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Skeeters #4 (Skeeters #4)
by Bob Frantz Kevin CuffePuff, puff, pass the gun–it&’s the blazing and action-packed conclusion to Kankakee&’s bloodsucking nightmare! Carla and friends must fight their way through a literal hive of activity if they even hope to squash the alien queen and save their hometown. Skeeters is a comedic and gruesome story for fans of Slither, Arachnophobia, and other classic creature features!
Skeeters GN (Skeeters)
by Bob Frantz Kevin CuffeWhen giant mosquito-like alien creatures invade a rural seaside community, a frustrated sheriff and two oddball exterminators end up being the town&’s only hope for survival. A comedic and gruesome story for fans of Slither, Arachnophobia, and other classic creature-features!
Skeleton Battle (The Unofficial Minecrafters Academy Series #2)
by Winter MorganAfter a scourge of griefer attacks and a change in headmasters, Minecrafters Academy is once again at peace, and Lucy is working hard to keep up in all her classes. Meanwhile, the school is gearing up for an end-of-the-year talent show, where everyone will showcase their greatest skills, from master building and clever potion-making to strategic fighting.But when a hoard of skeletons and hostile mobs attacks the campus one night, an all-too-familiar struggle begins. Is Isaac, the school’s evil former headmaster, behind the attacks? Lucy and her friends are determined to get to the bottom of the mystery and keep their school safe. As the attacks continue and their search for clues turns up more enemies than friends, Lucy, Jane, and Phoebe must rely on each other to survive-and find a way to save the school.Fans of Minecraft and magic academies won’t want to miss the latest adventure in the Unofficial Minecrafters Academy series.Sky Pony Press, with our Good Books, Racehorse and Arcade imprints, is proud to publish a broad range of books for young readers-picture books for small children, chapter books, books for middle grade readers, and novels for young adults. Our list includes bestsellers for children who love to play Minecraft; stories told with LEGO bricks; books that teach lessons about tolerance, patience, and the environment, and much more. In particular, this adventure series is created especially for readers who love the fight of good vs. evil, magical academies like Hogwarts in the Harry Potter saga, and games like Minecraft, Terraria, and Pokemon GO. While not every title we publish becomes a New York Times bestseller or a national bestseller, we are committed to books on subjects that are sometimes overlooked and to authors whose work might not otherwise find a home.
Skeleton Key: A Xanth Novel (The Xanth Novels #44)
by Piers AnthonyThere&’s no dancing around a demonic threat in the fantasy world of Xanth in the New York Times–bestselling series. Squid, the alien cuttlefish, is getting an upgrade: a boost to her shape-changing talent so she can lead a mission against a foreign Demon who&’s stirring up trouble in Xanth. At Squid&’s side are her rescued siblings and one very special child—Larry, a girl in a boy&’s body, who will act as a secret host for their adoptive mother, the Demoness Fornax. Aboard the Fire Boat, they form a plan to disguise themselves as a traveling dance troupe. Each child is paired up with a native Xanthian. But it&’s the friendship that blossoms between Squid and Larry that will power their quest, and they&’ll have to do some fancy footwork to avoid the trials and tribulations that await them.
Skelly's Halloween
by David MartinA playful skeleton lives for trick-or-treating in this charming, laugh-out-loud picture book perfect for the Halloween season. Snap my fingers and rattle my bones—it’s Halloween!Get ready for a spooktacular time with Skelly’s Halloween, a playful read aloud with a Humpty Dumpty-like hook, sure to become a Halloween staple.Skelly B. Skeleton lives for Halloween: the trick-or-treating, the costumes…the TRICK-OR-TREATING! Then a tumble leaves him in pieces, and Skelly just might miss out on his favorite holiday. Luckily, a variety of animals—a snake, a chicken, a colony of ants—happen along to put Skelly back together again…to hilarious effect. It will take the help of some resourceful children to make things right and save the day.With exuberant text from David Martin and bold art from Lori Richmond, Skelly’s Halloween is sure to delight trick-or-treaters of all ages.
