- Table View
- List View
Champlain: Peacemaker and Explorer
by Mary Beacock FryerSamuel de Champlain has long been known as the founder of Quebec and as a tireless explorer. No one knows for sure where he was born or who he really was. Still, his career was packed with interesting details and his early life prepared him for greatness.Without Champlains own detailed records, the years 1600 to 1640 in Canada would be almost a mystery. Possibly Canadas first multicultural advocate, he dreamed of creating a new people from French and Aboriginal roots. However, his efforts to establish a colony encountered setbacks in France. Among his detractors was the powerful Cardinal Richelieu. Champlain was not of the nobility and thus was considered unfit for patronage.The explorers story is an exciting one, as he explored new territory, established alliances and understandings with Natives, waged war when necessary, and left behind a legend in the New World that lasts to this day.
Chance's Way: The Alberta Adventures (The Alberta Adventures #3)
by Nancy M. BellChance Cullen has screwed up royally, and he knows it. He’s alienated his mother and sister, and the girl he’s been in love with his whole life, Laurel Rowan. The lure of alcohol calls him, and in the past, he’s found solace there…for a time. But life keeps blowing up in his face. Chance desperately wants to be a top bull rider, but he needs a sponsor, and he needs to come to terms with taking responsibility and turning his life around. His abusive dad is in prison for a number of offences, including masterminding a dog fighting ring. Chance’s narrow escape from both the law and the unsavoury characters he got involved with through his father, have left him shaken. In his mind, his greatest crime was putting Laurel Rowan in danger. He knows she doesn’t feel the same way about him as he does about her, but maybe, just maybe, he can win back her friendship. It won’t be an easy road, but Chance is determined to fight his demons. A cowboy needs to know when to cowboy up and Chance figures this is his time.
Chanda's Wars: A Novel (Chanda Ser.)
by Allan StrattonShe promised her mama she'd keep them safe.It's been six months since Mama died, and Chanda is struggling to raise her little brother and sister. Determined to end a family feud, she takes them to her relatives' remote rural village. But across the nearby border, a brutal civil war is spreading. Rebels led by the ruthless General Mandiki attack at night, stealing children. All that separates Chanda from the horror is a stretch of rugged bush and a national park alive with predators. Soon, not even that. Before she knows it, Chanda must face the unthinkable, with a troubled young tracker as her unlikely ally. Chanda's Wars is the unforgettable story of a teenager who risks everything to save her brother and sister. Epic in its sweep, intimate in its humanity, here is a gripping tale of family intrigue, love and courage, forgiveness and hope.
Chandra Pahad
by Vibhutibhushan BandhyopadhyayChandra Pahad is the creation of the famous Bengali storyteller Vibhutibhushan Bandhyopadhyay. Sahitya Akademi for the first time presents a unique story of the daring teenager.
Change in the Wind
by Phyllis Reynolds NaylorShort stories about the changes in life adolescents must deal with and how they adapt.
Change of Heart (Robyn Hunter Mysteries #7)
by Norah McClintockRobyn's best friend Billy has been a mess ever since her other best friend Morgan dumped him. To make matters worse, Morgan started dating hockey star Sean Sloane right afterward. Billy is a vegetarian and an animal rights activist—he wouldn't hurt a fly. But when Sean winds up dead on the ice, Billy becomes the prime suspect. Can Robyn prove her friend's innocence?
Changeling (Order of Darkness #1)
by Philippa GregoryDark myths, medieval secrets, intrigue, and romance populate the pages of this first in a four-book teen series from the #1 bestselling author of The Other Boleyn Girl.The year is 1453, and all signs point to it being the end of the world. Accused of heresy and expelled from his monastery, handsome seventeen-year-old Luca Vero is recruited by a mysterious stranger to record the end of times across Europe. Commanded by sealed orders, Luca is sent to map the fears of Christendom and travel to the very frontier of good and evil. Seventeen-year-old Isolde, a Lady Abbess, is trapped in a nunnery to prevent her from claiming her rich inheritance. As the nuns in her care are driven mad by strange visions—walking in their sleep and showing bleeding wounds, Luca is sent to investigate and driven to accuse her. Forced to face the greatest fears of the dark ages—witchcraft, werewolves, madness—Luca and Isolde embark on a search for truth, their own destinies, and even love as they take the unknown ways to the real historical figure who defends the boundaries of Christendom and holds the secrets of the Order of Darkness.
