Luz Stella wanted the world to be a better place. When she found it to be otherwise, she did not hesitate to do all in her power to change it. Bismark Pacheco was there to do his part--to save the world, and to save Luz Stella. Or was it the other way around? When Pacheco loses his passport in a desperate deep water escape from a Cape Canaveral Cruise ship, the two seek help in Birmingham from their old friend Wilson Abut. The former quarterback, now a journalist, stirs the pot with his column Abut To You. Bubba Driver, the mammoth defensive tackle, runs interference. Eighty-year-old Dr. Helene Stern dodges terrorists who would destroy her Health First Clinic, and provides comfort to Siboney, the Latin beauty and unapologetic revolutionary. All are arrayed against the steely-eyed Bobby Sanchez who wants to bring down anything and anyone who would stand for an orderly world. This is Luz Stella's Tale.
Bismark Pacheco, descended from the Bri Bri Indians, and trained as a guerilla fighter in the Nicaraguan civil war by operatives of the United States Central Intelligence Agency, goes to work for the Costa Rican Ministry of Justice after graduating from the United States Military Academy at West Point. Pacheco soon becomes the premier crime detective in the land. Pacheco’s fame is so great, and his reputation so secure that he is hailed as a national hero by campesinos throughout the hills and valleys of the troubled but striving country.Inspector Pacheco is called to investigate a murder at the Center for Tropical Agriculture (The CAT) on the Atlantic slope of Costa Rica where he finds an international web of intrigue that tests the limits of his skills. The trail leads through a baseball factory, into the green hills and high meadows of a dormant tropical volcano, through the luxuriant vegetation of a valley where tropical fruits and nuts abound, where sugarcane, bananas, coffee, and cocoa grow the year round, and where exotic and colorful birds are distracted by the nectar of ever present gardenia, bougainvillea, and orchid.In this idyllic setting, where Toucan-Grackle fights top the disturbance list, eight more violent deaths are recorded as Pacheco’s investigation proceeds, and Pacheco himself is threatened. Pacheco contemplates the comfort of frontier justice when he weighs his knowledge of the Costa Rican court system against the depth of the villainy he uncovers.
Forged in conflict, the United States of America has been at war in one form or another for over two hundred years, and at peace for just seventeen. Within seventy-eight mostly undeclared wars, over a million souls have sadly perished. In a historical anthology, novelist Max Blue shares forty-nine chapters from his twelve published novels set against the backdrop of Americas wars. Divided into six parts, Blues stories detail diverse battles that include World War I; the economic war of the Great Depression; World War II; the Civil Rights War, Korean War, and Cold War; academic wars; and the ongoing drug wars that still plague America today. His fascinating tales share a glimpse into a time when President Woodrow Wilson reluctantly led his country into a genocidal European war, thousands of World War I veterans desperately sought ways to survive and feed their families, ships were torpedoed in a surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, and North Korean troops crossed the thirty-eighth parallel to invade South Korea. Wild Blue Ponders shares a diverse collection of short tales extracted from the works of an American novelist that detail the effects and aftermath of war through the eyes of fictional characters.
Sharon M. Draper presents “storytelling at its finest” (School Library Journal, starred review) in this New York Times bestselling Depression-era novel about a young girl who must learn to be brave in the face of violent prejudice when the Ku Klux Klan reappears in her segregated southern town. Stella lives in the segregated South—in Bumblebee, North Carolina, to be exact about it. Some stores she can go into. Some stores she can’t. Some folks are right pleasant. Others are a lot less so. To Stella, it sort of evens out, and heck, the Klan hasn’t bothered them for years. But one late night, later than she should ever be up, much less wandering around outside, Stella and her little brother see something they’re never supposed to see, something that is the first flicker of change to come, unwelcome change by any stretch of the imagination. As Stella’s community—her world—is upended, she decides to fight fire with fire. And she learns that ashes don’t necessarily signify an end.
