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Dante's Purgatorio: The Vision of Purgatory from The Divine Comedy (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Dante AlighieriPurgatorio is the second part of Italian poet Dante Alighieri's epic poem Divine Comedy and describes Dante's climb up the Mount of Purgatory. As in the Inferno, the Roman poet Virgil is guiding Dante on a journey; this time they visit the seven terraces of Purgatory, where sinners are cleansing themselves in preparation for entering Paradise. Each of the terraces represents one of the seven deadly sins, ranging from pride to lust. Through this allegory, Dante conveys that repentant souls can be redeemed. Dante wrote his narrative poem between 1308 and 1321. This version is taken from a 1901 English edition, featuring British author Rev. H. F. Cary's blank verse translation and woodcut illustrations by French artist Gustave Doré.
Dante's Paradiso: The Vision of Paradise from The Divine Comedy (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Dante AlighieriParadiso is the third and final part of Italian poet Dante Alighieri's epic poem Divine Comedy and describes Dante's journey through heaven. He is now led by Beatrice, who joined him at the end of Purgatorio. Beatrice takes Dante into the nine celestial spheres of Heaven. From the First Sphere, where they find those who were good but did not keep their vows, to the Ninth Sphere and the Empyrean, the home of the angels and God, Dante experiences the blessings given to those who live a life faithful to God. Dante wrote his narrative poem between 1308 and 1321. This version is taken from a 1901 English edition, featuring British author Rev. H. F. Cary's blank verse translation and woodcut illustrations by French artist Gustave Doré.
A 52-Hertz Whale
by Bill Sommer Natalie Haney Tilghman"It appears to be the only individual emitting a call at this frequency and hence, has been described as the world's loneliest whale."—Wikipedia So here's how it all starts: James, a high school freshman, is worried that the young humpback whale he tracks online has separated from its pod. So naturally he emails Darren, the twentysomething would-be filmmaker who volunteered in James's special education program back in middle school. Of course, Darren is useless on the subject of whales, but he's got nothing but time, given that the only girl he could ever love dumped him. And fetching lattes for his boss has him close to walking out on his movie dream and boomeranging right back to his childhood bedroom. So why not reply to a random email from Whale Boy? Predictably, this thread of emails leads to a lot of bizarre stuff, including a yeti suit, drug smuggling, widows, a major documentary filmmaking opportunity, first love, a graveyard, damaged echolocation, estranged siblings, restraining orders, choke holds, emergency dentistry...and then maybe ends with something like understanding. See, it turns out that the thing that binds people together most is their fear that nothing binds them together at all.
Either the Beginning or the End of the World
by Terry FarishFor sixteen years, it's been just Sofie and her father, living on the New Hampshire coast. Her Cambodian immigrant mother has floated in and out of her life, leaving Sofie with a fierce bitterness toward her—and a longing she wishes she could outgrow. To me she is as unreliable as the wind. Then she meets Luke, an army medic back from Afghanistan, and the pull between them is as strong as the current of the rushing Piscataqua River. But Luke is still plagued by the trauma of war, as if he's lost with the ghosts in his past. Sofie's dad orders her to stay away; it may be the first time she has ever disobeyed him. A ghost can't love you. When Sofie is forced to stay with her mother and grandmother while her dad's away, she is confronted with their memories of the ruthless Khmer Rouge, a war-torn countryside, and deeds of heartbreaking human devotion. I don't want you for ancestors. I don't want that story. As Sofie and Luke navigate a forbidden landscape, they discover they both have their secrets, their scars, their wars. Together, they are dangerous. Together, they'll discover what extraordinary acts love can demand.
Last Night at the Circle Cinema
by Emily FranklinOlivia, Bertucci, and Codman were the trio no one else in high school could quite figure out, an impenetrable triangle of friendship. Now they're graduating and about to start new lives away at college and without one another. Beyond their friendship, there's one thing they have in common: the Circle Cinema, a once-thriving old movie theater now reduced to a boarded up concrete box, condemned and about to be forgotten forever—which is, as far as Olivia and Codman can tell, a lot like what's going to happen to them. So in one last desperate effort to hold on to the secrets they share, Bertucci hatches a plan—an experiment, really. He convinces Olivia and Codman to join him in spending their last night before graduation locked inside the cinema's concrete walls. None of them can open the box before sunrise. Over the course of the night, the trio is then forced to face one another, the events of the past year, and whatever is to come when the new day dawns. Emily Franklin's Last Night at the Circle Cinema is the story of a friendship's end and moving rebirth.