Changeling (Sorcery and Society #1)
by Molly HarperSorcery and Society Book 1If 14-year-old Cassandra Reed makes it through her first day at Miss Castwell’s Institute for the Magical Instruction of Young Ladies without anyone discovering her secret, maybe, just maybe, she’ll let herself believe that she really does belong at Miss Castwell’s.Except Cassandra Reed’s real name is Sarah Smith and up until now, she lived her whole life in the Warren, serving a magical family, the Winters, as all non-magical “Snipes” are bound by magical Guardian law to do. That is, until one day, Sarah accidentally levitates Mrs. Winter’s favorite vase in the parlor...But Snipes aren’t supposed to have magical powers…and the existence of a magical Snipe threatens the world order dictated during the Guardians’ Restoration years ago. If she wants to keep her family safe and protect her own skin, Sarah must figure out how to fit into posh Guardian society, master her newfound magical powers and discover the truth about how an ordinary girl can become magical. “Witty and classic, Changeling had everything I wanted from a coming of age story: friendship, scandal, and a heroine learning to flex her magical muscles. If you liked Harry Potter, you will love CHANGELING!” -Kristen Simmons, critically acclaimed author of the Article 5 series“Molly Harper’s Changeling is masterful fantasy—a spunky Cinderella story with a heroine who’s equal parts compassion, determination, and pure magical delight.”Rachel Vincent, author of the Soul Screamers series and The Stars Never Rise“Harper is a great writer and she creates great characters, but also an entertaining world.” – Sassy Sarah Reads“I really enjoyed the humor and author personality that is just unique to itself. Harper is a great writer.” – Krissy’s Bookshelf
Changers: Book Four: Forever (Changers #4)
by Allison Glock-Cooper T. CooperIn this series finale &“the suspense is high, the plot is irresistible . . . fast-paced and wonderfully, forcefully loud about privilege&” (Kirkus Reviews). When we left Kim Cruz in Changers Book Three, she&’d just come out to her best friend. In Changers Book Four: Forever, Kim discovers that this is only one small part of understanding who she is and where she belongs. Soon enough, she changes again, into the body and social status of her dreams. What she does with her newfound power will come to haunt her. In this &“bang-up ending to the series,&” our hero learns what it means to be the person everybody loves without actually being known at all; what it&’s like to be given the benefit of the doubt when you don&’t deserve it; and how easily opportunity comes when you look the part (Books YA Love). Changers Book Four explores what it means to find yourself—even as your self keeps changing—and how in the end we become the person whose story we want to finish. Praise for the Changers series &“Changers should appeal to a broad demographic. Teenagers, after all, are the world&’s leading experts on trying on, and then promptly discarding, new identities.&”—The New York Times Book Review &“Something unique and exciting . . . I would highly recommend Changers to anyone looking for something a little different to read, as well as to anyone who is interested in a really cool discussion about gender and sexuality.&”—The Guardian
Changes in Latitudes
by Jen MaloneJen Malone, author of teen novels Wanderlost and Map to the Stars, will take readers to the high seas—literally—in this contemporary YA novel about a girl facing the dissolution of her parents’ marriage, a new romance, and self-discovery while sailing down the Pacific coast. After concluding that her is to blame for her parents’ recent divorce, Cassandra McClure is hoping to stay as far away from her as possible. With a summer of freedom right around the corner, it shouldn’t be too hard. But when a forty-foot sailboat appears in her driveway and her mom announces that Cassie and her brother Drew will be accompanying her on a four-month sailing trip down to Mexico, Cassie’s plans for the summer go, quite literally, overboard. Once the three set sail, tensions quickly rise. So meeting Jonah—a gorgeous, whip-smart deckhand—is an unexpected bright spot on an otherwise dim horizon. Though she tries to keep him at a distance—considering the upheaval of her home life—their chemistry is impossible to ignore, and Cassie soon finds herself questioning everything: Should she go for it with Jonah? Can she forgive her mom? Will home ever feel the same? With life’s unpredictable tides working against her, Cassie must decide whether to swim against them, or dive right in.
