Books with author Michael Sporn

A mixed-race girl must grow up quickly when danger threatens her world Rosalie's biggest problem used to be her own divided feelings. The constant tug-of-war between her white half and her Native American half is hard. She even has two names: Rosalie when she's at the fort with her father and Last Child when she's in the village with her mother. But now a steamboat has carried smallpox into Rosalie's world—and the Mandans have no resistance to the disease. Suddenly the name Last Child is all too real. Set during the smallpox epidemic of 1837, this is the powerful story of a mixed-race girl fighting her way into adulthood against all odds.

A mixed-race girl must grow up quickly when danger threatens her world Rosalie’s biggest problem used to be her own divided feelings. The constant tug-of-war between her white half and her Native American half is hard. She even has two names: Rosalie when she’s at the fort with her father and Last Child when she’s in the village with her mother. But now a steamboat has carried smallpox into Rosalie’s world—and the Mandans have no resistance to the disease. Suddenly the name Last Child is all too real. Set during the smallpox epidemic of 1837, this is the powerful story of a mixed-race girl fighting her way into adulthood against all odds.

"Your daddy's in trouble, boy," said the voice. "It's up to you from here, son."A teenage boy walks the Oregon Trail in search of his missing father Has something happened to Daniel's father? The warning might have been just a dream, but Daniel can't take that chance. He leaves Missouri to search for his father along the Oregon Trail. It is 1844 and the West is a wilderness. Trouble lurks all along the Oregon Trail-and trouble finds Daniel right away. One stormy night he barely escapes being shot by a horse thief. To protect himself, Daniel joins a wagon train, where he meets the feisty and outspoken Rosalie. Yet the horse thief returns, and this time he kidnaps Daniel and Rosalie. Can the two of them join forces long enough to escape?

I knelt down by one of the grizzly's tracks. It was larger than my hand where his pads had pushed the mud out wide. I pressed my palm into the hollow of his track and stretched my fingers out to touch his claw marks one by one. My scalp tingled."Sure was a big one, wasn't he?"I spun around and something knocked me flat on my stomach. Before I could roll over, a heavy knee pinned my shoulder to the ground and a hard hand yanked my head back by the hair."It's me again, white boy," breathed Haggard in my ear. "Don't say you're not glad to see me." --From Daniel's Walk"Your daddy's in trouble, boy," said the Voice.Daniel's father is an experienced trapper who knows the Rocky Mountains. So what could have happened to him? Yet Daniel is haunted by the Voice and its message. He decides to leave his home in Missouri to search for his pa.But it is 1844 and the West is a wilderness. Trouble lurks all along the Oregon Trail, and trouble finds Daniel right away. One stormy night he sees a frightening, scar-faced man stealing horses--and the horse thief sees him, too. Daniel barely escapes being shot. He joins a wagon train headed west, but for him there is no safety in numbers. As surely as he knows that his father is in danger, he knows that the scar-faced man will try to kill him again. Slowly Daniel comes to understand that he and his father are not the only ones in danger. There are some who will prosper from the westward expansion, but many more-white and Indian alike-will suffer as their land and their lives are destroyed.

A mixed-race girl must grow up quickly when danger threatens her world Rosalie’s biggest problem used to be her own divided feelings. The constant tug-of-war between her white half and her Native American half is hard. She even has two names: Rosalie when she’s at the fort with her father and Last Child when she’s in the village with her mother. But now a steamboat has carried smallpox into Rosalie’s world—and the Mandans have no resistance to the disease. Suddenly the name Last Child is all too real. Set during the smallpox epidemic of 1837, this is the powerful story of a mixed-race girl fighting her way into adulthood against all odds.

Burma was wild and exotic, with a rich landscape and tempestuous weather. Frank was quickly introduced to the world of rubies abounding in the country, especially the very expensive “Pigeon blood ruby.” However, this beautiful and distant world had a dark side; its villagers were poor, uneducated, and the victims of slave and prostitution ring leaders. While being initiated to the world of weapons and rubies trade, Frank met with a young and very intelligent boy by the name of Phirrot. The boy, who spoke very little English, opened the doors to a culture Frank was dying to discover. But shortly after their meeting, the only Burmese friend Frank had was snatched one night while his village was being burned down. Grabbing the only opportunity, he had to chase after Alex; Frank, with the help of a few willing monks, went on a mission to rescue Phirrot. After a first failed attempt, Frank met with the beautiful Paula (an international investigator for child abuse) and together they were able to rescue the stolen children. Soon after, he was faced by Khun Sa himself who tried to make an example out of Frank by executing the monks who offered to help him. While running away from the general, Frank faced another great challenge; the powerful monsoon rains, which literally drowned him and the kids he was trying to save. The challenges confronting him, forced Frank to face his real enemies buried inside his soul; rooting from his own devastated childhood, with an abusive father who did nothing but bring him down. Frank finally understood that his dedication to saving Phirrot was actually an indirect attempt at saving himself. Fortunately, Frank survived and was approached by Paula’s group who trained and sent him to Brazil where he was about to face the evil men operating the shameful trade. In order to infiltrate the international ring, Frank had to pose as a customer preying on the very same kids he was trying to save. His mission will take him to a “Kill scene” where Frank only had seconds to save two children from a tragic end. The ringleaders now captured, Frank returned to his daughters with the great feeling of having found redemption.