See No Color
by Shannon Gibney"Transracial adoption is never oversimplified, airbrushed, or sentimentalized, but instead, it's portrayed with bracing honesty as the messy institution it is: rearranging families, blending cultural and biological DNA, loss and joy. An exceptionally accomplished debut." — Kirkus, starred review For as long as she can remember, sixteen-year-old Alex Kirtridge has known two things about herself: She's a stellar baseball player. She's adopted. Alex has had a comfortable childhood in Madison, Wisconsin. Despite some teasing, being a biracial girl in a wealthy white family hasn't been that big a deal. What mattered was that she was a star on the diamond, where her father, a former Major Leaguer, coached her hard and counted on her to make him proud. But now, things are changing: she meets Reggie, the first black guy who's wanted to get to know her; she discovers the letters from her biological father that her adoptive parents have kept from her; and her changing body starts to affect her game. Suddenly, Alex begins to question who she really is. She's always dreamed of playing pro baseball just like her father, but can she really do it? Does she truly fit in with her white family? Who were her biological parents? What does it mean to be black? If she's going to find answers, Alex has to come to terms with her adoption, her race, and the dreams she thought would always guide her. • Winner of the Minnesota Book Award • A Kirkus Reviews Best Teen book of the Year • A Bank Street College Best Children's Book of the Year
The Way Back from Broken
by Amber J. KeyserRakmen Cannon's life is turning out to be one sucker punch after another. His baby sister died in his arms, his parents are on the verge of divorce, and he's flunking out of high school. The only place he fits in is with the other art therapy kids stuck in the basement of Promise House, otherwise known as support group central. Not that he wants to be there. Talking doesn't bring back the dead. When he's shipped off to the Canadian wilderness with ten-year-old Jacey, another member of the support group, and her mom, his summer goes from bad to worse. He can't imagine how eight weeks of canoeing and camping could be anything but awful. Yet despite his expectations, the vast and unforgiving backcountry just might give Rakmen a chance to find the way back from broken . . . if he's brave enough to grab it. Amber J. Keyser's debut novel is a wrenching and brutally honest story of adversity and hope.
Timber Creek Station
by Ali LewisDanny Dawson lives on a cattle station in the Australian outback. Usually the annual cattle muster excites Danny, but everything is different now. Because Danny's beloved older brother died in an accident last year, and nobody will talk about it. Because his teenage sister is pregnant and won't tell anyone who the father is. Because his mother can't cope with any of it and has hired a wide-eyed English house girl to deal with the family. Timber Creek Station is the story of a grieving family, entrenched racism, and the surprising ways one boy—who thought he'd be stuck in one terrible place forever—can take a leap forward.
Always Faithful (Support and Defend)
by Patrick JonesHaving a parent return from military duty is a dream come true. But sometimes, coming home comes with problems. For Rosie, life is nearly perfect. She has the perfect ROTC boyfriend and perfect grades. Her ex-Marine Corps father still barks orders like he's in uniform, but he's finally home for good—until he announces that he's going to re-enlist. Rosie's angry at the news. Really angry. Her behavior spins out of control, causing problems at school, at home, with her boyfriend, and even with law enforcement. Can she face her father and check her anger in time to get her life back on track?
Collateral Damage (Support and Defend)
by Patrick Jones Brent ChartierHaving a parent return from military duty is a dream come true. But sometimes, coming home comes with problems. Tyshawn can't wait to show off his three-pointers. His dad, a former basketball star and a sergeant in the US Army, is finally coming home from overseas. But Ty isn't prepared for how serious his dad's traumatic brain injury is. Neither is his mom. When Ty is left to care for his dad, it's hard to keep up with his own life—and his girlfriend, his coach, and his teachers all take notice. He may not be the injured one, but he needs to figure out how to cope with this new situation—and fast.
Combat Zone (Support and Defend)
by Patrick JonesHaving a parent return from military duty is a dream come true. But sometimes, coming home comes with problems. Justin's got it all planned out. He's going to graduate high school, enroll at the Naval Academy, and become a Navy SEAL, just like his dad. But when he finds out a secret his dad has been keeping, Justin's world is turned upside down. He feels betrayed by his biggest role model. When his aggression spins out of control, his future with the Navy is on the line. Justin might not be in combat yet, but he'll have to figure how to readjust under pressure before it's too late.
