Imagination serves as a powerful escape for children affected by polio, leading them into a vibrant and fantastical realm. The story explores themes of hope and resilience, highlighting the transformative power of creativity in overcoming adversity. Through this journey, the characters confront their challenges and find strength in their shared experiences, ultimately revealing the profound impact of friendship and imagination in their lives.
A young boy gradually comes to understand the difference between his toy soldiers and the bloodshed of the First World War in this poignant story.
An 11-year-old boy named Virgil faces the harrowing challenge of surviving a forest fire after being separated from his siblings. Relying solely on his instincts and the survival lessons imparted by his late mother, he navigates the perilous wilderness. The story highlights themes of resilience, the bond between mother and son, and the instinctual connection to nature.
In the forests of Siberia, in the first years of the twentieth century, a white pony runs free with his herd. But his life chages forever when he's captured by men. Years of hard work and cruelty wear him out. When he is chosen to be one of 20 ponies to accompany the Englishman Robert Falcon Scott on his quest to become the first to reach the South Pole, he doesn't know what to expect. But the men of Scott's expedition show him kindness, something he's never known before. They also give him a name—James Pigg. As Scott's team hunkers down in Antarctica, James Pigg finds himself caught up in one of the greatest races of all time. The Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen has suddenly announced that he too means to be first to the Pole. But only one team can triumph, and not everyone can survive—not even the animals.
Set against the backdrop of the treacherous West Indies, a young sailor named John embarks on his inaugural voyage to Jamaica aboard the Dragon. As the crew navigates unfamiliar waters, they encounter a mysterious sailor on a lifeboat whose dubious tale raises suspicions. Despite the uncertainty surrounding the stranger, John's admiration for his seamanship grows, leading to a complex dynamic aboard the ship. This adventure intertwines themes of trust and the perils of the sea, as John's journey unfolds amidst the looming threats of pirates and cannibals.
The story follows Igor and his family as they flee from a vengeful pursuer, navigating a world filled with suspense and peril. This thrilling narrative is designed to captivate young readers who enjoy mystery and adventure, presenting a gripping tale of survival and courage in the face of danger.
A modern-day adventure and classic in the making, in the vein of The Call of the Wild, Hatchet, and The Cay, by award-winning author Iain Lawrence. A Junior Library Guild Selection Less than forty-eight hours after twelve-year-old Chris sets off on a sailing trip down the Alaskan coast with his uncle, their boat sinks. The only survivors are Chris and a boy named Frank, who hates Chris immediately. Chris and Frank have no radio, no flares, no food. Suddenly, they’ve got to forage, fish, and scavenge the shore for supplies. Chris likes the company of a curious, friendly raven more than he likes the prickly Frank. But the boys have to get along if they want to survive. Because as the days get colder and the salmon migration ends, survival will take more than sheer force of will. Eventually, in the wilderness of Alaska, the boys discover an improbable bond—and the compassion that might truly be the path to rescue.
Harold Kline is an albino -- an outcast. Folks stare and taunt, calling him Ghost Boy. It's been that way for all of his 14 years. So when the circus comes to town, Harold runs off to join it.Full of colorful performers, the circus seems like the answer to Harold's loneliness. He's eager to meet the Cannibal King, a sideshow attraction who's an albino, too. He's touched that Princess Minikin and the Fossil Man, two other sideshow curiosities, embrace him like a son. He's in love with Flip, the pretty and beguiling horse trainer, and awed by the all-knowing Gypsy Magda. Most of all, Harold is proud of training the elephants, and of earning respect and a sense of normalcy. Even at the circus, though, two groups exist -- the freaks, and everyone else. Harold straddles both groups. But fitting in comes at a price, and Harold must recognize the truth beneath what seems apparent before he can find a place to call home.
A foreboding warning from a mysterious stranger sets the tone for a tale of danger and intrigue. As John and his father embark on their journey, they are cautioned about a cursed ship, rumored to bring death to those who encounter it. The ominous phrase "christened with blood" hints at a dark history, suggesting that the voyage ahead may be fraught with peril. This story promises to explore themes of fate, superstition, and the consequences of ignoring dire warnings.
Set in a cursed village on the rugged coast of Cornwall, the story unfolds in a community that thrives on shipwrecks, luring vessels to their doom for personal gain. The inhabitants, untroubled by their malevolent actions, adorn their homes with the belongings of drowned sailors, showcasing a chilling indifference to the lives lost. This dark tale explores themes of morality and the human capacity for evil, as the villagers' sinister practices raise questions about complicity and the nature of survival.