From acclaimed, bestselling author James Runcie, a meditation on grief and music, told through the story of Bach’s writing of the St. Matthew Passion.In 1727, Stefan Silbermann is a grief-stricken thirteen-year-old, struggling with the death of his mother and his removal to a school in distant Leipzig. Despite his father’s insistence that he try not to think of his mother too much, Stefan is haunted by her absence, and, to make matters worse, he’s bullied by his new classmates. But when the school’s cantor, Johann Sebastian Bach, takes notice of his new pupil’s beautiful singing voice and draws him from the choir to be a soloist, Stefan’s life is permanently changed.Over the course of the next several months, and under Bach’s careful tutelage, Stefan’s musical skill progresses, and he is allowed to work as a copyist for Bach’s many musical works. But mainly, drawn into Bach’s family life and away from the cruelty in the dorms and the lonely hours of his mourning, Stefan begins to feel
A humorous illustrated guide to the essential teachings of 80s and 90s pop culture icon and legacy, Patrick Swayze, with movie quotes, trivia, essays, exercises, games, activities, and quizzes.Divided into five elements―Tender Strength (versatility in performances and balance of his unique skill set), Pure Adrenaline (his physicality and death-defying stunt work), Hungry Eyes (effortless sensuality in life and on-screen), Peaceful Warrior (the philosophy behind his characters and their actions) and The Mullet (legacy of the man, the myth, the mullet)―this book is designed to cultivate your mind, body, and soul.Through the use of movie quotes and cinematic wisdom, physical (Sweatin' Like Swayze; Swayze Sutra) and mental exercises, games, activities (Swayze Pairing Guide), and quizzes, this journey will unlock your Swayze swagger, leading to a more harmonious life. When completed, you'll be impressing friends and strangers alike with your endless knowledge and admiration for one of Holly
Explore the Dark Arts of the Harry Potter films, with more than a dozen collectible stickers, cards, patches, prints, and more!Open the sturdy portfolio to discover the secrets behind Voldemort, Death Eaters, Horcruxes, and more in this exclusive collection of over a dozen authentic prop facsimiles, artifacts, stickers, and stationery inspired by the Dark Arts. Filled with facts and photos, fans will learn about the dark side of the Wizarding World, relive moments from the films, and delve into the behind-the-scenes magic that brought Harry Potter to life on the big screen. AUTHENTIC COLLECTIBLES: More than a dozen exclusive, official Harry Potter collectibles inspired by the Dark Arts including a 16-page journal, stickers, and more! BEHIND-THE-SCENES MOVIE FACTS: Dark Arts-related facts, trivia, and stories from the set of the Harry Potter films. STUNNING ART AND IMAGES: Photos from the films and gorgeous illustrations bring the world of the Dark Arts to life! PERFECT GIFT: An ideal a
New York Times bestselling author Laura Sebastian makes her middle grade debut with an emotional fantasy adventure about four friends who journey through a magical, Everglades-inspired swampland to break a curse tied to the death of a loved one.Best friends Cordelia and Larkin have always called the Glades—a peaceful swamp full of magical creatures—home. But when Oziris, Cordelia’s father and the leader of their village, dies unexpectedly, a dark curse sweeps over the land. The girls know that the curse must be tied to Oziris’s death, and they’re determined to break its hold on their home and bring Oziris back to life. Together, Cordelia, Larkin, and their two little brothers set off into the wild Glades in search of an elusive and enigmatic witch who is rumored to have the power to reverse death. The Glades are no longer a familiar and friendly place, though, and danger lurks around every corner. But on their journey, the children discover that the most difficult challenge i
This is where it ends. Victory at all costs in this thrilling conclusion to the Eleven Trilogy by Jerri Chisholm.Compound Eleven is descending into chaos. The boy I love hovers between life and death. Everyone I care about thinks I'm dead. And here I am, living aboveground in a place I call paradise.The sky is blue, the birds are chirping. Yet in the dark corridors underground, a rebellion is forming, a rebellion that has a chance of ending Eleven for good. A rebellion that needs my help.Too bad I'm worlds away.Or maybe I'm not. Maybe evil persists aboveground, just as it does under. Maybe there's more I can do to help the rebellion than I ever imagined.I just need to decide how far I'm willing to go. And how much I'm willing to lose along the way.
In a future American West hollowed out by ecological decay, a girl named Magdala seeks a miracle cure for her clubfoot in the mythical city of Las Vegas, a place teeming with violent sinners and mysterious, magical saints. In this multi-part story spanning decades of her life, she travels through the desert―which is full of both surrealist horrors like formerly human chimeras, and more mundane dangers like bandits and death cults―and comes of age in a resource-starved world where faith seems both necessary and futile, in award-winning short fiction writer Kay Chronister’s debut novel.In a world grown desiccated and treacherous, one young woman will find salvation or become just another rot-lonely skull in the sand.Nine-year-old Magdala and her father have been exiled from their home; they flee through the harsh landscape of the American West, searching for refuge. As violence pursues them, they join a handful of survivors on a pilgrimage to the holy city of Las Vegas, where it is said
The heroic true story of one of the Eastern seaboard's first woman lighthouse keepers, illustrated by a Caldecott Medalist.Living in the isolated Robbins Reef Lighthouse, overlooking turn-of-the-century New York Harbor, Kate Walker spent her life minding the light, keeping passing ships from running aground on the dangerous shoals. Originally the assistant to her lighthouse keeper husband John Walker, after his death Kate convinced the Lighthouse Board that she was able to manage the hard work on her own. For more than three decades, Kate lived a solitary life, often totally isolated from the mainland by rough seas and dangerous storms. Tending to the lamps and ringing the heavy warning bell, she helped ships avert disaster-- and saved many sailors from the cold, choppy waters when disaster struck. Elizabeth Spires describes the joys and hardships of a life at sea, detailing pivotal moments in Walker's life to show her indomitable spirit, and celebrates the determination that drove Ka
