- Table View
- List View
The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames: A Memoir
by Justine Cowan“Far from growing up in the wealthy, fox-hunting circles she had always suggested, her mother had in fact been raised in a foundling hospital for the children of unwed women.”—Editor’s Choice, The New York Times Book Review“Extraordinary … fascinating, moving.”—The Telegraph“This emotional and transatlantic journey is a page-turner.” — Editor’s Pick, Amazon Book Review“Book groups will find as much to discuss here as they have with The Glass Castle by Jeannette Walls, and Educated by Tara Westover.” — BookListRecommended by The New York Times, The Saturday Evening Post, Amazon Book Review, The Atlanta Journal Constitution, Publisher’s Weekly, Kirkus and more, Justine Cowan’s remarkable true story of how she uncovered her mother’s upbringing as a foundling at London’s Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children has received acclaim on both sides of the Atlantic. In the U.K., it has been featured in The Mail on Sunday, The Daily Mail, The Daily Mirror and The Spectator. The Telegraph calls it “extraordinary and Glamour magazine chose it as the best new book based on real life. The story begins when Justine found her often volatile mother in an unlit room writing a name over and over again, one that she had never heard before and would not hear again for many years – Dorothy Soames. Thirty years later, overcome with grief following her mother’s death, Justine found herself drawn back to the past, uncovering a mystery that stretched back to the early years of World War II and beyond, into the dark corridors of the Hospital for the Maintenance and Education of Exposed and Deserted Young Children. Established in the eighteenth century to raise “bastard” children to clean chamber pots for England’s ruling class, the institution was tied to some of history’s most influential figures and events. From its role in the development of solitary confinement and human medical experimentation to the creation of the British Museum and the Royal Academy of Arts, its impact on Western culture continues to reverberate. It is the reason we read Dickens’ Oliver Twist and enjoy Handel’s Messiah each Christmas. It was also the environment that shaped a young girl known as Dorothy Soames, who bravely withstood years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of a sadistic headmistress—a resilient child whose only hope would be a daring escape as German bombers rained death from the skies. Heartbreaking, surprising, and unforgettable, The Secret Life of Dorothy Soames is the true story of one woman’s quest to understand the secrets that had poisoned her mother’s mind, and her startling discovery that her family’s fate had been sealed centuries before.
The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones
by Wendelin Van DraanenAward-winning author Wendelin Van Draanen gives us a fresh and funny story about a boy learning to become the brave hero of his own life. Perfect for fans of Counting by 7s and The Fourteenth Goldfish. My secret life is filled with psychic vampires, wheelchair zombies, chain-rattlin' ghosts, and a one-eyed cat. But they're nothing compared to my real-life stalker: a sixth-grade girl named Kandi Kain. . . . Lincoln Jones is always working on the latest story he's got going in his notebook. Those stories are his refuge. A place where the hero always prevails and the bad guy goes to jail. Real life is messy and complicated, so Lincoln sticks to fiction and keeps to himself. Which works fine until a nosy girl at his new school starts prying into his private business. She wants to know what he's writing, where he disappears to after school, and why he never talks to anybody. . . . The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones is a terrifically funny and poignant story about a boy finding the courage to get to know the real characters all around him--and to let them know him. Praise for The Secret Life of Lincoln Jones: "Van Draanen's engaging story is characterized by clever writing, a palpable affection for her characters, and a deep understanding of what's important about life. Readers will love Lincoln Jones."--Kirkus Reviews"Van Draanen skillfully wraps up her tale, offering a realistically happy ending. A story with a perfect balance of mirth and poignancy." -- School Library Journal"Lincoln is a delightful narrator." -- BooklistFrom the Hardcover edition.
