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Medicine Wheel for the Planet: A Journey Toward Personal and Ecological Healing
by Jennifer GrenzA personal journey of bringing together Western science and Indigenous ecology to transform our understanding of the human role in healing our planetI used to be an ecologist. . . . Now, I am a community gatherer, working to help bring healing beyond just the land. I am a story-listener. I am a storyteller. I am a shaper of ecosystems. I work on bringing communities together, in circle, to listen to each other. A farm kid at heart, and a Nlaka&’pamux woman of mixed ancestry, Dr. Jennifer Grenz always felt a deep connection to the land. However, after nearly two decades of working as a restoration ecologist in the Pacific Northwest, she became frustrated that despite the best efforts of her colleagues and numerous volunteers, they weren&’t making the meaningful change needed for plant, animal, and human communities to adapt to a warming climate. Restoration ecology is grounded in an idea that we must return the natural world to an untouched, pristine state, placing humans in a godlike role—a notion at odds with Indigenous histories of purposeful, reciprocal interaction with the environment. This disconnect sent Dr. Grenz on a personal journey of joining her head (Western science) and her heart (Indigenous worldview) to find a truer path toward ecological healing. In Medicine Wheel for the Planet, building on sacred stories, field observations, and her own journey, Dr. Grenz invites readers to share in the teachings of the four directions of the medicine wheel: the North, which draws upon the knowledge and wisdom of elders; the East, where we let go of colonial narratives and see with fresh eyes; the South, where we apply new-old worldviews to envision a way forward; and the West, where a relational approach to land reconciliation is realized. Eloquent, inspiring, and disruptive, Medicine Wheel for the Planet circles around an argument that we need more than a singular worldview to protect the planet and make the significant changes we are running out of time for.
Worlds Built to Fall Apart: Versions of Philip K. Dick (Univocal)
by David LapoujadePhilosophically analyzing the work of one of the twentieth century&’s most popular, and peculiar, science fiction authors Despite his enduring popularity, Philip K. Dick (1928–1982)—whose short stories and novels were adapted into or influenced many major films and television shows, including Blade Runner, Total Recall, The Truman Show, and The Man in the High Castle—has long been a marginal figure in American literature, even in the science fiction genre he helped revolutionize. Here, an influential French philosopher offers a major new perspective on an author who was known as much for his eccentricities and excesses as for his writing. For David Lapoujade, it is precisely the many ways in which Dick&’s works seem to hover on the brink of losing all touch with reality that make him such a singular figure, both as a sci-fi author and as a thinker of contemporary life. In Worlds Built to Fall Apart, Lapoujade defines sci-fi as a way of thinking through the creation of worlds and argues that Dick does so by creating worlds that fall rapidly to pieces. Whatever his mechanism to bring this about (drugs or madness, alien satellite transmissions or encroaching parallel universes), the effect is always to reveal reality to be a construction, in which certain people determine what appears as real to the rest of us. Orienting Dick within philosophy and drawing connections to a wide variety of other thinkers and artists, this remarkable reading shows how he proposes unstable, fluctuating futures in which tinkering with reality has become the best means of resisting total control. Engaging with most of Philip K. Dick&’s published works, as well as with several of his essays and his notorious psychic autobiography The Exegesis, Lapoujade hones in on the &“war of the psyches&” that underlies Dick&’s critique of reality. He puts Dick&’s work in conversation with a vast array of subjects—from cybernetics to schizoanalysis, and from Pop art to David Lynch, J. G. Ballard, and William S. Burroughs—revealing Dick&’s oeuvre to comprise a profound reality defined by artifice, precarity, and control. Retail e-book files for this title are screen-reader friendly.
