Books with author Jennifer Riska

Fourteen-year-old Nathaniel Clark lives in two worlds—the outside world of his family and friends and his own, special, inside Aspie world, where he’s not forced to interact with people or worry about wearing his clothes right-side out. The world where he can solve mathematical problems that elude even the brightest graduate students. The world where he feels he can find his own inner truth. People say he’s a genius, but Nathaniel thinks differently. According to a book he once read, a true genius uses his talent to make a contribution to the world. Nathaniel takes the definition literally, and begins his quest for genius status. "I will start, right after I wash the chocolate off my face. If I want to be seen as a genius, I should not look like an idiot." Nathaniel has a sky-high IQ and perfect SAT scores, but Jennifer Roy and her husband, Greg, have a remarkable 8-year-old son, Adam, who not only inspired the character of Nathaniel Clark, but also created the "Amazing Race" charts and the narrative at the back of MindBlind.

In a universe that stretches across billions of light years, can Earth really be the only home of intelligent life? This book avoids the sensationalism often attached to discussions about UFOs and aliens. Instead, science is coupled with historical information and firsthand sightings to teach students about responsible research, evaluation of sources, and critical thinking, even when confronted with mysterious topics.

Kessen's Kronikles is not just another story about a fun-loving and adventurous dog. Saying that would short change the dog since he, himself, is the story teller. His name is Kessen, and his story is told as only he can tell it. It begins with a cross country trip meant for fun and enjoyment that is suddenly interrupted by a life threatening accident. In the critical moments following the crash, Kessen's life flashes before his eyes, and he finds himself reliving his puppy days, the pain of separation from his canine family, and his transition to a new life. Through the love of his new family and friends, he's able to say goodbye to his former life and hello to acceptance and eventual enjoyment of his fate. While events and experiences alter his previous destiny as an assistance dog, he eventually finds himself on a cross country journey back to his roots... and to the crucial moments following the accident. During those moments, Kessen explores not only how his past was lived, but if he survives, what his life will mean to him in the future.

Since the beginning of time, man has questioned his world. Why are we here? Who created the universe? What is really in that burger chain's secret sauce? In this tongue in cheek classic, Jennifer Ritter answers another of life's tough questions: how to tell the difference between a zombie and the cable repair guy. Complete with color graphics, How to tell the difference between a zombie and the cable repair guy seeks to finally resolve how to identify sombies portraying cable repair specialists and how to defeat the zombie-impersonating-cable-guy menace.

Lumbering on the heels of How to tell the difference between a zombie and the cable repair guy is Jennifer Ritter's latest work: Is that a mummy at the drive-thru? Based on quirky speculation and a lot of free time, Is that a mummy at the drive-thru? proves nothing is what it seems, and pokes fun at the idea with a scarab-stick. Filled with original illustrations by the author, this charming sequel will keep both children and the childish giggling during that long wait between decisions of whether you want fries with your order. Pick it up today!