Books with author Janet McDonnell

The Washington sisters make good in the ’hoodIt may have taken them an extra year or two to do it, but the Washington sisters finally graduated high school, and this definitely calls for a celebration. But after the party ends, then what? The girls have no plans. Unlike their smart best friend Raven Jefferson, who’s away at college, and their nerdy best friend Toya Larson, who’s in computer training, and their overall best friend Aisha Ingram, who's rocking in TV commercials, Keeba and Teesha are still hanging out on neighborhood benches as if nothing's changed. Then an older friend convinces the sisters that they, too, have a skill – braiding hair – and why not make a business of it? With a loan from Aisha, the Washingtons open TeeKee’s Tresses in a rented storefront, and the future looks pretty solid . . . that is, until a rival’s jealousy, a landlord's greed, and a politician’s scheme turn the sisters' world upside down. Janet McDonald introduces readers to two sisters who discover that all you have to do is stick together to handle life’s many twists and turns.

Hustle's personal Harlem was sorely in need of a renaissance. For him, it was the place where a scared kid named Eric Samson had been ditched by druggy parents and dismissed by frustrated teachers. Abandoned to the streets to raise himself, Eric Samson knows life won't be easy, beginning with the choices he must make. The fast cash of the streets still tempts him, but the threat of getting locked up – again – is daunting. Maybe Eric's way out is as Harlem Hustle, the rapper he dreams of being. At his side is Manley "Ride" Freeman, surrogate brother and best friend. And Jeannette Simpson, the college-bound "round-the-way" girl he hopes will be more than a friend. But does Eric have the strength to leave the familiar street life behind and the courage to reach for his dream?In her companion to Brother Hood, Janet McDonald once again captures the rhythms of Harlem in this fast, funny story of a restless teenager who uses the power of words to rise above it all.

Jaden Walker has her future figured out. Seeing people who aren't actually there is troubling, but she can handle that. That is, until she meets Kiran and Jessica Theron. The twins reveal three very important details: they have supernatural abilities, Jaden's hallucinations are actually real dead people, and they want to take her home to her real parents. The twins rip Jaden from her peaceful, college student life into a world of magic and the unexplainable. But Jaden doesn't just see the dead--she can communicate and interact with them. And someone else is hunting her for those abilities. For Jaden, this rollercoaster of a fantasy story should have remained in its book. Because, now that she’s living it, she's finding it harder and harder to believe that anybody will tell her the truth. Even her closest friend.

Hustle's personal Harlem was sorely in need of a renaissance. For him, it was the place where a scared kid named Eric Samson had been ditched by druggy parents and dismissed by frustrated teachers. Abandoned to the streets to raise himself, Eric Samson knows life won't be easy, beginning with the choices he must make. The fast cash of the streets still tempts him, but the threat of getting locked up – again – is daunting. Maybe Eric's way out is as Harlem Hustle, the rapper he dreams of being. At his side is Manley "Ride" Freeman, surrogate brother and best friend. And Jeannette Simpson, the college-bound "round-the-way" girl he hopes will be more than a friend. But does Eric have the strength to leave the familiar street life behind and the courage to reach for his dream?In her companion to Brother Hood, Janet McDonald once again captures the rhythms of Harlem in this fast, funny story of a restless teenager who uses the power of words to rise above it all.

The Washington sisters make good in the 'hoodIt may have taken them an extra year or two to do it, but the Washington sisters finally graduated high school, and this definitely calls for a celebration. But after the party ends, then what? The girls have no plans. Unlike their smart best friend Raven Jefferson, who's away at college, and their nerdy best friend Toya Larson, who's in computer training, and their overall best friend Aisha Ingram, who's rocking in TV commercials, Keeba and Teesha are still hanging out on neighborhood benches as if nothing's changed. Then an older friend convinces the sisters that they, too, have a skill – braiding hair – and why not make a business of it? With a loan from Aisha, the Washingtons open TeeKee's Tresses in a rented storefront, and the future looks pretty solid . . . that is, until a rival's jealousy, a landlord's greed, and a politician's scheme turn the sisters' world upside down. Janet McDonald introduces readers to two sisters who discover that all you have to do is stick together to handle life's many twists and turns.Twists and Turns is a 2004 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Lord Morgan Gallager has never been challenged like this before. When his son Lucian starts to show signs of a destiny he would never wish upon him, his past decisions and future plans come back into his face full force, in the form of an old enemy...If you enjoyed this, read some more of the Tales of Terrara Vikos short story saga:Cross Of Faith (#1)Trees In The Storm (#2)Warped Destinies (#4)The Protektor's Reality: A Trials of Terrara Vikos prequel novel - Now Available!

At seven years of age, Lucian Gallager is very mature for his age. Among the struggles with his budding crush on his tomboyish friend and his mother's disappearance, he must learn what it means to be strong for others, but also learn how to let others be strong for him.Enjoy this and the rest of the Tales of Terrara Vikos short story series:Cross Of Faith (#1)Blood on a Broken Hand (#3)Warped Destinies (#4)The Protektor's Reality: A Trials of Terrara Vikos prequel novel - Now Available!

It has been a good few years since Lucian had learned that he was the Protektor, one of the members of the foretelling known as the Profecia. After an argument with his father, he storms off. This escape soon turns even more sour, when Lucian gets dragged into an organization known as MonReneix. Sensing the evil Seeker's energy nearby and seeing the poor depressed children being held captive, Lucian makes his decision to stay there, undercover, and try to learn more about this organization.However, when the leader sets his eyes on 'recruiting' Kimberly, the love of Lucian's young life, he must learn to embrace the Protektor within and send the Seeker a message:You mess with my life, and you will pay.Account #4 of the Tales of Terrara Vikos story saga.Prior stories in this saga:Cross of Faith (#1)Trees in the Storm (#2)Blood on a Broken Hand (#3)The Protektor's Reality: A Trials of Terrara Vikos prequel novel - Now Available!

Hustle's personal Harlem was sorely in need of a renaissance. For him, it was the place where a scared kid named Eric Samson had been ditched by druggy parents and dismissed by frustrated teachers. Abandoned to the streets to raise himself, Eric Samson knows life won't be easy, beginning with the choices he must make. The fast cash of the streets still tempts him, but the threat of getting locked up – again – is daunting. Maybe Eric's way out is as Harlem Hustle, the rapper he dreams of being. At his side is Manley "Ride" Freeman, surrogate brother and best friend. And Jeannette Simpson, the college-bound "round-the-way" girl he hopes will be more than a friend. But does Eric have the strength to leave the familiar street life behind and the courage to reach for his dream?In her companion to Brother Hood, Janet McDonald once again captures the rhythms of Harlem in this fast, funny story of a restless teenager who uses the power of words to rise above it all.