Books with author Chris Woodworth

Eddie McCall is a good kid. He does his homework, picks up around the house, and cooks dinner for his single mom when she has to work late at a Chicago hotel. Then Eddie's best friend, Whip, shows him a printout from the Internet- a picture of an honest-to-gosh naked woman-and suddenly Eddie can't seem to think about anything else. He knows his mom will be upset if she sees the sites he's visiting. Still, he doesn't expect her to ship him off to her hometown of Sheldon, Indiana, to live with his great-uncle Peavey for an entire month. Peavey isn't exactly the father figure thirteen-year-old Eddie's been looking for. He spits tobacco juice into a can, calls a toilet a "commode," and certainly doesn't own a computer. As it turns out, however, both Peavey McCall and Sheldon, Indiana, hold some very surprising secrets . . .The author captures two worlds in this tender and funny look at a boy learning what it really means to be a man.

Georgie Collins knows exactly how to make it through life ina new town. Before her father left for Vietnam, he gave herstanding orders never to let anyone mess with her, and shewon't. As long as she doesn't allow the enemy to smell her fear,Georgie will survive seventh grade in Glendale, Indiana, justfine. But that doesn't mean she'll like it. How could she? Herschool has forced her to participate in a "Good DeedsProgram," so she's stuck visiting old people in a nursing home.What's more, her classes are filled with "peacenik" kids whothink the war is wrong - including her only friend. At home,it seems that the kids her mom is babysitting are constantlywhining at her. Worst of all, Georgie's father has been gone along time - and even though he promised to send her his loveevery night on the moon, sometimes that's not enough.This story of a feisty girl's fierce devotion to her father is a powerful reflection on the ravages of war.

From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.

After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder—twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping"). But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up, in Ivy in the Shadows by Chris Woodworth.

Georgie Collins knows exactly how to make it through life ina new town. Before her father left for Vietnam, he gave herstanding orders never to let anyone mess with her, and shewon't. As long as she doesn't allow the enemy to smell her fear,Georgie will survive seventh grade in Glendale, Indiana, justfine. But that doesn't mean she'll like it. How could she? Herschool has forced her to participate in a "Good DeedsProgram," so she's stuck visiting old people in a nursing home.What's more, her classes are filled with "peacenik" kids whothink the war is wrong - including her only friend. At home,it seems that the kids her mom is babysitting are constantlywhining at her. Worst of all, Georgie's father has been gone along time - and even though he promised to send her his loveevery night on the moon, sometimes that's not enough. This story of a feisty girl's fierce devotion to her father is a powerful reflection on the ravages of war.

From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.

After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder―twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping"). But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up.

Eddie McCall is a good kid. He does his homework, picks up around the house, and cooks dinner for his single mom when she has to work late at a Chicago hotel. Then Eddie’s best friend, Whip, shows him a printout from the Internet— a picture of an honest-to-gosh naked woman—and suddenly Eddie can’t seem to think about anything else. He knows his mom will be upset if she sees the sites he’s visiting. Still, he doesn’t expect her to ship him off to her hometown of Sheldon, Indiana, to live with his great-uncle Peavey for an entire month. Peavey isn’t exactly the father figure thirteen-year-old Eddie’s been looking for. He spits tobacco juice into a can, calls a toilet a “commode,” and certainly doesn’t own a computer. As it turns out, however, both Peavey McCall and Sheldon, Indiana, hold some very surprising secrets . . .The author captures two worlds in this tender and funny look at a boy learning what it really means to be a man.

From the spring day in 1962 when Willis Merrill and his pet raccoon arrive in Maywood, Indiana, they are nothing but trouble for Lydia Carson. Lydia nicknames Willis "Ratboy" and wonders why he can't be more like his handsome older brother, Elliot. Life gets more complicated when Lydia alienates Elliot by insulting Willis and comes to a standoff with her mother. In her struggle to make amends with all, Lydia finds an ally in Willis and discovers the good in herself.In her sharp, fresh voice, the author captures the flavor of a small town in Middle America and the hearts of its populace as she tells a powerful story about the resiliency - and flexibility -of family.

Although early civilizations knew what light was and how to use it, the ancient Greeks and Romans were the first to try to find out how and why light worked as it did. Eventually, scientists realized that light is a form of radiation similar to radio waves and X-rays. This book traces the history of discoveries about light from ancient Greek theories to the development of quantum mechanics.

After Ivy's stepfather disappears, Ivy's mama begins waitressing at Dining Divinely to make ends meet. She also takes in a boarder―twelve-year-old Caleb, who's the same age as Ivy and is the weirdest guy she's ever met. With Mama working full-time, Ivy has to babysit her little brother, JJ. She also has to fend off the nosy Pastor Harold; stop Caleb from filling JJ's head with lies; and keep her best friend, Ellen, from knowing anything about her embarrassing situation at home. Ivy has always found out all she needs to know by lurking in the shadows (some might call it "eavesdropping"). But as things at home become more complicated, she learns to step into the light and not only listen but speak up.