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The Charlie Chaplin Book: Ten Stories Adapted from Classic Shorts
by Robert Keene ThompsonBeloved around the world for his Little Tramp character, Charlie Chaplin was the most famous person on the planet during the early twentieth century, and his popularity endures to this day. Cinephiles and Chaplin aficionados will rejoice in these expert novelizations by a famed Hollywood screenwriter of the scripts for ten short films Chaplin made in 1915 for the Essanay Company of Chicago. The Bank: A bank janitor develops romantic designs on a secretaryA Woman: An eager suitor cross-dresses to deceive a disapproving father Work: A paperhanger's assistant wreaks havoc on a stately mansionThe Champion: A pet bulldog helps his master go for broke in the boxing ring His New Job: A prop man at a movie studio is given a chance to actBy the Sea: A bathing resort provides the backdrop for a series of comic adventuresA Night Out: A pair of friends go on a bender, spreading pandemonium in their pathThe Tramp: An admirer of a farmer's daughter is thwarted by a rivalIn the Park: A couple of star-crossed lovers receive help from a kindly CupidA Jitney Elopement: A Romeo rescues his sweetheart from an arranged marriage
The Charm Offensive
by Cari Lynn WebbWinning her over means winning everything Sophie Callahan is PI Brad Harrington's best lead to tracking down the man he's been hired to bring to justice: Sophie's own thieving father. But when Brad arrives at The Pampered Pooch, just behind a litter of stray kittens, the pet-store owner is the big surprise. This scrappy, huge-hearted woman with charm to spare gets to Brad in a way no one has ever been able to before. She spends her life finding-and making-homes for others: abandoned pets, her young niece. He'll have to tell her why he's really here. Which means he'll have to choose between his sail-away dreams and the chance to build a forever home-with her.
The Charm Offensive: A Novel
by Alison CochrunA MOST ANTICIPATED ROM-COM SELECTED BY * BUZZFEED * LGBTQ READS * BUSTLE * THE NERD DAILY * ENTERTAINMENT TONIGHT * FROLIC MEDIA * AND MORE! A BEST BOOK PICK BY * HARPER&’S BAZAAR * ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY &“The Charm Offensive will sweep you off your feet.&” —PopSugar In this witty and heartwarming romantic comedy—reminiscent of Red, White & Royal Blue and One to Watch—an awkward tech wunderkind on a reality dating show goes off-script when sparks fly with his producer.Dev Deshpande has always believed in fairy tales. So it&’s no wonder then that he&’s spent his career crafting them on the long-running reality dating show Ever After. As the most successful producer in the franchise&’s history, Dev always scripts the perfect love story for his contestants, even as his own love life crashes and burns. But then the show casts disgraced tech wunderkind Charlie Winshaw as its star. Charlie is far from the romantic Prince Charming Ever After expects. He doesn&’t believe in true love, and only agreed to the show as a last-ditch effort to rehabilitate his image. In front of the cameras, he&’s a stiff, anxious mess with no idea how to date twenty women on national television. Behind the scenes, he&’s cold, awkward, and emotionally closed-off. As Dev fights to get Charlie to connect with the contestants on a whirlwind, worldwide tour, they begin to open up to each other, and Charlie realizes he has better chemistry with Dev than with any of his female co-stars. But even reality TV has a script, and in order to find to happily ever after, they&’ll have to reconsider whose love story gets told.
The Charmed List
by Julie Abe"The best friends to enemies-to-lovers story I needed in my life! The Charmed List utterly enchants with its delightful characters and heartfelt themes of family, friendship, and first love. I adored this fun-filled and swoony road trip romance with a magical twist!" —Axie Oh, author of XOXO and The Girl Who Fell Beneath the SeaSometimes you need a little magic to fall in love. Ellie Kobata has spent most of high school on the sidelines, keeping her art Instagram private and shying away from the world. She can’t even tell her only friend, Lia, who she really is: Ellie is part of a secret magical community, and no one outside of it can know it exists. The only person Ellie could fully relate to was Jack Yasuda – her childhood friend who mysteriously started to snub her a few years ago.But before senior year, Ellie is ready to take some risks and have a life-changing summer, starting with her Anti-Wallflower List – thirteen items she’s going to check off one by one. With this list, she hopes to finally come out of her shell; even though she can’t share her full self with the world. But when number four on Ellie’s list goes horribly wrong—revenge on Jack Yasuda—she’s certain her summer is cursed. Instead of spending her summer with Lia, Ellie finds herself stuck in a car with Jack driving to a magical convention. But as Ellie and Jack travel down the coast of California, number thirteen on her list—fall in love—may be happening without her realizing it.In The Charmed List, Julie Abe sweeps readers away to a secret magical world, complete with cupcakes and tea with added sparks of joy, and an enchanted cottage where you can dance under the stars.
