Like any bored eleven-year-old with an imagination, Prem makes fantastic wishes. So when his father drags him to a monsoon-lashed Mumbai, Prem know it's futile to dream of home. Instead, he wishes for a genie, a dragon and some superpowers. What he certainly doesn't wish for is a quest to save some gods who are at the brink of extinction. He finds that the gods' last hope lies in the hands of those who channel the mysterious power of the Vedas. Caught in a cosmic crossfire, with a talking fish, some inventive monkeys and a few unexpected allies, Prem learns of his true identity-as a Torchbearer. Can the Torchbearers stop bloodthirsty demons from getting their hands on the Nectar of Immortality and bring the gods back to power?
This tells of surgeon-aristocrat Mayoso Marti, an unconventional, contradictory man of enormous magnetism and courage whose intense loyalties to persona and principle draw him into a life of double jeopardy. One is a world of established wealth and power the other is one of hunger and adversity. Through Mayosoʼs burning commitment to the value of the individual human life, these opposite worlds are interlocked as the novel moves from a Connecticut mansion to a hospital faced with scandal, to a cathedral confessional, to the bullet-spattered avenidas of Caracas, to an American courtroom shocked into silence. Itʼs an emotional sage of abortion versus the Catholic faith.
For the 380,000 African American soldiers who fought in World War I, Woodrow Wilson's charge to make the world "safe for democracy" carried life-or-death meaning. Chad L. Williams reveals the central role of African American soldiers in the global conflict and how they, along with race activists and ordinary citizens, committed to fighting for democracy at home and beyond. Using a diverse range of sources, Torchbearers of Democracy reclaims the legacy of African American soldiers and veterans and connects their history to issues such as the obligations of citizenship, combat and labor, diaspora and internationalism, homecoming and racial violence, "New Negro" militancy, and African American memories of the war.
"This book left me breathless!" - R. L. Stine, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Goosebumps and Fear Street, on The Darkdeep "Everything you could want in a series." - Soman Chainani, New York Times bestselling author of The School for Good and Evil, on The Beast The blockbuster middle-grade series by New York Times bestselling authors Ally Condie and Brendan continues in this edge-of-your-seat adventure that's Stranger Things meets The Goonies. After the events of Dark Halloween, the town of Timbers is in a full-blown monster panic, making life for the Torchbearers--Opal, Nico, Tyler, Emma, and Logan--extremely difficult. Nico is investigating the Rift and the strange natural phenomena that continue to occur, all while worrying about his dad's potential work transfer. Opal has her hands full researching the founding Torchbearer, Yvette Dumont, and deciphering clues from another realm sent by the mysterious Thing In a Jar. Emma's wildly popular YouTube show has brought her new-found fame, but also earned her some enemies. Logan is trying to unlock secrets in his own family history that might shed light on how the Torchbearer Order began, while Tyler, as the self-proclaimed Beastmaster, strives to commune with--and not be eaten by--the mercurial and deadly alien sea creature living in Still Cove. But that's not all. Something cryptic has surfaced from within the Darkdeep. Questions arise, and the five friends find themselves suddenly at odds. The stakes climb even higher when an enigmatic new girl comes to town, with an agenda of her own. As the Torchbearers discover shocking secrets about their houseboat hangout, the Rift, and the Darkdeep itself, signs point to new realms beyond the ones they know, putting their friendships to the test as never before . . . Told from alternating POVs, this thrilling next book from bestselling duo Ally Condie and Brendan Reichs will once again have readers sleeping with the lights on.
"Blair's meticulous research has produced a complex work that is both encyclopedic and lively." -- The Journal of American History "With its valuable bibliography, this book should be an essential purchase for most libraries." -- Choice "With its detailed examination of both local and national organizations, this volume is a valuable addition both to the growing literature on women's associations and to the development of nonprofit enterprise in the arts." -- ARNOVA News "... Blair's insistence on the significance of her subject and her skillfully researched treatment of it is welcome and useful." -- American Historical Review "Readers interested in women's history, American cultural hsitory, and popular culture should all enjoy this book." -- Illinois Historical Journal "An indispensible overview of women's cultural activities in promoting and popularizing a wide variety of cultural enterprises, from music to artists' colonies." -- Kathleen D. McCarthy The women's arts clubs that flourished during the Progressive Era were more than havens for artistic dilettantes. As advocacy groups they effectively promoted universal access to the fine arts, leaving a vital legacy of cultural programs and institutions.
Kashmir, the paradise on earth with its glorious history, strategic location and unique cultural ethos based on the synthesis of the diverse civilizations, remains the second undecided human problem on the UN agenda, after Palestine. Kashmir has remained an attraction for invaders and aggressors. From the 16th century onwards, it fell to the Mughals, the Pathans, the Sikhs of the Punjab and finally it was sold to a neighbouring Dogra chieftain whose family ruthlessly ruled it for a century. This is where our story takes place. It revolves around the young daughter of a poor widow maidservant who loves a young boy from a poor family. This love affair and the struggle for freedom in Kashmir develops simultaneously. The lovers undergo unexpected vicissitudes just like the freedom Movement, which for the follies and treacheries of its leadership led to an uncertain future of its people including these lovers. The fictional treatment of contemporary political history, the wars fought on its soil, the Indian intransigence, hypocritical vacillation of Pakistan, criminal silence of the UNO and the political opportunism of big powers weave the plot together. The idyllic environs, rich cultural heritage, creative intellect, dexterous and beautiful arts and crafts and mystique in blended sceneries of Kashmir a legend is the backdrop of this original story from a son of the soil.
