- Table View
- List View
Intelligent Security Solutions for Cyber-Physical Systems (Chapman & Hall/CRC Cyber-Physical Systems)
by Vandana Mohindru Sood Yashwant Singh Bharat Bhargava Sushil Kumar NarangA cyber-physical system (CPS) is a computer system in which a mechanism is controlled or monitored by computer-based algorithms and involves transdisciplinary approaches, merging theories of cybernetics, mechatronics, design, and process science. This text mainly concentrates on offering a foundational theoretical underpinning, and a comprehensive and coherent review of intelligent security solutions for cyber-physical systems. Features: • Provides an overview of cyber-physical systems (CPSs) along with security concepts like attack detection methods, cyber-physical systems failures, and risk identification and management. • Showcases cyber-physical systems (CPSs) security solutions, lightweight cryptographic solutions, and CPS forensics, etc. • Emphasizes machine learning methods for behavior-based intrusion detection in cyber-physical systems (CPSs), resilient machine learning for networked CPS, fog computing industrial CPS, etc. • Elaborates classification of network abnormalities in Internet of Things-based cyber-physical systems (CPSs) using deep learning. • Includes case studies and applications in the domain of smart grid systems, industrial control systems, smart manufacturing, social network and gaming, electric power grid and energy systems, etc.
Pop Art: A Colourful History
by Alastair SookePop Art by the BBC's Alastair Sooke - an essential but snappy new guide to our favourite art movementPop Art is the most important 20th-century art movement. It brought Modernism to the masses, making art sexy and fun with coke cans and comics. Today, in our age of selfies and social networking, we are still living in a world defined by Pop.Full of brand new interviews and research, Sooke describes the great works by Warhol, Lichtenstein and other key figures, but also re-examines the movement for the 21st century and asks if it is still art? He reveals a global story, tracing Pop's surprising origins in 19th-century Paris to uncovering the forgotten female artists of the 1960s."A clear and lively outline of the history of pop art ... a pleasure to read" - Sunday Times
Roy Lichtenstein: How Modern Art Was Saved by Donald Duck (Penguin Specials)
by Alastair SookeA Penguin Special on Roy Lichtenstein by Alastair Sooke - read in 2 hours or less'Why, Brad darling, this painting is a masterpiece! My, soon you'll have all of New York clamoring for your work!' Roy Lichtenstein - architect of Pop art, connoisseur of the comic strip, master of irony and prophet of popular culture. From exhilarating images of ice-cool jet pilots in dog fights, to blue-haired Barbie dolls drowning in scenes of domestic heartache, Lichtenstein's instantly recognisable paintings, with their Ben-Day dots and witty one-liners, defined the art of a generation. But how did a jobbing, unassuming painter of the Fifties become a world-famous Pop artist whose work today sells for millions? What do his paintings really tell us? And what is his legacy?This book, by art critic and broadcaster Alastair Sooke, is a perfect introduction to the artist and his work. Spanning Lichtenstein's career, and explaining his unique style, it is a journey through the life of one of the twentieth century's greatest artists.Published in time for a major new retrospective of the work of Roy Lichtenstein.'Sooke is an immensely engaging character. He has none of the weighty self-regard that often afflicts art experts and critics; rather he approaches his subjects with a questioning, open, exploratory attitude' Sarah Vine, The Times'His shows are excellent - clever, lively, scholarly, but not too lecturey; he's very good at linking his painters with the world outside the studio, and at how these artists have affected the world today' Sam Wollaston reviewing 'Modern Masters', GuardianAlastair Sooke is deputy art critic of the Daily Telegraph. He has written and presented documentaries on television and radio for the BBC, including Modern Masters, an acclaimed BBC One series that chronicled modern art in the twentieth century. Since 2009 he has reported regularly for The Culture Show on BBC Two. He was educated at Christ Church, Oxford, and at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.
Errors in Medical Science Investigations
by Hamid SooriThis book introduces all common errors in medical science fields and the ways to control them. Systematic errors could be controlled both during study design and statistical analysis. Some errors have been presented in small segments but not in a comprehensive book. It covers many common errors that usually affect the research proposals, final reports, theses, and scientific presentations in the field of medical sciences as well as the rejection reasons on scientific papers. It will help researchers to control common errors using epidemiological and statistical methods.
