A little girl discovers that caring for a chicken is more than it's cracked up to be

A young witch tries to unravel the mystery of who is framing her for dark magic in Georgia Bowers' creepy YA debut fantasy, Mark of the Wicked. Magic always leaves its mark. All her life, Matilda has been told one thing about her magic: You use only when necessary. But Matilda isn't interested in being a good witch. She wants revenge and popularity, and to live her life free of consequences, free of the scars that dark magic leaves on her face as a reminder of her misdeeds. When a spell goes awry and the new boy at school catches her in the act, Matilda thinks her secret might be out. But far from being afraid, Oliver already knows about her magic - and he wants to learn more. As Oliver and Matilda grow closer, bizarre things begin to happen: Animals show up with their throats slashed and odd markings carved into their bodies, a young girl dies mysteriously, and everyone blames Matilda. But she isn’t responsible — at least, not that she can remember. As her magic begins to spin out of control, Matilda must decide for herself what makes a good witch, and discover the truth...before anyone else turns up dead. "[A] breathlessly told, consuming portrait of a witch’s relationship with loneliness and power... protagonists are elaborately drawn, and the novel’s eerie atmosphere lingers." —Publishers Weekly

Titles in the Pets' Guides series teach young readers how to care responsibly for their chosen pet. However, in a unique spin, each book is written from the point of view of one of the animals themselves, thus also allowing the books to be used to teach perspective. In this book, Henrietta the Chicken reveals how readers should go about choosing chickens, what supplies they will need, how to make a new chicken feel at home, and how to properly care for chickens, including feeding, exercising, and keeping a chicken coop clean. Text in the book is accompanied by clear, labelled photographs to further reinforce key concepts.

The heart-warming tale of a wartime childhood. It's 1939 and little Dot May Dun is playing with her brothers in the quiet lanes of their Derbyshire village. The grown-ups' talk of war means very little to Dot but things are starting to change in the village, for good. When a prisoner of war camp is built close to Dot's village, and a Yankee base is stationed nearby, Dot makes friends with the most unlikely of soldiers. But her friendships are threatened when telegrams start to arrive in the village and the real impact of war bears heavily on this close-knit mining community. From little lives spring great tales. Dot's childhood memoir shares the universals of innocence, love, loss and friendships. THE VILLAGE will move and entertain in equal measures.

Tilly must learn that you need to keep your wishes close . . . and your secrets even closer in this romantic mystery. Tilly Lockhart is out of luck, out of money and up to her eyeballs in debt. But just when she thought that fate had it in for her, she inherits a farm from her great aunt Matilda—a woman she never knew existed. The only catch? She must spend one year on her aunt’s farm Dun Roamin’ before she can sell up and save her flailing business. Faced with two thousand acres of land and a menagerie of neurotic animals, this city slicker must enlist the help of the farm’s sexy co-owner Noah in order to survive this new life and uncover why her aunt left it all to her. But just when her heart is opening to small-town life, an unexpected fire uncovers Dun Roamin’s deadly mystery. As threads of past sins unravel, secrets are revealed, danger builds, and threats for Tilly to leave things alone and go home grow more deadly with every passing day. With her newfound friends by her side, can Tilly learn the truth that great aunt Matilda was hiding? Can she find inner strength to protect what she’s grown to love? Or will she lose everything, including her life? If you like lovable characters and heart-warming romance with a dollop of mystery, then you’ll love Matilda’s Wish.

Set against the turbulent backdrop of 12th-century England, "The Forgotten Queen" is the tale of a warrior, Empress Matilda, daughter of King Henry I of England and granddaughter of William the Conqueror and her struggle to overcome political intrigues, prejudice, and the lover who steals her crown. Available now.

"Matilda's Story is a biographical novel based on 30 years in the life of Matilda Randolph, a pioneer woman born in Illinois in 1836 who migrated with her family to Kansas in 1854. There she married and bore four children while the conflict raged around her. In 1864, as a young widow with three small children, she traversed the Oregon/California Trail to California. The book has been well-researched. Those who enjoy authentic tales of pioneer days will appreciate Matilda's Story."--Amazon.com

Synopsis: The Diamond siblings use the only resources they have, the dramatic role-play of their imaginations, to cope with the abusive Dragon Queen - their mother. Play Nice! is a mystery in which Isabel, Luce and Matilda embark on a journey within themselves to discover who poisoned her. Cast Size: 3 Females, 1 Male

The compelling story of three young orphans who must survive on their own during the Civil War. It?s near the end of the war, and rumors of emancipation are swirling. Eleven-year-old Luke decides to run away to freedom and join the Union Army. But he doesn?t find the Yankee troops he was hoping for. Instead, he finds nine-year-old Daylily, lost in the woods after suffering an unspeakable tragedy. Her master set her free, but freedom so far has her scared and alone. Also lost in the woods is seven-year-old Caswell, the son of a plantation owner. He was only trying to find his Mamadear after the Yankees burned their house with all their fine things. He wanted to be brave. But alone in the woods with two slave children, he quickly loses all his courage, and comes to greatly depend upon his new friends. In the chaos and violence that follows, the three unrelated children discover a bond in each other stronger than family. A touching, beautifully written narrative, Black Angels is a riveting, special read.