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Breathless
Lurlene McDaniel
This moving and charged novel by Lurlene McDaniel, the bestselling author of inspirational fiction for young adults, presents ethical as well as moral dilemmas and explores the harsh reality of making a choice that, once made, can never be undone. Travis Morrison knows how good his life is. He’s a champion diver and one of the most popular kids at school. He has Darla, the girl he loves; Emily, his kid sister, whom he actually doesn’t mind hanging out with; and Cooper, his best friend.On the first day of summer vacation, all four go boating on the lake, and everything feels perfect. They cut the motor and drift toward their favorite spot, where cliffs abound—nature at its finest. Travis’s friends ask him not to try the diving stunt, but he can’t resist a challenge.Travis’s silly stunt dive goes wrong, and he fears he has broken his leg. Instead, his trip to the hospital reveals devastating news. In an instant, Travis’s life and the lives of everyone around him are forever changed.Travis understands that his parents believe they’re doing what’s best for him. But he’s always been sure of himself, and he’s sure of one thing now—that he and only he should decide the course of his life. He has a plan, but he can’t carry it out alone. How will he convince the three people he feels he can count on most to help him? And when things get even worse, who will fulfill his most important request?In this honest and probing novel, Lurlene McDaniel tackles a controversial subject, sensitively exploring the issues of personal choice and quality of life, and poignantly reminding readers that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity.
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The Idea Miners: The Lost Lake Dig
P. W. Cross
In The Idea Miners: The Lost Lake Dig, two young boys stumble into a parallel world called the Land of Lights and join an expedition with a mysterious girl, two dwarfs, and two donkeys on a quest to find a “gusher”―a buoyant, glowing sphere that holds an as-yet unthought-of brilliant idea. This exciting fantasy adventure book for middle readers is unlike anything else you will find. The unique and imaginative story―full of danger and magic; seers, dwarfs and elves; bloodthirsty trolls and crazy miners―keeps the reader glued to the book, while interwoven historical facts remind the reader of great gifts to the world by the likes of Sir Isaac Newton, Wilber and Orville Wright, Charles Babbage, and others. In this fantasy story all ideas originate in the Land of Lights. These ideas are released for discovery into our world, which is called the Land of Harvesters. The ideas are contained in glowing spheres call squirts and gushers. Squirts are the everyday types of ideas: “I’ll walk the dog,” or “I’ll wash the car.” Gushers are world-changing: the printing press, flight, computers. The squirts and gushers encountered by the two young boys on their journey, and while camping on top of a mountain playing a game called “Catch the Squirt,” provide a glimpse into their past and future, creating an excitement for ideas. For children today, preparing to embark on their journey through ideas which we call high school and college, the most important thing they can take with them is a passion for education and discovery. This book, with hidden worlds, crazy characters, and danger, plants these seeds of passion. As one of the reviewers of the book wrote: “With elements reminiscent of The Hobbit and Harry Potter, the pace and variety of challenges carry the reader along to a surprising and satisfying conclusion.” A part of this satisfying conclusion is captured in the very last line of the book: “Ideas define us, our past, our present, and, most importantly, our future.” It’s for the future that this book may have the most impact, by sending kids forward with a budding thirst for knowledge and an excitement for the world’s undiscovered potential.
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The Gecko and Sticky: The Greatest Power
Stephen Gilpin, Wendelin Van Draanen
The Gecko & Sticky are a fabulous crime-fighting duo! This quartet of funny adventures will appeal to fans of superheroes both young and old, and would make terrific all-family read-alouds."Don't move a muscle!" shouts a strangely clad crook in the act of robbing a bank. But of course somebody does. That somebody is Dave Sanchez, and the crook is none other than the dastardly Damien Black, fresh out of prison and back to his villainous ways. But Dave and his gecko sidekick, Sticky, are on the case, and this time they have a trick up their sleeve--literally! It's an Aztec wristband that give its wearer powers like invisibility and flight. Asombroso, right? But power alone does not a superhero make, and they'll have to learn how to use it if they want to defeat their nemesis not once--but twice.Don't miss all the Gecko & Sticky adventures:1. The Villain's Lair2. The Greatest Power,3. Sinister Substitute4. The Power PotionFrom the Hardcover edition.
