Books with title Spirit of the West

The year is 1848. The sea beckons—a vast unexplored world of adventure and opportunity. But for 14-year-old Solomon Ward, a boy from Long Island’s Poospatuck Reservation, the call of the sea stirs deeper ambitions. Inspired by the tales of Absalom Boston, the great Wampanoag whaler who captained his own ship, Solomon signs on to the Maryann, a ship sailing out of Cold Spring Harbor. He aspires not only to ease his family’s financial burdens, but to honor the whaling traditions of his forefathers and attain similar glory. First, however, he must unravel the secrets of the ship—unexplained blue lights in the dark of night, macabre noises, and the furtive conduct of his fellow crew members. He inadvertently becomes embroiled in a search for lost ambergris—worth its weight in gold. But it’s on a whale hunt that he ultimately discovers his true capabilities and desires.Join Solomon on his journey from Long Island to the distant ports of Rio, Valparaiso, and Honolulu and on to the Arctic Ocean. History, culture, and the natural setting are deeply entwined in this magical tale of adventure aboard a 19th-century whaling ship. Anyone who has enjoyed Sue Monk Kidd’s The Anatomy of Wings or the novels of Scott O’Dell will love Spirit of the Turtle.

At the start of summer, no one, including thirteen-year-old Ethan Morus, knew that he’d been born with a treasure hunting instinct. Now that summer has ended, all groups desiring power are either seeking Ethan’s services or hoping to end his young life. Although he has pledged his allegiance to the Light, even they are leery of training him for fear the Dark may lure him to their side. Ethan will face beasts and enchantments on this dangerous adventure, from deep below the water’s surface to high in the mountains. Yet his greatest enemies stand by his side as the line between Light and Dark blurs in the search for the Spirit of Steel.

Unfamiliar animal tracks and strange nightly noises arouse suspicion at Shady Oaks, a seaside camp on Long Island. Campers become frightened as rumors of dangerous creatures spread. The camp begins to lose its prestige and receive closure threats. Twelve-year old Kyrah Willis is determined to solve the mystery. The camp guards won't help her, and seem to be hiding something they don't want the public to know. Why? With her fun-loving cousin Lynn, fiercely loyal dog Scampi and brave horse Comanche, the curious girl embarks on a journey to the most remote parts of the island in search for answers. In the treacherous and unforgiving wilderness, Kyrah discovers there is far more at stake than the future of Shady Oaks.

A scorned woman’s revenge burns hotter than a pyre. The vengeance of a goddess is more destructive than a thousand fires. * * * Desperate to escape the wrath of the vengeful sky goddess, Madhea, a group of brave young explorers flees to the sea in search of safe haven for their people while the apprentice witch, Dianna, steals away Madhea’s dragon to the Shifting Sands. Though they are an ocean apart, the future of humanity lies in their entwined fates. Before they can defeat Madhea, they must stop the vindictive sea goddess, Eris, from destroying the world.

Charles A. Lindbergh captured the world's attention when he completed his famous nonstop flight from New York to Paris in 1927. In his Pulitzer Prize-winning 1953 account, Lindbergh carries the reader from his barnstorming days of youthful vision to his world-famous flight that would change history. This exciting and eloquent account brings to life the energy and foresight that inspired Lindbergh to brave the Atlantic in a single-engine plane.

When Navajo, a wolf pup, is born with a unique star birthmark, his parents know he's destined be a special wolf to the great spirits. Just a few weeks after their birth, Navajo and his siblings face adversity. A massive landslide kills their parents, and the pups seek shelter and a home with the local Indians. While playing in the woods near his new home, Navajo gets lost. He befriends a kangaroo rat named Bob and a forest rabbit named Edgar. That night, the phantom appears to Navajo in a dream and announces that he seeks to destroy Navajo and all of Alaska. The three companions are drawn into a thrilling but dangerous adventure to protect Alaska from the evil phantom. Spirit of the Wolf honors courage and loyalty. The animals' faith, perseverance, and determination for good to overcome evil guide them in their quest. This is the biggest challenge of little Navajo's life. His father predicted he'd be a fierce fighter some day. Is Navajo brave and strong enough to fulfill the prophecy and save his land?

Sam and Lizzie are freezing and hungry on the streets of Victorian London. When Sam asks a wealthy man for some coins, he is rudely turned away. Months of struggle suddenly find their focus, and Sam resolves to kill the man. Huddling in a graveyard for warmth, Sam and Lizzie are horrified to see the earth around one of the tombs begin to shift, shortly followed by the wraithlike figure of a ghostly man. He warns Sam about the future which awaits such a bitter heart, and so begins Sam's journey led by terrifying spirits through the past, present and future, after which Sam must decide whether to take the man, Scrooge's, life or not. A perfectly layered, tense and supremely satisfying twist on one of Dickens' most popular books, cleverly reinvented to entice a younger readership.