Books with author W. F. Russell

Gives parents and other adult readers the help they need to share the joy of reading. Contains 42 stories, poems, and excerpts from novels and plays, divided into 3 listening levels. "Even better than the first edition--and I loved that. A must book for every reading parent and teacher!"--Jim Trelease, author of The Read-Aloud Handbook Line drawings.

For most people, home is a place with four walls. It's a place to eat, sleep, rest, and live. For a refugee, the concept of home is ever-changing, ever-moving, ever-wavering. And often, it doesn't have any walls at all.Eleven-year-old Lam escapes from Vietnam with Dee Dee during the Vietnamese Boat People Exodus in 1979, when people from Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia fled their homelands for safety. For a refugee, the trip is a long and perilous one, filled with dangerous encounters with pirates and greedy sailors, a lack of food and water, and even the stench of a dead body onboard. When they finally arrive at a refugee camp, Lam befriends Dao, a girl her age who becomes like a sister-a welcome glimmer of happiness after a terrifying journey. Readers will feel as close to Lam as the jade pendant she wears around her neck, sticking by her side throughout her journey as she experiences fear, crushing loss, boredom, and some small moments of joy along the way. Written in verse, this is a heartfelt story that is sure to build empathy and compassion for refugees around the world escaping oppression.

Rear Admiral Harry Fenton has done it again. He’s traveled through time. finds himself, with a serious head injury from a fall, at Pearl Harbor Base Hospital on May 16, 1942, three weeks before the Battle of Midway. His wife and aide, Lieutenant Meg Fenton, is frantic, and waits for him. The people in 1942 think he’s a busted up, hallucinating sailor who imagines himself an admiral.Admiral Raymond Spruance is commanding officer of Carrier Task Force 16. After hearing about Harry’s wild claims, Spruance orders him brought to his flagship, the USS Enterprise. After Harry tells him about time travel, Spruance is convinced the man is insane. But after speaking to him at length, Spruance is amazed at Harry’s knowledge of naval tactics and strategy. He calls Harry’s bluff and orders him to stay aboard the Enterprise for her upcoming engagement at the Battle of Midway .By the end of the battle, Spruance thinks of Harry Fenton as a friend, and even calls him “admiral.”Now Harry needs to figure out how to travel back to 2018, to his carrier command, but most importantly, to the love of his life, Lieutenant Meg.CHAPTER 1 EXCERPT“Here, drink this,” the nurse said. “You’re not taking in enough liquids.”Good idea, I thought. I was thirsty as hell. I downed the glass of water in two gulps. But where am I? I wondered. Well, in a hospital obviously, but why?“Excuse me,” I said, speaking loudly because the nurse was about to leave the room. The act of raising my voice caused a lightning bolt of pain to zing through my head. My eyes went blurry and I felt nauseous. She turned around and walked back to my bed. She held up a mirror. Holy shit, I looked like I collided head-on with a train. My forehead was swollen and my face was discolored, a pretty mix of purple, red, yellow, and could that be green?“Where am I? I know it’s a hospital, but where?”“You’re at the base hospital at Pearl Harbor.”Pearl Harbor? Sounds familiar, I thought.“Please explain what happened to me.”“You were in Building 19, God knows why, and you apparently tripped and slammed your head against an engine block. Pretty stupid of them to put an engine block in the middle of the floor if you ask me. The place has no electricity and the windows are boarded up. From what the shore patrol guy said, it seems that you walked off a step to a lower level and fell forward, resulting in what you just saw in the mirror.” “You’ve been here exactly one week. I’m glad to see that you’re talking. This is the first sign of consciousness you’ve shown. You had one nasty concussion. Do you mind if I ask you a few questions?”“Of course. Could I please have some more water?”“You can have as much water as you want. So, let me ask you a couple of questions. Who are you, and what’s your name?”Oh, my God. My head started throbbing again. I could not believe I couldn’t answer her simple question—and it was a good question. Who am I?“I’m sorry. I don’t recall a name. But things are starting to come back to me.”“Well, sailor, you’re doing great, my friend. We’ll just keep talking, and your memory will come back to you.” “Nancy, please hand me that newspaper.”“Sure thing. Let’s see how your reading skills are doing.”The date on the first page read May 16, 1942. Shit, I must be hallucinating.“Hey, sailor, you look pale. Do you want to rest a bit?”I dozed off. When I woke up, Nurse Nancy was there.“So, sailor, do you recall being in the Navy?”“Yes, I’m in the Navy.” My memory was starting to come back.“Are you stationed on a ship?”“Yes, definitely yes. The USS Gerald R. Ford, an aircraft carrier. It’s my flagship.”“Your flagship?”“Yes, I’m Rear Admiral Harry Fenton, the Commanding Officer of Carrier Strike Group 14.”“Well, it’s a pleasure to meet you, Admiral. My name is Florence Nightingale. Now get some more sleep, sailor.”