The Cheap Handyman: True (and Disastrous) Tales from a [Home Improvement Expert] Guy Who Should Know Better
by B.S. HarrisHilarious adventures in home renovations and repairs, from a real-life Red Green.Meet Brian Harris, a (mostly) retired, self-proclaimed jack of all trades with a knack for home improvements and inventive money-saving schemes. Armed with a soldering gun, his trusty 9-foot ladder, and of course the handyman&’s secret weapon—duct tape—Brian&’s projects start out as simple chores: trim a tree branch, stain the cedar siding on his home...but all too often they end in costly disaster. Sometimes he&’s trying to do the right thing, like the time he wrecked his pool while saving some baby ducks. Often, he channels his inner MacGyver: he once taped his hockey skate back together so he could finish his rec-league game, only to get suspended for falling on the referee when it broke (again). But usually, he&’s just trying to save a buck, like the time he accidentally destroyed an expensive car key fob because he wouldn&’t pay the (outrageous) $10 fee to have the new battery professionally replaced. Filled with funny and entertaining true stories from the everyday life of an average guy just trying to save a few dollars, The Cheap Handyman is a tribute to anyone who has ever thought, &“Sure! I can do that!&”
The Cheap Handyman: True (and Disastrous) Tales from a [Home Improvement Expert] Guy Who Should Know Better
by B.S. HarrisThis Old House meets #HomeImprovementFails in this collection of laugh-out-loud essays, perfect for fans of Nick Offerman, CarTalk, or The Red Green Show. &“This book is all the fix-it you need for your hurt home improvement ego.&” —Harrison Scott Key, Thurber-prize winning author of The World's Largest ManMeet Brian Harris, a (mostly) retired, self-proclaimed jack of all trades with a penchant for DIY and inventive money-saving schemes. Armed with a soldering gun, his trusty nine-foot ladder, and of course the handyman&’s secret weapon—duct tape—Brian&’s projects start out as simple chores: trim a tree branch, stain the cedar siding on his home...but all too often they end in costly disaster. Sometimes he&’s trying to do the right thing, like the time he wrecked his pool while saving some baby ducks. Often, he channels his inner MacGyver: he once taped his hockey skate back together so he could finish his rec-league game, only to get suspended for falling on the referee when it broke (again). But usually he&’s just being, well, cheap! Like the time he inadvertently destroyed a $295 car key fob because he wouldn&’t pay the (outrageous) $10 fee to have the battery professionally replaced. In The Cheap Handyman, Brian anthologizes his hard-won wisdom, teaching us how (not) to cut down a tree, what to do if a stray cat has kittens in your HVAC system, three very incorrect uses for duct tape, the manifold hazards of pool maintenance, and more. Filled with unforgettable true stories from the everyday life of an average guy just trying to save a few bucks, The Cheap Handyman is a delightful tribute to anyone who has ever thought, &“Sure! I can do that!&”
The Cheapskate Next Door: The Surprising Secrets of Americans Living Happily Below Their Means
by Jeff YeagerHe's at it again, but this time he's not alone. America's Ultimate Cheapskate is back with all new secrets for how to live happily below your means, á la cheapskate. For The Cheapskate Next Door, Jeff Yeager tapped his bargain-basement-brain-trust, hitting the road to interview and survey hundreds of his fellow cheapskates to divulge their secrets for living the good life on less. Jeff reveals the 16 key attitudes about money - and life - that allow the cheapskates next door to live happy, comfortable, debt-free lives while spending only a fraction of what most Americans spend. Their strategies will change your way of thinking about money and debunk some of life's biggest money myths. For example, you'll learn: how to cut your food bill in half and eat healthier as a result; how your kids can get a college education without ever borrowing a dime; how to let the other guy pay for deprecation by learning the secrets of buying used, not abused; how you can save serious money by negotiating and bartering; and how - if you know where to look - there's free stuff and free fun all around you. The Cheapskate Next Door also features dozens of original "Cheap Shots" - quick, money saving tips that could save you more than $25,000 in a single year! Cheap Shots give you the inside scoop on: * How to save hundreds on kids' toys; * What inexpensive old-fashioned kitchen appliance can save you more than $200 a year; * How you can travel the world without ever having to pay for lodging; * What single driving tip can save you $30,000 during your lifetime; * Even how to save up to 40% on fine wines (and we're not talking about the kind that comes in a box). From simple money saving tips to truly life changing financial strategies, the cheapskates next door know that the key to financial freedom and enjoying life more is not how much you earn, but how much you spend. Jeff Yeager is the author of The Ultimate Cheapskate's Road Map to True Riches, and has appeared as a guest correspondent on the NBC Today Show and Discovery's Planet Green network. He is also the author of the popular blog The Green Cheapskate, www.TheDailyGreen.com Visit his website www.UltimateCheapskate.com From the Trade Paperback edition.