Freedom Flight (Support and Defend)
by Patrick JonesHaving a parent return from military duty is a dream come true. But sometimes, coming home comes with problems. When Paige's mom returns from her final tour of Air Force duty, Paige couldn't be happier for things to go back to normal. But before long, Paige realizes her mom brought something else back with her—an addiction to pain pills. The irritable, medicated, zombie version of her mom isn't the person Paige wanted to come home. She'll try anything to get through to her mom and help her with her painful secret. But can Paige get her mom clean without ruining their relationship and her own ROTC dreams?
The Confessional (Suspended)
by Gabriel GoodmanI may be in trouble...but there's more to my story. All Jenny Vang wants to do is fit in. Not be popular. Not be cool. Just fit in. After changing schools more than once, she's an expert at it. The way to fit in at Monona High is to talk trash or make boasts on The Confessional, the school's unofficial gossip site. So of course Jenny joins in. But when Jenny lies about hooking up with a teacher, she's slammed with a two-month suspension. She's guilty. She's embarrassed. But is she also the victim of a double standard? Jenny learns her punishment is way harsher than normal. Now she'll have to own her mistake while standing up for herself too.
A Cut Too Far (Suspended)
by Herman BrownI may be in trouble...but there's more to my story. School has never been fun for Chace. Because of his huge jaw and crooked teeth, he rarely gets through a day of classes without bullies like Ivan taunting him. Things worsen when Chace's mom starts dating an Iranian man and Ivan's harassment takes a racist turn. Chace has had enough and decides to retaliate. But when Chace's Internet threats backfire, the result is a suspension from school. Now Chace will have to explain to his mom how his attempt to defend her made him look like the bad guy. And he'll have to figure out how to deal with a struggle that he can't seem to win.
High Drama (Suspended)
by Brandon TerrellDessa's life is changing...mostly because the life of her best friend, Kat, is changing. Kat has started dating a girl, Arwen, and she's trying to keep it on the down-low. Dessa is happy to keep the secret, but she starts hanging out with Kat's theater friends, hoping to learn more about Kat's new relationship. Everything's going great until Dessa accidentally lets Kat's secret slip. Some other students quickly make Kat a target—and Dessa takes steps to defend her friend that leave her suspended. Suddenly Dessa has to find ways to support her friend—and rebuild Kat's trust—while keeping off of school grounds.
Over the Tracks (Suspended)
by Heather Duffy StoneFor most of Lucy's life, it's just been her and her mom, and Lucy's been okay with that. But when a serious illness strikes Lucy's mother, Lucy has to grow up faster than she expected. As the illness gets worse and money gets tighter, even a school trip—which Lucy hoped would give her a break from home—seems out of reach. Out of frustration and desperation, Lucy starts selling her mom's medical marijuana. But she's not exactly an experienced dealer. And when Lucy gets busted, she has some serious explaining to do—to school authorities, to the police, and to her mom.
Testing the Truth (Suspended)
by Shannon KnudsenI may be in trouble...but there's more to my story. When Kai Tamura sneaks into Ms. Opal's classroom for a look at an upcoming exam, he discovers that he's not the only one breaking rules. Ms. Opal is changing answers on her students' standardized tests—and Kai snaps some photos to prove it. Kai doesn't decide to bust Ms. Opal right away. He was trying to cheat too, after all. But a classroom conflict forces Kai to put Ms. Opal's actions out in the open. Soon Kai has a new problem: people don't believe him. Forget about a lousy exam score—Kai's suspension from school will really hurt his record, unless he can prove his photos are legit. [List of series titles]
Around the World in Eighty Days: The Classic Adventure Novel By Jules Verne (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Jules VerneThe eccentric, wealthy Englishman Phileas Fogg undertakes a daring wager that he can make it around the world in eighty days. Accompanied by Passepartout—his jack-of-all-trades French manservant—Fogg sets off on a journey ranging from the forests of India to the plains of North America, traveling by everything from train to elephant. But they are being pursued by Detective Fix, who suspects Fogg of robbing a bank. Will Fogg make it back to London in time to win the wager? Or will Fix catch him first? This is an unabridged version of French author Jules Verne's classic travelogue, translated into English by George Makepeace Towle and published in 1873.
As You Like It (First Avenue Classics ™)
by William ShakespeareMembers of the royal court escape their problems by running away, only to find themselves in complicated love triangles. Upon the death of their father, Oliver is charged with taking care of his younger brother Orlando. Instead, Oliver does everything possible to ensure Orlando's downfall, and the younger brother flees to the nearby Forest of Arden. Meanwhile Rosalind's guardian—her power-hungry uncle, who took the throne from her father—decides to banish her from court. Rosalind also flees to the forest, disguising herself as a man. A tale of hidden identities and tangled love plots, this unabridged version of the pastoral comedy by English playwright William Shakespeare was first published in 1623.