Sketch Comedy: Identity, Reflexivity, and American Television
by Nick MarxA history of sketch comedy on American television and analysis of what it says about American culture and society.In Sketch Comedy: Identity, Reflexivity, and American Television, Nick Marx examines some of the genre’s most memorable?and controversial?moments from the early days of television to the contemporary line-up. Through explorations of sketches from well-known shows such as Saturday Night Live, The State, Inside Amy Schumer, Key & Peele, and more, Marx argues that the genre has served as a battleground for the struggle between comedians who are pushing the limits of what is possible on television and network executives who are more mindful of the financial bottom line. Whether creating new catchphrases or transgressing cultural taboos, sketch comedies give voice to marginalized performers and audiences, providing comedians and viewers opportunities to test their own ideas about their place in society, while simultaneously echoing mainstream cultural trends. The result, Marx suggests, is a hilarious and flexible form of identity play unlike anything else in American popular culture and media.“An excellent study of a long-neglected area in television/media studies and is part of a larger turn toward the centrality of comedy in post-war U.S. culture.” —Jeffrey Sconce, Northwestern University“A stalwart of television . . . sketch comedy finally gets the in-depth critical attention it deserves . . . Marx shows how sketch comedy has fit (and been constrained by) TV’s industrial contexts, from live variety shows in its earliest days to movement across media in the era of multiple platforms. These case studies not only chart sketch comedy’s past, they provide the theoretical and analytical tools to consider its future.” —Ethan Thompson, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Sketch Comedy: Identity, Reflexivity, and American Television
by Nick MarxA history of sketch comedy on American television and analysis of what it says about American culture and society.In Sketch Comedy: Identity, Reflexivity, and American Television, Nick Marx examines some of the genre’s most memorable?and controversial?moments from the early days of television to the contemporary line-up. Through explorations of sketches from well-known shows such as Saturday Night Live, The State, Inside Amy Schumer, Key & Peele, and more, Marx argues that the genre has served as a battleground for the struggle between comedians who are pushing the limits of what is possible on television and network executives who are more mindful of the financial bottom line. Whether creating new catchphrases or transgressing cultural taboos, sketch comedies give voice to marginalized performers and audiences, providing comedians and viewers opportunities to test their own ideas about their place in society, while simultaneously echoing mainstream cultural trends. The result, Marx suggests, is a hilarious and flexible form of identity play unlike anything else in American popular culture and media.“An excellent study of a long-neglected area in television/media studies and is part of a larger turn toward the centrality of comedy in post-war U.S. culture.” —Jeffrey Sconce, Northwestern University“A stalwart of television . . . sketch comedy finally gets the in-depth critical attention it deserves . . . Marx shows how sketch comedy has fit (and been constrained by) TV’s industrial contexts, from live variety shows in its earliest days to movement across media in the era of multiple platforms. These case studies not only chart sketch comedy’s past, they provide the theoretical and analytical tools to consider its future.” —Ethan Thompson, Texas A&M University Corpus Christi
Sketchy Santas
by Will ZweigartHo, ho, huh?Who's that excessively jolly fellow with the fake beard, shifty eyes, sweaty hands, and boozy breath? Why, it's not just Santa but sketchy Santa! Yes, 'tis the season for awkward photos of small children posed precariously on the laps of some of the most clownish, irritable, and just plain weird-looking Santa wannabes--guys you'd give a wide berth to if you passed them on the street.Inside this painfully hilarious collection of holiday photos, you'll discover the pop culture history of the sketchy Santa, and how to identify sketchy Santas in shopping malls everywhere . . . making this the perfect gift for anyone who understands that "He sees you when you're sleeping" is a deeply disturbing thought.
Skid: A Novel (The Occupational Hazards #3)
by Rene GutteridgeBlissfully unaware that Atlantica Flight 1945 from Atlanta to Amsterdam is about to make aviation history, First Officer Danny McSweeney focuses his energies on navigating the turbulent personalities of an eccentric female captain, a co-pilot with a talent for tactless comments and conspiracy theories, and a lead flight attendant with an outsized attitude that definitely exceeds the limits for carry-on baggage.On the other side of the cockpit door, the unscheduled in-flight entertainment includes a potbellied pig, a jittery diamond courier, and the recently jilted Lucy Meredith, whose personal mantra of "What Would Oprah Do?" will be challenged by the sudden appearance of her ex and his new traveling partner. On her left sits Hank Hazard, whose unusually polite but constant requests-prompted by his covert role as a spy for the airline-test the limits of the crew's customer service. But as Lucy and the rest of the crew discover, Hank's odd behavior is linked to a quiet faith that may play a key role in the fate of everyone on board. Especially when an unexpected traveler sets this already bumpy flight on a course toward the unfriendly skies.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Skink No Surrender
by Carl HiaasenA New York Times bestseller and laugh out loud thriller from Carl Hiaasen about a missing cousin, a half-crazy governor, giant gators and justice -- swamp justice, that is.Typical Malley - to avoid being shipped off to boarding school, she takes off with some guy she met online. Poor Richard - he knows his cousin's in trouble before she does. Wild Skink - he's a ragged, one-eyed ex-governor of Florida, and enough of a renegade to think he can track Malley down. With Richard riding shotgun, the unlikely pair scour the state, undaunted by blinding storms, crazed pigs, flying bullets and giant gators. Carl Hiaasen first introduced readers to Skink more than 25 years ago in DOUBLE WHAMMY, and he quickly became Hiaasen's most iconic and beloved character, appearing in six novels to date. Both teens and adults will be thrilled to catch sight of the elusive 'governor' as he pursues his own unique brand of swamp justice. With Skink at the wheel, the search for a missing girl is both nail-bitingly tense and laugh-out-loud funny.
