Books in Thorndike Young Adult - Large Print series

Along the jagged Cornish coast there's a town filled with people known as the "wreckers" who think nothing of luring ships onto the rocks during storms and salvaging the loot from the wreckage. One constraint is that there must be no survivors left to claim the goods. Young John Spencer, aboard his father's ship The Isle of Skye, is exhilarated as the cargo-laden ship tries to outrun a storm. The ship is instead dashed onto the Cornwall shore. John manages to survive, and uses his wits to stay away from the murderous villagers while he also tries to discover what's happened to his father.

Parvati has always been different from the other children of her village in southern India. Some villagers think she has supernatural powers, but her talent for dancing is what really sets her apart. She leaves home and family to attend a special school in Madras, devoting herself to the study of Indian classical dance under a famous guru. But after coming into contact with a boy whose abilities are as special as her own, she questions her personal dharma or fate.

A Coretta Scott King Award-winning Author Twelve-year-old Michaela loves her brother, Red. Day in and day out, it's Mike and Red. Mike and Red fishing for porgies. Red and Mike cruising the coast with Red's girlfriend, or diving off piers with his buddy, Mark. Then one day Red disappears. Gone. No warning. No time to prepare. And Mike must come to terms with that loss, or risk never finding comfort in what remains of the life she and her brother shared. NOLAn Accelerated Reader® title for ages 12 and up

The year is 1659, a time of fear and lies. For Mary Newbury, it is a time of desperation. While she watches, unable to intervene, her wise and beloved grandmother is falsely condemned, tortured, and hanged as a witch. Soon the relentless crowd may turn upon Mary. When a mysterious stranger offers her a way out -- safe passage to America -- she knows she must go. But she doesn't know that the turbulent voyage will bring her to yet another society where differences are feared and defiance is deadly. (No Canadian Rights)

Knots in My Yo-Yo String: The Autobiography of a Kid is a look at the author's (Jerry Spinelli) childhood years. In it, Spinelli describes his feelings upon learning that his dog had been hit by a car; his love of baseball; how he cut his friend's face open when they were playing war; his first kiss; and other childhod events. The volume is illustrated with photographs.

Brian Robeson learned how to survive in the wilderness, not by conquering the wild forest but by learning to be a part of its rhythms and cycles. Then he went back to civilization, and tried to be a part of human society: high school, city life, family, friends. In this book, Brian discovers that he just can't fit in. He has spent too many years in a life-and-death struggle, has too much of the forest in him, to understand the games that ordinary teenagers play. Brian finds himself in counseling, struggling to make himself be the person everyone thinks he should be. But finally Brian discovers that he must return to the wilderness.

Heroes is a tale of bravery, revenge, murder, and love, for young adult readers. The story centers on Francis Cassavant, a World War II hero. Francis is horribly disfigured in the war by a grenade and returns home without most of his face. He wanders the streets of his hometown, unrecognizable, and ruminating over his planned revenge against Larry LaSalle. Francis and Larry were once friends and were both decorated for their service in the war. As a result of his injuries, Francis has a newfound feeling of fatalism and devises a plan to murder Larry for a crime he committed against Francis's high school sweetheart, Nicole.

Three-time Newbery Honor-winning Author Gary Paulsen takes readers along on his first voyage, proving that ignorance can be bliss. Also really stupid and incredibly dangerous. He shows us how he learned to sail the hard way, by learning from his own hilarious and hair-raising mistakes. Falling in love with the ocean set Gary Paulsen on a lifelong learning curve, and readers will understand why his passion has lasted to this day.

Book 1 of The Redwall Series A New York Times Bestselling Author It is the Summer of the Late Rose. A sinister shadow has fallen across the ancient stone abbey of Redwall. For it is rumored that Cluny is coming -- Cluny, the terrible one-eyed rat and his battle-seasoned horde -- Cluny, whose vow is to conquer Redwall Abbey! The woodland creatures rush to a desperate defense. But what can an abbey of peaceloving mice do against Cluny the Scourge and his army? (No Canadian Rights)

Fans of R.J. Palacio's Wonder will appreciate this feel-good story of friendship and unconventional smarts.—Kirkus ReviewsAlly has been smart enough to fool a lot of smart people. Every time she lands in a new school, she is able to hide her inability to read by creating clever yet disruptive distractions. She is afraid to ask for help; after all, how can you cure dumb? However, her newest teacher Mr. Daniels sees the bright, creative kid underneath the trouble maker. With his help, Ally learns not to be so hard on herself and that dyslexia is nothing to be ashamed of. As her confidence grows, Ally feels free to be herself and the world starts opening up with possibilities. She discovers that there's a lot more to her-and to everyone-than a label, and that great minds don't always think alike.The author of the beloved One for the Murphys gives readers an emotionally-charged, uplifting novel that will speak to anyone who's ever thought there was something wrong with them because they didn't fit in. This paperback edition includes The Sketchbook of Impossible Things and discussion questions.

An ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Readers In Regeneration, five teens found out that they had been cloned in an experiment deemed unsuccessful by its mastermind, who is still seeking to destroy them. Ever since Eric learned the truth about his past, he's been trying to keep a low profile. But now two strangers have come to town looking to interview his family about adoption -- and something about them just isn't right.