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Portrait of a Murderer: A Christmas Crime Story (British Library Crime Classics #0)
by Anne Meredith"A fast-paced plot with plenty of false leads keeps the reader turning the pages."—Publishers WeeklyWhen a powerful development company sets its sights on Mason Country, Virginia, as the location for a sprawling resort for the rich, the locals begin taking sides. Many residents see the resort as economic salvation for the small Blue Ridge Mountains community, while others fear the county will become financially dependent on a predatory company.Few oppose the development more vocally than veterinarian Rachel Goddard. She sides with locals reluctant to sell their land and, in the process, complicates the life of her new husband, Sheriff Tom Bridger.When a beloved couple is gunned down on the very farm they refused to sell, it seems supporters will stop at nothing to ensure the success of the resort. Now disagreement in the community has exploded into civil war with both sides lashing out. As the violence escalates, Rachel discovers the attacks are more sinister than they appear. Can she bring the truth to light before her community tears itself apart?
Principles of Economics
by N. Gregory MankiwNow you can master the principles of economics with the help of the most popular, widely-used economics textbook by students worldwide -- Mankiw�s PRINCIPLES OF ECONOMICS, 8E. With its clear and engaging writing style, this book emphasizes only the material that will help you better understand the world in which you live, will make you a more astute participant in the economy, and will give you a better understanding of both the potential and limits of economic policy. The latest relevant economic examples bring principles to life. Acclaimed text author N. Gregory Mankiw explains, "I have tried to put myself in the position of someone seeing economics for the first time. My goal is to emphasize the material that students should and do find interesting about the study of the economy." Powerful student-focused digital resources are available in leading MindTap and Aplia digital learning and homework solutions that reinforce the principles presented in this edition.
Problems and Solutions in Medical Physics: Radiotherapy Physics (ISSN)
by Kwan Hoong Ng Ngie Min Ung Robin HillThe third in a three-volume set exploring Problems and Solutions in Medical Physics, this volume explores common questions and their solutions in Radiotherapy. This invaluable study guide should be used in conjunction with other key textbooks in the field to provide additional learning opportunities.One hundred and forty-four solved problems are provided in ten chapters on basic physics topics, including: External Beam Therapy Equipment, Photon Beam Physics, Radiation dosimetry, Treatment Planning for External Beam Radiotherapy, and External Beam Commissioning and Quality Assurance.Each chapter provides examples, notes, and references for further reading to enhance understanding.Key features: Consolidates concepts and assists in the understanding and applications of theoretical concepts in medical physics Assists lecturers and instructors in setting assignments and tests Suitable as a revision tool for postgraduate students sitting medical physics, oncology, and radiology science examinations
Puffs (one Act Edition For Young Wizards)
by Matt CoxThe script of the smash hit Off-Broadway comedy PUFFS is now yours to own! For seven years, a certain boy wizard went to a certain Wizard School and conquered evil. This, however, is not his story. This is the story of the Puffs...who just happened to be there too. A tale for anyone who has never been destined to save the world. The New York Times proclaims PUFFS, "A fast-paced romp though 'Seven Increasingly Eventful Years at a Certain School of Magic and Magic.' For POTTERphiliacs who grew up alongside Potter and are eager to revisit his word, PUFFS exudes a jovial, winking fondness for all things Harry!" PUFFS (ONE ACT EDITION FOR YOUNG WIZARDS) is the one act, family friendly script of Puffs from the original production in NYC. It features a forward by playwright Matt Cox, deleted scenes, additional Zach Smith monologues by Nick Carrillo, and a glossary. This publication is suitable for wizards aged 8+.
Quantum Success: 7 Essential Laws for a Thriving, Joyful, and Prosperous Relationship with Work and Money
by Christy WhitmanIn the bestselling tradition of The Secret, learn how to use the law of attraction for your career to access greater financial success and fulfillment in this positive, detailed guide from celebrated life coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Art of Having It All, Christy Whitman.Whether your vision of an ideal career is starting your own business, rising to a different position within your current company, or landing your very first job, Quantum Success will help you make the prosperity and fulfillment of your dreams a reality.Through her accessible, empowering writing, Christy Whitman shares the fundamental principles that she&’s discovered after more than twenty years of studying universal forces—such as polarity, alignment, resonance, momentum, and magnetism—and explains how to harness these forces to optimize your wealth and career. Exemplified by numerous case studies, Christy&’s ten-step plan teaches you how to establish inner relationships with future clients, associates, and employees, work with light and energy to magnetize opportunities and resources, build a culture of value and appreciation that brings out the very best in those around you, and operate at your highest capacity.By mastering this process, you will enable yourself to achieve unimaginable success in your career, however you define it.
