The Eternal Summer


Book Description

Was there ever a year in golf like 1960? It was the year that the sport and its vivid personalities exploded on the consciousness of the nation, when the past, present, and future of the sport collided. Here was Arnold Palmer, the workingman’s hero, “sweating, chain-smoking, shirt-tail flying”; Ben Hogan, the greatest player of the fifties, a perfectionist battling twin demons of age and nerves; and, making his big-time debut, a crew-cut college kid who seemed to have the makings of a champion: twenty-year-old Jack Nicklaus. And of course, the rest: Ken Venturi, Chi Chi Rodriguez, Doug Sanders, Gary Player, and the many other colorful characters who chased around a little white ball—and a dream. Would Palmer win the mythical Grand Slam of golf? Could Hogan win one more major tournament? Was Nicklaus the real thing? Even more than an intimate portrait of these men and their exciting times, The Eternal Summer is also an entertaining, perceptive, and hypnotically readable exploration of professional golf in America.




Birdie's Bargain


Book Description

In a poignant and unflinching new realistic novel from the Newbery Medal–winning author of Bridge to Terabithia, a ten-year-old girl makes a deal with God for her father's safe return from the Iraq War. Birdie has questions for God. For starters, why couldn’t God roll history back to September 10, 2001, and fix things—so the next day was an ordinary sunny day and not the devastating lead-in to two wars? Daddy has already been to Iraq twice. Now he’s going again, and Birdie is sure he’ll die. At the very least, she won’t see him again for a year, and everything will not be OK. (Why do grown-ups lie?) To save money, she, Mom, and baby Billy have moved to Gran’s, where shy Birdie must attend a new school, and no one but bossy Alicia Marie Suggs welcomes her. Doesn’t God remember how hard it was for Birdie to make friends at Bible Camp? Counselor Ron taught about Judgment there—and the right way to believe. Has Birdie been praying wrong? Why else would God break their bargain? Readers of all faiths and backgrounds, especially children of military families, will identify with and root for the unforgettable Birdie, given inimitable voice by a master storyteller.




Harry Vardon


Book Description

The authors objective is to provide to the reader, as near as possible, a definitive record of the playing career of one of the best golfers who has ever lived. In addition, as happens with many researchers, it is inevitable that such a project will stray into other related areas; for example, other people or linked events. To illustrate, JFK assassination conspiracy theorists would no doubt have studied events surrounding Bobby Kennedy or Martin Luther King or indeed the Mafia, who some say were linked to that fateful event in November 1963. Similarly with my writings about Harry Vardon, I feel it important to illustrate to the reader how the life of a professional golfer differs in Vardons era to that of a present day PGA Tour player. How golf evolved will also provide the reader with a basis for making comparisons between players of yesteryear with those of today, and how difficult such comparatives might be. What was the norm in the late nineteenth century is quite different from today, and I believe the reader should be aware of that before making a judgment about someone like Harry Vardon. This book, therefore, is not only a diary of Harry Vardons playing career, but also a history of golf, which I sincerely hope the reader will find fascinating, of interest, and enjoyable. Any deviations from the subject matter, therefore, are intended to provide a backdrop and, hopefully, a better understanding of what golf was like in Vardons era.




