Books published by publisher Ithaca Press

"I am a free-born woman, and not a slave of anyone." - Manuy bint Khalfan, a female slave who was sold and mortgaged several times, speaking to a British agency in Sharjah on October 24, 1938. Many books have been written about slavery, but what makes this book unique is that it highlights the issue of slavery using the statements and life stories of individual slaves, such as Manuy bint Khalfan. The book is dedicated to her memory, and to the memory of all the other slaves who have had the will to escape. Manumission procedures, applied in the Persian Gulf, required that applicants produced written statements describing the circumstances of their enslavement and their reasons for having run away from their masters. Therefore, British agencies have at their disposal the life stories of almost 1,000 slaves, named and speaking in their own voices. Their statements are published for the first time in this book. The analysis of these statements sheds light on various aspects of social, religious, and political life in the Gulf in this period, and the way in which slaves were treated. The book assists in understanding the history of Persian Gulf societies in the first half of the 20th century - particularly the role of slave labor in the pearl industry, the conformity of social practice with religious norms concerning slavery, the position of the British government in regard to slavery in the Gulf, and the role of the British system of manumission in the eradication of slavery.

I am a free-born woman, and not a slave of anyone' , Manuy bint Khalfan, Speaking to a British Agency in Sharjah on 24th October 1938. Manuy bint Khalfan was a female slave who was sold and mortgaged several times before she finally escaped from her master. This book is dedicated to her memory, and to the memory of all the other slaves who have had the will to escape. Many books have been written about slavery, but what makes this one unique is that it presents the problem of slavery using the statements and life stories of individual slaves. Manumission procedures applied in the Persian Gulf required that applicants produced written statements describing the circumstances of their enslavement and their reasons for having run away from their masters. British Agencies therefore have at their disposal the life stories of almost 1000 slaves, named and speaking in their own voices. Their statements are published for the first time in this book. The analysis of these statements sheds light on various aspects of social, religious and political life in the Gulf in this period, and the way in which slaves were treated. It allows us to answer some questions fundamental for understanding the history of Persian Gulf societies in the first half of the 20th century; particularly the role of slave labour in the pearl industry, the conformity of social practice with religious norms concerning slavery, the position of the British government in regard to slavery in the Gulf, and the role of the British system of manumission in the eradication of slavery.

Chest Deep and Rising is an astonishing look at the events before, during and after the Hurricane Katrina disaster of 2005, from a unique point of view: a first responder in St. Charles Parish, 20 miles west of New Orleans, one of the people whose assignment was to protect life and property during extraordinary conditions. “Chest Deep and Rising conveys a moment when the future seemed out of reach, and out of control. It was a time when our world collapsed all around us. It was a time of ever-changing challenges, unspeakable horrors, and survival. Equally important, it was a time of bravery, heroic acts, and selfless devotion by America’s first responders.” – Patrick Yoes, author of Chest Deep and Rising

I Plant a Garden with my Mom is a book for children, teaching kids about responsibility, nurturing, cooperation and family, and the simple joy of helping Mother Nature do her job. Written in charming rhyme by Paula Papazoglu and accompanied by Susan Gumm's beautiful, lavish illustrations, I Plant a Garden with my Mom will soothe the soul and give kids some great ideas about getting out and having fun.

Young children will love to follow along with the adventuresome Billy, Myrtle and Benny in Deborah Heusel's The Kingdom. The trio set out from the familiar confines of their forest home in search of the kingdom ruled over by the good and wise King Leon. On their way, they partake of wonderful pleasures their forest home has to offer good, delicious food and pleasant ponds to splash in. On their journey the three friends realize that the beautiful kingdom they are searching for is right in their own forest. The Kingdom will spark the imaginations of young readers and encourage them to realize that magic and beauty is always right under their very noses.

Jim Hartsell is a veteran educator who has worked with children for decades and has now written a story for children. By his admission, this simple book is about how small children see the world differently than adults. In The Mountain Climber, the small boy sees a magnificent mountain in the backyard. It is the biggest dream of this boy to travel away from home, climb the mountain, and stand triumphantly on the peak. However, he is continually dissuaded by his parents, who are distracted with everyday adult worries. Additionally, they see the mountain as a mere mound of dirt, not a massive mountain to be conquered. Soon, the boy and his trusted teddy bear have a chance to climb the mountain. They see interesting sights as they make the long journey upwards. Finally at the top, the boy is proud of his accomplishment. In celebration, he raises his teddy bear high, so teddy can appreciate the view on top of the mountain. Then, his mother calls him from the back porch. It is revealed that he has been in the backyard the entire time. But this does not diminish the enthusiasm the boy has for his victory over the mountain. The moral for a child is to always pursue your goals. For the parent, it is a pleasant reminder that our world looks completely different through the eyes of a child. Author Jim Hartsell has also written Sisyphus and the Itsy Bitsy Spider Working with Children, a book focusing on working with children who have behavioral or emotional problems by using a multifaceted approach centered on the needs of the child.