Home in the Morning
by Mary GlickmanA Southern family confronts the tumult of the 1960s, and the secrets that bind its members together, in a novel by a National Jewish Book Award finalist. Jackson Sassaport is a man who often finds himself in the middle. Whether torn between Stella, his beloved and opinionated Yankee wife, and Katherine Marie, the African American girl who first stole his teenage heart; or between standing up for his beliefs and acquiescing to his prominent Jewish family&’s imperative to not stand out in the segregated South, Jackson learns to balance the secrets and deceptions of those around him. But one fateful night in 1960 will make the man in the middle reconsider his obligations to propriety and family, and will start a chain of events that will change his life and the lives of those around him forever. Home in the Morning follows Jackson&’s journey from his childhood as a coddled son of the Old South to his struggle as a young man eager to find his place in the civil rights movement while protecting his family. Flashing back between Jackson's adult life as a successful lawyer and his youth, Mary Glickman&’s riveting novel traces the ways that race and prejudice, family and love intertwine to shape our lives. This ebook features rare photos and never-before-seen documents from the author&’s personal collection.
One More River
by Mary GlickmanA Southern man delves into his father&’s past in this National Jewish Book Award Finalist from the &“fantastically talented&” author of Home in the Morning (Good Choice Reading). Bernard Levy was always a mystery to the community of Guilford, Mississippi. He was even more of a mystery to his son, Mickey Moe, who was just four years old when his father died in World War II. Now it&’s 1962 and Mickey Moe is a grown man, who must prove his pedigree to the disapproving parents of his girlfriend, Laura Anne Needleman, to win her hand in marriage. With only a few decades-old leads to go on, Mickey Moe sets out to uncover his father&’s murky past, from his travels up and down the length of the Mississippi River to his heartrending adventures during the Great Flood of 1927. Mickey Moe&’s journey, taken at the dawn of the civil rights era, leads him deep into the backwoods of Mississippi and Tennessee, where he meets with danger and unexpected revelations at every turn. As the greatest challenge of his life unfolds, he will finally discover the gripping details of his father&’s life—one filled with loyalty, tragedy, and heroism in the face of great cruelty from man and nature alike. A captivating follow-up to Mary Glickman&’s bestselling Home in the Morning, One More River tells the epic tale of ordinary men caught in the grip of calamity, and inspired to extraordinary acts in the name of love.
Chicken Dance
by Tammi SauerIt’s time for the barnyard talent show, and this year the prize is big: tickets to see Elvis Poultry in concert. Chickens Marge and Lola must use all their pluck to outsmart their smarmy duck competition in this hysterically goofy story of big dreams, little talent, and one very famous bird.
Collision
by Jeff AbbottThe international bestseller returns with his most ambitious, multidimensional, and tightly crafted thriller yet, a breakout achievement featuring his hallmark blend of ordinary people in extraordinary danger. Collision is the story of two men living very different lives—Ben Forsberg, a successful corporate consultant who is mourning the murder of his new bride; the other, a former CIA agent known only as “Pilgrim,” whose current assignment for a fringer espionage agency is so treacherous he doesn’t trust even his own boss. When they are thrown together in a violent, unexpected event, Ben and Pilgrim realize that they’ve been framed in an elaborate setup. Unsure who to trust and who may just be trying to draw them into the open, the unlikely partners have no choice but to work together. But with everything at stake, Ben has no idea that Pilgrim is harboring some shocking secrets of his own—secrets that will soon force Ben to confront just how blurred the line has become between best friends and bitter enemies.
Footprints in the Snow (He's a Mystery #1)
by Cassie MilesA beautiful scientist in the Rocky Mountains is rescued by a WWII-era soldier in the USA Today–bestselling author’s suspenseful time travel romance.Geologist Shana Parisi is enjoying the natural wonders of the Rocky Mountains when a powerful blizzard catches her off guard—and thrusts her back in time to the 1940s. Sergeant Luke Rawlins of the 10th Mountain Division rescues her from danger, but it’s the mesmerizing look in his eyes that captures her heart . . . and forges their destiny.Luke knows bringing the beautiful Shana back to his cabin poses a threat to his secrets, but a foreign enemy is hot on their trail and Shana’s snowy footprints are all they need to track her down. Once entrenched in his world, Luke urges her to remain silent about what she saw. Because the alternative could be deadly. . . .
