- Table View
- List View
The Unraveling Strangeness: Poems (Books That Changed the World)
by Bruce WeiglA collection of poems about returning home by the war veteran and Pulitzer Prize finalist who is &“one of the most important poets of our time&” (Carolyn Forché, Guggenheim Fellow, on Archeology of the Circle). The Unraveling Strangeness represents the record of a man in the middle of his life who comes back to his home after being away for twenty-five years. In these poems, we find odes to a disappearing New York City neighborhood and meditations on how national turmoil seeps into everyday consciousness. At stake in this journey is a rediscovery of deep and abiding connections to place, to family, and old friends. A two-time Pushcart Prize–winner, Bruce Weigl&’s collection The Abundance of Nothing was a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. His poetry has been acclaimed by C. K. Williams as &“powerful and frightening, poems [that] force us to repudiate our comfortable uncertainties, our drowsy vagueness.&”
The Unschooler's Educational Dictionary: A Lighthearted Introduction to the World of Education and Curriculum-Free Alternatives
by Jonas KoblinHarness the Power of Active Learning A deep dive into the complex world of education that will forever change how you think about your child’s school, from the creator of the popular educational YouTube channel, Sprouts.“A fantastic guide for one of the most important decisions we can make: choosing the right school for a child.” — Barbara Oakley, PhD, author of A Mind for Numbers.Revolutionize your understanding of education.The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary uncovers the myths and misconceptions of traditional schooling, exposing its unintended consequences, outdated methods. It introduces you to the essential concepts related to child development, learning, and psychology and simplifies the complexities of education into plain truths and practical insights. An indispensable survival guide, the book offers sarcastic yet insightful commentary on the importance of autonomy, active learning and child-led discovery. Empower your approach to parenting and teaching.The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary helps parents and educators navigate modern education, providing an overview of innovative schools and proven alternative philosophies, including: Montessori, Microschools, IB schools, Unschooling, Waldorf, and more.It reveals how traditional schooling may fail your child and presents alternatives for fostering a love for learning.Inside, you'll find:Essential concepts every parent must consider.Profound insights into the unintended consequences of traditional education.A detailed guide to 16 alternative educational models.Practical applications of renowned theories such as Active Learning, Project-Based Learning, and the Feynman Technique, alongside big ideas from thinkers like Bowlby, Erikson, Piaget, Dewey, and Montessori.A short history of alternative education.A checklist of essential questions to help you choose the right school for your child.Plenty of illustrations, graphs, and QR codes.The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary will reshape how you think about education, blending humor with intellectual depth to make your journey both fun and enlightening.If you enjoyed How Children Learn, Learning How to Learn, Cribsheet, and Raising Good Humans, you’ll love The Unschooler’s Educational Dictionary.
The Unseen
by Zilpha Keatley SnyderTwelve-year-old Alexandra stumbles upon the key to a hidden world—but is it a gift, or a nightmare?Twelve-year-old Alexandra Hobson feels ignored and unloved in her family of annoying, self-absorbed overachievers. One day in the woods she hears a shot, and is horrified to see a large, beautiful bird fall to the ground. She takes the injured egret home, hiding it in the basement behind the furnace, where it joins the other wounded creatures Xandra cares for unbeknownst to her parents.The next morning, the bird is gone. But it has left something behind: a quivering white feather. Convinced the feather is enchanted, Xandra brings it to school, where a weird, uncool seventh-grader named Belinda tells her it&’s a key to an unseen world. As Xandra enters a strange and scary realm, she confronts a magic that&’s all too real. Can she figure out how to stop the key from becoming a curse?This ebook features an extended biography of Zilpha Keatley Snyder.
The Unseen Companion: God With the Single Mother
by Michelle Lynn SentersSingle moms, you are not alone.You may feel lonely, abandoned, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped in your life as a single mother, but you are not alone on this journey. God is WITH you, and if you are willing, He will help you build a strong home and legacy for your family.As a former single mother, Michelle Lynn Senters understands you could use a little soul nourishment. In the Unseen Companion, she explores the ten needs every single mother has and asks, &“God, where are you in this?&”Avoiding clichés and hurtful platitudes, Michelle offers true hope from God&’s Word. Her reflections, seasoned with personal experience, will help you:Trust that God sees your needs and can satisfy themDevelop a vibrant relationship with God&’s WordAvoid temptation and counterfeit solutionsStrengthen your resolve and confidence to raise children of faithRead The Unseen Companion and receive the encouragement your heart longs to hear: &“You can do this, God is with you, and He will lead your family in strength and love.&”Includes questions at the end of each chapter for reflection, journaling, or group discussion.
