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The Primary Solution: Rescuing Our Democracy from the Fringes
by Nick TroianoIn a divided America, the biggest solvable problem fueling political extremism and dysfunction is hiding in plain sight: party primaries. The Primary Solution is the &“thought-provoking&” (Arnold Schwarzenegger) answer the country needs.Congress has become an unproductive and unaccountable mess. Polls show that only twenty percent of Americans think it&’s doing a good job—yet ninety percent of incumbents are reelected. This shocking discrepancy is a natural outcome of our system of party primaries and their polarizing incentives. Party primaries were invented over a century ago to democratize candidate nominations, but today their exclusionary rules and low turnout guarantee the exact opposite: only a small fraction of votes wind up deciding the vast majority of our elections. The result is a Congress that, rather than representing a majority of Americans, is instead beholden to the fringes of both major parties. This is the &“primary problem&” in our politics today. Fortunately, The Primary Solution &“illuminates a powerful yet practical pathway out&” (James Stavridis, Admiral, US Navy, Retired) and is &“a must-read for anyone who wants a sane democracy&” (Danielle Allen, author of Our Declaration). Nick Troiano, founding executive director of Unite America, makes a bold proposal to abolish party primaries in our country. Doing so does not require a Constitutional amendment or an act of Congress. In fact, several states have already replaced party primaries with nonpartisan primaries that give all the voters the freedom to vote for any candidate in every election, regardless of party. &“A fresh, timely political analysis&” (Kirkus Reviews), The Primary Solution offers voters across the political spectrum a realistic roadmap to a more representative and functional democracy.
Habitations: A Novel
by Sheila SundarA young academic moves from India to the United States, where she navigates first love, a green card marriage, single motherhood, and more in this &“delightful novel, written with immediacy, warmth, and wry humor&” (Ha Jin, National Book Award–winning author of Waiting).Vega Gopalan is adrift. Still reeling from the death of her sister years earlier, she leaves South India to attend graduate school at Columbia University. In New York, Vega straddles many different worlds, eventually moving in and out of a series of relationships that take her through the striving world of academia, the intellectual isolation of the immigrant suburbs, and, ultimately, the loneliness of single motherhood. But it is the birth of Vega&’s daughter that forces the novel&’s central question: What does it mean to make a home? Written with dry humor and searing insight, Habitations is an &“irresistible debut&” (Deesha Philyaw, author of The Secret Lives of Church Ladies) about identity, immigration, expectation, desire, and love lost and found. But it is also a universal story of womanhood, and the ways in which women are forced to navigate multiple loyalties: to family, to community, and to themselves. A &“sweeping, immersive, and utterly perfect&” (Weike Wang, author of Chemistry) meditation on the many meanings of home and on the ways love and kinship can be found, even in the most unfamiliar of places, Habitations introduces Sheila Sundar as an electrifying new voice in literary fiction.
The Institute: A Novel
by Stephen KingFrom #1 New York Times bestselling author Stephen King whose &“storytelling transcends genre&” (Newsday) comes &“another winner: creepy and touching and horrifyingly believable&” (The Boston Globe) about a group of kids confronting evil.In the middle of the night, in a house on a quiet street in suburban Minneapolis, intruders silently murder Luke Ellis&’s parents and load him into a black SUV. The operation takes less than two minutes. Luke will wake up at The Institute, in a room that looks just like his own, except there&’s no window. And outside his door are other doors, behind which are other kids with special talents—telekinesis and telepathy—who got to this place the same way Luke did: Kalisha, Nick, George, Iris, and ten-year-old Avery Dixon. They are all in Front Half. Others, Luke learns, graduated to Back Half, &“like the roach motel,&” Kalisha says. &“You check in, but you don&’t check out.&” In this most sinister of institutions, the director, Mrs. Sigsby, and her staff are ruthlessly dedicated to extracting from these children the force of their extranormal gifts. There are no scruples here. If you go along, you get tokens for the vending machines. If you don&’t, punishment is brutal. As each new victim disappears to Back Half, Luke becomes more and more desperate to get out and get help. But no one has ever escaped from the Institute. As psychically terrifying as Firestarter, and with the spectacular kid power of It, The Institute is &“first-rate entertainment that has something important to say. We all need to listen&” (The Washington Post).
