Books with author Lisa Samson

Linus and Julia Easterday find themselves in the strangest situations. Repeatedly. And it’s their own fault. “How many other kids our age have Natty Bumpo living in their attic?” Linus complains. And yet, how many other twelve-year-olds know Quasimodo and the Count of Monte Cristo personally? It all began when Linus and Julia, fraternal twins, moved in with their Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus after their lepidopterologist parents journeyed to the newly discovered island of Stu (named after it’s discoverer, Stu Cranston, of Hohocus, New Jersey) for at least five years to study never-before-seen butterflies. Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus Sandwich run an antiquarian bookshop. Seven Hills Rare Books attracts customers as eccentric as its owners. (If Aunt Portia, who wears a tiara in her fuzzy, apricot colored hair, thick glasses and cowboy boots, can be considered eccentric. We won’t get into Uncle Augustus. He does, however, drink a lot of tea, eat a lot of sandwiches, and tends to talk with Jesus at any time – even if you happen to be standing in front of him.) Seven Hills, housed in a three story stone townhouse, was once a magic shop owned by second-rate magician Harvey Blackstone. What most people who inhabited Rickshaw Street didn’t know was that behind the dusty front window arranged with faded top hats, dusty wands, and scattered cards, Harvey Blackstone conjured up something truly magical. So magical he disappeared one night. About a month after the children moved in with their relatives, they discovered Harvey’s magic laboratory through a hidden door in the closet of the back bedroom of the third floor. A circle had been burned into the middle of the scarred wooden floor. As it happened, Julia decided to read up there one night when she couldn’t sleep. She’d reclined on the couch and fell asleep while reading her Bible and occasionally sneaking a peek at a novel. As happens sometimes, her arm flopped to the side and her book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dropped onto the floor. At 12:03 a.m., the circle began to glow, then pop and hiss and spark like fireworks. Julia woke with a start. At 12:05 a.m. the sparks settled down and there sat Quasimodo and my goodness, he wasn’t happy at all. Or perhaps he was simply scared to death as he had not yet gotten out of his bell tower and suddenly, poof, there he is in the twenty-first century. How long the visitor stays depends on how fast Julia can read the book, cover to cover. If it’s a doozie like Les Miserables, matters can get quite sticky, and believe you me even the shorter books give the twins a great deal of trouble. Imagine having the Frankenstein monster around even for just a day. The bulk of the story is the children’s: how they deal with a raging sea captain in present day, how they manage to get a hunchbacked recluse into the sunshine or a babbling Danish prince to the psychiatrist – and what lessons they take into life.

“Once upon a time, many years ago, when true love walked hand in hand with kisses and promises, and decisions were made to last forever, two girls received a summons to appear before the governor.…” So begins the story of two sisters in a long-ago land who are presented with a precious gift. The governor wants the young women to protect and care for this gift until the return of his son, the prince of the land. Upon the prince’s return, one sister will be chosen to serve the prince according to how the gift was cared for–and both sisters will be surprised by what the prince wants to offer the one who best cherishes the gift.The young women have dreams of being happy and loved. But how they see the gift–and themselves–will determine how that gift is treasured and what will remain of their dreams.Apples of Gold is a powerful parable about the beauty of sexual purity and the prize that awaits those who are committed to the keeping of such a gift.

“Once upon a time, many years ago, when true love walked hand in hand with kisses and promises, and decisions were made to last forever, two girls received a summons to appear before the governor.…” So begins the story of two sisters in a long-ago land who are presented with a precious gift. The governor wants the young women to protect and care for this gift until the return of his son, the prince of the land. Upon the prince’s return, one sister will be chosen to serve the prince according to how the gift was cared for–and both sisters will be surprised by what the prince wants to offer the one who best cherishes the gift.The young women have dreams of being happy and loved. But how they see the gift–and themselves–will determine how that gift is treasured and what will remain of their dreams.Apples of Gold is a powerful parable about the beauty of sexual purity and the prize that awaits those who are committed to the keeping of such a gift.

It all started with her Uncle’s upcoming Chivalry and Romance and Loads of Frippery and Finery party…Madrigal Pierce’s greedy brother Johann has returned to The Pierce School For Young People. He owns half the mansion and plans to sell it. Fortunately, Ophelia has been reading The Three Musketeers, and Linus, Ophelia, and Walter decide D’Artagnan could rescue the school from his wily ways and keep their best friend Walter from going back to England. Their plan goes horribly awry―again―when the evil Lady DeWinter appears instead. Can D’Artagnan and the Three Musketeers save the day? Or is the school and the trio’s friendship doomed! A fantasy steeped in classic literature…narrator Bartholomew Inkster brings Lemony Snicket–like irony to frame the story.…References to literature throughout the narrative make this a feast for middlegrade book lovers. Kids who like quirky adventure stories with idiosyncratic characters will enjoy a simpler kind of fun. – Publishers Weekly