The Unseen Companion: God With the Single Mother
by Michelle Lynn SentersSingle moms, you are not alone.You may feel lonely, abandoned, overwhelmed, and ill-equipped in your life as a single mother, but you are not alone on this journey. God is WITH you, and if you are willing, He will help you build a strong home and legacy for your family.As a former single mother, Michelle Lynn Senters understands you could use a little soul nourishment. In the Unseen Companion, she explores the ten needs every single mother has and asks, &“God, where are you in this?&”Avoiding clichés and hurtful platitudes, Michelle offers true hope from God&’s Word. Her reflections, seasoned with personal experience, will help you:Trust that God sees your needs and can satisfy themDevelop a vibrant relationship with God&’s WordAvoid temptation and counterfeit solutionsStrengthen your resolve and confidence to raise children of faithRead The Unseen Companion and receive the encouragement your heart longs to hear: &“You can do this, God is with you, and He will lead your family in strength and love.&”Includes questions at the end of each chapter for reflection, journaling, or group discussion.
The Unseen Part 1: It Begins
by Richie Tankersley CusikWhat is happening to Lucy? Overwhelmed with grief over the death of her mother, Lucy spends her days sleeping, her nights out walking aimlessly. One rainy night, she becomes convinced that someone is following her, and frantically ducks into a cemetery to try to lose the stalker. Panicking she slips and stumbles into an open grave, only to discover she is not alone in there..... Almost immediately, Lucy begins having terrifying visions and dreams--as though someone, somewhere, were trying to tell her something-and she can't shake the feeling of an unseen presence, always watching, waiting to make its move...
The Unseen World of Poppy Malone #2: A Gust of Ghosts
by Suzanne HarperEvidence 1. The mournful, eerie sound 2. A cool, silvery glow 3. Unexplained voices Possibilities 1. Vampires 2. Ghosts 3. Mermaids 4. Werewolves 5. Fairies To do 1. Visit the graveyard 2. Record evidence in logbook 3. Save Mom and Dad's job 4. Reset the camera trap 5. Come up with the plan of a lifetime-and make it a super-tricky one! 6. Ask Henry to help
The Unseen World of Poppy Malone #3: A Mischief of Mermaids
by Suzanne HarperEvidence1. A giggle2. A splash3. Green lights dancing on the distant shorePossibilities1. Vampires2. A UFO3. Mermaids4. Fairies5. A mutant from the deepTo do1. Explore the lake2. Record evidence3. Save big sister from embarrassment4. Rescue family (again)5. Confirm observations6. Trust yourself--even when everyone else thinks you are seeing things
The Unseen World of Poppy Malone: A Gaggle of Goblins
by Suzanne HarperEvidence 1. A snicker. Soft but clear. 2. The mess 3. White teeth gleaming in the shadows Possibilities 1. Vampires 2. Ghosts 3. Goblins 4. Werewolves 5. Fairies To do 1. Record evidence in logbook 2. Do not tell Mom and Dad! 3. Read (again!) The Little People: A Comprehensive History of Hobgoblins, Pixies, Brownies,and Sprites 4. Set a trap 5. Set up motion-sensor camera 6. Ask Will and Franny for help?
The Unseen World: A Novel
by Liz MooreFrom the New York Times bestselling author of Long Bright River: The moving story of a daughter’s quest to discover the truth about her beloved father’s hidden past.Ada Sibelius is raised by David, her brilliant, eccentric, socially inept single father, who directs a computer science lab in 1980s-era Boston. Home-schooled, Ada accompanies David to work every day; by twelve, she is a painfully shy prodigy. The lab begins to gain acclaim at the same time that David’s mysterious history comes into question. When his mind begins to falter, leaving Ada virtually an orphan, she is taken in by one of David’s colleagues. Soon she embarks on a mission to uncover her father’s secrets: a process that carries her from childhood to adulthood. What Ada discovers on her journey into a virtual universe will keep the reader riveted until The Unseen World’s heart-stopping, fascinating conclusion.