Robot DepotSo, you think robots are wonderful labor-saving devices, right?So, you think Artificial Intelligence is our exciting future, right?What if these wonderful technologies become weapons of terror?Instantly, your world changes, from one you thought you knew, to one you fear.Mike Bateman is a visionary and highly respected businessman, the creator and CEO of the fabulously successful chain of stores, Robot Depot, a company dedicated to selling robots and Artificial Intelligence machines for a variety of uses. One of Robot Depot’s engineers invented the world’s first sentient robot, one that is aware of its own existence. That robot’s name is Angus, named after a famous inventor. Angus invents an algorithm that revolutionizes medical science, a program that accurately diagnoses an illness and recommends a treatment, within 15 seconds. Whether it’s a floor cleaner, a window washer, an intelligent drone, or a medical diagnosis algorithm, Robot Depot has a device for you.The company is a darling of Wall Street and is the most popular destination for consumers and businesses looking for labor saving devices. But the company has caught the eye of terrorists. They discover a great way to deliver bombs – using the products of Robot Depot to kill people. Within a matter of days, a skyscraper is destroyed, houses are burned to the ground, a cruise ship is disabled, Yankee Stadium is attacked, and a children’s sailing regatta is bombed. Overnight, Robot Depot changed from being a popular company to an object of fear and hatred because of the tampered products it sells.Mike Bateman and his wife Jenny discover the true horror of terrorism one frightening summer morning.Your world will never be the same.Grab this page-turning thriller now.

Deep in the heart of a mist-shrouded island, an impossible secret is about to be discovered. Twig is used to feeling unwanted. Sent to live on a pony ranch for "troubled" girls on a misty, haunted island, Twig is about to discover the impossible -- someone who needs her. Jolted awake from a bad dream, Twig follows the desperate whinny of a terrified horse out to the stables. There in the straw is a bleating little scrap of moonbeam. A silver-white filly with cloven hooves and a tiny, spiraling horn. A baby unicorn. Now Twig knows what secret is hiding in the island's mist: the last free unicorn herd. And a mysterious boy named Ben who insists that this impossible creature is now Twig's to care for. That she needs Twig's love and protection. Because there's something out there in the deep, dense shadows that's hunting for them... "R. R. Russell's Wonder Light dares to explore a world where unicorns are creatures of wonder and power, and girls can find both strength and courage to be themselves." -Robin Hobb, International bestselling author

One week to grieve. One week to make final preparations. One week to celebrate a life.Angie grew up in the busy city of Vancouver unaware of the rich culture of her people. After the divorce of her parents she now finds herself adapting to the quiet village of Gitsegukla in northern British Columbia. Every day she learns a little more about her heritage, the Gitksan language spoken by her elders, and the traditions practiced since time immemorial. On a cold November morning life is put on hold by the blaring of the fire hall sirens signifying the death of a community member. Angie just learned the heartbreaking news one of her best friends passed away the night before.For one week a small northern village in British Columbia give strength to a family in need. The people of Gitsegukla come together practicing ancient traditions passed down from generation to generation in this one of a kind story, written by a member of the Bisteh Clan.Join Angie as she witnesses the Gitksan way of saying goodbye. You are invited to the Feast.