Social Security 101, 2nd Edition: From Medicare to Spousal Benefits, an Essential Primer on Government Retirement Aid (Adams 101 Series)
by Michele Cagan Alfred MillLearn the ins and outs of the social security system in this accessible, easy-to-navigate guide with refreshed, updated information in Social Security 101, 2nd Edition.Too often, writing about social security turns the noteworthy details of the benefits into boring details about regulations or biased political arguments that would put even a diehard bureaucrat to sleep. Social Security 101, 2nd Edition, cuts out the tedious explanations and instead provides a hands-on lesson that keeps you engaged as you learn all you need to know about the federal program that&’s been around since the Great Depression. From the history of social security to its likely role in the future, this primer is packed with hundreds of entertaining tidbits and concepts that will keep you on track as you learn how to maximize your benefits. Whether you want to learn about calculating your retirement age or estimating your projected payments, Social Security 101 has all the answers—even the ones you didn&’t know you were looking for.
1922
by Stephen KingThe chilling novella featured in Stephen King&’s New York Times bestselling collection Full Dark, No Stars, 1922 is about a man who succumbs to the violence within—setting in motion a grisly train of murder and madness.Wilfred James owns eighty acres of farmland in Nebraska that have been in his family for generations. His wife, Arlette, owns an adjoining one hundred acres. She wants to sell her land but if she does, Wilfred will be forced to sell as well. James will do anything to hold onto his farm, and he'll get his son to go along. Betrayal, murder, madness, rats, 1922 is a breathtaking exploration into the dark side of human nature from the great American storyteller Stephen King.
Fire and Bones (A Temperance Brennan Novel #23)
by Kathy Reichs&“There&’s a reason Kathy Reichs is the doyenne of forensic fiction—because her MO is to keep the reader guessing till the last paragraph.&” —Jodi Picoult, #1 New York Times bestselling author of By Any Other Name #1 New York Times bestselling author Kathy Reichs returns with her twenty-third high-stakes thriller featuring forensic anthropologist Temperance Brennan, who finds herself at the center of a Washington, DC, arson investigation with deepening levels of mystery and, ultimately, violence.Always apprehensive about working fire scenes, Tempe is called to Washington, DC, to analyze the victims of a deadly blaze. The devastated building is in Foggy Bottom, a neighborhood with a colorful past and present, and when Tempe delves into the property&’s history, she becomes suspicious about the ownership. The pieces start falling into place strangely and quickly, and, sensing a good story, Tempe teams with a new ally, telejournalist Ivy Doyle. Soon the duo learns that back in the 1930s and &’40s the home was the hangout of a group of bootleggers and racketeers known as the Foggy Bottom Gang. While interesting, this fact seems irrelevant—until the son of a Foggy Bottom gang member is shot dead at his home in an affluent part of the district. Coincidence? Targeted attack? So many questions. As Tempe and Ivy dig deeper, an arrest is finally made. Then another fire claims one more victim, and slowly, Tempe&’s instincts begin pointing to the obvious. But her moves since coming to Washington have been anticipated—and every path forward seems to bring with it a lethal threat.
End of Watch: A Novel (The Bill Hodges Trilogy #3)
by Stephen KingNow an AT&T Audience Original Series The fabulously suspenseful and "smashing" (The New York Times Book Review) final novel in the Bill Hodges trilogy from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Mr. Mercedes and Finders Keepers!For nearly six years, in Room 217 of the Lakes Region Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, Brady Hartsfield has been in a persistent vegetative state. A complete recovery seems unlikely for the insane perpetrator of the “Mercedes Massacre,” in which eight people were killed and many more maimed for life. But behind the vacant stare, Brady is very much awake and aware, having been pumped full of experimental drugs...scheming, biding his time as he trains himself to take full advantage of the deadly new powers that allow him to wreak unimaginable havoc without ever leaving his hospital room. Brady Hartsfield is about to embark on a new reign of terror against thousands of innocents, hell-bent on taking revenge against anyone who crossed his path—with retired police detective Bill Hodges at the very top of that long list....
Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2: Advanced Networking and Security
by Jeremy McDowellMaster the most challenging elements of the CCNA exam to pass on your very first try!The CCNA goes deep on networking and security. Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2 gives you exactly what you need to navigate the most challenging parts of the exam. Author Jeremy McDowell&’s CCNA courses have helped hundreds of thousands of students pass their exams. This book distills that expertise into an easy-to-follow guide. In Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2—Advanced Networking and Security you&’ll dig into tough topics like: • Security concepts and common threats • Ethernet and wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) and network automation • Essential network services like DHCP and DNS • WAN, LAN, and wireless architectures The Cisco Certified Network Associate is the gold-standard credential for network administrators. It demands an in-depth knowledge of complex network internals, including security, wireless architectures, and more. Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2—Advanced Networking and Security builds on the basics you learn in Volume 1 to help you study and prepare for the most challenging parts of the test. About the Technology The Cisco Certified Network Associate (CCNA) certification is the gold-standard credential for aspiring network administrators working with industry-standard Cisco hardware. The CCNA exam goes deep, and this book will help you prepare for the most difficult parts of the test. Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2 covers the demanding topics of network security, wired and wireless LANs, DNS, and more. About the Book Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 2 introduces the technical skills and secrets you need to navigate the most challenging topics on the CCNA exam. CCNA expert Jeremy McDowell guides you through network services and architectures, automation, and other advanced topics you&’ll face in the later parts of the test. His down-to-earth writing, diagrams, and clear examples make even the most complex topics easy to understand. What&’s Inside • Security concepts and common threats • Ethernet and wireless LANs (Wi-Fi) and network automation • Essential network services like DHCP and DNS • WAN, LAN, and wireless architectures About the Readers This book builds on Acing the CCNA Exam, Volume 1. About the Author Jeremy McDowell is a senior network engineer and an experienced teacher. His YouTube channel, Jeremy&’s IT Lab, has helped hundreds of thousands prepare for the CCNA. The technical editor on this book was Jeremy Cioara. Table of Contents Part 1 1 Cisco Discovery Protocol and Link Layer Discovery Protocol 2 Network Time Protocol 3 Domain Name System 4 Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol 5 Secure Shell 6 Simple Network Management Protocol 7 Syslog 8 Trivial File Transfer Protocol and File Transfer Protocol 9 Network Address Translation 10 Quality of service Part 2 11 Security concepts 12 Port Security 13 DHCP Snooping 14 Dynamic ARP Inspection Part 3 15 LAN architectures 16 WAN architectures 17 Virtualization and cloud Part 4 18 Wireless LAN fundamentals 19 Wireless LAN architectures 20 Wireless LAN security 21 Wireless LAN configuration Part 5 22 Network automation 23 REST APIs 24 Data formats 25 Ansible and Terraform A Exam topics reference table B CLI command reference table C Chapter quiz questions D Chapter quiz answers
The Everlasting Meal Cookbook: Leftovers A-Z
by Tamar Adler* A James Beard Award Nominee * * A National Bestseller * Named a Best Book of the Year by Financial Times, Los Angeles Times, Wired, Smithsonian, Publishers Weekly, and more * Award-winning author Tamar Adler&’s inspiring, money-saving, environmentally responsible, A-to-Z collection of simple recipes that utilize all leftovers—perfect for solo meals or for feeding the whole family.Food waste is a serious issue—nearly forty percent of the food we buy gets tossed out. Most of us look around the kitchen and struggle to use everything we buy, and when it comes to leftovers we&’re stuck. Tamar Adler can help—her area of culinary expertise is finding delicious destinies for leftovers. Whether it&’s extra potatoes or meat, citrus peels or cold rice, a few final olives in a jar or the end of a piece of cheese, she has an appetizing solution. The Everlasting Meal Cookbook offers more than 1,500 easy and creative ideas for nearly every kind of leftover. Now you can easily transform a leftover burrito into a lunch of fried rice, or stale breakfast donuts into bread pudding. These inspiring and tasty recipes don&’t require any precise measurements, making this cookbook a go-to resource for when your kitchen seems full of meal endings with no clear meal beginnings. From applesauce to truffles, potato chip crumbs to cabbage—this comprehensive guide makes it easy to find a use for all everything. Sensible, frugal, and consistently delicious, the recipes in The Everlasting Meal Cookbook allow you to prepare meals with economy and grace, making this a vital resource for every home cook.
A Rush of Wings
by Laura E. WeymouthFor fans of Serpent & Dove and A House of Salt and Sorrows comes a &“transportive and beautiful&” (Chloe Gong, New York Times bestselling author of These Violent Delights) romantic fantasy about an untrained witch who must unlock her power to free her brothers from a terrible curse and save her home.Rowenna Winthrop has always known there&’s magic within her. But though she hears voices on the wind and possesses unusual talents, her mother Mairead believes Rowenna lacks discipline, and refuses to teach her the craft that keeps their Scottish village safe. And when Mairead dies a sinister death, it seems Rowenna&’s only chance to grow into her power has died with her. Then, on a fateful, storm-tossed night, Rowenna rescues a handsome stranger named Gawen from a shipwreck, and her mother miraculously returns from the dead. Or so it appears. The resurrected Mairead is nothing like the old one. To hide her new monstrous nature, she turns Rowenna&’s brothers and Gawen into swans and robs Rowenna of her voice. Forced to flee, Rowenna travels to the city of Inverness to find a way to break the curse. But monsters take many forms, and in Inverness, Rowenna is soon caught in a web of strangers who want to use her raw magic for their own gain. If she wishes to save herself and the people she loves most, Rowenna will have to take her fate into her own hands and unlock the power that has evaded her for so long.
