Fangirl

In Rainbow Rowell's "Fangirl," Cath is a Simon Snow fan. Okay, the whole world is a Simon Snow fan, but for Cath, being a fan is her life--and she's really good at it. She and her twin sister, Wren, ensconced themselves in the Simon Snow series when they were just kids; it's what got them through their mother leaving.
Reading. Rereading. Hanging out in Simon Snow forums, writing Simon Snow fan fiction, dressing up like the characters for every movie premiere.
Cath's sister has mostly grown away from fandom, but Cath can't let go. She doesn't want to.
Now that they're going to college, Wren has told Cath she doesn't want to be roommates. Cath is on her own, completely outside of her comfort zone. She's got a surly roommate with a charming, always-around boyfriend, a fiction-writing professor who thinks fan fiction is the end of the civilized world, a handsome classmate who only wants to talk about words . . . And she can't stop worrying about her dad, who's loving and fragile and has never really been alone.
For Cath, the question is: Can she do this? Can she make it without Wren holding her hand? Is she ready to start living her own life? And does she even want to move on if it means leaving Simon Snow behind?
A "New York Times Book Review "Notable Children's Book of 2013
A "New York Times" Best Seller.

The Listeners

a May is a slave on a Southern plantation. Each night, Ella May and her friends secretly listen outside the windows of their master's house in the hopes of gleaning information about their fates and those of their loved ones. Illustrations.

The Obituary Writer

On the day John F. Kennedy is inaugurated, Claire, an uncompromising young wife and mother obsessed with the glamour of Jackie O, struggles over the decision of whether to stay in a loveless marriage or follow the man she loves and whose baby she may be carrying. Decades earlier, in 1919, Vivien Lowe, an obituary writer, is searching for her lover who disappeared in the Great San Francisco Earthquake of 1906. By telling the stories of the dead, Vivien not only helps others cope with their grief but also begins to understand the devastation of her own terrible loss. The surprising connection between Claire and Vivien will change the life of one of them in unexpected and extraordinary ways. Part literary mystery and part love story, The Obituary Writer examines expectations of marriage and love, the roles of wives and mothers, and the emotions of grief, regret, and hope.

Black Bears

Black Bears presents readers with substantive yet easily digestible information on this widespread yet sometimes feared animal. Accompanied by numerous full-color photos of black bears in their natural habitat, this handy field guide makes an excellent take-home souvenir and reference for anybody interested in black bears.

Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH

Some extraordinary rats come to the aid of a mouse family in this Newbery Medal Award-winning classic by notable children's author Robert C. O'Brien.
Mrs. Frisby, a widowed mouse with four small children, is faced with a terrible problem. She must move her family to their summer quarters immediately, or face almost certain death. But her youngest son, Timothy, lies ill with pneumonia and must not be moved. Fortunately, she encounters the rats of NIMH, an extraordinary breed of highly intelligent creatures, who come up with a brilliant solution to her dilemma. And Mrs. Frisby in turn renders them a great service.

Me and Earl and the Dying Girl

The book that inspired the hit film
Sundance U.S. Dramatic Audience Award
Sundance Grand Jury Prize
"This is the funniest book you ll ever read about death. "
It is a universally acknowledged truth that high school sucks. But on the first day of his senior year, Greg Gaines thinks he's figured it out. The answer to the basic existential question: How is it possible to exist in a place that sucks so bad? His strategy: remain at the periphery at all times. Keep an insanely low profile. Make mediocre films with the one person who is even sort of his friend, Earl.
This plan works for exactly eight hours. Then Greg's mom forces him to become friends with a girl who has cancer. This brings about the destruction of Greg's entire life.
Fiercely funny, honest, heart-breaking this is an unforgettable novel from a bright talent, now also a film that critics are calling "a touchstone for its generation" and "an instant classic."
Includes a discussion with Jesse Andrews and an annotated excerpt from the screenplay

Give Me a Fast Ship: The Continental Navy and America's Revolution at Sea

America in 1775 was on the verge of revolution or, more likely, disastrous defeat. After England's King George sent hundreds of ships to bottle up American harbors and prey on American shipping, John Adams of Massachusetts proposed a bold solution: The Continental Congress should raise a navy.
The idea was mad. The Royal Navy was the mightiest floating arsenal in history, and the British were confident that His Majesty's warships would quickly bring the rebellious Colonials to their knees. But they were wrong. America's sailors became formidable warriors, matching their wits, skills, and courage against the best of the British fleet. Victories led by captains such as John Barry, Nicholas Biddle, and James Nicholson gave the patriots hope, while, along the British coastline, daring raids by John Paul Jones and the Dunkirk Pirate, Gustavus Conyngham, sent fear throughout England. In the end, the adventures of men on both sides of the struggle contributed greatly to American independence.
Meticulously researched and masterfully told, "Give Me a Fast Ship "is a rousing, epic tale of war on the high seas and the definitive history of the American Navy during the Revolutionary War.

