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Pakistan
by Clarissa AkroydWhen the British Empire partitioned its Indian colony in 1947, it created two independent states: India, where most people were Hindus, and Pakistan, where most were Muslims. Violence immediately broke out, during which approximately 250,000 people were killed and a million became refugees. Since then Pakistan and India have fought several wars, and tensions between the two countries during the late 1990s nearly led to another conflict-one that might have been devastating, as both countries now possess nuclear weapons. This book examines the economic and political issues facing Pakistan today. It provides up-to-date information about the country's geography and climate, history, society, important cities and communities, and relations with other countries.
Mrs. Ravenbach's Way
by William M. AkersA wickedly funny first novel about a dictatorial teacher and the irrepressible boy who stands up to her.Being a new student at the McKegway School for Clever and Gifted Children is crummy enough, but when Toby Wilcox is stuck in the fourth grade homeroom of Mrs. Ravenbach, a vainglorious German tyrant who worships "the order and the discipline," he faces a much bigger challenge--fight back or be ground to goo in the gears of Teutonic efficiency. Toby upends Mrs. Ravenbach's perfectly ordered universe and risks everything to strike a blow for free-thinkers everywhere! Mrs. Ravenbach's Way is the first book in the series: The Amazing Escapades of Toby Wilcox.d the resilience. This deft, highly original debut will appeal to readers young and old. Mrs. Ravenbach's Way is the first book in The Amazing Escapades of Toby Wilcox series.
Tatsu the Dragon
by Helen Van Aken Yoshie NoguchiThis multicultural children's book tells a mythical Japanese tale about dragons and adventure.Tatsu wasn't a real dragon. Jiro and Zenji made him for a festival parade, out of bamboo hoops and cloth.<P><P> But as soon as he was finished, he began to feel like a real dragon, even though he didn't have any wings.When the magic balloon man blew him up so he could slither around, and gave him a tin horn for a voice, Tatsu thought it was time for him to go out and rescue a beautiful maiden in distress. That was how he met Kiku and the wicked Chief Executioner; and how, in the end, he got his wings.Young readers can follow Tatsu on his adventures all over Japan, from the Fire Festival on an island in the Inland Sea (where he was mistaken for a fire demon), to the top of an erupting volcano, in an exciting story set in the authentic Japan of feudal times.
Playground
by Lizzi Akana 50 CentA hard-hitting and inspirational novel about the redemption of a bully from international icon 50 Cent <P> Thirteen-year-old Butterball takes readers on a journey through the moments that made him into the playground bully he is today. Loosely inspired by 50 Cent's own adolescence and written with his teenage son in mind, Playground received wide critical praise--and is now poised to become a perennial classic.
Listen Up!: Exploring the World of Natural Sound (Orca Footprints #24)
by Stephen AitkenThe sounds of nature are being drowned out by the clamor of human activity, and that's not good for people, animals or the environment. Every living thing emits sound—birds sing, whales whistle, streams burble and trees pop and fizzle. In Listen Up, young readers are introduced to all the sounds of the natural world, from the first Big Bang to the complex soundscapes of the rainforests. Readers will also discover how the invasion of human sounds, from airplanes, traffic and machines, is threatening the survival of species that have adapted to their habitats over thousands of years. Conserving the sounds of nature is an important part of addressing the biggest challenges facing humanity today—protecting the planet's biodiversity and the future of our natural world.
Saving the Night: How Light Pollution Is Harming Life on Earth (Orca Footprints #26)
by Stephen AitkenKey Selling Points Light pollution is threatening the survival of plants and animals all over the world and the ecosystems they depend on. For example, millions of migratory birds die every year because of light pollution. More than 80 percent of the world lives under skyglow from artificial lights. Two-thirds of the U.S. population and more than one-half of the European population can't see the Milky Way with the naked eye. The skyglow from Los Angeles can be seen by a plane 500 miles away. Light pollution and artificial lights like LEDs have a detrimental effect on human health and upsets our circadian rhythm. It has also been linked to some cancers. Plants and animals have adapted to live in darkness over millions of years. Darkness is as necessary as daylight for their survival. Stephen Aitken is a biologist and the author ofListen Up , also in the Orca Footprints series.