The Cheapskate's Handbook: Cheap Dates, Cheap Mates, How To Resist General Impulses, and More (For Less!)
by Mifflin LoweThe humorous guide to managing your money, now updated and stingier and saltier than ever.Packed with hilarious observations, unusual tips, and the stingiest advice money couldn’t buy, The Cheapskate’s Handbook is the perfect gag gift for your favorite miser—who might just be you. Skinflint Mifflin Lowe invites fellow cheapskates to come out of the closet in a celebration of all things free, complimentary, pro bono, and if need be, cheap. With advice on everything from avoiding generous impulses to creatively bumming off your neighbors, plus delightful watercolor illustrations, hilarious photographs, and Mifflin’s own “Miser’s Aptitude Test,” The Cheapskate’s Handbook will have you laughing and saving money at the same time. What a deal!Praise for The Cheapskate’s Handbook“This book is fun. Whether you truly have some Scrooge in your DNA or not, it’s hard to take the Miserliness Aptitude Test . . . explore the Roommate Fee List . . . or read the “How to Avoid Taking Your Spouse or Significant Other to a Movie” chapter and not crack a smile. Or more. Lowe is irreverent, silly, and quite often over the top. . . . It’s a 2.0 edition, after all, so he gives you the cheapskate view on Uber, Lyft, Miley Cyrus, and more.” —Ryan G. Van Cleave, Sarasota Scene
The Cheat Book: Can Kamal cheat his way on to the cool table? (The Cheat Book #1)
by RAMZEE'Laugh-out-loud funny. Kids are going to love The Cheat Book!' Cressida Cowell'Comedy gold!' Louie StowellForgotten your homework and need to WING it?Wish you could talk your way out of DETENTION?Want to SQUASH your bullies and RISE to the top?Join Kamal as he attempts to go from PUKE BOY to POPULAR!Kamal is better than anyone else in his school at fading into the background. When you're a refugee and you've started a new school three times in as many years, you learn to keep your head down.But, after a major puke incident in front of the whole school, being invisible is no longer an option. And when Kamal finds a mysterious CHEAT BOOK in the library that promises to help him gain popularity, he sees a chance to finally make his mark . . .This hilarious guide to being 'too cool for school' (or just cool enough) from brilliant author-illustrator RAMZEE. Perfect for 8+ readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Loki, with black-and-white illustrations throughout!
The Cheat Book: Can Kamal cheat his way on to the cool table? (The Cheat Book #1)
by RAMZEEForgotten your homework and need to WING it?Wish you could talk your way out of DETENTION?Want to SQUASH your bullies and RISE to the top?Join Kamal as he attempts to go from PUKE BOY to POPULAR!Kamal is better than anyone else in his school at fading into the background. When you're a refugee and you've started a new school three times in as many years, you learn to keep your head down.But, after a major puke incident in front of the whole school, being invisible is no longer an option. And when Kamal finds a mysterious CHEAT BOOK in the library that promises to help him gain popularity, he sees a chance to finally make his mark . . .This hilarious guide to being 'too cool for school' (or just cool enough) from brilliant author-illustrator RAMZEE has black-and-white illustrations throughout and is perfect for 8+ readers.