Sherlock Holmes, the Missing Years: Japan

It's 1893. King Kamehameha III of Hawaii declares Sovereignty Restoration Day ... Tension grows between China and Japan over Korea ... The Bengal Famine worsens ... A brilliant scientist in Calcutta challenges the system The senior priest at Kyoto's Kinkaku-ji temple is found dead in mysterious circumstances. Dr John H. Watson receives a strange letter from Yokohama. Then the quiet, distinguished Mr. Hashimoto is murdered inside a closed room on a voyage from Liverpool to Bombay. In the opium dens of Shanghai and in the back alleys of Tokyo, sinister men hatch evil plots. Professor Moriarty stalks the world, drawing up a map for worldwide dominion. Only one man can outwit the diabolical Professor Moriarty. Only one man can save the world. Has Sherlock Holmes survived the Reichenbach Falls? In a seriocomic novel that radically ups the ante, Sherlock Holmes and Watson find their match in more than one man (or indeed, woman) as a clock inexorably ticks. History, mystery, romance, conspiracies, knife-edge tension; a train in Russia, roadside crime in Alexandria, an upset stomach in Bombay, careening through Cambodia, nasty people in China, monks in Japan here's a thrilling global chase that will leave you breathless (occasionally with laughter) as the Sherlock Holmes: The Missing Years series begins.

Creative Coloring Animals: Art Activity Pages to Relax and Enjoy!

Enter a dream world of delightful animals, with 30 ready-to-color art activities in this inspiring coloring book for grown-ups. You don t need to have the skills of an artist to personalize these rich, intricate drawings. Valentina Harper offers valuable tips on her distinctive, easy-to-learn patterning techniques. And as an added bonus, best-selling craft author Marie Browning joins the fun with beautiful coloring examples. Printed on high quality extra-thick paper that won t bleed through, all pages are pre-perforated for easy removal and display. They re perfect for decorating with markers, gel pens, watercolors, or colored pencils.

The One and Only Ivan

Winner of the 2013 Newbery Medal and a #1 New York Times bestseller, this stirring and unforgettable novel from renowned author Katherine Applegate celebrates the transformative power of unexpected friendship. Inspired by the true story of a captive gorilla known as Ivan, this illustrated novel is told from the point of view of Ivan himself.
Having spent twenty-seven years behind the glass walls of his enclosure in a shopping mall, Ivan has grown accustomed to humans watching him. He hardly ever thinks about his life in the jungle. Instead, Ivan occupies himself with television, his friends Stella and Bob, and painting. But when he meets Ruby, a baby elephant taken from the wild, he is forced to see their home, and his art, through new eyes.
In the tradition of timeless stories like Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little, Katherine Applegate blends humor and poignancy to create an unforgettable story of friendship, art, and hope. This paperback edition includes an author's note highlighting the differences between the fictional story and true events, a version of the author's Newbery Medal acceptance speech, Ivan's "signature," discussion questions, and more.
The One and Only Ivan is a strong Common Core title that features these important strands and standards: first-person narrative; author's use of literary devices (personification, imagery); story elements (plot, character development, perspective).

How Not to Get Hit: The Art of Fighting Without Fighting

One of the many ironies of martial arts is that the more you learn, the less likely you are to have to use it as your confidence and understanding of violence grow. Nathaniel Cooke wanted to find a way to articulate this, to give people the same knowledge without the years and years of rolling round on padded floors in Japanese pajamas that usually goes with it. "How Not to Get Hit" is the result of this desire.
Self-defense isn't a series of techniques or moves; it's an attitude, a strategy, a life skill. And it's one you already have. Everything you will ever need to stay safe, all the tools that are required, mother nature has already given you through thousands of years of evolution.
By understanding the behavior of others, and understanding your own innate responses to fear and aggression, you should be able to spot and deal with the most violent scenarios before they begin because preventing fights is just as important as winning them. And for those times you can't, here you will find a series of universal, physiological principles that will increase your odds of survival in most situations, with most attackers, without having to get into something as undignified as a fight.
This is a book on personal safety for people who understand that they best way to deal with trouble is not to get into it in the first place. Told in a light-hearted, irreverent style, "How Not to Get Hit" will take you on a journey through the funny side of violence, its roots in our revolutionary past, and where it fits in to modern society. This self-defense book will help you plan an proper defensive strategy and will help keep you alive in life threatening scenarios. It answers the question nobody asked about self-defense: "How can I make sure I'm not there in the first place?

The Last Kind Words Saloon

In this "comically subversive work of fiction" (Joyce Carol Oates, New York Review of Books), Larry McMurtry chronicles the closing of the American frontier through the travails of two of its most immortal figures, Wyatt Earp and Doc Holliday. Tracing their legendary friendship from the settlement of Long Grass, Texas, to Buffalo Bill's Wild West Show in Denver, and finally to Tombstone, Arizona, The Last Kind Words Saloon finds Wyatt and Doc living out the last days of a cowboy lifestyle that is already passing into history. In his stark and peerless prose McMurtry writes of the myths and men that live on even as the storied West that forged them disappears. Hailed by critics and embraced by readers, The Last Kind Words Saloon celebrates the genius of one of our most original American writers.

U.S. Army Hand-To-Hand-Combat Handbook

The U.S. Army’s twenty-first century hand-to-hand combat field manual distributed to all soldiers—how to ground-fight, throw and take down the enemy, strike the enemy, use handheld weapons, and defend yourself.