Excerpt from Sam Johnson: The Experience and Observations of a Railroad Telegraph OperatorThis book has been written for a two-fold purpose. First, to give the public an insight into the social life of railroaders; a near view of the daily and nightly workings of the busy bees that manipulate the two greatest modern agents of civilization - electricity and steam. It is hoped that the panorama here presented will lead to a better understanding of the duties and responsibilities of railroaders, and to a corresponding appreciation of their arduous labors while promoting the safety and comfort of the travelling public.Secondly, I believe, with Charles Lamb, that a laugh is worth a hundred groans in any market; and with Carlyle, that no man who has once heartily and wholly laughed, can be altogether irreclaimably bad; and also with Addison, who charmingly says: "If we consider the frequent reliefs we receive from laughter, and how often it breaks the gloom which is apt to depress the mind, one would take care not to grow too wise for so great a pleasure of life."Holding to these views, I have endeavored to cull from the inexhaustible fund of Sam Johnson's experience and observations those incidents of actual occurrence which, while illustrating some particular phase of rail-road life, shall also excite laughter and good feeling.I have not spared the railroader at the expense of truth; neither have I bestowed upon him unmerited commendation. I have simply striven to hold him up before the public mirror, that the people may see him as he is seen by his fellows.About the PublisherForgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com

Linus and Julia Easterday find themselves in the strangest situations. Repeatedly. And it’s their own fault. “How many other kids our age have Natty Bumpo living in their attic?” Linus complains. And yet, how many other twelve-year-olds know Quasimodo and the Count of Monte Cristo personally? It all began when Linus and Julia, fraternal twins, moved in with their Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus after their lepidopterologist parents journeyed to the newly discovered island of Stu (named after it’s discoverer, Stu Cranston, of Hohocus, New Jersey) for at least five years to study never-before-seen butterflies. Aunt Portia and Uncle Augustus Sandwich run an antiquarian bookshop. Seven Hills Rare Books attracts customers as eccentric as its owners. (If Aunt Portia, who wears a tiara in her fuzzy, apricot colored hair, thick glasses and cowboy boots, can be considered eccentric. We won’t get into Uncle Augustus. He does, however, drink a lot of tea, eat a lot of sandwiches, and tends to talk with Jesus at any time – even if you happen to be standing in front of him.) Seven Hills, housed in a three story stone townhouse, was once a magic shop owned by second-rate magician Harvey Blackstone. What most people who inhabited Rickshaw Street didn’t know was that behind the dusty front window arranged with faded top hats, dusty wands, and scattered cards, Harvey Blackstone conjured up something truly magical. So magical he disappeared one night. About a month after the children moved in with their relatives, they discovered Harvey’s magic laboratory through a hidden door in the closet of the back bedroom of the third floor. A circle had been burned into the middle of the scarred wooden floor. As it happened, Julia decided to read up there one night when she couldn’t sleep. She’d reclined on the couch and fell asleep while reading her Bible and occasionally sneaking a peek at a novel. As happens sometimes, her arm flopped to the side and her book, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, dropped onto the floor. At 12:03 a.m., the circle began to glow, then pop and hiss and spark like fireworks. Julia woke with a start. At 12:05 a.m. the sparks settled down and there sat Quasimodo and my goodness, he wasn’t happy at all. Or perhaps he was simply scared to death as he had not yet gotten out of his bell tower and suddenly, poof, there he is in the twenty-first century. How long the visitor stays depends on how fast Julia can read the book, cover to cover. If it’s a doozie like Les Miserables, matters can get quite sticky, and believe you me even the shorter books give the twins a great deal of trouble. Imagine having the Frankenstein monster around even for just a day. The bulk of the story is the children’s: how they deal with a raging sea captain in present day, how they manage to get a hunchbacked recluse into the sunshine or a babbling Danish prince to the psychiatrist – and what lessons they take into life.

There’s no one under the sun like Tom Sawyer!Preparations are underway for the monthly party, “Bare Feet and a Straw Hat Never Hurt anybody, an evening with Mark Twain.” The gang agrees that Tom Sawyer should be brought into the Real World. He’d be a refreshing change after Captain Ahab and Lady D’ Winter—much easier to handle. However, upon arrival, Tom immediately picks a fight with Walter, falls in love with Ophelia, and continuously attempts to one-up Linus. When Ophelia is kidnapped, Tom is determined to save her, just like he did with Becky Thatcher. But the clock is ticking…Praise for the series“A Fantasy steeped in classic literature … narrator Bartholomew Inkster brings Lemony Snicket-like irony to frame the story…. References to literature throughout make this a feast for middle-grade book lovers. Kids who like quirky adventure stories with idiosyncratic characters will enjoy a simpler kind of fun.”—Publishers WeeklyPraise for Saving Moby Dick“… Generously infused with animating elements of mystery, romance and comedy—plus a particularly lively and diverse supporting cast of frown-ups.”—Kirkus

“Once upon a time, many years ago, when true love walked hand in hand with kisses and promises, and decisions were made to last forever, two girls received a summons to appear before the governor.…” So begins the story of two sisters in a long-ago land who are presented with a precious gift. The governor wants the young women to protect and care for this gift until the return of his son, the prince of the land. Upon the prince’s return, one sister will be chosen to serve the prince according to how the gift was cared for–and both sisters will be surprised by what the prince wants to offer the one who best cherishes the gift.The young women have dreams of being happy and loved. But how they see the gift–and themselves–will determine how that gift is treasured and what will remain of their dreams.Apples of Gold is a powerful parable about the beauty of sexual purity and the prize that awaits those who are committed to the keeping of such a gift.

This Character Could Be One Whale of a ProblemIn Saving Moby Dick, Linus, Ophelia, and their friend Walter think they can control the powers of the Enchanted Attic, and they plan to bring Captain Ahab from Book World into Real World—on their own terms. But even the best-laid plans go awry sometimes, and their adventures take a wild turn. Captain Ahab is far crazier than they realized, and bookstores aren’t really the best places to find whales, white or otherwise.