star-fender

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the critically acclaimed author of Six Crimson Cranes comes the thrilling next adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

Attachment to the land, hard work, and community, sets the folks of Morgantown apart from the everyday, and always brings them back to the ranch-where they might even find love . . . After his father decides to leave the ranch to his older brother, usually calm, steadfast Ben Miller struggles to deal with his resentment. When he's invited to develop a trail riding experience on the Morgans' dude ranch, Ben jumps at the chance. Soon he's assigned a mysterious client, an actress whose family secretly wants her removed from influences in LA. Ben's determined to teach her to fend for herself. But he quickly discovers she's more than a pampered pretty face . . . Silver Meadow believes she's preparing for a serious dramatic role-one that will free her from her controlling parents. She's certainly not going to be controlled by Ben, especially when he takes her out in the middle of nowhere to learn how to survive. Yet gradually, far from her cell phone, Silver begins to open up to him about her life-and finds they have more in common than they thought. Soon a romance blossoms-but can a jet-setting movie star and a homebody cowboy find the best of both worlds? . . .

Rowan Chadha's job as a children's librarian might be temporary, but at least it comes with adorable, hilarious patrons. When he bumps into Jordy Shaw-NHL star and super-hot dad of one of his favorite library kids-at a charity event, he suggests they team up as a fake couple to fend off unwanted attention, never expecting the connection to last. Jordy is in desperate need of a new nanny, and his daughter, Kaira, already adores Rowan. When Rowan's apartment becomes uninhabitable just as his library contract ends, Jordy offers a stopgap solution: Rowan can crash in the nanny suite in his home and help with Kaira while Jordy trains for the new season-just until Rowan lands a new job and Jordy can find permanent childcare. As the lines between fantasy and reality blur, the attraction that's been simmering between them bubbles over. But while they're free with their bodies, they struggle to defend their hearts, knowing their arrangement has an expiration date. After all, Rowan's a librarian, not a nanny, and Jordy could be traded at any moment. Their arrangement is temporary, right? Or maybe some things are worth staying for.... Textbook Defense continues the Hockey Ever After series with a fake relationship turned real and an adorable child in need of a nanny.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER From the critically acclaimed author of Six Crimson Cranes comes the thrilling next adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the critically acclaimed author of Six Crimson Cranes comes the thrilling next adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

'A dazzling fairytale' Stephanie Garber on Six Crimson Cranes 'The perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness' Chloe Gong on Six Crimson Cranes A dragon's kingdom. A star-crossed love. And a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world, or break it . . . Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all the while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next - threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win. Shiori's quest continues in the soaring sequel to the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy Six Crimson Cranes . TROPES Forbidden magic ¿¿ Slow-burn romance ¿¿¿¿ Found family ¿¿ Quest ¿ READERS LOVE THIS BOOK 'This book (and series) was made to break my heart' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Another spellbinding, fairytale inspired YA Fantasy' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'CRYING, SOBBING, HEART ABSOLUTELY WRECKED ¿¿¿' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'This book hit every note it should have for me' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Shiori is a freaking beast! I love her so much!' ¿¿¿¿¿

"A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page." --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ONCE MISSED is book #16 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews! A serial killer is striking seemingly at random, first killing a man in his 50s, then a woman in her 50s. The only thing that links them is the lone souvenir he took: a dining chair. What is the meaning? Are the murders random after all? FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her own dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer who is sure to strike again. Will she stop him in time? An action-packed psychological suspense thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE MISSED is book #16 in a riveting series—with a beloved character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • From the critically acclaimed author of Six Crimson Cranes comes the thrilling next adventure! A journey to the kingdom of dragons, a star-crossed love, and a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world or break it... Fans of Shadow and Bone will devour this soaring fantasy. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next—threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win.