Dinner
by César AiraOne Saturday night a bankrupt bachelor in his sixties and his mother dine with a wealthy friend. They discuss their endlessly connected neighbors.<P><P> They talk about a mysterious pit that opened up one day, and the old bricklayer who sometimes walked to the cemetery to cheer himself up. Anxious to show off his valuable antiques, the host shows his guests old windup toys and takes them to admire an enormous doll. Back at home, the bachelor decides to watch some late night TV before retiring. The news quickly takes a turn for the worse as, horrified, the newscaster finds herself reporting about the dead rising from their graves, leaving the cemetery, and sucking the blood of the living--all somehow, disturbingly reminiscent of the dinner party.
The Disneyland Quest
by Matt Ainsworth15 year-old Dizzy Walker and his 6 year-old sister Ana are about to meet their mom's new boyfriend, Steve, and his son, Travis, for the first time. To make the introduction go smoothly, Steve brings Dizzy and his family to his favorite place in the world; Disneyland. When they arrive at Disneyland, they learn about a once in a lifetime treasure hunt called The Disneyland Quest. Clues are hidden throughout the theme park, leading the quest participants to the combination of the vault set up on Main Street and the $250,000 prize inside. Dizzy, Ana, and Travis must work together in a race against the clock, thousands of opponents, and the mysterious man in red who follows them throughout the Quest. Friendship, perseverance, and trust are all put to the test in The Disneyland Quest.
Detained (AI High)
by Claire AinslieAfter getting caught while vandalizing his school, Max, an android student, is sent to detention. Tensions run high between the androids and humans there, but when a human boy, Oliver, stands up for Max, he starts to reconsider his negative views on humans. The two start an unlikely friendship, and now Max must choose between his own community and his new friend.
The One (Reality Show)
by Claire AinslieHer friend signed her up for a reality dating show as a joke, but when Charlotte is selected, she decides to go ahead with it, in the hopes of winning a scholarship. The four contestants have to win over Dominic, and at first he is exactly like she expected him to be—an arrogant player. But when she gets to know him behind the scenes, he seems like a great guy. As she develops feelings for him, she begins to question her motivations. Maybe true love really can be found, even in the middle of a fraud.
The Cure for Cold Feet
by Beth AinJunior high school girls, meet your new BFF! Izzy Kline faces all the drama of middle school with total honesty and deep heart.Hiding out in the girls' bathroom . . .FaceTiming one friend while group chatting two others . . .Forced to ballroom dance with a boy for a social studies unit . . .There is a LOT going on in middle school. New experiences and shifting dynamics are around every turn. And it's not just her friends--Izzy's family is shifting as well. It's anxiety-inducing but also thrilling as Izzy learns to stake her claim.For fans of Fish in a Tree and verse novels like Brown Girl Dreaming, Beth Ain's books perfectly capture the drama of adolescence with a ton of light humor and deep heart.
Izzy Kline Has Butterflies
by Beth AinSo many moments—big and small—make up a year, and Beth Ain chronicles them all in this heartwarming novel in verse, perfect for fans of Fish in a Tree and verse novels like Brown Girl Dreaming and The Crossover. Fourth grade is here, and Izzy Kline is nervous! There are plenty of reasons for the butterflies in her stomach to flap their wings. There’s a new girl in her class who might be a new best friend. The whole grade is performing Free to Be . . . You and Me—and Izzy really wants a starring role. And new changes at home are making Izzy feel like her family is falling apart. First-day jitters, new friends, an audition . . . How many butterfly problems can one fourth grader take?