UnPresidented: Politics, pandemics and the race that Trumped all others
by Jon SopelFear and loathing on the 2020 campaign trail...'26 February, White House Briefing RoomThe coronavirus feels like it is changing everything. Suddenly it's not just a public health emergency; it has the potential to upend this whole election...'In UnPresidented: Politics, pandemics and the race that Trumped all others, BBC North America Editor Jon Sopel presents a diary of an election like we've never quite seen before.Experience life as a reporter on the campaign trail, as the election heats up and a global pandemic slowly sweeps in. As American lives are lost at a devastating rate, the presidential race becomes a battle for the very soul of the nation - challenging not just the Trump presidency, but the very institutions of American democracy itself.In this highly personal account of reporting on America in 2020, Jon Sopel takes you behind the scenes of a White House in crisis and an election in turmoil, expertly laying bare the real story of the presidential campaign in a panoramic account of an election and a year like no other.
A Year At The Circus: Inside Trump's White House
by Jon SopelWelcome to the White House.At the heart of Washington, there is a circus. It's raucous, noisy and full of clowns. Reporting on it is a daily cacophony. Four major stories can blow up and blow out before breakfast, and political weather systems are moving at warp speed. The one thing absent from the weather forecast is the tranquil eye of the storm. That we never see. In A Year at the Circus: Inside Trump's White House, BBC North America Editor, Jon Sopel, takes you inside Trump’s West Wing and explores the impact this presidency has had on the most iconic of American institutions. Each chapter starts inside a famous Washington room, uncovering its history and its new resonance in the Trump era. You are invited to step inside the Oval Office where Trump called for loyalty from FBI Director James Comey, and experience life as a reporter in the Briefing Room, where the tense relationship between the media and the President is played out. Guiding you through these rooms, Jon reveals the inner workings of the Trump White House and details the key moments and conversations that have unfolded within its walls.From Kim Jong-un and Kavanaugh to Merkel and the Mueller Inquiry - this is your insider guide to the Washington Circus. Roll up, roll up ...
The Theban Plays: Antigone - Oedipus The King - Oedipus At Colonus (hardcover)
by SophoclesKing Oedipus/Oedipus at Colonus/AntigoneThree towering works of Greek tragedy depicting the inexorable downfall of a doomed royal dynastyThe legends surrounding the house of Thebes inspired Sophocles to create this powerful trilogy about humanity's struggle against fate. King Oedipus is the devastating portrayal of a ruler who brings pestilence to Thebes for crimes he does not realize he has committed and then inflicts a brutal punishment upon himself. Oedipus at Colonus provides a fitting conclusion to the life of the aged and blinded king, while Antigone depicts the fall of the next generation, through the conflict between a young woman ruled by her conscience and a king too confident of his own authority.Translated with an Introduction by E. F. WATLING
Divine Narcissus/El Divino Narciso
by Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz Renee DomeierSor Juana Ins de la Cruz, known as The Tenth Muse of America, has been widely anthologized as a poet, intellectual, and defender of women's rights. Her calling as a nun, often denigrated or overlooked, is clear in The Divine Narcissus/El Divino Narciso, the finest extant example of the auto sacramental, a medieval genre similar to mystery plays. <P><P>Autos presented a blend of poetry, instrumental and choral music, dance and special effects and were intended to provide theological instruction to a broad audience. The Divine Narcissus is an allegory ostensibly written to explain Christian concepts to the Aztecs whose plight under colonization it also dramatizes. It reveals a scintillating display of sacred and secular knowledge. <P><P>Scholars and students in Spanish literature, colonial history, and women's studies will welcome this drama by Americas first feminist in its original Spanish and first English translation.
The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting
by Richard D. Sorenson Lloyd M. GoldsmithAlign your school budget with your vision for student achievement Since 2006, The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting has been a best-seller, supporting thousands of principals in navigating the complex process of school budgeting. This fourth edition hones in on the message that a school budget should be a reflection of the school’s vision for student growth, an open culture, and a positive school climate. This edition offers new information on how national and state reform and political practices affect school allocations and emphasizes the need for appropriate budget visioning, planning, analysis, and needs assessment. Covering the budgeting process, effective budgeting practices, accounting and auditing procedures, and building the school budget within a collaborative decision-making context, this comprehensive guide includes: In-chapter vignettes and discussion questions Case study applications and experiential exercises A budget development project New discussion of technology′s impact on budgetary practices, phishing scams, and fundraising The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting is an essential resource for practicing and aspiring school administrators who want to master their accounting and auditing procedures. By effectively managing the school budgeting process, principals can contribute to improved student achievement and strengthen connections with the school community.