Skink--No Surrender (Skink Series)
by Carl Hiaasen<P>Carl Hiaasen serves up his unique brand of swamp justice in the New York Times bestseller Skink—No Surrender. <P>When your cousin goes missing under suspicious circumstances, who do you call? There’s only one man for the job: a half-crazed, half-feral, one-eyed ex-governor named Skink. <P>Skink joins 14-year-old Richard on a breakneck chase across Florida, undaunted by lightning storms, poisonous snakes, flying bullets, and giant gators. <P>There are a million places cousin Malley could be, a million unpleasant fates that might have befallen her, but one thing is certain: in the Florida swamp, justice is best served wild. <P><b>SUNSHINE STATE AWARD FINALIST! <P> A National Book Award Longlist Selection</b>
Skinny Bitch in Love: A Novel
by Kim BarnouinFrom the #1 New York Times–bestselling co-author of Skinny Bitch, &“a clever . . . mouth-watering story of a vegan chef with big dreams.&” —San Francisco Book Review A rising culinary star of the vegan foodie scene, Clementine Cooper gets her big chance to impress a top food critic—until a backstabbing co-worker sabotages her exquisite entrée with butter. Blacklisted from every vegan kitchen in Los Angeles, Clem decides to open her own cooking school with aspirations of turning a neighborhood restaurant into a café. But when a sexy restauranteur settles on her dream locale as the perfect place for his steakhouse, Clem prepares for battle. Then she lays eyes on him. Zach Jeffries is way too good looking. Worse, when he shows up at her cooking class, he&’s more than the meathead she expects him to be. Much more. Turns out the attraction is mutual, even if their dreams are not. So Clem does what every self-respecting single woman would do—she tries to fall in love with a more suitable man. Alexander Orr is not only a vegan chef, too, but British and adorably sweet. Yet, despite her best efforts Clem still has an irresistible taste for a certain hunky carnivore. . . . &“Barnouin has cooked up one tasty love triangle. . . . Her characters are as sharp as her no-nonsense cookbooks.&” —USA Today &“Barnouin&’s debut novel asks: Can a vegan chef find love with a carnivore? It&’s lightweight fare, starring a sassy heroine.&” —Kirkus Reviews &“Those looking for a lazy beach reach or . . . fans of the Skinny Bitch Empire should find something here to enjoy.&” —Publishers Weekly
Skinny Bitching: A Thirty-Something Woman Mouths off about Age Angst, Pregnancy Pressure, and The Dieting Battles you’ll never Win
by Jenny LeeIn her acclaimed booksI Do. I Did. Now What?!andWhat Wendell Wants, Jenny Lee hilariously chronicled the milestones of getting married and getting a dog. Now she takes on the most terrifying milestone of all: getting older. Tackling everything from the peer pressure to have children to resisting the siren call of suburbia, Skinny Bitching delivers unsparingly witty commentary on: • What to do when you actually start breaking out again like you did in junior high school (how is that even possible?) • Saying good-bye to going to bars, seeing bands, and generally being cool • Finally facing the fact that those extra ten pounds are never coming off • Dealing with the fact that just when you finally know what you want out of a husband, it’s too late to exchange him In a hilarious and poignant homage to thirty-something women everywhere, Jenny Lee lets us in on her most intimate secrets as she transforms her modern-day angst into something timeless, moving, and unfailingly funny.