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Children of the Dawnland, Kathleen O'Neal Gear
W. Michael Gear, Kathleen O'Neal Gear
Twig is a talented Dreamer. Sometimes she has spirit dreams―dreams that come true. But her mother has always discouraged Twig from exploring her powers for fear that they would turn her strange, like the reclusive witch-woman Cobia. When Twig begins to have nightmares about a green light exploding from the sky and causing widespread destruction, she must find the courage to defy her mother and learn to become a Spirit Dreamer. Helping Twig on her quest are her best friend, Greyhawk, and Screech Owl, a shaman who has been banished from the village. Together, they must persuade their people to leave the land of their ancestors and journey to the mysterious Duskland, far from only home they've ever known. Can Twig convince the Elders that she is a true Spirit Dreamer―before it's too late?
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How To Buy A Love Of Reading
Tanya Egan Gibson
Will be shipped from US. Used books may not include companion materials, may have some shelf wear, may contain highlighting/notes, may not include CDs or access codes. 100% money back guarantee.
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Terra Insegura
The battle for survival returns to earth in the sequel to the Aurora Award-winning sci-fi adventure Marseguro Marseguro, a water world far from Earth, is home to a colony of humans and the Selkies, a water-dwelling race created from modified human DNA. For seventy years the colony has lived in peace. Then Earth discovers Marseguro, and a strike force is sent to eradicate this "abomination." But Marseguro has created a genetically tailored plague to use against Earth's Holy Warriors. With the enemy defeated, the people of Marseguro feel they are safe. But Chris Keating, the traitor who signaled Marseguro's location to the Holy Warriors, has fled to Earth, unknowingly carrying the deadly plague within him. The people of Marseguro feel they must send a ship to Earth with a life-saving vaccine. Only time will tell what awaits them when they reach their destination.
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Pharaoh's Daughter
Julius Lester
Born into slavery, adopted as an infant by a princess, and raised in the palace of mighty Pharaoh, Moses struggles to define himself. And so do the three women who love him: his own embittered mother, forced to give him up by Pharaoh's decree; the Egyptian princess who defies her father and raises Moses as her own child; and his headstrong sister Almah, who discovers a greater kinship with the Egyptian deities than with her own God of the Hebrews. Told by Moses and his sister Almah from alternating points of view, this stunning novel by Newbery Honor-author Julius Lester probes questions of identity, faith, and destiny.
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Magic in the Blood, Devon Monk
Devon Monk
Working as a Hound-tracing illegal spells back to their casters-has taken its toll on Allison Beckstrom. But even though magic has given her migraines and stolen her recent memory, Allie isn't about to quit. Then the police's magic enforcement division asks her to consult on a missing persons case. But what seems to be a straightforward job turns out to be anything but, as Allie finds herself drawn into the underworld of criminals, ghosts, and blood magic.
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Darkborn
Alison Sinclair
For the Darkborn, sunlight kills. For the Lightborn, darkness is fatal. Living under a centuries-old curse, the Darkborn and the Lightborn share the city of Minhorne, coexisting in an uneasy equilibrium but never interacting-until a Darkborn physician finds a pregnant fugitive on his doorstep...
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Crouching Vampire Hidden Fang
Katie Macalister
For a woman married to the vampire of her nightmares, the honeymoon's over- and reality bites... Pia Thomason is torn between two Dark Ones: her husband Kristoff-who doesn't trust her-and his best friend, Alec, who is MIA. So Pia goes back to her humdrum Seattle life, but fate has other plans. And she realizes that if she and Kristoff are going to be shackled together for better or worse, she may as well start to enjoy it...Read Katie MacAlister's posts on the Penguin Blog.