The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting
by Richard D. Sorenson Lloyd M. GoldsmithAlign your school budget with your vision for student achievement Since 2006, The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting has been a best-seller, supporting thousands of principals in navigating the complex process of school budgeting. This fourth edition hones in on the message that a school budget should be a reflection of the school’s vision for student growth, an open culture, and a positive school climate. This edition offers new information on how national and state reform and political practices affect school allocations and emphasizes the need for appropriate budget visioning, planning, analysis, and needs assessment. Covering the budgeting process, effective budgeting practices, accounting and auditing procedures, and building the school budget within a collaborative decision-making context, this comprehensive guide includes: In-chapter vignettes and discussion questions Case study applications and experiential exercises A budget development project New discussion of technology′s impact on budgetary practices, phishing scams, and fundraising The Principal′s Guide to School Budgeting is an essential resource for practicing and aspiring school administrators who want to master their accounting and auditing procedures. By effectively managing the school budgeting process, principals can contribute to improved student achievement and strengthen connections with the school community.
Saul Bellow: "I Was a Jew and an American and a Writer" (The Modern Jewish Experience)
by Gerald SorinSaul Bellow: "I Was a Jew and an American and a Writer" offers a fresh and original perspective on the life and works of Saul Bellow, the Nobel Prize winner in Literature in 1976. Author Gerald Sorin emphasizes Bellow's Jewish identity as fundamental to his being and the content and meaning of his fiction. Bellow's work from the 1940s to 2000, when he wrote his last novel at the age of 84, centers on the command in Deuteronomy to "Choose life" as distinct from nihilistic withdrawal and the defense of meaninglessness.Although Bellow disdained the label of "American Jewish Writer," Sorin conjectures that he was an outstanding representative of the classification. Bellow and the characters in his fiction not only choose life but also explore what it means to live a good life, however difficult that may be to define, and regardless of how much harder it is to achieve. For Sorin, Bellow realized that at least two obstacles stood in the way: the imperfection of the world and the frailty of the human pursuer.Saul Bellow: "I Was a Jew and an American and a Writer" provides a new and insightful narrative of the life and works of Saul Bellow. By using Bellow's deeply internalized Jewishness and his remarkable imagination and creativity as a lens, Sorin examines how he captured the shifting atmosphere of postwar American culture.
Sanshiro
by Natsume SosekiOne of Soseki's most beloved works of fiction, the novel depicts the 23-year-old Sanshiro leaving the sleepy countryside for the first time in his life to experience the constantly moving 'real world' of Tokyo, its women and university. In the subtle tension between our appreciation of Soseki's lively humour and our awareness of Sanshiro's doomed innocence, the novel comes to life. Sanshiro is also penetrating social and cultural commentary.
Kotlin Design Patterns and Best Practices: Elevate your Kotlin skills with classical and modern design patterns, coroutines, and microservices
by Alexey SoshinDive deep into Kotlin design patterns, explore idiomatic functional programming, and master microservices with frameworks like Arrow, Ktor, and Vert.x.Key FeaturesStart from basic Kotlin syntax and go all the way to advanced topics like Coroutines and structural concurrencyLearn how to select and implement the right design pattern for your next Kotlin projectGet to grips with concurrent and reactive microservices with Ktor and Vert.xBook DescriptionFor developers who are working with design patterns in Kotlin, this practical guide offers an opportunity to put their knowledge into practice. The book covers classical and modern design patterns, and provides a hands-on approach to implementation, along with associated methodologies. The third edition stays current with Kotlin updates, spanning from version 1.6 onwards, and offers in-depth insights into topics like structured concurrency and context receivers. The book starts by introducing essential Kotlin syntax and the significance of design patterns, covering classic Creational, Structural, and Behavioral patterns. It then progresses to explore functional programming, Reactive, and Concurrent patterns, including detailed discussions on coroutines and structured concurrency. As you navigate through these advanced concepts, you'll enhance your Kotlin