From the bestselling author of SOLE SURVIVOR comes a story of loss of innocence and unexpected repercussions of war ... It began innocently ... It destroyed innocence forever. When a twelve-year-old boy writes an essay and inadvertently uncovers a wartime secret, he unleashes a chain of events which rips a close community apart, turning neighbour against neighbour, friend against friend. It is Auckland, 1956. While the country has been spared the destruction which ravaged Europe and Asia, beneath the surface bitter memories and old enmities run deep. the war may be over but, as the boy discovers, it is far from done with.In a poignant and gripping tale of events which challenge and define a post-war community, master storyteller Derek Hansen superbly captures the spirit of inner city life in the mid-fifties, when migrants and war survivors came to a land of peace and the promise of a new life - only to have it challenged in unexpected and life-changing ways. Derek Hansen has an uncanny knack for bringing back the substance and subtleties of the times and places about which he writes. In this instance, having been raised in Auckland in the 1950s, his eye is unerring.'Ripping yarn builds to an enthralling climax' tHE PRESS

It is September 1939. Shortly after war is declared, Anthony Rhodes is sent to France, serving with the British Army. His days are filled with the minutiae and mundanities of Army life – friendships, billeting, administration – as the months of the ‘Phoney War’ quickly pass and the conflict seems a distant prospect. It is only in the spring of 1940 that the true situation becomes clear; the men are ordered to retreat to the coast and the beaches of Dunkirk, where they face a desperate and terrifying wait for evacuation.

What would you do? When confronted with the impossible? The ghostly? The bizarre? The dangerous? Challenges demanding answers? With or without adequate resources? Against the clock? Meet Manab Banerjee, the Station Master. A regular guy, like you, or that guy there wearing that rather nondescript shirt. Except, as the quintessential Indian Railways man, he dealt with them routinely… Strange wails in the still of a misty night… a bloody beheading on the platform… a mysterious lady with an aura of danger… gold biscuits… a brutal murder… a catastrophic accident in the station… and a storm that led to a death and its consequences… all these and more. Manab meets them head-on in this collection of ten stories based on real life, resolute but accommodating, quick yet patient… and always with his heart in the right place.

the bestselling author of Sole Survivor, Lunch with the Generals and Lunch with Mussolini returns with a gripping new novel that crosses decades and continents.Derek Hansen takes us back to Gancio\'9291s restaurant. It is a thursday and, as usual, Ramon, Lucio, Milos and Neil have gathered for their weekly lunch appointment. It is Neil\'9291s turn to take the floor - except that Milos steps in and demands to tell his story. He has no choice in the matter, he says, \'9291this story has already been too long awaiting the telling. It is not just an obligation but a repayment of a debt.\'9291 With those words he hooks the three other men - and Derek Hansen hooks his readers. We are taken back to Hungary in the 1940s, a time when Jews are persecuted and rumours of the terrifying death camps are already circulating. this is a novel with huge range, set within a real historical landscape populated by figures like Adolf Eichmann and the Russian and Hungarian secret police. It is also the story of two brothers who vie for the affections of the same girl during a time of turmoil and separation, a story which begins in Hungary and seeks its conclusion in Australia. two boys who are forced to deal, steal and kill to survive.

Jawar Dil is the influential and charismatic leader of a powerful Hindu clan in Khyber. His skill in maintaining peace and harmony between many different factions and amidst the complex relationships that abound in the region are legendary, but after the death of his beloved wife, he decides to retreat from public life and live as a spiritual recluse in Jalalabad. With the clan now left dependent on Jawar’s untested son, Jai, it isn’t long before radical elements emerge to take advantage. Encouraged by Jai’s inexperience, Arfan, a Mullah with a lust for power provokes conflicts between Muslim warlords and the Hindu tribes, aided by his grandson, Ali. It isn’t long before Jai is completely cut off and out of his depth and is unable to deal with the escalating conflict. With the rising death toll of his people, Jawar returns with his brother Jurnail and their childhood friend, Dostan, to defeat their enemies. But there are greater problems looming. As the political situation in India hangs on a knife-edge and Muslims are calling for their own country, Arfan and Ali use it as a pretext to return and continue their war against the Dils. Do the Dils have the power to defeat them again and see peace returned to their lands? Will the clan heed Jai’s advice and relocate to a place where they will be safe? Or will their desire to live and die in the lands they were born in be too strong to overcome?

This massive text is the ultimate authoritative book on learning Japanese Kanji. The Kanji Handbook presents an ingenious and tested method to learn the 1,945 kanji characters taught in all Japanese language schools. Through the use of "KanjiHybrids"--a concept invented by the author--learners of Kanji and taught to link the characters mentally with English words to form one integral and indivisible unit. This innovative mnemonic device has been proven to train the learner to retain each kanji in the memory much better than simple repetition of the kanji alone--as well as enabling users to differentiate similar-looking kanji characters. Specific learning strategies also enable users to progress quickly from the beginner to advanced level kanji, with stroke orders shown clearly for each kanji character. Eight different indexes-including the highly useful Flip-it Index--form the last part of this unique handbook. Contains the complete list of all 1,945 kanji characters taught in Japanese schools. Presents a new KanjiHybrids system linking kanji characters with English words to aid memorization. Innovative learning strategies guide learners at all levels from beginner to advanced.

Welcome to Skipton Station! The Skipton family has run the old train station for generations, but now it needs the love of the next generation. Will Paige and Rebecca be up for the challenges? Now Arriving, Sister Station Book 1 Sarah Skipton knew her granddaughters needed a drastic change in their lives, but would they be willing to accept her challenge? Paige and Rebecca agreed to a short-term trial and headed for their childhood home of Skipton. There, they would take over Sarah's dreams for the old train station. Soon, the sisters find themselves embraced by the small town and caught up in the plans for Skipton Station's future. New friendships are formed, laughs are shared and a bond to Skipton is formed. Now Departing, Sister Station Book 2 The Skipton sisters, Paige and Rebecca, have settled into their new home, finding friends and challenges, turning their grandmother's dreams for the old railroad station into reality. But just as things become comfortable, the past interrupts each sister's plans… Skipton Station is about more than a physical destination. To follow the path before them will mean accepting God's plan for them. Follow as the sisters discover their true desires and arrive at their choices. Read along, share the love and laughter of the close-knit town and learn more of Skipton Station and its patrons.

From two New York Times–bestselling authors, a group of talented young people heads to the International Space Station for a new mission: saving Earth from invasion . . . Now that JJ Wren, her brother Dylan, and friends King and Song-Ye have seen Earth’s dark future—facing an invasion by the hideous alien Kylarn—they know they have to prepare the human race. At the local Challenger Center, the mysterious Commander Zota sends JJ and her friends off on another mission, this time to the International Space Station Complex, where they meet old friends, survivors from the disaster at Moonbase Magellan, as well as a mysterious girl, Mira, who claims to be from the past. Another Star Challenger with her own mentor, just like Commander Zota. Together, they have to discover and stop the continuing plans of the alien invaders. And the Kylarn have set their sights on conquering, or destroying, the space station, so that Earth has no protection at all! “The Star Challengers books inspire young readers with [a] sense of adventure, introducing them to a universe of exciting possibilities.” —Buzz Aldrin “[There’s] never a dull moment in these fast-paced books . . . Don’t miss this thought-provoking series.” —Lurlene McDaniel, author of Breathless