The Unseen: A Novel
by Ania AhlbornA terrifying new novel from bestselling #HorrorBookTok sensation Ania Ahlborn—the acclaimed author of the modern classic Brother.Hailed as a writer of &“some of the most promising horror I&’ve encountered in years&” (Seanan McGuire, author of the Ghost Roads series), Ania Ahlborn delivers a novel that pushes the boundaries of horror into a new realm. Isla Hansen, a mother reeling from a devastating loss, is beside herself when a mysteriously orphaned child appears on the outskirts of the Hansens&’ secluded Colorado property. Although strange and unexplainable, the child&’s presence breathes new life into Isla. But as the child settles in, Isla&’s husband, Luke, and their five children notice peculiarities that hint at something far beyond the ordinary—anomalies that challenge the very fabric of reality itself. The tension within the Hansen household grows, and with it, the sense that there is something very wrong with the new kid in the house. The Unseen is a haunting tale that walks the line between the familiar and the unknown, drawing us into a chilling narrative where reality itself feels just out of reach.
The Unseen: SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2017
by Roy JacobsenShortlisted for the Man Booker International Prize and the Dublin Literary Award"An absolute masterpiece. Packed with understated emotion, stunning from beginning to end" Courttia Newland, author of A River Called Time"A masterful and moving work of literature" Kiran Millwood Hargrave, author of The Mercies"Easily among the best books I have ever read" Eileen Battersby, Irish Times"A beautifully crafted novel . . . Quite simply a brilliant piece of work" Charlie Connolly, New European"A blunt, brilliant book" Tom Graham, Financial TimesNobody can leave an island. An island is a cosmos in a nutshell, where the stars slumber in the grass beneath the snow. But occasionally someone tries . . . Ingrid Barrøy is born on an island that bears her name - a holdfast for a single family, their livestock, their crops, their hopes and dreams.Her father dreams of building a quay that will connect them to the mainland, but closer ties to the wider world come at a price. Her mother has her own dreams - more children, a smaller island, a different life - and there is one question Ingrid must never ask her.Island life is hard, a living scratched from the dirt or trawled from the sea, so when Ingrid comes of age, she is sent to the mainland to work for one of the wealthy families on the coast.But Norway too is waking up to a wider world, a modern world that is capricious and can be cruel. Tragedy strikes, and Ingrid must fight to protect the home she thought she had left behind.Translated from the Norwegian by Don Bartlett and Don Shaw
The Unseen: SHORTLISTED FOR THE MAN BOOKER INTERNATIONAL PRIZE 2017
by Roy JacobsenBarrøy Island off the North-western coast of Norway - a holdfast for a single family, their livestock, their crops, their hopes and dreams. And their fears. There is a taint passed down the Barrøy line, and Hans and Maria Barrøy fear their daughter Ingrid may be affected. The early years of the twentieth century prove that Norway cannot stand apart from the wider world - no more than Barrøy island can remain at a remove from the rest of Norway. Hans Barrøy decides to build a quay so that his family can be properly connected to the mainland and with neighbouring islands. In time, Ingrid is sent to serve with one of the rich families on the coast, caring for their two children. But when tragedy strikes - twice in quick succession - she finds herself responsible not only for two newly orphaned children, but for Barrøy Island itself. If they are to survive, she and the other young must learn how to tame this remote earthly paradise for themselves.(P)2016 W F Howes Ltd
The Unsettled: A novel
by Ayana MathisFrom the best-selling author of The Twelve Tribes of Hattie, a searing multi-generational novel—set in the 1980s in racially and politically turbulent Philadelphia and in the tiny town of Bonaparte, Alabama—about a mother fighting for her sanity and survival"[A] powerful book.&” —Marilynne Robinson, Pulitzer Prize–winning author of GileadFrom the moment Ava Carson and her ten-year-old son, Toussaint, arrive at the Glenn Avenue family shelter in Philadelphia 1985, Ava is already plotting a way out. She is repulsed by the shelter's squalid conditions: their cockroach-infested room, the barely edible food, and the shifty night security guard. She is determined to rescue her son from the perils and indignities of that place, and to save herself from the complicated past that led them there.Ava has been estranged from her own mother, Dutchess, since she left her Alabama home as a young woman barely out of her teens. Despite their estrangement and the thousand miles between them, mother and daughter are deeply entwined, but Ava can't forgive her sharp-tounged, larger than life mother whose intractability and bouts of debilitating despair brought young Ava to the outer reaches of neglect and hunger.Ava wants to love her son differently, better. But when Toussaint&’s father, Cass, reappears, she is swept off course by his charisma, and the intoxicating power of his radical vision to destroy systems of racial injustice and bring about a bold new way of communal living. Meanwhile, in Alabama, Dutchess struggles to keep Bonaparte, once a beacon of Black freedom and self-determination, in the hands of its last five Black residents—families whose lives have been rooted in this stretch of land for generations—and away from rapidly encroaching white developers. She fights against the erasure of Bonaparte's venerable history and the loss of the land itself, which she has so arduously preserved as Ava's inheritance.As Ava becomes more enmeshed with Cass, Toussaint senses the danger simmering all around him—his well-intentioned but erratic mother; the intense, volatile figure of his father who drives his fledgling Philadelphia community toward ever increasing violence and instability. He begins to dream of Dutchess and Bonaparte, his home and birthright, if only he can find his way there. Brilliant, explosive, vitally important new work from one of America&’s most fiercely talented storytellers.