My Dad is a Marine is about one family, but it's a universal story. Although it's written with children in mind, anyone who has a loved one who is deployed will relate to and appreciate this book. As author Kimberly Coe writes, "This book is to help the children of the Marine Corps learn a little about what their dads or moms do, as well as the similar adjustments and feelings the children themselves will go through." My Dad is a Marine both explains life in a Marine family to "civilians"- it includes, for example, a "Military to Civilian Dictionary" - and helps other Marine families, talking openly about some of the issues military families have to face. Sudden upheaval is a huge part of Marine life, as is the pain of missing someone who is away. Told from the viewpoint of Coe's young daughter, My Dad is a Marine shares the ways in which the Coe family copes when their Marine is deployed away from home. They always try to include him in any way they can, even though he isn't with them in person: they send him care packages and letters and photos. They also keep the home fires burning by visiting with other military families and taking part in Support the Troops rallies. Of course, everyone has their bad days, too. There are times when Kimberly Coe's daughter wants her dad, not her mom. Her mom always tells her that when her dad is away, he will come home as soon as he is able to. She doesn't always like this answer, but knows it's the truth, so eventually she accepts it. Sometimes it helps to talk to her mom; sometimes she just wants to be alone. They always discuss it and soon she's playing and laughing again. Stories like these will help children of military families realize that separation is often part of military life. Kimberly Coe's family has had to overcome struggles and hardships, these struggles are outweighed by the love and joy they've had, too. And they just can't imagine life without the Marine Corps

Romance, adventure and travel rolled into one smart package After being sent on one assignment after another, adventure travel writer Kelly Sloane is dying for a date with a book and a beach, but her editor has other ideas...sending Kelly to Peru to write a feature on the Inca Trail, which leads to the ancient city of Machu Picchu. Kelly reluctantly agrees, but she is none too pleased to learn she is going to be accompanied by a pesky photographer, because headstrong, independent Kelly prefers to work alone. Most men can not keep up with her, except for her stalker ex-boyfriend, Chad; Kelly sincerely wishes he could not keep up with her. Things get even worse when she finds out that Leif, the pesky photographer in question, is none other than the hunk who got an accidental, humiliating look at her Wonder Woman underwear at a recent awards dinner. What is more, it turns out he s a smart, funny hunk who seems to like all the same things she does... While she is falling in love with the stunning scenery of the Peruvian Andes and taking note of the stunning scenery that is Leif's face, Kelly becomes fascinated with the ancient Inca culture, especially the rapidly approaching Festival of the Sun. On that day, the Winter Solstice, the Incas used to sacrifice virgins to the god of the sun. As Kelly delves deeper and deeper into Inca history, she makes a horrifying discovery about the way things really are up there in the mountains, and at the same time learns a lot about herself, love, and what she s truly capable of achieving. You will relate to Kelly, who is sometimes klutzy and a little goofy but always fearless, and Inka will take you places you might have dreamed of traveling to but have never had the opportunity to visit. Inka is part romance in the chick lit vein, part travelogue, and part adventure thriller, but most of all it is a great read with numerous laugh-out-loud moments.

Nibbles Rabbit, the heroine of Nibbles...A Strawberry Tale by Tracy Voorheis, wakes up hoping that today is the day... the day the strawberries will be ready in the garden. It s been a long, dark, cold spring, but finally the rain has stopped. Nibbles goes outside with her Mamma, hop, hop, hopping through the tall green grasses, under prickly bushes and over snapping sticks. On the edge of the big, wonderful garden, where rows and rows of delicious things to eat are growing, Nibbles stops and sniffs. There s a sweet smell in the air... If sunshine had a smell, it would smell like this. Nibbles jumps high in the air so she can see into the garden. And there they are... big, fat, juicy, red strawberries. Nibbles and Mamma eat some, and then Nibbles has a great idea. They can take some strawberries home, to squish into strawberry juice so they can have sunshine even on rainy days. Author Tracy Voorheis believes that reading to children and using children s literature to extend learning experiences is vital to stimulating dialogue about our world. It s also a great opportunity to snuggle, laugh and have fun. Beautifully illustrated by the author herself, Nibbles...A Strawberry Tale is the perfect book to read aloud to younger children. It may even inspire them and you to find ways of making sunshine for the rainy days.