The Quotable Negan: Warped Witticisms And Obscene Observations From The Walking Dead's Most Iconic Villain
by Robert KirkmanThis collection of quotes, trivia, and exclusive behind-the-scenes material, focused on everyone&’s favorite bad guy—the violent, foul-mouthed, and charismatic psychopath Negan—is an essential guide for all fans of both the AMC television show The Walking Dead and the original comic book series.The Walking Dead is a cultural phenomenon that has infected the minds of zombie-loving fans worldwide. Whether you&’re familiar with the hit television show, the comic book series, or both, one of the most memorable characters is Negan—the barbed-wire baseball-bat-wielding leader of the Saviors. Now, in The Quotable Negan, you can discover fun and fascinating trivia, his most bad-ass quotable moments, and much more. This is the perfect gift for any fan of The Walking Dead&’s most infamous villain.
Racehoss: Big Emma's Boy
by Albert Race Sample&“A timeless classic&” (San Antonio Express-News), reissued with a new foreword, afterword, and ten percent more material about a black man who spent seventeen years on a brutal Texas prison plantation and underwent a remarkable transformation.First published in 1984, Racehoss: Big Emma&’s Boy is Albert Race Sample&’s &“unforgettable&” (The Dallas Morning News) tale of resilience, revelation, and redemption. Born in 1930, the mixed-race son of a hard-drinking black prostitute and a white cotton broker, Sample was raised in the Jim Crow South by an abusive mother who refused to let her son—who could pass for white—call her Mama. He watched for the police while she worked, whether as a prostitute, bootlegger, or running the best dice game in town. He loved his mother deeply but could no longer take her abuse and ran away from home at the age of twelve. In his early twenties, Sample was arrested for burglary, robbery, and robbery by assault and was sentenced to nearly twenty years in the Texas prison system in the 1950s and 60s. His light complexion made him stand out in the all-black prison plantation known as the &“burnin&’ hell,&” where he and over four hundred prisoners picked cotton and worked the land while white shotgun-carrying guards followed on horseback. Sample earned the moniker &“Racehoss&” for his ability to hoe cotton faster than anyone else in his squad. A profound spiritual awakening in solitary confinement was a decisive moment for him, and he became determined to turn his life around. When he was finally released in 1972, he did just that. Though Sample was incarcerated in the twentieth century, his memoir reads like it came from the nineteenth. With new stories that had been edited out of the first edition, a foreword by Texas attorney and writer David R. Dow, and an afterword by Sample&’s widow, Carol, this new edition of Racehoss: Big Emma&’s Boy offers a more complete picture of this extraordinary time in America&’s recent past.
The RAF Battle of Britain Fighter Pilot's Kitbag: Uniforms & Equipment from the Summer of 1940 and the Human Stories Behind Them
by Mark HillierThe scenes are familiar ones; the young Brylcream Boys sat at dispersal waiting for the haunting call of Scramble, lounging in their shirt sleeves and fur-lined boots, their leather flying helmets lying limp by their side. But what did the RAF fighter pilots of the Battle of Britain really wear, and what vital items would their kitbags have held?The casual air of the dashing pilots of Fighter Command in the Spitfire Summer of 1940 conceals a necessarily professional approach to their task of holding Hitlers Luftwaffe at bay. Therefore, each item of clothing and equipment they wore and carried had a role and a function, be it for warmth and comfort, communication, or for fighting and survival.All the objects that an RAF fighter pilot was issued with during the Battle of Britain are explored in this book in high-definition color photographs, showing everything from the differing uniforms, to headgear, personal weapons, gloves, goggles, parachute packs and the essential Mae West life jacket. Each item is fully described and its purpose and use explained.Relive Britains finest hour as never before through the actually clothing and accouterments of The Few.