The Cheat Book: Can Kamal survive the wild? (The Cheat Book #2)
by RAMZEEThe second book in the hilarious CHEAT BOOK series, from brilliant author-illustrator RAMZEE has black-and-white illustrations throughout and is perfect for 8+ readers.
The Cheat Book: Can Kamal survive the wild? (The Cheat Book #2)
by RAMZEENOT FOR GROWN-UPS!Wish you could hunt down a FEROCIOUS beast?Ever wondered what a REAL night sky looks like? Want to embrace your WILD side?Join Kamal as he attempts to SURVIVE THE WILD! Kamal's class is going to the woods and Kamal has promised to track down the infamous BEAST OF CRIGGILY WOOD. He throws himself into the wilderness with nothing but his two best friends, his wits and the mysterious Cheat Book. The Cheat Book promises its reader lifehacks for literally any occasion . . . But can it help Kamal to track down the beast lurking in the shadows, dodge all the poison ivy and make it home in one piece? Join Kamal on his hilarious new adventure, from brilliant author-illustrator RAMZEE. Perfect for 8+ readers of Diary of a Wimpy Kid and Loki. With black-and-white illustrations throughout!PRAISE FOR THE CHEAT BOOK (vol.1):'Laugh-out-loud funny. Kids are going to love The Cheat Book!' Cressida Cowell, bestselling author of How to Train Your Dragon'Comedy gold!' Louie Stowell, bestselling author of Loki: A Bad God's Guide series'Clever and hilarious ... A funny and much needed fresh voice in the middle grade arena' Dapo Adeola, award-winning illustrator'An authentic heart-warming story, jam-packed with fun, friendship and just the right amount of peril - it's the coolest book in town!' Rachael Davis, author of I am NOT a Prince!'Move over, Tom Gates, there's a new kid on the block! The Cheat Book is an absolutely hilarious, riot of a read' Swapna Haddow, author of the Dave Pigeon series'A HILARIOUS quest for coolness. It's fresh, it's joyous... Children are going to love it!' Rashmi Sirdeshpande, award-winning children's author
The Cheat Sheet: A Novel
by Sarah AdamsIs it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok!The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can&’t admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs . . .Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely.Then, as usual, Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. A stubborn Bree is not happy about it and decides to rebel with a couple—okay, maybe more than a couple—of tequila shots. Then her plan backfires as she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. Before they can really talk about her confession, Nathan&’s publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks.What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she&’s been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it? Sarah Adams scores more than touchdowns in this exciting romantic comedy.
The Cheat Sheet: TikTok made me buy it! The romcom hit of 2022!
by Sarah AdamsIs it ever too late to leave the friend zone? Friends-to-lovers TikTok sensation, The Cheat Sheet, is the rom-com that has readers laughing and rooting for these lovable best friends from the first page! 'A laugh-out-loud romantic comedy' SOPHIE SULLIVAN'As slapstick funny as it is both sizzling and sweet, this best-friends-to-lovers sports romance brings its RomCom A-game' CHLOE LIESE'The perfect mix of laugh-out-loud entertaining and intensely tender' DEVON DANIELS.................................................................................The friend zone is not the end zone for Bree Camden, who is helplessly in love with her longtime best friend and extremely hot NFL legend, Nathan Donelson. The only problem is that she can't admit her true feelings, because he clearly sees her as a best friend with no romantic potential, and the last thing Bree wants is to ruin their relationship. But those abs . . . Nope! Nothing but good old-fashioned, no-touching-the-sexiest-man-alive, platonic friendship for Bree. In any case, she has other things to worry about. After a car accident ended her chance at becoming a professional ballerina, Bree changed paths and now owns her own dance studio, with big dreams to expand it. But one more rent increase could mean the end of the studio entirely. Then, as usual, Nathan comes to the rescue and buys the entire building. A stubborn Bree is not happy about it and decides to rebel with a couple - okay, maybe more than a couple - of tequila shots. Then her plan backfires as she spills her deepest, darkest secret to a TMZ reporter. One viral video later, the world thinks Nathan and Bree are the perfect couple. Before they can really talk about her confession, Nathan's publicist proposes a big opportunity that could mean financial security for Bree. The catch? They have to pretend to be in love. For three whole weeks. What will happen when Bree gives in to the feelings she's been desperately hiding for so long, and could she be imagining that Nathan is actually enjoying it? Discover the heartwarming friends to lovers romance that became a sensation on TikTok!