What They Said About Luisa
by Erika RummelAn enchanting tale of the complex and fascinating life of Luisa Abrego of Seville, an emancipated woman who forges a new future for herself in colonial Mexico and gets caught in the Spanish Inquisition.Luisa Abrego, an enslaved woman in Seville, is impregnated by her master, then set free upon his death. With limited options for her future, Luisa agrees to marry a white man who wants to take her with him to Mexico, even though it means leaving her infant son behind in the care of nuns. The couple set off on a dangerous sea voyage and a perilous trek across unconquered territory, and when the settlers’ caravan is attacked by Indigenous warriors, Luisa is forced to kill a man in self-defence. Years later, still wracked with guilt and convinced she must atone for her sin, Luisa confesses to having made a promise of marriage to another man long before, in Spain. By the laws of the church this makes her a bigamist, a criminal who must be tried by the fearsome Inquisition.Based on sixteenth-century trial records of the real Luisa, this novel is not just one woman’s life in fragments but a carefully researched imagining, told in the vivid, distinct voices of the Europeans who came into contact with her.
Black Cake, Turtle Soup, and Other Dilemmas: Essays
by Gloria BlizzardA diasporic collection of essays on music, memory, and motion.In this powerful and deeply personal collection, Gloria Blizzard uses traditional narrative essays, hybrid structures, and the tools of poetry to negotiate the complexities of culture, geography, and language in an international diasporic quest.These essays of wayfinding accompany anyone exploring issues of belonging — to a family, a neighbourhood, a group, or a country. Here, the small is profound, the intimate universal; the questions are all relevant and the answers of our times require simultaneous multiple perspectives.
We Were the Bullfighters
by Marianne K. Miller“A window into Canada's role in the making of Ernest Hemingway in clear, clean prose.” — Lee Gowan, author of The Beautiful PlaceSent to cover bank robber Red Ryan’s daring prison break, a young Ernest Hemingway becomes fascinated with the convict.In 1923, Ernest Hemingway, struggling with the responsibilities of marriage and unexpected fatherhood, has just made a big mistake. He decided that for the baby’s first year he would interrupt his fledgling writing career in Paris and move his family to North America. No longer a freelancer, he now has a gruelling job with a difficult boss, as a staff reporter for the Toronto Daily Star. On his first day, already feeling hemmed in by circumstances, he’s sent to cover a prison break at Kingston Pen. The escaped convicts, led by notorious bank robber Norman “Red” Ryan, are on the run, making their way from the bush north of Kingston, to the streets of Toronto, and then through towns and cities across the United States. Their crimes become more brazen, their lifestyle increasingly glamorous. Growing more and more preoccupied with Ryan and his willingness to risk everything to be free, Hemingway ponders duty, freedom, and what stops a man from pursuing his dreams.
