Books with author Victoria Bond

Winner of the 2011 John Steptoe New Talent (Author) Award! Racial duplicity threatens an idyllic African American community in the turn-of-the-century South in a dazzling debut inspired by the early life of Zora Neale Hurston. Whether she's telling the truth or stretching it, Zora Neale Hurston is a riveting storyteller. Her latest creation is a shape-shifting gator man who lurks in the marshes, waiting to steal human souls. But when boastful Sonny Wrapped loses a wrestling match with an elusive alligator named Ghost -- and a man is found murdered by the railroad tracks soon after -- young Zora's tales of a mythical evil creature take on an ominous and far more complicated complexion, jeopardizing the peace and security of an entire town and forcing three children to come to terms with the dual-edged power of pretending. Zora's best friend, Carrie, narrates this coming-of-age story set in the Eden-like town of Eatonville, Florida, where justice isn't merely an exercise in retribution, but a testimony to the power of community, love, and pride. A fictionalization of the early years of a literary giant, this astonishing novel is the first project ever to be endorsed by the Zora Neale Hurston Trust that was not authored by Hurston herself.

Suddenly I saw how much Dad coming home mattered to Mum. She needed him to share with. Pa helped but it wasn't the same, and he needed time to himself as well. I saw that Jack needed Dad home to save his life from being something he hated. And Martha needed him to say she was doing the right thing. I was the only one who didn't need Dad but perhaps I would when I got used to him.' Dad is finally on his way home from The Great War. Twelve-year-old Nell barely remembers him but when the pneumonic influenza enters their lives threatening Dad's return she begins to understand the gap in the family his absence has created. This is one family's experience of the end of the war, a time of hope that turned into a time of testing.

Halloween Story is the coming of age tale of twelve-year old witch Isabel Doorlin. It is Halloween Night and she is being allowed to accompany her witch mother to Devil's Tor where she will be initiated into the local coven. When Isabel returns home, where her Aunt Selena has been passing out treats to the trick-or-treaters, a girl who has been unfriendly toward her shows up at the door asking for her help. Isabel has choices to make. Will she be a good witch, or a bad witch?

Zooey Deschanel is an American actress, model and singer. She loves picnics, clothes and singing. While in school, she dreamed of becoming a Broadway singer or a child actor and pestered her parents for allowing her to take auditions. In her interviews, she has spoken extensively about her childhood, mentioning funny incidents that make you smile automatically. Now an established actor and singer-songwriter, her aim is to make “people feel like they are not alone.” For her, “that’s just the greatest feeling”. In interviews, she has talked freely about what actually led her to become an actor or what she thinks about feminism. Let us now go through some of her quotes, which reveal to us her views on many important aspects including heartbreaks, weight loss and coffee.