Seven-year-old Julia longs to have a sister whom she can play and share silly moments with. But all she’s left to play with are her dolls and toys. While silently wishing to have someone to seesaw with in the park, Julia was approached by a little girl named Tammy and invited her to be a playmate. Instantly, Julia and Tammy became the best of friends. Julia didn’t only get to have a playmate but found a sister in Tammy.

The riotously funny Lilly, last seen in Chester's Way (Greenwillow), thinks her new baby brother, Julius, is disgusting -- if he was a number, he would be zero. But when Cousin Garland dares to criticize Julius, Lilly bullies her into loudly admiring Julius as the baby of the world.Lilly knows her baby brother is nothing but dreadful -- until she claims him for her own. "Henkes displays a deep understanding of sibling rivalry and a child's fragile self-esteem....Lilly is a superb and timely heroine." -- Publishers Weekly. "

Readers of every age will chuckle over the silly antics of three dogs that are siblings. Each pooch is tired of the other and wants to be the only dog. With help, they are reminded that siblings provide lifelong lessons in tolerance, patience, sharing, friendship and conflict resolution.

National Book Award Finalist! Instant New York Times Bestseller! The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian meets Jane the Virgin in this poignant but often laugh-out-loud funny contemporary YA about losing a sister and finding yourself amid the pressures, expectations, and stereotypes of growing up in a Mexican-American home. Perfect Mexican daughters do not go away to college. And they do not move out of their parents’ house after high school graduation. Perfect Mexican daughters never abandon their family. But Julia is not your perfect Mexican daughter. That was Olga’s role. Then a tragic accident on the busiest street in Chicago leaves Olga dead and Julia left behind to reassemble the shattered pieces of her family. And no one seems to acknowledge that Julia is broken, too. Instead, her mother seems to channel her grief into pointing out every possible way Julia has failed. But it’s not long before Julia discovers that Olga might not have been as perfect as everyone thought. With the help of her best friend Lorena, and her first love, first everything boyfriend Connor, Julia is determined to find out. Was Olga really what she seemed? Or was there more to her sister’s story? And either way, how can Julia even attempt to live up to a seemingly impossible ideal? “Alive and crackling—a gritty tale wrapped in a page-turner. ”—The New York Times “Unique and fresh.” —Entertainment Weekly “A standout.” —NPR

Just weeks after giving birth, Stephanie Henderson and her baby disappear. With husband Adam in despair, and the police investigation stalled, it's up to sister Jess to find them. But when Adam starts to behave suspiciously Jess begins to question what really happened ... Jess fears the worst when she hears of a tragic accident, but was it Stephanie? In turmoil, Jess goes in search of answers, but she isn't prepared for what she uncovers ... or for what happens next. This is a twisted psychological thriller that will make you question what is real, and whether you really can trust those you love.

Annabel Abbott's twin sister Julia has committed suicide. This act turns Annabel's life upside down. She simply cannot comprehend why Julia, who had everything, would call her life a senseless rip-off and put an end to it. While Annabel, the studious one, the boring insurance consultant, has doggedly kept moving forward year after year. The detectives who have responded to her call have no explanations to offer, but one of the pair, Harry Schoenman, is very taken with Annabel and offers unexpected comfort. Their brief affair results in Annabel's pregnancy and also inspires her decision to create a special pregnancy insurance company for women. Working with her feisty assistant Joan and her equally feister lawyer, Frieda, Annabel begins putting her company together -- along the way encountering nonstop negativism from the men with whom she has to deal. Surprisingly, the person who seems to understand best what it is she's attempting to do, and who takes a personal interest in Annabel is her doctor, Rhys Bowen. As Annabel's due date draws nearer, she is forced to turn everything over to Joan and, resigned, goes home to wait for the arrival of the baby. And, frighteningly, the birth of the child proves as daunting and dangerous -- but, finally, as deeply rewarding -- as everything else in her life.

Cara Segal is a born worrier. She figures her worrying works like a whisper in God's ear - if Cara's concerned about car crashes, kidnappings, or murders, she lets God know, and he always spares her. But Cara never thought to worry about a fire. And one night while she's sleeping at a friend's house, her house catches fire, and her mother and younger sister are both killed. Throughout shiva, the initial Jewish mourning period, Cara can't help wondering about God's role in the tragedy. And what is her father's role in her life now? He walks around like a ghost and refuses to talk about the fire. Cara longs for her family and her home, where sweet smells filled the house as Cara's mom filled orders for her catering business, Julia's Kitchen. Then one day a call comes in for a cookie order, and Cara gets a wild idea. Maybe by bringing back Julia's Kitchen, she can find a way to reconnect with everything she's lost. Complete with a glossary of Hebrew and Yiddish terms and a recipe for chocolate chip cookies, this debut novel is a joyous tribute to the resiliency of the human spirit. Julia's Kitchen is a 2007 Bank Street - Best Children's Book of the Year.

Set in the post-Civil War South on Blue Brook Plantation, Scarlet Sister Mary tells the story of Mary, a fifteen-year-old orphan girl in a close-knit Gullah community. As she prepares to marry the charismatic but unreliable July, Mary finds herself torn between tradition and her own desires. Love, community, and superstition intertwine as Mary learns who and what truly matter to her. Scarlet Sister Mary, written at the height of the Harlem Renaissance, is notable for its depiction of African-American life, particularly the Gullah people; and especially so because it was written by a white author, something very unusual for the era. It won Julia Peterkin the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1929. The Pulitzer was not without controversy. The jury chair had spoken publicly of another candidate, Victim and Victor by John Rathbone Oliver, as his favorite for the prize, which was reported in Publishers’ Weekly as being the actual announcement of the winner. Shortly afterward, The New York Times published an article by the head of the Advisory Board refuting Publishers’ Weekly. Ultimately, the Advisory Board chose Scarlet Sister Mary as the winner and, subsequently, the jury chair resigned. Despite this, the novel remains a noteworthy part of the early 20th-century conversation on race and Southern literature. This book is part of the Standard Ebooks project, which produces free public domain ebooks.

'Honest and poignant' THE SUN The honest and revealing story of John Lennon's childhood by his sister Julia. Through her own personal journey, Julia reveals the battle between two strong, self-willed women - John's mother and his Aunt Mimi - to have custody of John in his early years. It was Aunt Mimi who finally won and removed John from his mother at the age of five. But as John grew up, he would frequently return home - spending time with his mother and half-sisters, Julia, Jackie and Ingrid, learning his love of music from his mother, and hanging out, playing guitar with his childhood friend Paul McCartney. Julia is candid about the sadness as well as the joy of their broken family life. She details the devestating loss of their mother Julia in a road accident - and describes the painful legacy for the entire family, especially John as he moves into a life of stratospheric fame with the Beatles.

Reflections on the scriptures and on the pastoral experiences of Pope Francis.