The Huffman family lives a respectable life in 1849 London. The father, Wesley John Louis Huffman, works for the Naval Ordinance department as a clerk and earns 100 pounds a year. Mr. Huffman thinks of himself as an actor on the world’s stage. One day, fourteen-year-old John Huffman’s entire world turns upside down. The family’s…
It is Passover, and Hannah dreads attending the first night’s Seder at Grandpa Will, Grandma Belle, and Aunt Eva’s house. Her grandfather’s strange outbursts about the Holocaust embarrass and frighten her. Following ancient tradition, Hannah opens the door for the prophet Elijah, but instead of seeing a hallway filled with apartment doors, she sees a…
When disasters at sea and other economic setbacks ruin Mr. Huston’s business and destroy his fortune, the family sells everything at auction. He and his three daughters, Grace, Hope and Beauty, must rely on the kindness of Gervain, Hope’s suitor. Gervain moves them all to his hometown of Blue Hill where they set up housekeeping…
Since Leo’s grandfather died, his grandmother has spent a lot of her time wandering around the park, walking by the river, eating free grocery store samples, reading at the library, or sitting at a table at Good Eats, the 24-hour donut shop. Missing her husband is Gram’s full-time job. Leo’s job is to find her…
Dr. Metcalf served as a doctor in the field hospitals during World War 1. After the war, he returns to Kansas and goes to work at St. John’s Hospital where he continues to treat wounded soldiers. Mrs. Metcalf, haunted by her brother’s death in the trenches of France, wants to forget all about the war….
After being separated from their parents by a shipwreck, Molly and Kip travel to the spooky “sour woods” to work for the Windsor family. The branches and roots of a huge tree grow through the walls and ceilings of the house. Each morning, Molly cleans muddy shoe prints off the floors and sweeps leaves from…
A princess, who doesn’t want to be the type of princess that gets rescued by a knight in shining armor, chooses her own path in life. That path leads her, first, to a dragon king and, then, to the king of an enchanted forest who struggles to keep the forest’s magic safe from scheming wizards….
Phillip Malloy’s “D” grade in English prevents him from trying out for the school’s track team. He blames Miss Narwin, the freshman English teacher, for his failure so when he is transferred to her homeroom, he starts paying her back. The school rule states that students are to stand in respectful silence while the national…
Josef Matt died trying to conquer the Citadel. After Josef’s death, Frau Matt vows that her son will never set foot on the mountain. Sixteen-year-old Rudi Matt works at the Beau Site Hotel. Frau Matt hopes her son will find his job so fulfilling that he has no interest in climbing the dangerous mountain. Not…