Every Falling Star , the first book to portray contemporary North Korea to a young audience, is Sungju Lee’s intense memoir about being forced at age 12 to live on the streets and fend for himself. “Presents North Korea as a horrifying real-life dystopia. The book, the first of its kind aimed at young adults, is a first-person account of what it is like to be born and raised in a terrifying environment.” —The Guardian Dedicating his book to those he left behind in North Korea, Sungju Lee writes, “North Korea is indeed a Hermit Kingdom; a true-to-life dystopian nation. It’s against this backdrop that my story takes place.” To survive, Sungju creates a gang and lives by thieving, fighting, begging, and stealing rides on cargo trains. Sungju richly recreates his scabrous story, depicting what it was like for a boy alone to create a new family with his gang, “his brothers;” to daily be hungry and to fear arrest, imprisonment, and even execution. The book starts with a brief, never-before-told history of modern North Korea that puts Sungju’s personal story into context. Then he and coauthor Susan Elizabeth McClelland describe the four years of danger and desperation he endured after being abandoned by his parents. You may not believe the things that he was forced to endure at such a young age. You may not want to believe the horrors of the modern state of North Korea. But this true story of survival and determination allows young readers to learn about another culture where the freedoms they take for granted do not exist.

'A dazzling fairytale' Stephanie Garber on Six Crimson Cranes 'The perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness' Chloe Gong on Six Crimson Cranes A dragon's kingdom. A star-crossed love. And a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world, or break it . . . Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all the while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next - threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win. Shiori's quest continues in the soaring sequel to the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy Six Crimson Cranes . TROPES Forbidden magic ¿¿¿¿¿ Slow-burn romance ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ Found family ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿ Quest ¿¿¿¿ READERS LOVE THIS BOOK 'This book (and series) was made to break my heart' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Another spellbinding, fairytale inspired YA Fantasy' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'CRYING, SOBBING, HEART ABSOLUTELY WRECKED ¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿¿' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'This book hit every note it should have for me' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Shiori is a freaking beast! I love her so much!' ¿¿¿¿¿

Growing up with a single mother in San Benito, Texas, the hometown of Tejano star Freddy Fender was not easy for blues singer Charley Crockett. Hitchhiking across the country exposed Crockett to the street life at a young age, following in the footsteps of his relative, American folk hero Davy Crockett, who lived a wild life on the American frontier. After train hopping across the country, Crockett set off to travel the world and lived on the streets of Paris for nearly a year before searching for home in Spain, Morocco, and Northern Africa. Charley returned home to Texas and released his debut solo album titled A Stolen Jewel in 2015, receiving critical acclaim and landing him a Dallas Observer Award that year for "Best Blues Act". He released his sophomore record In The Night in 2016 and played over 125 shows that year. Crockett's song "I Am Not Afraid" received international recognition from top tastemakers after being picked by NPR Music as one of the "Top 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing" and featured on World Cafe. Now in 2018, Crockett releases Lonesome As A Shadow, an album recorded in Memphis at the legendary Sam Phillip's Recording Service with producer/engineer Matt Ross-Spang. Backed by the Blue Drifters, this album was recorded live to tape during a long year of touring. It's a musical gumbo that showcases the various depths of Crockett's sound.

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022 - THE YOUNGEST EVER BOOKER NOMINEE THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER _______________ ' Mottley attempts to do for Oakland something of what The Wire did for Baltimore ' THE TIMES 'A soul-searching portrait of survival and hope' OPRAH WINFREY _______________ We'll laugh because we can, until the sun disintegrates and nighttime threatens to set us free just to capture us again, back into the things we can't escape. Kiara does not know what it is to live as a normal seventeen-year-old. With her mother in a halfway house, she fends for herself - and for nine-year-old Trevor, whose own mother disappears for days at a time. But as the pressures of rent to pay and mouths to feed increase, Kiara finds herself walking the streets after dark, determined to survive in a world that refuses to protect her. Nightcrawling is an unforgettable novel about young people navigating the darkest corners of an adult world, told with a humanity that is at once agonising and utterly mesmerising. _______________ 'UNFORGETTABLE' GUARDIAN 'A MAGNIFICENT DEBUT' RUTH OZEKI, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 _______________ READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF NIGHTCRAWLING ' Nightcrawling is a lyrical masterpiece' ***** 'This book ripped my heart out' ***** 'Unputdownable . . . From the first page I was hooked' ***** 'This is a heart-achingly necessary book which will carve a hole in your soul and stay with you forever' ***** 'It is rare to read a first novel so perfectly crafted' ***** 'This is an absolute must-read. Five stars out of five' ***** 'Completely gripping . . . This is going to be a huge bestseller' *****

