Books with author Andrew Nelson Smith

The summer before Troy Stotts turns seventeen, his mother dies. Troy and his father barely speak, communicating instead by writing notes on a legal pad by the phone. Troy spends most of his time with his closest friends: Tom Buller, brash and fearless, the son of a drunk; Gabe Benavidez, smart enough to know he’ll never take over the family ranch; and Gabe’s sister, Luz, whose family overprotects her, and who Troy has loved since they were children. Troy and his friends don’t want trouble. They want this to be the summer of what Troy calls “ghost medicine,” when time seems to stop, so they won’t have to face the past or the future. But before the summer is over, their paths will cross in dangerous and fateful ways with people who will change their lives: Rose, a damaged derelict who lives with a flock of wild horses and goats; and Chase Rutledge, the arrogant sheriff’s son. Troy and his friends want to disappear. Instead, they will become what they least expect —brothers, lovers, heroes, and ghosts.

“I feel pity for you and all of your kind. Evil never knows the beauty of love, the strength of passion or the joy of laughter.”—Lythiral the UnicornTime is running out. Princess Elliney knows she only has a few days before the eclipse and the Unicorn’s power will wane sufficiently for her enemies to capture her. The noble beast is pursued by a fiendish demon and his hired assassin. He seeks her immortal tears to prolong the life of his captured love. Only Elliney, her Knight Valiant and an old hunter stand in their way. Now sneaking away from the castle at night doesn’t sound like such a good idea…

“A marvel—endlessly inventive, witty.” —Booklist (starred review) From New York Times bestselling author Andrew Smith comes the stunning, long-awaited sequel to the groundbreaking Printz Honor Book Grasshopper Jungle.It’s been sixteen years since an army of horny, hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises forced Arek’s family underground and into the hole where he was born; it’s the only home he’s ever known. But now, post-end-of-the-world, the army of horny, hungry praying mantises might finally be dying out, and Arek’s ready to leave the hole for good. All he has are mysterious letters from Breakfast, a naked, wild boy traveling the countryside with his silent companion, Olive. Together, Arek and his best friend Mel, who stowed away in his van, navigate their way through the ravaged remains of the outside world. This long-awaited sequel to the irreverent, groundbreaking Printz Honor Book Grasshopper Jungle is riveting, compelling, and even more hilarious and beautifully bizarre than its predecessor.

From the critically acclaimed author of cult teen novel Grasshopper Jungle, Andrew Smith, comes a startlingly original tale of friendship and brotherhood, war and humanity, identity and existence.Ariel, the sole survivor of an attack on his village in the Middle East is ‘rescued’ from the horrific madness of war in his homeland by an American soldier and sent to live with a family in suburban Virginia. And yet, to Ariel, this new life with a genetic scientist father and resentful brother, Max, is as confusing and bizarre as the life he just left.Things get even weirder when Ariel and Max are sent to an all-boys summer camp in the forest for tech detox. Intense, funny and fierce friendships are formed. And all the time the scientific tinkerings of the boys’ father into genetics and our very existence are creeping up on them in their wooden cabin, second by painful second . . . An immersive read for fans of Michael Grant, John Green, Stephen King, and Sally Green's Half Bad novels.Andrew Smith has always wanted to be a writer. After graduating college, he wrote for newspapers and radio stations, but found it wasn't the kind of writing he'd dreamed about doing. Born with an impulse to travel, Smith, the son of an immigrant, bounced around the world and from job to job, before settling down in Southern California. There, he got his first ‘real job’, as a teacher in an alternative educational program for at-risk teens, married, and moved to a rural mountain location. Smith has now written several award-winning YA novels including Winger, Stick, and Grasshopper Jungle.Praise for Grasshopper Jungle'Grasshopper Jungle is what would happen if Kurt Vonnegut wrote a YA book. This raunchy, bizarre, smart and compelling sci-fi novel defies description – it's best to go into it with an open mind and allow yourself to be first drawn in, then blown away.' - Rolling Stone‘A cool/passionate, gay/straight, male/female, absurd/real, funny/moving, past/present, breezy/profound masterpiece of a book.' - Michael Grant, bestselling author of the GONE series.‘If you only read one book this year about sexually confused teens battling 6 foot tall head-chomping praying mantises in small town America, make it this one.' - Charlie Higson, author of the bestselling Young Bond series.'I devoured @marburyjack’s wonderful ‘cool/passionate’ Grasshopper Jungle’. Sally Green, author of Half Bad.‘Grasshopper Jungle by Andrew Smith. You must read immediately. It’s an absolute joy. Scary, funny, sexy. Trust me.’ - Jake Shears, lead singer of The Scissor Sisters‘Not for the faint-hearted. Mutant grasshoppers, rampant lust – a tale of teen self discovery that grips like a mating mantis.’ - Metro

PLEASE READ THIS BOOK IN LANDSCAPE VIEWA fun story about a little hedgehog who does not want to go to bed on his own. Playing with his brothers and sister and finding any excuse to stay up late into the morning. Sure to be a favourite with your little one, with great illustrations. The Author, Andrew l Smith is a full-time professional children’s entertainer and really knows how to keep children focused. They will love this book.Click the orange buy button at the top right of the page and grab your copy now.