Skinny Dip (Mick Stranahan #2)
by Carl HiaasenChaz Perrone might be the only marine scientist in the world who doesn’t know which way the Gulf Stream runs. He might also be the only one who went into biology just to make a killing, and now he’s found a way – doctoring water samples so that a ruthless agribusiness tycoon can continue illegally dumping fertilizer into the endangered Everglades. When Chaz suspects that his wife, Joey, has figured out his scam, he pushes her overboard from a cruise liner into the night-dark Atlantic. Unfortunately for Chaz, his wife doesn’t die in the fall. Clinging blindly to a bale of Jamaican pot, Joey Perrone is plucked from the ocean by former cop and current loner Mick Stranahan. Instead of rushing to the police and reporting her husband’s crime, Joey decides to stay dead and (with Mick’s help) screw with Chaz until he screws himself. As Joey haunts and taunts her homicidal husband, as Chaz’s cold-blooded cohorts in pollution grow uneasy about his ineptitude and increasingly erratic behavior, as Mick Stranahan discovers that six failed marriages and years of island solitude haven’t killed the reckless romantic in him, we’re taken on a hilarious, full-throttle, pure Hiaasen ride through the warped politics and mayhem of the human environment, and the human heart.
Skinny Dip (Skink Series)
by Carl HiaasenChaz Perrone might be the only marine scientist in the world who doesn't know which way the Gulf Stream runs. He might also be the only one who went into biology just to make a killing, and now he's found a way-doctoring water samples so that a ruthless agribusiness tycoon can continue illegally dumping fertilizer into the endangered Everglades. When Chaz suspects that his wife, Joey, has figured out his scam, he pushes her overboard from a cruise liner into the night-dark Atlantic. Unfortunately for Chaz, his wife doesn't die in the fall. Clinging blindly to a bale of Jamaican pot, Joey Perrone is plucked from the ocean by former cop and current loner Mick Stranahan. Instead of rushing to the police and reporting her husband's crime, Joey decides to stay dead and (with Mick's help) screw with Chaz until he screws himself. As Joey haunts and taunts her homicidal husband, as Chaz's cold-blooded cohorts in pollution grow uneasy about his ineptitude and increasingly erratic behavior, as Mick Stranahan discovers that six failed marriages and years of island solitude haven't killed the reckless romantic in him, we're taken on a hilarious, full-throttle, pure Hiaasen ride through the warped politics and mayhem of the human environment, and the human heart.BONUS: This edition includes an excerpt from Carl Hiaasen's Bad Monkey.
Skinny Dipping Season (A Truhart Novel #2)
by Cynthia TennentOne Summer Can Change Everything . . .Elizabeth Lively dresses conservatively, straightens her curly hair into submission, and works hard to uphold her political family's reputation. Her therapist might call it "OCD," but she's just trying her best to live by the rules--until her carefully crafted world comes crashing down when she's fired, painfully jilted, and arrested for a crime she didn't commit. All she can think to do is flee to her grandmother's lakeside house in tiny Truhart, Michigan, a town that's as quirky as it is quaint . . .No stranger to second chances, Acting Sheriff JD Hardy isn't pleased to have Elizabeth in Truhart for the summer. A former city cop with a painful past, JD now runs a tight ship, and isn't keen on a newcomer with a criminal past, even one as tempting as Elizabeth.Between lazy summer days and lakeside evenings, reconnecting with old friends and making new ones, Elizabeth must decide what the future holds for her, and where her heart belongs. She will learn that sometimes you have to dip a toe in cautiously, and other times you just have to dive in . . .Praise for A Wedding in Truhart"Cynthia Tennent has captured the charm, humor, loyalty, and love of small towns, close families, and long-time friends. ..the people of Truhart will find a place in your heart."--Cindy Myers, author of The View From Here"An A.W.O.L. wedding dress, family feuds, and kinky characters! What's not to love? A Wedding in Truhart is a wedding to remember."--Lois Greiman, award winning author of the Hope Springs series
Skinny Dipping with Murder: An Otter Lake Mystery (The Otter Lake Mysteries #1)