Growing up with a single mother in San Benito, Texas, the hometown of Tejano star Freddy Fender was not easy for blues singer Charley Crockett. Hitchhiking across the country exposed Crockett to the street life at a young age, following in the footsteps of his relative, American folk hero Davy Crockett, who lived a wild life on the American frontier. After train hopping across the country, Crockett set off to travel the world and lived on the streets of Paris for nearly a year before searching for home in Spain, Morocco, and Northern Africa. Charley returned home to Texas and released his debut solo album titled A Stolen Jewel in 2015, receiving critical acclaim and landing him a Dallas Observer Award that year for "Best Blues Act". He released his sophomore record In The Night in 2016 and played over 125 shows that year. Crockett's song "I Am Not Afraid" received international recognition from top tastemakers after being picked by NPR Music as one of the "Top 10 Songs Public Radio Can't Stop Playing" and featured on World Cafe. Now in 2018, Crockett releases Lonesome As A Shadow, an album recorded in Memphis at the legendary Sam Phillip's Recording Service with producer/engineer Matt Ross-Spang. Backed by the Blue Drifters, this album was recorded live to tape during a long year of touring. It's a musical gumbo that showcases the various depths of Crockett's sound.

"A masterpiece of thriller and mystery! The author did a magnificent job developing characters with a psychological side that is so well described that we feel inside their minds, follow their fears and cheer for their success. The plot is very intelligent and will keep you entertained throughout the book. Full of twists, this book will keep you awake until the turn of the last page." --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Once Gone) ONCE CHOSEN is book #17 in the bestselling Riley Paige mystery series, which begins with the #1 bestseller ONCE GONE (Book #1)—a free download with over 1,000 five star reviews! A serial killer strikes every Halloween—the bodies of his victims re-surfacing years later—and with Halloween only days away, it is up to FBI Special Agent Riley Paige to stop the killer before he strikes again. How has this killer gone undetected for so long? How many victims have there really been? And who will he target next? FBI Special Agent Riley Paige must fend off her own demons and her dysfunctional family life as she races against time to enter the mind of a diabolical killer days away from striking again—one who may even be more brilliant than her. Can she stop him in time? An action-packed psychological suspense thriller with heart-pounding suspense, ONCE CHOSEN is book #17 in a riveting series—with a beloved character—that will leave you turning pages late into the night.

In The Grail Guitar: The Search for Jimi Hendrix's Purple Haze Telecaster, Chris Adams takes readers on a fascinating mystery tour to determine whether a Fender Telecaster bought secondhand in a London music store in 1973 was the one used by Jimi Hendrix to record "Purple Haze" in January 1967. The only clues are its left-handed tuners and the salesman's chance remark that the guitar was brought into the shop by a Hendrix roadie. But these are enough to set the author off on this intriguing journey into Hendrix history. With firsthand details from model Linda Keith, who discovered Hendrix in New York, Adams recounts how the rising star left for London with a white Stratocaster belonging to Keith Richards. The man who made Hendrix's pedals explains how this Strat failed to make the "Purple Haze" recording session and how it was replaced by a borrowed Telecaster. As Adams tracks down the surviving musicians, they shed light on the fate of that Telecaster and gradually the two guitars begin to merge into one. Throughout, Adams weaves his own story as a rock musician and tells how, against the odds, he managed to hold on to this remarkable instrument. Here is a riveting story of one man seeking the truth about a cultural artifact that changed rock history, a story for rock fans and guitar aficionados, treasure hunters and antique dealers, as well as anyone who likes a detective story.