Eris
by Larry GaudetAn anarchist online group sets out to assassinate the corporate elites they believe have turned culture into a digital nightmare.“A blistering look at what our online and offline lives have devolved into at the hands of our corporate tech overlords and their lackeys in government.” — ROBERT J. SAWYER, Hugo Award–winning authorDon Barton is the visionary creator of Greenhouse, a popular immersive game where millions play at “saving the environment” in the surreal digital landscapes of the metaverse. Now retired to his plutocratic wealth, he learns his teen son, a gifted gamer, has suddenly gone missing, having joined a terrorist group led by a mysterious young woman, Eris, a former cryptocurrency trader. She’s on a mission to destroy the world’s entertainment and social media platforms and assassinate the corporate elites who run them.In desperation, Barton roams Greenhouse, the only place his radicalized son will talk to him, learning that the game — his life’s work — is on the terrorist hit list. And both his life and his son’s are in danger.A RARE MACHINES BOOK
Soapstone Signs (Orca Echoes)
by Jeff PinkneyOne spring, a nine-year-old Cree boy is visited by a master soapstone carver named Lindy, who gives him four pieces of soapstone. The primary secret to carving, the boy learns, is recognizing that each piece of soapstone already holds its true form inside. Lindy teaches the boy to listen to the soapstone and look to the world around him for signs as to what to carve. As the seasons change, the young boy’s experiences lend him opportunities to develop his carving skills and become attuned to the signs around him. He eagerly awaits the following spring, which will bring Lindy’s return and a chance to show off his carvings. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Beatrice More Moves In (Orca Echoes)
by Alison HughesBeatrice More is no average third-grader. Beatrice is a list-making, hyperorganized perfectionist whose laid-back parents and messy little sister consistently frustrate her high standards. And when a new house, a new neighborhood and new friends are thrown into the mix, Beatrice sends the family into a comic tailspin, all in the name of “professionalism.” Despite her most feverish organizational efforts, Beatrice ultimately discovers that some of the best experiences are the ones you can’t control. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Three Good Things (Orca Currents)
by Lois PetersonLeni has lived in so many different places in the last few years that she’s not surprised when her mom wakes her in the middle of the night and tells her to pack up her things. The reason for this move? Her mom tells her they have won the lottery, and they have to go underground. Leni is still not surprised when they end up in a filthy motel. But when Leni makes a new friend and tries to explain their lifestyle, she begins to understand just how messed up her life has become. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Diwali: Festival of Lights (Orca Origins #2)
by Rina SinghDiwali explores the history of the festival of lights and examines how the festival is celebrated around the world. Rina Singh shares her personal stories and experiences of Diwali, enriching this comprehensive resource. This volume features recipes for traditional foods eaten at Diwali, including two recipes by acclaimed chef, Vikram Vij. This book is part of the Orca Origins series that explores cultural celebrations throughout the world. Rina Singh is an award-winning children’s author. Diwali was nominated for the 2018 Red Cedar Awards. Originally released in 2016, Diwali is now available in paperback.
Batcat and the Seven Squirrels (Orca Echoes)
by Eric WaltersNathan has always loved animals and longs for a pet. When a baby squirrel shows up at Nathan's door, he wonders what could have happened to its mother. It isn't long before his family discovers six more orphaned baby squirrels in need of food and shelter. With help from Batcat, a neighborhood cat who is fed by many but owned by no one, Nathan learns to care for the squirrels. But all babies must leave the nest eventually. Will Nathan finally find a pet to call his own? The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Shatterproof (Orca Currents)
by Jocelyn ShipleyThirteen-year-old Nate needs a break from looking after his newly disabled mom. One day when Nate's mom thinks he's at a cross-country meet, he goes to the mall with a friend he's forbidden to have contact with. At the skate shop he sees a new board he can't afford but has to have, and Nate gets talked into running a scam. It turns out Nate looks a lot like a teen TV star filming in the area. So he and his buddy get girls to pay cash to be extras on set. It's all fine until Nate meets a girl he really likes. Nate knows he has to tell her the truth, but he's not sure he has what it takes to come clean. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Bats in Trouble (Orca Echoes)
by Pamela McDowellCricket McKay is on the case! Cricket McKay and her best friend, Shilo, are enjoying the last few weeks of summer vacation when they discover that something is killing bats around Grandpa McKay's farm. Could the new wind turbines be the cause? The kids do some detective work and then jump into action coming up with a plan to save the bats. Bats in Trouble is the third book featuring animal-activist Cricket MacKay. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Black Gold (Orca Echoes)
