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Africa39: New Writing from Africa South of the Sahara
by Wole Soyinka Ellah Wakatama AllfreyAfrica has produced some of the best writing of the twentieth century from Chinua Achebe, Ayi Kwei Armah, Ngugi wa Thiong'o, and the Nobel Laureates Wole Soyinka, Nadine Gordimer, J.M. Coetzee and Doris Lessing, to more recent talents like Nuruddin Farah, Ben Okri, Aminatta Forna and Brian Chikwava. Who will be the next generation?Following the successful launch of Bogotá39, which identified many of the most interesting upcoming Latin American talents, including Daniel Alarcon, Junot Diaz (Pulitzer Prize), Santiago Roncagliolo (Independent Foreign Fiction Prize) and Juan Gabriel Vásquez (short-listed for the IFFP), and Beirut39 which published Randa Jarrar, Rabee Jaber, Joumana Haddad, Abdellah Taia and Samar Yazbek, Africa39 will bring to worldwide attention the best work from Africa and its diaspora. The judges will select from up to 200 submissions researched by Binyavanga Wainaina, the founding editor of the acclaimed Nairobi-based literary magazine Kwani?, and the writers' names will be unveiled in Port Harcourt and at the London Book Fair in April 2014. Africa39 will be published in English throughout the world by Bloomsbury.Africa39 is a Hay Festival and Rainbow Book Club project which aims to select and celebrate 39 of the best young African writers from south of the Sahara. It will be launched at the PH Book Festival in UNESCO's World Book Capital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria, in October 2014. The three judges are: Margaret Busby (UK – publisher, broadcaster and reviewer, chair of the Commonwealth Prize and editor of the anthology Daughters of Africa)Elechi Amadi (Nigeria – author of plays, memoir and novels, including The Slave, Estrangement and The Woman of Calabar)Osonye Tess Onwueme (Nigeria/USA – playwright, poet and scholar, whose works include Riot in Heaven and What Mama Said)
Equal Affections
by David LeavittLouise Cooper has been battling cancer for over twenty years. Her growing resentment towards her suburban life and her husband, Nat, compounded by his affair, have left her longing for the life she dreamed of having in her youth. Meanwhile her family are facing other challenges. Her son Danny, a lawyer in San Francisco, has discovered his lover is growing obsessed with online sex, and her daughter, a lesbian protest-singer, announces herself pregnant after performing DIY artificial insemination with everyday kitchen utensils. This is a rich exploration of a family facing inexorable change.
The Last Bachelor
by Jay McInerneyIn true McInerney style, this new collection of stories examines post 9/11 America in all its dark and morally complex glory. His characters include a young woman holed up in a remote cabin while her (married) boyfriend campaigns for the highest of all offices, a couple whose sexual experiments cross every line imaginable, a young socialite called home to nurse her mother and an older one scheming for her next husband. From the streets of downtown New York during the 2003 anti-war march and the lavish hotel rooms of the wealthy social elite, to a husband and wife who share a marital bed with a pot-bellied pig, the people in these stories search for meaning while struggling against each other, colliding as the old world around them fractures and dissolves into a modern era full of new uncertainties, where ghosts of loss hang in the air.McInerney's writing has crackling humour and a feverish, clear-sighted brilliance that perfectly underpins the lives of people living in modern America. These stories are deftly constructed, subtle, insightful and heartbreaking. Steeped in history but yet alive in the present - this new collection is a companion to the sweet madness of life
Happy Birthday, Royal Baby!
by Martha Mumford Ada GreyThe Royal Palace is in chaos yet again - not since the Royal Baby's birth has there been so much excitement! Why? Well it's the Royal Baby's first birthday, of course, and the palace is awash with activity!There's the cake to think about, balloons, presents - and don't forget the bouncy castle and the Royal Baby's favourite game of Pin the Tail on the Corgi. The Queen may even do a spot of parachuting - it is a special occasion, after all.Busily brilliant and fabulously funny, Happy Birthday, Royal Baby! is the must-have picture book, perfect for all little ones.Brilliantly read by Amelia Fox. Please note that audio is not supported by all devices, please consult your user manual for confirmation.
The Wolf Wilder
by Katherine Rundell Gelrev OngbicoFeodora and her mother live in the snowbound woods of Russia, in a house full of food and fireplaces. Ten minutes away, in a ruined chapel, lives a pack of wolves. Feodora's mother is a wolf wilder, and Feo is a wolf wilder in training. A wolf wilder is the opposite of an animal tamer: it is a person who teaches tamed animals to fend for themselves, and to fight and to run, and to be wary of humans.When the murderous hostility of the Russian Army threatens her very existence, Feo is left with no option but to go on the run. What follows is a story of revolution and adventure, about standing up for the things you love and fighting back. And, of course, wolves.