by Auralee WallaceThe first Otter Lake mystery is “a frolicking good time . . . with a heroine who challenges Stephanie Plum for the title of funniest sleuth” (Denise Swanson, New York Times–bestselling author).Erica Bloom is in no rush to return to Otter Lake, the site of her mother’s spiritual retreat for women. Erica met her inner goddess years ago and she’s happy to have forged a new identity on her own, thank you very much. But her new-age-y, well-meaning mother is losing her grip on the business, and needs Erica’s help. So she heads back to her New Hampshire hometown, where nothing much has changed—except for maybe the body in the well . . .When Erica was a teenager, she fell prey to a practical joke that left her near-naked in Otter Lake’s annual Raspberry Social. The incident was humiliating, but it wasn’t like anyone got killed—until now. Those who were behind that long-ago prank are starting to turn up dead, and Erica’s appearance in town makes her a prime suspect. To make matters worse, the town sheriff just happens to be Erica’s old nemesis, Grady Forrester . . . who also happens to be hotter than ever. Can Erica find a way to dig up the truth—before someone digs her grave?“A delightful mystery with laugh-out-loud moments, a touch of romance, and a fun, sassy style. Readers will enjoy every moment spent in Otter Lake.” —Diane Kelly, award winning author of Busted“Time spent with the folks in Otter Lake is well worthwhile, with writing that is witty, contemporary, and winning.” —Kirkus Reviews
Skinny Legs and All
by Tom RobbinsSKINNY LEGS AND ALL:An Arab and a Jew open a restaurant together across the street from the United Nations....It sounds like the beginning of an ethnic joke, but it's the axis around which spins this gutsy, fun-loving, and alarmingly provocative novel, in which a bean can philosophizes, a dessert spoon mystifies, a young waitress takes on the New York art world, and a rowdy redneck welder discovers the lost god of Palestine--while the illusions that obscure humanity's view of the true universe fall away, one by one, like Salome's veils.Skinny Legs and All deals with today's most sensitive issues: race, politics, marriage, art, religion, money, and lust. It weaves lyrically through what some call the "end days" of our planet. Refusing to avert its gaze from the horrors of the apocalypse, it also refuses to let the alleged end of the world spoil its mood. And its mood is defiantly upbeat.In the gloriously inventive Tom Robbins style, here are characters, phrases, stories, and ideas that dance together on the page, wild and sexy, like Salome herself. Or was it Jezebel?From the Hardcover edition.
Skinnydipping
by Bethenny Frankel"Who do I have to sleep with to get a drink on this plane?" Beloved by countless fans for being devilishly dishy, outrageously funny, and always giving it to us straight, three-time New York Times bestselling author Bethenny Frankel now makes her fiction debut with the story of Faith Brightstone. Faith is an aspiring actress just out of college, who moves to L.A. determined to have it all--a job on the most popular TV show, a beach house in Malibu, and a gorgeous producer boyfriend. But when reality hits, she finds herself with a gig as a glorified servant, a role that has more to do with T&A than acting, and a dead-end relationship. Finally, Faith decides she's had enough of La La Land and moves back to New York with just a suitcase and her dog, Muffin. Five years later, Faith has finally found her groove as an entrepreneur and manages to land a spot on a new reality TV show hosted by her idol--the legendary businesswoman and domestic goddess Sybil Hunter. Diving into the bizarre world of reality TV, Faith's loud mouth and tell-it-like-it-is style immediately get her in trouble with her fellow contestants--the delusional socialite; the boozy lifestyle coach; the moody headband designer; and her closest friend, the ambitious housewife who eventually betrays her. Even Sybil is not what she appears. As the show comes to a dramatic close, Faith discovers that the man of her dreams may have just walked into her life. Will she choose fame or love? Or can she have it all?
Skintight
by Susan AndersenA widowed showgirl and a professional gambler are about to discover true passion beneath the glitz of Las Vegas in this sexy romance.Professional poker player Jax Gallagher should have known better than to wager a World Series baseball that wasn’t his to lose. Now the man who won the collectible is demanding his prize . . . or else. Trouble is, the ball is owned by his estranged father’s widow—a flamboyant Las Vegas showgirl. And Jax will have to do whatever it takes to get it back.Yet Treena McCall is anything but the ruthless gold digger Jax expects. She’s built a life for herself filled with good friends and hard work. And she’s got enough on her plate trying to hang on to her job as a dancer without being wined, dined, and seduced by sexy Jax Gallagher. . . .
