She was the one, the only American Red Hot Mama. Her career spanned six decades, taking her from the cramped apartment above her parents restaurant in Hartford, Connecticut, to the worlds greatest music halls. And she became, and remains, one of the biggest influences on women entertainers and comedians in American history. Sophie and Me is the story of Sophie Tuckerthe colorful, spicy, bold entertainer who broke boundaries in the industry and whose popularity during her life, and celebrity even beyond it has not waned. Told through the eyes of her great-grand niece, to whom Sophie took under her wing and was both mentor and surrogate grandmother, Sophie and Me takes the reader on an intimate journey through Sophies extraordinary life. Sophie Tucker was an original. Zaftig, full-bodied in looks and voice, she was strong and independent before it became acceptable for women. Sophie and Me is the story of the American dream and of one woman who refused to compromise her looks or heritage to reach success. A woman who lived an untraditional life in traditional times. A woman who achieved vast fame and fortune, and yet never really was the Yiddishe Momme she sang about.
Think about it. In order to be grandmothers we once had to be mothers. After giving birth, we, as the mothers, were responsible for our baby's/child's well being. As grandmothers, on the other hand, we have choices. Our roles are open for interpretation and conscious choices. When I became a grandmother, and even when my daughters-in-law were pregnant, I made a conscious decision to be an involved grandmother, one of the caretakers or a Granny-Nanny. I was sure that helping out and taking care of a baby would be easy like getting back on a bicycle after a twenty-year lapse. Oh, how wrong I was. There are new rules, new products, new findings and plenty of taboos. How did my three children ever survive their hazardous childhoods? Parenting rules have gone through some serious revisions since author Lois Young-Tulin raised her kids. In her helpful guide, The Granny Nanny, Young-Tulin offers a unique opportunity for today's grandmas to hone their skills and learn the twenty principles for successful grandmothering in a modern world.
The young people defined as "Gen Xers" in the media and popular imagination almost never include poor or working-class young adults. These young people - a huge and important part of our society - are misrepresented and silent in our national conversation. In The Unknown City, Michelle Fine and Lois Weis offer a groundbreaking, theoretically sophisticated ethnography of the lives of young adults (ages 23 to 35), based on hundreds of interviews. We discover their views on everything from the construction of "whiteness" and affirmative action to the economy, education, and new public spaces of community hope. Finally, Fine and Weis point to what is being done and what should be done in terms of national policy to improve the future of these remarkable women and men.
Enthusiastic and mature, vigorous and insightful, we women between the ages of forty and mid-sixty find ourselves in an incredibly unique phase in our lives–a time marked by fulfillment, introspection, and tremendous growth. From our outward appearance to our inner spirituality, our maturing relationship with our children to our shifting perceptions of self, it seems as though everything is on the cusp of change. Many of these changes are liberating. Some are unnerving. But all are a part of God’s beautiful tapestry design for our lives. With excitement, humor, and warm-hearted understanding, Lois Mowday Rabey explores these peaks and valleys in Growing Young, inspiring us to laugh, reflect, and celebrate as we move through the surprising -- and truly glorious -- God-ordained changes of mid-life.
This is the story of Rachel O'Conner, a frontier nurse who sailed from her home on the Eastern Seaboard to the small outpost town of Astoria, Oregon in the year 1865, just after the Civil War. She goes with young doctor Mark Whitfield to lumber camps, homesteads, Indian villages and far flung settlements. She finds herself attracted to a young half-breed Indian man, but fights the attraction as he is wild, untamed, and has a devil-may-care attitude about life itself. She marries the doctor, but the handsome young outlaw is persistent and finally rapes Rachel. She gives birth to a little girl whom Mark thinks is his. The book takes the reader into the personal lives of the early pioneers and Rachel hears stories from lonely housewives of the isolation and sometimes the deaths of loved ones. The story gives a broad over-all picture of stress, strife and struggle.