coding skills. The book also delves into the latest architectural trends, focusing on microservices design patterns and aiding your decision-making process when choosing between architectures. By the end of the book, you will have a solid grasp of these advanced concepts and be able to apply them in your own projects.What you will learnUtilize functional programming and coroutines with the Arrow frameworkUse classical design patterns in the Kotlin programming languageScale your applications with reactive and concurrent design patternsDiscover best practices in Kotlin and explore its new featuresApply the key principles of functional programming to KotlinFind out how to write idiomatic Kotlin code and learn which patterns to avoidHarness the power of Kotlin to design concurrent and reliable systems with easeCreate an effective microservice with Kotlin and the Ktor frameworkWho this book is forThis book is for developers who want to apply design patterns they've learned from other languages in Kotlin and build reliable, scalable, and maintainable applications. You'll need a good grasp on at least one programming language before you get started with this book. Familiarity with classical design patterns from your language of choice would be helpful, but you'll still be able to follow along if you code in other languages
Equipment and Components in the Oil and Gas Industry Volume 1: Equipment
by Karan SotoodehEquipment and Components in the Oil and Gas Industry Volume 1: Equipment provides an overview of the equipment used in the oil and gas industry, as well as various stages of the oil and gas industry, including geology, exploration, drilling, transportation, and refining. Using practical industry examples and an accessible approach, the book is a key reference point for those seeking to learn more about the industry.The equipment used in the oil and gas industry is wide ranging, from drilling equipment and wellhead equipment, such as casings, tubing, and wellhead Christmas trees, to equipment for the transportation of fluids and gases, such as pumps and compressors. The book presents a simplified method to choose the correct equipment for each task, as well as covering the selection of heat exchangers and storage tanks. Finally, this book covers turbines, motors, and other prime movers, alongside a flare system for disposing of unwanted or waste gases in oil and gas refineries and petrochemical plants.This book will be of interest to mechanical and chemical engineers working in the oil and gas industry.
Equipment and Components in the Oil and Gas Industry Volume 2: Components
by Karan SotoodehEquipment and Components in the Oil and Gas Industry Volume 2: Components provides an overview of the components used in the oil and gas industry, including instrumentation, pipe components, and safety components. Using practical industry examples and an accessible approach, the book is a key reference point for those seeking to learn more about the industry.Covering both larger and smaller components used throughout the oil and gas industry, the book details the theory behind pressure gauges, temperature gauges, flow gauges, and level gauges. It then goes on to discuss piping components, such as pipes, flanges, and gaskets and introduces piping special components. Valves are particularly crucial to the oil and gas industry, including on/off valves, control valves, safety valves, and special valves. The book also details actuators, sprinklers, fire and gas detectors, hoses, and hose reels, along with electrical components such as switches, cables, wires, and cable glands. Finally, the book ends with a discussion of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) components.This book will be of interest to mechanical and chemical engineers working in the oil and gas industry.
The Healing Garden: Herbal Plants for Health and Wellness
by Deb SouleIn The Healing Garden, Deb Soule, founder of Avena Botanicals, offers an inspiring guide to herb gardening and crafting herbal remedies that promote wellness of spirit and body. Soule combines her passion for plants gardens, and healing with her extensive experience working with medicinal herbs, flowers, roots, and berries. Her practical advice addresses each aspect of fostering a garden filled with helpful, healing plants: biodynamic gardening practices; gathering plants and setting up a drying room; and creating herbal teas, decoctions, tinctures, syrups, tonics, vinegars, essences, and more. A chapter outlining eighteen medicinal herbs provides detailed information on their cultivation and healing properties. Molly Haley's colorful photography showcases Avena Botanicals' lush herb gardens in all seasons. The Healing Garden is grounded in respect for the interconnectedness of all living beings and is an eloquent plea for spiritual awareness and the wholeness of individuals, communities, and our planet.
