Grandma's old farmhouse. "This is Thunder Cake baking weather," calls Grandma, as she and her granddaughter hurry to gather the ingredients around the farm. A real Thunder Cake must reach the oven before the storm arrives. But the list of ingredients is long and not easy to find . . . and the storm is coming closer all the time! Reaching once again into her rich childhood experience, Patricia Polacco tells the memorable story of how her grandma--her Babushka--helped her overcome her fear of thunder when she was a little girl. Ms. Polacco's vivid memories of her grandmother's endearing answer to a child's fear, accompanied by her bright folk-art illustrations, turn a frightening thunderstorm into an adventure and ultimately . . . a celebration! Whether the first clap of thunder finds you buried under the bedcovers or happily anticipating the coming storm, Thunder Cake is a story that will bring new meaning and possibility to the excitement of a thunderstorm.
This anthology offers refereshing, cogent and insightful explanations of why young poets and writers do what they do. The thirty pieces in side/lines OCo by a unique variety of Canadian writers working in numerous genres OCo reflect on why writers write. Their reflections are not to be held as gospel or lifelong theories, but can be considered writing strategies drawn up at specific points in time, informed by certain unavoidable material conditions, such as current politics and emotions. Ask these writers to explain their craft in ten years, and you may be surprised by their answers."
Once upon a time, in an alleyway in the slums of the City of Lockes, a young and somewhat lonely boy named Sam Haversford turns a group of teenage douchebags into stone completely by accident. Of course, this catches the attention of a higher power, and Sam's pulled from the only world he knows to become an apprentice to the king's wizard, Morgan of Shadows. When Sam's 14, he enters the Dark Woods and returns with Gary, the hornless gay unicorn, and a half-giant named Tiggy, earning the moniker Sam of Wilds. At 15, Sam learns what love truly is when a new knight arrives at the castle - Knight Ryan Foxheart, the dreamiest dream to have ever been dreamed. Naturally, it all goes to hell when Ryan dates the reprehensible Prince Justin, Sam can't control his magic, a sexually aggressive dragon kidnaps the prince, and the king sends them on an epic quest to save Ryan's boyfriend, all while Sam falls more in love with someone he can never have. Or, so he thinks.
To walk outside is to dance with death— and Kitieri Manon knows all the steps: Don’t stand out. Don’t make friends. And, when the warnings start, run as fast as you can. Every day is a fight for survival in a world terrorized by the deadly lightning they call the Blue Killer. The Churches call it divine punishment, but Kitieri has only ever known the good to suffer. It’s easy for the elites to preach, hoarding the life-saving cintra while the poor die in droves. As the Strikes grow increasingly violent, Kitieri finds herself a walking target. She can smell the lightning coming before the warnings, can feel the malice in the air. The Blue Killer seeks her blood. It calls to her. To answer that call, Kitieri will risk everything. Lives hang in the balance as she is swept into a network of deceit, corruption, and betrayal running deeper than she ever could have imagined. With blood on her hands and a target on her back, Kitieri must come to terms with who and what she is before she loses those she holds dear. If she cannot control the part of herself she hates the most, the lightning will claim more than just her life.