Books with author Anne Hancock

When Rachel and her mother move to Mrs. Moore's house - the one with the greenhouse, right next to the Line - Rachel starts questioning things. There are so many rumors of the horrible things that lie beyond the Line - in a place called Away - but no one dares to talk about it. And it's no use asking questions, especially of Mrs. Moore, who has always lived by the Line, or of her mother, who is just happy to have a place to stay, especially since Rachel's father died in the war. But then, Rachel comes across a recorded message - one that could only have come from Away. And the voice on the recorder is asking for help... As things start to unravel, the question becomes: How far is Rachel willing to go to cross the Line and do the right thing?

When Rachel crosses "The Line", she leaves behind everything she has ever known and enters a strange new world: Away. Life there is hard, and survival is never guaranteed. The rules are different away, and Rachel has a lot to learn. The people of Away - the same people she's always been told are dangerous and untrustworthy - have gifts she's never thought possible. Rachel has to rely on Pathik, the boy she risked her life for, to help her navigate the strange customs. He's exasperating, but she thinks she can trust him, and she hopes he'll lead her to answers about her father. As it turns out, he leads her to more than she bargained for and Rachel finds herself on an adventure filled with life and death choices, dark conspiracies, and unthinkable sacrifice. In a place with no technology, no electricity, no medicine, and very little hope, Rachel discovers that only one thing makes life worth living. If only it's not too late.

"Evie's First Magic Lesson" is a middle-grade novel set in an entirely imaginary world. It follows the adventures of Evie and Bridget as they discover that everyone has talents, if they would only learn to use them.From the Back of the book: Things used to be different. People, known as ray, from each of the five major groups worked together. The souray were able to manipulate the physical world, known commonly as "using magic." The emeray were great scientists and teachers. The vedaray could see a person's heart. The aniray could communicate with animals. And the physiray had physical abilities beyond imagination. Even with all these differences, it was a time of progress and cooperation. But it didn't last. The current king is a souray. He believes that anyone who cannot use magic should be separated and uneducated. The years have erased memories and planted permanent ideas of inherent inequality. The time for change has come again. In a small village, distanced from all of these politics, a young girl holds a secret that could help return this world to the way it once was. She has the ability to remove the king from power and he has only just discovered she exists...

"Master Prescott, what are you doing?"The voice of Mr. E. Dutton Jones rasped out rather sharply, jarring on the generally studious air of the eighth-grade room of the Central Grammar School."What were you doing, Master Prescott?" repeated the stern voice of the principal.Dick Prescott had glanced up, somewhat startled and confused. By this time every boy's and girl's eyes had turned away from text-books toward Dick Prescott."I was whispering, sir," confessed Dick."Oh, was that all?" demanded the somewhat ironical voice of Mr. E. Dutton Jones, more commonly known as "Old Dut."

It isn't all play in a High School. A vast amount of study has to be mastered. There are nerve-racking examinations. It is a tremendously busy life despite its sport.So here we would better take leave of Gridley H.S. so far as this volume is concerned.It was soon known that, had not Dick & Co. taken their little walk the robbers would have gotten away with one hundred and twenty thousand dollars in cash.As it was, however, all four men were in the police toils, and they were presently sent to the penitentiary, where they are serving long terms.The bank directors did vote to reward the H.S. boys as individuals, but Dick & Co. and all the upper classmen refused to accept anything for their own pockets.