Paterson, Katherine

In 1899 , ten-year-old Robbie, son of a preacher in a small Vermont town, gets himself into all kinds of trouble when he decides to give up being Christian in order to make the most of his life before the end of the world.

Feeling deprived all her life of schooling, friends, mother, and even her name by her twin sister, Louise finally begins to find her identity.

An eleven-year-old foster child tries to cope with her longings and fears as she schemes against everyone who tries to be friendly.

Imprisoned by a cruel Japanese lord, a Mandarin duck almost dies until a servant frees him, being sentenced to death for unkind acts, she, in turn, is rescued by the duck and his mate.