The Explorer
by Katherine Rundell Hannah HornWinner of the Children's Book Prize Winner of the Costa Children's Book Award Winner of the London Book Fair Children's Travel Book of the YearShortlisted for the Independent Bookshop Week Book Award, Children's categoryLonglisted for the CILIP Carnegie Medal'I loved The Explorer' Jacqueline Wilson 'Rundell is now unarguably in the FIRST RANK' Philip PullmanFrom his seat in the tiny aeroplane, Fred watches as the mysteries of the Amazon jungle pass by below him. He has always dreamed of becoming an explorer, of making history and of reading his name amongst the lists of great discoveries. If only he could land and look about him.As the plane crashes into the canopy, Fred is suddenly left without a choice. He and the three other children may be alive, but the jungle is a vast, untamed place. With no hope of rescue, the chance of getting home feels impossibly small.Except, it seems, someone has been there before them …
She Will Build Him a City
by Raj Kamal JhaSHORTLISTED FOR THE DSC PRIZE FOR SOUTH ASIAN LITERATURE As night falls in Delhi a mother spins tales from her past for her sleeping daughter. Her now grown-up child is a puzzle with a million pieces whom she hopes, through her words and her love, to somehow make whole again.Meanwhile, as the last train from Rajiv Chowk Station pulls away, a young man rides the metro and dreams of murder.In another corner of the city, a newborn wrapped in a blood-red towel lies on the steps of an orphanage as his mother walks away.There are twenty million bodies in this city and this woman, man and child are only three. But their stories – of a secret love that blossoms in the shadows of grief, of a corrosive guilt that taints the soul, and of an orphaned boy who maps out his own destiny – weave in and out of the lives of those around them to form a dazzling kaleidoscope of a novel.Beautiful, beguiling and audacious, this is the story of a city and its people, of love and horror, of belonging and forgiveness: a powerful and unforgettable tale of modern India.
Princess Academy: The Forgotten Sisters (Princess Academy #3)
by Ms Shannon HaleMiri thought her time at the palace was over until she gets some last-minute homework from the King – she must travel to the farthest reaches of the Kingdom and set up her own Princess Academy. There she must prepare three distant royal relatives for marriage to a prince. But who are these forgotten sisters? Don't miss the Princess Academy story as Miri embarks on a new quest!Fans of Shannon Hale, and the ever-popular Ever After High, won't want to miss this gorgeously woven return to the bestselling, award-winning series.
The Royal Wedding Crashers (The Holy Moly Holiday)
by Clémentine Beauvais Becka MoorAnna and Holly Burnbright, together with their friend Prince Pepino, are trying to earn enough money to go on the intergalactic holiday of a lifetime. What they need is a holiday job. So when a tall, elegantly dressed lady called Mademoiselle Malypense tells them she needs help to organise the Francian Royal Wedding, they jump at the chance. She's promised to pay handsomely!The children are whisked away to begin the preparations, but it's not long before Holly smells a rat. Why does Mademoiselle Malypense insist they complete their tasks in secret? And isn't there something odd about a garlic-flavoured wedding cake? Could there be more to this royal couple's wedding day than meets the eye?The first in this series, The Royal Babysitters, was shortlisted for the Sainsbury's Children's Book Award. This second adventure is packed with jokes, adventures and illustrations with more exuberance than Judy Moody and Darcy Burdock put together.
Smek for President (The\smek Smeries Ser.)
by Adam RexJ.Lo made a gargantuan mistake and the Boov were banished from Earth. Now he is hated by them all. But certain that his fellow aliens will forgive him, J.Lo journeys to New Boovland to prove his loyalty to them. With the sharp eye and stealth of his human friend Gratuity, can J.Lo really go head-to-head for power with the supreme HighBoov Captain Smek – and win?This brilliant, original comic sci-fi adventure from New York Times bestselling author Adam Rex gives us more of the madcap antics and laugh-out-loud lines that we loved about The True Meaning of Smekday, the book that inspired the major motion picture HOME
Fool Me Twice: An If Only novel (If Only . . .)
by Mandy HubbardLast summer, Mackenzie and Landon were the perfect couple. And then he dumped her and broke her heart. Fast-forward a year and they're back at their summer jobs at Serenity Ranch and Spa with Mack and her best friend Bailey, spending their time fantasising about making voodoo dolls and playing childish pranks on Landon.Luckily for Mack, the perfect opportunity presents itself. Landon takes a nasty fall and suddenly he's stuck in the past – literally. His most recent memory is of last summer, when they were together, so now he's calling Mack pet names and hanging all over her. The plan is simple: keep Landon at arm's length, manipulate him so he's the one falling in love, and then, BAM, dump him in the most epic revenge plot in the history of everdom. There's only one teensy problem: Mack can't fall for Landon a second time.
