Books with author Richard Switzer

The Elves had once dwelled within the dark of the Bamboo Forest, but the dangers of the Sand Crawlers had forced them out onto the Golden Beach, where for the first time, the Elves saw the light of the Sun God. And now in the light, they called themselves Sun Elves. And as the Sun God decreed, the Elf boy Luca was crowned on his thirteenth birthday as King of the Elves.From the very day of his Birth Ritual, young Luca was destined for an extraordinary existence. His very name meant, "He Who Brings Forth The Light."But being crowned king brought with it many strange things, a series of adventures and many characters, including mermaids, a ghost, man-eating plants, fairies and dragons, a cyborg and mad doctor."Crown of the Sand Castle King" is an original Young Adult Fantasy novel set on a distant planet, many lights years away, in the Age of Dreaming, where wishes often come true.

A Booklist Editors’ Choice and a Society of School Librarians International (SSLI) Honor Book Street gangs have exploded worldwide. Tattoos, baggy pants, tagging, gangsta style, the unspoken threat -- it's all just around the corner in most of the world's major cities. From the streets of Los Angeles to the shantytowns of Cape Town, hundreds of thousands of "at risk" youth are deciding whether they should join their local gang. Violence, guns, the drug trade, racism, poverty, families under pressure and ever-widening slums all provide a witch's brew in which the youth gang tempts young males and females with a sense of identity and belonging that their world has denied them. Gangs exposes the roots of the problem as it moves from the banlieues of France to the favelas of Brazil. It offers a startling analysis of the complicity of the official adult world and some controversial ideas for reforms that might just undermine the appeal of gang life. For many of the world's young -- especially those who are poor -- joining a gang is a real career choice. It is a choice that can be as deadly for young gangsters as for their victims. Richard Swift shows us that we fail to understand gangs at our peril.

‘Mark does Marseilles’ tells the story of Mark as a ‘70s schoolboy, running away from his home in a terraced house in a small town in the midlands. Hitch-hiking across France and then returning back to England with his friend Andy.<< ...He decided right then that it was time to leave home. Decided that he was going to go all the way to Marseilles. It wasn't a clear plan, just a destination, one that promised a new life away from petty concerns like ripped school uniforms. >>Who is Mark?As well as being a handy car mechanic, Mark has the ingenuity to turn his hand to solving all sorts of problems. He is open and straightforward and – being a bit soft-hearted – has a habit of getting himself into trouble.Mark grew up in a terraced house in a small town in the midlands, his adventures include living in London and travelling around the world.Mark the Spanner is a creative writing project. Inspired by people I've met and loosely based on experiences and real-life anecdotes. The Spanner stories feature pivotal moments from Mark's life.

Street gangs have exploded in popularity worldwide. Tattoos, baggy pants, tagging, gangsta style clothes — this unspoken threat is always just around the corner in most of the world's major cities. In search of a sense of identity and belonging that their world has denied them, young people are pushed into gangs by a witch’s brew of violence, guns, drugs, racism, poverty, families under pressure, and ever-widening slums. Gangs exposes the roots of the problem, from the bidonvilles of France to the favelas of Brazil. It offers a startling analysis of the complicity of the adult world, as well as hard-hitting reforms that might just undermine the appeal of gang life. Most of all, it shows that we fail to understand gangs at our peril.

Street gangs have exploded in popularity worldwide. Tattoos, baggy pants, tagging, gangsta style clothes — this unspoken threat is always just around the corner in most of the world's major cities. In search of a sense of identity and belonging that their world has denied them, young people are pushed into gangs by a witch’s brew of violence, guns, drugs, racism, poverty, families under pressure, and ever-widening slums. Gangs exposes the roots of the problem, from the bidonvilles of France to the favelas of Brazil. It offers a startling analysis of the complicity of the adult world, as well as hard-hitting reforms that might just undermine the appeal of gang life. Most of all, it shows that we fail to understand gangs at our peril.

Collection of children's stories. Now and Then: "Once upon a space there was a time, a cute little time. Her name was Now. Her father was Yesterday, and her mother was Tomorrow..." Julie's Book the Little Princess: "... here she was, an ordinary princess with a mother who loved her, and she was never miserable, and Prince Charming would never come to rescue her... unless she made herself miserable." Mary Jane's Book: "... everything she just loved turned into a car, all the animals that is; and Mary Jane just loved all sorts of animals." The Little Oops Named Ker Plop: "Once beneath a space there was an oops named Ker Plop. She had fallen all the way down through that vast empty space and had landed in the middle of nowhere."

Five books aimed at children 9-12 years old, which can also be enjoyed by adults. (The Lizard in particular can be read on many levels). These books are presented on CD-ROM with text, audio narration (by the author), and illustrations (for The Lizard and Now and Then). Requires: Windows PC, Web browser, and RealPlayer. Includes: The Lizard of Oz Now and Then and Other Tales from Ome Hundreds and Hundreds of Gerbils Tiger in the Intercom See You Later, Elevator