Showing results by author "Nikki" in All Categories

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Growing up with a mother suffering from paranoid schizophrenia and a mostly absent father, Nikki Grimes found herself terrorized by babysitters, shunted from foster family to foster family, and preyed upon by those she trusted. At the age of six, she poured her pain onto a piece of paper late one night - and discovered the magic and impact of writing. For many years, Nikki's notebooks were her most enduing companions. In this accessible and inspiring memoir, Nikki shows how the power of those words helped her conquer the hazards - ordinary and extraordinary - of her life.

Darrian dreams of writing for the New York Times. To hone his skills and learn more about the power of words, he enrolls in Mr. Ward's class, known for its open-mic poetry and boys vs. girls poetry slam. Everyone in class has something important to say, and in sharing their poetry, they learn that they all face challenges and have a story to tell - whether it's about health problems, aging out of foster care, being bullied for religious beliefs, or having to take on too much responsibility because of an addicted parent.

Three ways that Ella's life is totally messed up: Her new coworker is as cranky as he is attractive. A mischievous cat has decided she needs a familiar. She just found out she's a witch who can read the emotional hologram of a magical death (and isn't that a mouthful).

What do a bunch of well-seasoned river gals do on river trips without their men? Everything you might imagine, and more. These stories invite you to relive experiences of women who have been running rivers for decades and find themselves back out on whitewater year after year. You'll find tales of difficult rescues and the kind of unexpected adventures western river runners love to share. Through a variety of stories, haikus, poems, and essays, this anthology goes deeper.

Mark and his friends are always coming up with "top 10 hottest girls in school" lists when they go out for drinks, though Tori’s name has never come up. She’s never stood out as a remarkable girl, always sitting quietly in the back of class, drawing in her sketchbook, wearing only oversized sweaters and sweatpants, no makeup on her face, nails never painted, hair never done, and never saying much to anyone.

Channeling their own experiences, sixteen exceptional authors subvert mental health stereotypes in a powerful and uplifting collection of fiction.

The Almost True Memoirs of a Quirky Cat Burglar follows the adventures of Henry Sears O'Connor, a quick-witted and resourceful protagonist, and his accomplice, Antonio Rossi, during the Great Depression era. Henry, a skilled cat burglar teams up with Antonio, a handsome Italian getaway man, to pull off daring heists targeting the wealthy elite in upstate New York.

Victoria Parker knew her dad's behavior toward her was a little unusual, but she convinced herself everything was fine - until she found herself locked out of the house at 3:00 a.m., surrounded by flashing police lights. Now, dumped into a crowded, chaotic foster home, Victoria has to tiptoe around her domineering foster mother, get through senior year at a new school, and somehow salvage her college dreams...all while keeping her past hidden. But some secrets won't stay buried - especially when unwanted memories make Victoria freeze up at random moments....

In the Lion's Den is a book about the life events that encouraged Danny Danon to pursue his chosen career path and take his distinct and direct approach during his time as Knesset Member and later on in his political career. It is a book that tells the story of his journey to the United Nations and the key events that occurred during the five years he served as Israel's 17th Permanent Representative to the UN.

My life has been an endless loop of heartache and breakup songs. I’ve lived in fear that I’m broken and will never find the kind of love that would piece me back together into something whole. When my boyfriend proposes, I say yes, desperate for an easy fix. For a super-glue solution. But on the day of my wedding, when my dad tells me to follow my heart, it doesn’t lead me down the aisle. Instead, it takes me straight to Declan Pierce’s car—where I crash his road trip.

Sage is a woman with no time for games. She has teenagers to raise, a business to run and the father of her girls to manage...literally. So, when she goes on a date with JJ and he never calls again, she chalks it up to just another horrible date. But their story is far from over. After all, they’ve both been through enough bad times in their lives it’s only fair they get a happily ever after...right? Only trouble is, no one ever said life had to be fair.

Emily Malone has had a lifelong crush on her brother’s best friend, Paul. Unfortunately, he just sees her as his friend's little sister. Desperate and infatuated, Emily resorts to lies and deception. She needs only one night with Paul to finally get over this obsessive crush. But fate has other ideas, and whether or not Emily knows it, everything happens for a reason....

Alone Together: Love, Grief, and Comfort During the Time of COVID-19 is a collection of essays, poems, and interviews to serve as a lifeline for negotiating how to connect and thrive during this stressful time of isolation as well as a historical perspective that will remain relevant for years to come.

Ronke, Simi and Boo are three mixed-race friends living in London. Everyday racism has never held them back, but now in their 30s, they question their future. When Isobel, a lethally glamorous friend from their past, arrives in town, she is determined to fix their futures for them. Cracks in their friendship begin to appear, and it is soon obvious Isobel is not sorting but wrecking. When she is driven to a terrible act, the women are forced to reckon with a crime in their past that may just have repeated itself.

On December 1, 1955, Rosa Parks boarded a Montgomery, Alabama city bus and refused to give up her seat to a white man, an act that ignited a movement that changed modern history.

When Paris' mother snaps again, beloved brother Malcolm is carted off to a boys' home, and Paris is sent to another foster home. There, biracial Paris finally finds someone else to trust. But when her mother comes back into her life, she must decide where home really is.

Being a mom is hard. And being a mom with goals and dreams is even harder. Harmonizing what you want to accomplish as a woman with everything you have to do as a mom is a challenge every mother faces.

In April 2018, Nikki and Doug Mark’s perfectly healthy twelve-year-old-son, Tommy, went to sleep one night and never woke up. They’re still not exactly sure why. Devastated, Nikki embarked on an unconventional journey to create a legacy for Tommy and to heal her heart. She created a plan to transform neglected land in a Los Angeles public park into a state-of-the-art athletic field, honoring Tommy’s love of soccer and sharing his spirit of play with others.

Her blood is toxic to vampires. If there is one thing eighteen-year-old Aurora Sky wants, it's to get off the iceberg she calls home. Being kissed before she graduates wouldn't hurt either. Then a near-fatal car wreck changes everything. Government agents step in and save Aurora's life in exchange for her services as a vampire hunter in Alaska. Basically she's a glorified chew toy. All thanks to her rare blood type, which sends a vampire into temporary paralysis right before she has to finish the job - by hand....