The trouble is, every time she makes it to the final round of a spelling bee, she chokes. But when Mrs. Harrison, the new Latin teacher, offers to coach her, Karlene's spelling jinx miraculously disappears. The year 1969 is turning out to be her best ever, especially since she develops a surprising crush on her best friend, Billy Ray. But as soon as Karlene aims to compete in the National Spelling Bee in Washington, D. C., her father's drinking begins to spell trouble. How is a girl supposed to hold her family together, savor her first kiss, and become the best speller in America before the end of eighth grade?Debut novelist Karon Luddy spells out adolescence with unwavering faith and sass in a novel about big dreams and the people who make them happen.

    While living on his grandparents' farm in New Hampshire, Cole hears stories about a mysterious sin-eater; these stories enable Cole to learn forgiveness and to connect with his ancestors.

    Teen-aged Eliza Lucas, better suited for the drawing rooms at Drayton Hall than the sun-baked fields of Wappoo Plantation, fought and overcame grief, treachery and an impossible love.  Indefatigable in purpose and energy, she was able to provide the struggling new colonies in a critical time with a staple crop—indigo—saving the faltering economy and bracing it for the battle for sovereignty.  Her strong will and streak of independence extended beyond the business world and into her personal life.With her successful cultivation of the indigo plant, Eliza Lucas Pinckney changed the economy of the  colonies, making her mark on the agricultural industry, southern society and the Crown of England.  Based on her rich letters and eloquent journals, this true story reveals the perseverance, independence and true grit that sustained this colorful woman’s journey to a better future for herself, her family, her society and our fledgling democracy.

    Keep your face to the sunset . . . and one day you'll ride the greatest wheel in all the world." When Aunt Honora reads this fortune in his tea leaves, Conn Kilroy knows he is destined for greater things than his small Irish village can offer. A letter from his uncle Michael in America offering Conn a partnership in his New York contracting company sets Conn on his western adventure. Just a few short months later Conn's Uncle Patrick lures him even farther west to Chicago, where they join the hardworking crew building what some called Ferris's Folly—the first Ferris wheel—then the largest wheel in the world and the showpiece of Chicago's 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.

    Traces the search for freedom by a black man and wife who traveled to Boston and eventually to England after their escape from slavery in Georgia.

    But their summer proves more adventurous than he had hoped when headstrong Kate arrives, as together they share horseback races across the plains, country fairs and festivals, and a dangerous run-in with the gypsies.In vividly detailed scenes and beautiful illustrations, this Newbery Award-winning author presents an unforgettable world and characters who will be remembered forever.

    Here, it is hoped, the clear blue sea and the influence of his indomitable Aunt Mimi will heal his damaged body and revive his spirit. When Lelee, the wild daughter of a Provençal smuggler, bursts from the sea, it becomes a summer of diving, glorious food, hidden treasure, smuggling, and Jacques Cousteau.

    Allan Baillie's masterpiece – an exciting journey into China set against the background of Tiananmen Square.

    There, Angus discovers that his parents are actually famous Lightening Catchers, who have been kidnapped by the villainous Scabious Dankhart. Dankhart wants to find the secret Lightening Vaults hidden somewhere within Perilous, in order to unleash an unending storm.With the help of his new friends, Dougal Dewsnap and Indigo Midnight, Angus intends to stop him. They will battle through blizzards in the Weather Tunnel, dodge lightning bolts in the Lightnarium and fend off an attack of Fog Mites!Will Angus find his parents in time or will Scabious Dankhart achieve world domination?

    In modern life, she rebels against the curfews and restrictions of her day, seeing them as unfair hardships. But now in this alien world with its buffalo stampedes, wild Indians, and deadly pestilence, she is about to find out what real hardships are. To get home, she must set aside her Rude Girl persona and learn how to survive.On the trek, Paula meets young Daniel Langdon, hunter and part-time scout, and an infatuation quickly becomes a great passion. She realizes this is the love of her life and to get home she will have to leave him behind. In the tradition of Outlander, The Far Journey is a grand epic of love and tragedy, loyalty and betrayal, peril and survival. Throughout, Paula Masters is tested in body and soul and must discover the strength and toughness inside her. "It has all the elements that make a good book hard to put down." Foster Cline, M. D., author of Parenting with Love and Logic."What a grand, mind-bending tale Tom Reppert has spun!" Jim Payne, author of One Inch above the Water."An Intriguing story that captures you from the first page." Sara Vinduska, author of Reflections.

    Instead, it sets off a chain reaction that results in the smashing of the press and the murder of his master. Caught on the wrong side of the law, Theo must flee the city. Soon, he has teamed up with the traveling showman Count Las Bombas (who is actually a con artist) and his servant. The trio is soon joined by Mickle, a clever, strong-willed girl with a mysterious past. Performing feats that astound and amaze, the motley crew falls into a trap set by Chief Minister Cabbarus, who is determined to wrest power from the grief-stricken king. Now they must not only save themselves-they must save the kingdom...

    Jay has been raised by the Master, a man who is simultaneously his devoted grandfather and senior-school tutor. One day, the Master gives Jay a letter written by his dead mother which reveals the identity of his father. What follows is Jay's rejection of Catholicism and his journey across Europe in search of his missing lineage and alternative faith-beliefs.

    Originally published in 1959, Candy Floss will be as treasured today as it was a generation ago. Full color.

    I come from a little town called Atwater, Ohio, and I bought this wagon to haul goods. But lately, I’ve been hauling more people than goods."Will Spencer’s family has always helped runaway slaves passing through their town as they travel the Underground Railroad. But Will is ready to leave Atwater, Ohio, and start a life of his own as a peddler seeking his fortune. When a runaway slave asks Will to help steal his older brother out of the South to keep him from being sold into the hard life of the cotton fields, Will amends his plan and begins an adventure that will take him into the heart of slavery’s evil.As he makes his way from Ohio to Kentucky, Will discovers that people are not always what they seem and that it’s not always easy to tell right from wrong. After all, according to the law, stealing slaves is just as bad as robbing a man’s house. Does that mean Will Spencer is a common thief? Or is he a young man doing what’s right?From the Hardcover edition.

    Duty. Danger. Fear. Canada's past comes alive through the eyes of young men caught up in the danger, drama and excitement of defining historical events. Written by some of Canada's finest authors, I Am Canada is a new series that offers riveting action-packed stories sure to engage and inspire young readers. From the creators of the bestselling Dear Canada series, the I Am Canada books will include an images and documents section, map, glossary, historical notes and About the Author pages. The facts are vetted by some of Canada's best historians Blood and Iron By Paul Yee The incredible sacrifices made by Chinese workers building the transcontinental railway are revealed in this powerful new novel. Heen's father and grandfather have brought their family in China to the brink of ruin by gambling away their earnings. To solve their money troubles, Heen and his father come to Canada to build the railroad - a decision plagued by challenges and desperation. The living conditions provided for workers are wretched and work on the railroad is excruciating. Transporting tons of gravel and working in tunnels about to be dynamited proves to be deadly for many of Heen's co-workers. The friction between the Chinese workers and the whites, who barely acknowledge these deaths, soon reaches a fevered pitch. Heen's chilling observations of the injustice and peril heaped upon the workers serve as an important testament to this dramatic era in Canadian history.