'A dazzling fairytale' Stephanie Garber on Six Crimson Cranes 'The perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness' Chloe Gong on Six Crimson Cranes A dragon's kingdom. A star-crossed love. And a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world, or break it . . . Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all the while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next - threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win. Shiori's quest continues in the soaring sequel to the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy Six Crimson Cranes . TROPES Forbidden magic ¿¿ Slow-burn romance ¿¿¿¿ Found family ¿¿ Quest ¿ READERS LOVE THIS BOOK 'This book (and series) was made to break my heart' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Another spellbinding, fairytale inspired YA Fantasy' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'CRYING, SOBBING, HEART ABSOLUTELY WRECKED ¿¿¿' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'This book hit every note it should have for me' ¿¿¿¿¿ 'Shiori is a freaking beast! I love her so much!' ¿¿¿¿¿

Every Falling Star , the first book to portray contemporary North Korea to a young audience, is Sungju Lee’s intense memoir about being forced at age 12 to live on the streets and fend for himself. “Presents North Korea as a horrifying real-life dystopia. The book, the first of its kind aimed at young adults, is a first-person account of what it is like to be born and raised in a terrifying environment.” —The Guardian Dedicating his book to those he left behind in North Korea, Sungju Lee writes, “North Korea is indeed a Hermit Kingdom; a true-to-life dystopian nation. It’s against this backdrop that my story takes place.” To survive, Sungju creates a gang and lives by thieving, fighting, begging, and stealing rides on cargo trains. Sungju richly recreates his scabrous story, depicting what it was like for a boy alone to create a new family with his gang, “his brothers;” to daily be hungry and to fear arrest, imprisonment, and even execution. The book starts with a brief, never-before-told history of modern North Korea that puts Sungju’s personal story into context. Then he and coauthor Susan Elizabeth McClelland describe the four years of danger and desperation he endured after being abandoned by his parents. You may not believe the things that he was forced to endure at such a young age. You may not want to believe the horrors of the modern state of North Korea. But this true story of survival and determination allows young readers to learn about another culture where the freedoms they take for granted do not exist.

"Thriller writing at its best." --Midwest Book Review (Any Means Necessary) From the #1 bestselling and USA Today bestselling author Jack Mars (with over 10,000 five-star reviews) comes a groundbreaking new political thriller series: when the President of the United States or his family are threatened, it is up to Jake Mercer, former Marine sniper turned Secret Service agent, to protect them from dangers—both foreign and domestic. All it takes is one fateful flight for Jake Mercer's day to shift from standard protection detail to a full-blown survival mission. Marooned in hostile territory with the President after a helicopter crash orchestrated by unseen forces, Jake must fend off lethal threats and uncover the truth behind the sabotage attempt before it's too late. "Thriller enthusiasts who relish the precise execution of an international thriller, but who seek the psychological depth and believability of a protagonist who simultaneously fields professional and personal life challenges, will find this a gripping story that's hard to put down." --Midwest Book Review, Diane Donovan (regarding Any Means Necessary) "One of the best thrillers I have read this year. The plot is intelligent and will keep you hooked from the beginning. The author did a superb job creating a set of characters who are fully developed and very much enjoyable. I can hardly wait for the sequel." --Books and Movie Reviews, Roberto Mattos (re Any Means Necessary) ABSOLUTE PREJUDICE is the thirteenth book in a new series by #1 bestselling and critically acclaimed author Jack Mars, whose books have received over 10,000 five-star reviews and ratings. The series begins with ABSOLUTE THREAT (book #1). A gripping and unpredictable political thriller, the Jake Mercer series is a page-turning action series that will leave you unable to put it down. This fresh and exciting action hero will have you turning pages late into the night, and fans of Brad Taylor, Vince Flynn, and Tom Clancy are sure to fall in love. Future books in the series are also available!

LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022 - THE YOUNGEST EVER BOOKER NOMINEE THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER _______________ ' Mottley attempts to do for Oakland something of what The Wire did for Baltimore ' THE TIMES 'A soul-searching portrait of survival and hope' OPRAH WINFREY _______________ We'll laugh because we can, until the sun disintegrates and nighttime threatens to set us free just to capture us again, back into the things we can't escape. Kiara does not know what it is to live as a normal seventeen-year-old. With her mother in a halfway house, she fends for herself - and for nine-year-old Trevor, whose own mother disappears for days at a time. But as the pressures of rent to pay and mouths to feed increase, Kiara finds herself walking the streets after dark, determined to survive in a world that refuses to protect her. Nightcrawling is an unforgettable novel about young people navigating the darkest corners of an adult world, told with a humanity that is at once agonising and utterly mesmerising. _______________ 'UNFORGETTABLE' GUARDIAN 'A MAGNIFICENT DEBUT' RUTH OZEKI, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 _______________ READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF NIGHTCRAWLING ' Nightcrawling is a lyrical masterpiece' ***** 'This book ripped my heart out' ***** 'Unputdownable . . . From the first page I was hooked' ***** 'This is a heart-achingly necessary book which will carve a hole in your soul and stay with you forever' ***** 'It is rare to read a first novel so perfectly crafted' ***** 'This is an absolute must-read. Five stars out of five' ***** 'Completely gripping . . . This is going to be a huge bestseller' *****

One of the best-loved animal stories of our time. "Twilight over meadow and water, the eve-star shining above the hill, and Old Nog the heron crying kra-a-ark! as his slow dark wings carried him down to the estuary." The classic story of an otter living in the Devonshire countryside which captures the feel of life in the wild as seen through the otter's own eyes. Tarka is born in Owlery Holt, near Canal Bridge on the River Torridge, where he grows up with his mother and sisters, learning to swim and catch fish, and to beware the hunters' cry. His life is one of adventure and play, but soon he must fend for himself, travelling along streams and rivers to the open sea, sometimes with female otters White-tip and Greymuzzle. Always on the run, Tarka has many close shaves until he finally meets his nemesis, the fearsome hound Deadlock. Henry William Williamson was born in 1895 in Brockley, south-east London. The then semi-rural location provided easy access to the countryside, and he developed a deep love of nature throughout his childhood. He became a prolific author known for his natural and social history novels. He won the Hawthornden Prize for literatrure in 1928 for Tarka the Otter. Also available in A Puffin Book : GOODNIGHT MISTER TOM and BACK HOME by Michelle Magorian CHARLOTTE'S WEB, STUART LITTLE and THE TRUMPET OF THE SWAN by E. B. White THE BORROWERS by Mary Norton STIG OF THE DUMP by Clive King ROLL OF THUNDER, HEAR MY CRY by Mildred D. Taylor A DOG SO SMALL by Philippa Pearce GOBBOLINO by Ursula Moray Williams MRS FRISBY AND THE RATS OF NIMH by Richard C O'Brien A WRINKLE IN TIME by Madeleine L'Engle THE CAY by Theodore Taylor WATERSHIP DOWN by Richard Adams SMITH by Leon Garfield THE NEVERENDING STORY by Michael Ende ANNIE by Thomas Meehan THE FAMILY FROM ONE END STREET by Eve Garnett

'A dazzling fairytale' Stephanie Garber, on Six Crimson Cranes A dragon's kingdom. A star-crossed love. And a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world, or break it . . . Shiori's quest continues in the soaring Sunday Times bestselling sequel to the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy Six Crimson Cranes. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all the while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next - threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win. PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH LIM 'Magic leaps from every page of Lim's exquisite fairytale' Axie Oh 'An amazing creation!' Tamora Pierce 'The perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings' Chloe Gong 'This is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy!' Natasha Ngan 'Lim is a master storyteller which is apparent with every magical turn of the page' Kerri Maniscalco 'This book is magic!' Kristin Cashore 'Elizabeth Lim takes readers on a captivating and wholly original journey' Melissa Bashardoust

