The resonance of this image grows through each section of the book as Hahn skillfully employs theme and variation, counterpoint and mirroring techniques. The ibis first appears as part of an illusion, the disappearing object in a magician’s trick, which then evokes the greatest disappearing act of all—death—where there are no tricks to bring about a reappearance. The rich complexity multiplies as the second section focuses on a disappearing lady and a dramatic final section brings together the bird and the lady in their common plight—both caged by their mortality, their assigned time and role.  All of the illusions fall away during this brilliant denouement as the two voices share a dialogue on the power of metaphor as the very essence of poetry. bird trick iv It’s all about disappearance. About a bird in a cagewith a mirror, a simple twiston the handle at the sidethat makes it come and go at the magician’s insistence. It’s all about innocence.It’s all about acceptance.It’s all about compliance.It’s all about deference.It’s all about silence. It’s all about disappearance.

    But she grinds her teeth at night and dreads dinnertime, now that her troublemaker brother has been expelled from boarding school and is now home. Matters are complicated by Rachel's crush on his tutor, her older sister's acne problem, and her friendships with Stephanie and Alison.

    Anderson in this middle grade anthology.From Jennifer L. Holm’s story of a girl on Mars trying desperately to return to Earth to Gregory Maguire’s domestic intrigue; from Kathleen Karr’s story of a thief in turn-of-the-century Chicago to M.T. Anderson’s mysterious shipboard adventure; from A. LaFaye’s tale of magical wonderment to Marion Dane Bauer’s story of doing good, this volume provides a full range of reading for every taste. Also featured are Joan Bauer, Ellen Conford, Margaret Peterson Haddix, and Ellen Wittlinger. Sales of this book benefit ProLiteracy Worldwide, an international network with programs in the United States and partner programs abroad, whose mission is to change lives through literacy.

    Readers who require a fast-paced plot with lots of action, tension, and danger will find everything they want in Mikaelsen's latest novel.--Booklist, starred review.

    She refuses to be like Faith or Pam and she soon finds out just how different she is from the two. Throughout her young life she manages to avoid two rapes, yet she isn’t successful at avoiding a few brawls with her very own mother. When she no longer wants to run to her best friend Ti-Ti and Ti-Ti’s mother, Mama Toni, to protect her, she finds comfort, support, and true love in Saginaw’s most eligible bachelor. She quickly learns the trials and tribulations that come along with a man of such status. Iconic: A maturing young twenty-five-year-old who has survived the streets and drug game and is still on top. He has been so knee deep in dealing with hood fame and keeping his legit businesses afloat that he hasn’t had time to truly focus on love. Everything is going well for Conic until love comes unexpectedly knocking at his door. Conic soon learns just how crazy falling in love can be. From falling in love with a younger woman, unexpected fatherhood, to crazy exes, Conic starts to believe he can’t win for losing. Iconic Love: There is a phrase that says ‘everything happens for a reason.’ For whatever reason, the universe brought Iconic and Love together, and together they are both determined to persevere through whatever comes their way. But do the two strangers turned lovers have what it takes to weather the storms that are brewing against them?

    This four book set includes: Beezus and Ramona, Ramona and her Mother, Henry and Ribsy, and Henry and Beezus.

    I turned to see a great hulk of a man - all hairy jowls and heaving gut - lumbering from leg to leg in a slow battle-jig. I recognized him at once. His fists were clenched. His bloodshot eyes were wild. "Come on, if you think you're hard enough " he was bellowing. "Here we go again " I thought. Why do I always seem to end up in this type of a place? You'd think I'd have learned by now. All I'd wanted was a quiet drink. Was that too much to ask? Was it? Given the day I'd had so far, maybe it was...