The Unsinkable Greta James
by Jennifer E. Smith'Warm, funny, and bursting with heart' Rebecca SerleAn indie musician reeling from tragedy reconnects with her estranged father on a week-long cruise in this tale of grief, fame, and love from bestselling author Jennifer E. Smith.Just after the sudden death of her mother - her most devoted fan - and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes second album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing. Greta's career is suddenly in jeopardy - the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always warned her about.Months later, Greta - still heartbroken and very much adrift - reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian on-board, who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life.In this unlikeliest of places - at sea and far from the packed venues where she usually plays - Greta finally confronts the heartbreak she's suffered, the family hurts that run deep, and how to find her voice again.'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo'A total delight!' Christine Pride'Full of hope . . . vibrant' Linda Holmes(P) 2022 Quercus Editions Limited
The Unsinkable Greta James: A Novel
by Jennifer E. SmithAn indie musician reeling from tragedy and a public breakdown reconnects with her father on a weeklong cruise in &“a pitch-perfect story about the ways we recover love in the strangest places&” (Rebecca Serle, bestselling author of In Five Years)&“The characters are drawn with a generosity that allows them to be wrong but also right, loving but also prone to missteps, and ultimately deserving of a resolution that&’s full of hope.&”—Linda Holmes, New York Times bestselling author of Evvie Drake Starts Over ONE OF THE MOST ANTICIPATED BOOKS OF 2022—BookPageRight after the sudden death of her mother—her first and most devoted fan—and just before the launch of her high-stakes sophomore album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing, her career suddenly in jeopardy—the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always predicted; the kind he warned her about when he urged her to make more practical choices with her life. Months later, Greta—still heartbroken and very much adrift—reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian, onboard to lecture about The Call of the Wild, who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life. As Greta works to build back her confidence and Ben confronts an uncertain future, they find themselves drawn to and relying on each other.It&’s here in this unlikeliest of places—at sea, far from the packed city venues where she usually plays and surrounded by the stunning scenery of Alaska—Greta will finally confront the choices she&’s made, the heartbreak she&’s suffered, and the family hurts that run deep. In the end, she&’ll have to decide what her path forward might look like—and how to find her voice again.