Changing Bodies, Changing Lives: Expanded Third Edition
by Ruth Bell"It seems like everyone else has the script. Everyone else knows what's happening and I look around and say, Duh."Of course, the truth is that no one has the script because there is no script to follow. Chances are you'd find that almost everyone else has questions and worries a lot like yours, if you could get them to admit it. This brand-new, completely updated and revised edition of Changing Bodies, Changing Lives is full of honest, accurate, nonjudgmental information on everything teenagers need to know about today.Am I the only one whocan't get up the nerve to ask someone out?got my period so early?doesn't even know the right way to kiss?feels pressured to use drugs?still hasn't hit puberty yet?wants to avoid the gang scene?worries when my mom doesn't come home at night?is scared that I might have AIDS?can't decide what form of birth control to use?has no idea how to tell my friends I'm gay?goes on eating binges?has never had an orgasm?is shut out of the popular crowd?Changing Bodies, Changing Lives has helped hundreds of thousands of teenagers make informed decisions about their lives, from questions about sex, love, friendship, and how your body works to dealing with problems at school and home and figuring out who you are. It's packed with illustrations, checklists, and resources for the answers you really need. Best of all, it's filled with the voices, poems, and cartoons from hundreds of other teenagers, who tell you what makes them feel worried, angry, confused, sexy, happy, and, yes, even excited and hopeful about their lives. (Check out the first two pages for a sample of the quotes you'll find inside.)Being a teenager is tough. With the information and the ideas inside this book, you'll have what you need to make these years the best they can be.From the Trade Paperback edition.
Changing Jamie
by Dakota Chase2nd EditionJamie's pretty much an average gay teenager. He's in the closet, has an unrequited secret crush on a fellow high school athlete, and an awful home life. It's a good thing he has his friend Billy to distract him and to show him that being out has its benefits. Billy is everything Jamie isn't: openly gay, wealthy enough to follow fashion trends, and with a social calendar full of dates with older men. Then Jamie's life spins into a downward spiral. Billy starts acting weird and hiding things from him. His stepfather's abusive behavior escalates until Jamie dreads going home. His English teacher assigns him to tutor the object of his affection, gorgeous track star Dylan. Jamie's not even sure he can talk to Dylan, let alone tutor him, and it's impossible to talk to Billy about it. Billy's too wrapped up in a dangerous game called bug chasing: trying to catch HIV. Billy's risky behavior nearly shatters their friendship and forces Jamie to look at the world in a whole new way. Can Jamie keep Billy safe, stay on top of homework and a new boyfriend, and convince his mom to give his stepdad the heave-ho?First Edition published by Torquere Press, 2008.
Changing Lanes
by Adi AlsaidDive into these three magnificent coming-of-age stories about love, loss, and adventure by Adi Alsaid!LET’S GET LOSTFour teens across the country have only one thing in common: a girl named Leila. She crashes into their lives in her absurdly red car at the moment they need someone the most.Hudson, Bree, Elliot and Sonia find a friend in Leila. And when Leila leaves them, their lives are forever changed. But it is during Leila’s own 4,268-mile journey that she discovers the most important truth—sometimes, what you need most is right where you started.NEVER ALWAYS SOMETIMESBest friends Dave and Julia were determined to never be cliché high school kids. They even wrote their own Never List of everything they vowed they’d never, ever do in high school.But Dave has a secret: he’s broken rule #8: never pine silently after someone for the entirety of high school. It’s either that or break rule #10: never date your best friend. So when Julia impetuously suggests they do every Never on the list, Dave is happy to play along. It starts as a joke, but then a funny thing happens: Dave and Julia discover that by skipping the clichés, they’ve actually been missing out on high school. And maybe even on love.NORTH OF HAPPYCarlos Portillo has always led a privileged and sheltered life. He lives in Mexico City with his wealthy family and attends an elite international school. Always a rule follower, Carlos is happy to tread the well-worn path in front of him. He has always loved food and cooking, but his parents see it as just a hobby.When his older brother, Felix—who has dropped out of college to live a life of travel—is tragically killed, Carlos begins hearing his brother’s voice, pushing him to rebel against his father’s plan for him. Worrying about his mental health but knowing Felix is right, Carlos runs away to the United States and manages to secure a job with his favorite celebrity chef. As he works to improve his skills in the kitchen and pursue his dream, he begins to fall for his boss’s daughter. Finally living for himself, Carlos must decide what’s most important to him and where his true path really lies.Titles originally published in 2014, 2015, and 2017.
Changing Leads (Pine Hollow #4)
by Bonnie BryantSummer&’s over, and Carole, Stevie, and Lisa are hoping things will get back to normal—but is there even such thing as normal anymore?The start of the new school year is a reality check for best friends Carole Hansen, Stevie Lake, and Lisa Atwood. Stevie&’s boyfriend, Phil, is suddenly hanging out with Callie&’s brother, Scott, who still blames Stevie for the near-fatal car accident that injured his sister. Carole&’s new responsibilities at Pine Hollow Stables are threatening her relationships with her friends, and Lisa is having a hard time adjusting to being back in Willow Creek. Has she ruined her possibility for a career in the entertainment industry? And now Callie seems to be part of their special circle.Jealousy, betrayal, and an explosive secret will make this semester an unforgettable one. Forced to examine where their true loyalties lie, the girls start to realize that nothing stays the same—not even friendship.