Wish You Were Italian: An If Only novel (If Only . . .)
by Kristin RaePippa is in Italy for the summer and, despite her parents' wishes, she has no intention of just studying the local art! She has a list of things of her own to do: from swimming in the Mediterranean Sea to getting a makeover – and falling for an Italian boy! As Pippa explores the dramatic ruins of Rome and Pompeii, she is swept into her own drama with two guys: an irresistible local she knows is nothing but trouble and a cute American archaeology student . . . Will she find her true love?The perfect reckless romance to enjoy whether you are home or abroad.
Not in the Script: An If Only novel (If Only . . . #3)
by Amy FinneganAs a gorgeous, glamorous and talented teen actress, it's no surprise to her friends and family that Emma Taylor lands a part on Coyote Hills, a hot new TV show being filmed in the Arizona desert. But it's going to be harder than she thinks to keep things professional when she meets Jake Elliott, THE supermodel of the moment and her co-star! With temperatures rising, on and off set, how will she keep her mind on the script?
Mutant Rising
by Steve FeaseyThe world has changed for Rush since he discovered that he wasn't the only one. A Mutant with powers that the Pure government would kill for, there are five kids like him on Scorched Earth, hidden from the world until now. Rush: telekinetic; Anya: shapeshifter; Jax: mind reader; Flea: time-stopper; Brick: healer.As their powers grow, Rush knows that they have a mission that means more than their own survival. Together, they're like the ultimate weapon – they might just beat the evil government of President Melk. But someone will stop at nothing to break them up. And as Melk threatens to destroy the entire Mutant city, Rush's feelings for Tia, one of the Pure, threaten to complicate everything ...A brilliant follow-up to Mutant City, packed with action, adventure and a collection of unlikely heroes – plus two spectacularly good villains, to boot. Perfect for fans of X-Men, Charlie Higson and action-packed sci-fi extravaganzas.
The Bombs That Brought Us Together: WINNER OF THE COSTA CHILDREN'S BOOK AWARD 2016
by Brian ConaghanFourteen-year-old Charlie Law has lived in Little Town, on the border with Old Country, all his life. He knows the rules: no going out after dark; no drinking; no litter; no fighting. You don't want to get on the wrong side of the people who run Little Town. When he meets Pavel Duda, a refugee from Old Country, the rules start to get broken. Then the bombs come, and the soldiers from Old Country, and Little Town changes for ever. Sometimes, to keep the people you love safe, you have to do bad things. As Little Town's rules crumble, Charlie is sucked into a dangerous game. There's a gun, and a bad man, and his closest friend, and his dearest enemy. Charlie Law wants to keep everyone happy, even if it kills him. And maybe it will ...Perfect for readers of Patrick Ness, John Boyne and Malorie Blackman.
Sir Scaly Pants the Dragon Knight
by John KellyWhen a ghastly giant comes crashing through the Kingdom one day, the townsfolk fear for their lives. He's knocking down the buildings! He's breathing his stinky breath all over the place! He's even picking giant bogeys out of his giant nose - he must be stopped!So the King decrees that ALL knights be sent to slay the giant - and whoever succeeds will be knighted BRAVEST IN THE LAND.Enter Sir Scaly Pants (the most unusual knight around) and his trusty steed Guinevere (he most unfit horse around) Will this unlikely duo manage to defeat the greedy, grimy giant? You bet they will!A wildly funny tale of good versus bad perfect for fans of Jonny Duddle.
Sir Scaly Pants and the Dragon Thief
by John KellySir Scaly Pants the Dragon Knight ALWAYS fights for what's right, but it can be very lonely being the One and Only Dragon Knight. When an evil fire-breathing dragon kidnaps the king, Sir Scaly and his trusty steed, Guinevere, vow to rescue him. Their journey takes them to lands far and wide, and when they finally catch up with the wicked king-napping dragon, Scaly knows he's met his match. But is the evil dragon really as bad as everyone thinks, or can Scaly uncover the truth and finally make a friend? A tale full of peril and pants, this is the second brilliantly funny story featuring Sir Scaly Pants and his trusty steed, Guinevere. From Kate Greenaway Medal-shortlisted illustrator John Kelly.
