Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express


Book Description

Having returned from living with his friends the Shoshoni, seventeen-year-old Jimmy Spoon grows restless again and seeks adventure by taking a job with the Pony Express.




The Legend of Jimmy Spoon


Book Description

Twelve-year-old Jimmy Spoon finds life with his adopted Shoshone Indian family both exciting and strange. He comes to understand the Indians and their way of life and, most importantly, himself.




Last of the Donkey Pilgrims


Book Description

Kevin O'Hara's journey of self-discovery begins as a mad lark: who in their right mind would try to circle the entire coastline of Ireland on foot—and with a donkey and cart no less? But Kevin had promised his homesick Irish mother that he would explore the whole of the Old Country and bring back the sights and the stories to their home in Massachusetts. Determined to reach his grandmother's village by Christmas Eve, Kevin and his stubborn but endearing donkey, Missie, set off on 1800-mile trek along the entire jagged coast of a divided Ireland. Their rollicking adventure takes them over mountains and dales, through smoky cities and sleepy villages, and into the farmhouses and hearts of Ireland's greatest resource—its people. Along the way, Kevin would meet incredible characters, experience Ireland in all of its glory, and explore not only his Irish past, but find his future self. “One of the finest books about contemporary Ireland ever written...In a style evocative of Steinbeck's Travels with Charley, O'Hara writes memorably of his most unusual way of touring his ancestral home of Ireland.” —Library Journal At the Publisher's request, this title is being sold without Digital Rights Management Software (DRM) applied.




Across Five Aprils


Book Description

The Newbery Award-winning author of Up a Road Slowly presents the unforgettable story of Jethro Creighton—a brave boy who comes of age during the turbulent years of the Civil War. In 1861, America is on the cusp of war, and young Jethro Creighton is just nine-years-old. His brother, Tom, and his cousin, Eb, are both of fighting age. As Jethro's family is pulled into the conflict between the North and the South, loyalties are divided, dreams are threatened, and their bonds are put to the test in this heart-wrenching, coming of age story. “Drawing from family records and from stories told by her grandfather, the author has, in an uncommonly fine narrative, created living characters and vividly reconstructed a crucial period of history.”—Booklist




Ask a Manager


Book Description

From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together




Jimmy Spoon and the Pony Express


Book Description

Award-winning author Kristiana Gregory picks up where THE LEGEND OF JIMMY SPOON leaves off, in this fast-paced, robust historical adventure based on the true exploits of Elijah Nicholas Wilson. Salt Lake City, 1860: It's been several years since young Jimmy Spoon returned from living with the Shoshoni and he's restless. Working at the family store is drudgery. He longs to get out of the city, to breathe fresh air, and to sleep under the stars. One day, he sees a newspaper ad: "WANTED: Young, skinny, wiry fellows not over 18. Must be expert riders, willing to risk death daily, orphans preferred. Wages $25 a week ... " It's the chance of a lifetime. And Jimmy knows he's a perfect candidate. After years with the Indians, he can ride a horse like no other white boy. The trail boss hires him on the spot. But riding for the Express isn't easy. A rider must cover 50 miles a day through rugged terrain that exhausts three or four horses on each trip. Living conditions are primitive. There are outlaws, angry tribes, blistering heat and below-zero winters. And all along, Jimmy yearns to return to his Shoshoni family. Especially to rekindle his friendship with the lovely Nahanee. VOYA: " ... terrific ... " SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL: "Exciting ... those who have not read 'Legend' will certainly want to do so after finishing this one." BOOKLIST: "Gregory packs her chapters with enough action, drama, and humor to please even hard-core reluctant readers. A painless way to learn American history."




Beautiful Joe


Book Description

A dog describes being mistreated by a cruel master but then later being taken in by a kind family.




History of the West with Sam Payne: Pony Boy


Book Description

Summer of 1860 finds Sam Payne shoveling horse manure at the lonely Pony Express station at Mud Springs. Although dutiful in his work, Sam can't help but admire the daring Pony riders as they carry mail bound for far off places. The winds of change soon blow, and Sam gets his chance to climb in the saddle. Fast horses, hard riding, and lonely miles accompany the work, but Sam sets out to prove he is an able Pony Boy. Although he finds quick success, an unexpected turn of events soon sets Sam on a journey he never anticipated. Traversing the lonely plains, Sam is put through a physical test that pushes him past his limits and straight into unexpected dangers. Along the way, he'll come face-to-face with the reality of how deadly the plains are to a man afoot.History of the West with Sam Payne: Pony Boy is the second book in the Sam Payne series. Like other books in the History of the West series, Pony Boy tells realistic stories of the American West that are both exciting and historically accurate. Whether you are looking for an absorbing story, or want to learn more about history, Pony Boy is the book for you. Like other books in the History of the West series, Pony Boy contains questions, activities, and video extensions to learn more about the frontier as you read. By the end of this book, you'll not only have read a great story, but you'll also get the chance to learn some frontier skills along the way.




My Antonia


Book Description

A haunting tribute to the heroic pioneers who shaped the American Midwest This powerful novel by Willa Cather is considered to be one of her finest works and placed Cather in the forefront of women novelists. It tells the stories of several immigrant families who start new lives in America in rural Nebraska. This powerful tribute to the quiet heroism of those whose struggles and triumphs shaped the American Midwest highlights the role of women pioneers, in particular. Written in the style of a memoir penned by Antonia’s tutor and friend, the book depicts one of the most memorable heroines in American literature, the spirited eldest daughter of a Czech immigrant family, whose calm, quite strength and robust spirit helped her survive the hardships and loneliness of life on the Nebraska prairie. The two form an enduring bond and through his chronicle, we watch Antonia shape the land while dealing with poverty, treachery, and tragedy. “No romantic novel ever written in America...is one half so beautiful as My Ántonia.” -H. L. Mencken Willa Cather (1873–1947) was an American writer best known for her novels of the Plains and for One of Ours, a novel set in World War I, for which she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize in 1923. She was elected a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences in 1943 and received the gold medal for fiction from the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1944, an award given once a decade for an author's total accomplishments. By the time of her death she had written twelve novels, five books of short stories, and a collection of poetry.




The Magic of Thinking Big


Book Description

The timeless and practical advice in The Magic of Thinking Big clearly demonstrates how you can: Sell more Manage better Lead fearlessly Earn more Enjoy a happier, more fulfilling life With applicable and easy-to-implement insights, you’ll discover: Why believing you can succeed is essential How to quit making excuses The means to overcoming fear and finding confidence How to develop and use creative thinking and dreaming Why making (and getting) the most of your attitudes is critical How to think right towards others The best ways to make “action” a habit How to find victory in defeat Goals for growth, and How to think like a leader "Believe Big,” says Schwartz. “The size of your success is determined by the size of your belief. Think little goals and expect little achievements. Think big goals and win big success. Remember this, too! Big ideas and big plans are often easier -- certainly no more difficult - than small ideas and small plans."