In "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought," witness a profound journey of spiritual transformation as one woman grapples with the shocking revelation of her husband's betrayal after forty-four years of marriage. This heart-wrenching narrative delves deep into the core of family trauma, shedding light on the dark corners of sexual abuse within a seemingly normal household. It's a poignant growth book that doesn't just tell a story; it escorts readers through the tumultuous pathways of emotional healing, guided by a steadfast Christian perspective on trauma. As you turn each page, you'll find yourself walking alongside the author, experiencing her despair, confusion, and anger after learning that the man she shared her life with had been molesting their granddaughters. But this is not a journey she walks alone. She finds a way to navigate the stormy seas of betrayal and hurt through conversations, Bible studies, and unexpected Holy Spirit surprises. This narrative is an emblem of hope for anyone seeking books about healing from sexual abuse. "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought" is more than an emotional healing book. It's a testament to the unyielding strength of the human spirit when fortified by faith, addressing sexual abuse in the family with raw honesty while also offering a path to redemption and peace. The author's story illustrates the power of naming one's pain, confronting it head-on, and then handing it over to the higher power of God's love. As you immerse yourself in this powerful account, you'll witness the transformative power of not choosing to bolt but to molt — shedding the layers of pain and emerging renewed and resilient. While everyone's life story differs, this book encapsulates the universal truth that amidst life's most challenging trials, one thing remains constant: God. This book is not just for those who have experienced similar trials but anyone seeking understanding and compassion. It's a beacon of light for those navigating the dark, a guide for the lost, and a message of hope for the broken. "Along Came Hell, or So I Thought," is an essential addition to the canon of emotional healing books, offering a unique blend of personal narrative and divine inspiration that will touch hearts, stir souls, and inspire minds.
Hungarian Princess Jadwiga (Yahd VEE gah) has been prepared from birth to put the peace and prosperity of nations above her own desires. Betrothed in 1378 at the age of five to Prince William of Austria, their education has included spending time in each other’s court for careful training as future rulers. When the balance of power in Central Europe unexpectedly shifts, the Council from faraway Poland demands that Jadwiga become their monarch. The eleven-year-old girl is soon traveling north to Krakow where she is crowned queen in Wawel Cathedral, swearing “to keep and maintain the rights and liberties granted by the righteous Christian kings of Poland.” And she means to do it. However, when Poland’s Council insists upon her marrying the fierce pagan Prince Jagiello of Lithuania instead of William, Jadwiga passionately resists. The intense struggle in which this young queen lays down her personal hopes and gives her entire life to the fulfillment of a peaceful union between Poland and Lithuania—long referred to as “The wedding ring of Jadwiga”—will have far-reaching consequences in her own time and in the years to come. Jadwiga, “White Dove of Poland,” was canonized a saint in 1997 by Pope John Paul II. Includes an Author’s Note Historical Insight article by Daria Sockey Revised edition
Mexico, 1940. Leon Trotsky, a key charismatic figure in the 1917 Russian Revolution, lives in exile in Mexico after losing power to Josef Stalin in 1924. He resides in a comfortable, fortified villa in Coyoacán in relative peace-until an agent of Stalin assassinates him. Los Angeles, 1990. Fifty years later, Trotsky's memory remains alive for six Americans who lived with him at the time of his death. Now they've gathered together to mark the fiftieth anniversary of his assassination. Though they have aged and their bodies no longer have the energy they once possessed, they still passionately believe in Trotsky's cause. For former lovers Byron Lerner and Verna Swartz, the past collides with the present as long-dormant emotions erupt between them, leading them down a road of painful memories. And for the entire group, their brief reunion will uncover betrayal, lies, and secrets so devastating that their perception of history will forever be altered. Rich with historic detail, The Ghost of Leon Trotsky is a brilliant examination of how six people come to terms with their individual and collective pasts and presents.
