fiction

When the streams dry out and the food will not grow, Dr. Wangari Maathai starts the Green Belt Movement, a society that encourages the women in rural Kenya to work together and grow trees that will bind the soil, store rainwater, and provide food and firewood.

"1910, Edinburgh. Jessie MacRae has been sent to a tenement building by her recently-deceased father to bear a child for a wealthy man and his fianc?e. The . . . events that follow lead to a curse on the building and its residents--a curse that will last for the rest of the century. Over nine decades, 10 Luckenbooth Close bears witness to emblems of a changing world outside its walls. An infamous madam, a spy, a famous Beat poet, a coal miner who fears daylight, a psychic: these are some of the residents whose lives are plagued by the building's troubled history in disparate, sometimes chilling ways. The curse creeps up the nine floors as a suppressed spirit world swells to the surface, desperate for the true horror of the building's longest kept secret to be heard"--Dust jacket flap.

"After discovering a near-lifeless Eli at the base of the Great Tree, Morgan knows she doesn't have much time to save him. And it will mean asking for help--from friends old and new. Racing against the clock, and with Arik and Emily at her side, Morgan sets off to follow the trail away from the Great Tree to find Eli's soul before it's too late. As they journey deep into the northern woods, a place they've been warned never to enter, they face new challenges and life-threatening attacks from strange and horrifying creatures. But a surprise ally comes to their aid, and Morgan finds the strength to focus on what's most important: saving her brother's life"--Provided by publisher.

"The beautifully ornate reading room at the Boston Public Library is completely silent one weekday morning, until a woman's terrified scream echoes through the room. Security guards immediately appear and instruct everyone inside to stay put until they determine there is no threat. While they wait for the all-clear, four strangers who had been sitting in the reading room get to chatting and quickly become friendly. Harriet, Marigold, Whit, and Caine each have their own reasons for being in the reading room that morning--and it just happens that one of them may turn out to be a murderer"--Provided by publisher.

In medieval England, after her seven brothers are falsely accused of murder and treason, eighteen-year-old Delia flees their cruel stepmother and becomes a seamstress at Westminster Palace, hoping to gain their release, with Sir Geoffrey's assistance.

"In 1930s London, celebrity psychiatrist Anselm Rees is discovered dead in his locked study, and there seems to be no way that a killer could have escaped unseen. There are no clues, no witnesses, and no evidence of the murder weapon. Stumped by the confounding scene, the Scotland Yard detective on the case calls on retired stage magician-turned-part-time sleuth Joseph Spector. For who better to make sense of the impossible than one who traffics in illusions?"--Provided by publisher.

"Aspiring writer Aggie Morton is ready to enjoy an invigorating trip to a Yorkshire spa, where her widowed mother can take the waters and recover from a long mourning period. Having solved yet another murder--not to mention rescuing her best friend Hector from certain death--over Christmas, Aggie is looking forward to more splendid adventures with Hector, who has joined Aggie, her mother and Grannie Jane on this trip. There is even a potential new friend in George, a young patient at the spa. But rumors abound about the spa's recently deceased former patient, and then another body appears under mysterious circumstances. Has there been a murder--or even two murders? Aggie's Morbid Preoccupation kicks in and once again she and Hector will have to put their deductive skills and imaginations to work, as their restful trip takes a sudden, dangerous turn"--Provided by publisher.

"It's 1995. When the Full Tilt Dances give an inspiring performance at the opening of the new bingo hall, twelve-year-old Finbar (Barry) Squires wants desperately to join the troupe. Having watched Riverdance twice, Barry figures he'll nail the audition. And good thing too -- it'd be nice to be known for something other than the large birthmark on his cheek. Barry's journey to stardom is jeopardized not only by his unpredictable temper, but also by parent's refusal to take his dreams seriously"--Adapted from publisher information.

Emily and James compete in an epic escape-room challenge on Alcatraz Island, designed by game-maker Garrison Griswold and mystery writer Errol Ray. Soon, James and Emily discover that they are being targeted, and uncover a dangerous plot involving Emily's brother, Matthew. They must then solve the mystery that will lead them to the saboteur while also trying to escape the harrowing Alcatraz underground.

Aggie Morton and her friend Hector discover a dead body on the floor of the Mermaid Dance Room. They work together to solve the case before Aggie's beloved dance instructor is charged with a crime she didn't commit.