Books with author Lea Hernandez

After global warming and a second civil war devastated the former United States, two different societies rose from the ashes – the Union, a towering high-tech utopia, hugging the perimeter of the continent, and the devastated, untamed midsection known as the Ruins.Seventeen-year-old Evan Taylor has an easy, privileged life in the Union. What she doesn’t have is any idea what to do with the rest of her life. She only knows she wants to do something meaningful, to make a difference in the lives of others.When she’s kidnapped and taken into the Ruins as a pawn in a dispute involving her boyfriend, Bryce, her ideal world is turned upside down. What she learns while in the Ruins shakes her faith in everything she’s ever known, from Bryce, to her family, and even the Union itself.Now Evan must choose whether to stay with Cyrus, the sexy, resourceful survivor who believes she’s in the Ruins for a reason, or return to the only life she’s ever known. But when she stumbles upon a dangerous plot that threatens both worlds, her decision could tear her apart.

Give young people a chance, and they will give a good account for themselves. Those are the words of Father Edward J. Flanagan who opened his Home for Boys on December 12, 1917, in Omaha, Nebraska. It later became known as Boys Town, and grew to be far more than a simple home for orphans. Father Flanagan transformed America's child care system, doing away with the reform schools, orphanages and workhouses, and replacing them with communities of homes where troubled kids could grow up as part of a loving family. A century after Boys Town's founding, this first-of-its-kind book for children channels the defining principles of Father Flanagan, encouraging children to reflect on their blessings and challenging them to find their purpose as they lead lives of compassion. Beautifully illustrated, the text echoes the words of Father Flanagan, presented in his quotes under each historically informed image. The title "Dearest Children" pays homage to the beloved priest, borrowing the very way he addressed the children in his care. Collaborating with the Boys Town Hall of history and experts in the Boys Town Model of Care, author and illustrator Eli Hernandez has captured Father Flanagan's true character and made his most valuable wisdom accessible to the youngest of readers. Following the text, parents will find interactive activities and discussion topics to share with children.

What does the story of mental illness look like? Where does it start? There are volumes of books published by and for the medical community on this topic but what about the families that live with it everyday? We may wish someone "good health" and a long life on special occasions such as weddings or a graduation ceremony, but what do we define as good health. Is it just being free of physical injury or anyone of the many diseases that can come upon a person without warning. What about a mental illness? What does that look like? Where does it come from? There are no "get well soon" cards for people and families plagued by mental illness. There is confusion, stigma,judgement and misinformation. In the book, "Music in his Heart" we get a first hand account, as told by his mother, of a young man's journey to recognize and cope with the onset of a mental disorder. We see the impact that this has on the family and how society deals with someone with mental disorders. "Music in his Heart" is an attempt to reach out to the many families and individuals living with mental disorders to say that "you are not alone". The author is just one person, one Mother, one advocate for a loved one with mental disorders but she knows there a many traveling down the same path. "Music in his Heart" is an encouragement to those that feel they are walking this path alone. You are NOT alone!

Fighting back is twice as hard when battling on two fronts.Living in an encampment in the Ruins, life is harsh for most Unis in the Resistance, but for Cyrus and the other Ruins survivors, it's just more of the same. While training for their ultimate mission to take down the Uprising, tragedy strikes, turning Evan's and Cyrus's world upside down. Before they can recover, they discover someone in their ranks is working against them.Facing tougher odds than they ever imagined, the group realizes the only hope they have of saving the world they know is to find help. When no one is above suspicion, even accomplishing everyday tasks is fraught with danger, but seeking out reinforcements could mean the end of the Resistance and all of them along with it.

Nearly 30 years ago, the PEACE Project rose from the ruins of a global war to take power over a new America. Providing stability in exchange for absolute authority, the Project controls every aspect of citizens' lives through each of its five units:ProtectEnforceAdvanceControlEliminateRaised in the Project since infancy, eighteen-year-old Zira has been trained as an assassin under the stern guidance of unit E-2's Chairman Ryku. After she makes a careless mistake on an assignment, the chairman partners her with Jared, the best operative in her unit. Their partnership transforms into friendship as they work together and learn to rely on each other. But when misinformation causes a solo mission to backfire, Zira's deepest loyalties and strongest relationships are tested in a place where even a hint of doubt can be perceived as treason.The life she knows is falling apart, and nothing will ever look the same again.

When the titan demigod Odio seeks to return to the world and unleash world-ending havoc, Alexandros ventures off with his allies on a grand quest to defeat their enemy and restore hope for the future. But if Alexandros’ band of brave warriors is to save the world they must engage in a perilous journey before an epic battle decides their fate. Imagination and suspense reign supreme as author A. C. Hernandez returns to a magical land populated by mythical creatures and legendary heroes in another spine tingling adventure with the fate of the world resting on his hero’s shoulders.Three titan brothers, imprisoned for almost three hundred years for the inadvertent murder of their fourth brother, miraculously escape from the underworld and return to a much different world. One thing, however, remains the same: something evil is happening, and they don’t know what it is. Soon, however, it is clear that Odio, the titan demigod, has decided to return to destroy the world. The wizard Alistair, who rescues the titans from the demonic grim reapers, seeks out his friend and fierce warrior, Belen Alexandros. Together they set out with their allies and the titan brothers on a quest to defeat the evil Odio. Along the way they encounter fairies, unicorns, the vampire queen, and Alexandros is reunited with Lucinda, the beautiful mermaid. But the desperate struggle for power eventually leads them to the underworld, where an epic battle leaves life and death hanging in the balance. Taking his mythology one step further, Hernandez’s second installment of Belen Alexandros’ epic journey explores the nature of friendship, loyalty, and respect for all living things. His felicity for the epic quest narrative is extraordinary, carefully and expertly balancing adventure and danger with camaraderie and passion. The second in an uncommonly brilliant fantasy series, The Legend of Alexandros: Titans of Chaos is extraordinary quest filled with excitement and almost unbearable suspense.

Thirteen-year-old Ryan Ghouls is just your typical grave ghoul—except for the fact that he recently saved his town from a soured lot of vampires and their brainwashing soda. These days, however, he’s just waiting for the release of the latest game console with his best friend Kyle, a spunky flannel-wearing werewolf.Shortly after Ryan and Kyle arrive at the mayor’s castle to play on the Typhoonazie Games-Sphere 3000 with their monster friends, a strange explosion interrupts their gaming. What appears to be a harmless mistake—a side effect from a spell by the Spooktacular Sisters—soon turns into a string of magical disasters.Arrested for their misuse of magic, the sisters are put on trial before a mysterious new judge whose methods spark Ryan’s suspicions. Who is trying to ruin the sisters and why? Can Ryan and his friends get to the bottom of this latest plot to destroy GravesVille before it’s too late?Explore the exciting world of the undead in this spooky fun adventure that makes you wish you were a monster, too.