Books with author Laura L. Sullivan

************************************************************************CLEVER ELODY is the newest short story for kids from acclaimed children's writer Laura L. Sullivan. Clever Elody is loved by a poetic prince. But of course he can't marry her – she's poor, with no dowry. So when the horrid king sends the sensitive young prince away to war, Elody comes up with a plan. Lend me a chicken, she tells the prince. He'd rather shower her with jewels, but Elody knows a magic formula for turning a borrowed chicken into utter happiness.

In 1938, Germany is no place for a half-Jewish girl, so teenage cabaret singer Hannah goes to the grand country estate of Starkers, where she expects to be received as a distant relative. British bombshell Anna is supposed to enter the household as a kitchen maid and spy for her father’s Nazi sympathizer friends. But there’s a mix-up. When Anna is introduced as family and Hannah is banished to the kitchen, the novel erupts into a delightful and suspenseful comedy of errors. Romance, history, and philosophy sparkle and waltz in this brilliant book.

Opening-night jitters are nothing new for seventeen-year-old Phil and her sister Fee, who come from a centuries-old line of stage illusionists. The girls love to dazzle London audiences, but in the aftermath of the Blitz they’re shipped off to the countryside, away from the bombs and Nazis. Phil, however, wants to fight for her country, and when she stumbles upon a hidden college of real magicians led by the devastatingly handsome Arden, all she wants to do is persuade them to help England win the war. She’ll risk anything to give her country a fighting chance, even if it means losing her heart ...or her life.

In an era when the music world thought only Westerners could truly understand Western classical music, Chinese-American cellist Yo-Yo Ma broke barriers and defied expectations. Through his musical skill and exceptional passion, he showed that classical music is for everyone. With mentorships and impromptu street concerts, Yo-Yo Ma has headed programs to bring classical music around the world. This biography uses easy-to-read text, vibrant photographs, engaging sidebars, and fun fact boxes to introduce kids to this barrier-breaking icon.

Today, girls and women seeking a strong role model can find one in an icon more than two thousand years old. She is the Greek goddess Pallas Athena. Born fully formed from the head of Zeus, Athena defied gender roles of the time by being the goddess of strategic war, intelligence, and household crafts. Today, she is a symbol of enduring persistence, determination, and resourcefulness. Through easily accessible text, vibrant images, and fun sidebars and fact boxes, this book introduces readers to the legends surrounding this powerful goddess and shows her continued relevance in the twenty-first century. Young readers will also gain an understanding of women's roles in ancient Greek society, see how Athena paved the way for greater equality, and explore how pop culture elevates her today.

Only a few weeks ago, Meg Morgan and her siblings went to England for the holidays—and found themselves in the middle of a fairy war. Now the war is over, but the battle for control of the fairies has just begun. A mysterious painter named Gwidion appears at the Rookery, ready to give the children art lessons. But his real plans are far more sinister: He means to destroy the Guardian of the Green Hill, the woman who keeps the peace between fairies and humans. Meg knows nothing of the evil artist’s plans, but she is beginning to understand that she might be the only one who can become Guardian when her great-great aunt’s time is over. Yet Meg is just a girl—surely she has plenty of time before she must decide whether she wants to take on such an enormous role. Then someone she loves is stolen by fairies, and no one but Meg can get him back. . . .