The Unsinkable Greta James: the heart-warming and uplifting new novel from the internationally bestselling author
by Jennifer E. Smith'Warm, funny, and bursting with heart' Rebecca Serle'Beautiful, moving, hopeful' Emily StoneGreta James is adrift. Literally.Just after the sudden death of her mother - her most devoted fan - and weeks before the launch of her high-stakes second album, Greta James falls apart on stage. The footage quickly goes viral and she stops playing. Greta's career is suddenly in jeopardy - the kind of jeopardy her father, Conrad, has always warned her about.Months later, Greta - still heartbroken and very much adrift - reluctantly agrees to accompany Conrad on the Alaskan cruise her parents had booked to celebrate their fortieth anniversary. It could be their last chance to heal old wounds in the wake of shared loss. But the trip will also prove to be a voyage of discovery for them both, and for Ben Wilder, a charming historian who is struggling with a major upheaval in his own life.In this unlikeliest of places - at sea and far from the packed venues where she usually plays - Greta must finally confront the heartbreak she's suffered, the family hurts that run deep, and how to find her voice again.'Gorgeous, heartfelt' Amanda Eyre Ward'Thoughtful and tender and true' Janelle Brown'Filled with music, passion, and love of all kinds' Jill Santopolo'A total delight!' Christine Pride'Full of hope . . . vibrant' Linda Holmes
The Unspoken
by Thomas Fahy"In five years' time, your greatest fear will consume you. It will rob you of your last breath." Five years ago six children who lived with their families in Jacob Crawley's Divine Path religious cult escaped by burning the compound to the ground. They are reunited at the funeral of Jacob's son, Harold. Harold died of drowning -- his worst fear -- even though his body was found miles from any water. And it seems that each of the teens is marked for murder -- as Crawley had predicted years earlier. Can any of these teens save themselves? Horror author Thomas Fahy now brings his unsettling talent to teen fiction with The Unspoken.
The Untamed Warrior's Bride (The Legendary Warriors #2)
by Michelle WillinghamA dramatic Medieval romance from this bestselling authorTo claim what should be his…He must claim her! Piers of Grevershire might have been born illegitimate, but he&’ll fight for the land he knows is his. To do so, he must win Lady Gwendoline&’s hand in marriage! What starts as a secret mission of vengeance soon becomes more as Gwen&’s unique fire ignites a powerful connection between them. And when they&’re married, Piers finds earning Gwen&’s trust means revealing his true identity—and the betrayal that risks destroying their fledgling bond…From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.The Legendary WarriorsBook 1: The Iron Warrior ReturnsBook 2: The Untamed Warrior's Bride
The Unwanted: A Novel
by Boris Fishman"The Unwanted is a tightrope of a novel: tense, precise, stunning in its scope and power."—Tea Obreht, New York Times bestselling author of The Morningside“Urgently contemporary and prescient in equal measure, Fishman’s The Unwanted channels the spectrum of literature’s finest, emotionally visceral dystopian masterworks, from Dune to The Handmaid’s Tale, in a fable of survival, resistance and, ultimately, maternal love.”—Lea Carpenter, author of IliumAward-winning, New York Times Notable author of A Replacement Life—“a born storyteller with a tremendous gift for language” (San Francisco Chronicle)— delivers a fierce and staggering new page-turner full of cruelty, tenderness, and heroism, about a young girl and her parents fleeing civil war and the brutal dictatorship that has targeted their family.Susanna, George, and their eight-year-old daughter, Dina, have been lucky, so far, in these four years since war broke out in their country. Even as their fellow "minority-sect" neighbors and classmates are murdered or imprisoned, George’s loyal work teaching "dominant-sect" literature has kept them fed and protected. But then the day comes: the university fires George—despite his years of collaboration, he is no longer safe. Left without money or allies, it is time for the family to run.Embarking on a harrowing trip through refugee camps and across the sea, both George and Susanna are forced in their own ways to make sacrifices to keep Dina safe, while Dina fights to understand the chaotic world crashing down around her. But with each member of the family struggling to survive in circumstances beyond their control, lies and betrayals multiply until it seems impossible for any of them to reach across the abyss. The Unwanted is a stunning story of what the most powerless among us will do for dignity and safety.
The Unwelcome Surprise
by Olga HerreraPerfect for fans of Something's Wrong! and Can I Be Your Dog?, The Unwelcome Surprise is a charming new baby story full of debut author-illustrator Olga Herrera's incredibly humorous art, and that explores the fears and joys that come with change. Every morning, Bongo walks downstairs to get his food, passing his dried-up potted plant, his old stained chair, and his stinky stained carpet. Until one morning...something is different! Something monstrous is in his way! Bongo is beside himself with worry; will it take his walks? What if it eats his food? Or even worse...what if it takes his family?!