Tarkin: Star Wars

"A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. . . ."
Bestselling "Star Wars" veteran James Luceno gives Grand Moff Tarkin the "Star Wars: Darth Plagueis" treatment, bringing the legendary character from "A New Hope" to full, fascinating life.
He's the scion of an honorable and revered family. A dedicated soldier and distinguished legislator. Loyal proponent of the Republic and trusted ally of the Jedi Order. Groomed by the ruthless politician and Sith Lord who would be Emperor, Governor Wilhuff Tarkin rises through the Imperial ranks, enforcing his authority ever more mercilessly . . . and zealously pursuing his destiny as the architect of absolute dominion.
"Rule through the fear of force rather than force itself, "he advises his Emperor. Under Tarkin's guidance, an ultimate weapon of unparalleled destruction moves ever closer to becoming a terrifying reality. When the so-called Death Star is completed, Tarkin is confident that the galaxy's lingering pockets of Separatist rebellion will be brought to heel by intimidation . . . or annihilation.
Until then, however, insurgency remains a genuine threat. Escalating guerrilla attacks by resistance forces and newfound evidence of a growing Separatist conspiracy are an immediate danger the Empire must meet with swift and brutal action. And to bring down a band of elusive freedom fighters, the Emperor turns to his most formidable agents: Darth Vader, the fearsome new Sith enforcer as remorseless as he is mysterious; and Tarkin whose tactical cunning and cold-blooded efficiency will pave the way for the Empire's supremacy . . . and its enemies extinction.
Praise for "Tarkin"
""
"Tarkin" tells a compelling tale of mystery while revealing much about a character who has fueled debate among fans since 1977, as well as the oppressive regime he represents. James] Luceno has proven once again that the villains of "Star Wars" are as much fun as the good guys. New York "Daily News"
""
Another home run in the new canon . . . This is the highest and best distillation of Tarkin stories, old and new, we ve ever been given. "Big Shiny Robot"
""
A spectacular novel, with the intrigue, action, and profound characterization we have come to expect from the pen of Luceno . . . "Tarkin"] provides a nuanced, multi-faceted anti-hero who is captivating, ominous, and calculating; in many ways, this is an origin tale of the Empire and] a fascinating portrait of one of the more popular characters in the Original Trilogy. It may very well be one my favorite "Star Wars" novels. "Coffee with Kenobi"
""
A fascinating look at the pathos of one of the galaxy's most criminally underused characters. "TheForce.net"

Special Ops Fitness Training

TEST YOURSELF AGAINST THE WORLD'S MOST ELITE FIGHTING FORCES

In Special Ops Fitness Training, ex-Navy SEAL Mark De Lisle brings together the most rigorous conditioning techniques fromAmerica’s top military programs in order to create the ultimate workout. Packed with mind-stressing, body-draining tasks that test the mettle of any athlete, this phenomenal conditioning manual presents the best of the best as it shows you how to reach the highest levels of fitness.

Every aspect of training is incorporated into the program, including warm-ups, stretching, upper body, lower body, cardio, running, swimming, goal-setting, and motivation. The author has trained thousands of people and witnessed time and again the amazing results achieved by these unique techniques. He teaches readers what it takes to rise to the occasion when nothing less than total commitment will do.

Drawn from the actual programs used by America’s special operation forces:

Navy SEALs
Army Rangers
Delta Force
Marine Force Recon

Wellsboro Book is Coming

I ran into the authors of the Wellsboro book today in the Shabby Rue. The final edits for the book have been sent, and the book will be released Aug. 10. We are taking pre-orders and offering 20% discount for pre-orders.

Battle of the Bulge [The Young Readers Adaptation]

On the 16th of December, 1944, in the frozen forests of the Ardennes, the German army attacked American Allied forces, launching a final bid to turn the tide of World War II. Thus began the long, hard slog of a battle that was nicknamed by the media as the Battle of the Bulge. Lasting more than a month, it led to tens of thousands of casualties. Sir Winston Churchill called it "the greatest American battle of the war and . . . an ever-famous American victory." Atkinson skillfully guides his audience through the attacks and counterattacks, the advances and retreats of this terrible bloodbath. Whether history buffs or newcomers to the topic, young readers will appreciate the author's clear and accessible prose, as well as the many fascinating facts, photographs, and statistics.
A historical exploration of World War II's Battle of the Bulge from Pulitzer Prize"-"winner and "New York Times-"bestselling author Rick Atkinson.

Mastermind: How to Think Like Sherlock Holmes

The "New York Times "bestselling guide to thinking like literature's greatest detective
No fictional character is more renowned for his powers of thought and observation than Sherlock Holmes. But is his extraordinary intellect merely a gift of fiction, or can we learn to cultivate these abilities ourselves, to improve our lives at work and at home?
We can, says psychologist and journalist Maria Konnikova, and in "Mastermind" she shows us how. Beginning with the "brain attic"--Holmes's metaphor for how we store information and organize knowledge--Konnikova unpacks the mental strategies that lead to clearer thinking and deeper insights. Drawing on twenty-first-century neuroscience and psychology, "Mastermind" explores Holmes's unique methods of ever-present mindfulness, astute observation, and logical deduction. In doing so, it shows how each of us, with some self-awareness and a little practice, can employ these same methods to sharpen our perceptions, solve difficult problems, and enhance our creative powers. For Holmes aficionados and casual readers alike, Konnikova reveals how the world's most keen-eyed detective can serve as an unparalleled guide to upgrading the mind.

Forging the Darksword

Margaret Weis and Tracy Hickman In the enchanted realm of Merilon, magic is life. Born without magical abilities, Joram is left for dead but grows to manhood with the help of his constant vigilance and sleight-of-hand skills. When he meets the scholarly catalyst Saryon, the two join forces, attempting to forge the powerful magic-absorbing Darksword

Lord of the Flies

Before "The Hunger Games" there was "Lord of the Flies"
Lord of the Flies remains as provocative today as when it was first published in 1954, igniting passionate debate with its startling, brutal portrait of human nature. Though critically acclaimed, it was largely ignored upon its initial publication. Yet soon it became a cult favorite among both students and literary critics who compared it to J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye in its influence on modern thought and literature.