Men of the 65th: The Borinqueneers of the Korean War
by Talia Aikens-NuñezHonor and Fidelity. That is the motto of the 65th Infantry Regiment, also known as the Borinqueneers, the only Puerto Rican unit in the United States Army. Since the regiment’s creation in 1899, the men of the 65th have proudly served the US through multiple wars, despite facing racial discrimination. Their courage, loyalty, and patriotism earned them hundreds of accolades, including the Congressional Gold Medal in 2014. But the honor and fidelity of the men of the 65th came into question in 1952, in the midst of the Korean War, when ninety-one Borinqueneers were arrested and tried for desertion and disobeying orders. How could this happen in one of the most distinguished and decorated units of the Army? In this telling of one of the forgotten stories of the Korean War, author Talia Aikens-Nuñez guides us through the history of the Borinqueneers and the challenges they faced leading up to what was the largest court martial in the entire war. Rediscover the bravery of the men of the 65th through Aikens-Nuñez’s thorough writing and the soldiers’ firsthand accounts of the Korean War.
OMG... Am I a Witch?! (OMG Series #1)
by Talia Aikens-NuñezA silver winner of the IBPA Benjamin Franklin Awards, OMG… Am I a Witch?! is sure to please young readers."This fast-paced, humorous book is a fun read."—Susan Heim, parenting author and editor, Chicken Soup for the Soul"OMG...Am I A Witch?! is an easy to read, well-balanced, chapter book that will satisfy young readers, fuel their imaginations, and entertain."—Project MayhemApril Appleton is so annoyed at her older brother that she searches the Internet for a spell to turn him into a dog. When the spell works, April realizes she has more powers than she ever dreamed of! Now she has to figure out how to turn him back to normal before her parents find out. She has little time, but with help from her friends Grace and Eve, she finds a book of magic that will hopefully reverse the spell. Will it work, and will April&’s newfound magic save the day?Check out the other books in this series:OMG...I Did It Again?!OMG...Is He Also a Witch?!
OMG... I Did it Again?! (OMG Series #2)
by Talia Aikens-Nuñez"A sweet, fun, and magical read perfect for any young reader!"—Bianca Turetsky, author, The Time-Travelling FashionistaGrace, Eve, and April are at it again in this second book in the OMG series!April Appleton wakes up to quite the sight: a herd of elephants marching down her street! When her brother bursts into her room with an accusing look on his face, she realizes that her powers of witchcraft have done it again.With her friends, Grace and Eve, April must figure out how the elephants got to her town in the first place and then how to get them back home. But with elephants playing in the neighbor's pool, sitting on cars and eating everyone's trees, how will they do it?"Very well written … definitely recommend…"—Book Nook NutsCheck out the other books in this series:OMG...Am I a Witch?!OMG...Is He Also a Witch?!
The Shoemaker's Boy: Gripping Tales
by Joan Aiken Alan MarksAs Jem, the Shoemaker's boy, works at night in his father's shop he has three strange visitors asking for some silver keys. Jem must keep the silver keys safe, but how...?
The Scream
by Joan Aiken Ian AndrewWhen Davey and his sister are orphaned, their grandmother comes from a remote island to look after them--bringing macabre powers and dark secrets When Davey and his family moved to the city from the island of Muckle Burra off the coast of Scotland, they left his grandmother behind. But now his parents are dead--after a car accident that left Davey confined to a wheelchair--and Gran has moved in to take care of him and his sister, Lu-Lyn. A strange girl with a bizarre personality, Lu-Lyn is obsessed with 2 things: ballet and returning to Muckle Burra, where she was born. She believes that both she and Gran are "Ridders" who have strange, dark powers: With just 1 cast of their Evil Eye, bad things will start to happen. . . . When Lu-Lyn puts a terrible curse on the neighborhood boys who've been terrorizing her, it seems as if Gran's dark arts have followed her from Muckle Burra. Then tragedy rocks their family again, and Davey embarks on a journey that will reveal the true secret of his grandmother's rare gift--and the limitless power of his own potential. This ebook features illustrations by Ian Andrew and a personal history of Joan Aiken including rare images from the author's estate.
Arabel's Raven (Arabel and Mortimer)
by Joan AikenYoung Arabel's life is changed forever when her father, a taxi driver, brings home an injured bird he finds in the street. This wacky raven eats everything in sight, answers the telephone by squawking "Nevermore!" and causes chaos wherever he goes--but Arabel loves her new feathered friend, whom she names Mortimer. This is the first volume of Arabel and Mortimer's adventures, brightened with hilarious illustrations by Quentin Blake.
