Books with author Melissa Cole

A Gossamer Sphere Novel.Like many refugees who fled their homes during the Cataclysm, Tainie Strauss is starting over. No friends, no money, new school--a tough combination for any sixteen-year-old, much less an awkward, unattractive girl whose mother believes in fairies. Tainie is pragmatic about her life until she starts imagining she can read people’s minds. The day her face temporarily changes shape seemingly of its own volition, she can only conclude she’s gone crazy. But her mother has a different theory: during a ceremony to stop the Cataclysm, Tainie was exposed to a secret catalyst that can turn an ordinary descendant of the Folk into a shapeshifter. For the first time in her miserable life, Tainie can be someone else--anyone else. Soon her beautiful alter-ego Tory is attracting the attention of one of the best-looking boys in school. But Tainie barely has time to enjoy her newfound ability before covert agents bent on obtaining the knowledge of how to create an army of shapeshifters threaten her whole world.

Hidden City of Alchemy is a Steampunk adventure injected with just the right amount of science fiction, romance, and historical fiction, to keep the reader on their toes. A smart and brave heroine with a love for inventing discovers a dangerous family secret in a diary after her mother is kidnapped by German spies. Lizzie must leave London and travel to France while learning the shocking truth about her ancestor and about a chemical which could destroy the world, if it should fall into the wrong hands.AU UPDATE 2.28.2020:“An exciting ride through a steampunk world filled with adventure.Surprises around every corner!” - Madolyn Locke, award-winningauthor of ‘The Quilt’Stand-alone steampunk tale from Melissa Coleman 5-star readers favourite award-winning author of A Confabulated Compendium of Anecdotes and The Halfling. Young English woman, Elizabeth Peters has a ski-sloped nose, a hereditary defect from her father’s side. But what is distinguishable about her is her intelligence. She’d rather spend her time inventing gadgets, redesigning engineering contraptions and doing word puzzles than becoming a respectable housewife as her mother wishes.Elizabeth’s world is turned upside down one evening when she arrives home to find the house has been ransacked and her mother missing from her basement workshop – presumably kidnapped by German spies.After sifting through the wreckage, she discovers a dangerous family secret in a peculiar-looking cryptic diary, a strange talking ring and a French man - Albert Bourdillon.Lizzie must leave London and travel to France while learning the shocking truth about the owner of the diary and about a chemical which could destroy the world, if it should fall into the wrong hands.A chemical threat so lethal it could destroy herself, the people she loves and the world. Hidden City of Alchemy is a Steampunk adventure injected with just the right amount of science fiction, romance, and historical fiction, to keep the reader on their toes.

Penelope's poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it up. Penelope likes to sew . . . but this is a big job. Penelope struggles, but with a little help from her mama, she gets the job done.Doll-maker Melissa Conroy makes her picture-book debut with a friendly and off-beat cast of doll characters, featured in artwork layered with photographs and illustrations. This charming story is followed by a postscript from Melissa's father, the writer Pat Conroy, which gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and author.

Penelope's Poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it. Penelope likes to sew, but she soon realizes that mending the hole is more complicated than she first thought. Penelope struggles with the challenges and frustrations, but, with a little help from her mama, she finally—and creatively—repairs Poppy’s pants.Poppy’s Pants is about perseverance and problem-solving. Through Penelope’s example youngsters discover the satisfaction of finding solutions on their own, even if the solution is not the way other people might solve it. Sometimes the best solutions come from being creative—using your head and your hands.A postscript written by the author’s father, Pat Conroy, best-selling author of The Great Santini and The Prince of Tides, gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and the author.

Micah Hudson and Jude MacMillian were both lonely teenagers. One the new kid and one the target of relentless bullying, they quickly became friends. But when friendship grew into more, the relationship was too much for either to handle. As their tenuous bond was tested, everything tumbled down, leaving them lonely once again. A decade later, Micah is on the brink of losing his will to live. Beyond exhausted from lying to everyone, including himself, Micah thinks of the one person who knows his deepest secret. Desperate and alone, Micah makes the only decision he feels he has: he must leave. But his need for closure depends on one thing. Can Jude make room in his Unsteady life for Micah once again?

Penelope's poppy always wears khaki pants. When he finds a hole in one pair, he asks Penelope to patch it up. Penelope likes to sew . . . but this is a big job. Penelope struggles, but with a little help from her mama, she gets the job done.Doll-maker Melissa Conroy makes her picture-book debut with a friendly and off-beat cast of doll characters, featured in artwork layered with photographs and illustrations. This charming story is followed by a postscript from Melissa's father, the writer Pat Conroy, which gives a personal, behind-the-scenes description of the book's characters and author.

Rusty’s Grandma Margo is a writer. She and Rusty even write stories together. But when Rusty discovers that Margo sometimes suffers from writer’s block, he worries. What can he do to help her? This unique story tackles an issue that not only affects grown-ups. Kids, too, suffer from writer’s block and are often overwhelmed in their attempts to express themselves.

Roam the world's vast oceans with some of the Earth's most fascinating marine creatures. Stunning color photos capture these animals in their natural surroundings as the text describes each creature's habitat, physical features, and special abilities. Explore the complex communication skills and social lives of these survival specialists, their survival techniques, reproduction, development, and interaction with humans.

Unlike the rest of the world, Kevin, Lizbeth, and Zach aren’t surprised by the arrival of three spaceships from another galaxy. Kevin is the only one with the ability to communicate with the newcomers, and the entire planet is nervously watching. The alien’s intentions seem friendly enough on the surface, but something doesn’t feel right. In this, the final installment of the Gossamer Sphere series, the teens must bring to light their full and awe-inspiring potential to prevent earth’s annihilation.