William Golding's compelling story about a group of very ordinary small boys marooned on a coral island has become a modern classic. At first it seems as though it is all going to be great fun; but the fun before long becomes furious and life on the island turns into a nightmare of panic and death. As ordinary standards of behaviour collapse, the whole world the boys know collapses with them the world of cricket and homework and adventure stories and another world is revealed beneath, primitive and terrible.Labeled a parable, an allegory, a myth, a morality tale, a parody, a political treatise, even a vision of the apocalypse, Lord of the Flies has established itself as a true classic.

""Lord of the Flies"is one of my favorite books. That was a big influence on me as a teenager, I still read it every couple of years."
Suzanne Collins, author of"The Hunger Games"
"As exciting, relevant, and thought-provoking now as it was when Golding published it in 1954."
"Stephen King.

The Monogram Murders: The New Hercule Poirot Mystery

"I'm a dead woman, or I shall be soon . . ."

Hercule Poirot's quiet supper in a London coffeehouse is interrupted when a young woman confides to him that she is about to be murdered. Though terrified, she begs Poirot not to find and punish her killer. Once she is dead, she insists, justice will have been done. Later that night, Poirot learns that three guests at a London Hotel have been murdered, and a monogrammed cufflink has been placed in each one's mouth. Could there be a connection with the frightened woman? While Poirot struggles to put together the bizarre pieces of the puzzle, the murderer prepares another hotel bedroom for a fourth victim.

Demon Hunter

Travis Stone was a man who had reached the end of his rope. His personal demons had convinced him that God and love no longer existed---until one night, a chance encounter with a beautiful woman made him realize that his present enemy wasn't anyone from his dark past; instead, his worst enemy was himself. Through the love of God and a woman (who had her doubts about him), Travis started to see a faint light at the end of his dark tunnel, which gave him a sensation of hope for a life without any demons dragging him down. The devil, however, decided to unleash hell against Travis, dashing any hope of a future and sending him plummeting back into a crushing darkness that enveloped his entire being, causing Travis to unleash a personal war---a war that threatened to consume him as well as the demon-controlled people who took his entire life away. Through much destruction, death, and an otherworldly experience, Travis finds that no matter what, God and love can and will conquer all.



Local author Titus Himmelberger joins us to celebrate the debut of his first novel, "Demon Hunter", from Tate Publishing. This book is planned as the first in a series, a Christian-fantasy-adventure series that will definitely leave you wanting more! Titus's book is available at From My Shelf with regular member discount!
Event date:
Saturday, June 27, 2015 - 12:00pm to 3:00pm

Make: School's Out! 50+ Projects

MAKE magazine's special "Schools Out " issue features over 50 projects to make and is photographed in 3D with glasses bound inside. The issue is jam-packed with original (and thrilling ) activities photographed in 3D. 50+ projects include electronics, music, 3D printing, toys, snacks, weird science, outdoors, and much more.

The projects are divided into popular categories including Combat, Outdoors, Rainy Day, Craft, Music, Pranks, Electronics, and Weird Science. Maker Faire alum Barry Rothstein photographed the 3D issue with his own homemade 3D rig. 3D glasses are bound into every issue, and Some of the featured projects rendered in 3D include: Shooting 3D movies and photosBuilding a marshmallow shooterInstalling a backyard zip lineMaking chocolate banana popsSilk-screening wearablesMaking a cigar box guitar.

Growing Up in Coal Country

Inspired by her in-laws' recollections of working in coal country, Susan Campbell Bartoletti has gathered the voices of men, women, and children who immigrated to and worked in northeastern Pennsylvania at the turn of the century. The story that emerges is not just a story of long hours, little pay, and hazardous working conditions; it is also the uniquely American story of immigrant families working together to make a new life for themselves. It is a story of hardship and sacrifice, yet also of triumph and the fulfillment of hopes and dreams.

Silver Shadows: A Bloodlines Novel

"Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets and human lives."
In "The Fiery Heart," Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.
Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other.But first, they have to survive.
For Sydney, trapped andsurrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves.Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .
Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the "New York Times" bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

The English Spy

The target is royal

The game is revenge

Gabriel Allon returns in the summer's hottest thriller, from #1 New York Times bestselling author Daniel Silva.
Stretched topless upon the foredeck, drink in hand, her flawless skin baking in the sun, was the most famous woman in the world. And one deck below, preparing an appetizer of tuna tartare, cucumber, and pineapple, was the man who was going to kill her. . . .

She is an iconic member of the British Royal Family, beloved for her beauty and charitable works, resented by her former husband and his mother, the Queen of England. But when a bomb explodes aboard her holiday yacht, British intelligence turns to one man to track down her killer: legendary spy and assassin Gabriel Allon.

Gabriel's target is Eamon Quinn, a master bomb maker and mercenary of death who sells his services to the highest bidder. Quinn is an elusive man of the shadows "a whisper in a half-lit chapel, a loose thread at the hem of a discarded garment" but fortunately Gabriel does not pursue him alone. At his side is Christopher Keller, a British commando turned professional assassin who knows Quinn's murderous handiwork all too well.

The English Spy moves at light speed from the glamorous island of Saint Barthelemy to the mean streets of West Belfast to a cottage atop the cliffs of Cornwall that Gabriel holds dear. And though he does not realize it, he is stalking an old enemy a cabal of evil that wants nothing more than to see him dead. Gabriel will find it necessary to oblige them, for when a man is out for vengeance, death has its distinct advantages.

