An inspiring and timely debut novel from Lisa Williamson, The Art of Being Normal is about two transgender friends who figure out how to navigate teen life with help from each other. David Piper has always been an outsider. His parents think he's gay. The school bully thinks he's a freak. Only his two best friends know the real truth: David wants to be a girl. On the first day at his new school Leo Denton has one goal: to be invisible. Attracting the attention of the most beautiful girl in his class is definitely not part of that plan. When Leo stands up for David in a fight, an unlikely friendship forms. But things are about to get messy. Because at Eden Park School secrets have a funny habit of not staying secret for long , and soon everyone knows that Leo used to be a girl. As David prepares to come out to his family and transition into life as a girl and Leo wrestles with figuring out how to deal with people who try to define him through his history, they find in each other the friendship and support they need to navigate life as transgender teens as well as the courage to decide for themselves what normal really means.

Olivia (Vee), is now captain of her own spaceship, an Explorer Vessel which set out seven years earlier on a deep space mission. She and her twin brother Aidan are heading alone back to Earth following the virus that wiped out the rest of the ship in its entirety three years earlier âe" including their parents. Nathan is part of a community heading in the opposite direction. A violent war is spreading through space so theyâe(tm)re heading for a peaceful patch from where they will plan an uprising. But on their journey, Nathanâe(tm)s ship is attacked and most of the community killed. Only a few survive, thanks to Vee and Aidan, who rescue them, bringing them on board their ship. Nathan and Vee are instantly attracted to each other, and in the midst of all the dramas and hostilities of this newly occupied ship, they fall head-over-heels in love. But not everyone is happy with their relationship. Someone is sowing rumours of Nathanâe(tm)s infidelity, Veeâe(tm)s flaws, and putting the lives of everybody on board at risk . . .

Unlock the more straightforward side of The Merchant of Venice with this concise and insightful summary and analysis! This engaging summary presents an analysis of The Merchant of Venice by William Shakespeare, which recounts the fierce legal battle that ensues when the Jewish moneylender Shylock seeks to claim a ‘pound of flesh’ from the Venetian merchant Antonio, who has defaulted on a loan. The character of Shylock is one of the most controversial in the Shakespearean canon – his cruelty and vengefulness have led many to criticise his characterisation as anti-Semitic, but his portrayal as a victim of prejudice and his eloquent speeches lend ambiguity to that reading, as well as bringing a more tragic dimension to the play as a whole, even though it is often classified as a comedy. The Merchant of Venice is one of Shakespeare’s most frequently discussed and debated plays even today, and has been consistently adapted for stage and screen since it was first performed in 1600. Find out everything you need to know about The Merchant of Venice in a fraction of the time! This in-depth and informative reading guide brings you: • A complete plot summary • Character studies • Key themes and symbols • Questions for further reflection Why choose BrightSummaries.com? Available in print and digital format, our publications are designed to accompany you on your reading journey. The clear and concise style makes for easy understanding, providing the perfect opportunity to improve your literary knowledge in no time. See the very best of literature in a whole new light with BrightSummaries.com!

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This student friendly book draws together text, context, criticism and performance history to provide an integrated view of one of the most dazzling works of the early modern theatre.

‘After I finished this book I alarmed my family by going into the garden and climbing the apple tree.’ – Damian Whitworth, The Times

Venice, a long time ago. Three prominent Venetians await their most loathsome and foul dinner guest, the erstwhile envoy from the Queen of Britain: the rascal-Fool Pocket. This trio of cunning plotters—the merchant, Antonio; the senator, Montressor Brabantio; and the naval officer, Iago—have lured Pocket to a dark dungeon, promising an evening of sprits and debauchery with a rare Amontillado sherry and Brabantio's beautiful daughter, Portia. But their invitation is, of course, bogus. The wine is drugged. The girl isn't even in the city limits. Desperate to rid themselves once and for all of the man who has consistently foiled their grand quest for power and wealth, they have lured him to his death. (How can such a small man, be such a huge obstacle?). But this Fool is no fool . . . and he's got more than a few tricks (and hand gestures) up his sleeve. Greed, revenge, deception, lust, and a giant (but lovable) sea monster combine to create another hilarious and bawdy tale from modern comic genius, Christopher Moore.

In the CliffsComplete guides, the novel's complete text and a glossary appear side-by-side with coordinating numbered lines to help you understand unusual words and phrasing. You'll also find all the commentary and resources of a standard CliffsNotes for Literature. CliffsComplete The Merchant of Venice offers insight and information into a work that's rich both dramatically and thematically. Every generation since Shakespeare's time has been able to identify with some thematic aspect of the play. Discover what happens to a young merchant who cannot repay a debt to a vindictive money lender; meet the menacing Shylock, one of the most vivid and memorable characters in Shakespeare's works — and save valuable studying time — all at once. Enhance your reading of The Merchant of Venice with these additional features: A summary and insightful commentary for each act Bibliography and historical background on the author, William Shakespeare A look at Early Modern English intellect, religion, politics, and society Coverage of Shakespeare's source and the play's performance history A character map that graphically illustrates the relationships among the characters Review questions, a quiz, discussion guide, and activity ideas A Resource Center full of books, articles, films, and Web sites Streamline your literature study with all-in-one help from CliffsComplete guides!