Skip to the End
by Molly JamesThree kisses. Two break ups. One happy ending...Amy Daniels has a pretty nice life. Her career is on the up, she loves her friends, and she's about to buy her very own flat. On a good day, Amy could be described as a catch - so why is she perpetually single?The trouble is, Amy can see something no one else can: the end. As soon as she kisses someone, she knows, in intimate, vivid detail, how their relationship will end. A screaming argument in the middle of the supermarket over milk. An explicit email sent to the wrong address. A hasty escape through a bathroom window on the second date. At the altar - runaway-bride style. There seems to be no end to the unhappy endings.After years of trying, and failing, to change a pre-written future, Amy has given up. But then she drunkenly kisses three men at her best friend's wedding and sees three possible endings: two painful, one perfect. The problem is, Amy can't really remember who she kissed, and worse, what ending belongs to which person - the only thing she knows for certain is that she's determined to find out...This novel will have you swirling with first date butterflies, crying with laughter and finally, brimming with joy. The perfect summer read for fans of Lindsey Kelk, Mhairi McFarlane and Sophie Cousens.(P) 2022 Quercus Editions Limited
Skip to the End
by Molly JamesIn this joyful romance, one wild night results in three kisses—only one successful—and leaves a perpetually single Amy searching for her perfect match so she can find a happy ending. Amy Daniels has a pretty nice life. Her career is on the up, she loves her friends, and she's about to buy her very own flat. On a good day, Amy could be described as a catch—so why is she perpetually single? The trouble is, Amy can see something no one else can: the end. As soon as she kisses someone, she knows, in intimate, vivid detail, how their relationship will finish. A screaming argument in the middle of the supermarket over milk. An explicit email sent to the wrong address. A hasty escape through a bathroom window on the second date. At the altar—runaway-bride style. There seems to be no end to the unhappy endings. After years of trying, and failing, to change a pre-written future, Amy has given up. But then she drunkenly kisses three men at her best friend's wedding and sees three possible endings: two painful, one perfect. The problem is, Amy can't really remember who she kissed, and worse, what ending belongs to which person—the only thing she knows for certain is that she's determined to find out...
Skip to the End: the perfect love story to curl up with this spring
by Molly James'Joyful, wise and enormously good fun' TASMINA PERRY'An utterly gorgeous story that had me totally hooked. Without a doubt the best book I've read this year' HOLLY MARTIN If you knew how the love story finished, would you turn the first page?Amy has been keeping a secret most of her adult life... The women in her family have a gift, or is it a curse?Since her first kiss, Amy has had visions of how her relationships will end. A date fleeing through the bathroom window. At the altar - runaway-bride style. There seems to be no end to the unhappy endings.Then she drunkenly kisses three men at her best friend's wedding, only to wake up with no memory of who she kissed. She knows she's found 'the one' but now she must find out which one...Roping in her friends, Amy sets off on a mission to find her true love. What readers are saying about Skip to the End:'Well written, charming, sweet and thoroughly enjoyable' 'A proper feel good book. I couldn't put it down''I couldn't have loved this book more. It's absolutely perfect in every way''This book was absolutely stunning. About Time is one of my all time favourite films and this was finally a book like it' 'I finished reading Skip to the End with an enormous, contented sigh and a huge smile on my face'Love Skip to the End? Then read Molly James's magical new romance, One Day to Fall in Love, available to pre-order now!
Skipped Parts
by Tim Sandlin"Funny, shocking, downright revolting, and occasionally sad. Sandlin is a compelling storyteller...Skipped Parts is somewhere between The Catcher in the Rye and Even Cowgirls Get the Blues."-Los Angeles Times Book ReviewBanished to the hinterlands of Wyoming, rebellious Lydia Callahan and her thirteen-year-old son Sam have no choice but to cope. But while Lydia drinks and talks to the moose head on the wall, Sam finds a friend in local girl Maurey Pierce. One of the wildest, raunchiest, most heartfelt coming-of-age novels of the past thirty years, Skipped Parts puts Tim Sandlin in the upper echelon of contemporary comic novelists."Dazzling...moving...Sam's carapace is humor...He thinks like Holden Caulfield and has Joseph Heller's take on despair. His Walter Mitty-like fantasies are tiny comic gems... In the end you'll find yourself rooting for Sam." -New York Times Book Review"A lighthearted, amusing, and tender story of preteen wisdom, adult immaturity, and the fine line between...An offbeat, engaging novel." -Publisher's Weekly"This witty, often touching portrayal of a dirt-street-wise youth's coming-of-age sparkles with intelligence." -Booklist"Thoughtful, surprising, and delightful entertainment." -St. Louis Post-Dispatch