For fans of One Tree Hill and Gossip Girl... She's caught between loyalty and a longing she can't ignore. He's built walls to protect a heart that's never known first place. Genevieve Dupont is used to giving her all. And it's easy to do, when you love something as much as she loves ballet, love someone as much as she loves Will Chapman-her best friend and the Astor Lions' star basketball player. But Will is spiraling and after a lifetime of her mother's disdain, Gen wonders if she's neglected her own desires in hopes that one day she'll be enough. So when a reckless deal ignites a surprising thrill-losing her virginity to the one teammate Will can't stand-she finds herself saying yes. What Gen doesn't expect is for the golden boy to challenge every belief she holds about love, and soon, she's hurtling toward a choice she never anticipated. Grant Fielder 's charmed life, a world away from his impoverished past, demands unwavering loyalty-or so he thinks. Being a dutiful son, a good friend, a loyal teammate feels as essential as breathing, even if his true desires whisper otherwise. He's perfected this role, if only to fend off ever feeling abandoned again, until the reckless games of his privileged peers become something he can't ignore. What started as a simple deal soon blossoms into something more, but when you've always come second, it feels impossible to believe you could really be first. Their undeniable passion will force them to choose between the comfort of what they've known and a love that could destroy them both. Second Position is the second book in the Astor Hill series and can be read as a standalone, but reading in order is recommended.

'A dazzling fairytale' Stephanie Garber, on Six Crimson Cranes A dragon's kingdom. A star-crossed love. And a cursed pearl with the power to mend the world, or break it . . . Shiori's quest continues in the soaring Sunday Times bestselling sequel to the New York Times bestselling young adult fantasy Six Crimson Cranes. Princess Shiori made a deathbed promise to return the dragon's pearl to its rightful owner, but keeping that promise is more dangerous than she ever imagined. She must journey to the kingdom of dragons, navigate political intrigue among humans and dragons alike, fend off thieves who covet the pearl for themselves and will go to any lengths to get it, all the while cultivating the appearance of a perfect princess to dissuade those who would see her burned at the stake for the magic that runs in her blood. The pearl itself is no ordinary cargo; it thrums with malevolent power, jumping to Shiori's aid one minute, and betraying her the next - threatening to shatter her family and sever the thread of fate that binds her to her true love. It will take every ounce of strength Shiori can muster to defend the life and the love she's fought so hard to win. PRAISE FOR ELIZABETH LIM 'Magic leaps from every page of Lim's exquisite fairytale' Axie Oh 'An amazing creation!' Tamora Pierce 'The perfect blend of whimsy and ferociousness, with twists and turns that will tug at your heartstrings' Chloe Gong 'This is a gem for all lovers of whimsical fantasy!' Natasha Ngan 'Lim is a master storyteller which is apparent with every magical turn of the page' Kerri Maniscalco 'This book is magic!' Kristin Cashore 'Elizabeth Lim takes readers on a captivating and wholly original journey' Melissa Bashardoust

*New York Times bestseller* *One of TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2024* A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free. In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show's millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she'd been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister - a slowly woven web of manipulation, abuse and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz began to give away her autonomy, ultimately relocating to the Family's Pacific Northwest compound, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons and steadily drained millions of her TV income without her knowledge. Family 'minders' assigned to her on set, 'Maoist struggle session'-inspired meetings in the basement of a filthy house, and regular counselling with 'Leadership' were just part of the tactics used to keep her loyal. Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill super-fan), she finally managed to escape the family's grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered the course of her life. Written with powerful honesty and dark humour, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity, faith and independence.

ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax embark on their descent into the galaxy's underworld in search of answers and opportunity, in this essential prequel to Star Wars Outlaws. Jaylen Barsha, heir to his family's immense power and wealth, had his life charted out for him neatly and meticulously by his parents, even though he suspected his neglected half-brother Sliro would be a better fit for the bright corporate future his parents envisioned. Then the Empire stripped it all away on trumped-up charges of conspiracy against his family. Before he can reach Sliro for help redeeming the Barsha name, a battle droid arrives at the family compound with a mission to kill every last member of the Barsha clan. Jaylen manages to fend off the attack as the sole survivor, but realizes the droid, who he reprograms, is his only chance to stay alive. But he can no longer be Jaylen Barsha - he'll have to live now as Jaylen Vrax. Former Separatist battle droid ND-5 knows he should be scrap metal, all things considered. He was a proficient contributor to the Separatist cause, but what is a soldier without a war? A trigger without aim? Loyalty is in his programming, and Jaylen, who treats him as more than just a weapon, has earned it. Perhaps, the droid thinks, with a partner he can be more. ND-5 just has to earn Jaylen's trust. With the threat against the Barsha clan still shrouded in mystery, the pair has no choice but to leverage the chaos and disappear. They find sanctuary in the anonymity of the underworld, building their reputation among scoundrels, bounty hunters, and crime syndicates. But when their latest score gives the first real clue in years to who sent ND-5 after Jaylen's family, their biggest opportunity presents a new kind of risk. Do they give up this chance at the wealth and power Jaylen was denied to pursue answers? Or will ambition and the weight of the past shatter their unlikely partnership?

ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax embark on their descent into the galaxy's underworld in search of answers and opportunity, in this essential prequel to Star Wars Outlaws. Jaylen Barsha, heir to his family's immense power and wealth, had his life charted out for him neatly and meticulously by his parents, even though he suspected his neglected half-brother Sliro would be a better fit for the bright corporate future his parents envisioned. Then the Empire stripped it all away on trumped-up charges of conspiracy against his family. Before he can reach Sliro for help redeeming the Barsha name, a battle droid arrives at the family compound with a mission to kill every last member of the Barsha clan. Jaylen manages to fend off the attack as the sole survivor, but realizes the droid, who he reprograms, is his only chance to stay alive. But he can no longer be Jaylen Barsha - he'll have to live now as Jaylen Vrax. Former Separatist battle droid ND-5 knows he should be scrap metal, all things considered. He was a proficient contributor to the Separatist cause, but what is a soldier without a war? A trigger without aim? Loyalty is in his programming, and Jaylen, who treats him as more than just a weapon, has earned it. Perhaps, the droid thinks, with a partner he can be more. ND-5 just has to earn Jaylen's trust. With the threat against the Barsha clan still shrouded in mystery, the pair has no choice but to leverage the chaos and disappear. They find sanctuary in the anonymity of the underworld, building their reputation among scoundrels, bounty hunters, and crime syndicates. But when their latest score gives the first real clue in years to who sent ND-5 after Jaylen's family, their biggest opportunity presents a new kind of risk. Do they give up this chance at the wealth and power Jaylen was denied to pursue answers? Or will ambition and the weight of the past shatter their unlikely partnership?

A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free. In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show's millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she'd been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister - a slowly woven web of manipulation, abuse and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz began to give away her autonomy, ultimately relocating to the Family's Pacific Northwest compound, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons and steadily drained millions of her TV income without her knowledge. Family 'minders' assigned to her on set, 'Maoist struggle session'-inspired meetings in the basement of a filthy house, and regular counselling with 'Leadership' were just part of the tactics used to keep her loyal. Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill super-fan), she finally managed to escape the family's grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered the course of her life. Written with powerful honesty and dark humour, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity, faith and independence.

*New York Times bestseller* *One of TIME's 100 Must-Read Books of 2024* A deliciously witty and inspiring memoir by One Tree Hill star Bethany Joy Lenz about her decade in a cult and her quest to break free. In the early 2000s, after years of hard work and determination to breakthrough as an actor, Bethany Joy Lenz was finally cast as one of the leads on the hit drama One Tree Hill. Her career was about to take off, but her personal life was slowly beginning to unravel. What none of the show's millions of fans knew, hidden even from her costars, was her secret double life in a cult. An only child who often had to fend for herself and always wanted a place to belong, Lenz found the safe haven she'd been searching for in a Bible study group with other Hollywood creatives. However, the group soon morphed into something more sinister - a slowly woven web of manipulation, abuse and fear under the guise of a church covenant called The Big House Family. Piece by piece, Lenz began to give away her autonomy, ultimately relocating to the Family's Pacific Northwest compound, overseen by a domineering minister who would convince Lenz to marry one of his sons and steadily drained millions of her TV income without her knowledge. Family 'minders' assigned to her on set, 'Maoist struggle session'-inspired meetings in the basement of a filthy house, and regular counselling with 'Leadership' were just part of the tactics used to keep her loyal. Only when she became a mother did Lenz find the courage to leave and spare her child from a similar fate. After nearly a decade (and with the unlikely help of a One Tree Hill super-fan), she finally managed to escape the family's grip and begin to heal from the deep trauma that forever altered the course of her life. Written with powerful honesty and dark humour, Dinner for Vampires is an inspiring story about the importance of identity, faith and independence.