After Ever Happy (The After Series #4)
by Anna ToddSoon to be a major motion picture! Book 4 of the After series—newly revised and expanded, Anna Todd's After fanfiction racked up 1 billion reads online and captivated readers across the globe. Experience the internet's most talked-about book for yourself from the writer Cosmopolitan called &“the biggest literary phenomenon of her generation.&”Tessa and Hardin have defied all the odds, but will their fairy tale ending be turned on its head? AFTER EVER HAPPY...Life will never be the same. #HESSA It’s never been all rainbows and sunshine for Tessa and Hardin, but each new challenge they’ve faced has only made their passionate bond stronger and stronger. But when a revelation about the past shakes Hardin’s inpenetrable façade to the core—and then Tessa suffers a tragedy—will they stick together again, or be torn apart? As the shocking truth about each of their families emerges, it’s clear the two lovers are not so different from each other. Tessa is no longer the sweet, simple, good girl she was when she met Hardin—any more than he is the cruel, moody boy she fell so hard for. Tessa understands all the troubling emotions brewing beneath Hardin’s exterior, and she knows she’s the only one who can calm him when he erupts. He needs her. But the more layers of his past come to light, the darker he grows, and the harder he pushes Tessa—and everyone else in his life—away. Tessa’s not sure if she really can save him—not without sacrificing herself. She refuses to go down without a fight. But who is she fighting for—Hardin or herself?
Nighttime Is My Time: A Novel
by Mary Higgins ClarkFrom the "Queen of Suspense," Mary Higgins Clark, comes a riveting tale of suspense, secrets, and revenge.Historian Jean Sheridan returns to Cornwall-on-Hudson, New York, excited about her twenty-year high-school reunion at Stonecroft Academy. But a dear friend of hers soon becomes the fifth woman in the class to meet a sudden, mysterious end. Then Jean receives a taunting fax about a child she gave up for adoption, whose existence she had kept a secret but whose life may now be in danger. For present at the reunion is The Owl, a murderer on a mission of vengeance against women who once humiliated him...and Jean is his final intended victim.
Disaster Survival 101: The Essential Guide to Preparing for—and Surviving—Any Emergency Scenario (Ready. Set. Survive.)
by Creek StewartBe prepared for any disaster and put your mind at ease with this step-by-step plan for surviving natural disasters, technological and grid failures, attacks, hazards, and more including sheltering in place or evacuating as conditions dictate.Are you prepared for a widespread electrical grid failure? What would you do if there was a sudden tornado warning? Will you be ready when disaster strikes? In Disaster Survival 101, survival expert and bestselling author Creek Stewart cuts through the panic and fear emergency situations can create so you can ensure all safety measures are in place should you ever need them. In this guide, you&’ll learn how to understand disaster preparedness and develop a prepared mindset that will help you make important, well-informed decisions in an emergency. With detailed chapters on food storage, water sourcing, heating, power generation, first aid, and an overview of self-sufficient living so you&’ll be fully prepared to shelter in place at your home. And with evacuation chapters that explain what to take, where to go, and how to get there safely you&’ll be well prepared with a plan for any kind of emergency. You&’ll also find step-by-step plans that help you take action and survive when caught in the midst of more than twenty likely emergency scenarios including natural disasters, physical safety threats, technology and grid failures; and other emergencies including pandemics and nuclear, biological, and chemical threats. Organized by scenario, each entry gives an overview of the situation, a checklist of immediate actions to take to ensure safety, and checklists to assess whether to shelter-in-place or evacuate and how to successfully execute either decision. When every moment and decision counts, you will be ready with Disaster Survival 101.
