Books with author Alexandra Siy

PART MEMOIR AND PART ELEGY, READING MY FATHER IS THE STORY OF A DAUGHTER COMING TO KNOW HER FATHER AT LAST— A GIANT AMONG TWENTIETH-CENTURY AMERICAN NOVELISTS AND A MAN WHOSE DEVASTATING DEPRESSION DARKENED THE FAMILY LANDSCAPE. In Reading My Father, William Styron’s youngest child explores the life of a fascinating and difficult man whose own memoir, Darkness Visible, so searingly chronicled his battle with major depression. Alexandra Styron’s parents—the Pulitzer Prize–winning author of Sophie’s Choice and his political activist wife, Rose—were, for half a century, leading players on the world’s cultural stage. Alexandra was raised under both the halo of her father’s brilliance and the long shadow of his troubled mind. A drinker, a carouser, and above all “a high priest at the altar of fiction,” Styron helped define the concept of The Big Male Writer that gave so much of twentieth-century American fiction a muscular, glamorous aura. In constant pursuit of The Great Novel, he and his work were the dominant force in his family’s life, his turbulent moods the weather in their ecosystem. From Styron’s Tidewater, Virginia, youth and precocious literary debut to the triumphs of his best-known books and on through his spiral into depression, Reading My Father portrays the epic sweep of an American artist’s life, offering a ringside seat on a great literary generation’s friendships and their dramas. It is also a tale of filial love, beautifully written, with humor, compassion, and grace.

Carl and Alexandra Day have created a baby record book for puppies. It has room for a paw print and a lock of fur, as well as places for photographs that record such special things as a family portrait, best trick, and first birthday. The book also has a page to keep track of the puppy's medical history. Lively illustrations depicting more than twenty breeds, plus a metal keepsake medallion for the puppy's collar, make this a must for every dog owner.

"Be yourself. People may or may not like you, but it's important that you stay true to who you are." - Anonymous. "I remember my very first therapy session. It was supposed to help me cope with my parents’ divorce. It was “family” therapy because they felt it was best that we all discuss it together. I was told to read a story about another family that went through a divorce, and it just confused me even more. They told me “It’s not your fault, mommy and daddy love you” and blah, blah blah!""There was a time where I hated myself just because I was so obese. I felt un-pretty, not confident, a waste, and I can go on and on... I won’t lie, I still sometimes feel that way. I learned that me, Ali could NOT even get past my outer layer! How can I expect others in my life to get past my outer layer, if I couldn't? I had to find out by peeling back my own layers and finding out what makes me the woman I am. Spending countless hours, days, writing, reflecting, and digging deep into my past. Honesty is something I value, so in order to be honest with others, I had to be honest with myself."I always felt like an outsider in my own family. I’m tired of hiding behind the smiles, the “I’m okays”… the battle goes beyond the surface; it’s internal. This is my story, through the good, the bad and the ugly; I’m holding nothing back.

Alli must risk everything to save her new family from a rogue organization that is threatening the Thieves Guild’s existence—and the lives of all its members—in this “not to be missed sequel” (Kirkus Reviews) to Rules for Thieves.Alli Rosco, former orphan and thief, is free after her disastrous Thieves Guild trial, which left an innocent woman dead while Alli’s partner-in-crime, Beck, fled. Now Alli is getting more than just a fresh start: her long-lost brother, Ronan, has come forward to claim responsibility for her and let her live with him on a trial basis. They try to mend the rift that started when Alli was dropped off at the orphanage while Ronan became a lawyer in Ruhia. But as determined as she is to make things work, Alli can’t seem to stay out of trouble. To make matters worse, Alli finds a surprise guest on her doorstep one night: Beck. He’s on the run and brings news of the Shadow Guild, a rogue organization that is trying to overthrow the current king of the Thieves Guild. Their friends are in real danger. And Beck needs Alli’s help one more time to bring the Shadows down. Once again, Alli is forced to make a hard choice: save her friends, or lose her last chance to have a true family.

After twelve-year-old orphan, Alli Rosco, is cursed with a deadly spell, she must join the legendary Thieves Guild in order to try and save herself in this high-stakes debut.Twelve-year-old Alli Rosco is smart, resourceful, and totally incapable of keeping her mouth shut. Some of these traits have served her well during her nine years in Azeland’s orphanage, and others have proved more troublesome…but now that she’s escaped to try her luck on the streets, she has bigger problems than extra chores to contend with. Surviving would be hard enough, but after a run-in with one of the city’s Protectors, she’s marked by a curse that’s slowly working its way to her heart. There is a cure, but the cost is astronomical—and seems well out of her reach. Enter Beck, a boy with a gift for theft and a touch of magic, who seems almost too good to be true. He tells Alli that the legendary Thieves Guild, long thought to be a myth, is real. Even better, Beck is a member and thinks she could be, too. All she has to do is pass the trial that the King of Thieves will assign to her. Join the Guild, collect her yearly reward and buy a cure. Plus, Alli hopes the Guild will be the home—the family—that Alli has always wanted. But when their trial goes wrong, innocent lives are put in danger, and Alli has to decide how much she can sacrifice in order to survive.

Readers can follow the course of NASAs Mars Exploration Rover (MER) mission as twin rovers, Spirit and Opportunity explore the Red Planet. Learn how scientists determined that there was once water on Mars and how the Earthbound NASA team resolved problems with the rovers from afar in order to prolong the mission, which continues today. The author provides insight into scientists quest to discover whether life may have or still might exist on Mars. Back matter includes glossary, source notes, and resources.

Carmen and Luke have been at each other's throats their entire lives. For Carmen, it's been incredibly difficult to both hate and crush on the irritating rival. Especially now that he's dating her best friend. When Carmen starts tutoring Luke in German, their attraction begins to blossom. She's thrown into a world of Luke's lies and just when they decide their relationship is more important than anything, her best friend drops a bomb that changes anything. Their relationship is categorically forbidden, but can they fight past the barriers and be together?