The conversation continues. What if a stranger knew you better than you know yourself? Exasperated by her husband’s sudden new obsession with Jesus, Mattie Cominsky views an out-of-town business trip as a welcome opportunity to reflect on their marriage—and to decide if it’s time to put an end to this painfully unrewarding relationship. Aboard the plane, Mattie is relieved to find herself seated next to a passenger who shares her scorn for religion. After she confides her husband’s unexpected turn, their conversation soon leads to a fascinating exploration of spirituality, God, and the quest for meaningful connection. Mattie’s skepticism softens under the perceptive insights of this stranger, and she finds herself confronting the unspoken longings of her soul. As his comments touch on personal issues he couldn’t possibly know about, she begins to wonder if she’s misjudged not only Nick but also the God he now claims to believe in.

Back in grade five, Bridge, Tabitha and Emily made a pact. Never to fight, ever. Now, two years later, they’re still best friends, but other things are changing. Bridge meets Sherm, and is soon excited and confused by her new, strange feelings. And when Emily starts texting pictures of herself to Patrick, Bridge and Tab find themselves complicit in a naïve plan that quickly spirals out of control. And while the three friends navigate the challenges of their changing friendship, another story—of betrayal and remorse—keeps you guessing until the very end. Goodbye Stranger is a tender and intricate story about friendships, and love, and the pain of sometimes making the wrong choices. Rebecca Stead is the author of four novels: First Light, When You Reach Me (a New York Times bestseller and Newbery Medal winner), Liar & Spy (Guardian Children’s Fiction Prize winner and New York Times bestseller) and, most recently, Goodbye Stranger. She lives in New York City with her family. ‘This memorable story about female friendships, silly bets, different kinds of love, and bad decisions is authentic in detail and emotion—another Stead hallmark.’ STARRED Review, Publishers Weekly ‘[Stead] captures the stomach-churning moments of a misstep or an unplanned betrayal and reworks these events with grace, humour, and polish into possibilities for kindness and redemption. Superb.’ STARRED Review, Kirkus ‘Stead shows how strongly love of all kinds can smooth the juddering path toward adulthood. Winsome, bighearted, and altogether rewarding.’ STARRED Review, Booklist ‘[Stead’s writing is] filled with humor, delightful coincidences, and the sorts of things...that escalate in ways that can seem life-shattering to a 13-year-old. The author keeps all her balls in the air until she catches them safely with ineffable grace.’ STARRED Review, School Library Journal ‘Rebecca Stead’s story is multi-layered and sumptuous, beautifully plotted and a real page-turner.’ Alpha Reader ‘An unforgettable book about young girls coming of age written with wit and compassion.’ ReadPlus ‘Goodbye Stranger was such a pleasure to read...[Stead’s] teenage characters are so real, and charming and likeable, even when they’re not making the best decisions...I will continue to sing the praises of this new book well into the rest of the year (and probably much longer).’ Middle Chapter ‘[Stead has] a profound appreciation for the young people she writes for...She creates the kind of situations that would shatter a vulnerable thirteen-year-old girl but somehow manages to do so with a deft, light touch full of empathy and humour.’ Readings ‘Goodbye Stranger is the kind of book you might call a revelation. It is surprising, generous, thoughtful, honest and it paints a picture of the time after childhood and before youth more honestly than I have ever seen depicted.’ Where the Writer Comes to Write ‘The language is often dazzling and the minor characters have great appeal. A very satisfying read.’ Stuff NZ ‘The emotional complexity is deftly done by Stead in a way that is satisfying and accessible for young adults and adults alike, without being patronising, and acknowledging that we all make mistakes along the way.’ New Zealand Book Council ‘Goodbye Stranger falls in the zone of upper middle fiction/young YA, and is a great book to discuss with a tween as it gently preempts teen issues...Stead opens up a discussion of phone use and photos that never veers into shaming or hysteria.’ Leanne Hall, Readings

John, Ivan, and Giovanni, and their families, are neighbors and good friends, until a stranger from the government reminds them that they live in three different countries, and orders them to build fences.