A 2015 Michael L. Printz Honor BookWinner of the 2014 Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Fiction“Grasshopper Jungle is a rollicking tale that is simultaneously creepy and hilarious. It’s propulsive plot would be delightful enough on its own, but Smith’s ability to blend teenage drama into a bug invasion is a literary joy to behold… Smith may have intended this novel for young adults, but his technique reminds me of Kurt Vonnegut’s in “Slaughterhouse Five,” in the best sense.” —New York Times Book Review In the small town of Ealing, Iowa, Austin and his best friend, Robby, have accidentally unleashed an unstoppable army. An army of horny, hungry, six-foot-tall praying mantises that only want to do two things. This is the truth. This is history. It’s the end of the world. And nobody knows anything about it. You know what I mean.Funny, intense, complex, and brave, Grasshopper Jungle brilliantly weaves together everything from testicle-dissolving genetically modified corn to the struggles of recession-era, small-town America in this groundbreaking coming-of-age stunner from the author of The Alex Crow and Winger.

Sixteen-year-old Jack gets drunk and is in the wrong place at the wrong time. He is kidnapped. He escapes, narrowly. The only person he tells is his best friend, Conner. When they arrive in London as planned for summer break, a stranger hands Jack a pair of glasses. Through the lenses, he sees another world called Marbury. There is war in Marbury. It is a desolate and murderous place where Jack is responsible for the survival of two younger boys. Conner is there, too. But he’s trying to kill them. Meanwhile, Jack is falling in love with an English girl, and afraid he’s losing his mind. Conner tells Jack it’s going to be okay. But it’s not. Andrew Smith has written his most beautiful and personal novel yet, as he explores the nightmarish outer limits of what trauma can do to our bodies and our minds.

“Andrew Smith is the Kurt Vonnegut of YA . . . [Smith’s novels] are the freshest, richest, and weirdest books to hit the YA world in years.” —Entertainment WeeklySkillfully blending multiple story strands that transcend time and place, award-winning Grasshopper Jungle author Andrew Smith chronicles the story of Ariel, a refugee who is the sole survivor of an attack on his small village. Now living with an adoptive family in Sunday, West Virginia, Ariel's story is juxtaposed against those of a schizophrenic bomber and the diaries of a failed arctic expedition from the late nineteenth century . . . and a depressed, bionic reincarnated crow.

"It’s really good Andy! I’m mailing it to my teacher friends!""An amazing tool to help parents.""The way it is written actually helps parents understand.""What a wonderful teaching resource!"FUN. ENGAGING. EMPOWERING. EDUCATIONAL. IMPORTANT.Maia and the New School is a wonderfully illustrated resource for parents and teachers to help explore feelings of anxiety, friendship, peer pressure and worry in children. The colourful, hand drawn illustrations support the writing and provide a visual representation of the changes that Maia goes through as her story unfolds.With its relatable and simply told storyline, and through effective use of illustrations to bring Maia's world to life, Maia and the New School explores what happens when we begin to hide who we are in order to conform and fit in. This book provides a safe and kind platform to stimulate conversation and discussion with children and young adults around issues such as anxiety, peer pressure, worry, fear and friendship.In its simplest level, Maia and the New School is a story to be enjoyed by children and adults of all ages. By using colourful illustrations to bring the world of Maia to life, we are able to see what happens to Maia as she tries harder and harder to conform and to go against her true self. To help a younger audience, the voices that Maia hears are depicted as a little green monster and of a talking heart. These are the symbols of head and heart and help to show that often, there can be a struggle between the two. Maia’s story shows the importance of maintaining our own special uniqueness. It has been written as a means of encouraging thought and conversation around feelings and emotions that can arise from friendship and peer pressure.This is a story that reminds us why it is important to always be true to ourselves, no matter what anyone else thinks. It is a story about following your own light and being the real you.Maia and the New School is more than a story, it is a valuable aid in helping people to grow and to be their true self. It is the first book in the Finding Your Light Within series.Note: This edition is a large size (21.59cm x 21.59cm / 8.5" x 8.5") picture book featuring full colour illustrations. A black and white, illustrated chapter book version is also available.SynopsisMaia’s family have moved home and Maia has to start a new school. She is anxious to fit in with everyone and make new friends. The week before school starts, Maia begins to hear a voice that will not stop talking to her and will not go away. It tells Maia that she will need to change herself and to hide who she is, if she is to make friends at her new school.Find out what happens to Maia as she begins to listen to the voice. Can Maia make a new friend and how does the voice begin to change her..?Say "Kia ora!" to Maia and let Maia help you and your loved ones. She told me that she would absolutely love to do that.