Day Trading 101, 2nd Edition: From Understanding Risk Management and Creating Trade Plans to Recognizing Market Patterns and Using Automated Software, an Essential Primer in Modern Day Trading (Adams 101 Series)
by Joe DuarteAn updated and refreshed guide to day trading, with prescriptive information and actionable advice to help you achieve financial success.It may seem that day trading is only for savvy investors who know the ins and outs of the marketplace—but it doesn&’t have to be. All it takes is the right information and staying on top of the market. Day Trading 101, 2nd Edition, simplifies all the terms, strategies, and processes involved in day trading, helping even the most novice investor find financial success. With updated information on trading patterns, mastering trading options, keeping tabs on the market, establishing strategies to make the most profit, and understanding trading lingo, this guide can get you on track to becoming a smart investor. Full of expert advice on the best paths to trading success, Day Trading 101 leaves no stone unturned, and no trading option undiscovered.
Peggy & Balmer: Two Journalists at the Edge of History
by Tom Radford“Alberta is a puzzle, born in hope and anger,” William Thorsell writes in the introduction to this stunning new book by filmmaker and writer Tom Radford. Following the lives of his grandparents Peggy and Balmer Watt, Radford tells the story of two journalists who arrive in Edmonton the first day of the province's life, September 1, 1905, as Prime Minister Wilfred Laurier announces Alberta as the great hope for "Canada's Century" that lies ahead. But Albertans already have a contrary vision in mind, a government strong enough to challenge the constitution that binds them. Peggy and Balmer find themselves in the midst of a conflagration that will last a century - their marriage falls apart, their newspapers go bankrupt, and Alberta veers towards the extremist politics of today. Balmer defends the freedom of the press and helps win the first Pulitzer awarded outside the United States. Peggy chronicles her own story, "A Woman in the West." Seen from our time, the lives of these two remarkable journalists introduce the angels and devils of Alberta history - the siren call of a Last Best West that once again jeopardizes Canada's future.
The Wrong World: Selected Stories and Essays of Bertram Brooker (Canadian Literature Collection)
by Bertram BrookerBertram Brooker won the country's first Governor General's Award for literature in 1936 for his novel Think of the Earth, and his explosive, experimental paintings hang in every major gallery in the country. He was Canada's first multidisciplinary avant-gardist, successfully experimenting in literature, visual arts, film, and theatre. Brooker brought all of his experimental ambitions to his short fiction and prose. The Wrong World presents a rich sampling of his prose work, much of it previously unpublished, which adds new insight into his aesthetic ambitions. Working during an incredible period of transition in Canadian society, Brooker's stories document Canada's evolution from a provincial colony into a modern, urban country. His essays participated in that evolution by advocating a passionate awakening of the arts, the end of prudish sentiment and censorship, and a radical rethinking of the nature of war. They capture the limitations and hypocrisies of the Canadian social contract and argue for a more just and spiritual society. His stories humanize his social vision by dramatizing the psychological and emotional cost of Canada's transition into a modern civilization. In turn devastating, penetrating and poignant, Brooker's prose works offer a sharply focused window into the turbulent interwar years in Canada. Published in English.
Canada: Canada at 150: Federalism and Democratic Renewal (Canada: The State of the Federation)
by Elizabeth Goodyear-Grant and Kyle HannimanIn October 2015, the federal Liberals came to power with sweeping plans to revamp Canada's democratic and federal institutions - a modernizing agenda intended to revitalize Canada's democratic architecture. The centrepiece of the agenda was the replacement of Canada's first-past-the-post electoral system, but they also promised to revitalize relations with the provinces, bring Indigenous Peoples into the intergovernmental fold, and to change the ways in which senators and Supreme Court justices are appointed. How has the reform agenda faired? Has it resulted in a more effective and democratic set of political and federal institutions? Or has it largely failed to deliver on these objectives? What, more broadly, is the state of Canada's democratic and federal institutions? The Queen's Institute of Intergovernmental Relations used the occasion of Canada's 150th birthday to examine these pressing issues. The 2017 volume in the State of the Federation series focuses on enduring questions about the functioning of federalism and intergovernmental relations in Canada, including how we should evaluate the quality of Canada's institutions and practices in light of our federal structure, and how current institutional arrangements and their possible alternatives fare according to these criteria.
Upstaged (Orca Limelights)
by Patricia McCowanEllie is used to getting leading roles in her small-town school’s musicals, but her place at center stage disappears when her dad becomes the host of a breakfast TV show and they have to move to the big city. When Ellie auditions for—and lands—a spot with the Youth Works Theater Company, she comes up against a tight-knit group of talented, experienced and competitive triple-threat performers. Not only does she not get a lead, but she has to share a role with Marissa, a company veteran who seems determined to do all she can to outshine Ellie. Out of her depth and far from all that she’s known, Ellie wonders just what she has to do to stop feeling upstaged by everyone around her. 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.