Channel Kindness: Stories of Kindness and Community
by Born this Way Foundation Lady GagaA New York Times BestsellerFor Lady Gaga, kindness is the driving force behind everything she says and does. The quiet power of kindness can change the way we view one another, our communities, and even ourselves. She embodies this mission, and through her work, brings more kindness into our world every single day.Lady Gaga has always believed in the importance of being yourself, being kind to yourself, and being kind to others, no matter who they are or where they come from. With that sentiment in mind, she and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, founded Born This Way Foundation, a nonprofit organization dedicated to making the world a kinder and braver place. Through the years, they've collected stories of kindness, bravery and resilience from young people all over the world, proving that kindness truly is the universal language. And now, we invite you to read these stories and follow along as each and every young author finds their voice just as Lady Gaga has found hers.Within these pages, you’ll meet young changemakers who found their inner strength, who prevailed in the face of bullies, who started their own social movements, who decided to break through the mental health stigma and share how they felt, who created safe spaces for LGBTQ+ youth, and who have embraced kindness with every fiber of their being by helping others without the expectation of anything in return.In one story, you’ll read about a young person with an autoimmune disease, who after being bullied at school, learned how to practice self-love and started an organization with the mission of educating others about the importance of self-love, too; and in another story, you’ll meet a young person who decided to start a movement to help eliminate the stigma surrounding mental health and encouraged others to talk about their feelings openly and honestly, a reminder that kindness and mental wellness go hand in hand. Not only were we moved by these individual acts of kindness, but we were also touched by the many stories of organizations, neighborhoods, and entire communities that fully dedicated themselves to helping those in need and found new, innovative ways to make our world a kinder and braver place.Individually and collectively, these stories prove that kindness not only saves lives but builds community. Kindness is inclusion, it is pride, it is empathy, it is compassion, it is self-respect and it is the guiding light to love. Kindness is always transformational, and its never-ending ripples result in even more kind acts that can change our lives, our communities, and our world.
Chantress Alchemy (Chantress)
by Amy Butler GreenfieldLucy races against time and magic in this “compelling sequel” (Booklist) to the “richly and thoughtfully written” (Publishers Weekly) Chantress.Lucy is the last Chantress, the only remaining girl who can sing magic into the world. Since she defeated the evil Lord Scargrave, England has changed—and not for the better. With crops failing and the people rebelling, Lucy is called urgently back to King Henry’s court. His Inner Council is convinced that making gold through alchemy will save England. But a critical element to the alchemical process has been stolen. Lucy is tasked with finding it with her magic…or else. And until she succeeds, the castle is on lockdown.Court too has changed. Scargrave’s brutal Chantress Hunter has become King Henry’s closest advisor. Lucy’s beloved Nat has fallen out of favor and is shunned by his colleagues. Worst of all, Lucy’s magic has deserted her. She can no longer hear the song spells at court, and must find a way to access her powers soon—or be accused of treason. Amy Butler Greenfield returns to the volatile world of Chantress for an exciting tale that weaves together courtly intrigue, mystery, romance, magic, and music.
Chaos & Flame
by Tessa Gratton Justina IrelandFrom New York Times bestselling author Justina Ireland and Tessa Gratton comes the first book in a ferocious YA fantasy duology featuring ancient magic, warring factions, and a romance between the two people in the world with the most cause to hate one another.Darling Seabreak cannot remember anything before the murder of her family at the hands of House Dragon, but she knows she owes her life to both the power of her Chaos Boon and House Kraken for liberating her from the sewers where she spent her childhood. So when her adoptive Kraken father is captured in battle, Darling vows to save him—even if that means killing each and every last member of House Dragon. Talon Goldhoard has always been a dutiful War Prince for House Dragon, bravely leading the elite troops of his brother, the High Prince Regent. But lately his brother&’s erratic rule threatens to undo a hundred years of House Dragon&’s hard work, and factions are turning to Talon to unseat him. Talon resists, until he&’s ambushed by a fierce girl who looks exactly like the one his brother has painted obsessively, repeatedly, for years, and Talon knows she&’s the key to everything. Together, Darling and Talon must navigate the treacherous waters of House politics, caught up in the complicated game the High Prince Regent is playing against everyone. The unlikeliest of allies, they&’ll have to stop fighting each other long enough to learn to fight together in order to survive the fiery prophecies and ancient blood magic threatening to devastate their entire world.