A beautiful coming-of-age story for fans of Front Desk and Merci Suárez Changes Gears, this book celebrates identity, language, heritage, family, and the determination to follow one's own inner light. Have you ever been the best at something . . . only to lose it all? Luz Véliz is a soccer star—or rather, she was a soccer star. With her serious knee injury, it's unlikely she'll be back on the field anytime soon. But without soccer, who is she? Even her dad treats her differently now—like he doesn't know her or, worse, like he doesn't even like her. When Luz discovers she has a knack for coding, it feels like a lifeline to a better self. If she can just ace the May Showcase, she'll not only skip a level in her coding courses and impress Ms. Freeman and intriguing, brilliant Trevor—she'll have her parents cheering her on from the sidelines, just the way she likes it. But something—someone—is about to enter the Vélizes' life. And when Solana arrives, nothing will be the same, ever again. Unforgettable characters, family drama, and dauntless determination illuminate Luz's journey as she summons her inner strength and learns to accept others and embrace the enduring connection of family. Through it all, Luz's light is a constant—a guide for others, a path forward through the dark, and an ineffable celebration of her own eternal self. This is the second novel by Pure Belpré Honor winner Rebecca Balcárcel! FAST-PACED FAMILY DRAMA: Fast-paced, deeply felt, and with all the high highs and low lows of adolescence, this story is downright fun—a page-turner even while it's dealing with serious issues. WHO AM I? This book grapples with a topic so many young people deal with daily: one's relationship to heritage and culture. Luz confronts her ties to her home country, the place of her father's birth, and her family itself in a thoughtful, emotional journey filled with humor, urgency, and grace. CODING IS COOL!: Coding is a language many kids enjoy learning and are encouraged to master. The way this book frames coding and computer programming as an opportunity for communication, bonding, and building fun, practical skills will speak loudly to kids already interested in the field while also resonating with those who aren't. AN ALL-AMERICAN EXPERIENCE: This is an important book for its thought-provoking, empathetic look at immigration in the United States and at how the threat of deportation informs the experiences of some of our country's most vulnerable communities. With lyrical prose, deeply felt characters, and a relatable story, Shine On, Luz V&eacaute;liz! adds substantively to our fraught discussion about immigration and opens it to young readers. AUTHOR ON THE RISE: Rebecca Balcárcel won the Pura Belpré Author Honor, which recognizes literature for children or youth that best portrays the Latino cultural experience, for her first book, The Other Half of Happy. She is a beloved presence in the children's literature community and is making her mark as a writer to watch. Perfect for: • Kids who love reading about family and friend drama • Kids who love coding • Parents • Grandparents • Educators • Fans of Meg Medina, Rebecca Stead, and Kelly Yang
Island in the Light / Isla en la luz is a fascinating and insightful compilation that pairs contemporary Cuban visual art and literature by having 30 prominent writers respond to the works of 35 renowned artists. Contemporary Cuban art, literature, and music come together in Island in the Light / Isla en la luz. This bilingual compilation of the work of 35 artists and 30 writers began by selecting artwork by renowned artists and asking prominent writers to create original stories, poems, or essays in response. The result is a thoroughly original and captivating selection of visual arts and literature in dialogue that conveys a sense of the essence and energy of Cuban arts today. Artists represented include Tania Bruguera, Maria Magdalena Campos-Pons, Yoan Capote, Teresita Fernández, Roberto Fabelo, Carlos Garaicoa, and Enrique Martinez Celaya. Among the writers are Wendy Guerra, José Kozer, Jorge Enrique Lage, Legna Rodríguez Iglesias, Achy Obejas, Leonardo Padura, and Reina María Rodríguez. The works are drawn from the Jorge M. Pérez Art Collection; the majority have been gifted to the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), while the others are promised gifts to PAMM. The volume also includes music: Pavel Urkiza composed original scores inspired by several of the selections that readers link to through QR codes. In addition to the short stories, poems, and essays inspired by the artwork, the volume includes commentary and critical essays by Jorge M. Pérez, Carlos Garaicoa, and Wendy Guerra and Leonardo Padura. Proceeds benefit The Jorge M. Pérez Family Foundation, which will redirect the funds to arts organizations.
In this “enchanting” tale of a girl trying to solve a mystery and save a local library, “the magic of reading is given a refreshingly real twist” (Kirkus Reviews). A New York City library branch has been designated for possible closure. But the bookish, socially awkward Pearl, the daughter of the librarian, can’t imagine a world without the library. When the head of their Edna St. Vincent Millay statue goes missing, closure is closer than ever. But Pearl is determined to save the library. And with a ragtag neighborhood library crew—including a constantly tap-dancing girl, an older boy she has a crush on, and a pack of literate raccoons—she just might be able to do it . . . Featuring an eclectic cast of richly drawn characters, quirky sidebars and footnotes, and illustrations by award winner Jessixa Bagley, this is a warm-hearted, visually intriguing tale of reading and believing, and a world of possibility. “Solidly entertaining.” —School Library Journal “Bursting with charm, lovable characters, and excitement that builds and builds.” —Gail Carson Levine, Newbery Award–winning author of Ella Enchanted "A love letter to libraries . . . Big-hearted and dazzling, this classic-in-the-making is not to be missed.” —Katherine Applegate, Newbery Award–winning author of The One and Only Ivan
“Rita skillfully reveals the depth of her characters.”--New York Times bestselling author Jacqueline Sheehan In Carmen Rita's savvy, scandalous, and wise new novel, four close friends who've earned the best of everything are forced to decide what they can afford to lose... Cat, Magda, Gabi, and Luz. They've helped each other up the ladder with unshakable encouragement--and raw honesty--since forever. But lately, trouble is throwing everything these formidable women thought they knew into doubt. When outspoken Cat's high-flying T.V. career crashes and burns, she's got to figure out which dream she wants to keep alive the most--her own, or someone else's. Gorgeous venture capitalist Magda defied her traditional family to make her own way--in her personal life and her career--but an unexpected crisis could finally shatter her chance to resolve the past. As a therapist, sensitive, supportive Gabi has all the answers. But when her own world falls apart, can she turn her compassion--and her trademark tough love--on herself? And proud, wealthy Luz thought she knew everything about her upper-class family background--until a revelation she never saw coming threatens to be the one legacy she can't afford. Now all four women will have to face the truths that make them vulnerable and the failings that give them strength to discover who they really are--and what real happiness means.
I wrote this book aiming to wake up the conscience of the youth who had fallen prey in the jaws of a beast called La vida loca. It is world of fatal illusion scandalized by Holywood and rap music, giving the impression that you can achieve anything you have dreamt of without having to face the consequences that La vida loca leaves behind. This is the story of my life, as I was 28 years old and believed I had the world on my feet. I never imagined waking up from this fatal illusion in the dark city, La crcel, where I spent the last 28 years of my life. If, after reading this story, you still want to continue the journey of La vida loca, then you will surely end up in one of three destinations: The hospital, the prison and the cemetery Where would you want to go? At least God gave me the opportunity to live to tell it, the majority have left with their stories onto eternity.
