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Book Description

Fans of Netflix's On My Block and readers of Elizabeth Acevedo and Angie Thomas will love this debut novel about a girl whose life is turned upside down after one local act of vandalism throws both her relationships and neighborhood into turmoil. Chinelo, or Nelo as her best friend Kate calls her, is all about her neighborhood Ginger East. She loves its chill vibe, ride-or-die sense of community, and the memories she has growing up there with her friends. Ginger East isn't what it used to be though. After a deadly incident at the local arcade, most of her friends' families moved away. Kate, whose family owns the local corner store, is still there and as long as that stays constant, Nelo's good. When Kate's parent's store is vandalized and the vandal still at large, Nelo is shaken to her core. And then the police and the media get involved and more of the outside world descends upon Ginger East with promises to "fix the neighborhood." Suddenly, Nelo finds herself in the middle of a drama unfolding on a national scale. Worse yet, Kate is acting strange. She's pushing Nelo away at the exact moment they need each other most. Now Nelo's entire world is morphing into something she hates and she must figure out how to get things back on track or risk losing everything--and everyone--she loves.




Never Play Music Right Next to the Zoo


Book Description

A lively and lyrical picture book jaunt from actor and author John Lithgow! Oh, children! Remember! Whatever you may do, Never play music right next to the zoo. They’ll burst from their cages, each beast and each bird, Desperate to play all the music they’ve heard. A concert gets out of hand when the animals at the neighboring zoo storm the stage and play the instruments themselves in this hilarious picture book based on one of John Lithgow’s best-loved tunes.




A Dictionary of Catch Phrases


Book Description

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases.




Home Is Not a Country


Book Description

LONGLISTED FOR THE NATIONAL BOOK AWARD “Nothing short of magic.” —Elizabeth Acevedo, New York Times bestselling author of The Poet X From the acclaimed poet featured on Forbes Africa’s “30 Under 30” list, this powerful novel-in-verse captures one girl, caught between cultures, on an unexpected journey to face the ephemeral girl she might have been. Woven through with moments of lyrical beauty, this is a tender meditation on family, belonging, and home. my mother meant to name me for her favorite flower its sweetness garlands made for pretty girls i imagine her yasmeen bright & alive & i ache to have been born her instead Nima wishes she were someone else. She doesn’t feel understood by her mother, who grew up in a different land. She doesn’t feel accepted in her suburban town; yet somehow, she isn't different enough to belong elsewhere. Her best friend, Haitham, is the only person with whom she can truly be herself. Until she can't, and suddenly her only refuge is gone. As the ground is pulled out from under her, Nima must grapple with the phantom of a life not chosen—the name her parents meant to give her at birth—Yasmeen. But that other name, that other girl, might be more real than Nima knows. And the life Nima wishes were someone else's. . . is one she will need to fight for with a fierceness she never knew she possessed.




Displaced Lives


Book Description

Human displacement is an old phenomenon; however, the dislocation of people in the twenty-first century has been unprecedented. At the end of 2019, over 260 million people were living outside their countries of birth. Some are forced to relocate—by violence, wars, hunger, persecution, and other causes—and some are voluntary migrants. A single term cannot define who they are or why they are on the move. For those uprooted by force, the psychological and spiritual loss of homeland can be devastating. The millions who are mentally uprooted—because of war-induced PTSD, addiction, and aging—can suffer similar displacement and trauma. Through outstanding fiction, poetry, memoir, and drama, the authors in Displaced Lives vividly depict the responses and emotions of ordinary people to displacement, a devastating and widespread crisis of our time. Authors are from Bangladesh, Canada, Cuba, China, Germany, India, Ireland, Iran, Israel, Macedonia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Pakistan, the Philippines, Romania, Russia, South Africa, Spain, and the U.S. Featured is a portfolio of photographs by Serena Chopra, taken in the Tibetan refugee colony of Majnu Ka Tilla, Delhi.




Dictionary of Catch Phrases


Book Description

A catch phrase is a well-known, frequently-used phrase or saying that has `caught on' or become popular over along period of time. It is often witty or philosophical and this Dictionary gathers together over 7,000 such phrases.




The Blackridge House


Book Description

A quest is never what you expect it to be. Elizabeth Madeline Martin spends her days in a retirement home in Cape Town, watching the pigeons and squirrels on the branch of a tree outside her window. Bedridden, her memory fading, she can recall her early childhood spent in a small wood-and-iron house in Blackridge on the outskirts of Pietermaritzburg. Though she remembers the place in detail – dogs, a mango tree, a stream – she has no idea of where exactly it is. 'My memory is full of blotches,' she tells her daughter Julia, 'like ink left about and knocked over.' Julia resolves to find the Blackridge house: with her mother lonely and confused, would this, perhaps, bring some measure of closure? A journey begins that traverses family history, forgotten documents, old photographs, and the maps that stake out a country's troubled past – maps whose boundaries nature remains determined to resist. Kind strangers, willing to assist in the search, lead to unexpected discoveries of ancestors and wars and lullabies. Folded into this quest are the tender conversations between a daughter and a mother who does not have long to live. Taken as one, The Blackridge House is a meditation on belonging, of the stories we tell of home and family, of the precarious footprint of life.




A Maid and a Million Men


Book Description

In 'A Maid and a Million Men' by James G. Dunton, the reader is immersed in a gripping tale of love, betrayal, and ambition set against the backdrop of Victorian England. The book is written in a lyrical and descriptive prose that captures the beauty and darkness of the era, making it a compelling read for fans of historical fiction. Dunton skillfully weaves together complex character relationships and societal issues, painting a vivid picture of the struggles faced by women during this time period. The novel is a poignant exploration of class, gender, and power dynamics, making it a thought-provoking and engaging piece of literature. The author's attention to detail and meticulous research bring the story to life, transporting the reader to a world of lavish balls, clandestine affairs, and scandalous rumors. James G. Dunton, a respected scholar of Victorian literature, drew on his expertise and passion for the period to craft this compelling novel. His deep understanding of the social and cultural norms of the time shines through in his writing, adding authenticity and depth to the narrative. Dunton's ability to blend historical accuracy with compelling storytelling sets 'A Maid and a Million Men' apart as a must-read for enthusiasts of the genre. I highly recommend 'A Maid and a Million Men' to readers who enjoy immersive historical fiction that delves into the complexities of relationships and societal structures. Dunton's masterful storytelling and vivid imagery make this novel a captivating and enriching reading experience that will linger in the reader's mind long after the final page is turned.







Like It Never Happened


Book Description

Stereotypes, sexuality, and destructive rumors collide in this smart YA novel for fans of Sara Zarr’s Story of a Girl, Siobhan Vivian’s The List, and E. Lockhart’s The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks. When Rebecca Rivers lands the lead in her school’s production of The Crucible, she gets to change roles in real life, too. She casts off her old reputation, grows close with her four rowdy cast-mates, and kisses the extremely handsome Charlie Lamb onstage. Even Mr. McFadden, the play’s critical director, can find no fault with Rebecca. Though “The Essential Five” vow never to date each other, Rebecca can’t help her feelings for Charlie, leaving her both conflicted and lovestruck. But the on and off-stage drama of the cast is eclipsed by a life-altering accusation that threatens to destroy everything…even if some of it is just make believe.