Black Hearts in Battersea (The Wolves Chronicles #2)
by Joan AikenSimon, the foundling from The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, arrives in London to meet an old friend and pursue the study of painting. Instead he finds himself unwittingly in the middle of a wicked crew's fiendish caper to overthrow the good King James and the Duke and Duchess of Battersea. With the help of his friend Sophie and the resourceful waif Dido, Simon narrowly escapes a series of madcap close calls and dangerous run-ins. In a time and place where villains do nothing halfway, Simon is faced with wild wolves, poisoned pies, kidnapping, and a wrecked ship. This is a cleverly contrived tale of intrigue and misadventure.
The Cuckoo Tree (The Wolves Chronicles #6)
by Joan AikenWhen Dido Twite sets foot back on English soil, more mischief awaits. As her friend Captain Hughes recovers from a carriage accident, Dido stays at the Dogkennel Cottages and meets the odd inhabitants of Tegleaze Manor: strange old Lady Tegleaze, her nephew, Tobit, and his wizened, witchy nurse, Sannie. Soon suspicious things happen. A priceless miniature is stolen. Tobit is framed and then kidnapped. A twin sister is found. And when Dido catches a glimpse of her rascally father in Petworth, she is sure she's in the midst of another Hanoverian plot. Can she get to London to warn the king and save St. Paul's Cathedral from sliding into the Thames?
Dido and Pa (The Wolves Chronicles #7)
by Joan AikenReaders who have followed Dido Twite's escapades in Black Hearts in Battersea and Nightbirds on Nantucket will welcome her return in another wild adventure. Now back in print, Dido and Pa continues the Wolves Chronicles, the exhilarating and imaginative series that stemmed from Joan Aiken's classic The Wolves of Willoughby Chase. Dido Twite is finally back home in London and reunited with her old friend Simon, now the Duke of Battersea and a favorite of King Richard. But no sooner does Dido start to settle in than her rascally father, Abednago, appears and drags her off into the night. Soon Dido finds herself caught up in the midst of another dastardly Hanoverian conspiracy: a plot involving a mysterious double for the king, the miraculous healing powers of music, and a spy network made up of abandoned street children called lollpoops. Meanwhile, out in the forest, starving wolves are closing in on the city . . .
Go Saddle the Sea
by Joan AikenFelix Brooke, the orphaned son of an English soldier and an aristocratic Spanish mother, has been raised in the strict, loveless household of his grandfather in Villaverde, Spain. When Felix gains possession of a letter that contains a clue to the whereabouts of his father's family, he gladly runs away form home to pursue the trail. His journey from Spain to far-off England begins the adventure of a lifetime.
Midnight is a Place
by Joan AikenLucas is lonely. Orphaned and sent to live with his formidable guardian in a vast mansion, he longs for a friend. Then Anna-Marie arrives. She's spoilt and wilful - and practically half his age. Lucas feels more alone than ever. But one night something terrible happens. Lucas and Anna-Marie face a terrifying and treacherous ordeal, alone in the hostile city streets. Together, they must fight to survive ...The 40th anniversary edition of a compelling tale of villainy and suspense - from the best-selling author of THE WOLVES OF WILLOUGHBY CHASE.
Midwinter Nightingale (Wolves Chronicles #10)
by Joan AikenDido and Simon are in danger in this new addition to the Wolves Chronicles. Dido, back in England from America, is almost instantly kidnapped and taken to a derelict mansion surrounded by a deadly moat. The evil baron residing there, who is also a werewolf, wants desperately to know where King Dick is hidden. For the king is dying, and the evil baron wants to put his own demented son on the throne. Meanwhile Simon is with the ailing king. Not only does King Dick want Simon to paint a portrait of him and his family, but Simon is also next in line for the throne. However, they do need to find the coronet for the ceremony that will crown Simon. Though the coronet is rumored to be in the derelict mansion where Dido is imprisoned, no one can find it. It's one cliffhanging, hair-raising chapter after another in this tongue-in-cheek, devilishly delicious adventure.From the Hardcover edition.