Chaos King (Infinity Alchemist)
by Kacen CallenderWHEN THE WORLD BURNS, ASH WILL RISE.The explosive sequel to instant New York Times bestselling YA debut Infinity Alchemist by Kacen Callender.Ever since he rose up against his father and saved New Anglia from destruction, Ash has been struggling to adapt to his new life. He has nightmares every night, haunted by strange black orbs and his screaming dead mother. Ash is sure she’s trying to warn him that the world is still in danger, and becomes determined to find a way to speak to her again—but communicating with the dead isn’t easy, even for an alchemist as powerful as Ash. It doesn’t help that violent anti-alchemist sentiment is spreading across New Anglia. When Ash is captured by a radical group, inspired by his father’s legacy, he must decide if alchemist rights can be trusted in the hands of the Houses, along with his partners Callum and Ramsay—or if Ash must follow the path his father laid for him, and become the leader of an alchemist revolution. Can Ash keep his relationships together and stop the world from falling apart?“Spellbinding.” —Aiden Thomas · “Brims with possibility.” —A. R. Carpetta · “A thrilling, expansive adventure.” —Elana K. Arnold · “A blast of heart-racing magic.” —Andrew Joseph WhiteAt the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Chaos Theory
by Nic Stonehe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental disorder and a politician’s son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don’t miss this gut punch of a novel about mental health, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love. <p><p> Scars exist to remind us of what we’ve survived. <p><p> DETACHED <p>Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won’t be there very long, she hasn’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don’t know about her can’t be used to hurt her—you know, like it did at her last school. <p><p> WASTED <p>Andy Criddle is not okay. At all. <p>He’s had far too much to drink. <p>Again. Which is bad. <p>And things are about to get worse. <p><p> When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn’t resist reaching out. And there’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart. <p><p> #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone delivers a tour de force about living with grief, prioritizing mental health, and finding love amid the chaos.
Chaos Theory: The brand-new novel from the bestselling author of Dear Martin
by Nic StoneThe #1 New York Times bestselling author of Dear Martin delivers a gripping romance about two teens: a certified genius living with a diagnosed mental illness and a politician's son who is running from his own addiction and grief. Don't miss this gut punch of a novel about mental illness, loss, and discovering you are worthy of love. The next read for fans of Angie Thomas, Danielle Jawando and Jason ReynoldsScars exist to remind us of what we&’ve survived . . . Since Shelbi enrolled at Windward Academy as a senior and won&’t be there very long, she hasn&’t bothered making friends. What her classmates don&’t know about her can&’t be used to hurt her – you know, like it did at her last school. Andy Criddle is not okay. At all. He&’s had far too much to drink. Again. Which is bad. And things are about to get worse. When Shelbi sees Andy at his lowest, she can relate. So she doesn&’t resist reaching out. And there&’s no doubt their connection has them both seeing stars . . . but the closer they get, the more the past threatens to pull their universes apart. #1 New York Times bestselling author Nic Stone delivers a tour de force about living with grief, prioritizing mental health, and finding love amid the chaos. Praise for Dear Martin: "Powerful, wrenching" John Green "A must-read" Angie Thomas "Raw and Gripping" Jason Reynolds "Deeply moving" Jodi Picoult Also by Nic Stone:Dear Martin Odd One Out JackpotDear Justyce
Chaos on CatNet: Sequel to Catfishing on CatNet (A CatNet Novel #2)
by Naomi Kritzer“This book is perfect.”—The New York Times Book Review on Catfishing on CatNetIt takes an AI to catch an AI in Chaos on CatNet, the follow-up to Naomi Kritzer's award-winning near future YA thriller.When a mysterious entity starts hacking into social networks and chat rooms to instigate paranoia and violence in the real world, it’s up to Steph and her new friend, Nell, to find a way to stop it—with the help of their benevolent AI friend, CheshireCat.Praise for Catfishing on CatNetA New York Times Book Review Editors’ Choice/Staff PickA Kirkus Reviews Best BookA Junior Library Guild SelectionAn Edgar Award Winner for Best Young Adult NovelA Minnesota Book Award Winner for Best Young Adult NovelAn Andre Norton Nebula Award FinalistAn ITW Thriller Award for Best YA Novel NomineeA Lodestar Award Winner for Best Young Adult Book Midwest Connections Pick (Midwest Independent Booksellers Association) “A first-rate YA novel.”—Locus Magazine“Positive, realistic LGBTQIA+ representation—especially nonbinary identities. Wickedly funny and thrilling in turns; perfect for readers coming-of-age online.”—Kirkus (starred review)At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.
