Books with author Ellen Thompson

In a faraway kingdom, where custom is priority and duty is of utmost importance, an unruly princess Alaina Marie prefers adventure rather than fancy dinners and pretty dresses, much to her father’s annoyance. The kingdom is under attack and Alaina and her pet Tizzles have been captured. Will they find their way back home? Watch this journey unfold as Alaina and Tizzles discover what it means to be kind in the face of cruelty, courageous in the face of terror, and brave in the face of defeat. Learn with Alaina what it means to be a true friend, and to dream beyond what the eye can see.

When city boy Drew comes to small-town Coldriver to live with his Gran, the most exciting thing he can hope for is to finally play center on the high school basketball team. Instead he discovers that Coldriver isn’t like anywhere else on earth. Ruled by the ley lines that intersect the town and the magical power of the arts, the people of Coldriver hold to a different set of values. In this twisted reality statues come to life, music can literally blow your socks off, ballet is king, and a mere poem can kill. Against this strange and unexpected backdrop, Drew meets Cadence. At first she seems like the perfect all-American girl. She’s gorgeous, smart—she even plays violin in the school orchestra—and they seem to click perfectly. But when Drew discovers that Cady is next in line for the matriarchal power of the clan that rules the town, he is drawn swiftly into a labyrinth of danger. Someone’s trying to kill Cady, and now it looks like they’re after him, too. Together with his new best friend and basketball sidekick, Banjo, Drew goes on a quest to discover what’s really going on in Coldriver. Spurred by his own weird dreams about a long-dead Russian girl and a glowing green stone, Drew finds himself in a race against the clock to save Cady. Unless he can discover a way to reverse the magic, Cady’s fate as the next Matushka on the sundown of her seventeenth birthday will be sealed. And with a cast of crazy Stepanov relatives all vying for Cady’s birthright, Drew is afraid she might not survive that long. The only way out is to realize his own connection to the town and the power of the ley.

This amazing state is home to the majestic Niagara Falls, the stately Statue of Liberty and one of the biggest cities in the world. Readers will draw this state's symbols and learn all about New York's history. From the Dutch settlers to George Washington's inauguration, a lot has happened in the Empire state. Your readers will be exclaiming "I love New York!" before you know it.

How did plants get to be the way they are? Why do they have pretty flowers? How different would things have been if the wrong kind of pollinators had got the upper hand? Why are Latin names so complicated, and why Latin anyway? Why is a weed-free lawn an ecological impossibility?This entertaining book gives the answers to these questions and many more. It shows how a little botanical knowledge can bring not just better results but peace of mind, and that losing sleep over such traditional gardening bogeys as weeds, pests and pruning is not necessarily the best course. In this new edition Ken Thompson grabs the opportunity to explain why any old plant will do for companion planting - but also that it can do as much harm as good - and why planting by the moon is complete and utter nonsense.

[Read by Will Collyer, John Glouchevitch, Dan Woren]A fierce group of rebels who will never surrender.An empire with an army that has never known defeat.And a war that changed the world forever.From George Washington crossing the icy Delaware, to Molly Pitcher fearlessly firing her cannon, the people of the American Revolution were some of the bravest and most inspiring of all time. Jump into a riot in the streets of Boston, join the Culper Spy Ring as they steal secrets in the dead of night, and watch the signing of the Declaration of Independence in this accessible guide to the birth of the United States.History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson combines extensive research and irresistible storytelling to make history come alive in this fourth book in the unforgettable Guts & Glory series.

History comes alive for kids like no textbook can in this epic account of the time of the Vikings that's perfect for history buffs and reluctant readers! Contains awesome illustrations!From battle-axe-wielding tribes plundering the greatest cities of Europe to powerful kings and queens ruling their dominions with iron fists, the Vikings were some of the most feared and fearless figures in European history. Find the bravest heroes, the most menacing villains, and unbelievably awesome facts and myths inside this action-packed overview that will amaze kids with tales of a people so incredible...it's hard to believe they were real.History buff and popular blogger Ben Thompson's lively storytelling style brings the Vikings back to life in this second book in the exhilarating Guts & Glory series!

The stars are going out…The people of earth look up every night to the sight, but they do not know what it means. Besides, they have their own problem to deal with. Getting rid of a corrupt king is far more important than finding out the truth.High above them, in cities mistaken for stars, the race of Starlings, protectors of humanity, are losing their final war. With each fallen city, another star leaves the sky forever.As a final, desperate warning, the Starlings send down an ambassador. No one knows if anyone will believe her words, and time is swiftly running out.

Discover legendary commanders, tremendous fights, elite soldiers, and courageous individuals whose deeds truly made the difference in this jaw-dropping guide to the biggest war the world has ever seen.From massive aerial battles that clouded the skies with planes to deathly secret operations deep behind enemy lines, the events of World War II are some of the most awe-inspiring of all time. Packed with trivia, epic battles, and amazing illustrations, World War II comes alive for kids like no textbook can in this account from Ben Thompson that's perfect for history buffs and reluctant readers.

The last year has been rougher than sandpaper for Abbey Force and her dad. He’s in a coma after his accident a year back, wherein he was framed for a terrible crime he didn’t commit. And their home, Reward Plantation, an idyllic spot on the eastern coast of South Carolina, had to be sold to pay off his debt to society. Abbey is stuck living with her uncle Charlie, who, even in the few hours a day when he’s sober, ain’t exactly your ideal parental role model.But it turns out the new family that moved into Abbey’s old house has a daughter named Bee. And she’s just as curious about all the No Trespassing signs and holes being dug out by Felony Bay, in the corner of what used to be Abbey’s home. It appears someone’s been poking around a mystery that dates all the way back to the Civil War—and it just might be the same someone who framed Abbey’s dad.Fresh, funny, and heartwarming, Girl from Felony Bay is the perfect book for fans of Rebecca Stead’s Liar & Spy and Sheila Turnage’s Three Times Lucky.

Abbey and her best friend, Bee, set out to solve another mystery with its roots deep in Southern history in this follow-up to J. E. Thompson's The Girl from Felony Bay. For the first time in a long time, things are looking up for Abbey Force. She lives on Reward Plantation with Bee, and her father has just recovered from his coma. But then their neighbor's dog, Yemassee, is kidnapped, and they are the only witnesses. They decide it's their job to find the men who took him.This dognapping, though, will lead Abbey and Bee into something much deeper. And before they're through, the girls will once again have to dig through the hidden history of their South Carolina home in order to set things right.

One girl's struggle with trying to understand the dynamics of her family's life in a small east coast town in North Carolina. Her father was a preacher in the Baptist Church, and the setting is in late 1960 when the church was the center of the community.Beth and her family were expected to live a higher standard than regular citizens and thus, Beth had so few friends. Amidst the scrutiny of so many, Beth often felt unloved and rejected along with her father wanting her to go into missions. She was socially not developed to do this task. Her only friend growing up was her dog, Jack and one friend from class Karen, who was as inhibited as Beth. There was so much she did not know about life and often watched from her treehouse and dreamed there. Her silent vow from the treehouse was to one day leave Coles and never return. Providence would have it that while so many seemed to be against Beth, there was always someone to steer her in the right direction. Her mother was dealing with her demons as well as the father. All of this is comes to light in a storyline that will have you crying one minute and laughing the next. It also has a romantic flavor, and this will have you crossing your fingers hoping the end will be suitable for Beth, who is a strong central character in this story.