Young adults often struggle with confusion or guilt because they perceive themselves as different from others, especially their peers. For some of these individuals, the arts can help them cope with adolescent turmoil, allowing them to express their emotions in poems, stories, painting, songs, and other creative outlets. Sensitive teachers and parents know how important it is for young people to realize that they are not alone in their quest for self-knowledge and finding their way in the world. It can make a difference when readers find something in a book that helps them understand more about who they are and helps them understand others. In Portrait of the Artist as a Young Adult: The Arts in Young Adult Literature, Lois Thomas Stover and Connie S. Zitlow examine books in which the coming-of-age for young adults is influenced by the arts. Stover and Zitlow consider the connection between the arts and a young person’s developing sense of self, the use of art to cope with loss and grief, and how young adults can use art to foster catharsis and healing. The young people in these books either identify as artists or use the arts in intentional ways to explore their identities. They often have artistic gifts that make them stand outside the norms of teenage life, yet those gifts also help them find a sense of community. Artists considered in this book include painters, photographers, sculptors, actors, directors, choreographers, dancers, composers, musicians, graffiti artists, and others. The books discussed also explore the ways adults can nurture the artist’s development and understand the way young people sometimes use the arts to form their unique identity. Included is an annotated bibliography organized by art discipline, as well as an appendix about using the arts pedagogically, making Portrait of the Artist as a Young Adult a valuable resource for educators, parents, librarians, and young adults.
From the sublime to the ridiculous, from personal and poignant to unabashedly universal; this collection of short stories and poems is sure to bring a smile, strike a chord, or perhaps spark a change. Lois Young, Len Hodgeman and Inara Dubay are three fresh faces in the San Francisco Bay Area writing scene, each dedicated to expressing the truths and fictions of daily life in their own unique way. Join them as they explore the past, present and future in terms of their personal perspectives on the universal archetypes of the Liar, The King and The Libertine.
Minauti, Len and Lois met in 2009 and began a journey of exploration, collaboration and friendship that resulted in the publication of their first collection of poems and short stories, The Liar, The King, The Libertine, This journey continues in The Second Book of Truth, as they dig deeper into their own psyches and those of fictional characters for treasures of wisdom and insight to share with their readers, striving for even more honesty, bravery and occasional bouts of just plain fun. Our days, and also our lives, are composed of periods of light and of darkness. We can find truth, love and wisdom in our highest moments and during our lowest, most painful experiences. Join us on our quest!
Set in towns along the Mississippi River, The Judge's Daughter is a mid-nineteenth century romance novel. Fanny Britton, headstrong but resilient is dominated by her widowed father, the Judge. To gain independence, she must marry and meets the "perfect" man, Joshua Devlin, who claims to read law. She is seduced and learns too late that he is a riverboat deckhand with ambition toward wealth operating gambling casinos. Now pregnant, she must marry him, satisfied she can coerce him into law. Judge Britton annuls their marriage. They remarry. Devlin wrongly believes Fanny's cousin, Alex, fathered her second child. He leaves, accepts money from her rival, BEATY, who becomes his casino business partner. He still loves Fanny and seeks solace in alcohol. The Judge attempts to have Devlin assassinated. Beaty saves him, ships another body, made unrecognizable, to Fanny as Devlin. Fanny, "a widow," is again dependent on the Judge. He is caught in bank fraud and flees with Fanny and her children. Devlin returns reformed and wealthy, locates Fanny and suspects the Judge is his assassin. Fanny protects her father. Devlin finally turns to a rich widow. Fanny then tries to win him back and at the same time save her father.
Four teens fight to outsmart a killer who intends to avenge a young boy's death in this suspenseful thriller that inspired the classic horror film. After a party, four teens are in a hit-and-run accident that results in a young boy's death. Unable to deal with the consequences, they leave the body behind and make an anonymous phone call to the police, tipping them off. The group makes a secret pact to bury the memory of that night and never speak of it again, but when one of the girls receives a note that reads "I know what you did last summer," their dark lie is unearthed. With twists and turns at every corner, they'll have to fight to stay steps ahead of a killer determined to make them pay.
