If an entire nation could seek its freedom, why not a girl? As the Revolutionary War begins, thirteen-year-old Isabel wages her own fight...for freedom. Promised freedom upon the death of their owner, she and her sister, Ruth, in a cruel twist of fate become the property of a malicious New York City couple, the Locktons, who have no sympathy for the American Revolution and even less for Ruth and Isabel. When Isabel meets Curzon, a slave with ties to the Patriots, he encourages her to spy on her owners, who know details of British plans for invasion. She is reluctant at first, but when the unthinkable happens to Ruth, Isabel realizes her loyalty is available to the bidder who can provide her with freedom. From acclaimed author Laurie Halse Anderson comes this compelling, impeccably researched novel that shows the lengths we can go to cast off our chains, both physical and spiritual.

ThiS is not only a book of instruction in chainmaking but it is also a work celebrating man's continuous creativity over thousands of years. At times something that man creates has far-reach ing effects; an example that quickly comes to mind is the wheel, which has enabled many devel opments, from pottery to computers. At this point it is important to note that these same wheels could not have been made without metal tools. From early Neolithic times on gold was a favorite choice in the making of jewelry. During the Neolithic period these "shining stones," probably alluvial, were prized. Actually gold was cold worked as if it were a stone. There is a surviving example of cold-worked gold from Catahuyuk (present day Turkey) estimated to have been made in 6500 B. C. There were only four metals on the earth's surface that were found in sufficient quantity to be used: gold, copper, silver, and meteoric iron. An understanding of the malleability of gold, and of the annealing effect of fire, changed jewelry making; new forms were found. Gold was no longer a piece of stone but a material that could be flattened and made very thin. Sheet and foil are the oldest forms of worked gold. The smiths' tools were stone, wood, and horn.

Fantasy-roman.

While metal chains can be stunningly simple, they offer endless design options with tremendous variations in styles and forms. This book celebrates the chain as an eye-catching piece of jewelry in and of itself that takes the spotlight without any pendants, bangles, or charms.

Beginners can start with a simple trace design. Switch from round to square wire, adapt the chain to a pendant, or use small oval links for a sophisticated look. Transform trace chains into flat-lying curb chains by twisting each link. Or, try distinctively round loop-in-loop pieces. This range of chains really sparkles and shines. “Highly recommended.”—Library Journal.

From award-winning author Daniel Fox comes a ravishingly written epic of revolution and romance set in a world where magic is found in stone and in water, in dragons and in men–and in the chains that bind them. Deposed by a vicious usurper, a young emperor flees with his court to the small island of Taishu. There, with a dwindling army, a manipulative mother, and a resentful population–and his only friend a local fishergirl he takes as a concubine–he prepares for his last stand. In the mountains of Taishu, a young miner finds a huge piece of jade, the potent mineral whose ingestion can gift the emperor with superhuman attributes. Setting out to deliver the stone to the embattled emperor, Yu Shan finds himself changing into something more than human, something forbidden. Meanwhile, a great dragon lies beneath the strait that separates Taishu from the mainland, bound by chains that must be constantly renewed by the magic of a community of monks. When the monks are slaughtered by a willful pirate captain, a maimed slave assumes the terrible burden of keeping the dragon subdued. If he should fail, if she should rise free, the result will be slaughter on an unimaginable scale. Now the prisoner beneath the sea and the men and women above it will shatter old bonds of loyalty and love and forge a common destiny from the ruins of an empire.

Across race and time, a magical battle for freedom... 1859 Mkembro, West Africa "I know what's going to happen," says Amara as she wakes on the morning of her wedding to discover that she has been blessed -- or cursed -- with the power of prophecy. In her visions, she sees the slaver Van Owen, who will soon arrive on Africa's shores. Her father will challenge the invaders, wielding magic against rifles and whips, and setting in motion Amara's bid for freedom -- a quest that will extend for five generations. But no wait is too long, for Amara can see far into the future. Chains of Time tells two interweaving stories -- Amara's nineteenth century slave chronicle and the tale of her modern-day descendants, all of them fighting to find their voices, their redemption, and their freedom. Praise for CHAINS OF TIME... "A perceptive and gripping tale of race and family." -- Kirkus Reviews "★★★★★ The beauty of Woodstone's prose evokes the intensity and allegorical journey that is usually reserved for literary fiction. The writing is simultaneously gorgeous, terrifying, and hopeful." -- Readers' Favorite "R.B. Woodstone has crafted a thoughtful, time-spanning novel that touches on family, oppression, and otherness in Chains of Time... the dramatic blend of history, tragedy, and magic pulls a reader in from the very start." -- Self-Publishing Review "An exceptional story that will place you in the heart and mind of each of the amazing characters. Prepare to be moved by a unique story that delves deep into the historical abuse of a people but has dynamic pockets of excitement, heartbreak, and the paranormal. Highly recommended." -- Lesley Jones, international best-selling author "With captivating characters on a fulfilling magical journey, Chains of Time is a strong novel that does not disappoint." -- IndependentBookReview.com "Though the work is rooted in fantasy and magical realism, there's a highly realistic quality to the historical content and the experience of Africans in the tragedy of the slave trade. Young adult and adult readers alike can appreciate the sophistication of ideas, which are layered into a powerful storyline that blends present and past exceedingly well." -- K.C. Finn, USA Today best-selling author and Chanticleer Book Award winner

Within global and rapidly changing environments, cooperation and networking offer possibilities for sharing costs and risks, as well as keeping up with constantly renewed information from outside the firms' boundaries. In line with this, an effective management control of supply chain processes seems to be relevant to compete against other supply chains and to get the required information. In this context, an implementation of a management control institution for inter-firm relations, like a supply chain management control (SCMC), that provides relevant qualitative and quantitative data to manage supply chains reflects an important issue. However, a comprehensive approach with regard to the management control of the entire supply chain and how it can be fulfilled has received scant attention in prior research. The aim of this thesis is therefore to analyze management control systems in global supply chains by means of a mixed methods design with special regard to functional, institutional and instrumental issues. In this context, qualitative data are combined with theoretical insights to develop an empirical model which is tested by means of a quantitative study. Following this, insights into management control aspects, organization of the supply chain management control, management control mechanisms, and the integration of suppliers are provided.

Advancements in the field of information technology have transformed the way businesses interact with each other and their customers. Businesses now require customized products and services to reflect their constantly changing environment, yet this results in cutting-edge products with relatively short lifecycles. Innovative Solutions for Implementing Global Supply Chains in Emerging Markets addresses the roles of knowledge management and information technology within emerging markets. This forward-thinking title explores the current trends in supply chain management, knowledge acquisition and transfer mechanisms among supply chain partners, and knowledge management paradigms. This book is an invaluable resource for researchers, business professionals and students, business analysts, and marketing professionals.

Global Value Chains and Production Networks: Case Studies of Siemens and Huawei presents theories and frameworks that facilitate the evolution of GPN studies, from macro perspectives based on territory and industry to the use of micro (firm-level) data. The book explores these theories and frameworks through detailed case studies of two major corporations, Siemens and Huawei. With the GPN/GVC structure of Chinese firms not well known outside China, despite the growing importance of Chinese firms in the global economy, this guide plays a pivotal role in facilitating the use of data that promise to unlock economic cooperation and value. - Emphasizes micro-data analytical models and their methodological underpinnings - Illustrates how these data illuminate the economic structures of two comparable GPNs within highly divergent institutional contexts - Suggests how companies can cooperate with foreign partners to enhance their global management capacity and reshape their advantages in international competition