Books with author Mary James

The Adventures of Tom Sawyer is one of the most thrilling books ever wrote…but it’s also difficult for some younger readers. This book takes the classic novels and retells it for modern readers! Adapted from “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” by Mark Twain, this modern day version will have you flipping pages to find out what happens next! KidLit-O’s newest series helps introduce younger readers to classic works of literature by retelling them as beginning reader chapter books.

What if you and your best friend shared a secret? a secret that threatened everything about your life, and what if you discovered that you shared that secret with two of the most unlikely people? Travis Espinoza and Mary Reeves have walked through the halls of Saint Francis Academy as social outcasts, just as privilaged as their classmates, but unable to fit in. Jessica Trea and Devon Court have always been on the inside, and yet these four teens find themselves drawn to each other by the one thing about themselves that they cannot escape; they're gay, and in their world being gay isn't just unacceptable, it doesn't exist. When a final project forces Travis and Devon together, they start a chain of events that begins to slowly unravel their fragile lives.With the pressures of high school and the dogmatic fundamentalist values of Travis' stepfather and preacher grandfather-as well as the social pressures of their world-the four friends learn that nothing is certain, and the desire to be themselves will take more courage than they ever thought possible. In the end the dark side of religious ideals are revealed; bringing one of them to the very threshold of death's door.

The Extended Project Student Companion covers project management skills, research skills, presentation skills, report writing and includes checklists, questions for mentors and project plans. Everything a student needs for their AQA Extended Project Qualification. Encourages students to develop essential project skills, autonomous study and self-evaluation. Guides students through the project process with plans, questions for mentors and study tips. Assists students in planning project milestones and reviewing project, performance and learning outcomes.

My love and appreciation for nature is rooted in my childhood. Growing up in rural Upstate New York, my life was filled with the wonders of nature. Our house was surrounded by apple and cherry orchards, and my five sisters and I spent countless hours gathering drops and climbing through the branches. Our parents were extremely accommodating when it came to pets! At one time or another, we had dogs, cats, a skunk, raccoons, a pig, a goat, guinea pigs, hamsters, gerbils, a rooster, rabbits, fish, hermit crabs, turtles, and a duck! They were all well-loved members of our family. My husband, Gary, and I, along with our three children, were fortunate to be able to move back to my childhood home. So once again, there were orchards to explore and many pets to love and cherish. When our three granddaughters were born, I wanted to instill in them our family's love of nature. A humorous but educational book with unusual scientific facts about animals seemed a good way for me to do that, and to have their uncle illustrate it made it perfect! I hope that future generations of children will enjoy this book and learn to appreciate the world we live in.

The fantastical story of a lonely eleven-year-old whose parrot takes him on a magical mystery tour of a planet where sleeping is against the lawChester Dumbello’s mom interprets people’s dreams. One day a white, one-eyed parrot flies into the Dream Café. Chester’s mom says that the day something rhymes with orange, they can keep the parrot. Since nothing does, she comes up with the name Lornge, and the parrot becomes the newest member of the Dumbello family. But there’s something odd about Lornge: He never sleeps. (Or as he puts it, “I tell no lies, nor shut my eyes.”)It’s summer, and school’s out—Chester’s favorite time of year because the other kids can’t bother him about his unusual mother. But he feels trapped in a tug of war between his aunt Dolly, who wants Chester to visit, and his mom, who doesn’t want him to go. Then one night, Lornge takes him to the planet Alert, where sleeping is against the law. Chester is adopted by a family named Quick—boasting a mother and a father—and meets all kinds of strange and interesting people. He goes to school, but before long, he is convicted of being a “shuteye” and gets thrown in jail. Suddenly, his home in Lucy, Mississippi, is looking a whole lot better.This is a wildly inventive novel about a boy who yearns to run away—only to discover that there’s no place like home. This ebook features an illustrated personal history of M. E. Kerr including rare images from the author’s collection.