The Messengers


Book Description

While waiting for their parents to pick them up after school, Christopher, his little brother Alex, and their cousin Andrea are playing hide and seek on the school playground. Suddenly, a flash of lightning strikes, and the three children are transported to another dimension. They arrive in the desolate tenth planet of our solar system, TerraNize. The story focuses on the adventure and exploits taking place in a once majestic land. The beautiful planet of TerraNize with its splendid terrain and idyllic environment has been transformed into an epic wasteland. Shrouded in a constant haze of ash and soot, the air is toxic. The once fertile land and gorgeous mountain ranges now bear unforgiving scars rendered by intense heat. The riverbeds are cracking from lack of moisture while the ocean lines have receded precipitously. What little wildlife remains mostly suffers from disease and starvation. Partitioning off distinctive boundaries of land are a vast array of divergent beings who have assumed control of their portion of this seemingly useless land. As the children journey through the vast arrays of lands on Terranize, they unfold the catastrophic events that have delivered it to this point of despair. The evil eternal, Antigond, is destroying the five kingdoms of men. Small groups of Cyclops, elves, dwarfs, and different tribes of men have survived Antigond's destruction, but with the help of his creations, the Trougliites, The Dreafs mighty winged beasts and Brounts. Antigond has united all the sub humans in a war against these last inhabitants of TerraNize. Led by Draagho, the warrior king, the children embark on a harrowing mission. They must find the orbs in which the life essence of the gods of TerraNize, called the eternals, is endowed. If the children are successful, the eternals can be regenerated and destroy Antigond before he obliterates all of humanity. In a journey fraught with peril, the three children dig deep into their souls for the strength and perseverance to survive. A delightful mixture of fantasy and faith, The Messengers: The Secret of the Orbs brims with action, adventure, and the strength of the human spirit.




Great Athletes


Book Description




Birdie Poop Poetry Book


Book Description

One day I took my daughter who was about seven, for a walk on the trails at the Back Bay in Portland, Maine. She was committed to walking the entire way around the bay, which is about six miles. Then about four miles into the walk she wanted to stop. There was really no way to do so. Instead her cleaver daddy wrote an instant poetry abomination that was so disgusting to sing, one could not do so without laughing. So, we changed the final two miles of the walk from a whining pity party to a laugh-a-minute musical march neither of us will ever forget. Welcome to "Birdie Poop!"




Arnie & Jack


Book Description

O'Connor explores the heated professional and personal battle between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique access to both players, O'Connor illuminates the golf greats' extreme differences and sprawling influences.




Flora's Fury


Book Description

“A charming conclusion to a fine fantasy series” that began with Flora Segunda and Flora’s Dare (Booklist). Despite her troublesome attraction to magick, Flora has more or less spent her life doing what’s been expected of her. Now, at sixteen, she knows that this path has been strewn with secrets. Sure that her true mother, Tiny Doom—long believed to be dead—is alive, Flora becomes determined to find her and leave behind the lies she’s been told about who she is. Flora’s quest takes her on a journey from lawless islands to the deadly desert, and into an unexpected romance with a brooding stranger who reveals himself to be a kindred spirit. And it all becomes far more dangerous when Flora realizes how desperately their enemies want Tiny Doom—and Flora herself—dead. “[A] thrilling, bizarre ride.” —The Horn Book “Readers return to our heroine at a pivotal moment in her growth . . . Flora fans will love old mysteries solved.” —Kirkus Reviews “Offers some enjoyable twists . . . fans of Flora will not be disappointed.” —Voice of Youth Advocates (VOYA)




Birdie's Book of Poems


Book Description

With an inexplicable love for poetry, Birdie's Book of Poems captures dreams, illustrious thoughts, and experiences that one has known or wishes to know. Without effort, we ... all of us know how to love, how to think or suffer. It is said that anyone who wishes to live life fully, needs to seek poetry. Birdie's Book of Poetry is an experience, once absorbed, you will continue to feel and to be stirred to a new understanding of crucial and lovely relationships of people and of life. The suspense in Birdie's Book of Poetry will build up an almost unbearable tension or tenderness so profound it will make your heart skip a beat.




Birdie, Give Me Your Heart


Book Description

How can you let someone love you if everyone you've ever known has left you broken and hurt? Birdie, Give Me Your Heart is the true story of a little girl born into a dark and scary world. Surrounded by adults who never understood her heart, she tried to survive as best she could the abandonment and abuse she suffered. Traumatized by fear, this little girl grew up disassociating from the pain and heartbreak inherent in her life. Believing God was sadistic, yet hoping that He really existed, she continued her search for His presence in her life. Leading her on this search were angels, those people who touched Birdie's life with love and truth. Birdie, Give Me Your Heart is the transforming story of hope and healing. Follow Roberta Parry as she leads you through her life, sharing her path from abandonment, abuse, and emotional damage to freedom. You won't want to put this book down, except to wipe away your tears.