Chaotic Good
by Whitney GardnerCosplay, comic shops, and college applications collide in this illustrated novel, perfect for fans of Adam Silvera and Noelle Steveson!Cameron's cosplay creations are finally starting to earn her attention--attention she hopes to use to get into the CalArts costume design department for college. But after she wins a major competition, she inadvertently sets off a firestorm of angry comments from male fans online.When Cameron's family moves the summer before her senior year, she hopes to complete her costume portfolio in peace and quiet away from the abuse.Unfortunately, the only comic shop in town--her main destination for character reference--is staffed by a dudebro owner who challenges every woman who comes into the shop. At her twin brother's suggestion, Cameron borrows a set of his clothes and uses her costuming expertise to waltz into the shop as Boy Cameron, where she's shocked at how easily she's accepted into the nerd inner sanctum. Soon, Cameron finds herself drafted into a D&D campaign alongside the jerky shop-owner Brody, friendly (almost flirtatiously so) clerk Wyatt, handsome Lincoln, and her brother Cooper, dragged along for good measure. But as her "secret identity" gets more and more entrenched, Cameron's portfolio falls by the wayside--and her feelings for Lincoln threaten to make a complicated situation even more precarious in this geek girl anthem from You're Welcome, Universe author Whitney Gardner, complete with fully illustrated comic pages inked by Gardner herself.
Character, Driven
by David Lubar<i>Character, Driven</i> is a powerful and hilarious coming-of-age novel for young adults by acclaimed author David Lubar.<P><P> With only one year left of high school, seventeen-year-old Cliff Sparks is desperate to find a girlfriend and "come of age." But he's never had much luck with girls. So when he falls for Jillian, a new classmate, at first sight, all he can do is worship her from afar. At the same time, Cliff has to figure out what to do with the rest of his life, since he's pretty sure his unemployed father plans to kick him out of the house the minute he turns eighteen. Time is running out. Cliff is at the edge, on the verge, dangling―and holding on for dear life.
Charles Dickens and the Street Children of London
by Andrea Warren Andrea WarrenProvoked by the horrors he saw every day, Charles Dickens wrote novels that were originally intended as instruments for social change—to save his country&’s children.Charles Dickens is best known for his contributions to the world of literature, but during his young life, Dickens witnessed terrible things that stayed with him: families starving in doorways, babies being &“dropped&” on streets by mothers too poor to care for them, and a stunning lack of compassion from the upper class. After his family went into debt and he found himself working at a shoe-polish factory, Dickens soon realized that the members of the lower class were no different than he, and, even worse, they were given no chance to better themselves. It was then that he decided to use his greatest talent, his writing ability, to tell the stories of those who had no voice.In this book, award-winning author Andrea Warren takes readers on a journey into the workhouses, slums, factories, and schools of Victorian England, and into the world of a beloved writer who used his pen to do battle on behalf of the poor, becoming one of the greatest reformers of his or any age.
Charles Dickens and the Victorian Child: Romanticizing and Socializing the Imperfect Child (Children's Literature and Culture)
by Amberyl MalkovichThis book explores the ideas of children and childhood, and the construct of the ‘ideal’ Victorian child, that developed rapidly over the Victorian era along with literacy and reading material for the emerging mass reading public. Children’s Literature was one of the developing areas for publishers and readers alike, yet this did not stop the reading public from bringing home works not expressly intended for children and reading to their family. Within the idealized middle class family circle, authors such as Charles Dickens were read and appreciated by members of all ages. By examining some of Dickens’s works that contain the imperfect child, and placing them alongside works by Kingsley, MacDonald, Stretton, Rossetti, and Nesbit, Malkovich considers the construction, romanticization, and socialization of the Victorian child within work read by and for children during the Victorian Era and early Edwardian period. These authors use elements of religion, death, irony, fairy worlds, gender, and class to illustrate the need for the ideal child and yet the impossibility of such a construct. Malkovich contends that the ‘imperfect’ child more readily reflects reality, whereas the ‘ideal’ child reflects an unattainable fantasy and while debates rage over how to define children’s literature, such children, though somewhat changed, can still be found in the most popular of literatures read by children contemporarily.