Railway Security: Protecting Against Manmade and Natural Disasters
by Richard R. Young Gary A. Gordon Jeremy F. PlantThis book provides an overview and assessment of the security risks, both manmade and natural, facing the railways and rail networks.Railroads face significant threats from disasters, but with situational awareness and coordinated effort these can often be substantially minimized. Transportation assets have always been vulnerable to natural disasters, but in the current environment these assets are also a preferred target of human-caused disruption, especially in the form of terrorism, as the events in many other parts of the world have underscored. Railways are not a homogeneous mode of transportation given their various roles in intercity and commuter passenger movement, as well as being a major portion of the freight ton-miles upon which the U.S. economy is highly dependent. Designed to provide advice for railway owners and first responders, this text discusses how to secure hazardous material transport and how to establish guidelines for rail freight operations and rail passenger operations. The book aims to develop an understanding of the unique operating characteristics of railways, the nature and the range of vulnerabilities, the present means for protecting the infrastructure, and the public policy initiatives that are prerequisite for developing a comprehensive appreciation of the magnitude of this issue. The book utilizes case studies of transport disasters to illustrate lessons learned and to provide critical insight into preventative measures.This book will be of great interest to students and practitioners of transportation, technology and engineering, and security management.
Re-enchanting the World: Feminism and the Politics of the Commons
by Silvia FedericiDrawing on rich historical research, Silvia Federici maps the connections between the previous forms of enclosure that occurred with the birth of capitalism and the destruction of the commons and the “new enclosures” at the heart of the present phase of global capitalist accumulation. Considering the commons from a feminist perspective, this collection centers on women and reproductive work as crucial to both our economic survival and the construction of a world free from the hierarchies and divisions capital has planted in the body of the world proletariat. Federici is clear that the commons should not be understood as happy islands in a sea of exploitative relations but rather autonomous spaces from which to challenge the existing capitalist organization of life and labour.
Ready or Not: Leaning Into Life in Our Twenties
by Drew Moser Jess FankhauserDiscerning a calling is a messy undertaking. You are already involved in many good things now, even as you are being called to many good things in your future. The good life―good work, good relationships, good citizenship, good faith―is to be enjoyed now and pursued on every horizon. We are living out the Kingdom of God even as we seek it. <p> <p> Ready or Not is a much-needed resource for young people on exploring the complexity of vocation in empowering, not prescriptive, ways. After exploring four foundational questions for emerging adulthood―Who is God? Who am I? How have I been shaped? What are my contexts?―you will work through interactive chapters covering the contours of adulthood, including: spirituality, family, community, and work. <p> <p> Explore the full depths of your twenties with bravery and vulnerability! With insight into life skills, personal growth, and spirituality, Ready or Not will set you on a faithful trajectory for a good and meaningful life.
A Reaper at the Gates (An Ember in the Ashes #3)
by Sabaa TahirBOOK THREE IN THE NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLING SERIES"Thrilling and hard to put down, readers will absolutely devour Tahir's latest." --BuzzFeedAn Entertainment Weekly Summer Reads pick!"The perfect summer read." --The Washington PostThe highly anticipated third book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Sabaa Tahir's EMBER QUARTET.Beyond the Martial Empire and within it, the threat of war looms ever larger.Helene Aquilla, the Blood Shrike, is desperate to protect her sister's life and the lives of everyone in the Empire. But she knows that danger lurks on all sides: Emperor Marcus, haunted by his past, grows increasingly unstable and violent, while Keris Veturia, the ruthless Commandant, capitalizes on the Emperor's volatility to grow her own power--regardless of the carnage she leaves in her path. Far to the east, Laia of Serra knows the fate of the world lies not in the machinations of the Martial court, but in stopping the Nightbringer. But in the hunt to bring him down, Laia faces unexpected threats from those she hoped would help her, and is drawn into a battle she never thought she'd have to fight. And in the land between the living and the dead, Elias Veturius has given up his freedom to serve as Soul Catcher. But in doing so, he has vowed himself to an ancient power that demands his complete surrender--even if that means abandoning the woman he loves.