ND-5 and Jaylen Vrax embark on their descent into the galaxy’s underworld in search of answers and opportunity, in this essential prequel to Star Wars Outlaws. Jaylen Barsha, heir to his family’s immense power and wealth, had his life charted out for him neatly and meticulously by his parents, even though he suspected his neglected half-brother Sliro would be a better fit for the bright corporate future his parents envisioned. Then the Empire stripped it all away on trumped-up charges of conspiracy against his family. Before he can reach Sliro for help redeeming the Barsha name, a battle droid arrives at the family compound with a mission to kill every last member of the Barsha clan. Jaylen manages to fend off the attack as the sole survivor, but realizes the droid, who he reprograms, is his only chance to stay alive. But he can no longer be Jaylen Barsha—he’ll have to live now as Jaylen Vrax. Former Separatist battle droid ND-5 knows he should be scrap metal, all things considered. He was a proficient contributor to the Separatist cause, but what is a soldier without a war? A trigger without aim? Loyalty is in his programming, and Jaylen, who treats him as more than just a weapon, has earned it. Perhaps, the droid thinks, with a partner he can be more. ND-5 just has to earn Jaylen’s trust. With the threat against the Barsha clan still shrouded in mystery, the pair has no choice but to leverage the chaos and disappear. They find sanctuary in the anonymity of the underworld, building their reputation among scoundrels, bounty hunters, and crime syndicates. But when their latest score gives the first real clue in years to who sent ND-5 after Jaylen’s family, their biggest opportunity presents a new kind of risk. Do they give up this chance at the wealth and power Jaylen was denied to pursue answers? Or will ambition and the weight of the past shatter their unlikely partnership?

Bloomsbury presents Nightcrawling by Leila Mottley, read by Joniece Abbott-Pratt. LONGLISTED FOR THE BOOKER PRIZE 2022 – THE YOUNGEST EVER BOOKER NOMINEE THE INSTANT NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER _______________ 'Mottley attempts to do for Oakland something of what The Wire did for Baltimore' THE TIMES 'A soul-searching portrait of survival and hope' OPRAH WINFREY _______________ When there is no choice, all you have left to do is walk. Kiara Johnson does not know what it is to live as a normal seventeen-year-old. With her mother in a halfway house and an older brother who devotes his time and money to a recording studio, she fends for herself – and for nine-year-old Trevor, whose own mother is prone to disappearing for days at a time. As the landlord of their apartment block threatens to raise their rent, Kiara finds herself walking the streets after dark, determined to survive in a world that refuses to protect her. Then one night Kiara is picked up by two police officers, and the gruesome deal she is offered in exchange for her freedom lands her at the centre of a media storm. If she agrees to testify in a grand jury trial, she could help expose the sickening corruption of a police department. But honesty comes at a price – one that could leave her family vulnerable to their retaliation, and endanger everyone she loves. Nightcrawling is an unforgettable novel about young people navigating the darkest corners of an adult world, told with a humanity that is at once agonising and utterly mesmerising. _______________ 'UNFORGETTABLE' GUARDIAN 'A MAGNIFICENT DEBUT' RUTH OZEKI, winner of the Women's Prize for Fiction 2022 _______________ READERS CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF NIGHTCRAWLING 'Nightcrawling is a lyrical masterpiece' ***** 'This book ripped my heart out' ***** 'Unputdownable . . . From the first page I was hooked' ***** 'This is a heart-achingly necessary book which will carve a hole in your soul and stay with you forever' ***** 'It is rare to read a first novel so perfectly crafted' ***** 'This is an absolute must-read. Five stars out of five' ***** 'Completely gripping . . . This is going to be a huge bestseller' *****