The Cheese Experiment (Geronimo Stilton #63)
by Geronimo StiltonWhen you're with Geronimo Stilton, it's always a fabumouse adventure!New Mouse City was in a panic. A strange epidemic had broken out -- mice everywhere were covered in weird blue spots! Mouse Island's most famouse doctor immediately set to work with his team to try to find the cure... but someone was trying to stop him. Could I figure out who before I ended up blue myself?
The Cheese Monkeys: A Novel in Two Semesters
by Chip KiddA hilarious debut novel that could only be described as a portrait of the designer as a young man. "Um...so what exactly is a Cheese Monkey?" Good question. But strictly off-limits. We can tell you that The Cheese Monkeys is a witty and effervescent coming-of-age novel about headless waterfowl, fake plastic babies, and the basic tenets of graphic design. It's 1957, long before computers have replaced the trained eye and skillful hand. Our narrator at State U is determined to major in Art, and after several risible false starts, he ends up by accident in a new class called "Introduction to Graphic Design." Art 127 is taught by the enigmatic Winter Sorbeck, professor and guru (think Gary Cooper crossed with Darth Vader) -- equal parts genius, seducer, and sadist. Sorbeck is a bitter yet fascinating man whose assignments hurl his charges through a gauntlet of humiliation and heartache, shame and triumph, ego-bashing and enlightenment. Along the way, friendships are made and undone, jealousies simmer, the sexual tango weaves and dips. As readers, we too are under Sorbeck's bizarre spell, spurred on by his demand: "Show me something I've never seen before and will never be able to forget-if you can do that, you can do anything." By the end of The Cheese Monkeys, the members of Art 127 will never see the world the same way again. And, thanks to Chip Kidd's insights into the secrets of graphic design, neither will you. "Not only has Chip Kidd altered the face of publishing with his revolutionary book jackets, he has also written a really good debut novel (the bastard), and the big surprise is that the edgy, postmodern graphic designer who radicalized the way we look at the front of books is a pleasing, elegant traditionalist between covers. The Cheese Monkeys is a touching throwback: The story of an innocent young man's education, it has suspense, likable and vivid characters, a romantic, pitch-perfect re-creation of late '50s behavior and slang, and an effortlessly sustained comic charm throughout (and without curdling into cuteness -- not a simple achievement). I also can't remember the last time I read what is ostensibly a 'college' novel that actually taught me something." -- Bret Easton Ellis
The Chelsea Girl Murders (The Robin Hudson Mysteries #5)
by Sparkle HayterReporter-turned–television executive Robin Hudson is living it up at New York&’s legendary Chelsea Hotel—until murder gets her down in award-winning author Sparkle Hayter&’s dazzling comic mystery After a neighbor&’s electric wall-hanging short-circuits and sets Robin Hudson&’s East Village apartment building on fire, the TV newswoman and her cat are forced to temporarily relocate. Their new digs are in the Chelsea Hotel, home to bohemian artists both famous and infamous. But people have a habit of dying on Robin—this time literally. Who shot controversial bad-boy art dealer Gerald Woznik? His wife tells the world he was a great connoisseur and a real bastard. The heiress he was living with calls him a misunderstood genius. With suspects coming out of the woodwork, Robin is drawn into a homicide investigation that forces her to brave the downtown scene: guerrilla performance artists, fiery revolutionaries, handcuffed nuns, and the ex-lover of her current beau. She must scramble to find a missing woman and track the last stops of a modern-day underground railroad before she loses her life—and her last chance for romance. The Robin Hudson Mystery series is a winner of the Sherlock Award for Best Comic Detective.The Chelsea Girl Murders is the 5th book in the Robin Hudson Mysteries, but you may enjoy reading the series in any order.
The Cherry Pages: A Novel
by Gary RuffinA small-town Florida cop finds big trouble when he becomes a seductive movie star&’s bodyguard in this clever mystery from the author of Hot Shot. Det. Samuel Cooper, known as &“Coop&” to his friends, is the chief of police in Gulf Front, Florida, a sleepy little beach town that doesn&’t see many outsiders. Indeed, &“chief of police&” is a grand title, considering Coop&’s the only officer on the &“force.&” Then, out of the blue, he gets offered an intriguing side gig as bodyguard to the movie star Cherry Page. Cherry will be shooting on location in Atlanta, and someone&’s been sending twisted threats to her personal email. Coop is surprised when his girlfriend Penny encourages him to take the job with the famous femme fatale. But he gets more drama than he bargained for when the celebrity stalker turns out to be a serial killer who follows Coop and Cherry back to Gulf Front.