" The Blade of Anubis is the action-packed sequel to The Chronicles of Stranger, full of danger, mysteries, twists, magic, and battles. In this book, Stranger, now thirteen, truly begins his training as a magician and god. Delve into his mind as well as his adventures while Stranger begins to discover who he really is. The gods have offered him a spot at their god training c& it's a decision that might change his life forever. Will Stranger live to see the day or see his untimely demise? Meanwhile, the Great Serpent of Chaos himself has managed to seep just a wriggle of his essence from his otherworldly prison, spreading chaos and evil in his wake. Concurrently, monsters are being set loose all over the country, causing chaos to ravage the mortals of the earth. Yet Stranger takes more onto his already laden shoulders. Anubis has disappeared, and Stranger has taken it upon himself to find him. Without Anubis, the underworld is back up. The souls of the damned cannot be judged, and the world's foundations are weakening. A strange woman in white keeps appearing to Stranger. Who is she, and what does she want from him? Can Stranger prepare himself for what's to come and save the world? If he can't, more will be lost than just his life . . . "

The Stranger’s Magic Stick By: Carol Doumlele A young boy selling baskets with his grandfather meets an interesting stranger with a mysterious stick in his pocket. One day, the man tells Joshua that he has been chosen to receive the stick. Joshua’s grandfather recalls an old man from many years ago who played beautiful music on such a stick. However, Joshua is frustrated that he is not able to make it work. As he works to solve the mystery of the stick and release its beautiful sounds, Joshua, and the reader, learns an important lesson about honesty and trustworthiness.

What if YOU woke up living in someone else’s body? Alone and Afraid. The night of Treaz’s 32nd birthday ended in a lonely, drunken stupor, an unnerving mysterious man staring into her bedroom window, and the waking up inside the body of a stranger a thousand miles from her home. How did she get there? Whose body is she in? Distraught and confused, she is admitted to a chilling psychiatric hospital. With no hope of escape, an unknown man suddenly arranges her discharge. He forces her into a new job that can only be accomplished by living in the bodies of complete strangers. Each night she falls asleep wondering whose life she will be experiencing next. Can she find a way out of this frightening nightmare? Halfway around the world, Omani involuntarily works long hours for her oppressive uncle while remaining hostage on his remote Swiss compound. She is forbidden contact with the outside world. Desperate and isolated, she risks deadly retaliation and finds a way to make a sole online friend, but his assertions are almost too much to believe. Should she trust him? The AWAKE AS A STRANGER trilogy follows the journey of Treaz and Omani. They reside on two different continents yet each are trapped in deplorable realities—Treaz living within other people’s bodies and Omani being held captive on her uncle’s compound. Both long to regain control over their lives, escape their merciless captors, and expose the haunting truths facing them and the world. Can they find freedom together? See what readers are saying about the Awake As A Stranger trilogy: “Couldn’t put the book down… I love her style. I feel like I know the characters.” Amazon reviewer “I LOVED this series! What a crazy creative story line! I couldn’t wait to start the next book and was sorry when it ended! The characters are amazing and how it all came together in the end was perfect! Loved the series!!” Amazon reviewer “I read this book in one go, it is very intriguing…I really enjoyed reading about the differing reflections of people in this world, from those who have everything, to those who only have the clothes they are wearing.” Amazon reviewer “…this series is fascinating… It was just enough curiosity to keep me going and unexpected twists and endearment to the characters that kept me engaged. I’m going to be thinking about this storyline and message for some time.” Amazon reviewer “The author’s writing style is light and easy, making it a quick read…I was especially intrigued by the author’s knowledge of and incorporation of psychological constructs and by applying healthy messaging throughout, she created an upbeat and hopeful experience for the reader.” Goodreads reviewer “Highly recommended.” Goodreads reviewer Read all 3 parts Awakening - Part 1 Rebellion - Part 2 Altercation - Part 3 Watch the book trailer here: https://vimeo.com/575032111

'It is as if I have been waiting for someone to ask me these questions for almost the whole of my life' From 1945, more than four million British servicemen were demobbed and sent home after the most destructive war in history. Damaged by fighting, imprisonment or simply separation from their loved ones, these men returned to a Britain that had changed in their absence. In Stranger in the House, Julie Summers tells the women's story, interviewing over a hundred women who were on the receiving end of demobilisation: the mothers, wives, sisters, who had to deal with an injured, emotionally-damaged relative; those who assumed their fiancés had died only to find them reappearing after they had married another; women who had illegitimate children following a wartime affair as well as those whose steadfast optimism was rewarded with a delightful reunion. Many of the tales are moving, some are desperately sad, others are full of humour but all provide a fascinating account of how war altered ordinary women's lives forever.