Recharge: A Year of Self-Care to Focus on You
by Julie MontaguA month-by-month self-care bible by world-renowned wellness guru Julie Montagu.'The ultimate self-care bible for women who want to find their balance in life' Mel Wells'Wonderful and insightful . . .proves that when you choose YOU every single day, not only will have you have more energy for yourself, but you'll have more energy to give back to everyone else.' Kris Carr'This book is bursting with positivity, happiness & a whole wealth of knowledge' Chessie KingRecently named one of the top ten holistic health icons in the world, Julie Montagu knows a thing or two about health and happiness. In Recharge, Montagu shares an abundance of guidance, tips and advice designed to help you keep self-care at the forefront of your mind and support you on your journey to a well-rounded sense of wellness.Recharge is your month-by-month self-care bible to help replenish your mind, body and soul. Each month of the year covers a specific area of self-care including mindful eating, managing stress, digital detox, rebuilding self-esteem, finding your passions and more.
The Red and the Blue: The 1990s and the Birth of Political Tribalism
by Steve KornackiFrom MSNBC correspondent Steve Kornacki, a lively and sweeping history of the birth of political tribalism in the 1990s—one that brings critical new understanding to our current political landscape from Clinton to TrumpIn The Red and the Blue, cable news star and acclaimed journalist Steve Kornacki follows the twin paths of Bill Clinton and Newt Gingrich, two larger-than-life politicians who exploited the weakened structure of their respective parties to attain the highest offices. For Clinton, that meant contorting himself around the various factions of the Democratic party to win the presidency. Gingrich employed a scorched-earth strategy to upend the permanent Republican minority in the House, making him Speaker. The Clinton/Gingrich battles were bare-knuckled brawls that brought about massive policy shifts and high-stakes showdowns—their collisions had far-reaching political consequences. But the ’90s were not just about them. Kornacki writes about Mario Cuomo’s stubborn presence around Clinton’s 1992 campaign; Hillary Clinton’s star turn during the 1998 midterms, seeding the idea for her own candidacy; Ross Perot’s wild run in 1992 that inspired him to launch the Reform Party, giving Donald Trump his first taste of electoral politics in 1999; and many others. With novelistic prose and a clear sense of history, Steve Kornacki masterfully weaves together the various elements of this rambunctious and hugely impactful era in American history, whose effects set the stage for our current political landscape.
Red State Blues: Stories from Midwestern Life on the Left
by Martha BayneMuch has been made of the 2016 electoral flip of traditionally Democratic states like Michigan, Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, and Ohio to tip Donald Trump into the presidency. Countless think pieces have explored this newfound exotic constituency of blue voters who swung red. But what about those who remain true blue? Red State Blues speaks to the lived experience of progressives, activists, and ordinary Democrats pushing back against simplistic narratives of the Midwest as "Trump Country." They've been there all along, and as the essays in this collection demonstrate, they're not leaving anytime soon. With contributions by journalist and scholar Sarah Kendzior, Kenyon College president Sean Decatur, Pittsburgh city councilman Dan Gilman, and more.
Red War: A Mitch Rapp Novel (A Mitch Rapp Novel #17)
by Vince Flynn Kyle MillsThe #1 New York Times bestselling series returns with Mitch Rapp racing to prevent Russia&’s gravely ill leader from starting a full-scale war with NATO. When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he&’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any of his countrymen who can threaten him. Soon, though, his illness becomes serious enough to require a more dramatic diversion – war with the West. Upon learning of Krupin&’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin&’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world. Success means averting a war that could consume all of Europe. But if his mission is discovered, Rapp will plunge Russia and America into a conflict that neither will survive.Praise for the Mitch Rapp series 'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets' Dan Brown 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The Times 'Mitch Rapp is a great character who always leaves the bad guys either very sorry for themselves or very dead' The Guardian
Red War: A Mitch Rapp Novel (A Mitch Rapp Novel #17)
by Vince Flynn Kyle MillsThis instant #1 New York Times bestseller and &“modern techno-thriller&” (New York Journal of Books) follows covert operative Mitch Rapp in a terrifying race to stop Russia&’s gravely ill leader from starting a full-scale war with NATO.When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he&’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any countrymen threatening him. But when his illness becomes increasingly serious, he decides on a dramatic diversion—war with the West. Upon learning of Krupin&’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin&’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world. The fate of the free world hangs in the balance in this &“timely, explosive novel that shows yet again why Mitch Rapp is the best hero the thriller genre has to offer&” (The Real Book Spy).