Filled with breathtaking twists, The English Spy will hold readers spellbound from its riveting opening passages to its heart-stopping conclusion. It is a timely reminder that there are some men in the world who will stop at nothing to achieve their goals. And it proves once again why Daniel Silva is regarded as his generation's finest writer of international thrillers.

Ms. Cuddy Is Nutty!

With more than 8 million books sold, the My Weird School series really gets kids reading

In this second book in the new My Weirdest School series, the students of Ella Mentry School are about to get a wonderful gift a million dollars A.J. and the gang vote to create an in-school, state-of-the-art TV station so the morning announcements can be broadcast to all the classes. There's even enough money to hire Ms. Cuddy, a new digital media arts teacher who knows a thing or two about broadcasting. But soon Ms. Cuddy decides the ratings on the announcements are too low, and the show needs to "get more eyeballs." What could possibly go wrong?

Perfect for reluctant readers and word lovers alike, Dan Gutman's hugely popular My Weird School series has something for everyone. Don't miss the hilarious adventures of A.J. and the gang.

One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest

An international bestseller and the basis for a hugely successful film, Ken Kesey's One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was one of the defining works of the 1960s.

A mordant, wickedly subversive parable set in a mental ward, the novel chronicles the head-on collision between its hell-raising, life-affirming hero Randle Patrick McMurphy and the totalitarian rule of Big Nurse. McMurphy swaggers into the mental ward like a blast of fresh air and turns the place upside down, starting a gambling operation, smuggling in wine and women, and egging on the other patients to join him in open rebellion. But McMurphy's revolution against Big Nurse and everything she stands for quickly turns from sport to a fierce power struggle with shattering results.

With One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest, Kesey created a work without precedent in American literature, a novel at once comic and tragic that probes the nature of madness and sanity, authority and vitality. Greeted by unanimous acclaim when it was first published, the book has become and enduring favorite of readers.

Trollhunters

"You are food. Those muscles you flex to walk, lift, and talk? They're patties of meat topped with chewy tendon. That skin you've paid so much attention to in mirrors? It's delicious to the right tongues, a casserole of succulent tissue. And those bones that give you the strength to make your way in the world? They rattle between teeth as the marrow is sucked down slobbering throats. These facts are unpleasant but useful. There are things out there, you see, that don't cower in holes to be captured by us and cooked over our fires. These things have their own ways of trapping their kills, their own fires, their own appetites."
Jim Sturges is your typical teen in suburban San Bernardino-one with an embarrassingly overprotective dad, a best friend named "Tubby" who shares his hatred of all things torturous (like gym class), and a crush on a girl who doesn't know he exists. But everything changes for Jim when a 45-year old mystery resurfaces, threatening the lives of everyone in his seemingly sleepy town. Soon Jim has to team up with a band of unlikely (and some un-"human") heroes to battle the monsters he never knew existed.
From the minds of horror geniuses Guillermo del Toro and Daniel Kraus comes a new illustrated novel about the fears that move in unseen places.

Father's Day

June is my favorite time of year in Tioga County for many different reasons. Here's a very short story I wrote about Wellsboro's Laurel Festival. This year the solstice is on the same day as Father's Day, and finishes up Laurel Festival. Happy Father's Day to all the dad's out there. Be proud, but maybe in a different way than this father...


FATHER'S DAY


I love June. Everything is awake. The hills are green and fresh. The wind feels alive. Everyone is enjoying the weather and anticipating the upcoming summer season.

Wellsboro pays homage to Pennsylvania's state flora with the Laurel Festival, which reminds me that it will soon be Father's Day, and I couldn't be more proud.

This year, my daughter Laura has been chosen as a dairy princess. She could have been a Laurel Queen. She's pretty enough, but dairy farming is a family tradition.

Farming is important here in Tioga County. If you ate today, you can thank a farmer. It's hard work. We pour our heart, blood, sweat, and soul into the soil. 

My family has been farming for generations. We have a deep bond with the land, a connection. We belong to the land. We reap what we sow.

Laura will ride on the float through Main Street. She'll be on display for the entire crowd. She was chosen for this. I say she was born for it.

She's nervous. Everyone will be looking, but I tell her not to worry. Everything will be fine. Ours is a profession to be proud of. Hold your head up Honey.

It's Father's Day in Tioga County, and it's also Solstice. It's the longest day of the year. It's the longest day of Laura's life, and her last.

We belong to the land. The land provides. I pour my heart, my blood, my seed into the soil. It will sustain life. It will sustain me.

I sacrifice my only daughter for the good of the Mother, the community. Only death can pay for life. It's Father's Day, and I couldn't be more proud.

Doctor Who: 12 Doctors, 12 Stories Slipcase Edition

-A gorgeous, highly collectible gift edition of 12 Doctors, 12 Stories, featuring 12 beautifully designed mini paperbacks and 12 exclusive postcards in a TARDIS slipcase. Twelve amazing adventures for the 12 Doctors written by 12 of the most exciting authors living in our galaxy today, including two Children's Laureates, Eoin Colfer and Malorie Blackman, and Michael Scott, Marcus Sedgwick, Philip Reeve, Patrick Ness, Richelle Mead, Alex Scarrow, Charlie Higson, Derek Landy, and Neil Gaiman, plus an adventure of the Twelfth Doctor by best-selling author Holly Black.