The Secret Life of Sam Holloway: A Novel
by Rhys ThomasA poignant and irresistible story about an improbable hero and the woman who saves him. Sam Holloway is a survivor, but he’s not really living. His meticulous routines and quiet lifestyle keep everything nice and safe—with just one exception…Three nights a week, Sam dons his superhero costume and patrols the streets. It makes him feel invincible—but his unlikely heroics are getting him into some sticky situations.Then a girl comes along and starts to shatter the walls Sam has built around himself. Now he needs to decide if he’s brave enough to take off the mask and confront the grief he’s been avoiding for so long. Heartfelt and delightful, The Secret Life of Sam Holloway is a moving story about grief, love and the life-changing power of kindness.
The Secret Life of Sparrow Delaney
by Suzanne HarperHow do you ignore a ghost? Sparrow Delaney absolutely, positively does not want to be a medium like her six older sisters, her mother, and her grandmother. She does not want to see, hear, smell, or talk to ghosts. If she sticks to her rules and doesn't let anyone know that she can do all those things-everywhere, all the time-Sparrow just might pass as a normal tenth grader at her new high school. She makes a new best friend and meets an irritatingly appealing guy in her history class. But when another boy catches her eye, all Sparrow's dreams of being ordinary go up in smoke. Because this boy is a dead one-a persistent, charming, infuriating ghost, who won't let her be until she agrees to help him Move On.
The Secret Life of Wally Smithers
by Jeffrey B. Fuerst Amanda Jenkins Martin FaganWally would rather play his video game, but he's forced to run errands with his mother and sister. To pass the time, he uses his imagination to transform humdrum settings into action adventures.
The Secret Life of a Black Aspie: A Memoir
by Anand PrahladAnand Prahlad was born on a former plantation in Virginia in 1954. This memoir, vividly internal, powerfully lyric, and brilliantly impressionistic, is his story. <p><p> For the first four years of his life, Prahlad didn’t speak. But his silence didn’t stop him from communicating—or communing—with the strange, numinous world he found around him. Ordinary household objects came to life; the spirits of long-dead slave children were his best friends. In his magical interior world, sensory experiences blurred, time disappeared, and memory was fluid. Ever so slowly, he emerged, learning to talk and evolving into an artist and educator. His journey takes readers across the United States during one of its most turbulent moments, and Prahlad experiences it all, from the heights of the Civil Rights Movement to West Coast hippie enclaves to a college town that continues to struggle with racism and its border state legacy. <p><p> Rooted in black folklore and cultural ambience, and offering new perspectives on autism and more, The Secret Life of a Black Aspie will inspire and delight readers and deepen our understanding of the marginal spaces of human existence.
The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child: How She Thinks. How He Feels. How They Can Succeed
by Robert Frank Kathryn E. Livingstonfrom the book jacket Dr. Robert Frank, whose own dyslexia didn’t stop him from becoming an educator, psychologist, and author, takes you inside the emotions and frustrations of children with learning disorders. In Part One, you’ll discover what your child never told you about: How your child’s mind works What your child is feeling The separate worlds of “Us” and “Them” In Part Two, you'll walk in your child’s shoes to see for yourself: * What it’s like to think like a dyslexic * What it feels like to be different * The emotions that can disrupt your child’s progress * How to bridge the gap between your child and others In Part Three, you’ll get a clear picture of: * The diagnosis of learning disorders * How your reaction affects your child In Part Four, you’ll receive expert advice to: * Establish goals for your child * Create a game plan for success, * Work better with teachers * Boost self-esteem * Find success at school, at home, in life Your child isn’t dumb. Your child isn’t lazy. Your child is dyslexic, and needs your help. Your child may need help reading and writing, but more than that, he needs you" to understand him. Now you can, as you. go inside the emotional life of children with learning differences. In The Secret Life of the Dyslexic Child, you’ll finally discover what your child goes through every day You will come to under-1 stand his struggles with things you take for granted, such as reading, writing, memory, and following directions. What’s more, you will learn, step by step, the best ways to help him reach his true potential.
The Secret Life of the Unborn Child: How You Can Prepare Your Baby for a Happy, Healthy Life
by Thomas Verny John KellyUsing studies and personal experience, Verny discusses prenatal emotional development, awareness of sound, and evidence of cognitive ability.