The Awakening and Selected Short Stories (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Kate ChopinThis collection of Kate Chopin's works includes her novel The Awakening and eight of her most well-known short stories. The Awakening was condemned by most critics when it was first published in 1899 but now is celebrated for its early feminist views. Chopin advocates for women's rights in this novel, chronicling a housewife's evolution from an obedient wife and mother into a liberated, independent woman. Also included in this collection is Chopin's celebrated short story "Desiree's Baby," which addresses the subject of racial prejudice. The novel and stories in this unabridged collection reflect the best of this American author's life work, published over the years from 1893 until after her death in 1904.
The Comedy of Errors (First Avenue Classics ™)
by William ShakespeareThe merchant Egeon is caught crossing the border from Syracuse into the rival city of Ephesus—a crime punishable by death. But Egeon isn't a criminal; he's merely trying to find his wife and one of his twin sons, who were separated from him after a shipwreck twenty-five years ago. The Duke takes pity on Egeon after hearing his story and grants him a day to raise the money necessary to save his life. What Egeon isn't aware of is that both of his twin sons are now in Ephesus, and with two identical sons in one city, strange mix-ups are bound to happen. A tale of mistaken identities, this unabridged version of one of English playwright William Shakespeare's earliest comedic plays was first performed in 1594 and published in Shakespeare's First Folio in 1623.
Dubliners (First Avenue Classics ™)
by James JoyceThis collection of fifteen short stories by Irish author James Joyce examines how one's surroundings can shape and influence a person. Although initially considered too edgy for publication, Dubliners later became a classic as readers began to appreciate Joyce's realistic fiction. In each story, Joyce documents the daily lives and hardships of fictional Dublin citizens. Joyce's collection progresses from the struggles of childhood to the struggles of adulthood. This collection includes one of Joyce's most famous short stories, "The Dead," which depicts the ways memories of the past can intrude upon the present. Joyce provides a glimpse into twentieth-century Irish culture and history in this unabridged short story collection, first published in 1914.
Heart of Darkness: New Edition - Heart Of Darkness By Joseph Conrad (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Joseph ConradIt is the late nineteenth century, and colonial powers have claimed various parts of the African continent. Marlow, a riverboat captain for a Belgian ivory trading firm, is traveling up the Congo River to meet Kurtz, the manager of one of the company's trading stations. Marlow witnesses the brutal colonization practices and treatment of the native inhabitants. Equally fascinated and puzzled by Kurtz, who is both feared and treated like a god by the natives, Marlow tries to understand this mad man. Exploring the roots of evil amidst the corrupt influence of imperialism, this unabridged version of the horror novella by Polish author Joseph Conrad was first published serially in England in 1899.
Leaves of Grass: 1st Edition 1855 (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Walt WhitmanIn Leaves of Grass, American poet Walt Whitman assembled most of his poetic works. Included in this collection are some of Whitman's most famous poems, including "Song of Myself," "I Sing the Body Electric," "Out of the Cradle Endlessly Rocking," and "O Captain! My Captain!" The first edition of Leaves of Grass was published in 1855 and contained only twelve poems. Whitman kept revising his collection throughout his life; the final edition contains more than three hundred poems. This is an unabridged version of the poems from the final edition of Whitman's celebrated collection, published shortly before his death in 1892.
The Legend of Sleepy Hollow: From The Listless Repose Of The Place, And The Peculiar Character Of Its Inhabitants, Who Are Descendants From The Original Dutch Settlers, This Sequestered Glen Has Long Been Known By Name Of Sleepy Hollow (First Avenue Classics ™)
by Washington IrvingLegend has it that the town of Sleepy Hollow is haunted by the ghost of the terrifying Headless Horseman. Ichabod Crane, the town's superstitious new school teacher, is about to find out if the legend is true. Ichabod has his heart set on marrying the beautiful heiress Katrina Van Tassel and acquiring her father's extravagant wealth. But local boy Brom Bones is also competing for her hand in marriage. He is willing to do just about anything to win her, including prey on Crane's overactive imagination. This is an unabridged version of one of American writer Washington Irving's most famous short stories, which gave rise to the American Gothic genre of writing. It was first published in 1820.