An Ocean Apart, a World Away


Book Description

While most 16-year-old girls are planning their weddings, Xueyan, known as Yanyan, has no interest at all in marriage. She is fascinated by medicine. In China in 1921, women rarely attend university, let alone medical school. Still, Yanyan is determined to become a doctor. But Yanyan’s feelings about marriage change when she meets Liang Baoshu. An outstanding scholar and martial arts student, Baoshu is passionate and dangerous. He is determined to rid China of the foreigners who occupy it and restore power to the Manchu dynasty. Life with him would be an adventure. But when Yanyan realizes that being with Baoshu would also mean sacrificing her dream of becoming a doctor, she faces the most difficult decision of her life. And her choice leads to an entirely new adventure an ocean away in America—where Yanyan is the foreigner.




Half a World Away: a Love Least Expected


Book Description

"Half A World Away", inspired by true events, is an International Suspense-Mystery-Romance of a man whose entire adult life becomes plagued by a series of unfortunate events, before his world begins to slowly become brighter. At one time, Jared Marchal was at the top of his game. He had the promising military and police careers he always wanted, was very well off financially, enjoyed a great marriage and later, welcomed a son on the way. Beginning with a tragedy no one should endure, Jareds perfect world progressively continues to crash around him. Jared becomes a writer by chance, and through an act of serendipity by his publisher, he is contacted by a fellow writer, Stasia, from Russia; an unlikely heroine who attempts to tear down the massive wall protecting his heart from any possibility of disappointment, as well as any happiness. Soon their love, a passion so newly developed, will be the only simple, uncomplicated aspect of their lives together. As the intrigue begins, a volatile secret surrounding Stasia and its potential to change the world, OPEC, and war as we now know it, in addition to her fathers own military past, catapults them into an international event involving both their countries. Governments, double agents, betrayal and murder all intrude among the many twists you never see coming, as they collide forward into the storys climax. The spirit of their personalities also shines as the jokes they play on one another during their times together are a welcome relief, as well as some of the funniest situations ever written. Author, Lee E. Carter, through skillful adaptation of people from personal, military and law enforcement experiences, intertwines fiction and non-fiction to create the distinctive personalities and action sequences of "Half A World Away ".




Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater


Book Description

A Library Journal Best Reference Book of 2022 This book represents the culmination of over 150 years of literary achievement by the most diverse ethnic group in the United States. Diverse because this group of ethnic Americans includes those whose ancestral roots branch out to East Asia, Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Western Asia. Even within each of these regions, there exist vast differences in languages, cultures, religions, political systems, and colonial histories. From the earliest publication in 1887 to the latest in 2021, this dictionary celebrates the incredibly rich body of fiction, poetry, memoirs, plays, and children’s literature. Historical Dictionary of Asian American Literature and Theater, Second Edition contains a chronology, an introduction, and an extensive bibliography. The dictionary section has more than 700 cross-referenced entries on genres, major terms, and authors. This book is an excellent resource for students, researchers, and anyone wanting to know more about this topic.




The Distant Mirror


Book Description

Young adult historical fiction brings the past alive through stories of adventure, suspense, and mystery. The genre is both complex and controversial, encompassing novels that range from romance and fantasy to stark historical realism. The book examines the various approaches to young adult historical fiction and explores the issues that it has engendered. Part One focuses on the broader issues spawned by the genre itself, including its various subgenres - the line between fiction and fact; to what degree must an author adhere to historical accuracy?; time boundaries; the diary format; the protagonist as the outsider; who is entitled to write what?; and literary concerns such as the relationship between accuracy and readability. Part Two explores issues of contemporary interest, such as race, class, gender, the immigrant experience, religion, war, and nationalism. Thought-provoking discussions of how these elements are treated in historical novels, with emphasis on how current cultural values have shaped the fiction, are presented. Finally, the question of whether novels in this genre are bound by anything other than their respective period setting is posed, and it is contended that there are features common to YA historical novels that not only set the genre apart from other YA fiction, but also contribute something unique to the larger genre. The genesis for much classroom debate, suggestions for class discussions and writing assignments as well as sample written responses of these debates from the authors' classes are included. Teachers, librarians, instructors of young adult literature courses, and teen readers will find this an insightful analysis of YA historical fiction.




