Billy Watts and his team are determined to put an end to human trafficking. However, the traffickers are equally persistent in their endeavors to preserve their lucrative business of selling human beings. The war between the two sides has been nonstop, and though there have been numerous victories over the years, the team's fortitude is failing. While home for a much-needed break, Billy gets drawn into another case, one that could be his toughest yet. A fourteen-year-old girl has gone missing, and the perpetrators this time are two billionaires, Bode Horowitz and Sebastian Drakos. The silken web of depravity these two men have spun has been impenetrable. Surrounded by influential friends of great wealth, authority, and intelligence, the elite pedophiles have been allowed to travel openly with their victims. The fact that they believe themselves to be untouchable enrages Billy, and he calls his team together once more--this time, stateside. A plan devised to chip away at the world of horrors these billionaires have created has Billy and his team going after Horowitz's right-hand man, Mark Kennedy. A family man himself with two teenage girls, Mark has been indulging in the same perversion as his boss...and all without his wife's and daughters' knowledge. What Billy thinks is a race against time for one missing fourteen-year-old girl turns out to be a deadly race to save a pedophile's family.
Melissa always knew that her family wasn't perfect, but she never suspected the shocking truth What would you do if, as a teenager, you found out that someone you loved had committed the most horrific of acts? Worse, what if he had done it again and again? Could you ever learn to forgive him? Would you even want to? In Shattered Silence Melissa Moore shares the true story of her life as the daughter of the notorious Happy Face serial killer. In this inspiring story, Melissa grows from a confused child to an outraged adolescent to an accepting adult. As she slowly connects the dots and realizes the full extent of the terrifying and gruesome crimes her father has committed, Melissa also begins to realize that she cannot change her father all she has control over is her own life and deciding how she will react to everything that has happened. Told with heartbreaking sincerity, this uplifting story of optimism and discovering joy, even in the face of overwhelming adversity, will inspire you to face your own challenges with a similar attitude of hope.
Texas Ranger Cody Jackson is paired with local police officer Liliana Rodriguez as they investigate a serial killer targeting illegal aliens and try to calm the growing unrest of the Mexican Americans who live in the area.
I try to lift the wet blanket of Taboos which silence or, at least, defines the issues that daily impact our lives: politics, religion, sex, money, war, peace, illnesses, etc. I hope this book shatters the silence.
The enthralling "Shattered Silence: A Memoir of Survival" follows Kim Smith's turbulent life and her determination to overcome extreme adversity. The memoir illuminates the formative moments that transcended suffering to become sources of hope from the precarious foundations of a difficult upbringing marked by maltreatment and bereavement. Ms. Smith expertly tackles adolescence, showing how family issues and the human spirit endure. In this mosaic, advocacy and resiliency show how people can overcome adversity and find hope. With great detail, "Shattered Silence" examines recovery, personal growth, and the pursuit of a resilient and promising future.
Acclaimed author Jennifer A. Nielsen brings her signature twists and high-stakes action to the fifth installment of the New York Times bestselling Ascendance Series! King Jaron has outwitted the Prozarians and returned to his own kingdom with one secret in his pocket that not even his friends know about. He's hoping that secret will help him finally bring stability to Carthya. But a surprise attack on his own land -- on the castle itself -- reminds Jaron that nothing is easy. The Prozarian Monarch threatens to crumble Jaron's entire kingdom. And that's not the only thing in danger: With old enemies and new rumors circling around him, even Jaron's relationship with Imogen is uncertain. This former False Prince will need his best tricks and many allies at his side to hold Carthya together.
“A grieving teen fights Asian hate by finding her voice in this complex, timely story.” —Kirkus (starred review) "With a layered, sensitive voice, Ho’s weighty novel delves into themes of racism, classism, loss, and healing." —Publishers Weekly (starred review) “Inspired by the recent rise in hate crimes against AAPI, Ho’s story of inclusion, diversity, and social action rings true. Maybelline is a multifaceted narrator whose drive to right wrongs and stand up to injustice deserves applause. Ho illuminates both activism and mental health in marginalized communities, showing that even a bright, young achiever can experience depression without anyone knowing.”—Booklist "A powerful, hopeful YA debut. May’s journey through personal and familial grief is poignant and questions of power and privilege are explored with nuance that will spark conversation among teen readers." —School Library Journal “This sensitive novel does an impressive balancing act, examining mental illness and its stigma among Asian Americans while weaving in themes of racism and grief. The overarching messages—listening with empathy, and seeking help—ring loud and clear.” —Horn Book Joanna Ho, New York Times bestselling author of Eyes That Kiss in the Corners, has written an exquisite, heart-rending debut young adult novel that will inspire all to speak truth to power. Maybelline Chen isn’t the Chinese Taiwanese American daughter her mother expects her to be. May prefers hoodies over dresses and wants to become a writer. When asked, her mom can’t come up with one specific reason for why she's proud of her only daughter. May’s beloved brother, Danny, on the other hand, has just been admitted to Princeton. But Danny secretly struggles with depression, and when he dies by suicide, May's world is shattered. In the aftermath, racist accusations are hurled against May's parents for putting too much “pressure” on him. May’s father tells her to keep her head down. Instead, May challenges these ugly stereotypes through her writing. Yet the consequences of speaking out run much deeper than anyone could foresee. Who gets to tell our stories, and who gets silenced? It’s up to May to take back the narrative. Joanna Ho masterfully explores timely themes of mental health, racism, and classism. A Bank Street Books Best Children's Book of the Year for ages 14 and older in Family/School/Community and noted for outstanding merit (2023) "An ornately carved window into the core of shared humanity. Read and re-read. Then read it again." —Nic Stone, New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin "Powerful and piercing, filled with truth, love, and a heroine who takes back the narrative." —Abigail Hing Wen, New York Times bestselling author of Loveboat, Taipei “A held-breath of a novel that finds courage amidst brokenness, and holds a candle to the dark.” —Stacey Lee, New York Times bestselling author of The Downstairs Girl “Ho confronts racism with care and nuance, capturing the complexities of grief and growth. A poignant call to action.” —Randy Ribay, National Book Award finalist for Patron Saints of Nothing
For eleven years, Oakley Farrell has been silent. At the age of five, she stopped talking, and no one seems to know why. Refusing to communicate beyond a few physical actions, Oakley remains in her own little world. Bullied at school, she has just one friend, Cole Benson. Cole stands by her, refusing to believe that she is not perfect the way she is. Over the years, they have developed their own version of a normal friendship. However, will it still work as they start to grow even closer? When Oakley is forced to face someone from her past, can she hold her secret in any longer?