Inside Out Junior Novelization

Disney Pixar's "Inside Out" takes you to a place that everyone knows but no one has ever seen: inside the human mind "Inside Out: The Junior Novelization" retells the whole exciting story and features eight pages of full-color scenes from the movie. Disney Pixar's "Inside Out" releases in theaters June 19, 2015

The Evidence for Phantom Hitch-Hikers

All over the world, motorists report giving lifts to hitch-hikers who then vanish ghostlike into thin air. Phantom Hitch-Hikers, as these insubstantial passengers are called, have become classified as an urban legend and have been related to historical tales of supernatural traveling companions. But is there more to such stories than picturesque folklore? Are there genuine paranormal experiences behind the reports?

Goss explores the meaning and causes of this phenomenon. In terms of purpose and behavior, the Phantom Hitch-Hiker of urban folklore is a thoroughly conventional ghost: one who matches popular expectations of what a ghost is, what it does, and why. He or she is the spirit of a deceased person, the victim of a tragic accident, which resulted in the premature termination of earthly existence. It would appear that these "ghosts" are motivated by, especially on the anniversaries of their unfortunate accidents, a desire to complete their unfinished homeward journeys. It would also appear that they do not know that they are dead.

This is the most comprehensive study of a peculiar phenomenon that has mystified students of the paranormal for centuries. Goss' study will entertain and inform anyone who enjoys a good ghost story and anyone who is interested in understanding the mysterious and unexplained.

An Entirely Synthetic Fish

Anders Halverson provides an exhaustively researched and grippingly rendered account of the rainbow trout and why it has become the most commonly stocked and controversial freshwater fish in the United States. Discovered in the remote waters of northern California, rainbow trout have been artificially propagated and distributed for more than 130 years by government officials eager to present Americans with an opportunity to get back to nature by going fishing. Proudly dubbed "an entirely synthetic fish" by fisheries managers, the rainbow trout has been introduced into every state and province in the United States and Canada and to every continent except Antarctica, often with devastating effects on the native fauna. Halverson examines the paradoxes and reveals a range of characters, from nineteenth-century boosters who believed rainbows could be the saviors of democracy to twenty-first-century biologists who now seek to eradicate them from waters around the globe. Ultimately, the story of the rainbow trout is the story of our relationship with the natural world--how it has changed and how it startlingly has not.

The Vacationers

The delicious, New York Times bestselling book of the summer: an irresistible, deftly observed novel about the secrets, joys, and jealousies that rise to the surface over the course of an American family's Mediterranean holiday.
For the Posts, a two-week trip to the Balearic island of Mallorca with their extended family and friends is a celebration: Franny and Jim are observing their thirty-fifth wedding anniversary, and their daughter, Sylvia, has graduated from high school. The sunlit island, its mountains and beaches, its tapas and tennis courts, also promise an escape from the tensions simmering at home in Manhattan. But all does not go according to plan: Oover the course of the vacation, secrets come to light, old and new humiliations are experienced, childhood rivalries resurface, and ancient wounds are exacerbated.
This is a story of the sides of ourselves that we choose to show and those we try to conceal, of the ways we tear each other down and build each other up again, and the bonds that ultimately hold us together. With wry humor and tremendous heart, Emma Straub delivers a richly satisfying tale of a family in the midst of a maelstrom of change, emerging irrevocably altered yet whole.

Gordon Parks: How the Photographer Captured Black and White America

His white teacher tells her all-black class, You'll all wind up porters and waiters. What did she know? Gordon Parks is most famous for being the first black director in Hollywood. But before he made movies and wrote books, he was a poor African American looking for work. When he bought a camera, his life changed forever. He taught himself how to take pictures and before long, people noticed. His success as a fashion photographer landed him a job working for the government. In Washington DC, Gordon went looking for a subject, but what he found was segregation. He and others were treated differently because of the color of their skin. Gordon wanted to take a stand against the racism he observed. With his camera in hand, he found a way. Told through lyrical verse and atmospheric art, this is the story of how, with a single photograph, a self-taught artist got America to take notice.

Freckle Juice

What's a guy gotta do to get some freckles? This perennial bestselling favorite from Judy Blume has a fresh new look
More than anything in the world, Andrew Marcus wants freckles. His classmate Nicky has freckles--they cover his face, his ears, and the whole back of his neck. But when Andrew asks Nicky where he got them, Nicky just says he was born with them. Some help "he" is
That's when Sharon offers Andrew her secret freckle juice recipe--for fifty cents, she promises, Andrew can look just like Nicky. His freckleless days are over He rushes home to whip up the concoction. Grape juice, vinegar, mustard...
But what starts out as a simple freckle juice recipe quickly turns into something disastrous. Andrew is still determined to get his freckles, and to show that pesky Sharon that she doesn't know everything--and he has the perfect solution Or does he?

Mythic Worlds, Modern Words

In 1927 Joseph Campbell was given clues to reading James Joyce’s labyrinthine Ulysses by its original publisher Sylvia Beach and, as he said, it changed his career. His discoveries became the foundation for his later work in comparative mythology. To analyze Ulysses and Joyce’s other works, he employed depth psychology, anthropology, religion, and art history as tools. A treasure for Joyce and Campbell fans alike, Mythic Worlds, Modern Words collects 60 years of Campbell’s writings, lectures, and other commentary on Joyce, including exchanges with his audiences and Campbell's 1941 Joyce obituary.

