Books with author Rodriguez

A massacre in Boston. A tea party. A shot heard around the world. But who was the first casualty of the massacre? How did the tea get to Boston Harbor? What was the Battle of Concord like for a Minute Man? Colonial Comics: New England, 1750–1775 expands the frame of this important period of American history. Unconventional characters come to life, including gravedigging medical students, counterfeiters, female playwrights, instigators of civil disobedience, newspaper editors, college students, rum traders, freemen, and slaves.

Pacha Riley's family is being threatened, and they must leave Perú and head tosafety in America to live with their Uncle Jamie and Aunt Nina. For one who prefersanonymity, the thought of being the skinny weird kid with the funny name in a new country isnot appealing. One night, there is another sudden attack, and twelve-year-old Pacha and nine-year-old little sister Lucy must escape through the window . . . without Mami and Papi.Pacha begins to realize that there is more going on than protests over the sacred sun diskhis archaeologist parents discovered at Machu Picchu. By the time he and Lucy arrive inAmerica, he has more doubts and questions than hope. But Pacha is aided in his quest by hisTraveller—animal spirit guide—and his Uncle Jamie. Their father's younger brother,Uncle Jamie is nothing like his buttoned-up sibling; he's a jokester, an adventurer . . . and asorcerer?Uncle Jamie takes Pacha into his confidence and reveals a secret: Travellers can taketheir humans to visit past lifetimes. He also shares his suspicions about Tomás de la Vela,a Peruvian art gallery owner, who may or not be connected to the attacks on the Rileys. Whileamazed to learn his uncle's secrets, Pacha does not share his own fears that Aunt Nina may alsobe involved.The stakes are raised when Lucy is kidnapped by de la Vela and Aunt Nina. Searchingfor clues sparks a fire in Pacha, and he is able to overcome his insecurities and find the fightinside himself. He Travels to his past lifetimes as an Inkan emperor and untangles a centuries-old tale of revenge to save both the sacred disk and his little sister.

From the author of the “bighearted . . . inspiring” (Vogue) memoir Kabul Beauty School comes a fiction debut as compelling as real life: the story of a remarkable coffee shop in the heart of Afghanistan, and the men and women who meet there—thrown together by circumstance, bonded by secrets, and united in an extraordinary friendship. After hard luck and some bad choices, Sunny has finally found a place to call home—it just happens to be in the middle of a war zone. The thirty-eight-year-old American’s pride and joy is the Kabul Coffee House, where she brings hospitality to the expatriates, misfits, missionaries, and mercenaries who stroll through its doors. She’s especially grateful that the busy days allow her to forget Tommy, the love of her life, who left her in pursuit of money and adventure. Working alongside Sunny is the maternal Halajan, who vividly recalls the days before the Taliban and now must hide a modern romance from her ultratraditional son—who, unbeknownst to her, is facing his own religious doubts. Into the café come Isabel, a British journalist on the trail of a risky story; Jack, who left his family back home in Michigan to earn “danger pay” as a consultant; and Candace, a wealthy and well-connected American whose desire to help threatens to cloud her judgment. When Yazmina, a young Afghan from a remote village, is kidnapped and left on a city street pregnant and alone, Sunny welcomes her into the café and gives her a home—but Yazmina hides a secret that could put all their lives in jeopardy. As this group of men and women discover that there’s more to one another than meets the eye, they’ll form an unlikely friendship that will change not only their own lives but the lives of an entire country. Brimming with Deborah Rodriguez’s remarkable gift for depicting the nuances of life in Kabul, and filled with vibrant characters that readers will truly care about, A Cup of Friendship is the best kind of fiction—full of heart yet smart and thought-provoking.

By age twelve, Luis Rodriguez was a veteran of East L.A. gang warfare. Lured by a seemingly invincible gang culture, he witnessed countless shootings, beatings, and arrests, then watched with increasing fear as drugs, murder, suicide, and senseless acts of street crime claimed friends and family members. Before long Rodriguez saw a way out of the barrio through education and the power of words, and successfully broke free from years of violence and desperation. Achieving success as an award-winning Chicano poet, he was sure the streets would haunt him no more -- until his young son joined a gang. Rodriguez fought for his child by telling his own story in Always Running, a vivid memoir that explores the motivations of gang life and cautions against the death and destruction that inevitably claim its participants. At times heartbreakingly sad and brutal, Always Running is ultimately an uplifting true story, filled with hope, insight, and a hard-earned lesson for the next generation.

