What?Where did these crazy ideas come from?As this tale shows, it’s a mistake to judge others on what you’ve heard—and there’s plenty of luck for everyone.

    Now, in her luminous new novel, she returns to this territory, offering a powerful tale of hope and idealism, faith and madness.It is 1960 when Thomas Deracotte and his pregnant wife, Helen, abandon a guaranteed future in upper-crust Connecticut and take off for a utopian adventure in the Idaho wilderness. They buy a farm sight unseen and find the buildings collapsed, the fields in ruins. But they have a tent, a river full of fish, and acres overgrown with edible berries and dandelion greens. Helen learns to make coffee over a fire as they set about rebuilding the house. Though Thomas discovers he can't wield a hammer or an ax, there is a local boy, Manny ”a sweet soul of eighteen without a family of his own” who agrees to manage the fields in exchange for room and board. Their optimism and desire carry them through the early days.But the sudden, frightening birth of Thomas and Helen's daughter, Elise, changes something deep inside their marriage. And then, in the aftermath of a tragic accident to which only Manny bears witness, suspicion, anger, and regret come to haunt this shattered family. It is a legacy Elise will inherit and struggle with, until she ultimately finds a hope of her own. In this extraordinary novel, Kim Barnes reminds us of what it means to be young and in love, to what lengths people will go to escape loneliness, and the redemption found in family.

    But during an eventful summer by the sea, she begins to learn that some things do not stay the same forever. Colorful characters [and] Cassie's continuing and believable growth in understanding herself and others [make] this novel so distinctive." 'C.

    B. Oak’s fascinating new historical mystery series, set against the bucolic backdrop of 19th century New England. The lush, overgrown banks of Massachusetts’s Assabet river are the ideal place for Dr. Adam Walker to find coveted medicinal plants for his remedies. But on one balmy August morning he finds something very different. A stranger, identifying himself as Henry David Thoreau of nearby Walden Pond, approaches and entreats Adam to accompany him upriver. He has discovered the body of a young black man at the base of the cliff known as Devil’s Perch. As they examine the broken corpse and the surrounding scene, both men become convinced that the unfortunate victim was dead long before he fell. Yet the coroner’s jury insists otherwise, dismissing the matter as an accident. Angered by the injustice, Adam and his lovely cousin Julia Bell agree to assist Thoreau in investigating. Adam notes in his new friend all the makings of a great detective—an encyclopedic knowledge of the natural world, uncanny observational skills, a sharp instinct for detecting human foibles. As the case progresses, the mysteries only deepen and there is no mistaking the brutal slaying of a womanizing army captain as anything other than the coldest murder. Journeying from their tranquil village to Boston’s most disreputable district, they gradually uncover the monstrous truth—even while a vicious killer prepares to end their inquiry for good…Advance Praise For Thoreau At Devil’s Perch!“A favorite literary figure shows an unexpected flair for detection in this historical mystery. Original and charming.” —Laura Joh Rowland, author of The Incense Game“Well researched, captivating and compelling until the very end, Thoreau at Devil’s Perch is both mystery and love story during a time that appeared deceptively simple. Through their diaries, the main characters, Adam and Julia become to feel like old friends you want to revisit again and again. I’ve never been a fan of using historical figures in fiction—B.B. Oak has changed my mind. Well done!” —Anna Loan-Wilsey, author of Anything But Civil“B. B. Oak brings Thoreau’s nineteenth-century world to vivid life in this intriguing puzzler that will keep you guessing to the terrifying end.” —Victoria Thompson, author of Murder in Chelsea

    Her memories and her father's journal take her from the Eden of her earliest childhood to dusty, poor Lequama, a Latin American country, where she and her father become involved with the slightly mad young leaders of a recent revolution and where everyone seems to practice black magic. And, finally, to life in northern California, where Risk, still in thrall to her elusive father, is now the widow of Lequama's most notorious torturer. "Black Oxen" features romantic intrigue, machete murders, battles, and bacchanals. Full of unforgettable characters -- from an unusually lucky Taoscal chief, to a sexually ferocious therapist, to a frail billionaire who wants to live forever -- it is a deliciously entertaining and beautifully written novel.

    The outspoken tourist points out that instead of napping, the fisherman could go out and catch more fish, which would eventually earn him enough money to buy a proper motor-boat. The tourist continues to embellish his idea, envisioning canneries, restaurants, and private helicopters. But the fisher­man has his own ideas about what success looks like.With comic-like illustrations that emphasize the story’s humor, this funny and thoughtful book will inspire readers to celebrate life’s simple pleasures and enjoy the here and now.

    But now that they are together, something is terribly wrong. Grace Livingston Hill is the beloved author of more than 100 books. Read and enjoyed by millions, her wholesome stories contain adventure, romance, and the heartwarming triumphs of people faced with the problems of life and love.

    Timed to coincide with the Little Polar Bears 30th Anniversary!Help! Where there used to be lots of food, now there are hardly any fish left. But Lars and his friends know just what needs to be done. In helping to put things right Lars proves just what a brave little hero he is. This new story in time for the Little Polar Bear's 30th anniversary will inspire young readers to speak up for what they believe in.

    It looks like so much fun that Thomas wants to go fishing too. One day, he runs out of steam and his driver fills his boiler from the stream. And soon, Thomas’ boiler is what the driver is fishing in! In the early 1940s, a loving father crafted a small, blue, wooden engine for his son, Christopher. The stories that this father, the Reverend W Awdry, made up to accompany this wonderful toy were first published in 1945.

    He was named Crispin’s Crispian because he belonged to himself.So begins the story of a dog who runs bang into a little boy, who also belongs to himself. This quirky, breathtakingly illustrated story is one of Margaret Wise Brown’s best.

    At this dock the boy can swim, fish, or watch minnows dart between the rocks. But a hurricane is coming…and its violent winds and rain carry with it anything that can float.

    At 15, she runs away from the cruel classmates who see her only as "the Giant," the embarrassed adults who pity her, and the abusive father whose fleeting attentiveness is worse than his indifference. When the crew of a crabbing boat assumes she's much older than she is and invites her to join them for the season, she thrills at the possibility of escaping her teenaged life. Buoyed by the camaraderie and support of her new shipmates, Lucy quickly masters the mind-numbing cold and backbreaking work. But when her masquerade is threatened, she learns that there are no shortcuts to growing up. From the Hardcover edition.

    Equipped with a fancy Nikon, an excessive supply of socks, and no seamanship whatsoever, O’Hanlon joins the commercial fishing crew of the Norlantean, a deep-sea trawler, to stock a bottomless hull with their catch, even as a hurricane roars around them. Rich in oceanography, marine biology, and uproarious humor, Trawler is Redmond O’Hanlon at his finest.

    But the poetry of her words combines with Caldecott Honor artist Chris Raschka's gorgeous illustrations to evoke an experience much more imaginative and powerful.

    A perfect book for teaching about diverse cultures and lifestyles through rich pictures and words, moving from the wide world to the snugness of home and back out again.