superstition

Ever wonder why we knock on wood, blow out candles on a cake, or cross our fingers for good luck? Discover superstitions old and new from around the world, learn about how they started, and which ones are still popular.

"Quick-witted, ambitious Ji Lin is stuck as an apprentice dressmaker, moonlighting as a dancehall girl to help pay off her mother's Mahjong debts. But when one of her dance partners accidentally leaves behind a gruesome souvenir, Ji Lin may finally get the adventure she has been longing for. Eleven-year-old houseboy Ren is also on a mission, racing to fulfill his former master's dying wish: that Ren find the man's finger, lost years ago in an accident, and bury it with his body. Ren has 49 days to do so, or his master's soul will wander the earth forever. As the days tick relentlessly by, a series of unexplained deaths racks the district, along with whispers of men who turn into tigers. Ji Lin and Ren's increasingly dangerous paths crisscross through lush plantations, hospital storage rooms, and ghostly dreamscapes"--Provided by publisher.

In one week Sabrina will be eleven years old and she would really like to get her estranged parents and her older sister Nadine together for the celebration, especially since the black butterfly landing on her locket has convinced her that she is going to die; Sabrina and her friend Pepper come up with a bucket list, and enlist Nadine's help--but aspiring reporter Nadine is working on a story about the Philippines' war on drugs, and she has uncovered something that may endanger them all, and prove the butterfly is indeed a harbinger of death in Manila.

"After an injury forces Kokoro to withdraw from the Four Continents Championships and sends him spiraling into another slump, Chitose wants to do whatever it takes to convince him to get back on the ice. But to her surprise, Kokoro offers her a shocking proposition: If he places first in the World Championships, he wants to ask Chitose to be his girlfriend! The feeling is mutual, so Chitose wants nothing more than for Kokoro to win. But when Chitose's spell-casting pen goes missing, she'll have to come up with a new kind of magic to motivate Kokoro..."--Provided by publisher.

"After one of Kokoro's fans spots him together with Chitose, rumors begin spreading over what kind of relationship the two could possibly have--and that Chitose is the cause of Kokoro's slump! To keep the rumors at bay, Kokoro's manager, Moriyama, comes up with a plan to keep Chitose close without raising fans' suspicions--by tossing Chitose straight into the public limelight as Kokoro's new personal trainer! But as Kokoro's career reaches a turning point, what will it mean for Chitose's?"--Back cover.

"Chitose is a career woman, with a job at a magazine and serious aspirations... except her childhood friend is an international figure skating star who won't stop distracting her! On the ice, Kokoro Kijinami is a flawless, gallant knight, winning trophies and hearts alike, but behind his glittery costumes and breathtaking spins lies a secret: He's actually a hopeless romantic otaku who can only land his quad jumps when Chitose is on hand to recite a spell from his favorite magical girl anime!"--Back cover.

Explores the superstition surrounding black cats, examines where the superstition came from, how and why it has continued to affect people over time, and whether people still believe it today.

"Explores the superstition surrounding broken mirrors, examines where the superstition came from, how and why it has continued to affect people over time, and whether people still believe it today"--Amazon.

"Explores the superstition surrounding the curse of the evil eye, examines where the superstition came from, how and why it has continued to affect people over time, and whether people still believe it today"--Amazon.com.

"Explores the superstition surrounding lucky numbers, examines where the superstition came from, how and why it has continued to affect people over time, and whether people still believe it today"--OCLC.