The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives: A Novel
by Lola ShoneyinAfrican-born poet Lola Shoneyin makes her fiction debut with The Secret Lives of Babi Segi’s Wives, a perceptive, entertaining, and eye-opening novel of polygamy in modern-day Nigeria. The struggles, rivalries, intricate family politics, and the interplay of personalities and relationships within the complex private world of a polygamous union come to life in The Secret Lives of Baba Segi’s Wives—BigLove and The 19th Wife set against a contemporary African background.
The Secret Lives of Boys: Inside the Raw Emotional World of Male Teens
by Malina SavalTeenage boys have come a long way since the staid 1980s when they were all lumped into the Breakfast Club categories of Brains, Druggies, and Jocks. <P><P> Crisscrossing the country--meeting with boys from different cultures, and socioeconomic backgrounds--journalist Malina Saval introduces readers to the next generation of male teens by creating new archetypes and redrawing the ever-expanding social map. <P>The Secret Lives of Boys offers an uncensored look into boyhood that reveals the spine-tingling confessions, heartrending sadness and isolation, unbridled optimism, and seemingly boundless resilience of male teens today. Saval asks the pertinent questions: Who are these boys? What do they think of themselves? A compelling and candid look at male adolescence in the twenty-first century, The Secret Lives of Boys uncovers what our young people want you to know.
The Secret Lives of Sisters
by Linda KelseyHannah has always felt in the shadow of her older sister, Cat. Cat is the flamboyant one, the one who can make everyone laugh. Hannah is so quiet that her parents often joke, ‘Has Cat got your tongue?’ Now Hannah has a daughter of her own, who is about to get married. On the day of the wedding, Cat’s caustic tongue is once again let loose with devastating consequences. As Hannah is compelled to examine her past and to try to make sense of her complicated relationship with her sister, she begins to unravel the secrets and lies on which their seemingly normal family was built. While the truth has the potential to finally unite the sisters, it also has the power to tear them apart for good. Linda Kelsey’s new novel has all the emotional intelligence, warmth and honesty that characterised her debut, Fifty is Not a Four-letter Word. It’s a novel for every woman with a sister, and every woman who ever wanted one.
The Secret Lives of Teen Girls: What Your Mother Wouldn't Talk About But Your Daughter Needs To Know
by Evelyn K. ReshIn The Secret Lives of Teen Girls, Evelyn Resh, the mother of a teenage daughter and a certified nurse-midwife specializing in the treatment of teenage girls, explores the mysterious world of female, adolescent sexuality and how parents-especially mothers-can help their daughters through this tumultuous time. Secrets divulged by teenage girls during consultation have made Resh realize that, with rare exception, most adolescents are left to develop a sexual identity without any adult guidance and often without the most basic knowledge of what is happening to them physically and emotionally. She also realized that many girls are frequently subject to criticism and shaming about their normal, adolescent behavior. Resh believes these issues are what underlie many of the problems teens face during this crucial step into becoming a fully developed adult woman capable of making good, sound, safe, and independent decisions throughout life. Through compelling, frank, and sometimes humorous stories from both Resh and her patients, The Secret Lives of Teenage Girls explains to parents just what is going on with their teenage daughters during this essential phase of their development. She discusses many of the complicated problems she's seen in practice, including not just sexual activity but also eating disorders, substance abuse, mental illness, unplanned pregnancies, violence, and STDs. She also looks at less serious but still troubling issues like under-achievement, battles with parents, and lack of emotional and social support. In this insightful book, Resh provides parents with the tools to help their teen daughters negotiate the waters of their sexual development and emerge with their strength, their sexuality, and their self image intact.