When a white water rafting adventure goes horribly wrong, four teens must brave the wilderness to survive in Stranded in the Wild.Sixteen-year-old Savi Evans came to an adventure camp in Idaho carrying the pain of a recent and tragic loss and a dark family secret. She hopes the wilderness setting, vigorous activities, and some new faces might help take her mind off things back home.At Camp Arrowhead, Savi makes fast friends with Jade Chang and Rico Cruz, but mean and sarcastic Conner Swift is also on their raft.What was supposed to be an exciting expedition turns into a nightmare when their raft slams into a boulder and the adult guide is ejected into the water and disappears downriver. Without their guide and desperately trying to steer an out-of-control raft, the terrified teens pass the "last chance" point of no return and enter the fiercest rapids on the river. After another collision, Jade gets pinned between a rock and the raft, and Rico is also jolted from the float and ends up in the water. Savi has no choice but to cut the raft loose. By the time the teens drag themselves out of the river, they're injured, exhausted, and twenty-five miles from camp.Soon stranded, the foursome is in a remote wilderness with meager provisions. The area is rife with wild animals, snakes, and a vicious flesh-eating predator known as Vexel. Nobody is sure what kind of animal Vexel is because no one who has encountered him has ever survived. Now the disoriented teens must find their way to Camp Arrowhead with the clock ticking and Vexel stalking them. Can they make it over a final hurdle before the dam opens, and crushes their only hope of reaching safety?Stranded in the Wild - A thrilling adventure you won't soon forget!

Yadier Molina is part of a trio of brothers that are taking the baseball world by storm. Yadier, the youngest, might also be the best player. He's one of the best catchers in baseball today. During his decade with the St. Louis Cardinals, Molina has had an impressive career. Base stealers rarely have a chance when Molina is behind the plate! He can catch every ball thrown to him, and he's helped the Cardinals win game after game. Discover how Yadier Molina got so good!

Kara Nightlocke is... different. She doesn't have a super power, she doesn't dress oddly, and she doesn't stand out, but one look in her eyes will set her apart from a crowd. Kara is blind. She's been treated differently since her accident, but at the age of seventeen, she has learned how to live mostly on her own. That doesn't mean her life has been easy however. Her parents got divorced, her two brothers' went away to college, and her mother needs to move around a lot to find work. As if being the new student isn't hard enough, being the blind kid is nearly impossible. In yet another new school Kara expects the same old treatment until she meets Daniel. Danny tries to treat her like she belongs, although she doesn't understand why until finally she finds out the secret he's been hiding. After so many years, that one secret will help her change not only her perception of herself, but others' perception of her as she deals with her disability and tries to find a way to be whole.(A 30,000 word novella)

When a white water rafting adventure goes horribly wrong, four teens must brave the wilderness to survive in Stranded in the Wild.Sixteen-year-old Savi Evans came to an adventure camp in Idaho carrying the pain of a recent and tragic loss and a dark family secret. She hopes the wilderness setting, vigorous activities, and some new faces might help take her mind off things back home. At Camp Arrowhead, Savi makes fast friends with Jade Chang and Rico Cruz, but mean and sarcastic Conner Swift is also on their raft. What was supposed to be an exciting expedition turns into a nightmare when their raft slams into a boulder and the adult guide is ejected into the water and disappears downriver. Without their guide and desperately trying to steer an out-of-control raft, the terrified teens pass the “last chance” point of no return and enter the fiercest rapids on the river. After another collision, Jade gets pinned between a rock and the raft, and Rico is also jolted from the float and ends up in the water. Savi has no choice but to cut the raft loose. By the time the teens drag themselves out of the river, they’re injured, exhausted, and twenty-five miles from camp. Soon stranded, the foursome is in a remote wilderness with meager provisions. The area is rife with wild animals, snakes, and a vicious flesh-eating predator known as Vexel. Nobody is sure what kind of animal Vexel is because no one who has encountered him has ever survived. Now the disoriented teens must find their way to Camp Arrowhead with the clock ticking and Vexel stalking them. Can they make it over a final hurdle before the dam opens, and crushes their only hope of reaching safety?Stranded in the Wild – A thrilling adventure you won’t soon forget!

It is important that girls grow to have a strong sense of identity and purpose rooted in Christ. “A Royal Mission” was created with that purpose in mind. Through striking illustrations and a captivating plot, girls learn about their God-given purpose, how much they are loved, and what it means to serve the King. In this children’s book, the reader has the chance to become part of the story. She is asked to use her name throughout the pages of the book, making her the protagonist. Her journey begins in a perfect kingdom as a beautiful princess, but she is soon interrupted by a messenger from the King's court who tells her the King wishes to see her. Upon arriving at the palace, the King tasks her with an important mission to a lost world and explains the difficulties she will encounter. The story then weaves through images of her life in the lost world, the details of her mission, and the circumstances of her return to paradise. It is only at the end that girls learn that this loving, powerful King is Jesus. The illustrated images of the King step away from the iconic images of Jesus. Little girls dream of kings, queens, and princesses in faraway lands and this book uses that to help girls understand who Jesus is. “A Royal Mission, therefore, portrays Jesus as a regal and powerful King reminiscent of modern-day fairytales, but with the gospel message at its core. It is a book that captures little girls’ hearts and helps them see Jesus for who He is, the King of kings. This allegorical story with striking illustrations will help budding princesses understand their role and purpose in God’s overarching plan. It is beloved by children and parents alike. It is also an ideal book to introduce girls to Jesus for the first time. The book also includes discussion questions at the end to help girls make the connection between this story and the Biblical record. About the Author: Luisa Rodriguez is a prolific writer and illustrator with a passion for helping girls find their purpose and develop a positive self-image. She is a former pre-K Sunday school teacher and youth leader. Luisa aims to find creative ways to teach girls Biblical concepts in an easy to understand formats. She is inspired by her own two daughters, self-proclaimed warrior-princesses.