Soldiers of Fortune: A History of the Mercenary in Modern Warfare

The freelance soldier, or mercenary, whether fighting for money or reputation or an adopted cause, has always been a fascinating and controversial phenomenon. Now, as a result of the situations in Iraq and Afghanistan, he has become not simply a mercenary but a vital part of modern and privatized warfare. For some, he is a heroic figure, doing the work governments are too squeamish to admit to; for others, he is a bloodthirsty killer. In Tony Geraghty's startling history, he sheds new light on their activities, which has until now been shrouded in secrecy. Many of the soldiers have spoken to the author about their experiences for the first time, revealing details of operations that have never before been reported in the media.

Pardon My Hearse: A Colorful Portrait of Where the Funeral and Entertainment Industries Met in Hollywood

Even celebrities die and he was the man who picked up the bodies Allan Abbott ran the leading hearse, mortuary, and funeral services company in Hollywood and got an unprecedented glimpse of how celebrities really live and die. The Forrest Gump of the funeral industry, Abbott was everywhere celebrities died, from helping to prepare Marilyn Monroe's body for burial to standing next to Christopher Walken at Natalie Wood's funeral. Now in his memoir Pardon My Hearse, Abbott tells the rags-to-shroud story of how we went from a young man with a hearse to the funeral driver to the stars a rollicking, unexpectedly hilarious story of glamorous funerals, mishaps with corpses, and true-life glimpses of celebrities at their most revealing moments. Pardon My Hearse is an eye-opening look at secret Hollywood from the man who literally knows where the bodies are buried.

Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War

An incredible publishing storywritten over the course of thirty years by a highly decorated Vietnam veteran, a "New York Times" best seller for sixteen weeks, a National Indie Next and a "USA Today" best seller"Matterhorn" has been hailed as a brilliant account of war ("New York Times Book Review"). Now out in paperback, "Matterhorn" is an epic war novel in the tradition of Norman Mailer's "The Naked and the Dead" and James Jones's "The Thin Red Line." It is the timeless story of a young Marine lieutenant, Waino Mellas, and his comrades in Bravo Company, who are dropped into the mountain jungle of Vietnam as boys and forced to fight their way into manhood. Standing in their way are not merely the North Vietnamese but also monsoon rain and mud, leeches and tigers, disease and malnutrition. Almost as daunting, it turns out, are the obstacles they discover between each other: racial tension, competing ambitions, and duplicitous superior officers. But when the company finds itself surrounded and outnumbered by a massive enemy regiment, the Marines are thrust into the raw and all-consuming terror of combat. The experience will change them forever.
"Matterhorn" is a visceral and spellbinding novel about what it is like to be a young man at war. It is an unforgettable novel that transforms the tragedy of Vietnam into a powerful and universal story of courage, camaraderie, and sacrifice: a parable not only of the war in Vietnam but of all war, and a testament to the redemptive power of literature.

Baby's First Tattoo: A Memory Book for Modern Parents

The alternative scrapbook that documents a baby's" truly" important memories.
MILLIONS OF PEOPLE THINK CHILDREN ARE THE CUTEST, CUDDLIEST, MOST WONDERFUL, SAINTLY CREATURES IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. THESE PEOPLE DO NOT HAVE CHILDREN. THEY HAVE NICE THINGS. THEY COLLECT FRAGILE POTTERY. THEY HAVE CANDLELIT DINNERS IN FANCY RESTAURANTS. THEY GO TO MOVIES. THEY HAVE WHITE CARPETS. PEOPLE WITH SMALL CHILDREN HAVEN'T BEEN TO A RESTAURANT WITHOUT PLASTIC SILVERWARE IN YEARS. THE LAST MOVIE THEY SAW IN A THEATER IS NOW ON AMERICAN MOVIE CLASSICS. THEIR HOUSE LOOKS LIKE IT WAS
DECORATED BY PEE-WEE HERMAN. "BABY'S FIRST TATTOO" IS FOR THEM.
For years parents have been buying baby books to document all the precious moments in their new baby's life -- Baby's First Tooth, Baby's First Haircut, Baby's First Step. What have been ignored for too long are those "alternative" precious moments that really should be written down, celebrated, and remembered -- Baby's First Projectile Vomit, Baby's First Tantrum in a Crowded Grocery Store, Baby's 10,000th Dirty Diaper. Otherwise you might forget them and think of becoming parents once again.

Keepers: The Greatest Films--And Personal Favorites--Of a Moviegoing Lifetime

From a legendary film critic and movie fan extraordinaire, the highlights reel of a life spent at the movies
Richard Schickel has seen, by his own estimate, more than twenty thousand films. He has been a reviewer since 1965 (long for "Time" magazine), has written almost forty books on the subject, and has produced and directed thirty documentaries. He has counted as personal friends many of the leading filmmakers of the twentieth century. Call it obsession, lunacy, or a grand passion (Schickel grants all three), but there's simply no one who knows film better. Now Schickel gives us the ultimate summing up: a history of film as he's seen and lived it, a tour of his favorites, a master class in what makes a film soar or flop.
Schickel's no-holds-barred, often raucously irreverent opinions can range from panning classics, to spotlighting forgotten treasures, to defending the art of popular genres such as horror, westerns, screwball comedy, and noir. Beyond his picks and pans, Schickel offers a wealth of behind-the-scenes anecdotes (a love note from Marlene Dietrich, Frank Capra's unlikely path to success, "Annie Hall"'s original title), career studies of our greatest performers and auteurs, and candidly intimate glimpses of his own life in pictures (an evening with Greta Garbo, John Ford's advice on directing, a dust-up in defense of Monty Python).
Above all, Schickel gives us a collection of the true gems, the immortal moments that have stuck with him over a lifetime of movie watching the transcendent scenes, characters, lines, shots, scores, even lighting cues that offer, each in their way, pure movie magic. Buster Keaton, "His Girl Friday," Ingrid Bergman, "Taxi Driver," "Star Wars," Stanley Kubrick, "Pulp Fiction" Schickel reveals all the films and the forces behind them that have kept him coming back for more.
An essential addition to any cinephile's library, "Keepers "is the curation of a brilliant connoisseur and critic, but more than that, it's a love letter to film from one of its most dedicated devotees.