The Secret Lives of Toddlers
by Jana MurphyWhy do they rub food in their hair? Why do they want to hear the same book over and over? Why do they love being naked? Between the ages of one and three, children can be delightful, affectionate, intelligent explorers of their newfound world. They can also be holy terrors. Grounded in up-to-date research, The Secret Lives of Toddlers demystifies 52 common behaviors of toddlers, while helping parents appreciate the miraculous development of their children. An entertaining, reassuring guide to toddler behavior, this book shows parents how to get through their kids' toddlerhood with affection, humor, and authority. With explanations from pediatricians, child development experts, and behavioral psychologists, parents will learn to: - Understand the world from a child's point of view - Learn which bad behaviors need intervention and which can be ignored - Cultivate good manners and reward good behavior - Reduce their own frustration - Play, speak, read, and interact with their toddler in healthy ways .
The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes
by Cathy HoltonCotillion: A formal gathering of bright young women on the verge of entering adulthood, the society pages, and prospective high-tax-bracket marriages. Think a Civil War reenactment with crisp, clean white dresses. Catfight: An impromptu gathering of not-so-young women on the verge of losing their cool. Think a cotillion with hair-pulling. It's been more than a year since the Kudzu Debutantes exacted sweet, merciless revenge on their cheating husbands, but the repercussions are still palpable throughout Ithaca, Georgia: Nita is anxiously preparing herself for marriage to Jimmy Lee, a man thirteen years her junior; Lavonne, despite having dropped her husband-and eighty pounds-and launched her own business, longs for love; and while Eadie remains married to Trevor, she feels more neglected than ever. So the occasion of Nita's second wedding seems like just the ticket to cheer up the disconsolate Debs. But they've made a formidable enemy in Virginia Broadwell, first lady of Ithaca and the bride's ex-mother-in-law. Hell-bent on vengeance and determined to restore old-school social mores, Virginia hatches a plan so devious it makes her pedicured toes curl in anticipation. Soon enough, the women are knocked for a loop-but you can keep a Kudzu Debutante down for only so long. The one thing stronger than Virginia's wrath is the bond between the three friends, who soon learn that one of Virginia's Jimmy Choos contains an irresistible Achilles' heel. With spirit, wit, and down-home gumption, the take-no-prisoners trio decides it's time to ditch their cotillion manners as they rally to save Nita's marriage, Lavone's business, Eadie's sanity ... and the honor of Kudzu Debs the world over. Packed with authentic Southern flavor and characters as colorful as an azalea in full bloom, The Secret Lives of the Kudzu Debutantes serves up stinging one-liners and earthy wisdom in equal measure.
The Secret Love Letters of Olivia Moretti (Meet Me in Italy #2)
by Jennifer ProbstA secret romance sends three estranged sisters to the Amalfi Coast to follow clues about their mother&’s past, and challenges them to a whole new future, in this emotional novel from New York Times bestselling author Jennifer Probst. Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey haven&’t been close in years, but when the sisters are forced to come together to settle their mother&’s estate, they discover a secret. In an old trunk, they happen upon ownership papers for a house on the Amalfi Coast, along with a love letter to their mother from an anonymous man, promising to meet her in Italy during the summer of her sixty-fifth birthday. Now they&’re questioning everything they knew about her history. In order to get answers about the woman they thought they knew, they&’ll have to go back to where it all started. The sisters embark on a trip to the stunning cliffside village of Positano, Italy, to track down the mysterious ex-lover, and figure out who their mother really was. As Priscilla, Devon, and Bailey unearth the truth, they also experience the magic of Italy, the power of sisterly love, a little unexpected romance, and newfound hope for the future.
The Secret Mother
by Victoria DalerfieldMai Ling is chasing the Chinese dream. She's escaping to the city, seeking a new life, running away from the old customs of arranged marriage and domestic drudgery.