The Unwilling Bride
by Margaret MooreIn this USA Today–bestselling medieval romance, two nobles betrothed at birth become bound by desire, but treachery could tear them apart.Promised to Merrick of Tregellas when she was but a child, Lady Constance was unwilling to wed a man she remembered only as a spoiled boy. Sure, he had grown into an arrogant knight, she sought to make herself so unappealing that Merrick would refuse to honor their betrothal. Yet no sooner had this enigmatic, darkly handsome man ridden through the castle gates than she realized he was nothing like the boy she recalled. And very much a man she could love . . . Haunted by secrets from his past, Merrick was unwilling to return to Tregallas—until he caught sight of his bride-to-be. Beautiful and spirited, Lady Constance was everything he wanted in a wife. She stirred his passion—and his heart—as no woman ever had before. But what would happen when she discovered the truth?When enemies begin plotting their downfall, only trust can save a match never meant to end in true love.Praise for The Unwilling Bride“The Unwilling Bride is filled with intrigue and betrayal that can only be resolved if there is love and trust. . . . I highly recommend this thoroughly engrossing tale!” —Romance Junkies“Readers cannot help but be enamored by the resolute Constance and the irresistible Merrick. Both are superbly drawn and realistic characters full of integrity, fortitude, and, of course, vulnerabilities, which are what make the reader come to care for them.” —Romance Reviews Today
The Unwitting: A Novel
by Ellen FeldmanIn CIA parlance, those who knew were "witting." Everyone else was among the "unwitting." On a bright November day in 1963, President Kennedy is shot. That same day, Nell Benjamin receives a phone call with news about her husband, the influential young editor of a literary magazine. As the nation mourns its public loss, Nell has her private grief to reckon with, as well as a revelation about Charlie that turns her understanding of her marriage on its head, along with the world she thought she knew. With the Cold War looming ominously over the lives of American citizens in a battle of the Free World against the Communist powers, the blurry lines between what is true, what is good, and what is right tangle with issues of loyalty and love. As the truths Nell discovers about her beloved husband upend the narrative of her life, she must question her own allegiance: to her career as a journalist, to her country, but most of all to the people she loves. Set in the literary Manhattan of the 1950s, at a journal much like the Paris Review, The Unwitting evokes a bygone era of burgeoning sexual awareness and intrigue and an exuberance of ideas that had the power to change the world. Resonant, illuminating, and utterly absorbing, The Unwitting is about the lies we tell, the secrets we keep, and the power of love in the face of both.
The Unwritten Rules of Friendship: Simple Strategies to Help Your Child Make Friends
by Natalie Madorsky Elman Eileen Kennedy-Moore"Nobody likes me!" is a complaint that parents hear all too often, and few utterances make them feel more helpless. Now help is at hand: This practical and compassionate guidebook enables parents to sharpen any child's social skills by pinpointing the child's particular social strengths and difficulties. Some children have trouble resolving arguments, some find themselves in a constant clash of wills, and some have trouble making any friends at all. Each chapter--from "The Shy Child" to "The Little Adult," from "The Short-Fused Child" to "The Sensitive Soul"--uses case studies that focus on the specific social conventions that certain children don't "get," and offers drills that parents and teachers can use to help children understand the unspoken underpinnings of social situations, the knowledge essential to building, sustaining, and repairing relationships.
The Upper Room (A\mama Ruby Novel Ser. #1)
by Mary MonroeThe &“magnificent, funny, and terrifying&” debut novel from the New York Times bestselling author of God Don&’t Like Ugly (The San Francisco Chronicle). Mama Ruby&’s known for taking things that aren&’t rightfully hers, like her best friend&’s stillborn infant, who she brought back to life and christened Maureen. She&’s also rumored to have done away with her husband. Some fear her, others try their best to avoid her. But Mama Ruby doesn&’t pay them any mind. Not when she&’s got the one gift God gave her—her precious baby girl. But growing up with a mama like Ruby is enough to make any half-sane girl wish for something—anything—else. And when Maureen gets the chance to explore the &“real&” world, you can bet she&’s going to take it . . . and run like hell. &“[An] engaging debut novel . . . The dialogue and setting are reminiscent of Zora Neale Hurston, but the story has a bizarre, violent edge la Stephen King . . . a candid portrayal of the cold-blooded yet fascinating Mama Ruby.&” —Publishers Weekly &“A chilling story that is bound to astound Monroe&’s fans.&” —Booklist Praise for Mary Monroe &“An exceptional writer and phenomenal storyteller!&” —Kimberla Lawson Roby, New York Times bestselling author &“A remarkable talent.&” —Chicago Sun-Times &“Monroe is a masterful storyteller.&” —Philadelphia Inquirer