Flirty Dancing (Flirty Dancing #1)
by Jenny McLachlanBea Hogg is shy but fiery inside. When national dance competition Starwars comes to her school looking for talent, she wants to sign up. It's just a shame her best friend agreed to enter with school super-cow Pearl Harris. Bea will fight back! But when school hottie, Ollie Matthews, who also happens to be Pearl's boyfriend, decides to enter the competition with Bea, she will have more than a fight on her hands.This warm, nuanced, hilarious story about friendship, fortitude . . . and dancing is impossible not to fall in love with. Jenny's voice is fresh and convincing, and she handles both darker and lighter elements of the story with equal panache.
Love Bomb (Flirty Dancing #2)
by Jenny McLachlanPerfect for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.Betty Plum has never been in love. She's never even kissed a boy. But when H.O.T. Toby starts school it's like Betty has been hit with a thousand of Cupid's arrows. It's like a bomb has exploded – a love bomb! More than ever Betty wishes her mum hadn't died when Betty was a baby. She really needs her mum here to ask her advice. And that's when she finds hidden letters for just these moments. Letters about what your first kiss should feel like and what real love is all about … Is Betty ready to fall in love? Will she finally have her first kiss?
Sunkissed (Flirty Dancing #3)
by Jenny McLachlanFollowing on from Flirty Dancing and Love Bomb, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect summer holiday reading for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.Kat can't believe her family are sending her to Sweden for the summer. But without her friends, or even a phone signal, can Kat make it on her own?In a land of saunas, nudity and summer sun, Kat soon realises she has nowhere to hide. It's time to embrace who she really is, underneath what she's been thinking people want her to be. Especially if she's going to win the heart of mega fit Swede Leo! Can Kat find her inner strength and prove she's got what it takes?Kat soon finds that when you're surrounded by phosphorescence and wonder it's easy to sparkle. Or maybe that's what happens when you fall in love … Or maybe you only shine when you're true to yourself.
Star Struck (Flirty Dancing #4)
by Jenny McLachlanFollowing on from Flirty Dancing, Love Bomb and Sunkissed, Jenny McLachlan's next book is perfect for fans of Geek Girl and Louise Rennison.A spotlight shines down on the two of us and everyone drifts into the shadows... Pearl is destined to be the star of this year's school musical. Being the lead is all she wants - especially as it means kissing super-hot Jake Flower.Then a new girl walks into the audition... Hoshi can sing, she's an amazing dancer and she's seriously cute. Before Pearl knows it, she's stolen her part, her friends and Jake's attention!But this girl doesn't know who she's messing with. Pearl's used to battling every day and she's not going down without a fight. Sparks are going to fly!
Weightless: A Novel
by Sarah BannanAdamsville wasn't a place that people came to. It was a place you were from, where you were born, where you were raised, where you stayed…Before Carolyn Lessing arrived, nothing much had ever happened in Adamsville, Alabama. Each week, at dinner tables and in the high school assembly, everyone would pray for the football team to win. Each year, the Adams High hotlist would be updated, and girls would rise and fall within its ranks. Each day, everyone lived by the unwritten rules that cheerleaders did not hang out with the swim team, seniors did not date freshmen and the blistering heat was something that should never be remarked upon. But then the new girl came. All Carolyn's social media could reveal was that she had moved from New Jersey, she had 1075 friends – and she didn't have a relationship status. In beach photos with boys who looked like Abercrombie models she seemed beautiful, but in real life she was so much more. She was perfect.This was all before the camera crews arrived, before it became impossible to see where rumour ended and truth began, and before the Annual Adamsville Balloon Festival, when someone swore they saw the captain of the football team with his arm around Carolyn, and cracks began to appear in the dry earth.
Poor Things: Episodes From The Early Life Of Archibald Mccandless M.d., Scottish Public Health Officer
by Alasdair GrayWhat strange secret made rich, beautiful, tempestuous Bella Baxter irresistible to the poor Scottish medical student Archie McCandless? Was it her mysterious origin in the home of his monstrous friend Godwin Baxter, the genius whose voice could perforate eardrums? This story of true love and scientific daring whirls the reader from the private operating-theatres of late-Victorian Glasgow through aristocratic casinos, low-life Alexandria and a Parisian bordello, reaching an interrupted climax in a Scottish church.
Ten Tales Tall and True
by Alasdair GrayA lecturer cornered in an embarrassing ménÁ ge Á trois, a Glaswegian Cinderella and an extremely talkative dentist all feature in this brilliant and original collection of tall tales from Alasdair Gray, author of Lanark, Poor Things and The Book of Prefaces. Bringing together social realism, sexual comedy, science fiction and satire, Ten Tales Tall and True proves that truth is indeed much stranger than fiction.
Mavis Belfrage: A Romantic Novel With Five Shorter Tales
by Alasdair GrayA collection of stories that describe painful kinds of education, the title story describing how an uninhibited woman educates a prim Scottish lecturer.