Books with author Laura Ruby

National Book Award finalist Laura Ruby returns with the middle chapter in her epic alternate-history adventure—a journey that will test Tess, Theo, and Jaime and change their lives forever. It was only a few weeks ago that the Biedermann twins, Tess and Theo, along with their friend Jaime Cruz, followed the secrets of the Morningstarrs’ cipher further than anyone had in its century-and a-half history—and destroyed their beloved home in the process.But the Old York Cipher still isn’t solved. The demolition of 354 W. 73rd Street only revealed the next clue in the greatest mystery of the modern world, and if Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to discover what lies at the end of the puzzle laid into the buildings of New York by its brilliant, enigmatic architects, they will need to press on.But doing so could prove even more dangerous than they know. It is clear that the Morningstarr twins marshaled all the strange technology they had spent their lives creating in the construction of the Cipher, and that technology has its own plans for those who pursue it.It's also clear that Tess, Theo, and Jaime are not the only ones on the trail of the treasure. As enemies both known and unknown close in on them from all sides and the very foundations of the city seem to crumble around them, they will have to ask themselves how far they will go to change the unchangeable—and whether the price of knowing the secrets of the Morningstarrs is one they are willing to pay.

Lily Durnin never expected to get sick. Nevertheless, she found herself fighting for her life before she could even make it out of middle school. At a time in her life when she needs her family and friends the most, everyone seems to be too distracted by their own problems. When things take a turn for the worse, her brother, Colin, will have to step up in to save the day...or try to.In the middle of trying to be the person his sister needs him to be, Colin finds himself in the middle of a love triangle, only making things more complicated than ever. At the end of the day, he has to choose between his little sister, Lily, and possibly the love of his life.

"If I really wanted to open up, I'd confess that I really am the liar everyone believes I am." High-school junior Tola Riley has green hair, a nose ring, an attitude problem, and a fondness for fairy tales, which are a great escape from real life. Everyone thinks she's crazy; everyone says so. Everyone except Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. He gets her paintings and lets her hang out in the art room during lonely lunch periods. But then rumors start flying and Tola is suddenly the center of a scandal. The whole town is judging her—even her family. When Mr. Mymer is suspended for what everyone thinks is an affair, she has no choice but to break her silence. Fairy tales won't help her this time . . . so how can she tell the truth? And, more importantly, will anyone believe her?

National Book Award 2019 Finalist!From the author of Printz Medal winner Bone Gap comes the unforgettable story of two young women one living, one dead dealing with loss, desire, and the fragility of the American dream during WWII.When Frankie s mother died and her father left her and her siblings at an orphanage in Chicago, it was supposed to be only temporary just long enough for him to get back on his feet and be able to provide for them once again. That s why Frankie's not prepared for the day that he arrives for his weekend visit with a new woman on his arm and out-of-state train tickets in his pocket.Now Frankie and her sister, Toni, are abandoned alongside so many other orphans two young, unwanted women doing everything they can to survive.And as the embers of the Great Depression are kindled into the fires of World War II, and the shadows of injustice, poverty, and death walk the streets in broad daylight, it will be up to Frankie to find something worth holding on to in the ruins of this shattered America every minute of every day spent wondering if the life she's able to carve out will be enough.I will admit I do not know the answer. But I will be watching, waiting to find out.That s what ghosts do.

Second part of the wildly imaginative fantasy set in a New York where people can fly and the daughter of the richest man in the universe can make herself invisible! It's six months since the end of the Invisible Girl, and Gurl, AKA Georgie, is attending a posh girls school that she hates, and hardly speaking to Bug, who seems to be too busy making adverts and endorsements to see his old friend. But when a giant octopus appears in the Hudson and a giant sloth kidnaps a squealing heiress and takes her to the top of the Empire State Building, our two unlikely heroes realise that something very strange is going on. Could it have something to do with the pen that can think for itself? Where's the Professor when you need him? And who is the artist punk they call the Chaos King?

In a city filled with wonders, one girl can do the most wonderful thing of all. Georgie is special. Not only is she the one person who can disappear at will, but since she found her parents, she's become The Richest Girl in the Universe. She may be special, but is she lucky? Her parents have forbidden her to vanish, her new school is full of snooty heiresses, she's had a growth spurt that makes her as graceful as a grizzly, and her best friend in the world, a belligerent boy named Bug, seems to have abandoned her. But adventure is just around the corner, as a madman who calls himself The Chaos King has Georgie and Bug in his sights. In their efforts to save themselves from his insane plans, Georgie and Bug discover some of the amazing secrets of the city they love. Their journey will lead them to confront a pack of blasé vampires, a living lion of stone, a disgruntled teenage poet, a candy-loving sloth, The Second Richest Girl in the Universe, a fussy man named Mr. Fuss, and finally, the brink of the unimaginable. . . .

[Read by Adam Verner]National Book Award finalist Laura Ruby returns with the middle chapter in her epic alternate-history adventure -- a journey that will test Tess, Theo, and Jaime and change their lives forever. It was only a few weeks ago that the Biedermann twins, Tess and Theo, along with their friend Jaime Cruz, followed the secrets of the Morningstarrs' cipher further than anyone had in its century-and a-half history -- and destroyed their beloved home in the process.But the Old York Cipher still isn't solved. The demolition of 354 W. 73rd Street only revealed the next clue in the greatest mystery of the modern world, and if Tess, Theo, and Jaime want to discover what lies at the end of the puzzle laid into the buildings of New York by its brilliant, enigmatic architects, they will need to press on.But doing so could prove even more dangerous than they know. It is clear that the Morningstarr twins marshaled all the strange technology they had spent their lives creating in the construction of the Cipher, and that technology has its own plans for those who pursue it.It's also clear that Tess, Theo, and Jaime are not the only ones on the trail of the treasure. As enemies both known and unknown close in on them from all sides and the very foundations of the city seem to crumble around them, they will have to ask themselves how far they will go to change the unchangeable -- and whether the price of knowing the secrets of the Morningstarrs is one they are willing to pay.

"If I really wanted to open up, I'd confess that I really am the liar everyone believes I am." Everyone thinks Tola Riley is crazy. Everyone except Mr. Mymer, her art teacher. He doesn't care about her green hair, or nose ring—and he gets her paintings and lets her hang out in the art room during lonely lunch periods. Although Tola likes to keep to herself, when rumors start flying about an affair between her and Mr. Mymer, she is suddenly at the center of a scandal. The whole town is judging her—even her family. When Mr. Mymer is suspended, she has no choice but to break her silence. The question is, will anyone believe her?