Station Eleven

Kirsten Raymonde will never forget the night Arthur Leander, the famous Hollywood actor, had a heart attack on stage during a production of"King Lear."That was the night when a devastating flu pandemic arrived in the city, and within weeks, civilization as we know it came to an end.
Twenty years later, Kirsten moves between the settlements of the altered world with a small troupe of actors and musicians. They call themselves The Traveling Symphony, and they have dedicated themselves to keeping the remnants of art and humanity alive. But when they arrive in St. Deborah by the Water, they encounter a violent prophet who will threaten the tiny band's existence. And as the story takes off, moving back and forth in time, and vividly depicting life before and after the pandemic, the strange twist of fate that connects them all will be revealed.

Tom Slick: True Life Encounters in Cryptozoology

This true story of Texas millionaire Tom Slick's quest for the Abominable Snowman and other cryptids--creatures unknown to science--reveals a life made for the movies. Fascinating stories of Slick's early brushes with adventure such as his stepfather's abduction by George ""Machine Gun"" Kelly in 1933 and his creation of a research facility near Loch Ness are followed by his later expeditions into Nepal and the Pacific Northwest in search of the yeti and its counterpart, the Sasquatch. The story of Slick's amazing, fanatic, and driven search for the stuff of legends takes readers on a whirlwind journey from the dense temperate rainforests of Washington State to the icy peaks of the Himalayas--and shows that sometimes cryptids leave the halls of the imagination and are found and captured, as proved by the giant panda and the Komodo dragon, leaving readers to wonder what more there is to be discovered.

You Deserve a Drink

A riotously funny collection of boozy misadventures from the creator of the YouTube series, You Deserve a Drink
Mamrie Hart is a drinking star with a Youtube problem. As host of the bawdy cult-hit, You Deserve a Drink, Hart has been entertaining viewers with her signature concoction of tasty libations and raunchy puns since 2011. Finally, Hart has compiled her best drinking stories and worst hangovers into one hilarious volume. From the spring break where she and her girlfriends avoided tan lines by staying at an all-male gay nudist resort, to the bachelorette party where she accidentally hired a sixty year old meth head to teach the group pole dancing, to the time she lit herself on fire during a Flaming Lips concert, Hart accompanies each story with an original cocktail recipe, ensuring that "You Deserve a Drink" is as useful as it is entertaining.

The Crystal Bible: A Definitive Guide to Crystals

Beautifully illustrated, The Crystal Bible offers a comprehensive guide to crystals, their shapes, colors and applications. With informative descriptions and an easy-to-use format, it is an indispensable practical handbook for crystal lovers and users everywhere--both beginner and expert alike. The book's directory format and beautiful, full-color photos ensure that the crystals are easily identifiable. Descriptions, which accompany each entry, provide information on their appearance, worldwide distribution, attributes, actions and healing properties. Both major and lesser-known stones currently available are covered, including those only recently discovered. A comprehensive index cross-referencing crystals to applications, aliments and conditions makes this book a vital reference for all crystal users.

Fun with Nature: Take Along Guide

"Fun with Nature" helps kids discover the incredible world in their backyards. Includes the bestselling titles: "Caterpillars, Bugs and Butterflies"; "Frogs, Toads and Turtles"; "Snakes, Salamanders and Lizards"; "Rabbits, Squirrels and Chipmunks"; "Tracks, Scats and Signs"; and "Trees, Leaves and Bark". This entertaining book is filled with fascinating facts and awesome activities.

A Practical Guide to the Runes

EIHWAZ the yew, URUZ the wild ox, KENAZ the hearth fire. Created by the Nordic and Germanic tribes of northern Europe, the runes began as a magickal system of pictographs representing the forces and objects in nature. This guidebook will help you discover the oracular nature of the runes and how to use them as a magickal tool for insight, protection, and luck. Practical and concise, this book includes: Complete descriptions of the twenty-four runes of the Elder Futhark, plus WYRD, the blank rune The differences between bindrunes and runescripts Four rune layouts and detailed rune interpretations, including reversed position meanings How to carve runes and create talismans Meanings and uses of the runes in magick.

Proud to Be an American

From the best-known patriotic song, GOD BLESS the USA, a kid's book is now available for the first time. With multiple artists performing this song over 30 years on various venues, a new generation of kids will now read the words, see the illustrations, and understand what it means to be an American. Written by Lee Greenwood and illustrated by Amanda Sekulow, the journey across America with a man and his grandson brings the song and story home. Lee will be promoting this book throughout the country with live performances on stage and in studio. Launch will be Memorial Day, 2015, with appearances at BEA and possibly ICRS. Lee has appeared on Hannity, Huckabee and other national shows and will carry this book to promote patriotism as a new generation of Americans emerge.