The Secret Next Door: A Novel
by Rebecca Taylor"A taut, chilling glimpse inside the homes of an affluent community built on lies, secrets, and tragedy."—Carter Wilson, USA Today bestselling authorHow well do you really know your neighbors?Alyson Tinsdale is giving her son the childhood she never had: a stable family, a loving home, and a great school in a safe neighborhood.Bonnie Sloan is the neighborhood matriarch. With her oldest son headed to Yale, and her youngest starting kindergarten, Bonnie is now pursuing her own long-held political aspirations despite private family struggles.When the open space behind some of the most expensive homes gets slated for development into an amusement facility, the neighborhood becomes deeply divided. The personal pressures and community conflicts ratchet with every passing day, but it's when a thirteen-year-old is found dead beside the neighborhood lake that simmering tensions boil over into panic.Gossip flows, lies are exposed, and accusations are made as cracks run through the community's once solid foundations. The neighborhood's faith in exterior appearances is eclipsed by the secrets every house keeps. And as Bonnie and Alyson fight to keep their children safe and their messy personal lives from becoming neighborhood knowledge, it becomes clear that their neighbors might not be who they appear to be.Fans of Lisa Jewell and Wendy Walker will love this fast-paced, engrossing novel that reminds us that nothing and no one are ever as perfect as they seem.
The Secret Of The Caves
by Franklin W. DixonA call for help. A vanishing professor. And a rugged coastline hiding a sinister secret... When Frank and Joe Hardy set out to help a friend in trouble, they never expect to be swept into a thrilling hunt for a missing man-and a string of mysterious events tied to the desolate Honeycomb Caves. Strange figures lurk near the cliffs, unmarked cars speed through the night, and a hidden wireless tower pulses with secrets no one wants uncovered. Guided by sharp instincts and relentless curiosity, the Hardy boys follow a trail from their quiet hometown of Bayport to the windswept shores of Rockaway, where danger hides behind every crashing wave. With quick wits, steady nerves, and a few daring moves, they must solve a puzzle that stretches far deeper than the caves themselves. Timeless and packed with classic suspense, this original Hardy Boys adventure delivers twists, thrills, and edge-of-your-seat excitement.
The Secret Office (Orca Echoes)
by Sara CassidyKey Selling Points The Secret Office shows how self-sufficient kids can be, as Allie and Henry use their problem-solving smarts throughout; the real-world setting will help empower readers to take on their own projects. Reflects the contemporary reality of many adults working from home, and its setting in an apartment building will be refreshingly relatable to many. Sara Cassidy's children's books include finalists for the Governor General's Literary Award in Young People's Literature, the Chocolate Lily Award, the Ruth and Sylvia Schwartz Award, the Diamond Willow Award and the Silver Birch Express Award. Her book Genius Jolene won the Sheila A. Egoff Children's Literature Prize. There are 25 black-and-white illustrations throughout. Part of the Orca Echoes series of early chapter books with character-building themes and curriculum tie-ins.
The Secret Orchard: Warm, uplifting and romantic - the perfect autumn read
by Sharon GoslingPre-order THE FOREST HIDEAWAY, the stunning new Sharon Gosling novel, coming Summer 2025. A feel-good story about family, belonging and finding peace with the past from the author of The Lighthouse Bookshop and The Forgotten Garden. 'The exploration of family and identity is filled with vivid characters and an enthralling plot, making it absorbing and emotional' The People&’s Friend 'A lovely, heartwarming read about belonging' heatCan a return to the past be the start of something new? Bette and Nina Crowdie have never been close – the ten-year age difference doesn&’t help, and Bette&’s rarely been home since she left for university at eighteen. When their father passes away and unexpectedly splits the family farm between them, Nina is furious and afraid. She&’s been working at the farm for the past five years. It&’s the only home her young son, Barnaby, has ever had, and she&’s convinced that Bette will sell at the first chance she gets. When they discover the huge debt their father has been hiding, Bette reluctantly agrees to help her sister. But that means they have to find a way to work together, and Bette must face up to the real reason she left all those years ago.Could a long-forgotten diary and the discovery of a secret orchard on their land help save the farm – and the sisters&’ relationship?Praise for The Secret Orchard: &‘I loved the characters and the orchard! I gobbled it up in a couple of sittings. What a gorgeous read, full of heart&’ Liz Fenwick, author of The River Between Us &‘Warm, tender and wise, Sharon Gosling&’s well-crafted, engrossing story was a pleasure to read&’ Rachel Hore, author of The Hidden Years
The Secret Papers of Madame Olivetti
by Annie VanderbiltThe coast of Southern France sparkles in this sexy, mature, and engaging debut novel. Lily has come to southern France in search of a new perspective, hoping that the sun?s soft rays and the fragrant sea breezes will provide a relaxing respite from the demands of her lively daughter and her family?s Idaho cattle ranch. Two years after her husband?s sudden death, in the house that?s been in his family for generations, she finally finds some stolen weeks to make sense of the past. To Madame Olivetti?her cranky old manual typewriter?Lily entrusts all her secrets, pounding out the story of the men she loved, the betrayals she endured, the losses she still regrets. And with the companionship of Yves, the seductive handyman who comes by to make repairs, Lily comes closer to understanding her exhilarating past?and to discovering she has a new story to tell?one about the delights of starting over. .