Lois Duncan is known for award-winning suspense novels, such as "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Few people know she has led a secret second life as a poet. From early childhood, Lois chronicled events of her life in verse. At ten, she began submitting her poetry to magazines. Since then, Lois has written hundreds of magazine articles and forty-eight books. She is the recipient of the "Margaret A. Edwards Award," presented by the American Library Association for an "outstanding contribution to literature for young adults." Renowned as a novelist, she kept her poetry notebooks tucked away in a drawer "like a secret vice." Generations of readers who grew up on "Lois Duncan" books have been urging her to write her autobiography. That task seemed formidable until she began to leaf through those notebooks. There, she found herself in every season of her life-a dreamy child, entranced by fairies and magic; an adolescent, embroiled in turbulent romances; a busy young wife and mother; a heartsick divorcee; a remarried, middle-aged housewife, watching children leave the nest; and then, as a grief-stricken mother, struggling to cling to sanity after the murder of her youngest child. "Seasons of the Heart" is the deeply personal story of an "ordinary woman," told in an extraordinary way. "It was with a strong sense of kinship that I read "Seasons of the Heart." The romanticism of the young girl; the passions, frustrations and heartbreak of motherhood; the quiet joys of aging, all are captured in the deft and disciplined cadence of poetry."-"Lois Lowry, twice winner of the Newbery Award
When Dana uncovers a skeleton hidden in the wall of her home, she also uncovers a dark secret that stretches back years. When twelve-year-old Dana Shannon starts to strip away wallpaper in her family’s old house, she’s unprepared for the surprise that awaits her. A hidden room—containing a human skeleton! How did such a thing get there? And why was the tiny room sealed up? With the help of a diary found in the room, Dana learns her house was once a station on the Underground Railroad. The young woman whose remains Dana discovered was Lizbet Charles, a conductor and former slave. As the scene shifts between Dana’s world and 1856, the story of the families that lived in the house unfolds. But as pieces of the puzzle begin to fall into place, one haunting question remains—why did Lizbet Charles die?
From a Newbery Award–winning author: These seven beloved classics beautifully capture growing up and overcoming challenges across America. In her Regional America series, author and illustrator Lois Lenski presents realistic portrayals of unforgettable young people facing hardships and triumphs across the diverse United States. The Newbery Medal–winning Strawberry Girl follows day-to-day life for Birdie and her family on a berry farm in Florida, as they deal with heat, droughts, cold snaps, and difficult neighbors. In Prairie School, a young girl gets stranded at her South Dakota school by a winter storm; in Bayou Suzette, the Cajun Suzette strikes up an unlikely friendship with a Native American girl in the swamps of Louisiana; and Blue Ridge Billy is the story of a boy who dreams of playing the fiddle. Other novels follow the lives of a young farmer who wants to quit school and work on his family’s Iowa farm; an Asian-American boy adjusting to city life in San Francisco’s Chinatown; and an adolescent lumberjack in the forests of Oregon. Beyond changing the face of children’s literature, Lenski’s stories endure because of their moving and believable depictions of young people from often overlooked communities. Through her art, Lenski gives these characters a voice that continues to ring loud and clear for modern readers. This ebook includes Strawberry Girl, Prairie School, Bayou Suzette, Blue Ridge Billy, Corn-Farm Boy, San Francisco Boy, and To Be a Logger.
The girls at Modesta High School feel like they're stuck in some anti-feminist time warp-they're faced with sexism at every turn, and they've had enough. Sponsored by their new art teacher, Ms. Stark, they band together to form the Daughters of Eve. It's more than a school club-it's a secret society, a sisterhood. At first, it seems like they are actually changing the way guys at school treat them. But Ms. Stark urges them to take more vindictive action, and it starts to feel more like revenge-brutal revenge. Blinded by their oath of loyalty, the Daughters of Eve become instruments of vengeance. Can one of them break the spell before real tragedy strikes?
An edge-of-your-seat thriller from the bestselling author of I Know What You Did Last Summer. When Karen closes her eyes, the visions come. Through time and space, she sees a place where stolen children sleep. And if Karen denies a young policeman's request for help, the children may never go home again. Lois Duncan presents a ticking clock mystery with thrills at every turn.
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