by Sara CassidyBlack Gold is the third book featuring Cyrus and Rudy’s adventures on the farm, following Not for Sale and Blackberry Juice. Cyrus and Rudy spend the last days of summer selling dahlias, blackberries and tomatoes at their roadside stand. When a neighbor drops off a bin full of red wigglers, California earthworms that break down compost into fertilizer, Rudy and Cyrus become worm moguls as they discover just how in demand the Eisenia fetida are. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Soapstone Porcupine (Orca Echoes)
by Jeff PinkneyThe dog shows up the way snow does on a winter's day. She just drifts in and stays, becoming the friend of a young Cree boy. The boy and the dog set out on an adventure that ends in a quandary involving quills and a big brother who swears to take revenge on the porcupine. But Lindy, a Cree elder and master carver, reminds the brothers of the importance of the great porcupine. After a day spent carving in town, the boy learns some truths about human nature and realizes that sometimes, like the porcupine, you must put your quills up to keep from getting pushed around. Soapstone Porcupine is the second book, after Soapstone Signs, narrated by a young Cree boy. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Where's Burgess? (Orca Echoes)
by Laurie ElmquistReece Hansen is missing two things: his father and his frog. Reece's parents are newly separated, and his dad is now living in another city, fighting forest fires. Reece struggles to get used to daily life without him. When he loses his pet frog, Burgess, Reece puts posters up around the neighborhood. But frogs are difficult to find. It takes an unusual classmate, the boy who wears a bathrobe to school, to pull Reece's attention away from Burgess. Through his new friend and a camping trip with his mom, Reece learns that friends can come in human form and families are resilient even when things change. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
The Great Googlini (Orca Echoes)
by Sara CassidyFilip, the ten-year-old son of Croatian immigrants, lives in a boring suburb of the big city, where he passes his time either at school or in his cozy kitchen, googling everything from dinosaurs to the Hubble Space Telescope. When his favorite uncle gets sick, Filip turns to Google for answers. Instead he receives a visit from the Great Googlini, a tiny woman in Converse sneakers who swirls out of the computer vents. She's not really a genie, she explains: "I'm more of an archivist." Her visit is a little bit of magic that lets Filip see the magic all around him. Ultimately about the things we can know and the things we can't, this is a smart, touching, funny chapter book about growing up, braving tough times and looking for answers. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Conservation Canines: How Dogs Work for the Environment (Orca Wild #7)
by Isabelle GrocKey Selling Points The book examines how dogs are chosen and trained for conservation work and details the kind of work they do all over the world, in Africa, Italy, Portugal, France, Australia, Haida Gwaii and the United States. The author is a highly respected photojournalist, filmmaker and the author of Gone is Gone: Wildlife Under Threat and Sea Otters: A Survival Story, which are also part of the Orca Wild series. Isabelle Groc's stunning photos of working dogs give the book a hands-on feel. For fans of the TV show Dogs With Jobs—but for the environment! Includes a foreword by award-winning actor, director, producer and author Anjelica Huston.
Crime Club (Orca Soundings)
by Melodie CampbellKey Selling Points Melodie Campbell is the author of the popular Gina Gallo Mystery series and the Arthur Ellis Best Crime novella finalist The B-Team: The Case of the Angry First Wife. The author is a former comedy writer and got her start writing stand-up. Enhanced features (dyslexia-friendly font, cream paper, larger trim size) to increase reading accessibility for dyslexic and other striving readers
Haunted Hospital (Orca Currents)
by Marty ChanIs this place actually haunted by ghosts? Or something even more terrifying? Xander thinks the George Wickerman Hospital would be the perfect setting for Spirits and Specters, a role-playing game where players go on “missions” to find evidence of paranormal activities. According to local legend, tuberculosis patients were used as test subjects in medical experiments that ended tragically, and their disfigured ghosts walk the hallways of this now-abandoned building. What better location to go ghost hunting? Even though they didn’t really believe the rumors, Xander and his friends soon begin to suspect that they are not alone. This short novel is a high-interest, low-reading level book for middle-grade readers who are building reading skills, want a quick read or say they don’t like to read! Orca Book Publishers is pleased to offer Haunted Hospital in two accessible editions. The audiobook features alternate text descriptions of images, including the cover. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.