The Secret Photographs: Absolutely gripping historical fiction for 2024 by the author of the Richard and Judy Book Club Pick The French House
by Jacquie Bloese'What a sumptuous, evocative triumph of a novel!' JENNY ASHCROFTDiscover the spellbinding portrait of two women determined to find their freedom - perfect for fans of Sarah Waters, The Doll Factory and The Essex Serpent.England, 1895: In the bustling seaside town of Brighton, photography is all the rage. Ellen Harper assists her twin brother running one of the city's seafront studios, where fashionable ladies and gentlemen pose in their finery to have their likeness captured forever in a silver frame.But behind the façade of a respectable business, the siblings have something to hide. After the studio closes for the day, secret photographs are taken in the back room. There is money to be made from this underground trade, but if exposed to the light of day, these photographs would destroy them... When newly married Clementine comes to sit for a portrait, Ellen learns she is looking for a lady's companion. Longing for a life of her own choosing and freedom from the deals her brother has made, Ellen accepts the post. The new position transports her to a sweeping white-fronted townhouse on one of Brighton's most prestigious crescents, full of every luxury imaginable.But Clementine's gilded world hides as much darkness as Ellen hoped to escape... What will happen when the secrets Ellen has left behind finally catch up to her?Don't miss this richly atmospheric and gripping historical fiction shining a light on the role of women in a world dominated by men.This book was first published as The Golden Hour.Praise for The Secret Photographs:'I loved this!... I was drawn into the shadowy world of illicit photography in late-Victorian Brighton and felt I was walking those streets with my own camera and watching the images develop... A compelling tale of love, friendship and identity... This book does what the best historical fiction can do: immerses you in its world... I thoroughly recommend!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'I was instantly hooked into the story, it has vivid descriptions of the times and places, and a plotline that kept me guessing. Ellen and Clem are particularly strong and fascinating characters, I very much enjoyed sharing their battles and endeavours during such unfair times for women' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A sumptuous, evocative triumph of a novel!' Jenny Ashcroft'I could not put it down... Fantastically researched. Got to be a 5-star rating from me' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A divine and sumptuous portrait of Victorian Brighton, written in gloriously seductive prose, I was enthralled' Amanda Geard'I loved the way you were drawn into the various characters and their struggles through gender and class divides of the era' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐'A glorious and sumptuous feast for the senses and it drew me in from the start, wanting to find out more about these women's stories and their struggles for freedom and change. It's an absolute joy. I couldn't put it down' Rosanna Ley'Beautifully atmospheric' Gill Paul'Beautifully written book with fabulous characters and plot, hard to put down!' Reader review ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The Secret Room
by Antonia MichaelisAchim is eleven years old when he moves from the orphanage to the house by the sea. Here everything is strange and new. But one day he discovers an unusual door that leads to a circular room with walls made of rough stone. The light coming through the window is hazy, as if the room is under water. It is a magic room--which he calls "The Adopted Room"--belonging to another world. And on a bed in the room sits a boy who is waiting to take Achim with him into the realm of the powerful Nameless One. Achim learns that the boy, Arnim, is the long-dead son of Achim's new parents. When he died in a car accident at the age of four, Arnim was supposed to have become a bird and flown free to the land of the dead, which can be seen through the window of The Adopted Room. But the Nameless One has somehow locked Arnim inside, so he cannot leave. Achim, however, finds he can turn into a bird, slip through the window, and fly across the strange land. And thus begins a journey in which Achim must fight the Nameless One and free Arnim so he can finally leave his parents and they can let go of their grief.Antonia Michaelis's fresh voice helps to address the delicate issues of death, grief, and mourning, portraying them as an essential part of life. The Secret Room is full of humor and adventure, but also brings to light these difficult life issues in a way that young readers can understand. The first in a trilogy, with its sequel, The Secret of the Twelfth Continent, to follow next spring, this captivating mid-grade novel is sure to become a favorite series with young readers.
