Here are three novels in one book. Young readers, especially girls, will find the adventures of these three young ladies exciting and challenging. PEBBLES, age 14, is a talented youngster who does everything well. Everything: softball, violin, chess—whatever she tries, she does well. But she must learn how to lose, and that’s the hardest thing of all. KAYLA, age 12, needs to help her nerdy boyfriend as he struggles with the problem of his parents who are on the verge of divorce. Her own experience helps her, because she is the child of divorced parents. DANA, age 10, wonders if the old lady in the house across the street is really a witch. And if all her cats are missing kids she has turned into cats. She goes over to find out. What she learns surprises her.
This book contains three Bible stories written for young readers. ESTHER When a timid, sensitive foreign girl suddenly becomes the queen of the most powerful king in the world, how would she feel? This is the story of Esther, a Jewish exile in the Kingdom of Persia in the Sixth Century B.C. The story has captured the imagination of readers who are attracted to this pretty but humble girl who lived twenty-five centuries ago. The story begins when King Xerxes, ruler of the vast Persian Empire, boasts that his wife, Queen Vashti, is the most beautiful woman in the world. He is taunted to prove it by making her dance nude at one of his drunken parties. She refuses, and he exiles her. Now he must find a new queen. The most important qualification for his new queen is beauty. To find her, he decrees a beauty contest, and all the young girls in the kingdom are forced to enter. The winner is a shy, reluctant foreigner named Esther. She knows what happened to her predecessor, and she is afraid it might happen to her. But Uncle Mordecai, her guardian, insists she obey the decree, because, as he says, Who knows? Maybe you have come to the kingdom for just such a time as this! She wins the beauty contest and becomes queen of Persia. There must be some hidden secret to her beauty that is not disclosed in the Bible or Apocryphal stories. She obviously has some hidden beauty, some vivid enchantment, a vivacious personality, which is far more than mere physical attractiveness. She is evidently a clever girl, because she both pleases her husband and retains her honor. She is constantly surprised at the power of her position, but she does not abuse it, remaining in the background quietly. Then the time comes when Uncle Mordecais words come true, and she is called on to save her people. How she does that has become one of the best-loved stories in history. In the Bible and the Apocrypha, this story is simply told, and doesnt capture the drama and excitement of what that simple shy girl must have experienced. And yet she has become one of the most popular heroines in history. Every year the Jewish people celebrate her life and tell her story during their holiday known as the Feast of Purim. This is her story. JOB The story of Job has been universally recognized as one of the greatest pieces of writing in world literature. It has been included in the Harvard Classics. For centuries, theologians and philosophers have struggled with the questions raised by this book. Questions such as: Why do the righteous suffer? What is the origin of evil? Can mortal man understand the ways of God? Can a man remain true to God, even if he is not rewarded? And others. Is it possible that a story this profound, this complicated in its theology, which has puzzled the philosophers throughout the history of mankind, can be presented to young readers in a way they can understand? Yes! This novel attempts to do just that. Children and young adults do struggle with these questions. This book, while not giving all the answers, does clarify the questions for young readers. In the story of Job, the Biblical author (or authors) uses a fascinating literary device. He presents the problem in a dialogue between God and Satan, and then in this rather bizarre setting, proceeds to discuss and interpret the philosophic aspects of the story. In this youth-oriented novel, a similar device is used, for much the same purpose. Two children, Dottie and Jimmy, have just learned about the story of Job in Sunday School. Their teacher, Mr. Henderson, presented the story in a clear and memorable way. Dottie and Jimmy, while playing in the snow in Dotties back yard, discusses Jobs dilemma. Dottie, the viewpoint character, struggles to understand the great themes of the book, while Jimmy plays the Devils Advocate. For the significance of the childrens names, see the footnote at
This comprehensive resource features up-to-date bibliographical, biographical and contact information for approximately 20,000 living authors worldwide who have at least one English publication. Entries typically include name, pseudonyms, addresses, citizenship, birth date, specialization, career information and a bibliography. Contact information includes e-mail addresses where available.
The twentieth-anniversary edition of Marion Blumenthal Lazan’s acclaimed Holocaust memoir features new material by the author, a reading group guide, a map, and additional photographs. “The writing is direct, devastating, with no rhetoric or exploitation. The truth is in what’s said and in what is left out.”—ALA Booklist (starred review) Marion Blumenthal Lazan’s unforgettable and acclaimed memoir recalls the devastating years that shaped her childhood. Following Hitler’s rise to power, the Blumenthal family—father, mother, Marion, and her brother, Albert—were trapped in Nazi Germany. They managed eventually to get to Holland, but soon thereafter it was occupied by the Nazis. For the next six and a half years the Blumenthals were forced to live in refugee, transit, and prison camps, including Westerbork in Holland and Bergen-Belsen in Germany, before finally making it to the United States. Their story is one of horror and hardship, but it is also a story of courage, hope, and the will to survive. Four Perfect Pebbles features forty archival photographs, including several new to this edition, an epilogue, a bibliography, a map, a reading group guide, an index, and a new afterword by the author. First published in 1996, the book was an ALA Notable Book, an ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Readers, and IRA Young Adults’ Choice, and a Notable Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, and the recipient of many other honors. “A harrowing and often moving account.”—School Library Journal
Features bibliographical, biographical and contact information for living authors worldwide who have at least one English publication. Entries include name, pseudonyms, addresses, citizenship, birth date, specialization, career information and a bibliography.
NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • 125 recipes for grain-free, dairy-free, and gluten-free comfort food dishes for holidays and special occasions NAMED ONE OF THE FIVE BEST GLUTEN-FREE COOKBOOKS OF ALL TIME BY MINDBODYGREEN When people adopt a new diet for health or personal reasons, they worry most about the parties, holidays, and events with strong food traditions, fearing their fond memories will be lost along with the newly eliminated food groups. After suffering for years with a debilitating autoimmune disease and missing many of these special occasions herself, Danielle Walker has revived the joy that cooking for holidays can bring in Danielle Walker's Against All Grain Celebrations, a collection of recipes and menus for twelve special occasions throughout the year. Featuring a variety of birthday cakes, finger foods to serve at a baby or bridal shower, and re-creations of backyard barbecue standards like peach cobbler and corn bread, Danielle includes all of the classics. There’s a full Thanksgiving spread—complete with turkey and stuffing, creamy green bean casserole, and pies—and menus for Christmas dinner; a New Year's Eve cocktail party and Easter brunch are covered, along with suggestions for beverages and cocktails and the all-important desserts. Recipes can be mixed and matched among the various occasions, and many of the dishes are simple enough for everyday cooking. Stunning full-color photographs of every dish make browsing the pages as delightful as cooking the recipes, and beautiful party images provide approachable and creative entertaining ideas. Making recipes using unfamiliar ingredients can cause anxiety, and while trying a new menu on a regular weeknight leaves some room for error, the meal simply cannot fail when you have a table full of guests celebrating a special occasion. Danielle has transformed her most cherished family traditions into trustworthy recipes you can feel confident serving, whether you’re hosting a special guest with food allergies, or cooking for a crowd of regular grain-eaters.
Abraham turns to an Egyptian slave named Hagar when his wife cannot give him a son, and together they have a son, Ishmael. When his wife miraculously conceives, and their son Isaac is born, Abraham deserts Hagar and Ishmael. This is the story of Hagar's love and faith in Abraham's God--a faith that helped her endure with courage.