    Little Tree as his grandparents call him is shown how to hunt and survive in the mountains, to respect nature in the Cherokee Way, taking only what is needed, leaving the rest for nature to run its course. Little Tree also learns the often callous ways of white businessmen and tax collectors, and how Granpa, in hilarious vignettes, scares them away from his illegal attempts to enter the cash economy. Granma teaches Little Tree the joys of reading and education. But when Little Tree is taken away by whites for schooling, we learn of the cruelty meted out to Indian children in an attempt to assimilate them and of Little Tree's perception of the Anglo world and how it differs from the Cherokee Way. A classic of its era, and an enduring book for all ages, The Education of Little Tree has now been redesigned for this twenty-fifth anniversary edition.

    Her first husband died, leaving her a single parent; her second husband abusive. She has overcome all those difficulties and is now very successful. Julia has everything she could ever want: a beautiful daughter, a loving family, a best friend, and financial security. The only thing missing from her life is a true love, but Julia has given up on ever finding that.Rev. Reginald Pennington is a man with a past that would surprise many. He is ashamed of his past, but he is now a different man. He is a man with a purpose—to spread the word of God. When his path crosses with Julia's, the electricity between them is very evident to everyone but him. He keeps her at arm's length, wanting to be with her but telling himself he has no plans to get involved.Julia and Reggie become fast friends after a business deal between her company and his church. At first, they tell themselves it is merely friendship. Julia's feelings change when Reggie sends mixed signals. Each has a past that they must come to terms with; things for which they must forgive themselves in order to move forward. Life-altering events bring surprises and sorrow that test their faith in God, themselves, and each other.

    When his time in the armed forces comes to an end, he is given a job offer he can't refuse: command an elite squad of soldiers tasked with tackling military ops that are blacker than black and far beyond the call of duty.

    Who will invent a candy more delicious than the Oozing Crunchorama or the Neon Lightning Chew? Logan, the Candymaker's son, who can detect the color of chocolate by touch alone?Miles, the boy who is allergic to merry-go-rounds and the color pink? Daisy, the cheerful girl who can lift a fifty-pound lump of taffy like it's a feather? Or Philip, the suit-and-tie wearing boy who's always scribbling in a secret notebook?This sweet, charming, and cleverly crafted story, told from each contestant's perspective, is filled with mystery, friendship, and juicy revelations.

    He's new in town and stuck living with his aunt, uncle, and their evil son Stevie, a bully who doesn't let Jamie's wheelchair stop him from messing with Jamie as much as possible. But Jamie doesn't let his situation get him down. When his Uncle Frankie mentions a contest called The Planet's Funniest Kid Comic, Jamie knows he has to enter. But are the judges only rewarding him out of pity because of his wheelchair, like Stevie suggests? Will Jamie ever share the secret of his troubled past instead of hiding behind his comedy act?Following the bestselling success of the hilarious Middle School, The Worst Years of My Life, James Patterson continues to dish out the funnies in another highly-illustrated, heartfelt middle school story. (Includes more than 175 black-and-white illustrations.)

    The kids at school won't let him forget, either, and he's gotten into so many fights, he's on the edge of serious trouble. Ricky can walk away from taunts on the playground, but not when the kids corner him on the bus. So he comes up with a new way to get to school. Not only will he run every morning and afternoon-he'll race the bus. And one day he will leave the past behind-and win.

    It's time to boycott boys!When her dad moves away to marry another woman, Cassie Landauer decides that there will be no boys allowed in her house --- or her life. Not even her best friend, Bobby! But then her mom invites Great Uncle Harry to stay with them for a few months. That's the last straw.Great Uncle Harry takes over Cassie's bedroom, treats her like a little kid, and is always around the house. Cassie is sick and tired of it! But how can she boycott boys when one of them is living in her home? All boys can't be that bad . . . can they?

    Raised from infancy by their grandmaster, they think of their temple as their home and their fellow warrior monks—their “temple brothers”—as their family. Then one terrible night, the temple is destroyed. Fu and his brothers are the only survivors. Charged by their grandmaster to uncover the secrets of their past, the five flee into the countryside and go their separate ways. Book #1 follows Fu as he struggles to find out more and prove himself in the process.