Icebergs, Zombies, and the Ultra-Thin: Architecture and Capitalism in the 21st Century
by Matthew Soules"Soules's excellent book makes sense of the capitalist forces we all feel but cannot always name… Icebergs, Zombies, and the Ultra Thin arms architects and the general public with an essential understanding of how capitalism makes property. Required reading for those who think tomorrow can be different from today."— Jack Self, coeditor of Real Estates: Life Without DebtIn Icebergs, Zombies, and the Ultra Thin, Matthew Soules issues an indictment of how finance capitalism dramatically alters not only architectural forms but also the very nature of our cities and societies. We rarely consider architecture to be an important factor in contemporary economic and political debates, yet sparsely occupied ultra-thin "pencil towers" develop in our cities, functioning as speculative wealth storage for the superrich, and cavernous "iceberg" homes extend architectural assets many stories below street level. Meanwhile, communities around the globe are blighted by zombie and ghost urbanism, marked by unoccupied neighborhoods and abandoned housing developments.Learn how the use of architecture as an investment tool has accelerated in recent years, heightening inequality and contributing to worldwide financial instability:• See how investment imperatives shape what and how we build, changing the very structure of our communities• Delve into high-profile projects, like the luxury apartments of architect Rafael Viñoly's 432 Park Avenue• Understand the convergence of technology, finance, and spirituality, which together are configuring the financialized walls within which we eat, sleep, and workIncludes dozens of photos and drawings of architectural phenomena that have changed the way we live. Essential reading for anyone interested in architecture, design, economics, and understanding the way our world is formed.
Slow Cooked: 200 exciting, new recipes for your slow cooker
by Miss SouthNow more than ever, the nation needs and wants to be able to cook in an easier, cheaper, healthier and greener way. Look no further than the slow cooker! Food writer Miss South has created 200 mouth-watering recipes for slow cookers that are delicious, inventive and budget conscious. 'There are many inspirational food blogs, but few seem to tackle the issue of making a little go a long way quite as delightfully as Miss South' - Nigel Slater, Observer Food Monthly 'My all-time favourite slow cooker book (and I've got quite a few!!)' -- ***** Reader review'Inspiring' -- ***** Reader review'Best cookbook for slow cookers ever' -- ***** Reader review'Modern and mouth-watering and a great way to get the most out of my slow cooker' -- ***** Reader review 'A revelation' -- ***** Reader review'A fantastic book, from a fantastic author' -- ***** Reader review'Life-changing!' -- ***** Reader review******************************************************************************************************In her first book, Miss South turns to one of her favourite kitchen appliances, her beloved slow-cooker, and shares 200 recipes for economical, adventurous food. Look forward to mouth-watering one pots, including Pulled Pork, Sausage Ragu, spicy Gumbo, Beetroot Orzotto and even easy Christmas Pudding.Her ideas include plenty of hearty stews, soups and curries, braises, pasta and rice dishes, and lots of meat-free ideas as well as foolproof recipes for slow-cooked chicken, pork, fish, seafood, lamb and beef dishes.There are scrumptious puddings, cakes, brownies and breads, simple jams, chutneys and relishes and easy side dishes and clever ideas for using up leftovers, all using your slow cooker.This is no-fuss, affordable, flavoursome slow-cooker food at its very best.
Rex, The Much Misunderstood Lion
by Joe SouthallFrom talented debut author Joe Southall comes a lively tale brimming with spirited rhymes and nonstop fun. Meet Rex, an extraordinary lion longing to belong after leaving his past behind. In search of a community where he’ll be accepted as his kindhearted self, Rex discovers a village facing a sinister threat to their way of life. With little time to spare against the mysterious enemy’s advances, Rex sees a chance to earn the villagers’ friendship. But prejudices run deep for this gentle-hearted lion aiming to prove himself as an ally rather than feared as a predator. Follow Rex on his uplifting quest as he attempts to conquer stereotypes and tyranny alike with open-hearted bravery. Outsmart conniving foes, sing along with catchy ditties, and cheer for the underdog as Rex races against time to mobilize and motivate the terrified townsfolk. Will Rex rally the reluctant village and defeat the imposing enemy in time? Find out in this feel-good underdog story destined to be a timeless classic. Kids and adult readers alike will adore and relate to Rex’s inspirational message of courage, redemption, and community.
The Penguin History of the Church: Western Society and the Church in the Middle Ages
by R. SouthernThe history of the Western church in the Middle Ages is the history of the most elaborate and thoroughly integrated system of religious thought and practice the world has ever known. It is also the history of European society during eight hundred years of sometimes rapid change. This authoritative history shows how the concept of an organized human society, both religious and secular, as an expression of a divinely ordered universe, was central to medieval thought. Professor R. W. Southern’s book covers the period from the eighth to the sixteenth century, highlighting the main features of each medieval age and studying the Papacy, the relations between Rome and her rival Constantinople, the bishops and archbishops and the various religious orders in detail, providing a superb study of the period.