The Chicken Squad: The First Misadventure (The Chicken Squad #1)
by Doreen CroninNow an animated series on Disney Junior! They might be chicks, but they sure aren&’t chicken, and they&’re on a mission. And on this, their first (mis)adventure &“in this delightful spinoff of the J.J. Tully series&” (Kirkus Reviews), the Chicken Squad launches a galactic backyard expedition.Meet the Chicken Squad: Dirt, Sugar, Poppy, and Sweetie. These chicks are not your typical barnyard puffs of fluff, and they are not about to spend their days pecking chicken feed and chasing bugs. No sir, they’re too busy solving mysteries and fighting crime. So when Squirrel comes barreling into the chicken coop, the chicks know they’re about to get a case. But with his poor knowledge of shapes (“Big” is not a shape, Squirrel!) and utter fear of whatever it is that’s out there, the panicky Squirrel is NO HELP. Good thing these chicks are professionals. But even professionals get worried. Especially once they see that round, shiny, green, BIG thing in the yard. What if it’s a UFO full of aliens who want chickens as pets, or worse, dinner? It’s up to the Chicken Squad to crack a case that just might be out of this world.
The Chickens of Atlantis and Other Foul and Filthy Fiends
by Robert RankinRobert Rankin, the master of far-fetched fiction, presents, for the first time, a book written in 'the first monkey'. Sure to be taken up as the newest of literary fads, Darwin, the Educated Ape here tells his life story to his legions of fans.Featuring: Chickens! Martians! Doodlebugs! The Far Future! The Distant Past! Sherlock Holmes! Winston Churchill! Dynamite! More Monkeys than you can shake a stick at! Barmen! Pubs! The End of the World and more!The fourth in Robert Rankin's series of steampunk-tinged Victoriana novels featuring the master detective Cameron Bell (who has an unfortunate fondness for blowing up major landmarks) and his companion, Darwin, the Educated Ape, this is another masterpiece of comic fiction and SF.
The Chief of Rally Tree: A Novel
by Jennifer BoydenDina’s gone. She left a note, she left her plants, and she left what her husband, Roal, thought was her entire world. Nothing remained but some frozen dinners and the mysterious last line of her final message: I do love you ever Dina. Professor Roal Bowman, best known in the sleepy college town of Braddock as a fake Zen master who used to pretend to be Native American and never lived up to his potential, by no means saw it coming. How could he have guessed that his wife would run away to help the famous Winter Patent, a man who had literally lived with wolves, on a grand project to embrace the consciousness of trees? He thought Dina had been happy. But the more Roal digs, the more he realizes that he never truly knew or understood his wife, that he never really listened, and that now that Dina has disappeared, he must become something more—something real—if he hopes to get her back. And he’ll have to do it quickly: he’s not the only one who wants to find Dina and Winter. The Chief of Rally Tree unfolds around Roal’s fumbling, poignant, darkly hilarious awakening to adventure and loss as he watches his life gain focus only once he understands how it might look on the evening news. Jennifer Boyden explores in poetic prose the essential questions about what identity is when it is open for collective definition, the effects of looking to media for structure and meaning, the pull toward eco-consciousness, and what our grand moment of action reveals about who we hope to become, even as we remain open to the surprise of how.
The Chikorita Challenge (Pokémon Chapter Books)
by Tracey WestCatch this action-packed adventure about Ash, Pikachu, and their friends! This chapter book features classic characters featured on Netflix and in Pokémon Go.Ash thinks it's cool that Chikorita has joined his Pokémon team. But the newest member of his Pokémon squad is jealous of Pikachu! So Chikorita takes off -- on a journey way beyond the Poké Ball. And that could be very dangerous! Will Pikachu and Ash find Chikorita before Team Rocket gets their paws on the Grass-type Pokémon? This chapter book is based on a thrilling storyline from the top-rated animated series now on Netflix. Black-and-white illustrations throughout.