Totally Unrelated (Orca Limelights)
by Tom RyanNeil plays guitar with his family's band, the Family McClintock, even though he can't stand the Celtic music they play. Neil doesn't dance, he hates the outfits, and every single performance reminds him that he isn't as talented as the rest of the family. When his buddy Bert convinces him to form a rock band and enter a local talent show, Neil's playing improves and everyone notices, including a girl who shares his musical interests. He starts to think that all those years of practice might come in handy after all. But it all comes to a head when Neil has to choose between an important gig with the family band and the talent show. He's only sure of one thing: whatever he decides to do, he's going to be letting someone down. 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.
Dive In!: Exploring Our Connection with the Ocean (Orca Footprints #14)
by Ann ErikssonWe're all connected to the ocean, and the ocean to us. The ocean provides half the oxygen we breathe; it feeds us, creates our weather and provides us with water. But we haven't been as kind to the ocean in return. The problems are many: pollution, overfishing, rising seas and acid waters. What can be done? Don't despair; take action. Dive In! explores our intimate connection with the ocean and provides every reader with an achievable set of actions that can help improve ocean health for our sake and the sake of the millions of marine plants and animals that share the planet with us. Filled with colorful photos and positive stories, Dive In! is as informative as it is inspirational. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.
Warm Up (Orca Limelights)
by Sara LeachJasmine used to love dance. Now she struggles to hold on to that love as her dance team trains for a big competition. Jasmine's teammates are bickering, and when their teacher suggests that Jasmine might not have what it takes to be on the team, Jasmine is ready to quit. At a particularly rough practice, she channels her anger into her moves, surprising everyone, including herself, with how well she dances. But the team is still falling apart, and it’s up to Jasmine to figure out a way to get her teammates to work together and celebrate the joy of dance. 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.
True Blue (Orca Limelights)
by Sigmund Brouwer Cindy MorganTrue Blue continues the story that began in Billboard Express. Elle is on the road as an opening act for Johnny James, the biggest star in country music. Touring is everything she's ever dreamed of, but it has unexpected downsides: crazy fans, jealous backup singers, weird rules on the tour bus. But when something goes terribly wrong during a performance, Elle struggles to figure out how she can make things right with her fans, her father, her record company and with her friend Webb. 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.
Stepping Out (Orca Limelights)
by Laura LangstonLaughter is fifteen-year-old Paige Larsson’s currency in life. It takes the sting out of life’s tough stuff. It eases the pain of nasty comments, agonizing moments in gym class and awkward pauses at parties. Paige likes it even more when others laugh with her, so she’s become a YouTube comedy vlogger. Now Paige is about to step out of her comfort zone and compete—live and onstage—in the prestigious International Teens in Comedy festival. Winning will give her the opportunity to work with some of the biggest names in comedy. It’ll also mean $10,000 for her school’s performing-arts department. But Paige has always used her humor to mask the pain of a disability, and in the world of stand-up comedy, that won’t cut it anymore. 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.
A Fair Deal: Shopping for Social Justice (Orca Footprints #11)
by Kari JonesKey Selling Points A Fair Deal was shortlisted for the Red Cedar Book Award and the OLA Silver Birch Award, Non-Fiction. Includes vibrant full-color photographs and informative sidebars. Now available for the first time in a paperback edition.
Chemical World: Science in Our Daily Lives (Orca Footprints #17)
by Rowena RaeDespite people using both natural and synthetic chemicals with (mainly) good intentions, some chemicals have had unintended negative consequences. Chemical residues have contaminated ecosystems the world over and are compromising the health of many ecosystems, animals and humans. The goal of Chemical World: Science in our Daily Lives is to introduce readers to basic chemistry and chemical history, and to show how chemicals are used for particular reasons but sometimes turn out to be harmful to environmental and human health. It invites readers to take a look at the world around them and ask questions about what’s in their environment and how the things they use and eat every day can affect their own health and the planet’s health. Chemical World: Science in Our Daily Lives explores some of the materials—all of which are made of basic chemical elements—that humans use or come into contact with in their day-to-day lives. Some of these chemicals are naturally occurring—clay, mercury, lead. Others have been synthesized by chemists during the past 150 years and used in a bewildering array of products ranging from roof shingles to toothpaste. Many chemical inventions, as well as naturally produced chemicals, have had profound effects on food supply, developing medicines and creating hosts of useful items for modern life. The epub edition of this title is fully accessible.