Civil Rights: Rhetoric or Reality
by Thomas SowellIt is now more than three decades since the historic Supreme Court decision on desegregation, Brown v. Board of Education. Thomas Sowell takes a tough, factual look at what has actually happened over these decades -- as distinguished from the hopes with which they began or the rhetoric with which they continue, Who has gained and who has lost? Which of the assumptions behind the civil rights revolution have stood the test of time and which have proven to be mistaken or even catastrophic to those who were supposed to be helped?
The Trial: the new gripping thriller from the author of THE PERFECT LIE
by Jo SpainJo Spain is a sublime storyteller . . . this is a book you won't want to put down' JANE CASEY2014, Dublin: at St Edmunds, an elite college on the outskirts of the city, twenty-year-old medical student Theo gets up one morning, leaving behind his sleeping girlfriend, Dani, and his studies - never to be seen again. With too many unanswered questions, Dani simply can't accept Theo's disappearance and reports him missing, even though no one else seems concerned, including Theo's father.Ten years later, Dani returns to the college as a history professor. With her mother suffering from severe dementia, and her past at St Edmunds still haunting her, she's trying for a new start. But not all is as it seems behind the cloistered college walls - meanwhile, Dani is hiding secrets of her own.EVERYONE LOVES JO SPAIN'S UNFORGETTABLE THRILLERS'Jo Spain never disappoints' Chris Whitaker'A very addictive read' 5* reader review'Compelling, enthralling and entertaining' Liz Nugent'Wow! What did I just read? This is stupendous' 5* reader review'Jo Spain at her brilliant best: non-stop tension, clever twists and turns, and nothing is ever as it seems' Andrea Mara'I love Jo Spain's novels!' 5* reader review'So vivid, atmospheric and chilling' Claire Douglas'Jo Spain keeps you entertained with plenty of twists and turns' 5* reader review'The queen of the corkscrew plot' Sunday Times Crime Club(P)2024 Quercus Editions Limited
The Trial: the new gripping page-turner from the author of THE PERFECT LIE
by Jo Spain'Jo Spain is a sublime storyteller . . . this is a book you won't want to put down' JANE CASEY2014, Dublin: at St Edmunds, an elite college on the outskirts of the city, twenty-year-old medical student Theo gets up one morning, leaving behind his sleeping girlfriend, Dani, and his studies - never to be seen again. With too many unanswered questions, Dani simply can't accept Theo's disappearance and reports him missing, even though no one else seems concerned, including Theo's father.Ten years later, Dani returns to the college as a history professor. With her mother suffering from severe dementia, and her past at St Edmunds still haunting her, she's trying for a new start. But not all is as it seems behind the cloistered college walls - meanwhile, Dani is hiding secrets of her own.'A first-class high-stakes thriller' CAZ FREAR'Full of intrigue' PRIMAEVERYONE LOVES JO SPAIN'S UNFORGETTABLE THRILLERS'Jo Spain never disappoints' Chris Whitaker'A very addictive read' 5* reader review'Compelling, enthralling and entertaining' Liz Nugent'Wow! What did I just read? This is stupendous' 5* reader review'Jo Spain at her brilliant best: non-stop tension, clever twists and turns, and nothing is ever as it seems' Andrea Mara'I love Jo Spain's novels!' 5* reader review'So vivid, atmospheric and chilling' Claire Douglas 'Jo Spain keeps you entertained with plenty of twists and turns' 5* reader review'The queen of the corkscrew plot' Sunday Times Crime Club
Memento Mori
by Muriel SparkPoignant, hilarious, and spooky, Memento Mori addresses old age In late 1950s London, something uncanny besets a group of elderly friends: an insinuating voice on the telephone reminds each: Remember you must die. Their geriatric feathers are soon thoroughly ruffled, and many an old unsavory secret is dusted off.
The House at the Edge of Magic
by Amy Sparkes"Sometimes you are a whisper away from magic without even realizing it." <p><p> Nine is an orphan pickpocket determined to escape her life in the Nest of a Thousand Treasures. When she steals a house-shaped ornament from a mysterious woman’s purse, she knocks on its tiny door and watches it grow into a huge, higgledy-piggeldy house. Inside she finds a host of magical and brilliantly funny characters, including Flabberghast – a young wizard who’s particularly competitive at hopscotch—and a hideous troll housekeeper who’s emotionally attached to his feather duster. They have been placed under an extraordinary spell, which they are desperate for Nine to break—and if she can, maybe they can offer her a new life in return…