The Child Buyer: A Novel
by John HerseyAn imaginary, utterly absorbing record of the investigations of the Committee on Education, Welfare, and Public Morality of an unnamed state senate into the activities of Mr. Wissey Jones, who has come to the town of Pequot on what he says is urgent defense business. The hearings develop the suspense of a bizarre trial. It soon becomes clear that Mr. Jones buys for his corporation children of a certain sort, and that he is eager to acquire a ten-year-old named Barry Rudd, who manifests the breathtaking, prickly, sometimes obnoxious, but also deeply moving precocity of a potential genius. The dramatic conflicts exposed during the hearing revolve around the questions of exactly why Mr. Jones’s company buys children, and whether he will succeed in buying Barry. The Child Buyeris a biting commentary on some aspects of American education, on the uses of high intelligence, and on the means of defending democracy. Mr. Hersey makes fine use of the classical weapons of satire—humor and high spirits, sweet dream and nightmare, grotesqueness in the heart of normalcy—to attack not any single theory of education, but the notions that education can be an exact science; that superior minds can be set free by a national crash program; that children can be regarded as weapons; and that talent can be processed and stored for profit and defense. Although these extraordinary hearings end in a kind of horror, involving the slide into corruption or rascality or apathy of almost everyone connected with them, nevertheless the book leaves in the reader’s mind a powerful affirmation—a case for individuality, freedom of thought, integrity, faith in the young, and, above all, a better understanding of human needs in a darkling world.
The Chocolate Heart (Amour et Chocolat #4)
by Laura FlorandA spoiled heiress and a perfectionist chef, both starved for love, find plenty to feast upon in this complex romance by the author of The Chocolate Touch.Mille-Feuilles can&’t buy you love . . .No one hates Paris—except Summer Corey. The moody winters. The artists and their ennui. The inescapable shadow of the Tour Eiffel. But things go from bad to worse when Summer stumbles into brooding, gorgeous chef pâtissier Luc Leroi and indecently propositions the hero of French cuisine . . .Luc has scrambled up from a childhood panhandling in the Paris Métro to become the king of his city, and he has no patience for this spoiled princess, even if she does now own his restaurant. Who cares if she smiles with all the warmth of July? She doesn&’t eat dessert!There is only one way to tempt her. A perfect, impossibly sweet seduction . . .Praise for The Chocolate Heart&“Florand outdoes herself with this exquisite confection. . . . This contemporary romance is as painstakingly crafted and decadent as the sweets it portrays, leaving the reader longing for just one little taste.&” —Publishers Weekly, starred review&“Chocolate, Paris, and a Greek god for a hero; this delectable confection has it all!&” —Library Journal&“All the elements of (Florand&’s) successful recipe for reading pleasure—headstrong heroine, dashing hero, sinful desserts, and sultry situations—come together in another deliciously entertaining offering.&” —Booklist
The Chocolate Kiss (Amour et Chocolat #2)
by Laura FlorandA handsome pastry chef stirs things up for a Parisian chocolatier in this charming romantic comedy by the author of The Chocolate Thief.The Heart of ParisWelcome to La Maison des Sorcieres. Where the window display is an enchanted forest of sweets, a collection of conical hats delights the eye and the habitués nibble chocolate witches from fanciful mismatched china. While in their tiny blue kitchen, Magalie Chaudron and her two aunts stir wishes into bubbling pots of heavenly chocolat chaud.But no amount of wishing will rid them of interloper Philippe Lyonais, who has the gall to open one of his world-famous pastry shops right down the street. Philippe&’s creations seem to hold a magic of their own, drawing crowds of beautiful women to their little isle amidst the Seine, and tempting even Magalie to venture out of her ivory tower and take a chance, a taste . . . a kiss.Parisian princesses, chocolate witches, pâtissier princes and sweet wishes—an enchanting tale of amour et chocolat.Praise for The Chocolate Kiss&“A mouth-watering tale of slow-burning passion and combustible consummation that&’s as perfectly crafted as the hero&’s surprisingly complex confections and as silky and addictive as the heroine&’s dark chocolat chaud. Sensuous and sumptuous, The Chocolate Kiss leaves its reader with one thought: Mon Dieu, I have got to get myself to Paris!&” —RT Book Reviews&“The battle of pastries is an erotic subtext for their love affair, and every bit as decadent.&” —Publishers Weekly &“An adorable chocolate shop and heroine, a sexy pastry chef and a hot romance set in Paris. I highly recommend this one.&” —Smexy Books