The Secret Science of Baby: The Surprising Physics of Creating a Human, from Conception to Birth--and Beyond
by Michael BanksWhat stops pregnant women from falling over all the time? What makes infant cries so captivating? How do sperm swim? The Secret Science of Baby answers these questions and many more, revealing the fascinating physics behind conception, birth, and babyhood. Parents and parents-to-be are bombarded with information, from what to expect to what to do (and not to do) when it happens. But what they may not realize is that from the chemistry of pregnancy tests to the vacuum physics of breastfeeding, there is fascinating science at the heart of every aspect of creating and raising a new human. Written by science journalist Michael Banks, The Secret Science of Baby won&’t tell you how to raise a perfect violin-playing, mandarin-speaking toddler, but it will shed a new light on how and why things happen as they do—from conception and pregnancy to cooing and pooing. Exploring the hidden physics behind uterine contractions, the fluid dynamics of diapers, and more, both parents and curious non-parents (who, after all, were once babies themselves) will gain a fresh perspective on the infant universe . . . and the thrilling science that makes it possible. In these pages, readers will discover: The physics of the playground and common toys—from the swing to the Slinky What it really means to "sleep like a baby" The surprising shared vocal cord features of lions and (human) infants The miracle of a baby's first breath and how surface tension provided the key to helping preemies breathe Banks draws from his own experience, interviews with scientists, and the latest research (including some involving conception inside an MRI machine) to offer a book that focuses on &“how?&” rather than &“how-to.&” The result is an illuminating and hilarious journey through the everyday science of making, baking, and bringing up baby.
The Secret Scripture
by Sebastian BarryAn epic story of family, love, and unavoidable tragedy from the two-time Man Booker Prize finalist Sebastian Barry 's novels have been hugely admired by readers and critics, and in 2005 his novel A Long Long Way was shortlisted for the Man Booker Prize. In The Secret Scripture, Barry revisits County Sligo, Ireland, the setting for his previous three books, to tell the unforgettable story of Roseanne McNulty. Once one of the most beguiling women in Sligo, she is now a resident of Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital and nearing her hundredth year. Set against an Ireland besieged by conflict, The Secret Scripture is an engrossing tale of one woman's life, and a vivid reminder of the stranglehold that the Catholic church had on individuals throughout much of the twentieth century.When she Was a young Woman Roseanne McNulty was one of the most beautiful and beguiling girls in County Sligo, Ireland. Now, she is a patient at Roscommon Regional Mental Hospital, and nearing her hundredth year. As the story of Roseanne's life unfolds, so does the life of her caregiver, Dr. Grene, who has been asked to evaluate the patients to decide if they can return to society when the hospital closes down. But as Dr. Grene researches her case, he discovers a document that tells a very different version of Roseanne's life from what she can recall.