Finalist for the Dayton Literary Peace Prize A Washington Post Best Book of the Year Winner of the 2009 Borders Original Voices Award In early-twentieth-century Korea, Najin Han, the privileged daughter of a calligrapher, longs to choose her own destiny. But her country is in tumult under Japan's harsh occupation, and her family's traditions, entitlements, and wealth crumble. Narrowly escaping an arranged marriage, Najin becomes a companion...

Throughout "the LoneDogs of Scrabble" a human and dog narrative interweaves seamlessly in two distinct voices where the dogs are sentient beings and protagonists. An excerpt of the dog voice is below: The cement floors of the cage were cold, but he, the young stray pup, was tired of the hunger and continuous fights to protect his territory. He had earned his own name by being the best scavenger of scraps… The fact that he would have...

Vamba Sherif' s The Emperor' s Son is a gripping tale of Zaiwulo, a young prodigy dispatched to the ancient city of Musadu to train under the tutelage of Talata, a renowned sage of the legendary Haidarah family. In his new surroundings, the young Zaiwulo finds himself entangled in a web of intrigue surrounding Emperor Samori, the formidable leader whom the French have dubbed " the Black Napoleon." As...

People think Annie can handle anything, and she can-but only because the alternative is worse Annie's summer in New York City was every teenager's dream. Being chosen as a summer intern at Image magazine meant the chance to work on real articles during the day and enjoy the independence and excitement of city life outside office hours.   But now, going back to her high school routine feels like punishment-especially when the promised editorial job...

An unassuming man without ambition changes his small world with hard work and loyalty. Love and perserversance are rewarded as a man grows from young to old, innocent to wise, and alone to surrounded by those who care. A journey.

Bryan Grayhill is making his life difficult. A hot temper like his father and a propensity for making bad decisions are leading him down a road to nowhere. When he runs into Sara during the Fall of 1989, an unexpected love quickly grows between them. With her encouragement, Bryan begins taking small steps toward being a better man, as well as trying to repair the tattered relationship with his Dad. Eventually, Bryan learns Sara has a damaging secret...

"The phone call from Art was the cut; the ticket, the scab; and the train ride, the healing." Maggie struggles to find herself, and her place in her family, in 1950s Cape Breton. She has to travel a long way-not just to Toronto and Boston, but within herself-to come to an understanding of her life, her father, and her hopes.

This book is for those that still remember their first real kiss or their first black eye. This is for those who remember their cuts and bruises and scrapes and the fun they had getting them. This is for those that still remember their first broken heart and the tears that they shed from it. This is for those that can still remember the "guys." The bullies and the bookworms, the jokers and the jesters and the tubbies and the tom boys. This is for...

Is being popular really as fun as it seems? After surviving high school orientation camp, Elvin and his two best friends embark on their freshman year at an all-boys school. High school serves up all sorts of hardships: the dreaded rumor mill, dances with the local sister school, and jockeying to be seen with the "right" type of people. But for overweight Elvin, figuring out who the "right" people are is almost as confusing as his relationship with...

Robin doesn't want to be perfect, but it would be nice to be more than perfectly average. Robin can't believe it: Out of the thousands of girls who applied for the Image magazine summer internships, she's one of only four winners who will be spending the summer in New York City. Robin knows she'll be working hard at the popular teen magazine, but she hopes there will be plenty of time for shopping, eating out, and living the fabulous life. Her excitement...