Red War: A Mitch Rapp Novel (The Mitch Rapp Series #17)
by Vince Flynn Kyle Mills*** THE NEW YORK TIMES NUMBER ONE BESTSELLING AUTHOR ***AMERICAN ASSASSIN is now a MAJOR MOTION PICTURE starring Dylan O'Brien (Maze Runner), Taylor Kitsch (True Detective) and Michael Keaton. When Russian president Maxim Krupin discovers that he has inoperable brain cancer, he&’s determined to cling to power. His first task is to kill or imprison any of his countrymen who can threaten him. Soon, though, his illness becomes serious enough to require a more dramatic diversion - war with the West. Upon learning of Krupin&’s condition, CIA director Irene Kennedy understands that the US is facing an opponent who has nothing to lose. The only way to avoid a confrontation that could leave millions dead is to send Mitch Rapp to Russia under impossibly dangerous orders. With the Kremlin&’s entire security apparatus hunting him, he must find and kill a man many have deemed the most powerful in the world. Success means averting a war that could consume all of Europe. But if his mission is discovered, Rapp will plunge Russia and America into a conflict that neither will survive.Praise for the Mitch Rapp series 'Sizzles with inside information and CIA secrets' Dan Brown 'A cracking, uncompromising yarn that literally takes no prisoners' The Times 'Vince Flynn clearly has one eye on Lee Child's action thriller throne with this twist-laden story. . . instantly gripping' Shortlist 'Action-packed, in-your-face, adrenalin-pumped super-hero macho escapist fiction that does exactly what it says on the label' Irish Independent 'Mitch Rapp is a great character who always leaves the bad guys either very sorry for themselves or very dead' Guardian 'In the world of black-ops thrillers, Mitch Rapp continues to be among the best of the best' Booklist, starred review
Resin
by Ane RielThe multi-award-winning international bestseller.Suspenseful and heart-breaking, Resin is the story of what can happen when you love someone too much – when your desire to keep them safe becomes the thing that could irrevocably harm them.*Liv died when she was just six years old. Her father knew he was the only one who could keep her safe in this world. So one evening he left the isolated house his little family called home, he pushed their boat out to sea and watched it ruin on the rocks. Then he walked the long way into town to report his only child missing.But behind the boxes and the baskets crowding her Dad’s workshop, Liv was hiding. This way her Dad had said, she’d never have to go to school; this way, she’d never have to leave her parents. This way, Liv would be safe.*Winner of Scandinavia's most prestigious awards: The Glass Key, The Golden Bullet, Best Crime Novel from the Swedish Crime Writer's Academy and The Harald Mogensen Award.
Return to Yesterday (A Shore Leave Cafe Romance #9)
by Abbie Williams"Abbie Williams is an author who excels at the romance genre. Her Shore Leave Cafe Romance series is a showcase for her ability to weave a contemporary tapestry, complete with rich characters, vivid settings and seductive moods."—Dean Mayes, Author of: The Hambledown Dream, Gifts of the Peramangk, The Recipient, The Artisan HeartRuthann Gordon has disappeared.The stakes have never been higher for sisters Camille, Tish, and Ruthann Gordon. Separated by unimaginable circumstances, they must fight to save each other and those they love from Fallon Yancy&’s wrath. Destiny has caused their paths to intersect across centuries, a long and treacherous link between the Davis and Yancy families, a link that must now be severed before it is too late.Mathias Carter, Case Spicer, and Marshall Rawley have dared to love the three sisters despite the ancient family curse. Each has his own fate to contend with, both in the past and in present-day. Ruthann and Marshall must fight to return to the future – or will the unthinkable happen, keeping one of them forever in the past?A story about heartbreak, blame, family, destiny, and the difficulties of returning home, Return to Yesterday is the final book in A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series.A Shore Leave Cafe Romance series:1. Summer at the Shore Leave Cafe2. Second Chances3. A Notion of Love4. Winter at the White Oaks Lodge5. Wild Flower6. The First Law of Love7. Until Tomorrow8. The Way Back9. Return to YesterdayThe story continues in her most recent novel, A Place to Belong.Also from Abbie Williams, The Dove Saga1. Heart of a Dove2. Soul of a Crow3. Grace of a Hawk
Richard I: The Crusader King (Penguin Monarchs)
by Thomas AsbridgeRichard I's reign is both controversial and seemingly contradictory. One of England's most famous medieval monarchs and a potent symbol of national identity, he barely spent six months on English soil during a ten-year reign and spoke French as his first language. Contemporaries dubbed him the 'Lionheart', reflecting a carefully cultivated reputation for bravery, prowess and knightly virtue, but this supposed paragon of chivalry butchered close to 3,000 prisoners in cold blood on a single day. And, though revered as Christian Europe's greatest crusader, his grand campaign to the Holy Land failed to recover the city of Jerusalem from Islam.Seeking to reconcile this conflicting evidence, Thomas Asbridge's incisive reappraisal of Richard I's career questions whether the Lionheart really did neglect his kingdom, considers why he devoted himself to the cause of holy war and asks how the memory of his life came to be interwoven with myth. Richard emerges as a formidable warrior-king, possessed of martial genius and a cultured intellect, yet burdened by the legacy of his dysfunctional dynasty and obsessed with the pursuit of honour and renown.