Ties That Bind, Ties That Break


Book Description

Third Sister in the Tao family, Ailin has watched her two older sisters go through the painful process of having their feet bound. In China in 1911, all the women of good families follow this ancient tradition. But Ailin loves to run away from her governess and play games with her male cousins. Knowing she will never run again once her feet are bound, Ailin rebels and refuses to follow this torturous tradition. As a result, however, the family of her intended husband breaks their marriage agreement. And as she enters adolescence, Ailin finds that her family is no longer willing to support her. Chinese society leaves few options for a single woman of good family, but with a bold conviction and an indomitable spirit, Ailin is determined to forge her own destiny. Her story is a tribute to all those women whose courage created new options for the generations who came after them.




The Love That Split the World


Book Description

"A truly profound debut."—Buzzfeed "A time-bending suspense that's contemplative and fresh, evocative and gripping."—USA Today "Henry's story captivates, both as a romance and as an imaginative rethinking of time and space."—Publishers Weekly "This time-traveling, magical, and beautifully written love story definitely deserves a spot on your bookshelf."—Bustle Emily Henry's stunning debut novel is Friday Night Lights meets The Time Traveler's Wife and perfectly captures those bittersweet months after high school, when we dream not only of the future, but of all the roads and paths we've left untaken. Natalie's last summer in her small Kentucky hometown is off to a magical start . . . until she starts seeing the "wrong things." They're just momentary glimpses at first—her front door is red instead of its usual green, there’s a preschool where the garden store should be. But then her whole town disappears for hours, fading away into rolling hills and grazing buffalo, and Nat knows something isn't right. Then there are the visits from the kind but mysterious apparition she calls "Grandmother," who tells her, "You have three months to save him." The next night, under the stadium lights of the high school football field, she meets a beautiful boy named Beau, and it's as if time just stops and nothing exists. Nothing, except Natalie and Beau.




Contemporary Authors


Book Description




Integrating Literature in the Content Areas


Book Description

This practical, accessible resource will help future and practicing teachers integrate literature into their middle school or high school classrooms, while also addressing content area standards and improving the literacy skills of their students. Two introductory chapters are followed by five chapters that each cover a different genre: Chapter 3, Informational Books; Chapter 4, Fiction; Chapter 5, Biography, Autobiography, and Memoir; Chapter 6, Poetry; and Chapter 7, How-to and Hands-on Books. Each genre chapter consists of four parts: Part 1: Discusses the genre and how content area teachers can use books within that genre to further content learning and enhance literacy skills. Part 2: Offers hands-on instructional strategies and activities using literature, with activities for use in a variety of disciplines. Part 3: Presents individual author studies (three or four per chapter) with bibliographies and guidelines for using the authors' books in content area courses. Part 4: Features an annotated bibliography of specially selected children and young adult literature for that genre, organized by content area. The annotations provide information about the book, which can be used to prepare booktalks, and teaching ideas for using in a specific content area. Altogether these sections contain more than 600 annotated entries tabbed by subject area, including art, English/language arts, languages and culture, math and technology, music, PE/health, science, and social studies/history.




Integrating Literature in the Disciplines


Book Description

The Second Edition of this practical and comprehensive resource offers a multitude of ways to incorporate literature into teaching and learning across a range of disciplines. Future and practicing teachers, librarians, instructional coaches, and school leaders can implement the ideas within this text to improve the literacy skills and knowledge of students, while also addressing standards and curricular goals of various content areas. The new edition recognizes a paradigm shift from content areas to disciplines, reflecting the specific ways reading and writing are used in different fields of study. Updated with current research and practices, the volume recommends and evaluates books in different genres and categories, with chapters on informational books; fiction; biography and memoir; poetry; and hands-on and how-to books. For every category, Kane provides a rationale, instructional strategies, and author studies, as well as lists and descriptions of books related to curricular areas. With a wealth of activities and new BookTalks, this Second Edition is greatly revised and features expanded attention to technology, digital learning, diversity, and culture. Using this text will create opportunities for deep discussions and will stimulate students’ interest and motivation to read and learn. Integrating Literature in the Disciplines helps educators identify books that fit with any subject to enhance the creative and affective dimensions of school life; encourages interdisciplinary connections; and increases the depth and relevance of lessons. It is ideal for professional development and serves as a tool for Readers’ Advisory to match books with readers throughout the school day and beyond.




Mismatch


Book Description

Sue Hua just moved from racially diverse Seattle to a suburban white-bread town where she feels like the only Asian American for miles. Then she meets Andy, a handsome and passionate violin player who happens to be Asian American. Sue feels an instant attraction to Andy, and her white friends think they’re “made for each other”–after all, they both use chopsticks and eat a lot of rice, right? But there’s just one problem. Andy’s last name is Suzuki. And while that may mean nothing to the other students at Lakeview High, Sue knows that it presents a world of problems to her family.