The Ring of the Nibelung
by Richard WagnerA superb new translation of one of the greatest nineteenth century poems: the libretto to Wagner's Ring cycleThe scale and grandeur of Wagner's The Ring of the Nibelung has no precedent and no successor. It preoccupied Wagner for much of his adult life and revolutionized the nature of opera, the orchestra, the demands on singers and on the audience itself. The four operas-The Rhinegold, The Valkyrie, Siegfried and Twilight of the Gods - are complete worlds, conjuring up extraordinary mythological landscapes through sound as much as staging. Wagner wrote the entire libretto before embarking on the music. Discarding the grand choruses and bravura duets central to most operas, he used the largest musical forces in the context often of only a handful of singers on stage. The words were essential: he was telling a story and making an argument in a way that required absolute attention to what was said. The libretto for The Ring lies at the heart of nineteenth century culture. It is in itself a work of power and grandeur and it had an incalculable effect on European and specifically German culture. John Deathridge's superb new translation, with notes and a fascinating introduction, is essential for anyone who wishes to get to grips with one of the great musical experiences.
Rise Up: The #Merky Story So Far
by Stormzy*A 2018 BOOK OF THE YEAR*‘An inspirational must-read.’ Evening Standard‘A very important book.’ Will Gompertz, BBC‘A motivational, inspirational oral history.’ Nikesh Shukla, iNews‘Don’t sleep on it... the future is looking #Merky.’ Metro______________________‘It’s been a long time coming, I swear...’ In four years Stormzy has risen from one of the most promising musicians of his generation to a spokesperson for a generation. Rise Up is the story of how he got there. It’s a story about faith and the ideas worth fighting for. It’s about knowing where you’re from, and where you’re going. It’s about following your dreams without compromising who you are.Featuring never-before-seen photographs, lyrics and contributions from Team #Merky, Rise Up is the #Merky story, and the record of a journey unlike any other.______________________Edited and Co-written by Jude YawsonContributions by Team #MerkyImages by Kaylum Dennis
The Road to Bittersweet
by Donna EverhartSet in the Carolinas in the 1940s, The Road to Bittersweet is a beautifully written, evocative account of a young woman reckoning not just with the unforgiving landscape, but with the rocky emotional terrain that leads from innocence to wisdom. For fourteen-year-old Wallis Ann Stamper and her family, life in the Appalachian Mountains is simple and satisfying, though not for the tenderhearted. While her older sister, Laci—a mute, musically gifted savant—is constantly watched over and protected, Wallis Ann is as practical and sturdy as her name. When the Tuckasegee River bursts its banks, forcing them to flee in the middle of the night, those qualities save her life. But though her family is eventually reunited, the tragedy opens Wallis Ann&’s eyes to a world beyond the creek that&’s borne their name for generations. Carrying what&’s left of their possessions, the Stampers begin another perilous journey from their ruined home to the hill country of South Carolina. Wallis Ann&’s blossoming friendship with Clayton, a high diving performer for a traveling show, sparks a new opportunity, and the family joins as a singing group. But Clayton&’s attention to Laci drives a wedge between the two sisters. As jealousy and betrayal threaten to accomplish what hardship never could—divide the family for good—Wallis Ann makes a decision that will transform them all in unforeseeable ways . . .